The Garden Court Community Association is offering grants of up to $700 for sidewalk repairs, tree pruning and planting and a variety of other block improvements. The grants require a dollar-for-dollar matching by the block in labor, in-kind services or cash. The grants are available for blocks within the Garden Court neighborhood – 45th Street to 52nd Street and Locust Street to Cedar Avenue.

Possible improvements include:

• Professional tree pruning

• Planting new street trees

• Sidewalk repairs

• Development of lawns between the curb and sidewalk

Applications require at least two people on the same block living in different households. At least one applicant must be a member of the community association. Grant applications are due Feb. 1 and the grants will be announced March 1. Grant applications are available here.

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The Global Leadership Academy Charter School at 5151 Warren St. “cannot be salvaged” after a five-alarm fire this morning, according to the school’s website.

The fire began at about 6 a.m. in the school’s basement, according to reports, and quickly engulfed the school. A police officer passing by the school at about 6 a.m. spotted flames in the basement of the building. The school announced that it will keep students up to date with automated phone messages.

About 500 students grades K-8 attend GLA Charter School, which is scheduled to begin the 2011-2012 school year at a new building near 46th and Girard.

Firefighters are battling a five-alarm blaze this morning at the Global Leadership Academy Charter School at 5151 Warren St. The fire is under control, according to reports and no injuries have been reported. The fire appears to have started at about 6 a.m. this morning.

Police have rerouted all traffic, including buses and trolleys, off of Lancaster Avenue near the fire.

About 500 students grades K-8 attend GLA Charter School, which is scheduled to begin the 2011-2012 school year at a new building near 46th and Girard.

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There are still a couple of hours left to catch today’s winter edition of the Clark Park Farmer’s Market. Several hearty vendors have braved the snow to offer some fresh vegetables, bread, eggs and the like. The market runs until 2 p.m. today.

OK. This is a pretty easy one. Know where this 1954 photo was taken? Click on “comments” to answer.

The Daily News included a nice little profile of West Philadelphia High School forward Lemeir Mitchell in its report of West’s drubbing of Horace Furness yesterday 76-60.

In addition to being a basketball player, Mitchell, who lives at 52nd and Hazel, is also an artist and, for now, he is specializing in tattoo art. He has even given himself a couple, including one that runs from elbow to his wrist.

Here is the full story.