The Memo: July 15-18, 2011

Another week, another list of Montgomery County stories from the weekend you may have missed:

The good news? New housing construction in Montgomery County increased last year for the first time in five years. The bad news? The 1,523 new units built (construction completed and sold/rented as well) last year is the second fewest number of units built in any single year in the county since 1982. [Intelligencer]

Financing for Souderton's Broad Street theater renovation stands on the verge of finalization. A group of investors plans to turn the historic building into a venue for live music performances, screening of second-run movies and a few snacks at an adjoining café. Estimated cost? $5 million – financed in part from loans from Souderton Borough and Montgomery County [Souderton Independent]

A plaque  honoring Ambler's namesake was unveiled Sunday at the newly renovated station on SEPTA's Lansdale/Doylestown Regional Rail Line. An interesting bit of history: The borough was named after a Quaker widow credited with saving countless lives after rushing to the scene of a train wreck that killed 59 people there in 1856. [Inquirer]

As the "Abington 6" – a group of sextuplets born to a Feasterville couple earlier this year – prepare to go home, the Intelligencer takes an interesting look on how the parents are grappling with the prospect of six new additions. [Intelligencer]

Let the public protests begin! A handful of Skippack residents have gripes about Gov. Corbett's plan to replace Graterford State Prison with a new facility. Among them, the plans put the facility too close to commercial and residential districts. [Mercury]