Clark Park’s farmer’s market runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today. On the way to or from the park, check out a special lemonade stand near the corner of 45th and Chester.

Proceeds from the “LEAmonade” stand go toward the purchase of air conditioners for the Henry Lea School’s kindergarten classrooms (47th and Locust). The West Philly Coalition for Neighborhood Schools and the Lea Home and School Association are working up plans for a passive cooling system (trees and such) but in the meantime are raising money to keep the kindergartners cool.

The tea, coffee and light fare spot Unitea (265 S. 44th St.), stayed in business for just under a year, closing in late March. It opened with pretty solid reviews, particularly of its tea selection. It had a pretty good location nearby Tampopo and Local 44.

That section of 44th will likely get another foot traffic boost when (Honest) Tom McCusker opens his taco shop in August next door at 261 S. 44th (By the way, we heard what definitely sounded like construction noise coming from that little building today, so that project is underway).

Unitea’s windows are now papered over, which we hope means a new tenant is in the works. Their closing got us thinking … Has that part of West Philly hit its capacity for cafes/coffee shops? Within a few blocks you have Green Line, Cafe Clave and Earth Cup. What would you like to see in that spot on 44th? Just curious.

UPDATE: Sometime between this posting and 4 p.m. they filled in the hole. People commented here and on Facebook. Even WHYY’s Newsworks.org took notice. We like to think that the Streets Department was reading. Power to the people!

Watch out for this axle breaker in the right-hand lane of Walnut Street between 44th and 45th. We’re not exactly sure what kind of road work left this thing behind. Yesterday it had cones around it, but now they’re gone and vehicles have to do last-minute braking and swerving. Fender benders look inevitable.

Cyclists also need to take caution because many cars are trying to dodge this thing to the right, taking them into the bike lane.

Anyone have any friends in the Streets Department?

Update – Click here for the full surveillance video of the suspects.

Police are searching for two young males they believe are responsible for at least four muggings in less than an hour early Tuesday morning. The robberies are the latest in a number of muggings at gunpoint in the last week.

The details on each robbery on Tuesday morning, which were committed with a handgun:

• 12:45 a.m. – 4800 block of Warrington. Two cell phones were taken.

• 1:05 a.m. – 4700 block Cedar. A driver’s license and cell phone were taken.

• 1:20 a.m. – 6000 block of Market. A cell phone, credit cards and a vehicle were taken. The vehicle was later recovered.

• 1:30 a.m. – 200 block of S. 48th. Car keys were taken and the victim’s vehicle, which was parked on the 4800 block of Locust, was later reported missing.

A 15-year-old boy has been arrested in connection of a series of gunpoint robberies over the last week. Police believe the boy was part of a group of young men that robbed at least four people since last Thursday.

The teenager, who was not named, was arrested following two attempted robberies within five minutes early Saturday morning near 45th and Chestnut and 43rd and Market. Police say he and at least two others were also responsible for a robbery at 43rd and Haverford at about 10:40 p.m. on Friday and another at 46th and Market at about 11:20 p.m. on Thursday.

Police say that the first robbery Saturday took place at about 12:55 a.m., when a group of young males began following two women in their mid 20s at 45th and Market. The women stopped at 45th and Chestnut to see if the group would walk past and that is when the young men attempted to rob them. One woman ran across the street and another fled and jumped into a cab.

About five minutes later, police say the same group committed a robbery near 43rd and Market.

Police have been investigating a robbery spree over the last week involving groups of young men, often wearing gray hoodies.

The 15-year-old is, so far, the only person who has been charged for the robberies. Police would not say if the same teen was part of a group of three young men who robbed a man on May 18 near 44th and Sansom at about 6:15 p.m.

A man was also robbed early Saturday near 46th and Springfield. A group of five young men stole his cell phone, wallet and sneakers. Last Tuesday a woman was robbed at gunpoint two young males near 49th and Larchwood. The 15-year-old mentioned above was not charged with those robberies.

 

View Mid-May robbery spree in a larger map

Today’s issue of the Philadelphia Inquirer details the situation around Penn Alexander school.  As reported earlier by Westphillylocal, the school may not be able to provide spots for new students in lower grades because of overcrowding.

According to the Inquirer article, the school’s partnership with Penn was renewed for another 10 years last week.