Top 9 stories to look for in Northwest Philly

Here’s a look at stories NewsWorks will cover this upcoming week in Northwest Philadelphia:

1. It’s a story that’s been years in the making. Early Saturday morning, if all goes according to plan, an implosion will turn the 16-story Queen Lane Apartments tower into rubble near W. Queen Lane and Pulaski Ave. in Germantown. We’ll have several stories in the week leading up to the implosion, and full team coverage of the event itself.

2. On Thursday afternoon, Philadelphia University will host a dedication ceremony for the Arlen Specter Center for Public Service. University President Stephen Spinelli Jr. said he considers the center, located in the renovated Roxboro House on School House Lane near Henry Ave., “an incredibly unique gem.” The event will feature the debut of two new public-services awards given to a current student and an alum. Members of Specter’s family are expected to attend.

3. As part of the ongoing $2.2 million Maplewood Mall redesign effort, the Northwest community planner for the city Planning Commission will host a draft-alternative presentation and listening session. The event, slated for 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, will take place at First Presbyerian Church, 35 W. Chelten Ave. in Germantown.

4. As part of ongoing efforts to enhance community relations, the 14th Police District hosted a “Coffee With A Cop” event recently in Chestnut Hill. We’ll tell you all about it this week.

5. The Eleanor Emlen Elementary School held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new computer lab. In April, the Mt. Airy Schools Coalition approached Emlen with a plan to raise more than $48,000 for 33 new iMac computers. The “Emlen Computer Lab Initiative” reached its goal thanks to a large initial donation which spurred on an additional 30 donors by the time the goal was reached earlier this month.

6. In the second part of our Fringe Festival in Northwest Philly series (here’s part one), a NewsWorks roundup will detail Fringe shows from Northwest artists happening in the second half of the festival.

7. Convicted in July for the 2012 murder of Nafis Armstead in Mt. Airy, Brian Tootle will be sentenced this week. He faces life in prison without parole.

8. A major announcement regarding the Free Library of Philadelphia’s 21st Century Libraries Initiative is expected this week. The Lovett Memorial Library branch will be a prototype for this citywide campaign to modernize Philadelphia’s neighborhood libraries.

9. It’s Back To School week in Northwest Philadelphia and beyond. Check back early next week; NewsWorks will be out across the neighborhoods on Monday for a story and photo gallery.