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Clark Park Youth Soccer program resumes on March 28; Volunteer coaches needed

March 10, 2015

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Photo courtesy of Clark Park Youth Soccer League.

It’s hard to believe it, but youth soccer in Clark Park resumes in less than three weeks. The Clark Park Youth Soccer League‘s (CPYSL) spring season begins on Saturday, March 28, and registration is now open for children ages 5-11.

Since this is a low-cost program designed for local families of all socio-economic backgrounds, volunteer help is essential for its success. Just like in the previous seasons, CPYSL is seeking volunteer coaches for this spring. Here’s more information from the CPYSL’s online page:

“Clark Park Youth Soccer is a completely volunteer-run program. Parents and other adults are invited to join CPYSL as a coach or assistant, or to help with the administrative work of running the program. If you’re interested in coaching or volunteering in any fashion, email clarkparksoccer@yahoo.com.”

More information about the program and volunteer opportunities, can be found at: www.friendsofclarkpark.org/activities/youth-soccer

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Summer Camps 2015 page launched (updated)

March 4, 2015

sun_clipartDear West Philly parents and guardians,

We have updated our Summer Camps page where you can find information not only on West Philly based camps but also on many camps in other parts of the city. Registration for many camps has already started (and some of them are already almost full!). Registration for some camps is expected to start this or next month. We will be updating the page as we receive more information.

If you are looking for a summer camp in West Philadelphia, check out the list below. These camps have already posted information about their Summer 2015 registration (please email editor@westphillylocal.com if you want your camp to be included in the listings).

Curio Theatre Summer Camp
University City Arts League Summer Arts Camp
Lavner Camps and Programs at UPenn (Fashion, Jewelry, Video Game Design, Coding, Robotics, Chess and more camps)
Neighborhood Bike Works Cycling Day Camp
“Anthropologists in the Making” Summer Camp at Penn Museum
Summer Sports Camps at UPenn (Baseball, Basketball, Tennis, Soccer, Gymnastics and more camps)
University City Field Hockey Day Camp
Summer Camp at PIC
Al-Bustan Camp: An Arabic Language and Cultural Day Camp
Camp Sojourner, Girls’ Leadership Camp
Summer Camp at Shofuso Japanese House and Garden
iD Tech Camps at UPenn
“Wildlife Warriors” Summer Camp at Philadelphia Zoo
NEW! West Philadelphia Cooperative School Summer Camp
Youth Summer Cooking Camp
YMCA West Philadelphia Branch Day Camp

 

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Neighborhood Bike Works offers free Spring programs for local youth

February 27, 2015

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Neighborhood Bike Works (NBW), a great local non-profit teaching youth how to bike safely and how to repair bikes, is offering two FREE entry level after-school programs starting next month. Anyone ages 8 – 18 can join these programs (see more details below). Also, check out NBW’s Summer Cycling Day Camp. Registration for Summer 2015 is not available yet, but you can email camp@neighborhoodbikeworks.org with questions. NBW’s West Philly shop is located at 3916 Locust Walk (behind St. Mary’s Episcopal Church).

Earn A Bike
March 3 – April 16, 2015
Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:00 – 6:00 PM
Youth learn the basics of bike repair and maintenance, safe urban riding, and health and nutrition while refurbishing an abandoned bike. Program participants get to keep the bike that they refurbish in the course! For more information and to sign up, click hereContinue Reading

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Valentine’s Weekend happenings (updated)

February 13, 2015

sweethearts-candy-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

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Young chess players raising money to travel to state, national championships

February 11, 2015

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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.

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Muay Thai Kickboxing Academy coming soon to Baltimore Avenue (updated)

February 6, 2015

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Photo courtesy of 8 Limbs Academy.

UPDATE (3/11/2015): 8 Limbs Academy opened on March 3, 2015. Here’s a short update from Coach Kate:

“We are scheduling FREE intros but are booked all through March, and we are starting to fill April. We are offering early morning ALL female kickboxing at 6 a.m. and evening classes starting at 6 p.m. The children’s classes start at 4:15 p.m., and there is an after school program for them starting at 3:00 p.m. Here is a link to our schedule: www.8limbsacademy.com/8-limbs-current-schedule.”

Here’s some exciting news for local martial arts and fitness fans. Partners and coaches Charlie Cottone and Kate Allen are opening a Muay Thai Kickboxing school, 8 Limbs Academy, on Baltimore Avenue in March. For those who are not very familiar with kickboxing, Muay Thai or Thai boxing is a national sport of Thailand. It is a physical and mental discipline also known as “the art of eight limbs,” because eight points of contact are used in the combat: fists, elbows, knees, and shins.

Eight Limbs Academy is expected to open in the first week of March, and coaches Charlie and Kate have already started preregistering folks, kids and adults alike, for their programs, which include All Female Kickboxing, Adult Muay Thai, and Kids Muay Thai programs. They will also offer an after-school program for kids who can come and spend time in the gym after school, including doing their homework, before their Muay Thai lesson. In addition to that, the owners hope to work closely and be involved with the West Philadelphia community. Continue Reading

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