Hey there old friends at Philly Future! How the heck are you? Listen we have something coming up during Friday, September 5th, 2008's First Friday Main Line!Check out our YouTube Public Service Announcement!

In a nutshell, come out to support our Veteran’s and Active Duty Troops on September 5th, 2008 during a very special “First Friday ” event at the Ardmore V.F.W Post 843 in Ardmore, PA from 5-9 P.M. during First Friday Main Line.

We are proud to introduce the Main Line to American Troop Support Team (ATST) !

ATST has been working for over four years to send letters and boxes of donated goods to help our soldiers. This group was formed to provide tangible support to the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces-- particularly those currently deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Contributed donations and products will be used to package and ship goods to our troops. Packages have and will include, but are not limited to, snack foods, personal hygiene items, reading materials and other items which are consistent with American, as well as Military law. The names of soldiers are submitted and selected in a non-discriminatory manner.

In addition, the VFW is opening their doors to new social membership**. A contribution of $20.00 will give you a year-long membership to this 75 year old post. Half of the proceeds will go to restoring and keeping the V.F.W. post active for our local soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as our veterans of previous wars. The other half of the proceeds collected will be donated to the “American Troop Support Team” (ATST).

We hope to see you and that you can help us in this worthy cause! Support those who protect our freedoms!

(**Please note to become a social member of the VFW you must show LEGAL proof of age)

...And as a postscript, we will note that First Friday Main Line has many other fabulous events planned for Friday September 5th, as First Friday jazzes it up with a Main Line Blues Stroll,Miles of Art, and also hosts a special book signing at Past*Present*Future in Ardmore for the up and coming novelist who published "Creamy Nougat" a few months ago - Mr. Erec Smith

Click here to check out First Friday Main Line events

Click here to check out what Save Ardmore Coalition is talking about these days

On Saturday, April 29, 2008, Barak Obama traveled with Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey Jr. by train from Philadelphia to Harrisburg. Along the historic Main Line just west of Philadelphia, Obama spoke first to an estimated crowd of 6000 listeners at the Wynnewood train station, shown here.

Obama's 4-car train stopped subsequently in Paoli, Downingtown and Lancaster.

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works
John Hansen-Flaschen, 2008.
www.jflashphoto.com

When these news stories surface it makes me get down on my knees and thank god for female candidates like Anne Dicker, who really represents the kind of change voters seek. Why am I so irritated? Because....I never used to follow GrassRootsPA because I thought it was way too conservative. Well, it still is conservative, but you know what? It's rather informative. I found this post titled RELEASE: ROGERS CAMPAIGN CALLS ON STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE TO INVESTIGATE PAOLINO’S ILLEGAL CAMPAIGN TACTICS - well the post has a zillion comments - some funny, some pathetic, some offensive, racist, homophobic, bigoted, etc (not the blog's fault, just the boobs who post)...

But one little comment led to some googling and this story hitting the freaking AP the weekend before the primary:

Posted on Fri, Apr. 18, 2008
Pa. judge tells candidate to stop distributing fliers
The Associated Press

NORRISTOWN, Pa. - A Montgomery County judge has ordered a state Senate candidate to stop distributing a certain flier that allegedly confuses voters....Lisa Paolino has been distributing sample ballots that are the same size and color showing a Paolino endorsement.

A judge ordered the Paolino campaign to turn over the handbills until a full hearing can be held Monday.

Late Friday night, the Rogers campaign said an emergency hearing was scheduled Saturday in Delaware County Court over a similar issue.

The Story appears HERE, HERE, HERE.

Another blog I also don't haunt on a regular basis is PA Watercooler , and they have this story PLUS a copy of this faux ballot.

Tsk, tsk, tsk....this is like buying a fake Prada bag from a street vendor, huh?

Lisa, honey, you need a vacation. How can you ask those people in the 17th district to vote for you when you can't even play by the rules?

Honey, pack up your barbies; it's time to go home. You could run as a strong woman and play by the rules. What is that old adage? Or is it a cliché ? Cheaters never win and winners never cheat?

It's bad enough when MALE candidates do this stuff....but when a WOMAN does it, can it be said it makes it all the more difficult for the NEXT woman who comes along?

Oh Ken Davis hates blogs does he? We're like sooooooooooo shocked. We all woke up this morning to the news that Ken Davis was stepping down as Chairman of the Montgomery County Republican Party. (and honestly, we were shocked not to read it first on CRN)

Can we say, it has been a bad week for Ken? First, Ed Lipkin resigns as the Ardmore Developer, and now this news?

So anyway, Writemarsh and Tony Phyrillas broke the news that we saw first, and well, we are so amused. And we almost couldn't contain ourselves when Mr. Davis announced in his letter that he still hates blog and bloggers. We are shocked! Shocked we tell you! But then again, can it be said what do we know that small group of mean spirited individuals that also thought eminent domain was a bad, bad thing?

LOL, We are sure he was thinking of us along with whomever else he hates in the blogosphere, right? Look, Former Commissioner Ken Davis did do some great things for Lower Merion no doubt, but unfortunately, can it be said part of his legacy is this and eminent domain? In a way, that's sad...

Here is an excerpt of the burning letter courtesy of Writemarh Blog Posting

Dear Republican Leader,
When speaking of those who serve the public in elective or appointive office, President Theodore Roosevelt had this to say, almost one hundred years ago:

"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by the dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly..."

...After serving as your Chairman for the last four years, I have decided to leave the "arena", and will not seek another term.....I will also not miss, especially, the anonymous, ignorant cowards who hide from behind the internet to spew their hate and venom, without having to reveal their identities or to speak for attribution, on the record; and the so-called "bloggers" self-important "know nothings" to a fault, thinking that anybody really cares what they have to say. These people, as Theodore Roosevelt noted, "know neither victory or defeat" themselves, yet never hesitate to criticize those of us who do.

For us, this is breaking news. The citizens of Ardmore and Lower Merion have been at this seemingly forever....that being said:

The Save Ardmore Coaltion is shocked at the following press release just discovered on the Lower Merion Township Website! What is even more interesting? We are wondering as a group who sends representatives to the Ardmore Ad Hoc Meetings, why it is we weren't notified (a)prior to the press release going up on the township website www.lowermerion.org (b) at the same time the press release was posted and sent out.

What is going on in Ardmore? What does this mean for our town? What developer will we get now? First ArcWheeler pulls out of that Daylesford/Paoli project a couple few weeks back, now EBL&S pulls out of Ardmore? We will note the press release cites downturn in credit markets, which is a no brainer, as our economy is in the toilet...but is there something more to this story?

Sign us waiting and watching very closely. And very curious. Also note this developer has bailed during the negotiate the contract phase.

Lower Merion Township: EBL & S Withdraws from Negotiations for Ardmore Transit Center and Business District Revitalization
Next Steps to be Discussed at March 5th Committee Meeting
Posted Date: 3/4/2008 8:38 AM

The EBL & S development team, which had been chosen in January by the Board of Commissioners to enter into negotiations with the Township for the Ardmore Transit Center and Business District Revitalization Project, has withdrawn from the negotiation process. The recent downturn in the credit markets was cited by EBL&S as the reason to discontinue talks with the Township.

Ok so the news is out (or should we more aptly say "official"?): Connie Williams is to retire at the end of her term in 2008 from the Pennsylvania State Senate in 17th district.

We have been hearing this was a possibility since we first heard who was interested in running against her in 2008: Penn Wynne Commissioner Lance Rogers - an Independent, who would run as a Republican....well, now the other rumors we heard are apparently true: not only is Connie retiring, but State Representative Daylin Leach (D-149th District, PA) will be running for Connie's seat...so is Connie going to just retire, or will she seek some other sort of office, perhaps appointed?

Connie Williams on the whole has been good to her district, has been a champion of women's rights, the rights of senior citizens, fought for better healthcare and many other things. At SAC we butted heads with her over eminent domain, but she had her opinion and a job to do and we had ours.

Connie also ran fairly positive political campaigns, something we always like...but the person who runs the cleanest campaign of all, is Daylin Leach. Daylin has taken pledges to campaign positively and stuck with it.

Now for the tough part: Daylin Leach and Lance Rogers are both special to SAC members. So gentlemen, if it is to be the two of you, shake hands and respect the fact that we may comment from the sidelines as we choose, but we will not allow co-opting. We hope that everyone's political party and political strategists and campaign teams understand that as well...just thought we'd get that out of the way now, so we don't have to repeat ourselves later: NO ENDORSEMENTS. We still don't do endorsements, okay? So drop on by Ardmore and say "hello", just don't put our members in awkward situations, okay? You are both good guys so we don't see this as a problem :) :-) :smile:

We also hope that BOTH political parties will run clean campaigns and not trot out tired old garbage to turn off the electorate....so here are the news stories and let the games begin (and since this state senate territory crosses over into Delaware County - i.e. Haverford/Radnor Townships it oughtta be real interesting, since we all know those elections can get real interesting) :

Montco's Sen. Williams: I won't run again
By WILLIAM BENDER
Philadelphia Daily News
benderw@phillynews.com 215-854-5255

State Sen. Connie Williams, D-Montgomery, announced yesterday that she will not seek re-election next year, and state Rep. Daylin Leach wants to replace her.

"I will be running for the Senate next year," Leach, D-Montgomery, said yesterday, as he unveiled an all-star cast of Democrats to lead his 2008 campaign in the 17th District.

Gov. Rendell, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and Williams herself will co-chair Leach's campaign. U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak will chair the Delaware County effort and Commissioner Joe Hoeffel will run the show in Montgomery County.

Democrats hope for a smooth transition from Williams to Leach in the Senate, where Republicans hold an eight-seat majority. At least one Republican candidate, Lower Merion Commissioner Lance Rogers, plans to run for Williams' seat.

State Sen. Connie Williams decides not to run again
12/27/2007, 10:31 a.m. EST
The Associated Press

Montco's Sen. Williams Will Not Seek Relection
by KYW’s Tony Romeo

...Williams, whose seat was held by a Republican prior to her election, admits that her district is a competitive one. It is likely to be a battleground in the fall.

Democratic House member Daylin Leach and Republican Lower Merion Township Commissioner Lance Rogers are two likely candidates to replace her.

So, here, we are going to stir the pot just a teensy bit more: we always thought that Lower Merion Township Commissioner Scott Zelov would run for this seat, so would he be considering a run for Daylin's State House Seat? Will 2008 be hopscotch for all sorts of political players? And just think, soon it will be time for someone to run against Jim Gerlach again, won't it? Will Lois get ressurected from the dead again? So many questions, so many political campaigns to watch...who will be bringing the popcorn because we think local and state politics are going to be much more interesting then presidential politics this time around...but hey, you know what they say: when it comes to politics, it's all local....

Scrooge in Ardmore?

PUD = Planned Unit Development (wasn't Ardmore Crossing one?) - ergo shouldn't some board vote as to what to do with comon areas? Planned Unit Developments, which this is we assume the case, should have some kind of board that discusses common areas, as in areas not contained within the four walls purchased as townhomes? So some kind of owners association should have rights with deciding on things like lawn and garden maintenance, common areas, and ohhh....a Community Room? Longstanding developments all across the Main Line - Old Forge Crossing, Chesterbrook, etcetera. And senior assisted living facilities - what ones DON'T have community gathering rooms? And shouldn't buildings that contain affordable housing untis have this as well?

Is Canus Corp, apparently the new building owner, under Susan Rabinovitch playing Scrooge this holiday season in Ardmore at Ardmore Crossing, now with it's new name change to "Greenfield Commons"? That is what the article in Main Line Life and Main Line Times infers, right?

(Copyright SaveArdmoreCoalition 2007)

The Save Ardmore Coalition has a new, yet familiar mantra we want citizens to follow: “BE VOCAL, SHOP LOCAL...Discover MORE in ArdMORE”

Make Ardmore your Main Street for the holidays. Shop and dine!

The Save Ardmore Coalition ( SAC) announces its new "BE VOCAL - SHOP LOCAL" campaign. SAC urges all Main Line residents to be vocal in their support for local businesses and to shop in our towns' stores.

To promote community awareness of the need to support our local businesses, SAC will shortly be distributing BE VOCAL - SHOP LOCAL buttons and urging residents to wear them this holiday season and into the months ahead. Without local residents' support, our independently owned stores and businesses can not prosper.

BE VOCAL - SHOP LOCAL buttons will be available at numerous stores in Ardmore for free. Contact comments@saveardmorecoalition.org for more information.

( Copyright SaveArdmoreCoalition2007 in case anyone wants to steal our tag line, we expect properly attributed credit and a donation would be nice too)

This area has been talking about Andy Reid and his spoiled druggie sons since February! Haven't we hear enough? Empathy and sympathy are becoming fleeting emotions when all you hear is how one of these two druggie, yet good Morman sons has failed a drug test, been found with more drugs, etc. What are Andy and Tammy Reid doing? If they live in the same house with these boys, we can understand them not knowing initially what was up with their bad seeds, but now? How can you keep excusing the parents? Granted, these boys aren't boys any longer, but legal adults, but the question has to be asked: are the parents enablers?

Whatever the case may be, this ongoing drama is yet another black eye on this area. The saga over Baldwin School vs. fired teacher vs. spoiled parents is bad enough, but now this? And add to that all the murders in Philadelphia, and the horrible story of murdered Philadelphia police officer Chuck Cassidy, who left behind a wife and kids. Officer Cassidy isn't a multi millionaire like Andy Reid must be, and he lost HIS life doing one of the toughest jobs in the world: being a police officer.

So Andy Reid, Tammy Reid, we hope you get it together because at this point y'all need to decide what is more important: fame or family. Dealing with addictions is not easy we're told, nor is the path to a drug free life simplistic. But seriously? Maybe it is time to say sayonara to this area and concentrate on your family. The Philadelphia area deserves better. It's not our collective job to watch your sons, and every single time they are picked up for something new it costs the taxpayers more money for babysitting.

Your kids are addicts. Own it. Get used to it. Deal with it. And maybe, just maybe, you might want to publicly address this family issue taking up so much of our time. This stopped being a private family matter a long time ago.

"Bring them Home"

Sometimes one photograph is worth a 1000 words. Today we have a few of those photographs. Today our lives were disrupted again as President Bush came to town to "help". Who was he helping other then the Republican Party? Usually, we don't say much about this garbage, but today, today was enough. This year in suburbia, it is all local races. And in Lower Merion, none are particularly exciting. Maybe W was stopping in Radnor after to help the dinosaurs in power? Who knows.

All we do know is that these visits aren't for the everyday American, more like the top 2 percent who will venture outside their McMansions to fork over silly amounts of money that could feed and clothe the poor, the elderly, the homeless for a good while. With all this money wasted today, how many kids could get healthcare, or adults in need for that matter?

This area is probably going into a recession if it isn't here already, and at the end of today what will this presidential fly by cost the taxpayers locally and nationwide? What will war have cost all of us in the end? And we're not saying that because we aren't supportive of our military because we do support our men and women in the military. All we're thinking out loud is what most of this country is thinking about now: is it all worth it? Are all those American lives lost worth it? Should we still be there?

Politics as usual is boring. Good for these protestors who peacefully made their points. And a good percentage of the protestors were senior citizens some of us noticed. Senior citizens.

Well, for all those of the conspicuous consumption set, we hope the rubber chicken and photo op was worth it.

Baldwin's Dirty Laundry Saga Continues....sing along now children:

Anything you could sue, we could sue better
We can sue anything better than you!
No you can't!
Yes we can!
No you can't!
Yes we can!
No you can't!
Yes we can!
Yes we can!

Anything you can be, We can be greater
Sooner or later We're greater than you!
No you're not!
Yes we are!
No you're not!
Yes we are!
No you're not!
Yes we are!

Couple sued by Baldwin School teacher file response claiming she had poor record
By Martha Woodall
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER

The Gladwyne couple who are being sued by a former second grade teacher on grounds they cost her her job at The Baldwin School have responded to her allegations by detailing 72 complaints from parents and others about her loud, threatening classroom manner.
In documents filed yesterday afternoon, Michael and Sheryl Pouls charged that rather than being the model teacher as she has claimed, Patricia Tollin "had one of the worst records--if not the worst record--of all the teachers in the roughly 120 year history of The Baldwin School."

The documents from the Poulses includes a counterclaim in which they are suing Tollin for defamation, invasion of privacy, assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

The 86-page file from the Pouls family is the latest salvo in a bitter, Main Line dispute that erupted in June when Patricia Tollin, 67, filed suit against the Poulses and against the private girls' school in Bryn Mawr where she had taught for 22 years.

In her complaint, Tollin alleged that rather than risk a mult-million gift for a new athletic facility promised by the Poulses, Baldwin's new head of school sided with them and did not offer Tollin a new, one-year teaching contract for the current school year.

The family had complained to Baldwin officials that Tollin had shouted at and humiliated their second-grade daughter during the last school year.

The Poulses' filing, which includes what the complaint says are excerpts from Tollin's personnel file...

Since when did personnel files become public? What is with these Pouls people? Can't they move someplace else? Oy vey

The fun never stops at Baldwin - the former teacher amended her suit...if you can stand it, the case against Baldwin only appears to have gotten worse. Seriously, and we thought the comments left on line at Philadelphia Magazine under "Class Warfare by Jessica Pressler" were horrid enough, and these ridiculous and uber superficial people call themselves well educated, urbane, stylish adults? What a load of horse crackers.

That teacher couldn't have been so bad if she lasted decades. Teachers don't last decades if they are bad...of course we have been told this may have happened at other private schools before, and we bet every private school in the Philadelphia area is biting their nails. But hey, what do these schools expect? They are the ones letting in this crowd of the Nouveau Super Riche who think their stuff doesn't stink and their checkbooks buy the rules, right? In Baldwin's case, haven't they allowed the checkbooks to write and buy the rules? Seriously, was the price they are paying and will continue to pay over this gym be worth it in the end? They can't spin themselves away from this bad publicity, it's the gift that keeps on giving....

Also, we received a tip as other cases on the civil docket Baldwin is involved in. Go to www.montcopa.org and check out the following cases:

Case Number: 2007-13995
Commencement Date: 6/19/2007 9:46:05 AM
Caption Plaintiff: BALDWIN SCHOOL
Caption Defendant: LEINO, ROBERT G
Judge: CORSO

Case Number: 2002-25252
Commencement Date: 11/18/2002 12:00:00 AM
Caption Plaintiff: SAMUL, SOPHIE
Caption Defendant: BALDWIN SCHOOL
Judge: MOORE

Of course...here is the Tollin suit:

Case Number: 2007-13011
Commencement Date: 6/4/2007 3:13:28 PM
Caption Plaintiff: TOLLIN, PATRICIA
Caption Defendant: BALDWIN SCHOOL
Judge: BARRETT
Defendants:
Name
Select BALDWIN SCHOOL
Select POULS, MICHAEL
Select POULS, SHERYL

New allegations in Baldwin suit
By Martha Woodall
Inquirer Staff Writer

The second-grade teacher who is suing the Baldwin School and the Gladwyne family she said caused her to lose her job is making new allegations: witness intimidation, obstruction of justice, and defamation.
In court documents filed late yesterday, Patricia Tollin alleges that the Main Line girls' school and Michael and Sheryl Pouls "have engaged in a pattern of harassing and intimidating witnesses in this matter . . . both on and off the Baldwin School campus."

For example, the amended complaint alleges that a Baldwin trustee "offered a witness in this matter a 'scholarship' for the witness' child, in exchange for testimony favorable to the defendants."

In addition, Tollin, who taught at Baldwin for 22 years, alleges that Michael Pouls defamed her in a recent Philadelphia Magazine article by falsely accusing her of throwing a blind student against a locker.

The woman whom Michael Pouls said had witnessed the incident recanted the account and said there were no blind children at Baldwin, the article reported.

The documents filed in Montgomery County Court seek to amend Tollin's original June 4 complaint to include the new allegations.

With regard to the article's reference to Class Warfare by Jessica Pressler, we strongly suggest everyone out there read the comments left by the overpriced mommy and me set.

Also see our related poll here at Philly Future, and post at our site which preceded this one by clicking here.

If any get their skirts in a bunch, feel free to post your comments...however, be warned, if the comments are like some of the stupidity we have seen in the posted comments at Philadelphia Magazine under their article, be prepared to be mocked until the cows come home, which in itself will be a long time because cows were abolished along the Main Line in advance of the introduction of the Hummer and 5 Garage Bay McMansions.

We have been suffering this summer from a rash of carjackings in Lower Merion. In every case, people were followed home from various destinations, and it seems to be from Philadelphia.

It is a sick damn world we live in when people get followed home after an early evening in Philadelphia, or even from vacation. We had written before about Philadelphia's crime rate spilling over to the Main Line, and even how in neighboring Radnor Township on Willow Avenue, people there live with the constant concern of dealing with the party house and the deviants it attracts like a big old magnet.

But these carjackings have people on edge and rightly so. What we are learning are people being followed from major highways exiting the city, plus the way folks exit through University City. These carjackings mean that there is now a divide forming between the city and suburbia. Please be safe, be aware. If you think you are being followed, dial 911 from your cell phone and drive to a well lit, well poulated area - or to a police station if possible.

Here is the press release courtesy of Lower Merion Township:

Lower Merion Police Issue Alert Regarding Carjackings
In response to a series of recent carjackings, the Lower Merion Police Department is urging residents to be aware of vehicles that may be following them, particularly when driving home through Philadelphia in late evening hours. “A total of three incidents have occurred following a similar pattern,” stated Supt. Joseph J. Daly. “While we do not want to alarm our residents, we feel it is important to alert citizens to this particular crime so they can take precautions and avoid being victimized.”

The most recent victim returned to her Wynnewood home from Philadelphia at approximately 10 p.m. on August 29th. She traveled an indirect route home through the west and southwest sections of Philadelphia. Though during the trip home she was unaware of a vehicle following her, upon her return home she did observe a car on the street when exiting her vehicle. At that point, a black male exited the car and ran toward her. The victim threw her pocketbook and keys, her cell phone was demanded and the suspect left in her 2004 White Nissan SUV.

“Our department is aggressively investigating this disturbing series of crimes,” reported Daly. “Until the perpetrators have been apprehended, we ask that citizens exercise caution, be alert to vehicles following them and to call 9-1-1 immediately if they suspect they are being followed. Too often suspicious activity goes unnoticed or unreported, which hinders our ability to apprehend suspects.”

Brenda Viola, Public Information Officer, 610-645-6199

Related:

Another warning on Lower Merion carjacking
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA

Another Victim Carjacked In Affluent Suburb

Lower Merion Police Issue Carjacking Alert

George H. Bush signed the ADA for a specific purpose, to give individuals with disabilities a fair chance to compete with the fortunate people without a handicap. Tonight I realized that many people might not understand this fact.

Let me elaborate on this statement. At the Cumberland Farms, on the corner of Wynnewood Rd and E. Lancaster, I was confronted with a troubling situation. I am disabled and went out to get milk, when pulling into the parking lot someone had parked their SUV in the middle of the two handicapped spots. This made it very difficult for me to get out of my car squeezed between the SUV and the sidewalk. But I Managed.

When i got done shopping at the Cumberland Farms I asked the cashier if he knew whose SUV was illegally parked in the middle of the two spots reserved for handicapped parking. He just smiled and said proudly it's mine. Then I told him that I am disabled. He just took my money and continued to smile at me.

Angered and frustrated by this complete lack of respect I thought of calling the Police. But after relaxing with a bowl of ice cream I cooled off. I thought that maybe he just needs to be educated and was ignorant of the reason those spots are made available. So what is written here is a reminder or lesson for people who don't know why these spaces are there. To make life a little easier for people who are disabled!