Eye on Downingtown

Duplicity

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine B) — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 22:26:00 +0000

I wonder sometimes if people actually know the definition of the word duplicity. It means-deceitfulness in speech or conduct, as by speaking or acting in two different ways to different people concerning the same matter; double-dealing. The reason that this word comes to mind is due to the last council meeting. The conditional use hearing was continued for River Station East (no daycare, Dunkin Donuts proposed...yeah that is going to help traffic ). East Caln has been making money on this project since 2008 and yet here we sit. Council members questioned the witnesses ad nauseum and asked the same question several different ways (I'm not sure if it was because they wanted to look like they had the borough's best interest at heart or that they didn't listen the first time). This piece of land could be developed if the planning commission and council would get their selves together and let it move forward. It would be beneficial to the borough and it would get rid of the eyesore that exists on that block now. We won't go into River Station West as that is a burr under my saddle.

Then wonder of wonders new business actually got discussed and one of the issues was in conjunction with Messiah Lutheran Church on Business Route 30. There is a piece of land behind the church that Messiah would like to make into more parking and a bigger play area since they have a pre-school. The borough from the explanation of Mr. Sullins, the borough manager, wants to make a land grab. Three options were proposed and the church leadership, specifically the pastor, will only accept option #2 and even then it's a stretch for them. The piece of land would be made into the play area and parking lot, but also an access road that reached Viaduct Ave. What amazed me is that it was mentioned that council could vote for Messiah to build their parking lot and play area and then condemn the lot and grab the land to do with what they want. For the first time in a long time I agreed with Council President Gazzerro when he said that would be wrong to do. Others like Council member Winkler asked why we were even bothering? I bet I can hazard a guess.....easement granted to the borough for River Station West to have the Boot Rd. extension through Johnsontown Park anyone? But what really made me angry, upset and completely disgusted is that council can make a decision like this that has no real benefit to anyone, yet they drag their feet on a project that could potentially bring multiplying revenue to the borough.

It makes me frustrated that the borough can welcome a new bar and grill like Molly McGuire's, make it difficult for a mainstay like Georgio's, bring in Firecreek under the KOZ and let them off so easily and have yet another Italian food place come in. Please don't get me wrong, I am glad the building won't go vacant, but how easy are you going to make it for them to replace Firecreek? Do they get to utilize the KOZ and not live up to any of the codicils placed on them too. Council flies headlong into some projects and yet moves like molasses in January on others and then it's called being cautious. Being cautious would be to not bring in one more opportunity for the residents of Downingtown to drive drunk or have a drunk driving accident. Being cautious would be making sure that we don't alienate businesses that are already there for ones that our mayor and his followers think are cool.

Think about this and maybe attend a council meeting because your voice deserves to be heard whether you agree with me or not.

What is the truth?

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine B) — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:14:00 +0000

So tomorrow is the primary and it's getting ugly on some fronts. The West Ward of Downingtown candidates are fairly quiet other than a few non truths being perpetrated early on by people you expect to do so. The East Ward however is...I'm not sure even how to explain it.

The two candidates for the East Ward are Ann Feldman and Phil Dague. If you have followed this blog at all you know that Ann Feldman and I were not exactly what you would call friends....in fact we were as far apart on issues as one could possibly be. With that said I think Ann is getting the short stick on the East end. First of all, yes, Ann did switch parties from Republican to Democrat and I being a life long registered Republican (although party means little to me) asked he why she would do something like that. Instead of the answer that some are touting as her reasons she told me, "I felt that they were no longer the party that held the same ideals as I do, especially locally." It had nothing to do with being afraid of another candidate, or being duplicitous as the rumor that is being spread has said.

There are plenty of other things to bring forth about a candidate that are true rather than to turn something innocent into more than it is. If that is all an opposing candidate has then what is the point of voting for them? Have a platform. Have an issue. Have something rather than lies and innuendoes.

My husband is working hard just because he loves this town and it has nothing to do with having lived here all his life, or hating someone else. It has to do with he wants to be the voice of the people of Downingtown. God bless him because he had more patience than I to suffer fools gladly. Tony has no agenda of his own just the interests of the residents. So when you go to the polls tomorrow think about that. Think about what you really want from your candidates.

Suburban Political Machines

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine B) — Wed, 15 May 2013 01:10:00 +0000

     I love Downingtown and the flavor of old time mixed in with modern. I love that there are thriving businesses that bring revenue into the town and that there are still "mom and pop shops" that are open sometimes under their own steam. What I don't like is residents that have a bit of power and abuse that power.

     I'll admit that I am biased about some things that go on in town. I am really biased when it comes to my husbands employer, but with good reason. Robert's Automall has been a fixture in this town for 25 years and yet tonight the dance that they had to do to revamp their two remaining showrooms on the parcel of land that they own was incredible and embarrassing to say the least. Robert's successfully went before the zoning board and made sure that they had dotted all their "I's" and crossed all their "T's" before what should have been a final compliance meeting with the Planning Commission. Yet that is not what it was. In fact little was said by any commission member other than Mr. Steve Henning. A few valid operating comments were made by Sean Lawrence, but by and large it was Mr. Henning's show and I am sure everyone could see that his intent was to not give Robert's the go-ahead with their plans to redo both showrooms and make the lot look that much more pleasing to the eye, but still maintain an operating business in the borough. In fact it becomes quite plain that if it were an option for Mr. Henning he would tell Robert's to get out of town. A fact that is brought to bare in the Comprehensive Plan that goes before Borough Council soon. Of which a public meeting was conducted and NO changes were made, not even those recommended by the Historic and Parks Commission, in writing, which is an entity of the borough.

     It is quite obvious from a listeners point of view that Mr. Henning has no comprehension as to how a car dealership is run and how they conduct business. It is quite clear that he wants HIS way or the highway. Well all fine and good, but is Mr. Henning willing to subsidize each Downingtown resident when their taxes go up because a LARGE revenue producing business leaves the borough to your landscaping and aesthetics? I understand compliance with building standards in the borough, but I also understand communities coming together to make a business viable and running so that a long time staple in town can continue to operate within the limits they have complied with.

     I will say that I could not sit any longer and watch and listen to the machinations of this commission once they decided to table the go ahead to discuss "what they could control" which was the landscaping. I wonder when the living walls will come to bear again. What did surprise me is that Sarah Peck who is a developer who is presently in litigation over Kardon Park thought that it was her place to speak directly to Joe Dwyer general manager of Robert's and tell him that she knew better what Honda would do than he did. She said that she saw other Honda showrooms that did not conform to Honda's image. Well bully for you Ms. Peck, but when did you become part of the planning commission and when were you given free reign to discuss another business owner's business? Yet when Ann Feldman wished to ask a question she was originally shot down. Regardless of your feelings about Ms. Feldman's stance on Kardon Park, why was Ms. Peck given free reign to bash Joe Dwyer and tell him in not so many words that he didn't know what he was talking about when she is a developer and NOT part of an automotive franchise, planning commission, nor an interested party and Ms. Feldman who is on Borough Council was told NO? The other sticking point is why is Main Street Association even involved in any aspect of what is determined for Robert's?

    Be careful Mr. Henning you may get your wish and Robert's tells you where to put your landscaping and moves out of the borough and it would serve you right and those who listen to your arguments. In fact it would serve Mr. Henning right to be the reason that Downingtown residents find that their taxes have gone up exponentially not just to cover services in the Borough, but because of Henning's Folly. Let's hope that Borough Council has more insight into what it takes to keep Downingtown thriving, not living walls and pretty bushes, but actual money.

Politics

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine B) — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 15:19:00 +0000

I don't think my eyes have ever been more crossed than at the machinations that I have seen in the last few days. My husband decided that he wanted to enter the arena of local politics and I supported his decision. He is new to the process so while he was careful to make sure that every signature was properly executed on his petition he did not turn in his financial papers to the borough and that was a fatal mistake for which he will now pay for. However, what really made me sick to my stomach is that because of a personal vendetta his petition would have been challenged simply because of who he was. Yes we know and have figured out who was going to try and make him pull out of the election and I can't say I am surprised.

But what really made me pause was the scrambling that everyone was doing to try and knock each other off the ballot. You know that old saying those who live in glass houses should not throw stones? Well it applies in spades to this process especially here in Downingtown. First of all petitions are to be circulated by a person of your party. It doesn't matter if your wife or husband is doing you a favor if they are not registered to the same party that you are and then you sign it saying that all is legal and above board you have hornswoggled those whom you wish to represent and you have committed a crime especially if you have the forms notarized. I also learned that financial papers need to be time stamped when turned into the borough, so not having that done is an offense that could get your petition challenged, and no amount of covering by other people makes it better if you don't have that done.

Another powerful lesson we have learned is that people can be a nice person, but a rotten public servant or politician. That makes it so hard to see the good in a person when they step off the podium/board/soap box. It also seems to emphasize the worst possible traits in a person. Those who are not overly arrogant and condescending in real life become domineering and patronizing when swinging a gavel, and those who appear to have an "aw shucks" attitude shed their outer skin and will smile while they throw you under the bus.

My husband is the type of person where what you see is what you get. He is a vet so he has seen more than many of us would care to and has come out the other side, he is not duplicitous in any sense of the word, he has handled financial matters for large businesses and worked with people with less than perfect credit, his family is his life and he loves Downingtown. Maybe 12 years of the same old same old and the above attributes is enough.

Just A Thought

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine B) — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 23:24:00 +0000

The more I sit here and think about this letter the more I seriously suspect that one sender could cull all those happenings into one single action. Unless the letter were written by the couple that attend council meetings on a regular basis, Ginny, myself or my husband there is absolutely no way that this can be accredited to one author (if they be a true resident) unless the information was fed to them. The reason that I say this is that the quotes that were used were not all from the same meeting, in fact they were from several meetings happening over months and unless it was written by any of the above no one in this town attends as many meetings as those I have pointed out. I am sadly disappointed in the high school like antics of this council at times and am wondering if anything other than raising rates and taxes in the borough is going to be the legacy of this particular make up of council.

However, as the rumblings go in this town (when you live in a 2 mile square area you hear things) those who so far have made it known that they wish to join this circus frightens me almost as much. Too many people see council and commission positions as fame and fortune so to speak and less for the fact that they want to help the borough and its residents. All I can say is, residents please make sure you know who you are allowing to represent you, don't fall for smoke and mirrors, and make sure that you know their ultimate goal. Don't allow those who are seeking headlines and notoriety to sway you into believing they care, because as it stands we have too much of that now and look where it has gotten us.....the recess yard in grade school where the popular kid calls the shy quiet one a childish name and everyone laughs until someone gets punished.

Council's New Year's Resolution

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine B) — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 02:25:00 +0000

Anonymity is a strange thing, we as humans tend to hide behind it when we aren't brave enough to confront those we disagree with face to face. Sometimes it's necessary so that a public persona is not damaged or if we are whistle blowing on a company we work for, but when it comes to political figures and elected officials why would someone want to hide their opinion? Those people are in office because they won the majority of the vote and they are to speak for us. If you disagree with a point, stance or opinion of theirs then it is your civic duty to let them know and do it "face to face."

In the council meeting tonight a letter that had been addressed to each council person was about to be read in the open forum when the time came for "For the Good of The Order". It started it out stating that the person had to do it anonymously and then legal council stepped in. Once the smoke had cleared we all knew that the letter was not exactly praising staff as it was pronounced to be, but a letter to put down one specific council member. Bet you can't guess who that might be...........

Before I go any further let me make this perfectly clear, I have not changed my position on many issues in the borough. I am I tired of the legal wrangling that continues and do I now see a lot of what was started long ago as what I call "Council's Folly"? Yes I do, but regardless of my position I have never hidden behind a wall of anonymity and I have never resorted to personal attacks that an official or staff member of the borough is evil incarnate.

For the Good of the Order, according to Robert's Rules for Dummies, is usually time set aside for members to offer comments or observations (without formal motions) about the society and its work, or time to offer a resolution to bring a disciplinary charge against a member for offenses committed outside of a meeting. Normally in a borough council meeting notices of happenings in the borough are stated and kudos and "shout outs" are given for good deeds and events. So as you see it is rarely used properly in this particular forum and again tonight it was misused. The letter apparently contained slurs against one specific council member whom is disliked by many. I will go on record that while my views on borough activities, ordinances and regulations most likely will be on the opposite side of the fence from this particular council person, she is not an evil woman and I can honestly say I like her and if it is for the betterment of the community I will willingly work with her. However, there are just some people in this community that will not put differences aside. You don't have to agree with the person, you don't have to even like them, but to constantly find ways to undermine and belittle them make you look small. Making sure that this person does not get a chance to have her say, ask her questions and try to make her look more like a nuisance than someone who is trying to do the best that she can is shades of what we have in Washington DC and we can all see how far that has gotten us....right up to a cliff is where it has gotten us. Do I agree with this person every time? No. Do long winded questions bother me? Yes. Do I and quite a few other people need to learn patience and humility? Oh my yes.

I am asking as a citizen and resident of the Borough of Downingtown that the animosity stops here and now. I am asking that chairpersons and presidents not let a little bit of power go to their head. A little bit of decorum needs to be infused and a lot of humble pie needs to be eaten if things are going to get done around here. Now is the time...it's a new year...let that be your resolution.

I Was There

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine B) — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 21:11:00 +0000

You chose to take Me out of the place where I was needed most today. In fact you have chosen to remove Me from just about every place where I can most certainly be of service. You have turned away from Me because you can do so well on your own. But then when a day like today comes you ask Me, "Where were You God?" I'll tell you where I was.....I held the hand of the little girl as she lay taking her last breath and whispered to her that everything would be OK and that she would be with Me soon. I wrapped my arms around the mother who lost her only child to a violent act and held her while she cried. I watched and placed a hedge of protection around those who could escape the mayhem and saw them to safety. And yes, I did watch as a man unstable in a world that has made it possible for him to carry out the horror that resided in his head and I made sure that he took only those whom I needed home.

Now you are looking to Me and asking everyone to pray. Why now? Why not yesterday, why not tomorrow? Because in time the memory will fade and the blame will be laid on the gun manufacturers or dealers, or the mental health field that didn't see this coming, or on schools not being safe enough and you will forget that before you pondered all that and more, you prayed.

Evil exists in the world you have created and yet you look to Me to stop what you have done. I have asked many times over that you come to Me of your own free will and yet you refuse. You scoff and complain that I don't exist, that I should not be allowed in the places I can do the most good. My birth shall not be displayed because it might offend someone and forget mentioning me in mixed company. Then a man or a woman succumbs to the evil that is brewing and you ask Me "Where were You?" I was here watching and waiting for you to come to Me and making sure that no matter how bad it got you could go on.

One Big Turkey

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine B) — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 19:55:00 +0000

I have many things to be thankful for one of which is I am a cancer survivor and many in my family have worked to beat this dreadful disease, some we have lost because the beast was stronger and some are still fighting the battle. I am also thankful that the town that I live in supports so many wonderful events that help to fund research for things such as this, but with that said thankfulness went out the door this morning when loud music and voices traveled across the borough to awaken not only me, but many residents on a day where we should have had the choice to sleep in. Today November 23, 2012 Downingtown held a Turkey Trot, to benefit West’s track team and two very worthwhile cancer charities, which in itself is a great idea, but when an event bypasses ordinances of said borough and awakens residents before 7am then I am not so sure that the idea is such a good one.

According to Code 173-6C "No mass gathering authorized pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be held or conducted between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m.” yet I and several other people were rudely awakened before 7am by music and voices over loud speakers. People began asking on JCG’s Facebook page what was going on and several were not exactly thrilled to have their day of rest arrested “173-6I. At no time shall music be played by mechanical devices or live performance which annoys, disturbs, endangers or might annoy, disturb or endanger the public's health, comfort, safety, repose and peace.” Normally this wouldn’t be an issue, but those of us who live in Johnsontown live at the very edge of the borough and should not have heard the loudspeakers like it was happening in our own neighborhood, and even people on the east end of the borough were able to hear the hullabaloo.

In addition to the noise, Downingtown officers who were on night shift were required to work from 7pm to 11am instead of the normal 7pm to 7am and then will need to return to work at 6:45 this evening to work until 7am tomorrow morning. This means that they get no time with their families if they expect to be rested and ready to start their shift tonight which requires them to carry a firearm. Public Works also had to work overtime for this event because the course went through parts of town. West Chester had a Turkey Trot also this season, but they managed to have it without making it a nuisance at best and a non-holiday at worst.

To start with there was no reason that this event had to be held today. Today is a day that should be spent with families and being thankful for what we have, not having our sleep interrupted by overly loud speakers spewing music and voices before 7am in the morning, having our officers and public workers spending extra time on duty and for people to say I did the Turkey Trot. There are other days leading up to and after Thanksgiving Day that the event could have been held with the same amount of enthusiasm.

Downingtown is known to be the place to have your event, but it shouldn’t be known as the place to have your event at the cost of the residents, officers and public workers and on a day that should be spent at a long table speaking to family we haven’t seen since last year and consuming food that could feed a small country, wondering if you are old enough to leave the kids table and being thankful enough that we are alive and for all we have.

The Election is Coming the Election is Coming!

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine B) — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 01:08:00 +0000

On Tuesday November 6th you will get the opportunity to exercise a right that for some was a hard fought battle to gain. I am sure by now we are all a little tired of the plethora of phone calls and the mailboxes full of propaganda for the candidates, I know I am. I knew who I was going to vote for long before the final push, but I know some still seem undecided.

Today I got to hear a message that made sense and I would like to pass it along. Forget your party affiliation....go read the platforms of the candidates, each of them. Now for sure there will be some silliness in each because that is just an inherent part of politics, but take a look at which candidates share the most ideas and ideals that match up with yours. If you are spiritual, don't look at what religion a person practices, but make sure that if, for instance you follow Biblical principles that the candidate that you vote for lines up with (voting record) the principles you hold dear.

That message along with taking a good look at experience and how a person handles themselves. Make sure that when they make a statement that they can back it up with evidence. Don't fall for the "I did this" statements when there is no possible way that they could have effected what they stated to be true. Make sure that they have handled themselves while in their present position or office with aplomb and dignity. Then maybe even take a look at the fliers and cards that flooded our mailboxes and see if their campaigns have conducted themselves above board making sure that they didn't find a loophole to sneak into.

Along with deciding who will be the leader of the nation, we also have local races that are just as important. Here in Downingtown we will vote for our Representative in Harrisburg and our Congressman as well. Make sure that when you fill in that dot that your candidate is not all flash, lights, smoke and mirrors, but has substance, leadership ability and experience.

Money Matters?

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine B) — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 01:16:00 +0000

I hate this time of year and attending council meetings. It's budget time and sitting through one of these meetings is worse than sticking a hot poker in my eye. This year they actually had a budget committe and it helped the process limp along but not by much since what they were actually tasked to do got glossed over yet again by the same old same old.

After attending the budget committee meeting the night before I was lead to compose and read the following during citizens to be heard.

Last night I attended the last part of the budget committee’s meeting and I became very discouraged. It appeared to me that most members and department heads seem to think that taxes need to be raised as a way out of the fact that the cost of doing business goes up each year. What amazes me is that quite a few residents are able to make ends meet on commission based employment and understand that tightening our belts is a necessity in this economic climate, yet that understanding does not reach any higher. It did not appear that anyone aside from Councilmen Winkler wished to try something different as what we have been doing doesn’t work. I am sure that many of you have heard the saying that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results. I have lived in Downingtown long enough to know that we have the market cornered on insanity according to that colloquism.

I am aware that we share fire and police departments with East Caln. I would be interested to see if the number of calls that East Caln requires and the number of calls required in Downingtown match up and if the percentages of money paid in by each are equal to the amount of utilization of each entity. Ideas and explanations for ways to get more bang for our buck especially with equipment were met with a bit of disdain last evening. For instance hiring two part time officers would save over $25,000 dollars and would meet the needs of both East Caln and Downingtown. Has the possibility of merging both fire companies ever been discussed? It was said that at least 110 second calls had to be scratched due to understaffing of volunteers. Volunteers are also going to be at shorter supply once Robert’s Chevrolet opens their price point in West Whiteland as several techs are part of Minquas Volunteer Department. The merging of Alert and Minquas lessen the burden of equipment for each company, but the amount of volunteers that are available increases exponentially.

I would also be interested to see how having so many events in Downingtown stacks up against man hours and overtime hours that are spent by police and public works and even possibly fire if needed and how much of that money is actually returned into the borough’s revenue and or is paid by each entity that has the event. I heard a lot of vague numbers, but wouldn’t it be prudent to see actual graphs and or accounting sheets showing where there is,…. if there is….. a benefit for the borough to host the event?

As a resident of over 20 years I have to say I like living in Downingtown as a whole, but if we don’t find ways to stop the hemorrhaging of our budgets and raising taxes each year we will begin to lose residents hence we will lose revenue. I would like to see Downingtown stay the place to be and even grow into a greater version of itself, but that is not going to happen if we do not try some things that are different and might work. If they don’t, how much worse off will we be and if they do how much better could things be? Thank you.

It was primiarily ignored as many things so often are with this council. What I would like to know is how many times are we going to dance this same dance before more than one person has enough hutzpah to buck the failing system in D'town? We as residents need to make it known that the same old same old is NOT working and we need to change. We need to show up to council meetings and have our voices heard in "Citizens to Be Heard" so that it no longer is Citizens to be tolerated because we have to. Nothing is going to change if we don't push our ELECTED officials to make the hard decisions. I can't wait to see what is going to happen when the residents hear that taxes are going up. I might stay away from Borough Hall in case there is a firestorm.......then again complacency seems to be the attitude of the day and that makes me sad.

In Pursuit of Special Interest

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine B) — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 19:32:00 +0000

I love my town! We have so much history, great people and wonderful activities. There are so many opportunities to volunteer and we have awesome committees and commissions in the borough. The restaurants and businesses, that are here and thriving, are some of the best around. Our fire departments and police departments are simply fantastic and help serve in the community along with their regular duties, but there comes a time when we stretch these entities too thin with too many obligations. Public works becomes an around the clock job and commerce is interrupted for an activity that is not necessary nor is it an established event in which the above mentioned are prepared for in advance.

For instance it is rumored around town that there is to be a Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day. Now while that might sound like a lot of fun and bring citizens together on a holiday, but the added pressure it will place on our police force is not something that any group that is given the responsibility to protect and serve a community should have to deal with. The trot would take place on a Thursday morning which means that officers that are on night shift Wednesday night will complete their 7pm to 7am shift and then be held over till 11am. Once the trot is over with they will be allowed to return home for 8 hours to eat a bit of turkey, sleep maybe 5 hours, shower and report for duty at 7pm again Thursday night. It is true that every job has sacrifices and that we all have to make them, but I am not sure that I want someone who is carrying a gun to be forced to work under those conditions because a special interest group decides that we need yet another activity on a holiday. . Public Works will also have to work overtime to place barriers and remove them along with trash cleanup instead of spending time with their families and friends on this special day. Yes, Downingtown has wonderful holiday celebrations such as the Christmas Parade, Ghost Walk, Good Neighbor Day and the like, but these things are in the schedule way beyond and past what some of us can even remember. The police are ready to serve on those days and rarely is it like the above scenario. The Ghost Walk does not even need police presence and very little from Public Works. Good Neighbor Day is synonymous with Downingtown and the 4^thof July and the Christmas Parade benefits each business on Lancaster Ave that choses to stay open that day. But what benefit do we gain from forcing officers to work less than reasonable hours?

There is a race scheduled for the last Saturday in October that sounds like a great idea until one realizes that it possibly will close down streets where commerce is present and will cause money to be lost to those employees and the borough. Normally most of the businesses are closed on holidays so parades and activities don’t interfere with the buying and selling of goods. However, to have a 5K race on a non-holiday weekend which is the end of the month a time when a lot of businesses close their books for that month, there is no benefit other than to the race promoters and to whom the money will go. I’m wondering if the registration fee will go to pay the money that will be lost to employees of any of the major (and minor) businesses while the race is going on.

I guess that my peeve is that while activities and events can be fun, entertaining and a draw for the future what good does it do when in the end it costs us, the taxpayers, so much more.

Do You Remember?

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine B) — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 20:10:00 +0000

I can still tell you the exact timetable of my day on September 11, 2001. I am sure many of us can and when we really think about it the pain is still a little raw even after 11 years. How can you be older than 14 and not remember some little piece of that day?

Yet today I came across something disturbing to the memory of that day.....conspiracy! There are still people out there that think that the government killed all those people. That there were no planes and no terrorists that day, just explosives and operatives. Jesse Ventura is one of the conspiracy nuts who would like you to believe that, yet again, it's all Bush's fault. Intelligent, or at least what I assumed were intelligent people still hold on to the deluded assumption that this was all one big cover up for a governmental boo boo. Most of these people don't reside on the East Coast or even in NY. They did not see the planes hitting the towers or the crater in the ground from Flight 93 or hear the messages to home and a final, "Let's Roll!" I am not sure how they can still hold on to an idea that has been debunked by better people than I such as Popular Mechanics whom in 2008 gave their conclusions based on the NIST Report. People who know how buildings work and fire destroys and metal does collapse with intense heat and yet there are those who poo poo these very facts and chose to believe that it was all a set up.

I do not put my whole trust in the government, but with engineers and architects who state unequivocally that the towers came down because of the heat, that the Pentagon had a plane flown into it and there is a crater in PA because some brave souls saved more lives than were lost, I cannot understand how anyone could be so deaf, dumb and blind.

The thing that makes me the angriest is that instead of keeping these deluded ideas to themselves on a day that should be for remembrance of lives lost they have to try and infect future generations with their, OK I will say it, whacked idea of what happened that day. Instead, shut your mouth, bow your head and say a prayer for the souls that were lost, because after I am done with that I will pray that YOU find clarity.

Kardon Park Yet Again

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine B) — Sat, 04 Aug 2012 17:08:00 +0000

Downingtown Does does such a nice job breaking this down for you all I am not going to even try and do a better job. However I ask those on BOTH sides of the issue to please be respectful in your responses and PLEASE come up with different arguments than the same ones that have been overused in the last few years.

The ongoing saga of the controversial Kardon Park redevelopment project has taken a new twist. On Fri, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania ordered the Chester County Court of Common Pleas to “vacate” and “remand” their earlier decision denying the Borough of Downingtown from selling Kardon Park to a private developer.

You may be asking yourself, what does that mean? In layman’s terms, the higher court ordered the lower court to go back and reconsider their earlier decision. Specifically, Chesco’s Orphans Court needs to go back over their original decision with new guidance given to them from PA’s Commonwealth Court. To better get an understanding of what got us to this point, let’s take a look on how we got here.
Court Gives Kardon Park a Second Chance/Downingtown Does

The Needs of the Few?

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine B) — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 13:39:00 +0000

I am confused…..for months now we have been hearing about Sandusky and JoePa and the Freeh report and how we need to protect the children and now it comes down from the NCAA that Penn State wins from 1998 are wiped out and no bowl games for four years….can someone tell me how that is protecting the children? People and a program that had NOTHING to do with the scandal are being punished, I must be slow because that seriously does not compute.

I used to be a big Star Trek fan and there was always a line that Spock said that made complete sense to me, “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one.” Now we have the NCAA considering the needs of the few and hurting the needs of the many. This is going to help the victims? How? Young men who played their hearts for their school for over 14 years are now the scapegoat for a sick twisted individual and mistakes made by others. I am not getting this.

I am not excusing JoePa, but what gets me is that he is now dead and can be easily thrown under the bus for the cause. His statue is now gone and his reputation is tarnished because he did too little. So I guess he should have beaten Sandusky to a pulp? Should he have fired him? Yes, but did anyone stop to think that maybe Joe did not think that a man he had known all those years could do something like that. How many of you have heard of or had it happen to you where a rumor or an accusation ruined your career or reputation forever or for even a little while on heresy? Joe went to the people he thought would take care of the situation and THEY did nothing. Should he have done more, probably, but to vilify him and then say he defrauded the university and the people? Really?

Now those out for vengeance have drawn first blood. They have stripped a PROGRAM because an INDIVIDUAL was sick. That is plain wrong, inappropriate and devastatingly the move of a public with seriously misplaced anger. Why aren’t you calling for all the monies that Sandusky and his family were given to be given back to the victims? Why is the outrage not focused on him and the young assistant coach who reported Sandusky to his father and then to JoePa?

Not only does the situation make me sick that people like Sandusky exist, but those who want a school to suffer, a program to suffer, other kids to suffer, for the actions a few people makes me ill to my very core. Serious evil exists in this world when people like Sandusky walk the earth, but it also exists when others want suffering of people who had no hand in the crime.

Throw the Dead Man Under the Bus

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine B) — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 17:23:00 +0000

I have watched the whole Penn State scandal and then listened to the Freeh report this morning and I have to say that I am disappointed and a bit angry. First of all let me put a disclaimer here so as to not be accused of making light of a serious situation. As for what has gone on it's appalling to me that people would want to blame the dead man. Joe Paterno is being painted as the bad guy in this whole sick twisted situation because he is not alive to defend himself and I find it pitiful that the Freeh Report came out as it did and the media is now eating it up that Paterno is a horrible human because he allegedly did nothing. Why are we not blaming who actually committed the crime and the young man who witnessed behavior that was not in the least appropriate? JoePa was allegedly told that Sandusky was dealing with young boys in a manner that no one would approve of, he did his due diligence, he told the administrators and they chose to do nothing. McCreary witnessed the acts and went to his father and then to JoePa.......why not to the police? Social Services? The parents of the child? Yet JoePa is now the scapegoat and is conveniently not here to defend himself. This opens the gate for survivors to sue the Paterno estate. How is that going to wind up being fair? Paterno's widow had nothing to do with this whole issue and she and her children have every right to live out the rest of their lives quietly and with dignity.

We as a society are constantly looking for someone to point a finger at when something goes horribly wrong instead of taking responsibility for ourselves or placing it where it should go, on the individual who committed the act. Joe Paterno gave decades of his life to that school and money to boot. His players were expected to be upstanding young men and for years and years Penn State football was a respected program, now because one coach chose to sabotage his career, reputation and life we are all ready to sully a good man's story. How are we much better than the hate mongers that we propose to despise? Not much.

Get Your Facts Straight

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine B) — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 16:35:00 +0000

Just out of curiosity I did a google search when one of the residents of Johnsontown created a picture of the present day train station and the old one. Then the discussion moved to when that one had burned down. What I found were not facts about that incident, but some disturbing blogs and ill thought out articles stating that Downingtown did not need a new train station because the present one was less than 20 years old. Skimming some of the blogs it was evident that none of the writers had even seen the station in it's present state. I wanted to set these people straight but I wasn't about to log on to every blog account out there or register for every news service that I could. So I come here.

Yes, it's true the train station is only a little over 20 years old. However, it is not ADA compliant and it is the only one on the R-5 line that is not. The pass through tunnel smells like a urinal on good days and I try and stay away from it on really hot ones, and parking and traffic can be quite challenging on any given day the line is running. The other misinformed bloggers also complained that D'town had 213 parking spaces. What they did not mention is that there are quite a few people that are dropped off and or walk to the station from various parts of town. The station is sometimes only a mile away from different sections of D'town. It was also not mentioned that parking for the train station also limits the spaces available for Johnsontown Park goers to put their vehicles.

I will tell you that I am staying skeptical about the new station, but this is only because I am waiting to see what they propose to do with the old once it is built. The west end of town tends to be a forgotten entity and it has taken the hard work of many residents to bring it to the forefront even in the small capacity that it is now being recognized and I am sure along with many residents of particularly Johnsontown we don't want an eyesore existing at one of the entrances to our little burg. However with that being said I challenge these bloggers and news people to actually come and see the present station, watch the flow of traffic, see how many spaces are used and how many people walk, and then try and get a wheelchair up to the platform. Then and only then can they accurately describe what our 20 year old station is like. Don't speculate people, you don't do it well.

For Everyone

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine B) — Sun, 27 May 2012 20:08:00 +0000

Tomorrow there will be a parade in Downingtown and then a short service at the memorial for which I am profoundly glad that I live in a town that recognizes the sacrifices of those who have served and gave their all. Today while at the ceremony in Marinelli Park I was reflecting on not only the young men and women who have gone before us, but those who are still here who served and are still serving our great country. I guess the moment that it truly hit me was when I watched my husband wipe away a tear after the singing of the National Anthem.....he gave up a few years of his life so that we could have a ceremony like that one and then I really looked around and saw the others who were there, standing in the shade, or sitting in a chair or on a bench and leaning on a cane and I wanted to give each of them the biggest hug that I could muster. I respect those so much who gave their lives, but the horrors of war for them are over, yet men and women all over are still here and carry a pain in their hearts that none of us will ever know.

I am sure that every Memorial Day and Veterans Day they relive what they endured for our freedom, yet we don't thank them enough in our everyday lives........when you can go to church services and then attend a ceremony, you can say that you disagree with our governmental leaders or to peruse the Internet without fear of someone breaking down your door because you have gone to a place that you cannot. So today I would like to say thank you to them men who worked for hours this morning cleaning up the Memorial in Kerr Park, I would like to say thank you to my husband for the time that he spent keeping us safe, I would like to say thank you to the gentleman whose chair we carried to the circle so he could attend the goings on, and I would like to say thank you to those whose lives are still in the line of fire because without you, I could not do the things I do and say out loud "I am proud to be an American!"

Primarily Organized

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine B) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:57:00 +0000

Yes, tomorrow are the primary elections in Pennsylvania, and sadly, no I am not ready for this. I have a sense of who I need to vote for locally, but nationally I am in a quandry so for those of you who need to know who, what, where and when I have compiled a bunch of links that hopefully will help.

First of all here in D'town we are the 6th District and 155th Representative Area

http://www.politics1.com/pa.htm

http://www.uselections.com/pa/pa.htm

http://vote-pa.org/forVoters.aspx?State=PA

Also do not forget that this will be a dry run for the requirement of ID's to vote in the regular election come November.

Republican , Democrat, Libertarian, Independant it doesn't make a difference just exercise your rights for if you don't they most assuredly can be taken away.

Mountain Out of Molehill

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine B) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 14:24:00 +0000

People talk about the political wrangling that goes on in various types of government and how dissatisfying it can be when it doesn't go the way that you think it should. Me, I am surprised that anything gets done at all having watched government at work on both the state and local level in person.

Here's a for instance;it took over a week for the Voter ID bill to get to the Governor's desk of Pennsylvania because legislators were debating whether a person will become disenfranchised because they have to show and ID at the polls. It boggles the mind how anyone can possibly think that showing a picture ID is going to make voting harder for honest people, what it will make more difficult is voter fraud because not just anyone with a voter registration card can walk in and vote. I have had to show my ID to various entities since I was 16 years old and obtained a driver's license, in fact I am flattered when I am "carded" if I wish to purchase an alcoholic beverage (which happens about every five years so it's a really big deal). Now there are people saying that those who don't have IDs won't be able to vote......was that not the point?

Another instance on a local level:in Downingtown parking is at a premium. Residence know this just like they know that if it rains some part of D'town will flood. However, when residence ask for parking spaces or ordinances that will make streets easier to navigate and our quality of life that much better it is actually debated in council! The one issue that always seems to be at the forefront is, "What about the businesses?" I am not sure if council members have noticed, but businesses are leaving D'town on Lancaster Ave. and those that are still here have their own parking. As a residence and a taxpayer I think our needs should come first above those that don't live here. However, when parking requests come down that seem reasonable it is actually debated for quite some time. It boggles the mind how they can blow past some ordinances which appear to be so much more important yet parking requests of residence that have little to no effect on anyone, but those making the request are discussed ad nauseum.

When we were kids I know many of us heard the saying, "You're making a mountain out of a molehill" when we screamed over a paper cut, or a friend called us a "dummyhead". But we aren't kids anymore and the issues at hand need to be given their due, yes, but stop making a mountain out of a molehill and maybe more things could actually get done. Imagine that, government working as it should.

Up for a Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine B) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:09:00 +0000

I know everyone love contests......ok well not everyone, but this one can get you some recognition for that great photo you took of the flood waters last winter in Downingtown that turned out really cool, or the robin who signaled the first day of spring, or the puppy having fun in the park. The Downingtown Historic and Parks Commission is sponsoring an amateur photography contest for a calendar that will be published for the 2013 season. The contest is open to all amateurs, but the photo(s) must be taken in the 19335 area and follow the rules that are stated at the website.

So if you are a budding photographer and wish to have your skills noticed, love the photo you took of downtown last Christmas at the parade, or just want to see your photo in print submissions are being taken here D'town H&PC Calendar Contest

Each photo must be geotagged (tagging on the map where it was taken) for authenticity and you must comply with the simple rules stated on the site. Flickr is free to join, but is great place to hone your photography skills or to just see some wonderful work being done by pros and amateurs.

Everyone have fun and good luck....who knows you could be the next Downingtown star photog!!!

SkateTown USA

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine B) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:14:00 +0000

Where is the skate park? At present nowhere and that is causing some tempers to flare a bit. Last night Wesley Terry came before Borough Council in hopes that it would rubber stamp the location that the steering committee for the park decided would be the best spot. However, I don't think they were prepared for the objections that came with those hopes. The proposed site would be in Kerr Park at the south end of the parking lot that also services the All Abilities Playground and the pavilions that are rented out for activities in the spring and summer. DSP has already reduced the size of the footprint of the park due to the lack of funds at the present time. Mr. Terry said that DSP has about $26,000 in funds and hopes to raise $10-15,000 more once the smaller version is built for upkeep and possible expansion.

I can certainly understand the need to "scale it back a bit" because fundraising for this sort of project is difficult, but the plans for what was to be placed in the park as obstacles and ramps was to my eye less than impressive. Also the fact that the park would take up at least 20-30 parking spaces in a town that has very little parking to begin with was a serious sticking point for Councilman Gazzerro. The parking lot in question during the winter months looks a bit desolate, but when the weather begins to clear up and it is not so cold, the parking lot becomes like the mall at Christmas....you circle hoping someone will leave so your kids can go play or you can have your activity in the pavilions. The lot only has about 80 spots to start with and then to remove 20-30 makes a huge impact. Also it is proposed to have the Downingtown Library moved into the Micken Building which fronts that particular piece of real estate. Where would library patrons park if the skate park has reduced the availability of the places along with a burst of spring weather? I am sure that businesses along Wallace will not be happy to have their spots hijacked for this purpose and Rite Aid may become a opponent.

Mr. Terry seemed quite upset that council was not willing to say yes right off the bat and it become a done deal. He claimed that not having a spot picked out was hindering fund raising efforts. That may be true, but how productive would fundraising be if the spot that you wanted created a serious issue in the borough and you had too many people against what you were proposing?

Ann Feldman brought up some very valid points that the Historic and Park Commission had discussed and Patricia Todd even offered the proceeds from the H&P events if Mr. Terry would consider another location. Mayor Maxwell whom is on the steering committee along with Steven Henning seemed to be of the same mind as Mr. Terry that it needs to be built now. Nick Winkler appeared to be on board that the placement requested by DSP was the place for it to go. Cara DeStafano brought up a valid point about impervious ground.

However, with all that said, a skate park is something that would be an asset and a good place for the kids who enjoy that sort of play, but placing it in an area that will cause more trouble than good is not the right thing to do. It is not an immediate need in the borough. Is it wanted? Yes. Would it help to keep some of the kids off the streets with their boards and bikes? Yes. But can you just decide to place something of this scale in a spot that is questionable and not expect to have resistance? No. Look for other locations and make your decision, then fund raise to make it the best that it can be, not a rendition of the dream. It does not have to be completed by the first day of summer.....the kids and the skaters will be here long after that.

Happy Tomorrow!

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine B) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 18:19:00 +0000

Tonight at 12:01am the calendar will change from 2011 to 2012 and yet that is all that will happen (unless God has other plans). As I tour the internet off and on today all I have read is how tough this year has been, and I will agree that there have been things that have happened that my life could have certainly done without from my perspective and I am sure there has been hurt and pain for many, but what I truly do not understand is why people think that just because the numbers change that life will dramatically change with it. Tomorrow someone will scratch off a lottery ticket and win $1,000, but also tomorrow someone’s heart will be broken and it has nothing to do with flipping a page or buying a new calendar. Life moves on at the pace that is determined, the only thing that CAN change is how you handle the good with the bad and whether you have chosen to curl up and let life pass you by because it is painful at times, or that you have chosen to milk it for every good moment that comes along.

There have been times in my life that I thought the pain was more than I could bare and I was never going to be the same, and I was right, but the next day came and no miraculous peaceful feeling came to over-ride the pain, serenity did not happen with the snap of my fingers, those things came gradually as I learned to capture them and hold them for when life came at me with both barrels. Things did not all of a sudden become great, grand and beautiful because I could cross another day off a calendar, the great, grand and beautiful came because I lived my life the best that I could with the things and feelings I was given.

So tonight when you kiss your partner at the stroke of midnight, or bemoan the fact that you are alone with Ryan Seacrest as the ball drops, or snoring under your blankets make the decision to make TOMORROW a great and grand day, not next year, not 2012, but because you were given one more DAY.

Pardon Me Andy Rooney

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine B) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 23:01:00 +0000

There have been lost of things going through my head lately and I thought of how Andy Rooney would complain about random things, so I am going to take a page from him.

Did you ever wonder what makes people think that a last ditch effort to make someone else look bad was ever thought to be effective? The borough council meeting on December 21st was painful to say the least. It's not as if after the second person got up who lived in the same neighborhood or even the same street that the agenda was not known. I sat there rather irritated at the childish antics that had emerged, through a poem that had no place in council chambers and questions that the answers had been given over and over again and then even a personal attack on Jamie Bruton. I thought what do they really think they are going to accomplish other than make themselves look silly and a bit vindictive? Then those very same people left once they had tried their best to humiliate council members and other issues were discussed which effect their lives just as much, but I will leave their motives to you to figure out as they were quite transparent.

Did you ever wonder why people think that just because they are family of friends that they can take advantage of you? My husband and I had just that experience. There was contract in place and what was done is a clear violation of said contract, but to take it to court would cost more than at this point it is worth. It still makes my blood boil a bit when just because you know people on a personal basis that they feel it's OK to bend the rules or even break the law.

Did you ever wonder why people who meet in a store feel it's their due to stand in the middle of the aisle or in front of merchandise and chat to their hearts content catching up on Aunt June's bunion surgery and then are offended when you say excuse me in a loud voice since they didn't move the first three times? Why is it that people find it necessary to block aisles and "catch up" when most of us, especially in a grocery store, want to get our stuff and get out? Do they not own telephones that they can call these people later? Do they not have their email address so that they can regularly correspond? In this world of instant communication one would think that, "Hey how are you? Give me a call later!" would be a great way to get the job done and get out of the way.

Do you ever wonder why people feel that people in the service industry like car salesman don't have families that they would like to go home to, or that they actually do have to make some money on the goods that they are selling? So many times people walk into a dealership at 8:45pm and wish to go on a test drive and then have the salesperson "run numbers" when the dealership closes at 9pm. Then the customer promptly tries to guilt the salesperson into it by asking "Well don't you want a sale?" Yes they want a sale, but the dealership has been open for 12 hours already and some of them have been there all day and want to go home. Then there is the customer who wants to negotiate because the salesperson "makes so much money on each car." Want the low down on sales receipts? A salesperson makes a mini deal on a new car which means maybe $100...now after you get done with taxes and health care there is maybe $50 left. Yes a salesperson may sell 5 new cars that week, but $250 a week take home does not pay for much. Then there is the all important customer who thinks that he or she should pay for the sky and get the sun, moon and stars thrown in for free.

Did you ever wonder why at a time in the year when happiness and good will toward man (no offense ladies) should be abundant, it's in such short supply? Have you said, "Thank you" or "Yes please" or "Thanks for your help" lately? If not maybe you need to take a personal inventory and clean out the crud.

No matter what 2011 has been an eventful year and I am sure that 2012 shall be just as exciting. I hope that everyone has a happy and healthy NEW YEAR!

Merry Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine B) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 13:27:00 +0000

Yes, I said it, the politically incorrect holiday moniker for this time of year, I bet you won't be surprised when I say tough nuggies if you don't like it. When I was growing up this time of year was filled with Christmas parties and gift exchanges and wait for it..........cheer. Now it's a time for people to be rude, intolerant, cranky and mean spirited. It seems that once it was no longer "Merry Christmas", but "Happy Holidays" grinches began appearing more and more frequently. Let's face it, it is Christmas, it's not "The holidays" we don't exchange holiday presents, kids don't go to see holiday man and we certainly don't celebrate holiday baby.

I have no problem wishing someone a "Happy Hanukkah" or "Happy Kwanza" if that is what they celebrate, so why is it so difficult for others to wish me a Merry Christmas? If companies, schools and other public entities don't want parties to be Christmas Parties then don't have them before Christmas, have them in between Christmas and New Year. This way there is no conflict and it most certainly is a holiday party.

The thing that I have the most difficult time understanding is if you don't believe in God and the birth of Jesus why would a person want to celebrate a day that does and why it's ok for you to want to change it to suit you? I would never think to interfere with Hanukkah, Kwanza, Eid ul-Fitr, Bodhi Day or even Yule. Why is it ok for those who don't believe to hijack a day that is set aside for those of us who do? Why is it that those of us who believe have to alter our day to suit your needs and we must be the ones who are tolerant? Don't you think that it is about time that spiritual tolerance goes both ways? So I will say it again...MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

They're Just Words

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine B) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 23:58:00 +0000

Small town politics is not all it’s cracked up to be. Neither is trying to hold those in those offices accountable for their actions. Just recently it was pointed out to me that my words could be used against others, that they can be acerbic or they can be thought provoking. The last two I can live with, the former not so much. Happenings in our little borough can be as happy as a resident realizing a career goal and being hired as a full time officer, or as down and dirty as the council race that concluded just this past month. Wonderful occurrences like neighbors looking out for each other, or working against each other out of spite. When these things happen especially the ones that are negative or prove to be negative they make me angry for a moment and I may write about them. I may hold an elected official to the fact that they are working for the people not against them and that he or she needs to remember that. I may be surprised and displeased at the actions of someone and mention things that correspond to my own experiences, but that does not mean that I don’t admire them for fighting the good fight.

When I go to the polls I vote for the person who most matches my thoughts and ideals and sometimes I have to make a compromise. If there is work to be done I will work with anyone for the good of the town and it doesn’t matter if I disagree with you on one issue because on another you may have great insights and fantastic ideas, just as I in your thoughts are about 15 degrees right of center when we disagree or even fight. I don’t hate anyone…..ok well there are a few, but no one I know personally and I will work with just about anyone. But as even my friends will tell you I will call you on what I consider to be either inappropriate or in my eyes plain wrong. However, using that trait that I have to hurt others either personally or professionally is not what I am all about nor is it something I would expect of people I know, friends, colleagues or working acquaintances. If anyone has been personally harmed or taken to task because I said my piece then I am truly sorry. I chose my words carefully so that they should not be taken out of context, nor used as a weapon and I apologize if anyone saw fit to do exactly those things to anyone else.