Craving more data on Primary Day, 2010?

Upon review of my Philadelphia Inquirer and Delco Times this morning, I noticed that the local media did not have the numbers I craved about the "other" voting that took place. Yes, I completely understand that its a primary and if there is no real contest (one D and one R) the numbers don't really matter but I just wanted the facts, and I wanted all of them.

I will give you links to all the data on PA Primary Day, 2010 (5/18/10) but first a small rant.

My Rant:
Only 10% of folks went out to vote yesterday. I find that number pretty depressive. Not everyone has the right to vote in our world, and to give up your right to vote just seems absurd to me.
Rant Over.

Here are a couple of great links that just give numbers, not MSNBC or Fox analysis, just data. I love raw data (I know you are thinking NERD!). These numbers breakdown the state by county, our county, and our county by Borough or Township. Enjoy...Now you can do your own analysis of what ever you want!

2010 General Primary, Delaware County

2010 General Primary, Delaware County, by Borough or Township

2010 General Primary, Whole State Numbers

If you have other links, please share them.

Happening this Weekend in Lansdowne, May 15-16

Despite the kooky weather we had last weekend, the rain actually held out for last Saturday’s huge Town-Wide Yard Sale in Lansdowne. I know that I sure enjoyed it, along with my family, as we trekked around town for bargains (and we sure did find a few!). While I didn’t get any official numbers, my instincts tell me that it just might have been the biggest day of yard sales ever in Lansdowne! Oh, and did I mention that one of the best things about your kids growing up is their ability (and willingness) to help carry large items home, even in some seriously strong winds.

For those of you who like to run (or walk, or just collect interesting t-shirts from local events) now is a good time to let you know about the early registration deadline for the Lansdowne Memorial Day 5K. All persons registering by May 17 will enjoy two benefits -- a free t-shirt commemorating the event and a discounted registration rate. Sure, you could wait until the last minute to sign up, but why not save a few bucks and free up that valuable stretching time on the day of the race?

Anyway, we’re approaching yet another exciting weekend in Lansdowne, and this one features lots of fun stuff for everyone. The weather should be positively spring-like on Saturday, and will be the perfect time to add a little diversity to your garden by participating in the Community Plant Exchange held by the Gays, Lesbians, and Friends of Lansdowne. The exchange takes place in the municipal parking lot on North Lansdowne Avenue – the same location as the Lansdowne Farmers Market. Bring plants starting at 10:15 am; the exchange will last from 10:30 am to noon. For every plant someone brings, they will receive a ticket good for one plant to take home. Beginning at 11:45 any remaining plants may be available for purchase for $1 each for those who don’t have plants to bring.

Also on Saturday, two local schools are hosting separate events that will offer a little something for the entire family. From 10 am to 3 pm, the Lansdowne Friends School’s May Fair celebration is an active day of family fun featuring a maypole, food, live music, vendors, face painting, moonbounce, crafts, plenty of kids activities, and more! Join Lansdowne Friends School families, teachers, alumni and friends from 10 am to 3 pm at the school, located at 110 North Lansdowne Avenue.

From there, you’re just a couple blocks away from the St. Philomena’s School’s Arts and Crafts Fair, which takes place from 10 am to 4 pm. The fair will bring more than 25 professional artist vendors and 175 student artists to the Marian Hall Gymnasium for a day of fun and festivities. Admission is free. St. Philomena’s School is at 13 N. Highland Avenue, across from the Lansdowne Fire Station.

Finally, if the kids aren’t completely worn out, there’s more to do on Sunday, when Celebration Theater of Lansdowne presents the hilarious antics of Hatman! Last seen at the Lansdowne Arts Festival, the furiously funny Hatman will bring his famed collection of far-out and fabulous headwear. Enjoy story readings, audience interaction and of course, a Best Hat Contest! Prizes will be awarded for the funniest, the most creative and the biggest hats.

So that about wraps up my outlook for the weekend, but if you know of something else going on in the neighborhood, let us know in the comments section below. Hope to see you around town soon!

FREE Music From OUR Students!

Do you love Music? If you do, I highly suggest taking in our own William Penn School District Spring concert. Its FREE although maybe the students will inspire you to make a generous donation. All donations benefit our growing Music program and the fabulous students that make such great music!

See you there!

Penn Wood High School Music Department Presents
The Annual Spring Concert
Featuring Performances by:
Concert Choir
Concert Band
Jazz Band
Thursday May 13th at 7:00 pm
Penn Wood High School Auditorium Green Avenue Campus
100 Green Avenue, Lansdowne, PA
Admission is Free
(donations are gratefully accepted)

Happening this Weekend in Lansdowne, May 8

Bargain Shoppers Alert: It's the Town-Wide Yard Sale

If you haven't yet taken some time to stroll the friendly streets of Lansdowne, this Saturday would be a great day to go for a trek through the neighborhood. Why this Saturday, you ask? Because it's the ninth annual Town-Wide Yard Sale here in Lansdowne, and will feature upwards of 100 different yard sales, all within the borders of our one square mile.

As of right now, the weather forecast is looking pretty decent (not too hot, with some chance of occasional rain), so why not put on some comfortable shoes and hunt for bargains. It's probably the day when there are more out-of towners in Lansdowne than any other day of the year, so it's also an excellent opportunity to meet friends and neighbors both old and new. While it may not be possible to hit every yard sale, you can plan your route for maximum efficiency with the latest map of this Saturday's sales at the Google map online or in this printable version.

In addition to the yard sales, there will be a couple other happenings in and around the business district. Fuel up for the day with a hearty hoagie, sold by the Ladies Auxiliary of the Lansdowne Fire Company. Their annual hoagie sale takes place from 9 am to 1 pm at the fire station, 26 N. Highland Ave. Plus, the Spring Tea event at Secret Garden (in the Simpson Gardens building 84 N. Lansdowne Ave.) is an opportunity to enjoy sweets, savories, scones in an elegant setting at 1 pm.

For what it's worth, I'll be among those hitting up the yard sales in search of a _________ . If you happen to be in the borough and spot one, let me know!

Built to Last: First Suburbs Fights to Keep the Inner Ring Thriving

It's a pretty powerful thing to be in a room with 200 like-minded people, as I found myself in while attending the First Suburbs meeting on Thursday night, April 29.  First Suburbs is a non-profit advocacy group that focuses on issues facing the inner-ring suburbs (literally, the "First" Suburbs) and advocates to make their issues a priority for our elected officials.   
 
First Suburbs focuses on Housing, Infrastructure, and School Funding, since Federal and State policies on these issues tend to favor (and financially benefit) the newer, farther-out suburbs. By promoting the sprawl of these new suburbs, these policies deplete the resources of the older communities that make up the inner-ring suburbs. 

What I find most interesting at these meetings is the tenacity of the First Suburbs membership. Their questions are direct and to the point, they present their issues clearly, and they are not the least bit shy when asking invited politicians to support their agenda. Usually, a politician's choice not to attend a First Suburb meeting in the first place speaks volumes. If you are a smart politician and disagree with the group's policy points, you're probably not going to show up at the event anyway. 

 
Nonetheless, below is a summary of some of the question and answer sessions between these parties at last night's meeting:
 
 
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Question on Housing presented to Diane Lello, Acting Regional Director of the Department of Housing and Urban Development and John Pickett, Executive Director of the Delaware County Office of Housing and Community Development
 
QUESTION: Will you both work with the First Suburbs Project to make housing equity and mobility a priority in Delaware and Chester Counties by convening representatives of the Housing Authorities to: 1) Explore ways to use existing programs to promote housing choice and mobility, and 2) propose new ways to promote housing choice and mobility including a joint application to HUD for any new programs designed to increase housing choice for low income and families with special needs? 
 

Further, as we explore existing programs we need to look at how the current fair market rent calculations are reducing choice and mobility for section 8 voucher holders. We believe that can and should be changed. Will the HUD office agree to review how the fair market rent is calculated so as to better promote mobility and freedom of choice? 

ANSWER: Yes.

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Question on Infrastructure presented to State Senator Ted Erickson and Representatives Ronald Waters and Bryan Lentz
 
QUESTION: Will you work with First Suburbs to build support with the legislative representatives on the PENNVEST board to create a separate “fix it first” funding mechanism for sewers within PENNVEST?
 
ANSWER: Yes.

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Question on Education presented to State Senator Ted Erickson and Representative Ronald Waters and Senator Anthony WIlliams (via Rep. Waters)
 
QUESTION: Can we count on you to be champions for our school districts and work with us to:
 
- challenge efforts to weaken the formula in ways that undermine our communities?

- advocate to improve the formula so that is also addresses the costs of special education?

- advocate to make sure we have an adequate level of funding without taxing our communities out of existence?

ANSWER: Yes.

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I'm fully aware that there are probably not any elected officials that would come to the First Suburbs meeting and answer “no” to questions like those posed above. However, as someone in the audience with many of those same concerns, I found it very encouraging to hear affirmative answers from the officials present at the meeting. Straight answers are usually a rarity among elected officials, aside from a select few, often at a very local level. And while the succinct Yes/No answers can turn to convoluted grey areas in many instances, last night I heard nothing but resounding a "Yes" in all of their answers. 

I would like to give an big "atta boy" to the politicos that showed up last night. It took courage and conviction, and I really respect that. Nonetheless, I do wonder why a lot of other regional officials that represent constituents in the inner-ring suburbs were not there. Noticeably missing were State Senator Dominic Pileggi, State Representative Nick Micozzie, and State Representative William Adolph. I do realize and understand that our elected officials have a long list of groups that request their attendance and plenty of work to do, but I come from the “must be willing to move a mountain" crowd. So while the three named above probably had a legitimate reason not to be there last night, I do hope that by not being there, they now have an even better reason to be there next time. 

As for me, I can't wait until the next First Suburbs event. I am thrilled that I went last night, and was pleased to see that the meeting was so well organized and ended up being a productive experience for all involved. It is very reassuring to know that the First Suburbs organization, with its massive support, is actually having a positive impact on our inner-ring communities.

Line up your friends for next time! If you are interested in joining a group of folks who love their homes and communities as much as you do at the next First Suburbs meeting, please call or email me. 

 

 

Happening this Weekend in Lansdowne, May 1

The Great Things that Spring Brings

Just a reminder to make sure your calendar is clear for this Saturday. In case you didn't know, this week marks the first really big Saturday of the season in terms of things to do in Lansdowne, so be sure to include some of the events listed below in your plans. Bring your friends, too!

Lansdowne Arts & Crafts Show: The third annual Lansdowne Arts and Crafts Show will take place from 9 am to 3 pm in the North LansdowneAvenue parking lot next to the PNC Bank. Rain date is Sunday, May 2. Enjoy Arts, Crafts, Music, Food and Fun - See what Downtown Lansdowne
has to offer! See our list of artists here.

The Dream of a Darby Creek Greenway Centennial Celebration: This year marks the 100th anniversary for Arthur Shrigley, President of the Natural History Club of Lansdowne, to publicly suggest the idea of a green way of protected and preserved beauty along the Darby Creek. The
Darby Creek Valley Association will honor this by celebrating the continued progress on the development of this greenway at the Twentieth Century Club on Saturday, May 1 from 10 am to noon. more

At The Garden Church: Yard Sale; All-You-Can-Eat Pancake Breakfast sponsored by Epiphany House: Fuel up for the big day at The Garden Church, Lansdowne and Stratford Avenues, from 7:30 to 11:00 am. Adults $7, kids 5 to 17 $5, and kids under 5 free. And don't miss the church's Spring Yard Sale, which takes place from 9 am to 3 pm.

Red, White and Bluesy Spring Social

The Union Athletic Association hosts its second annual Red, White and Bluesy spring social fundraiser at 7 pm, featuring live music from the Joe Stephenson Trio and the Overbrook String Band. The $30 admission includes refreshments and a full buffet. Wrap up your day with a night of celebration and good times at the Twentieth Century Club. Proceeds from this event support the Union AA's Fourth of July fireworks and celebration. More info

10 things I love about Lansdowne, in no order really...

1. People: Lansdowne folks are friendly, helpful, and active participants in the community. Wherever you are, you can usually expect a friendly "Hi," even from passing strangers.

2. Food: Regency Cafe, Sycamore, Provisions, Doyle's Deli & Grille, Paul Revere Pizza, My Old Place Bakery, Travers Food Market, Mar-Win Shop n Bag...no matter what you're hungry for, there's something good to eat nearby.

3. Lansdowne Farmers Market: Twenty-six Saturdays filled with local and organic fruits and veggies, live music, and artists. It's a place to socialize, meet new friends, and shop. What could be better? It starts May 29, 2010, so mark your calendars!

4. Lansdowne Arts Festival: Three days of art and music at the Twentieth Century Club in Lansdowne. September 10, 11 and 12, 2010.

5. Lansdowne Arts and Crafts Show: Just days away – Saturday, May 1, from 9 am to 3 pm in the parking lot across from the theater (Google "30 North Lansdowne Avenue" for directions). Over 30 artists out in the fresh air – a great way to kick off Spring in Lansdowne!

6. Walking: A truly walkable community, Lansdowne boasts parks, shopping, dining and some fabulous residential neighborhoods within its one square mile, and is well served by public transit. Want to see the highlights? A walking map is right here. And if running is more your thing, join us for the Memorial Day 5k on May 31, 2010.

7. No Place For Hate: There is not a lot of drama in Lansdowne and we like it that way. We get along, like good neighbors should. No matter who you are, or what you are there is a community group for you, and all volunteers are welcomed.

8. Leadership: Jayne Young is the hardest working mayor in Delaware County! You couldn't ask for a better town cheerleader. She is surrounded by similarly hard-working elected officials, who use common sense when running our community. It's good local government in action.

9. Music: Whether is the Lansdowne Folk Club, the Lansdowne Symphony Orchestra, music at the Lansdowne Farmers Market and the Arts Festival, or the Lansdowne Summer Concert Series, there's something worth hearing. Most of Lansdowne's musical events are planned by the talented Bob Beach, a living, breathing Lansdowne treasure who even hosts concerts in his house!

10. Communication. We have our own email newsletter, Discover Lansdowne. Written with a healthy dash of wit by one of Lansdowne's finest volunteers, Grace Caputo, the newsletter is funny, sharp and quirky. It's an easy read and and an entertaining way to find out what's going on in town. Sign up for the newsletter here.

Did I miss something? Do you know of a person, place, or event in Lansdowne that deserves mention? Feel free to let me know what you love about Lansdowne!