Happy labor day everyone. I'm very sad that the mayor cancelled the annual picnic. It's not good when traditions go away without effort, wish I had known sooner, probably could have pulled something together. We run the mhs all years reunion with zero budget, its very possible to do the annual picnic as well. Lets hope for better plans for next year. Stay safe and enjoy time with family
Big Win for the Football team yesterday 20-8 over Valley Forge Military Academy. Stay Healthy, Stay Eligible, Stay out of Trouble and Always be Bulldog Proud!!!
This was an unfortunate decision made by one person. It doesn't have to define all the past efforts to hold this event that have been taken on by so many. Nor does it have to define what happens as we move forward.
My family has been going to the Labor Day Picnic for as long as I can remember. And we will again.
I agree with Wanda that given more notice and other arrangements could have been made.
As for this year, we are planning on going to Williamson Park on Monday, (Labor Day) for a lunchtime picnic. Would anyone like to join us?
If people would be interested in spending some time at Williamson Park on Monday, we would be able to count it as the Labor Day Picnic for this year and the tradition won't have this "gap" in it's timeline of tradition. Think about it.
We were thinking of being there at 12 (ish). We can bring our old hot rod and a few of you bring yours together we will make up a hometown car show kind of thing. I think my sweetie is bringing a couple of desserts if anyone wants some.
Michael Smerconish Inquirer Columnist September 1, 2013
Monday is one of the busiest driving days of the year. I myself just made a 61/2-hour drive from Boston to Philadelphia and was amazed at the bad behavior I witnessed. I'm not talking just about the cellphone infractions either.
My wife was riding shotgun and our 17-year-old was in the back after the three of us toured a few colleges in New England. I'm hoping some of those I passed on the road can read better than they drive, because this is for them:
First, for the driver of a red Honda Civic headed south on I-84, just outside Hartford. And to the woman in the metallic-blue Dodge Grand Caravan just below Stamford on I-95. And the couple on the New Jersey Turnpike near Newark Liberty International Airport in a white Ford Focus:
The left lane is for passing!
Amid lots of bad driving I witnessed while navigating through five states, the most frequently recurring offense involved those who did not respect the purpose of the left lane. Move over.
Then there was the black BMW 3-Series on the Massachusetts Turnpike. And the gray hooptie, missing trim, with painted rims, westbound on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, near Route 1. Both were what I call swervers. They are the type of drivers we've all seen who dodge in and out of traffic, playing a shell game with machinery at 75 m.p.h. "Keep your eye on that guy," is my usual muttering, even when I'm driving alone. "We may see him wrapped around a pole up ahead."
I confess that I can get a bit passive-aggressive when I see swervers. If I note them approaching like a bat out of hell in my rearview mirror, I get out of their way. But if I'm in my proper lane when one of these guys starts weaving about, I'll deliberately stay put and watch them do a slow burn when they find themselves locked in a lane. Like I did to the clown driving a Porsche and blowing bubbles on my homestretch near the Blue Route. It's the best I can do until someone invents a helicopter with magnets that can be dispatched to remove the swervers.
Not as dangerous, but equally annoying, are the flip-floppers, and I'm not talking politics. I can't decide if these drivers are fueled by testosterone or cluelessness, but we've all seen them. This is the guy in the middle lane whom you begin to pass on his left, only to have him speed up. Is it subliminal? Or are such drivers consciously responding to the pass? I'm never sure, but it happens often. Decide your speed, and stick to it. And if you're too slow to be in the passing lane, see above.
Four more of my citations:
For the gray Chevy Suburban near White Plains, just because you see taillights illuminated in the far distance does not mean you need to apply your brakes, causing everyone behind you to do likewise.
Memo for the white Prius on the George Washington Bridge: Your right-turn signal has been on for two miles now.
To the 20-something near Trenton in the multicolored Camry who was texting, with only one eye on the road: Be advised that last week a New Jersey appellate court said that the person you are texting - and not just you - could be liable should you cause an accident. In a case that breaks new legal ground, the court said a person sending text messages has a duty not to text someone who is driving if the texter knows or has special reason to know the recipient will view the text while driving.
And take a letter, the lady in a blue Volvo merging onto the westbound Pennsylvania Turnpike at Fort Washington. Please make up your mind. I'll let you in, but either slow down or accelerate. We both aren't going to fit in the right lane if you mimic my speed.
Finally, for the many who are seemingly stupefied by E-ZPass: You either have it or you don't. When you approach the toll plazas that are clearly delineated, find your place instead of straddling the line between two lanes. (You, with the silver Acura MDX, at the Mid-County Interchange, you know who you are!)
Speaking of which, I don't get those without E-ZPass. If concerns over Big Brother are precluding you from getting this time-saver, relax. The government is too busy with your e-mail to look at your driving.
Two Morrisville police officers talked a 24-year-old man out of jumping off the "Trenton Makes" Bridge on Tuesday morning.
Around 10 a.m., the Morrisville officers saw the Belford, N.J., man on the wrong side of the pedestrian walkway on the New Jersey side of the bridge, according to New Jersey State Police Lt. Stephen Jones.
The man, who wasn't identified by police, was threatening to jump from the bridge, which connects Morrisville and Trenton, Jones said.
The officers talked the man off the ledge and took him into custody. He was transported to Lower Bucks Hospital in Bristol Township for a medical evaluation, according to Jones, who didn't identify the officers.
Westbound traffic into Pennsylvania was stopped temporarily, according to a spokesman for the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission, which owns the Lower Trenton Toll Supported Bridge. The bridge is better known for the lighted sign along its length that reads, "Trenton Makes The World Takes."
Last July, police talked a woman off the same bridge.
Bristol Township has collected thousands of dollars this summer after announcing a new effort to collect money from people who owed the township money.
In July, the township said it was owed more than $3.3 million in delinquent sewer bills and other tardy accounts receivable. Between mid-July and mid-August, it collected at least $35,000 in late bills, township Manager Bill McCauley said at an August meeting.
"There are quite a few people who haven't paid a sewer bill in 10 years," said McCauley, who was hired by the municipality in 2012.
He told officials that sewer delinquents owed the township $2.4 million as of the end of June. Of that, $1.98 million was more than four months past due. Just under $1.8 million was owed by residential customers; the rest was owed by commercial accounts.
The township was also owed $878,000 for things such as fire and rental inspections, as well as fees for signs and alarms.
The last time the township actively sought to collect from delinquents was in 2007 or 2008, officials said. The township collected about $250,000 at the time, officials said.
Township officials urge residents who are delinquent to pay their bills or make arrangements to do so. They warned the township will pursue residents who aren't making an effort to pay their bills.
“We will work with people who work with the township,” solicitor Randall Flager said. “But please do not ignore it.”
If residents ignore delinquent notices, the township "will hand it over to a collection firm," McCauley said.
mental illness or depression is a very sad thing that many people deal with and should not be taken lightly especially in light of all the young people taking their own lives for a variety of reasons. I appreciate the efforts of our police department in giving this young man another chance as well as giving him back to his family.
Someone once questioned the emphasis I place on laughter. “But mental illness is not a joking matter,” he said. “I agree,” I answered, “but it is a laughing matter.” I'm not making light of anyone’s situation. Rather, I am hoping it helps lighten their burdens. When people laugh at themselves, they have the power to control bipolar rather than let it control them.
Sorry friends, I think it's in bad taste to make fun of this situation. Those who have lost someone due to mental illness or to the mental illness of another, find absolutely no humor on this topic.
WASHINGTON (AP) - A later start to the school day could help teenagers get the most from their classroom time and local districts should consider delaying the first bell, Education Secretary Arne Duncan said Wednesday.
School districts would still be free to set their own start times, Duncan insisted in a broadcast interview, but he pointed to research that backs up his comments that rested students are ready students. Duncan said he would not be telling local school leaders when their first bells should ring and said it was up to local leaders to make the decisions on their own.
"There's lots of research and common sense that lots of teens struggle to get up ... to get on the bus," said Duncan, the former chief of Chicago Public Schools.
The main reason?
"Teen brains have a different biology," said Kyla Wahlstrom, director at the University of Minnesota's Center for Applied Research and Education Improvement.
For the last 17 years, Wahlstrom has studied teenagers' sleep cycles, brains and learning. She has concluded that schools that want ready students must have students arrive rested. Absenteeism, tardiness, depression, obesity, drop-out rates and even auto accidents all decline when students head to school after a good night of sleep.
Schools are starting to take notice.
Take, for instance, Virginia's Fairfax County Public Schools.
Most medical professionals recommend between 8.5 and 9.5 hours of sleep for students. The Fairfax district surveyed students in grades 8, 10 and 12 and found two-thirds of them were sleeping seven hours or less each school night. Among high school seniors, 84 percent routinely slept less than seven hours each night during the 2011 survey.
That prompted the school district, the 11th largest in the country, to partner with the Children's National Medical Center's Division of Sleep Medicine to study student's nighttime habits this year and to consider pushing its start time to 8 a.m. or later in coming years.
"Teens have a different body clock," said Terra Ziporyn Snider, the co-founder of Start School Later, a grassroots advocacy group that has pushed schools for delayed bells. "You don't run schools at a time when kids aren't ready to learn."
There isn't an easy fix.
Bus schedules have been a driving factor in recent decades for when schools start their days, as are after-school jobs for teenagers, extracurricular activities and interscholastic sports. The challenge of transporting students to these activities - as well as classes - often is cited as a reason high school days begin at dawn and end mid-afternoon.
"So often, we design school systems that work for adults and not for kids," Duncan told NPR's "The Diane Rehm Show."
Research backs up Duncan's worries about student sleep patterns and academic achievement.
"Children who sleep poorly are doing more poorly on academic performance," said Joseph Buckhalt, a distinguished professor at Auburn University's College of Education.
He has been tracking sleeping patterns of 250 children as well as their IQ tests, performance on standardized tests, their grades and behavior. His findings suggest sleep is just as important to student achievement as diet and exercise.
"All the data that we've seen on sleep shows that children, especially teenagers, are sleeping less," he said. "If you don't sleep well, you don't think very well."
Part of the lack of sleep is biological as teenagers go through puberty, Buckhalt said. But afterschool programs such as sports or clubs, as well as increased pressure for students to perform well academically, keep them up later than is prudent. Add in caffeine, non-step social interactions through text messages and Facebook and sometimes less-than-ideal home environments, and students have steep challenges.
For students from less affluent families, the effects can be compounded, Buckhalt found.
"Fifty years ago we learned that hungry kids don't do well in school. Now we know that sleepy children don't do well in school," Buckhalt said. "Now we have to do something about it."
That doesn't mean all schools are rushing to delay the first period for high school students.
"If any issue cries for local decision making, this is one," said Patte Barth, director for the Center for Public Education at the National School Boards Association.
The professional organization has not taken a position on the ideal time to start schools, but Barth said Duncan is correct. "Teenagers are much more alert later in the day rather than earlier," she said.
In schools where the day starts later, there have been immediate gains, she said.
"Some districts have made these adjustments to the school day and they have found among their teenagers that attendance is better, kids aren't falling asleep," she said.
But it comes at a cost for other students, both in terms of dollars and opportunities because schools are operating with limited resources.
"If you're starting the high school kids later, you're starting elementary kids earlier. No one wants those kids out on the streets when it's dark," she said. "If they're contemplating this switch, they need to look at the costs."
But some districts have made it work with few disruptions.
"It's not about costs. It's about fear of change and failure of imagination," Snider said.
Wahlstrom, the former school principal-turned-researcher, said President Barack Obama is living this every day with his daughters, ages 12 and 15.
"If they are getting out of bed before 8 a.m., the biology says they are not ready," she said. "It hits home as high up as the White House."
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/education/20130904_ap_e5bf484673b1429cb9fcaff2572af048.html#ZO16H0cq288jouOz.99
Jon this is from the Morrisville Town Watch facebook group created shortly after the attempted child abduction on bridge and subsequent issues since...they have made great progress in getting members on Facebook and now have organized a kickoff meeting as posted below. Perhaps you can post this as its own subject for further exposure to the community. thanks ***********
Town Watch Kickoff Meeting Italian American Club Tuesday October 1st 6:30PM All Morrisville residents are encouraged to attend. Erica McIntyre, a Morrisville Police Officer will be speaking as well as Billy Pepitone, former NYPD. An informal Committee comprised of Peter Eisengrein, Jen Holthenrichs, Kurt Holthenrichs, Steve Tracey & Kelly Yura has assembled and is currently working on an agenda and will present our program at the meeting. Thanks to Jason Bresnen for graciously offering the meeting space to this cause. Please help spread the word to your neighbors and friends.
Even the rich towns have out of control police http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2013/09/princeton_police_officers_sue_town_retired_police_chief_over_alleged_harassment_and_discrimination.html#incart_river_default
Whew! Thank GOD! I thought it was just us. Thanks for posting. I see in this and the related article below that this Chief is retiring with a $122,763/yr pension. Not too shabby.
I got the Morrisville Times today and I see the usual people who want to destroy Morrisville are working under the name of "The Team for Open Government" instead of "Republican" and are sponsored by the "Voters for Responsible Government" supporting Kitty Westrope for mayor, Elaine Miller for tax collector, Justin Bowers in the 3rd and Todd Sanford in the 1st.
No More Secrecy! is their motto. That sounds like a good idea. Who is "Voters for Responsible Government"?
According to this "Voters for Responsible Government" are a Republican organization from California that buys elections. http://www.voiceofoc.org/blogs/article_896e5c68-dfc8-11df-8074-001cc4c03286.html
Thank you Wanda. Janet is making the flyer for the town watch kickoff and is then sending it to Jen for approval. It should be online by this evening. - Dave
So the football team was brought back down to earth. Any word on the teams that actually require their players to attend practice? Word on the street is that there are 3 varsity sports in the fall season. 6 paid coaches by the district. 4 of them coach football. 18 players on 1 team, 16, on another, 22 on the other. Kinda seems off?
Not all that funny when we have no Library, Health, or AP classes. Last I heard my Daughter is a 10th grade student in a class of 41. Never even was offered health.
4 Football Coaches for 22 players Thats a class of 5.5 students per Coach. Hope they are being evaluated like the teachers. The attendance rate at football 101 is very poor, high rate af absences.
I dare anyone to try to eliminate football. I dare you. I don't disagree that priorities are out of whack, but once you publicly announce the intention of this move, I'll grab my popcorn and watch the fireworks.
I'll chime in although my feelings on the subject of football won't help. They won't hurt either, so here it goes.
I really do understand the financial restraints put on the shoulders of the Morrisville School Board. I would not want their job.
I grew up with three brothers (and their friends) and a father who loved football. I hated it. I knew nothing about the game and had no desire to learn anything other than how to avoid the living room while it was on. It was horrible and always gave me a terrible feeling in my stomach.
Thankfully my husband is not a sports nut to the extent of my siblings. Some years ago, when our oldest son wanted to play football in Morrisville of course we said yes even though I had that same old feeling in my stomach.
What I learned? I LOVE MORRISVILLE FOOTBALL! There is nothing like a Friday night football game. We no longer have any children in the MSD but we continue to look forward to going to Friday night football games.
Go to a game. Look around. Take the time to really take in what you're seeing. It's more than just a football game. It's wonderful. Every home game starts out with a parade. Kids run around, playing. It keeps the Morrisville teens busy on Friday nights. Adults having fun, engaging in each other. More than football will be lost if they are gone. These football games help grow our community - they are important.
I agree with the post above, but I have to say at what cost. The schools first priority is to educate and Morrisville is doing a poor job at that due to staff cuts. Football costs way to much and the interest is dying, less students involved on the team.
you people have no idea what your talking about. the importance of athletics, community, belonging, participating etc along with education is priceless
You are invited to a Pasta Dinner Fundraiser for the candidates of Morrisville In Balance (Dann Dingle, Joe Gilleo and Jon Perry).
Event date: October 10, 2013
Time: 6pm to 8pm
Place: Italian American Social Club, Harrison Avenue, Morrisville
Cost: $6.00pp, kids under 5 free.
Dinner includes Pasta, Meatballs, Salad, Rolls, Iced tea and Coffee.
There will be a Bake Sale table and the candidates will be available to talk about their platforms for Morrisville School Board.
Running an election is expensive and the position is unpaid but these candidates have put themselves on the line to serve their community.
They need your help. Come out and enjoy a good dinner with homemade sauce and desserts and support their campaign.
The candidates are Parents, They are Tax payers and they are your neighbors and friends. They are active members of the community and the school and ask for your vote on November 5th.
Questions please contact the candidates at morrisvilleinbalance@yahoo.com
please move to those areas then we really do not need negativity in our community. and if you are already there get off our page and go complain to your own
Sorry, If People care about EDUCATION and not wasting money on Football. I don't see it as negative I see it as reality and If you disagree don't tell people not to post because you may disagree.
"please move to those areas then we really do not need negativity in our community. and if you are already there get off our page and go complain to your own"
Stop walking around with your head in your butt ignoring the negativity all around you. The 'Ville is broken.
"Comparing anything the MSD does to that or our neighbors is ridiculous since they don't have the same student body or financial resources."
So, let;s pretend everyth8ing is just honky dory as it is? NO!!! If you want to make things better, having goals and aspirations is the driving force behind that. Not that the surrounding districts are necessarily a gold standard, but to aspire to have comparable programs and assets is not something negative. Hence the interest in a merger. There I said it...again. Perhaps a new facility might have attracted more families looking for the small community, and something better could have arisen from that...Oh wait, that costs money. We can't do that. So here we are, with barely enough kids for a football team, aging and outdated facilities, and we are not in a better financial situation. Who is to blame for this? How could it have been avoided? What could we have done differently? What are we prepared to do now to correct this death spiral?
MORRISVILLE Zucchini race in Morrisville this weekend
Posted: Wednesday, September 11, 2013 4:51 pm
By GEMA MARIA DUARTE Staff writer
Ready. Set. Zucchini.
The third annual Morrisville Zucchini 500 race will be at 1 p.m. on Sunday. The race also will be held in conjunction with the eighth annual Morrisville Senior Servicenter Car Show – both events will be at the Morrisville Senior Servicenter, 31 E. Cleveland Ave.
New this year at the zucchini race is the decorating contest. Squashes can be decorated with bow ties, veils, stickers, paint — everything and anything.
“This will allow people to be creative and go wild decorating their own garden-grown or purchased zucchinis,” said Samantha Krushenski, event chairwoman. “For those who come to the event without a zucchini and wish to participate, there will be a limited supply available for a $3 registration fee.”
Registration will be at 10 a.m. and judging will be at 12:30 p.m. For $5, participants can be part of the decorating contest and race.
Trophies and prizes are being sponsored by local businesses. And the onsite zucchinis will be made available by businesses as well, such as Snipes Farm and Education Center, and Marrazo’s Centre Fruit Gourmet.
The event is being sponsored by Morrisville First, a nonprofit community service group that serves the first ward of the borough. The organization helps residents with homeownership questions and organizes community activities such as cleanups and flower and tree plantings, said Sandra Kitty Westrope, a member of the group.
For more information, call Morrisville First at 215-736-0107.
Excerpt from BCCT article related to cyber school in Bristol Twp. SD. Cyber classes were discussed at the 9/10 Morrisville SD Educational Committee meeting. Full article at link below.
School board set to vote on funds for cyber school
Posted: Tuesday, September 10, 2013 12:00 am | Updated: 7:31 am, Tue Sep 10, 2013.
By Elizabeth Fisher Correspondent
Cyber school could become a reality for all Harry S. Truman High School students, at least for some subjects and some communications, if the school board votes to approve the Blendschools project at next week’s meeting.
About 10 students are lined up so far to take advantage of the technology and the board agreed to add the $9,000 in funding the 2013-2014 school year to Monday night’s agenda. Some of the teachers have already been trained to use the system. District Superintendent Samuel Lee said it was only “fair and right and just” that students have the opportunity to take advantage of the system.
“We potentially see (a time when) all secondary students will be able to make (some) use of cyber school,” Lee said.
IN another example of just inept the BCCT really is, the following story appeared in today;s Inquirer. Does anyone know this guy, and can you help us all out with some 411?
Posted: Wednesday, September 11, 2013, 3:10 PM A retired New York City cop has joined Morrisville’s mayoral race as a write-in candidate, telling Bucks Inq that he’s running in part to quash the inner turmoil that plagues the borough’s police department and government. Bill Pepitone said his law enforcement background would help him put an end to the “adversarial relationship” between the borough’s current mayor and the police department as well as the infighting between cops. As we’ve written before, officers within the department are suing each other. One has alleged harassment from fellow cops over making too many arrests. Another has filed a hostile work environment complaint. At the same time, the borough’s current mayor is suing the borough manager, some council members and the former police chief. Rita Ledger, who lost her re-election bid in this year’s Democratic primary, claims she has been denied access to police records and other information and that borough officials harassed her with sexist comments. Morrisville, a small town across the Delaware River from Trenton, is currently searching for a new police chief since Jack Jones retired in December. Frederick De Vesa, a retired New Jersey judge, served as an interim police chief for two weeks but resigned last month because of the turmoil. Pepitone, the write-in candidate, said: “The mayor has to come in and establish a relationship with the incoming police chief and act as an intermediary. Right now it’s an adversarial relationship that just won’t work.” The Democratic candidate in the borough’s mayoral race is David Rivella, an electrician and a borough councilman. He is one of the council members being sued by Ledger, the current mayor. Rivella said he'll come to the job with first-hand knowledge of the police department's conflicts, which he has been privy too through executive session. "The other two candidates don't have any idea what they're getting into," Rivella said. The Republican candidate, Sandra Kitty Westrope, a psychologist, said the mayor has a limited role when it comes to the police department. "I don’t really see where being a retired police officer makes [Pepitone] a strong candidate," she said. "Basically, the mayor is supposed to represent the borough in public relations. It’s time to get someone in there that’s going to be the voice of the people." Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/bucksinq/Retired-NYC-cop-enters-Morrisville-mayors-race-as-write-in-candidate.html#94D2MGVtH4twiaHQ.99
Is he related to Joe Pepitone, 0.258 lifetime average, 219 homers, 721 RBIs? I think I have his 1972 Topps baseball card, when he was playing for the Cubs.
Joe Pepitone Joseph Anthony Pepitone (Pepi)
Positions: First Baseman and Centerfielder Bats: Left, Throws: Left Height: 6' 2", Weight: 185 lb.
Born: October 9, 1940 in Brooklyn, NY (Age 72) High School: Jay HS (Brooklyn, NY) Signed by the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1958. (All Transactions) Debut: April 10, 1962 (Age 21) Teams (by GP): Yankees/Cubs/Astros/Braves 1962-1973
I don't know Mr. Pepitone. I know that he used to be a cop. I don't know why he is no longer one or what he does now for a living now. It's strange that the article says what Rivella & Westrope do for a living but doesn't say what Pepitone does.
What's strange is that I have never heard of Mr. Pepitone. He has sat back and didn't even bother to take part in the primary election and now, with the Nov election right around the corner, we're going to see him everywhere while he tells us all why he's the only candidate. Even "Kitty" who I had never heard of until this spring, bothered to run in the primary. Rivella hasn't talked about working for the town for years, he's been actually doing it.
It does say he is a retired cop. I guess being retired is his career.
I also want to know more about him than he didn't run in the primary. Deciding to get involved in light of the mess we have on our hands shouldn't be held against him.
It would be nice to know just who he is as a person , what he believes and what his plans are for Borough leadership. If he can bring real change in a new and positive direction, I think that will be great. Tenure in town hasn't shown to be a good indicator of quality, and it is a wedge that the losers use to attack anyone who isn't 10 generations here.
I'm interested in knowing who is encouraging him to run at this point, or if he's 'his own man'. E.g. is Burger and the R-Machine kicking Westrope to the curb thinking she doesn't have the chops to beat Rivella?
Even if I was going thinking of considering Pepitone, I cannot vote for a Republican in Morrisville.
I mean no offense to those of you on here who are Republicans.
I just cannot trust that someone I never heard of before now, decides to run for the highest office in town, this close to election day, without Jane Burger being involved.
Repairs to the Lower Trenton Toll-Supported Bridge, also known as the “Trenton Makes” bridge, will halt pedestrian traffic and shift vehicle flow over the weekend.
The walkway will be closed from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, officials at the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission announced Thursday.
The closure is needed so maintenance personnel can remove the walkway’s worn wooden planks and replace them with new decking.
The work is being done during the weekend because that’s when the volume of pedestrians walking between Trenton, New Jersey and Morrisville, Pennsylvania is lightest.
In the meantime, pedestrians and cyclists are encouraged to use the nearby Calhoun Street Toll-Supported Bridge, which is nine-tenths of a mile upstream. The Trenton-Morrisville Route 1 Toll Bridge does not have pedestrian/bicycle access, officials said.
Vehicle traffic won’t be interrupted; however, it will be shifted in both directions. Officials are not expecting any delays.
Commuters are reminded to reduce speed around work areas. And work on the Lower Trenton bridge is subject to change because of weather, traffic conditions and emergencies.
Pepitone is married, has several kids in the district, he and his wife are involved in multiple committees at the school and come to meetings. He has a vested interest in his community but provides another perspective that deserves to be considered or listened to. He did not run in the primary because he, like others who decide its time to get involved, decided after the primary and then found out there was still a chance to run with a writein. He investigated the option and put both feet into the race and put himself on the line when most others would never do. Get to know him before shooting him down. The old regime is so politically wrapped up into B.S. that an outsider is not a bad thing to consider. And NO he is not part of the burger botts or the SOC or the MM for that matter. He is a concerned tax payer who decided to try. I think thats honorable. Your not born a mayor and know the job, you learn on the job and become the best at what you are elected to do.
Nothing against Pepitone, but being a "concerned taxpayer" scares the bejeezus out of me. We're trying to recover from the last batch of concerned taxpayer yahoos on the school board.
Attending school meetings means little to me. You know who used to attend all of the time? Eileen D. How'd that work out? I understand Marlys, the oompa-loompah, also attends many meetings. I'm not impressed that meeting attendance is an indicator of anything other than you had the time on your hands.
I know Bill well and his wife are very involved since moving here to raise their kids. both involved and yes attending meetings is important so you actually get out from behind that computer you so love to behind and actually meet your neighbors. anyone can sit on this blog and judge but put if you are not man or woman enough to put yourself on the line yourself then give this guy a chance.get to know him, he is all over social media which you should be good at findingsince you do so well hiding on this blog. come out to the town watch meeting on 10.1 i sure someone from his family will be there because thats what they do
Perhaps you need to re-read the post above. It only notes that attending meetings doesn't make someone automatically qualified. Put your ire away. It was directed at the post above it anyway, and I stand by what I stated. BTW, you shouldn't assume anyone on here isn't already out there getting involved. Your knee-jerk response doesn't do you or your neighbor any credit, as I've seen far too much of this around town already. As far as being all over social media, I'll put that in the same box as attending meetings, doesn't mean squat either way. The WBC is also all over social media, as are other hate groups. If you want to white knight your neighbor, that's great, but save it for the campaign.
There's a great article in the Inquirer this morning. They got a copy of the police department resignation letter written by Fred DeVesa. The Morrisville PD is heading toward "tragedy or catastrophe".
85 comments:
Happy labor day everyone. I'm very sad that the mayor cancelled the annual picnic. It's not good when traditions go away without effort, wish I had known sooner, probably could have pulled something together. We run the mhs all years reunion with zero budget, its very possible to do the annual picnic as well. Lets hope for better plans for next year. Stay safe and enjoy time with family
It's not going away. I think the mayor doesn't give a crap and didn't bother to get it together.
I haven't done anything positive for you in four years, and as my parting gift I'm going to sue you and take away your 50+ year family tradition.
oh yeah, but don't forget to vote for one of my best buds Kitty.
With my number one Jane whispering in her ear at every council meeting since the primary, how can you go wrong.
Big Win for the Football team yesterday 20-8 over Valley Forge Military Academy.
Stay Healthy, Stay Eligible, Stay out of Trouble and Always be Bulldog Proud!!!
2013 Mayor's Labor Day Picnic:
This was an unfortunate decision made by one person. It doesn't have to define all the past efforts to hold this event that have been taken on by so many. Nor does it have to define what happens as we move forward.
My family has been going to the Labor Day Picnic for as long as I can remember. And we will again.
I agree with Wanda that given more notice and other arrangements could have been made.
As for this year, we are planning on going to Williamson Park on Monday, (Labor Day) for a lunchtime picnic. Would anyone like to join us?
If people would be interested in spending some time at Williamson Park on Monday, we would be able to count it as the Labor Day Picnic for this year and the tradition won't have this "gap" in it's timeline of tradition. Think about it.
We were thinking of being there at 12 (ish). We can bring our old hot rod and a few of you bring yours together we will make up a hometown car show kind of thing. I think my sweetie is bringing a couple of desserts if anyone wants some.
Hope to see you there.
- Dave Rivella
The Pulse: This is for you, lousy drivers
Michael Smerconish
Inquirer Columnist
September 1, 2013
Monday is one of the busiest driving days of the year. I myself just made a 61/2-hour drive from Boston to Philadelphia and was amazed at the bad behavior I witnessed. I'm not talking just about the cellphone infractions either.
My wife was riding shotgun and our 17-year-old was in the back after the three of us toured a few colleges in New England. I'm hoping some of those I passed on the road can read better than they drive, because this is for them:
First, for the driver of a red Honda Civic headed south on I-84, just outside Hartford. And to the woman in the metallic-blue Dodge Grand Caravan just below Stamford on I-95. And the couple on the New Jersey Turnpike near Newark Liberty International Airport in a white Ford Focus:
The left lane is for passing!
Amid lots of bad driving I witnessed while navigating through five states, the most frequently recurring offense involved those who did not respect the purpose of the left lane. Move over.
Then there was the black BMW 3-Series on the Massachusetts Turnpike. And the gray hooptie, missing trim, with painted rims, westbound on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, near Route 1. Both were what I call swervers. They are the type of drivers we've all seen who dodge in and out of traffic, playing a shell game with machinery at 75 m.p.h. "Keep your eye on that guy," is my usual muttering, even when I'm driving alone. "We may see him wrapped around a pole up ahead."
I confess that I can get a bit passive-aggressive when I see swervers. If I note them approaching like a bat out of hell in my rearview mirror, I get out of their way. But if I'm in my proper lane when one of these guys starts weaving about, I'll deliberately stay put and watch them do a slow burn when they find themselves locked in a lane. Like I did to the clown driving a Porsche and blowing bubbles on my homestretch near the Blue Route. It's the best I can do until someone invents a helicopter with magnets that can be dispatched to remove the swervers.
Not as dangerous, but equally annoying, are the flip-floppers, and I'm not talking politics. I can't decide if these drivers are fueled by testosterone or cluelessness, but we've all seen them. This is the guy in the middle lane whom you begin to pass on his left, only to have him speed up. Is it subliminal? Or are such drivers consciously responding to the pass? I'm never sure, but it happens often. Decide your speed, and stick to it. And if you're too slow to be in the passing lane, see above.
Four more of my citations:
For the gray Chevy Suburban near White Plains, just because you see taillights illuminated in the far distance does not mean you need to apply your brakes, causing everyone behind you to do likewise.
Memo for the white Prius on the George Washington Bridge: Your right-turn signal has been on for two miles now.
To the 20-something near Trenton in the multicolored Camry who was texting, with only one eye on the road: Be advised that last week a New Jersey appellate court said that the person you are texting - and not just you - could be liable should you cause an accident. In a case that breaks new legal ground, the court said a person sending text messages has a duty not to text someone who is driving if the texter knows or has special reason to know the recipient will view the text while driving.
And take a letter, the lady in a blue Volvo merging onto the westbound Pennsylvania Turnpike at Fort Washington. Please make up your mind. I'll let you in, but either slow down or accelerate. We both aren't going to fit in the right lane if you mimic my speed.
Finally, for the many who are seemingly stupefied by E-ZPass: You either have it or you don't. When you approach the toll plazas that are clearly delineated, find your place instead of straddling the line between two lanes. (You, with the silver Acura MDX, at the Mid-County Interchange, you know who you are!)
Speaking of which, I don't get those without E-ZPass. If concerns over Big Brother are precluding you from getting this time-saver, relax. The government is too busy with your e-mail to look at your driving.
It was a very nice afternoon at Williamson Park in spite of the rain.
Morrisville police talk man off Trenton-Makes Bridge ledge
Posted: Tuesday, September 3, 2013 6:30 pm | Updated: 6:49 pm, Tue Sep 3, 2013.
By Jo Ciavaglia Staff writer
Two Morrisville police officers talked a 24-year-old man out of jumping off the "Trenton Makes" Bridge on Tuesday morning.
Around 10 a.m., the Morrisville officers saw the Belford, N.J., man on the wrong side of the pedestrian walkway on the New Jersey side of the bridge, according to New Jersey State Police Lt. Stephen Jones.
The man, who wasn't identified by police, was threatening to jump from the bridge, which connects Morrisville and Trenton, Jones said.
The officers talked the man off the ledge and took him into custody. He was transported to Lower Bucks Hospital in Bristol Township for a medical evaluation, according to Jones, who didn't identify the officers.
Westbound traffic into Pennsylvania was stopped temporarily, according to a spokesman for the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission, which owns the Lower Trenton Toll Supported Bridge. The bridge is better known for the lighted sign along its length that reads, "Trenton Makes The World Takes."
Last July, police talked a woman off the same bridge.
Bristol Twp launches effort to collect late bills
Posted: Tuesday, September 3, 2013 5:06 pm
By DANNY ADLER Staff writer
Bristol Township has collected thousands of dollars this summer after announcing a new effort to collect money from people who owed the township money.
In July, the township said it was owed more than $3.3 million in delinquent sewer bills and other tardy accounts receivable. Between mid-July and mid-August, it collected at least $35,000 in late bills, township Manager Bill McCauley said at an August meeting.
"There are quite a few people who haven't paid a sewer bill in 10 years," said McCauley, who was hired by the municipality in 2012.
He told officials that sewer delinquents owed the township $2.4 million as of the end of June. Of that, $1.98 million was more than four months past due. Just under $1.8 million was owed by residential customers; the rest was owed by commercial accounts.
The township was also owed $878,000 for things such as fire and rental inspections, as well as fees for signs and alarms.
The last time the township actively sought to collect from delinquents was in 2007 or 2008, officials said. The township collected about $250,000 at the time, officials said.
Township officials urge residents who are delinquent to pay their bills or make arrangements to do so. They warned the township will pursue residents who aren't making an effort to pay their bills.
“We will work with people who work with the township,” solicitor Randall Flager said. “But please do not ignore it.”
If residents ignore delinquent notices, the township "will hand it over to a collection firm," McCauley said.
Thank you Morrisville Police for saving another life
He was so depressed by the Morrisville leadership he was read to jump?
mental illness or depression is a very sad thing that many people deal with and should not be taken lightly especially in light of all the young people taking their own lives for a variety of reasons. I appreciate the efforts of our police department in giving this young man another chance as well as giving him back to his family.
I hear there have been problems with the Tech School bus not coming to pick-up students. Anyone hear this or know whats up?
Thank you for your post Wanda. I agree.
Me too.
Someone once questioned the emphasis I place on laughter. “But mental illness is not a joking matter,” he said. “I agree,” I answered, “but it is a laughing matter.” I'm not making light of anyone’s situation. Rather, I am hoping it helps lighten their burdens. When people laugh at themselves, they have the power to control bipolar rather than let it control them.
So, lighten up, Francis.
Why did the chicken commit suicide?
To get to the other side.
Ba-da-bing
Sorry friends, I think it's in bad taste to make fun of this situation. Those who have lost someone due to mental illness or to the mental illness of another, find absolutely no humor on this topic.
I agree. No disrespect, but move on.
Education chief: Maybe start school later in day
PHILIP ELLIOTT, The Associated Press
September 4, 2013, 4:12 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) - A later start to the school day could help teenagers get the most from their classroom time and local districts should consider delaying the first bell, Education Secretary Arne Duncan said Wednesday.
School districts would still be free to set their own start times, Duncan insisted in a broadcast interview, but he pointed to research that backs up his comments that rested students are ready students. Duncan said he would not be telling local school leaders when their first bells should ring and said it was up to local leaders to make the decisions on their own.
"There's lots of research and common sense that lots of teens struggle to get up ... to get on the bus," said Duncan, the former chief of Chicago Public Schools.
The main reason?
"Teen brains have a different biology," said Kyla Wahlstrom, director at the University of Minnesota's Center for Applied Research and Education Improvement.
For the last 17 years, Wahlstrom has studied teenagers' sleep cycles, brains and learning. She has concluded that schools that want ready students must have students arrive rested. Absenteeism, tardiness, depression, obesity, drop-out rates and even auto accidents all decline when students head to school after a good night of sleep.
Schools are starting to take notice.
Take, for instance, Virginia's Fairfax County Public Schools.
Most medical professionals recommend between 8.5 and 9.5 hours of sleep for students. The Fairfax district surveyed students in grades 8, 10 and 12 and found two-thirds of them were sleeping seven hours or less each school night. Among high school seniors, 84 percent routinely slept less than seven hours each night during the 2011 survey.
That prompted the school district, the 11th largest in the country, to partner with the Children's National Medical Center's Division of Sleep Medicine to study student's nighttime habits this year and to consider pushing its start time to 8 a.m. or later in coming years.
"Teens have a different body clock," said Terra Ziporyn Snider, the co-founder of Start School Later, a grassroots advocacy group that has pushed schools for delayed bells. "You don't run schools at a time when kids aren't ready to learn."
There isn't an easy fix.
Bus schedules have been a driving factor in recent decades for when schools start their days, as are after-school jobs for teenagers, extracurricular activities and interscholastic sports. The challenge of transporting students to these activities - as well as classes - often is cited as a reason high school days begin at dawn and end mid-afternoon.
"So often, we design school systems that work for adults and not for kids," Duncan told NPR's "The Diane Rehm Show."
Research backs up Duncan's worries about student sleep patterns and academic achievement.
"Children who sleep poorly are doing more poorly on academic performance," said Joseph Buckhalt, a distinguished professor at Auburn University's College of Education.
He has been tracking sleeping patterns of 250 children as well as their IQ tests, performance on standardized tests, their grades and behavior. His findings suggest sleep is just as important to student achievement as diet and exercise.
"All the data that we've seen on sleep shows that children, especially teenagers, are sleeping less," he said. "If you don't sleep well, you don't think very well."
Part of the lack of sleep is biological as teenagers go through puberty, Buckhalt said. But afterschool programs such as sports or clubs, as well as increased pressure for students to perform well academically, keep them up later than is prudent. Add in caffeine, non-step social interactions through text messages and Facebook and sometimes less-than-ideal home environments, and students have steep challenges.
For students from less affluent families, the effects can be compounded, Buckhalt found.
"Fifty years ago we learned that hungry kids don't do well in school. Now we know that sleepy children don't do well in school," Buckhalt said. "Now we have to do something about it."
That doesn't mean all schools are rushing to delay the first period for high school students.
"If any issue cries for local decision making, this is one," said Patte Barth, director for the Center for Public Education at the National School Boards Association.
The professional organization has not taken a position on the ideal time to start schools, but Barth said Duncan is correct. "Teenagers are much more alert later in the day rather than earlier," she said.
In schools where the day starts later, there have been immediate gains, she said.
"Some districts have made these adjustments to the school day and they have found among their teenagers that attendance is better, kids aren't falling asleep," she said.
But it comes at a cost for other students, both in terms of dollars and opportunities because schools are operating with limited resources.
"If you're starting the high school kids later, you're starting elementary kids earlier. No one wants those kids out on the streets when it's dark," she said. "If they're contemplating this switch, they need to look at the costs."
But some districts have made it work with few disruptions.
"It's not about costs. It's about fear of change and failure of imagination," Snider said.
Wahlstrom, the former school principal-turned-researcher, said President Barack Obama is living this every day with his daughters, ages 12 and 15.
"If they are getting out of bed before 8 a.m., the biology says they are not ready," she said. "It hits home as high up as the White House."
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/education/20130904_ap_e5bf484673b1429cb9fcaff2572af048.html#ZO16H0cq288jouOz.99
Opinions are like Hemorrhoids
Jon this is from the Morrisville Town Watch facebook group created shortly after the attempted child abduction on bridge and subsequent issues since...they have made great progress in getting members on Facebook and now have organized a kickoff meeting as posted below. Perhaps you can post this as its own subject for further exposure to the community. thanks
***********
Town Watch Kickoff Meeting Italian American Club Tuesday October 1st 6:30PM All Morrisville residents are encouraged to attend. Erica McIntyre, a Morrisville Police Officer will be speaking as well as Billy Pepitone, former NYPD. An informal Committee comprised of Peter Eisengrein, Jen Holthenrichs, Kurt Holthenrichs, Steve Tracey & Kelly Yura has assembled and is currently working on an agenda and will present our program at the meeting. Thanks to Jason Bresnen for graciously offering the meeting space to this cause. Please help spread the word to your neighbors and friends.
Thanks, Wanda. I'll give it a separate post too.
Even the rich towns have out of control police
http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2013/09/princeton_police_officers_sue_town_retired_police_chief_over_alleged_harassment_and_discrimination.html#incart_river_default
Whew! Thank GOD! I thought it was just us. Thanks for posting. I see in this and the related article below that this Chief is retiring with a $122,763/yr pension. Not too shabby.
http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2013/05/princeton_police_chief_accused_1.html
I got the Morrisville Times today and I see the usual people who want to destroy Morrisville are working under the name of "The Team for Open Government" instead of "Republican" and are sponsored by the "Voters for Responsible Government" supporting Kitty Westrope for mayor, Elaine Miller for tax collector, Justin Bowers in the 3rd and Todd Sanford in the 1st.
No More Secrecy! is their motto. That sounds like a good idea. Who is "Voters for Responsible Government"?
According to this "Voters for Responsible Government" are a Republican organization from California that buys elections. http://www.voiceofoc.org/blogs/article_896e5c68-dfc8-11df-8074-001cc4c03286.html
Thank you Wanda. Janet is making the flyer for the town watch kickoff and is then sending it to Jen for approval. It should be online by this evening.
- Dave
Did anybody else watch that NASA rocket launch last night? That was cool.
So the football team was brought back down to earth. Any word on the teams that actually require their players to attend practice? Word on the street is that there are 3 varsity sports in the fall season. 6 paid coaches by the district. 4 of them coach football. 18 players on 1 team, 16, on another, 22 on the other. Kinda seems off?
We loves our football.
Not all that funny when we have no Library, Health, or AP classes. Last I heard my Daughter is a 10th grade student in a class of 41. Never even was offered health.
She wants to be a nurse. Says her teachers are cool, and even said her gym teachers are smart about science and health.
With constrained resources as they are, we may need to re-think some of our priorities.
4 Football Coaches for 22 players Thats a class of 5.5 students per Coach. Hope they are being evaluated like the teachers. The attendance rate at football 101 is very poor, high rate af absences.
The seed has been planted. What do you want it to grow into? Eliminate football? If you do, that's fine, just say it.
I don't think the seed is planted. We just have the wrong farmer dealing with the crops.
Are you talking about the farmer that deals with the entire farm, or the one that handles a 160' x 300' section of the field?
I dare anyone to try to eliminate football. I dare you. I don't disagree that priorities are out of whack, but once you publicly announce the intention of this move, I'll grab my popcorn and watch the fireworks.
"Education be damned, football is a tradition."
That's what you'll be fighting against.
Education in Morrisville has already been damned. Football needs to catch up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoAmQGzcLkc
I'll chime in although my feelings on the subject of football won't help. They won't hurt either, so here it goes.
I really do understand the financial restraints put on the shoulders of the Morrisville School Board. I would not want their job.
I grew up with three brothers (and their friends) and a father who loved football. I hated it. I knew nothing about the game and had no desire to learn anything other than how to avoid the living room while it was on. It was horrible and always gave me a terrible feeling in my stomach.
Thankfully my husband is not a sports nut to the extent of my siblings. Some years ago, when our oldest son wanted to play football in Morrisville of course we said yes even though I had that same old feeling in my stomach.
What I learned?
I LOVE MORRISVILLE FOOTBALL!
There is nothing like a Friday night football game. We no longer have any children in the MSD but we continue to look forward to going to Friday night football games.
Go to a game. Look around. Take the time to really take in what you're seeing. It's more than just a football game. It's wonderful. Every home game starts out with a parade. Kids run around, playing. It keeps the Morrisville teens busy on Friday nights. Adults having fun, engaging in each other. More than football will be lost if they are gone. These football games help grow our community - they are important.
see?
I agree with the post above, but I have to say at what cost. The schools first priority is to educate and Morrisville is doing a poor job at that due to staff cuts. Football costs way to much and the interest is dying, less students involved on the team.
No one goes to the games anymore. The only people there are the band, cheerleaders and teams.
Make the team pay to play like the Little Bulldogs.
you people have no idea what your talking about. the importance of athletics, community, belonging, participating etc along with education is priceless
No...it's not priceless. It comes with a cost- the money spent on football could be spent on... I don't know, books? A library ? A classroom?
Jon please post as main item thanks...
You are invited to a Pasta Dinner Fundraiser for the candidates of Morrisville In Balance (Dann Dingle, Joe Gilleo and Jon Perry).
Event date: October 10, 2013
Time: 6pm to 8pm
Place: Italian American Social Club, Harrison Avenue, Morrisville
Cost: $6.00pp, kids under 5 free.
Dinner includes Pasta, Meatballs, Salad, Rolls, Iced tea and Coffee.
There will be a Bake Sale table and the candidates will be available to talk about their platforms for Morrisville School Board.
Running an election is expensive and the position is unpaid but these candidates have put themselves on the line to serve their community.
They need your help. Come out and enjoy a good dinner with homemade sauce and desserts and support their campaign.
The candidates are Parents, They are Tax payers and they are your neighbors and friends. They are active members of the community and the school and ask for your vote on November 5th.
Questions please contact the candidates at morrisvilleinbalance@yahoo.com
Go to Pennsbury, Neshaminy or Council Rock and you will see what High School Football is about. Morrisville is a Dollar Store on Rodeo Drive.
please move to those areas then we really do not need negativity in our community. and if you are already there get off our page and go complain to your own
Consider speaking at a School Board meeting to let your feelings be known in a public way.
Sorry, If People care about EDUCATION and not wasting money on Football. I don't see it as negative I see it as reality and If you disagree don't tell people not to post because you may disagree.
"please move to those areas then we really do not need negativity in our community. and if you are already there get off our page and go complain to your own"
Stop walking around with your head in your butt ignoring the negativity all around you. The 'Ville is broken.
"Go to Pennsbury, Neshaminy or Council Rock and you will see what High School Football is about. Morrisville is a Dollar Store on Rodeo Drive."
It offends me that someone would openly chastise a Morrisville youth activity.
Comparing anything the MSD does to that or our neighbors is ridiculous since they don't have the same student body or financial resources.
Settle it in the parking lot?
"Comparing anything the MSD does to that or our neighbors is ridiculous since they don't have the same student body or financial resources."
So, let;s pretend everyth8ing is just honky dory as it is? NO!!! If you want to make things better, having goals and aspirations is the driving force behind that. Not that the surrounding districts are necessarily a gold standard, but to aspire to have comparable programs and assets is not something negative. Hence the interest in a merger. There I said it...again. Perhaps a new facility might have attracted more families looking for the small community, and something better could have arisen from that...Oh wait, that costs money. We can't do that. So here we are, with barely enough kids for a football team, aging and outdated facilities, and we are not in a better financial situation. Who is to blame for this? How could it have been avoided? What could we have done differently? What are we prepared to do now to correct this death spiral?
MORRISVILLE
Zucchini race in Morrisville this weekend
Posted: Wednesday, September 11, 2013 4:51 pm
By GEMA MARIA DUARTE Staff writer
Ready. Set. Zucchini.
The third annual Morrisville Zucchini 500 race will be at 1 p.m. on Sunday. The race also will be held in conjunction with the eighth annual Morrisville Senior Servicenter Car Show – both events will be at the Morrisville Senior Servicenter, 31 E. Cleveland Ave.
New this year at the zucchini race is the decorating contest. Squashes can be decorated with bow ties, veils, stickers, paint — everything and anything.
“This will allow people to be creative and go wild decorating their own garden-grown or purchased zucchinis,” said Samantha Krushenski, event chairwoman. “For those who come to the event without a zucchini and wish to participate, there will be a limited supply available for a $3 registration fee.”
Registration will be at 10 a.m. and judging will be at 12:30 p.m. For $5, participants can be part of the decorating contest and race.
Trophies and prizes are being sponsored by local businesses. And the onsite zucchinis will be made available by businesses as well, such as Snipes Farm and Education Center, and Marrazo’s Centre Fruit Gourmet.
The event is being sponsored by Morrisville First, a nonprofit community service group that serves the first ward of the borough. The organization helps residents with homeownership questions and organizes community activities such as cleanups and flower and tree plantings, said Sandra Kitty Westrope, a member of the group.
For more information, call Morrisville First at 215-736-0107.
YAY! Zucchini Race! Can't wait - thank you for posting this.
Excerpt from BCCT article related to cyber school in Bristol Twp. SD. Cyber classes were discussed at the 9/10 Morrisville SD Educational Committee meeting. Full article at link below.
http://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/news/local/school-board-set-to-vote-on-funds-for-cyber-school/article_ee6fda39-7f61-5d84-a354-0541071fa60c.html
School board set to vote on funds for cyber school
Posted: Tuesday, September 10, 2013 12:00 am | Updated: 7:31 am, Tue Sep 10, 2013.
By Elizabeth Fisher Correspondent
Cyber school could become a reality for all Harry S. Truman High School students, at least for some subjects and some communications, if the school board votes to approve the Blendschools project at next week’s meeting.
About 10 students are lined up so far to take advantage of the technology and the board agreed to add the $9,000 in funding the 2013-2014 school year to Monday night’s agenda. Some of the teachers have already been trained to use the system. District Superintendent Samuel Lee said it was only “fair and right and just” that students have the opportunity to take advantage of the system.
“We potentially see (a time when) all secondary students will be able to make (some) use of cyber school,” Lee said.
IN another example of just inept the BCCT really is, the following story appeared in today;s Inquirer. Does anyone know this guy, and can you help us all out with some 411?
Posted: Wednesday, September 11, 2013, 3:10 PM A retired New York City cop has joined Morrisville’s mayoral race as a write-in candidate, telling Bucks Inq that he’s running in part to quash the inner turmoil that plagues the borough’s police department and government. Bill Pepitone said his law enforcement background would help him put an end to the “adversarial relationship” between the borough’s current mayor and the police department as well as the infighting between cops. As we’ve written before, officers within the department are suing each other. One has alleged harassment from fellow cops over making too many arrests. Another has filed a hostile work environment complaint. At the same time, the borough’s current mayor is suing the borough manager, some council members and the former police chief. Rita Ledger, who lost her re-election bid in this year’s Democratic primary, claims she has been denied access to police records and other information and that borough officials harassed her with sexist comments. Morrisville, a small town across the Delaware River from Trenton, is currently searching for a new police chief since Jack Jones retired in December. Frederick De Vesa, a retired New Jersey judge, served as an interim police chief for two weeks but resigned last month because of the turmoil. Pepitone, the write-in candidate, said: “The mayor has to come in and establish a relationship with the incoming police chief and act as an intermediary. Right now it’s an adversarial relationship that just won’t work.” The Democratic candidate in the borough’s mayoral race is David Rivella, an electrician and a borough councilman. He is one of the council members being sued by Ledger, the current mayor. Rivella said he'll come to the job with first-hand knowledge of the police department's conflicts, which he has been privy too through executive session. "The other two candidates don't have any idea what they're getting into," Rivella said. The Republican candidate, Sandra Kitty Westrope, a psychologist, said the mayor has a limited role when it comes to the police department. "I don’t really see where being a retired police officer makes [Pepitone] a strong candidate," she said. "Basically, the mayor is supposed to represent the borough in public relations. It’s time to get someone in there that’s going to be the voice of the people."
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/bucksinq/Retired-NYC-cop-enters-Morrisville-mayors-race-as-write-in-candidate.html#94D2MGVtH4twiaHQ.99
Is he related to Joe Pepitone,
0.258 lifetime average, 219 homers, 721 RBIs? I think I have his 1972 Topps baseball card, when he was playing for the Cubs.
Joe Pepitone
Joseph Anthony Pepitone (Pepi)
Positions: First Baseman and Centerfielder
Bats: Left, Throws: Left
Height: 6' 2", Weight: 185 lb.
Born: October 9, 1940 in Brooklyn, NY (Age 72)
High School: Jay HS (Brooklyn, NY)
Signed by the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1958. (All Transactions)
Debut: April 10, 1962 (Age 21)
Teams (by GP): Yankees/Cubs/Astros/Braves 1962-1973
Final Game: May 25, 1973 (Age 32)
I don't know Mr. Pepitone. I know that he used to be a cop. I don't know why he is no longer one or what he does now for a living now. It's strange that the article says what Rivella & Westrope do for a living but doesn't say what Pepitone does.
What's strange is that I have never heard of Mr. Pepitone. He has sat back and didn't even bother to take part in the primary election and now, with the Nov election right around the corner, we're going to see him everywhere while he tells us all why he's the only candidate. Even "Kitty" who I had never heard of until this spring, bothered to run in the primary. Rivella hasn't talked about working for the town for years, he's been actually doing it.
It does say he is a retired cop. I guess being retired is his career.
I also want to know more about him than he didn't run in the primary. Deciding to get involved in light of the mess we have on our hands shouldn't be held against him.
It would be nice to know just who he is as a person , what he believes and what his plans are for Borough leadership. If he can bring real change in a new and positive direction, I think that will be great. Tenure in town hasn't shown to be a good indicator of quality, and it is a wedge that the losers use to attack anyone who isn't 10 generations here.
Al Radosti is a retired cop. I sure hope he's a much better candidate for elected office than him.
The problems of crime / police dept that we are facing aren't new. They have just become a way of ambulance chasing for the media.
I don't appreciate someone coming in at the last minute and using these problems to win votes.
I'm interested in knowing who is encouraging him to run at this point, or if he's 'his own man'.
E.g. is Burger and the R-Machine kicking Westrope to the curb thinking she doesn't have the chops to beat Rivella?
BINGO - we have a winner!
Pepitone is the vote splitter for Rivella.
Even if I was going thinking of considering Pepitone, I cannot vote for a Republican in Morrisville.
I mean no offense to those of you on here who are Republicans.
I just cannot trust that someone I never heard of before now, decides to run for the highest office in town, this close to election day, without Jane Burger being involved.
Just unveiled! The 2014 redecoration plans for the mayors office. It's the cat's meow.
https://www.google.com/search?q=dolores+umbridge&client=firefox-a&hs=ejV&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=SugxUtfJEMWq4AOLy4Fw&ved=0CDYQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=641&dpr=1#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=mVDreuWioQs3gM%3A%3BlZPzabwmcvapKM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.the-office.com%252FDoloresUmbridge-Republican.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.the-office.com%252FDoloresUmbridge-Republican.htm%3B824%3B624
LOL! Now isn't that special!!!!
LOL - WOW
That is something. I needed that.
Thank you
MORRISVILLE Bridge repairs will cause pedestrian closure and traffic shift
Posted: Thursday, September 12, 2013 5:10 pm | Updated: 8:13 pm, Thu Sep 12, 2013.
By GEMA MARIA DUARTE Staff writer
Repairs to the Lower Trenton Toll-Supported Bridge, also known as the “Trenton Makes” bridge, will halt pedestrian traffic and shift vehicle flow over the weekend.
The walkway will be closed from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, officials at the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission announced Thursday.
The closure is needed so maintenance personnel can remove the walkway’s worn wooden planks and replace them with new decking.
The work is being done during the weekend because that’s when the volume of pedestrians walking between Trenton, New Jersey and Morrisville, Pennsylvania is lightest.
In the meantime, pedestrians and cyclists are encouraged to use the nearby Calhoun Street Toll-Supported Bridge, which is nine-tenths of a mile upstream. The Trenton-Morrisville Route 1 Toll Bridge does not have pedestrian/bicycle access, officials said.
Vehicle traffic won’t be interrupted; however, it will be shifted in both directions. Officials are not expecting any delays.
Commuters are reminded to reduce speed around work areas. And work on the Lower Trenton bridge is subject to change because of weather, traffic conditions and emergencies.
Pepitone is married, has several kids in the district, he and his wife are involved in multiple committees at the school and come to meetings. He has a vested interest in his community but provides another perspective that deserves to be considered or listened to. He did not run in the primary because he, like others who decide its time to get involved, decided after the primary and then found out there was still a chance to run with a writein. He investigated the option and put both feet into the race and put himself on the line when most others would never do. Get to know him before shooting him down. The old regime is so politically wrapped up into B.S. that an outsider is not a bad thing to consider. And NO he is not part of the burger botts or the SOC or the MM for that matter. He is a concerned tax payer who decided to try. I think thats honorable. Your not born a mayor and know the job, you learn on the job and become the best at what you are elected to do.
Nothing against Pepitone, but being a "concerned taxpayer" scares the bejeezus out of me. We're trying to recover from the last batch of concerned taxpayer yahoos on the school board.
No reason to shoot him down but I attend lots of school meetings over many years and I don't recognize his face from his web site.
Attending school meetings means little to me. You know who used to attend all of the time? Eileen D. How'd that work out? I understand Marlys, the oompa-loompah, also attends many meetings. I'm not impressed that meeting attendance is an indicator of anything other than you had the time on your hands.
I know Bill well and his wife are very involved since moving here to raise their kids. both involved and yes attending meetings is important so you actually get out from behind that computer you so love to behind and actually meet your neighbors. anyone can sit on this blog and judge but put if you are not man or woman enough to put yourself on the line yourself then give this guy a chance.get to know him, he is all over social media which you should be good at findingsince you do so well hiding on this blog. come out to the town watch meeting on 10.1 i sure someone from his family will be there because thats what they do
ITG?
Perhaps you need to re-read the post above. It only notes that attending meetings doesn't make someone automatically qualified. Put your ire away. It was directed at the post above it anyway, and I stand by what I stated. BTW, you shouldn't assume anyone on here isn't already out there getting involved. Your knee-jerk response doesn't do you or your neighbor any credit, as I've seen far too much of this around town already. As far as being all over social media, I'll put that in the same box as attending meetings, doesn't mean squat either way. The WBC is also all over social media, as are other hate groups. If you want to white knight your neighbor, that's great, but save it for the campaign.
There's a great article in the Inquirer this morning. They got a copy of the police department resignation letter written by Fred DeVesa. The Morrisville PD is heading toward "tragedy or catastrophe".
Thanks. We're on the same wavelength. I just posted it.
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