West Glenmoore, PA - Beautiful. Green. Home.

Tax rebates to start arriving Monday

The federal government, eager to boost the flagging economy, will start distributing special tax rebates on Monday - five days earlier than expected, the Treasury Department said Thursday.

My thoughts: I think what would help boost the crumbling economy would be to release some of the oil reserves to offset the ever increase in gas prices.  My prediction, $3.89/gal by Memorial Day Weekend. 

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Tags: tax, gas prices, economy, stimulus package

File Your Local Township Taxes Online This Year with Berkheimer

For those of you waiting until the last minute to file your taxes, whether it’s Federal, State or Local you can take care of all of those tax filings online for free. I typically use Turbo Tax to file, and did so again this year, but I know that the IRS (www.irs.gov) offers an E-filing method as does Pennsylvania.

But how many Glenmoore Residents know that Berkheimer has improved it’s online presence and now allows free electronic tax filing. It’s quick and simple, you can even pay via ACH (from your bank) or by credit card (but they tack on 3% of the total payment as a fee).

Anyway, thought I’d just reminder folks about Berkheimer’s services this year.

Learn more about online filing with Berkheimer

Daily Local Article About Township In Need Of More Funds For Budget

In today’s Daily Local and on DailyLocal.com (article here but not sure how long the link is active) the headline on the web site was

Budget calls for more funds from Wallace

BRANDYWINE REGIONAL POLICE SPENDING PLAN FOR 2008 INCLUDES INCREASES FOR YEARLY PROTECTION SERVICES

Well I just wanted to give everyone this information. I have linked to the article above and to the Sycamore Lane Blog with the full article posted.

A twist to the Greenfield Project and some other thoughts

I was catching up on The Wallace Reporter this evening and wanted to link back to a post regarding some of the strange twists going on with Mr Greenfield and his development project in Wallace Township.

It now appears that Mr. Greenfield has abandoned his efforts to work with the Township toward a mutually acceptable solution. The Township has scheduled a hearing on his Conditional Use applications and the lawyers are now in control. Read more here

I’m not fully opposed to this development as long as things are done correctly and keep the township as pristine as it can be. This development project brings back some worries I had regarding the United Sports Training Center being developed in West Bradford Township back in 1998-1999 or there abouts. I lived less than a 1/4 mile from the site and recall the first weekend it opened it jammed up Marshalton-Thorndale Road for hours. The USTC opened the doors to an Arts & Crafts festival (if I remember correctly) leaving a lot of the residents in the area concerned that not only sporting events would take place at the facility but other cultural events. I believe the original plans to allow a concert venue and lodging were in the works but were shot down thankfully.

So in the end, despite the influx of minivans carrying loads of soccer parents and kids, I feel that the USTC has brought a lot of great events (college fairs, fundraising events, seminars, etc) and a variety of sports for children to my old township of West Bradford. Even President Bush made a visit to the center one morning in October 2003. Now that was a mess, roads were shut down by the Secret Service. Ugh! And I know in a few years I’ll probably be making my weekend commutes to the sports complex with my two children for soccer or some sport.

So back to the Greenfield project, I am excited that the township did pass the Woodlands Protection Ordinance a few weeks ago, however, whatever happens with the Greenfield Development the Ordinance will not apply to the them. That is unfortunate, but I do hope that if Greenfield does get the approval to develop the land, that they do so with respect to Wallace residents, the woodland, the animals and the beauty! People love visiting our home and neighborhood and we always hear from our friends, “Wow, what a beautiful drive from Exton to your house!” I know that is the main reason my wife and I moved out here, we wanted a good amount of land and the beauty of the surrounding countryside.

PA Residents Struggling with Turnpike Noise

Don’t just think the PA Turnpike noise issues are only affecting us in Glenmoore…other communities along the turnpike are voicing concerns to their State Senators and the PA Turnpike Commission. One of these communities is on Boone Way in Lansdale, PA. Residents there are fighting for sound barriers along their section of the Northeast PA Turnpike extension. Last week residents of Boone Way met with Senator Wanderling, Kate Harper and the PA Turnpike Commission regarding how they perform sound decibel tests.

The Reporter, a local newspaper, along with NBC10 reporter, Dawn Timmeny, were on site for interviews and to hear first hand the awful traffic sounds along their residential street. Read the rest of this entry »

Woodlands/Wetlands Preservation Ordinance Passed By Township

Image via Wikipedia

At last nights township Board of Directors meeting the Woodlands/Wetlands Preservation Ordinance was passed. With opposition only coming from Greenfield and Heim who are creating a development and Township Supervisor Bryan McDonaugh, the other two Supervisors, Janet Grashof and Bob Bock both voted to pass the Woodlands/Wetlands Preservation ordinance. The ordinance will slightly raise the regulations on developers but leave the individual homeowner alone. However, Heim/Greenfield were dismayed they may be required to leave a few trees and plan to protect the waterways by the ordinance.

Heim/Greenfield plan a country club, spa, 18 hole golf course and 300 homes by combining their acreage of the 283 acre Heim Farm on Devereux Road and the 312 acre tract owned by Greenfield on Marshall Road. You can view a PDF version of the development plans by clicking the link below.

Download & View Greenfield Development Concept Plans

Many residents spoke out for preservation of the canopy of trees as we lose more land here to development. Issues including climate change and loss of property value which comes from over-development.

At the end of the meeting a letter was read by Wallace resident, Cathy Poole, truly thanking Supervisor Janet Grashof for coming to our August 25th turnpike meeting and she explained to the group about the difficulties of being “neighbors” with the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Come out and support the Wallace Woodlands Preservation Bill

On Wednesday, October 3rd at 7:30, the Wallace Township Board of Supervisor’s meeting will be held and we will hopefully see the Woodlands Preservation Bill signed. This bill will protect many of the trees (and those creatures living within) that will lose their lives when the 1,000 new homes are put on some of the most pristine land in Wallace Township. It DOES NOT take away any home owner’s right to cut trees except in extreme situations. Please come out and support the passage of this ordinance so that our children will have some heritage trees to admire. For further information call Cathy Poole, 610-942-3440. Please come and show your support.

For more about Open Space Preservation in Chester County check out Arboreality. They have blogged about numerous Preserves around the county.

Go to Arboreality

What is Highway Traffic Noise?

In browsing around the web this evening I decided to search on “PA Turnpike Traffic Noise barriers”. My search led me to a few pages but then I landed on this one and wanted to share it with everyone.

It is a web page from the US Dept of Transporation Federal Highway Association on the Noise of traffic.

Give it a good read to learn about the constant “hum” of the traffic in our backyards.

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/htnoise.htm

Help Protect Our Woodlands

We would very much like to encourage everyone to attend the Oct 3 Board of Supervisors meeting (7:30 pm) where there will be the public hearing concerning the new SALDO ordinance, and if possible the Sept 19 (8:30 am) public hearing for zoning. The ordinance will protect our woodlands from the axe of development, especially the large species. Please come out and see what your tax dollars go to. If you have any questions please contact Cathy Poole.

Volunteers Needed to Help Keep Site Up to Date

Anyone out there that has a little free time and a desire to help out with this web site/blog can email Jeff Tincher or Cathy Poole.

Click on the Contact Us Page for information.