Top 9 stories of the week in Northwest Philly

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

1. Top 50 photos of the year in Northwest Philly

Throughout last week, NewsWorks ran a series of what it deemed its best photos taken in Northwest Philadelphia throughout 2014. It was broken down into five parts: No. 1-10, 11-20, 21-30, 31-40 and 41-50.

2. Northwest Raiders return to Germantown as Pop Warner Super Bowl champs

A blue-and-gold wave washed over the sidewalk in front of Lonnie Young Recreation Center last weekend as a community welcomed home the city’s newest championship team. Germantown’s Northwest Raiders clobbered Connecticut’s New Britain Raiders 26-6 to capture the “Midget” Pop Warner Super Bowl. It’s the athletic association’s first-ever national title.

3. Second mysterious firebombing on Germantown block leaves residents on edge

Sunday night’s blaze at a home on East Coulter Street was the second suspicious fire on the block this month. Everyone escaped without injury, but a heavy dose of sadness and confusion remain. (Update: Arson suspect eyed for connection)

4. ‘Justice For All March’ from the eyes of two Philadelphia teenagers

Sam Gerlach and Melanie Graves, sophomores at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, shared their experiences from last weekend’s “Justice For All March” in Washington, D.C. in a Philly Parenting post this week.

5. Parking issues pit residents vs. developers in pocket of Manayunk

In a section of the city where on- and off-street spaces are tough to find and getting tougher, even the small lot at 147 Gay Street — which offers spots for 30 vehicles — has become a flash point pitting residents against developers in Manayunk.

6. PhillyU student gets a kickstart to create a replica Dark Knight ‘Bat Suit’

Under the name Armatus Designs, Philadelphia University student Jackson Gordon is creating quite a stir with his plans to design and build a fully functioning “Bat Suit.” A Kickstarter campaign for the project, which ended last week, exceeded its funding goal and will allow the final version to be constructed from top-grade materials, incorporating technologies such as Bluetooth and proximity sensors.

7. Groundbreaking event marks ceremonial start of $22m PHA project in Germantown

For three years, the Queen Lane Apartments site was the epicenter of community friction in southwest Germantown. But on Wednesday, the cleared lot at West Queen Lane and Pulaski Ave. hosted a ceremonial-groundbreaking celebration for a $22 million project slated to bring 55 new rental units to the site.

8. Mummers plan Mardi Gras encore in Manayunk

In the New Year, Mummers will have a second parade featuring string bands marching in Manayunk for Mardi Gras. About a dozen or more string bands — the exact number is not yet determined — will march down Main Street Feb. 22 for a celebration doubling as a fundraiser for the troubled Mummers legacy.

9. Chestnut Hill holiday parade brings together community, Santa and Phillie Phanatic [photos]

The Chestnut Hill Community Association held its annual holiday parade last weekend. Community members had the chance to meet and greet with Santa and the Phillie Phanatic during the parade that went along Germantown Avenue.