I have to admit it was very nice to hear a supervisor (Carlotta Johnston-Pugh) speak up for Mount Pleasant tonight. But Tredyffrin needs to buy a clue and it needs to actually help Mount Pleasant.
The time for lip service is done.
This has been going on for years. It took forever to get this Township to enact a student housing ordinance. It still takes forever to even get anyone to deal with the problematic student houses. Blue Tarp Villa is a favorite example.
For how many years has Blue Tarp Villa been a problem? for how many years has Tredyffrin blown smoke up the asses of the residents of Mount Pleasant?
Why isn’t zoning code and general code enforcement of the student houses back there done more proactively? How many complaints do these houses need to have before whoever that person is who does the zoning and code enforcement gets out from behind her chair and does something?
Year after year, it is the same old song. And these supervisors and their predecessors know it’s a problem back there. They have known it’s a problem back there for how many years now?
I started following this issue in the early 2000s, so unless these officials(paid/appointed/elected) all live under a rock, why is it nothing ever really gets done? Like the Murph guy? Hasn’t he basically been a supervisor since the dawn of time?
Just because this isn’t a million dollar neighborhood per se, although it has some ridiculously overpriced close to million dollar infield development townhouses that are butt ugly, it doesn’t mean that this area should continually be ignored, right?
Yes, sorry, holy run-on sentence, Batman. Sometimes it just can’t be helped, and other times I just don’t care… but I digress.
At this point, it is just downright discriminatory and people need to say that out loud. It is downright discriminatory that Tredyffrin for decades has been looking the other way with regard to Mount Pleasant.
And yes, I can have that opinion.
I can’t even count the number of meetings I have watched over the years where people from Mount Pleasant have gotten up and begged for help.
Enough with the lip service Tredyffrin. The zoning people and manager need to start to earn their keep, don’t they?
I mean, gosh, Tredyffrin will it take something like a civil rights action before you help these residents?
Mount Pleasant matters. Start acting like it, Tredyffrin.
A little birdie told me the other day that pickleball had gotten very quiet at the Upper Main Line YMCA in Berwyn.
And indeed it has.
As previously documented and witnessed at many meetings in Easttown Township, the neighbors have been trying to see an amicable solution that is fair to everyone, not just the Upper Main Line YMCA (UMLY.)
This has been going on for a couple of years, right? And I remember from watching the meetings that the neighbors tried really hard to just be good neighbors and get treated fairly and no one heard them, so now they have filed suit and they have a shark as an attorney.
They have hired I think one of the best land-use lawyers that exists in this area, Phil Rosensweig. He was one of the seven commissioners in Lower Merion many years ago who helped stop eminent domain for private gain. As a matter of fact, he wrote the ordinance revoking its potential use.
Buckle up buttercups, this will be interesting.
UMLY is part of the YMCA of Greater Brandywine family. And the YMCA of Greater Brandywine is no secret to contretemps at times including prior pickleball issues, correct? It was at the Lionville Branch according to a Daily Local article, correct?
Easttown Township should have been better with this issue. Truthfully, Tredyffrin Township a couple of years ago was very proactive on the behalf of neighbors dealing with pickleball issues. And I believe that now today, Pickleball and residence are coexisting fairly peacefully in that municipality.
And just for the record, I’m not against pickleball. I have a lot of friends who play it, but I am also cognizant of the fact that a lot of times neighbors get railroaded over issues where they deserve better treatment.
UMLY could have avoided all of this, couldn’t they have?
This all started yesterday. And it was almost like it was a rumor. Something was going on, but no one would say what and well now we know.
A special ed teacher at Conestoga, no less.
NEWS RELEASE: CONESTOGA HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER CHARGED FOR HAVING SEX WITH A MINOR STUDENT
The Chester County District Attorney’s Office and the Tredyffrin Township Police Department announce that charges have been filed against Michelle Mercogliano, 35, of Phoenixville, for having a sexual relationship with a student attending Conestoga High School where she was employed as a teacher. Mercogliano was charged with Institutional Sexual Assault, Corruption of Minors, Delivery of a Controlled Substance, and other related offenses. The Defendant has not yet been arrested but is cooperative and arranging an appropriate time to turn herself in via her attorney.
The criminal complaint (the Defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty) filed by the Tredyffrin Township Police Department indicates that, starting in February of 2025, the Defendant began to have a sexual relationship with the 16-year-old victim. The Defendant also provided the victim with marijuana. Police learned of the conduct earlier this week, quickly launched a thorough investigation, and immediately worked with the Tredyffrin Eastown School District to prevent the Defendant from having further contact with students.
Chester County District Attorney Christopher L. de Barrena-Sarobe stated, “Parents and students should be able to trust their teachers. The Defendant broke the law and destroyed that trust. It will not be tolerated.”
Tredyffrin Township Police Department Police Chief Michael Beaty stated, “The calculated actions by this Defendant are shocking and disturbing. We are here to support the victim and his family as we collectively work to rebuild the trust damaged by her criminal endeavors.”
The Tredyffrin Township Police Department is the lead investigating agency and has received assistance from the Chester County Detectives. This is an ongoing investigation. If you have any information, please contact the Tredyffrin Township Police Department at 610-644-3221. And as always, if you have concerns about the safety of a child, say something. Call 911 and call Childline at 1-800-932-0313.
I am so repulsed and at a loss for words. How does a teacher do this? how does a grown ass woman do this with a kid? And give this same access to her medical marijuana ? And why is she not in custody? 
April 30, 2025
Dear TESD Families and Community,
Today, Tredyffrin Township Police and the Chester County District Attorney informed the District that charges have been filed against a Conestoga High School teacher, Michelle Mercogliano, related to alleged unlawful conduct with a Conestoga High School student. Ms. Mercogliano was placed on leave yesterday immediately after the District was made aware of the investigation, and she no longer has access to District property. The District appreciates the work of the Tredyffrin Township Police Department and District Attorney and is cooperating with the investigation. Out of respect for student privacy and the integrity of the investigation, the District will not provide additional comment or details at this time.
Ms. Mercogliano began teaching at Conestoga this past fall. She was a teacher at Hillside Elementary School from 2019 to 2024 and a paraprofessional at Hillside Elementary and Valley Forge Elementary Schools from 2014 to 2018. We have no information at this time to indicate that the criminal investigation involves other students. However, if you have details you believe are relevant to this investigation, please contact Tredyffrin Township Police at 610-644-3221.
We are deeply troubled by these allegations. The District remains committed to providing a safe and supportive school environment for all students. We encourage you to contact your child’s Principal if any child needs support.
Sincerely, Dr. Richard Gusick Superintendent of Schools
So today I was sent proof that West Whiteland Township is making good on their word to secure the historic Joseph Price House at 401 Clover Mill Road on the corner of S. Whiteford in Exton. West Whiteland Township has a property maintenance code that they enacted I guess within the last couple of years so it appears they went over and they had their public works board up the parts of the Joseph Price house that had basically deteriorated, rotted or were broken into. So the house is secure for now and I am told township/police are keeping an eye on it and isn’t that great?
Joseph Price House boarded up
I’m guessing that you all remember I wrote about this again recently right? It’s just when the urban explorers tell you a historic house needs to be boarded up, you know it’s bad, right?
That ownership tags back to a property in Ambler, but not the Borough of Ambler. Here’s an aerial shot of that house:
Interestingly enough, this is another old house and according to Montgomery County was built around 190 one. Sometimes they aren’t particularly accurate so it could be a little earlier and ironically close to the same period of the Joseph Price house correct?
Now the owner of record has lived there longer than 2002, actually the property dates back to being purchased in Ambler around 1985. Anyway, when you look at the aerial shot, you see all those old cars right? What’s so interesting? Is the old cars that West Whiteland has wanted them to remove off the Joseph Price house property, right? And does the Joseph Price house have anything weird on the roof?
So is that a sad coincidence the both properties appear to have old car corpses?
And there is one more coincidence. The Township Manager of Lower Gwynnedd is the former manager of West Whiteland and Tredyffrin. As the Saturday Night Live Church Lady would say, “isn’t that special?”
Also there is this lovely act in PA called Act 135. Could West Whiteland Township put the Joseph Price house into a conservatorship to save the house ?
So…a little follow up for the no-no queen and the ostrich collective…err I mean supervisors and staff in Tredyffrin. I don’t mean to be so municipally sarcastic but somehow Tredyffrin brings it out in me regarding the do nothing attitude of helping Mt. Pleasant and a lot of other stuff these days. But hey you now have an art committee to do I am not quite sure what, right?
Anyway, Erin McPherson, Tredyffrin’s director of planning and zoning seemed like she so couldn’t possibly about anything at last week’s meeting that I wondered if this brand new photo would encourage her to get out from behind her desk and lumber on over to Mt. Pleasant and see for herself? She can use Waze if she doesn’t know how to get there, or ask Manager Bill Martin because he definitely knows where Mt. Pleasant is located, right? He lives in the township, correct?
The next photo is from the summer of 2024 and I was wondering how Erin McPherson, Tredyffrin’s director of planning and zoning thought everyone was going to navigate this?
Tredyffrin Township, your slip is showing….again. And your zoning notices about developers wanting taller fences over on Vincent Road are also amusing…perhaps people really don’t want McMansions backing up to 252 after all?
Welcome to Tredyffrin where officials seem to drool and/or make excuses?
One of the great curiosities of Main Line traffic as you get into Chester county is the 25 MPH zone that exists in places like Berwyn and Paoli.
This means Easttown and Tredyffrin Townships, right?
Way too many people completely disregard the speed limits. And again there’s this whole big swath of 25 MPH zone.
I always marvel at the fact that I don’t think I have ever seen a cop from either municipality in this stretch along Route 30 a.k.a. Lancaster Avenue. No I’m sure they’ve been there, but you never see them at peak hours like rush-hour.
If Tredyffrin and Easttown actually took the time to enforce the speed limit there during evening rush hours or even during the day on weekends they would make bank. As it stands right now, it’s really kind of dangerous when you’re actually going the speed limit there on those stretches of road.
Tredyffrin Township officials and quasi useless supervisors are your ears burning? First y’all are a hot topic for the better part of an hour on WCHE’s show “All Politics Are Local with Barry Dee”. I’m sure they will want to blame me, but I actually wasn’t a guest this week but it was interesting because one of the things that was layered in the topic of right to know requests and how to file them with the recent swath of development again in Tredyffrin.
People are tired of it and one of the things people are tired of includes were losing not only open space, but our heritage trees. That’s a hot topic in East Whiteland as well because there are two very old sycamores near the old “Importer Barn” or Hibbard Barn. On that property, these trees are crazy old and crazy huge. Giant diameter trunks. One at least dates to close to American Revolutionary era. Will they stay or will they go now? I think in the end they will go because it’s like developers today HATE trees. Trees mean work. I love trees. We spend enough to preserve and care for our old growth heritage trees personally. We don’t have to, we do it because it’s the right thing to do. As humans, we should be better caretakers of nature.
So anyway, sorry small tangent on trees…I love them…and not enough municipalities give a damn. So when I saw a post pop up on social media the other day it was an “a ha” moment because it corresponds to a giant right to know I was sent at some point recently and filed away until I had time to look at it. Truthfully, I had forgotten about it but then it all made sense. I still have not waded through it enough. Here was the moment of clarity:
OMFG. This is what neighbors are becoming increasingly upset about on Vincent Road. And it’s not easy to find anything other than shifting sands on Tredyffrin’s website.
In 2008 residents were upset about stormwater on Vincent and frankly, the then Township Manager was rude enough IMHO that it was reflected in the meeting minutes, which I found:
As a matter of fact there are a LOT of historical documents about stormwater for that area….but nothing about the development plan. And if I am investigating properly, the issue of this parcel has been bandied about like a badminton shuttlecock for a few years already, right? So how is it not really discussed publicly? Did I blink and miss some minutia? I went to the county to see what was filed. A stormwater plan document from 2024 (where’s the flood hazard of it all?), new deed, and a development plan that looks like it came out of a time machine:
But I still wasn’t finding much else. Now don’t forget, Tredyffrin’s current manager is Bill Martin. He was from Radnor Township via Bridgeport…he was in Radnor during the Bashore era. I wrote about it in 2012:
Anyway, Tredyffrin has always had an issue with cloudy days. 105 Vincent being a HUGE surprise to a lot of fairly local residents is but the most recent example. And oy the butchering of the trees. And the loss of open space for what? A super dated subdivision plan which you know will sprout McMansions never intended for the original ideas? So here is what residents who have just realized what was going on are saying, and I am providing a mash-up:
…So sad to see this development taking place at 252 and Central Ave. This area was home to different species of trees, wild raspberries and blackberries, hawks, deer, chipmunks, various species of songbirds not to mention that run off from the top of the hill goes down the road and floods this area. I took pictures before and after the area started being cleared. Yes I get that the township voted on it. Funny I knew nothing about it and live just a few blocks away. If you are running for office and are an advocate for keeping what little greenspace we have left preserved pls let me know so I can vote for you……The township has a new woodland conservation ordinance. Here is a summary of that ordinance: https://static1.squarespace.com/…/Tredyffrin+Woodland… This looks like more than 5 large trees are being removed, in which case the developer would’ve needed to get a permit and to do this and would be required to plant compensatory trees. Please submit a complaint to to code enforcement (with photos) here: https://www.tredyffrin.org/…/df0fde129f454c0d8cc36a…/163 Code enforcement will let you know if it’s legit, or investigate if it’s unlawful……Oh no… More traffic at that horrible bottleneck leading to rt 30….Townships seem to have few boundaries when it comes to approving new building on open land. I have seen this over and over. When our township notifies area homeowners of a proposal and asks for feedback, the decision has often already been made. They don’t represent us in my opinion. Their prime interest is the tax base….I was so upset to see this the other day!
So. The lightbulb. All of a sudden I realized that giant right to know I had not really looked at and filed away was about THIS. The county is super slow updating things so current ownership not showing yet but here’s the now dated ownership info:
According to the new deed I found the land sold for $900,000.
Anyway, Tredyffrin Supervisors need to do better. Waterloo has arrived again, ladies and gentleman. No other way to dance about it.
Here’s the giant right to know. I have not had time to disseminate it, but Tredyffrin residents may find it of value and use:
It’s back to school with off campus student party houses…still Villanova for the most part and still in Mount Pleasant in Tredyffrin and surrounding area. Tredyffrin, Radnor, and Upper Merion all involved last night….
The scanners tell snippets of the tale and last night and again it was Tredyffrin PD, Upper Merion PD, and Radnor PD.
Upper Gulph Road, Old Eagle School Road, near Woodland School, West Valley Road, Mount Pleasant, Upper Gulph and Arden Roads and tell me again are these new dorm locations or just Villanova University off campus student animal house rentals?
So will these municipalities pretend that there is no problem, especially Tredyffrin?
Only time will tell.
Residents are fed up already and it is not even Labor Day.
It’s always the same old story. People understand that college kids want to have fun, except the college kids that rent these off-campus student rentals, seem to have a distinct lack of respect for the surrounding area. And it’s kind of sad because it would take so little effort for them to get along with their neighbors and just be a temporary part of the community that gets along with their neighbors, instead of causing problems. And Villanova needs to be more on top of this as well.
However, it’s not just the kids and the school which need to be held accountable. You must include the rental slumlords, who own and are renting these houses who also need to be held accountable by these municipalities. I am always amazed how all these houses pass rental inspections aren’t you?
All threats on this topic are reported to police and Villanova’s own security department.Just like last year.
Oh Tredyffrin, the chatter is flying. What does Tredyffrin Township know about the future fate of Paoli Shopping Center? Manager Bill Martin shouldn’t be coy here, should he? I pay very little attention to Tredyffrin over all, and when rumors like this reach me, I just have to ask what’s the truth?
I got a text this morning asking if I had heard the latest about Paoli Shopping center….
So Tredyffrin where’s the beef? What is the truth? 700 living units there is enough to give one a fit of the vapors, right? So time to spill the tea and tell people the truth. Residential development there would affect so much and not positively. Think overcrowded school district, overburdened infrastructure, and more…..
These rumors have been floating for a couple of years, but this time there was a rather large number attached to it and why?
Can’t someone just tell people what the truth actually is? Is it so hard? Is redevelopment planned and if so, what and how large? 
Yes, sports fans, I’m back in Mount Pleasant again, which is in the panhandle of Tredyffrin. With this part of Chester County, there is the often opportunistic retelling of the story of Mazie Hall that Tredyffrin loves to trot out when convenient, but the rest of the time? Mount Pleasant might as well be in Uzbekistan, right?
But seriously, I have to ask if emergency vehicles in an actual real and true emergency get around quickly and safely given the way the streets are being used as per these photos from today?
So this latest this is more of what only can be described as predatory development. The old and historic Mount Pleasant is disappearing more every day and Tredyffrin does not care. A wee bit of Mount Pleasant is in Upper Merion and they don’t care either do they?
So this new development they’re parking stuff all over only not on their property, so does the construction company have permission from the township to block up the streets and stuff and if they did wouldn’t you think some supervisor or township official would give a courtesy notice to some of the residents of Mount Pleasant in Tredyffrin? I know for a fact, they know how to reach quite a few of them. And they can always post it on the township website couldn’t they?
I don’t know who’s at fault here but once again, Tredyffrin seems to be doing Mount Pleasant dirty and is everyone OK with that? Maybe it’s time for a new manager who doesn’t seem to do things the old Radnor way?
Dirty deed done dirt cheap much?
A special shout out to the spirits of our founding fathers, for allowing me my opinion courtesy of the First Amendment.
Postscript: I guess the fire chief reads my blog so a genuine THANK YOU a for him checking it out. Here’s hoping that he has the construction 🚧 people move their crap.
