OpenBlock is a web application and RESTful service that allows users to browse and search their local area for "hyper-local news" - to see what's going on recently in the immediate geographic area.
For installation instructions and other documentation, see https://github.com/openplans/openblock/docs/
For help, you can try the ebcode group: http://groups.google.com/group/ebcode
OpenBlock began life as the open-source code released by Everyblock.com in June 2009. Originally created by Adrian Holovaty and the Everyblock team, it was further developed as an open-source (GPL) project by OpenPlans from 2010-2011.
Funding for the initial creation of Everyblock and OpenPlans' work on the development of OpenBlock was provided by the Knight Foundation (http://www.knightfoundation.org/).