Dear Readers,

We have a new blogger to the site that has brought up a topic we hadn't really discussed...but now we will....and it is so funny, that like clockwork, up pops this person about 10 days before an election that their pal is in? Why it is so very déjà vu....sigh....we've been here before...

Anyway, One of our brave volunteer firefighters is upset because a candidate for political office purchased a photo from a local photographer about a 9/11 ceremony and used it in campaign literature. That man is Chief John Fallon from the Penn Wynne-Overbrook Hill Fire Company (different from Bryn Mawr). And very important point of fact: Chief Fallon's letter was not a "private" matter. And Research101? Slanderous? Why is everyone who disagrees with this candidate/commissioner always accused of atrocities?

What has Chief Fallon said that was untrue? Why don't you share Lisa's "gracious" response since you seem so intimately acquainted with the candidate and her campaign?

If this new friend on the SAC site knew what was what with volunteer fire fighters and emergency responders, they would know that this is kind of a big deal to them.

To suggest that Chief Fallon is a "political pawn" is simply astounding and very insulting to volunteer firefighters everywhere. Why? Because anything having to do with 9/11 is a HUGE deal - and it should be.

So, here is what we are borrowing from Webmaster Doug's website, which had not been on the SAC site until now...but since the topic was broached by a guest, and since we hear the Bulletin wrote about it, well, here, we will feature it:

Giza: Did Lisa Paolino misrepresent support from fire fighters?

Fire Chief John Fallon is not very happy with Lisa Paolino right now.

It seems that earlier in the month, she sent out campaign literature (pictured on right) in the mail which featured a photograph of Chief Fallon standing behind Lisa in full uniform. The implication here is that Lisa had his support, except... she didn't. Not only did he not support her, but he never gave her or anyone from her campaign permission to use his picture in her literature. What was Lisa thinking?

What's even worse is that this has had consequences for Chief Fallon, namely in that is caused his friends and neighbors to think that he supported Lisa, when just the opposite was true. I can only imagine how awkward that must have been, seeing your picture plastered all over some random candidate's political mailing and having to explain that to people.

Did I say Chief Fallon was not happy? Maybe that's an understatement, since he pulls no punches in his letter to Lisa. Here is an excerpt:

I have proudly served as a volunteer firefighter for 36 years. I have served as the Chief of the Penn Wynne-Overbrook Hill Fire Company for the last 7. As Chief, it has been my honor to lead a group of dedicated men and women who selflessly serve their community. Perhaps for a politician like you, the event memorialized in the photograph you hijacked was unmemorable. For me it was not. This image was taken at a memorial for the 343 firefighters whom lost their lives on September 11, 2001. It is truly heartbreaking that a politician would exploit this national tragedy to advance her political ambitions -- all for a good "photo op". Your conduct tells me all I need to know about your lack of respect and lack of understanding of the daily sacrifices made by volunteer firefighters, police, paramedics, and other first responders. Your campaign literature says what you want us to believe, but your conduct, in politicizing this memorial, has shown me the truth about you. You are unworthy of our support.

Wow. Nobody messes with Chief Fallon. Not even Chuck Norris Rick Astley.

For the curious, the full 2-page letter can be viewed here:

page 1
page 2

And here, let us quote our new friend from Rosemont who seems very upset:
Chief Fallon, a used political fall guy?
Submitted by Research101 on Sat, 2008-04-12 00:06. Politicians: Lisa Paolino

Is it just me or does anyone else find the recent comments and accusations
by Chief Fallon to be nothing but a purely underhanded and politically motivated
slanderous attack on Lisa Paolino?

Just to set the record straight I offer the following:

Fact: As the race heats up so does the rhetoric and personal attacks by unaccountable
people.

Fact: Lisa Paolino is pictured in public during the course of performing her duties as
a public official with volunteer Fire Chief Fallon of the Penn Wynn - Overbrook
Fire House.

Fact: The picture was taken on June 20, 2003. The event was the celebration commemorating
the 100th anniversary of the Bryn Mawr Fire Company. NOT a ceremony commemorating
the Fire Fighters that fell victim to the attacks of September 11, 2001 as Chief
Fallon accused.

Fact: The Bryn Mawr Fire Company is shared by both Radnor and Lower Merion

Fact: The photo was taken by Pete Bannon, a free lance photographer and it was
later printed with a story in Maine Line Life highlighting the event.

Fact: In accordance with copyright law, Lisa Paolino purchased the photograph.

Fact: Lisa Paolino has used the photograph in the public domain for years without complaint

Fact: Fallon is a full time employee of Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Furman whose endorsement was highly touted by the Lance Rogers campaign.

Fact: The letter, which was cc'd to Rogers, was immediately forwarded to Bradley
Vasoli, of the "The Bulletin" by the Roger's campaign.

Fact: Lisa Paolino responded to Chief Fallon's slanderous accusations via letter
addressing his complaints (graciously in my opinion)and agreed to no longer use
the photograph

Fact: Lisa Paolino's letter was only made public in response to a media request
for a response to egregious and false accusations made in Chief Fallon's letter

Fact: The Penn Wynn - Overbrook Fire House operates within the ward represented
by the 4 month old Republican Lance Rogers, a self proclaimed champion of Fire Fighters, EMT's and Law Enforcement.

Fact: Below is Paolino's voting record as a Radnor Commissioner and is clearly a big supporter of Fire Fighter, EMT, and Law Enforcement:

FIRE/AMBULANCE –

Last 5 years (2004-2008):Lisa Paolino supported total of $760,000 in operating contributions to volunteer fire/ambulance companies ($141,000 in 2004, $169,000 in 2005, $152,000 in 2006, $134,000 in 2007, $164,000 in 2008).

POLICE –

Last five years (2004-2008):Lisa Paolino supported total of $23.4 million in operational funding to Radnor Police Department ($4,854,000 in 2004, $4,553,000 in 2005, $4,689,000 in 2006, $4,587,000 in 2007, $4,708,000 in 2008).

Now having presented the true facts of this issue, I am left to ponder the following
questions:

Question: Why complain now when the photograph has existed in the public domain
for years?

Question: Why did the Lance Roger's Campaign feel compelled to make public a
private matter between Chief Fallon and Paolino?

Question: Did the Rogers campaign feel the need to show off another endorsement?

Question: Does the Roger's Campaign understand the significant difference between
a "tow the party line endorsement" and an ACTUAL VOTE from John or Jane Q. Republican?

Question: Can Chief Fallon cry on demand like Hillary?

Question: Why is it that Mr. Vasoli could not independently verify with the Bryn
Mawr Fire Department and "Maine Line Life" before publishing quotes
that are untrue and slanderous?

Question: Why are people tired of Politics and choose not to vote?

Research101, you sound an awful lot like our old friend Jeremiah from Lisa Paolino's last campaign? You know the one where she only won by 2 votes and where quite a few wondered where her committee people really lived? Anyway, we hope you are happy now that you have vented your spleen. It must get really tiring defending the honor of she of the Vaseline Lens, etc?..no wait! You have already visited CityPaper to spam them too! LOL, what's next?

Seriously, have some warm milk and go nighty-nite. ROFL! Election season!

UPDATE: Here are some more articles that make for an interesting read - if anyone has issue with them, well, we can't really comment, we weren't there, were we?

Backroom maneuvering yields surprise in Radnor
By Jim McCaffrey, Main Line Life Staff 07/20/2000

Villanova neighbors hope for fair shake from board
By Jim McCaffrey, Main Line Life Staff 08/18/2000

Radnor closes doors to pick commissioner
By Jim McCaffrey, Main Line Life Staff 03/16/2000

And here's a curious thing: apparently Lisa was towed by Radnor Garage? Isn't that interestink' Dr. Ruth? And what is with the hyphenated last name? Her official bio only mentions one ex?

Towing the line leads to conflict in Radnor
By:Helen Cooper 04/18/2002

After an angry confrontation between 5th Ward Commissioner Lisa Paolino-Adams and Radnor Garage spokeswoman Holly Bova at last week's Radnor Township meeting, both sides agreed on one thing....Asked what precipitated last week's confrontation between Paolino-Adams and Bova at a meeting of Radnor commissioners, Much pointed to the commissioner's remarks about the tow service during a February meeting of the township board.

He said Bova responded at a March meeting when Paolino-Adams was not present to give her version of an incident involving the towing of the commissioner's car. (That incident occurred a year and a half ago, Paolino-Adams reported later.)

Bova returned to face commissioners at their April 8 meeting to present her side of the story, claiming that Paolino-Adams had entered her office and demanded the return of her towing fees. (The money was refunded.)

There she spoke up after 5th Ward Commissioner Bill Spingler, chairman of the board's public safety committee, called her previous remarks "out of line," "vicious" and "not true."

A bitter exchange resulted between Paolino-Adams and Bova that lasted nearly 15 minutes over the towing incident and the aftermath. Spingler then suggested that the matter be referred to the public safety committee.

Guess that reporter was lying and full of slander too? As well as whomever Bill Spingler is?

Radnor plans to turn parcel into pocket park
By: Sam Strike 03/30/2006

Radnor Township is in the process of buying the site of a former towing company and garage with designs to make the .2-acre Bryn Mawr parcel into a pocket park.

The site is on Brook Street, a no-outlet road with about 20 twin and single homes off Landover Road, which divides Radnor and Haverford townships there.

The Board of Commissioners voted Monday night to appropriate $170,000 for the purchase.

Township officials, including Commissioner Lisa Paolino, who represents residents there, said that the business, Radnor Garage, which had a number of owners over the years, was far from the ideal tenant.

"The property has always been a nightmare and a nuisance in the Fifth Ward," Paolino said at the meeting, where she introduced the ordinance to authorize township staff to enter into an agreement of purchase.

She said buying the land would be "closure to something 10 years in the process."

Is below what we are to expect at the polls on election day? As if the flap over endorsementgate wasn't enough whining? Funny how this one candidate screams negative?

You decide: Radnor ethics probe or political smear job?
By:Ryan Richards 02/07/2003

Did a Radnor commissioner swipe a stack of campaign literature off a table during the spring primary? Or was he the target of a smear campaign?

That was the question at the center of a hearing convened by the Radnor Township Ethics Board Jan. 28.

The board convened in the Township Building as a result of a complaint by 4th-Ward Commissioner Enrique Hervada, who contended that 7th-Ward Commissioner David Cannan may have violated the township's Code of Ethics by allegedly removing without authorization sample ballots belonging to Lorraine Hickey, who was running for a Democratic Committee seat in Precinct 7-1 during the May 21 primary last year.

The ethics board has 90 days to render findings of fact and present the findings to the Radnor Board of Commissioners, who will decide any further action.

The alleged incident took place in the lobby of the Rosemont Plaza polling place. Hickey was running for one of two seats, along with Cannan's sister, Jane, and Sara Pilling.....Radnor Commissioner Lisa Paolino-Adams claimed to have witnessed the alleged confrontation. "I have to be honest with you," she told the board. "I have never seen anything like that at a polling place. Mrs. Hickey was just beside herself."

"Dave was screaming pretty loud at her. He was very close to her face."

She described Hickey as shaking, crying and her makeup "running down her face."

But two other people at the polling place at the time of the alleged incident described a much different David Cannan.

"I do not remember any screaming," recalled Pilling, who was distributing campaign literature next to Cannan.

She testified, however, that she remembers Paolino-Adams being in "Dave's face."

"If anyone was raising their voice," she said, "it was Lisa Adams, not Dave Cannan."

There goes that Adams name again? Where is he in the bio?

Radnor: Cannan violated ethics
By:Douglas P. Scott 04/24/2003

Condominiums Radnor choice on Savini
By:Kate Saunders 11/23/2004

Radnor commissioners raise taxes
By: Sam Strike 12/22/2005

The Radnor Board of Commissioners voted five to two to adopt a 2006 budget that hikes taxes 7.9 percent Monday night. It is the township's third straight tax increase.

Last week the administration proposed an 8.2 percent real-estate tax increase...The two dissenting votes on the budget came from Dave Cannan (Ward 7) and Ann-Michele Higgins (Ward 2).

Top Stories-May 04, 2006By: Richard Ilgenfritz
American College sells land to O'Neill Properties
The college will lease part of the land; the developer also wants to build condos.

Top Stories-August 10, 2006By:Chris Williams
O'Neill, college part ways
Developer pulls out of deal with American College

Residents protest demolition of Poplar Ave. home
By Helen Cooper
08/23/2002

Radnor shuffles board
By:Sam Strike 04/12/2007

Normally it's a seemingly non-vote non-issue.

In recent history in Radnor Township, it's not easy to find many members of advisory boards who were not reappointed to a second term. It's been pretty rare.

But North Wayne resident Kevin Blackney, who was in line to become chair of the Planning Commission, reportedly did not have enough support from the Board of Commissioners to be reappointed in February.

The decision was cemented Monday night when the commissioners voted to appoint a new member to the commission to replace Blackney.

Commissioners Hank Mahoney (Ward 1) and Bill Spingler (Ward 3) abstained from voting for the nominee.

Mahoney would not comment on his abstention vote, but Spingler did the following day.

"I felt that Kevin Blackney should have been reappointed," he said. "I thought he did an excellent job...and was entitled to a second, four year appointment."

"Obviously the majority of the Board didn't agree with my position."

One of those people was Commissioner Lisa Paolino (Ward 5)

Radnor Probe Faults Schools Over Scandal
Posted on: Tuesday, 3 July 2007, 03:19 CDT
By Dan Hardy, The Philadelphia Inquirer

FindArticles:Radnor report to revisit high school grade changes
Philadelphia Inquirer, The, June, 2007 by Dan Hardy Inquirer Staff Writer

And oh by the way, no trees were injured in providing links to published newspaper articles...and as opposed to those glossy campaign flyers starting to arrive, no one will slip on one in a foyer anywhere