Top 5 stories of the week in Northwest Philly

Here’s a look at what you may have missed this past week in Northwest Philly.

1. Ex-felons wash away past sins by keeping Germantown streets clean

Germantown Special Services District (GSSD) has contracted six to eight homeless men to clean the neighborhood’s commercial corridors through Ready Willing and Able, a service-oriented transitional housing program for homeless men. Learn more about the program here.

2. Immense stick sculpture opens to the public at Morris Arboretum

“A Waltz in the Woods,” the newest site-specific stick work sculpture from artist Patrick Dougherty opened to the public this weekend after a three-week construction process. Read more here.

3. Toads stop traffic for annual detour in Roxborough

The Toad Detour program (and its helpers from across the region), helmed by Schuylkill Center volunteer coordinator Claire Morgan, helps millions of toads every year maintain their important place in the local ecosystem — including the favor of eating mosquitos that pester us. Read more here.

4. Roxborough High graduate gets chance to work out for the Eagles

Roxborough’s Rasheed Bailey lived out his childhood dream on Wednesday as he worked out for the Philadelphia Eagles. The wide receiver, Delaware Valley University’s all-time leader in career receiving yards, was chosen after impressing Eagles’ scouts at pro day two weeks ago at Villanova University. Read more here.

5. Mt. Airy group gives $12K in tax credit funds to neighborhood schools

The Mt. Airy Schools Coalition, a group made up of three community civic organizations, has granted $12,000 to six neighborhood schools. It’s the second year the group has used a state tax credit program called the Educational Improvement Tax Credit to allow business owners to direct their state tax dollars to area schools. Here’s the full story.