Category: Local People

4 Newtown Officials Face Charges

(From correspondent Pattie Price)

Criminal charges were filed Monday, May 9, against two Newtown Township employees and two township elected officials. All four are facing charges of theft by unlawful taking and theft of services in connection with the Federal Express investigation.

Newtown Supervisor George Wood, 68, of the 4000 block of Goshen Road; Newtown tax collector Marie Richards, 58, of the 300 block of Pomona Avenue; Newtown assistant to the township manager George Clement; and secretary Gwen Toyzer are charged with using the township Federal Express account of their personal business.

According to the affidavits filed by CID Detective Robert Lythgoe, an investigation of the alleged fraud revealed $1209.99 was paid to Federal Express for personal business.

Mrs. Toyzer sent seven packages totaling $1,086.57; Wood sent two packages totaling $21.45; Mrs. Richards sent two packages totaling $32.66; and Clement sent four packages totaling $90.76.

The affidavit also states that when the four were confronted with the allegations they all admitted the illegal use of the township’s Federal Express account and all made restitution.

A hearing scheduled May 26 in Newtown District Court will most likely be transferred to another District Court.

Gar Raines R.I.P.

Gar Raines R.I.P.

A service was held this morning, April 16, for the gentle and decent Garland C. Raines at The Church of the Redeemer in Springfield, Pa.

Gar, a veteran of World War II, live a long and full life. He was a editor and writer and ended his professional career at the County Press in Newtown Square where he worked for 12 years.

Gar lived in Springfield and is survived by his wife, Ruth; son, Blake, and family.

 Gar Raines R.I.P.

Ron Pritsch’s Legacy

Ron Pritsch’s Legacy — The lead story in last week’s Springfield Press concerned the gift bequeathed by writer and anthropologist Ron Pritsch to the Springfield (Pa) Library.

The money was used to replace the 48-year-old circulation desk with one more suitable for the computer era.

Ron died Jan. 19, 2009 of a heart attack which was quite unexpected. He was either 55 or 56.

I knew Ron. He was a fine writer and a decent man and the community still mourns his passing.

 

Ron Pritsch’s Legacy

Does Jim Devenney Want His Old Job Back?


James J. Devenney , who did the classy thing a year or so ago by resigning as Springfield’s (Pa)  6th Ward Commissioner in the wake of a relatively minor scandal, is reportedly doing a classless thing by trying to get his old job back.

We have been told he has declared himself to be an independent candidate in Republican municipal primary election on May 17.

Say it ain’t so Jim. You do not have a right to the job.

 

Does Jim Devenney Want His Old Job Back?

Good Guy Of The Week




Bill Rhoads of Rhoads Plumbing Heating Cooling  has been reported to have done an excellent — and reasonably priced — job of getting the plumbing up to code of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church , 100 S. Penn St. in Clifton Heights.

Well done, Bill. His business is at 333 S. Bishop Ave., Springfield, PA 19064. He can be reached at 610-623-3874.


Experience Drunk Driving The Safe Way

A way to safely experience drunk driving will be the highlight of  Healthy Communities Initiative’s High Impact Alcohol Awareness Program to be held at the Granite Run Mall, March 11.

A DUI simulator will let you feel what it’s like to take the wheel of a Ford Taurus after having one mojito over the line.

Actually, for it to be really interesting, it will have to be a couple of mojitos over the line, considering where the line is now drawn in this nanny-state era.

But check it out anyway. The event runs from 3 to 9 p.m. at the mall, 1067 W. Baltimore Pike, Media (Middletown Township) Pa., 19063.

There, of course, will also be food, booths and freebies.

No drinks, presumably.

The event director is Janet Lloyd Murphy.

Dan Desiderio Happy Birthday For Delco’s Maestro

Dan Desiderio Happy Birthday For Delco's Maestro
With premier accordionist Desiderio is premier journalist William Lawrence Sr.

Long-time Springfield, Pa. resident Daniel J. Desiderio, now of Middletown Township with a Media address, was feted for five hours this afternoon, June 26, in honor of his 80th birthday at Sam’s Restaurant & Saloon on MacDade Boulevard in Glenolden.


The event featured fine food, heartfelt testimonials and superb music.

Desiderio, one of Delaware County’s hidden jewels, is among the premier accordionists in the world. He conducts the Accordion Pops Orchestra  but is known for compositions and has performed throughout the world including Carnegie Hall and the Academy of Music.

He was the Air Force Band’s first accordionist and was a featured soloist during his military service.

He was trained by Pietro Deiro Sr. 

 Dan Desiderio Happy Birthday For Delco’s Maestro

Walt Godzieba R.I.P.

Walter J. Godzieba died June 14 at Heartland Hospice House in Wilmington, Del. He was 86 and lived in Springfield.
Walt was born in Clifton Heights and was graduated from Clifton Heights High School. He was a Navy veteran of World War II and a retired machinist from Westinghouse.
He was a member of Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church, 100 S. Penn St., Clifton Heights.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years Jennifer nee Sheleva; a daughter, Miliza E. Tenerelli of Philadelphia; and a nephew.
Visitation is 7-9 tonight and 9 a.m. tomorrow at Williams-Lombardo Funeral Home, Baltimore Avenue and Summitt St., Clifton Heights.

Parastas is at 7:30 tonight at the funeral home.

A service will held 10 a.m. tomorrow at Saints Peter and Paul. Burial will be at Saint Mary’s Cemetery in Elkins Park. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the church.

‘Nova Prof Tells Beck Repealing 17th Amendment Would Help Check Feds

Villanova University poli sci professor Colleen Sheehan told Glenn Beck on his last Founders Friday  that repealing the 17th Amendment would put a useful check on Washington. For recent graduates of public schools and those who still get their news from the dinosaurs, the 17th Amendment  adopted in 1913 established the direct election of U.S. senators. Before that they had been picked by state legislatures.


Ms. Sheehan, who represented the 149th District  in the Pennsylvania House in 1995-96, said their visits with their state legislators would be far more than bored courtesy calls if the picking of them was as how our Founders envisioned. This would mean no silly federal mandates and no passing the buck on funding them.

Her statements can be found at about the 2:40 mark although the entire things is worth watching.