Seems like Haverford School District (HSD) is making a change in the lunch account system. Parents who are trying to log on to the present system, myschoolaccount.com, are getting errors. A password reset attempt eventually produces this email from the site: It appears that Haverford School District is making a change. They are no longer active within our system. Therefore, the parent accounts under this district are no longer active. You will need to contact your school directly for more information. Keep in mind that if your students have a current balance, those funds are at your school. Thank you for using myschoolaccount.com.support@myschoolaccount.com A call to Gerry Gannon, HSD's Food Services Director, told us the new system, ParentOnline.net, is still being tested. We asked if we had missed an announcement, and Mr. Gannon said no. Announcements on the change will go out after complete testing is done. (Thinking summer might have been a good time for this, but hey... whatevs, as the kids say). If you had money left in your child's account from last year, your pre-existing balance is still active. Your student can use that money. Also there is always the cash option (but this doesn't work out so well for the little ones, who tend to promptly lose their change at recess. Every once in a while at Chatham an old guy comes out with his metal detector and combs the fields. He probably has already recovered the price of the metal detector). If you go to ParentOnline and register your child (you'll need the 5 digit ID number), you can add more money to the account, monitor purchases, etc. The official announcement of the change will come sometime in... let's take bets. January? We have a feeling Mr. Gannon probably isn't paid enough to be fielding all the phone calls he's been getting about it. So, spread the word. Leave Mr. Gannon alone and hang tight. It'll work itself out eventually. … [Read more...]
AirBnB wants your house for the Pope’s visit
We all heard rumors about homeowners over by the golf course making gaboogle bucks renting out their house or even their backyards for the PGA tournament. But the reality was a bit different than that. Most people made the going rates, one to two hundred dollars a night per person-ish. Still, that's some nice cash if you can stay at Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop's for a bit. Person-to-person accommodations broker AirBnB recently sent out an email to users to spread the word about an orientation session they're having for potential landlords in the area. They're searching out space for the upcoming events Made in America and the papal visit. They're after first-time listers and they are fishing through their past renters for interest. Havertownies HQ is way too ...lived in... to double as guest accommodations. Hell, it barely functions as owner accommodations. But perhaps you have a room to spare or can rent out your whole house. Take a stab at it. You never know. RSVP for the orientation session on August 27th at 6:00 pm at 30 S. 15th St. downtown. But don't forget to ask Mom-Mom first! … [Read more...]
Granite Run Mall Runs No More
From the Granite Run Mall social media pages: People are leaving comments with memories about growing going to the mall, how it was in its heyday back in the day, etc. We here at H-townies didn't grow up going there, but when we moved to the area in 2000, that's where the local townies told us to go for family portraits. One of the department store's studio was our main portrait squeeze for the early kid years. Funny how that whole "portrait every year" thing dies out after a while. Anyway, Sears, Boscov's, PENNDOT, Acme, AMC, Kohl's, Friendly's, and Pappone's will all stay open. You'll have to drive around to all the different spots, though, because the actual mall and its connecting walkways will be closed. The News of Delco has some info about proposed development on the existing site... something about apartments. It's like a dystopian dream, living in an ex-shopping mall. Somehow I think that won't fly, but they are thinking about gutting it. We'll see. It's all just hot air at this point. Do you have memories of the mall to share? RIP GRANITE RUN MALL! … [Read more...]
So many questions in local teen’s death
A certain story line played out in the local zeitgeist: local private school 13-year-old, stressed over late schoolwork, left his home right before a big snowstorm and had been missing for days. The kid's family and local authorities called for massive media attention and search crew help. The indication was that maybe this normal, well-adjusted, well-liked kid, who rashly left the house without his glasses or cell phone, had fallen and bumped his head somewhere and needed help ASAP. or perhaps he fled to South Street in Philly and met up with some bad guys. Hundreds of people got involved, searching, putting up posters. Thousands worried; The media coverage was extensive. By now we all know the kid's story ended tragically, with an apparently self-inflicted gun shot wound to the head. His body was located on the family's 17-acre property, covered in snow. As people process this tragedy, questions arise. Most people are too polite to ask these questions publicly because they don't want to overshadow or undermine the extreme pain the family must be feeling at this time. But yet the questions persist. Why weren't we told about the missing gun or the possibility of a gun? Is it because the family wanted help and feared they would not get it if that fact came out? How did this story – of essentially a run-away teen – get so big? Teens run away all the time; they don't get this kind of coverage. Why the overwhelming publicity when it is a private family matter? The family asks for privacy now – which, of course, is understandable and they have a right to it – but we can't simply turn off our concern, our curiosity, or our emotions. We went from being concerned and devastated to feeling manipulated. There will be no closure on this, and that too is painful. Others are (mostly reluctantly) using the apparent suicide to bring up issues of gun ownership and safety, the little-known harsh realities of the spontaneous nature behind suicide, LGBTQ issues, school … [Read more...]
Violence threat at high school deemed not credible
Haverford High School students were sent back to normal class activities at 9:50 a.m. this morning, Monday, January5, 2015 after a student reported a threat delivered via another student to the school's principal, Dr. Nesbitt. Facebook lit up this morning with parents searching for information after receiving texts from their students currently told to "shelter in place" on lockdown in their classrooms and other holding areas like the gyms and auditorium. At 10:40 a.m., Dr. Nesbitt sent out the following robocall to parents in the township: NBC Philly reported on it here. Will update when more information comes in. UPDATE: 3:32 PM. Official statement from the high school: "This morning a student at Haverford High School informed Dr. Jeff Nesbitt of an internet threat to the High School. Dr. Nesbitt immediately followed district protocol by putting the school in Shelter In Place, contacting the local Haverford Township Police, and District Administration. The Haverford Police worked with school and district officials to search the building. The Police and Administration found no threat. At 9:50 am, Shelter In Place was lifted and students resumed their normal school day. Three Haverford Township Police officers will remain on campus for the school day. Haverford High School students and staff followed the safety protocol that they practice in drills throughout the school year. The Haverford Township Police will continue to investigate the threat." … [Read more...]
HSD looking for a new superintendent
Looks like Dr. Keilbaugh is retiring. Chester County Intermediate Unit seems to be the go-to group for this kind of search. Guess what! You get to weigh in. Please see the flyer for open forum times and dates. … [Read more...]
101 Tenby Demolition Begins
Builders tore into the aged structure located at 101 Tenby today. The demolition began this morning in the rain. We visited the (very chilly and wet!) site and gathered some shots. The last photo in the series is courtesy of the homeowners. It depicts partial demolition of the house's outer wall. … [Read more...]
Bathroom scrawl bomb threat in HHS found to be not credible
Dr. Nesbitt, principal of the Haverford High School, sent out a robocall this evening to all HHS parents. The message states that a pencil-scrawled threat of a bomb going off in the high school set to detonate tomorrow at 12 noon was found in a bathroom stall today. Dr. Nesbitt made a note of the misspelling of "school" as "scool," seeming to indicate the lack of seriousness of the threat. Nevertheless, Haverford Township Police thoroughly scanned the building and deemed it to be safe. School will be conducted tomorrow. (A full day for all Haverford public schools - except the middle school that has a 10:50 am dismissal for conferences this week - as opposed to Lower Merion SD which has a half-day.) Listen to the message: Photo Credit: Oteo on Flickr (This is not from the high school) … [Read more...]
Official PA Dept of Health communication about Pertussis
Pertussis Contact The HHS school nurse just sent out the following email detailing the pertussis contact in the high school and what to do if your child is coughing. Also to note: adults need boosters for this, as our immunity has run out and there is obviously not enough herd immunity anymore. Please see attachment (linked above) but here is the text: DATE: October 27, 2014 Dear Parent/Guardian: It has come to our attention that your child may have been exposed to a person who has pertussis (whooping cough). Pertussis is a highly contagious disease that is spread through the air when an infected person sneezes or coughs. Pertussis begins with cold symptoms and a cough which becomes much worse over 1-2 weeks. Symptoms usually include a long series of coughs (“coughing fits”) followed by a whooping noise. However, older children, adults and very young infants may not develop the whoop. People with pertussis may have a series of coughs followed by vomiting, turning blue, or difficulty catching their breath. The cough is often worse at night and cough medicines usually do not help alleviate the cough. The disease can be very severe and, although deaths are rare, they do occur especially in infants less than one year of age. The Pennsylvania Department of Health strongly recommends the following: If you/your child is coughing, promptly contact your/your child’s doctor. Explain to the doctor you/your child has been exposed to a case of pertussis and needs to be evaluated. Your child’s doctor may obtain a nasopharyngeal culture to test for pertussis. In addition, if the doctor suspects pertussis, an antibiotic will be given to your child to help lower the chance of spreading the disease to others. Your child will be able to return to school after completing the first 5 days of the medication. It is very important that upon returning to school your child continues taking his or her medication until completed. If you/your child … [Read more...]
Haverford Trails events coming up
Here's some info from the Friends of Haverford Trails: Bike the Haverford Heritage Trail Saturday October 25, 1:00 – 4:00 PM Combine our local history with a bike ride! We will meet at the bottom of the steps at the Beechwood-Brookline station of the SEPTA Norristown High Speed Line, on Karakung Drive near Mill Road. The history-themed route covers the historic sites along the Haverford Heritage Trail loop and includes the Darby Creek Trail (currently 1 mile paved; future section is an unpaved trail with a few rough surface areas and walk-through sections). A mix of mostly on-road, some trail and some off-road, with some hills. Off-road sections require 25cc tires or wider (hybrid, touring or mountain). The distance is 14 miles, and we will stop at each historic site. For Haverford Heritage Trail details see hht.havtrail.com. Last 2014 Karakung Drive Traffic Closure Sunday October 26 This Sunday will be the final Sunday closure of Karakung Drive to motor vehicle traffic for 2014. Why not get out and take advantage of it? This annual action, taken by Haverford Township with the cooperation of PennDOT, is the most well-received and popular initiative of its type in the western suburbs. "Walk & Talk" at Haverford Reserve Sunday November 2, 1:00-3:30 PM By popular demand, Rich Kerr will repeat his well-attended "Talk and Walk" presented by our township Parks and Recreation Department. The “talk” portion, held in the CREC building in Haverford Reserve, is an illustrated presentation called “The Railroad Branch, Haverford Reserve and Darby Creek in Haverford.” It covers the historical highlights of the old railroad line, the remnants that remain today up around "the Reserve" and the history of the land there – “Brookthorpe Farms,” the “Brookthorpe” estate and foxhunting in Haverford, the Atwater Kent “Foxcroft” estate, the Haverford State Hospital and finally the Haverford Reserve park. It is peppered with relevant, insight-yielding quotations about these … [Read more...]
Casting Lots: Dividing up H-Town properties and the case of 101 Tenby Road
HERE WE GO AGAIN Another controversy is brewing in the Llanerch neighborhood. As the state of the Llandillo school building is still up in the air (Carelink has dropped their appeal to the Commissioners vote-down. The building’s future is not known), residents are debating the proposed razing of an old house on a picturesque corner lot. The c. 1905, 4500 square foot, 6-bedroom, 4+ bath house at 101 Tenby Road is situated on a double lot (lots 76 and 77 deed to a Charles S. Taylor in 1901) at the corner of Bewley and Tenby Roads. The house, with a rich history of owners, was most recently the 40-year home to Mrs. Deal and her family. Mrs. Deal died in 2013 and the house is being sold by her estate. Mr. Deal, Mrs. Deal’s widower, is still in residence but plans to move to a smaller abode after the sale. According to slated buyer and contractor Rick Fuller, the property had fallen into dire structural straits over the past several years. The repair costs alone, according to the Realtor John Ryan, would hover around $300,000. Mr. Fuller is set to purchase the property for $350,000, winning out over other builders’ bids. That would put a private resident’s costs over $650,000 to purchase the property and bring it to livable standards. Fuller plans to raze the building and build two homes on the 17,800 square foot lot, resulting in two lots of about 8400 square feet (according to Mr. Ryan, this puts the lots at about 150 square feet larger than 85% of lots in Llanerch). The proposed plans include large covered porches and have been designed to compliment the neighborhood and to mimic neighborhood aesthetics that are pre-WW2. MEETUP MONDAY NIGHT Llanerch resident and president of the Board of Llanerch Civic Association Brian Elias sent an email to area neighbors Friday morning informing residents of an upcoming town hall meeting to discuss the process of subdividing lots in the township. The meeting has been organized to give residents a chance to discuss the legal … [Read more...]
Whooping cough warning in the Township
The high school nurse put out a robo-call to all HHS families. Listen to the call here Please warn any pregnant women or mothers and fathers of newborns or babies less than 1 year of age who are not yet old enough for the pertussis vaccine. Also, call your own doctors and see if a booster is prudent for you and your high school children. We don't want to start a fight on this blog, but we'd like to say that Havertownies are pro-vaccines. Pertussis kills newborns and the vaccine has absolutely no links to any learning disabilities or other harmful effects. This infected student should not have been allowed in the high school and should have been quarantined. Here's some information from the CDC: Pertussis Homepage Whooping Cough Epidemic in California Penn & Teller's succinct vaccinations explanation. Watch this if you think vaccinations causes autism. The point is: It doesn't. But let's just assume it does and take a good, hard look at the numbers. Take care, everyone. Wash hands, get booster shots. Keep your babies inside until your doctors say it's OK to wander out. Make sure to take every precaution to keep those under 1 year of age safe. Let your neighbors know. This is serious. photo credit: Internet Archive Book Images on Flickr … [Read more...]