Over The river

I actually saw this jet firsthand as I was working in Essington.

Electrician For Hire

So it's now the middle of the month, and not much work out there. I'm sure there are many other people in the area that have the same problem. Being Self Employed, I do not have the luxury of collecting unemployment. So if your looking for any electrical work at all, from a simple ceiling fan to a parking lot light serviced, shoot me an email. (I'd post my cell but the last time I did that I received several telemarketers trying to sell me stuff.)

 frannyward@yahoo.com
Put in the header "electrician".

Thank You and


 Cheers.

Joe at The Nail

My old friend Joe Spera on the drums at THe Rusty Nail in Ardmore.

Death on Scotdale Road

It happened in January of 1976, a cold night in Delaware County.

(More about this horrible night as soon as I talk to a few friends about it)

Making A Comback (of sorts) for 2012

Recently, I've been toying with the idea of starting up my old web site, Totally Delco.I first bought the domain name on April 27th, 2003. Long before the Daily Times. I bought it after realizing that I couldn't search online find a store nearby in Delaware County to buy a mattress, only the yellow pages had the lists.

So after several years of turning it into a blog, forum, web portal, etc. With lots of personal posts I've decide to go one step further. To integrate it with social networking, as in Facebook, only local. Wish me luck, I have zero experience in php or databases on here.

Cheers.

What's Next?

After reading this article in the Daily Times, it makes me wonder just what's next in the minds of politicians.

The good Parkside Police Chief John Egan gun proposal reeks with our right to do as we please on our property. seriously, BB guns? When I was a kid I owned several, as well as my friends. We would go down  Cobb's Creek Park and either shoot squirrels or pigeons or line up some tin cans. We also made a backstop in my basement with a target on it.

Back then, you could walk to Upper Darby High School with your match rifle in a soft case if you were on the Rifle Team without any cops giving you trouble. I know, times have changed. 9/11, Terrorists, Fear, etc just gave the government more power and control over you and me. ID cards, keyfobs, swipe cards, all for your protection. Right.

COSA In Delaware County - What a Joke!

I have a lot of issues with this so called "Helping the aging of Delaware County". Number one, in my opinion, they do nothing but ruin family ties, steal the senior citizens assets, and harass and intimidate people who care about their parents/relatives who are elderly and in need.

I will be posting much more on this issue, concerning my Mother, Catherine Ward, currently in Fitzgerald Mercy Hospital with bedsores caused by the inept staff in my opinion. From their website:

"The County Office of Services for the Aging (COSA) is the Department of County Government responsible for planning, coordinating and administering programs and services for the County's population over the age of sixty. COSA's goal is to enable senior citizens to maintain their independence and dignity, remain in their own homes and communities with appropriate support services, and to deter or prevent unnecessary institutionalization. Special emphasis is placed on serving those who are frail, living alone and are functionally disabled or otherwise in social or economical need."

Well Mom needs to be put in a home! And, when you "As in Fitz Hospital and your agents" send her back home, and she winds up blowing up the block via her not turning on the stove all the way, I'll see you all in a court of law. you see, i just played my hand. Catherine Ward CANNOT be left alone in her home, but you want to do just that. And it's all about MONEY, correct?

And where are those "State Reps " Micozzie and Civera that several people tried to contact about my families situation? Remember November is fast approaching, and YOU are not representing me, my Mother, nor anyone concerned.My sister, Myself and most importantly, my MOTHER needs 24/7 care, care that I cannot give her, nor our family.

Do the right thing, contact me and tell me that this matter will be resolved.. 


P.S. Matt? Your teetering on having a private civil complaint lodged against you concerning me.

Cheers.

The Future of the Delaware County GOP

With the May Primary fast approaching, I am curious to see how our local Republican candidates fare. The Republican candidates are as follows:

For Governor:
Samuel E. Rohrer
Tom Corbett

For Lieutanant Governor:
Steve Johnson
Jean Craige Pepper
Russ Diamond
Chet Beiler
Stephen A. Urban
Daryl Metcalfe
John Kennedy
Billy McCue

United States Senator:
Pat Toomey
K. Peg Luksik

US Representative; (District 7)
Patrick Meehan

State Representative; (District 163)
Nicholas A. Micozzie

Corbett, Toomey, Meehan, and Micozzie I can relate to and am voting for. As far as the Democrats, who knows and who cares? If the Democrats gain control of Delaware County, specifically Upper Darby, you can bet that the township will be annexed into the City of Philadelphia. Don't believe me? Well look it up. The city has swallowed townships like Northern Liberties, Bristol Township, Roxbourough Township, Delaware Township and many more here.


Imagine losing their Police and Fire Departments, Departments of Sanitation, Public Works, and the School District. If you think the township has gone to the dogs now, just wait until November. My advice? Vote Straight Republican in November!

The Meaning of Mothers Day

Another Mother's Day is here.

To me it's just another day, to many women who are Mothers out there it is a special day, a day reserved for them to be pampered and thought of and doted over. Well pamper them I say, but do it in a way that actually means something to them, not just saying "Happy Mother's Day Mom, here's some flowers" and walk away. Maybe spend some time with them while they are still alive, if not, remember all the times you had with Mom and talk about it to someone like a Brother, Sister, Uncle, Aunt, Dad, etc.

Honestly? My beef with Mothers Day is the over commercialization of it, as well as Memorial Day, Fathers Day,Fourth of July, Christmas, Easter, etc. Here's a decent website that actually tells you things to do with Mom, where to take her, how one should admire and respect and love her, and gives tips like "Be thoughtful for your mom always and treat your mother like a princess everyday. That can be the most wonderful gift to your mom."

Years ago, I used to buy Mom some flowers, but when one year she exclaimed to me "Mums are for the dead!", that ended my flower/plant buying days, although I read where Chrysanthemums, or Mums can produce visual hallucinations. In today's screwed up world, not a bad idea, eh?

Seriously, A Happy Happy Mothers Day to all of you "Mothers" out there, may this day shine upon you, bathe you in content, soothe your body, bless your soul, and release all your anxieties. Well it's off to CVS to buy some Cards. Have a great day :)

Cheers.

Mothers Day 2010

Remember that Mother's Day this year is on Sunday, May 9th. I'll be blogging about this day later.


Cheers.



P.S. Go buy your wife something nice:)

The Dodgers

I'm a Dodger. Not a draft Dodger, or a fan of the Dodgers, but a Dodger. It's spring time here in Delaware County and myself like thousands of other drivers are Dodging all the potholes. Do you think upper Darby and Clifton Heights will ever fix the potholes? Maybe by late fall, they"ll get a round to it.

Cheers.

Getting with the Times?

Well well, I see now that the Daily Times is finally doing what I have been doing now since June of 2004. Blogging about Delaware County, what's on my mind, what I think about this area, the Upper Darby School District, etc. On this blog (I had to recently move it here to blogger because they are canceling FTP to my web site and others in May) we have only two contributors at the moment, Paula Brown and my Wife Elizabeth, who's father "Ace" incidentally worked for the Daily Times for forty years, both are MIA. I don't blame either, as Paula and I may beg to differ on Politicial issues, and Liz just isn't really interested at the moment.

along the way, we have had several bloggers as contributors, ranging from Casey Roncagilone, to Don Roberts, and briefly, Peter Porcupine. But in this day of Facebook and twitter, many people seem to go for the shorter posts, not the blathering like I'm doing right now. I will say that I will be blogging much more this year, voicing my opinions about Upper Darby, Clifton Heights, and in general, Eastern Delaware County. If you would like to join here as a contributor, just shoot me an e mail telling me why you want to blog here and what section of Delco you live in. Just think of it this way. your own little venting ground, where at least 5000 people will read your rants and raves each month.

Cheers.

P.s. Gil? Phil? Your also welcome as well as Alex.

The Haverford Blog Revisited

Recently I visited the Haverfordblog, a website I used to visit and post since it's creation. I noticed that it has new owners, BlueHorseradish LLc, out of Haverford, PA. The thing that gets me is now they dumped the link to my website, Totally Delco. If you want a link, you have to pay now? From their site:

Advertising on the Haverford Blog

As of January, 2010, the Haverford Blog accepts paid advertising. Ads are in the form of graphic images in the right column of the Haverford Blog bulletin board area. Images can be hyperlinked to the advertiser's website.

Advertising Rates

Graphic image ad rate: $50 per month for 1 month, $100 for 3 months. Ads will be rotated regularly so that the position of individual ads varies from time to time.

Images should be provided in a standard web image format (.jpg, .gif, .png) with a width of 200 pixels or less and a height of 200 pixels or less. If an ad image is not available or needs to be created, contact admin@haverfordblog.com for assistance; graphics and logos can be created on a fee basis.

Advertising is only accepted on a prepaid basis. Payment can be made via check or a PayPal invoice can be issued to pay via PayPal or credit card.

The Haverford Blog reserves the right to accept or reject any ad or advertiser.

The Haverford Blog also displays paid advertising supplied by a third party search engine. The Haverford Blog does not directly control the content of such ads.

Well now, seeing this makes me a bit pissed off, being that the front page links have I believe free links, and I see that My Havertown.com is on there, as well as others that were when this site was linked. So here's the deal. While our main site is being upgraded, send me your business link to your website and if you have a small banner, the link to it. I'll gladly put it up for free.
My e mail is admin@totallydelco.com

Cheers.

Spring has almost spung

I am looking forward to this Easter weekend, where the weather is expected to be in the low to mid 80's. Springtime has it's pluses, for starters, no more snow (at least here in Delco), and when the trees start to show their leaves, and the bees come back, and the BBQ is being cleaned off, well, you just feel better. The downside is a lot of rain forecast, but hell, i'll take that over the white stuff any day.

2010 - Where I'm Heading

I've been thinking about last year, a year that saw myself earn far less than previous years as a self employed electrician. I now find myself trying to figure out how to earn more money and possibly purchase a home in Clifton Heights. (Yes the homes in Westbrook Park are averaging 150,000). But my chances are slim to none, as is the case for many others in my trade. People just ain't spending money on repairs or additional electrical work.I fear that this year will be worse than last, and it is driving me nuts.If you work for the county, or any school district, or township? your pretty much safe.(I should have applied twenty years ago), and also state and federal jobs. Being self employed has taking it's toll on me, sad to say I'm running out of gas so to speak. Cheers.

Snowed

I cannot believe that the roads in Clifton Heights and Upper Darby are still not cleared. Even more disturbing is the sidewalk situation. C'mon guys, get out there and shovel!

The Stand

I received a pre-recorded message from the Superintendent of Upper Darby's Police, Michael Chitwood last week informing me of a town meeting to be held right across the field from where my Mother still lives. I didn't give it much thought, being that I live in Clifton Heights, where were relatively still safe? from these cretins who commit violence. Then the other night I watched Steven King's "The Stand", a movie that pitted good against evil, Armageddon at it's finest. Lastly I came across a fellow local blogger who posted her thoughts on the meeting and came to the conclusion that we here in Delco need to make a stand. From Darby to Chester to Middletown to Sharon Hill, Delconians of all races, religions and political affiliation need to get involved and help keep ourselves and our neighbors safe. It would be nice to hear first hand from the men in blue what they need from us and what we need to do to help. 326 Watkins Ave Upper Darby, PA 19082 Phone: (610) 734-7652 6:30 PM. Cheers.

Tina Fey Cracks Me Up

You got to hand it to her, the resemblance to Gov.Sarah Palin is remarkable. Tina a.k.a Elizabeth grew up in Upper Darby, in the Cardington section (right across the A.A. field from my house in Stonehurst), and went to the Cardington Elementary School, then B.H.J.H.S., then Upper Darby High School. I always wanted to ask her these questions:

Tina. Did you ever hang out at "Mediterranean Pizza" on Marshall and 69th St? Go bowling at Gehris Lanes on Market St? The Bolero to shoot pool? Go to the Tower Theatre on Ludlow? Go to the "M&M Market" or the "10th Inning"? Attend "Tot Lot"? Seriously, What I really want to ask you is how you felt about growing up in Cardington, and how did you get that scar. Was it down at Cobbs Creek at the Ice & Coal plant? The See Saw at 69th st? The Bolero? Gino's? Wawa? My buddy say's he heard it was from a dog near the firehouse. I also hear recently it was from an attack under the Marshall Rd Bridge. To tell you the truth I really do not care how you got it, I have many of my own.. Great job doing the parodies, you crack me up in this crazy world!

Cheers

Getting Away With Murder

I cannot believe that after 50 plus days Lemuel Payne is not behind bars charged with the hit and run death of Faith Sinclair. it was Payne's car that struck her, and DNA taken from it will prove that. The car was found hidden in an Upper Darby garage if my memory is correct. How can someone hide behind a lawyer? Is this guy rich or does he have some dirt on some people? If it were you or me we would be incarcerated in the county prison. "No one has talked with Lemuel Payne, not from our end," said Tinsley. "We know he's in the area still. Authorities haven't had contact with him yet." No contact? He owns the car, correct? It was hidden with a tarp over it, correct? I wonder if Faith was some ultra rich important daughter of some really well to do family the wheels of justice would be turning much faster, and Payne would be on trial already. No, Faith Sinclair was just an average young woman, visiting some friends and happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. To Lemuel? Fess up you coward. I know you did it, you know you did it. The whole county knows you did it. But if you didn't? Why hide? Did you ever hear of Karma? P.s. To the passenger in the car? Spill your guts to the police, collect the 10k reward, and donate it to your defense fund for aiding and abetting a coward

The Surge

I have been following a story about a local Deli owned by Mario Civera, my Mothers State Representative in the 164th district, which recently caught fire, allegedly by an electrical problem. The consensus is that Peco, (Exelon) was in some way to blame. As an electrician with almost thirty years experience, I can say that they may be right. But to a point. Seems that there have been many problems with underground transformers exploding in that area over the years, as well as power surges. In Upper Darby Township, there are many homes and businesses that have outdated or inadequate electrical wiring. Residential homes for instance built before 1970 for the most part have no grounding conductor (the mouth of your three prong outlet) connected to it. "Knob and Tube", "Knob and Nail" or "Old style romex" are in almost every home in Drexel Hill. Many homes have no ground rod installed and connected to their electrical service. No lightning arrestor, no "Whole Home" surge protector. Did Civera's Deli have a Surge Protector that may have helped drain off a high voltage surge from a Mal functioning transformer? Probably not. Where I live (Westbrook Park) if I were to remove my cold water and earth ground and rely on the transformer 's neutral my house would probably catch fire. Think I'm kidding? A few years ago my neighbor was renovating his home and called me to come over and find out why every time he used a drill to mix drywall compound, the lights would dim to almost nothing. What I found out is that the plumber removed the cold water ground to his electrical service. Even with a ground rod installed (there is clay under our homes) he had no return path to the transformer. He called Peco, and a technician came over later on that afternoon, checked out the homes electrical service, and told him that the problem was in the meter box. I told the tech that I was a licenced electrician and that the "problem" was in Peco's transformer. He told me he would make note of it, and left. to this day I believe that the transformers "neutral" is not connected. Bottom line? Go to your local hardware store and buy a receptacle tester that shows you an open ground, open neutral, reverse hot and neutral, and correct wiring. Get a local licenced electrician to inspect your home and install 5 items that may save you your home, and more importantly your life : A ground rod A lightning arrestor A "Whole Home" single phase surge protector GFCI receptacles where required Smoke detectors where required Cheers and Go EAGLES!