2 Bodies Pulled From Schuylkill River In Philadelphia

Two men were stabbed, bound and their bodies sunk with a makeshift anchor in the Schuylkill River, while a third man found half-dressed said he had been abducted in a bizarre series of events off Kelly Drive early this morning.

Philadelphia police were at the scene along the east side of the river, just past the John Kelly statue, for several hours this morning trying to untangle what happened to the three men.

The surviving victim told investigators that he had been grabbed by a group of about five men, thrown in the back of a van, stabbed, robbed and taken to the river with the two men whose bodies were later pulled from water. The other two were already in the van when he was abducted, the victim told police.

The investigation began around 4 a.m., when officers were called to the 2300 block of Kelly Drive, just past the statue, for a report of a man screaming, Chief Inspector Scott Small said.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/2_pulled_from_Schuylkill_River_.html#Pqt8zJw3YJCdDiCQ.99

Philadelphia Has 4 Homicides In 12-Hour Span Sunday

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Philadelphia County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Antonio Flores, 17, was the fourth person killed in a 12-hour period in Philadelphia on Sunday, police say.

And detectives are still searching for the 23-year-old who they believe is behind Flores’ shooting death inside a friend’s apartment in Spring Garden.

Flores was hanging out with friends on the 1600 block of Wallace Street around 3:25 Sunday afternoon when at some point, one of those friends pulled out a gun and fired once, homicide Capt. James Clark said.

Flores was hit in the head, and the friends in the apartment scattered, Clark said. One stayed behind and called police as Flores lay bleeding on the floor. He was pronounced dead at Hahnemann University Hospital about 20 minutes later.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20140401_Phildelphia_has_4_homicides_in_12-hour_span_Sunday.html#a7JLE47vWX81U3AT.99

Cops: Nine People Shot In 24 Hours In Philly

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Philadelphia County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Nine people were shot in a 24-hour period in the city this weekend, including six people who were injured in two separate triple shootings, according to police.

The bloodshed began at 11:53 p.m. Friday, when an unknown person or persons opened fire on Parrish Street near 12th in North Philadelphia.  Injured in that hail of gunfire was an 18-year-old man who was shot once in the buttocks and taken to Hahnemann University Hospital in stable condition; a 17-year-old boy who was shot once in the left hip and once in the back and was taken to the same hospital in critical condition; and a 19-year-old man who was shot in the right leg and chest and taken to Hahnemann in stable condition, police said.

Cops did not release a motive or suspects in the shootings.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/Cops-Nine-people-shot-in-24-hours-in-Philly.html#i8LBbMZTWJWdkOzq.99

Philadelphia’s Chinatown Cleans Up Blight – Neighborhood Expands North Past Vine Street Expressway

Image via Wikipedia

Philadelphia’s Chinatown is one of the largest in the United States and a must see for visitors to Philadelphia, residents of the city and suburbanites alike.  For that matter, anyone who loves Asian cuisine and culture should explore Philadelphia’s Chinatown.

In recent years Chinatown was threatened and some area was lost due to the construction of the Vine Street Expressway, the Gallery mall, Market Street East train station and the Convention Center.  It was also the proposed location for a prison and a new ball park for the Phillies.  45 years ago, the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation was formed to keep Chinatown alive and well in Philadelphia.

Chinatown’s borders are Arch Street on the south, Vine Street on the north, 11th Street on the west and 8th Street on the east.  Recently Chinatown has expanded across Vine Street into what has become known as Chinatown North.

The area where 10th Street crosses the Vine Street Expressway had become a garbage dump and a sleeping area for the homeless.  10th Street is a vital link from Chinatown to Chinatown North.  The Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation, the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Hahnemann University Hospital cosponsored a new gateway area for Chinatown. The $300,000 project was recently completed and has transformed an undesirable area into a beautiful public space called 10th Street Plaza.

A seven ton foo dog, hand carved from granite in the Fujian Province, stands guard at each end of the newly formed plaza.  One is male, the other female.  An Asian-style pergola was constructed, which during the warmer months will provide shade from climbing vines.  Tables, benches and lighting were also added transforming the area into an outdoor gathering place.  An eight-foot-tall statue of Lin Zexu will also join the foo dogs in the plaza.

The area north of Vine Street was formerly a warehouse/industrial district but has now become a haven for businesses who want to be near Chinatown.  Restaurant suppliers, travel agencies and construction firms for starters.  This northerly migration has created much needed room for Chinatown to expand, thus making the 10th Street crossing a pivotal component for neighborhood revitalization and stabilization.  Many people who live and work in Chinatown must use the 10th Street overpass every day.

A formal dedication of 10th Street Plaza is scheduled for spring.