Category Archives: government

is freedom of speech subjective if you are a republican in pa and chester county or just in honey brook township?

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So we all know it’s a hot race in Honey Brook because the thug politics cabal is terrified of a normal Republican or anyone NOT from their inner circle running against their chosen bobblehead. And yes, I can have that opinion. So yeah, hope y’all tuned in or listen later online or now online. https://953wche.com/

So I went to rewatch Valerie Shultz’s video. It gave up this message:

Naturally, I went nosing around because it was available over the weekend. So I don’t know if this is a tall tale but apparently the thug political cabal was so upset that they did their usual round of emails, phone calls, etc and so predictable right? Are they also still doing drive-bys like no one sees that truck or trucks? I guess politics is harassable in Honey Brook Township?

So is it true that the went to the PA State GOP and Chester County GOP put pressure on the individual who merely recorded it because that is part of what he does in Honey Brook for the residents NOT as a committeeperson? As in this wasn’t official anything, was it? It was shooting a video. So this begs the question of what did OTHER supervisors in Honey Brook Township know? Are current elected officials there trying to add the pressure of undue political pressure? Is that even ok?

In my humble opinion this but a pyrrhic victory. In case you are unfamiliar with the term a pyrrhic victory is defined as:

a triumph achieved at such a tremendous cost that it is tantamount to a defeat, leaving the victor in a worse state than they were before. 

And guess what? I have the verbiage of the empty hoodie/chair debate. Yes, yes I do. Here you go:

Debate dialogueDownload

And yes, yes I have the video. I took a screen grab of the publicly recorded empty chair debate. Also note this was advertised for weeks, so nothing was done leading up to this event to stop it. It’s not the first video you see next, it’s at the bottom.

Listen to this video at end of this post. There is nothing wrong with it, except that Valerie Shultz is a Republican running on Democrat ticket because Democrats in Honey Brook Township want representation. These individuals CHOSE to do this because as they noted in a public meeting (in above video), they did not feel they essentially had a snowball’s chance in hell of getting a Democrat elected which means they did their own self-chosen groundswell of support and wrote Valerie in. They chose to do this. See video grab above, for the Democrat who spoke up.

Now my opinion is the Republican Party of Chester County and PA made a critical error. Also my opinion is if the Democrats in Chester County had a collective brain, they would capitalize on this because is this not attempting to deprive someone of their First Amendment rights? Honey Brook Township is sunshine unfriendly in my opinion and they are scared of having, well, what we used to know as a normal Republican on the board and she is respected enough that Democrats wrote her in to get her on the ballot and what does that say?

The residents of Honey Brook do not have to settle for less. And no one decides whom to vote for except for the individual in the voting booth. If Honey Brook wants to start to improve, it starts here.

And I will note that NO one is saying Honey Brook Township is a horrible place (like the talking hoodie yes man bobble head always says), what IS being said that the politics are creating issues in a community as in the thug politics of those currently in office and how is that so difficult a concept to grasp? Honey Brook Township is not the thug politics cabal’s fiefdom or personal sandbox. What has happened with the empty chair debate video in my opinion is a CLEAR example of why residents need to NOT vote for the candidate that the current board wants, right? I mean do you want representative government or not? Or do you want a guy who runs his entire campaign off of Facebook, sort of at the recent supervisors meeting, or from a lawn chair in a random driveway?

Here is the video. Hope all watch and learn and hope regional media wakes up to what is going on. This is at the end of the day a glaring example on a more local level of what is wrong in politics today.

asked and answered: former prothonotary debbie bookman was charged by pa ag

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Saw this from Facebook in May- Public Post

The other day, I asked the following:

Dumb question but election season means whatever happened to Debbie Bookman the former prothonotary? She resigned under a cloud, and I will note unfriended me on Facebook sometime when that happened which kind of made me laugh, but then we’ve heard nothing haven’t we? Are the Democrats burying this? Or is there some kind of investigation going on that they can’t talk about but maybe they want to say that there is an active or not active case?

Now maybe when that cloud broke, she simply exited Facebook, that would also make sense. Don’t know. All I do know is I voted for that woman so when the news broke in October, 2024 I was gob smacked and as a voter felt in a sense, betrayed.

Don’t know where that person went. So this was who I thought she was:

Here she is in a Melton Center video from 4 years ago:

Then this from a year ago with something sone by the Chester County Community Foundation:

And something State Senator Carolyn Comitta put out after visiting CYWA in Coatesville:

Then came the headline no one expected, let alone people who voted for her in October, 2024:

Chester County official under investigation by financial watchdog resigns, citing personal reasons

EXCERPT:

WEST CHESTER — Debbie Bookman, who made history in 2019 by becoming the first Democrat to be elected prothonotary in Chester County and then by winning a second term in 2023, has abruptly resigned from her position, citing personal reasons.

“It has been one of my greatest honors to serve the public as your prothonotary,” Bookman said in a statement sent to the MediaNews Group on Thursday evening. “However, this year has been extremely difficult for me on a personal level and I honestly can no longer give my best to this position.”….Her decision, however, comes in the wake of an investigation by the county Controller’s Office — the county’s elected financial watchdog —  into financial irregularities in the Prothonotary’s Office. Bookman alluded to those matters in her statement. She acknowledged that she had made purchases of a personal nature using the credit card issued to the office for official business.

Then came this article:

Controller referred prothonotary case to Chester County D.A. in August, statement says

EXCERPT:

WEST CHESTER — The Chester County chief financial watchdog confirmed on Tuesday that her office had some months ago referred the matter involving potential misuse of a county credit card by the former county prothonotary to the District Attorney’s Office.

Controller Margaret Reif said in an email that she had sent word of her office’s investigation to the D.A. in late August after she had uncovered potential wrongdoing by Debbie Bookman, who was in her second term as the elected official responsible for civil court case documents and filings.

“As required by county code, our office is obligated to report any potential instances of fraud to the District Attorney’s office,” Reif wrote. “In compliance with this requirement, we reported the personal use of county credit cards to the District Attorney’s office on August 28th.

Then this appeared in the spring of this year:

Chester County officials mistakenly leave prothonotary off primary ballot
Error in Chester County keeps prothonotary off primary ballot

EXCERPT:

WEST CHESTER — An error by officials inside Chester County government has resulted in the now vacant office of county prothonotary being left off the ballot in the May primary election, leaving the county’s political parties without candidates who would go before the voters until November.

The mistake was discovered Wednesday and reported by commissioners’ Chairman Josh Maxwell to the media that day, as well as by the commissioners and their staff to the county’s two main political party leaders.

One of the county’s so-called “row offices,” the prothonotary is in charge of overseeing the filings for civil and family court cases. It has been vacant since October, when Debbie Bookman, who had held the office since 2020, resigned after it was discovered that she used a county credit card for personal expenses.

Of course this whole thing was described in the media as a “good faith mistake” by the Chester County CEO, and at the time Charlotte Valyo, head of Chester County Democrats (still and oh grandma please, but I digress) I do not recall commenting at all.

But until this morning all that has been heard about Debbie Bookman is motivational speaking stuff. Yes there is a website:

https://leadingfromtheinside.life/about-me

https://leadingfromtheinside.life/gallery

https://leadingfromtheinside.life

Yeah ok, I bet she is good at that. No digs, truly.

But hey now some watchdog lovelies from Coatesville sent me news through someone I know this morning that answers (for now) the question of what happened with the whole exiting the prothonotary’s office of it all last October and wowza:

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Deborah Bookman Aug 2025Download

Well damn, BOOM there it is. The PA Attorney General has charged her. Her formal arraignment is September 18, 2025 unless it moves. I do not see an attorney listed yet as of this morning.

She seems to be facing 1 charge:

M2 04/21/2023 1 1 18 § 4113 §§ A Misapply Entrusted/Govt/Fin Inst Prop

Original Offense Date: 04/21/2023 K 1013764-3

What really and truly blows my mind is this started in 2023.

Bet that anonymous poster who posted in some random Facebook groups will be posting again soon… and yeah before the incorrect rumor mill starts, not my posts don’t know who posted, don’t care.

But now there is an update.

https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/Report/CpDocketSheet?docketNumber=CP-15-CR-0002608-2025&dnh=%2BQdfoAz%2BYmDnv1%2BnCRWdTA%3D%3D

(Hey traditional media? You are very welcome! And it’s now your story to flesh out. This was just a dusty curtain raiser.)

End screenshot is from Rep. Pielli. Wonder what he will be thinking now? Not being snarky, as I just can’t believe all of this myself, yet here we are, right? And you have to wonder if Chester County Democrats will be holding onto county row? Time will tell.

some politicians need to stay in their lane

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Call me crazy but, meh, an endorsement from the not so pleasant lame duck Mayor of Malvern Borough is akin to il bacio della morte….. AKA the kiss of death.

A segue to Zeyn Uzman…I have said before I am not a fan of Zeyn Uzman who found himself out in the cold and UN-endorsed by the Great Valley Democrats and he was subsequently primaryed. All I know is his wee political machine went all gangbusters to discredit his opponent in the primary, Pete Papadopoulos, who owns Malvern Pizza and is the candidate the Great Valley Democrats chose to endorse. Now we all know I think endorsements should happen AFTER primaries to let water seek it’s own level, but whatever. I also think PA should become an open primary state.

Pete Papadopoulos beat the pants off of him on the Democrat side. Not sure if Zeyn Uzman prevailed as a Republican write in or not, honestly. it has been said he was once a Republican, but hey, lots of people myself included were once Republicans so that is that. So anyway, Joe Lorusso thinks it’s aces to be endorsed by Zeyn Uzman, I think does it matter and why him he’s not so hot? Oh and yes it is like a political il bacio della morte.

Oh and a tip here for Joe, whom I initially liked and like as a person? He pushed and pushed for me to endorse him, and I don’t endorse. He was told by all sorts NOT to do that to me or anyone else, that at its most basic, it makes people uncomfortable.

Sadly the largest impediment to Joe’s campaign is himself. He totally has the acumen and experience for the job, but he can’t stay in his own lane.

I actually find parts of his inner New Yorker and Brooklynite refreshing, but this is NOT New York. You can’t treat Chester County like New York City, they are two different beasts.

Joe also ran for Malvern Borough Council around 2023, and honestly he could have and should have won that race. But he has not learned he can’t just talk, he has to listen. He has to crawl before he can walk.

I never minded his messages until over this past weekend because he behaved like a man child when he didn’t like my thoughts. Honestly, it’s totally OK that didn’t like my answer and I tried to be polite because I don’t think he’s a bad guy. He can be quite charming. But he did the man child response thing and blocked me from replying to his last word and funny I thought we were having a conversation.

But it IS disappointing. He’s just not to me seeming like the guy I first heard interviewed. I think that guy is still in him, I hope he remembers that guy soon.

But then I caught wind of this whole thing where he is targeting the District Attorney’s office.

Chester County controller candidate decries ‘unaccountable’ administrators

Here is an excerpt:

The Republican candidate for Chester County controller is taking aim at the county commissioners’ administrative team — including its new chief experience officer — as an “unelected” and “unaccountable” executive branch of county government.

In social media posts available from the Republican Committee of Chester County, candidate Joe LoRusso sharply criticizes the three positions that comprise the top tier of county administration as being expensive and not accountable to ordinary residents and voters….In his social media posts, LoRusso has said, provocatively, that the county is becoming “Philadelphia West,” with “crippling taxes, rising crime and broken government.” While it is true that the county’s median property tax bill is among the highest in the region, at $6,191, according to the World Population Review website, it is also true that the county’s median household income of $104,161 is the highest in the state. (LoRusso did not cite sources for his suggestion that the count’s crime rate is rising.)

Now I will be honest, I do not have a problem with questioning the chief executive officer (CEO), the chief operating officer (COO), and the chief experience officer (CXO) of it all. It just seems excessive, especially since I was told county departments were supposed to trim the fat and for what? To pay more executive salaries?

Ok put that aside. What concerns me is he picked a fight with the District Attorney’s office. THAT is not staying in his lane and frankly puzzling and a bit concerning.

So the District Attorney put out a social media post:

So then of course, Joe Lorusso had to reply…well not him directly but that Chester County Moving Forward group:

Overly verbose and did I miss a memo somewhere that the Chester County District Attorney is having a special election this year and Joe Lorusso is also running for District Attorney? Funny I thought the next DA race was 2027?

Joe Lorusso does have the qualifications to be controller, but more and more he doesn’t seem to have the temperament. Joe is from Brooklyn originally, it’s something I liked in him EXCEPT he doesn’t get that he’s not in New York. New York politics is different from here.

I find it offensive that he attacks the DA and then cries foul. The DA isn’t taking anything out of context, Joe needs to stay in his lane. The DA is not deflecting, he’s actually not playing politics, but Joe Lorusso is….and Joe is doing the smearing.

Again, Joe, you aren’t in New York anymore. Please stop throwing all of the spaghetti against the wall to see what sticks. And yes I can say that as half of my DNA is Italian.

Joe Lorusso has the ability to be controller, but he can’t always be a flea on a hot brick. Attacking the District Attorney is just a bad look.

Grow up Joe, and be that person I thought you were when I first heard you interviewed. Stay in your lane. And learn when to push and when NOT to push. And the art of subtlety in politics? That’s better then getting the reputation of attack rat.

I know Joe isn’t going to be happy with me for writing this, and honestly I am sorry. But he can be better than this. It’s not New York. It’s just not.

******************************************************************************

Also the FOP in Chester County did not endorse Joe, they endorsed Democrat Nick Cherubino, his opponent. That speaks volumes, sadly.

FOP Lodge in Chester County announces endorsements for November

” WEST CHESTER — Chester County’s fraternal law enforcement organization has announced the list of candidates that it will endorse in the coming November election, including judicial, county row office and local positions….For county row offices, the group endorsed the Republican slate, save for one. It chose Alissa McGrory for clerk of courts, Deana Wang for treasurer, Chris Thomson for prothonotary, and Thomas Hatzidais for coroner. It opted, however, to endorse Democrat Nick Cherubino over Republican Joseph Lorusso….Lorusso has made headlines recently for his criticism of the structure of county government, and has suggested that crime in the county is increasing. That assertion drew pushback from county District Attorney Chris de Barrena-Sarobe, who said that figures show that crime is decreasing in the county.“

~https://www.dailylocal.com/2025/08/22/fop-lodge-in-chester-county-announces-endorsements-for-november/

jury duty encore…

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I took this photo in 2022 when I had jury duty the last time

Surprise! I am a chosen one…again….and within the last 3 years. Yup I a jury duty encore

When I was called last time, I actually wrote about it. I don’t mind jury duty, but if the rule of thumb is every 3 years, and when I was called in the year last time….I should be called in 2026. And given all the things I cover as a blogger, I am always amazed they want me because they seem to jettison regular reporters. I also do suffer from lymphedema which literally makes sitting for hours difficult at times. But it is something we all should do, it’s just for such a large county, I am amazed they don’t have other people to choose from.

The jurors room in the Chester County Courthouse is really pretty nice. I don’t like the arm desks we have to write on because I am left handed. The courthouse people are all very nice. Last time I was excused after voir dire. The Judge knew who I was. He is retired now, and was a great judge I thought.

I have to tell you that overall this was kind of an interesting experience. I enjoyed the process for the most part. It’s a good way to learn how things happen inside a courthouse. I do recommend bringing a book.

I am curious if other Chester County residents feel as if they are called more so than others? People always want to tell you all of the excuses to get out of jury duty, but it really isn’t that I want to get out of it, I just feel as if I was called too soon again.

If I am indeed to serve, I wonder what kind of a case it will be this time? Last time it was a civil case.

I will let you know how my West Chester Court House experience is if I end up being called for sure the night before.

villanova university was “swatted”, now what?

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And the headlines are pouring in. It’s official: Villanova University was “swatted.”

What does that mean? That means false reports were called in causing all of this activity. As per NBC 10 and 6 ABC the two channels I was watching, the call came into the 911 Call Center in Delaware County.

But what I am learning from people who live in close enough proximity to Villanova that they should’ve been the alerted the same time as the on campus population , yet they say that was not necessarily so?

I have spoken to some neighbors down there and I was told basically they found out after everyone else and they’re not happy. It’s not easy being a neighbor of that school. I don’t know how much of a delay there was, or if it’s more a misperception than fact, but it needs to be addressed publicly and rather soon.

Villanova has a security model where they have their own police force and there was quite the contretemps over that. I think it was about 2016. Police Superintendent at that point was Bill Colarulo and he didn’t think it was a good idea. And residents definitely weren’t happy.

I have linked three articles below.

Radnor residents, township officials discuss Villanova University’s plans to have armed police on campus
Panel discusses arming officers at Villanova University
Villanova University students have mixed opinions about armed officers on their campus

So back to today. Someone else told me :

Neighbors are not happy. Did not receive alerts. I heard the news from another friend.

Wonder if Stoneleigh was alerted and the houses on and off County Line Road?

So apparently, when I asked kind of how long it was, I was told:

After the fact and an hour late.

Ouch. Residents and taxpayers of Radnor also asking how much this cost Radnor Township today. I don’t know that they’ll ever get the true numbers but is it safe to say at least $50,000 if not more? I mean it was a massive response from multiple municipalities not just in Delaware County, but all over.

This is not Radnor’s fault this happened. But if it ends up, there was a delay between Villanova University, and any kind of notifications to the public, who obviously are close by, that’s a problem. People have already been concerned over the years of how Villanova has handled sexual assaults and other things, haven’t they? Please, by all means correct me if I’m wrong.

Right now all I have are questions, and so do neighbors closest to the school. Far too many people are being left with an uneasy feeling after this exercise today that wasn’t an exercise, or reality, it was in fact a hoax.

I’m hoping that Radnor, Villanova University, and the district attorney of Delaware County and other agencies will address this so if this is a misperception, it is cleared up immediately.

Now let’s talk about who did this. I think they will find whoever it is. It might take time because the call came into a call center. And once you sift through that information, law-enforcement will next have to go to phone providers and that requires paperwork and fees and like a subpoena or something. You see telecommunications companies tell you they cooperate with law-enforcement, but basically they cooperate for a price. I actually know this personally.

People think those calls are anonymous, but actually they aren’t. And people do get caught and charged. And when they get caught here, it won’t be some minor in fraction, I think something like this probably rises to the category of terroristic threats, or something.

I don’t know what the motivation would be for someone to do this other than to freak out and immediate community, a university campus, and tons of parents dropping their kids off for their first year of college. It’s not funny.

I think the police did an amazing job. I think Villanova got to stress test their plans, and that’s a hard situation. You have people getting these alerts on campus they’re outside for a mass for the beginning of school and then all of a sudden people are running and chairs are getting knocked over. People could’ve gotten hurt any single way you slice this.

And when I think of the people, I know personally, who did not find out at first who had kids stuck in businesses up close to campus on Route 30, and people who are just trying to come home and people who were home, wondering if they were safe is simply not acceptable.

Governor Josh Shapiro stated that this act of swatting Villanova University on move in day was a cruel hoax, and he reminded everyone that this is actually an illegal act. He has instructed the Pennsylvania State Police to help in whatever way they can to find whoever it is who did this. he and other today also reported that what happened today regardless of whether it was real or a hoax was every parent’s nightmare.

If there’s anyone out there who knows who might have done this, they really need to go to law-enforcement. And I can’t help but wonder if every parent who dropped a kid off at that school today is not having a second thought or two, along with every parent everywhere that’s doing the same thing right now.

from squirrel time to secret squirrel in west goshen

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Ahhh West Goshen Township, the I Spy Municipality.

Always it’s a secret something. Now it’s once again, their residents can’t know what their taxpayer dollars are for.

About a year ago in the land of jolly squirrel time, they meaning West Goshen hired a consultant for HR, Roseann McGrath. It was a name I knew well, because she was the HR Goddess at Lower Merion Township. (Ahh yes the good old days when her hubs was also the police superintendent.)

I always liked Roseann McGrath. Very nice lady, but it always was somewhat of a conundrum for me how she wasn’t a nepo wifey when her hubs became police superintendent? I actually couldn’t figure it all along but it was just one of those great mysteries of Lower Merion Township who still uses their classification of First Class Township to mean other than it should. After all, Caln is also a First Class Township, although I don’t find much first class about it in general, but I digress.

Anywhoooo, Roseann came to try to unsnarl I am sure a giant squirrel time mess in West Goshen. (She also was a consultant in East Whiteland at one time.) Here is what is on West Goshen’s website about her consultancy:

mcgrath west goshenDownload

So, she charges $125 an hour, billed in 15 minute increments?

Anyway, the study is apparently complete yet although it is paid for by tax dollars, it’s a top secret thingymaboo. It’s a pay study. Employee current pay by categories. Only the public can’t see it.

Why can’t residents see this study? Why is West Goshen so secretive about salaries in general? Are salary dollars earned subjective? Do men make more than woman? Are there pay disparities residents and employees are unaware of? I hear that even employees don’t know what is in this magical study contains and wouldn’t you think employees should know? There are no unions in West Goshen except for police department so why not show their math work like you used to have to in math class?

West Goshen Sunshine asked about study results being available at a couple of meetings. It kind was treated as “NEXT.” And then she submitted a right to know. This is what came back:

redacted west goshenDownload

Essentially everything was redacted like a classified CIA or FBI document…but they included Mrs. McGrath’s bill…but you can’t see anything else. J. Edgar Hoover where you at? (Kidding as he was a Washington DC horror show long ago.)

I am curious to know what they are hiding and so do residents and employees, right? If there is nothing bad, why can’t anyone see? My hypothesis is they are hiding stuff and what exactly? My hypothesis is squirrel time etc over the years may have been expensive yet there were pay disparities based upon who you were, your sex, etc., etc??? I mean if they aren’t that township any longer why are they still that township?

I mean Ghislaine Maxwell never visited so what’s the problem?

This website has lots of free info : https://govsalaries.com/state/PA However if you look up West Goshen they have not done much updating there since 2017 and why is that? What. Are. They. Hiding??? And why not use the tools PSATS offers municipalities? (https://www.psats.org/get-customizable-salary-insights-now-with-the-psats-salary-survey/)

West Goshen has not liked (I am sure) that they are on the Hello West Chester radar (it’s $24 a year to subscribe and ever edition is chock full of interesting.) And hell they have never like being on my radar ever since the days of residents should be werry werry qwiet.

West Goshen also had an issue this year with wanting to ditch meeting recordings, remember? That didn’t work out in their favor did it? Traditional media should do a deep dive into West Goshen and this salary study of it all in my opinion. And more residents should be submitting right to know requests. And going en masse to meetings demanding answers (politely.)

Taxpayer money paid for the consultant and the study. Taxpayers deserve answers. It’s pretty much that simple.

“monument” to ugliness looks bedraggled and messy in 2025

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A few years ago meetings were packed as residents made it pretty clear they didn’t want giant billboards in the community. This one is at Route 29 and Route 30 in East Whiteland Township, Chester County.

Digital billboard company makes pitch to East Whiteland residents

https://patch.com/pennsylvania/malvern/east-whiteland-discuss-lancaster-avenue-electronic-billboards

https://www.eastwhiteland.org/418/Off–Premises-Signs-Electronic-Billboard

There was all sorts of wrangling that seemed to go on forever.

In 2021 I think it was, a settlement reached between East Whiteland and the then billboard company Catslyst. Permits were issued. Residents and the township were stuck with it.

https://www.eastwhiteland.org/DocumentCenter/View/3464/Letter-to-Melissa-Noyes-10-3-2022-03660984x9DAE0

Residents still did not want the billboards. But honestly? The residents didn’t fight as hard in my opinion as they did in other cases. And then there was COVID to factor in at the time.

People get all fired up about issues where they live. But there isn’t the same staying power as there used to be. I don’t know how else to say it. Residents all say something is terrible, but if they don’t get instant gratification after a couple of meetings, interest wanes. A few diehards will keep going to meetings, but as my friends and I learned from the Institute for Justice when fighting eminent domain all those years ago in Ardmore, when government officials only hear from the same people they start to tune them and the issue out. It’s not ignorance, it’s kind of human nature. When it’s the same person time in and time out it’s just blah blah blah after a while.

After a settlement was achieved, the “monument” to ugliness was erected. Now we remember that people were told how it would be good looking and landscaping maintained, right?

Wrong.

It’s a weed pit.

Meanwhile there were all of the issues with clear cutting of trees at the “monument” location in East Whiteland on 202. The worst of it was around 2022.

For that, residents rose up and stayed with the issue. It showed results. Citizen outcry combined with East Whiteland Township resulted in PennDOT getting seriously pissy with the billboard company.

After that there were issues with the display on the 202. They did work on it for a long time. I guess the sign is viable but a lot of times when we go by it’s off.

So the Routes 30 and 29 billboard is active. Garish and distracting visually, I think the ugliness of the display is increased by the unkempt and weedy appearance of the property.

A little over a year ago this time the media was full of stories about the original billboard company and its owner. Financial woes. But he doesn’t own these billboards in East Whiteland any longer I guess? Why do I say that ? The billboards both now say OutFront.

Well the monument to ugliness is a hot mess but the billboard slum overlords do not care. I have been hearing that the East Whiteland Route 30 one is not the only one needing property tending. Apparently along 202 at least one of those is super weedy too.

I still hate these things. Why couldn’t Pennsylvania be a state that doesn’t have them?

Alaska, Hawaii, Vermont, and Maine prohibit the construction of new billboards to preserve their natural beauty and scenic landscapes. Oregon has a “cap-and-replace” law, so new billboards can only be built if existing ones are removed.  Visit Scenic America to learn more about reducing billboard ugliness.

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yo penndot, stop messing with our bbq and other businesses’ access.

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Welcome to Hell on Earth by PennDOT.

This is Route 29 in East Whiteland Township Chester County.

Forget about the fact for a moment that we’ve lost track of how many times they’ve remediated this sinkhole already, and concentrate on every single time PennDot comes to do work, they almost put businesses out of business and who knows how many businesses actually failed over time because of their construction?

They can’t just tell State Senator Katie Muth’s office and other elected officials that they have put in a lane so people can turn it’s not as simple as that and the traffic is horrendous.

And once again with PennDot, the project started late and it won’t finish anywhere near on time. FarmBoy BBQ and the other businesses around here need our support. And complaining to Penndot about their projects and how long they take and how the roads are also doesn’t hurt.

Seriously it’s bad. I took this video as a passenger in a car today on a weekend day because I would not be on the stretch of highway Monday through Friday. It’s horrendous.

I’m not saying this project didn’t need to happen, I want to be clear about that again. Of course it had to happen. There’s a sink hole again. But PennDOT announces these projects, tells you when they’re going to start, then they don’t start on that date like they are supposed to, and then they never finish on time…. and it’s endless.

These businesses and their employees are struggling. Actually people in developments I don’t like right around here are also struggling. Anybody who has to use this stretch of road for whatever reason is struggling, and that I am told it even includes the tow truck people who have to respond to accidents. Since they are being held up because of this construction. and since they help first responders at accident scenes, that’s kind of bad news, right?

PennDOT has a job to do, but they need to do it better and they need to care about the residents, commuters, and the small businesses they are affecting over on Route 29 a.k.a. Moorhall Road.

I’m hoping that when people see this, they will actually complain to Penndot as well as supporting the businesses along here who are affected. We got firsthand experience as to what this was all about today when we went to FarmBoy barbecue for a delicious lunch.

ego and ignorance in local politics seems out of control in honey brook township?

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Let’s talk about ego and ignorance in local politics. Is it out of control in Honey Brook Township? I think so. It started because quite frankly, Valerie Shultz didn’t roll over like an obedient dog and be a good little girl. She has had the temerity, the audacity if you will, to want better for her community than the status quo. She is on the ballot as a second Republican running because the Democrats wrote her in. That simple fact speaks volumes, and signals she would be a community unifier except where the current political cabal is concerned. But nothing except world domination, or in their case, fishbowl domination matters, does it?

Valerie does not come to mind when you dish ego and ignorance in local politics. She is doing this because she cares. It’s not about literal or even perceived personal gain. She does not have to keep saying she is a good person, because people know she is. She has a moral compass and is bright and hard working. We have come to know each other through mutual friends. Do I support her? Yes, I believe in what she is trying to accomplish and I haven’t seen such a crazy municipality since the late Andy Lewis and others rolled up their sleeves to disinfect Haverford Township and if you aren’t familiar it was a doozy of a time over there.

Here is what I am talking about from quite a few years ago now:

Haverford commissioner indicted; fallout begins with township manager’s resignation
Moran guilty of extortion in Haverford State dealings
BREAKING NEWS: Haverford official indicted

https://law.justia.com/cases/pennsylvania/supreme-court/2014/39-map-2011.html

https://caselaw.findlaw.com/pa-supreme-court/1684638.html

https://www.poconorecord.com/story/opinion/editorials/2007/12/01/thumbs-up-thumbs-down/52723944007


Let’s talk about what is actually bullying by politicians, one elected and one a poor sad politician puppet of the elected politician, shall we? This is happening in an area which falls into the Pennsyltucky category at times for political behavior JUST like this. Yep, Honey Brook Township…again.


When you say they are practicing thug politics and bullying people and basically in a passive aggressive and not so passive aggressive way, trying to intimidate people, they subsequently project that if you are saying they do any of these things you must be the ones who are actually doing it, and really?


Most of us know that’s not the case, but if you are a woman who speaks out about ANY of this garbage chucking in Honey Brook Township, they want to pummel you into the ground. And this is the Internet so they also want to cancel you on social media. They want you to be afraid. It’s also gaslighting and attempted intimidation, isn’t it?


So I ask all of you out there isn’t that the true clear hallmark of bad thug politics? Doesn’t that show quite clearly that they have such little respect for women?


You have to wonder how do they treat women who have been assaulted or are victims of other crimes?


As women are we all supposed to be hung up with Scarlet letters because we don’t toe the line the way we are told? Are we all supposed to be bullied ends justifies the means because we don’t see them as a solution to anything?


Go ahead, you read these comments shared below (just a couple examples of many questionable things on their part in my humble opinion) and you tell me if women are being harassed and bullied here? Are women safe in this world we are living in if this is considered normal behavior towards women?


And most despicable of all in my mind as a breast cancer survivor is this is how you treat another breast cancer survivor? These men need to check themselves at the door.
Chester County Republicans and others? It’s time to get your Honey Brook Township House in order because they are also embarrassing all of you behaving like this.


Conduct unbecoming.

Writing about this leaves me at sixes and sevens, but I don’t think what they are doing is right. Have they attacked me as well for talking about the Honey Brook Township of it all? Kind of, yes, including nasty comments from a supervisor’s wife thinking she is witty. (Sorry her comments are well…just basic and I can have that opinion.)

Isn’t it true that there are certain lines politicians and elected officials can’t cross? Wouldn’t this behavior count? Isn’t it true supervisors are expected to protect confidential information and not use it for personal gain? So where is one getting his information? And how? Supervisors are also supposed to treat all individuals with respect and courtesy, is this behavior that? Supervisors must exercise their powers responsibly and avoid abusing their authority, correct?

So can we just ask WHY Honey Brook Township Supervisor Salvatore DiGiacomo is constantly on the attack? Is he running for office? I thought that was politician and Upper Uwchlan Police Department member, Steven Jones?

Now speaking o Upper Uwchlan Township, they do indeed have a social media policy so is their officer who is also a politician and political candidate in Honey Brook Township adhering to it? https://upperuwchlan-pa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1417/Social-Media-Policy

Upper Uwchlan employees from what I can glean from their policy should be respectful in their online interactions, avoiding personal attacks, offensive language, and discriminatory remarks, so is this happening? Like many other municipalities, this policy which is not something thought of years ago, extends beyond the official township social media profiles, doesn’t it? Also is it not in there that their policy addresses confidentiality, privacy, and intellectual property, ensuring employees understand responsibilities regarding sensitive information, right? The policy seems to not smile upon personal attacks against other commenters, Township staff, or elected officials, so this extends to things done personally, right?

SocialMediaPolicyFINALDownload

I think it’s time for the dirty politics in Honey Brook Township to end. Residents need to be brave because these unpleasant folks only have the power you allow them to have. I fully expect more nastiness because I am expressing my opinion. They refer to me as Val’s babbler, etc, etc. Yawn.

Stop the madness. It’s time. We should all want better from our communities. We all don’t have to agree, but how these politicians seem to approach everything leaves a lot to be desired.

It’s a long way to election day. It’s been a long hot summer. Why is Valerie Shultz such a threat? I ask because we all know this is what this is about. That’s why a certain supervisor and his pal are in such a lather isn’t it?

Carry on.

did you know historic yellow springs got beaten up by storms recently?

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I’ve been meaning to write about this and I just have had time get away from me, and not enough hours in the day. Historic Yellow Springs is one of my favorite places in Chester County. I was introduced to the village many moons ago by my late father who loved this little piece of Chester County. (He also loved the antique show they used to have that they should bring back.)

Anyway, it’s no joke that we keep having these series of thunderstorms with accompanying winds and more that are wreaking havoc on places. And the ones just after Fourth of July did significant damage to Historic Yellow Springs.

They are working their way through it, but I never saw any local media pick up the fact that this beautiful historic village was a storm victim. They showed lots of other storm damage, why not Historic Yellow Springs Village?

For example, the poor library experienced damage from a storm in February, it sustained more damage in early July.

According to what they wrote, and I will share screenshots and their photos more than 100 trees were damaged or destroyed. That’s a significant amount and this is a place with very old growth trees as well. Cleanup is going to take months, and they are in a township that I think leaves a lot to be desired as far as being clear about anything, and if West Pikeland can’t be trusted with keeping a police force, how can they be trusted with the village?

So I think Yellow springs is doing a marvelous job of navigating the process of doing what they have to do to take care of the structures that were damaged and storm cleanup, but I’m sure that right now they could use a little extra help in the donation department because as homeowners we know how expensive this work is, let alone being responsible for an entire village of historic assets.

Chester County has a lot of deep pockets who could help one of our county treasures, so I’m putting this out there with their words to follow in the hopes that people can even give a small contribution.

https://yellowsprings.org/support/donate/

Now to follow, is life in the village in their own words published on their socials yesterday after this storm in early July:

Storm Impact Update

Having climbed the fields of shattered and fallen trees, and listened to the chainsaws for days on end, we feel incredibly fortunate for the relatively limited damage to buildings that occurred with the dangerous storm on July 7th. Additionally, I am incredibly thankful for the forethought of our programs team to heed weather warnings, and decide to cancel classes proactively, likely saving lives, given the severity of the event.

This storm tore through our property with extraordinary force. Estimates are showing nearly 100 trees were destroyed or badly damaged, with cleanup efforts likely to continue for months.

The days following the storm were focused on safety assessments and clearing access. Staff and volunteers mobilized quickly, working tirelessly to make the village safe again. Every tool in our arsenal was leveraged just to try to move enough limbs to uncover all corners of the village and reach some sense of normalcy.

Once paths were cleared, hidden structural damage began to emerge:

  • The glazing space behind the old studio barn was smashed.
  • The courtyard fountain, power supply, and roofing on the Washington Building suffered major hits from a fallen sycamore limbs.
  • The Chester Springs Library, sustained new roof damage that allowed water infiltration.

As you may recall, a previous extreme weather event in February, led to structural damage to the roof of the Library. Since then, HYS and the Library have worked closely with insurers, engineers, and contractors to bring this historic structure up to code and safely reopen the Library. We empathize with the public for the loss of resources during the library’s closure and have offered alternate village spaces for free programs whenever possible.

While the temporary protection applied to the roof after the February event held up impressively, wind torn limbs and the fierce rain from the most recent storm punctured new holes on the opposite side of the roof and allowed water to reach inside the building. Within a day of forging a path through the storm debris, we had professional carpentry crews on site ensuring the roof was watertight and not in danger of falling, and commercial-grade air handlers and dehumidifiers were added to move out moisture. Cleanup continues and collaboration between HYS, the Library, engineers, and insurers is ongoing with the goal of getting this historic building bustling again.

During this recovery period, programs continue in unaffected buildings across the village, and we maintain a robust calendar of events to keep our community engaged and inspired. We are constantly discussing new opportunities with partners, and looking for creative ways to make programs happen.

We are deeply grateful to those who have already offered time, talent, and funds. We will keep you informed about progress and ways you can help as we restore every facet of the village for a vibrant future.

Now I’m going to show you the screenshots I took today off of Facebook and everything is from the village’s social media, including their photos. This place is a little slice of heaven, and if you can help them out with a small donation, it would be great. You can also maybe let the county commissioners know when they’re finished designing bad logos, and hiring lots of people that this is a historic asset worth supporting. (sorry not sorry, sometimes I think they need to get out of the Borough of West Chester more.)

With the United States having a big birthday in 2026, and Chester County being a big focus, we want this jewel shining bright and strong.