Register to VOTE in the next 4 weeks or you won't be able to vote in November.
You must be registered by TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9th if you want to VOTE for the next President of the United States.
And there are new rules in place for getting registered and for voting - including the requirement to show an approved photo ID with an expiration date.
BRISTOL TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS Busing problems persist Story Comments ShareShare Print Create a hardcopy of this page Font Size: Default font size Larger font size
Posted: Tuesday, September 11, 2012 5:30 am | Updated: 6:47 am, Tue Sep 11, 2012. By DANNY ADLER Staff writer | 0 comments Posted on September 11, 2012 by Daniel Adler About 100 upset parents in Bristol Township gathered in force at Benjamin Franklin School on Monday night to scold the school board over the district’s drastically scaled-back busing service. Ever since the first day of school late last month, parents have been fuming over late, overcrowded buses, kids left at their stops, and buses not fully equipped to handle certain students’ special needs.
The transportation cuts were done to save more than $2 million for the cash-strapped public school system in Bristol Township. The new system cut the transportation budget from $9.5 million to $7 million, lowered the number of buses from 95 to 61, and eliminated two-thirds of all stops. School board President Earl Bruck said the cuts were necessary and the school board decided to cut transportation rather than things such as full-day kindergarten and co-curricular programs. “Bristol Township’s busing costs per student are the highest in the county,” Bruck said. The district is in its final year of a contract with Cincinnati, Ohio-based First Student Inc., which provides busing for the township. “We are pursuing, actively and aggressively pursuing, other options that may change how service is provided,” he said to the crowd Monday night. Parents aren’t happy with the new busing system. Resident Tom Barton said his son’s bus to Harry S. Truman High School has been so overcrowded that kids were sitting three to a seat and others were standing in the aisle. On the first day of school, it was late in dropping off the teens. One woman said the bus for her child with autism never showed the first two days of school. Another woman, Jennifer Sands, told the school board that her family was just advised that Bristol Township would not provide mid-day transportation for her kindergartner at St. Michael the Archangel School in Levittown. “You guys planned to cut costs and didn’t really think of your overall responsibility and the effect it would have on the community,” she said. Angela Cary said her children walk to a bus stop at Lloyd and Ashby, an area several described as a “dangerous” place for young kids. “It is a major safety issue,” she said. One thing that seemed to cause much of the parents’ ire was what the parents said was a lack of communication from the district. They said they left numerous phone messages and emails with district officials that were never returned. Officials took names and phone numbers from the residents Monday and said they would contact them. Additionally, parents complained that the school bus routes were made public less than a week before school began. The district has received “hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of calls” and has prioritized calls, Bruck said. On top of the list are concerns relating to transporting students with special needs, followed by what he called “legitimate safety concerns.” The district said it will make some changes to the bus routes. Additionally, officials urged anyone who sees a bus with kids standing or sitting in the aisles to call the district immediately. Such overcrowded buses are not allowed to continue driving, officials said, and they must call for a back-up bus to take the overflow. Hours after Bristol Township began its school year on Aug. 29, district officials pulled the schedule from its website for revisions. While some parents said their issues have been addressed, or are being addressed, others aren’t impressed with the district response.
Voter ID law complicates absentee ballots Story Comments (71)
Posted: Tuesday, September 11, 2012 5:50 am | Updated: 6:27 am, Tue Sep 11, 2012. By James McGinnis Staff writer | 71 comments Posted on September 11, 2012 by James McGinnis Pennsylvania’s recently enacted voter ID requirement is complicating the absentee ballot process for hundreds of voters in Bucks. The county board of elections said it has received about 1,600 applications from voters seeking absentee ballots for the upcoming election. And, of those, roughly 12 percent lack the required voter ID information. More than 200 applications were submitted using older forms, which predate the voter ID law. Newer absentee ballot applications ask voters to identify themselves using their driver’s license number, PennDOT ID number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number. Older documents — including one application form listed on a state website — do not request this information. “We have a lot of old absentee ballot applications at various locations throughout the county,” said Deena Dean, elections director for Bucks County. “Older applications were at libraries, and post offices and state liquor stores, township and borough halls.” Officials tried to remove them from public places, but “committee people who work for campaigns could have the old application as well,” said Dean. Letters will be sent to each person who submits an incomplete or insufficient absentee ballot application, said Dean. Those voters will still receive a ballot. However, their votes won’t be counted unless the requested voter ID information is also submitted. Bucks County said it received 20,427 absentee ballots for the November 2008 presidential election. Officials said they expect to receive the same amount, if not more, in the upcoming presidential contest. Local Democrats have expressed concerns about voter disenfranchisement and chaos at the polls on Election Day. Bucks County GOP Chair Pat Poprik is not so concerned. “I believe most people have some form of ID that’s suitable,” said Poprik. “I need a photo ID when I buy a box of tissues when you’re at Sam’s Club.” Valid absentee ballot applications can be obtained on the board of elections page at www.buckscounty.org
CNBC's Jim Cramer Says His Father, a Vet, Can't Vote Under PA GOP's Photo ID Restriction Law
But perhaps he's one of the 'rogues', 'strumpets' or 'wandering Arabs' the Commonwealth Court Judge may have been concerned about when citing an 1869 case to uphold the new law...
By Brad Friedman on 9/11/2012, 5:09pm PT
CNBC's Mad Money host, Jim Cramer, tweeted the following earlier today...
Jim Cramer✔ @jimcramer
I have a problem. My dad, a vet, won't be allowed to vote in Pa. because he does not drive, he is elderly, and can't prove his citizenship.
11 Sep 12
Cramer's father, however, is hardly alone. Some 1.6 million otherwise eligible voters in the state of Pennsylvania --- many of them elderly, minorities, students and the poor --- may be unable to vote this November under the state's GOP-enacted polling place Photo ID restriction law, unless the absurd ruling of Commonwealth Judge Robert E. Simpson is overturned on appeal, or unless the U.S. Dept. of Justice finally decides to file a federal challenge that successfully blocks the state's completely unnecessary law as violation of the Voting Rights Act and the U.S. Constitution.
But Cramer's father can take heart. Scott Keyes at Think Progress reports: "A House Democratic Twitter account responded to Cramer with a promise that Rep. Jim [*Bob] Brady (D-PA), who represents part of Philadelphia, would "personally see to it that your dad gets the necessary ID and transportation to vote."
See? The new Republican law won't actually disenfranchise anybody! All you need to do is make sure you have a family member host a popular TV show, and your problem will be solved when a U.S. Congressman notices and promises to intervene. Democracy saved!
By the way, the ruling by the Commonwealth Court Judge who upheld the voter suppression law recently, may be even more absurd than originally believed or as detailed by The BRAD BLOG's legal analyst Ernie Canning upon appeal. As Nicole Flatow explains, the law that Judge Simpson relied on to support his ruling was an 1869 case, Patterson v. Barlow, in which the majority warned of "rogues", "strumpets" and "wandering Arabs" who, it was feared, might commit voter fraud in Philadelphia that year.
Even back then, as the dissenting opinion in the 143-year old case reveals, the minority Justices were concerned "that among the barriers so ingeniously contrived to prevent [voter fraud], the defeat of the duly qualified voters must inevitably occur."
The dissenters went on to offer advice that would be useful today to those concerned about actual voter fraud (versus the Republicans who instituted today's Photo ID restrictions, solely to keep largely Democratic-leaning voters from casting their legal vote at all):
If frauds were imminent by simulated voters, let penalties be provided for the rogues, and set honest and vigilant men to watch them, but let not the rights of honest voters be sacrificed to these apprehensions.
Voter ID Problem Solved For Jim Cramer’s Dad Ryan J. Reilly - 4:05 PM EDT, Tuesday September 11, 2012
Pennsylvania's voter ID law will no longer be a problem for the father of CNBC host Jim Cramer. Cramer tweeted that his father, a veteran, lacked the specific form of photo identification that would allow him to voter in November under Pennsylvania's voter ID law. Cramer now says that Pennsylvania authorities contacted him and assured him they'll make sure his dad can vote.
Jim Cramer✔ @jimcramer
PennDot read my Tweet and came directly to the rescue of Pop and did so in a terrific way so he can vote.. Thank you Penndot!
Posted: Wednesday, September 12, 2012 6:00 am | Updated: 11:16 am, Tue Sep 11, 2012. 0 comments
Regarding the story titled, "House committee: Bucks, Montco pay more property taxes" by Gary Weckselblatt: Any questions? And on top of this Morrisville has the highest combined borough/school tax millage in Bucks County (even after two substantial tax decreases by the Morrisville School Board of 2007-2011).
Tax cuts that still hurting the children of morrisville and I heard rumors that the last soc budget will come up short and there is a million dollar short fall for 2011-12 budget Hope its not anything more then a rumor. Thanks again Bill, Al, marlis, Steve, Ron, what's her name and our current board president Jon DeWilde all members of soc/sot saving us pennies costing us millions
I have heard that there are 41 students in a Phys Ed Class, 35 Students in a Math class with not enough desks. Crowded Middle-School Classes. And That Don Harm is on Vacation this week. One question, what is greater the amount of students in classes or the amount of vacation time Don Harm gets.
My neighbor told me that their sons High School art class is in the cafeteria. I guess since it was newly painted no better place to have an art class.
Since council wasn't made up of his friends, Hellman neglected to say that the borough didn't raise taxes last year.
I want to hear nothing of what that deadbeat Hellman has to say. He has a lot of nerve saying anything at all to the public since he's stiffing us all by not paying his trash bills. Such a loser. He's complaining to the very people he's screwing over.
Soooo....moving yet another grade into the HS hasn't had an effect on the kids that were already there? Then why does my 8th grader not have gym class this year and only have 3 specials spread out over 4 marking periods? Why? Because the extra kids(3rd grade) and the fact that a new elementary gym teacher was not hired upon Mr Campbell's retirement is forcing us to spread existing staff too thin and there just isn't enough time or space in the day for 8th grade to be able to have gym this year so they got screwed.
Also the 3PM pick up at the HS is a traffic nightmare. Some days traffic is backed all the way out onto Palmer Ave...solutions? And yes idiotic parents with no patience STILL can't follow the rules/directions and are ignoring the barriers in place to prevent u-turns and people going around others. And YES there are SIDEWALKS and crosswalks for you to walk in to pick up your children. Teach them now the appropriate and SAFE places to walk and cross. Everybody thinks that they are more important than the next guy...P A T I E N C E!!!
I see that Back To School Nights are scheduled for elementary kids but what about 7-12th?
I do have to say I like the idea of the weekly phone blast with information on the upcoming week!
This gym thing [or lack thereof] is an example of Ferrara and admin blowing smoke up the School Board's butts, and in turn the public's butts. This cut [and that's exactly what it is] was never mentioned in public by Ferrara and I do believe he was asked.
I have not seen Hellman. I saw Al Radosti once since the election. He was looking to be appointed back onto the school board. Thank GOD he was rejected.
If you search for tenderness it isn't hard to find. You can have the love you need to live. But if you look for truthfulness You might just as well be blind. It always seems to be so hard to give.
Honesty is such a lonely word. Everyone is so untrue. Honesty is hardly ever heard. And mostly what I need from you.
I can always find someone to say they sympathize. If I wear my heart out on my sleeve. But I don't want some pretty face to tell me pretty lies. All I want is someone to believe.
Honesty is such a lonely word. Everyone is so untrue. Honesty is hardly ever heard. And mostly what I need from you.
I can find a lover. I can find a friend. I can have security until the bitter end. Anyone can comfort me with promises again. I know, I know.
When I'm deep inside of me don't be too concerned. I won't ask for nothin' while I'm gone. But when I want sincerity tell me where else can I turn. Because you're the one I depend upon.
Honesty is such a lonely word. Everyone is so untrue. Honesty is hardly ever heard. And mostly what I need from you.
Any argument about millage rate comparisons is disingenuous at best. The value of a mill is so disparate between communities, the total tax burden as a percentage of wealth (not income) would be a much more reasonable comparison. But that's hard, and we want sound bites and talking points, not reasonable and defendable arguments!!
How dare you say cut. Nothing has been cut, at least that what we are being told. Maybe Don Harm has been cut, since he hasn't been seen in a while. Or has he been named Acting Principal of M.R. Reiter?
Cutting taxes doesn't make you a jerkwad but to keep cutting without thinking about the future is foolish all things go up how can you not expect that. you can only cut the operating budget so much before you can't offer the service anymore. I'm sorry to say that is what happening to the district now. costs have gone up over the past 5 years and revenue is flat guess what that means!!!!!!!!!!!!!
but I guess as long as Hellman doesn't do in his mind he is still the savor of the Borough
Fight broke out after school today just before 3PM on that little side street that backs up to the rear of the HS...you know...the one where many of those YOUNGER students dismissed at 3PM walk down after school to go home. Or where many of those younger childrens parents are parking to walk down to pick them up...I heard the blip blip of the police siren come break it up and then sat in my car in the parent pick-up line as all the older kids came walking back towards and into the school laughing, talking and using ALL kinds of foul language. What happened to an administrator being out there making sure these older kids are cleared out and gone before the younger kids are dismissed? Mr May appeared after the fact... Why are older kids leaving the building and then allowed to re-enter around the time that the younger kids are dismissed? All issues that need to be addressed. Time to fire off an email. Anybody know when the first Super meeting will be held this year?
That's not good. It's hard to be everywhere all the time, but maybe that's the point. You can't. So, we as a community need to insist that the board/admin develop a reasonable plan to address short-term and long-term concerns, with community input.
It's up to the admin to handle the day to day if the need more personal to assist then they.go to the board but its up to the administration to make sure their personal do what they are suppose to And if you never come to a board meeting how ate you going to insist on anything its all the same 3 or 4 people who stay and are involed this blog is full of people who talk a lot about what's needed up never show up to present those ideas I'm so over this bs
I hear you and I agree. I don't have any answers, though.
If only people knew how exciting and fun school board meetings are, and how quickly a high percentage of their ideas and suggestions will be warmly embraced and implemented.
The devil went down to Georgia, he was looking for a soul to steal. He was in a bind 'cos he was way behind and he was willin' to make a deal. When he came across this young man sawin' on a fiddle and playin' it hot. And the devil jumped upon a hickory stump and said: "Boy let me tell you what: "I guess you didn't know it, but I'm a fiddle player too. "And if you'd care to take a dare, I'll make a bet with you. "Now you play a pretty good fiddle, boy, but give the devil his due: "I bet a fiddle of gold against your soul, 'cos I think I'm better than you." The boy said: "My name's Johnny and it might be a sin, "But I'll take your bet, your gonna regret, 'cos I'm the best that's ever been."
Johnny you rosin up your bow and play your fiddle hard. 'Cos hells broke loose in Georgia and the devil deals the cards. And if you win you get this shiny fiddle made of gold. But if you lose, the devil gets your soul.
Ferrara runs things like he's still working for SOC and the Hellman Fitzpatrick Good Ole GOP Boys Club who ditched Yonson and made him Super. Deep down Dewilde is part of that group even if some dolts like Worob Mihok and Stout are pissed at him for knowing that they're dolts.
I met Ferrara 1 time, he was nice. Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on your anger level, the only people that hold this district together are the teachers. I'm not one, not related to one, or do I have a vested interest in their current situation. My children have all graduated from Morrisville and moved on, some to college and some to well...some to college. At any rate, as far back as the mid 90's I can remember this public bashing/arguing/misrepresenting of our school district for public political gain. Yet, the only constant were the 100 or so teachers that cared enough about the students that they never left for more money someplace else. Now they are bad mouthed, hated and the low paid in all of bucks county. Plus they are probably down to 50 in numbers even though the student numbers are just as high if not higher. My niece is 30 kids in 4th grade and thinks she's locked inside. The only reason I chime in is because I feel bad that everytime i read the paper or turn on the news or look on cnn, somebody hates the teachers somewhere in this country. They spend more time with our kids than we do. Maybe we can't afford high salary like Council Rock, but at least we can appreciate their importance.
I've noticed there is very little criticism of teachers on this blog. Mostly praise. Let the good teachers go their jobs.
Most of the frustrations concern management and especially communications. And politics of course. After all, elections are what choose the 9 school board members that ultimately set tone and management and communications.
You can bemoan the small numbers who show up time after time but what's the alternative? Sit back keep your head down and hope for the best?
I find him to be a phony politician in the worst sense of the word, one who people think is such a nice guy while he's stabbing you in the back with his policies.
Fitzy GOP Mantra = there's a class of freeloader deadbeats out there that want to take all your hard earned money from you. You're better than them. His local supporters lap it up, all the while their so called leaders are the biggest deadbeats in town.
HS FOOTBALL: Morrisville crushed by Lansdale Catholic
By KEV HUNTER khunter@thereporteronline.com Posted: 09/14/12 11:08 pm
LOWER GWYNEDD, Pa. — James Ward took two punts back for touchdowns and Kevin Sabo reached the end zone twice on short runs to lead Lansdale Catholic in a first half full of scores, and Mike Iacono’s one-yard burst enforced the mercy rule in the third quarter, as the Crusaders dominated Morrisville by the count of 39-0 Friday night on the turf at Wissahickon High School.
CONTRIBUTE
Story Ideas
Send Corrections After a 38-yard punt return by Ward, LC went up 6-0 on its second offensive play on a five-yard run by Joe Schmid. Kevin Sabo’s one-yard plunge increased the lead to 13-0, and then back-to-back punt returns for touchdowns by Ward blew the game open before the end of the opening quarter. “He wants the ball in his hands — whether we’re handing it to him or passing it to him or on a kickoff or a punt,” said Crusaders coach Tom Kirk. “We are blessed with some very good backs. This week, it was James’ night, and next week it could very well be somebody else.” Ward finished with 91 yards on just three carries and also added the two most electrifying plays of the night - his two punt return TD’s.
“I couldn’t have done that without my blocking,” Ward said of his 60- and 55-yard returns. “The second one was a shorter kick, the middle was there, Evan Dehaven had a great block right up the middle, and it was a race to the end zone.” On the second one, the ball had bounced off the hands of the other return man for LC (3-0) and Ward raced over, scooped it up, made a couple pretty cuts, and was gone. “There was a lot of running back and forth and side to side on that one, and once I found my block, it was a race to the opposite pylon,” Ward said. “I just had to make a move on the punter and I was in.” Sabo’s second one-yard touchdown run of the night gave LC a 32-0 lead at the half, and the only score after intermission was Iacono’s one-yard rushing TD. The Bulldogs’ offense was muzzled all evening, as Morrisville did not gain a first down until the second-to-last play of the night. LC held the visitors to just 31 yards of offense. With under a minute to go, quarterback Zach McIntyre had a five-yard gain on a draw play to move the chains for the first time for the Bulldogs (1-2). “They’re a great team, very well-coached,” Bulldogs coach Bill Quill said of LC. “We have a nice team also, a very good nucleus. We’ll bounce back. We were just overmatched a little bit today.”
I would love to see more people come out more consistently."
Hey, just put a new school or cutting the football team on the agenda. They'll show up in droves. Half of them will be drunk and belligerent, but they'll be there.
79 comments:
UNREGISTERED VOTERS:
Register to VOTE in the next 4 weeks
or you won't be able to vote in November.
You must be registered by TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9th
if you want to VOTE for the next President of the United States.
And there are new rules in place for getting registered and for voting -
including the requirement to show an approved photo ID with an expiration date.
VISIT:
www.VOTESPA.com
Thanks. This election should be very interesting with the new voter ID requirements.
http://www.pfaw.org/rww-in-focus/alec-the-voice-of-corporate-special-interests-state-legislatures
BRISTOL TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS
Busing problems persist
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Posted: Tuesday, September 11, 2012 5:30 am | Updated: 6:47 am, Tue Sep 11, 2012.
By DANNY ADLER Staff writer | 0 comments
Posted on September 11, 2012
by Daniel Adler
About 100 upset parents in Bristol Township gathered in force at Benjamin Franklin School on Monday night to scold the school board over the district’s drastically scaled-back busing service.
Ever since the first day of school late last month, parents have been fuming over late, overcrowded buses, kids left at their stops, and buses not fully equipped to handle certain students’ special needs.
The transportation cuts were done to save more than $2 million for the cash-strapped public school system in Bristol Township. The new system cut the transportation budget from $9.5 million to $7 million, lowered the number of buses from 95 to 61, and eliminated two-thirds of all stops.
School board President Earl Bruck said the cuts were necessary and the school board decided to cut transportation rather than things such as full-day kindergarten and co-curricular programs.
“Bristol Township’s busing costs per student are the highest in the county,” Bruck said. The district is in its final year of a contract with Cincinnati, Ohio-based First Student Inc., which provides busing for the township. “We are pursuing, actively and aggressively pursuing, other options that may change how service is provided,” he said to the crowd Monday night.
Parents aren’t happy with the new busing system.
Resident Tom Barton said his son’s bus to Harry S. Truman High School has been so overcrowded that kids were sitting three to a seat and others were standing in the aisle. On the first day of school, it was late in dropping off the teens.
One woman said the bus for her child with autism never showed the first two days of school.
Another woman, Jennifer Sands, told the school board that her family was just advised that Bristol Township would not provide mid-day transportation for her kindergartner at St. Michael the Archangel School in Levittown.
“You guys planned to cut costs and didn’t really think of your overall responsibility and the effect it would have on the community,” she said.
Angela Cary said her children walk to a bus stop at Lloyd and Ashby, an area several described as a “dangerous” place for young kids. “It is a major safety issue,” she said.
One thing that seemed to cause much of the parents’ ire was what the parents said was a lack of communication from the district. They said they left numerous phone messages and emails with district officials that were never returned. Officials took names and phone numbers from the residents Monday and said they would contact them.
Additionally, parents complained that the school bus routes were made public less than a week before school began.
The district has received “hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of calls” and has prioritized calls, Bruck said. On top of the list are concerns relating to transporting students with special needs, followed by what he called “legitimate safety concerns.” The district said it will make some changes to the bus routes. Additionally, officials urged anyone who sees a bus with kids standing or sitting in the aisles to call the district immediately. Such overcrowded buses are not allowed to continue driving, officials said, and they must call for a back-up bus to take the overflow.
Hours after Bristol Township began its school year on Aug. 29, district officials pulled the schedule from its website for revisions. While some parents said their issues have been addressed, or are being addressed, others aren’t impressed with the district response.
First Student?
What a mis-nomer!
Voter ID law complicates absentee ballots
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Posted: Tuesday, September 11, 2012 5:50 am | Updated: 6:27 am, Tue Sep 11, 2012.
By James McGinnis Staff writer | 71 comments
Posted on September 11, 2012
by James McGinnis
Pennsylvania’s recently enacted voter ID requirement is complicating the absentee ballot process for hundreds of voters in Bucks.
The county board of elections said it has received about 1,600 applications from voters seeking absentee ballots for the upcoming election.
And, of those, roughly 12 percent lack the required voter ID information.
More than 200 applications were submitted using older forms, which predate the voter ID law.
Newer absentee ballot applications ask voters to identify themselves using their driver’s license number, PennDOT ID number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number.
Older documents — including one application form listed on a state website — do not request this information.
“We have a lot of old absentee ballot applications at various locations throughout the county,” said Deena Dean, elections director for Bucks County. “Older applications were at libraries, and post offices and state liquor stores, township and borough halls.”
Officials tried to remove them from public places, but “committee people who work for campaigns could have the old application as well,” said Dean.
Letters will be sent to each person who submits an incomplete or insufficient absentee ballot application, said Dean. Those voters will still receive a ballot. However, their votes won’t be counted unless the requested voter ID information is also submitted.
Bucks County said it received 20,427 absentee ballots for the November 2008 presidential election. Officials said they expect to receive the same amount, if not more, in the upcoming presidential contest.
Local Democrats have expressed concerns about voter disenfranchisement and chaos at the polls on Election Day.
Bucks County GOP Chair Pat Poprik is not so concerned. “I believe most people have some form of ID that’s suitable,” said Poprik. “I need a photo ID when I buy a box of tissues when you’re at Sam’s Club.”
Valid absentee ballot applications can be obtained on the board of elections page at www.buckscounty.org
CNBC's Jim Cramer Says His Father, a Vet, Can't Vote Under PA GOP's Photo ID Restriction Law
But perhaps he's one of the 'rogues', 'strumpets' or 'wandering Arabs' the Commonwealth Court Judge may have been concerned about when citing an 1869 case to uphold the new law...
By Brad Friedman on 9/11/2012, 5:09pm PT
CNBC's Mad Money host, Jim Cramer, tweeted the following earlier today...
Jim Cramer✔
@jimcramer
I have a problem. My dad, a vet, won't be allowed to vote in Pa. because he does not drive, he is elderly, and can't prove his citizenship.
11 Sep 12
Cramer's father, however, is hardly alone. Some 1.6 million otherwise eligible voters in the state of Pennsylvania --- many of them elderly, minorities, students and the poor --- may be unable to vote this November under the state's GOP-enacted polling place Photo ID restriction law, unless the absurd ruling of Commonwealth Judge Robert E. Simpson is overturned on appeal, or unless the U.S. Dept. of Justice finally decides to file a federal challenge that successfully blocks the state's completely unnecessary law as violation of the Voting Rights Act and the U.S. Constitution.
But Cramer's father can take heart. Scott Keyes at Think Progress reports: "A House Democratic Twitter account responded to Cramer with a promise that Rep. Jim [*Bob] Brady (D-PA), who represents part of Philadelphia, would "personally see to it that your dad gets the necessary ID and transportation to vote."
See? The new Republican law won't actually disenfranchise anybody! All you need to do is make sure you have a family member host a popular TV show, and your problem will be solved when a U.S. Congressman notices and promises to intervene. Democracy saved!
By the way, the ruling by the Commonwealth Court Judge who upheld the voter suppression law recently, may be even more absurd than originally believed or as detailed by The BRAD BLOG's legal analyst Ernie Canning upon appeal. As Nicole Flatow explains, the law that Judge Simpson relied on to support his ruling was an 1869 case, Patterson v. Barlow, in which the majority warned of "rogues", "strumpets" and "wandering Arabs" who, it was feared, might commit voter fraud in Philadelphia that year.
Even back then, as the dissenting opinion in the 143-year old case reveals, the minority Justices were concerned "that among the barriers so ingeniously contrived to prevent [voter fraud], the defeat of the duly qualified voters must inevitably occur."
The dissenters went on to offer advice that would be useful today to those concerned about actual voter fraud (versus the Republicans who instituted today's Photo ID restrictions, solely to keep largely Democratic-leaning voters from casting their legal vote at all):
If frauds were imminent by simulated voters, let penalties be provided for the rogues, and set honest and vigilant men to watch them, but let not the rights of honest voters be sacrificed to these apprehensions.
* * *
Voter ID Problem Solved For Jim Cramer’s Dad
Ryan J. Reilly - 4:05 PM EDT, Tuesday September 11, 2012
Pennsylvania's voter ID law will no longer be a problem for the father of CNBC host Jim Cramer. Cramer tweeted that his father, a veteran, lacked the specific form of photo identification that would allow him to voter in November under Pennsylvania's voter ID law. Cramer now says that Pennsylvania authorities contacted him and assured him they'll make sure his dad can vote.
Jim Cramer✔
@jimcramer
PennDot read my Tweet and came directly to the rescue of Pop and did so in a terrific way so he can vote.. Thank you Penndot!
Whew! Thank GOD his son is a celebrity!
Thank GOD he didn't have to take a First Student bus to the DMV either!
9/11/2001 -- Never Forget
Worse than reported
Posted: Wednesday, September 12, 2012 6:00 am | Updated: 11:16 am, Tue Sep 11, 2012.
0 comments
Regarding the story titled, "House committee: Bucks, Montco pay more property taxes" by Gary Weckselblatt: Any questions?
And on top of this Morrisville has the highest combined borough/school tax millage in Bucks County (even after two substantial tax decreases by the Morrisville School Board of 2007-2011).
Bill Hellmann
Morrisville
The telefax machine in his bunker still works!
what happened to cpa???
Tax cuts that still hurting the children of morrisville and I heard rumors that the last soc budget will come up short and there is a million dollar short fall for 2011-12 budget
Hope its not anything more then a rumor.
Thanks again Bill, Al, marlis, Steve, Ron, what's her name and our current board president Jon DeWilde all members of soc/sot saving us pennies costing us millions
Did Hellmann refuse to pay the C.P.A. renewal fee?
Don't forget Buckman.
You don't know Jack?
Whatever happened to Gloria Heater?
Whatever happened to my Transylvania Twist?
Think of them as the local version of The Bush Tax Cuts. Only with these, you can actually feel the trickle down effect. Doesn't it feel good?
I have heard that there are 41 students in a Phys Ed Class, 35 Students in a Math class with not enough desks. Crowded Middle-School Classes. And That Don Harm is on Vacation this week. One question, what is greater the amount of students in classes or the amount of vacation time Don Harm gets.
My neighbor told me that their sons High School art class is in the cafeteria. I guess since it was newly painted no better place to have an art class.
Tax cuts in education hurt the kids the most be lucky they even have art class
Since council wasn't made up of his friends, Hellman neglected to say that the borough didn't raise taxes last year.
I want to hear nothing of what that deadbeat Hellman has to say. He has a lot of nerve saying anything at all to the public since he's stiffing us all by not paying his trash bills. Such a loser. He's complaining to the very people he's screwing over.
Just like the Mayonaise
"When you Bring out the Hellmans you bring out the BEST"
And like Mayo, Hellmann goes bad and makes you sick if you leave it out only a short time.
I grade his letter a big fat F for its obscurity and lack of persuasiveness.
Nobody even knows what the hell Courier Times article he's talking about in the first place.
A sad desperate man living a sad desperate existence through sad desperate attempts at self and crony promotion.
Our municipal taxes would be substantially lower if deadbeats like him and his deadbeat buddies paid their bills properly.
Will someone please I beg of you write a rebuttal letter to the BCCT about this deadbeat?
Re Harm, WTF? Vacation the 2nd week of school after you more or less had the whole damn summer off?????
Soooo....moving yet another grade into the HS hasn't had an effect on the kids that were already there? Then why does my 8th grader not have gym class this year and only have 3 specials spread out over 4 marking periods? Why? Because the extra kids(3rd grade) and the fact that a new elementary gym teacher was not hired upon Mr Campbell's retirement is forcing us to spread existing staff too thin and there just isn't enough time or space in the day for 8th grade to be able to have gym this year so they got screwed.
Also the 3PM pick up at the HS is a traffic nightmare. Some days traffic is backed all the way out onto Palmer Ave...solutions? And yes idiotic parents with no patience STILL can't follow the rules/directions and are ignoring the barriers in place to prevent u-turns and people going around others. And YES there are SIDEWALKS and crosswalks for you to walk in to pick up your children. Teach them now the appropriate and SAFE places to walk and cross. Everybody thinks that they are more important than the next guy...P A T I E N C E!!!
I see that Back To School Nights are scheduled for elementary kids but what about 7-12th?
I do have to say I like the idea of the weekly phone blast with information on the upcoming week!
This gym thing [or lack thereof] is an example of Ferrara and admin blowing smoke up the School Board's butts, and in turn the public's butts. This cut [and that's exactly what it is] was never mentioned in public by Ferrara and I do believe he was asked.
Has Hellmann even been to a school board meeting since he lost the Nov 2011 election?
I think not.
Not that I miss him.
Cutting taxes doesn't not make you a jerkwad.
Worse than reported, eh Hellmann?
I'll say. Your fake newspapers and taxpayer paid propaganda tried to make you sound good.
I have not seen Hellman. I saw Al Radosti once since the election. He was looking to be appointed back onto the school board. Thank GOD he was rejected.
Link to 2012-13 Bucks County millage rates.
http://www.buckscounty.org/government/departments
/finance/boardofassessment
/MillageRates.aspx
Highest Municipal Millage?
Bristol Boro at 49.89000
Highest School Millage?
Bristol Twp at 192.26930
Highest Overall Millage?
Morrisville at 241.43000
(Municipal = 40.93000,
School = 177.30000)
But Bristol Twp is coming up fast at 239.45680
(Municipal = 23.98750,
School = 192.26930)
BAMBOOZLED by deceptive Ferrara again.
he speaks with forked tongue
...or not at all if he doesn't want you to know something until it's too late
If you search for tenderness
it isn't hard to find.
You can have the love you need to live.
But if you look for truthfulness
You might just as well be blind.
It always seems to be so hard to give.
Honesty is such a lonely word.
Everyone is so untrue.
Honesty is hardly ever heard.
And mostly what I need from you.
I can always find someone
to say they sympathize.
If I wear my heart out on my sleeve.
But I don't want some pretty face
to tell me pretty lies.
All I want is someone to believe.
Honesty is such a lonely word.
Everyone is so untrue.
Honesty is hardly ever heard.
And mostly what I need from you.
I can find a lover.
I can find a friend.
I can have security until the bitter end.
Anyone can comfort me
with promises again.
I know, I know.
When I'm deep inside of me
don't be too concerned.
I won't ask for nothin' while I'm gone.
But when I want sincerity
tell me where else can I turn.
Because you're the one I depend upon.
Honesty is such a lonely word.
Everyone is so untrue.
Honesty is hardly ever heard.
And mostly what I need from you.
Interesting that as a former Health and Phys Ed teacher he is now cutting PE once at the top.
Any argument about millage rate comparisons is disingenuous at best. The value of a mill is so disparate between communities, the total tax burden as a percentage of wealth (not income) would be a much more reasonable comparison. But that's hard, and we want sound bites and talking points, not reasonable and defendable arguments!!
District Event
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Back to School Night -Grades 6th-12th
Site: DIST
Start Time: 6:30 PM
End Time: 9:00 PM
How dare you say cut. Nothing has been cut, at least that what we are being told. Maybe Don Harm has been cut, since he hasn't been seen in a while. Or has he been named Acting Principal of M.R. Reiter?
Cutting taxes doesn't make you a jerkwad but to keep cutting without thinking about the future is foolish
all things go up how can you not expect that. you can only cut the operating budget so much before you can't offer the service anymore. I'm sorry to say that is what happening to the district now. costs have gone up over the past 5 years and revenue is flat guess what that means!!!!!!!!!!!!!
but I guess as long as Hellman doesn't do in his mind he is still the savor of the Borough
will someone step up to run for Dewilde's seat he needs to go with the rest of the SOC group on a long vacation
"I'm not in favor of abolishing the government. I just want to shrink it down to the size where we can drown it in the bathtub."
---Grover Norquist
At best, this is the Hellmann Mihok Radosti Stout Worob SOC-SOC mentality.
Fight broke out after school today just before 3PM on that little side street that backs up to the rear of the HS...you know...the one where many of those YOUNGER students dismissed at 3PM walk down after school to go home. Or where many of those younger childrens parents are parking to walk down to pick them up...I heard the blip blip of the police siren come break it up and then sat in my car in the parent pick-up line as all the older kids came walking back towards and into the school laughing, talking and using ALL kinds of foul language. What happened to an administrator being out there making sure these older kids are cleared out and gone before the younger kids are dismissed? Mr May appeared after the fact... Why are older kids leaving the building and then allowed to re-enter around the time that the younger kids are dismissed? All issues that need to be addressed. Time to fire off an email. Anybody know when the first Super meeting will be held this year?
That's not good. It's hard to be everywhere all the time, but maybe that's the point. You can't. So, we as a community need to insist that the board/admin develop a reasonable plan to address short-term and long-term concerns, with community input.
It's up to the admin to handle the day to day if the need more personal to assist then they.go to the board but its up to the administration to make sure their personal do what they are suppose to
And if you never come to a board meeting how ate you going to insist on anything its all the same 3 or 4 people who stay and are involed this blog is full of people who talk a lot about what's needed up never show up to present those ideas
I'm so over this bs
I hear you and I agree. I don't have any answers, though.
If only people knew how exciting and fun school board meetings are, and how quickly a high percentage of their ideas and suggestions will be warmly embraced and implemented.
It will be hard to make progress was long as dewilde holds the presidency. Ferara plays him like a fit fiddle.
Dewilde lacks leadership qualities, and I feel like he got the Presidency because we was the lesser of the evils.
He's OK on the board just not as Pres.
He's Ok off the board too!
Less information would be "leaked" if he was off
Hmm Johnny and a fiddle?
The devil went down to Georgia, he was looking for a soul to steal.
He was in a bind 'cos he was way behind and he was willin' to make a deal.
When he came across this young man sawin' on a fiddle and playin' it hot.
And the devil jumped upon a hickory stump and said: "Boy let me tell you what:
"I guess you didn't know it, but I'm a fiddle player too.
"And if you'd care to take a dare, I'll make a bet with you.
"Now you play a pretty good fiddle, boy, but give the devil his due:
"I bet a fiddle of gold against your soul, 'cos I think I'm better than you."
The boy said: "My name's Johnny and it might be a sin,
"But I'll take your bet, your gonna regret, 'cos I'm the best that's ever been."
Johnny you rosin up your bow and play your fiddle hard.
'Cos hells broke loose in Georgia and the devil deals the cards.
And if you win you get this shiny fiddle made of gold.
But if you lose, the devil gets your soul.
I always appreciate a great article or piece of writing. Thanks for the contribution.
Ferrara runs things like he's still working for SOC and the Hellman Fitzpatrick Good Ole GOP Boys Club who ditched Yonson and made him Super. Deep down Dewilde is part of that group even if some dolts like Worob Mihok and Stout are pissed at him for knowing that they're dolts.
I met Ferrara 1 time, he was nice. Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on your anger level, the only people that hold this district together are the teachers. I'm not one, not related to one, or do I have a vested interest in their current situation. My children have all graduated from Morrisville and moved on, some to college and some to well...some to college. At any rate, as far back as the mid 90's I can remember this public bashing/arguing/misrepresenting of our school district for public political gain. Yet, the only constant were the 100 or so teachers that cared enough about the students that they never left for more money someplace else. Now they are bad mouthed, hated and the low paid in all of bucks county. Plus they are probably down to 50 in numbers even though the student numbers are just as high if not higher. My niece is 30 kids in 4th grade and thinks she's locked inside. The only reason I chime in is because I feel bad that everytime i read the paper or turn on the news or look on cnn, somebody hates the teachers somewhere in this country. They spend more time with our kids than we do. Maybe we can't afford high salary like Council Rock, but at least we can appreciate their importance.
I've noticed there is very little criticism of teachers on this blog. Mostly praise. Let the good teachers go their jobs.
Most of the frustrations concern management and especially communications. And politics of course. After all, elections are what choose the 9 school board members that ultimately set tone and management and communications.
You can bemoan the small numbers who show up time after time but what's the alternative? Sit back keep your head down and hope for the best?
I would love to see more people come out more consistently.
i see the fitzpatrick signs starting to show up in the boro. do these people understand his bad legal advice is going to cost a lot?
I find him to be a phony politician in the worst sense of the word, one who people think is such a nice guy while he's stabbing you in the back with his policies.
Fitz-flop fits right in with Romney. An empty suit who looks good and smells good, but can be whatever you want.
Fitzy-flop reminds me alot of another "leader" in town. doing whatever it takes to stay on top with no regard for it's ramifications.
Fitzy GOP Mantra = there's a class of freeloader deadbeats out there that want to take all your hard earned money from you. You're better than them.
His local supporters lap it up, all the while their so called leaders are the biggest deadbeats in town.
Without our teachers sticking by our district we would have no district I have the up most respect for them.
Got our PSSA results in the mail today...wonder how the district did
Same here, and I agree with ted and others that the teachers are by and large great.
Hopefully there will be less hocus pocus about it this year.
this year no school board election and less hellmaniacs means less reason to play politics with the scores
Last year's initial BCCT article was Sept. 29, 2011, with a follow-up on Oct, 2, 2011. See links below.
http://mvbulldogbanter.blogspot.com/2011/09/pssa-results-2011.html
http://mvbulldogbanter.blogspot.com/2011/10/schools-weigh-in-on-pssa-results.html
HS FOOTBALL: Morrisville crushed by Lansdale Catholic
By KEV HUNTER
khunter@thereporteronline.com
Posted: 09/14/12 11:08 pm
LOWER GWYNEDD, Pa. — James Ward took two punts back for touchdowns and Kevin Sabo reached the end zone twice on short runs to lead Lansdale Catholic in a first half full of scores, and Mike Iacono’s one-yard burst enforced the mercy rule in the third quarter, as the Crusaders dominated Morrisville by the count of 39-0 Friday night on the turf at Wissahickon High School.
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After a 38-yard punt return by Ward, LC went up 6-0 on its second offensive play on a five-yard run by Joe Schmid. Kevin Sabo’s one-yard plunge increased the lead to 13-0, and then back-to-back punt returns for touchdowns by Ward blew the game open before the end of the opening quarter.
“He wants the ball in his hands — whether we’re handing it to him or passing it to him or on a kickoff or a punt,” said Crusaders coach Tom Kirk. “We are blessed with some very good backs. This week, it was James’ night, and next week it could very well be somebody else.”
Ward finished with 91 yards on just three carries and also added the two most electrifying plays of the night - his two punt return TD’s.
“I couldn’t have done that without my blocking,” Ward said of his 60- and 55-yard returns. “The second one was a shorter kick, the middle was there, Evan Dehaven had a great block right up the middle, and it was a race to the end zone.”
On the second one, the ball had bounced off the hands of the other return man for LC (3-0) and Ward raced over, scooped it up, made a couple pretty cuts, and was gone.
“There was a lot of running back and forth and side to side on that one, and once I found my block, it was a race to the opposite pylon,” Ward said. “I just had to make a move on the punter and I was in.”
Sabo’s second one-yard touchdown run of the night gave LC a 32-0 lead at the half, and the only score after intermission was Iacono’s one-yard rushing TD.
The Bulldogs’ offense was muzzled all evening, as Morrisville did not gain a first down until the second-to-last play of the night. LC held the visitors to just 31 yards of offense. With under a minute to go, quarterback Zach McIntyre had a five-yard gain on a draw play to move the chains for the first time for the Bulldogs (1-2).
“They’re a great team, very well-coached,” Bulldogs coach Bill Quill said of LC. “We have a nice team also, a very good nucleus. We’ll bounce back. We were just overmatched a little bit today.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1Yt0agBNwg
"Anonymous said...
I would love to see more people come out more consistently."
Hey, just put a new school or cutting the football team on the agenda. They'll show up in droves. Half of them will be drunk and belligerent, but they'll be there.
District Event
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
BOARD AGENDA MEETING-LGI
Site: DIST
Start Time: 7:30 PM
End Time: 10:00 PM
Fitz-Flop and Lyin Paul Ryan.
Are they the same guy?
Can't cut football until we beat Bristol !!
Hope springs eternal.... that we'll beat Bristol not cut football!
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