The week’s five top stories from along the ridge

Hey, in our view, it’s a great idea to check in on NewsWorks every day. But we know lives are busy and time precious, so that’s why we’re giving you this rundown (with links) of the most interesting stories that popped up in East Falls, Roxborough and Manayunk over the last week.

1) Trying to cancel “East Falls: SVU”

East Falls residents got a rude shock this week when they found out that plans for a new complex for serving victims of sexual assaults had gotten pretty far down the road without any city officials managing to mention the proposal to residents of the neighborhood.  As Amy Z. Quinn of PlanPhilly and NewsWorks reported, the resulting furor induced Councilman Curtis Jones to slow things down.

2) Strictly ballroom no more

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Also in the Falls, efforts have been revived to redevelop the Rivage Grand Ballroom property. Amy Quinn had that story, too.

3) Let there be A.C.

The Roxborough branch of the Free Library reopened Wednesday, after being shut for weeks due to a malfunctioning air conditioning unit.  NewsWorks’ Alaina Mabaso was there to report on the sighs of relief from book lovers.

4) Flip your tassels, toss those mortar boards in the air

This was a week for graduations at Roxborough, Saul, Lankenau and Central high schools, as well as a number of private and charter schools to which families in Manayunk, Roxborough and East Falls send students.

5)  All systems go for Chuttle liftoff

And, finally, a fun piece … A Roxborough lawyer is one of four lifelong friends who are taking an unusual road trip next month down to Cape Canaveral, Fla., to watch the Atlantis lift off in the final mission of the space shuttle program. What’s unusual is that they will be cruising down I-95 in an SVU tricked-out to look like a miniature, land-hugging replica of the Atlantis. Behold the Chuttle.

Keep checking in here this week for all the latest news from these three communities.

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