Local chef and writer Ari Miller during a live cooking demonstration with the new cooktops at the West Philly Tool Library on Friday, Feb. 7.

The West Philly Tool Library has just received a generous donation from PennEnvironment, a non-profit organization that advocates for clean air, water and energy in the state of Pennsylvania. PennEnvironment donated two induction cooktops that will be offered for community use through the tool library’s membership program.

Induction stoves are a more sustainable alternative to traditional gas ranges because they don’t rely on methane, a greenhouse gas that’s considered much more potent than carbon dioxide and contributes to global warming. At the same time, induction appliances can be up to three times as efficient as their gas counterparts, and 10 percent more efficient than electric appliances. This efficiency can lead to potential long-term energy savings on utility bills and faster cooking times.

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Here’s a great opportunity to set out on an adventure without leaving the city borders, to learn more about Philadelphia history and culture and connect with neighbors/fellow city residents.

Walk Around Philadelphia is a facilitated, segmented 100+ mile walk around the entire city border that takes place twice a year, in February and September, with other programs, like meet-ups, exhibitions and concerts, being held throughout the year. Participants can join in for a scheduled group walk for as long as they are able to, or can do it on their own anytime. The program founder, West Philly-based artist and community organizer JJ Tiziou, personally leads many walks.

Over 2,000 people have participated in the project since 2020.

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During each tax season, The Campaign for Working Families (CWF), a non-profit organization, operates free tax preparation sites around the city. On Jan. 30, CWF opened more such sites in West and Southwest Philadelphia for the 2024 tax season. Free services are available for low-to-moderate income individuals and families at the following locations:

CWFI Dornsife at Drexel University
3509 Spring Garden St.

Hours:
Mon-Fri 9am-3pm

CWFI Ebenezer Temple
5649 Christian St.

Hours:
Mon, Tues 12pm-6pm,
Wed, Thurs 10am-2pm,
Sat 9am-3pm

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Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker has recently signed a law allowing the installation of automated speed cameras along State Route 13 in West and North Philadelphia, which includes Baltimore Avenue.

“This program is a key part of making Philadelphia safe for all citizens, whether they are traveling by foot, bike, public transportation, or car,” Mayor Parker said. “…Automated Speed Cameras work and they help save lives.”

The bill unanimously passed City Council on December 5, 2024.

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Curio Theatre Company will be visited by an American icon this February. For one night only, the company is presenting Shirley Chisholm: Unbossed & Unbowed, a one-woman show by Ingrid Griffith.

Chisholm, a Brooklyn-born daughter of Caribbean immigrants, was the first Black woman to be elected to the United States Congress and to run for President.

Griffith, the creator and performer of “Unbossed and Unbowed”, plays Chisholm and inhabits 15 other characters in this 75-minute solo performance with no intermission. The stage play dramatizes how Chisholm’s race and gender were supposed to determine how far she would go in life and how her Caribbean parents’ immigrant determination and personal willpower pushed her to overcome that fate and rise.

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Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (3rd District), chair of the Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development, and the Homeless, has introduced the second phase of her “Defying Displacement” campaign, which aims to preserve and create affordable housing.

This phase introduces a series of bills that focus on cutting red tape by speeding up the approval process for affordable housing developments and making it easier for homeowners to turn extra space into bonus units so that they can remain in their homes.

The city can speed up development and reduce costs by reviewing affordable housing quickly and efficiently, ultimately leading to lower prices for prospective tenants, according to a statement by Gauthier. It can take more than nine months and cost thousands of dollars to receive a zoning variance in the current variance process. Gauthier argues that this disproportionately impacts affordable housing because many developers interested in affordable housing rely on extra density to keep the price-per-unit low.

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