The Daily Salvo for March 12, 2013 - "The Road to Prosperity"
On the road to prosperity speed limits are signs of what to expect. Case in point, in Texas - where you can drive up to 85 mph - business is booming. Likewis... From: dailysalvo Views: 3 0 ratings Time: 00:59 More in News & Politics

Reaching decisions in the last of an unusually large group of student home violations issued in Fall 2012, the Lower Merion Township Zoning Hearing Board has granted appeals filed by both property owners.

Former borough council president, Sean Shultz, today announced his campaign for Carlisle Borough Council.  He said he and his wife were on the fence about his run until they attended a fire company...

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The Daily Numbers: 1 man gunned down inside an Upper Darby barber shop last April.

 

 

1 man now on trial for murder in the case.

 

100 years old for Joseph Borrelli of Haverford. The World War II vet yesterday was feted by his neighbors.

 

19, age of Billy Zimmerman, the Villanova student who was killed in a car accident in Mexico. Yesterday hundreds gathered on campus to remember him.

 

165,383 dollars  worth of stolen copper ripped off from Verizon facilities in Montgomery and Bucks counties. A Drexel Hill contractor has pleaded guilty in the case.

 

2 men being sought for a holdup  at an Upper Chi pharmacy.

 

30-acre tract at Route 322 and Spring Valley Road in Concord. Supervisors will rule March 19 on a mega-development for the site.

 

119 ineligible students who have been given the boot from the William Penn School District. The district investigated 280 for violations. 21 others are in the process of being removed.

 

41 million dollar tab for the Jerry Sandusky scandal. That's how much it has cost Penn State.

 

3 top employees who got the boot from the state Department of Public Welfare.

 

39, age of woman who is now believed to have fallen into the Delaware and Raritan Canal after leving a New Hope nightspot and drowned. Police say she had a high level of alcohol in her blood.

 

16-ounce limit on servings of sugary drinks in the Big Apple? The Big Gulp law got knocked down in the courts. The mayor vows to appeal.

 

12.5 percent dip in earnings at Atlantic City casinos in February

 

1 million dollar increase in play at Revel, which has plans to file for bankruptcy.

 

5,000 Pa. workers who earn more than $100,000 a year.

 

7 straight days of gains for stocks and Wall Street.

 

106-97 win for the Sixers to snap a 5-game losing skid.

 

24 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists for center Spencer Hawes.

 

2 Eagles who signed new deals yesterday, long snapper Jon Dorenbos and special teams guy Colt Anderson.

 

 

Call me a Phanatic: A look at the ups and downs of being a Philadelphia sports fan.

 

Michael Vick has canceled his book tour because of threats made against him, the book stores and their employees. The name of his book is 'Finally Free.' Uh, not exactly. Shame on those using threats against him.

 

I Don’t Get It: Delaware County is No. 4 when it comes to violations of the state law banning texting while driving. I am not surprised.

 

Today’s Upper: Kudos to suburban counties for setting up drug courts to help those battling heroin and other addictions who run afoul of the law. It's a very good way to try to put their lives back together.

 

 

 

Quote Box: “It's just a number between 99 and 100. I never drnk much and I don't smoke, I guess that's the only two things I can think of."

 

- World War II vet Joseph Borrelli of Haverford on the occasion of his 100th birthday yesterday.

 

Last week I was once again on my soapbox about the way the local TV news treats the weather.

I was saying that the methods they employ to whip the region into a hysteria at the slightest hint of snow bordered on being a public disservice. I have made this argument many times, saying it has economic consequences.

All day on Wednesday and Thursday they trumpeted the approaching storm as something akin to Armageddon. In Washington, D.C., where they actually got some snow, they were referring to it jokingly as the ‘Snowquester.’

The weather folks weren’t as lucky here. Despite dispatching reporters to every nook and cranny of the Delaware Valley, nary a flake was found. So instead they breathlessly informed us that, “THE ROADS ARE WET.” And, they assured us, snow was on the way and would accumulate 3-5 inches later in the day on Wednesday and into Thursday. So we waited. And waited. No snow.

On Friday, they told us about wind damage and flooding. At the Jersey shore. They were almost embarrassed to tell us about the flurries that covered our cars - but not the roads - around here.

It’s all part of the shtick, right? Well, it’s actually a bit more than that.

On Monday, the officials of the Philadelphia Flower Show noted that attendance at this year’s spectacular was down. Way down. Actually, 17 percent fewer people went through the turnstiles.

One of the reasons they cited for taking the bloom off the rose, so to speak, was the threat of snow on Wednesday and Thursday.

Yeah, this weather stuff is just a yuck a minute, isn’t it?

Marty Berman has coached some of the nation’s best soccer players during his 26 years on the sidelines at Seton Hall Prep in Essex County, N.J.

Forget March Madness. We have Conclave Craziness.

It's too bad there isn't the threat of snow in Rome. The local TV stations would blow a gasket.

The eyes of the world are now firmly fixed on the Vatican. That's because the cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church have gathered in Rome to start the process of electing the next leader of the church. As we speak they are attending Mass. Following that they will enter the Sistine Chapel, the doors will be locked behind them, roped off in red as almost everything in Rome seems to be this day, and then they will get down to the game of hardball that is known as selecting the new pope.

There may or may not be a vote taken today.

Of course, as we have been told umpteen times by now, we will know the results of the vote - and if we have a new pope - by the color of the smoke emanating from the chimey at the Sistine Chapel. Black smoke means no pope; white smoke followed by ringing bells means it’s party time.

I often find myself at odds with some of the teachings of the church. This is not what one of them. To be honest, I think the church for a long time has been going in the wrong direction, trying to broaden their appeal to reach more people.

I’m more of an old school guy. I’d still like the Mass to be said in Latin, with the priests’ back to the pews as he went through the celebration of the Mass.

We will not learn of the new pope via Twitter. Or a post on Facebook. Text message? I dont’ think so.

Instead we will state intently at that single chimney and try to interpret what color the smoke is.

Now that’s old school.

Here are my odds on the length of the conclave. I put the over/under at three days. It says here we will have a new pope on Thursday

An American? I wouldn’t put the house on it.

 

Every dog has its day.

And the Michael Vick haters intend to make sure that the Eagles quarterback continues to have his. Of course, what they have in mind is more a day of infamy. And they have no intention of letting Vick forget it.

Vick has cancelled a promotional tour to talk about his new book, titled “Finally Free,” because of threats made against him. You can read about it here. One of the stops was set for a bookstore in Exton.

Free at last? Not exactly. Forgiven? Not if what you've done involves animals. In this case, dogs. We routinely embrace people who do bad things. They do their time, repay society and then are welcomed back into our communities.

Unless, apparently, you harm animals.

Vick’s past is not a secret. He spent two years in a federal prison for his role in bankrolling a vicious dogfighting ring.

He lost everything, his job as an elite quarterback in the NFL, his multi-million dollar endorsement deals, and his freedom.

But for some, it’s still not enough. They will never forgive Vick.

That is their right. I will not try to change their mind. I know people who were hard-core, longtime passionate Eagles fans who now will have nothing to do with the team because of their decision to employ Vick. Again, I have no quarrel with their decision.

I do, however, find it a bit puzzling how anyone could not be impressed with the way Vick has gone about his business since leaving prison and joining the Eagles. He has been a model citizen and teammate.

He has talked plainly about the brutality involved in his past actions. He hasn’t ducked a single question. He’s worked with animal rights groups. He has said and done all the right things.

And still it is not enough.

The threats made against Vick, his family and even store employees in connection with the book tour are little better than the actions Vick and others in the dogfighting ring took part in. They're despicable.

The cornerstone of our justice system is rehabilitation and restitution.

I challenge anyone to say that the Michael Vick who exited that prison, that the Michael Vick who has been at the center of the media maelstrom that comes with being quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles, is not a changed, rehabilitated man. He paid a horrific price for his admittedly heinous acts.

Forgiveness, it seems, remains outside his reach.

Finally Free? Not exactly. Michael Vick continues to be dogged by his past.

A woman’s wallet was stolen out of her purse at the Panera Bread in Wynnewood on Saturday night while it was next to her, Lower Merion police told news media at a Monday briefing.

The victim was at Panera with four friends from 6:45 to 8 p.m. Saturday, she told police. Her purse was on the floor next to her seat while at the restaurant.

She returned home to find her wallet missing, along with $45 in cash, gift cards and credit cards inside it, police said. The total loss was about $200.

The victim told police she contacted her credit card company and the credit card had already been used at a Sunoco, according to the report.

Well people are still talking about those horse rescues….and sources say that Barbara Luna from Turning for Home is not happy that people keep asking her questions but gosh good golly, she doles out the horses to rescues with stipends and stuff so shouldn’t she know?  Shouldn’t she be accountable? How is it she always plays possum?

Anyway the Facebook page of that Off The Track Thoroughbred Rescue is mysteriously down but their website and idiotic tumblr pages are still viable. You can also find them on some site called “Dream Horse” that I don’t follow.

So….you know how I love picking treasures in barns and all that stuff so I thought I would point out that Off The Track Thoroughbred Rescue has posted on their website a yard sale on Fairview Road in Glenmoore sometime this month is says – as in March with no date certain at this point.

If you go looking for bargains (or missing coggins, halters, medical records, stray horse, etc.) remember to ask if they are a non-profit  or some kind of incorporation or LLC – they say all  proceeds will go towards the rescue….just want to get it right, right?

The address is 261 Fairview Road Glenmoore, PA 19343 – you will have to watch the website for the exact date.

Hope you get a bargain and if you are awaiting answers from that rescue, those too! Maybe LAPS representatives will be there too, right? I mean they care “caring, committed, taking action”, right?

And if you are upset with horse rescue in PA you can contact Chester County Commissioner Ryan Costello - apparently he has some sort of interest here, I don’t know for sure, just what I am told.

And if people feel they have no other recourse they can always see what PA Attorney General Kathleen Kane has to say about horse rescues and non-profits.  Commonwealth of PA 717-787-3391, (Consumer protection) 800-441-2555, (717) 783-2853 (Charitable organizations complaint)

And be aware that the owner of the rescue having the yard sale has these judgments and stuff  filed against her in Chester County Court that has to do with the rescue she is having the yard sale for:

Linares v. Basciano MJ-15306-CV-0000001-2013 (shows coming up on 4/2/2013 1:15 pm Judge Cabry’s court)

Walk v. Basciano MJ-15306-CV-0000222-2012 (shows as a claim against Basciano in amount of $8098.33)

Danaknich v Basciano MJ-15306-CV-0000205-2012 (shows as a claim in the amount of $7055.68 and a judgment in amount of $4390.00)

 

 

 

 

 

Lower Merion police are investigsting a home break in the 500 block of Foxe Glove Ln. in the Indian Creek section of Wynnewood. Montgomery County police radio reported the break in at approximately 2 p.m. Monday.

In biting March winds, about 20 local residents lined the sidewalk in front of the Lower Merion Township Building in Ardmore Friday evening to step up a call for gun law reform.

How significant a role will a new apartment complex on the Schuylkill riverfront play in Lower Merion Township’s future?

HAVERFORD — Police have completed an investigation into an incident at the Feb. 4 commissioners meeting in which police K-9 Nitro unexpectedly bit 8-year-old Ryan Holmes and tore the youth’s T-shirt.

Just when you thought you knew him "The World According to Dick Cheney" is full of surprising, revealing bits amounting to a memorable profile of W's No. 2, Dick Cheney, the country's most hands-on vice president. The documentary by R.J. Cutler ("The War Room"), which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, airs on Showtime Friday, March 15, as part of a new series of original documentaries, "SHO: Close Up."

CBPP: We’ve already noted that the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has reduced its projection of cumulative Medicare spending over the 2011-2020 period by more than $500 billion based on a...

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Looks like Luke Ravenstahl won’t be transferring any frontrunner magic onto any of the candidates.

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Jane Morgan Shoemaker, of Ardmore, dies at 95.

Robert Walker, of Ardmore, died in March.

John Boehringer, of Wynnewood, dies at 82.

John Flanigan, of Wynnewood and Berwyn, dies at 96.

Nancy Louise Graham, of Wynnewood and Bryn Mawr, died on March 7.

Elsewhere in the region:

Linda Knapp, of Bala Cynwyd, died on March 2.

Helen Warner, of Narberth and Gladwyne, dies at 86.

Gloria Silverberg, of Penn Valley, died on March 9.

Alfred Stumpo, of Bellmont Hills, dies at 87.

William Biche, of Chestnut Hill, dies at 83.

Hellen Hayes, of Chestnut Hill, dies at 89.

Gail Simmonds, of Chestnut Hill, dies at 70.

Helen Warner, of Narberth and Gladwyne, dies at 86.

David Crawford Hall, of Bryn Mawr, died on March 6.

William Barcley Lex, of Bryn Mawr, dies at 89.

Hildegard Hirsch, of Gladwyne, dies at 100.

Claire Spence, of Radnor, dies at 94.

Helen Anne White, a former first-grade and kindergarten teacher in Radnor, dies at 93.

Donald Barry Wood, of Radnor, dies at 82.

Edward Bogardus, of Wayne, died on March 7.

A. Ward Francis Sr., of Wayne, dies at 67.

Lena Sciore, of Wayne, dies at 90

Theodora Connett Stack, of Straffod-Wayne, dies at 89.

John Flanigan, of Wynnewood and Berwyn, dies at 96.

Angela Marie, of Berwyn, dies at 86.

Carleen Miller, of Berwyn, dies at 83

Virginia Marie Sterling, of Berwyn, dies at 93.

Millicent Gilbert Debes, of Malvern, dies at 87.

Mary Dobson, longtime employee of a Malvern senior home, dies at 78.

Dorothy Margaret Logue Rapp, of Malvern, dies at 88.

Wilbert Richards Jr., of Malvern, dies at 69.

Richard Dougherty, of Phoenixville, dies at 80. Former fire cheif.

Deborah Marino, of Phoenixville, died March 8.

Ruth Stewart, of Phoenixville, dies at 88.

Katarina Glumac, of West Chester, dies at 88.

Florence Hinze, of West Chester, dies at 89.

Helen Raymond, of West Chester, dies at 90.

Rosemarie Andrien, of West Chester, dies at 70.

Jean Elizabeth Boyer, of West Chester, dies at 69.

Linda Cross, of West Chester, dies at 70.

Roger Benson, of Media, dies at 53.

Richard Charles, of Media, dies at 85.

Mary Farina, of Media, dies at 80.

Eugene Dudley, of Newtown Square, died on March 6.

Frank Rodman Shattuck, of Newtown Square, dies at 93.

Laura Unger, of Newtown Square, dies at 85.

Robert Brennan, of Broomall, dies at 70.

Ruth Ann Englehart, of Springfield, dies at 71.

Mary Malloy, of Springfield, dies at 87.

Marta Bussard, of Haverford, dies at 73.

Timothy O’Mara, of Haverford, dies at 46.

Thomas Cahill, of Havertown, dies at 91.

Catherine Capuzzi, of Havertown, dies at 87.

Charles O’Donnell, of Havertown, died on March 9.

Jennie Gryzewska Hack, of Manayunk, dies at 92.

Rose DiBlasio Greco, of Roxborough, died on March 8.

Dr. Patricia Matura, who maintained a podiatry practice in Roxborough, dies at 62.

Villanova University officials had few new details Sunday about the spring break accident that killed a 19-year-old student and injured four others in Mexico last Thursday.

Political consultant and friend of the blog John Blankstein agreed to an email interview on Lehigh Valley politics and the 2013 municipal races. Here is the first half: Jon Geeting: What do you think...

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