Do You Really Mean That?

This evening has been interesting in the little borough of Downingtown.  The Borough Council had their meeting and during the meeting the subject of Kardon Park was brought up yet again.  The solicitor that, according to my understanding, is handling the legal issues for the borough suggested what the council could do to limit liability if someone should become ill or hurt while visiting the area west of The Ponds.  The suggestions seemed reasonable to even a council member who sided with "Friends of Kardon Park" other than than the woman spearheading the commotion.  The solicitor cited Ms. Feldman specifically and she agreed that she had said that it was not safe to develop on the site because of the contamination.  When called on the point Ms. Feldman said that  that was right, but it was safe to be a park.  If development was to go on then the soil would be disturbed and be dangerous, but if not disturbed then it was fine.  Really?  Have you ever taken a young child anywhere and had them put things in their mouths including dirt Ms. Feldman?  Is this not an act of disturbing the soil?  What are you going to say to the mother whose child is now seriously ill because they happened to have digested some of the soil?  Oops?

The arguments went on with Ms. Feldman pushing nothing more than her agenda.  So I looked up some of the chemicals that were allegedly dumped on this site and I was appalled that Ms. Feldman was fighting the fact that anyone was willing to come in and remediate that area even if it meant more houses in that area.  My reasoning being this......During my formative teen years I lived in an area in Colorado called Unincorporated Jefferson County and I attended Columbine for my high school years.  I still keep in touch with many of my classmates and a strange thing happened one night.  Several alumni had gotten together and were talking about how at our age we should not be suffering from all the maladies that had befallen every one of us.  A few of us took up the banner and ran with it and found out that several companies had dumped toxic waste into an area that fed our water system for many years.  We then reached out to other alumni from other classes and found that the illnesses were in great number and most had lived in a section that had had the contaminated water pumped into their homes.  Now we are not talking about maladies like simple headaches and such, but MS, RSD, severe mental issues, fibromyalgia, unexplained neuropathy and the list went on.  We tried to fight the government, but because there had been a suit brought long ago that had been settled we hit brick walls every which way we turned.  I am here to inform you Ms. Feldman and the "Friends of Kardon Park" that some of the toxicities that reside within your "PARK" are the very ones that were found to be in our water in Colorado oh so long ago.  Therefore, no matter which way this suit finally ends up I hope someday that if it is discovered that many children later become ill because they played in "Kardon Park" find out it was you and your group who helped precipitate their illness and they find a way to win back all the legal fees you have cost the Borough and the citizens of Downingtown.

Kardon Park? Really?

Is it possible for someone to tell me when this tract of land really became a park and not only that, but one with a name?  I have lived in Downingtown for over 15 years and I have never seen anyone make good use of what is being called Kardon Park.  Why is that?  Is it because people still tend to dump their unwanted materials there?  Or is it because it becomes a mud pit when it rains, or how about the fact that it wasn't even close to being an area that was sellable till they tore down the old building and put Rite Aid in?  What possibly could draw a person to this "park" to walk and enjoy nature?  I don't think it's the "wetlands" that were mentioned as we only have two heron that live near and around here....a white one and a blue one and of course a plethora of geese, but I do not think the geese will be too upset if we clean this area up and like anyone can go to another eating establishment or bar down the street if they don't like the one they are in the geese can manage to waddle over to The Ponds where I am sure the atmosphere is much more like "Cheers" in the respect as that's where everyone goes anyway.  The builder was willing to clean up the area and there were plans in the makings for some new traffic patterns and egress so that there would not be the suspected and complained about congestion.  Tax revenue would come into the borough which is sorely needed as many places do not see Downingtown as a mecca of growth and businesses are not first inclined to think of our little spot in the county.

     But it has come down to some judge on some bench that appears to think that this tract is really a park and is beneficial to everyone.....really?  So since that is the case I propose that the "Friends of Kardon Park" (I still have trouble saying that without either snickering or furrowing my brow) foot the cost of the toxic clean up and maintaining of the "park" so that they can stop pretending that something is really there when it's not.  Oh yeah and when you are done with that how about you hot foot it over to Johnsontown Park (one that really does exist by the way) and help us clean up our end of town where people could honestly benefit from someone helping us as we are working to actually raise the quality of life.  How about putting some effort into a worthwhile project?  There really is a park here with running water and residents here not some trumped up image of something you would like it to be.

There is no doubt there is beauty around this area as seen above on an early morning, but just turn around.....

Where Were You?

Today has been a tough day to get through, not because of any family crisis or neighborhood uproar, but for the simple fact that it is 9/11.  I remember so clearly not even thinking we were being attacked when the first plane was said to have hit the first tower and later seeing and hearing the horror unfold.  So many conversations that I had that day run through my head today, nine years later.......should we go and get our kids out of school or are they safer there, were friends living in NYC safe and had anyone heard from them,  are we sure the plane in PA was truly part of the atack, who was behind the massacre and simply "Why?"  For a while we came together as a nation.  It didn't matter the color of your skin the person you had chosen to love or the way you punched a ballot, we all hurt and we needed each other to get through this.  People flew flags and hugged one another tighter, said, "I love you" more frequently and mourned with the greatest of sympathy those we had lost.  Unfortunately that did not last; actions that were taken with the best of intentions were scoffed at, fingers were pointed and even rumblings of an inside job were circulated amoung the people.  It all seemed as if the anger we felt at those who had caused the real harm was being directed in the wrong place.

Today nine years later my heart still hurts, not as much about the events that unfolded this particular day, that pain has lessened, but the ache comes from the fact that we as Americans have turned our backs on what made this country great long ago.  We as a people have become banal and complacent, we don't hold the values that our founding fathers had originally put forth to create the United States of America.  We stumble over the word God because it might offend someone and we have taken Him out of everything that Franklin, Adams, Jefferson and the others who originated what we were to become had placed Him in.  We tolerate things simply because "We are supposed to be free."(there's freedom and then there is being a doormat).  And we give in too easily because doing the right thing is sometimes hard.

I personally would like to be as brave and as dedicated to America as those who hijacked the hijackers on Flight 93.  They did not roll over and let those men, who had distorted their religion and ideals, murder more people than those who were on that plane.  They took matters into their own hands and they brought the aircraft down in a field in Pennsylvania not on the White House or another DC target.  It's time that we did not let these people die in vain and in doing right we do not let those who died in NYC and the Pentagon simply become a distant memory.  I say it's time to do the right thing so.............."Let's Roll!"

Ponderings on a hot day

Today I was engaged in a heated "discussion" about federal politics (surprised?  I wasn't) and the exchange was almost laughable when it came down to it.  But it made me think about things on not only a national level, but a local level as well.  As many people know a proposed mosque is to be built in NYC near Ground Zero and many people are quite against this endeavor, but the government will not take a solid stand either way.  Many politicians that represent both that area and on a national level have been very wishy washy as to what can and cannot be done even when the opposition is strong.  Then here, we are in our little burg of Johnsontown and we have been TOLD that a new road will be built right through our park.  There are those of us who live here who are not all that thrilled with the idea and mainly because we have not been clearly informed as to what this will entail, but it appears on the surface that we have no choice because local government has deemed it so.  Nothing wishy washy about a new road right through our park, but no one in office will come out and take a stand (either way) on a building that will effect the area for millions, not just a few hundred.  How lopsided is that?  How is it that a local government, right or wrong, can make a decision and stand on said thought while the national government will make a statement, backpedal, obfuscate and any other adjective you can think of?  Makes you wonder doesn't it?

Oh What A Night!!

    Last night August 3,2010 The Johnsontown Community Group hosted the First Annual Johnsontown National Night Out at Johnsontown Park from 6-8PM and it was a rousing success!  During the evening we were joined by approximately 120 people flowing through the park.  Neighbors got to meet some of our elected officials, join and or get involved with us in JCG, meet the local police and fire departments and enjoy food provided by Chick-Fil-A and participate in a few raffles for gift certificates and money.

    This is the first year we were able to participate and it was bigger than anyone thought, so next year should be even bigger and better.  Many thanks go out to Minquas Fire Company, Downingtown Police, Mayor Josh Maxwell, Representative Curt Schroder, Foster Boys, Dog House Burgers, the many volunteers and of course Melinda Winkler who is the JCG Events Chairperson and Nick Winkler who worked his mandibular magic with the local businesses.

     I know I am looking forward to next year!

Bird's eye view of the park

Council Member Bob Smith

Rep. Curt Schroder

Council Member Ann Feldman stopped by

National Night Out

On Tuesday August 3, 2010 we are participating in NATIONAL NIGHT OUT.  The Downingtown police will be joining us and neighbors are asked to come out and meet each other.

National Night Out is:

• Promoting neighborhood spirit and cooperation with police and other authorities.

• Sending a message to criminals that the neighborhood is organized and is watching.

• Generate support for local anticrime and drug awareness programs.

The National Association of Town Watch has partnered with Target and we are excited to be involved this year and will be an even bigger participant next year.  So on August 3rd...turn your light on, join us on your porch, come out and meet some of the officers of Downingtown's finest.  So mark your calendars and hope to see you there!!!!!

What Holiday?

I have a bone to pick, so bare with me.  First off I hope that everyone had a fantastic Fourth of July and that time was spent with family and friends.  That said, I am ready to unload about the whole weekend.  To begin with Downingtown had Good Neighbor Day on Saturday which was fine, however it boggles my mind why when we have several lovely trails for runners and bikers was it necessary to close off almost every road in town for entrants to ride or run on the streets of D'town.  Would it not have been easier to station police officers only where the trails intersect those roads instead of having officers all over the place closing off 282, Business 30, Pennsylvania, Manor and other various inroads to town and around it?  Shouldn't good neighbor day instill good feelings towards our neighbors and officials, not being completely ticked off because we have to go miles out of our way to get where we need to go?

My other beef is why are businesses closed today July 5th?  What holiday is it today?  What kind of message does it send to our young people that a three day weekend is more important than commemorating our struggles to break the chains of tyranny?  We have managed to mangle almost every other holiday to finagle a three day weekend in, in most places.  Take Presidents Day for example.  Who gave us the right to lump two very significant people into one day just to get Saturday, Sunday AND Monday off from work?  We have become a nation that just does not give a damn unless we can get something out of it, yet if our children display that kind of behavior we let them know how wrong it is for THEM to do it. How sad is it that we think only of ourselves and what we will do with that extra day instead of lingering on thoughts of the blood that was shed and the heroics that were displayed in that long ago time so that we might become rotten examples of patriotism.  No wonder no one respects the US, we don't even respect ourselves.