What happens when a Canadian singer is given the task of singing the “The Star-Spangled Banner?”

Lower Merion Police arrested a 23-year-old Conshohocken man after the department said he attempted to elude a DUI checkpoint with an escape involving two separate vehicles.

On Saturday at 12:26 a.m., Lower Merion Police were sitting at a checkpoint they had established at Belmont Avenue and Belmont Terrace in Bala Cynwyd when they saw a car approach the area and stop prior to the checkpoint. Police say a man got out of the driver side door and began running westbound on Belmont Avenue, away from the checkpoint.

Police say they ran after the driver, but as they approached him he entered another vehicle, which police later learned belonged to a friend. Police say that car turned around and headed westbound—again, away from the checkpoint. 

After a brief chase, police say the car was stopped. When asked why he was running, the defendant, who was ultimately charged with DUI, told police that he was drinking and "under suspension."

Lower Merion Police had established DUI checkpoints throughout the township over the weekend.

The No. 1 issue that Pennsylvania voters care about is improving the economy, at least according to one poll.

The Frankin and Marshall College poll of Pennsylvania voters for May 2013 found that, of 11 possible issues, the one voters said to be most important to them was improving the state’s economy.

The poll listed a number of issues and asked voters to rank its importance on a scale of 1 to 10. The top two issues, “improving the state’s economy” and “help create new jobs,” both had a mean score of 8.9 among voters polled.

The poll, which was conducted between April 30 and May 5, gathered responses from 526 registered voters, including 265 Democrats, 196 Republicans and 65 Independents.

The poll’s results are listed below:

Issue Mean Score Improve the state's economy 8.9 Help create new jobs 8.9 Improve the public schools 8.1 Protect the state's enviroment 8.0 Increase spending to repair roads, highways and birdges 7.6 Refore the state's pension system 7.3 Expand Medicaid to provide insurance coverage for low-income residents 6.9 Repair and improve the state's storm water runoff systems 6.8 Create more laws that regulate natural gas drilling 6.6 Privatize the state liquor stores 4.9 Privatize the lottery 3.6

What do you see as the most important issue for the state to address? Let us know your opinion in the comments area below.

Check out more findings from the Franklin & Marshall College Poll from May 2013:

• Same-Sex Marriage 
• Legalized Pot
• Privatize the Liquor Stores

Rich Wilkins has some nice things to say about the Democrats he doesn’t favor in tomorrow’s primary, and I’ll say something nice about two of the Republicans. I was excited to hear...

RADNOR — Sunday marked the 170th commencement ceremony for Villanova University, where graduates gathered under gray skies to bid a fond farewell to their college days with an eye to the future.

U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey urged Villanova University’s Class of 2013 on Sunday not to accept current economic conditions as “the new normal.”

Jed Lewison reads the new CNN poll, which shows Obama’s approval ratings are up despite Republican efforts to make these supposed “scandals” stick. I’ll ask a few voters to...

William Williams Keen, of Ardmore, dies on May 15.

Samuel Chester, of Merion Station and Narberth, dies on May 10.

• Stephen Bolger, of Bryn Mawr, dies on May 18.
• Maxine Boodis, of Bryn Mawr, dies at 83.
• Sebastian Leo, of Bryn Mawr, dies on May 13.
• Charles Sigel, of Bryn Mawr, dies on May 16.
• Henry Clay Smith, of Gladwyne dies on May 12.

• Barbara Guss, of Radnor and West Chester, dies at 71.
• Aurther Henshey Moss, of Wayne, dies on May 9.

• Gabriel Popp, of Berwyn, dies at 92.
• Helen Brown, of Tredyffrin and West Chester, dies at 89.
• Thelma Hay, of Berwyn, dies at 95.

• Edmund Charles Greenberger, of Paoli, dies at 77.
• Charles Alexander, of Malvern, dies at 69.

• Gerald Cain, of Phoenixville, dies at 88.
• Rose Chernous, of Phoenixville, dies at 94.
• Douglas Thorum Denithorne, of Phoenixville, dies at 56.
• William Edward Jones, of Phoenixville, dies at 76.
• Stella Koch, of Phoenixville, dies at 85.
• Clayton Setzler Jr., of Phoenixville, dies at 79.

• John Adamson Jr., of West Chester, dies at 74.
• Tim Bauernschmidt, of West Chester, dies at 53.
• Helen Brown, of West Chester, dies at 89.
• Dr. Robert Carlson, of Media and West Chester, dies at 91.
• Carl Crede, of West Chester, dies at 84.
• Mary Pearl Culberston, of West Chester, dies at 96.
• Barbara Guss, of West Chester, dies at 71.
• Patricia Morgan, of West Chester, dies at 59.
• Dr. Richard Levi Strayer, of West Chester, dies at 85.

• Dr. Robert Carlson, of West Chester and Media, dies at 91.
• Barbara Fetters, of Media, dies at 71.
• Anne Grewe, of Media, dies at 95.
• Barbara Guss, a former elementary school teacher in the Rose Tree-Media School District, dies at 71.
• Agnes Theresa Luglio, of Media, dies at 95.
• Peter Coleman, of Media, dies at 95.
• Harry Drew, of Media, dies at 85.
• Anna Marie Morelli, of Media, dies at 87.

• Anna Mary Bodkin, of Newtown Square, dies at 55.
• Joseph Rossetti, of Newtown Square, dies at 72.

• Elizabeth Cairns, of Springfield, dies at 83.
• Carl Crede, of Springfield, dies at 84.
• John Grandizio, of Springfield, dies at 69.
• Kurt Klein, of Springfield, dies at 51.
• Charles McCarthy, of Springfield, dies at 66.
• Mary Oleykowski, of Springfield, dies at 99.
• William Songster, of Springfield, dies on May 9.

• Peter Coleman, of Havertown, dies at 95.
• Gertrude Collins, of Havertown, dies on May 13.
• Lucy Ann DiAngelus, of Havertown, dies at 92.
• George Flickinger, of Havertown, dies at 88.
• Mildred Hensil, of Havertown, dies on May 15.
• Andrea Scattergood, of Havertown, dies on May 13.
• Ruth Wolf of Havertown, dies at 94.

• Harriet Harmer, of Roxborough, dies at 74.
• George Tobias, a former organist at St. Timothy’s in Roxborough, dies on March 20.

• William Williams Keen, of Chestnut Hill, dies on May 15.

• Leonard Mohr, of Bala Cynwyd, dies on May 15.
• Sonia Thomas, of Bala Cynwyd, dies on May 19.
• Samuel Chester, of Merion Station and Narberth, dies on May 10.
• Daniel Lacey Jr., of Narberth, dies on May 10.

The Daily Salvo for May 20, 2013 - "Welcome Back Carter"
The scandal-ridden presidency of Barack Obama may be improving the legacy of Jimmy Carter. From: dailysalvo Views: 0 0 ratings Time: 01:01 More in News & Politics

Tuesday is Primary Election Day. The polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For information on where your local polling place is located simply click here and fill out:

• County
• City/town
• Street name
• House number

A search result will show the closest voting spot and it will even provide directions on how to get there.

Poll workers may ask you for a valid photo ID but you are not required to present photo ID to vote in this election.

For first time voters, both photo identification or non-photo identification if it displays the name and address of the voter are acceptable identification. Also, a person is considered a first-time voter in a new precinct even if the voter has voted in another voting precinct in previous elections.

A Pennsylvania driver’s license or ID card issued by the state Department of Transportation, ID issued by any other agency of the Commonwealth or by the U.S. Government, a U.S. passport, a U.S. Armed Forces ID, a student ID or an employee ID are acceptable.

Along with a voter’s identification card, non-photo IDs issued by the Commonwealth or the U.S. Government, a firearm permit, a current utility bill, bank statement or paycheck or a government check.

Below is a rundown of all the polling places in Lower Merion and Narberth.

Lower Merion 1-1  

Penn Valley School

301 Righters Mill Road, Narberth

Lower Merion 1-2  

Penn Valley School

301 Righters Mill Road, Narberth

Lower Merion 1-3  

St Christopher's Church

226 Righters Mill Road, Gladwyne

Lower Merion 2-1  

Gladwyne Fire House

1044 Black Rock Road, Gladwyne

Lower Merion 2-2  

First Presbyterian Church Lower Merion

1321 Beaumont Drive

Lower Merion 2-3  

Oak Hill Condominiums

1660 Oakwood Drive

Lower Merion 3-1  

Belmont Hills Library

120 Marywatersford Road, Bala Cynwyd

Lower Merion 3-2  

Welsh Valley Middle School

325 Tower Lane

Lower Merion 3-3  

Belmont Hills Fire Station

4 S Washington Avenue, Bala Cynwyd

Lower Merion 4-1  

St Mary's Episcopal Church

36 Ardmore Avenue, Ardmore

Lower Merion 4-2  

St Mary's Episcopal Church

36 Ardmore Avenue, Ardmore

Lower Merion 4-3  

First Presbyterian Church Of Ardmore

5 W Montgomery Avenue, Ardmore

Lower Merion 5-1  

Main Line Reform Temple

410 Montgomery Avenue, Wynnewood

Lower Merion 5-2  

Lower Merion School Adm Building

301 E Montgomery Avenue, Wynnewood

Lower Merion 5-3  

Lower Merion School Adm Building

301 E Montgomery Avenue, Wynnewood

Lower Merion 6-1  

Ashbridge House

1301 W Montgomery Avenue, Bryn Mawr

Lower Merion 6-2  

Devereux Carriage House

444 Devereux Drive, Villanova

Lower Merion 6-3  

Harriton High School

600 N Ithan Avenue, Bryn Mawr

Lower Merion 7-1  

Green Hill Apartments

1001 City Line Avenue, Wynnewood

Lower Merion 7-2  

Wynnewood Park Apartments

150 E Wynnewood Road, Wynnewood

Lower Merion 7-3  

Temple Beth Hillel Synagogue

1001 Remington Road, Wynnewood

Lower Merion 8-1  

St Pauls Evangelical Lutheran Church

415 E Athens Avenue, Ardmore

Lower Merion 8-2  

S.S. Sahag & Mesrob Armenian Church

630 Clothier Road, Wynnewood

Lower Merion 8-3  

S.S. Sahag & Mesrob Armenian Church

630 Clothier Road

Lower Merion 8-4  

Ardmore Methodist Church

200 Argyle Road, Ardmore

Lower Merion 9-1  

St Matthias School

120 Bryn Mawr Avenue, Bala Cynwyd

Lower Merion 9-2  

Mary Drexel Home

238 Belmont Avenue, Bala Cynwyd

Lower Merion 9-3  

Bala Gym

45 Bala Avenue, Bala Cynwyd

Lower Merion 10-1  

Church Of The Redeemer

240 Pennswood Avenue

Lower Merion 10-2  

Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church

625 Montgomery Avenue, Bryn Mawr

Lower Merion 10-3  

Bryn Mawr Community Center

9 S Bryn Mawr Avenue, Bryn Mawr

Lower Merion 11-1  

Beaumont Retirement Center

601 N Ithan Avenue, Rosemont

Lower Merion 11-2  

Benson House Condominiums

930 Montgomery Avenue, Bryn Mawr

Lower Merion 11-3  

Harriton High School

600 N Ithan Ave, Bryn Mawr

Lower Merion 12-1  

Merion Tribute House

625 Hazelhurst Avenue, Merion Station

Lower Merion 12-2  

Merion Tribute House

625 Hazelhurst Avenue, Merion Station

Lower Merion 12-3  

St Josephs University Maguire Campus

470 N Latches Lane

Lower Merion 13-1  

Levering Mill House Senior Citizen Center

327 Levering Mill Road, Bala Cynwyd

Lower Merion 13-2  

Bala Cynwyd Middle School

510 Bryn Mawr Avenue, Bala Cynwyd

Lower Merion 13-3  

Bala Cynwyd Middle School

510 Bryn Mawr Avenue, Bala Cynwyd

Lower Merion 14-1  

Penn Wynne School

250 Haverford Road, Wynnewood

Lower Merion 14-2  

Penn Wynne School

250 Haverford Road, Wynnewood

Lower Merion 14-3  

Penn Wynne-Overbrook Firehouse

1440 Manoa Road, Wynnewood

Narberth 1  

St Margaret's School

227 N Narberth Avenue, Narberth

Narberth 2  

Narberth Borough Hall

100 Conway Avenue, Narberth

Narberth 3  

Narberth Borough Hall

100 Conway Avenue, Narberth

The Narberth community is hosting a fundraiser on Saturday, June 22 at St. Margaret’s School to help defray the medical expenses of a local stroke survivor.

According to NarbNet, the weekly newsletter of Narberth mayor Tom Grady, Narberth resident Tom Rymal, 51, suffered a stroke on January 27, 2013.  

After more than three weeks in the Neuro Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (NCICU) of Bryn Mawr Hospital and a stay at Good Shepherd Penn Partners, Rymal developed a complication in early April. He was admitted to Penn’s ICU, then sent back to Good Shepherd Penn Partners, before being transferred to Magee Rehab Center.

The stroke, and the resulting complications, have been financially devastating for Rymal's family, and so a group of neighbors have organized to help offset the costs. 

The event at St. Margaret’s will run from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. and will feature a buffet dinner, DJ, baskets, and a silent auction of items donated by a variety of local businesses.  

Those interested in attending, or making a donation to the silent auction, can contact the benefit committee at reboundingfortherymals@gmail.com.

What happens when a Canadian singer is given the task of singing the “The Star-Spangled Banner?”

The Bala Cynwyd Library is (finally) back open.

After a 16-month closure to allow for renovations, Lower Merion Township reopened the 131 Old Lancaster Avenue library with a bang on Sunday, hosting guests and civic groups for an afternoon celebration.

According to Phillymag.com, the library's redesign was extensive:

[The] renovation of the Bala Cynwyd Library included the addition of 6,000 square feet, but the space that’s getting the most emphasis is a small seating area that visitors will see right as they walk in. Chairs are arranged around an ornamental fireplace that’s always been in the building but was pretty much ignored. Now it’ll serve as a focal point, looking more like a living room than a shelving area.

Now that the library is back in business, its hours will be from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday through Wednesday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey urged Villanova University’s Class of 2013 on Sunday not to accept current economic conditions as “the new normal.”

Equality Pennsylvania is out today with their full list of endorsed candidates, so no matter where you live, you can be sure to support the candidate that has the best record and/or commitments on...

Great ideas from Kirsten Gillibrand and Elizabeth Warren for allowing people to refinance their student loan debt. Student loan borrowers should get the same crazy low rates that banks get when they...

(photo credit: Bernie O’Hare) Out-going Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan is exactly right about this: Callahan said the city has a “culture of bold innovative leadership has served the city...

On Thursday May 9, the L.A.-based frozen yogurt franchise, Pinkberry, opened its doors to the Main Line. This is Pinkberry’s first location in the Philadelphia region.

This piece over at Feministing is a good introduction to an emerging issue I’d like to get more PA progressives interested in. We usually hear about human trafficking in the context of sex...

(Guest post from John Blankstein of Market Street Strategies, and general consultant to Willie Reynolds’ campaign for Bethlehem Mayor) Willie Reynolds has attended 97% of Bethlehem City Council...