Empty Fortune?

If this sealed, but empty packet truly reflects my fortune for the coming year, I'm in big trouble. If it represents more than my personal fortune, we may all be in deep...

Season's Priorities

Yard decorations seem exceptional this year. Here's one on Susquehanna Road in Abington. Wishing readers a happy, healthy and meaningful New Year!

Stop Sign Saga

Simon says STOP. Don’t stop. Stop!

Take your life into your own hands. Simon says good luck.

If you’ve been driving down Glenside Avenue in Wyncote this summer, you will have noticed changes in the octagonal red signage. The 4-way stop that had been on Glenside Avenue at Waverly Road has been removed. Only traffic on Waverly has to stop. At the same time, a 3-way stop has sprung up at North Avenue.

The changes came in response to some vocal residents, upset by the use of Waverly Road as a vehicular cut-through. They attribute excessive traffic on the narrow residential street to the 4-way stop. Presumably the 4-way stop signs made it easier for drivers to turn onto Waverly and use it as a short cut.

Instead, traffic should be encouraged to stay on the main roads and turn only at streets with traffic lights, noted one of the organizers to remove the 4-way stop. He believes the 4-way stop feature actually facilitated excess cut-throughs. He and his allies want to fund an outside study of the situation by a traffic engineer.

Installed in 2004, the 4-way stop was meant to improve safety compromised by the speed, volume and visibility of traffic at that intersection, according to Cheltenham Township records.

What is crystal unclear to many Wyncote residents is how those problems of traffic speed, volume and visibility have been improved by the removal of the 4-way stop. Safety appears to again be in great peril.

Observe pedestrians trying to cross Glenside Avenue at Waverly, Hewett or Glenview. It’s downright scary. Mad dashes, false starts, fits and spurts. And traffic is lightest in July and August. Autumn's back to school crunch and masses of umbrella-toting SEPTA commuters will exacerbate such problems.

So other residents are mobilizing a counter petition to restore the 4-way stop.

They don’t want an accident toll to mount in order to provide evidence for their position. Count this writer in that camp.

And almost like the placement of warriors’ flags during a battle skirmish, the comings and goings of these stop signs are being watched by the dawn’s early light.

Actually, nobody’s especially fond of excess traffic speeding by. On that point all sides are in concert. It’s on how best to reduce it that’s in dispute. And on what tradeoffs and sacrifices residents are willing to make.

And on alternatives. Some residents are even receptive to the idea of speed bumps. What’s your experience with those, Jenkintown?

Meanwhile, drivers, please be on the lookout for changing signage on our streets. Drive mindfully, not out of habit. And watch out for other drivers and pedestrians who are caught off guard. We may be in for several months of temporary experiments and signs that creep from one intersection to the next. Stay alert, and slow down.

National Milk Chocolate Day

Today is National Milk Chocolate Day.

Most of us probably missed National Milk Chocolate with Almonds Day earlier this month.

Sure beats thinking about the debt ceiling circus.

Enjoy, before it melts!

More to come on this.

Heat Prompts Unusual Behavior

We're all feeling this heat wave. Even nature is rebelling.

It's one thing for grass to turn brown and flowers to wilt. But pachysandra and hydrangea?

Today in both Cheltenham and in Upper Dublin, I witnessed deer out and about - atypically during mid-day hours. One was crossing a lot of lanes of Susquehanna just beyond the intersection at Virginia Drive. A doe and her youngster were foraging in residential areas of Wyncote.

You might also notice that your lawn sprinklers are serving double duty. Not only are they watering your flora, but they become a draw for the birds, who enjoy the spray and puddles. A hummingbird recently visited up close and personal when I was using my garden hose.

The heat seems to be getting to all creatures, prompting unpredictable behaviors.

Keep your eyes open and keep cool.

Independence Day: Baby Robins Depart the Nest

After a month’s vigil, I find it altogether fitting and proper that the baby robins outside my home window chose Independence Day to depart their nest. The event was riveting and emotional, and not just for the human observers.

The two surviving hatchlings had been developing at a rate fast enough to intrigue even the most impatient technospeedster. By day 12, it was readily apparent that the nest was too small to accommodate the baby birds, who had reached the stage of fledglings. Pin feathers had been picked and the coloring of the juveniles was beginning to resemble their parents in most places. When the youngsters stretched their wings, it was obvious that the larger world awaited them.

One perched on the edge of the nest. He did this with such intent, that there was no doubt his launch would be July 4. He hopped onto a nearby branch and surveyed the situation. Then he hopped back into the nest. It reminded me of some generations ago when one of my own babies had realized she was ready to turn over, stopped in mid-turn, and howled instead. Both little ones knew instinctively they had reached their next step, yet both hesitated, wanting to prolong the comfort and security of the known.

The bird then left and his sibling perched on the side of the nest looking after him. We located the pioneer, hopping amid the ground cover, not far from the shrub that housed the nest. The remaining sibling returned to the nest and opened his mouth. The father bird brought him some large creature I dare not try to name, and stuffed it down his throat. No longer was the kid eating regurgitated baby food – this was a solid sample of the delicacies he too could hunt. I interpreted this act as the farewell supper.

Next thing I knew, the second fledgling was on my window sill, and then, he was also gone.

Without fully developed tails, and still quite young, these fledglings would be sticking around for a little while. I later located one hanging onto a window shutter.

In the July heat, however, I sensed they might need a water supply. Whether or not it was silly and unnecessary, I placed a shallow dish of water on the ground not far from the nest. Guess empty nests make me sentimental.

Nest Thriving

Five in a bush now. The Robin couple has three little mouths to feed.
Make that three clamorous chasms to stuff...

Eggs in the Bush

Robins have located their nest just outside our window in some bushes. Perhaps they recognize a friend: just two years ago, I broke my ankle rescuing a dehydrated fledgling.

The eggs should be hatching soon. Unless they fried in our previous heat wave. Stay tuned.

Link of Interest

For a thoughtful approach to local environmental issues, you'll want to periodically drop by:
http://beverlymm.wordpress.com/2011/04/30/you-based-your-decision-on-what/

Beverly's experience and critical analyses raise valuable questions to ponder, even if you come away with a different viewpoint.

Pondering Reconfiguration

Currently in the midst of school construction projects on buildings that would not have been cost-effective to renovate, the School District of Cheltenham Township is considering possible grade reconfiguration and decommissioning of particular facilities.

Rumors had been circulating as the district has been struggling with its budget. A presentation was made by Superintendent Darlene Davis to the school board’s facilities committee on April 5 and some of the notes from that meeting appear on the district website: http://www.cheltenham.org/files/264121/possible%20reconfiguration%20of%20grades-buildings.pdf

Two possible options are presented there at the time of this writing. Both have in common several elements:

• Moving toward a K-5 elementary configuration from the current K-4. This also changes the current grades 5-6 at Elkins Park Middle School and the 7-8 configuration at Cedarbrook.
• Moving toward a 6th grade center at Cedarbrook Middle School, separate from the 7th and 8th grades there. New construction of a 6th grade center would be part of a Cedarbrook addition.
• Moving the central administration offices out of the current administrative building into the current Elkins Park Middle School. This would open the administration building for sale or lease.
• Moving all Wyncote Elementary students, as well as its 5th grade, out of Wyncote and into the current Elkins Park Middle School. The reasons given for this is plan include that (1) Wyncote is too small to accommodate its 5th graders and (2) it would close an extra building, for financial savings.

Two different timelines are presented for the two options, which are contemplated to start phasing in as early as the 2012-2013 school year.

Public discussion is already underway, and school board president Tina Viletto emphasizes that there’s no fait accompli and that the process will be transparent.

No doubt, cost efficiencies and considerations of best pedagogical practices for middle school have already gone into the preliminary proposals by Dr. Davis.

This commentary poses some questions and calls for clarification to help improve the information gathering and assessment for judicious decision making.

Q: What are the population trends for school district enrollments? What are the current numbers for each of the four elementary schools? What are the expected numbers for each school’s 5th grade, for the next 5 years?

Pertinent Considerations: Once upon a time, Wyncote Elementary – and the other three schools – did house K-5. Granted, for most of that time, K was half-day, which freed up some space that isn’t available now. However, if the other three elementary schools can house their 5th graders, why can’t Wyncote? Is it so much smaller than the other schools? (How many classrooms, each? How many sections of each grade, each? Are cafeteria and gym spaces limiting factors?)

Q: Is it possible to put a map showing the current elementary schools and their catchment areas on the district website?

Pertinent Considerations: If Wyncote Elementary’s students attend Elkins Park School instead, there will be three of the four elementary schools southeast of High School Road below Church Road. Is that proportionate and balanced to the district population? Wouldn’t that require additional busing and family travel from the other sides of Old York Road and Washington Lane?

Q: What are the pros and cons of redistricting, with the elementary schools staying where they are and serving as many “walkers” as possible in these current locations?

Pertinent Considerations: With energy costs expected to take an increasing slice of the district’s budget and increasing environmental concerns, could redistricting maximize benefits of “neighborhood” accessible schools.

Q: How does the Cedarbrook Middle School facility actually compare with the Elkins Park facility and campus for both 7th and 8th grades and for construction of a new 6th grade center? What conditions still need significant renovation (and/or remedial maintenance) at both schools?

Pertinent Considerations: Once upon a time, Elkins Park and Cedarbrook housed 7th and 8th grades. If the district is looking to unload a second property, in addition to the administration building, which property (a) is more expensive to maintain and (b) would have greater market value – Wyncote Elementary, Elkins Park or Cedarbrook? Cedarbrook backs onto commercial and highway land, whereas the other schools are surrounded by residences.

Q: Exactly how separate is the new 6th grade center expected to be from the 7th - 8th grade school?

Pertinent Considerations: Will there be overlap in terms of educational program, staffing, the arts, lunchroom, gym, and extracurricular activities? This would seem to need significant detailing in order to properly design new construction and determine cost efficiencies.

Q: Are larger schools in the students’ best interests?

Pertinent Considerations: New construction at three of the four elementary schools and relocation of Wyncote to Elkins Park may also raise issues of equity for Wyncote families and staff. Since Wyncote students would not benefit from new construction, perhaps maintaining a smaller school population at Wyncote (assigning more students to the other new schools, while still adding 5th grade) would help compensate for what could be perceived as orphaned treatment?

Q: If part of the idea in reducing school buildings is to eliminate/reduce one extra administrative layer, does increasing the number of students at each school appropriately accomplish that?

Pertinent Considerations: Will increasing the size of each school’s population increase the need for greater supervision, administrative work and guidance in those schools?


Change is a constant in all school districts, and restructuring typically occurs within each generation. Of course, useful questions and responses will arise during the public’s consideration of the current proposals.

Flush with Bathroom Stories

My op-ed yesterday in a major urban newspaper about a recent entry on my list of memorable bathrooms drew some fun responses.

No doubt, each of us could tell some great stories. I invite yours.

Meanwhile, here's hoping the Hiway finds a real, enduring fix in their Ladies'.

Post your stories here, or send them to rapporules@gmail.com.

[Photo from my collection: On the aircraft carrier, USS Midway, in San Diego]

Toady Went A-Courtin' and He Did ... splat, uh oh!

[Photo credit: Janet Lippincott]

I attended the press conference called by the rugged specimen of bufo americanus this past week.

At four years old, he still expects another 5-6 years in his lifespan. Yet he’d barely survived the first leg of a tortuous journey to the old Roxborough Reservoir and was concerned for both his return trip and the journey ahead that faced his offspring.

Toad began the press conference by thanking the Toad Detour committee – particularly the 5^th District of the Philadelphia Police Department and the Philadelphia Streets Department, Toad Detour founder Lisa Levinson, and Parks & Recreation environmental education director Debbie Carr, among others – for recognizing that spring migration in the amphibian world is less flexible, by nature, than automobile traffic.

He offered some grim statistics, while the monitor panned over one hundred dead fellow creatures, squashed on Port Royal Avenue, around Hagys Mill Road and Eva Street. That was the body count on just one evening, March 6, when Toad Detour volunteer Judy Stepenaskie thought to go out for reconnaissance.

Thousands of Toad’s colleagues and relatives have been thoughtlessly mowed down annually, the potential mass slaughter fortunately reduced by the efforts of Lisa Levinson and the Toad Detour team she has assembled over the past three years, he said.

The monitor zoomed in on Levinson as Toad relayed her story.

Levinson was leaving work in the evening hours of April in 2007, and thought it peculiar to see so many leaves blowing across the street. “It isn’t fall,” she thought to herself.

When she realized she was observing a mass movement of toads, she said something to a law enforcement person who happened to be nearby.

On a second occasion, when Levinson saw cars racing over the neighborhood streets from Ridge Avenue crushing the animals, she rolled up her sleeves. She gestured to slow down oncoming cars while trying to help some of the toads make it across the street. Somebody called the police about a crazy lady in the middle of the road.

Meanwhile, enter Carr, from the former Fairmount Park system and Doug Wechsler, a researcher and photographer with the Academy of Natural Sciences. The Schuylkill Center, where many of the toads reside, Mobilization for Animals, Public Eye, Applied Ecological Services, several civic associations and concerned residents from Montgomery County and as far away as Phoenixville, also became involved.

On the third occasion, Levinson called the police herself. When the officer came, Levinson was administering to a dying toad in her hand. That officer grasped the larger issue.

When the ground thaws and winter snows give way to spring rains, toads awaken and climb out from their hibernation zones, a foot deep into the soil. Spring migration to the spawning pond commences.

“Mating migration is not restricted to the Roxborough area,” noted Toad.

“The dates aren’t set in advance,” explained Toad, deviating from his prepared remarks. “It varies from year to year, depending on the weather conditions. This year, we’re considerably earlier than recent years.”

As Toad continued, it became clear that he and his cohorts do not operate as toadily free agents, but in accordance with natural bio-rhythms they have little ability to control, much less fully understand. They respond to their essential role in the ecosystem, in which their diet keeps the insect population under control and their occasional life sacrifices naturally serve the population of owls and other wildlife.

“We’re allies for your gardens and farms,” declared Toad, as the press conference crrroaked on. “We’re vital pieces in the energy cycle of life.”

Since 2009, officially-sanctioned road blocks and vests are provided annually to Toad Detour volunteers at this time of year so they can detour traffic from the most heavily traversed migration paths.

Volunteers set up the Toad Detour from about 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. in the evenings.

“We’re nocturnal,” explained Toad. “And rainy nights are especially compelling for our challenging migration.”

Straying from his prepared remarks again, Toad added, “You should come over to see the terrain we navigate. You’d be toadily blown away by the walls we have to scale and the steep descent into the Reservoir area. We do awfully well with natural challenges, but these cars are just murder.”

Toad emphasized that the volunteers do their best, and do rescue thousands of animals. But such temporary and limited help still leaves many hours of mass crossings unprotected from automobiles.

“This is a round trip for the adult toads. But then, our eggs that turned into tadpoles in the Reservoir… They turn into toadlets. Two months from now, those little toadlets – the size of a fingernail – must cross over the road to get into wooded areas where they either mature or martyr themselves to nature’s food cycle.”

He concluded, “Toad Detour is working with policy makers to improve migration safety and educate the public. And Parks & Recreation is holding Toad Walks for fun and information. Contact www.toaddetour.com, 215-683-0218 or 215-685-9285.”

Party With Purpose

Do you really have a more important commitment scheduled for 4:00-8:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 13?

A party has been planned for you, your family and friends by a collection of your thoughtful, dedicated and conscientious neighbors.

Imagine if partying could have saved the Titanic from sinking or if partying could cure cancer. Now imagine if partying could revive the economy, rebuild community, reduce environmental damage and reverse destructive energy policies.

Attending this party could help give you some tools to transform some of today’s depressing headlines into tomorrow’s hope and security.

At least that’s among the aspirations of the worldwide Transition Movement of which Transition Cheltenham is a part. March 13 celebrates the grand launch of the local collaboration, which in recent weeks came of age as one of 80 official Transition Initiatives in the U.S. and 352 internationally. Another 360 or so communities are in pre-official stages. Transition efforts are happening in 31 countries.

Transition Cheltenham joins Denver, Los Angeles, Portland (Maine), Ann Arbor, Montpelier (Vermont), Tucson, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Palo Alto, NE Seattle, and Houston among prominent Transition communities that had already been mobilizing local sustainability efforts.

“The idea is to gather community, reach out, raise awareness, connect with groups already on the right path,” explained Beverly Maisey, an energy engineering consultant based in Wyncote and member of Transition Cheltenham’s initiating team.

Maisey recapped the one-and-one-half year process leading up to the March 13 launch party. Events included an “un-car picnic,” a “locavore banquet,” and a series of environmental workshops – for example on permaculture and on energy efficient (and even energy-producing) buildings and passive home design. “Gathering the Genius” events and “Sustainability Salons” also welcomed the ideas of all participants. Maisey estimated that 500-600 people have attended these events so far.

Kathy Hampton is Commissioner of Cheltenham’s Ward 4. She said she appreciates Transition Cheltenham’s perspective on how to change environmental habits to reduce the carbon footprint and reliance on fossil fuels. She said she hopes they can effectively educate the broader community in both environmental science and in how to make a difference at the household and policy level.

The Transition Cheltenham website – www.transitioncheltenham.org – has an impressive listing of resources, including films, to provide background information on carbon, climate, fuel, food and water, etc. The website also describes the various ongoing action committees open to all interested members of the public.

Free of charge, taking place at the cafeteria at Cheltenham High School, the March 13 party includes music, a special scavenger hunt, and of course, a cake. Guests will learn some Tai Chi and have a chance to express their creativity in the arts. They’ll feast on a potluck banquet – you’re asked to bring a dish and beverage to share, as well as your own “bowl, eatin’ irons and a cup.” The latter contributes to Transitioners’ goal of moving toward zero unnecessary waste.

Maisey emphasized that Transition Cheltenham is “all about the good of the community.”

Long-time environmental educator Judith Gratz echoed that sentiment with a metaphor about an old-fashioned bucket brigade to tame a fire. The future of a community depends on “an increasing number of people joining in and offering their ideas, skills, experience and wisdom,” she said.

“I’m eager to facilitate innovative projects such as roving work parties,” Gratz said. For example, she envisions “Cooperative gardening, in which small groups come together for a few hours to help each person with his/her garden from time to time as needed, or neighbors teaching each other simple skills – building a compost bin, and so on.” Gratz also hopes to facilitate meetings with experts on “best management practices to hold rainwater on our properties to reduce creek flooding, and then get funding to implement our plans.”

Commissioner Hampton emphasized the importance of putting theory into practice. She noted that Transition Cheltenham has some great ideas that “hopefully won’t just sit on a shelf collecting dust.”

These folks passionately believe in protecting our environment and in the power and value of community. Do you? They’re inviting you to a party. See you there.

Sunday, March 13, 4:00-8:00 p.m.

Cheltenham High School Cafeteria

(500 Rices Mill Road, Wyncote, PA 19095)

www.transitioncheltenham.org

The Party's Moving: SGS Paper Still Thrives

For real pinwheels on your toothpicks and the perfect-sized Chinese take-out box for your craft sale, or other goodies you never knew you needed, your store of choice is celebrating its new move.

Thirty-one years after the very weekend he opened his paper, invitation and party goods store in Wyncote, Barry Schwartz intends a new grand opening around February 16. SGS Paper Company has been perched since 1980 in a warehouse along the railroad track crossing where Rices Mill Road blends into Highland Avenue. Its new home is Glenside, only 1-1/2 miles northwest on Mt. Carmel Avenue, just before it hits Limekiln Pike.

Listening to Schwartz carry on about the festivities for the upcoming kickoff, you’d think he was planning a party for his beloved grandkids. Which may be the case as well. Afterall, the letters S.G.S. represent their mother’s name. Stephanie Gwen Schwartz, daughter of Barry and his wife, Monna, was very little when her eponymous store was born. (There is also a son, who became a graphic designer.) SGS remains a mom and pop place, a family enterprise, at which Stephanie now also works. Monna is the bookkeeper, who is joined in the office at least once a week by Schwartz’s 92 –year-old mother. “Her mind’s great, she looks fantastic and she still drives,” he said.

Other employees he considers family as well. “Dedicated, wonderful. No attitudes, no ego problems. We weeded all those out,” Schwartz laughed.

“It’s going to be a huge grand opening,” exuded Schwartz. “Free food, entertainment for the kids – a caricaturist, animal balloon specialist, face painters, maybe even a dunk tank! Remember those old booths you could go into, make a face and get a bunch of photos fast? We’ll have one of those,” he continued, on.

Then, he said, after they’ve re-opened, they’ll try to have these celebrations once a month. “We’re more than just a party store. We’re a fun place for children.”

Sometimes Schwartz teases that SGS means “specializing in great service.” Which is also true. Service seems to account in great part for the success of this retailer, when so few others remain standing past the first few laps.

“We try to listen to the needs of the customers. If they ask for a different line, or a particular theme, we’re happy to bring it in,” said Schwartz. “I like to think it’s the customers’ store.”

Over the years, for instance, SGS was increasingly stocking a wider selection than their competitors, and adding accessories and novel items to coordinate with an expanding array of party themes.

“You want Tikki Bar, we’ll get you your lighted palm trees,” Schwartz nailed his point.

SGS Paper typically fills 1000 helium balloons a week, he said. They do a lot of wedding invitations. They sell every imaginable size cooking tin made. Piñatas dangle from the ceiling to remind you how easy it is to party.

“We can’t make it on price alone, when there are mass merchandisers like Target, Costco and Sam’s Club,” he started outlining his apparently successful business strategy. “We need to be able to provide people with every possible color napkin, table covering, utensils, florals. Every kind and size of plastic wine glass – bowl, fluted, stems … If we don’t have it, you don’t need it.”

Another facet of his strategy is volume. Schwartz acknowledges the impact of the recession, which has cascaded from corporate downsizing and streamlined habits down the chain to caterers, restaurants and households. He says his own costs are “out of control,” with suppliers suddenly charging 15 percent more than six months ago for paper bags and some utility expenses jumping from $1600 to $2400 a month.

So he’s trading in what he calls the “air space” of the warehouse for a brighter, more accessible venue for merchandising. Most important, he’s abandoning a parking nightmare that accommodates five cars in exchange for a well-designed parking lot that holds closer to 50.

Schwartz started out working for Sweetheart paper manufacturer in Philadelphia. He eventually decided he wanted to do his own thing and started SGS Paper, aiming at both commercial and retail paper goods. Over the years, he said, he recognized an under-tapped market for retail party goods. Although he still delivers paper and cleaning supplies to commercial accounts and serves a substantial number of commercial caterers and restaurants, now 80 percent of his business is cash and carry.

This 64-year-old businessman has no plans to retire. “I love the interaction. Every day is different. It’s exciting to go to work every day.” He expects to play a larger role in the local chambers of commerce groups. And Schwartz concedes that he’s a pushover when schools organizations and scouts approach him for advertisements and donations.

“They help us make a living. We try to give back to the community,” he said.

It takes Schwartz little time to learn his customers by name, and he rarely forgets. “We are so grateful for the loyalty of our customers. I’m sure you remember your friends’ names,” he noted. “My customers are my friends.”