A View From A Post Office

Actually what you are really seeing is a view from our local post office. That street that you see below is Penrose Avenue and if you are familiar with this view then you know that it is an uphill walk from there!

Actually it is quite a nice view except if you are afraid of heights!

It's Hot As Heck!

There is just nothing more to say! It is as hot as heck outside! The current temperature is 95 degrees!

Go thee and find an air conditioner!

And STAY THERE!

While a lot of the houses in the area are older house a lot of them don't have central air (like mine). We rely on the kindness of the air conditioners that we have in our windows.

As a matter of fact while I was walking home the other day I heard an air conditioner in a neighbor's window and it sounded like it was winding down to its last legs. It sounded like metal was rumbling around in the air conditioner. In fact that air conditioner didn't sound too good at all. So I guess it's time for them to get a new air conditioner.

While there are lots of sales on air conditioners, I generally find that the Shoprite at the Cheltenham Mall have good deals on air conditioners. Sometimes you can get a good air conditioner there for under $100.

I Noticed A Lot More Houses For Sale

As I went to the store Saturday I noticed that there were a lot more houses for sale. One house that previously had a "For Rent" sign on it now has a "For Sale" sign on it. There is one particular house on Cheltenham Avenue that was previously up for auction now has a "For Sale" sign on it as well. There is also another property for sale on Cheltenham Avenue.

I don't know the circumstances of why these houses were put up for sale. I do know that the area had and still has a lot of older residents but some of them have died off and I guess either their estate or their heirs want to sell the property.

As much as I love this area I hate seeing property being put up for sale. I'm sure that whoever put these houses up for sale had their reasons and they are probably very good reasons too. It's hard being able to stay in this area. The property taxes are high and we get 2 property tax bills a year. Someone told me that in Philadelphia there is only one property tax bill a year.

Crossing Cheltenham Avenue!

Ever try crossing Cheltenham Avenue? It's no picnic let me tell you!

At the time that I took this photo you can see that it's hardly no traffic which is a rare occurence! On some Sundays there seems to be hardly any traffic and Saturdays seem to be the worse!

Often times when I'm trying to cross Cheltenham Avenue the drivers will take pity on me and stop and let me cross. But since Cheltenham Avenue is 2 lanes going both ways that means that the other drivers have to cooperate as well!

In this picture you're looking at the Philadelphia side of Cheltenham avenue going towards Broad Street. I think I was on my way to the store when I took this picture.

There is not a Septa bus in sight!

Well The 2nd Property Tax Bill of the Year Came Yesterday!

The 2nd property tax bill came in the mail - and by God its a BIG one! I don't know about your property but the bill for mine is over $2,500! Now you can't pay this property tax bill in installments but you do get a (2% - I think) discount if you pay this property tax bill early.

There was a reference to the "Homestead" Act but you must have already filled out the form for that. If your property is part of the Homestead designation then you can pay your property tax bill in three installments. However there are some conditions and there are also some very stiff penalities. If you claim the Homestead option and choose to pay your property tax bill in installments then you are not eligible for the discount. Also too if you pay your installments late then you could be charged a 10% penalty.

Now I looked this all over when I got the property tax bill and I thought that it would just be a good idea to have this money saved in advance of the time that it was due. That way you would have the money early enough to be able to pay the discounted amount. But not everyone has this financial capability.

To tell you the truth I really think the best option for paying this property tax bill is just to have the money saved up in advance so you can pay the discounted amount.

Quarterly EIT Taxes Due By July 31st

This reminder popped up on my computer screen! It's a good thing that it did because I totally forgot about it!

Just in case you don't know - EIT stands for Earned Income Tax. It is a tax that the residents pay on their income. Currently it's 1 percent of our income that is taxed. However the residents have to file an estimated tax return quarterly - every 4 months. The current one is due by July 31st - which - this time - is on a Tuesday and not the weekend.

What you have to do is fill out the quarterly tax form - which you can get from the company that is handling the taxes - and send it in along with your payment. I have talked with these people on more than one occassion and I have found out that while you don't have to send in the actual copies of proof of your income you DO have to fill out the form - regardless of how much your estimated income is. You will not be reminded to send in the tax form and you won't get a reminder in the mail. You have to remember to do this on your own! (Which is one of the reasons why I have put a "reminder" on my desktop).

If you make less than $3,000 a year you won't owe any tax BUT you still have to fill out the form and send it in.

I don't have the address in front of me but I will add it.

Lots of friendly chatter on the Cheltenham Bus Today

The Cheltenham Bus was full of friendly chatter today as we each went to our different stops. Just in case you don't know the Cheltenham Bus is our local bus that runs throughout the Cheltenham area. It goes to the Cedarbrook Mall, the Cheltenham Mall, and the train station. For area residents that are over 55 the fare is free. For residents under 55 the fare is $4 per trip But you can buy a 10 trip ticket for $10 - that makes it $1 per trip.

There was a time back where our beloved local bus was in threat of being cancelled but the township decided to split the week with Abington so now our Cheltenham Bus runs on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. I think that this is much better than not having the bus at all. I do wish that that Shoprite logo was on the bus because that was advertising revenue for the bus - thus helping us to keep it running.

Foreclosure Laws In Pennsylvania

In previous posts I have talked about the devastating effects of having one's home go into foreclosure so I thought that it would be a good idea to post here about the foreclosure laws in Pennsylvania:

Pennsylvania Foreclosure Law

- Pennsylvania Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes

- Pennsylvania Non-Judicial Foreclosure Available: No

- Primary Security Instrument: Mortgage

- Timeline: Typically 90 days

- Right of Redemption: No

- Deficiency Judgments Allowed: Yes

In Pennsylvania foreclosure law, lenders may foreclose on a mortgage in default by using the judicial foreclosure process.

Pennsylvania Judicial Foreclosure

According to Pennsylvania foreclosure law, the lender must send a notice of intent to foreclose to the borrower before any foreclosure proceedings may begin.

The notice of intent must be sent, by first class mail, to the borrower, at their last known address and if different, to the property secured by the mortgage. The notice should not be sent until the borrower is at least sixty (60) days behind in their mortgage payments.

Foreclosure Law in Pennsylvania - Philadelphia and Pittsburgh

In the notice, the lender must make the borrower aware that his or her mortgage is in default and that it is their (the lender's) intention to accelerate the mortgage payments if the borrower does not cure the default within thirty (30) days. This means that the remaining balance of the original mortgage will come due immediately.

Pennsylvania foreclosure law states that if the borrower does not cure the default by paying the past due amount, plus any late charges that have accrued, within the thirty (30) days, the lender may then file a suit to try and obtain a court order to foreclose on the property.

If the court finds in favor of the lender and issues an order of sale, the property will be sold at a Sheriff's sale under the guidelines established by the court. The borrower has the right to cure the default and prevent the sale at any time up to one hour before the Sheriff's foreclosure sale.

Lenders have up to six months after the foreclosure sale to file for a deficiency judgment. Borrowers have no rights of redemption under Pennsylvania foreclosure law once the foreclosure sale is complete.

Cheltenham Community Station

Cheltenham does have its own community station on Comcast Cable's channel 42. It is a listing of news, bulletins and current events in and around the area of Cheltenham and LaMott. You can also access this information online by going to:

Cheltenham Community News

You can also find out how to have your community announcement added to the community bulletin board. It seems to be an easy process. You can also view more Cheltenham and LaMott related information by going to my LaMott Pages.

There isn't any similar kind of station for community news if you have Dish TV or satellite TV.

Free Barbecue At The Cheltenham Shoprite!

That's right! The Shoprite at the Cheltenham mall was going to have a free barbecue. It was officially supposed to start at 2pm - unfortunately I was on my way home. But I did get to see them set up! They had the biggest grill I have ever seen and people were already lining up for the free food! It was part of a promotional thing to promote a cookbook that had receipes by men only.

May 15th - Primary Election Day!

Yes I went to vote today. For those of you who in the area that don't know where our local polling place is it is the LaMott Community Center which also houses our local library.

I went during the later part of the afternoon and as always the volunteers that were there were helpful as usual. They are there to answer any questions that you may have.

As far as the number of people that were voting it wasn't a large amount but at the time that I was there the voting booths were busy and there were a number of cars parked all around.

I do know that there was a question being put before the voters in our area about the area imposing another tax on income - supposedly to reduce the amount of money that residents pay in property taxes. The cost of the property taxes in this area has always been a very sore subject for the residents here because the taxes are so high! And what makes it worse is that we the residents get 2 separate tax bills in the mail! I don't even think you can pay them in installments - the property taxes have to be paid in full - both times!

The Students are moving in (or out?)

I saw a small uhaul truck parked outside and of course its because of the students. As I write this I don't know if they are moving in or out. I'm guessing that they could be moving in but I don't know for sure.

With all the rumors circulating around about whether or not Temple's Tyler School of Art will close their campus in Cheltenham you wouldn't be able to tell by all the students that are moving in (or out). I know some of the students don't want it and I know that some of the parents don't want it. I see the students all the time either walking to the school or coming from the bus stop and walking towards the school. There was a time back when the students used to sun bathe on the grounds of the dormitory. I have seen some students on the campus with their easels painting - mostly the scenery around them. I've seen a few students who live in the Lynnewood Gardens Apartment complex which is right across from the school. There are cars parked everywhere! The campus has a pretty big parking lot from what I can see but still there are cars parked all around the campus including the street that I live on. I hear the sounds of the car doors slamming, the students talking, the students arguing and the students laughing.

I don't mind the noise too much. It's always good to hear activity in the area. I do mind when they park their cars in front of the driveway. I have heard from other neighbors about this when the cars are blocking their driveways and they have had to call the police.

So this "moving in" period is bound to last for the next couple of days.................

A Job Opening For A Mailman

I was at our local post office yesterday and the was a notice on the front door announcing a job opening for a mailman. If you're interested here is the contact information for our local post office:

800 Ashbourne Rd,

Cheltenham, PA 19012

(215) 887-4551

You should also remember that the price of stamps go up on May 14th. The stamps will go up 2 cents from 39 cents to 41 cents. So while I was there I stocked up on some 2 cent stamps. As a matter of fact I advise you to get your stamps as soon as possible because I'm remembering the last time the price of stamps went up and I was at the post office (not our local post office but another one) and the place was packed! And to make matters worse they were out of the 2 cent stamps. ( wasn't going to waste my trip so I bought 3 cent stamps.)

But back to the job opening for a mailman......If you are interested in the job you can contact the post office at the number above.

I do remember one time when our regular mailman was on vacation and the replacement one had said how much he liked the route and how he would like to have it. I wonder where he is?

Local Gas Prices?

If there is one thing about this area its that people are always in their cars! So I found this little widget thingie that lists the prices of gas locally. It should be on the right side of this blog. I just pasted this widget today and while its showing up ok in Netscape, it's not looking to cool in Internet Explorer. This isn't the first time I've had problems like this when I add something new so I'm going to wait awhile and see how it goes.

Back to the gas prices! With the weather getting warmer people are out more and that means more driving and more getting gas. I have seen people come into the local BP and buy a dollar's worth of gas and they weren't ashamed to admit it! So if you're wondering where the cheapest gas prices are in this area - here ya go!

Spring is Here!

I took this picture as I was going to the store today. (I have to learn to take better pictures!). Flowers are popping up everywhere and I'm not just talking about the dandelions.

It seems more people are putting plantings on their property than last year - that's probably why I have seen so many cars at the Home Depot at the Cheltenham Mall.

Of course with this nicer weather more people are out and the kids are out playing around and more people are working on their houses.

This House is NOT for Sale!

Today as I was walking down Willow Avenue to go to the store I noticed a sign on one of the houses (actually it was a note) that said (in no uncertain terms) that "This House Is Not For Sale". I got a smile on my face because I know that these people must have gotten a lot of people asking them if their house was for sale. At least they put up a note that said that it wasn't for sale. Politely speaking the home wasn't the best looking home on the block but that didn't really matter. It can really be hard to maintain a home - especially when its an older home. If and when you don't have the money either you do the work yourself or it just doesn't get done! Now that the weather is starting to get nicer I see more and more people working on their homes and some of them are doing it theirselves. I'm not going to say that they love working on their houses (maybe some of them do) but when the weather is nice they are out there.

I don't know what's the story with the "This House Is Not For Sale" house. It could be any number of reasons. The people that live there may be older and can't do the work theirself or it could be a reason of not having enough money. Whatever the reason is I can certainly identify. Outside work like trimming trees, painting a house or just general outside repairs and maintenance can cost a pretty penny. Not everybody that lives here is rich and there are a lot of older residents who are just getting by with their pension or social security.

I have receive more than a few mailings that said something to the effect of "We want to buy your house" - how they got my name I will never know. I actually had someone knocking on my door asking if this house was for sale (which I thought was rude!). Realators are always on the lookout for houses that are for sale in this area. I have even had people see me outside and ask me if there were any properties in the area that were for sale. I have kept my eye out for properties that are for sale and have given this information to a few of them. As a matter of fact I noticed 2 "for sale" signs today as I was walking to the store. One was right on Cheltenham Avenue between 19th and 17th streets and the other property for sale was a few blocks up.

It's a terrible thing not to be able to pay for repairs or general maintenance but just because a house is not the most prettiest one on the block doesn't mean that it's for sale.

People Are Looking For.......

Power of Attorneys in Wyncote

This was one of the latest internet searches that led to my LaMott Directory Page. The top attorney listed is located at Logan Square which is a very far distance from Wyncote in Philadelphia. Although I know that people will travel a greater distance if it means that they will find a good attorney but there are attorneys that are located within the Wyncote area.

There is an Eastern Montgomery Chamber of Commerce which I'm sure would have some attorneys as members. There are 2 attorneys listed in the LaMott Directory. One is located in Abington and the other is located in Jenkintown.

Earned Income Tax?

In case you aren't aware of it, Cheltenham has what is called an "Earned Income" Tax. What this means it that your earned income is taxed. Every 3 months you are required to pay the estimated tax on your income and then at the end of the year you file (and pay) your earned income tax for the past year. The yearly tax return is due by April 15th which is the same due date as the federal and state income tax.

Now if your income is less than $3000 for the past year then you don't have to pay the tax BUT you do have to file the return. The consequences of not filing the return is fees and penalties!

I remember when this tax was first introduced some years ago and I remember filling it out and mailing it back in. However I have talked to some people who said that they just ignored it and didn't send it in. (Sometimes I wish that I had done the same - sigh!). I don't know if anything happened to them as a consequence and I was just not willing to take the chance.

But the bottom line is that this tax is mandatory and has to be paid.

To find out more about this tax you can call the Township's Administration Office at:

Township Administration Building
8230 Old York Road
Elkins Park, PA 19027
215-887-1000

Another Sad Story About Someone Losing Their House

I just found out about this yesterday. Another neighbor in the area has lost their home - not their house, not their property - but their home! It's always so sad to hear stories like this because I know that people in this area have lived in their houses for years! Unfortunately in this case the cost of the property taxes was the culprit! Mind you, the property taxes in this area are very high and what makes it worse is that there are 2 property tax bills that are due each year! Someone told me that in Philadelphia there is only one property tax bill.

The first property tax bill due in April is the smaller of the two. The second property tax bill is due in September and is more than twice the amount of the first bill! When the property taxes are paid as part of the mortgage bill that makes things a little bit easier but not everyone has that type of mortgage.

I do not know the particulars of this neighbor's situation so I don't know what their financial status was (or is) but I do know a little about this property tax thing. On the property tax bill itself it says that the property taxes have to be paid by the end of the year or their will be a lien put on the property. And of course if that lien isn't paid then the property can be sold for the property tax amount owed. Now here is where I get a little foggy.......Does that mean that whatever the house sells for the property tax bill is paid but what happens to the amount that the house sold for that is more than the tax bill itself? Does that extra amount go to the property owner or does it go to property tax people? Is the house being sold for its fair market value or for the amount of the property tax owed only?

I've seen a lot of ads and literature about how their are sales of properties for the amount of back taxes owed so does that mean that they are selling the properties for just the amount of the property taxes owed?

It may seem like a very good opportunity for the real estate investor but it is not a very pleasant experience for the people that are losing their homes.

By the way from what I have heard the people that lost their home are temporarily living in a house a few blocks away. As a matter of fact from what I have been told their property has already been sold!

Robbery Attempt At The PathMark in the Cedarbrook Mall

I heard about this on my way home from shopping. A man tried to rob an armoured car guard with pepper spray. He sprayed it in the gurard's face and the guard turned around and shot the robber multiple times. The robber managed to get away but he collapsed a short time later and that was when he was found by the police. He is currently in the hospital.

Now this happened today around 1 pm and I didn't hear it on the news until about 4pm. I heard it on KYW News Radio. So by the time the local TV news comes on there should be more information about it.

Comcast versus Direct TV?

Just came across one of my old posts:

Well I can't comment on the cable modem thing but its interesting that you mention the cable/dish thing. Seems Comcast and DishTV are trying to outprice each other. Guy came to my door from Comcast saying that he was talking to all the dish owners about getting cable because Comcast has this new deal where they combine phone/internet/cable services for something like $99.


The dish TV provides more channels and the times that it has been un-operative was during bad rainy weather or some really dark cloud cover. It's only happened a few times a year. I will say this though and its a matter of taste but the Direct TV's weather channel doesn't do the local weather as thoroughly as Comcast's TWC (must be a different version). Another pet peeve is that you don't get the local cable channel that has all the area announcements - I think its called the public access stations. If I could I would have them both but if I had to choose it would be the directTV.

It would be nice to have them both and I do have a neighbor that does have them both.

It's Cold!

I haven't posted here for awhile. It has just been soooooooo cold! Mr. Tappe used to say that during the summer we are all out and about but during the winter we hibernate!

It has just been brutally cold for the past few days. The rain melted a lot of the snow and ice but we're now getting colder temperatures and stronger wind gusts. This area is known more its single family homes and a lot of them are older single family homes and unless there are tightly sealed I know that the residents (including me) are feeling the effects of those cold winds!

During the snow period a few of us on my block were shoveling snow, I see some of the men are braving these cold elements to do some outside house repairs and the kids/teenagers don't seem to be too much affected because they can be heard out and about. I actually saw one of the Temple art students wearing a pair of (long) shorts! Me, I had on my coat, gloves, hat and 2 scarfs!

I know that when the weather gets warmer we will all be out and about again! But until then its just too, too, cold!

PA Friends Webring

I am the moderator of this webring and you can find out more about it by going to the ring's main page at:

http://a.webring.com/hub?ring=pafriends4

The main requirement to join this webring is that your website have something to do with the Pennsylvania area. It doesn't matter what city or county you live in - as long as it is in PA.

You can also have a website that has something to do with PA as well.

Besides my LaMott Page there are a couple of other webring members.

So if you think that you would like to find out more about the webring, please click the link above.

The Property In This Area?

Well it happened to me again. I was walking to the store and someone asked me about the property in the area. They were interested in buying property in this area because they liked it. They also told me that they have a young child and just wanted somewhere nice to live.

Oddly enough they told me that they couldn't find any "for sale" signs and I say that its odd because I have seen more than a few in the past year! I guess that's just because I live here.

I was also talking to a realtor a few months back about something else and HE mentioned about his interest in the area - not only because he's a realtor but because HE has a property in the area and I think that he also used to live in the area as a child too.

This isn't the 1st time that I have been asked about the property in this area. People see the area and like it and are curious or interested about it and a few people have asked me to keep a lookout for any property that becomes available.

It's odd in a sense because there have been periods where there were no houses for sale and then just the opposite will happen and then there are quite a few houses for sale. LaMott is an historical area and some of the houses are over 100 years old and a lot of the residents are older residents and when they die their family will either sell the house or live in it themselves. It's a 50/50 kind of thing. One of my neighbors was an 80 year old man and when he died his family put the house up for sale and it took about 4 or 5 months before it got sold. Another neighbor on my street was an elderly woman who stayed in her house after her husband died and when she died the house was put up for sale. In that case there wasn't even a "for-sale" sign on the property because it was sold in a matter of days! There's a house on the next block that has a "for sale" sign on it. I don't know the people that own it. There's a house on Cheltenham Ave. that was recently sold at an auction. And I'm not even counting the houses that I DON'T iknow about. I've heard from some about the high property taxes and that paying them is a problem and they are considering selling as well.

Since its located just a "hair" from Philadelphia its sort of like the Phildelphia area. In fact a lot of people told me that they didn't even know that this area existed.

Who Serves The Best Hotdogs?

I found this very interesting blog that talks about which places have the best hotdogs. So far there is only one listing for Pennasylvania so if you have a place that you'd like to recommend be sure to visit this blog.

http://hotdogsinthecity.blogspot.com/2006/12/blog-post_13.html

The Day After Christmas At Our Local Post Office...

There was no way around this. I had to go. I thought that if I went during the early afternoon that it wouldn't be crowded but it was. But you know what? As much as the people in line were grumbling the 2 postal workers that were there were trying to be as pleasant as possible.

This is a relatively new post office. The closest one before it was the post office that was located in the Cheltenham Mall near the movie theater. With this new post office it is within walking distance for me and I should be grateful that its here.

There may be times when you might be able to "quickly run in and do what you have to do" but don't count on it. And if you do manage to get there when there is no line, consider it a blessing!

An Additional Leaf Collection for Route 8

I saw this information posted around the around while I was out today. It didn't mention whether it was a loose-leaf or bagged leaf collection but it's scheduled for Jan 2, 2007 at 8am

LaMott Radio!

Well I finally decided to put the radio station back on the air and the Internet! It took me a long time to make this decision! First you can "take a listen" and find out more about the station by going to:

http://www.live365.com/stations/roseb44170

There are still a lot of "kinks" to be worked out. For instance I have to re-coordinate all of my pages that mention the radio station and that will take a while. But you can listen to the station now.

What kind of radio station is it? Well I'd like to think of it as an "ambience" kind of station. What does that mean? Just some nice background music that people can listen to while they are doing what they are doing - whether its housework, yardwork, taking a walk, or just some nice, pleasant music to listen to.

There is a "request" line and you can also send in your comments and suggestions.

Enjoy!

What is the weather outlook for the 2006-2007 season?

Just click the link below

Weather Prediction

They are predicting a warmer than usual season (from Dec 2006 - Feb 2007) - We shall see.................

Storm Watch and Strong Winds

The severe thunderstorm watch lasts until 10pm tonight. (Right now its almost 7:30pm).

For more detailed information you can click on the link below because it will take you to the Weather Channel's webpage

http://www.weather.com/outlook/recreation/outdoors/local/USPA1801?alertId=58427&dbSeq=null&par=OAP&site=OTDRV&code=1004100971

Tonight its supposed to go down to 39 degrees with a lot of windy conditions. Skies are forecasted to clear after midnight.

The Widener Estate

I'm starting to find out a LOT of information about this estate. First of all the man who it was named after was on the Titanic. Presently the estate is owned by someone else who has made no mention of what he intends to do with it. It is hoped by some that it can be turned into some sort of historic preservation.


I have passed by this estate many times and it is located across the street from our local post office.

It is in a current state of disarray but hopefully that will change in the near future.

Here are some related links:

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/special_packages/
jenkintown/10363118.htm

http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/discus/messages/5676/
5592.html?985747013

http://www.preservationalliance.com/news_lynnewood.php

I'm Learning Google Earth??????????????

And it ain't easy! The picture on the right is showing my first attempt at trying to learn how to post. Actually its a new feature (at least new to me) of Google Earth that show a map of your specific area.

For those of you that don't know Google Earth is a map-like program that shows ariel views - not just inside the United States but all over the globe. Of course the first area I looked for was my own and I was surprised at the detail. Basically you can see the area from above - meaning the rooftops but you can zoom in and out as well.

What I'm working on is learning how to add my own overlays to the maps. There is a Google Earth community (a messageboard-type forum) where you can join (for free) and post your own overlays. And there are a LOT of members and they post everything from where they live to interesting sites in their area. So I'm learning how to do that too.

If others can post about their communities then I want to be able to add our community as well.

And that reminds me - if you have any "interesting" areas in the LaMott/Cheltenham area that you would like to share just let me know and I will add it to the overlay map.

Property Inspections Will Begin

To ensure sump pumps and other clean water sources do not illegally discharge into the sanitary sewer system, an inspection program will begin. An inspector with proper ID will visit each property. Property owners must allow the Township inspector to enter the premises and must correct any illegal discharges or else face surcharges of $100 per month on their sewer bills.

For more information, call (215) 887 - 6200, ext 223

The Cheltenham Bus - more interest in.....

More people are asking me about the Cheltenham Bus (of which I am glad because the more people that use this bus the more likely we will continue to have it).

You may be surprised that the bus may not look like the one in the picture. Sometimes the bus will need maintenance but don't worry though because another (white) bus is used as a replacement bus until the original one is ready.

Area residents who are seniors can ride the bus for free. Other residents (like myself) can pay the cost of $4 per trip or (what I do) buy the ten trip tickets for $10 - that equals $1 a trip.

The bus travels all around the Cheltenham area. I usually use it to go shopping at the area malls. But it also goes to the train station as well. Here is a copy of the bus's schedule in .pdf format.

http://www.cheltenhamtownship.org/bus/Schedule2005.pdf

The website link is located below:

http://www.cheltenhamtownship.org/bus/

Weather - Severe Wind Alert For Our Area

Wind Advisory

NEW CASTLE-KENT DE- INLAND SUSSEX-DELAWARE BEACHES-CECIL- KENT MD- QUEEN ANNE'S-TALBOT-CAROLINE- SUSSEX-WARREN-MORRIS-HUNTERDON- SOMERSET-MIDDLESEX-WESTERN MONMOUTH- EASTERN MONMOUTH-MERCER-SALEM- GLOUCESTER-CAMDEN-NORTHWESTERN BURLINGTON-OCEAN-CUMBERLAND- ATLANTIC- CAPE MAY-ATLANTIC COASTAL CAPE MAY- COASTAL ATLANTIC- COASTAL OCEAN- SOUTHEASTERN BURLINGTON-CARBON-MONROE- BERKS-LEHIGH- NORTHAMPTON-CHESTER- MONTGOMERY-BUCKS-DELAWARE- PHILADELPHIA- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...WILMINGTON...DOVER... GEORGETOWN... REHOBOTH BEACH... ELKTON...CHESTERTOWN...CENTREVILLE... EASTON... DENTON...NEWTON... WASHINGTON...MORRISTOWN... FLEMINGTON... SOMERVILLE...NEW BRUNSWICK...FREEHOLD...SANDY HOOK... TRENTON... PENNSVILLE...GLASSBORO... CAMDEN...CHERRY HILL...MOORESTOWN... MOUNT HOLLY...JACKSON...MILLVILLE... HAMMONTON... CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE... OCEAN CITY...ATLANTIC CITY... LONG BEACH ISLAND...WHARTON STATE FOREST... JIM THORPE... STROUDSBURG...READING... ALLENTOWN...BETHLEHEM...WEST CHESTER... NORRISTOWN...DOYLESTOWN... MEDIA

A WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM EST SUNDAY.

LOW PRESSURE WILL CONTINUE TO INTENSIFY AS IT MOVES INTO SOUTHEASTERN CANADA OVERNIGHT AND SUNDAY. COOLER AIR WILL PUSH INTO THE REGION BEHIND A COLD FRONT TRAILING BEHIND THE DEPARTING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM.
THE COMBINATION OF THE INTENSIFYING LOW AND HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING ACROSS THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES WILL KEEP GUSTY WEST WINDS OVER THE AREA. WESTERLY WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS AROUND 45 MPH ARE EXPECTED THROUGH SUNDAY. THE RECENT HEAVY RAINFALL HAS SATURATED THE GROUND... THEREFORE... THE FORCE OF THE STRONG WIND MAY BRING DOWN WEAKENED AND SHALLOW ROOTED TREES... AND UTILITY WIRES... WITH SOME AREAS EXPERIENCING POWER OUTAGES. ANY OBJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN LEFT OUTSIDE UNSECURED MAY BECOME AIRBORNE IN THE STRONG WINDS.
THE EXPECTED HIGH WINDS CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT... ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE AND LIGHT WEIGHT VEHICLES.


USE EXTRA CAUTION WHILE VENTURING OUT ON AREA ROADWAYS.

The LaMott Firehouse #1

The LaMott Firehouse #1 is located on Penrose Avenue

What I Noticed.....

As I was going to the store I noticed that one of the houses had what looked
like an apple tree growing near their house. Odd because I never noticed it
before. I know that one of my neighbors has an apple tree but I haven't seen
any blossoms on it. There are supposed to be some trees that grow acorns and
other nuts but I haven't located them yet.

We Lost Another Beloved Member Of The Community

I'd rather wait and get permission from the family before I post his name
here but he lived in this community for a very long time. I'm going to miss him a lot because he was a neighbor of mine. I talked to his relatives just a few days ago and they are going through a lot.

I Was Bragging About The Area

I saw a woman interested in one of the houses that is up for sale. She seemed very interested and I was telling her about the area. I told her about the community garden, the community center and about how nice the area was. Homes don't come up for sale too often in this area.

Our Library?

I recently found a picture of the LaMott library's building and it occured to me that it really would help if there was a sign of some sort on the outside of the building to help show where its located.  I have been asked more than once by people where the library was located.  I even remember a girl asking me about the building in general because that's where our polling place is and she didn't know where to go to vote!

It's Very, Very Early on a Saturday Morning!

The sun hasn't even come up yet!  All I can hear outside are the sounds of the insects chirping.  There's the occassional siren in the distance and for a minute or two I heard a strange squeaking sound but it went away.  Every now and then I will hear a car going by.

I know I'm not the only one up because I can see some lights on in other people's houses.  Since today is Saturday there will probably be a lot of people outside doing yard work like cutting their grass or hedges - and things like that.

It's warm now - even humid which is strange because its so early in the morning.

Cobblestone?

One of the reasons why my area is historic is because of the landscaping. One home in my area has cobblestone in the driveway and they have a historical plaque as well.

Cheltenham Webcam?

I don't think that there is a webcam site for Cheltenham and I'm thinking about starting one myself.  For webcams in the near area you can go to my webcam page at:

http://members.aol.com/Roseb441702/webcam.htm

Local "Earned Income" Tax!

I'm not too fond of this little tax that has been imposed for this area.  I just filled out the quarterly form that has to be done every quarter.  There is no notification - meaning they don't send you any notification/reminder of it being due.  You have to remember to do this on your own.

For those of you that don't know about this tax, it is a 1% tax on a person's earned income that has to be paid quarterly.  In most cases your employer will automatically take this tax out of your paycheck but if not then you have to do it yourself.  There is a $3,000.00 minimum but regardless of how much you make it has to be reported.

Someone's Very Happy!

It must be because of the gorgeous weather and temperture but somebody is outside singing.  It's a woman and boy is she in a great mood!

Gusty Winds!

Oh man is it windy! and cold!

It's not like the last time when the power went out a few months ago!  It happened sometime during the morning and was fixed by 1:30 in the afternoon.  Doesn't mean I wasn't freaking out though!  I was just bored!  There's only so much you can do without electricity!

Yes, the snow is HERE!

I was trying to find a webcam picture that I could put here but I couldn't find any. The closest I came was a beach in Point Pleasant NJ.

and a shot of Chestnut Hill that you can see by going to:

http://ChestnutHillCam.ww.com

Maybe I'll have to take this on as a project of my own and set up some kind of webcam view-thingie!

Well since its a Sunday the mood is a little bit more quieter than if it were a weekday. There are kids going door to door working to shovel snow. I saw a few neighbors clearing the snow off of their cars and I can hear a few snow shovels and the snow blower across the street.

I still haven't ventured out today but I have got a lot to do inside to keep me busy!

Yes it's snowing but........

some of the cars are still driving by like a bat out of heck!  Even with the dip that's on the corner they are still driving by so fast!  This is NOT the kind of weather that you want your car to get damaged in!  We're supposed to get a few inches of snow tonight but more snow tommorrow!  All together we could get about a foot of snow!

Where am I?

Inside drinking a hot cup of tea and typing on the keyboard.......

Broad & Stenton!

Kind of curious thing:

I noticed at one of the gas stations on one of the corners a guy asking people for 40 cents as they drove up to the gas pumps.

Saw a couple of guys out today.....

It was bitterly cold (at least to me) and on my way to the store I saw a guy who was having trouble with his car.  He had the hood up and it seemed like he was waiting for someone.  On my way back another guy had joined him and he was talking to someone on his cell phone.  Two girls had gone to the store to purchase a gallon of milk, a couple of people buying gas - all this before noon on this Sunday morning!

The Cheltenham Bus - Complaints?

I heard a few "snippets" of some very interesting information!  One particular day the Cheltenham Bus was late.  I later came to find out that the bus had broken down and another one was used in its place.  This of course made the bus late when picking up people.  I found out that some of the people complained!  To make matters worse the driver wasn't familiar with the route.  I say - SO WHAT!  Instead of just cancelling the route after the bus broke down another bus was used to carry out the route which (in my honest opinion) was a very nice thing to do.  Remember that senior citizen residents ride the bus for free and there was talk some time back about discontinuing the route altogether but fortunately a solution was had.

What makes this whole thing more irritating is that I myself was on that bus on the day in question.  Of course after waiting for it for a while I thought that maybe I had missed it or that it was just running late.  Just as I was about to go back home - here it came!  I saw that it wasn't the regular driver and just figured that the regular driver had the day off or something.  I found out that the bus had broke down and that the bus being used was a replacement one.  The driver wasn't familiar with the route and the route itself involved many turns and round-a-bout ways. 

This bus driver was very nice (and very nervous) but the people on the bus (me amongst them) weren't angry or complaining because we were just happy that the bus was there.  During the route to pick up a couple of passengers their doorman had said that they had went back upstairs but the driver was nice enough to come back and get them.  So the route was late but everybody got to where they wanted to go.  There was one man that seemed a bit annoyed that the driver wasn't familiar with his stop but (to me) he seemed to take it in stride.  So everyone got to where they wanted to go and I figured that that was the end of that.  But the next time I boarded I had found out that someone had complained.  I think that that is really a shame.  We are lucky to have this sort of local transportation and it was a Godsend during the last Septa strike.  And as much as this bus has been on time and accomodating - having one bad incident is not worth the fuss!  Just think if we didn't even have this bus route!  The driver(s) help the passengers with their groceries - both on and off the bus (something that Septa doesn't do) and they try to be accomodating as best as they can.  We should be very grateful for this service!

I hope we haven't lost our mailman

You know you get kind of use to your regular mailman and I noticed that a different one delivered the mail.  I could tell because they were using those new-looking white vans.  Besides our regular mailman is - well - a - man!  And the one that came today was a woman.  I have it on some very "inside" information that this route for delivering mail is a very desirable one and I know that there is at least one guy that wants the route.  But I like the mailman that we have now.

Whew! I made it!

Remember what I said before about me seeing them get the leaves while I was on my way home?  I got home and went back outside to rake the leaves to the curb so that I could catch them before they got there.  Well I did manage to rake the leaves to the curb but they didn't come and get them so I thought that maybe I missed them.  I saw the other leaves raked to the curb across the street so I thought to myself that I couldn't have missed them - could I?  I know I saw them getting the leaves and even the mailman told me that they were getting the leaves.  Oh well - there wasn't anything I could do about it right now.  But I'm happy to say that a few days later they did indeed come and get the leaves.  I would have captured a picture of it to post but I was too slow!  Oh well - maybe next time.

Christmas Lights?

I must confess that I'm one of the ones guilty of not having Christmas lights (or any other kind of Christmas decoration) on the windows or outside of the house.  On my last errand to the store I noticed that there are a lot of others who don't have them as well.

Personally I want to change this even if it only means having a wreath or something smaller.  I think people get a kick out of seeing Christmas decorations.  It may put them in the holiday mood or even brighten up their spirits.

I saw that someone had a great big giant Santa on their lawn and I have seen a few windows with the simplest of decorations.  I like that there is a variety and that not everyone has the same amount of decorations.  Variety is good!

Somebody is in a really good mood

as they whistle while walking down the street.  It's kind of dark right now and I really can't see who it is but I can definitely hear them.  Usually I will hear the mailman whistling while he is delivering the mail but the mail has already come so this could be somebody else.  But whoever they are they are certainly in a good mood!

Snow is in the forecast!

The weather channel is talking about snow for next week - Tuesday, Wednesday - there abouts........Of course I'm not ready - what else is new!  But I plan to be ready with the rock salt, the snow shovel and the hot chocolate.

I have seen some very interesting things happen in the area when the snow has fallen.  For instance (this was a few years back) but a car was stuck in the snow on the 1800 block of Graham Lane and a couple of residents came out of their house, snow shovels in hand to help get the stuck car out.

One of my neighbors said that we the residents kind of hibernate during the winter and he's right.  If we get a really big snow storm we'll have a hard time of it but I know that everyone will do their darndest to make it through!

Septa is on strike! Day 1

The first day of the Septa strike!

Here is a comment from a Septa Commuter:

Well I should consider myself very lucky in that I don't have to take public transportation to get to and from work every day but I did have to do some errands. So there's no bus so I walk! From around 18th & Cheltenham Ave I walked to Cheltenham and Ogontz and on my way I met a guy who was walking to work. He told me that he worked at the "Dollar" Store that is on the far side of the Cheltenham Mall. He told me it would take him about a half an hour to get there and he decided since the weather was nice that he would get an early start. So we walked and talked while walking the distance. He told me that him and his wife were moving down south - its not so much that he hated the philly area - he said his wife was from down south.

We parted ways when he had to cross Cheltenham Ave to get to his work place. I saw quite a few people walking and we kind of nodded to one another knowing that we each were "stranded" commuters making our ways to where we had to go.

It was pretty much a case of "oh well, Septa's on strike but we still have to go where we have to go!

Hopefully the strike won't last too much longer!

Signed

A Septa Commuter

About The Community Garden(s)

Across the street from where I live is the community gardens.  I know that it is very late in the season but I was writing about the gardens and so I decided to add an entry about them here.

There are people that still are out there tending their garden and its October.  They are a very nice bunch of people and it is really a shame that they are being taken advantage of when others go in there to steal their crops.  All they have to do is ask because a lot of the gardeners there grow a lot more than they will use and they don't mind giving away some of their crops if you just ask!

To All The Cooks In The Area!

You may not know this but one of the reasons why this area seems and feels so "homey" and comfortable is because the smells of those that are cooking can be smelled by everybody and anybody that just happens to be walking past.

Since the weather is warmer that means that when you cook we can smell it from the outside and sometimes it just makes our mouths water!  Mostly this is apparent during the afternoon when people are cooking dinner.

Okay its 8 o'clock at night and the grass is getting cut!

I have really got to hand it to Temple. Whoever that is that they have to cut the grass they are always there - day or night! I can hear them out there now and it occurred to me that "hey it's dark outside!"

Your exact name and address!

I suppose that there is no way to find out exactly how they got the information but I got an email from a company that wants me to sign up to get a lower interest rate mortgage.  This email had my exact name and the address of the property.

From what I can tell from the email there is no name for this company and the return contact information is to an account manager of their PA Branch.

Junk email is annoying and its especially annoying when they have your exact name and address!

Harvey Portner - Some basic information

There has been a lot of people searching for information about our area's Commissioner, Harvey Portner so I thought that I would include some basic information below:

Harvey Portner is Commissioner of Cheltenham Township and is also president of the Board of Commissioners of Cheltenham Township and is district representative of the LaMott district.

Ward 6 - Elkins Park

Harvey Portner, hportner@cheltenham-township.org

The Cheltenham Bus

I was going to start talking about our own little Cheltenham Bus at length but someone recently did a search about it so I'll talk a little bit about it now.

Currently the Cheltenham Bus runs 3 days a week - Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.  It travels through the Cheltenham area starting from the Rowland Community Center and ending at the Glenside Train Station and visa vers.  Roughly speaking there are 3 trips meaning 3 separate times to board the bus at any given stop.  Some of the stops include the Melrose Shopping Center, the Coventry House, the Fox Pavillion and the Cheltenham Mall. 

Of course the bus doesn't run on holidays and residents over the age of 62 can ride free with a Township Transit ID or with a PennDot Id or a Medicare Card.  Other residents can ride by paying a $4 fee but there are trip tickets available in quantities of 10 trips for $10 which comes out to a dollar a trip. 

More information about the Cheltenham Bus (and its routes) can be found at the cheltenham site at:

http://www.cheltenhamtownship.org

or by calling the Township's Administration Building at 215-887-1000

Waiting for the sun to go down......

Sometimes you just don't want to make an entire trip to the grocery store or you run out of something that you need so you decide to make a trip to your local store - at least that is what I'm going to do.  It's been so hot for the last few days that I wanted to wait until the sun went down to avoid as much of the heat and humidity as I could.

Although nothing replaces the supermarket sometimes you just don't want to have to go through all of that.  My next grocery trip isn't for a few days yet.  There are a couple of local stores in my immediate area that I can walk to - although I have walked to the Shoprite in the Cheltenham Mall its something that I really don't look forward to - to get some "necessities".  About the best place (as long as they have what you're looking for) is the "Dollar" store that's on the corner of 19th & Cheltenham.  There's also the gas station at about 17th and Cheltenham but be forwarned you should only use this for emergencies since they are so expensive.  Depending on how far you don't mind walking there is also a Rite Aide at Broad & Cheltenham.

I haven't had a chance to go to the little group of stores in the little mall  on the Cheltenham Side of 19th and Cheltenham Avenue so I don't know too much about those stores there.

Yes, its been VERY hot here!

There have been a number of heat related deaths in the area!  Of course this isn't just limited to the Philadelphia region alone - it's everywhere.

It is sooooooo hot today!

There is a heat advisory for today and I can certainly see why - actually I can feel why!  I had to do some grocery shopping and run a few errands and unfortunately I chose the middle of the day to do it.  As I was coming home I noticed that there weren't many people outside and the air conditioners were running and this is what I wanted to do - be inside with the air conditioner running - which I'm happy to say that I am doing just this thing now!

PS - Of course later I have to take out the trash!

Did they move?

I'm sorry I haven't posted for awhile but I have been very busy.

I noticed that there was a Rent-A-Center that moved into the Cheltenham Mall just above the Shoprite.  Last week when I past by there I noticed that the sign was down (their truck was still parked nearby in the lot) and inside there was no furniture - just the rugs and carpet.  Did they move?  They weren't there for very long.  Which I guess is a sad thing to say for the Cheltenham Mall because now they have another conspicuous building that isn't occupied.

The area is buzzing with activity!

Memorial Day Weekend!

The weather is gorgeous (and breezy) and a lot of people are out.  Some are working either in their garden or doing yard work.  I can hear it all from my window while I'm at the computer.

Latest Search - Norman Triplett

According to the stats on my page someone did a websearch for a picture of Norman Triplett.  I do know that the Triplett Family name is known very well in this area.

The best place to get donuts for a Sunday Morning?

So far the only 2 places that I know of to get the best tasting donuts are the Dunkin Donuts that is located on Ogontz Ave where it turns into route 309 - its kind of a walk down from the Aldis. The other place is where I get my donuts now which is the Shoprite also located on Ogontz Ave kind of right across from the Aldis. If you're driving its no problem but the Dunkin Donuts location is definitely a longer walk if you're taking the bus. On Sundays the Shoprite is open as early as 6am.

Latest search - Yoga in Elkins Park?

I'm guessing that who was ever searching for this was looking for Yoga classes in the Elkins Park area.  I believe I have one or 2 listed on my LaMott directory at:

http://members.aol.com/Roseb44170l/direct.htm

Apple Blossom Time!

My backyard neighbor has an apple tree and its blossoming now.  It's almost to the point where I could almost reach out and touch it!

There is also an apple blossom tree right near the corner of Willow and Cedar kind of next to the mailbox that's on the corner.  I don't know who's responsibility its is to sweep that area though.  It's sort of like the back part that is wall separated by that big stone wall.

It's Cold!

Weren't we in the 70's just a few days ago?  Now it is so cold that the radiator has come on!  I was watching the weather channel and it showed snow in Pittsburgh!  I mean its a ways away but its still close enough to us to make a difference.  That must be why its snowing there and colder here.  Mind you I like the cooler weather but there's no sense in me getting used to it because it will be HOT soon!

Everybody is out enjoying the day!

I do have to admit that it is gorgeous outside today.  I can tell by how the sun is shining outside my kitchen window.  My neighbor is out in his backyard enjoying the sun.  (I think he fell asleep (-:

I hear people taking a leisurly walk outside and I hear someone else doing work because I can hear some type of drill going.  Yes, its gorgeous outside and alas I'm inside - there's work that has to be done )-:

Cemetaries?

While sending a message about AOL's decision to discontinue access to the Usenet Groups I mentioned about a particular binary newsgroup that is devoted to pictures of cemetaries and that made me think of the cemetary in our area - Chelten Hills.  There is another cemetary that is near but for the moment I can't think of its name and I feel that one is more located in Phila. than here in our area.  Actually there's another one right across the way from the Cedarbrook Mall - sorry, don't know the name of that one either. 

So who is the student.......

that is playing drums across the street?  It's about 5:45 in the afternoon and who ever they are - they don't sound very good!  Hopefully with enough practice they will sound better!

A Lost Dog?

I looked out my kitchen window today and saw a big german shephard/mixed dog roaming around. He's very big and he was wandering around. Now I know that one of my neighbors has a dog but I don't know if this was their dog. Everyone please check to see if your dog is missing. They just shouldn't be wandering around - especially in this cold weather!

We're in the midst of yet Another snowstorm!

Need I say more!

Another Snowstorm!

Yes, its snowing right now.  Started during the afternoon rush hour today (Thursday).  The weather forecast also says that more snow is coming!  Now I could enjoy this if I wasn't at a loss for some supplies!  Grrrrrrrrrrrrr!

No sooner is the snow melting then...

comes the weather forecast for snow showers tonight! I was just getting used to being able to see the ground again!

Everybody is digging out!

Everybody is digging out of the snow.  Digging out their cars, guys are shoveling the sidewalks and guess what?  It started snowing again!  We're supposed to get 1/2 to an inch of additional snow.

YIKES! The Snow has Cometh!

It has been snowing for 5 hours straight now!  I went out the front door and could barely see beyond the end of the block!  I haven't seen any activity but I heard the firehouse (LaMott Firehouse Co. #1) making noise.  If you have cable TV you can find out the latest information relating to the weather if you tune in to channel #42.  If you don't have cable access you can tune into KYW and the local news.

No Snow huh?

Of course we know that snow was forecasted for today. It was supposed to start around noon time. Well, while I was out I was talking to someone and I mentioned how I wanted to get home before it started snowing. They huffed and said that it wasn't going to snow and you know for a moment I believed them. I mean the sky was kind of gray and it was just bitterly cold. But I still made the effort to get home before noon.

Guess what? It snowed! I'm glad I got home before it started!

Yuck! - Trash Day - A Necessary Evil!

Man was it cold outside today! I think it was 15 degrees! Had to put the trash out and since there was a holiday the trash pickup is a day later! Had more trash than usual to set out which is why I did want to set it out because I didn't want to miss the pickup.

One thing that you have to be careful about is arranging the trash so that the cats (and other animals) don't get to it. When they do they start picking at the trash bag and the trash just spills out all everywhere!

It's a foggy night!

Kind of reminds me of those pictures of London during the time of Jack the Ripper!

It's also rainy and colder. Meanwhile I'm inside typing away at my computer.

"Going Out of Business"

While traveling I noticed that the Frank's Nursery in the Cedarbrook Mall is going out of business. I saw their "Going Out of Business" sale signs hanging up over the store. I was quite surprised by this. The store has always been a favorite of mine especially when I'm shopping for plants and herbs for my garden.

I've heard about Sears being bought out but I haven't heard anything about the Frank's stores and I was very surprised and a little shocked that the store was closing.

Oak Lane Express Pizza?

I got their brochure in my mailbox a few days ago. I have never been to this place because I have a pizza place that I go to that's just down the hill. However my place doesn't deliver and this place does. Their food looks good and yummy plus they sell ice cream too - which my pizza place doesn't.

I may go incognito and give a review of this place!

If you have used them then let me know what you think of them.

Christmas Music Already!

I was listening to the radio last night and there was one station that was already playing Christmas music!  It kind of bugged me because I think it's too early to start playing Christmas music marathons already.  I would much rather enjoy the anticipation of the Thanksgiving Holidays before hearing Christmas music all day long!
<p>I can understand that businesses want to get as much of that Christmas crowd as they can possibly get but personally I hate listening to Christmas music being shoved down our throats so soon!
<p>Oh well, there are other stations that I can listen to in the meantime!

Loose Leaf pickup is scheduled for this Friday!

I hope I make it in time! I just didn't prepare for this in advance. There were (and still are) so many things to do!

I did get a chance to observe the area when I went to vote yesterday and at least I'm not the only one who has some raking to do!

Election Day! - Yes I went and voted!

Since my mother and I are registered in the same area we both went together. The weather was quite nice and there were a lot of people out, especially to vote. The line wasn't very crowded - though we both went around noon-time there were about 4 people ahead of us and about 6 behind us waiting in line. We didn't have any problems voting although I do think that the person that used the voting booth before me didn't cast their vote because their choice was still lit up! It's my understanding that once you press the screen where you pick your choice it will light up and then you press the "cast vote" button and your vote is counted and the screen (meaning the light) goes out so that the person after you won't know how you voted.

As always the voting booths were at the LaMott Community Center and there were several people out and about. There is a handicapped ramp for those that need it and coffee and donuts were being served just outside the community center. So if you haven't gone and voted yet please be sure to do so.

I heard my first "holiday" commercial!

So I guess its time to start thinking about the holidays again!

• Halloween-There are still some trick or treating that goes on during this time but not as much
  

• Thansgiving - this is mostly going to involve shopping - especially the turkey. I was so glad I did my "Thanksgiving" shopping early enough to avoid the crowds and I plan to do the same thing this year!
  

• Christmas - the same thing about the shopping applies here as well! I don't start putting up decorations until the 2nd week of December. But I definitely want to avoid the crowds by shopping early.

The Wind is howling.....

I can hear it just outside my window. The temperature is supposed to go down to the 40's tonight! It's getting quite chilly and I can hear the leaves ruffling along the street. We have a lot of trees here which means that we have a lot of leaves as well.

One of the nice things about this area is that they provide leaf pickups - two loose leaf pickups and two bagged leaves pickups.

Chats?

I got this email

>>I just wanted to know if you're from Cheltenham in the UK or if you're from Cheltenham Township in PA like me? It never occurred to me to add chat capabilities but it doesn't sound like a bad ideal.<<

Actually adding chat capabilities doesn't sound like a bad idea. Since I do moderate a LaMott mailing list on Yahoo that also gives chat capabilities as well. The chats could be both on a regular schedule as well as impromptu chats as well.

Local Transportation

We have our own little local transportation bus for the Cheltenham area. I just remembered it today when I saw it stop at the Supemarket. It only runs Mondays thru Fridays but its still a good thing to have. I think seniors ride for free but residents can use it (which I hope to soon) also by paying the fare - which is $3 per trip. I have find out more about it.

I spoke with one of the drivers - he was very nice.

Comments!

I hpe that it doesn't get to the point where I forget about this blog and then there are like huge gaps between time entries. There's so much to do on the computer. I'll be like surfing around and find a real interesting page and have to investigate further. Then there's chats and email that I should catch up on and the time just goes by so fast!

Hurricane Jeanne - Rain

We must be having the remnants of hurricane Jeanne in our area now. It's been raining since late last night. The heavier rain started later this morning and there are flood watches in effect.

There's a "nip" in the air!

It was so cold last night! Had to shut the windows. The heater kicked on as well. I never thought it would get cooler this soon! Soon I'll be raking leaves! The heater is on again tonight - I just can't believe it!

Fall officially starts this upcoming Wednesday!

Happy Labor Day!

The weather was (or should I say is) cooler than normal for this time of the year. Wish I could have been celebrating but I have been catching up on some work.

The students have been moving into the dorm over at Tyler Art School. I've heard someone playing drums and they have been playing their music loud too. Plus there's the ever pleasant noise of car doors slamming as they move in.

Sometimes they have become a bit of a problem parking in front of people's driveways. I'm told the police have talked to them about it but.................

My First Post!

Hello World!

This is my blog about the area that I live in - LaMott, PA!

It is located just outside the city limits of Philadelphia and is located in Montgomery Township.

Here is a link to my LaMott Webpage(s)

http://members.aol.com/Roseb44170/lamott.dir/lamott.htm

The Water Company?

What's going on with the water company? They have been digging and drilling for the last two weeks! This must be some water problem that we're having! I did talk to one of them and they said that it was a problem with the pipes.