Blogging

ANNUAL 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION

Soundman — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 13:29:24 +0000

This is always an event that has very good participation without a great deal of promotion because it has become a neighborhood tradition. To keep it alive we need to find neighbors willing to help. What kind of help? Well if you have an idea for an activity we would welcome people willing to run a booth, sponsor awards for parade judging and athletic events, come help with set-up (9:00 to 10:30).

In the past we have had clowns making balloon animals, I remember a pony ride one year, moon bounce, another year we had a neighbor playing a bagpipe. New ideas are always welcomed. If you have great people skills like our current President - Diane we can use help making phone calls and getting people to reserve the date and commit to working with us on July 4th.

If you have any thoughts, comments, ideas please feel free to post them here. Anyone who attended that saw areas for improvement please let us know please feel free to comment.

Life is Good - 1st Tomato of 2008

Bill Halpin — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:00:12 +0000

Here is to hoping that everyone else's 1st tomato is near - I had my first cherries (on a bagel with cream cheese) this morning. All is correct with my world again!

Bill H

4th of July Athletic Event Winners

SynchroSkater — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 18:16:48 +0000

Thanks to everyone who braved the fickle weather (a little rain didn't hurt us!) and came to our SABA 4th of July Celebration. We'll soon post Costume parade winners as well as post photos on flickr but until then here is the list of Athletic event winners.
Independence Day Celebration
Athletic Events
July 4, 2008

20 Yard Dash – Ages 3 & 4
1. Evan Corcoran
2. Abbey Wiedeman
3. Zoe Gusikoff

20 Yard Dash – Ages 5 & 6
1. Haley Short
2. Tanner Grimes
3. Avery Frankel

40 Yard Dash – Ages 7 - 9
1. Rebecca Grayum
2. Morgan Pasquarello
3. Lily Frankel

40 Yard Dash – Ages 10 – 12
1. Tate Gallagher
2. Aidan Guynes
3. Jackson Bistrong

40 Yard Dash – Ages 13 - 17
1. Nik Norberg
2. Cameron King
3. Michael Kulp

40 Yard Dash – Ages 18+
1. Ryan Haggerty
2. Matt Lozano
3. Larry Frankel

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Normandy Botanical Gardens

Bill Halpin — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:26:24 +0000

It has been a while since I've had the time to make more than a short post and to tell the truth I still do not have the time but I figured I must force myself to get at least current pics of what is happening over at Normandy Botanical Gardens. Please take a look at the current progress at http://www.flickr.com/photos/27706267@N02/?saved=1. Please note the new benches and picnic table that were installed this Spring - Thank You Haverford Township Parks and Recreation Department for you help in purchasing and installing the benches and table. They are being used and look beautiful!

As always I'm looking for volunteers to weed, water, help plan further garden beds and to help with the newly added field of sunflowers and flower/vegetable bed that is around the corner of the house. In mid July pumkins will be planted in one section of the new veggie bed for the fall and for our neighborhood kids/families to pick in October.

Chestnutwold Boy Scout Troop 132 and SABA clean up the Creek

Bill Halpin — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 12:48:44 +0000

On May 17th our local boy scouts, Troop 132, came out and helped clean up the creek that runs along the septa bus path. We cleaned the creek from Belmont and Pont Reading down into Merwood Park.

Congratulations Troop 132 on a job well done!!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27706267@N02/?saved=1

Garden Share

busfam — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 08:53:02 +0000

Are you gardening this summer?

My name is Rob Buscaglia. I have initiated a program called Garden Share that I'd like to tell you about. Garden Share is a program designed to share our fresh, home-grown garden produce with poor inner city families who are feeling to everyday impact of rising food and gas prices.

The program works like this: I am inviting neighborhoods, family, coworkers, and friends to share a little of their home garden harvest every two weeks, which I will bring to North Philadelphia to share with needy families struggling to make ends meet. Donated produce will be distributed to needy families through the Kensington Welfare Rights Union.

A small portion of Garden Share also is used to cook weekly vegetarian meals for the homeless and shelter-bound in Philadelphia.

Participants may add some extra plants to their garden designated for Garden Share, or simply share from what you normally grow. Any quantity is accepted gratefully.

New Neighbors Page

SynchroSkater — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 12:03:42 +0000

hi Everyone - I used the template that Shannon Hess and volunteers created to create a Welcome to the Neighborhood page. If you have other useful information to share, let me know and I will add it.

Please note that we will create a "Neighbor's Recommendation" page where your favorite shops, restaurants, auto mechanics, dry cleaners, etc. can be listed to help new neighbors. Until that page is constructed (and it could take a bit of time), please send your recommendations to Doug Muth webmaster@sabanews.org and he will add them to the service map found at the Welcome to the Neighborhood page.
Thanks! Diane

Haverford Township Civic Council Public Meeting - Ardmore Junction Train Station June 16 7:30PM

Davis — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 00:53:39 +0000

Civic Council has invited representatives from Septa, Delaware County and Haverford Township to a meeting so we can address HTCC's initiative to spruce up this important anchor in our neighborhood. Part of the initiative involves conditions along the Route 103 bus road on both sides of Haverford Road. If you use the tran station or care about the bus road, come out and let your voice be heard!

Attention All SABA Music Fans- SHARON LITTLE.SCOTT SAX Update

jeansjewels — Thu, 29 May 2008 23:06:34 +0000

A heads up to all of you that appreciated our own Sharon Little and Scott Sax providing some of the musical entertainment at our spring planting last year and/or those who followed them to their performance at Milkboy's in December. In case you hadn't heard, Sharon and Scott got a contract with CBS records in December. Recently they have been on tour with Robert Plant and Allison Krauss to rave reviews and standing ovations, I might add. Anyway, the newest news is their new CD was released on Tuesday!!!!

I can say first hand that the new CD entitled-- Sharon Little/ Perfect Time for a Breakdown-- is fantastic!! I pre-ordered it thru Amazon.com and it came yesterday. I've always been one to support local businesses and I certainly hope we have a growing number of neighbors who get behind Sharon and Scott as the word of their unique sound spreads- like wild fire, I hope.

New Park Benches at Normandy Park

Soundman — Mon, 19 May 2008 23:31:52 +0000

The new benches are a great addition. I know South Ardmore Betterment Alliance and Haverford Township split the purchase price 50/50 for the benches. Township work crews prepared concrete pads and secured the benches so hopefully they will remain in place for years to come. Congrats to the committee that picked the style, color and placement of these benches.

Flag Pole for Normandy Park

Soundman — Fri, 16 May 2008 21:47:03 +0000

The discussion of whether or not to relocate the annual 4th of July event to Normandy Park was broken down into a list of pros and cons. One of the cons was the lack of a flag pole for the traditional flag raising and national anthem.

I was asked to find out what the addition of a flag pole would cost. I found a place a in Broomall that sold and installed flagpoles. A 25' Aluminum Pole with a 5" diameter base installed would cost $1,300.00. A 4" diameter pole installed would be around $1,000.00, and a 3" diameter pole installed would be $639.00 installed.

I am not sure of all the proper procedures for displaying a flag 24 hours a day, but I believe one issue is that it should have lighting. The dealer showed me a flag pole mounted solar powered light that many people use that would cost $100.00. The light uses l.e.d. lights so I am not sure how bright it would be.

Sewer Work on County Line Road

dmuth — Fri, 16 May 2008 14:57:13 +0000

We recently received this letter from the township and would like to pass it along to others. It discusses the situation with the sewer and the work that will be performed on/around County Line Road:

Dear Resident/Business Owner:

We wish to take this opportunity to inform you of pending work the Township of Haverford will be undertaking in the near future on County Line Road.

Over the past several years the Township has experienced numerous problems and blockages with the sanitary sewer servicing the Haverford Township residents and businesses on the east side of the street. An investigation of the situation revealed significant deterioration of the existing main which is contributing to blockages. In order to best resolve this situation, the Township must replace the existing sewer main. This replacement will be necessary between Biddle Street and Loraine Street. The work will involve both the replacement of the existing main on the east side of the street and the service connections for each property in Haverford Township to the right-of-way line. No work will be done on the west side of the street within Lower Merion Township.

read more

Vegetable Gurus Needed for Normandy Park Vegetable Garden

SynchroSkater — Thu, 15 May 2008 18:08:37 +0000

Calling all community gardeners! If you want to help with our first ever Normandy Park Vegetable Garden let me know - Diane W.

Gardeners of every size are needed!

St. Denis Fair

Bill Halpin — Thu, 08 May 2008 03:05:33 +0000

Well, Spring is in full bloom and the St. Denis Fair is back in town. The fair is this Wednesday to Saturday(7th to 10th) and next Wednesday to Saturday(14th to17th). We hope everyone has good time at the fair.

We are also asking for our community to be watchful during the time that the fair is on considering the events that happened last year. I'll be going out on an informal community watch on Friday and Saturday nights, with cell phone in hand. I've talked to a few families who will also be watching from their porches for any large groups or any suspicious activity as people make their way to and from the fair through our neighborhood. All are welcome to participate either by calling me at 610.331.1349 or you can participate from the comfort of your home by keeping an eye out on your block.

Everyone have a fun and safe weekend.

Bill Halpin

April Flowers

Ardmore Bill — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 02:23:37 +0000

It is April and it does seem like the last week has held true to the old saying, April showers make May flowers. I was sweating all the hard work I put into my garden in March with the turn towards the cold the weather has taken lately. Glenn "hurricane" Schwartz did say that after warm winters like the one we had that colder Springs are common. Lets just say I was covering and uncovering my seedlings often and also not uncovering them on the many colder days in March. But, it seems I've survived the worst of it...I've got a full crop of radishes, bok choy and lettuce that are all about an inch in height. It is amazing how hardly these plants are at these early stages of development. What is also remarkable when looking over the garden is how many other plants are hardly that one would least expect. I've already got a huge crop of "volunteer" sunflowers that are at one inch tall. I found in my grass by the garden a bunch of lettuce that also volunteered.

Creek Clean-Up May 17th

Ardmore Bill — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 01:48:34 +0000

Check your calendars and mark this one off as one not to miss. We will be holding our semi-annual creek clean-up, in the creek that runs along the Septa bus Route, in conjunction with a our local Cub Scouts from pack#132, all students at Chestnutwold Elementary School. We will also have a guest speaker to talk about our local watershed. I'll have further details about start times and meeting locations as we get closer to the date.

Bill

Another Traffic Incident on Cricket Ave.

Soundman — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 17:01:48 +0000

Saturday around 10:30 I was startled by a loud noise while watching "The Mist" on D.V.D. The Movie primary takes place in a Grocery Store. The loud noise unfortunately sounded like metal shelves crashing. oooo boy ...If I would have opened my front door, and it would had been foggy I may have stayed inside.

Garden Blog- St. Patrick's Day

Ardmore Bill — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 16:14:01 +0000

St. Patrick's Day is the traditional day for planting english peas. I was able to get mine in yesterday after soaking them overnight in a cup of water. Anyone else out in the garden yet?

SABA March 11th Meeting

Soundman — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 00:03:00 +0000

SABA MEETING March 11th - AGENDA DRAFT
All SABA neighbors are invited to our meeting at 7:30 p.m. at Chestnutwold.
1. 852 Aubrey proposed student housing - Landlord Tony Marchesani will be on hand to answer neighbors' questions and address concerns about his requesting a special exception for the township for a student rental at 852 Aubrey. A list showing current student rentals and other rentals on Aubrey will be distributed for review.
2. County Line Sewage Line update.
3. Update on the benches and table purchased for Normandy Park

Testing - Process of adding a photo to the Post

Soundman — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 23:28:13 +0000

Sorry... I will promise not to continue this silliness, but the learning process is valuable.

A Few Links to Add to our Website

Soundman — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 15:30:26 +0000

I was thinking about a few links to add to our site. Oakmont Fire Company has a site which contains a significant amount of useful information. One feature is a Call Log so you can see just how many times they respond to emergencies in our neighborhood. http://www.oakmontfire.org/

Chestnutwold Elementary School - http://haverford.k12.pa.us/chestnutwold/

Haverford Township Civic Council - http://www.haverfordciviccouncil.org/

Gardening Blog

Ardmore Bill — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 22:28:51 +0000

Hey all,

Website Registering Help

Soundman — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 01:45:03 +0000

I am not an expert, but this is what I learned. Some of you that had questions probably have learned this already, but for others yet to register.

FIRST : A temporary password will be forwarded to your registered e-mail. I assume this is to prevent someone from joining the site with a fake e-mail address, or someone else's e-mail address, etc. Once you receive this temporary password you can Log in , and change to a more personal password.

Hello All

Ardmore Bill — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 12:04:42 +0000

Testing, testing, testing....la la LA LA LA la la....ME ME ME ME...

Overview of the SABA site

SynchroSkater — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 01:17:29 +0000

I'm testing out the web site tonight 2/26 - looking good.....

Send reminder to Doug that Meetings under Topics has three "e"s...which will need a tweak.

Logo letters too light also - will send new logo with better color on it.

Looking forward to having others test this and kick it around.

Diane

Adding a Photo Gallery

Soundman — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:39:13 +0000

I believe a Photo Gallery would be an excellent feature to add to the website. Initially rather than post photo's from each year of the 4th of July Celebration we could select a number of photos from several years to give the viewer an appreciation visually for the type of events SABA sponsors.. Another gallery for Planting Events Held in the Park... Another for Music in the Park events... and Maybe one for Miscellaneous events. I would be happy to work on this if this feature is added to the Website.

New Website to Help Promote Friendly Discussion and News Exchange in our Neighborhood

Soundman — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 01:13:58 +0000

This is the third generation of a website for SABA. Much has changed over the years, and features which were once expensive and complicated add-ons are now possible on a limited budget. We hope that we can learn to manage these effectively. One such feature is this blog. The SABA blog is a feature that we hope will give the entire neighborhood an opportunity to communicate with each other, and become an active participant in our organization.

Sample blog entry

dmuth — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 19:40:08 +0000

This is a sample blog entry.

Note that unlike other pages on this site, it displays my user icon to the left of this post, along with any additional user data.

At the bottom of this post is the rating widget (1-5 stars), and the bookmark bar, which can be used to bookmark this post on various social networking websites.

Following this post are any comments that may have been left by other users.

-- Doug