People

LMSD Redistricting Plan 3: Official Statement of The Save Ardmore Coalition

SaveArdmoreCoalition — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 13:48:11 +0000

At the Save Ardmore Coalition we feel that the Lower Merion School District has not been acting in the best interest of anyone in Ardmore. The community of Ardmore and Ardmore's children are not being considered fairly. To that end, we release the following statement from Sharon B. Eckstein, President of Save Ardmore Coalition:

The Save Ardmore Coalition does not support the recent redistricting plan proposed by the Lower Merion School District (Plan 3). The Save Ardmore Coalition (SAC) believes that maintaining a walkable Ardmore community is critical if Ardmore is to maintain its unique character and is to flourish in the years ahead. Ardmore school children live in the most walkable neighborhood of Lower Merion yet are bussed the farthest distance for both their elementary school and middle school years. This hardship has been offset by the fact that Ardmore's teenagers could walk to their neighborhood high school, Lower Merion High School. LMSD Redistricting Plan 3 proposes to bus these Ardmore students, who currently walk to their high school, to one located miles away. It undercuts the Township's goal of promoting walkability and fostering a pedestrian friendly lifestyle through its Ardmore revitalization efforts. With Redistricting Plan 3, we have Lower Merion Township promoting transit-oriented development and touting the benefits of population density and a "live, work, play" community in Ardmore while simultaneously, the School District proposes transferring Ardmore students away from the high school located here in Ardmore! To do so not only negates the needs of Ardmore's current walking-based community, but also undermines our efforts to increase walking, cycling and the use of public transit in day to day life. The addition of more buses to Lower Merion's already traffic congested roads will impact the quality of life to all who drive in our Township. Plan 3 is environmentally irresponsible since it increases pollution; it is financially irresponsible since the LMSD will incur an additional transportation cost to bus teenagers from hundreds of Ardmore homes. Residents of Ardmore love Ardmore precisely because it is walkable. We choose to live in Ardmore because it a community where neighbors know each other, walk on sidewalk filled streets to shops, offices and houses of worship located in our midst and look forward to our children being able to walk to high school. For these reasons, SAC urges the LMSD to honor the value of walkability for all of students and to continue to allow all Ardmore children the ability to attend Lower Merion High School. Sharon B. Eckstein President Save Ardmore Coalition

Villanovan Sings The Blues...Blames Radnor Township

MainLineThoughts — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:05:10 +0000

Ah yes, here we are with another rousing rendition of College Student Sings The Blues! This article from the Villanovan cries a river about living off campus...and complain about Radnor Township....you know, these kids and their parents when the kids go off campus know what they are getting into when they sign their leases and pick a place, don't they?

Township Announces McGrath to Replace Daly as Top Cop

carla — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 14:48:48 +0000

I was checking my e-mail today and found a notice from Lower Merion Township as to whom will succeed Supt. Joe Daly at LMPD. And it will be Captain Mike McGrath. For more, check out the press release: Manager to Nominate Capt. Michael McGrath to Succeed Supt. Joseph Daly Nomination Anticipated to be Considered at December 3rd Police Committee Meeting Posted Date: 11/14/2008 5:00 PM

Ben Breskman's Quest for SEPTA Rail Safety. Will You Join Him?

carla — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 20:18:46 +0000

UPDATE:The Delco Times has a very nice article today, albeit slightly inaccurate since neither Radnor nor LMT has publicly heard Ben's presentation at a meeting, although he did speak in front of Haverford Twp. BOC last week (I hope he will be allowed to be heard in Radnor and Lower Merion before year end). Septa needs to know glow in the dark decals won't cut it, rail safety needs to take more of a priority...and the comments on the Delco times website were kind of unfeeling and ignorant all things considered.... Here is an excerpt of the Delco Times article: Victim’s father on mission to make SEPTA route safer Sunday, November 16, 2008 6:17 AM EST By Lois Puglionesi Times Correspondent

HAVERFORD — Ben Breskman’s oldest son, Brian, was fatally electrocuted on the third rail of SEPTA’s Route 100 trolley line in a tragic accident Breskman wants to keep from happening to anyone again. As Breskman sees it, unsafe conditions along the Route 100 contributed to the “perfect storm” Brian walked into the night he died. A graduate of Episcopal Academy, Brian, 19, had completed his freshman year at Penn State and was home for the summer, when on May 25, 2007, he went to the Bryn Mawr home of an old high school buddy. Ben Breskman said he later learned a parent improperly served alcoholic beverages. The decision to take a midnight walk to 7-Eleven after cocktails proved disastrous for Brian. When a police cruiser stopped to question him outside the store, Brian panicked and fled into a wooded area. Looking for a shortcut back to his friend’s house, Brian came down an embankment in the dark, about 80 yards south of the Rosemont stop on the R-100. With no fences, lights, or visible warnings, Brian began crossing the tracks and stumbled, his foot grazing the trolley line’s electrified third rail. A lethal jolt killed Brian instantly. Charred over three-quarters of his body, Brian was later hit by an oncoming train....In the course of a wrongful death action against SEPTA, Breskman subpoenaed records documenting about 1,000 “unscheduled stops” since 2003, many involving children. The trolley was halted near Beechwood-Brookline on June 14, 2006, for example, because of three young boys “jumping tracks with skateboards.” On Jan. 22, 2005, children were sledding “and almost made contact with train” near Pennfield. A bicycle was found wedged between the track and third rail south of Parkview in November 2004, while “juveniles playing chicken with the train” caused another stop near Rosemont. SEPTA did not release information regarding fatalities, Breskman said...For more information about Operation Lifesaver: http://www.septa.org/inside/safety/operation_lifesaver.html

ORIGINAL POST: I have gotten to know Ben Breskman just a little bit since he has begun his quest for rail safety, especially on the R100 Septa line. (But I know he has obvious concerns about the R5 as well, because much of that track is not fenced off, either). But the R100, the trolley line is doubly deadly with that 3rd rail that is electrified. As a matter of fact, Ben presented to Haverford Township's Board of Commissioners this past Monday thanks to 5th Ward Commissioner for H.T. Jeff Heilmann, and the Board of Commissioners of Haverford Township, and they put forth this: To Surrounding Communities Re: R100 Septa Line

November 12, 2008 TO: ALL INDIVIDUALS IN THE TOWNSHIP OF HAVERFORD AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES FROM: Township of Haverford – Board of Commissioners SUBJECT: R100 SEPTA LINE

What is With Racism on PA College Campuses?

MainLineThoughts — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:21:55 +0000

What is up with all the racial incidents of late on college campuses in Pennsylvania? Lehigh, LaSalle, and St. Joseph's University? What is wrong with people? Have we come so far in this country that we are about to crawl back into the deep dark hole of an uglier time? Is this the change we can look forward to? A country full of screwed up racists? Is this what they are teaching in college? Of course, to play devil's advocate are these incidents real, or have they been designed to draw attention to past issues at these schools? Posted on Wed, Nov. 12, 2008 2 universities probe racial incidents By Susan Snyder Inquirer Staff Writer

Student House DENIED in Haverford (Lower Merion Township)

carla — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 19:04:02 +0000

The illegal student house that was before the Lower Merion Zoning Hearing Board a few weeks back has been denied. This was the one located in Haverford Walk Condomiums at 415 W. Lancaster Avenue in Haverford. As is the case with last week's hearing regarding an illegal student house on Holland Avenue in Ardmore, the neighbors and civic association was in accord that this just wasn't fair to the neighborhood and especially the condo dwellers at Haverford Walk. Here is the opinion: BEFORE THE ZONING HEARING BOARD OF LOWER MERION TOWNSHIP, MONTGOMERY COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA _______________________________ APPEAL NO. 4153 _______________________________ MEMORANDUM, OPINION & ORDER

"This is Only a Drill"

carla — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 14:46:15 +0000

[size=30]IT WAS ONLY A DRILL![/SIZE] So there I was coming back from a walk enjoying fall foliage and I noticed police vehicles streaming into North Buck Lane...so I went around for a peek. I swear my throat went dry - there was the SWAT bus and all sorts of police vehicles streaming onto the development that isn't called "Allaire". Apparently, the LMPD was doing training exercises like the firemen do when they burn down buildings. (Only did anyone get notice that lives here that this was going to happen? Maybe just the people across the street?)

Economy Affecting Our Pets Too

carla — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:47:34 +0000

I saw this article today in the Philadelphia Inquirer, and it made me so sad. People being forced from homes are abandoning and relinquishing their pets. Sometimes because they can't afford the vet care they are also dumping their pets.

It's President-Elect Obama, and Teflon Jim Gerlach...

carla — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:45:45 +0000

History was made. Barack Obama has been elected to be the 44th President of the United States and the first African American President. This is my favorite headline: New York Times: Obama Elected President as Racial Barrier Falls

Maybe Phillies Fans Can Save Where Ashburn is Buried?

MainLineThoughts — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 18:04:46 +0000

Can Phillies fans save where Whitey rests in Gladwyne? What am I talking about?

Main Line Chiropractor To Hit Man: You Scratch My Back, I'll Rub Yours?

MainLineThoughts — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 18:55:07 +0000

Honestly, what is wrong with people? And what is with people we call "doctor" going nuts? First we have the good Dr. McFarland, A/K/A "Needles" McFarland and his Avalon dumping habit,now we have the case of Alan "Killer" Kushner, a Main Line Doctor who wanted his patients to bump off his ex? So basically, this chiropractor wanted to hire patients to kill his wife? Wow...nice people...read on: Chiropractor to patients: Kill my wife By DAFNEY TALES Philadelphia Daily News talesd@phillynews.com 215-854-5084

Institutions and Small Neighborhoods: What to Do About Parking?

carla — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 13:07:50 +0000

So if you live in a small neighborhood and you co-exist with an institution, what are your rights? It's always a hot, hot topic, and one of the hottest buttons is parking and traffic. Should institutions house ALL their population on their properties? And if someone from that institution has a parking permit to park ON the property of an institution, what are they doing taking up valuable on street parking? And if they keep choosing the street versus a coveted parking space on the property of the institution, what's going on with that? Good questions, huh? Got any answers?

Jaywalk Cam

carla — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 23:17:27 +0000

Why do people jaywalk on Lancaster Avenue in front of the Bryn Mawr Acme when the traffic light is not even half a block from the most frequent jaywalking? I have even seen people do it when Haverford Township has police there at a live accident scene...and this intersection is a frequent scene of nasty accidents too! So, here is some jaywalk cam in the hopes that (a) the intersection is addressed sooner rather then later (b)maybe there could be a "no jaywalking" or "jaywalking is dangerous" sign? I have seen people jaywalk with small kids even.

This Newtown Square Family Sure Is a Killer, Eh?

MainLineThoughts — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:40:30 +0000

Ok, so we were all horrified when we heard on the news that an innocent grandmother was murdered by a drunk driver. A drunk driver who was going the wrong way on the Blue Route after getting bombed and stoned. Yep, Roisin O'Neill sounds like a blooming rose allrighty. This babe KNEW, she KNEW she was going the wrong way and did it anyway - speeding up the Blue Route for a few miles beeping her horn and flashing her lights instead of JUST PULLING OVER. Should this young woman rot in jail for this? And this is the woman whose brother has killed someone - her brother is Sean O'Neill who shot a high school classmate. And daddyio also has issues and is facing deportation back to the old country, so what in heaven's name is the rest of the family like? And the brother who shot his classmate? Earlier this month he got popped for violating probation.

It's a Joe Six Pack Kind of Situation

MainLineThoughts — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:57:25 +0000

Sometimes there are things in politics that are just funny. And in politics there is a dust up over someone named Tim Mahoney. (No silly, not THAT Mahoney, politicians named Mahoney) It's a case of will the real [s]McCoy[/s], err [color=red]Mahoney[/color] please stand up. PA Mahoney FL Mahoney One is a state rep from PA, the other is a scandal mongering Congressman from Florida. Here, check it out:

RT 100 SEPA TROLLEY LINE 69TH ST TO NORRISTOWN- THIS IS A LEATHAL HAZARD FOR PEDESTRIANS

Ben — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:56:48 +0000

i met and spoke briefly this past Thursday night at the Lower Merion SEPTA meeting. As I explained my oldest son Brian Breskman was mortally electrocuted while crossing the Rt. 100 line on May 26th, 2007. He was a 19 years old, he graduated from the Episcopal Academy had just finished his freshman year at Penn State, main Campus. Brian had a life full of promise ahead of him. He died tragically and brutally on the Route 100 line. This was a horrible accident and has forever affected me and my family.

Last Word on Central Avenue in Bryn Mawr

carla — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 13:26:43 +0000

This is what Central Avenue used to look like:

Thoughts From Radnor Worth Reading

MainLineThoughts — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 17:43:40 +0000

A blog that is well worth reading is called "Round Radnor". At least someone who lives in Radnor has the guts to say things are a little funky. (In Radnor is it like against some township ordinance to blog or something? They all act like it's something really racy.) Here are a couple of posts worth clicking over to: Wednesday, September 24, 2008 I really don't understand Radnor ZHB Garrett Hill Hits a Bump in the Road

Lost and Found: Hannah Upp Found Alive, Now a David Shapiro of Lower Merion is Missing

MainLineThoughts — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:08:59 +0000

So 6ABC says this guy is missing and possibly off his meds:

Real Estate Booming on the Main Line?

lmwatcher — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 19:47:43 +0000

Despite Philadelphia Magazine, the Inquirer and Daily News touting how great the real estate market is in the Philly area to make their advertisers and owners happy, I think this article on Allen Iverson trying to sell his Villanova home says a lot.

According to the Wall Street Journal's Private Properties column, Iverson has dropped the price to a "desperation deal" of $3.999 million — a million less than he paid for it in 2003. (/crunches numbers on calculator watch.) Yep. That's not good business.

Missing: Bryn Mawr College Grad Hannah Upp

MainLineThoughts — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:23:14 +0000

**UPDATE**: Here is what Bryn Mawr and Haverford College's BiCo News is saying: BiCo News:Date posted: Tuesday, September 9th, 2008 Section: News Hannah Upp BMC ’07 Missing By Andrea Milne

Another Country Heard from on Ardmore

MainLineThoughts — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:40:05 +0000

So, I found a new blog talking about Ardmore today. I am going to post an excerpt and open the floor for comments. Conservative Reform Network:Subsidies Suck: Dranoff and Ardmore Development Project September 7th, 2008 | by BGuzzardi |

Welfare to the Kings and Queens of Lower Merion?

Wynnewood Dentist Questioned in Avalon Medical Waste Dumping..

carla — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:39:49 +0000

There sure has been a lot of activity around Ardmore and Wynnewood today - copters circling near Montgomery Ave and Cherry Lane and Penn Road, and over the Township Building, so whomever Dr. Needle is, he must live close by, eh? Main Line Life is reporting Penn Road....

Everyday heroes...In Ardmore Sept 5th

carla — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:21:51 +0000

Hi. I wrote this editorial about some really cool people that have touched some of our lives...you can meet 2 in Ardmore on Friday. This editorial, in it's entirety, comes to you courtesy of Main Line Life Newspaper in Ardmore, PA: Posted on Tue, Sep 2, 2008 A salute to everyday heroes By Carla J. Zambelli

Conshohocken Fire: Here Comes The Spin

MainLineThoughts — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:33:45 +0000

Ok, so there is this article in the Inquirer that sounds like a publicist placed it. It talks about two employees of Riverwalk who were displaced by the fire because they were also residents. While I am glad they were o.k. and got their dog out, this profile bothers me. And I have to ask, since when is a guy called a "socialite"? Nevermind, I can answer that, NEVER. And these "heroes", did they think it was ok to live in a building with insufficient sprinklers?

Villanova Students Discuss Lack of Housing in Student Publication

MainLineThoughts — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 17:29:29 +0000

So, it's not just us average folk noticing these non profit institutions growing their enrolled numbers and then not having any place to put them? So once again, it's back to the institutions. But of course we all know institutions are prized like rubies....full time, permanent residents? Why they are replaceable...but this points out that these Institutions have a choice as to HOW many they bring onto their land footprint, and they can't house them all, or provide parking for them all, so why do they do it? Is it greed? Or ignorance? Or both? So when we say how many students are too many students, maybe we're not the only ones saying that, huh? Villanovan:'Nova's Own Housing Crisis Editorial Board Issue date: 8/28/08 Section: Opinion

This newspaper has written many times before about the deplorable state of campus housing for underclassmen. Most everyone is aware of the state (and lack of) campus housing, but in the University's defense, it faces major challenges within and outside of the Villanova community in order to have residence halls that will accommodate every student.

A Citizen Well Worth Recognizing in Lower Merion

MainLineThoughts — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:15:08 +0000

Check it out. This is commentary worth reading on a citizen who has devoted years to community service: Posted on Wed, Aug 27, 2008 Carl Watson: a fixture in LM's civic sky Natural Selections By Mike Weilbacher

A Very Cool Blog That Will Also Be a PBS Special - About Lincoln Hwy/Lancaster Ave!

MainLineThoughts — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:55:51 +0000

I love cool stuff like this. These guys are taking a new approach to Route 66 as it were...they are discovering the "Lincoln Highway". In our area, we know it as Lancaster Avenue. Check it out: A Blog Along The Lincoln Highway: We’re making a TV program about one of America’s great roads, and we’re hoping you might enjoy reading about some of our behind-the-scenes work. I’m Rick Sebak, and I write most of the tales. Bob Lubomski is our camerman. And Glenn Syska has been traveling with us recently. He made the video blog entries in 2008. Back in 2007, Jarrett Buba did all that. Watch for A RIDE ALONG THE LINCOLN HIGHWAY on your local PBS station October 29, 2008 at 8 PM.

A fast Tuesday: Eastern PA and NJ August 25th, 2008

Congratulations to SAC's Own Wally McLean! Way to Go Weilbacher!

SaveArdmoreCoalition — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 15:52:19 +0000

We are pleased as punch that Mike Weilbacher took pen to paper this week! He honors SAC members in his Main Line Times Column- First dear Wally McLean, secondly the incomperable Chad and Allison Graham. These are SAC members who are true to the spirit of volunteerism! Maybe to honor Wally the Township could dedidicate the Linwood Park to be in honor of someone like Wally? He lives right there. McLean Park has a nice ring to it, huh? Read all about it: Main Line Times:Hat's off to Wally McLean: Ardmore's gardening angel By Mike Weilbacher

I met up with Wally McLean in a place many people have seen him - and his handiwork - in the last 18 years: in front of the Ardmore train station. But watch carefully, as this may be his very last year as the station's unofficial gardener.You know the station, that concrete box built in the 1950s as a temporary replacement for the gorgeous Victorian that burned down. Fifty years later, that box is still with us, standing at the epicenter of a tug-ofwar over the redevelopment of Ardmore's downtown. Today, the surprise is that the old station is still standing, as plans for the area chug slowly along. Wally's assumption is that the station is coming down this year, at which point the site becomes a construction project. After that, he doesn't think the newly enlarged and expanded station built and run in part by private interests will be looking for the services of a volunteer gardener. He seems ready to end his extraordinary run.

Radnor Twp. School Board Member Involved in Disgustingly Despicable Danieal Kelly Case? "All About The Kids", huh?

MainLineThoughts — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 01:35:30 +0000

http://www.caica.org/danieal.jpg [color=red]8/16/2008 UPDATE:[/color] Well, it's funny, the fire in Conshohocken had me so "consumed" (poor choice of play on words) that I had forgotten to come in and update this post. When I posted this story, these coffin chasers were indeed representing the parents, as well as the estate of this young girl who was neglected to death, Danieal Kelly....so then after a lot of folks were understandably and publicly in an uproar including Mayor Michael Nutter of Philadelphia, I guess the complaint was amneded? So now they are repesenting the estate? So if the estate is the estate of a minor child dying intestate, wouldn't the law then see her legal heirs as those who were supposed to be her parents? Not a laywer, don't play one on TV, so what happens next? :jawdrop: Apparently one of the lawyers has hired a lawyer to defend his honor? Then there will be a press conference? And this lawyer's lawyer is saying that these lawyers are being unfairly commented about? The best defense is the truth, and what has been said that is not true? Mind you I haven't read ALL of the multiple newspaper articles or seen all TV reports, or read all 43,300 links on Google or all 1,111 blog posts that Google has picked up on, but seriously, are these lawyers going to challenge First Amendment Rights too? :shocked: Well the articles roll out one after the other ...so now the long and short of it is that lawyers are hiring lawyers and I guess publicisits? All to spin their personal choice in accepting this despicable case that is "all about the kids"? Now seriously, correct me if I am wrong, this is a civil action, correct? There is no court appointed lawyer, this isn't a everyone-is-entitled-to-a-good-defense-story...there is a certain amount of FREE will involved, correct? As in the lawyers did NOT have to take the case? So how do you spin THAT? None of these guys, let alone someone who sits on a local school board like Mr. Zajac, had to take this case, did they? Didn't they choose to bring this civil case forward? As in did something out of free will? Isn't that true? Why should anyone profit from the horrible death of an abused handicapped child? Are the lawyers involved in this case, involved in this henious civil suit doing pro-bono? Or are they donating ALL billable hours and fees and possible contingency fees to a charity that helps children? How can it be all about the kids if anyone profits at all from this case monetarily? How do you spin that? Now if they were insituting a class action suit on behalf of those children abused by Philadelphia DHS and the Philadelphia DHS system who are still alive, well that might be reasonable considering the history of Philadelphia DHS, right? But they are not, are they? They are sinking their teeth into a case that has tugged at all of our hearts since it first broke when little Danieal Kelly was reported dead, right? PA Watercooler has hit on something interesting: doesn't it seem strange that people would sue for the rest of Danieal's brothers and sister who are being publicly funded in foster care? Of course if these attorneys use this case as an excuse to challenge the First Amendment rights of others including a sitting Mayor of a major metropolitan city, it will just make it worse, right? Especially in Radnor where the public associates that school board and it's members with having serious issues over Sunshine Laws, Public Acocuntanbility and The Right To Know? Read some of the updates starting with PAWatercooler: