Overbrook: Panthers’ Basketball Program Hopes To Reclaim Storied Past
The significance isn’t lost on Cyri Coates. Every time the senior on the Overbrook High School basketball team walks into the school’s Wilt Chamberlain Memorial Gym, he sees the images of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer around the gym. He sees the red and orange banner representing Chamberlain’s retired No. 5 jersey hanging on […]
Mantua: After-School Programs Filling Void Left By Closure of University City High School
For 41 years, the 14-acre plot on Filbert Street between 37th and 38th streets was home to University City High School, Charles Drew Elementary School and The Walnut Center. Today, those buildings have been erased from existence, leaving behind a vast swath of unfinished terrain littered by rocks, dirt and controversy. University City High School closed […]
Overbrook: Panthers Football Team Trains for Season and Life
As the school year is coming to an end and the weather outside is getting warmer and warmer, many restless high school students cannot wait until the school day is over. In West Philadelphia, this free time can be a dangerous time for many 14-year-old to 18-year-olds with nothing to do. Not for the young […]
Overbrook: Five Places To See In Will Smith’s Old Neighborhood.
With so much history behind this West Philadelphia neighborhood, it’s no wonder there are so many hidden treasures. Overbrook possesses interesting locations that are unknown to many people living in the Greater Philadelphia region. Overbrook Farms Often considered a sub-section of the Overbrook neighborhood, Overbrook Farms (above) is a suburban area in the city that […]
Overbrook: Four People Making a Difference
Overbrook is small geographically, but it’s booming with organizations and facilities that help promote progress and positive vibes throughout the neighborhood. Here are four people who want to make a difference in Overbrook. 1. Coach Bob Miller (above) is new to the Overbrook High School administration. However, he manages to keep good relationships with the students who pass […]
Overbrook: Five Schools to Know
Known for its historical characteristics and distinctive Victorian-style residential architecture, Overbrook also includes a wide range of educational facilities. From Overbrook School for the Blind to Saint Joseph’s University, these institutions can accommodate students with assorted backgrounds and needs. Here is a list five principal schools that are deep-rooted in the neighborhood. 1. Often noted for […]
Overbrook: Neighborhood Rivalries Left on the Court
[vimeo 65152765] Neighborhood tensions between the three sub-communities of Hilltop, Wynnefield and Parkside are a part of life growing up in the Overbrook community. Where someone lives is where his or her identity is rooted. “They call it riding with their neighborhood,” Naim Bellinger, former police officer at Overbrook High School, said. “The kids hang […]
Overbrook: School Mergers Raise Concern for Youth Violence
[vimeo 65163182] As the school year comes to a close for students in the Philadelphia School District, some last days will be more somber than usual. The district’s plan to close 23 schools citywide, three of which are located in the Overbrook community, will be effective June 30. Samuel Gompers and Overbrook Elementary Schools will close […]
Overbrook Farms: A Suburb Within City Limits
[vimeo 62712343] Residents on the 6300 block of Overbrook Avenue confidently express pride as one of the few neighborhoods where one can still go next door to borrow sugar or eggs and everyone knows each other’s name. Paul and Laurel Wilson have lived on Overbrook Avenue for the past 31 years. During their time on the […]