University City District is teaming up with EnergyWorks, a federally funded energy efficiency program, and inviting University City residents (see map below) to sign up for a discounted home energy audit. Application deadline is January 31, 2013. The audit will help identify areas in your home that need energy efficiency improvements that will make your home more comfortable and help reduce your utility bills.

Typically, the cost of a home energy audit is around $400, but with this program you can get a special $49 promotional rate. EnergyWorks also offers low-interest rate (%0.99) for energy retr0-fits.

For more information and to sign up, email: sustainability@universitycity.org

Hibiscus Juice Bar has Caribbean decor and limited seating. (Photo by Jen Horner)

At Hibiscus Juice Bar, which opened a few months ago at the corner of 49th and Catharine streets, owner Sarah Scandone and manager Jessica Matluck combine Caribbean flavors and healthy ingredients in a bright yellow decor. Drawing on experiences operating a juice bar in Belize, and driven by their passion for healthy foods, the longtime friends opened their shop just around the corner from where Scandone once lived.

A dozen or more blends and smoothies will please the most dedicated juice lovers. The magenta “Detox” blend of beets, celery, parsley, kale, pineapple and honeydew (small $4.29, large $5.29) is sweet with a sharp little bite. In addition to an array of vegetable, herb, and fruit choices, you can enhance your smoothie (small $3.99, large $4.99) with bee pollen, Irish Moss, and other healthy stuff. Hibiscus also sells a variety of snack breads, cookies, and cakes, baked on-site.

Savory foods include vegetarian and vegan wraps, quesadillas, salads, a few fish dishes, daily specials and soups. Everything I tried was saturated with flavor – the nutritional equivalent of sunshine. The spicy Jamaican Jerk Tofu wrap ($6.99) included chard, rice, and okra. Salads are served individually or in combination ($3.99 for one, 7.99 for two, and soon). Kale salad with nutritional yeast dressing paired with tuna salad made a crunchy, filling and satisfying lunch. Veggie quesadillas ($6.99) come with your choice of standard or vegan mozzarella cheese. If you want a small snack with your juice, try the veggie “chicken” empanada ($1.50). Most items on the menu can be prepared vegan, and if you avoid gluten, ask for rice tortillas instead of wheat.

At first glance, there are similarities between Hibiscus and Atiya Ola’s Spirit First Foods, located a half-mile east on Baltimore at 45^th street. Because of the focus on take-out, the seating is sparse at Hibiscus, while Atiya Ola’s provides table service. Hibiscus mixes a wider variety of juices on the spot, and Atyia Ola’s offers more different food choices, plus breakfast served all day. Both satisfy the growing demand for healthy, raw, and vegetarian foods in our neighborhood.

– Jen

Update: Police said Tuesday that they apprehended Eric Early near Erie and Torresedale avenues. They also added attempted murder to his list of charges. Police also changed his age from 16 to 17.

Police have apprehended one of two teenage brothers wanted in connection with the shooting at the 46th street El stop on Wednesday,  Dec. 12. 16-year-old Eric Early was taken into custody today and charged with Aggravated Assault. Police are still searching for his brother, 18-year-old Matthew Early.

Photo: Philly Police Blog.

Locust Moon Comics (34 S. 40th St.), our favorite neighborhood comics shop, is hosting the first ever Locust Moon Comics Festival this Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at The Rotunda (4014 Walnut St.). Refreshments will be provided by Kung Fu Hoagies and Little Baby’s Ice Cream.

The festival will host a bunch of exhibitors, including artists and publishers. Here are some:

· Brandon Graham
· Farel Dalrymple
· J.G. Jones
· David Mack
· Jim Rugg
· Terry LaBan
· Box Brown
· Benjamin Marra
· Ed Piskor
· Jeffro Kilpatrick & The Philadelphia Cartoonist Society
· Ad House Books
· Meathaus Enterprises
· Secret Acres
· Koyama Press
· Locust Moon Press

A full list of exhibitors is here. Admission is free, though a $5 donation is suggested. You can RSVP at the Facebook event page here.

Lastly, this might be the coolest announcement graphic we have ever published:

The School District of Philadelphia yesterday proposed the closure of 37 schools across the city, one sixth of the City’s public schools. Some 17,000 students would be affected. Now it’s time for members of the public to have their say.

A series of community forums is scheduled over the next couple of months “to help the public understand how we got here, the proposed recommendations, and where the District is headed,” the announcement on the District’s website reads. The School Reform Commission will vote on the proposed closure list, which includes Alexander Wilson Elementary at 46th and Woodland and University City High School, in March.

The full facilities master plan is available at the bottom of yesterday’s story, here. A full list of the community forums is available here. You can watch Superintendent William R. Hite Jr.’s announcement of the proposed closings here.

In West Philly, a forum will be held Monday, Dec. 17 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Sayre High School at 58th and Walnut.

The forums will continue after the holidays. Here are others scheduled for West Philly (all run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.):

• Jan. 22, Overbrook High School, 5898 Lancaster Ave.
• Jan. 23, University City High School, 3601 Filbert St.
• Feb. 19, Overbrook High School
• Feb. 20, University City High School

Read more on the proposed closings here:

“Across Philadelphia, strong reactions to school closings plan,” Philadelphia Public School Notebook.
“For adults and children, shock over school closings,” Philly.com.

Police are searching for brothers Matthew Early (18 y.o.) and Eric Early (16 y.o.) of the 100 block of S. 49th St. in connection with the shooting of two men aboard an El train Wednesday night. The incident happened at about 10:40 p.m. at the stop at 46th and Market, police said.

The victims, a 30-year-old and 36-year-old, were shot after an argument with the teens. While exiting the train, one of the teens pulled a gun and shot the 36-year-old man in the stomach. The bullet passed through him and then hit the 30-year-old man who was sitting behind him. Both victims were transported to HUP where they were listed in stable condition this morning. Reportedly, the argument that led to shooting was about the 76ers-Bulls game, from which the older man was returning wearing a Bulls jersey.

The teens got off the train at 46th and Market and fled.

UPDATE: Police have released video that includes footage from the surveillance cameras on the train and on the 46th and Market station platform (see below). If you have any information about this crime, please call 911 or Southwest Detectives Division at 215-686-3183/3184. (source: Philly Police Blog)