June 13, 2018 - ChaddsFordLive.com

Letter: Take Stoneleigh off the table

The Lower Merion School Board announced at its meeting on Monday night that it had reached an agreement to purchase the former Clothier estate at 1860 Montgomery Avenue for use as the site of a new middle school.

We welcome the School District’s efforts to find an alternative to Stoneleigh for the school and this could be a positive step. Unfortunately, though, the plan does not yet represent a victory for Stoneleigh or the end of our fight to save the entire property from eminent domain.

The agreement to purchase 1860 Montgomery Avenue is contingent on several things, including that the District be able to find a location for a sports complex elsewhere in the Township.

In his comments at the meeting, Superintendent Copeland made it clear that they are still considering a 6.9-acre portion of Stoneleigh as a site for a sports complex. As we have stated on numerous occasions, this area of Stoneleigh is an essential and integral part of the property. The planned sports complex would cause irreparable harm to the historic landscape and forever alter the serenity and ecology of the property.
The School District should sever the link between the agreement to purchase 1860 Montgomery Avenue and its desire for a new sports complex so that the search for an alternative site for that complex can continue. It will take time to finalize the deal for the 1860 property, design the school, and then secure the approvals and permits needed to build it. That should give the School District room to work collaboratively with the community to identify the right place for new fields.

And Stoneleigh—all of Stoneleigh—needs to be taken off the table. The School District should not be gambling with the future of Stoneleigh—a historic site, a public garden, a charitable gift—in order to accomplish its aims.

The School District’s agreement to purchase 1860 Montgomery Avenue is also contingent upon that property remaining designated as a Class 2 resource by Lower Merion Township. We are confident that, working together, the Township and School District can find a way to both meet the District’s needs and honor the property’s history.

We remain steadfast in our commitment to saving Stoneleigh—every blade of grass, every flower, and every tree—so that it can be a place of joy and learning for everyone in the community and beyond.
We are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support and the thousands of people who have lent their voices in opposition to the School District’s plans. I will continue to keep you posted on updates in our collective fight to save Stoneleigh.
Thank you!

Sincerely,

Molly K. Morrison
President

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Tips to become a Facebook master

Business

Facebook is an incredibly powerful tool. Take advantage of what it has to offer by starting with these tips.

About Thomas Padula

Thomas Padula is the founder and President of Padula Media LLC. They offer photography and videography services for businesses. Call us at (484) 301-0460 or visit us at PadulaMedia.com.

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ChesCo. Dem’s vice chair announces team

Along the Ford

Chester County Democratic Committee Vice Chair Lani Frank has announced her candidacy for the office of CCDC chairman, vowing to bring a spirit of collaboration and strong leadership to Chester County Democrats. Frank, the current vice chair, has devoted the last 18 years to building the Chester County Democratic Party to where it is today, winners in 2017.

Lani Frank, foreground, along with Bill Phifer, left, and Nick Allen, look to head the Chester County Democratic Committee.

Endorsed by over 50 current and former Democrats, including committee people, zone leaders and others in the county and around the state, such as Chester County Commissioner Kathi Cozzone, Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, former state party Chair Jim Burn, current Mayors Dianne Herrin and Josh Maxwell and former Mayors Jordan Norley and Leo Scoda, former Congressman Joe Hoeffel, former Philadelphia City Controller Jonathan Saidel and current Chester County Controller Margaret Reif and Clerk of Courts Yolanda Van de Krol.

“My view of successful leadership is to inspire others to do their best towards a common goal while holding people, including myself, accountable. My style is to work collaboratively, transparently, create a team approach, give credit where credit is due and facilitate an environment that values new ideas and greater productivity.”

Frank is running as a team with her friend of 14 years, Bill Phifer, current chair of the CCDC Communications Committee, a committee he started in 2014. Bill, a resident of East Bradford, is a committed lifelong Democrat, who has plans to improve the messaging and outreach by the CCDC. Bill has served on the Board of Directors of the Delaware Valley Science Council since 1976 and retired from Hewlett Packard Corp as an HP Fellow in 2012, after a 40-year career in IT with a focus on program management, process improvement and organizational development.

“I am a ‘process guy.’ Any organization of our size that wants to succeed at a higher level must have policies, processes and procedures and a disciplined approach and accountability to following them, and that is what I have tried to bring to the table and will continue to do so.”

Joining Frank/Phifer Leadership Team is Nicholas (Nick) Allen, current Committee Person in West Chester. Nick is a math teacher at a local middle school and is a proud “young Democrat.” Nick brings his communications and social media skills to the team and will bring state of the art communications skills to the benefit of our Party.

Current CCDC Treasurer Lisa Longo is running independently from the ticket, but as the incumbent treasurer is supporting the Frank-Phifer-Allen team. Lisa has set the Party on a secure financial path through her efforts to establish rules and procedures of raising and reporting campaign finances. Lisa has extensive experience in raising money for not-for-profit organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, and she also brings her organizing and technical skills to the party, supporting all Democratic candidates within and outside the county.

About Press Release

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Police Log June 13: Kidnapping/rape; sexually explicit video

Police

Pennsylvania State Police

• State police from the Avondale barracks said they arrested Humberto Guzman-Garcia on kidnapping and rape charges on June 10. According to the report, police were dispatched to a property in Avondale and determined that Guzman-Garcia entered the home and took the victim away from her home and committed several sexual acts before her parents found her outside. The accused, police said, was found hiding in a nearby vehicle. No other details were released.

• An unidentified suspect who police described only as a black male, 20-30 years old, wearing a pink shirt, pink hat and a dark colored jacket, unzipped a woman’s purse and removed her wallet and within 30 minutes used the victim’s credit cards at the Walmart in East Marlborough Township and at Best Buy in Wilmington. The thief ran up a bill of almost $4,000. The incident happened on May 20.

• Police said Louis David Freeman, 24, stole a $248 Sony Blue Tooth speaker from the East Marlborough Township Walmart on June 6. An asset forfeiture representative was able to get the accused’s license plate number.

• A 52-year-old man from West Grove was cited for driving at an unsafe speed following a one-vehicle accident on Newark Road in West Marlborough Township. Police identified the driver as Angel L. Lopez. According to the report, Lopez was driving south on Newark Road about 4:01 a.m. on May 26 when he lost control of the 2014 Chevrolet Cruise he was driving. He struck two embankments and a tree before rolling over two or three times, the report said. Lopez was also injured, police said, but he refused transport.

• An unidentified driver was cited for driving at an unsafe speed after a June 6, one-vehicle accident on Doe Run Road in West Marlborough Township. The 1:30 a.m. accident happened when left the road at a left-hand curve. The Chevrolet Silverado traveled off a berm into a ditch. No injuries were reported.

• Police said Michael Hays, of Delaware County, was arrested for retail theft and criminal mischief after an incident at Walmart in East Marlborough Township on June 3. According to the police report, Hays used a pocket knife to open a Bear Attach Deterrent plastic case and removed the deterrent and tried to leave the store without paying.

• Police are investigating a May 2 case of transmitting sexually explicit images of a minor. The incident happened on Unionville Road in East Marlborough Township. According to the police report, a juvenile posted a sexually explicit video on a social media site. The video was recorded and disseminated to multiple juveniles.

Southern Chester County Regional Police

• Lloyd K. Shank, 57, of Avondale, was arrested and charged with drug and traffic violations after he was found to be in possession of marijuana and related paraphernalia, following a traffic stop for an expired registration. The incident occurred 9:24 a.m. on May 1, in the 9100 block of Gap Newport Pike, in New Garden Township. Shank was taken into custody, processed, and released pending issuance of a summons.

• Isaiah M. Rojas, 20, of Kennett Square, was charged with indecent exposure and disorderly conduct, following the investigation into an incident that was reported to have occurred April 24 at 4:20 p.m., in the parking lot of 345 Scarlett Road, in New Garden Township. The victim reported that she was parked in the lot when a Hispanic male subject pulled next to her vehicle. She looked over and noticed that he was reclined in his seat. He reportedly had his genitals exposed and appeared to be masturbating.

• Stephanie T. Enriquez, 33, of Kennett Square, was arrested and charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of children and one count of DUI after she was found to have driven her two children, ages 4 and 12, to district court, while she was under the influence of a controlled substance. The incident occurred on May 2 at 916 West Cypress Street, in New Garden Township. Court staff notified police after they observed Enriquez struggling to unfold money in her hand, swaying, closing her eyes, and bobbing her head, while standing.

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