Here’s some useful information for those who have already started thinking about what to do with their Christmas tree. There will be a few opportunities to recycle your tree in the city, starting January 4, 2016.

• The annual Christmas Tree and Electronics Recycling event at Clark Park will take place on Saturday, Jan. 9, so you may want to hold on to your tree a little longer. You can bring your tree to the park from 10 a.m to 4 p.m., along with a $10 donation supporting UC Green programs. Trees will be recycled into wood chip mulch to be used in parks and community gardens. Stay tuned for more information about this event.

• The City’s Residential Christmas Tree Recycling Program will run from Monday, Jan. 4 through Saturday, Jan. 16. Residents who wish to drop off their trees to be recycled may take them to the Streets Department Sanitation Convenience Centers which are open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Monday through Saturday. The closest centers are located at: 5100 Grays Avenue and 3033 S. 63rd Street. 

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Good news for Philadelphia residents: this year, you don’t have to wait two weeks to dispose of your trash and recyclables if your collection falls on Christmas Day (Friday, Dec. 25). Set out your materials to be picked up on the following day – Saturday, Dec. 26. Fri, Jan. 1 collections will be picked up on Saturday, Jan. 2. UPDATE: Stay tuned for information on how to recycle your Christmas tree and waste from celebrations and presents.

Also, SEPTA has released its Holiday schedule. There will be some changes starting Thursday, Dec. 24 and through Friday, Jan. 1:

Thursday, Dec. 24 – Christmas Eve

• City Buses and Trolleys will operate on a modified weekday schedule. Amended timetables are available online at: http://www.septa.org/schedules/modified/modified-holiday-schedules.html.
• Suburban Buses, Trolley Routes 101/102 (Media Sharon Hill Lines), and the Norristown High Speed Line will operate on normal weekday schedules.
• On Regional Rail, a Midday Schedule providing earlier service from Center City will operate on selected trains. For details, go to: http://www.septa.org/schedules/rail/special/christmas-eve.html.
• The Market-Frankford and Broad Street Lines will operate with overnight train service Dec. 24 into Dec. 25.

Friday, Dec. 25 – Christmas Day: All SEPTA services will operate on a Sunday/Holiday schedule.  Continue Reading

The Lucien E. Blackwell West Philadelphia Regional Library, which serves the communities of Cedar Park, Walnut Hill, West Market, Mill Creek, Dunlap, and West Park, is set to close for maintenance at the end of the day on Thursday, Dec. 31, according to a recent announcement. The maintenance work, which may take many months to complete, will include a complete replacement of the building’s heating and air-conditioning system. Also, new ceilings and a new electrical system will be installed. Check the Blackwell Library’s Facebook page for updates.

The West Philadelphia Regional Library opened in 1976 and was the second regional library in the city, providing West Philadelphia with a larger collection of books, magazines and newspapers than neighborhood branches. Designed by architect William Mann, the library was built on the site of the Rivoli Theatre.

West Philadelphia neighborhood library branches include:

Blanche A. Nixon/Cobbs Creek, 59th and Baltimore
Charles L. Durham, 34th and Haverford
Haverford, 56th and Haverford
Kingsessing, 51st and Kingsessing
Walnut Street West, 40th and Walnut

University City-based startup Margo wants to simplify what has become a stressful process.

With changing government regulations and the introduction of the Affordable Care Act, there are many new factors to consider while shopping for insurance. That’s where Margo comes in. 

Founder Zach Robbins and the company have built a service that makes buying insurance a little less formal, less “salesy.”

“At the end of the day we believe that everyone more or less needs insurance and we’d like to make the process as convenient as possible. Being such an arduous task, it doesn’t need to be more complicated,” said Robbins.

Here’s how it works: A consumer contacts Margo through text message, e-mail or online chat. No 1-800 numbers. A good start.

After the customer makes the initial contact, the company’s Insurance Advocates run the data past carrier partners and follow up with the best insurance quotes. The process is entirely digital. While carriers are the parties with the most control over insurance rates, Margo’s Insurance Advocates make sure to notify users when their rates change and can also help them determine if there is a need for a policy change.

Oh, almost forgot, the service is free. The insurance carriers pay Margo.

In Margo’s early planning phase, the team worked with The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania’s Small Business Development center for early stage assistance. Undergraduate and graduate students were paid to help lay the groundwork for select new ventures.

To learn more about the digital insurance agency, visit www.getmargo.com.

– Rana Fayez

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.