Crime

The Jamie Cockayne Murder: Verdict and Message From Virgin Islands Public Information Officer

carla — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 18:02:10 -0700

**UPDATE 10/12/08**: Another e-mail from the VI PD PIO:

Melody melody851@yahoo.com dateSat, Oct 11, 2008 at 8:54 PM subjectRe: James "Jamie" Cockayne hide details 8:54 PM (14 hours ago) Reply Thank you, if you would correct the young lady's name I would appreciate it. I should have looked it up. I meant no disrespect by my spelling of the name. The young lady is still missing and her loved ones still have hope. I Thank you in advance if you would assist me with this. As for speaking out, it is difficult for police to make definitive statements regarding an ongoing investigation. I am sure you followed the events leading up to the trial and saw that a third suspect was not named until much later. The police report what was found at the scenes and in the interviews; however once the Justice Department begins to examine the evidence things may change. Once the defense attorneys begin their investigations and earn the trust of their clients, even more information may be revealed. So in the early stages making definitive comments could have been counter productive and could possibly have jeopardized the case. Basically the situation can remain fluid until the jury makes a decision. Every homicide case brought to trial in the past two years have resulted in guilty verdicts in the VI. I say the last two years because I have only been on this job for less then a year and have only researched statistics for the last two years. Each trial has taken an average of one year to be heard in front of the jury. I find the VIPD to be very deliberative in making arrests, especially when it comes to murder cases. They generally do not make an arrest until they are certain that arrest will result in a conviction. In the case of Jamie, we are all satisfied that justice was served. I do not mean to stir up any bad feelings among friends of the deceased, I only ask that the verdict be given at least half as much publicity as the events leading up to it. Respectfully Melody Rames

What did they say to the man from Chicago who was beaten to a pulp a couple of years ago? Or other crime victims? Don Calloway on August 10, 2006? http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/cgi-script/csArticles/articles/000030/003096.htm One thing that became abundantly clear with the murder of Jamie Cockayne was that there were problems in paradise. What has transpired will make those of us stateside forevermore question the safety of an Island paradise that is technically in the United States. And that is the problem they have, unfortunately: it's not like the murder of Jamie Cockayne was an isolated issue. ORIGINAL POST A case that was followed on this website involved the murder of a 21 year old boy named Jamie Cockayne, who happened to be a first cousin of a friend of mine. Jamie had many family members along the Main Line and in Bucks County as well. Apparently, a decision has been reached in the court case...finally... Jamie, way back when, was brutally murdered and left to die on a street on St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Jamie was murdered within a few hundred feet of a police station, or mini police station. What followed was absolute outrage and a very slow process where Jamie's parents were ignored by public officials and by various media reports threatened. Time dragged on and on and on. It shed an unplesant light on an island "paradise" under the jurisdiction of the United States Government. It shed an unpleasant light on a whole lot of problems in a prime tourist area. And that is the truth and was played out in multiple media outlets in the U.S. Virgin Islands and stateside. People called for boycotts until the murder was solved. After Natalee Holloway and that guy from I think Chicago who was beaten to a pulp while vacationing in the Virgin Islands.

Unlucky Sevens

carla — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 10:43:50 -0700

Yesterday the U.S. Congress rejected the first go round of the bailout bill. And the markets, writhing with emotion, rumors and innuendo plummeted 777 points. Oh, and Wachovia bit the dust, adding to a large pile of bodies on Wall Street. Yep,what did the dow go down? 777. Of course if you are a Vegas Gambler, you might see 777 as lucky. (And if you want to read about 777 check out this web page) So, my e-mail inbox like many others has been loaded with e-mails railing back and forth on which political party is to blame. News flash: this did not happen overnight, both parties are responsible. So I look at it this way:

Bi Co News is Talking Local Burglaries

MainLineThoughts — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:04:27 -0700

So here is a full fledged article on recent crime on local college campuses. Bravo for BiCo news for talking about it openly. As we all know, colleges are not always forthcoming when it comes to talking about crime on campus since it's bad for business so to speak. Date posted: Tuesday, September 16th, 2008 Section: News Wave of Thefts hits Haverford By Sarah Mills

Naked Burglar On The Loose....In Paoli

MainLineThoughts — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:06:49 -0700

Have you seen naked guy? Yep, there is a naked burglar on the loose in Paoli. It's funny in one sense that how pathetic is this guy to do this, yet scary in the other sense that this dude entered a house and stripped down. But the news this morning said that dumb arse left clothes nehind, which probably means DNA evidence, so this is stupid burglar probably... If the homeowners dog hadn't smelled a funky intruder, who knows? Anyway, here's the sketch:

Why Is Joel Harden of Devon Even ALLOWED To Still Have Dogs or Pets?

MainLineThoughts — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 12:29:43 -0700

So, let me get this straight: this guy Joel Harden got in trouble but a few short weeks ago when his dog savagely mauled and killed another neighbor's elderly pooch and also bit the neighbor? And so let me get this straight as well the fact that this SAME dude has been in trouble over his dogs and cruelty to animals BEFORE? So why does Joel Harden of Devon still have pets? Why is he allowed to have pets? And why are these dogs who are proven savages allowed to remain in a residential neighborhood? What if they get a kid? And so now we read that once again Joel Harden's dogs are in the news?

It Just Looks Like Graffiti To Us

SaveArdmoreCoalition — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 11:02:13 -0700

So, you know we're big on fighting graffiti because it adds a decrepit air of blight to our communities, right? Well look at this photo we found noodling around on flickr looking for cool Ardmore photos from a person called "Marty In Ardmore" We're pretty sure this is the same mailbox that one of our members photographed before somewhere around Cricket and Spring?

Missing: Bryn Mawr College Grad Hannah Upp

MainLineThoughts — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 05:23:14 -0700

**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

Wynnewood Dentist Questioned in Avalon Medical Waste Dumping..

carla — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 12:39:49 -0700

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....

This is Scary and LMPD Deserves Kudos

MainLineThoughts — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 10:23:34 -0700

Yes, they DO deserve kudos. And so does this kid for keeping his wits about him and not getting hurt. But it baffles me as well that people think we're like 40 years ago still and can leave doors unlocked. Unlocked doors are an invitation to trouble. People need to pay attention. Yesterday, as a matter of fact, I came home yestersday to a "that person doesn't belong here" in my driveway. They claimed they were looking for someone. My gut said not to believe them and I stayed in my car with my cell phone ready and suggested they leave. They did. Posted on Wed, Aug 27, 2008 Teen in house reports burglary in progress By Kathy O'Loughlin

Why Doth Mr. Zajac Protesteth So Much?

SaveArdmoreCoalition — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:39:53 -0700

Now the Danieal Kelly case is a horrible thing we've had countless media reports on. People, understandably had quite the reaction when Radnor School Board Member Eric Zajac made front page news by taking on a civil suit that smells to high heaven. This week's local papers are showing some damage control. But the basic question which has never been answered is : Why did he take the case, really? As a civil action, Mr. Zajac had the free will to turn it down. And he should have. Is this case really worth all the problems he is going through by deciding to take it?

Talk About Compromising Positions

MainLineThoughts — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:07:50 -0700

This senior citizen popped for solicitation used to be an upstate police chief. One article said he was nabbed at 5:20 p.m., so I am guessing there is an "early bird" special that applies? LOL. Posted on Wed, Aug. 27, 2008 Ex-chief, 81, charged with solicitation

EASTON - A former eastern Pennsylvania police chief is facing a charge of soliciting a prostitute.

Despicable Act of Cowardice and Hatred

MainLineThoughts — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 08:33:35 -0700

So what about this incident of hatred? Swastikas painted on the pavement in front of a synagogue in Penn Valley? Are we so accustomed to hatred and vile behavior in our communities that the media did not consider this newsworthy? Whoever did this is the lowest of the low. It’s not funny. It’s mean, it’s hateful, and it’s sick. This is the worst kind of graffiti. I almost wish this wasn't true and that the report was a mistake, don't you? Reported 24 Av 5768, August 25, '08 Philadelphia Synagogue Driveway Painted With Swastikas

(IsraelNN.com) Swastikas were discovered painted in motor oil on the driveway of a Conservative Jewish synagogue in suburban Philadelphia on Friday. The Lower Merion Police Department promised congregants of Beth Am Israel in Penn Valley that they would look into the incident, and would increase patrols near the synagogue, especially during religious services

PA Dogs Can't Afford These Hersheys Kisses

MainLineThoughts — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 23:02:55 -0700

Art Hershey of Chester County is the ringleader of the movement to quash the puppy mill legislation that is pending. In good old Harrisburg tradition, he is trying to bury the legislation with inane amendments - some say over 100 at this point. The bottom line is this: any breeder or veterinarian or farmer worth their salt should have NO problem with the puppy mill bills. And they are hardly discriminating against the Amish and Mennonites. All it is is seeing that domestic animals are treated humanely. Check out www.stoppapuppymills.org and www.mlar.org and www.aspca.org - Contact Art Hershey and tell him he is an old punk: ahershey@pahousegop.com Home Page: http://www.arthershey.com Hon. Art Hershey 3157 Limestone Road PO Box 69 Cochranville, PA 19330 (610) 593-6565 Fax: (610) 593-7041

Those Killer Dogs in Berwyn Should Be Euthanized...

MainLineThoughts — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 11:01:41 -0700

...and the owner should be banned from having pets for at least a few years. I am sorry, but this guy with the pits has been in trouble before. AND he has been convicted of animal abuse. He probably made these dogs mean. Man guilty of harboring dangerous dogs Ruling does not end bad feelings with neighbors By Dan Kristie

The Danieal Kelly Lawsuit: Should This Guy Stay on Radnor School Board?

MainLineThoughts — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:49:35 -0700

[color=blue]Mr. Zajac: You might not like my opinion, but like any other humble citizen in the U.S.A. I am allowed to have it. You are a lawyer and you chose to take on a very unpopular case (the Danieal Kelly thing) as a matter of free will, correct? You will be compensated for your work on this case, correct? 33.3 percent is what the Daily News is reporting, right? So this is the case of now representing an estate of a minor child who dies without a legal will, correct? So can you say with absolute certainty that those blood-sucking parents would never, ever see a dime as her parents? I don't think you can, can you? As I see it, you had a choice to say no here since this is a civil action. You didn't. So now you and your co-counsel have other lawyers acting as mouthpieces? What is next a publicist? Do any fees accrued for these efforts get added into whatever settlement might hope to be achieved? Therefore, if say money goes to the remaining siblings now on taxpayer dime in the foster care system, don't additional expenses incurred by counsel [i.e. you and your pal] eat into whatever monies you were hoping to gain? And I still don't get it, how can you sleep at night and take a case like this? The people you represent killed their child. No one held a gun to their head and made them do it. They chose to do it. And all the while they were doing that, they kept popping out babies like hampsters - children the taxpayers are now responsible for supporting. Andrea and Daniel Kelly should be spayed and neuteured. Yes, they should be fixed so they can't spawn anymore. Mr. Zajac, you made a tactical career error here, and I almost feel sorry for you...except, I now wonder how does this affect your ability to be what Radnor Township needs in a School Board member? It lends itself to judgement, does it not? Mr. Zajac, do the right thing: drop out of this case. It's worse than a dog with fleas. It's a loser of a case that will haunt you forever, isn't it? Which do you value more: helping the children you were elected to help by getting voted on Radnor's School Board, or hanging onto this case? [/color]

OK, well here are the articles which made me think:

PNC Robbed In Gladwyne and Main Line Bank Robber is Main Line Teen?

MainLineThoughts — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:27:47 -0700

Seriously I can't make this stuff up: Main Line Life: Bank Robbery Photos Posted on Tue, Aug 19, 2008 Gladwyne bank robbed By Pete Bannan

It's Lawsuit City in Conshohcken After The Fire

MainLineThoughts — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:08:02 -0700

Well, it's official. It's lawsuit city after the fire. Residents of Firehouse at Riverwalk have retained a bulldog named Robert J. Mongeluzzi, Esq. to sue based upon negligence. While they say they are suing over alleged negligence of the developers, builders and managers at this site, I don't think they are going far enough. Why? Simple. Government has to have accountability. Our communities are only as safe as the laws and codes designed to protect them. If the developer, Brian O'Neill has stated he did what the code required, well, here's a real duh moment: don't ride the stupid bus - check out what part government had to play. After all, how many nauseating times have we heard "We can't do anything - our codes and the municipal planning code have tied our lily white hands"? How many times? CBS3:Class Action Lawsuit Filed In Conshohocken Blaze- Walt Hunter Reporting from CONSHOHOCKEN

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

MainLineThoughts — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 18:35:30 -0700

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:

Burglary ALERT For Lower Merion!!!!

SaveArdmoreCoalition — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 11:12:49 -0700

Be smart. When you go out - lock your doors - lock your windows - use your alarm system if you have one - and like the police say if someone weird is in your 'hood, don't be shy let the police know!!! ONLINE EXTRA: Burglary wave hits Lower Merion By Richard Ilgenfritz

Pick a Peck of Pickled Politicians/D.A. Forms Public Corruption Unit

MainLineThoughts — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 08:43:00 -0700

Montgomery County, PA's D.A. is forming a public corruption unit? Where was this like five years ago? Two years ago? One year ago? :jawdrop: Is this something that citizens can use to have a good "look see" into Lower Merion? To check out who works for whom really? To see who should have recused themselves over something and didn't? To see who could have really done more for the plurality when they had the chance and didn't? To see what agendas are going on behind the scenes? :jawdrop: Is this needed in Lower Merion? :jawdrop: Will all those conspiracy theories now have a home? :jawdrop: [size=16][color=red]Pick a peck of pickled politicians present and past, people?[/size][/color]:jawdrop: (The possibilities are endless unless of course this is just another crock of crud and political ploy.) MONTGOMERY COUNTY OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY COURT HOUSE, NORRISTOWN, PA., BOX 311, 19404-0311 PHONE (610) 278-3090 FAX (610) 278-3095 DISTRICT ATTORNEY: RISA VETRI FERMAN FIRST ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY: KEVIN R. STEELE CHIEF COUNTY DETECTIVE: OSCAR P. VANCE, JR FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 11, 2008 DA Ferman Announces Creation of Public Corruption Unit

Got Brothel?

MainLineThoughts — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:52:01 -0700

Here's another article about the Berwyn Brothel Bust: WayneSuburban.com: Posted on Thu, Jul 31, 2008 Feds, local cops bust Swan Day Spa brothel Suspects are accused of trying to force two immigrants into prostitution By Jennifer Miller You know, when the article was posted about the Berwyn Brothel Bust (the now sayonara-d Swan "Day Spa" where lunch time snacks apparently had a whole new meaning), I had absolutely [color=red]NO IDEA[/color] that this one post wold generate so many comments about a purported "spa" close to Ardmore? Well, naïve me! I am, in a word, disgusted. Disgusted that this could be in a community where people pay so much friggin' money to live! Disgusted that business owners near this other "spa" don't work a little harder to get rid of this and why is that? Has no one contacted the property owner? Why has this spa been "known" for years and never cleaned up? Real services are fine, after all who doesn't love a legitimate massage and spa treatment? But illegal acts? Gross. Who knows what other party favors the patrons might bring home with them? Like STDs? Ewwww. Does this place have an interesting client list if it is like the energizer bunny and keeps on going? Or is it on the up and up and what is on perverse message boards and websites is a big fib? What is fact and what is fiction? If this "spa" is on the up and up why do they answer the phone kind of later into the evening ? Do they have late hours or something?

Main Line Brothel? A Little "Washy-Washy" in Berwyn?

MainLineThoughts — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 08:04:34 -0700

Well knock me over with a feather...who woulda' thunk it? And here we are with in effect, another case of human trafficking on the Main Line ? The need for buckets of money sure does strange things to people. Makes you wonder about the clientele list, huh? Bet Main Line Spas.com takes them off the website fast! Posted on Fri, Jul. 25, 2008 Berwyn brothel trio charged They used Chinese women as prostitutes, U.S. charges in indictment By KITTY CAPARELLA & DAVE GAMBACORTA Philadelphia Daily News caparek@phillynews.com 215-854-5880

TWO YOUNG women from China thought they were going to work as bonafide masseuses at the Swan Day Spa in wealthy Berwyn on the Main Line.

Muggings At Haverford College?

MainLineThoughts — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 22:27:21 -0700

Check this out from Haverford Township's handy on-line police reports: Haverford Twp Police: Week of 7/10/2008 - 7/16/2008

Strong Arm Robbery at the 300 block Lancaster Avenue, Haverford College - six Asian males were surrounded by a group of eight black males who demanded their money and cell phones. One of the victim's was struck in the face during the robbery.

Bike DUI? Who Knew?

MainLineThoughts — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 08:14:27 -0700

Who knew you could get a DUI on a bike? Do Letterman and Leno know? Posted on Thu, Jul 17, 2008 LM man gets jail time for riding bike while drunk By Margaret Gibbons

A drunken bicyclist will have to do county time for his crime.

Graffiti Ordinance and Giving Credit Where Credit is Due

SaveArdmoreCoalition — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 20:47:02 -0700

So... the other week the Board of Commissioners discussed the proposed amendment(s) to the Graffiti Ordinance at a public meeting.

Shoot Out in Haverford Twp at Septa P&W....In Daylight Hours?

MainLineThoughts — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:57:33 -0700

This is unbelievable! A guy was shot at 6:30 p.m. last Friday at the P&W next to the 7 Eleven in the Ardmore/Haverford section of Haverford Township! This is next to a really nice HT neighborhood too...and lots of people use this Septa line to commute. Is Septa safe? Do Septa Police patrol their suburban properties like the P&W stops and R5 train stations? Main Line Life: Posted on Fri, Jun 27, 2008 Haverford shooting By Vickie Thomas

HAVERFORD - A man is in critical condition and two suspects are in custody after a Friday shooting in a SEPTA parking lot. Haverford Township police responded to the scene at the SEPTA P&W R100 line parking lot at 699 Haverford Road at 6:40 p.m. Friday and found a male with a gunshot wound to his right side. Medics rushed him to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, where he remained listed in critical condition Saturday morning.

[color=red]Are we safe on Septa?[/color]

NOW READ THIS: Flim Flamming Going On At Ardmore Restaurant?

MainLineThoughts — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 05:26:03 -0700

Wow - what establishment is this? What kind of scum sucking pigs would basically perpetuate what sounds like fraud? Whatever restaurant this is, Ardmore doesn't need these kind of bad-for-business problems, huh? Where there is smoke there is fire....bet this letter grows legs, huh? People like this should be OUT of business, not IN. Hmmm....this person signed a slip that was 1/2 the bill? That is fraud if they charged this customer the whole amount, isn't it? Reprinted from Main Line Times: Posted on Wed, Jun 18, 2008 Beware of using card when splitting a check

TO THE EDITOR:Diners beware when splitting checks with credit cards! On May 24, I dined in a well established restaurant in Ardmore with three other ladies. When the check arrived, two of us gave our credit cards and asked for the check to be split in half. The waitress returned with a credit slip to each card holder for half of the bill, and we each added on a nice tip. I only signed a slip that showed half the bill! On or about June 1, I was checking my card account online and discovered that this restaurant charged me for the full bill (of which I never signed a slip for the complete amount) PLUS the correct charge for half plus tip. My bank advised to first work this out with the restaurant. The owner has been difficult and I still have not received a credit for the $60 charge that I never signed for but was charged against my credit card. He refuses to charge the amount back on my card and says he will only give me cash. I went today and no cash.

Another Shame of The Main Line: The Sordid Tale of Rosalind Lavin...

carla — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 08:23:04 -0700

Jill Porter: Channel your fury over Lavin case to change assisted-living regulations By Jill Porter Philadelphia Daily News

YOU'RE NOT alone if you're still haunted by the fact that Rosalind Lavin got off so easy. You're not alone if you think she should have been criminally prosecuted for the horrific conditions endured by the residents of her personal-care homes. I continue to be contacted by readers appalled that Lavin, who lives lavishly on the Main Line, was able to get away with paying $700,000 and avoid acknowledging wrongdoing to resolve a federal investigation.

Wow. Got a call from someone about this who asked me what I thought about someone named Rosalind Lavin. "Who?" I said. "Just Google" said the other person...."it's horrifying" So I Googled...and am appalled. Appalled that this Villanova resident could do these things she is charged with, and somewhat appalled that her sentance in the end wasn't 100% a punishment to fit the crime, and was more like a pricey slap on the wrist? As a matter of fact, can one disagree with what Jill Porter says on June 11th?

MEOW!

MainLineThoughts — Fri, 23 May 2008 13:36:34 -0700

Free Range Kitties Verboten in Lower Merion Township? (Well, mice and other critters will be rejoicing, eh? Does this mean there is a secret dog conspiracy afoot? Or an underground mouse movement?)

Bryn Mawr Car Wash Involved in Illegal Alien Case With Feds?

MainLineThoughts — Mon, 12 May 2008 10:04:31 -0700

Hmmm...this is bad. Is this the car wash blues? Is this what we could face down the road if they shove that car wash into the Exxon station at Woodside and Montgomery? Can you believe the Bryn Mawr car wash involved in something like this? WOW. Are we all to assume that this is the car wash in Bryn Mawr that has changed hands several times, that started out as "White Glove"? This is not good. This is the second case that has had Fed attention in the recent past. Remember Ardmore in April? When a case of a battered woman in Ardmore led to the discovery of some sort of illegal alien ring only a few blocks from downtown Ardmore? Illegal aliens, and the case for them pro and con is nothing new in this country, but it is new to hear things happening right where we live. What does that say about us as a society? These illegal aliens often live in squalid conditions and make sub-standard wages. Yet, they are willing to put up with it in order to get their chance at a better life, and a slice of the pie that is the "American Dream". Yet does the "American Dream" even exist anymore? Around here sometimes you have to wonder when all we see is the rich getting richer, the poor getting poorer. Interesting. Car-wash franchise charged in undocumented-worker case By MICHAEL HINKELMAN Philadelphia Daily News hinkelm@phillynews.com 215-854-2656

A federal grand jury yesterday charged a Horsham-based car-wash franchise and five of its managers with conspiracy to defraud the government, to harbor undocumented workers and to commit identity theft. Authorities said that Car Care Inc., which operated full-service car washes in Norristown, Flourtown, Bryn Mawr and Cherry Hill, engaged in a scheme from 2000 to March 2006 to hire undocumented workers by giving them false names and a way to cash their checks at local banks without showing identification.