So, we’re passing this along in case you forgot: There’s a primary election tomorrow in the city. You could be forgiven if you didn’t remember. On the Democratic side, District Attorney Seth Williams is running unopposed and there’s a dizzying list of judges running. The hot nomination is for City Controller, the city’s auditor of financial affairs. The office has a four-year term and no term limit.

Incumbent Alan Bukovitz is running against Brett Mandel and Mark Zecca for the Democratic nomination. Bukovitz is in his second term as City Controller. Until 2004, Mandel worked in the City Controller’s office on the Financial and Policy Analysis Unit. Zecca is a former Assistant District Attorney.

There’s a Republican in this thing too – retail expert Terry Tracy. He is running unopposed for the City Controller nomination.

Former Assistant District Attorney Daniel Alvarez (Facebook page) is the lone Republican candidate for District Attorney.

Other local offices include: Judge of Court of Common Pleas, Judge of Philadelphia Municipal Court (3 vacancies), Judge of Traffic Court (3 vacancies), Inspector of Elections. Statewide offices include the Judge of the Superior Court.

A list of candidates for the various judge seats is here.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. You can check your registration information and find your polling place here.

A reader, James, reports that fire trucks responded to a call of smoke at Penn Alexander school at 43rd and Locust at around 8 p.m. Sunday. Some kind of smoke or steam was indeed leaving the top of the domed area on the school building, which might have triggered the call. The trucks left quickly after checking the building.

Photos by James Buckley.

Emily was last seen Wednesday, May 15 near 48th and Cedar. She was wearing a collar. Her right paw is injured and she is limping. Please call 614-499-6506 with information. There is a $100 reward for her return.

Update (5/20): Emily was found with the help of West Philly Local readers. Her owner, Matthew, would like to thank everyone who called.

This dog (a pitbull mix) was found in the Clark Park Dog Bowl (44th and Chester) on Thursday, May 16. If you have any information about the owner please call Sean-Michael at 347-399-4143.

The developers of the proposed residential building at 4224 Baltimore Avenue are seeking residents’ input on the project through a series of community engagement meetings, with the first one scheduled on Monday, May 20, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. at International House of Philadelphia (South America Room, 3701 Chestnut St). The goal of the meetings is to come up with alternative design plans for the proposed apartment complex to be built on the large vacant lot at the corner of 43rd and Baltimore.

Vacant lot at 43rd and Baltimore where the new apartment complex is proposed.

Clarkmore Group LLC, the property owner, has obtained a conditional zoning permit for the 92 residential unit building, six parking spaces and 36 bicycle parking spaces. The proposed plan had received mixed reviews from the community, including comments by West Philly Local readers after our first article on this subject.

Clarkmore Group LLC is working with the Spruce Hill Community Association, which will coordinate the community engagement process that will include three meetings in total (we’ll post more details about the other two meetings when this information is available). At the meetings, community members can learn more about the project, meet the project team and work with it on a number of focus areas, including the building design, transportation and retail mix.

More details on this project and its stakeholders are available here.

Here’s a great opportunity for gardeners to get free compost and check out West Philly’s Dirt Factory. The Dirt Factory, which opened almost a year ago at 4308 Market Street, is inviting neighbors to Dirt Day on Saturday, May 18 where you can receive free compost created at the facility from waste contributed by local residents, attend free workshops and tour the facility. In addition, there will be free food from West Philly businesses, plantables, and even free buckets for collecting your compostable waste. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and here’s the workshop schedule:

• 11 a.m. – noon:  Making Your Own Compost featuring Christine Tilles, Penn State Extension Educator
• 1-2 p.m.:  Vegetable Gardening with Compost featuring Jessica Herwick, Penn State Extension Master Gardener

Everyone can take home up to 10 gallons of compost for free at tomorrow’s event, and while there, take a tour of The Dirt Factory to learn how the compost was made. Attendees are requested to RSVP at compost@universitycity.org

Reminder: The Dirt Factory is open for compostable waste drop-off from 5-6 p.m. on Wednesdays. For more information go to: universitycity.org/dirt-factory