A few dozen of West Philly residents gathered near the community bee hives in Woodlands Cemetery on Saturday to learn about urban beekeeping and the subtleties of local as part of “Sustainable Saturdays,” a University City District program to highlight local food.

Local beekeeper Daniel Duffy provided those who attended a glimpse inside the hives at the Woodlands Cemetery Community Apiary, where amateur beekeepers are harvesting amazing honey and experimenting with ways to help strengthen the bee population. Bees have taken a beating in recent years. Populations have declined at alarming rates probably due to a combination of pesticides, monoculture farming and parasitic mites.

Luckily for city dwellers, bees often do better in town than in the country thanks to the diversity of flowers. Flowers from Clark Park, community gardens, flower boxes and Cobbs Creek, make for a variety of honey tints and textures. That diversity also makes for some interesting honey, which participants got to sample during Saturday’s event.

Urban Apiaries provided Saturday’s honey samples. Brought to you by the same folks who run Milk and Honey Market (4435 Baltimore Ave.), Urban Apiaries maintains a handful of apiaries (the official word for a cluster of hives) in the city, including one on top of Milk and Honey’s building and another on a warehouse roof in North Philly.

Neighbor Eli Green reports some porch thefts recently near 49th and Springfield:

“I wanted to give a head’s up that in the past few days between our house and the neighbors’, three bikes have had their front wheels stolen.   The bikes have been chain locked to the porches, and the thefts have occurred while people were home – both in the afternoon and at night. (This in the 49th/Springfield area). This comes after having the cushion to my porch papasan chair stolen, and something I would have sworn was least likely to get stolen- a compost bucket full of stinky, rotting compost.”

Two people were charged yesterday with the murder of 3-year-old Jaquinn Brewton, who died earlier this week from injuries suffered late last month in an apartment building on the 4700 block of Chestnut Street.

Police say Brewton’s caregiver, 22-year-old Nadera Batson, and her boyfriend, 23-year-old Marcus King, systematically tortured the toddler, including burning him with a small blow torch and beating him.

Brewton died on Tuesday after being taken off life support at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where he was admitted on June 29 after Batson said he fell down a flight of steps. The 3-year-old began living with Batson, who is reportedly the boy’s godmother, in March. His mother and five siblings were living in a homeless shelter.

Both Batson and King have criminal records. Batson was arrested in 2007 on theft charges and King pleaded guilty to assault charges in 2009.

Brewton was taken to CHOP after Batson said she found him unconscious on the steps in her apartment building. His family asked that he be taken off life support earlier this week. He died within minutes of being taken off.

Neighbors interviewed on the day Brewton was found said they suspected abuse at the apartment, but never reported it.

NBCPhiladelphia has a reminder about the parking rate increase today. It’s going to cost you a little more to park in University City and Center City. Rates will increase by 50 cents to $2 an hour in University City and $2.50 an hour in Center City.

The rates apply to meters and kiosks. The increase stems from the recent decision to raise parking rates to help cover the School District of Philadelphia’s $629 million budget shortfall.

The city estimates that the parking rate increases, increases in property taxes and about $10 million from the City’s general fund will provide a little over $50 million for the School District.

Editor’s note: This post may look familiar. That is because we ran it last Friday by mistake. We are definitely right this time though.

The West Philly monthly food series “Sustainable Saturdays” continues Saturday, July 16, with a program chock full of local goodness. Full details are at the University City District website here.

Here’s a quick rundown of what’s in store:

• 10 a.m. – Foraging for Edible and Medicinal Plants • Woodlands Cemetery

An expedition with the Wild Phoodies of Philly.

• 11 a.m. Urban Beekeeping and West Philadelphia Honey Tasting • Woodlands Cemetery Community Apiary (near the mansion).

A great introduction to urban beekeeping and a chance to peek inside a working bee hive.

• Noon – Snacktime: Making Healthy Snacks with Local Ingredients • University of Pennsylvania’s 1920 Dining Commons(on Locust Walk on the west side of 38th St.)

Learn how to make fruit leather, granola bars and naturally fermented soda.

• 2 p.m. – Zip Code Honey, Local Cheese + PA Brews • Biba Wine Bar (3131 Walnut St.)

A seminar on West Philly honey and tastings with Annie Baum-Stein of Milk and Honey Market and Urban Apiaries. $20 admission.

• 4 p.m. – From Farm to Table: Tasting Local, Grass-fed Beef • Mid-Atlantic Restaurant and Tap Room (3711 Market St.) Free samples and $3 local beers.

Preparing local beef from Philly Cow Share.

Today’s dog is Dakota, a male beagle.

Dakota is very good with kids and is house broken and trained in basic commands. His owners currently can’t handle their two dogs with a new baby and would love to find a loving home for him.

Dakota is also good with other dogs, but his owners are not sure about cats since he hasn’t been around any.

Dakota is up to date with all vaccinations, flea treatment and is neutered.

For more information please email: adriennebishop7 [at] gmail.com.