After an intense investigation by the Homicide Unit, Amin Gibbs, a 33-year-old male from the 6800 Block of Dicks Avenue was arrested and charged with murder in the November 17 death of 22-year-old student Zykia Sanders. She was shot in the back outside of West Park Apartments near 45th and Market streets and later died in the hospital. Police offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspect.

Gibbs was arrested near 7th and Race Street in Center City.

Zykia Sanders.

Elsa.

Elsa and Emily are lovely, petite tuxedo kittens (about 10-12 months old), rescued this past summer near Penn’s campus. Elsa is the cutest grey & white girl, with a white triangle outlining her little grey nose. She was a bit shy at first, but has become quite the cuddle bug and is very receptive to hugs and kisses from her foster mom & dad. Elsa has an irresistible raspy chirp (much like a lion cub’s), is quite chatty, and purrs whenever you’re nearby.

Lovely Emily is the black & white babe. She adores belly and chin rubs. She’s got a streak of tomboy in her; loves to chase and wrestle with our big tabby guy! They’re just the sweetest and gentlest of girls. Both are fine with being held, and will be happy to sit on your lap and be combed and fussed over. Neither is over demanding of attention. Elsa and Em’ have become companion kitties since their respective rescues, so we would love for them to be adopted as a pair.

Emily.

Kitty FACTS: The girls have been fully vetted (tested, spayed, vaccinated, microchipped) and are disease free. Paperwork from their vetting will be included, along with a few of their favorite things. Indoor only. Kitties must keep their claws! They eat a primarily canned food diet. Excellent litterbox manners. Okay with gentle dogs. Appropriate screening and a willingness to contribute towards their vetting (or donation to a local rescue group) shouldn’t be a problem for potential adopters. Feel free to email with any questions about the girls or to arrange a meeting. Including a brief history of your experience with kitties, description of current home situation, and the name of your vet would be most helpful.

For more information contact Linda at lml3@verizon.net.

Despite the recent run of warm weather, leaves are still falling across West Philly. The City’s curbside bagged leaf collection program continues for another two weeks, wrapping up on December 14.

If you have some leaves you want to get rid of, here’s some advice from the Streets Department:

• Leaves will only be collected in biodegradable paper bags. These bags can be processed for recycling along with the leaves. This reduces contamination in the recycling process, and allows crews to work more efficiently and more easily identify your bags as leaves. Leaves set out in other bags or containers may be collected as trash.

• Set leaf bags curbside next to trash and recycling on your trash day.

• Leaves placed in plastic bags will be collected as trash, not recycling.

• Do not mix trash or other recyclable materials with bagged leaves. This contaminates leaves and makes them unfit for recycling purposes.

• The Streets Department does not provide biodegradable bags. Residents may purchase them at their local home improvement stores. Monarch Hardware at 45th and Walnut, for example, sells them in packs of five for $3.59.

• Bagged leaves may also be taken to any of the three Sanitation Convenience Centers:

3033 S. 63rd Street (63rd & Passyunk Ave.)
Domino Lane and Umbria Street
State Road and Ashburner Street

If you are thinking of buying a book as a holiday gift, please consider doing so at local bookstores this holiday season and support your neighbors instead of giving your money to giant online companies. We’re lucky to have a few really nice bookstores in the area that are offering some great deals, holding special events, and are open extra hours to serve your holiday shopping needs. If you missed our story from earlier this year on why local books are worth buying, click here.

Here are a couple of suggestions.

Penn Book Center (130 S. 34th St.), an independently-owned bookstore serving the University City community since 1962, is offering a special 2 for 1 deal on Everyman’s Library hardbacks and assorted cookbooks. The store is also giving 20 percent off all books in its Art section and assorted coffee table books. If you become a frequent buyer you can get a $10.00 credit every time you spent $100.00. If PBC doesn’t have a book in stock, their staff will be happy to order it for you. For more information visit www.pennbookcenter.com (make sure to check out the poem of the day!).

Bindlestiff Books (4530 Baltimore Ave) is planning on being open every day through December 24 (Noon to 7 except Sundays, when they close at 5). They’ll take special orders for books through 7 p.m. Dec. 19 for delivery through Dec. 21 (new deliveries will be coming in a couple of times a week, including new books, more calendars, and even some new remainder titles). The store has gotten in lots of new children’s and chapter books, several new journals and calendars, and more.

The store is also organizing some special events this month, including Kol Tzedek’s Annual Hanukkah Party on Sunday, Dec. 9, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m., and presentation and discussion of Cannabis Chassidis: The Ancient and Emerging Torah of Drugs (Wednesday, Dec. 5, 6 p.m.) by author Joseph Lieb (details and excerpts at www.cannabischassidis.blogspot.com) who will also sign copies in the bookstore’s back room. Finally, Bindlestiff Books will be tabling as part of the holiday bazaar/vegetarian potluck fundraiser at the Calvary Center for Community & Culture (48th & Baltimore) this Saturday, Dec. 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Four West Philly High school students were arrested Friday, Nov. 30 for package thefts on the 4200 block of Spruce Street, according to police. Two students are 16 and two are 14. It was the first arrest for all of them.

Plainclothes officers saw six teens go onto the porches and check boxes between 43rd and 42nd streets on Spruce early Friday afternoon. When they stole one package the officers attempted to grab them but the teens ran and four of them were caught near 42nd and Chester. Two teens were able to get away.

Package thefts have been on the rise in the area in the last few weeks as is typical for the holiday season, so residents are advised to apply caution and report any suspicious behavior.

A 52-year-old woman was reportedly killed Monday night near 48th and Chester during a hit and run accident involving an SUV with heavy front-end damage and the left rear brake light out, police confirmed.

The woman was crossing Chester Avenue when she was struck. She was pronounced dead at the scene, at about 10:35 p.m.

Anyone with information about the accident is asked to contact the Accident Investigation Division at 215-685-3180, the tip line at 215-686-TIPS (8477) or text a tip to PPDTIP (773847).

UPDATE: Police recovered the vehicle, a silver Trailblazer, on the 4700 block of Larchwood, according to 6ABC. A police officer reportedly followed leaked fluid and scrape marks from the accident scene east on Chester Avenue. A suspect in the accident has not yet been named.