Category: Delco

Meehan Only Hero In ConocoPhillips Tragedy

Meehan Only Hero In ConocoPhillips Tragedy — ConocoPhillips announced billions in profits, yesterday, shortly before it was expected to layoff its workforce at its refinery in Trainer, Pa.

This has resulted in outrage, and there should be outrage. Not just an employer but a major part of our industrial infrastructure is shutting down.

Where is the attempt to save it?

ConocoPhillips spokesman Rich Johnson explained the reasoning for the closing as being “based on the level of investment required to remain competitive in the U.S. East Coast refining market that has been under severe market pressure for several years.”

He cited product imports, weakness in motor fuel demand and costly regulatory requirements as the cause of this market pressure.

Where were our politicians in demanding relief from these requirements? Congressman Pat Meehan (R-7) is the closest thing we have to a hero on this and even he could have been a lot louder.

Congressmen Bob Brady (D-1) and Chaka Fattah (D-2) have been dead silent on the issue. One of the similarly endangered Sunoco refineries is in Fattah’s district and Brady’s district includes many of refinery workers.

How about the union leaders? Notice Johnson was not blaming labor costs for the closings? Why do they continue to support politicians who want to regulate away our industry?

Our senators Pat Toomey (R) and Bob Casey (D) haven’t been particularly outspoken on providing relief for the refineries and their workers.

And of course there is President Obama. Obama didn’t even make the feeblest effort to save them and it would have been likely been all that it would have taken. Does Obama want to destroy our industry? I fear the answer to that.

So outrage is warranted but don’t direct it all at the oil company.

Feds Shut American Eagle Savings Bank

Feds Shut American Eagle Savings Bank — American Eagle Savings Bank, whose only branch was at 3915 Chichester Ave. in Upper Chichester, Pa., was shut by the feds Friday.

Capital Bank of Rockville, Md. has agreed to purchase its assets   from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

American Eagle had about $19.6 million in assets and $17.7 million in deposits as of Sept. 30.

Hat tip, Tom C.

 

Feds Shut American Eagle Savings Bank

Feds Shut American Eagle Savings Bank

23rd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration

23rd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration — I just returned from the  23rd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration held at the First United Methodist Church of Media. It was chaired by Dr. Cecelia Evans, one of my favorite people.

The Media Area Interfaith Choir directed by Christine Schroth was fantastic, albeit may have been outdone by 9-year-old Emmanuel Armstrong’s reading of “What Do You Know About Dr. King?”. Emmanuel got a standing O.

Emmanuel, however, may have been out done by his grandmother Viola Benson’s solo singing.

The welcome was given by Maria Kotch, president of the Media Fellowship House and the invocation by Rabbi Linda Potemken of Congregation Beth Israel. Media’s excellent mayor, Bob McMahon, welcomed the community and asked for prayers for the children of the Chester School District whose teachers are working without pay as powers-that-be try to work out their budget issues. It’s almost like a teachers strike in reverse.

The only downside to the night was keynote speaker Annette John-Hall, a columnist for The Philadelphia Inquirer, who gave an unnecessarily political and divisive speech. Mrs. John-Hall made no attempt to hide where she was coming from and strongly implied that all  who disagreed with her were filled with hate and possibly racist.

Quick question Annette, that poor woman fearful of losing her food stamps as she is about to pay her high property tax, why is her property tax so high? How about her energy costs? Wouldn’t it be great if she paid less for her gas because the supply was a bit closer to home?

And Annette, a lot of those people turning against President Obama voted for him. Are they racists now but were not racists then?

On a day to celebrate a great man who was dedicated to unity and inclusiveness there is a word to describe your speech, and that word is irony. Check this video from Jon Stewart’s Daily Show and see if you can pick up on what I mean (foul language warning).

You made it clear you thought yourself a Christian and I believe you. There are a who lot of people, however who think themselves Christians, but don’t agree with you on anything. It’s not because they hate but because they love, and this includes poor people and minorities. And it’s not because they don’t understand your reasoning but it’s because they do and have concluded it doesn’t make sense.

Ask yourselves questions like these:  What is the point of money? Why do people start businesses? Why do they hire people? How does food get to the supermarket? Why do I drive the kind of car I drive?

Ask yourself, why the people of Greece can’t get aspirin?

The benediction was given by Rev. Kevin S. West who is associate pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Chester where Rev. King served his internship. Rev. West ended the night by leading the crowd with “We Shall Overcome.” Jacob Manny provided a trumpet solo.

The sponsors of  the event were the Media Fellowship House, the Media  Area Unit NAACP, the Unitarian University Church of Delaware County, the Reformation Lutheran Church, Congregation Beth Israel, the Second Baptist Church of Media, Media Friends Meeting and First United Methodist Church of Media.

23rd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration

The Lights Of The Barry Or Things You Don’t Know About Delco

That a quasi-popular musician has actually written a song called  Lights of The Commodore Barry is tidbit about which most people living in Delaware County are unaware.

The musician is Matthew Ryan — who shares the name with both the late speaker of the State House and Chesco-born quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons. Ryan was born in Chester in 1971 and his style of music is described as alternative country.

While he may not have had any popular chart toppers his songs have been featured on numerous television shows including One Tree Hill and House.

And while we can’t find Lights of The Commodore Barry on the web here are the lyrics.

Here is Ryan’s Follow The Leader.


Rogers Howard Has Unveiling Before Delco Pats

G. Rogers Howard, the man who hopes to replace Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi as the senator for Pennsylvania’s 9th District told an enthusiastic crowd of 60 at The Delaware County Patriots, tonight, Jan. 11, that it was his grandchildren who are motivating him to run.

Howard said the state plus its municipalities are $125 billion in debt and that this debt is a form of taxation without representation on the unborn and the young which include his grandchildren all of whom are under 7 years old.

He said that the state Republican establishment is quite happy with the status quo regardless of what suffering should occur, and that this especially applies to Pileggi. He noted that the GOP took over  the executive and legislative branches of state government  last year after sweeping the 2010 elections.

“You expect to see the reform legislation that occured in Wisconsin, Ohio and Indiana,” he said. He said what we got though were long discussions about “red light cameras in Chester.”

Howard, who will be using Roger as his first name throughout the campaign, pointed out that Pennsylvania gets about $27 billion in revenue annually but actually spends about $65 billion. The money to cover the gap comes from bond issues, and regarding bond issues he said the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program is basically just a huge slush fund.

The program which was begun with $400 million in 1986 was given the ability to borrow up to $700 million in 1993 which was increased to $1.2 billion in 1999 and with continued periodic increases now stands at $4.05 billion.

The program is used to give Aker Philadelphia Shipyard its annual $42 million payoff to keep from closing. It’s also used to fund things like the Arlen Specter Library and the John Murtha Library which have each received grants of $10 million apiece and the Comcast Center which has gotten a grant for $35 million.  Howard explained that the actual cost of that $10 million grant is $33 million when funded with a 30-year bond.

Howard lives in Unionville, has a Ph.d in chemistry and served in the 82nd Airborne Division. He has pledged not to participate in the state pension system. He answered audience questions in which he spoke out in opposition to teachers strikes and in favor of the right to work. He said he is against gay marriage.

He says he will be getting a better website.

In other business, the Patriots passed out flyers regarding legislation passed by the State House that is being held up in the Senate run by Pileggi including HB 42, a bill that would make parts of ObamaCare impossible to enforce in the state.

Regina Scheerer announced that 12 members of the Pats including herself were running for committee seats — most against party wishes — and that help and funding were needed. She also issued a plea for help and funding for Howard.

 

Pileggi To Have Tea Party Challenger

Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi will face a Tea Party challenger for his 9th District seat this April 24 in the Republican Primary.

The challenger, Rogers Howard,  is a Unionville resident with a PhD. in Chemistry.
 
“I met Rogers Howard yesterday for two hours,” said Tea Party activist Bob Guzzardi.  “He may the smartest candidate I have met – so smart that he can admit he doesn’t know something.”

Howard served in the 82d Airborne Division.

See here for an update.

 

With Pen In Hand Starts Winter Session

With Pen In Hand Starts Winter Session — The With Pen in Hand Family Writing Program winter session starts Jan. 7 and  ends June 2.  This non-profit program, sponsored by Media Fellowship House  meets 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays  at the Fellowship House 302 S. Jackson St. Media,  Pa. 19063.

It is designed for families with children from ages 5 to 18.  Parents and/or mentors are encouraged to come and participate in activities that help to improve skills and allow one to enjoy writing.  Help for the SAT and PSSEA tests is offered.  Attendance is not compulsory. Late registrations are accepted.

And the program is free although donations are happily accepted.

This inter-generational, multi-racial  program began 11 years ago and has served over 400 families. Participants are encouraged to publish their writings in the anthology which is distributed at the end of each year.  Several have published books of their work and many have gone on to further study in writing.

Program sponsors have included the Rose Tree Media and Wallingford-Swarthmore school districts, the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce and West Chester University. Funding came from The Ethel Sergeant Clark-Smith Foundation, PECO, The Connelly Foundation, the Douty Foundation and individuals.

This program is directed by Cecelia Evans, a retired educator from the School District of Philadelphia and founder of With Pen in Hand. She is also a fellow of the Pennsylvania Writing and Literature Project West Chester University West Chester, PA.  Instructors  include  Janice Ewing,  Carolynne Glover, Jodine Mayberry, Darrell Blair and Joyce Ellis who also serves as computer specialist.
For information or to register call 484-483-7986 or 610-565-0434; or send an e-mail to cevans9118@comcast.net.

 

With Pen In Hand Starts Winter Session

Auction Gives John du Pont Snapshot

 

John DuPont Train Set Auction Gives John du Pont Snapshot

The electric trains with which John duPont played while a lonely boy in a large, fatherless home with a coddling mother are among the items from his estate which are being auctioned tomorrow, Nov. 26, in Ludwig’s Corner, Pa.

DuPont, the richest man to ever be convicted of murder for the 1996 killing of Olympic gold medal wrestler Dave Schultz, died Dec. 9 in minimum-security state prison in Mercer.

He had grown up and lived in Newtown Township, Delaware County.

In the  1980s, duPont was on the lists of the magazine rankings of the richest Americans, and presidents were  hosted at his home.

The auction starts 9 a.m. at Griffith Hall, Ludwig’s Corner Fire Company 1325 Pottstown Pike (Route 100), Glenmoore, PA 19343

DuPont Portrait Auction Gives John du Pont Snapshot
This portrait of duPont in garb of the Foxcatcher wrestling program which he ran at his Newtown estate and which led to his ultimate downfall is expected to bring between $500 and $700. Auctioneer Ted Wiedersiem says duPont paid artist Hubert Shuptrine $100,000 to have it done.

 

 

Auction Gives John du Pont Snapshot

R.I.P. Dottie Reynolds

I was just informed that Dottie Reynolds has died.

Dottie was a wonderful writer who worked for the Delaware County Daily Times and the Press Newspapers of Delaware County.

She was one of the founders of the Delaware County Press Club.

She had been living in Florida.

R.I.P. Dottie.

 

R.I.P. Dottie Reynolds

Mountain Lions In The Northeast?

Mountain Lions In The Northeast? — Two persons reported seeing a mountain lion the afternoon of Oct. 26 near the Drexelbrook Apartments near Darby Creek in the Drexel Hill section of Upper Darby, Pa.

Police investigated and declared the sightings unfounded.

Coincidentally, though NBC is reporting that a mountain lion has been seen in Washington D.C.

Interesting coincidences are worth a mention.

About 15 years ago, there was also a spate of mountain lion sightings in Delaware County, Pa..

In the early 1980s, a fisherman  in Crum Creek in Newtown Township thought he saw a tiger. He threw down his rod and reel, a wade a mile through the creek to a road where he flagged down a car to take him to the police station where he reported it. Police investigated with shotguns at the ready. They found the “tiger” to be a striped great dane.


Mountain Lions In The Northeast?