Category: Springfield

Wolf Launches Stealth Attack Against Adolph

Wolf Launches Stealth Attack Against Adolph
State Rep. Bill Adolph

A flyer has been mailed to homes in Pennsylvania’s 165th Legislative District accusing its representative,  Bill Adolph, of all sorts of vile things like keeping $183,650 i.e. chump change from the Marple Newtown School District and keeping $268,807 from the Springfield School District.

Yes it is chump change.  The Marple Newtown money would not  cover the cost for a year of some Delaware County public school superintendent pensions. And the Springfield money could only keep former Penn State Vice President Gary Schultz living in the style to which he has become accustomed through  late September.

Wolf Launches Stealth Attack Against Adolph
Gov Tom Wolf, trying not to get his hands dirty

The flyer  was produced by America Works USA which is a non-profit group that works in the shadows of the Democratic Governors Association to keep the fingerprints of people like Tom Wolf off the dirty deeds.

Gov. Wolf is trying to pressure Rep. Adolph to help him in his plan to put a crushing tax burden on the gas drillers responsible for whatever economic sunshine that has come Pennsylvania’s way over the last seven years.

All, of course, without recognizing that the state has a major spending problem, not a revenue one. Pennsylvania already taxes the drillers 2.7 percent — on top of salaries, sales and the other usual economic activity that occurs during production. Increasing the taxes will either mean more cost passed onto the consumer — how much was your electric bill last month? — or curtailing production.

Adolph is working hard to fix the pension crisis and recognizes the burden Wolf’s tax plan will place on the citizens of his district. He needs their support.

Addendum: The $268,807 Adolph allegedly kept from the Springfield School District would not be a blip on the radar concerning lessening the impact of   the recently approved $140 million new Springfield High School. On the other hand, repealing the state’s prevailing wage law could see a 20-percent cost drop i.e. $28 million i.e. not chump change  in the price. If you are inclined to contact Adolph about something contact him about that. You would actually see your standard of living improve — or at least not drop so much — if that law was gone.

Note the matter of the Springfield High School now goes to the township for approval of construction. Springfield School Director Bruce Lord said at the final Town Hall, March 19, the process of construction will take years not months.

Wolf Launches Stealth Attack Against Adolph

Honor Flight Philadelphia Spring 2015 Trip

Tattooed bikers, mummers, the Knights of Columbus, military re-enactors, a Catholic priest, Brownies, Congressman Pat Meehan and two Philadelphia Eagles cheerleaders were Honor Flight Philadelphia Spring 2015 Trip Tattooed bikers, mummers, the Knights of Columbus, military re-enactors, a Catholic priest, Brownies, Congressman Pat Meehan and two Philadelphia Eagles cheerleaders were among the contingent greeting 150 veterans and their escorts this evening, May 30, at St. Kevin's Church in Springfield, Pa. at the return of the Spring 2015 Honor Flight Philadelphia trip.among the contingent greeting 150 veterans and their escorts this evening, May 30, at St. Kevin’s Church in Springfield, Pa. at the return of the Spring 2015  Honor Flight Philadelphia trip.

The veterans were from World War II, Korea and Vietnam.

The five buses with a vanguard of bikers entered the lot  just before 7 p.m. through a ladder arch placed on Sproul Road by volunteer firemen and festooned with an American flag.

Honor Flight Philadelphia Spring 2015 Trip The five buses with a vanguard of bikers entered the lot just before 7 p.m. through a ladder arch placed on Sproul Road by volunteer firemen and festooned with an American flag.
There was one estimate that 500 bikers escorted the buses.
Honor Flight Philadelphia Spring 2015 Trip -- They met Congress Meehan (R-Pa7) and then were led into the church hall where they were treated to a scrumptious feast and a floor show by The Manhattan Dolls.
Congressman Pat Meehan (R-Pa7) greeted every veteran at the door.

The veterans left the buses to be greeted by the cheerleaders before walking down a red carpet through a crowd of flag waving residents to music played by the Greater Overbrook String Band. They met Congress Meehan (R-Pa7) and then were led into the church hall where they were treated to a scrumptious feast and a floor show by The Manhattan Dolls.

Honor Flight is a national non-profit organization founded in 2005 to give aging or terminally ill veterans a day of honor in Washington D.C.

 There is no cost to the veterans.

The Philadelphia hub was started in 2011 by Springfield resident Andrew  Schiavello,

Honor Flight Philadelphia Spring 2015 Trip

 

Springfield Memorial Day 2015

This morning’Springfield Memorial Day 2015 Band -- This morning's Springfield (Delaware County), Pa. Memorial Day Parade ended with a flag raising, a prayer and a rifle salute at the township building on Powell Road. The Springfield High School Marching Band played the Star Spangled Banner and Taps. s (May 25) Springfield (Delaware County), Pa. Memorial Day Parade ended with a flag raising, a prayer and a rifle salute at the township building on Powell Road. The Springfield High School Marching Band played the Star Spangled Banner and Taps.

Springfield Memorial Day 2015 flag raising -- Springfield (Delaware County), Pa. Memorial Day Parade ended with a flag raising, a prayer and a rifle salute at the township building on Powell Road. The Springfield High School Marching Band played the Star Spangled Banner and Taps.

Springfield Memorial Day 2015

Wolf Budget Kills Delco And Pa For That Matter

State Rep. Bill Adolph (R-165), in a  terrifying talk, told the Springfield Republicans, tonight, April 15, that the tax hike in the budget proposed by Gov. Tom Wolf would be the largest ever imposed on the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Wolf Budget Kills Delco And Pa For That Matter

He said the $33 billion proposed budget would increase spending by 16 percent and the ways he is proposing to fund it would add $8 billion in taxes.

Wolf wants to hike the personal income tax to 3.7 percent from 3.07 percent and raise the sales tax to 6.6 percent from 6 percent but the real devils are in the details. Adolph pointed out that Wolf is seeking to expand the sales tax to services such as day care and nursing homes. The callow cruelty of such a suggestion can only come from one who has never had to worry about such things which in Wolf’s case would be himself.

Adolph said that the property tax reform proposed by Wolf would benefit 96 of the state’s 500 school districts while burdening  the rest.

He said Springfield residents can expect to spend an extra $8 million in taxes under Wolf’s plan.

He said that the details are spelled out at TaxPayersThatPay.com

Adolph noted that there are more sensible reforms regarding property taxes and he expects them to come up in May.

Adolph said another significant but ignored point concerns how Wolf wants to handle corporations. Wolf’s idea is to require combined reporting businesses headquartered in Pennsylvania. This is a method of taxation that  treats a parent company and its subsidiaries as a single corporation for state tax purposes.

Adolph said he has been told  bluntly by several major businesses that they will move from Pennsylvania if this happens.

State Sen. Tom McGarrigle (R-26) also addressed the group and while his talk was much shorter it contained better news. He said the senate will soon pursue  pension reform in the way advocated by Sen. Pat Browne (R-16) who chairs the  Appropriations Committee. Browne wants  to change all state workers to 401-K type plans not just new hires. The existing defined-benefit plans are getting retired workers up to 80 percent of their salary and rising. This is unheard of in the private sector.

McGarrigle said such a change would likely be tested in courts but considering the existing pension fund deficit — it’s $50 billion — it’s in the self-interest of those with money vested in the program to go along.

County Councilwoman Colleen Morrone, who is seeking re-election, noted that the Marcus Hook refineries that were closed four years ago are now both open and that county policy played a part in saving them.

Mrs. Morrone is also CEO of Goodwill of Delaware and Delaware County, Inc.

Township GOP Chairman Mike Puppio noted that the former ConocoPhillips refinery purchased by Delta Airlines is making a profit and is being expanded.

In political matters, Puppio said that the only race being contested in his bailiwick in the May 19 primary is Springfield’s 1st Ward Commissioner race and that the endorsed candidate is incumbent Ed Kelly.

He said he expects the Democrat County Council candidates to manage to get the 250 write-in votes needed in the primary to be on the ballot in November. The Democrat slate was knocked off the ballot after failing to provide the required documents to the proper people. Puppio said if they can’t follow those details they can’t be expected to follow the details in a $500 million county budget.

Springfield Commissioner President Jeff Rudolph of the 4th Ward said the new pool at the township Country Club is beautiful and has water jets for kids, lap lanes for adults, and a diving tank. He also praised the new lights on Saxer Avenue. He noted there was no township tax increase this year.

Wolf Budget Kills Delco And Pa For That Matter 

 

 

Holy Cross Church Beautiful Music

We have a tradition in which we visit three churches on Holy Thursday. The last one is Holy Cross Church in Springfield, Pa. with the visit happening well after 10 p.m.  Holy Cross Church Beautiful Music

The last few years the upper church has been closed at the time so we went to the lower one where a Korean celebration has been taking place and when we arrive it is near the end.

And that is about the time  for a choir performance that is among the most beautiful music that we have ever heard.

It is one of Delaware County’s hidden treasures.

Holy Cross Church Beautiful Music

Springfield Cyber School?

Springfield Cyber School? Springfield Town Hall 3-19-15
Some of those in attendance who exhorted the Springfield School District to keep their taxes low.

About 130 attended tonight’s (March 19)  final town hall concerning the fate of Springfield High School. The event was held in the high school auditorium.

Four proposals are on the table: maintain the existing school on Leamy Avenue for an estimated cost of $100.39 million; build a new one behind Saint Francis Church on Saxer Avenue for $131 million; renovate the existing school for $133.8 million; and build a school on Leamy Avenue alongside the existing one for $136.4 million.

The crowd seemed overwhelming in favor of the least expensive route. We counted 19 audience comments that either supported the “maintenance plan” or were an exhortation not to raise taxes — including one fellow who suggested a cyber school. Well, that would be less than $136.4 million.

Four persons spoke in favor of a new school  and five asked generally neutral questions.

The number and passion were on the side of the low taxes.

“If one person was forced out of home, how could you sleep at night,” one man told the school district’s representatives — school directors Chris DeSantis and Bruce Lord, and Donald Mooney, the district’s  Director of Operations.

Another said that 30 percent of Springfield is over the age of 60. Another expressed skepticism of the district’s figures claiming that recent renovations of Haverford and Marple Newtown high schools were less than two-thirds that of what is being estimated for maintenance of  SHS.

More than one person expressed fear of being forced from his or her home because of taxes.

Bruce Lord presented a timeline of what comes next to start the meeting. He said the board and facilities will meet; the committee will present the Town Hall findings to the board, and then the board will begin project implementation. which means the board begins discussions with the township, which must approve all construction, then get a building designed then submit bids for construction. He said the process will take years, not months.

Mooney squelched a few rumors flying around the community. He said the district is not going to acquire the Saint Francis property and that there will be no teacher layoffs to help fund the school.

Springfield Cyber School?

 

Final SHS Town Hall Meeting

The Final Town Hall Meeting on the Springfield High School Master Plan is 7 p.m., tomorrow,, March 19,  in the Springfield High School Auditorium, 49 W. Leamy Ave., Springfield, PA 19064, reports Regina Scheerer. Final SHS Town Hall Meeting

The meeting i will include a summary of the proposed plans with a comment/question session. It  will be broadcast live on Ch. 8 Comcast and Ch. 29 Fios.

One can review all slides and presentations from all the town hall meetings at www.ssdcougars.org and click on SHS Master Plan.

Final SHS Town Hall Meeting is tomorrow, March 19, in the Springfield High School Auditorium, 49 W. Leamy Ave.

Delco Veterans Saint Patrick’s Springfield Float

Fizzano Truck from St. Patrick's Parade Delco Veterans Saint Patrick's Springfield Float
The Fizzano truck that pulled the Delco Veterans Memorial in last year’s St. Patrick’s Parade

Barbara Ann Zippi of Artemis Productions has let it be known that veterans are being sought to ride on the Delaware County Veterans Memorial’s float in the Springfield (Pa) Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, which will be held on Saturday, March 14.

To participate show up at Halderman Field, 570 W. Springfield Road, Springfield, Pa. 19064, between 10:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. and get on the big green Fizzano flatbed truck that will be decorated with the appropriate signs and banners.

The truck will enter the parade line at 11 a.m. The parade ends at 1 p.m. and Delco Memorial Participants will be returned to Halderman Field.

Email ARTEMISProductions@Juno.com to reserve a space.

Delco Veterans Saint Patrick ‘s Springfield Float

Springfield GOP Petitions To Be Circulated

The circulation of candidate petitions was the topic of tonight’s (Feb. 18) meeting of the Springfield Pa. Republican Party. Springfield GOP Petitions To Be Circulated

The petitions for township, county, school board and municipal candidates will be circulated through the first week of March.

GOP Chairman Mike Puppio noted that the party is not endorsing school board candidates as the position has been considered non-partisan since 1990.

He emphasized to circulators that candidates for township office must avoid taking a stand on the proposed nine-figure high school project until the matter officially comes before them else any decision made would be subject to challenge and disqualification.

Candidates speaking before the group were John P. McBlain, who is seeking his second term on Delaware County Council; and attorney Margaret Amoroso and State Sen. Dominic Pileggi (R-9) who are seeking seats on Delaware County Common Pleas Court.

Pileggi noted it was the first time he ever campaigned in Springfield.

Also speaking was new State Sen. Tom McGarrigle (R-26) who noted that new Democrat Gov. Tom Wolf has made some pointless missteps that have caused unnecessary tension with the Republican-controlled legislature.

He specifically cited the removal of widely respected Erik Arneson as executive director of Pennsylvania’s Office of Open Records and his replacement with a political ally.

Arneson played a key role in developing the state’s Right-to-Know Law.

Also endorsed by the GOP are incumbents Michael Culp and Colleen Morrone for County Council; Anthony Scanlon for Common Pleas Court Judge; and Jack Whelan for another term as District Attorney.

The township commissioner races to be contested this year are the odd-numbered ones.

Springfield GOP Petitions To Be Circulated

Springfield High School Project Funding

Here’s a thought about funding the proposed Springfield High School project regardless of the option picked: treat it holistically.  Springfield High School Project Funding

Consider other savings in the school budget to be part of funding for the new (or repaired) school.

Ending the prevailing wage mandate would cost the district nothing and still save money. School Director Doug Carney, Feb. 4, said he did not feel the savings would be that much concerning the high school project. Suppose, however, it was just a mere $100,000. Or even $10,000. One suspects if the district could get $100,000 (or $10,000) for naming rights to a classroom — one of the out-of-the-box suggestions being considered for funding — the district would be very happy.

One is pretty confident that if the proposed money-raising foundation got a $10,000 donation, the district would be happy.

And that’s not even considering savings in other projects — school, municipal or county — ending the prevailing wage mandate would garner. All tax dollars at all levels ultimately come from the same source, after all, whether it be via a purchase, a property or a paycheck.

So a strong public push to end this mandate would be perfectly logical in the context of building the high school project.

For what it’s worth, Commonwealth Foundation pegs the cost of the prevailing wage mandate at 20 percent for public projects.

Let’s consider the mandate for school districts (and counties and townships) to pay for advertisements in newspapers of general circulation when announcing meetings and seeking bids and such. The cost statewide was $26 million in 2006. This is just a straw on the back of the Springfield taxpayer but one less straw is one less straw.

It would cost nothing for the school board — and the township commissioners and County Council — to pass a resolution calling for its end.

The most damning thing about this mandate is that it actually inhibits good government. Changing the mandate to one where public notices are placed on a searchable government website would make the process far more transparent than the status quo besides being a lot cheaper.

And then let’s get the teachers involved in the matter. Would they be willing to forgo a salary increase in their next contract to help pay for the project? If a resident surviving on Social Security or who has just seen his unemployment expire asks them to, does that mean the resident is anti-child?

Just a thought.

Springfield High School Project Funding