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"West Philly"

Man, woman sought in abduction of 5-year-old girl

Posted on 16 January 2013 by WPL

The police are asking for the public’s help in the search for two suspects, a man and a woman, involved in Monday’s kidnapping of a 5-year-old girl and have raised the reward to $10,000 for information leading to their arrest. The woman, who picked up the girl on Monday morning at her school, Bryant Elementary at 60th and Cedar, was wearing dark-colored Muslim garb covering her face. She is described as a black female in her late 20′s, 5’5″ to 5’8″, thin build, with greenish or light eyes and possibly pregnant. She reportedly told the girl that her name was “Rashida.”

The child was taken out of the Hazel Street exit of the school and walked left on 61st Street, a police report states. The woman took the child to a residence several blocks away where she was joined by a man, who is described as a light-skinned (possibly white) male, in his mid-30s, with short brown hair.

Philadelphia Police Captain John Darby said at a news conference that the child was interviewed by police and said that at the residence where she was taken to she was told to remove clothing and was restrained. Darby also said that investigators have narrowed their search for the suspects to an area from Spruce to Christian streets and from 56th Street to Cobbs Creek Parkway. Police are going door to door on those blocks and handing out flyers.

If you have any information about this crime or the suspects please contact Detective Gonzalez, Special Victims Unit at 215-685-3251/3252/3265.

 

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34th Street Bridge reopens

Posted on 16 January 2013 by WPL

The University Avenue/34th Street Bridge over the Schuylkill River has reopened, according to a Traffic Advisory by Penn Division of Public Safety. The bridge, which is part of a common route to access Interstate 76, was closed for two weeks for repairs and opened one week ahead of the schedule.

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Community meeting on proposed building at 4812 Baltimore Ave

Posted on 16 January 2013 by WPL

4812Baltimore

The plot at 4812 Baltimore Ave, the site of the proposed building (image from Google Street View).

Plans for a new apartment building at 4812 Baltimore Ave will be revealed tomorrow (Thursday, Jan. 17) at a community meeting that will be held at The Calvary Center (801 S. 48th St). The owners of the property, Diversified Realty Ventures, have submitted an application to the Philadelphia Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) and applied for a permit to build a new, 4-story structure with a roof deck. The building will have a small commercial store front on the 1st floor and five apartments above.

The lot where the building is currently proposed is home to a few garden plots, but is otherwise vacant. The builder needs a variance because of the proposed structure’s height. The building would house five apartments with a total of nine bedrooms.

At the meeting, the owners will present drawings of the proposed building and answer any questions the community may have.

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the Calvary Center’s basement (entrance through 48th street side door).

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West Philly Girl Scout cookies go on sale this week

Posted on 15 January 2013 by WPL

girl-scout-cookiesMore table locations have been added for this year’s West Philly Girl Scout cookie sale, which begins this Thursday, Jan. 17 (see the list below). And if you can’t make it by a table, you can get a home or work delivery!

Here’s how you can help local Girl Scout troops by purchasing cookies (a message from Amy Kwasnicki, who is the cookie hub for three troops of girls, Kindergarten through 5th grade):

“Cookie sales make all of the Girl Scouts programs affordable, but also provide immediate funds for the troops to use. Our past community service projects, which have been funded by cookie sales, include clearing a vacant lot in Powelton, buying and planting trees for the lot, clearing invasive plants from a community garden in West Philly, planting a butterfly garden, and an earthworm and ladybug release in Clark Park. Cookie sales have also enabled the troops to spend the night at the Franklin Institute, purchase compasses for all of the Scouts, and, of course, go camping!”

Girl Scout Cookie Table Locations and Dates:

Fri. 01/18 Eastern Mountain Sports, 34th and Chestnut, 3:30pm-6:30pm
(check out the promo here)

Sat. 01/19 Clark Park “B” Park, 43rd and Chester, 10:00am-1:30pm

Tues. 01/22 SEPTA Suburban Station, table is located near stairs/elevator in Penn Square plaza, facing 16th Street, 6:00am!! – 6:00pm

Wed. 01/23 Locust Walk in front of St. Mary’s, 39th and Locust, 3:30pm-5:30pm

Sat. 01/26 Clark Park “B” Park, 43rd and Chester, 10:00am-1:30pm

Wed. 01/30 Locust Walk in front of St. Mary’s, 39th and Locust, 3:30pm-5:30pm

Fri. 02/01 Eastern Mountain Sports, 34th and Chestnut, 3:30pm-6:30pm

Sat. 02/02 Clark Park “B” Park, 43rd and Chester, 10:00am-1:30pm

Tues. 02/05 SEPTA Suburban Station, table is located near stairs/elevator in Penn Square plaza, facing 16th Street, 6:00am!! – 6:00pm

Wed. 02/06 Locust Walk in front of St. Mary’s, 39th and Locust, 3:30pm-5:30pm (though we may get an earlier start since schools are closed that day)

If you have questions or want a home/work delivery, email Amy at: kwaszilla@gmail.com

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Abducted West Philly girl found alive but frightened in Upper Darby

Posted on 15 January 2013 by WPL

The five-year-old girl who was abducted by an unknown female from Bryant Elementary school (60th and Cedar) Monday morning was found partially clothed in an Upper Darby playground this morning, police said.

A passerby found the girl early this morning at a playground near 69th Street and Marshall Road. The girl, who was wearing only a t-shirt, was cold and crying and was taken to Children’s Hospital for evaluation. She was able to escape from her abductors, 6ABC reports.

The child’s ordeal began within minutes of her mother dropping her off at school. She was picked up at about 8:50 a.m. on Monday by an unidentified woman who police say was wearing black “Muslim style” clothes, including a niqab covering her face.

“She saw the teacher,” said Captain John Darby from the Special Victims Unit. “She indicated she was the child’s mother and that she was going to take the child to breakfast.”

The girl’s mother dresses similarly, which may have confused the youngster. Police said that the abduction was not random.

“The woman came into that school, knew where to go, who to see and asked for the child by name,” said Darby. “That child was targeted.”

Darby said that the woman was asked to sign a sheet to check the girl out of school, but added that the signature was illegible. School officials did not report the child missing until 3 p.m., when her day care provider arrived to pick her up, police said.

Philadelphia police have offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Anyone with information should contact the Special Victims Unit at 215.685.3251/52/53.

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Volunteer chess coaches needed

Posted on 14 January 2013 by WPL

chessHelp is needed again at the “Chess Cadets” club that meets every Monday, from 5:30-7:00 p.m. at the Walnut St. West Library (40th and Walnut). The club is in real need of volunteer coaches. You don’t have to be a Chess Master, just patient when working with kids.

If you would like to help please call Joe Clarke at 215-626-7332 or Susan Ben at 215-685-7671.

Recently, the Chess Cadets were invited to play chess at the Philadelphia Museum of Art as part of the Marcel Duchamp exhibition opening, where they played not only each other but museum visitors, children and adults alike. See more here.

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