We Are Blacking Out in the Median…

Blogger J Lansdale offers thoughts on the Boston Marathon attack.

Has Gun Control Gone Too Far?

A Pennsylvania tot gets suspended from kindergarten.

On the heels of the events at Sandy Hook, a shooting at an elementary school in Connecticut, the nation has been abuzz with gun control debates. This weekend, USAToday reported that a Pennsylvania girl, waiting for her bus to kindergarten, was suspended from school for her actions. "Waiting in line for the bus, a Pennsylvania kindergartner tells her pals she's going to shoot them with a Hello Kitty toy that makes soap bubbles," said the article. The act landed the 5-year-old Eastern Pennsylvania girl in for suspension, as her district cited "terroristic threats" as its reasoning. Can a 5-year-old commit a terroristic threat? Are our schools going too far? Are they not going far enough? Voice your concerns, in favor of or against the act, …

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mitchell brasher

8:36 am on Wednesday, February 20, 2013

It is the parents job to keep these things from their children not the police or my government.   more ›

NP Safe Schools Committee Proposes $150K in Security Upgrades

Jennifer Lawson of The Reporter wrote that there are no plans for armed guards or school police officers

Weeks after a North Penn School District school safety forum — and in the wake of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut — North Penn School District’s Safe Schools Committee proposed $150,000 in security upgrades Thursday night, according to Jennifer Lawson of The Reporter. Proposed upgrades include more cameras, portable radios and card swipe and buzzer systems, according to Lawson. There is no plan for armed guards or school police officers, Lawson wrote. Costs for the upgrades would come from the capital budget, according to the article. Research and input from law enforcement, administrators and parents is necessary before upgrades are implemented, Lawson wrote. Read more at this link.

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Jogger Causes Lockdown at School in Franconia

Students told faculty they had seen an armed man in a ski mask.

A man who was out jogging is believed to have been the cause of a lockdown at West Broad Street Elementary School in Franconia on Thursday afternoon, police said. The school was placed on lockdown at about 1:40 p.m. after three fourth-grade students on the school's playground reported seeing a man in a black sweater and black-hooded mask with a gun along a nearby tree line. Franconia Township Police Chief Joseph Kozeniewski said authorities were "confident" that the children had mistaken the unidentified jogger for the armed person. "We are not sure where [the children] came up with the idea of a man carrying a gun," Kozeniewski said. The neighborhoods and streets adjacent to the 530 student, K-5 school were cordoned off as North Penn …

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North Penn School Safety Forum Reveals Changes, Shortcomings

Led by North Penn Safe Schools Coordinator Ray Wilson, a forum Monday night on school safety, in the wake of the Sandy Hook tragedy, presented what's keeping students safe and what's going to make them safer

Some things were revealed Monday night at a school safety forum at North Penn High School that informed parents what's keeping their children safe and what's being scrutinized to make them safer. Namely, the possibility of an armed, trained and certified security guard at the high school. Parents also discovered that there is an absence of staffed security at the elementary schools, as North Penn High School and the middle schools are viewed as facilities with higher than average (and older) troublemakers. Specifics of security measures at the schools in the district were generalized, as not to jeopardize them, said Superintendent Curt Dietrich. "During the week since the tragedy at Sandy Hook, we've received emails from parents, …

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Tony Di Domizio

8:12 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013

He isn't 31 years off the job. He recently retired from his job after 31 years at Hatfield Township Police.   more ›

Five Things to Know Today: January 7

North Penn School District hosts a community forum on school safety from 6:45 p.m. to 8 p.m. at North Penn High School in Towamencin

1. North Penn School District hosts a community forum on school safety from 6:45 p.m. to 8 p.m. at North Penn High School in Towamencin. Because of the recent tragedy at Sandy Hook, the issue of school safety is heightened bother nationally and locally. The panel discussion will feature Superintendent Dr. Curtis Dietrich and district Coordinator of Safe Schools Ray Wilson, along with members of the district Safe Schools Committee and representatives from behavioral health agencies. 2. Lansdale Democratic Committee meets at 7:30 p.m. in the Wissahickon Park Building at East Main Street and Lakeview Drive, Lansdale. The agenda includes 2013 elections for Lansdale council, mayor and tax collector, a party for volunteers in February and …

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Gallery: Candlelight Vigil for Sandy Hook

West Ward residents, led by Ray Liberto, organized a candlelight vigil for the victims of Sandy Hook Elementary in Railroad Plaza in Lansdale Sunday night, where each victim's name was read and a balloon released in their honor

It was the definition of "community." Organized by the west ward neighborhood in Lansdale, more than 100 citizens came together at Railroad Plaza in the borough Sunday night — candles aflame — for a vigil for the victims of the Sandy Hook massacre in Newtown, CT. Led by resident Ray Liberto, the vigil lasted about a half hour. Trinity Lutheran Church Rev. Paul Lutz opened the night with a benediction. The most touching part of the evening was the release of green and white balloons upon the reading of each victim's name by resident Drew Stockmal. Resident Lisa Patrick assisted with the balloons. "It was powerful, emotional night," said Liberto. "I thought, with the Facebook response, we would see 500, but think it was 400. We had 300 …

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Five Things to Know Today: December 22

Jumpin’ Jack's Inflatable Playland and Party Center, 777 Schwab Road, Hatfield, will hold a Snowflake Project from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Children can decorate a paper snowflake for the school being attended by Sandy Hook children in January

1. Jumpin’ Jack's Inflatable Playland and Party Center, 777 Schwab Road, Hatfield, will hold a Snowflake Project from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Children can decorate a paper snowflake for the school being attended by Sandy Hook children in January. 2. Today is the last day to enjoy the Lansdale Business Association Holiday Tree Display at 311 W. Main St., Lansdale, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 3. The Water Gallery in Lansdale holds a Holiday Trunk Show, with specials on jewelry and fine gifts, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. There will be live music, song, cookies and beverages. Purchase Celtic music CDs while you are there. 4. Mrs. Santa will be at Coffeehead in Kulpsville from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.  Have some fun, cookies and milk. Santa Claus will be escorted …

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North Penn, LC, Souderton Schools React to Connecticut Shooting

Jennifer Lawson of The Reporter in Lansdale spoke with officials at two major public school districts, as well as Lansdale Catholic, on safety in their districts