Top 6 stories of the week in NW Philly

 Standing in Town Hall, Rob Wheeler from Wired Beans explains the state of Germantown to Ben Miller and other community stakeholders. (Matthew Grady/for NewsWorks)

Standing in Town Hall, Rob Wheeler from Wired Beans explains the state of Germantown to Ben Miller and other community stakeholders. (Matthew Grady/for NewsWorks)

Here’s a look at what you may have missed this week:

1. Radar gun finds dangerous driving near Philly-area schools (and speeders anywhere cars go)

When we put out a call for problem spots for our second look at speeding in the city, several people responded with school zones. With a radar gun in tow, our team looked into how fast cars are traveling into those areas along with some of the city’s known speedways, including Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive. Check out the results of Brian Hickey and Matthew Grady’s story to learn more.

2. 18-year-old Chestnut Hill resident aids those trapped from building collapse

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When Jordan McLaughlin saw the Center City building crumble Wednesday morning, he didn’t hesitate to help. Along with others, he jumped into the pile of bricks and wood to locate people trapped beneath the rubble. Check out our story to learn more. Also be sure to take a look back at the rest of our coverage of the deadly collapse.

3. Roxborough High principal Stephen Brandt will step down in July

After more than three years, the Roxborough alum is leaving to a head a high school in Bucks County. He’ll be sorely missed by many members of the school’s community. Under his leadership, RHS has become safer and stronger academically. Check out Aaron Moselle’s story for more details.

4. The final month: GHS alumni president ‘sort of numb’ as closing day nears

Vera Primus was easily the most active advocate for keeping Germantown High School open next year. She helped organize meetings, rallies and marches to drum up community support to send a message to the district and the School Reform Commission. Now, with less than two weeks to go before the 99-year-old school closes, read what Primus has to say about the shuttering of her alma mater. Be sure to also check out the rest of this week’s installments of ‘The final month’ series, including an alum from the Class of ’62 and a strange, SEPTA-related quirk.

5. Real-estate crowdfunding duo sees recovery potential in Germantown’s commercial corridor

For Benjamin and Daniel Miller, Germantown is the type of neighborhood where Fundrise, a crowdfunding platform with a real-estate bent, could work. It’s got potential and has folks in the community who want to see the things improve. Check out Matthew Grady’s story to learn more about a recent tour the pair took.

6. Fear of death keeps Bridge Way grad moving forward

Sam Driben arrived at the Roxborough-based private school less than day after leaving a treatment center for drug abuse. A year later, he’s still sober and en route to becoming a paramedic. His experience at Bridge Way proved pivotal. Check out Aaron Moselle’s story for more details.

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