New life rises from rubble of Granite Run Mall
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 new life at an old mall. In the rubble of what was once the Granite Run Mall, the Promenade at Granite Run, a town-center style development with a mix of retail, residential and entertainment outlets is rising in Middletown.
LAUREL: The new development promises to be a tax boon to both the township and the Rose Tree Media School District, which were hard hit when the mall closed its doors a few years back.
DART: To Alissa Parker. The mother of one of the victims from the school shooting massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary a couple of years back came to Delco this week to speak at the county’s annual Safe Schools Summit. She was preaching preparation to avoid the kind of tragedy that unfolded at Sandy Hook. To live through this once is horrific enough, but Parker now relives it again and again in the hope that no parent will have to go through the same kind of hell.
LAUREL: The names now just roll off out tongue. Columbine, Virginia Tech, Sandy Hook. For the most part we send our kids off to school content in the knowledge that they will return home safely. Sadly, as these mass shootings point out, that is no longer always the case. And why these annual Safe School Summits, which have been held by the county District Attorney’s Office every year since the Colorado school shooting tragedy, are so important.
DART: To a very tough week for Radnor Township. First the current president of the board of commissioners, Phil Ahr, was charged with a horrific string of child porn charges. The very next day, former Commissioner Bill Spingler was sentenced for groping a 103-year-old woman in a nursing home.
LAUREL: To an early Christmas present from Delaware County Council. For the fourth straight year, they will hold the line on taxes in their budget preparations.
DART: They aren’t that lucky in Upper Darby, where officials announced a hike of .58 mills to cover rising costs of police and firefighter coverage. The average home owner’s tab will go up about $63 bucks.
DART: To the seemingly never-ending violence on the streets of Chester. In one 24hour period this week police responded to no less than four shooting incidents. Two men were killed when they engaged in a shootout, according
to police. The deaths bring the city’s homicide total to 26. They had 27 all of last year.
LAUREL: “Close Before You Doze.” A big thumb’s up to those who took part in a special fire prevention program at the Delaware County Emergency Services Training Center this week. One of the items stressed? Something as simple as closing the bedroom door before going to sleep can be a lifesaver. A closed door prevents the spread of flames and delays the build-up of heat in a home in the event of a fire.
LAUREL: To free flu shots. You can’t beat free. The county is offering several free flu shot clinics, including one yesterday at Pilgrim Gardens Shopping Center in Upper Darby. LAUREL: To Chichester High School Senior Melanie Dempsey. The student was recently honored by the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth for her original essay, “Helping Hands, Helping Hearts.” In it Dempsey recounted her work mentoring young students.
LAUREL: To Nan Dutton. Nan was one of us, a longtime correspondent for the Chester Times. Known to almost everyone as “Miss Nan,” she chronicled the doings of Media in the newspaper. This week she was saluted by being added to the Media Walk of Fame.
DART: To what is happening to the residents of the Andover development in Thornbury Township. Aside from seeing their back yards and precious open space carved up for construction of the Mariner East 2pipeline, now they’re also facing the indignity of having massive cloth sound and visual barriers erected literally right behind their houses. See for yourself at the intersection of Routes 352and 926.
LAUREL: To Jeff Ayars and Omri Dorani. This film-making
duo are looking to put a little “hometown horror” in “Everybody’s Hometown.” They are looking to film their spooktacular in the county seat of Media.
LAUREL: To Dr. Chris Domes. He was formally installed as the next president of Neumann University last week. Those are some big shoes to fill. He will be taking the reins at the Aston campus from Dr. Rosalie Mirenda, a beloved icon in county education circles. We’re confident Domes is up to the task.
DART: What happened to all that public interest in the new Springfield High School? The last session held by township planners was fairly sparsely attended. Not to worry. There are several more sessions slated for what is still expected to be a $130 million project. LAUREL: To WalkWorks, a new statewide initiative to get residents out and about – and in particular walking. They
week officials gathered to push the notion of exercising in Lansdowne. LAUREL: To Solomon Zeon and Peace Kumeh. The two entrepreneurs are banking on a new line of sneakers as their ticket to the American dream. Their new business venture is based in Darby Borough. LAUREL: To the Eagles. Make that the 5-1 Eagles. On a short week, the Birds hit the road and took down Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers Thursday night. Very impressive win that clearly puts the Eagles among the elite of the NFL. LAUREL: To Doug Pederson. In his second year at the helm, Pederson has this team firing on all cylinders. They clearly have bought into his system and have his back. The doubters have gone quiet.
LAUREL: To Joel Embiid. The big man finally got back on the court this week during an exhibition game against the Nets out on Long Island. And he showed no ill effects of toting around that new five-year, $148 million contract extension.
DART: We know, it’s crazy. Embiid has played in 31 NBA games. He missed his first two seasons entirely with a variety of foot ailments. He has yet to break the reins of minutes restrictions. He did not play back-to-back games. He got back on the court this week for the first time since undergoing knee surgery, which shortcircuited his debut season last year. And even with all of that, it’s hard to argue against what the Sixers did. Did you see him dominate in his 14 minutes the other night? Yeah, he could be that good.