Tag Archives: tredyffrin township

wake up tredyffrin, wake up.

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985 Mount Pleasant Ave in Tredyffrin Township, Chester County is far away from Tredyffrin’s Township administration building that Township Manager Bill Martin needs reminding that Tredyffrin has a responsibility to not only the 24/7/365 residents but in fact also to the college students living there, right?

So answer me this Tredyffrin: when is the last time this house now known as Villa Blue Tarp was inspected?

Why do I ask about this? Simple, once upon a time there was a big old yellow Victorian house on the corner of Booth Lane and Old Lancaster Road in Haverford in Lower Merion Township that was an off campus house even when I was in high school.

Originally the house was an off-campus house for rugby players. Then flash forward to late 90s/early 2000s and it became a duplex. We were never really sure if the duplex was done legally but it was done and it was two living units and still student slumlord housing.

It was a really tough party house to live in a neighborhood with. You would wake up and they would have 20 cars on their lawn plus additional cars on surrounding lawns. Trash, beer bottles and cans, etc. and they would keep you up until all hours, and they would sleep it off the next day. We all had to get up and go to work, get the kids to school, etc.

The police would come often enough, and truthfully, Lower Merion Township did not ignore calls from neighbors when the parties were too loud. But it was still a grandfathered off campus student rental.

Then, one day in November, right before Thanksgiving, the then slumlord landlord of that house at 20 Booth Lane called in an inexpensive roofer for some sort of repairs. It was a breezy/windy day and the roof caught fire. In a very short amount of time the upper floors of the house were completely engulfed.

I still remember the photo that was front and center in Main Line Media News. It is an amazing photo and was taken by Pete Bannan. A firefighter in the middle of the flames. Neighbors were so scared that day as firefighters battled flames because we were afraid embers would jump to neighboring roofs.

All of the college students from Villanova who lived in both halves of the duplex were absolutely obnoxious to residents but they lost everything that day. They were mostly seniors and they lost all of their belongings and college memories.

So it makes you wonder about the condition of off campus college rentals, doesn’t it?

If you have ever had a kid in college and you have had to pay for off-campus student housing, you know how these landlords gouge. For what they charge in rent it should be the Taj Mahal but it’s not. Maybe to a college student it’s the Taj Mahal because it’s their place, but usually pretty much overpriced dumps.

Bill Martin who is the manager of Tredyffrin, came from Radnor Township where he was an assistant manager, right? So he was familiar with how municipalities should keep an eye on off-campus student housing, right? But Mr. Martin came to this area from New York via Villanova University correct? So does he have a soft spot for Villanova off-campus student housing? It’s a valid concern, isn’t it?

MAIN LINE BANTER: Meet Tredyffrin Township Manager Bill Martin

Now Mr. Martin loves Tredyffrin and apparently lives in Tredyffrin, so I would find it hard to believe that he is not aware of the problems, faced by the residents of Mount Pleasant when it comes to off-campus student housing. and that includes when he was at Radnor Township, which tightened up the student housing ordinance around 2010, and he didn’t go to Bridgeport Borough until 2011, and then to Tredyffrin in 2012.

Housing issue resolved in Tredyffrin

Tredyffrin didn’t have a student housing ordinance until 2010. I remember because I had friends in more than one area of that township plagued by off campus student houses. It wasn’t just Mount Pleasant. I remember a couple of neighborhoods off of Old Eagle School Road, for example.

Tredyffrin board hears college-housing concerns

There were a lot of meetings packed to the gills about this issue, because true different was initially so reticent to add a student housing ordinance. One of the people affected by an off-campus student house, popping up with someone I’ve known since I was a kid. And pretty much after the student housing ordinance was passed they sold their house and moved out of Tredyffrin. Upscale neighborhood with lovely gardens and backyard pools, but they wanted to be someplace on the Main Line where their investment in their home mattered.

Mt. Pleasant Neighborhood. . . How Can We Help?

Bill Martin and the Supervisors in Tredyffrin? It’s well past time to wake up and stop pretending there’s not a problem with this house and other off-campus student rentals. If you were elected or hired, it doesn’t really matter, Tredyffrin owes her residents more.

Do residents need to start packing meetings again? Probably. Especially from Mount Pleasant which although incredibly historic an area, has been utterly disenfranchised by Tredyffrin for more years than not.

We are Standing With the Volunteer Firefighters, Can We Show Support for the Mt. Pleasant Community?

How many years do people have to ask for Tredyffrin to take off the blinders?

Oh and back to 985 Mount Pleasant. It went from individual to entity holding but is it really a new owner?

Wake up Bill Martin and Tredyffrin Supervisors, just wake up and remember WHY you are all there.

dear residents of mount pleasant in tredyffrin’s panhandle

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Dear beleaguered 24/7/365 residents of Mount Pleasant in the panhandle of Tredyffrin Township,

We all know how much you have to put up with year after with Villa Blue Tarp at 985 Mount Pleasant Avenue in Wayne, PA.

With the onset of more pleasant weather comes another busy kegger season, right? You need to keep calling Tredyffrin Township Police Department. They might not like responding but it is their job right? When you call them please start to document with whom you spoke, the date, the time, and what they say.

Neighbors DO have a legal right to a reasonable expectation of quiet enjoyment that does NOT include male and female public urination and intoxication and vomiting, ridiculous noise etc. you have a right to not worry every time a child is outside playing in the neighborhood when these events occur.

When you call the police, you also need to contact Tredyffrin in writing.

Here are helpful email addresses:

BOS@tredyffrin.org

tredyffrin@tredyffrin.org

police@tredyffrin.org

You will note that Tredyffrin wants NO ONE to have individual email addresses.

You can also file right to know requests on these party house problems. Tredyffrin probably has a form, but here is the email address:

RTK@tredyffrin.org

Anonymous Tip Form

Tredyffrin Township Website

Call Tredyffrin Township at 610-644-1400

Police Dispatch Number:
610-647-1440

Also you sadly need to return to Tredyffrin Township Supervisor Meetings. Even if they have an online and in person option, your best option is going in person and speaking politely at public comment.

You have a legal right to be heard.

You have a legal right to ask questions.

You have a legal right to ask these supervisors to quit contemplating their navels and help you.

And politicians HATE packed board rooms.

And if these supervisors don’t start to help you, every election you vote them out until it’s a new board. But choose your elected officials by their ability to be good on the most local of levels. At this level, it’s less about political party and more about they live among you and should be able to help.

These are your supervisors:

Anyway, I hope this information is helpful to residents.

nope, it’s not ok

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Last night I published a post about essentially being harassed by someone from a Villanova University IP address leaving comments on this website. This was after I had written about what is going on in Mount Pleasant again in Tredyffrin’s panhandle.

Overnight I received yet another comment which, once again has an IP address the tracks to Villanova University.

Of course, I am always surprised that it seems like the Tredyffrin Manager Bill Martin does not deal with these off campus party houses because he previously also worked in Radnor Township, so he is aware that the problems are real, and not just made up.

I will also note that there are plenty of off-campus student rentals where the students get along very well with their neighbors. But there are still houses that are the exception to that rule. One of those houses is 985 Mount Pleasant Ave. in the Tredyffrin side of Wayne.

This property is now in an LLC but it still looks like it’s the same owner. I think probably this house goes from word of mouth to word of mouth from school year to school year. it probably originally started as somebody getting a house off campus for their kid while they were in school, which is common practice around the country. But then sometimes people sell these properties when the kids are out of school. Other property owners often decide to keep these properties as investments.

So I’m getting these messages. The first message came with a real email address with the first comment. Next with the second comment it was a fake email but related IP address, now there is this comment with a fake e-mail address but another related IP address.

This all went to Villanova, and the Dean of Students along with what was sent yesterday. And again this is over an off campus animal house party house that I wrote about over the weekend is located in Tredyffrin. Again, the comments are coming as per the IP searches from Radnor Township, so that’s presumably main campus. If the comments persist, I can go to Radnor Police Department and file a report. They are aware of this. BUT…

Yes there is a but. And it is in my decision making process.

Villanova is a rather expensive school these days, and this person sending the comments has been sent to this very expensive school by two hard-working parents. If I file a formal police report, this is something that could follow this commenter around as he is graduating and looking for a job. It’s all fun and games to be an internet gangsta, but the reality is something not grasped about behavior like this.

This commenter is close to if not 21 already. But over 18. They don’t have very much life experience so they don’t realize that this is not his parents’ glory days of college. No one wants a kid that parents are spending hard earned money on to not be able to develop to their full potential after graduation, right? But this behavior needs to stop. And even Villanova knows that.

So I am giving Villanova University the opportunity to deal with this. In turn for the time being it gives this internet punk a gift he may not deserve, but perhaps his parents do.

However, it is time for Tredyffrin Township to deal proactively with the problems of these off-campus student houses. The neighbors do actually have rights even if Tredyffrin seeming likes to pretend Mount Pleasant doesn’t exist.

I see you residents of Mount Pleasant. You all are dealing with so much including with the really horrible development that keeps happening. This is an area that deserves respect and their history as well.

As for the rest of it? Gosh here’s hoping that some day kids living in off campus housing and their friends coming over to party realize that it takes so little to be a decent neighbor while they are living in these neighborhoods.

Villanova did reach out to me today and promised they are looking into this. So I will see what happens. I am not trying to be unfair. But these kids have to behave better off campus while they are guests in our communities and leaving comments like this wherever is simply unacceptable behavior.

Thanks for stopping by.

well hello tredyffrin- that’s some college kegger in mount pleasant…

well hello tredyffrin- that’s some college kegger in mount pleasant…

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Tredyffrin Township likes to ignore their panhandle, especially Mount Pleasant. You see, if they ignore this area, they can pretend that there aren’t off-campus college student keggers all of the time. This is an area overrun by off-campus student housing and quite a few student housing slumlords.

In blue tarp city in Mount Pleasant, which is what the college students here do to shield themselves from the neighbors while throwing keggers, although the neighbors have no choice but to listen to them, watch them pee in the street, watch them throw up, watch them leave, trash all over, etc.

This latest kegger started receiving people late this morning.

So I thought it was just the right thing to do to remind Tredyffrin Township that between the predatory ugly new development that is sitting unsold and the off campus student housing and their parties, they are quite literally ignoring and forgetting the residents.

are warehouses the new townhouse/apartments/commercial office buildings? are commercial office buildings the new apartments?

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Damn people it’s developer who’s on first isn’t it?

Late last night, I broke the news on this blog about the Johnson Matthey land getting sold in West Whiteland and as per the Philadelphia business journal plans for Eli, Kahn to build warehouses.

is it too soon to tell eli kahn to buzz off with warehouses on phoenixville pike in west whiteland?

But wait, there’s more. Apparently misery loves company and there’s another warehouse bit of scuttlebutt floating around Chester County, not too far away from this.

Sources living out around Uwchlan who have had to live through Lionville Statuon Farm have been keeping an eye on a particular location off of Route 100 and behind where the Harley Davidson place was and kind of where the ice hockey rink is.

They say that on edge of Uwchlan, another warehouse plan is being hatched? Is it true it is also developer Eli Kahn? The fear is that someone if not him will be putting up a warehouse at the end of Haywood Drive (where the skating rink is) and does anyone else have details? The land is fully covered in trees that provides a nice buffer from the turnpike for people on roads like Susan Drive and Saddle Drive.


So if I have it straight, it’s the Uwchlan side of East Township Line Road? Rumors residents are hearing has it that Uwchlan Township expects a warehouse proposal there in February?

And speaking of warehouse proposals what about that land near this cleared by Hankin last year or something for warehouses?

https://www.showcase.com/haywood-rd-exton-pa-19341/3969730/

So I think, in my humble opinion that warehouses are the new apartments/condos/town houses/carriage homes/commercial real estate office buildings.

People say this real estate market is still so “hot.” I don’t think that’s necessarily the case. No one wants to admit when a real estate market is softening because it’s the death knell for developers isn’t it? I think certain aspects of real estate are still “hot,” but I think people are not renting the apartments as quickly as we are told; I don’t think new builds on condo, townhouse, developments, and “carriage” homes are moving as quickly as possible. Also just driving around you can see that regular residential McMansion builds are not selling out as quickly anymore.

And we know the commercial real estate market is also struggling given the fact how developers want to reimagine commercial office buildings if they can’t sell them. Look no further than Tredyffrin . They want to make one a school which actually isn’t a bad idea.

Click here to read

But then you look at East Whiteland and a developer wants to turn an old commercial office building into apartments because we need more of those of course, right?

maybe, just maybe east whiteland residents don’t wish to live in the king of prussia cloneship?

And more to my point with commercial real estate I find this article in this morning’s Philadelphia Business Journal:

Construction isn’t finished yet, but AmeriHealth Caritas already wants to sublease its new build-to-suit office

By Paul Schwedelson – Reporter, Philadelphia Business Journal
Jan 30, 2024

And then there is this about apartments:

Philadelphia Business Journal: Residential Real Estate /There are signs that Philadelphia apartment rents may have finally topped out

By Joanne Drilling – National Data Reporter, The Business Journals
Jan 28, 2024

There’s also an interesting article put out by WHYY:

NATIONAL
Housing is now unaffordable for a record half of all U.S. renters, study finds

JANUARY 25, 20245:10 AM ET
HEARD ON MORNING EDITION

And this timely find of an article:

PBJ Commercial Real Estate
Record volume of office-to-apartment conversions is in the pipeline. How many will become reality?

By Ashley Fahey – Editor, The National Observer: Real Estate Edition, The Business Journals
Jan 24, 2024

Now I am told from friends in Tredyffrin the new builds in historic Mount Pleasant are not quite selling like hotcakes, and the upper Merion side of Mount Pleasant has he had another proposal coming for like three more McMansion houses – this was the message I received:

Upper Merion Zoning Board Hearing next Wednesday February 7th. 7pm.
Developer wants to build 3 townhomes at 1034 Mt Pleasant.


Called the ZHB officer to ask if neighbors on the Tredyffrin end of the street are allowed to speak. Waiting for a return call.

So recent infill development in Mount Pleasant. I think is one single McMansion and eight McMansion twins and residents over there are not seeing any have sold.

Ok ⬆️ above is preposterously called The Enclave at Saint Davids. That is very amusing Main Line marketing to me because this is Wayne but it’s close to St. David’s which I guess sounds more pretentious? You know kind of like when they call Downingtown Chester Springs? And the price tag on Henry/Fairview ? $1,349,000. $1,149,000.

991 Fairview

984 Henry

Now part of the reason they’re maybe not selling are the student housing slumlords in this neck of the woods right? I mean would you want your million dollar house down the street from where drunken off campus college students are vomiting on residents cars after partying all night?

Sorry, I know I’ve been rambling on here a bit. But we have to keep talking about these crazy ass developments. They keep popping up so they’re still building residential but it’s really not selling the way you would think. People are still buying houses but they’re looking for established neighborhoods and even fixer-uppers because the price points are so crazy.

And then there are all the parcels of land or structures are sitting rotting because no one has paid the price to buy the land. That could be for commercial or residential.

In some cases, there are historical assets sitting there rotting. Lloyd Farm in Caln comes to mind or the Joseph Price House in Exton/West Whiteland. Even the historic farmhouse on Route 30 in Frazer, next to the boat dealership counts.

Whatever the reason is for development, there is too much of it. And if all of a sudden more warehouse, plans are popping up and worse it’s a potential indication of the fact that municipalities need to actually pay close attention here? But are they?

Only time will tell.

Maybe it’s just my opinion, but maybe just maybe it all needs to stop for a while? And we can’t do it just with the officials in various municipalities, the state needs to step in, but then they would have to get past lobbyists wouldn’t they?

I leave you with beware the Aesop‘s fable of “build it and they will come,” because sometimes it’s just like the Emperor’s New Clothes and maybe not really there, but hey, I am but a mere mortal and a female. What do I know right?

the mystery of the cameras in mazie b. hall park in tredyffrin

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On April 20, 2023 residents who live in the Mt. Pleasant section of Tredyffrin started talking about cameras on trees in Mazie B. Hall Park.

At first people wondered if all of the parks in Tredyffrin were getting some sort of security cameras or if this was something to do with Mt. Pleasant? No one had any answers.

Well, reliable sources now tell me that the cameras have been removed by Tredyffrin, and apparently neither Tredyffrin Township public works nor the police mounted those cameras on the trees and how creepy AF is that? I mean after all, weren’t those trees facing the tot lot in that park?

A couple of residents apparently were also told that there is some sort of investigation going on? So maybe Tredyffrin should talk to the residents about this?

Sorry, not sorry but somebody randomly mounting cameras in a park facing a tot lot is kind of creepy is it not?

Can they track the camera owners somehow? Where were cameras transmitting to and why? What exactly was being photographed or recorded and why?

Just saying.

Calling Nancy Drew or even Scooby Doo. Where are you?

this is not o.k. in tredyffrin

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This is beyond hateful and it’s going on in Tredyffrin and based on the posts I’ve received it must be happening around Chesterbrook.

The Holocaust was no joke. It was genocide. Millions of people. Hitler was a fanatical terrorist who ordered MILLIONS killed. Mostly Jewish people but not all. Tortured, victims of human experimentation and worse. People lost their homes, businesses, personal possessions, friends, family, even their pets. (You can read more HERE.)

I don’t even have enough time in the day or words to express how despicable it is that someone thinks it’s funny to go around spray, painting, swastikas. Anti- semitism is horrible and a crime.

It seems like Tredyffrin has issues. If you see whoever is doing this, or you catch them on the security camera, call 911.

Just when you think you can take a day off and enjoy your Saturday there’s this. And this is a byproduct of the extremism in politics we have been experiencing since 2016.

#SeeSomethingSaySomething

military charter school being proposed in rtsd back for another hearing (and will be before tesd eventually) and a charter school is coming for a bite at the education apple in wcasd.

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Wake up media, you have stories unfolding requiring immediate attention. The same can be said for residents in two Chester County school districts and on Delaware County school district.

I actually have mixed emotions at this juncture about charter schools. When our son was in school, it was a God send due to bullying issues that were not being dealt with in public school as well as the fact we had serious issues when he was in an elementary school that was supposed to be one of the best and in some cases, there were NO books for subjects like history. We sent him to Renaissance Academy Charter School in Phoenixville. There were ups and downs as is the case with any school, but it was a good experience, and they placed a high percentage of kids in great schools. IT still is an academic alternative that I think is serving 20 or 21 school districts at this point.

But now I am starting to look at charter schools with different eyes. Because of the new kids coming to the table in 2023. Specifically in WCASD (West Chester Area School District) and RTSD (Radnor Township School District). And the one for RTSD will also involve TESD (Tredyffrin Easttown School District.)

I will start with WCASD because that is where a charter school that is kind of coming on a stealth basis. Valley Forge Classical Academy Charter School. They say they have non-profit status, only it’s a little hard to find anything, not even a website announcing who they are, their board of directors, etc. They do have a Facebook page and please note how they get their jollies, making it quite clear what they are about:

First up? A fundraiser has been established on Give Send GO:

Would you like to be part of a success story? Valley Forge Classical Academy Charter School in Exton, PA will be just that!  We will provide a traditional classical liberal education for each and every child.

The liberal arts in particular and liberal education in general are the surest, most time-tested way to direct students toward a life that is truly free. Our rigorous K-12 curriculum is content-rich, balanced, and strong, with an emphasis upon the four core disciplines of math, science, literature, and history, and attention to music, art, physical education, and foreign languages. In addition, we believe that by training students in the moral, intellectual, and civic virtues we are equipping them to live well-ordered lives as human beings and as citizens.


Your donation will provide funds to ensure a successful application and start-up of our LICENSED HILLSDALE COLLEGE K12 school in the Exton, PA area.  ALL DONATIONS GO DIRECTLY TOWARDS THE START UP COSTS OF THE SCHOOL. Attorney’s fees, administrative and marketing costs, website design, office rental, postage and other miscellaneous fees will be covered.  All board members are VOLUNTEERS. We will open a K-8 program in the Fall of 2024 and add a grade level each year until we have our first graduating class, the Class of 2028.

For more information on the Hillsdale College K12 program, click on this link:

https://k12.hillsdale.edu/?_gl=1*jvupm3*_ga*NjIxODc5NzkwLjE2Njk1NzMyNTg.*_ga_FBJP6CFLDM*MTY2OTk4OTQ3My42LjEuMTY2OTk4OTUxNy4xNi4wLjA.

Valley Forge Classical Academy Charter School is an approved 501-c3 non-profit organization.

For more information, please contact us at this email:  vfcacs@gmail.com.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DONATING!

Gosh, they had me at indoctrination. You know right there, what this is about, don’t you?

The woman who established the fundraiser is referred to in this WHYY article from 2022:

Why a request for West Chester district data on LGBTQ students spurs privacy worry

And now there is an open house on Saturday, January 28th, 2023 at 21 Hagerty Blvd in West Chester where all the Stepford Wives for Totalitarianism gather for meetings sometimes:

Register on Eventbrite

Jan 28

OPEN HOUSE – VALLEY FORGE CLASSICAL ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL

ANNOUNCING OUR FIRST OPEN HOUSE FOR PROSPECTIVE FAMILIES IN THE CHESTER COUNTY AREA!

By VALLEY FORGE CLASSICAL ACADEMY SCHOOL BOARD

Come and meet members of the board and learn about a classical education. Valley Forge Classical Academy Charter School is slated to open in the Fall of 2024 for K-8 students. Each year we will add one year of our high school program and graduate our first class in 2030!


Seems lot o’ stuff happens at 21 Hagerty Blvd in West Chester in as far as certain political based gatherings? So this would be a charter school in WCASD BUT will it meet the requirements of public schools? This school tried before didn’t they? Or is this another proposed school with some of the same players?


Does West Whiteland know about this since they seem as if they are looking at property in West Whiteland? Get out the #popcorn because the Stepford Mommies for Totalitarianism will want this school and like their behavior in school districts will want the taxpayers paying for this too. I will say honestly, that the lady running the fundraiser? Has a lot of charter school experience, so she is sharp.

Now back to Radnor Township School District. And people in Tredyffrin Easttown School District need to pay attention because this is a charter school being proposed at Valley Forge Military Academy and College’s campus, which straddles a couple of municipalities and counties, doesn’t it? And who exactly recruited this school to Valley Forge’s campus? Was it in fact Valley Forge Military School and College which as we know got rejected on their own application prior to this one?

I first bought you the odd tale of Radnor and Pennsylvania Military Charter School at Valley Forge on December 15th, 2022:

will pennsylvania military charter school at valley forge be a fit for radnor township school dist

Then the Philadelphia had a whopper of an article on Christmas Eve. My late father always said big news sneaks in on weekends and holidays and not enough people pay attention.

Philadelphia Inquirer: For a second time, a charter school is being proposed at Valley Forge Military Academy
Unlike the last proposal, which was put forward by the military academy, the latest application is being advanced by backers with no formal ties to the Main Line private school.

by Maddie Hanna
Updated Dec 24, 2022

SO….has Tredyffrin Easttown School District (TESD) scheduled their hearing yet? Here is the entirety of the January 17th Radnor School Board Meeting:

Here are 3 smaller videos which pulls out some crucial public comment:

This all gives me pause. Essentially, I have to ask if these people wanting to start charter schools which all supposedly have Pennsylvania non profits but will really be run by entities in other states should even be allowed to open charter schools in Pennsylvania?

And of course, then you have to wonder how they will deal with what public schools are required to have and do have as far as the many complicated issues facing public schools? And will they be fair and equal and non discriminatory in all areas including sexual and gender identity? And why should people have to watch their tax dollars get siphoned off for schools started by people who have so many issues with public schools that haven’t been upheld by the courts over the past few years? Gender/sexual identity, books they don’t like, masking, vaccines, etc.? Why are taxpayers supposed to pay for their peculiarities?

Truly if you have time, watch and listen to the recent Radnor meeting. And remember that is not just a concern to residents in the Radnor Township School District service area in Radnor Township Delaware County but also in Tredyffrin Easttown School District in Tredyffrin and Easttown Townships in Chester County. Interesting things include a website possibly intimating approval – https://www.military.academy/valley-forge when they are far, far from it. They do not seem to have a business plan but they have plans for a course of study called ethical hacking. And as this hearing goes on , the charter presenters seem to become well, combative and uneasy.

With both of these proposed charter schools there seem to be many troubling questions, sadly. Here’s hoping the media steps up and really digs in.

Again, in conclusion, I am not against charter schools in the least. But these two give me pause. Also is there really a need for their brand of charter?

Stay tuned.

in case you missed it…like me…

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One of my favorite magazines is Country Living. When I have time, I read it as soon as it hits my mailbox, cover to cover.

But it has been a busy few months, and the magazines ended up in a neat pile next to my reading chair in my bedroom on the footstool. Until today when I decided to dig into my overdue periodical reading pile.

Well guess what business and who are right there inside the September, 2022 issue of Country Living magazine? One of my favorite Chester County businesses and owner. Yup, Malvern’s own Life’s Patina and the creative dynamo behind everything , Meg Veno.

You know how much I love Life’s Patina because pretty much every time she has an event, you can find me there shopping and taking photos! And my husband gets me Life’s Patina gift certificates for Christmas.

Part of the reason I love Life’s Patina is it’s simply put, beautiful. Every time I visit. But it is also because of Meg and her team. They are seriously the nicest. And Meg is just positive and kind. In the chaos of today’s world, this makes a huge difference. Also? They make everything look so effortless and magical. You can’t help but get a good feeling every time she opens her barn!

Also worth mentioning is how lucky is Historic Yellow Springs Village and West Pikeland Township that Meg Veno and Life’s Patina are sprinkling their magic on the Jenny Lind house? They have stripped her back to the beginning and done an incredibly painstaking renovation that is almost there. I feel that her renovation,when finally completed, will bring new life and renewed energy to Historic Yellow Springs Village which it needs.

I mean seriously, how lucky is West Pikeland Township to have both Jeff Devlin and Meg Veno taking an interest and putting businesses that celebrate Chester County and her history right there in this small Chester County municipality? So lucky! Adaptive reuse of the best kind totally loaded with heart and talent and effort!

And the funny thing is I was one of the first people who suggested Jenny Lind to Meg when she was saying she wanted a new challenge.

I have however almost regretted suggesting Jenny Lind and Yellow Springs to her at times because of the duration of the renovation, the obstacles and challenges of truly restoring the Jenny Lind. However, the renovation has survived COVID and all that this time in the world and supply chain issues that every renovation everywhere has suffered. When the Merchantile & Cafe opens it will be truly amazing!

So to say I was thrilled when I saw one of my favorite magazines featuring one of my favorite businesses and business owners was an understatement…even if I am a few months late.

So Meg & Company, I am so terribly sorry I didn’t open my magazine sooner! So well done and deserved. Lots of places are inspired by what Meg creates at Life’s Patina. Make sure you check out one of their sales when you can!

will pennsylvania military charter school at valley forge be a fit for radnor township school dist

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I just watched a replay of a Radnor Township school Board meeting. It was a special hearing about a proposed charter school. Now charter schools are always a hot button topic with school districts because essentially, they have to share money and resources. School districts never share well or necessarily willingly with charter schools.

First we met the man who would head the school, I guess (but I am not sure.) He’s on the board however. His name is Joshua Johnson. He had an extremely impressive and extraordinary military career. He was a Green Beret.

Also on the board, and present although he did not speak was retired Republican State Senator Bob Mensch (R-24) , who once served Bucks, Berks, and Montgomery Counties. Prior to that Senator Mensch was a State Representative in the 147th legislative district, and he started in politics as a Supervisor in Malborough Township Bucks County. I will note that Senator Mensh was instrumental in getting breast cancer legislation passed in PA, specifically bills SB 1225 for no-cost breast MRI, SB 1330 for no-cost genetic testing and counseling. I am an 11 year breast cancer survivor and I can tell you how awesome that is. Breast cancer is a financial albatross, trust me, and it is the gift that is like a financial black hole at times.

Here is how US News and World Report breaks it down:

Charter schools are publicly-funded, tuition-free schools, but they differ from traditional public schools in key ways. Comparing charter schools to public schools requires weighing a few different considerations.

First, charters have more flexibility. Rather than being part of a public school district, which dictates curriculum and standards in all schools, charters operate autonomously through individual agreements, or charters, with state or local governments that dictate rules and performance standards.

So. I will state for the record, I do not have a problem with charter schools. Our child attended a very good one. But it was inclusive. Based on the Question and Answer segment after the presentation here, I am not sure what to think.

I did record it:

I do not know how this will play out, and honestly, I am not sure this concept will fly in the Main Line of today, even if it is proposed to be on the campus of an existing military school and college. One thing I do not get however is why the JROTC or whatever would go to Norristown, versus creating something on Valley Forge’s Campus?

The reality is Valley Forge Military Academy and College seems to be dying, doesn’t it? They have already sold off land, haven’t they? The school when you drive by no longer seems as crisp and tidy as it once was, does it? So what happens if there is no charter school approved? Do they keep slicing off bits of land and selling, or close up shop altogether and sell the whole kit and caboodle?

Valley Forge Military Academy and College itself has had a LOT of bad press in recent years. But in November an article in the Washington Post, was surprisingly positive. It was about Wes Moore, who was recently elected Governor of Maryland. Earlier this year, however, there was a scathing Mother Jones article about VFMAC

Hazing, Fighting, Sexual Assaults: How Valley Forge Military Academy Devolved Into “Lord of the Flies”

So it’s not just a simple conversation about charter schools. It’s also a conversation about military schools. There are however, other military based Charter Schools, and in the area too. Maritime Academy Charter School in Philadelphia and Philadelphia Military Academy at Elverson in Philadelphia. First State Military Academy in Delaware. Delaware Military Academy.

It’s not a stand alone idea that no one has done, I just don’t know how it will fly on the Main Line. Face it, Main Line School Districts don’t even ever want charter schools in my opinion. It means fund and resource sharing and it also is an ego thing since public schools especially on the Main Line are supposed to be the greatest period.

The sticking point here I feel will be what was raised by that parent who asked about how the school would handle sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression. This resident did not see it in their mission statement. Mr. Johnson responded that gender identification and name would be the same as found on a student’s birth certificate.

OK ummm…Pentagon seems to feel differently these days, yes? Or are supposed to?

The Pentagon’s policies on this topic are discussed in an NPR article I found from 2021. (CLICK HERE FOR NPR ARTICLE.) Essentially this reversed the Trump era rules, which were what’s on your birth certificate. Biden lifted that ban in 2021 which is in the NPR article, so I do not know how this will shake out for this charter school. It’s an uncomfortable military topic. See CNN article (CLICK HERE.) See Military Times article (CLICK HERE.)

If this charter school wants a real chance, then they need to align with what the Pentagon now says, right?

I will also note that in 2021 Valley Forge Military Academy and College was DENIED a similar charter school application. (CLICK HERE.)

Philadelphia Inquirer: Radnor school board denies Valley Forge Military Academy’s bid to open a charter

by Maddie Hanna
Published May 28, 2021

I found their presentation on Radnor Township School Board’s website, which I found cumbersome to noodle around on, so I will share below. I wonder since part of this VFMAC campus is in Tredyffrin, are they presenting a charter application to that school board as well>

I have no dog in this race, my goal here is to inform only. There is a meeting scheduled about this for in the new year. It is actually a continuation of the public hearing on this Charter School. The date the school board lady announced was Tuesday, January 17th, 2023 at 7 PM . If interested in this, pay attention to the meeting schedule and contact THEM. NOT ME. A new charter school is a relatively big deal, let alone a military one, so I am kind of surprised about zero media coverage. Have a good night.

Pennsylvania-Military-Charter-School-Charter-ApplicationDownload