Kids ages 5-11 are invited to register for the Fall season of Clark Park Youth Soccer League (CPYSL). The registration is open until Tuesday, September 6, and all the necessary forms can be downloaded here. If you want your forms to be mailed to you e-mail: clarkparksoccer [at] yahoo.com or call: 215-552-8186.

The Fall season begins Saturday, September 24, and ends Saturday, November 19.

CPYSL needs volunteers to help with the pre-registration data entry work and coaching (no experience is required). For more information visit: www.friendsofclarkpark.org.

The league is also looking for sponsors, local people and businesses alike, to support their program. In exchange your logo will be appear on T-shirts, website and newsletter. The cost is $160/year (two seasons of soccer).

Market Street Promenade? Cliff Lee Commons?

We’re trying to think of a name for the new, soon-to-be opened public space outside of 30th Street Station that is the reason behind all of that construction over the last couple of months. The University City District needs your help in naming it. What’s in it for you? Bragging rights and a $500 Amtrak gift card.

The space will includes lots of seating and trees and plants, turning what has been one of the least pedestrian-friendly parts of the city into a gathering spot complete with activities like musical performances. The space should be complete by Labor Day weekend.

OK, back to the name thing. You can submit as many names as you like, but they must be submitted separately. If a name is chosen that has duplicate entries, one will be randomly selected. The entry deadline is midnight on Sept. 30 and a 10-person jury will choose the name from among the entries and announce it in mid October.

To enter, send an e-mail to newpublicspace [at] universitycity.org that includes:

• Suggested Name for Public Space
• Reasons for the suggested name (no more than 150 words)
• Your Name
• Phone Number
• Email

More information is available at the University City District Facebook page here.
 

Mariposa Food Co-op is throwing open its doors a few times over the next month so that West Philly residents can keep tabs on the renovation of its new space ahead of the official opening in the fall.

The first of the three open houses is Sunday, August 28, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Others will be on September 13 (5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.) and October 2 (4 p.m. to 6 p.m.). All three will take place at the soon-to-be Mariposa location at 4824 Baltimore Ave (see picture).

You can drop by the open house at any time and kids are welcome. Mariposa is encouraging people to RSVP here.

While sitting at the kitchen just before 2 p.m. today we heard a glass start to move. We figured since it was garbage day on our block that the truck was coming through. Or our dog fell off the couch. Maybe someone moving in next door. Nope, it was an earthquake.

Folks in West Philly were among millions to feel the effect of an earthquake that rolled up the East Coast just before 2 p.m. today. Buildings in Center City were evacuated.

SEPTA sent out a warning that trains and subways would be up to 15 minutes behind schedule. Fire and police crews scoured the city for structural damage and gas leaks. Police asked that people only call 911 for an emergency.

The quake was reportedly felt as far north as Rhode Island.

Six people were shot during halftime of a basketball league playoff game last night at the courts near the Kingesessing Recreation Center near 49th and Kingsessing at about 8:50 p.m.last night.

Police said some 500 people crowded around the courts during the game, including two police officers.

“All of a sudden they just heard gun shots,” said police spokesperson Christine O’Brien.

The game was part of the city-run Eggy Taylor and Pick Brown League.

Four men ranging in ages from 18-23 and a 20-year-old woman were shot in the legs, police said. One 19-year-old man was shot in the stomach. None of the injuries were life threatening, police said. A recreation official told The Philadelphia Inquirer that the victims were innocent bystanders.

The shooter was described as a black male, 22-24 years old with a dark complexion. He is about 5 feet, nine inches tall and was wearing a red and black baseball cap, a white t-shirt and black jeans.

View Basketball shooting in a larger map

This kitten was found last night (around 10 p.m.) near 42nd & Spruce. If you know the owner please reply to this Craigslist email address: comm-utevc-2559261651@craigslist.org