Public school students returned to understaffed buildings across the city today under a cloud of uneasiness that has hung over the School District of Philadelphia all summer. Many of the city’s 137,000 public school students are off to new schools after last year’s closure of 24 schools and nearly every school will be missing personnel as a result of mass layoffs.

Here are a few things that parents can do to help get through the first week:

• Parents United for Public Education has a thorough guide to filing official complaints about a child’s education experience. Complaints could be about anything from seriously overcrowded classrooms (35 students or more), to the need for a school counselor when none was available, to special needs students not receiving adequate services. The Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia will also help out with complaints.

Parents United stressed that these complaints are not meant to target specific teachers or principals. “The purpose of this effort is not to file complaints against principals or school staff but to focus on the mandates of the state constitution,” the organizations website reads. “It’s important to make clear this is not a lawsuit. These are administrative complaints that are intended to document and make public how terrible the impact is on young people across the city.”

• For students heading to new schools, the city has come up with “safe routes” that will be staffed by volunteers from 7:30 a.m. – 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. each day of the school year. You can access those here. Locally, that includes students who attended Alexander Wilson, which closed last spring, who have been assigned to Henry C. Lea. Parents are already questioning these.

• If you are on Twitter, follow the local public school movement at #phillyeducation. Also, include #Philly1stday, on tweets about your experience on the first day of school.

• Last but not least, thank a teacher, a principal, a security officer, a secretary. These are trying times.

The “safe routes” map from Alexander Wilson to Lea.

Photo by Annamarya Scaccia / West Philly Local

Last night, Curio Theatre opened its 2013-2014 season with its free production of Washington Irving’s classic 19th century short story, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” at the “Bowl” in Clark Park on 43rd Street and Chester Avenue. A full crowd of mostly families hunkered down on the grass as they listened to the story of Ichabod Crane (played by company member Josh Hitchens, who adapted “Sleepy Hollow” for stage) and his fateful encounter with the headless horseman.

During the 45-minute show, Hitchens and his fellow actors, Rachel Gluck as Crane’s love interest Katrina Van Tassel and Chris Braak as his rival Brom Van Brunt, moved around the simplistic set with quiet intensity as several torches and a small crackling campfire illuminated the scene. Sound effects, provided by Eli Halpern (who played The Musician), filled the atmosphere as Crane’s story unfolded.

Make sure to catch “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” at Clark Park before it closes on September 8. The remaining shows are on Saturday and Sunday, starting at 7:30 p.m.

In July, we reported that the former MexiCali space was rumored to become a Korean restaurant. Turns out that rumor was true—U-Town, a Korean food and sushi joint, opened its doors last week at 110 S. 40^th Street.

When West Philly Local visited U-Town yesterday, the bustling new restaurant was nearly packed and the air was filled with eager chatter. Considering the decor, U-Town is far removed from the former Mexican joint. The walls are painted in a relaxing sea foam green bordered by a soft mustard yellow color, and the tables are made of a dark red wood. The bar/register area, stationed at the back of the small space, is made of stark, smooth white material, breaking up the pastel palette.

Scanning the takeout menu, U-Town’s cuisine promises to be an exciting blend of different styles. There are Korean staples like soon doo boo (a hot and spicy stew offered with beef, tofu, seafood or mushroom), dup bap (a steamed rice dish offered with seafood, shrimp or squid), bibim bap (a warm mixed rice dish topped with hot pepper paste and served with vegetables, seafood, poor, chicken or beef), and deok boki (a spicy stewed rice cake combination). U-Town also offers a variety of dumpling and tempura dishes and taco, fish and chicken combinations, and Asian style tacos in chicken, bulgogi and kimchi forms.

U-Town’s owner, who goes by the name of Ocean, was curt when asked for more information on his restaurant. According to the owner, it was a busy time of day (around 6 p.m.) for him and he didn’t have time to talk. He only offered that U-Town opened last week and seemed bothered when asked further questions, abruptly turning away without conclusion after receiving our business card.

What we do know, however, is that U-Town does not have a credit card processing machine, but it is working on installing one according to a note on the wall when you first walk in. As for hours, the restaurant is opened Monday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

–Annamarya Scaccia

Jeanne Chang, owner of Lil’ Pop Shop located near 44th and Spruce, reports that there was a burglary at the shop last night. There was no sign of breaking and entering, just cash stolen from yesterday’s sales and some extra change, Jeanne, who is currently out of town, writes in an email.

Jeanne filed a police report and would appreciate tips from anyone who may have spotted something unusual between 10 p.m. last night and 10 a.m. this morning. Please call the police at 215-476-1131 with any information.

West Philly is the place to be this weekend (and all week for that matter). Actually it kicks off today. Here’s a little guide we compiled to help you figure out what to do. If you know of more events that your friends and neighbors should know about please post them as a comment below.

Thursday, Sept 5

• Free events and art installations at Clark Park’s Farmers’ Market (43rd & Baltimore), 3-7 p.m. For more information click here.

Friday, Sept 6

• The 2013 Fringe Festival kicks off at various locations around the city. For more information on the festival events in West Philly, check our story here.
• Free performance by Man Man at The Porch at 30th Street Station (30th & Market), noon. Presented by WXPN, this very special outdoor “Free At Noon” concert will feature Philadelphia-based Man Man, who come celebrating the September 10th release of On Oni Pond, a compelling mash-up of Fear Of Music-era Talking Heads, classic soul, psychedelia, hip-hop, and 50’s rock and roll.
• Curio Theatre presents The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Clark Park “B” (43rd & Chester, in the bowl), 7:30 p.m., Free. Curio brings the unforgettable legend of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman to Clark Park for three nights, beginning Friday. There will be live music, cool sound effects and a real campfire. Bring a lawn chair/blanket/food/wine and prepare to be scared!
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Some West Philly Local readers witnessed an arrest Monday night, around 9 p.m., near 45th and Osage, when two young males (looked to be between 15 and 18 years old) were handcuffed and taken away in a police van.

We learned that the arrest was made by Penn Police and the suspects, both early teens, were arrested for theft. Police say they stole a bike from 44th and Osage by cutting the lock with bolt cutters, according to Joe Murray of the Southwest Detectives. One of the alleged thieves is only 13 years old.