Yep, Amtrak is out along the Main Line for it's annual rape and pillage of the landscape. This is yet another great reason to attend the TRANSIT SUMMIT Congressman Gerlach's office is getting together in Lower Merion in October...October 2, is the date we're hearing, but we'll keep you faithful apprised....Imagine, having Septa and Amtrak in the same room and having to answer questions?

Posted on Tue, Aug 26, 2008
Rail neighbors are not all aboard with Amtrak's spraying
By Cheryl Allison

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?

Cheryl Allison at Main Line Life gives SAC some props over our exciting grant news, so read all about it:

Save Ardmore Coalition granted some good news
By Cheryl Allison

So the chatter up here got the better of a SAC member, so they went out to investigate the student house that has cropped up like a weed on Rose Lane in Rosemont. The house is now owned by the man who owns Samurai Restaurant in Rosemont. This man tells neighbors he owns lots of properties and rents to students frequently. Ok, so mebbe he wants to be the Donald Trump of student housing, but how does this play into a piece of real estate, a house in a small neighborhood of good sized affordable twins? We're not sure, but we are certain this has never been a student rental before.

So, should student rentals just be allowed to pop up? And how many students are too many students? And what is really going on over here? is it just about one house, or is there a larger project waiting in the wings? We're curious.

We're also curious as to how a neighborhood that does indeed represent affordable housing will be protected? Is this the next small neighborhood at risk in Lower Merion?

Here is a photo of the house in question courtesy of a friend:

So we told you we're having this swell event Friday September 5th at the VFW, right? And we told you we're getting a grant awarded to us, right? Well guess who is coming to hang out with us and all of you? You got it! The coolest green dude in Philadelphia....THE PHILLIE PHANTIC!

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE OF THE SAVE ARDMORE COALITION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUGUST 25, 2008
ARDMORE, PA
www.saveardmorecoalition.org
SAVE ARDMORE COALIITION TO RECEIVE GRANT SEPTEMBER 5TH, 2008 IN ARDMORE, PA

The Save Ardmore Coalition is pleased to announce that we are to receive a grant in the amount of $20,000 from The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on Friday, September 5th, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. in front of the Ardmore VFW in Ardmore, PA during our First Friday Main Line event with the American Troop Support Team (ATST).

This grant has been awarded to the Save Ardmore Coalition by State Representative Daylin Leach (149th PA), and is via the Department of Community and Economic Development’s Community Revitalization Program. $10,000 of this grant will be used towards a Community Mural and other streetscape beautification efforts.

State Representative Leach has be very supportive of the efforts of Save Ardmore Coalition in the community, and through this grant the Save Ardmore Coalition will be able to further its efforts as a group.

So please join State Representative Daylin Leach and members of the Save Ardmore Coalition in the shadow of the buildings in Historic Ardmore that we fought successfully to save from Eminent Domain for Private Gain. Join us as we take yet another definitive step forward into the future.

For more information on First Friday Main Line, please visit their website at www.firstfridaymainline.com
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Save Ardmore Coalition P.O. Box 453 Ardmore, PA 19003 www.saveardmorecoalition.org

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

Read all about it:

Main Line Times:Hat's off to Wally McLean: Ardmore's gardening angel By Mike Weilbacher

I met up with Wally McLean in a place many people have seen him - and his handiwork - in the last 18 years: in front of the Ardmore train station. But watch carefully, as this may be his very last year as the station's unofficial gardener.You know the station, that concrete box built in the 1950s as a temporary replacement for the gorgeous Victorian that burned down. Fifty years later, that box is still with us, standing at the epicenter of a tug-ofwar over the redevelopment of Ardmore's downtown. Today, the surprise is that the old station is still standing, as plans for the area chug slowly along.

Wally's assumption is that the station is coming down this year, at which point the site becomes a construction project. After that, he doesn't think the newly enlarged and expanded station built and run in part by private interests will be looking for the services of a volunteer gardener. He seems ready to end his extraordinary run.

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

Congratulations to our friends in Long Branch, NJ! Another bad plan bites the dust! Eminent domain defeated by MTOTSA!

They did it!!! Thanks to our friends at The Institute For Justice as well!!!

Long Branch Homeowners Hail Appeals Court Victory
Court Deals Fatal Blow For City & Developer’s Case
WEB RELEASE: August 7, 2008
Media Contact:
John Kramer
(703) 682-9320
[Property Rights]

Arlington, Va.—Today, a three-judge panel of the New Jersey Appellate Division unanimously reversed the June 2006 decision of Superior Court Judge Lawrence Lawson, which allowed the city of Long Branch, N.J., to condemn a charming seaside neighborhood known as MTOTSA for a luxury condominium development. This is the latest in a series of major decisions from New Jersey courts, including the Supreme Court, recognizing that state law and the New Jersey Constitution place real limits on the power of government to condemn property for private development.

After explaining how the lower court misapplied the law, the court of appeals found that the city did not provide “substantial evidence” to support its findings of blight.

Well, everyone on the Main Line has sure been following Judy Sherry's passionate quest for open records and accountability in Radnor. Her story has been discussed several times on this web site, including this post and this post and over at Round Radnor here and here.

There have also been several newspaper accounts which have been very unflattering to Radnor. Today we have news that Judy Sherry's victory has maybe once again upheld and Radnor School District was DENIED? As a matter of fact, read it for yourself HERE.

So is this the end of it? Will Judy be able to see what she requested to see or will this municipal tragedy of Shakesperian proportions continue to evolve? Read the Order dated July 29th, 2008...the end of it seems to contain a NEW wrinkle? Something about a June 30, 2008 Order being VACATED? Now what?

How much is this all costing taxpayers anyway? Will political pressure come to bear and will Judy EVER get her open records?

Thoughts on this are welcomed.