Narberth officials are still waiting on more information before recommending a solution to traffic and safety concerns at the Wynnewood and Wynnewood intersection, but want more information on the logistics of installing a roundabout, Narberth councilman Bob Wegbreit said Tuesday.

Narberth Borough and Lower Merion Township have been considering options for the N Wynnewood Avenue and E Wynnewood Road intersection since a teenage pedestrian was struck there in December.

At a Monday night meeting, the Narberth Highway Committee heard from traffic engineer Brian Keaveney of Pennoni Associates as well as Michael Becker from the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission.

Keaveney provided updated traffic counts for the Wynnewood intersection, which showed a significant drop in traffic volume since the reopening of the Narberth bridge. According to Wegbreit, however, Keaveney believes the new traffic counts still meet PennDOT’s requirements for considering a traffic light or roundabout for that intersection.

“Overall, the sense of the room was that a roundabout would be the preferred solution,” Wegbreit said of Monday's meeting. “It’s more traffic calming, it’s pedestrian-friendly.”

The committee asked Keaveney to return to the next Highway Committee meeting prepared to talk about the costs and logistics of a roundabout at the intersection.

After that meeting, the committee will have a stronger view of whether to recommend a roundabout, traffic signal or no changes at the intersection.

“Then with more facts, we can discuss with Lower Merion and with PennDOT what steps would come next … we want to be able to offer the public different alternatives with better facts and background,” Wegbreit said.

The next meeting of the Highway Committee is tentatively scheduled for March 25 at 7:30 p.m.

As Democrats point fingers to the Republicans and Republicans point fingers at the Democrats, the one thing not happening in Congress is the stoppage of sequester. As it stands, the impact of the changes will begin as early as midnight on Thursday.

But how will this change impact those in Montgomery County? Another hard-hit department may be that of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Joel Johnson, executive director of the Montgomery County Housing Authority knows this fact all too well. Funded through the U.S. Department HUD, his department’s funding is in jeopardy with the fiscal year only half over.

“We receive four monies from four pots,” said Johnson. “Depending on Congressional allocation, the amounts vary.”

Two types of funding, Johnson said, fall under the voucher program.

To read part one of the series on the impact of county offices, click here.

To read part two on the impact to county seniors, click here.

“That is federal rent subsidization, utilized by households in the private marketplace,” said Johnson. In other words, privately-owned and –operated landlords can receive the rent.

“One big line item is for rent money, on behalf of program participants,” said Johnson. “A second line item is administration fees, paid for to staff and administer the programs.”

The other two “pots” of money support rental units owned and operated by the housing authority.

Of top concern with sequestration, Johnson said, would be cuts to the voucher program.

“It seems sequestration could have an impact of perhaps around 35 percent on the administration fee side that could be cut out of the budget,” he said. “On the rent-to-owner side, we could be impacted by probably 8 percent.”

Johnson is worried about the impact on his staff.

“On the administration side, we are carefully looking at our operation, we always have been very careful to function efficiently,” he said. “We’ll just have to be more careful moving forward.”

He hopes to prevent layoffs.

“We are hoping with some reserve funding, we are able to avoid short-term impacts on our staff,” said Johnson.

The Montgomery County residents that rely on the program, however, may not be as lucky.

“Under the voucher program, 2,600 participate in the county, all over the county,” said Johnson. “We are present in 90 percent of the 62 municipalities with our voucher program.”

He said 57 municipalities have 2,600 active leases, serving that many households with support.

“These are families with children, elderly, disabled,” said Johnson.

While the department has not yet gotten word on actual cuts, Johnson said he has been following trade organizations’ takes on the change.

“The impact could be up to a 25 percent reduction on the public housing operating fund,” he said. “Money comes from Congress to operate HUD.”

The county’s housing authority operates seven locations in the county, with 615 total public housing units.

Until Congress breaks down the reductions, the department will remain unsure of its future, but will try to create the smallest impact on its residents as possible.

“A cut would be on the operating subsidy, the money we get to operate the building,” said Johnson. “We have no plans on closing any [of the housing locations], we’d scale back some services.”

To read part one of the series on the impact of county services, visit this link.

To read part two of the series on the impact to area seniors, visit this link.

Pennsylvania's recent decrease in driving deaths among 16- and 17-year-olds bucked a nationwide increase of 19 percent, AAA Mid-Atlantic announced Tuesday.

In the first six months of 2012, six Pennsylvania drivers of those ages died in accidents, down from 10 in the first six months of 2011, according to AAA. Throughout the United States, the toll rose from 202 to 240.

Read on for more information from AAA, then tell us in the comments section below whether you've noticed teens driving more safely in the last couple years:

"This is good news for the Keystone state, and we hope the recent strengthening of Pennsylvania teen driving laws will continue the positive trend," said Jenny M. Robinson, Manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. "But parents need to keep playing a role to ensure their teens drive safely. Also, an improving economy could see more teen miles being driven and a corresponding rise in accidents."

In 2011, there were 1,286 highway fatalities in Pennsylvania.  More breakdowns are published in PennDOT’s 2011 Crash Facts Book.

Teen drivers and seniors (AAA.com/SeniorDriving) are groups of special concern. The latest crash data for Pennsylvania shows an increase in fatalities involving a 16-year old driver—a jump to 29 fatalities in 2011, compared to 19 for 2010. And about 4.5% of those 17-21 got in a crash last year in the state. Teens and their parents can find valuable free information and resources at AAA.com/TeenDriving.

Villanova, Gladwyne and Merion Station top the Philadelphia Business Journal's list of the Greater Philadelphia Area's 100 wealthiest zip codes.

The Journal's list comes courtesy of Esri, a geographic information provider. The site does not disclose its method for ranking the zip codes.

Check out their full story here to see what zip codes made the list, and check below to see which Philly Patch towns made the list.

Zip Code Neighborhood

Ranking

19083 Havertown 91 19008

Broomall

79 19064 Springfield 76 19063 Media 73 19301 Paoli 58 19382 West Chester 56 19380 West Chester 48 19010 Bryn Mawr 34 19333 Devon 32 19072 Narberth 31 19355 Malvern 30 19073 Newtown Square 26 19004 Bala Cynwyd 24 19096 Wynnewood 17 19087 Wayne 16 19041 Haverford 8 19312 Berwyn 5

19066

Merion Station 4 19035 Gladwyne 2 19085 Villanova 1

Are you surprised at these results? Tell us in the comments.

Sneaky Pete's, an athletic shoe and apparel store in Ardmore, is closing after 35 years of business. The store will likely shut its doors by May 1—or sooner, if remaining stock sells out, owner Franny Weinstein told Patch.

Deciding to close was "a fairly long process," Weinstein said. "We've been doing it for 35 years ... there's a lot of things that factor in, but mostly we felt it was time to retire."

Founded in 1977, Sneaky Pete's moved to Ardmore about 25 years ago.

In that time, "many stores have turned over... very few stores are still the original stores from when we first began," Weinstein said.

All remaining stock at Sneaky Pete's is on sale. The store, located at 5 W Lancaster Ave in Ardmore, is open:

• Monday to Friday: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
• Saturday: 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
• Sunday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Villanova, Gladwyne and Merion Station top the Philadelphia Business Journal's list of the Greater Philadelphia Area's 100 wealthiest zip codes.

The Journal's list comes courtesy of Esri, a geographic information provider. The site does not disclose its method for ranking the zip codes.

Check out their full story here to see what zip codes made the list, and check below to see which Philly Patch towns made the list.

Zip Code Neighborhood

Ranking

19083 Havertown 91 19008

Broomall

79 19064 Springfield 76 19063 Media 73 19301 Paoli 58 19382 West Chester 56 19380 West Chester 48 19010 Bryn Mawr 34 19333 Devon 32 19072 Narberth 31 19355 Malvern 30 19073 Newtown Square 26 19004 Bala Cynwyd 24 19096 Wynnewood 17 19087 Wayne 16 19041 Haverford 8 19312 Berwyn 5

19066

Merion Station 4 19035 Gladwyne 2 19085 Villanova 1

Local and state representatives will meet with residents Wednesday night to talk about gun regulations, common sense gun laws and gun safety in response to Lower Merion residents' concerns in the wake of the Newtown, CT shooting.

The town hall meeting, hosted by Lower Merion Township Commissioner Rick Churchill (Penn Wynne/Wynnewood), will be held at Penn Wynne Library at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The full release is reprinted below:

Lower Merion Township Commissioner Rick Churchill will host a town hall meeting on February 27 to clarify current gun regulations in Pennsylvania and to provide a question-answer session for constituents.

The meeting, to be held at the Penn Wynne Library starting at 7:30 p.m., comes in reaction to constituents’ concern in the wake of the tragedy at Newtown, CT.

Many neighbors have expressed concern about the status of current gun laws in our state and the Lower Merion Police Department has expressed similar concern, noting that most citizens are not aware of current regulations.

Speakers include neighborhood attorney Mark McAlpine, who will present an overview of current gun regulations.  Zac Hoover from State Senator Daylin Leach’s office and Michael Bettinger from State Representative Tim Briggs office will discuss the legislative status of any common sense gun laws. Lastly, the Lower Merion Police Department will give advice on responsible gun ownership and safety.

The meeting is open to all neighbors and interested citizens in the area.

Looking for things to do in March or on St. Patrick's Day? Get some fresh air and enjoy the outdoors with these nearby runs and 5Ks, many of which are for good causes.

Below is a list of nearby runs in March in the greater Philadelphia region:

Saturday, March 2

• Manayunk Towpath, onsite registration opens at 7:45 a.m., race starts at 9 a.m., $25 registration fee – The 5K walk/run on the scenic Manayunk Towpath will start at Main Street and Leverington Avenue in Manyunk. All proceeds benefit the North Light Community Center, a staple in Manayunk for over 75 years. Its mission is to enable people of all ages and abilities in our communities, especially those most in need, to reach their full potential as productive and responsible citizens through initiatives that support and enrich children, teens, and families. For more information, contact Deirdre Childs.

• Athletes Closet, West Chester, onsite registration opens at 8:30 a.m., race starts at 9:30 a.m. – The 5-mile run is open for all athletes as a training run. For more information, contact Richard Fitch at 610-764-5677.

Saturday, March 9

• Sacred Heart Shamrock Shuffle 5K, Havertown, onsite registration opens at 9:15 a.m., race starts at 10:30 a.m. – The 1.2-mile Family Fun Walk will go through the streets of Manoa, while the longer 5K run will take runners further into Havertown. Look out for a special guest appearance by Sacred Heart’s Lucky Leprechaun. Proceeds from this event will be used to fund upgrades to the infrastructure of Sacred Heart School. A $100 prize will be awarded to the first overall male and female, plus age group prizes, goodie bags for pre-registered runners, and more. For more information, contact Maria Pardini at 610-960-6638.

Saturday, March 16

• 2013 Winter Pickle Run Series No. 3, Newtown Square, onsite registration opens at 9 a.m., race starts at 10 a.m., pre-registration is $12 – This is the last of three Winter Pickle Runs. There are two courses to choose from at Ridley Creek State Park (section 17): 3.01ish all road or 4.4-mile road and trail. This event brings the fun back into running and helps you keep in shape during the cold winter months. ContactTim Krueger for more information. 
  
  
• O'Hara Leprechaun Run, Springfield, onsite registration opens at 8:30 a.m., race starts at 10 a.m. – The Cardinal O'Hara Track Alumni Committee will host this run to raise funds to complete the field events & purchase equipment required to host track meets at O'Hara High School. All proceeds from the race will be used to support this effort as well as the effort to complete the stadium complex. Donations for this event are tax exempt as the association is a nonprofit (tax ID #46-0693017). Contact Chris Pastore for more information. 

• St. Patrick's Day Dash, Philadelphia, onsite registration opens at 8:30 a.m., race starts at 9:30 a.m., early registration fee is $30 – The 1st Annual Paddy Whacks St. Patrick’s Day DASH is a 5K run, walk, jog or crawl to celebrate the arrival ofsSpring and the Irish in us all. The DASH benefits Jimbo’s Squad in support of providing comfort for patients at the Fox Chase Cancer Center and their families as they battle Cancer. Contact Casey Jones at 215-464-7544 ext. 100 for more information.

• ST. Pat's 5K, West Chester, onsite registration opens at 7 a.m., race starts at 8 a.m. – Time to find your green and join the party. Start your St. Patty's Day celebration in downtown West Chester at the Kildare's Irish Pub - St. Pat's 5k Road Race. Contact CCRS Race Staff for more information.

Tuesday, March 19

• Anton Paar 5k Walk/Run at Pittcon, Philadelphia, no race day registration, race starts at 7 a.m. –  Anton Paar will host a 5K walk/run at the Pittcon Convention at Lloyd Hall along Boat House Row in Philadelphia. Supporting the corporate missions of encouraging employee activity and charitable works, proceeds from the event will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Project. Contact Eric Fox at 804-550-1051 for more information.

Saturday, March 23

• EU5K, Eastern University, St. Davids, onsite registration opens at 7:30 a.m., race starts at 8:30 a.m., early registration fee is $20, student registration is $12 – This is the 1st annual Eastern University 5K (EU5K), hosted by the Eastern University Men's and Women's Cross Country teams. 
  The race will start on the main campus of Eastern University near the main entrance off of Eagle Rd (near the Eagle Rd, King of Prussia Rd. intersection). The course wanders throughout the quiet, picturesque suburbs of Wayne, before ending back on campus near the starting area. All proceeds benefit Eastern Cross Country and Operation Net, an on-campus non-profit organization focused on providing life-saving mosquito nets to prevent malaria worldwide. View the Course Map here. Contact Mike Wilson at 330-687-9793 for more information.

• WellSprings Hosts 1st Annual 5K Run/Walk, Chester Springs, race starts at 10 a.m., $25 registration fee/$12 for children under age 12 –Proceeds to fund Addictions and Recovery Expo in September 2013, which will offer addictions and mental health resources to individuals and families. This is a family-friendly fundraiser for an important cause. A t-shirt and goodie bag are included for participants who are professionally timed. Sign up on Active.com here. For more information, visit http://www.wellspringsuu.org/index-12.html.

Saturday, March 30

• 2013 Butterfly Run, Great Valley High School, Malvern, onsite registration opens at 7:30 a.m., race starts at 9 a.m. – A 5K & 1-mile Fun Run will benefit Elizabeth Ciunci Scholarship Fund. The run starts at Great Valley HS, winds along residential roads and finishes back at the high school. Chip timing provided by Run-the-Day. Excellent post-race food and activities. Cash award prizes will be given to the first three top male and female runners. Contact Mary Ellen Buckley for more information.

• Bunny Hop 5K, West Chester, onsite registration opens at 7:15 a.m., race starts at 8:30 a.m. – The Kid's Egg Hunt Dash will start at 9 a.m. For more information, visit the Bunny Hop 5K's website here and to sign-up go here.

Another 24 hours is lost, and Congress has yet to agree on a plan that would stop sequestration. The automated budget cuts will deliver a hit to Montgomery County programs, including those designed to assist area senior citizens.

In a recent Wall Street Journal op-ed, House Speaker John Boehner said the cuts would be a product of Obama's "failed leadership."

"Most Americans are just hearing about this Washington creation for the first time: the sequester," Boehner writes in his column. "What they might not realize from Mr. Obama's statements is that it is a product of the president's own failed leadership. There is nothing wrong with cutting spending that much -- we should be cutting even more -- but the sequester is an ugly and dangerous way to do it."

But how would these federal goverment budget reductions impact local citizens? Montgomery County's senior citizens might be hardest hit. There are more than 225,000 residents over age 55 in Montgomery County, making it the county with the highest median age in the southeastern region of the state.

According to a White House press release, "Pennsylvania would lose approximately $849,000 in funds that provide meals for seniors."

Joanne Kline, executive director of the Montgomery County Aging and Adult Services department said that such a cut would greatly impact her programs.

"Area agencies on aging are funded by these very important funding 'strings,' and we're all in the same boat," explained Kline. She said that all Greater Philadelphia's surrounding county departments, including those in Bucks, Chester and Delaware counties, would also be hurt. 

"We are waiting to hear when funds are allocated to the state, what will come down to us," she said.

One of the most crucial programs Kline fears may be impacted is the home-delivered meals program.

"It is so crucial for those that are unable to make their own meals," she said. "It is a huge nutritional issue. It keeps these people well and healthy."

Kline said assistance with meals can often be one of the first "accepted" services a senior will allow when his or her health begins to change.

"It is our most important program, and growing continually," she said.

While the home-delivered meals programs are largely operated by volunteer efforts, Kline's department relies on federal funding for the purchasing of the food. In 2012, the department delivered 247,131 meals to home clients, and 74,000 "congregate meals" (or those served in a nursing facility).

"We get nutritional money handed down through the state from Harrisburg," she said. "We are also assisted with lottery funds that come down to us. It is all a part of an allocation from the Department of Aging."

Reduced funds, Kline noted, would likely cause a waiting list to grow, meaning fewer seniors would be provided with meals.

"In Montgomery County, we have a growing list for those in home care," said Kline. "We have 200 on a waiting list, and most of those just need a bath and some in-home care."

With more reductions to funding, Kline estimates 20 to 30 more would be added to that waiting list for home-delivered meals.

"If that is all they needed, it is very sad," she said. "One of our most effective programs, and it is run by volunteers. All we need is that money for meals, and it goes a long way to keep folks at home and independent."

Cuts in funding would go beyond the home-delivered meals program, too. Kline noted that other areas of concern are for the Family Caregivers Support Program and the Ombudsman Program.

"Federal money which comes down is important," said Kline. "It protects folks from elder abuse and neglect cases. It is one of our most critical programs."

As presure also comes from a change in the Pennsylvania Lottery system, with a Gov. Tom Corbett-created plan to privatize the system, Kline worries that both of her major sources of funding would be up in the air.

"We are absolutely in favor of any program to increase our fudning to allow for more services, at a time when our population is growing so dramatically," she said. "We simply ask 'Are there ways we can look at different kinds of service dollars to fund these growing needs?'"

For part one in the series, read this story.

Construction of the new Haverford Area YMCA is well underway. The Main Line YMCA, located in Ardmore, announced in fall its plans to close and merge with the Haverford YMCA when the new facility is complete.

The Haverford Y will be located at 891 North Eagle Road in Haverford, about 3.5 miles from the Main Line Y.

Haverford 4th Ward Commissioner Dan Siegel posted the following update on construction of the new Haverford YMCA on his website.

Construction of the new Haverford Area YMCA on Eagle Road (at the old Bubble Gum Factory site) is in full swing. According to YMCA officials, the following is the status as of February 2013:

• Interior work in the new pool area, gymnasium, wellness center and upper floors is ongoing with significant work occurring in the next few months.
• Exterior roofing is near completion and the building is expected to be completely covered by the end of March.
  The grounds, which include the parking lot, will begin late spring.
• Storm water management for the property is 90% completed with scheduled completion in late spring.
• Construction on Eagle Road, which includes the new intersection off of Hillcrest Road, will begin in April and will continue for up to 10 weeks. To accommodate traffic most of the work will be done at night, after peak hours.
• Overall construction is moving along rapidly with an expected opening of October 2013.

 

A woman had her purse stolen out of a shopping cart at Whole Foods on Feb. 24, then recovered that same day from the grounds of a nearby apartment complex, Lower Merion police said at a Monday briefing.

At 7:06 p.m. on Feb. 24, the complainant told police that she had been shopping with her purse in the top portion of her shopping cart at Whole Foods Market in Wynnewood, 339 E Lancaster Ave. The woman turned her back to the cart in the meat section of the store, and when she turned around her purse was gone, according to the report.

The woman’s phone was in her purse, and police were able to track the phone via GPS to the grounds of the Oakwynne House, an apartment complex located right across Lancaster Ave. After searching the property extensively, the purse was recovered, police said.

Most items were still in the purse, including the victim’s cell phone, police said. Bank cards and $50 in cash were taken.

The theft is still under investigation, according to the report.

Congress is on the clock. If changes are not made by Thursday at midnight, those across the nation will be affected by sequestration. The automated budget cuts will deliver a hit to Montgomery County programs, affecting many in the area.

"Unless Congress acts by March 1, a series of automatic cuts — called the sequester — will take effect that threaten hundreds of thousands of middle class jobs, and cut vital services for children, seniors, people with mental illness and our men and women in uniform," said a release from the White House.

The president has laid out his own plan for cutting the budget, but said that he is challenged in Congress.

"Unfortunately, many Republicans in Congress refuse to ask the wealthy to pay a little more by closing tax loopholes so that we can protect investments that are helping grow our economy and keep our country safe," said the release. 

How will these cuts hit home? Pennsylvania is expected to be one of the "hardest hit" states, according to Forbes, with a projected 78,454 job losses expected.

Montgomery County will be among the areas of the state to see change, should sequestration come to fruition. 

Frank Custer, director of communications for Montgomery County, said that "there will be several" effects of the cuts in our area.

"County residents will feel effects on a wide range of issues," said Custer. "A lot is tied to schools, teachers, education, and the county government does not have a lot to do with those programs."

However, Montco isn't safe from the proverbial ax.

"The county government itself will feel it in places like the public heath area," he said. "In Pennsylvania, we estimate we will lose $1.2 million in funds in public health areas."

Custer worries that such cuts would hurt programs like free HIV testing, offered by Montgomery County's Department of Health, or immunizations for children.

"It is estimated that 5,200 children will not be able to receive immunizations," said Custer. "That will affect the ability of our health department to meet those needs."

Currently, Montgomery County offers access for immunizations for measles, mumps and rubella, tetanus and whooping cough, as well as influenza, which may be jeopardized should sequestration cut their funding.

Programs providing nutritional assistance for seniors will also be hurt by cuts, according to Custer.

"Pennsylvania is to lose $850,000 in funding for meals for seniors, and that affects the County's ability to meet those needs," he said.

Overall, Custer said there are many areas where Montgomery County citizens may find shortcomings due to federal subsidization reductions.

"There are going to be wide-ranging effects," he said.

To take a closer look at these changes, Montgomery County Patch sites will be publishing a series called "Sequestration in Montgomery County." The four-part series of articles will take a closer look at each of the major changes local residents will notice as a result of Sequestration impacts.

Come back to Patch each day this week for more on this developing series.

Dr. Edwin Levy, of Wynnewood, died on Feb 20.

David Patrick Segrave-Daly, of Ardmore, dies at 70.

Warren Levy, of Wynnewood, dies at 91. 

Charles Richard Mattis III, of Wynnewood, dies at 56.

Other obituaries from Greater Philadelphia:

• Russell Hurd Crawford, of Wayne, died on Feb 19.
• Ann Borneman, of Wayne, dies at 82.
• Mary J. Rafferty, of Wayne, dies at 97.

• Carol Frost, of Berwyn, dies at 87.
• Richard Baxter, of Berwyn and West Chester, dies at 83.

• Frances Judge, of West Chester, dies at 82.
• John Thomas Dolente, of West Chester, dies at 60.
• Lindley Myles, of West Chester, diest at 90.
• Catherine Herring Lindsey, of West Chester, dies at 86.
• George Knox Jr. of West Chester, dies at 86.

• Tekla Nakonecznyj, of Phoenixville, dies at 89.
• Gerald Keim, of Phoenixville, dies at 76.
• Mary Stuart, of Phoenixville, dies at 88.
• Christine Rector, of Phoenixville, dies at 63.
• Anna Orosz, of Phoenixvillie, dies at 90.

• Leonard John Santagelo, of Malvern, dies at 86.
• Joseph Thomas Mullray, graduate of Malvern Prep, dies at 81.
• Teresa Fronheiser, of Malvern, dies at 49.

• Mary Frances Conrad, of Springfield, dies at 80.
• Richard Baxter, raised in Springfield, dies at 83.
• Thomas Albert Quercetti, of Springfield, dies at 28.
• John Esposito, of Springfield, died on Feb 18.
• James Downey Sr., of Springfield, dies at 84.
• Nazzarino Peracchia Jr., of Springfield and Media, dies at 81.

• Nazzarino Peracchia Jr., of Springfield and Media, dies at 81.
• George McLean, of Media, dies at 82.
  
• L. Eldon Lindley Jr., of Media, dies at 89.

• Joseph Thomas Mullray, of Newtown Square, dies at 81.
• Anna DiGiorgio Romel, of Newtown Square, dies at 83.

• Norma Rodini, of Havertown, dies at 92.
• Alfonso Genello, of Havertown, dies at 98.
• William Duffy, of Havertown, died on Feb 21.
• Marian Meredith Bellamy, of Haverford, dies at 85.

• Ruth Benincasa, of Roxborough, dies at 92.
• Marion Douie Felten Manley, born in Roxborough, dies at 98.
• Kenneth William Stringer, of Roxborough, dies at 54.

• Majorie Traister, of Chestnut Hill, dies at 78.

• Carol Reisinger Frost, of Narberth, dies at 87.

• Richard Haddield, longtime employee at Bryn Mawr Hospital, dies at 55.
• Frances MacNally Herndon, of Bryn Mawr, dies at 94.
• Elizabeth Turner Trone, of Bryn Mawr, died on Feb 15.
• John Christopher Joy, of Gladwyne, dies at 88.

 

Check your kitchen if you buy King Arthur flour.

The company is recalling certain 5 pound bags due to the possible presence of small (7-9 mm) blue polyurethane balls, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reports. The balls are used during the sifting process.

The balls are made from food-grade material, measure about half the diameter of a dime and are easily seen due to their blue color, according to King Arthur Flour.

What's Being Recalled

The recalled flour is:

• King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour, 5 pound bag, UPC 0-71012-01050-9 with the combination of both the Best Used By Date plus Lot Code beneath nutrition facts panel

Best Used By Lot Code 12/26/2013 L12A26B 12/26/2013 L12A26C 12/27/2013 L12A27A 01/18/2014 A13A18A 01/18/2014 A13A18B 01/21/2014 A13A21A 01/22/2014 A13A22B 01/30/2014 A13A30A 01/31/2014 A13A31A

and

• King Arthur Unbleached Bread Flour, 5 pound bag, UPC 0-71012-04105-3 with the combination of both the Best Used By Date plus Lot Code beneath nutrition facts panel

Best Used By Lot Code 12/26/2013 L12A26A 12/26/2013 L12A26B 01/03/2014 A13A03A 01/03/2014 A13A03B 01/16/2014 A13A16B 01/17/2014 A13A17A 01/23/2014 A13A23A 01/28/2014 A13A28A 01/31/2014 A13A31A What To Do If You Have Recalled Flour

Recalled products can be returned for a full refund.

For more information on the recall, call the King Arthur Flour Consumer Hotline at (866) 797-9178, Monday-Friday between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.

It's a bird ... it's a plane ... it's the International Space Station!

Orbiting about 250 miles above the Earth's surface, the International Space Station will be visible from the western Philadelphia suburbs for about six minutes on Monday, starting at 6:19 p.m., according to NASA.

The station will actually be passing over upstate New York and Massachusetts. Because of its height, we can still see it from our area. It will then pass out over the Atlantic near Cape Cod as it fades from our view.

Look for the station to pass from northwest to east-southeast, about halfway between the horizon and the zenith (which is directly overhead).

The station's brightness will wax and wane as it passes by; this is a function of changing amounts of the sun's light being reflected from the station's surface to our vantage point.

At its most brilliant, the station will look like an extremely bright, fast moving plane. Just don't expect to hear any jet engine noise!

The current crew of six astronauts includes two Americans, three Russians, and Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, who frequently posts photographs and other live updates from the space station to his Twitter account.

1. Woodside Road between Lancaster Avenue and Montgomery Avenue is scheduled to be closed again Monday and Tuesday for Comcast work.

2. A founder of Lower Merion United—"a grass-roots non-partisan organization looking to engage Lower Merion Township residents in legislative advocacy to end gun violence"—will speak to the Merion Civic Association at their regular meeting on Tuesday. Members of the public are welcome to attend the meeting, which begins at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Merion Tribute House, 625 Hazelhurst Ave., Merion Station.

 3. There is no Lower Merion Board of Commissioners meeting this Wednesday. The next scheduled meeting of the board is Wednesday, March 13.

4. A fundraiser for the family of late Lower Merion police officer Sean Quinn will be held Friday, March 1 at the Palombaro Club in Ardmore. Proceeds will help offset Quinn's funeral costs. Get the details here.

5. The deadline to apply for Lower Merion's "Go For Green" awards is Friday, March 1. Find out more about the awards, and get a link to the application, here.

A benefit and auction organized by Lower Merion community members will be held this Friday to help offset the funeral expenses of late Lower Merion police officer Sean Quinn.

Quinn, 46, died Feb. 11 and is survived by his wife and three children.

Quinn received 32 Letters of Commendation in his 25 years in the Lower Merion Police Department and was recognized by the Philadelphia 76ers as a “Hometown Hero” for his work as a D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) Officer in Lower Merion schools.

The benefit event, to which the public is invited, will be held Friday, March 1 from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Palombaro Club, 2632 County Line Rd in Ardmore. A $25 donation includes food and DJ. There will also be a cash bar, a 50/50 raffle and silent auction featuring autographed sports memorabilia.

According to the Lower Merion Fraternal Order of Police Facebook page, community members who wish to help but can't attend on Friday may write a check payable to Lower Merion FOP Lodge 28 (“Brother Quinn” noted on memo line) and mail it to Lower Merion FOP Lodge 28, PO Box 430, Ardmore, PA 19003.

Donations will help offset funeral expenses incurred by Quinn's family.

Suspects Include the Ninja Turtles: Phoenixville Patch is reporting that four manhole covers have gone missing from borough roads. The manholes are valued at $130 each and are reportedly often sold for scrap despite being, what experts call "super heavy." Read the full story here.

Apparently, Microwaves Come in All Sizes: Radnor Patch is reporting that a microwave valued at nearly $1,000 was reported stolen from a Rosemont home. According to the story, the microwave was so big that it would have taken two people to move, making it the biggest microwave that this writer has ever heard of. Read the full story here.

I Was Unaware $100 Gloves Existed: Police in Bala Cynwyd responded to a man trying to steal $92 gloves, $150 sunglasses and a $52 belt from Lord and Taylor on City Line Avenue, according to a report from Bala Cynwyd Patch. Read the full story here.

Businesses in the greater Philadelphia area post vacant jobs on Craigslist every day. Here are a few notable vacancies that have been advertised recently:

• Overnight Security Detail
• Sandwich Person
• Girls lacrosse coaches
• Residential Advisor
• Veterinary Technician
• Reading Support Specialist
• Nonprofit director
• Tour Guide
• Head Pastry Chef
• Spanish tutor
• Furniture Refinisher/Finisher
• Fire Technician
• Media Publisher
• Threading Artist
• Hot Dog "Chef"
• Seamstress

For a full local lists of available jobs in each Patch, click on its name below.

• PHILADELPHIA: Roxborough-Manayunk | Chestnut Hill-Mt. Airy
• MONTGOMERY COUNTY: Narberth-Bala Cynwyd | Ardmore-Merion-Wynnewood | Bryn Mawr-Gladwyne
• DELAWARE COUNTY: Radnor | Haverford-Havertown | Springfield | Media | Marple Newtown
• CHESTER COUNTY: Tredyffrin-Easttown | Malvern | West Chester | Phoenixville