Organizations

Look At Amtrak Now...And Mark Your Calendars For October 2nd in Ardmore

carla — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:32:08 -0700

On October 2nd, 2008, unless it changes, Congressman Jim Gerlach is planning a transit summit at which Amtrak and Septa will be present and accountable to US the public - this meeting will be in Lower Merion Township - at the Township Building, probably around 7 p.m. And in my mind it can't happen soon enough. (You can call Jim Gerlach's Montgoemry County Office for more information: 610-409-2780 ) So, anyway, much to my surprise as I was dozing off last night, and there was LuAnn Cahn on NBC10 talking about Amtrak and how they sprayed systemic herbicides all over the place, including in my neighborhood. Well, Cheryl Allison tackled it last week in her article Rail neighbors are not all aboard with Amtrak's spraying By Cheryl Allison. Well this week the plot thickens: Posted on Tue, Sep 2, 2008 Transit agency to rail neighbors: No trespassing By Cheryl Allison

Newspaper Guild Votes to Postpone Raises To Save Papers

MainLineThoughts — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 09:52:12 -0700

So I guess I have this right: the people who make our daily newspapers possible (not the owners, the worker bees) in this economy to say no to a raise right now in order to save the paper and cut costs? Pretty freaking amazing. Hope ownership appreciates and remembers this gensture. Diane Mastrull rocks. She's a real leader. Posted on Wed, Aug. 27, 2008

Right On Renoir, Batman! The Barnes Debacle is Prestigious Brit Publication!

MainLineThoughts — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 16:37:19 -0700

Holy Toledo! The Barnes drama has reached "over the pond": Holy Picasso!: The Brit at the centre of a £6bn art row Derek Gillman is an English academic in charge of the biggest private collection of art in America. He is also the man accused of evicting this £6bn treasure from its rightful home – and of betraying the radical vision of the man who created. By Charles Darwent Sunday, 17 August 2008

How Come You Make So Much Money, Matt Peskin?

MainLineThoughts — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 08:29:43 -0700

National Night Out's Matt Peskin is in the news again. So, how come he makes so much money? Is he really worth it? It all sounds a little shifty to me. He even makes more than Lower Merion Police Supt. Daly who as per an Inquirer article in the very last Neighbor's Section ever (July 27th,2008)makes $124,771 and isn't that crazy? What does Matt Peskin do to justify a salary that is even larger then a U.S. Senator like Arlen Specter, who in today's article discloses his salary as $165,200? Maybe all is not how it should be here? Do local Main Line municipalities give Peskin money? If so, how much? Nice work if you can get it...especially that juicy pension.... Posted on Sun, Jul. 27, 2008 Some set to sit out National Night Out The anticrime nonprofit's $300,000-a-year director says this year's event, on Aug. 5, will be the best yet. By Andrew Maykuth Inquirer Staff Writer

Matt Peskin promises that this year's National Night Out will be bigger and better than ever - despite losing federal funding and the support of several communities that objected to his compensation, which now exceeds $300,000 a year.

UPDATE on PECO Issues in Ardmore

SaveArdmoreCoalition — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:35:12 -0700

Now special thanks and double snaps should go to Christine Vilardo of the Ardmore Initiative who has worked like us towards resolution of this latest issue in Ardmore with PECO. We will point out for the record that PECO and other utility companies need to keep pace with development and redevelopment. They can't just talk about it, they need to DO IT. What is below ground is obviously problematic or we wouldn't have problems. Below are some updates:

Time for Some Campaignin'

MainLineThoughts — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 06:13:52 -0700

Honestly, the best news of the morning wasn't the fact that people actually say "recession" out loud ...but here on the Main Line we'll have none of that, will we? No one is defaulting on mortagages round these parts, right? (Actually not true, Sheriffs' Sales and tax sales abound.) Here in Never Never Land all our weird small banks aren't breaking a sweat (even if we should because some of our Main Line towns would look like a ghost town if any of those weird small banks went belly up), and Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Indy Mac are problems for everyone else, right? Sooo.....just when we need a little perspective comes JIB JAB with a spankin' new cartoon. Please feel free to laugh until your sides ache: JIBJAB:TIME FOR SOME CAMPAIGNIN'

Emergency Moving of Bryn Mawr Fire Company?

MainLineThoughts — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 14:06:37 -0700

Our firemen are valued highly in Lower Merion, as it is a volunteer force and a lot of these emergency responders are folks from our community and neighboring communities. So, it was kind of a bummer to read this press release on the Lower Merion Township Website:

Fire Committee Meeting to Address Emergency Relocation of Bryn Mawr Fire Company Meeting to be Held July 9th at 6:30 p.m Posted Date: 7/5/2008 11:00 AM A Fire Committee meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, July 9th to address the emergency relocation of Bryn Mawr Fire Company due to structural deficiencies at the Company’s fire house. “Following the Township Engineer’s inspection of the fire house floor, it was determined that its condition presented a safety hazard,” stated Charles McGarvey ( cmcgarvey@lowermerion.org ), Chief Fire Officer. “To accommodate the necessary repairs, which are projected to take 10—12 weeks to complete, several possible sites were studied for the temporary relocation, and a small portion of Ashbridge Park was determined to best suit this emergency situation.”

Treeless In Bryn Mawr?

MainLineThoughts — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 06:20:09 -0700

The time has come to ask a difficult question: Are non profits in Radnor Township just allowed to take down trees as they see fit? Seriously, please drive by the new home of the Barrack Academy. Where have all the trees gone and does anyone care? Doesn't it seem naked? Just like the neighboring institution, Proclamation Presbyterian Church, one day there were trees and one day they were just gone?

SAC in The News for Kelo Day Participation

carla — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 08:59:28 -0700

it is with great pride that I promote this article on Scott Mahan's and Ken Haskin's participation in the dedication of the Kelo House with Susette, IJ, and others.... many thanks to Main Line Times for the article: Posted on Wed, Jun 25, 2008 SAC marks milestone with Kelo By Richard Ilgenfritz

This weekend, some area residents traveled to Connecticut to remember that "little pink house."It wasn't one of the little pink houses made famous in a John Mellencamp song, but one that became a symbol in the fight over eminent domain for private gain. The property became a national centerpiece in the eminent domain battle when the house's owner, Susette Kelo, lost a 2005 United States Supreme Court decision that gave the City of New London the ability to use eminent domain to take her house and several others in the Fort Trumbull section of New London and turn it over for private development. Essentially, the court said it was up to the individual states to determine eminent domain.

Narberth Says No Thanks To LMPD Bid

MainLineThoughts — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 07:15:46 -0700

Recently, our local papers and television stations have been chattering about a bid by Lower Merion Township to take over Narberth Borough's Police Department. Well, according to the Main Line Times, Narberth has decided "no". Many questions remain over this takeover bid, namely the politics of origination. Posted on Wed, Jun 11, 2008 Narberth to keep its police force By Richard Ilgenfritz

NARBERTH –The Narberth Borough Council Wednesday night voted to halt its consideration of a plan by Lower Merion Township to take over Narberth's police responsibilities to save money for both municipalities.In a unanimous voice vote, the council approved a motion to inform Lower Merion that the borough was no longer considering the township's offer to take over the borough's policing duties because the township hadn't provided enough detail on cost savings for the borough.

Lower Merion Conservancy/Rolling Hill Park: A Little Slice of Heaven

SaveArdmoreCoalition — Fri, 09 May 2008 19:21:07 -0700

Sigh....enjoy....

North Ardmore Civic Wants You To Come Say NO to Exxon at Woodside and Montgomery!

SaveArdmoreCoalition — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 06:41:28 -0700

Please support North Ardmore Civic Association on this THURSDAY APRIL 17th and see related post FOUND HERE

To: Neighbors of Fritsch’s Exxon Station, Woodside & Montgomery From: North Ardmore Civic Association On Thursday, April 17 at 7:15pm, the Zoning Hearing Board will hear the Fritsch/Exxon request to convert their service bays to a convenience store and add an automatic car wash. This will be the third hearing on their application, the first two having been continued because Exxon’s

Luuuuucy, Can You 'Splain Something Else?

SaveArdmoreCoalition — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 13:32:24 -0700

Oh Luuuuuucy, this campaign season means sooooo much 'splainin'.... It's all very interesting, isn't it? Inside Today's Bulletin Liberal Women's Group Throws Support To Area Candidates By: Bradley Vasoli, The Bulletin 03/21/2008

The Pennsylvania Women's Campaign Fund (PWCF), a group advocating the election of socially liberal women candidates to state office, has endorsed several individuals running in the Philadelphia area.

CONTACT Greater Philadelphia

SaveArdmoreCoalition — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 09:31:35 -0700

We have been asked to post the following:

CONTACT Greater Philadelphia www.contactgreaterphiladelphia.org Serving Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties Address: P.O. Box 167,Richboro, PA 18954 Crisis/Helpline Phone Numbers: (215) 355-6000 and (610) 649-5250. CONTACT Greater Philadelphia is a telephone-support, crisis-intervention and suicide hotline service proving assistance to callers in need in the Greater Philadelphia area. Calls to CONTACT are answered by fully trained volunteers.

If We Are Advocating for Bike Trails, Shouldn't We Advocate Safe Cycling Too?

SaveArdmoreCoalition — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 10:27:29 -0700

We are not anti-cycling. We are not anti bike trail. But we feel quite strongly that the gentlemen who were interviewed in the Thursday January 31st, 2008 edition of Main Line Times should practice what they preach: safe cycling. A front page photo op with a newspaper photographer should not preclude bicycle and motorist safety, should it? Here, look for yourselves:

Irony: Inquirer and Suburban and Wayne Times Are Talking About Historic Preservation

SaveArdmoreCoalition — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 13:58:37 -0700

Here's an irony: a suburban weekly and a big city voice are both talking about historic preservation on the same day over preservation concerns...and thanks to a decision from a judge, historic preservation is now worth less than spit in PA...And seriously, does anyone think Ed Rendell gives a darn about this? Bravo to both papers for these editorials

What The Heck is Happening in Bryn Mawr?

SaveArdmoreCoalition — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 17:02:52 -0700

We read a great quote the other day:

Millard Fuller: “For a community to be whole and healthy, it must be based on people's love and concern for each other.”

Wow. How about that? What a thought to think about...which leads us to the Lower Merion Rumor Mill running faster then the R5 to Paoli (heck, not that it is so hard to do considering the trains are like on permanent "alternative" schedules, right?)...we're hearing VERY disturbing news out of Bryn Mawr, and once again, the eye of the storm confuses us. Is the Bryn Mawr Business Association on the real brink of disaster this time, or has that train already left the station?

Destination Ardmore!

SaveArdmoreCoalition — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 10:37:38 -0700

Everyone is trying to be positive and hopeful...yet we all know, the unknown can indeed be scary, so please do not try to invalidate such citizen/resident feelings...instead, understand them....Anyway much like the residents, the newspapers this week are in "An Ardmore State of Mind"....we're hoping as everything moves forward the ghosts of commissioners past don't come back to haunt us and that what ends up being Ardmore's plan encompasses a true community vision and isn't that all true?

Poking Bears (Just a Little)

SaveArdmoreCoalition — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 06:28:45 -0700

Here at SAC we get community groups like ours and how you join a civic association. And how which civic association you belong to is kinda decided by where you live, your address. So, how does belonging to business associations work from town to town? How are business associations structured from town to town?

Hooray! It's First Friday Today (January 4th 2008!)

SaveArdmoreCoalition — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 10:23:37 -0700

Don't forget! It's First Friday!!! www.firstfridaymainline.com

Having a Heart : helpusadopt.org

SaveArdmoreCoalition — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 12:57:39 -0700

We recently heard about a wonderful new non profit worth mentioning because it was started by two former Main Liners who went to NYC named Becky and Kipp Fawcett. One of our members thought this would be a nice thing to promote. The non profit is called HelpUsAdopt.org.

SAC In The News!

SaveArdmoreCoalition — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 17:36:37 -0700

We admit it, we LOVE reading about ourselves: After Saving Ardmore, Coalition is Honored by Its Former Foe

Bryn Mawr, This Post is For You Number 2!

SaveArdmoreCoalition — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 08:23:08 -0700

Bryn Mawr, we have received another e-mail from several concerned individuals that we must share, and have been asked to share. If you don't like the content, remember everyone is entitled to an opinion, we did NOT write this, and you can register and post a response:

At the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Bryn Mawr Civic Association (they take place on the third monday of the month), which in this case will take place on Monday, September 17, 2007, a presentation and discussion will take place concerning proposed Zoning changes for Bryn Mawr.

Should National Night Out's Founder Spread The Joy?

SaveArdmoreCoalition — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 06:49:07 -0700

Mmmm, mmmm, mmmm....wow...who knew? Imagine if the officers of SAC and the founders of First Friday took such a salary? (Full disclosure: SAC and FFML folks make and take NOTHING! It's pure volunteerism) This sure makes people wonder....should we go to National Night Out Tuesday August 7th? Read the article and decide: Nonprofit is lucrative for founder By Andrew Maykuth Inquirer Staff Writer

When he launched the first National Night Out in 1984, Matt A. Peskin envisioned an event in which people across America would turn on their lights and sit on their porches in a symbolic gesture to fight crime. The Wynnewood man's idea quickly evolved into a night of coordinated neighborhood block parties. Peskin says about 11,000 communities will celebrate National Night Out on Aug. 7. Millions of Americans will participate. Little did Peskin imagine that his concept would grow and endure, thanks partly to federal subsidies of $2.7 million in the last 10 years. And nobody imagined the event would reward Peskin so richly. His organization, the National Association of Town Watch, devoted about a third of its budget in 2005 to pay Peskin a $255,000 salary and $42,000 in benefits, according to the group's most recent tax filings.

Is Villanova Covering Anything Up? Or Are They Doing The Best They Can?

Haverford19041 — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 07:24:00 -0700

Everyone everywhere is talking about the rape at Villanova. Even on this website. The most disturbing conversation to date was one where a comment ran like this: "Remember Duke". Nor is this Radnor Police Department's fault - they can't press charges unless the victim wants to, and they couldn't have responded any faster anyway, because can it be said they found out when all of us, the public at large, found out? Students interviewed on camera don't seem too happy about this either... Hey now, every situtation is different and what is the one darn thing that no one seems to be talking enough: Is Villanova covering something up? Are they doing all they could really do? Can it be considered that Villanova University might be guilty of obstruction on some level by waiting ten days to report this? Did they cover up evidence for future civil or criminal cases? What are the policies of the school that they would wait almost ten days to report a rape, allow all affected parties to remain on campus together for about five days after the incident? And most importantly, is Villanova's health center equipped to do a rape kit when a student claims they were sexually assaulted? Will evidence be preserved and to who's standards? Why didn't Villanova University immediately take a woman who came to them and said she was raped to a proper hospital to have a rape kit done? Is there any evidence to be preserved for this victim? Will the victim get due process if she comes forward and presses charges? Maybe it is or isn't odd that the student has decided to not press charges at this time. There are a few schools of thought on that, all speculation in truth because none of us are the victim.

Bryn Mawr Buzzzzzzzz

The Developer — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 10:30:09 -0700

Buzz, buzz, buzz...Bryn Mawr is a buzz....Bryn Mawr Master Plan, TRID, proposed BID (business/Bryn Mawr improvement/investment district a la Ardmore Initiative), the hospital....and to be sure this post will get some skirts in a bunch, but hey, you no what? Opinion and comments are allowed, unless this is Soviet Russia? Rumor has it, Bryn Mawr is more fragmented than ever and can it be said the organization that is supposed to be equally representing all businesses isn't listening to what business owners want? Will factions and special interests and players behind the scenes cause the village of Bryn Mawr to implode? And speaking of "village", the definition of a village is:

A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet, but smaller than a town or city.

So, just asking but what will be village-y if Bryn Mawr gets buildings up to 8 stories before incentives? And let's talk BID for a minute. It takes a while to get one set up correctly (Ardmore Initiative did not happen overnight, and when it came to all as Ardmore2000 in 2000, it took a couple years of planning, right?) Do these organizations pay for themselves? No. Is a BID in Bryn Mawr what businesses want? Do the businesses in Bryn Mawr want to pay what amounts to a tithing to sustain it? And who is the driving force and why? The natives are restless and the rumors are flying. Input welcome. After all, it would be a shame to see Bryn Mawr become even more fragmented....especially when most of the store fronts are looking so much better....and how many actually belong to the Bryn Mawr Business Association? Is Midge McCauley accomplishing any more in Bryn Mawr than she did in Ardmore, because let's be honest, what did she do really for Ardmore other than spend a lot of taxpayer monies? In the end, does Bryn Mawr want to remain Bryn Mawr or some urban Disneyland? Should a betting pool be opened now as to which "village" will survive more intact? Bryn Mawr or Ardmore? Ardmore seems to be in a better place, doesn't it? Does it, in the end, have to do with the cooks in the kitchen? And in the end will the name be changed to "hospital town"?

First Friday and Freedom: Perfect Together in July!

SaveArdmoreCoalition — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 10:27:32 -0700

First Friday was fantabulous! Ardmore was spilling over with people as was Bryn Mawr and Haverford. The trolley drivers have the route down and the trolleys were packed all night long! The music was so awesome! Thanks First Friday Main Line! Here are the photos from last night's First Friday Main Line : http://www.flickr.com/photos/mainlineclicks/sets/72157594462467009/ The photos are free to take but on the honor system - if you take a photo, please consider sending First Friday Main Line a small donation www.firstfridaymainline.com We can always use a donation too - see http://www.saveardmorecoalition.org/donate Last thing before we go? We meant to ask all of you out there on the 4th of July what freedom means to you? What does free speech mean to you? What does the Consitution of The United States and the Corresponding Amendments mean to you? Write us, we'd love to know.

BREAKING NEWS: BARNES' MUSEUM WATSON REJECTS MONTCO

Haverford19041 — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 06:57:25 -0700

Bernard Watson is definitely part of the fix that is in regarding the Barnes Museum. So, what does he get out of the deal anyway? Lower Merion residents wake up and get busy! Barnes rejects plan to keep it in Merion By Jeremy Rogoff Inquirer Staff Writer

Barnes Foundation chairman Bernard C. Watson has turned down a funding proposal offered by Montgomery County to keep the historic art collection in its Merion home.

Phila Biz Journal Says Foundation for Islamic Education Property is For Sale in Villanova?

SaveArdmoreCoalition — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 11:08:45 -0700

The June 1 to 7, 2007 (Volume 26, Number 15) print edition of The Philadelphia Business Journal reports on page 4 in an article by Natalie Kostelni something we bet no one much knows on the Main Line: The Foundation for Islamic Education in Villanova is for sale! And we quote:

“The Foundation for Islamic Education has put its 23-acre campus up for sale, making available another developable tract on the land-constrained Main Line.

Ithan Update

RadnorRabbit — Wed, 23 May 2007 17:08:09 -0700

Go Save Ithan Go! (this is pretty much in the newspaper too)

Since we last had our group meeting, the Save Ithan Steering Committee has been at work. Radnor Monthly Meeting has also been at work and retained Jim Greenfield as the Meeting's attorney. The two groups hope to work together while Save Ithan works on the details of its organization and ability to raise funds for its legal representation and necessary planning costs, if needed. As has been reported, the O'Neill property Group still has its proposal for 20 condos on hold, but able to be brought before the Zoning Board in the future. The situation in Radnor is moving rapidly in some respects. The developers have not been, it seems, able to agree on an overlay for Ithan as hoped for by some township officials. In this vacuum, the O'Neill Group is throwing the responsibility of an overlay back to the Planning Commission. In many respects, this may open the process for the community to drive the Ithan Vision. As such, Mr. Al Murphy, head of the Planning Commission has been asked to meet with the Save Ithan Steering Committee with the sole purpose of working on the details of a public forum. This Steering Committee meeting is not to decide on plans for Ithan, not to give a stamp of approval for past township actions, or make decisions for the community. It is an attempt to bridge a communications gap. The decision to meet with Mr. Murphy was a difficult one, and not supported by everyone. But the feeling that prevailed we must try and open communications. The Steering Committee Meeting will happen this Thursday and a report will be E-mailed on the results shortly there after. Since so much has happened without community involvement the Save Ithan SC is pushing Mr. Murphy to participate in a future open forum, perhaps with a community planner and another knowledgeable professional to discuss issues. The meeting, as now planned, would be moderated and include full public participation. Suggestions on appropriate participants would be appreciated by the Steering Committee. Thank you for your continuing support of Save Ithan and its volunteers.