T Fall 2012 HED ES A IS BL The Gateway Newsletter of The Neighborhood Club of Bala Cynwyd P.O. Box 717, Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania 19004 • www.balacynwyd.org The Oldest of the Main Line Civic Associations – 1906 John C. Grugan, President — 610.668.2536 President’s Message Neighbors and friends, I write to wish you the best and to thank you for your support of The Neighborhood Club of Bala Cynwyd for the past two years. We have seen remarkable developments in our community since January 2011 and these developments illustrate the positive influence neighbors can have when united by the common purpose of maintaining and enhancing the local community. Perhaps the best example of this positive influence is the exceptional work of the Friends of the Cynwyd Trail. Among our many assets in Bala Cynwyd, the Trail, the result of hundreds of hours of volunteer service, is a community jewel. A number of significant issues affecting the community will be considered over the next two years, including the possible rezoning of the Bala Avenue District. During this time, The Neighborhood Club will be guided by Amara Briggs. Amara is smart, practical, and dynamic. She will be a wonderful Neighborhood Club President. Please give her and the Club your support. Again, thank you for these past two years. I look forward to seeing you in the neighborhood or along the Trail. With best regards, John Grugan To be included on our email list and to receive our electronic newsletter, notify us of your interest by emailing info@ balacynwyd.org. Casey O’Bannon, Editor — 610.668.0734 The Neighborhood Club of Bala Cynwyd’s Annual Meeting Tuesday, November 13, 2012 7:00 p.m., refreshments • 7:30 p.m., start of business meeting Union Fire Station Montgomery Avenue and Tregaron Road (Please note change of location for this meeting) Please join us for refreshments prior to the meeting followed by Elections of Directors and Officers. After our elections we will conduct a full slate of business including presentations and discussion about current neighborhood issues. All neighbors are welcome. Candidate Slate for The Neighborhood Club Annual Elections Following are the candidate slates for The Neighborhood Club elections. Candidates were interviewed by The Neighborhood Club’s nominating committee. Per our bylaws all members (dues paid for 2012) are eligible to vote. For Officers to serve one year (terms expiring December 31, 2013) Amara Briggs, President Jerry Skillings, Vice President Meredith Toole, Secretary Casey O’Bannon, Treasurer Bob Zimmerman, Solicitor John Grugan, Past President Directors nominated to fill vacancies with terms ending December 31, 2013 Joe Farah, Mike Utkus, Shifra Vega For Director beginning new terms January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2014 Eric Foster, Anne M. Greenhalgh, Roger Moog, Alison Munoz, Dan Russoniello, Sarah Pevaroff Schuh, Merle Zucker Any Neighborhood Club member wishing to nominate a candidate for officer or director other than those selected by our Nominating Committee should consult The Neighborhood Club’s bylaws at www.BalaCynwyd.org for details. 1 Crime Prevention Is a Community Responsibility By Commissioner Brian McGuire, Ward 13 [email protected]; 484-270-8505 If your home is broken into: The recent uptick in burglaries, thefts and robberies in and around Bala Cynwyd has many residents on edge and asking questions. The Lower Merion Police Department has responded by adjusting coverage plans and utilizing both marked and unmarked patrols to look for suspicious people or vehicles. For its part, the Board of Commissioners has continued to fill police positions as they become open, replace and update equipment as needed, and serve as a sounding board for residents’ concerns. Importantly, residents are also taking on critical roles in helping prevent crime in our neighborhoods. •Use a cell phone or neighbor’s phone to call the police by dialing 9-1-1. •Do not enter — The perpetrator may still be inside. •Do not touch anything or clean up until the police have inspected for evidence. •Write down the license plate number of any suspicious vehicles. • Note the description of any suspicious persons. Besides routinely keeping an eye out for suspicious activity, Lower Merion Community Watch provides another opportunity for residents to serve as “extra eyes and ears” of the LMPD’s ongoing crime prevention efforts. Trained members, supplied with two-way handheld radios, patrol the Township from their vehicles, reporting suspicious or unusual activity. Before each patrol, members are briefed by a police officer on recent crime activity to assist in their patrol. While it is completely up to each individual, generally members patrol at least four times a year. For additional information, call the LMPD Crime Prevention Unit at 610-645-6240 or visit the Community Watch web site: www.lmcommunitywatch.org. A great majority of the residents I speak with express confidence and pride in our professional police department. It is — far and away — the most robust force in Montgomery County, with over 130 sworn officers and the latest in equipment and training. Residents also understand that our public safety comes at a significant cost — more than 1/3 of our municipal budget — and are very willing to pay for it. While we can rely on the LMPD to patrol our streets and respond to calls, officers will tell you that the most effective means of protecting your home, property and safety involve taking common-sense precautions: Having up-to-date information on local crime is also an important aspect of prevention. I encourage all residents to sign up for LMT Crime Alerts, part of the township’s E-Notifier system, at www.lowermerion.org. Police officers who patrol our area also attend each monthly meeting of The Neighborhood Club of Bala Cynwyd, where they listen to residents’ concerns and advise them on criminal activity in the area. Additionally, the Main Line Times and Bala Cynwyd Patch report crimes and offer updates through email, Facebook and Twitter. The LMPD is currently investigating using social media as a way of communicating relevant information to the public. Look for updates as this develops. •Always lock all your doors and windows. Most burglars are opportunists who gain entry by “cruising” the neighborhood looking for unlocked residences and vehicles. •Install and activate an alarm system. Make several inquiries to different companies for the best security system available to you and your budget. •Don’t give a burglar a place to hide. Shrubbery should never block the view of your exterior doors and windows, allowing a burglar to attempt to gain entrance while shielded from passing neighbors and police patrols. Please talk with your neighbors about crime prevention, and let your commissioner know of any particular concerns you might have. Together, we can help protect our property and keep our families and neighbors safe. •Light up the outside. Inexpensive electric timers or motion sensors will automatically turn lights on and off. •Suspend mail delivery and newspaper subscriptions when away. Otherwise, you might as well have a sign in your lawn saying, “I’m out of town.” Interested in Becoming a Director of The Neighborhood Club? •Don’t leave valuable items in plain sight. This applies to items outside your home and those inside that are visible through windows and doors. Please send a resumé or letter of interest to: The NCBC | Attn: Nominations P.O. Box 717 | Bala Cynwyd PA 19004 •Let your neighbors and the police department know when you will be out of town. Call the LMPD at 610-649-1000, and they will help keep an eye on your home. •Immediately report all suspicious persons to the police. Call 9-1-1 for any reason that may require a patrol officer response. 2 Independence Day Celebration 2012 The NCBC again celebrated our country’s independence with a fantastic parade and morning of games, rides and community togetherness. We offer a thank you to all who participated, the judges, the volunteers, the sponsors, the Independence Day Committee and our residents for making it a highlight of the year. We would like to rectify one omission and say thank you to The Bala Cynwyd School for Young Children for their support of our event. 3 4 Changing of the Guard M District Update With the election of officers and directors for 2013, it is time to recognize and appreciate the efforts of those leaving our ranks. Ellen Wertheimer and Patricia Smith have departed The Club for new opportunities. The recent court ruling by Montgomery County Common Pleas Court Judge Kelly Wall overturning Lower Merion’s approval of developer Brian O’Neill’s proposed apartment development in the M district has brought renewed focus to that parcel of Bala Cynwyd. Ellen is moving from Bala Cynwyd requiring she vacate her seat. She has worked actively for The NCBC monitoring major zoning developments on Rock Hill Road, the M District where O’Neill Properties and Sean McCloskey have proposed development, along with the long process of the City Avenue rezoning. Ellen spent hundreds of hours at Commissioner meetings and Zoning workshops to make sure Bala Cynwyd was informed and represented on these complex issues. She will be missed. The Neighborhood Club of Bala Cynwyd will continue addressing the potential impact of development at the foot of Righters Ferry Road and is working with township staff, commissioners and the developers to address the concerns we neighbors have regarding this potential complex. 2013 will surely be a year where this will be discussed at our meetings. We encourage neighbors to come out and express their thoughts as this and other changes progress. Patty has taken on new professional obligations and resigned from the Board to attend to her new work. Patty will continue to be an active member and resident. Best wishes! Sidewalk Garden Award Winners The Beautification Committee of The Neighborhood Club of Bala Cynwyd selected its annual winners of the Sidewalk Garden awards this summer. Honorees will be recognized at our annual meeting on November 13 at the Union Fire Association. It is always a highlight. Please turn out to recognize these fine winners! Business winner Alan Feldman and Maureen Pelta • 435 Bryn Mawr Avenue Repeat winner with breath-taking new plantings in purple and white! Elpida Kohler • 37 Derwen Road West Laurel Hill Cemetery • 215 Belmont Avenue The entrance and office are surrounded by established trees and delightful gardens featuring manicured annuals and perennials. Delightful walkway surrounded by a wonderful combination of shrubs and perennials. A new feature worth a visit is the Chapel of Peace Reflection Garden, which is always open to the public. Barrett and Jennifer Dunigan • 12 East Lodges Lane This white and green garden of massed plantings is truly unique! 37 Derwen Road 12 East Lodges Lane 5 T LIS HED ES AB Newsletter of The Neighborhood Club of Bala Cynwyd P.O. Box 717, Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania 19004 www.balacynwyd.org Presorted Std U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 50 Upper Darby, PA Thanks to the following neighbors and friends who contributed to this issue of The Gateway: Fred Fischer Anne M. Greenhalgh Linda Labowitz Please Visit Our Website! The NCBC website is a resource for: ✓ The monthly agenda ✓ Minutes of previous meetings ✓ Past copies of The Gateway! ✓Contact information for Board members ✓ Community Links ✓ PAYPAL — to pay dues electronically! Please visit www.balacynwyd.org. Thanks to our hard-working off-Board Committee Chairs Betsy Meyers Beautification Phillip Rodbell TreeVitalize Fred Fischer Website ✂ The Neighborhood Club of Bala Cynwyd Membership Form Your dues help to: • Alert you to neighborhood discussions of critical topics • Preserve the residential character of Bala Cynwyd • Support appropriate commercial development • Monitor zoning, traffic and safety on our streets • Provide community-building events like the 4th of July Celebration Please send your annual dues to: The NCBC P.O. Box 717, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004 Household: ® Benefactor $100 ® Patron $50 ® Friend $35 Business: ® Gold $250 ® Silver $100 Name_____________________________________________________ Address___________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ Email Address______________________________________________
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