Ardmore

What is MUST?

dmuth — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 21:17:21 +0000

MUST stands for "Mixed Use Special Transit". It is an ordinance for rezoning parts of Lower Merion township.

Area residents have had concerns with certain provisions of MUST, and there have been difficulties in getting those concerns addressed by the township. Rather than go into all of the details, we'd like to refer visitors to these blog entries:

http://www.saveardmorecoalition.org/node/158
http://www.saveardmorecoalition.org/node/372
http://www.saveardmorecoalition.org/node/564
http://www.saveardmorecoalition.org/node/336
http://www.saveardmorecoalition.org/node/1178

So, the purpose of this forum is to bring issues surrounding MUST to the light of day, and try to get those issues resolved to the satisfaction of all parties.

Both residents and township officials are welcome to participate in this forum.

Another Burglary Alert - Lower Merion

carla — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 03:09:13 +0000

There is an e-mail circulating from several sources concerning a recent attempted burglary. This is not a call to freak out where you live, but simply a reminder that we are living in economically troubled times, so we need to be smart and aware. Here is an excerpt of the e-mail, which I assume originated with the LMPD, and I am glad to see them telling residents what is going on. Again, this is NOT a reason to freak, just be AWARE. I think the LMPD is trying to tell us they are out there watching and not to be afraid to call if something troubles you:

Picketing in Lower Merion (send photos)

carla — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:25:03 +0000

If you have picketing photos please e-mail comments@saveardmorecoalition.org - Here is Bonnie Cook's article. Comments welcomed! GOOD FOR THESE PARENTS! Just say "NO" to redistricting and "YES" to a state investigation of Lower Merion School District! Posted on Mon, Jan. 5, 2009 Parents picket in Lower Merion By Bonnie L. Cook INQUIRER STAFF WRITER

New Era for LMPD

carla — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 17:03:12 +0000

Here is a great article from the Inquirer: Posted on Fri, Jan. 2, 2009 Lower Merion police get familiar face as new leader By Bonnie L. Cook Inquirer Staff Writer

New Year/New Newspaper: 2 Beloved Local Papers To Merge To One

carla — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 17:14:18 +0000

I have been hinting around none too subtly that the economy was going to cause change in our beloved weekly newspapers on the Main Line. As of now, since 2009 has arrived, I can tell you that it's official: Main Line Life and The Suburban and Wayne Times will now become ONE weekly newspaper. This news is bittersweet and happy. Bittersweet because I worry about the historic Suburban & Wayne Times building in the heart of Wayne. Happy because Tom Murray will still be around as editor...and we will still see Sam Strike, Cheryl Allison, and Ryan Richards in the paper, and the fine photography (I hope) of Pete Bannan. Over at Main Line Times, Sue Greenspon will still be there to take your calls as editor, and we will still see Rich Ilgenfritz on his beat, and the photos of Jon Nimerfroh. Posted on Tue, Dec 30, 2008 To our loyal readers

Main Line Life is working on a new look for the New Year. Watch for your new newspaper on Jan. 14 when we will merge Main Line Life with its sister paper, The Suburban and Wayne Times. We will continue to bring you the most in-depth coverage of what's happening in your communities, with some new features as well! As always, we want to hear from you, our readers. Tell us what you would like to see in your community newspaper! Share your ideas with Editor Tom Murray at tmurray@mainlinelife.com

SCAM Alert From Lower Merion Township

carla — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 21:05:18 +0000

I received an e-mail from one of Lower Merion Township's Commissioners (Jenny Brown) a few moments ago regarding a *new* Nigerian scam (the usual ones are via e-mail):

Friends, The Lower Merion Police Department has advised the Commissioners of a growing scam. It is version of the well known "Nigerian Scam." The scammers are sending checks in the mail with a letter advising the recipient that he/she has one a lottery or suddenly come into an inheritance. The letter usually includes instructions to deposit the check, but immediately wire a sum of money to cover the tax or fees of the winnings. The scammers sometimes also telephone the recipient. The scam is successful when the recipient deposits the check and wires money to the sender before the check clears - and of course, the check never clears because it is fraudulent. There is no way to get back the wired funds. Please do not hesitate to contact Lower Merion Police Department (610-649-1000) if you receive an unexpected letter advising you that you have come into a sum of money. Jennifer W. Brown, Esq.

Lower Merion Historical Society Online Photos

carla — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 20:19:50 +0000

This is so cool - Lori from Lower Merion Conservancy sent me a link to photos that Lower Merion Histrical Society has available ONLINE like this one of Ardmore (108-1 Lancaster Ave): LMHS 108-1 Lancaster Ave Ardmore

Simple Gifts/Gifts of The Season/Spirit of Christmas.

carla — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 19:20:18 +0000

A couple of days ago, it was starting to feel a little like Christmas. I had decorated a wreath and started baking my cookies...and yes, fruitcake. (I happen to like fruitcake, and it's tradition, and as they said in the movie Mystic Pizza, don't mess with tradition!) What is Christmas about? Is it about all things commercial, or is it about family traditions? Is it about Lucia Fest at Old Swede's in town, or midnight masses and services in Protestant and Catholic Churches? Or is it a celebration of simple gifts? Appreciation of those in our lives whom we hold dear?

Aha...Coldstone Mystery..Where'd they all go? And Why?

carla — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 18:32:16 +0000

Just like in Wayne, the midnight move and close, eh? Found this in the Merionite on the closing of another local store (I guess Suburban Square?): Cold Stone Mystery November 14, 2008

SEPTA cancels train due to excessive sunshine

dmuth — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 16:48:43 +0000

It was very cold this morning in Ardmore. Naturally, I was hoping I could catch the 8:43 R5 train out of Ardmore. Imagine my surprise when I show up at the station... and no train shows up. So myself and other commuters waited, and waited, and waited some more. A few minutes later, an automated announcement is made: "Due to weather conditions, the 9010 train for Center City has been canceled". Wait, what? This is what weather was like at the station:

Pop quiz: What's missing from these pictures? My train!

It was bright and clear, not a cloud in the sky. So what was the weather condition in question? Excessive sunlight? Normally I'd not be this snarky about a train being canceled, but I can't help but feel as though I've been lied to. Especially since I saw several other trains zoom by Ardmore station while waiting for the next train. Why couldn't SEPTA have told us what the real reason was? Why did they use an inhuman automated system that told us something misleading/false? Why did they not put a spare train into service so that we didn't have to wait for half an hour? SEPTA's got problems, some of which (such as purchasing new trains) are expensive and time consuming to implement. But others, like fixing customer service, are relatively cheap to implement. I've noticed that SEPTA is on Twitter (http://twitter.com/SEPTA), but they managed to completely miss the boat on that, too. Rather than reaching out to customers like Comcast did (http://twitter.com/comcastcares), it looks like they're merely using Twitter to post announcements. In other words, SEPTA still have the appearance of being a faceless corporation. It's really bad when Comcast manages to make themselves look better than SEPTA. You're doing a heck of a job, SEPTA. Really.

The Story of The Year is All of Us and This Economy

carla — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 17:02:04 +0000

Tom Murray asked in Main Line Life this week, what the story of the year is for 2008. I am going to detour off the usual path of local stories and delve into what I feel is the road less travelled: The reality of this economy. The stories of development gone good, bad, and nowhere will be a perennial issue due to most municipalities needing realistic planning, clear visions acceptable to communities, and Pennsylvania needs an updated Municipal Planning Code. The stories of political bickering from local municipal halls to Harrisburg to Washington DC will be with us time in memoriam. Both parties are guilty of just not getting it, so enough said. The story of the year is the economy. A real tale of what happens to the American dream when greed and avarice get in the way of All American Common Sense. We all have a part to play in this, as we all didn’t look hard enough at the signs in front of our collective noses.

My Last Column For The Year Is Going to The Dogs!

carla — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 17:50:02 +0000

Being able to write my little editorial columns is one of the things I love. It's fun and I hope sometimes I make a tiny difference in a world that saddens me some days. I hope the economy in this country allows our newspapers to go on, because nationwide, the newspaper industry is suffering terribly. If you don't buy the newspaper, try to once in a while? Not for me, do it for yourself and the people that give local communities their voices. My column this week is going once again, to the dogs. Many thanks to Tom Murray and Main Line Life:

Ardmore Speak Out! LMSD Redistricting - We are Still Divided!

xf14ae — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 02:03:24 +0000

Last night, the School District reviewed changes to it's current Plan 3 - called Plan 3 R. Plan 3 R did show significant modifications, clearly in response to overwhelming public outcry (Thank you citizens! Thank you SAC and other organizations!). The original Walk Zone for Lower Merion High School has been restored. All residents in that Walk Zone will have choice of both Middle School and High School. In addition, residents of Merion ES, Penn Wynne ES and Cynwyd ES will have High School choice. That's the good news.

Local Newspapers in Trouble? Will Journal Register Save Them or Slay Them?

carla — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:06:45 +0000

We love our local papers. Personally, every week I read Main Line Life, Main Line Times and Suburban. As in I buy all three papers every week, not just read online. But now, when literally, the former Chairman Robert M. Jelenic, is not cold in his grave, having recently died, from the Philadelphia Daily News to The New York Times and every news outlet in between, we all have to wonder the following: Some morning soon will we wake up and find our beloved local papers gone? Some morning will we wake up to find the editors who champion all us local little folk and the dedicated reporters gone? Will the people who give us our much needed voices cease to exist? Who knows, but what I DO know is this company appears to be in serious peril. Keep the website of Jurnal Register Company handy, as we might have to fight to keep our beloved local papers alive, given what has gone on as reported by larger media outlets of late. Click here for a complete listing of JRC local papers. Now read all about the saddest news not quite fit to print about local papers under this corporate umbrella: Posted on Sat, Dec. 13, 2008 3 community newspapers close By DAVID GAMBACORTA Philadelphia Daily News gambacd@phillynews.com 215-854-5994

Hugh Gordon Speaks Plainly About Ardmore, Hopefully Some Will Listen

carla — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 19:35:51 +0000

I am a Hugh Gordon fan. I admit it freely, as does everyone in the Save Ardmore Coalition. His editorial this week is a HOME RUN. And again, with my apparent theme of the day, his editorial is chock full of common sense. (If local government harnassed common sense once in a while it would get more sleep, I think.) I wish Lower Merion Township would not only listen and understand what he is saying, but act appropriately based upon his suggestions. But will they, or will ill advised development continue to rule the day in Ardmore? Only time will tell.... This editorial is reprinted in its entirety courtesy of Main Line Life Newspaper: Main Line Life Posted on Tue, Dec 9, 2008 Opportunities exist in Ardmore, but planning and zoning support is lacking by Hugh B. Gordon.

It is ironic that an ordinance called "MUST" that was supposed to stimulate redevelopment in Ardmore may have played a part in killing a project at Suburban Square.We don't know the reason that Kimco Realty Corporation withdrew its petition to rezone the "Ruby's Lot" in Ardmore last Wednesday evening. It is likely that Kimco counted noses on the Board of Commissioners and concluded that a majority was committed to supporting the Dranoff Properties Ardmore Station project through to completion, if possible, and that it would be physically impossible for the Dranoff and Kimco construction projects to be done at the same time. Solid and unanimous community opposition from North Ardmore, Wynnewood and ArdWood Civic Associations may also have helped kill the proposal for now.

Two More Student Houses DENIED By Zoning Hearing Board

carla — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 18:42:16 +0000

Briefly: The Zoning Hearing Board has returned two decisions on cases recently heard involving student houses: Thomas Ave Decision ZHB LMT DENIED ZHB Decision Holland Ave Ardmore DENIED The decisions were rendered December 8th, 2008.

Is it "R" For Redistricting and Racism in Lower Merion?

MainLineThoughts — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 19:11:54 +0000

Yep, in the long list of dumb plans for Lower Merion, Lower Merion School District at present probably reigns supreme. Good for the residents of Lower Merion for taking a stand on Lower Merion School District! They are wasteful and I think somewhat discriminatory, as well as demonstrate a total disregard for any family with a kid who wants to walk to high school! Also, is it just me, or does this redistricting also smack of racism ugliness? Environmental unfriendliness? First before the excellent article in the Inquirer by Bonnie Cook, have YOU signed the latest petition? See:

Ardmore Speak Out! LMSD Redistricting Meeting Monday December 8

xf14ae — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 02:55:28 +0000

Please come tomorrow night Monday December 8 to Lower Merion High School Auditorium and speak out on behalf of Ardmore against Redistricting Plan 3. The meeting starts at 8 PM, plan on being there earlier to secure a spot in the speaker lineup. The District has made a new, highly unusual 'rule' that says that people who spoke on December 1 are not permitted to speak again on December 8 until all 'new' speakers have spoken, and even then only if time permits. This has never been done before in this process nor was it announced that this would be done prior to the December 1 meeting.

Santa Had A Jolly Old Time at First Friday Main Line!

carla — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 00:45:30 +0000

It was a fa la la la la fabulous fun time on Friday, December 5th, 2008 at First Friday Main Line. Santa Claus has asked me to pass along a link to all of the photographs in case some good little boys and girls, as well as their parents would like to copy the photos.

First Friday Main Line: The Santa and Event Photos from December 5th, 2008

things that make you go hmmmm in ardmore?

carla — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 16:27:00 +0000

So I was out doing what I was supposed to do for First Friday Main Line: photograph the events last evening. (I would like to digress for just a moment to thank NBC10, WPVI/6ABC, Main Line Life, and Main Line Times for their generous coverage last night!) So as I am photographing the set up for Santa's visit on Schauffele Plaza (and was experiencing frustration with myself because I don't have a fancy camera and the night settings weren't turning out right),lights on the streets, the general street activity. As I am photographing what I am allowed to photograph (which on a public street is pretty much anything), up ahead of me, police and some EMTs are assisting a person (couldn't see who OR gender - was too far away). I assume this was some sort of incident involving a pedestrian? Anyway, at the exact moment I was taking a photo of lights and traffic - I was trying to take one of those cool long shots that make the lights look streamy, and all of a sudden one of the policemen is up the street yelling at me. "Stop taking photos, it's a privacy issue". When he said it, this was the photo I had just taken (which totally sucked, by the way): What is wrong with this? This is a public street, yes?

Opposition to new redistricting Plan

lesliel — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 15:23:28 +0000

Thanks to the Save Ardmore Coalition for its excellent post about the negative impact of the proposal to bus South Ardmore children to Harriton and strip us of the one opportunity our community's children have to attend a local, walkable public school. Please join me and make our Ardmore voices heard at the Board meeting on 12/8 at 8:00 pm at Lower Merion High School.

respect.

carla — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 13:39:11 +0000

Respect. That is what we are supposed to have for those who govern us. Not mistrust, disdain, skepticism. But how are we supposed to respect and show respect for those who govern us, when those who govern us do not seem to respect each other? Watching the Lower Merion Township Board of Commissioners these days is like watching a train wreck waiting to happen. The party politics is NOT what I am speaking of, I am speaking of the way two commissioners are treated in particular. Commissioner Jenny Brown and Commissioner Brian Gordon.

Kimco Withdraws Re-zoning for Suburban Square; Commissioners Keep Talking

carla — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:49:24 +0000

Last night goes down in the books as "Tales of The Strange and Fantastic". Kimco withdrew their petition to re-zone the Ruby's Lot in Suburban Square. Yep, like magic they folded their tent. But what happened before and after is just as interesting. Once we got past the oddities of the Budget Hearing where I tuned out for a while because it seemed like pick on Commissioner Brown night which I found, as always, distasteful....it was full on Ardmore.

Lower Merion Redistricting Plan #3

Andrea — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:01:26 +0000

The Lower Merion School District has proposed a redistricting plan to reduce the walk zone around Lower Merion High School, the neighborhood high school in the Ardmore community. This means that the entire South Ardmore community will be redistricted out of their neighborhood and will be bused to Harriton High School in Rosemont. Please look at this petition and sign it if you feel you can support it. Thank You if you have already responded. http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/PVES

SAC Says Discover MORE in Ardmore!

SaveArdmoreCoalition — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:14:27 +0000

We love our crafty word ability here at SAC, which is why we had SO much fun creating our new tag line for our holiday ad to support Ardmore merchants which is currently running in Main Line Life. Anyway, imitation being the sincerest form of flattery, much to our delight we discovered when some of us received our Philly.com e-mail deals that an ad for Ardmore featured our tag line for 2008!!!! Is that cool or what? AI has a famous ad man on it's board, yet it's our super cool line "Discover MORE in Ardmore" tag line that makes the grade?! We are so excited we could help! So in order to celebrate the fabulous Ardmoreness of it all, we are posting BOTH ads to remind ALL OF YOU OUT THERE to discover Main Street in your OWN backyard! You really don't need the mall because in Ardmore, we have it all!!! (say now there is yet ANOTHER catchy phrase!!!)

WAKE UP Lower Merion!

carla — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:54:20 +0000

You know what, it's time to ask why any of those folks are around governing us and/or working for Lower Merion Taxpayers as Township Staff if they can't run a better meeting? I used to wonder what magic the previous Board of Commissioners had that they could be so insulting to the public, discuss things like eminent domain and small groups of mean spirited individuals, yet seemingly get the meetings done?

Does the Lower Merion School District Need State Takeover?

carla — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:35:48 +0000

Over the past few years the news has been full of stories about the Lower Merion Township School District - and one of the most constant ill winds are whispers and shouts of racism, along with fiscal mis-management, and is all that has been reported, wrong? And don't forget the dust up over where to put the buses as well? Has anyone done an accounting of wasted monies over the past 5 years? I am not a parent, so I only know what the media covers....last evening's meeting was no exception. Jamison Uler at NBC10 did an excellent job of covering the parents in their quest for fairness in both the 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts - he stuck out the whole meeting, apparently. He caught parents on film telling the LMSD they were out and out racists (something about pepper for soup), and questioning why the township was spending MILLIONS to promote walkable communities and kids who are mere scant blocks walking distance from a high school have to be bused miles away? They have a point - what is environmentally friendly about that? NBC10: Main Line Fired Up Over Diverse Redistricting Plan

VIDEO! Lower Merion residents came out in force Monday night adamantly opposing a plan to bus students who live within walking distance to their current school miles away in the name of diversity.

So is it time for the state to step in and take over the Lower Merion School District? They wayyyy overspent on the schools, the re-districting smacks again of racist undertones and unfair all around treatment, right?

LMSD Redistricting Plan 3: Official Statement of The Save Ardmore Coalition

SaveArdmoreCoalition — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 13:48:11 +0000

At the Save Ardmore Coalition we feel that the Lower Merion School District has not been acting in the best interest of anyone in Ardmore. The community of Ardmore and Ardmore's children are not being considered fairly. To that end, we release the following statement from Sharon B. Eckstein, President of Save Ardmore Coalition:

The Save Ardmore Coalition does not support the recent redistricting plan proposed by the Lower Merion School District (Plan 3). The Save Ardmore Coalition (SAC) believes that maintaining a walkable Ardmore community is critical if Ardmore is to maintain its unique character and is to flourish in the years ahead. Ardmore school children live in the most walkable neighborhood of Lower Merion yet are bussed the farthest distance for both their elementary school and middle school years. This hardship has been offset by the fact that Ardmore's teenagers could walk to their neighborhood high school, Lower Merion High School. LMSD Redistricting Plan 3 proposes to bus these Ardmore students, who currently walk to their high school, to one located miles away. It undercuts the Township's goal of promoting walkability and fostering a pedestrian friendly lifestyle through its Ardmore revitalization efforts. With Redistricting Plan 3, we have Lower Merion Township promoting transit-oriented development and touting the benefits of population density and a "live, work, play" community in Ardmore while simultaneously, the School District proposes transferring Ardmore students away from the high school located here in Ardmore! To do so not only negates the needs of Ardmore's current walking-based community, but also undermines our efforts to increase walking, cycling and the use of public transit in day to day life. The addition of more buses to Lower Merion's already traffic congested roads will impact the quality of life to all who drive in our Township. Plan 3 is environmentally irresponsible since it increases pollution; it is financially irresponsible since the LMSD will incur an additional transportation cost to bus teenagers from hundreds of Ardmore homes. Residents of Ardmore love Ardmore precisely because it is walkable. We choose to live in Ardmore because it a community where neighbors know each other, walk on sidewalk filled streets to shops, offices and houses of worship located in our midst and look forward to our children being able to walk to high school. For these reasons, SAC urges the LMSD to honor the value of walkability for all of students and to continue to allow all Ardmore children the ability to attend Lower Merion High School. Sharon B. Eckstein President Save Ardmore Coalition

Fellini Cafe And the Case of The Illegal Awning

MainLineThoughts — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 20:04:54 +0000

Ah yes, Fellini Cafe, home of civil docket entries frequent flyer miles, bad heath department reports, sidewalk obstacles masquerading as sidewalk dining, and illegal awnings? Why is it exactly that Fellini Cafe can't play by the rules and they are still in business? Is this a case of being a supreme bunch of arse hats pays? Fellini Cafe gives small businesses and Ardmore a bad name.... Historical Architectural Review Board (HARB) Date: 12/2/2008 8:00 AM

Skulduggery and Suffering on Main Street/Main Line.

carla — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:57:14 +0000

It's almost Thanksgiving and all of you out there want to be with your families, but please, allow the indulgence of pointing things out for consideration: Everyone assumes that the Main Line is some magical Shangrila/Promised Land full of mansions, rolls royces, and Paris Hilton wannabes. Now of course, that is the spin that some would like perpetuated, but the reality is the economy is hurting this area...for the McMansion dwellers it might mean economizing on mani-pedis and botox for now, but for the real, working stiffs, well take a look at them.