Can St. Nick deliver one more time vs. Saints?

Alook 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 legend of the Doink, or Double Doink if you like. Eagles fans’ hearts were in their throats when Bears kicker Cody Parker connected with that 43yard field goal attempt as time expired last Sunday. But Eagles lineman got his mitt on the ball, and it then clanked off first the upright, then the crossbar, before falling harmless to the Soldier Field turf. No Good. Eagles win. The magic continues.

LAUREL: To Nick Foles and the Eagles. We’re way past Saint Nick at this point. The karma is still going strong in the new year. Now it’s a game tomorrow in the Big East against the No. 1 seed, the New Orleans Saints. The big win means another return as Sports Illustrated cover boy this week for Foles. DART: To Sean Payton. The Saints coach left nothing to spare as he ran up the score during that 48-7 humiliating trouncing of the Eagles earlier this season. Don’t think anyone on the Eagles has forgotten it.

LAUREL: To Tom McGarrigle. The Springfield service station owner was not out of politics long. After losing his state Senate seat, McGarrigle this week was tapped to head the county Republican Party.

DART: To the loss of another Delco political icon. We lost longtime Sen. Ted Erickson this week. The longtime senator also served as a member of Delaware County Council, the county executive director, and the top administrator in Upper Darby, as well as being the region boss for the Environmental Protection Agency. But more than anything else, what defined Ted Erickson was being a gentleman. Not an easy task in the political world. We could use a lot more like him.

DART: Speaking of politics, can someone lock President Trump, Sen. Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in a room and let them know they will not be allowed to leave until they have a deal to end this federal government shutdown. Real people are being hurt. The three of them so dislike each other that it should not take them long to cut a deal and get the government operating again.

DART: And still more politics. Really, is this what we’re going to have now at every session of County Council? Bickering over the minutes. The county faces some real issues. Let’s not waste time with such “minutiae.”

LAUREL: To the legacy of Matt LeTourneau. Family, friends and fellow first responders gathered last weekend at the spot of the Philadelphia building fire where LeTourneau, a Springfield native, lost his life. Matt will be remembered with the Captain Matt LeTourneau Foundation, which will aid firefighters with something close to his heart – continuing education and training.

DART: To the ongoing “crisis” in local volunteer fire companies. A recent state study underlined what many have suspected for years. People simple are not volunteering the way they once did. Trying to replace these volunteers with paid first responders would explode most municipal budgets.

DART: To the 33 lives lost last year in the county at the hands of another. That’s how many homicides occurred in 2018 in Delaware County. Once again, the overwhelming majority of those occurred in Chester, which recorded 18. Next was Upper Darby with 5. In reality one is too many. LAUREL: Those numbers are actually down – for both the county and Chester – from the death toll in 2017.

LAUREL: To D.A. Katayoun Copeland, who has focused much of her anti-crime activities in the city of Chester, especially targeting the Sun Village area, which was dealing with a high crime rate. The D.A. also has worked with city officials in going door-to-door in the neighborhood to get the word out, as well as doing “clean-up” operations. It’s getting results.

DART: To the city of Chester for their parking plan, which will include installation of 1,500 parking meters in areas around the Widener University campus. The school is going to court to block the plan, which they say will have a horrific effect on the largely commuter campus. We know the city needs revenue. This is likely not the way to go about it. Widener has been a very good citizen for years in Chester. This is a slap in the face.

LAUREL: To the Brandywine Valley SPCA in West Chester. They once again are coming to the rescue – literally. The animal agency is working to find homes for 16 German shepherd dogs that were rescued from deplorable conditions in Georgia.

DART: Speaking of dog stories, we’re simply dumbfounded that an altercation between two dog owners in a South Philly park, apparently over a request that one of the pups be on a leash, could escalate into a fight and a punch thrown, resulting in the death of one of the men. Senseless.

LAUREL: On a brighter shaggy story, three pups from the Providence Animal Center will take place in this year’s Puppy Bowl, the animal contest that takes place every year along with the Super Bowl.

LAUREL: To longtime Springfield pediatrician Dr. Franklin Vogel. After 50 years in the foot biz, he’s ready to walk away, taking a well-earned retirement. Bravo, Doc. LAUREL: To a new era in Collingdale politics. With the death of longtime icon Mayor Frank Kelly, some new faces are popping up in borough political circles. Republican Councilman Joe Ciavarelli was appointed to Kelly’s position, and will serve until

2020. He’s considering a run for the seat. Meantime, Democrat Felecia Coffee has announced her candidacy.

LAUREL: To Chester County Judge Ann Marie Wheatcraft. She rejected without comment an appeal from road-rage killer David Desper, of Trainer, for a lesser sentence. We concur. Desper was sentenced to 20 to

40 years in prison for firing the shot that killed Bianca Roberson, a promising high school graduate, while the two drivers jockeyed for position on Route 100 in Chester County.

DART: To word that it is going to cost customers of the beloved Chester Water Authority more in the new year. The company is seeking a 10 percent rate hike. And they say it’s needed to fend off the interests who would like to sell off the private entity.

DART: Want to know who might be the most thankful for this great run by the Eagles? How about the Flyers. They are in freefall. They fired GM Ron Hextall. Then the coach Dave Hakstol. Who’s next?