The Winter Solstice doesn’t seem to get much respect anymore. It’s usually just dismissed as the shortest day of the year and forgotten. All the love is thrown at the Summer Solstice, but it’s the winter Solstice that signals a rebirth. Therefore, everyone is invited to a Winter Solstice lantern walk today that leaves the Cedar Park point at 46th and Baltimore at 4:30ish. The walk will proceed to the Cedar Park playground at 50th and Baltimore.

Participants are asked to bring something delicious and portable to share along with flashlights and/or flameless lanterns (no candles please). There is very likely to be music, dancing and storytelling.

Performers run through their last rehearsal before the Y.T.A.P. program’s first performance tonight at The Rotunda at 7 p.m.

When a dozen or so 4th through 6th graders from Henry C. Lea School (4700 Locust St.) take the stage tonight at The Rotunda for their performance of “Let’s Learn Each Other!” they will complete what Beth Nixon hopes will be the first of many semesters of collaborative youth involvement in the West Philly arts scene.

The students have worked with poets, musicians and puppeteers, including Nixon, to tell their story through performance. That collaboration has been difficult this semester, the pilot run of Y.T.A.P., but Nixon hopes the program can adjust and grow to become a unique after-school program that will allow kids to design and stage their own performances.

The program is still looking for funding and in-kind donations – from art supplies to snacks. It’s also looking for kids interested in spending a couple of days a week after school at The Rotunda working with an amazing group of artists.

Tonight’s show at The Rotunda begins at 7 p.m. and is free.

Eagles fever seeped out of West Philly homes and into the streets after the big win yesterday, leading to an impromptu twist on a Christmas classic during caroling in Clark Park. The Eagles notched a dramatic, come-from-behind win against archrival New York Giants and “Hark the Herald Eagles Sing” soon followed.

Mariposa Food Co-op is on target to move into its new building at 4824 Baltimore Ave by July 2011. Members got a sneak peak inside the new building during the general membership meeting on Sunday.

Originally built as a bank, the new space will increase Mariposa’s space five-fold and include community classrooms, offices and more storage. The bulk of the renovation will be to the main selling space and will begin in early spring. The entire project cost $2 million, including the purchase of the former bank building, and although the co-op has raised most of the money through loans and grants – about $1.5 million – it is still seeking investors for the remaining costs, said project manager Bull Gervasi. A number of fundraisers are being planned to help offset costs.

Members have already done some light renovation and have found some interesting design features in the 90-year-old building, including the solid marble entrance to the former vault and glazed brick in the basement, which used to serve as a fallout shelter.

The Mariposa membership has decided to offer a new shopping scheme along with the new location. The added space will make it feasible for non-members to shop as well, though members will still be the lifeblood of the organization.

An interview with Bull Gervasi and a quick tour of the main space:

• Mariposa Co-op membership meeting/tour • 4-7 p.m. • the future Mariposa location • 4824 Baltimore Ave.
Come and see Mariposa‘s soon-to-be-new digs. The general membership meeting is 4-6 p.m. and tours of the new building are from 6-7 p.m.

• Caroling in Clark Park • 5 p.m. • Park “B” next to the green and white storage house, near 45th and Regent
Originally scheduled for last week, the caroling is on for this week. So come out and sing or just work off some tension built up during the Eagles game.

Send information on events to: editor [at] westphillylocal.com

It turned out to be easier than West Catholic players ever could have imagined. West Catholic won the PIAA Class AA state title today with a 50-14 defeat of South Fayette at Hersheypark Stadium.

West Catholic dominated on the ground, rushing for 406 yards on 48 carries. West’s David Williams led the ground attack with 183 yards on 14 carries. The win will help West fans and players forget the 35-34 double overtime loss in the title game against Wilmington Area two years ago.