Some West Philly Local readers witnessed an arrest Monday night, around 9 p.m., near 45th and Osage, when two young males (looked to be between 15 and 18 years old) were handcuffed and taken away in a police van.

We learned that the arrest was made by Penn Police and the suspects, both early teens, were arrested for theft. Police say they stole a bike from 44th and Osage by cutting the lock with bolt cutters, according to Joe Murray of the Southwest Detectives. One of the alleged thieves is only 13 years old.

This week, on Thursday (Sept. 5) and Saturday (Sept. 7), The Food Trust’s Farmers’ Market Program will bring some free events, performances, and art installations to a few West Philly farmers’ markets. The events are part of the “Art at Market” series and will be held at the Clark Park market (Thursday and Saturday) and the Overbrook market (Saturday).

Here are more details:

Thursday, Sept. 5, 3 – 7 p.m.

Song Dong and Yin Xiuzhen. Photo via artasiapacific.com.

Clark Park (43rd & Baltimore)
Stop by the Philadelphia Art Alliance’s table to hear about “The Way of Chopsticks,” an exhibition by contemporary Beijing based artists Song Dong and Yin Xiuzhen that will open on September 12, 2013. You can hear more about the exhibition, learn about the Chinese tradition of shadow puppetry, and make a colorful shadow puppet of your own using chopsticks.

West Philly’s Spiral Q Puppet Theater invites everyone to their Scrap Table. Kids and adults of all ages will make masks and headgear out of common household materials. You’re welcome to bring your creation to the Peoplehood Parade on Sunday, Oct. 6 (from the Paul Robeson House to Clark Park). Spiral Q will also bring their scrap table to Clark Park on Saturday, Sept. 7.

Saturday, Sept. 7

Clark Park
Hot Chili Pepper Dryer
Part I: 10 a.m. — 2 p.m.
Join Philly-based artist and farmer Meei-Ling Ng as she builds a free-standing, 8-foot tripod structure out of bamboo. Market attendees will be given fresh red, orange, and yellow chili peppers to attach to the structure. The result: a large, patterned, chili pepper teepee that celebrates the inherent beauty, utility, and cultural roots of these spicy dried pods. For Part II, occurring on October 3, participants will return to the market and claim their dried chili peppers to enjoy at home. Meei-Ling will provide demonstrations and additional information about cooking with chili peppers and drying vegetables at home.

Overbrook Farmers’ Market
(In the Overbrook Presbyterian Church Parking Lot; Corner of Lancaster Ave and City Ave)
Believe the HYPE. Healthy You. Positive Energy.
A special HYPE performance by rapper Sterlen Barr and Dance Crew Special EFX will take place from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. HYPE is The Food Trust’s citywide youth leadership program that empowers middle and high school students to be the leaders for healthy change in their schools and communities. This special “Art at Market” event will get everyone up and dancing to set the tone for a healthy and HYPE new school year – with everything from old school classics to new funky favorites. The event will also feature stilt walking, juggling and hula hooping with local circus act Bujee Magoo.

For more information on The Food Trust’s farmers’ markets and the Art at Market series, visit foodtrustmarkets.org

This Fall local kids will have more opportunities to try the world’s greatest game in an organized manner without leaving their neighborhood. Starting in September, Soccer Shots, a national program created under the guidance of childhood education specialists, professional soccer players, and experienced and licensed soccer coaches, will bring youth soccer to Cedar Park (49th & Baltimore). The program uses creative and age-appropriate curricula and structures activities through a mixture of play and learning basic soccer skills.

The Soccer Shots Fall season runs from September 14 through November 16 and serves kids ages 2-4 (there will be two age groups: 2 year olds and 3-to-4 year olds). Soccer Shots will run for two hours (participants can choose one of three 40-minute sessions) once a week on Saturday mornings on two small grass sections of the park. There is a registration fee of $90 to $108 and you can register your child online at: http://philly.ssreg.org

The new Soccer Shots program will supplement the neighborhood’s long established Clark Park Youth Soccer League, which runs from September 28 to November 23. This volunteer-run program enrolls children ages 5-11 and is held at Clark Park (43rd & Chester) on Saturdays, 10:30-Noon and Noon to 1:30. This is a lower cost program ($20 per season) and “soccership” funds are available where there is financial need.

More information about the program, and the registration forms are available here.

Bubbles and Noah.

Bubbles the Calico and Noah the gentle white cat are best of friends. They’re currently being fostered through Project Meow, a West Philly cat rescue organization. Alas, due to all the cute kittens for adoption no one is interested in adopting two super cuddly adult kitties. If you’re looking for two great companions that won’t climb your drapes or total your lamps, please consider adopting these cats. To find out how to adopt this ready-made family, please email: projectmeowadoptions@gmail.com.

Here’s something to do in the hood tomorrow (Saturday, Aug 31), without having to spend a dime. You can bring your blankets, chairs and food & drinks to both events listed below.

• Philadelphia Pagan Pride Day, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Clark Park “B” (43rd & Chester) – Philadelphia Pagan Pride Day will bring together Heathens and Pagans of all traditions. This family-friendly event will feature vendors and entertainment for a day of fun to foster pride in Pagan identity through education, activism, charity, and community. A donation of a non-perishable food item will be appreciated (it will go to a local food bank). Here’s the event’s Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/groups/philadelphiapagapride/

• 40th Street Summer Series presents Spaceship Aloha, 6-9 p.m., 40th and Walnut (behind the Walnut West Library) – Spaceship Aloha is the vibrant new sonic move from Man Man drummer/producer Christopher Sean Powell. Spaceship Aloha’s performances, which are intended for non-stop dancing, present “a kaleidoscope of lush melodies and joyous electronic rhythms inspired by Hawaii’s musical landscape.” For more information, visit the 40th Street Summer Series Facebook page.

Here’s a reminder that there will be a Back to School celebration and book bag giveaway on Sunday, Sept 1, at Malcolm X. Park (51st and Pine). The event will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. Community volunteers will help to distribute donated book bags filled with schools supplies and clothing to over 300 local children. The event is organized by The Nehemiah Davis Foundation (NDF). During the event, NDF will also provide entertainment, free food and haircuts for all of the families who attend.

On Saturday (Aug 31), Bible Way Baptist Church located at 1323 N. 52nd St is having a Back to School Giveaway. Families with kids who need school supplies are welcome to this event. The giveaway starts at noon and goes until supplies last. For questions, call (215) 477 0778 or email: info@biblewaybaptist.org.