News & Gossip
Former Conshy cop Anthony J. Santoro pleaded guilty last week in Montgomery County Court to a misdemeanor charge of theft by unlawful taking. Santoro was immediately sentenced by Judge Steven T. O’Neill to probation, and also to make $1,500 in restitution to the borough. As you may remember he was caught stealing from the parking meter funds.
Authorities in Montco suspect that Catherine Kelly, the Conshohocken woman found dead in the Schuylkill last Wednesday, ended up in the river after sleepwalking. It is reported that she suffered from narcolepsy, which causes excessive sleepiness and daytime sleep attacks.
Expect a fall planting to kick-off the Community Garden being established in Conshy.
Last week we reported about two months after the fact that Maloney’s had closed. I got an email from the owner, Mike Maloney, recently and he stated, “Just got back from vacation. Yes. We closed … just not enough business and it was starting to become too difficult to work with Plymouth Township. We had a year out clause and we opted to exercise it. We are in the process of opening another place in Ardmore soon.”
Margo Heleniak of Conshohocken was the Times Herald’s Grocery Giveaway winner today. You can enter to win by clicking here.
HOT Productions to hold auditions Tuesday Aug. 16 at 7:00 p.m. for “The Price” by Leon Newton (a play with music. Sign in is at 6:30 p.m. at 334 Summit Ave., Conshohocken, PA. Please be prepared with a short song and read or dance (if asked). Looking for actors, singers and dancers of all ages, types and ethnicities. No play/stipend, but character breakdown available at audition. Contact information: 484-213-5143.
Conshohocken-based Simple Brands was the center of controversy this week. Simple Brands is the company that supplied the wine vending machines that were installed in a limited number of grocery stores. According to reports employees of the LCB and a committee strongly recommended against the vending machine plan. After the committee’s report came out, it is alleged that an attorney with the LCB told employees to destroy the report and delete all digital copies. The LCB eventually went forward with the vending plan. Why? It is alleged that people involved with Simple Brands were close with then Governor Ed Rendell. The commonwealth is also now claiming that Simple Brands owes $1 million. Simple Brands disputes this.
A wrap-up story on Fight Night at the Fel. You can also see some video and photos taken by MoreThanTheCurve.com here.
Some guy named Tom runs a lot and recently heard some footsteps behind him.
In follow-up to the Super Wawa story last week regarding how many anti-Wawa letters were received by members of Borough Council, Council member Carolyn Maye reported to me this week that she received “under 10” letters.
Zoning Snooze Fest
About 40 people suffered through a Zoning Board meeting on Monday night. Most were there to support The StoneRose’s request to build an extension on the back of their building to house the kitchen. However, first up on the agenda was a request by Ciavarelli Funeral Home to build a crematorium on its property. I always assumed every funeral home had one, but I learned it is rather unusual to have one, especially in the immediate area. Ciavarelli currently subs this business out to a location in Philadelphia. Well there was a question regarding the height of the new building and this request was extended until the October meeting. No one showed up to show support or disagreement with this request.
It was an hour-and-a-half later when they moved onto the request by The StoneRose. Their request was approved after a presentation that stressed the enhanced safety of moving the kitchen to a new structure out of the center of the property and no longer below an apartment. Two neighbors showed up to protest the move due to parking concerns and trash removal and storage.
I had never been to a Zoning Board meeting before and I found the whole process a bit draining. The StoneRose was adding a small structure, 15′ x 20′, to the back of the building that no one will ever see and this required a lawyer and a paid expert to make the request. Isn’t there an easier way to handle these type of minor requests?
Candy of the Week
Edwards-Freeman Nut Company has a wide variety of sugar free options, including these Sugar Free Gummi Fruit Salad.
Real Estate
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Foodie Events
Every Tuesday, Blackfish offers a four course dinner featuring a different ingredient. You can see the upcoming featured ingredients here. Price is $45 per person. Call 610-397-0888 for more info.
Stella Blu is now offering their Lobster Summer Special. The menu offers two two courses for $35.00. The menu features lobster prepared eight different ways.
Events, Happenings & Specials
Totaro’s is hosting a Bourbon Tasting and Food Pairing with three of Kentucky’s finest bourbons on Wednesday, August 17th. The menu pairings include jalapeno sliders, Bourbon-glazed Salmon and Short ribs. Tickets are $25.00. Click here for full details.
Pork Chop Comedy Productions presents The Conshy Comedy Showcase on Saturday, September 3rd from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at Totaro’s. Join some of Philly’s best working comics for an evening of high voltage comedy. Comics performing include Mike Rainey,John Kensil, Jack Martin and Darin Patrick. The evening will be hosted by Pat Kelly. There is a $10 cover/two item minimum.
Conshy is hosting a National Championship! The inaugural USA Rugby League National Championship game will be hosted by the Philadelphia Fight Rugby League Club and feature the New Haven Warriors battle the hometown Philadelphia Fight for the title on Saturday August 27th at 3:00 p.m. Gates open at noon with a pre-game match and other activities. Tickets are available by clicking here. The After Party will be held at 8 East.
LeRoux School of the Arts is having an Open House on Tuesday, August 23rd from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Cradles to Crayons is holding their first ever Young Friends Miniature Golf Tournament on Thursday, September 8th at Tee’s. Teams of 4 are $100 and an Individual Registration is $30. Local bars, restaurants, and businesses will be sponsoring the event as well as generously donating appetizers and prizes! There will be a post event happy hour at the Gypsy Saloon, their 18th hole sponsor.
There is a Men’s League Softball League forming in Conshohocken starting the Tuesday after Labor Day and running Monday thru Thursday for seven weeks. Each team plays a double header each week. To learn more contact Tim Mulvey @ timothymulvey@gmail.com.
The Borough is holding summer concerts in Sutcliffe Park. The next concert features the Norris Tones on August 16th from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and the Paul Moore Band will perform on August 23rd from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
The second annual “I Fall in Conshy” Bar Crawl will be held on October 1st.
The Philadelphia Fight Vixens are holding their 1st annual Bikini Contest to crown Miss Vixen 2011 at 8 East starting at 8:00 p.m.! There will be a DJ, dancing and your vote counts! Drink specials all night, photos with the girls and more. Yours truly has been asked to be a judge.
Business News
MoreThanTheCurve.com has created a Business Group on LinkedIN. If you would like to join, follow the link and request to be a member. This group is geared towards business networking for people who live and/or work in Conshohocken and West Conshohocken. I would love to get more people and companies in the big buildings involved with the site and community.
Geof McKernan, CEO, NSM Insurance Group, announced that Vito Gaeta has joined NSM Insurance Group as Director, Construction Programs. Vito previously held the position of Senior Underwriter for ACE USA.