Top 8 stories of the week in Northwest Philadelphia

Here are several stories that you may have missed this week in Northwest Philadelphia:

1. Jack Kitchen out at West Oak Lane’s OARC, new interim president/CEO named

Ogontz Avenue Revitalization Corp. has a new leader: Kimberly A. Lloyd, chair of the Lincoln University Board of Trustees and former OARC treasurer. Former President and CEO Jack Kitchen had served in the positon for much of his 21-year tenure with OARC; he left under unclear circumstances a year after a state financial probe was dropped. Read Brian Hickey’s story about the change.

2. Northwest Philadelphia stands out in recent study on city home ownership

Several Northwest Philadelphia zip codes saw rises in home ownership. That was a rarity both nationally and in a city which suffered a home-ownership drop only second to Phoenix. Michael Buozis explores the details of a Pew Charitable Trust study on the topic.

3. Abandoned ‘choking’ pit bull rescued in Northwest Philly park 

An abandoned pit bull was found tied to the fence in Awbury Park on Tuesday. A PSPCA officer who responded to the cruelty-hotline tip said the dog could have choked to death thanks to the short length of the wire by which it was tied. Buozis’ story covers both the rescue and checks in on the dog’s future.

4. Waldorf School project gets $250K boost from state program

A redevelopment project at the St. Peter’s Episcopal Church complex in Germantown will include a fourth building at the site thanks to a recently awarded state-tax credit. The independent Waldorf School of Philadelphia is set to move into the upgraded complex next summer. Marcus McCarthy’s covers the latest update.

5. Roxborough Salvation Army program keeps seniors connected to community

The Ever-Young Club at the Salvation Army Roxborough Corps Community Center hosts weekly activities for senior citizens. Some members have attended for more than a decade and participated in activities ranging from making pretzels to pickling cucumbers. Lou Mancinelli covers the club’s activities in more detail.

6. Manayunk’s North Light Community Center will soon get a fancy new playground

Thanks to a national non-profit group’s ongoing efforts to create playspaces for children, a new playground will soon be built at North Light Community Center in Manayunk. They’re already seeking design input from the public (and the kids). Read Daniel Pasquarello’s report on the effort.

7. Appeal hearing delayed in case of MLK student’s football eligibility [updated]

Star defensive lineman Dawayne Young will have to wait another until the PIAA hears an appeal that will determine whether he can play his senior year of football at Martin Luther King High School. Hickey looks at the delay’s behind-the-scenes drama.

8. A spot for comedy — and ice cream — in Manayunk

The Crazy Cow Café in Manayunk doubles as an ice cream shop and comedy club. The unique setup has been the site of more than 50 comedy shows since January and shows no signs of stopping. Check out Bouzis’ feature on the club.