Philadelphia public and Catholic schools will dismiss at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow due to the heat.

The School District of Philadelphia released a statement tonight stating:

The expected extreme weather coupled by the high humidity levels could create a situation in which heat illness is possible. The District is taking this heat warning seriously by closing schools, which includes early childhood programs, at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow. At the 1:30 p.m. dismissal time, routine transportation will occur for students.

All District after-school programs have also been cancelled. Keep an eye on Thursday as well as temperatures are expected to stay well into the 90s.

Editor’s Note: The folks who organize Plotland have come to an agreement with the owners of the property since this story was first published. They can stay, but the owners have asked that the space not be used for social gatherings because of liability concerns.

There are something like 40,000 vacant lots in Philadelphia and bad things tend to happen in them. But the work of two West Philly women and a cadre of volunteers has turned one of those lots into a thriving community space nicknamed “Plotland.”

Located on the northeast corner of 44th and Locust, Plotland has gone from a weed-filled, garbage-strewn mess to a mosaic of raised beds with everything from kale and tomatoes to flowers.

If you have walked by that corner in recent weeks you have no doubt seen it take shape. Folks hang out there now, often on the brick patio complete with used lawn furniture. A young girl in the neighborhood recently had her birthday party there. The space is useful again.

That was the idea all along, said Amanda Sebald, who along with Geraldine Lavin began organizing Plotland in earnest in early spring.

“What we are on our way to creating is a lot that is everyone’s not just ours,” said Sebald.

Sebald and Lavin each had been thinking about a possible use for the space, which is privately owned (more on that later) and nearby the small commercial strip that includes Evan’s Pizza, Koch’s Deli, CVS, Cafe Clave, a laundromat and the nearby Penn Alexander School. A lot of foot traffic passes by each day and the lot gets a lot of sun – two important factors for a community space that is built around getting volunteers to help grow things.

Great idea right? OK, the only chink in the plan is that what is going on at Plotland is kind of like squatting (more specifically, “guerilla gardening“), though that lot has been vacant for several years. As mentioned earlier, the land is privately owned so Plotland’s long-term existence is still in question. To help garner support, Plotland organizers are throwing a potluck fundraiser Saturday, June 11. Attendees are asked to bring a dish and a few bucks to kick in to help the project continue.

So far community donations have brought in bricks for the patio, soil for the raised beds and even the bottom half of a mannequin now used as a plant stand. Most important of all, though, is the help people have offered – everything from weeding and planting to bricklaying and hauling – to take the lot from an eyesore to a community resource with heaps of potential.

“A big part of asking people to contribute different things is so they feel ownership,” Sebald said.

For more information go to Plotland’s Facebook page. Or better yet, just stop by.

More details are rolling in about the opening of Clark Park’s “A” section. The June 16 opening ceremony is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m., just after the weekly Thursday farmer’s market kicks off.

The opening will incorporate the market with “A Taste of the Market,” a sampling of products from market vendors.

Deputy Mayor Michael DiBerardinis, state officials and multiple community partners will also be on hand.

It seems like space (or maybe food) is limited for this thing and those interested in attending are asked to RSVP to Barbara McCabe of Philadelphia Parks & Recreation at barbara.mccabe [at] phila.gov or (215) 683-3679.

Today’s pet is Lyons, a black & white male cat.

Lyons is a very nice boy. He’s well behaved, doesn’t scratch the furniture, eats just enough food, not greedy or picky, and uses his litter box all the time.

He was found outside in the cold and snow this past winter, lost and alone, and hasn’t had too much luck in finding his forever home. He’s in foster care at the moment.

If you have a female cat he’ll be a gentleman, but he’s not too fond of other boys.

Lyons is neutered, vaccinated, and FIV/FeLV negative – all ready to just settle down in a new home.

Please give Lyons a chance.

To arrange a meeting with Lyons or for more information, email: Projectmeowadoptions [at] gmail.com

Community members are invited to attend a meeting on the future development of Baltimore Avenue tomorrow at 7 p.m. at the People’s Baptist Church (5039 Baltimore Ave.).

The meeting is the next step in the “Baltimore Avenue Conversation,” a series of workshops and meetings on development topics ranging from senior/affordable housing and building facade improvements to business interests and landscaping. The meeting will include a brief review of the final recommendations of the Community Design Collaborative, a collection of design professionals who do pro bono work for non-profits.

Other scheduled presenters include:

• A representative from Friends Rehabilitation, who will talk about the process involved in building senior/affordable housing with examples from projects they have built around Philadelphia.

• Joe McNulty, Cedar Park resident and Baltimore Avenue commercial corridor coordinator for the University City District, will talk about commercial facade improvements.

• Leah Pillsbury from Mariposa Food Co-op will present information about the co-op’s expansion plans.

• Stephanie Chiorean from the Philadelphia Water Department will be speaking on greening plans for the City of Philadelphia.

• Danielle Denk will present a new proposal to bring a Garden Center to some of the empty lots at 51st and Baltimore.

Tune Up Philly, the unique after-school music program, concluded the school year yesterday with a performance at St. Francis de Sales Catholic School (917 S. 47th St.). The performance featured pieces by the full orchestra and choir as well as quartets and quintets. About 85 St. Francis de Sales students ranging from kindergartners to eighth graders, have taken part in the program, which takes students from beginning musicians to concert-ready over the course of the school year.

JUMP magazine did a great piece on the program last week. Read it here.

Unfortunately we had to leave the concert early and we missed the performance of the full orchestra. We have heard rave reviews though. Below is a slideshow of some of the performances early in the concert.

You will be hearing a lot more about this program in the coming year. Tune Up Philly will be at the Henry C. Lea School (4700 Locust St.) next year and, as you can see in the photos, a film crew was shooting yesterday’s concert.