Category: Haverford Township

Jim Allen Dismisses Poll Pad Shutdown Process

Jim Allen Dismisses Poll Pad Shutdown Process

By Sharon Devaney

Jim Allen, the director of elections for Delaware County, Pa., finally sent me a response to my report about issues with Poll Pads in Haverford Township.

I am the minority inspector in 6-2 in Haverford Township. At the end of the night the poll pads in 6-2, 6-3 and 6-4  did not shut down.

I called for help . I was screamed at by a individual who proceeded to tell me to put the poll pads back into the case with the three poll pads not being shut down properly.

Four us poll workers listened to the rant and had been trying to shut down the devices for near a half hour.

Allen’s response received, Dec. 20, was long. It was practically an essay. He said there were no risk in having the devices stay on unlike what it said in the election manual. He said the integrity of the elections was not in danger.

“We have done more thorough testing of equipment and of poll workers to prevent problems on Election Day,” he said.

I won’t address election integrity issues here but one of the things we poll workers are tested on is how to put away Poll Pads.

What happened was not how we were trained.

Poll workers arrive at their precinct at 6 a.m., an hour before polls open, to set up. Polls close at 8 p.m., or 14 hours after we arrive. We then have to take things down. It used to take us less than an hour. On Nov. 5, we didn’t get out until after 9:30, a nice chunk of which involved trying to shut down your new toys.

As we were trained and tested.

You aren’t making things better Jim.

By the way, you also said “I was not able to verify the call that you described” concerning the rant by the person who we were seeking help from.

That’s troubling. Whoever it was should not be working elections.

Oh, and a couple of printers broke down in the ward. We don’t want to forget that.

Jim Allen Dismisses Poll Pad Shutdown Process
Delco, Pa Election Director James Allen

Happy Holidays Haverford

The Haverford Township School District is stridently secular but we still want to wish them something in the spirit of the season so with help from former Vice Principal Steven Quinn we — especially Sharon– say Happy Holidays Haverford.

Happy Holidays Haverford

Larry Holmes Apologizes

Larry Holmes Apologizes — Larry Holmes apologized at last night’s (Nov. 12) Haverford Commissioner’s meeting for the Facebook screed he posted two days after the Nov. 5 election concerning Donald Trump’s historic victory.

Holmes represents the 6th Ward and is board president.

He used the phrase “insubstantial minions” that was taken by most to mean Trump voters and “autocrat” to refer to the Donald.

In the longest meeting in memory, township residents Bob Dell and Sharon Devaney stayed until 10:30 p.m. — about a three-and-a-half hour wait — to call Holmes out.

It was a few minutes later during commssioner comments when Holmes made the apology, and it appeared sincere.

He noted he had taken down the post.

Holmes said the phrase “insubstantial minions” was not directed at the voters but about the people around Trump.

He did not apologize for using “autocrat” though.

Dell and Ms. Devaney both accepted the apology.

And while sincere, Holmes’ explanation illustrates that the divide in this country is less about values and goals but about perceptions.

Leaving aside why would would think Elon Musk, Tulsi Gabbard, Bobby Kennedy Jr., Vivek Ramaswamy and JD Vance are either “insubstantial” or “minions”, how could one even think Trump is an “autocrat”?

Did he twist the law to throw an opponent in jail during his first term or shut down dissenting media? Did he start any wars?

Seriously, Larry, consider getting a new source of information.

The vast majority of Trump voters are not bad people. They are rather good people, actually.

Other Matters

The board also unanimously passed a commitment to the long-discussed “Safe Streets for All” program which will use the Safe Systems Approach for a township wide safety action plan. Several citizens including Dory Dowdy and Mike Lee expressed concerns among which were that consultants were taking precedence over residents, and that state roads were not being considered.

The commissioners noted that passing the resolution provides flexibility and doesn’t negate the concerns expressed.

That the township has a problem with safety was not denied.

Ms. Devaney described the accident at Ellis and Lawrence roads seven years ago that left her with permanent injuries. The driver of the striking car was going 70 mph.

Tevin Nix noted that drivers routinely ignore the “do not enter” signs at Darby Road and West Chester Pike.

Victor Cortez, Chris Peter and Beverly, a crossing guard for Manoa School, cited the Manoa and Eagle road intersection at the school as particularly dangerous. Cortez said he, his wife and daughter were hit by a vehicle there while crossing the street with the girl in a stroller. Fortunately, no serious injuries resulted.

As we passed the intersection, this morning we noticed a Haverford police vehicle stationed on a side street, and got a fright when a student crossed Eagle against the light and way outside a crosswalk.

In another matter, the board voted 5-4 to pass the first reading of an amendment to township’s storm water management ordinance concerning a limit to impervious surface.

The board unanimously passed to much praise the Skatium renovation project. This improves locker room facilities for girls participating in sports.

The board heard from several angry residents about poor response to noise complaints concerning pickleball games at Paddock Park.

A man expressed concern about abandoned cars on County Line Road.

Larry Holmes Apologizes

Triggered Haverford Pol Publishes Hate-filled Screed

Triggered Haverford Pol Publishes Hate-filled Screed — Larry Holmes, who is Haverford Township, Pa.’s 6th Ward Commissioner and Board president, posted this morning a divisive, hate-filled screed on Facebook demeaning his neighbors who voted for Donald Trump on Tuesday.

“Autocrat” Larry? You’re the guy responsible for keeping township businesses from giving shopping bags to customers.

This is a real burden on shoppers especially the elderly and infirm. How can you have not figured that out yet?

It’s because it’s you that’s an autocrat.

Autocrats always think they know better. When their grandiose plans fail they never admit they are wrong.

Even when real pain results.

Autocrats also dehumanize their opponents. Saying their neighbors who voted for Trump are “insubstantial minions” is an example.

Way to keep your humanity, Larry.

LOLOL

By the way, Larry is also on the board of the Haverford Township Free Library.

Here is Larry’s screed

THE AMERICA WE ARE

Last week I wrote about the America we know. This morning, consider the America we are.

We lived through this from 2017 to 2021. And this time we know what’s coming. He can’t surprise us. America isn’t him. It’s millions of us. We’ve got this. We have no choice. We will do this for our parents, our siblings, our spouses, for our daughters, and for our sons. For our friends and neighbors. For the tired, the poor, the huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of a teeming shore. We will accept the homeless tempest-tost, at the foot of Lady Liberty as she holds her lamp over our golden shores. That’s who we are, and no one person and his insubstantial minions is going change that.

I’d hoped we’d set a great example yesterday by rejecting an autocrat. We fell short of that task.

We have a new one. We will set a great example of how to keep our humanity and our dignity and our character, individual and collective, in spite of one. And remain that golden shore.

And remain the America we are. And will always be.

God bless you all and God bless the United States of America.

Triggered Haverford Pol Publishes Hate-filled Screed
Small pix for a small man

Triggered Haverford Pol Publishes Hate-filled Screed

Strange Reports Concerning Temple Lutheran

Strange Reports Concerning Temple Lutheran — We heard some crazy stories about goings on at Temple Lutheran Church, 501 Brookline Blvd., Havertown, Pa.

Are there really post-midnight, AA meetings followed by parties in the parking lot?

And what’s this about The Savage Sisters using it as some kind of headquarters?

The Sisters wanted to pack 25 recovering addicts — a blatant violation of the municipal code — into 17 Tenby Road just a few months ago.

Strange Reports Concerning Temple Lutheran

Unassimilated Immigrants Fill Delco Apartment Buildings

Unassimilated Immigrants Fill Delco Apartment Buildings

By Sharon Devaney

Aston is green lighting the construction of apartments in a crowded section of the township, and apartment complexes, generally unattractive ones, are popping up at an accelerated rate throughout Delaware County, PA.

Whoever can be moving into this places?

Let me tell you hat happened to me at the Waterford Apartments in Havertown about nine years ago.

When I moved in, the apartment complex was well kept and clean. The grounds were beautiful and the staff was wonderful and friendly. If I needed something fixed the response was quick. It was a child and pet friendly enviroment. The neighbors were wonderful and friendly. When I renewed my lease within the year I started having some issues with other renters which I didnt experience before.

Then trash started appearing on the grounds. These included soiled diapers. The trash cans througout the grounds were ignored. Darby Creek in the back suddenly had trash floating in it.

The new residents could not speak English. Once upon coming home I saw a toddler’s head pushed outside a screen in a window on a second floor apartment. I had to run to the office to report it to the manager because there was no parent near the baby to help him.

Another very terrifying experience was with the new neighbors across the hall. They prayed in the hall outside my door and asked me in broken English why I wasnt wearing a hijab.

“Why would I?” I asked. “I’m Catholic.”

“You need to respect us,” they demanded.

I also had a small dog and they said they did not like animals. Herbie, my dog, was also apparently a sign of disrespect.

The men shouted constantly at their wives and disrespected them in front of others. On trips to the market, it was the wives who carried in the groceries despite the presence of empty-handed men.

I started making sure I left lights on at night and made sure my daughter was never alone.

These immigrants, I learned, received subsidized rent and health insurance, along with EBT cards.

I was a single mom with two kids. I worked full time. No subsidies for me.

The new immigrants did not assimilate and conditions worsened.

I chose not to renew my lease after an accident in 2017 left me permanently handicapped. The accident occurred a short distance from the apartments and the driver at fault was an illegal immigrant from Trinidad.

Still no subsidies, by they way, and I still work full time.

A society is required to have values and impose them. One of the values treasured in America is that one may not fight about theology. Another is that the rule of law applies equally to all. The illegal who crippled me was never prosecuted, I’ll note.

I used to wonder why our government subsidized illegals and gave them privileges unavailable to the native born.

Today’s news includes a report that an armed gang of illegals from Venezuela took over an apartment complex in Aurora, Col.

It appears that a group of sick but powerful people are importing their own army.

Yesterday’s conspiracy theory is today’s news.

Unassimilated Immigrants Fill Delco Apartment Buildings

Unassimilated Immigrants Fill Delco Apartment Buildings

Savage Sisters In Trouble Over Grant

Savage Sisters In Trouble Over Grant

By Sharon Devaney

Seems like the Savage Sisters are at it again mishandling a grant given to them by Delaware County, Pa. for another recovery home .

They are asking the public for donations of $250,000 , the same amount used to purchase 142 Springton Road, Upper Darby paid in cash by Sarah Laurel — in her name — from SSAE Prop LLC.

Before SSAE, the home had been owned by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Some are suggesting they need this back in the bank fairly quickly before an audit.

The home is assessed at $70,000, by the way.

Here are the receipts.

And do The Savage Sisters really have no plan of paying their 10 employees in 2025?

What does State Sen. Amanda Cappelletti think of all this? She sits on the board of The Savage Sisters. Amanda, a Democrat, represents the 17th District which includes Haverford Township where the organization tried to pack a home on Tenby Avenue with recovering drug addicts in complete violation of township law.

Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon might want to chime in too. She’s buds with Amanda and a big supporter of this group.

Savage Sisters In Trouble Over Grant
Savage Sisters In Trouble Over Grant

Savage Sisters In Trouble Over Grant

Superintendent Reusche Blames State For Not Notifying District Of Lynnewood Teacher Arrest

Superintendent Reusche Blames State For Not Notifying District Of Lynnewood Teacher Arrest

By Sharon Devaney

Superintendent Maureen Reusche, at the Aug. 1 Haverford Township (Pa.) School Board meeting, blamed the state for failing to notify the district of the two arrests of Lynnewood 5th grade teacher Matthew Gagat for masturbating in public.

“The problem is a technical one,” she said she was told.

The district’s policy is for parents to contact the teacher about such concerns, and then the principal before contacting the central office, she said. However, the parents can contact the administration if they feel they are being ignored.

So, were they being ignored? Was the principal told? Why wouldn’t the principal contact the superintendent?

We hear that parents had been expressing concern about Gagat’s classroom behavior for some time.

Lets not forget that the administration defended High School Vice Principal Steven Quinn despite his posting uncomfortably suggestive photos of himself on Instagram.

Perhaps the school district should worry less about diversity and more about character and competence.

In other matters, a few residents continued to push for impractical solar panels at Chatham Park Elementary School.

They argued that state subsidies would make solar energy affordable.

Newsflash: State subsidies are tax money also.

Superintendent Reusche Blames State
Former Vice Principal Steven Quinn on Instagram

Haverford’s Proud Tradition Of Perversion Continues

Haverford’s Proud Tradition Of Perversion Continues

By Sharon Devaney

Matthew Gagat, a fifth grade teacher at Lynnewood Elementary school in Haverford Township, Pa., is facing charges of indecent exposure after he was reportedly caught masturbating March 3 in Whitemarsh Cemetery in Montgomery County and on June 27 in Lenape Park in Bucks County.

Gagat made national news.

The district begged for patience .

“The challenge for a school system in these moments is to appropriately address our community concerns while maintaining the procedures — both in the criminal justice system and as a district employee– that the individual is entitled to under the law,” said Superintendent Maureen Reusche.

This statement by Ms Reusche is quite reasonable. We understand, however, that Gagat has been the subject of complaints for the last two years. These included his removing his shirt in front of fifth graders during class.

These complaints were ignored.

Perversion is nothing new in Haverford Township.

High School Vice Principal Steven Quinn was quietly let go a few years back after he exposed himself in photos on Instagram. Quinn had befriended many students on the site. One photo featured Quinn wearing nothing but Christmas lights. Students angry at Quinn made t-shirts with this photo and wore them to class.

Ms Reuche defended Quinn as long as she could. We hear he is now working in a New Jersey school district.

Former Haverford High Vice Principal Steve Quinn was defended to the end by Superintendent Maureen Reusche until student protests made it lights out. The protests included students wearing t-shirts emblazoned with this photo to class

Prized Catch In Ardmore

Prized Catch In Ardmore — A young fisherman shows off his catch on the SEPTA busway by Chestnutwold School in the Ardmore section. The creek is clean with fish, turtles and ducks. The busway needs a lot of work, though. The fish was released after it was caught.

–Sharon Devaney

Prized Catch In Ardmore