Archive: January, 2013
This just in from Towamencin Township Police:
"WEDNESDAY JANUARY 30, 2013
The Towamencin Township Police Department, working a joint investigation with the Pennsylvania State Police, is seeking the public’s help in identifying the depicted individual responsible for credit card fraud and theft related offenses. The actor was using cloned credit cards to purchase gift cards during the second week in January of this year at different Walgreens Stores located in the Flourtown, Drexel Hill and the Feasterville-Trevose areas. The actor also utilized a cloned credit card with the Philadelphia Parking Authority on Street M in the City of Philadelphia on January 10, 2013. The actor was wearing a Billionaire Boys Club varsity-type jacket with white sleeves that displayed the roman numerals MMX111 (2013) on the back. Employees of Walgreens and other pharmacy type retail locations are encouraged to be vigilant for this individual and report any suspicious activity, including the use of multiple credit cards, immediately to police.
Please contact the Towamencin Township Police Department at 215-368-7606 or the Pennsylvania State Police, Troop K, Skippack at 610-584-1250 with information concerning the actor’s identity."
Israel and Montgomery County are criss-crossing in a couple of ways this week when it comes to counterterrorism.
Lower Merion Police Superintendent Michael McGrath is one of 15 participants from the United States in Israel this week attending the Northeast Counterterrorism Seminar, an "intensive training program conducted in cooperation with the Israel National Police," according to a Lower Merion Township news release. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) organizes and funds the training, which is in its fourth year.
"The group is attending high-level briefings on the operational response to terrorism, border and airport security, maintaining safety and access to holy sites, the role of advanced technology in policing, and the effective use of the media during a crisis, the ADL's website says.
Maybe it was the temptation of cold weather, iced-over ponds, and the Flyers playing again – that's what Susan Barker, recreation director for Upper Providence Township is hoping anyhow.
Township police reported that sometime between Friday and Monday, an unknown person or persons took one of two hockey goals from the rink in the rec center, located in Anderson Farm Park. No simple theft was this. The goal has a red crossbar and outerposts, and white interior posts and a net. Barker estimated it weighs about 100 pounds. Police put its value at $675.
Police haven't determined whether the goals was taken as scrap to resell or for more playful reasons.
Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman is being honored yet again for her efforts to protect children and youths. The 47-year-old D.A. is in New York City tonight accepting the National Child Labor Committee's Lewis Hine Award.
The award is named for a photographer who documented exploitation of children in the early 20th century, and honors "individuals who, as professionals or volunteers, give of themselves and go the extra mile for the wellbeing of young people," according to a NCLC press release.
As Montco's chief prosecutor, Ferman helped found the Montgomery Child Advocacy Project to get pro bono legal services for abused children, and the Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center, which coordinates government and social services responses to create a more comfortable environment for young victims.
The third of five "Conversations with your Commissioners" meeting that was supposed to take place tonight at the Upper Perkiomen Valley School District Education Center in Pennsburg, has been rescheduled to Monday, Feb. 25, 7 p.m. Location is the same – Upper Perkiomen Valley School District Education Center, 2229 E. Buck Rd., Pennsburg, PA 18073. The other remaining tour dates are:
Monday, Feb. 4 – 7 pm
Emily Babay of the philly.com breaking news desk has this story on the Cynwyd line serving being restored with the train leaving at 12:54 p.m. today. 'Twas a switch problem, which was the problem. Read Emily's story at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/SEPTA_suspends_Cynwyd_Line_service.html.
"As previous Chairmen have done for victims or their family members, I met with the family of Ellen Robb to discuss the parole process and to help them understand the factors the Board considers when making parole decisions. In addition, we have procedures in place with the Office of Victim Advocate that allow for the Board to reconsider a parole decision if additional information is received after a parole decision is made and the offender has not yet been released from prison. We followed these procedures in the case of Rafael Robb.
Proposed rail service to King of Prussia will be examined by SEPTA officials in three public sessions in Montgomery County next week.
Tuesday, 4 to 8 p.m. at Valley Forge Visitors Center.
Wednesday, 4 to 8 p.m. at Villanova University.
The answer: They both dream.
This year, Elmwood Park Zoo wanted to honor Martin Luther King Day by offering free admission and an educational program. 
Education Manager Sam Navarino brought out some furry and feathered friends to illustrate the human-to-animal dreaming connection.
Until animals develop the ability to talk, we'll never know if they have "dreams" as we understand them -- metaphorical scenarios that in some way replicate life. But Navarino said studies have shown that animals do experience brain activity similar to ours when they sleep, and that interfering with those "dream" periods will throw off the animal's survival instincts.
They have no tour t-shirts as far as we can tell, but the show goes on -- next in Lower Merion Township, as the county commissioners continue to meet the public at locations around the region. The "Conversations with your Commissioners" conversation (with your commissioners) will be 7 p.m., this Wednesday, at the Lower Merion Township building, 75 E. Lancaster Ave., in Ardmore.
"We urge residents to attend these conversations so they can hear what we have tried to do during our first year in office, and we can hear what issues are most important to our residents," saidcommission chair Josh Shapiro.
Here are the other tour dates:
Contact Davis at cdavis@phillynews.com or 610-313-8109.
Contact Parks at 610-313-8117, jparks@philly.com, or https://twitter.com/JS_Parks.
