LOCAL TURNOVER You probably haven't noticed but we've had quite a few different Patch writers over the years. Turnover was common. The working conditions were notorious, with editors having to cover multiple towns just to piece together a living. Can't imagine the writers did much better. Patch made quite a stir in the media market when it came online in 2007. Patch Media was promptly bought up by media giant AOL (yes, AOL still exists. No, "AOL" does not mean "The Internet"). Some say AOL ran Patch into the ground. Patch did seem to suffer from overspending and erratic leadership. There was a famous incident last year when a Patch CEO fired a photographer on a very public conference call (The photographer's offense? Taking pictures!). Some bloggers are reporting that 2/3rds of the Patch staff are getting pink slips. The new ridiculous-majority stakeholders, Hale Global (AOL still owns a piece), seem to be on a tear to get Patch's rumored $100 million in yearly spending down to at least match the supposed $40 million in profits. Seems logical. But the long arm of Hale's ruthless budget cuts have hit us here at home. Sam Strike, our local Patch reporter, posted this on the Haverford-Havertown Patch Facebook page on January 29: I have worked at Patch for almost three years. This morning I was told that it would be my last day. Working here has definitely been an adventure. And I do not regret joining this start-up company – it has been a great learning experience. I want to thank everyone who has read the Patch or contributed to the Patch over the years. I have met so many interesting people and I have enjoyed the work. I do not know the details of the plan going forward, so I’m afraid I can’t answer any questions about the site’s future. If you want to contact me in the future you can email me at samstrike@hotmail.com. Thanks everyone!! Sam As of this writing, Ms. Strike couldn't be reached for further comment. We wish her the best. MEDIA … [Read more...]
St. Faith Preschool Open House Wed. Jan 29.
Open House rescheduled for Wednesday, January 29 from 7- 8:30 PM (adults only) *In House registration begins Monday, January 27 at 9:00 AM *Out of House registration begins Monday, February 10 at 9:00 AM Contact Us: St. Faith Preschool & Kindergarten 1208 Allston Rd. Havertown, Pa. 19083 Phone: 610-446-0880 Fax: 610-446-0880 Director: Jeanmarie Livi Coordinator of Special Projects and Events: Kelley Garrison Business Manager: Teresa Gruener Administrative Assistant: Paula Jankins This is a Sponsored Post. Contact us for advertising on this blog and on our very popular Facebook page! … [Read more...]
Weather WTH
We just received this email from Delco alertpa.org: "..WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TUESDAY TO 6 AM EST WEDNESDAY... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOUNT HOLLY HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR SNOW, WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TUESDAY TO 6 AM EST WEDNESDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT." First it says we have a winter storm warning in effect, then it says the winter storm watch is no longer in effect. "WARNING" and "WATCH" sound an awfully a lot like the same thing. But the message is YELLING at us that one is IN and the other is OUT, so they obviously do NOT mean the same thing. We dug a little deeper into this mystery. First things first, though: 6ABC Accuweather says we aren't getting snow until Tuesday, but we'll freeze our patooties off until then. OK, now the difference between a "Watch" and a "Warning:" Storm Watch: "This crap may happen any minute." Storm Warning: "Look outcher windah, this crap is a'happenin' right now!" So, Delaware County (the whole county, as one, thinking entity), says we are to stop waiting to see if a storm will happen and start buying more rock salt and shovels, by Tuesday. Get on that, people. You've been warned. Here's the rest of the email: (You can sign up yourself by going to https://delco.alertpa.org/register.php) * SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...5 TO 9 INCHES. * TIMING...SNOW WILL OVERSPREAD THE AREA TOWARD LATE TUESDAY MORNING AND THE MIDDAY HOURS, THEN CONTINUE THROUGH MUCH OF TUESDAY NIGHT. THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL IS EXPECTED TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING, WITH SNOWFALL RATES OF AROUND AN INCH PER HOUR. * IMPACTS...TRAVEL WILL BECOME HAZARDOUS DUE TO SNOW COVERED ROADS AND PERIODS OF LOW VISIBILITY. AREAS OF BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW WILL DEVELOP ESPECIALLY LATER TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND TUESDAY NIGHT AS WINDS INCREASE, RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED VISIBILITIES AT TIMES. THE TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING RUSH HOUR WILL BE … [Read more...]
Donate New to Nearly New Kids’ Clothes on MLK Day
Here's a great way to teach the kids that their day off from school means something. Llanerch Fire Company will be a collection site for Philadelphia's Cradle to Crayons charity. From the website: The Mission Cradles to Crayons provides children from birth through age 12, living in homeless or low-income situations, with the essential items they need to thrive - at home, at school and at play. We supply these items free of charge by engaging and connecting communities that have with communities that need. The Model Cradles to Crayons collects new and nearly new children's items through grassroots community drives and corporate donations. Donations are then processed and packaged by volunteers, and are distributed to disadvantaged children across the state through a collaborative network of social service agencies and school partners. From the Llanerch Fire Chief, Chris Millay: "This Monday, 1/20/2014 - MLK Day, from 10-3:00, the Llanerch Fire Company will be a collection point for donations for Cradles to Crayons. … Here is a link to their website with more information about the MLK Collection Day: http://www.cradlestocrayons.org/philadelphia/events/mlkdaycollectionsites." So break out those outgrown winter coats. Take a look through Cradles to Crayons' emergency needs list, throw an extra item in your basket, and come on over to Llanerch Fire Company at 107 West Chester Pike, Havertown, PA 19083, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day. … [Read more...]
EXTREME ICE WARNING
The combination of rain and freezing temps overnight have led to the roads being covered in black ice, including your driveway and sidewalks. Stay indoors unless it is an absolute emergency. Many ambulance calls have gone out already this morning, including one for our neighbor who was on his way to church. He fell flat on his back on what looks to be a wet driveway. In fact, it is covered in "black ice" - a dangerous über-slippery coating that is hard to detect. Llanerch Fire Company issued this warning on their Facebook page: WARNING: Extreme ice conditions on the roads this morning. Stay Home! God will understand why you weren't at church and you certainly can't need anymore milk, bread, or eggs after the last storm! … [Read more...]
CVS on West Chester Pike Robbed on Xmas
UPDATE: Lower Merion and Haverford Police have nabbed this suspect and elicited a confession: Haverford Township Police just issued a press release containing a photo and information about a suspect who allegedly showed a gun and robbed the CVS this morning, December 25th, 2013 at 11:17 a.m. The police are asking for help identifying the suspect. Please take a look at the attachment, which contains a photo of the suspect. The text of the press release is as follows (copied exactly, their emphases): On Christmas Day at 11:17 a.m., the below-pictured male robbed the CVS Store on West Chester Pike in Havertown. He is described as a light-complected black male in his 40's or 50's, approximately 5'9" to 6' tall with thin build. He showed the barrel of a gun from his coat pocket. The male departed in what appeared to be a dark- gray Toyota Corolla, last seen headed east on manoa Road toward Lower Merion Township. The gray Toyota has a broken passenger side-rear window, patched with plastic secured with white tape. Anyone with similar incidents or possible suspect identification is asked to contact Detective Matt Hufnal, Haverford Township Police Department, (610) 853-1298 x 1236, ahufnal@pavpd.org. … [Read more...]
Vote for HMS’s 7th Heaven in B101’s Choir Competition
B101 Christmas Choir Competition They went to the finals last year and they're in the finals again this year! Remember to vote Thursday morning beginning at 7 a.m. for Haverford Middle School's 7th Heaven choir in B101's annual school choir Christmas music competition. The voting is a volume issue, so vote early and vote often! (multiple votes are allowed) This year we're looking for the win, which would bring the music program $5000. See and listen to all the songs. Thanks, and good luck to our students! … [Read more...]
New Proposal to Move the Library
UPDATE: November 22, 2013: Please see all the local news coverage, links, and a Commissioner meeting video at this Storify page: http://sfy.co/sJU6 _________________________ Here's an email that's going around H-town about the Board of Commissioners proposal concerning the location of the Haverford Township Free Library. The question is to fix up the current building or build a new one over by the Veterans Police Field, along with other new buildings for the Police and Township offices. IMPORTANT MESSAGE Proposed New Municipal/Library Building! Dear Neighbor: We wanted to inform you that a special meeting of the Board of Commissioners is scheduled for Monday, November 25th at 7:30 pm to discuss a NEW proposed municipal/library building. {Arrive early to ensure you have a seat} Some of our colleagues want to secure a bond for approximately $13 to $18 million dollars. The new building would consist of the police department, municipal employees, and most concerning, the library would move from its current location. The new building will be located by Veterans/police field. We feel that moving the library from its current location is a real concern.Many residents have reached out to us expressing their opinion that the library should not be moved from its current location. Parents have stated that the library is in an ideal location as it is in close proximity to the middle school and high school. Additionally, parents have stated to some of us that they do not like the proposed new library being in the same building as the police department. Obviously, they are concerned about their children’s safety. A real concern is what will become of the building once the library is sold??? How will this impact the surrounding neighborhood?? Finally, this bond will affect our taxes, as any funds borrowed must be paid back. Administration has informed us that for every $10 million borrowed; the result would be a 3.5 to 4% additional increase in your … [Read more...]
Chili Snobs, Unite
I hated chili as a kid. HATE. Like hide a full bowl behind a dining room bench pillow and run for the woods when a relative sits on it hate (that really happened). I hated chili, beef stew, stewed tomatoes, baked beans and kidney beans, to name a few. Of course, my mother loved all of these things, including liver, which I can't even begin to talk about. Today I still don't eat stewed tomatoes or kidney beans (or liver, but I'm not talking about that). I do LOVE a good chili concoction on top of nachos, especially if we're watching Eagles or Steelers football with friends! (not yesterday's game though. And boy oh boy is McCoy in trouble for all those times he left the ball on the field!) I may just make myself a tray of nachos and head over to the Library's Chili Cook Off on Sept. 22nd! Here are the details: 1st Annual Chili Cook Off Haverford Township Free Library Sunday, September 22 @ 4:00 pm $5.00/person or $15.00/family There will be cornbread, desserts and beverages served, all while listening to a live bluegrass, folk duo. (Guess chili isn't punk.) Stop on by! Think you can win this thing? Download a form and turn it into the front desk at HTFL. (Want your org's event on our blog or in the calendar? contact us!) photo credit: chili and cornbread by Serene Vannoy on Flickr, poster by HTFL … [Read more...]
7-11 & HPD are lookin’ for a robber guy
Official press release from the HPD: HAVERFORD TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT 1010 Darby Road Havertown, Pennsylvania 19083 Official Press Release Robbery 7-Eleven Store 2606 Haverford Road On Thursday, September 12, 2013, at 0539 hours, the Haverford Township Police Department responded to a report of a robbery at the 7-Eleven Store located at 2606 Haverford Road, Ardmore, PA. Upon arrival, officers were informed by the store clerk that he was just robbed by a white male who implied that he was armed with a gun and demanded the money from the cash register. The store clerk handed over an undisclosed amount of currency to the male who then exited the store. He was observed fleeing the store on what appeared to be a bicycle heading towards the SEPTA bus route along Hathaway Lane. The actor is described as a white male with brown colored sideburns that attach to a goatee, and is believed to be approximately 5’9” – 5’10” tall. He was observed wearing a red Phillies T- Shirt, black shorts with a red stripe on the side, and a black baseball cap with a green emblem appearing to be a DC Shoes logo. The investigation is continuing. Anyone with information, please contact the Haverford Township Police Department/ Investigations Division at 610-853-1298 ext.1230, Detective Johnson at 610-853-1298 ext.1234 or the H.T.P.D. Anonymous Tip-Line at 610-853-9213. Here are the pics: … [Read more...]
Come network at the Library tomorrow morning!
The Haverford Township Annual Business Breakfast is being held tomorrow morning, Sept. 11, 2013 beginning at 7:30am. Bring your business cards, network, brainstorm and chat about all sorts of business subjects like how to get people to your website or which expenses to cut back on. If you're a freelancer, come and meet other freelancers and business people in the township. Dress is business casual and coffee, tea and continental breakfast will be provided. Stop by on the way to work! Last year the HTFL had around 100+ people show up, and it's bound to be a great event this year, too. Thanks to our generous sponsor for the Haverford Music Festival and this Business Breakfast, iradiophilly.com! Make sure to go and register at the HTFL's eventkeeper page. It's totally free! See you there. … [Read more...]
