Friday - Police continue their search for the masked suspects who killed a Tacony storeowner during an armed robbery Friday. Xiang Huang, 27, was shot inside Jin House, the Chinese store and takeout restaurant he owned with wife Jin Huang at Longshore Avenue and Tulip Street. Xiang was killed in front of his wife and baby daughter, and also leaves behind two other young daughters.

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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 »

From the offices of Sen. Mike Stack and Rep. Mike McGeehan:

State Sen. Mike Stack and Rep. Mike McGeehan yesterday said that the second phase of construction under the Interstate 95 Cottman-Princeton interchange project in Tacony has been temporarily delayed.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation withdrew its advertisement for construction bids in order to continue to help 12 local businesses vacate their locations and relocate. These businesses are in the direct path of the proposed new interchange. continue reading »

Milt Martelack (megaphone), seen here with State Rep. Kevin Boyle (second from right) and staff members at a September rally against a Holmesburg methadone clinic, will help restart the Mayfair Town Watch. Photo by Stephen Schultz.

Mayfair residents will try again to form a town watch.

The group started fresh more than two years ago, shortly after the Mayfair Civic Association assumed new leadership and liquidated all assets the previous membership had accumulated.

But that town watch effort fizzled out after a series of weekly meetings, training sessions and talks of taking on other neighborhoods’ town watch efforts. Determined to try again, Mayfair residents have organized a meeting for Monday, Jan. 9 for the third incarnation in as many years. continue reading »

Update, Dec. 22 – The District Attorney’s office has refiled charges against Eddie Wright.

One of the defendants in the case of four people imprisoned in a Tacony basement was cleared of all charges at a preliminary hearing Tuesday.

Philadelphia Judge Pat Dugan said Eddie Wright was a captive himself, spending time with four others found in the basement of a house on the 4700-block of Longshore Avenue. Dugan ordered Wright cleared of all charges and released from jail. continue reading »

Kids join in on Christmas carol singing at Saturday's Winterfest in Tacony. Photo by Liza Meiris.

It might have been the first weekend of December, but Saturday’s Winterfest in Tacony was a full-fledged holiday celebration.

Families packed the Tacony Library Saturday afternoon for crafts, foods, caroling and visits from two very special guests: Santa and the Phillie Phanatic.

You can check out the Tacony Civic Association’s photos on Facebook and view our slideshow below with pictures by Liza Meiris. continue reading »

City representatives, elected officials and DRCC Board members break ground at Tacony's Lardner's Point Park. Photo/DRCC Facebook page.

Yesterday’s groundbreaking at Larnder’s Point Park is the first noticeable step of many in a process that will bring a new park to Tacony.

Part of Delaware River City Corp.’s plan to connect neighborhoods along the Delaware River, the park at Levick Street near the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge will feature a river overlook, fishing pier and green space. continue reading »

Princeton Avenue was to become a two-way street between Torresdale Avenue and State Road as of 3 p.m. today.

From PennDOT:

A seven-block section of Princeton Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia that currently carries only eastbound traffic will become a two-way street on Monday  when crews open it to westbound traffic between State Road and Torresdale Avenue.

PennDOT said the new westbound lane is scheduled to open by 3 p.m. Monday (Nov. 14). Prior to changing the street to a two-way pattern, crews will restrict eastbound Princeton Avenue to a single lane east of Torresdale Avenue to paint new traffic lines.

Once the new westbound lane is in service, Princeton Avenue will carry one lane of westbound traffic alongside a single eastbound lane. continue reading »

From the Tacony CDC:

More than 50 Tacony residents, businesses, property owners and friends attended the kick-off meeting for the Historic Tacony Revitalization Project Oct. 17, held in the basement meeting room of at the Tacony Branch of the Philadelphia Free Library.

Addressing a standing room only crowd, Pete Naccarato, board president of the Tacony Community Development Corporation, welcomed everyone and shared the history of the Tacony CDC. He highlighted many of the important projects the CDC had completed during the past 10 years. Naccarato urged the audience to become an active part of the commercial corridor revitalization project to begin shortly for Torresdale and Longshore avenues.

He stated, “The Historic Tacony Revitalization Project is a very important priority for the Tacony Community Development Corporation.” continue reading »

Philip Scranton (L) and Walter Lict (R) discuss Tacony's history in Philadelphia's industry.

Wednesday, residents of Tacony gathered at the Tacony Branch of the Free Library to reflect on their city’s rich history. The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia hosted the presentation, Workshop of the World, which focused on the industrial revolution in Philadelphia.

The organization is a civic project that aims to increase the understanding of Philadelphia, and to serve as a
reference source in regards to the city’s history. continue reading »