Author: Gil

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Frankford man murdered in West Philly

From today’s Daily News:

After visiting with relatives in West Philadelphia Christmas night, Shawn McKnight, 35, went to the Intocable Food Mart on 60th Street near Haverford Avenue to get a Mountain Dew.

He never made it home. He was shot to death outside the store.

“He was the victim of an apparent robbery,” said Homicide Lt. Philip Riehl.

McKnight, of Edmund Street near Margaret in Northeast Philadelphia, was shot at about 7:30 p.m. outside the corner store where he had stopped to make the purchase.

Police found him lying on the ground and took him to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, where he was pronounced dead at about 8:10 p.m.

Riehl said detectives were still trying last night to get a description of the killer.

It was reported that McKnight was survived by his fiancee, a 3-year-old son, a 4-year-old daughter and an 8-year-old stepdaughter.

Read the entire article here.

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Frankford Christmas Lights


Thanks to a tip from a reader, we have the final picture in our collection tonight. All of these photos were gathered over several nights. We have to admit that we discriminated against those folks who did a great job of decorating their homes but did not end up with something that was easily photographed at night. As my partner noted you can see some of these displays from the space shuttle they were so bright.

Our solution is that next year we will do a daylight tour and also include some video since some displays now include music and those neat inflatable moving snow globes.

This one is from Orchard near Church Street. You can see the full show here.

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Special services to return to Frankford

From the Northeast Times:

Business owner Bill Goldshlack tried hard to block re-establishment of the Frankford Special Services District, but, in the end, he just couldn’t pull it off.
In a last-minute push, Goldshlack, who owns the Victor Stores, needed 51 percent of Frankford business owners to oppose the Special Services District — and in particular the taxes that would be assessed by the city to support it.
Goldshlack couldn’t muster that opposition. As a result, Mayor John Street’s endorsement of a bill creating the district is expected to have it up and running before he leaves office in January.
The Frankford Special Services District will encompass both sides of Frankford Avenue, from Torresdale Avenue to Bridge Street, and certain side streets that include parts of Kensington Avenue and Foulkrod, Gillingham, Griscom, Margaret, Meadow, Orthodox, Paul, Pratt, Darrah and Unity streets.

Previous criticism that the system failed in the past due to poor management does not seem to be addressed in the new proposal. Read the entire article here.

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"Welcome to Frankford"

From Councilman Dan Savage:

Philadelphia – December 27, 2007 at 10:00 AM on the 4800 Block of Frankford Avenue, Councilman Daniel J. Savage will unveil the new “Welcome to Frankford” and “Historic Frankford” Banners for the Frankford Avenue Business Corridor.

The new banners are part of Councilman Savage’s plan for streetscape improvements for the Frankford Avenue Business Corridor. Councilman Savage said, “Revitalizing business corridors is key to revitalizing our neighborhoods. These banners will add a touch of warmth and class to the Frankford Avenue Business Corridor.”