A large crowd turned out for the opening of Penn Charter’s new Performing Arts Center on Jan. 28. (Photo by Michael Branscom)

The new $15 million performing arts center at the William Penn Charter School is groundbreaking in many ways for the 320-year-old institution. Situated just off Henry Avenue in East Falls, the school has enjoyed a stellar reputation for most of its existence.

As an academic and athletic tour de force, the Quaker school is considered among the top educational institutions in the city. Surprisingly, it took Penn Charter centuries to admit girls, becoming coed in 1980 under the leadership of Earl Ball.

When Ball retired in 2006, making the school co-ed was just one of his proudest achievements. But Ball also is largely responsible for making the performing arts a vital and valuable part of the school’s academic experience.

Chestnut Hill has been selected to be one of 12 Distinctive Destinations by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, according to information received by the Chestnut Hill Business Association.

Chestnut Hill is the only community in Pennsylvania to receive the distinction. Mayor Michael Nutter will receive the award from the trust on Chestnut Hill’s behalf in a ceremony at 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 3 at TD Bank, 8600 Germantown Ave.

Penn Charter senior Emily Slawek contributed this photo to Project Sketchbook, which is transforming empty storefronts into art galleries.

A stroll down the Avenue is different these days. Instead of empty storefronts scattered along Germantown Avenue, captivating student artwork is on display.

Created through the collaboration of the Chestnut Hill business and community associations’ Vacancy Committee, this new pilot initiative provides an opportunity for student artists to display their work in the windows of vacant storefronts, transforming them into art galleries.

The Crefeld School, Springside School, Chestnut Hill Academy, and the William Penn Charter School are among the schools exhibiting work in the first installment of “Project Sketchbook,” modeled after Arts on South [Street], which will be on display through March.

Each school has been given freedom to fill the space assigned to it any way it desired, resulting in a wide range of art projects and art forms.

The Chestnut Hill Community Association had a full plate at its monthly meeting, Thursday, Jan. 28, much of which was occupied by 17 bylaw amendment proposals that took up more than an hour of discussion and voting.

The board endorsed 11 of the proposals, voted down three others and tabled two for consideration at the February meeting. Those bylaws proposals that were endorsed will be put on a ballot for a yea or nay vote by the membership in the association’s annual election in April.