West Philly history captured on new website
They came bearing stories of growing up in West Philadelphia.
Some recalled going to Dick Clark's American Bandstand studio at 4548 Market St., "only to be turned away because they were black," said Meg Lemieur of the People Emergency Center's Community Development Corp. (CDC).
Others mentioned the history of Mill Creek, a stream that can sometimes be heard running underneath West Philly in a tunnel built in the 1880s. Read more.
Weckerly's ice cream shop sets its opening in Fishtown
The weather forecast for Dec. 9 is partly cloudy with a high of 40 degrees. Perfect weather for the opening of an ice cream shop.
Weckerly’s - the homegrown micro-creamery founded four years ago in the kitchen at the Green Line Cafe in West Philadelphia - is ready to start scooping at its first brick-and-mortar location: a tiny storefront at 9 W. Girard Ave., next to Green Aisle Grocery and just west of Frankford Avenue. Read more.
Customer-owned banks thrive against rivals
Mutuals outperform and offer better value than competitor banks, according to a report from KPMG Australia.
The firm’s annual Mutual Industry Review found strong asset growth of 7.8% for mutuals, compared to 5% for the overall banking industry.
KPMG said this strong performance by the customer owned banking sector was built on effective business strategies including growth in lending portfolios; effective credit risk management practices; and leveraging digital reach and third-party distribution channels. Read more.
LGBTQ&A: Abdul-Aliy Muhammad
Abdul-Aliy Muhammad is a black queer social-justice activist and member of the Black and Brown Workers Collective, a coalition of LGBTQ protestors of color who have been consistently targeting Gayborhood racism. We chatted with the community leader about his direct-action tactics and passion for HIV/AIDS advocacy. Read more.