A 20-year-old man was shot in the chest and wounded overnight near 52nd and Spruce. Police were patrolling the area at around 12:40 a.m. on Saturday when they heard 8-10 gunshots coming from 52nd and Spruce. When they approached the intersection they saw a male with a handgun, according to a police report. The police ordered the man to drop the gun, but he fled east on Spruce approximately 20 feet and threw the gun under a parked car.

The police stopped the man and he stated that he was involved in an altercation with two other males and was shot. He also said that the gun was taken from one of the other males during the altercation. While handcuffing the man they observed two males wearing dark clothing running east on Spruce. The man was bleeding from the right side of his chest and was transported to Presbyterian Hospital. His condition is unknown. Police say he was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm.

Police also retrieved surveillance video of the incident showing the victim and two males in the street having what appeared to be a conversation, which “turned into a running gun battle,” according to the report. The investigation continues.

Photos courtesy of Calvary Church.

The annual festive evening of Swing, Jazz, Salsa, Gospel and Christmas music returns on Sunday, Dec. 20 to the Calvary United Methodist Church (48th and Baltimore). The concert will feature original compositions and traditional favorites performed by Calvary UMC’s very own Greg Scott and his big band, Big Push, along with Philadelphia-area choirs.

Also featuring in the concert are vocalists Russell Thompkins of The Stylistics, Tony Perez, Mike Upshaw, Zara Simms and more! Tickets/suggested donations are $10 at the door, $5 for children. All proceeds from the concert will benefit the Cedar Park Neighbors Holiday Basket Drive in addition to other local hunger initiatives. Individual or institutional sponsors are also needed to help underwrite the concert, which always draws a huge crowd.

If you would like to help out, please go to the Donate page on the Calvary website (please indicate “Christmas Concert 2015” in the Comments/Questions section) or mail/deliver a check (payable to “Calvary UMC” – please indicate “Christmas Concert 2015” on the memo line) to the Calvary office at 801 S. 48th Street, 19143. There is no minimum amount to sponsor; all gifts are appreciated.

The concert starts at 7 p.m.

Two stray dogs have been reported in the area and need some help.

The first report is of a stray dog that was hit by a car on Thursday at 54th and Chestnut:

“Around 11:40 a.m. on December 17th a stray female white pitbull was hit by a grey Toyota sedan at the intersection of 54th and Chestnut. After being hit, the dog rolled and took off running south down 54th St. She didn’t look injured as I didn’t see her limp while running but I don’t know if there was any internal damage. She also looked to be pregnant or having recently given birth.

I stopped my car and tried to locate the dog but was unsuccessful. I immediately called Philadelphia Animal Care and Rescue but they were also unable to locate her.

Could you please put a message out to the neighborhood to be on the lookout for the dog? I feel horrible after seeing that happen and I wasn’t able to help. If someone locates her please call the ASPCA or Animal Care (to make sure she gets the help she needs.”

Two reports of a golden retriever wandering the neighborhood came in this morning. The dog was first seen near 50th and Spruce at around 12:30 a.m. on Friday. Another person spotted the dog at 43rd and Locust at about 1 a.m. The sighting was reported to Philadelphia Animal Care & Control Team (ACCT). The person followed the dog but lost its sight at 45th and Spruce.

To report a dog on the loose to ACCT, call (267) 385-3800. Also, check out this page.

UPDATE (12/17/2015): Police have identified the victim as 35-year-old Mark Marshall from the 4500 block of Kingsessing. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the man was returning home from a shopping trip to a nearby store and was walking on the 4600 block of Kingsessing with his two dogs when he was approached by an unknown male wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and orange hat and shot multiple times. The assailant then got into the passenger seat of a silver minivan and fled.

Witnesses told police that there was an argument between the two men before the shooting. It’s not clear whether the two men knew each other.

Many people heard the gunshots and some took to social media to express their sadness for the victim and his family and friends:

@WestPhillyLocal @micly215 I was on my porch last night when the shots rang out. Sending prayers to the man’s fam.

— dionne stanfield (@dionnestanfield) December 17, 2015

(12/16/2015, 9 p.m.): A fatal shooting was reported on Wednesday evening at around 7:45 p.m. near 47th and Kingsessing. A 35-year-old man was shot multiple times, according to police. They’re searching for a silver Town & Country minivan that fled the scene. The victim was transported to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center and was pronounced dead at 8:05 p.m.

A zoning meeting for a potentially highly-valuable piece of property on the 5000 block of Hazel Avenue is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 17. Residents are invited to hear the proposal to build a three-story single-family home on a vacant lot at 5023 Hazel Avenue, between two other three-story homes. The meeting is organized by Garden Court Community Association’s Zoning Committee and will be held at Ahimsa House, 5007 Cedar Ave., starting at 7:30 p.m. Everyone who has questions or concerns about this proposal is welcome to attend the meeting.

The 2,200 square foot lot was purchased for $60,000 in July 2015 by Elkins Park based company HSSK LLC, which is planning to build a semi-detached structure with a roof deck and a pilot house for access to the roof deck, according to the information posted on the City’s Office of Licences and Inspections website. The cleaning of the lot ahead of the construction has already begun (pictured).

The Enterprise Center Neighborhood Advisory Committee (NAC) will provide information to residents about home repair programs at its first community meeting tomorrow. The meeting will run from 6 – 7 p.m. at The Enterprise Center (4548 Market Street).

Here’s the agenda:

• Home Repair Programs for you and your neighbors, including the PHIL-Plus and Mini-PHIL loan programs.
• Helping connect residents with other resources and services.
• How you can get involved through NAC subcommittee elections that will take place in 2016.  Continue Reading