UPDATE, Jan. 19 — Police have arrested Brandon Shields in connection with multiple bank robberies in the 2nd and 15th districts.

Philadelphia Police and the FBI are looking for a suspect believed to be responsible for robberies on Castor and Frankford avenues.

Most recently, the suspect took an undisclosed amount of cash from the Citizens Bank at 6537 Castor Ave. Jan. 6. In a similar incident Dec. 7, the suspect took an undisclosed amount of cash from the PNC Bank at 6855 Frankford Ave. In both cases, the suspect gave the teller a threatening note and fled on foot.

Surveillance footage from the Frankford Avenue robbery can be seen below. continue reading »

Friday – A 74-year-old woman died Friday morning after being struck by a car in Holmesburg.

The woman was crossing Frankford  Avenue traffic on the 7700-block where she was picking up a rental car when she was struck. Authorities are trying to determine if the driver, who stopped, will be charged. continue reading »

I am not what one would consider a bar aficionado. Nor would anybody even dare to call me a bar frequenter. Furthermore, I highly doubt anybody would ever confuse me with even an alcoholic’s second cousin.

That being said, occasional imbibing happens – mostly, I find – whenever I come back to the Northeast to visit. I’m not necessarily always keen on spending too much money to drink; however, if I have to accept a friend’s plan that involves throwing down some money for alcohol, I prefer the location to be either a dive bar or a place that is relatively low-key. continue reading »

Photo by Flickr user echoman.

Castor Gardens residents and the Take Back Your Neighborhood community group have been championing an effort to get Big Belly trash cans along Castor Avenue.

The group is branching out and looking for more volunteers to help solicit signatures for the solar-powered trash cans. TBYN member Sandra Gregg will meet with others every Wednesday on the 6000-block of Rutland Street to collect signatures. Residents interested in volunteering can contact Gregg at sgregg3754 AT yahoo.com. continue reading »

Police arrested a suspect wanted in multiple robberies in the 2nd District, Community Relations Officer Mark Mroz confirmed yesterday.

The male, turned in by his mother, was being sought for robberies in and around Castor Gardens. continue reading »

Photo by Flickr user Brian Adams

Unless you’re into comics or geeky collectibles, it’s likely you’ve never been to the Garden of Earthly Delights in Rhawnhurst.

Geekadelphia, Philly’s geek culture blog, made a trip there recently to see what the shop is all about: continue reading »

One person is dead following two car accidents Saturday night during Hurricane Irene.

The first occurred in Rhawnhurst around 7 p.m. when a tree fell onto a car as its driver was waiting to make a turn. Hugh Rawlins escaped through the back window of his truck when it fell on the vehicle as he waited to make a turn at Solly and Castor avenues. continue reading »

On July 20, 1968, while working Engine 7, Firefighter Elmer Clothier collapsed at the firehouse, dying from a heart attack while on duty.

Clothier was a 21-year veteran of the Philadelphia Fire Department who also served in The U.S. Army in World War II.

The Clothier family lived in Mayfair before moving to Torresdale. On Wednesday, July 20, the department will honor Clothier’s memory at Engine 7 at Castor and Kensington avenues. continue reading »

A minivan sustained front-end damage in a crash with the Route 59 SEPTA bus. Photo by Simon Skymba.

Reader Simon Skymba shared some photos with us from yesterday afternoons crash at Tyson and Castor Avenues involving the Route 59 SEPTA bus and a minivan. continue reading »

Surveillance image courtesy of Philadelphia Police.

Police are looking for help to identify and capture the man who robbed a Police & Fire Federal Credit Union branch in Rhawnhurst. The suspect got away with $2,500. continue reading »