‘Rockin’ community spirit in Leedom
A look at the week that was, the issues and people who made headlines, and a few darts and laurels for those who deserve them.
LAUREL: To the good folks in the Leedom section of Ridley Township, specifically Don Taziole and his daughter Melissa. They came up with the idea of painting brightly colored rocks and adding motivational sayings as a way of developing community unity. Now they’re popping up all over town. Well done, folks.
DART: If only all towns were working together that way. Instead, too often we see the worst of our neighbors and fellow citizens. You need look no further than the recent uptick in anti-Semitic incidents and the vandalism of hundreds of headstones at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Philadephia to realize that we still don’t all get along.
LAUREL: To the Interfaith Council of Southern Delaware County. They issued a strong statement condemning the recent actions and appealing to all of us to come together as a community. Good for them.
DART: To the end of the line for another Delco dining icon. Campbell’s Boat House on Providence Road in Upper Providence closed its doors for the last time last weekend. The restaurant had been a staple in the middle of the county since 1967. It now makes way for still one more super Wawa.
LAUREL: To news that still another icon is coming back. Clank’s Bar is opening this weekend under new owners. The best news? The bar’s famous Sicilian-style pizza also is coming back. It will be the same recipe.
LAUREL: To Fran and Al Kloss. The Secane couple recently marked 70 years of wedded bliss. Their advice? They take care of one another. Good advice.
DART: To the ending of the Oscars. Steve Harvey has nothing on these guys. In a colossal mistake, the wrong “Best Picture” winner was announced. While the gang from “La La Land” was celebrating on stage, a commotion ensued, and eventually it was announced that a mistake had been made, the wrong film announced and “Moonlight” was the actual winner. And these people want to offer advice on how to run the country?
DART: To John Corcoran IV. The young former volunteer firefighter known as the ‘Pied Piper’ was back in court this week, entering pleas to another slew of local charges involving sexual assaults on children. He’s already looking at 28 years in federal prison on the long list of federal child porn charges. No doubt he’ll get more tacked on for his offenses here in the county.
LAUREL: To volunteer firefighters. They perform a thankless job, and this is not the kind of publicity the need. On top of everything else, they are fast becoming a dying breed, with their numbers dwindling. They’ll get by fine without Corcoran, however.
LAUREL: To Harry Baldwin. The Upper Chi man is being credited with thwarting a robbery when he tackled the suspect and then held him down until police arrived. Good for him.
LAUREL: To the return of a famous name – and pizza pie – in Marcus Hook. The legendary Clank’s opens this weekend under new ownership. We’re assured, however, it’s with the old pizza. Good thing.
LAUREL: To Sunoco Logistics. They are putting up $100,000 for scholarships for students who attend classes at Delaware County Community College that could land them jobs in the natural gas, oil and other industries.
DART: To the so-called ‘controversy’ surrounding the pedestrian bridge that will be built by Villanova University spanning busy Lancaster Avenue. Some in the community objected to two large crosses, each more than 4 feet high, at either end of the span. Really? This is what we’re talking about? Seems like there are more important areas to focus on.
DART: To the ever-present scourge of heroin use in the county and region. Police this week made two significant arrests. In Upper Darby, officers confiscated 500 packages of heroin while making an arrest. It was the second time in two months the man was charged with heroin sales. In Upper Chichester, a mother and son were both arrested on charges of possession with the intent to deliver heroin.
LAUREL: To the McKee group, which is behind the proposal to bring a marijuana-growing operation to Aston Township. They got the OK from the township, now they await a ruling from the state. There will be two such growing operations in southeast Pennsylvania. Frank McKee and his daughters say they have been touched personally by cancer and are hoping their product can ease the pain of some battling the disease.
DART: To those who still cling to old images of marijuana. Keep in mind, these pot plants are not going to be smoked. Instead they will be converted into creams, tinctures and ointments use for pain control by seriously ill patients under a doctor’s care.
LAUREL: To all those who took part in last weekend’s ‘What’s Your Passion’ festival at Academy Park High School. The annual event has become a beacon on the Sharon Hill campus, showing students positive paths to what they want to do in life.
DART: To the continuing blight of violent crime in Chester. We learned this week that the city is operating with just 85 officers, including eight new graduates from the Philadelphia Police Academy. Talks continue about beefing up city patrols by utilizing state police. They can’t get there fast enough.
LAUREL: To U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello. The Chester County lawmaker surprised the weekly gathering of protesters outside his office last week by engaging them in a “pop-up” town hall meeting. Costello answered questions and listened to concerns for 90 minutes. They next day he was taken to task in Phoenixville for not attending a town hall there. He had another commitment. He didn’t deserve the rap.
DART: In the meantime, citizens in Delaware County continue to wait for a similar sit-down with U.S. Rep. Pat Meehan. Republican U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey has not exactly been in a rush to sit down with his constituents either, despite being under withering criticism that he is unavailable.
DART: To the Sixers. So much for seeing Ben Simmons this year. Joel Embiid is now going to miss the rest of the season. Does anyone believe anything these people say? Weren’t we talking playoffs just a few weeks ago.
DART: Speaking of playoffs, the Flyers still have a shot at making them. And they better because if they don’t they could become the first team in NHL history to have a 10game winning streak during the season and fail to make the playoffs. Ouch!