Primary just the Beginning

As you know I'm running for the 164th District seat in the PA Legislature, representing Upper Darby, Drexel Hill, East Lansdowne and Millbourne. I don't want to abuse this blog by posting self-serving political appeals. So if you find this post out of line then please delete it. Yesterday Mr. Heron, editor of the Delco Times, wrote an editorial basically saying that we in Delaware County don't care about who represents us in Government. I disagree. Just because we don't protest in the streets doesn't mean we don't care. We have families, jobs, responsibilities that are more important than politics at this point of the year. When the time comes Mr. Heron will find that we do care, and care deeply. Of course I would prefer to win, but I prefer more that we are not accused of being sheep who blindly follow to the slaughterhouse. LETTER TO THE EDITOR The embers of discontent are still burning in Delaware County, and in November the blaze will erupt. One can only scream so much before the voice grows hoarse and needs to rest and recuperate. Be assured that memory has no such need, people are not forgetting that their Legislators betrayed them. I've spoken with hundreds of people and visited countless homes, most of them are quietly waiting for November to pay back that betrayal. Howard Beale is dead but the "mad as hell" is alive and well. Look at what's happened thus far. A vote for the minimum wage, a giveback of the raise, and attempts to make up for their arrogance. When I organized the Delaware County protest against the payraise, little did I realize that the result would be to remind our Legislators that they work for us and not that we work for them. Even if I don't win the election, the fact that reminding those who have represented us for too long that we do care is a victory. But I do plan on winning. New ideas and a respect for those who we wish to represnt is a breath of fresh air to those who have been taken for granted for too long. Your opinion that threre won't be much turnover has validity. Those in power have incredible advantages against challengers, particularly a 20 year old challenger whose opponent has been in office longer than I've been alive. Even with that the people I've met are ready for a change and I'm preparing to be the best Representative Upper Darby has ever seen. My opponent's big claim is that he delivers, but that's only part of the job. I'll deliver too, but I will never forget that I'm the employee and the people are my boss. I guess what I'm saying is don't underestimate the power of the silent majority who care more about integrity of our Legislature than the fact that it's always been this way so why expect anything different. I think you'll need an extra large printing of the Delaware County Daily Times on November 8th. Casey R. Roncaglione State House Candidate 164th District

Nicky Yarris: Just A Punk

Yeah Nick, you read it right. You and I met a long time ago in Southwest Philly. (65 & Dicks) I just started dating my girlfriend Sheila and you came around acting all bad. Stay in London. Although you were found "innocent" by "DNA" your morbid account of your knowledge of Linda Mae Craig's murder makes me sick. What I'm getting at is the fact that you told a lot of people that you knew what happened to her, only to save yourself from some drug charges, and in the end , you almost became burnt toast. BTW, So everyone in Philly did YOU wrong? Pleeze! Just stay away, I remember you from the past and your far from being a Saint. Why am i posting this? Check out my referrer logs for tonight. LATW

Something Screwy Going On

I recently transferred this blog to my WordPress one. WP messed up everything. Also, our web site database server was down. I am wondering if there are any web hosting providers in the area (Not ones who have their servers out west.) Anyway, I'm testing stuff here. Please disregard this post. P.S. To the spammers/shills who are attacking this blog and our forums. Get a life.

Meth in Delaware County

I met a woman in Delaware County with a big problem, and I'm sure she's not the only one. Meth has destroyed her life. She lost her children, has no insurance to pay for rehab and steals to feed her addiction. Meth is an insidious drug. It takes over a persons life and is sure to end it prematurely. I don't know what we can to to solve the problem but there has to be a way. This meth problem is going to cost us all. There are not enough jail cells for those who are hooked on this drug. The saddest part is the effect on the children, innocent victims who suffer from the actions of those who use. This epidemic is only going to get worse and as always good people are going to end up wit the bill. We need a blue ribbon panel of local leaders to deal with the problems that are just about to explode into an epidemic. These users weren't forced to use, but we have to do something to help them. They are our neighbors and they deserve our help, if not for them but for us.

Curt Weldon - Below The Belt

I received an email concerning Curt Weldon, and what he said concerning Joe Sestak's choice of hospitals (Like it matters Curt?) A statement from Joe Sestak on Congressman Weldon’s remarks in the Hill newspaper this morning regarding their daughter Alexandra: Congressman Weldon’s remarks to the Hill magazine in a story published this morning regarding my daughter Alex’s treatment are inappropriate. To imply, that I should have sent my daughter to a hospital in Delaware or Pennsylvania for political purposes is beyond the pale. I understand the political arena. I knew that this campaign would thrust my family into the media spotlight and we are prepared for that. But I want to make it very clear to Congressman Weldon, that any remarks regarding my daughter, Alexandria’s, treatment will not be tolerated. Like many families dealing with illness, we have had our challenges in the last year. Through the grace of God, the many prayers of our friends and family, and the wonderful doctors and nurses, we have made it through this experience with our daughter Alex, who continues to inspire us everyday. Though we recognize the important work done by the many hospitals in and around Philadelphia, it was our personal choice to have Alex treated in Washington at the Children’s Hospital because of its outstanding work on pediatric brain tumors. This decision was based on many things – none of which were political. This was our choice as Alex’s parents and as I have said publicly, I believe these medical choices should be left in the hands of parents and family members throughout the country and not in the hands of beauracrats, special interests and especially not in the hands of politicians like Curt Weldon. Now about Joe's daughter. She was dianogsed with a malignant Brain tumor last year and was given three to six months to live. Mr & Mrs Sestak chose to have her Chemo treatments done in Washington D.C. Curt Weldon took it upon himself to chastise his opponent by suggesting treatments could be done in PA or Delaware. My question to Curt: Would it have been okay to have her treatments done in Russia?

5 Worst Intersections in Delco

I don't drive a lot. In fact, I hate to drive. However, I have lived in different parts of the Delaware County throughout my life and have seen my share of bad roadway intersections in our great county. Below is a list of the ones I hate the most, either due to heavy traffic, poor layout, or they are just simply hazardous. Please feel free to list your own since I haven't been to every street in the area and therefore don't know every single one. #5 - 5 points - Aston I never really had a problem with 5 points myself, and I've driven it hundreds of times. I can see how the layout would confuse some people though, and adding a new park right on one of the corners won't help with traffic flow any. #4 - 452 and Route 1 - Middletown, PA This intersection is more of an annoyance rather than a danger. Making a left onto 452 from Route 1 during rush hour will net you a 3-4 light wait. Traffic also backs up a lot on 452 during the evening rush hour. #3 - Route 252 and Route 3 - Newtown Square, Pa I know this intersection very well and it's a total nightmare. There's heavy traffic coming from the Blue Route going to West Chester on one end, and heavy 252 traffic from DCCC/Media going to the Main Line on the other. Factor in people making left hand turns blocking some lanes and this intersection qualifies as one of the worse. #2 - Route 1 and Sproul Road - Springfield, Pa The map image says it all. Heavy traffic combined with people getting off/on Route 1 and then having to merge with Route 1 traffic in of the off-ramp which turns into a race to avoid getting stuck in the outer lane. Getting onto 320 is ok, getting onto Route 1 is horrible. and the #1 worse intersection - Route 252 and Route 1 Media Bypass - Media, Pa Horrible. Not only is this intersection congested beyond belief from an explosion of new housing in the area, but the layout is totally ridiculous. Good luck turning left onto 252 from Route 1 coming from Springfield, because I'm not letting you through. It seems that people can't follow traffic laws on this strip of road, and many accidents happen as a result. This intersection needs some serious review by the traffic engineers at PennDot.

Kenneth Blackwell Forgot

Blackwell accidentally held shares in election-machine maker

ANDREW WELSH-HUGGINS

Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell revealed Monday he accidentally invested in shares of voting-machine manufacturer Diebold Inc. last year, a period when he was sued by other manufacturers over contracts that Diebold was up for.

In a required ethics filing, Blackwell, who is seeking the Republican nomination for governor, said his investments are directed by an accountant and financial adviser without his knowledge or help, "similar to a blind trust." He said a manager of his investments account at Credit Suisse First Boston bought 178 shares of Diebold stock at $53.67 per share in January 2005.

These guys must really think we are stupid. We have the Secretary of State for Ohio "accidently" investing in Diebold via an account "similar to a blind trust".

Catholic vs. Public school

In honor of St. Cyril's winning their freedom for at least a year, something my high school (St. James) wasn't allowed to do, here's a blog of one of my favorite arguments. Grade school is probably the single-most important thing in a child's learning development. Most of the things they learn in the first two grades are with them for the rest of their lives. I want my children to not only learn these things that they will need in life, I also want them to learn intangibles as well: discipline, respect, and a love for learning. I think the best place for my child to learn this is in Catholic school. I'm sure there are many great public schools around. I'm sure that you think Catholic schools are over-rated, but standardized testing data says otherwise. I just think that when it comes to teacher-student attention and expectations on a student to succeed, Catholic schools just come out on top. As with anything else, where are you going to get better service, from a private company or a state-run company? There's no question. My wife, on the other hand, doesn't see the same need as I do for it. I think her main point is money. She just does not want to make the sacrifice to send our kid(s) to Catholic school. My parents made the sacrifice. They didn't have a lot of money, but still got a loan to pay for my high school education. They knew how important a Catholic education was in terms of learning and discipline. There are less drugs and fewer teen pregnancies in Catholic schools. Her other point is the whole religion thing. I guess she thinks that the school will turn our kids into mindless drones preaching about God at the dinner table, and telling us how Sister Bethany told them to reject satan. This is just not the case. Everything I learned in life is somehow connected to my time spent in Catholic school. Would I have to same education in public school? I doubt it. I'm not saying they teach different things, but if I didn't have the fear of getting in trouble with the nuns for not doing my homework or for fooling around, I probably would not have paid attention as much and learned a lot less. If I didn't have to memorize 20 vocabulary words a night or have to know every kind of structure for an English sentence, I would probably not have the communication skills I do today. My high school was an all-boys school. I couldn't imagine if I went to a co-ed public school when I was teen - I would get lost in a girl's cleavage every day! I'm sure many disagree with me, and that's fine. I only know from my own experience. Many people who go to Catholic school can't stand it, but I think they have instilled values in me that I have to this day. Some people just hate the uniforms, but you realistically have to look past that. I'm not saying that my kids should go to a Catholic high school, but certainly they should go for grades 1-8, then they can decide which high school to go themselves.

St. Cyril's did it!

EAST LANSDOWNE - The total dollar amount raised by the St. Cyril Save Our School (SOS) Committee will be announced at a special meeting tonight in St. Cyril Parish Social Hall. The initial target was $200,000 to keep the school open beyond the current school year that ends in June. We've raised over $200,000. I expect there shouldn't be any problem," St. Cyril Pastor Father Edward T. Kearns said on Monday. SOS Committee President Jim Gray will announce the grand total. The committee was formed after the results of a self-study of schools in Cluster 63, of which St. Cyril is a part, showed the school had a deficit of $200,000 for the current year. Closing in June was recommended unless the funds could be raised. Fund-raising efforts got a boost from sixth grade student Tommy Geromichalos who wrote a letter to the Make-A-Wish Foundation expressing his heartfelt with that the school be kept open long enough for him to graduate from eighth grade. Since the first committee meting on Jan. 25 parents, teachers and students have worked intensively to raise $200,000. "It's been hectic but it's been great," Father Kearns said. "People are really rallying around this cause. They definitely want to keep this school open as long as they can. It's been great because everybody's been on the same page." If paperwork is completed by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in time for the Wednesday meeting Father Kearns will be able to announce the school will stay open another year. In any event he expects the announcement to come within the week. But the work won't end there. "We're looking forward to next year. We're looking at long term funding to keep the school open," he said. The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. in the parish social hall, 153 Penn Blvd. in East Lansdowne.

Hello

Hi, My name is Joe Ward. (no relationship to Franny) I simply responded to Franny's request for guest bloggers. I am a lifelong registered Republican who leans left on most social issues. I live in Aston, PA and am absolutely convinced that this country is headed in the wrong direction. I plan to bring you items that will support that position, and hopefully get some of my fellow Delaware County residents as pissed off as I am becoming. Seeya around ~J