Civic Groups and Non-Profits

Main Line Millions Missing? Do We Have a Local Madoff in Our Midst?

carla — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:41:42 +0000

Wow! This is like the old Dana Girls Mystery "The Circle of Footprints", only it's a REALLY big cash box. Apparently,an unlicensed money manager named Joseph S. Forte is suspected of pulling a Madoff on the Main Line, as in he made off with MILLIONS? (Of course I wonder what charities or individuals on the Main Line may be affected by the entire Madoff mess?) Anyway, this Joseph Forte represented a rather large foundation and other non-profits according to published media reports, and I can't help but wonder why they would entrust all of this to someone who doesn't appear to have any of the licensing one would expect of an investment professional?After all, people do not just wake up one morning and become and investment advisor or broker do they? Does it or does it not require a heck of a lot of training? So the affected charity most discussed in the paper is called The Thornton D. & Elizabeth S. Hooper Foundation, and a little googling shows them to be a quiet force in many, many renown charities and non-profits including but not limited to places like Main Line Health, Semper Fi Injured Marine Fund, Bartrams Garden, PA Horticultural Society, Cradles to Crayons, etc. This foundation apparently might be based in Wayne, PA according to taxexemptworld.com, and foundationcenter.org showed them as one of the top 50 PA foundations by giving dollars circa 2006. Read the article in The Inquirer, and I am sure this is but the first of many stories on the mysterious Joe Forte, the Main Line Madoff from Delco. Posted on Tue, Jan. 6, 2009 Millions missing at Philadelphia-area charity By Harold Brubaker INQUIRER STAFF WRITERS

A charitable foundation on the Main Line has lost as much as $15 million entrusted to a self-employed Broomall investment manager, according to one of its trustees.

New Blog Launches Tomorrow....

carla — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 03:31:35 +0000

A friend from high school named Becky Fawcett founded this fabulous charity called HelpUsAdopt ( http://www.helpusadopt.org ), and she sent an e-mail today announcing her new blog which launches tomorrow called aninfertileblonde, so check it out - here's what she said:

HI Everyone---- For those of you who know me well you know I've always had a lot to say. And for those of you who don't know me that well you probably also know I have a lot to say. Not much is new except for one thing: being an Infertile Blonde

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

LMSD Redistricting - A Win-Win Option for All

xf14ae — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 13:31:08 +0000

So, is there truly a win-win with this whole redistricting mess? Actually, I beleive there is and one of the key flaws of the process when it began was that there was a presumption that there was not. It is absolutely possible to have choice for all of the affected communities (Ardmore, Narberth, Penn Wynne, Wynnewood, Penn Valley, Bala, Cynwyd and Merion) AND have 1100 students/high school. As a bonus, we'd have more students coming out of the District with skills that are highly competitive, applicable to either further study or employment (or both) and ensures that ALL of our students get an outstanding education, regardless of their academic abilities or aspirations beyond high school.

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:

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:

Greener Partners Sharecroppin' at The Willows?

MainLineThoughts — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 13:54:43 +0000

So is it true that last evening's meeting at the Radnor Twp. Board of Commissioners included a conversation that went like this (see below)? In order to preserve the elusive heirloom tomatoes allow a relatively new and still sort of unproven venture that has only had one expensive season selling organic produce called Greener Partners, to be able to use 2 acres of land at the Willows and to use the Willows Cottage....FOR FREE?

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

Is it "Christian" For Child Evangelism Fellowship To Sue Haverford Twp. School District?

carla — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:27:51 +0000

I have to tell you, this article in the Inquirer today is one that makes you wrinkle your nose in distaste. I always thought when it came to religion in public schools, the seperation between church and state was supposed to be honored? How is it fair, in a non denominational, taxpayer funded public school to send home flyers with impressionable grade schoolers in the hopes of "converting them"? Converting them to what? What if they already have a faith or religion? Shouldn't their religious education remain under the purview of the parents of minor children? I am tired of overly zealous groups of any way shape or form trying to force the issue of religion on anyone. This country was founded on religious freedoms among others, and in the public schools I think should be left alone. Actually, I think this Child Evangelism Fellowship should leave everyone alone. What they are trying to do totally defeats the tenets of freedom of choice and freedom of religion. This group should respect other faiths, belief systems, and religions. I don't think they do. And I don't think this has a place in public schools, and this group just creeps me out. Religious education is a family decision, and I think this group shows a distinct lack of respect. Posted on Wed, Dec. 3, 2008 Evangelical group sues Haverford district over fliers By Joelle Farrell Inquirer Staff Writer

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!!!)

1st Grinch Award Goes To Radnor!

MainLineThoughts — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 19:36:11 +0000

The first GRINCH AWARD of the 2008 Holiday Season goes to.....ta daaaa.....drumroll puleaze....Radnor Township. Oh yes, they can't check out complaints from the public regarding things like illegal student rentals (Come on now, you know maintaining that tan is a full time job, right-ee-o?)

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.

Fight the Barnes Move! on You Tube

eyaari — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 22:32:31 +0000

PHILADELPHIA -- Protestors demonstrated their opposition to the plan to dismantle the Barnes Foundation from Merion to Philadelphia. A short video based on the Protest on the Parkway has been posted to YouTube. It includes an illuminating quotation from Derek Gillman, who became CEO of the Barnes in 2006. In 2004, Mr. Gillman spoke about the plan to move the Barnes with a journalist from Australia and said, “I think he’s probably rotating in his grave," referring to Dr. Barnes. Here is the link to "Fight the Barnes Move" on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMI5MRBgqPI

Principles v. Process v. Plurality

carla — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:30:27 +0000

The three P's: principles,process, plurality. All were visible at the marathon meeting November 19th. My take home gift was waking up with a cold...Thanks Lower Merion for always keeping it real....

LMSD Redistricting - Save the Ardmore Walk Zone! - Contact info for School Baord

xf14ae — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:19:23 +0000

One request - please today email redistricting@lmsd.org and send the school board your input on what this community values in educating our children. Please tell them: No changes to walk zone. No splitting Ardmore up into pieces so that others can remain 'whole'. Let our children be educated in the community in which they live and with their neighbors. I welcome your expertise in other ways we can quickly raise awareness and our voice as the Ardmore community. Thank you. Regina

LMSD Redistricting - Save the Ardmore Walk Zone!

xf14ae — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:12:35 +0000

Dear SAC, As you are likely aware, Lower Merion School District is currently redistricting attendance zones. Up until this point, this has been an open, all-community values based discussion. With the issuance of the first, and now second, plans, the process has become increasingly biased towards the needs of some communities at the expense of other communities.

Student House DENIED in Haverford (Lower Merion Township)

carla — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 19:04:02 +0000

The illegal student house that was before the Lower Merion Zoning Hearing Board a few weeks back has been denied. This was the one located in Haverford Walk Condomiums at 415 W. Lancaster Avenue in Haverford. As is the case with last week's hearing regarding an illegal student house on Holland Avenue in Ardmore, the neighbors and civic association was in accord that this just wasn't fair to the neighborhood and especially the condo dwellers at Haverford Walk. Here is the opinion: BEFORE THE ZONING HEARING BOARD OF LOWER MERION TOWNSHIP, MONTGOMERY COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA _______________________________ APPEAL NO. 4153 _______________________________ MEMORANDUM, OPINION & ORDER

Haverford's Step-Child...Forgotten and Overlooked

carla — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:29:40 +0000

This morning while walking the dogs, we watched helplessly in horror as my neighbor Jason, his small son, and dog almost beacame a traffic statistic because a man driving a Volvo wagon just couldn't be bothered to stop at (a) a STOP sign (b) yield to pedestrians crossing the street legally. And I am mad as hell and writing about it now.

Protest on the Parkway October 15 at 5:30pm

eyaari — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 22:28:28 +0000

Wednesday, October 15th at5:30pm Protest the Barnes Move! 20th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway The Barnes move is the Wrong Move! On top of everything else that is wrong about this scheme, to spend $100s of Millions of tax dollars on a needless, wasteful new Barnes is fiscally irresponsible on the part of public officials and the foundation leaders. The last thing the region needs is another tax-funded money pit. Come to the Parkway tomorrow to let them know what you think.

Development in Newtown Square

MainLineThoughts — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 19:27:12 +0000

This Ellis School/Ellis Preserve is a whopper of a mixed use project in Newtown Square. I thought it was all approved and moving forward, but then I came across this and found it interesting: Posted on Sat, Oct 11, 2008 Traffic and tax concerns aired in BPG plan By Adrienne Roos Jones, CORRESPONDENT

Track Safety: Rails and Trails and... People.

carla — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:01:33 +0000

What value is there on human life and safety when it comes to politics? (And these days, every move made everywhere seems about politics, right?) So it makes me wonder why a former Lower Merion commissioner is SO determined to ram through part of the Schuylkill River West Trail (public meeting October 13th in Ardmore at the Township Building from 7 - 9 p.m.) when there are so many issues revolving around safety and rails? (Is it like eminent domain in Ardmore which he said would go through way back when?) People not just in Gladwyne have grave concerns about the part of the proposed river trail dubbed the "Noise Fume Pass" because part of this trail as it runs through Gladwyne will be sandwiched between the Schuylkill Expressway and very live Norfolk Southern Freight Train track lines. What is Mr. Davis's plan B in the event of an expressway accident that spills over? What if a car or truck throws a tire or some load they are hauling? What if that happens with a freight train? What if a freight train derails (it has happened on this line - do your history fact checking)? What about mud and land and rock slides? How do you get police and fire and EMTs there quickly if they were needed? And more to the point if it is not safe to plant a garden in Merion next to the R5 according to Amtrak (refer to the spraying and killing of a 20 year old community garden this past summer), and there is a need for protections along the Septa Route 100 trolley, how can it be deemed safe for families to take walks with children and dogs, or ride bikes through a section of trail with highway on one side and train tracks on the other? Is it just me, or doen't this compute? And what made me think about this today. A sorrowful plea from a man named Ben Breskman about his son Brian, who was killed on the Septa Route 100 line in May, 2007. In the efforts to provide full disclosure, a lawsuit on this was recently settled, but I don't think that suit was really as much about the money as other things...this wasn't a bad kid, and although just a freshman at Penn State, this kid had already begun to make his mark. Now his family is left with sorrow and memories. Check out what his dad has to say, and see photos of what he is talking about. Rail safety is a big deal. Tracks should have fencing in certain areas, and a continuous river trail is not worth putting people at risk. A trail does not have to be 100% continuous to be a success - look at the one in Radnor Township - it has a beginning and an end and people love it just the way it is.

A Senior casts her vote for the Barnes

eyaari — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:36:28 +0000

Here is the opening of an op-ed piece that appears in today's Main Line Life regarding the election of a new Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This election day is the first opportunity to let Tom Corbett know what we think about his support for the dismantling of the Barnes Foundation. Here is one woman's opinion on the matter: A seasoned senior casts her vote for the Barnes By Ethel Kauffman

Small Time Vandals Strike North Latch's Lane In Merion!

eyaari — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 20:38:20 +0000

F R I E N D S o f t h e B A R N E S F O U N D A T I O N e-mail: barnesfriends@comcast.net; www.barnesfriends.org; 610-667-0281 For Immediate Release September 8, 2008 News Bulletin! Vandalism Strikes Barnes Foundation Neighborhood with wholesale theft of "Join the Fight to Save the Barnes" Signs For information: Nancy Herman at 610-667-0281 or Evelyn Yaari at 610-864-6483; e-mail: barnesfriends@comcast.net (Merion Station, September 8, 2008) Residents of North Latch's Lane in Merion awoke to find that throughout the neighborhood in the

Save Ardmore Coalition To Receive Grant From Commonwealth of PA on September 5, 2008

SaveArdmoreCoalition — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:56:18 +0000

[size=16]OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE OF THE SAVE ARDMORE COALITION[/SIZE] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AUGUST 25, 2008 ARDMORE, PA www.saveardmorecoalition.org SAVE ARDMORE COALITION 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

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

MainLineThoughts — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 23:37:19 +0000

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

Congratulations to SAC's Own Wally McLean! Way to Go Weilbacher!

SaveArdmoreCoalition — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 15:52:19 +0000

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.

Baldwin, Baldwin, Baldwin?!

MainLineThoughts — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 23:44:47 +0000

Baldwin, Baldwin, Baldwin...you haven't completed your pedestrian "green bench" that I can see (unless those roots I tripped on the other day while avoiding becoming road pizza ARE the green bench?), and there you are on page 24 of the Thursday July 31st, 2008 edition of Main Line Times advertising a new swim club? Ahh yes:

Bryn Mawr- Originally known as the Polar Bear Swim Club (circa 2006),the Baldwin Swim Club will be open to the community, and plans to continue the tradition, in it's home at the new Athletic Center on the Baldwin Campus....the Baldwin Swim Club's first practice will be Sept. 15. For more information....call 610-527-2700, extension 601 or e-mail dhart@baldwinschool.org

Wow...yet another institution trying to get their facilities to pay for themselves, eh? Now, that's not being mean, just check out artificial turf field at another private school with parking issues - it is in constant use, and not just school functions, right?

Scenes from August 2008 First Friday! Enjoy!

FFML — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 23:21:06 +0000

Why Don't People Like Affordable Housing?

MainLineThoughts — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 19:05:54 +0000

A post from a new voice on this website prompts a couple of questions from me. The post is titled Affordable Housing Program, and it is written by a poster who lives in Ardmore. They moved here a couple years ago it appears to start their married life in a place they could afford. What do you all think about affordable housing? I think it is a good thing and not a dirty word. Communities turn into Flat Hal without diversity. Flat is boring, welcome to Stepford --- or --- if you aren't a millionaire, move on Jeeves. It's not about hand outs, it's about legs up on occasion. As human beings we should have no problem with that. Affordable housing is not about race, creed, sexual orientation, or color. And those who make it such need to check that attitude at the door.

Which Came First The Chicken or the Egg?

Haverford19041 — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:12:23 +0000

When you live with an institution in your neighborhood, life can be irritating at times. Take this morning for example.