Valentine’s Day is almost here, and many of our readers will be looking for something to do with their special someones. Check our round up of some of local happenings and events this weekend, for kids and adults alike, and please don’t forget that we have some great restaurants and bars in our area (many of them will be having Valentine’s Day specials and treats tomorrow).

We’ll start with a few reminders.

A Valentine’s Day Dance Party/Fundraiser will be held at 8 Limbs Academy (4542 Baltimore Ave, 2nd floor) on Saturday, beginning at 9 p.m. and featuring 90’s dance jams, ice cream, doughnuts, minigolf, and 8 Limbs t-shirts for sale. Atom and His Package, Everything Sux and The Ramonas will perform. Suggested donation is $5-$15. For more information visit: www.8limbsacademy.com.

If you have any Curio Theatre preview show tickets, here’s a great chance to use them. Othello officially opens at the popular neighborhood theater next Friday, but preview shows are presented this week and early next week. There are preview shows this Friday and Saturday, at 8 p.m. For more information and to buy tickets, go here. And please get there on time – there is no late seating for this production.  Continue Reading

We’re very sad to report that a two-year-old boy was struck and killed by a SEPTA trolley this afternoon. The incident happened at around 1 p.m. at the intersection of 51st and Lancaster and the Route 10 trolley was involved, according to various reports. The child was pronounced dead at the scene.

The boy was reportedly with his family and ran in front of the trolley. Witnesses told police that the child’s family moved to the block just a few weeks ago.

SEPTA officials said that they’re also investigating the accident.

Police are investigating an armed robbery that took place on Sunday, Feb. 8 at approximately 7:50 p.m. on the 4100 block of Pine Street. The victim, a 23-year-old woman, told police that she was walking east on Pine Street when she heard a vehicle stop. She then felt a push from behind, and an unknown young male demanded that she empty her pockets. The woman told police that the man was armed with a small black revolver which he pointed at her head. She gave him her cell phone, and the man got back into his car, a dark colored vehicle, and fled.

No injuries were reported in this incident.

There was another robbery on the 4100 block of Pine less than two weeks ago, on January 31, at approximately 2:30 p.m. There was no weapon involved in that robbery, according to police. More details are currently not available.

UPDATE (9:55 p.m.): NBC Philadelphia is reporting that one person was hurt in the fire on the 4700 block of Cedar. His or her condition is currently unknown.

UPDATE (8:29 p.m.): The fire is under control. It appears that the fire heavily damaged the home’s interior. Neighbors say an elderly man lives alone in the home. He reportedly wasn’t home when the fire began. We’ll keep you updated.

8:05 p.m.: Fire crews are battling a fire at 4729 Cedar Avenue, a twin home. The fire broke out at approximately 7:30 p.m.

Photo by David Poplar.

The City of Philadelphia has found a sponsor to help lighten the cost of the bike share program set to begin this Spring. Independence Blue Cross will contribute $1.7 million a year for five years. For that they get to name the program – it’s called “Indego” – written on the chunky blue bikes and at the 60 docking stations across the city.

The stations are located from 2nd and Walnut west to 44th and Walnut and Temple University south to the Tasker. It looks like 13 of them will be on this side of the Schuylkill, including one at Clark Park. The stations will house about 600 bikes total. Built by Trek, the bikes have step-through frames, pedal-powered front and rear lights, baskets, three speeds, and adjustable seats.

There are a bunch of different ways to pay, including by-the-trip or a membership. Prices will be announced in March, according to the Indego website. There’s an FAQ here that addresses some other questions.

We’re still waiting on an exact launch date. We’ll keep you posted.

Here’s what the bikes look like:

Philly’s IndeGo bike share bike: pic.twitter.com/hgnMOmsRUF

— Bike Coalition Phila (@bcgp) February 11, 2015

Members of the Minor Threats Chess Club.

The Minor Threats chess club whose members are West Philly schoolkids in grades 3 through 8, is preparing again this year for a series of important competitions. Coach Jason Bui is planning to take his pupils, about 15 kids, to the following events happening in the next few of months: PA State Scholastic Chess Championships in Lancaster, Pa., the High School National Championships in Columbus, Ohio, the Junior High National Championships in Louisville, and the Elementary National Championships in Nashville.

“These trips make a huge difference in these kids lives. They experience so many “firsts” in life through chess. They learn so much about themselves and the world though chess,” Jason says.

This year, Minor Threats will be partnering with the Paul Robeson Chess Club and probably a few other teams on these trips. “We hope to take about 30/40 kids to each tournament. I’m trying to take more kids to more tournaments than ever before,” Jason said. However, most of the families Jason works with can not afford the cost of attending these trips. “Without the help of the community we will not be able to go,” he said.

Thanks to community support, in 2013 Jason was able to take 10 kids to the State Championships and eight kids to SuperNationals in Nashville, TN. In 2014, 14 kids were able to travel to the State Championships, 10 kids went to Junior High Nationals in Atlanta, GA, and six kids went to Elementary Nationals in Dallas, TX.

If you would like to help these young chess players again, please follow this link to the club’s fundraising page on GoFundMe.com.