Top 12 stories of the week in Northwest Philly

 Footage of an alleged vandal causing upwards of $30,000 in damage at Manayunk's Venice Island. A teenage suspect has been charged in connection with the vandalism. (Image courtesy of Philadelphia Police)

Footage of an alleged vandal causing upwards of $30,000 in damage at Manayunk's Venice Island. A teenage suspect has been charged in connection with the vandalism. (Image courtesy of Philadelphia Police)

Here’s a look at the stories you may have missed in Northwest Philadelphia this week:

1. Teen turned in by mother, charged in connection with Venice Island vandalism

Philadelphia Police charged a local 15-year-old boy with criminal mischief after his mother turned him in in connection with the extensive vandalism caught on video at Manayunk’s revitalized Venice Island Park two weeks ago.

2. GHS grassroots group submits charter-school application

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A grassroots group is now one step closer to breathing new life into the former home of Germantown High School. The Germantown Community Charter School Coalition was one of 40 groups that submitted a charter school application to the School District of Philadelphia by the Nov. 15 deadline.

3. Imani Charter plans appeal after SRC votes to close Germantown school

The School Reform Commission voted 4-1 Thursday night to close Imani Education Circle Charter School in Germantown, leading the school’s board and CEO to promise a swift and strong appeal to the state, according to The Philadelphia Public School Notebook.

4. Rare neighborhood-development overlay proposed for Roxborough

While not as restrictive as a historic-district designation, the Central Roxborough Neighborhood Conservation Overlay would ensure that developers maintain the “human-scaled design, interesting and pedestrian friendly facades” through rules related to building setbacks, height, construction materials and parking.

5. Imhotep football routs W. Philly for third consecutive Public League title

East Germantown’s Imhotep Institute Charter High Panthers football team won its third consecutive Public League championship with Saturday afternoon’s 62-0 dismantling of the West Philadelphia High Speedboys.

6. Knife-wielding suspect robs Rite Aid in Mt. Airy for a second time

Police are seeking a suspect in a second robbery of a Mt. Airy Rite Aid. The first occurred on Nov. 4. The suspect stole $583 from the cash register. The second robbery took place on Nov. 13 at 8:25 p.m. when a suspect who police believe to be the same man shown in footage from the Nov. 4 robbery, entered the store and pointed a knife at the 18-year-old employee behind the counter.

7. Rogue website launches hoax ‘Ken Weinstein For Mayor’ campaign

Mt. Airy developer Ken Weinstein isn’t running to replace Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter next year even if a tidy, mystery website sure makes it seem like he is.

8. Germantown salon helps those recovering from abuse, addiction to ‘fly’

A new documentary, created and directed by Glenn Holsten, follows Rachel “Hollywood” Carr’s journey to bring her special brand of confidence to others. “The Hollywood Beauty Salon” follows the colorful lives of Carr and a Germantown salon’s members as they rebuild their lives while struggling with mental illness.

9. East Falls resident announces City Council at-large candidacy

George Matysik, a 33-year-old East Falls resident, is running for a City Council at-large seat in next year’s elections. “This city is my home and this city will continue to be my home,” he says. “The most impact I can have is within City Hall.”

10. Ellington homicide prompts new police-patrol approach in Penn-Knox

As reported to residents at a Tuesday night community meeting, 39th District Lt. Christopher Wagenhoffer established a new patrolling grid from Logan Street to Queen Lane between Germantown and Wayne aves. in the days since Wayne Ellington Sr.’s homicide.

11. Northwest Philly residents, police grapple with wave of car break-ins

During the past month, at least 20 to 30 cars have been broken into throughout West Mt. Airy and Chestnut Hill, prompting police to remind residents to take common-sense steps to avoid being victimized.

12. $1.1 million state grant aims to better connect Northwest Philly

Mt. Airy USA, a local community development corporation dedicated to neighborhood revitalization projects, is in the early stages of what it is calling the Connecting & Building Philadelphia’s Safest Corridors project, which will involve the implementation of a much-needed regional wayfinding system of signs, as well as the installation of 10 shelters along some of the area’s busiest bus routes.

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