Top 9 stories of the week in NW Philly

1. Fattah talks education, job creation and Chelten Plaza hubbub at Germantown luncheon

Longtime U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-Philadelphia) stopped by the Wired Beans Café in Germantown this week for his annual “Chat and Chew” luncheon. During the informal event, held each year primarily for answer seeking reporters, the lawmaker covered education, neuroscience and job creation. Check out Brian Hickey’s story for more details.

2. Coffee to go: Wired Beans and the switch from Mt. Airy to Germantown

Wired Beans owner Robert Wheeler sat down with Plan Philly and NewsWorks’ reporter Amy Z. Quinn to talk about his decision to close his first location in Mt. Airy. Wheeler recently opened a second café with the same name in nearby Germantown. Check out her story to learn more about the independent entrepreneur.

3. Some City Council campaign funds earmarked for use in Voter ID effort.

Less than 100 days before the Presidential election, there’s still quite a bit of confusion when it comes to the state’s new voter-identification law. Members of City Council, including Eighth District City Councilwoman Cindy Bass, announced this week that they will team up with a grassroots organization to make sure no voter is disenfranchised. Check out Aaron Moselle’s story to learn more about the effort.

4. Suspect in sexual assault of elderly Germantown woman caught three hours after reward

Philadelphia police this week arrested a 24-year-old Germantown man in connection to a rape and robbery of an elderly neighborhood woman at the end of last week. Check out Brian Hickey’s story for more details.

5. Northwest Philadelphia to get a new Indian takeout restaurant

A husband-and-wife team will soon open a business, their first, along Mount Airy’s commercial corridor. They’ll serve the same food they’ve been making commercially for years for supermarkets and airlines. Check out Aaron Moselle’s story for more details.

6. East falls gateway project takes shape on Midvale Ave.

A 14-foot monolith just off Kelly Drive now welcomes residents to the Northwest Philadelphia neighborhood. The not-yet-completed project is part of an effort to improve the East Falls Riverfront Business District. Check out Meg Frankowski’s story to learn more.

7. One suspect remains at large in Mt. Airy’s East Sharpnack St. shooting

A 23-year-old man was shot and killed last Friday near Emlen Elementary. One arrest has been made in connection to the deadly incident, but no one has yet been charged with murder. Check out Jana Shea’s story for more details.

8. In move to renew Manayunk Special Services District, a look at shifting priorities

Main Street isn’t what it used to be. That’s what the Manayunk Neighborhood Council is arguing as they ask for legislation to renew the MSSD to be delayed. Civic members would like to see, among other things, an expanded district that requires businesses to take more responsibility for their in the community. Check out Amy Z. Quinn’s story for more details.

9. Geraldine Cherry deemed incompetent to stand trial for the alleged murder of her Roxborough roommate

The 50-year old was arrested in June for allegedly murdering her 70-year-old roommate. Since then, Cherry, who reportedly blinded herself, has been in the hospital for seizures and most recently received a psychiatric evaluation. Check out Aaron Moselle’s story for more details.