From the BCCT.
Gym coming to building at center of dispute
Lawyers say a federal lawsuit over a strip club denied at the same building is moving forward.
By DANNY ADLER
A fitness center is coming to a Morrisville location that’s been the focus of a federal lawsuit over a New Jersey company’s constitutional right to put a strip club and a commercial sign there.
Signs posted at the Stockham Building in Morrisville’s downtown district announce the future opening of Champion Fitness Center, even though the building’s owner and a possible lessee are suing the borough and its zoning hearing board.
While the lawsuit goes through U.S. District Court in Philadelphia, owners of the mostly vacant building are moving on.
The gym was part of the proposed plan for the Stockham Building, a four-story masonry structure at the southeast corner of Bridge Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. Bucks County records say the building was built in 1927.
It’s unclear when the 24-hour gym will open and which floor — or floors — it will occupy. Some exercise and office equipment can be seen through the new ground floor windows, which until recently were boarded up.
The newspaper was unsuccessful in reaching Champion Fitness Center owner Tarek Hassieb for more information.
Even with the apparent signs of progress for the 18,800-squarefoot building, lawyers said they’re continuing the federal suit.
Stockham Interests LLC, the landlord, and 10 Enterprises LLC, a lessee, said Morrisville’s ordinances prohibit “First Amendment protected expression” to bring the strip club to the Stockham Building. The suit was filed a few months after zoning officials in May denied variances to allow the club.
The borough has challenged that its ordinances are not unconstitutional and that “adult entertainment” is not permitted in the Stockham Building’s central commercial zoning district. According to borough officials, Morrisville allows adult entertainment establishments in the borough’s industrial-zoned areas between Route 1 and West Philadelphia Avenue.
There is a strip club and bar, Sugar and Spice, about one-third of a mile south of the Stockham Building on Pennsylvania Avenue. Sugar and Spice is zoned residential, but the club is grandfathered in, zoning officials said.
Luke Lirot, an attorney from Clearwater, Fla., representing Stockham Interests and 10 Enterprises, said in a telephone interview last week that Morrisville is attempting to “zone out” adult businesses. Borough solicitor James Downey III has said Morrisville has its zoning for “good municipal planning.”
The Pennsylvania Department of State’s Web site lists the president of 10 Enterprises as Ralph Friedman of Jenkintown. Todd Colarusso is a principal of Stockham Interests.
In an order issued Nov. 12, U.S. District Court Judge Berle M. Schiller said Stockham Interests’ and 10 Enterprises’ free speech claims can proceed. The judge dismissed other claims issued by the two parties and denied Stockham Interests’ request for in excess of $75,000 in damages.
Lirot on Monday filed documents that focus heavily on the constitutional issues of the litigation. He said the documents focus on the absence of any “reasonable” locations to put such an establishment and the lack of evidence that the proposal would cause any increases in crime or declining property values.
“The bottom line is, we felt that the application was erroneously denied,” Lirot said.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Some giving raises back
From the BCCT.
State legislators giving back raises
Many said they would return them to the state or donate them to charity.
By RACHEL CANELLI
’Tis the season to be giving — back, that is. And state politicians are no exception.
Many local lawmakers publicly announced Wednesday that they’ll either be returning the 2.8 percent automatic cost of living allowance to the commonwealth, or donating their raises to charity.
If all the money goes back to the state, it would total about $506,000.
“People all across Pennsylvania are losing their jobs, and of those lucky enough to stay employed, many are not getting a raise this year,” Rep. John Galloway, D-140, said in a statement about his roughly $2,000 return to the state’s general fund. “If they’re not getting a raise, then why should their elected officials get one?”
Responding to public pressure and House leadership’s call on its members to give back the COLA money, Galloway called the raises an “irresponsible use of tax dollars in these tough economic times.”
While state law prohibits legislators from refusing the and women have the option of donating the funds to charity. Many said they’re awaiting direction from leadership on how to return the dollars to the state treasury. Either way, officials pointed out they still have to pay income taxes on the amount.
Despite that, area politicians, including Rep. Anthony Melio, D-141, Sen. Tommy Tomlinson, R-6, and Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, R-12, confirmed Wednesday that they’ll be giving back the COLA raises to the commonwealth.
“I hope and pray that times get better for all the poor people having a rough time,” said Melio.
Before the give-back announcements, some lawmakers, including Rep. Katharine Watson, R-144, had already quietly decided to return the increases.
“It’s not right at this time when so many others are hurting,” she said of the raise estimated to be about $2,100. “It was a matter of my conscience and I don’t expect credit for it. I appreciate that it’s public dollars and it’s just part of what we’re supposed to do. It’s up to the members and their circumstances.”
Watson and Rep. Scott Petri, R-178, both talked about the need for a better process to lower the increases, provide the ability to suspend them, especially during tough times, or get rid of the COLA.
“People are suffering,” said Petri. “The goal is to reduce expenditures in Harrisburg.”
That’s why Rep. Marguerite Quinn, R-143, is co-sponsoring a bill in the works to repeal Act 51 of 1995, which instituted the automatic raises. She and several other legislators, including Rep. Rick Taylor, D-151, and Rep. Gene DiGirolamo, R-18, have vowed to donate their increases to charity.
Reps.-elect Steve Santarsiero, D-31, and Frank Farry, R-142, who will be sworn in Jan. 6, have also affirmed they’ll return the COLA money.
“I want to make sure my constituents get the benefit of that money,” said Farry, who’s donating his funds to athletic associations in his district.
Santarsiero is committed to giving his adjustment to the state treasury in response to the worsening economy.
Although the politicians admitted that returning the COLA money will not solve the financial crisis, they said they should be sacrificing since everyone else is tightening their belts.
“Is it going to balance the $2 billion hole? No, it’s a small drop in the bucket,” Taylor said. “But it’s a statement that we understand the issue.”
State legislators giving back raises
Many said they would return them to the state or donate them to charity.
By RACHEL CANELLI
’Tis the season to be giving — back, that is. And state politicians are no exception.
Many local lawmakers publicly announced Wednesday that they’ll either be returning the 2.8 percent automatic cost of living allowance to the commonwealth, or donating their raises to charity.
If all the money goes back to the state, it would total about $506,000.
“People all across Pennsylvania are losing their jobs, and of those lucky enough to stay employed, many are not getting a raise this year,” Rep. John Galloway, D-140, said in a statement about his roughly $2,000 return to the state’s general fund. “If they’re not getting a raise, then why should their elected officials get one?”
Responding to public pressure and House leadership’s call on its members to give back the COLA money, Galloway called the raises an “irresponsible use of tax dollars in these tough economic times.”
While state law prohibits legislators from refusing the and women have the option of donating the funds to charity. Many said they’re awaiting direction from leadership on how to return the dollars to the state treasury. Either way, officials pointed out they still have to pay income taxes on the amount.
Despite that, area politicians, including Rep. Anthony Melio, D-141, Sen. Tommy Tomlinson, R-6, and Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, R-12, confirmed Wednesday that they’ll be giving back the COLA raises to the commonwealth.
“I hope and pray that times get better for all the poor people having a rough time,” said Melio.
Before the give-back announcements, some lawmakers, including Rep. Katharine Watson, R-144, had already quietly decided to return the increases.
“It’s not right at this time when so many others are hurting,” she said of the raise estimated to be about $2,100. “It was a matter of my conscience and I don’t expect credit for it. I appreciate that it’s public dollars and it’s just part of what we’re supposed to do. It’s up to the members and their circumstances.”
Watson and Rep. Scott Petri, R-178, both talked about the need for a better process to lower the increases, provide the ability to suspend them, especially during tough times, or get rid of the COLA.
“People are suffering,” said Petri. “The goal is to reduce expenditures in Harrisburg.”
That’s why Rep. Marguerite Quinn, R-143, is co-sponsoring a bill in the works to repeal Act 51 of 1995, which instituted the automatic raises. She and several other legislators, including Rep. Rick Taylor, D-151, and Rep. Gene DiGirolamo, R-18, have vowed to donate their increases to charity.
Reps.-elect Steve Santarsiero, D-31, and Frank Farry, R-142, who will be sworn in Jan. 6, have also affirmed they’ll return the COLA money.
“I want to make sure my constituents get the benefit of that money,” said Farry, who’s donating his funds to athletic associations in his district.
Santarsiero is committed to giving his adjustment to the state treasury in response to the worsening economy.
Although the politicians admitted that returning the COLA money will not solve the financial crisis, they said they should be sacrificing since everyone else is tightening their belts.
“Is it going to balance the $2 billion hole? No, it’s a small drop in the bucket,” Taylor said. “But it’s a statement that we understand the issue.”
Inclusive School Week
From the BCCT.
All together now
Jeannette Hallak Morrisville
We are in the midst of the 8th Annual Inclusive School Week.
During the week, the focus is on what it means to provide an inclusive education.
Inclusive practices believe that all students with disabilities attend the same classes with children without disabilities. It’s about making sure that our school districts’ education system works for all students, including minorities, students of low socio-economic status, and students with disabilities.
Research has shown that inclusive practices are successful and improve academic achievement for all students.
Not that long ago many of our children were excluded from classrooms. On May 17, 1954, in the court decision, Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren ruled, “in the field of public education the doctrine of ‘separate but equal’ has no place.”
I challenge each school in Lower Bucks County to celebrate Inclusive School Week and recognize those teachers who are already making their curriculum relevant for each and every child.
To celebrate, please visit: http://www.inclusiveschools.org
All together now
Jeannette Hallak Morrisville
We are in the midst of the 8th Annual Inclusive School Week.
During the week, the focus is on what it means to provide an inclusive education.
Inclusive practices believe that all students with disabilities attend the same classes with children without disabilities. It’s about making sure that our school districts’ education system works for all students, including minorities, students of low socio-economic status, and students with disabilities.
Research has shown that inclusive practices are successful and improve academic achievement for all students.
Not that long ago many of our children were excluded from classrooms. On May 17, 1954, in the court decision, Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren ruled, “in the field of public education the doctrine of ‘separate but equal’ has no place.”
I challenge each school in Lower Bucks County to celebrate Inclusive School Week and recognize those teachers who are already making their curriculum relevant for each and every child.
To celebrate, please visit: http://www.inclusiveschools.org
New Businesses Flock to Morrisville
I got this tip from a reader. Thanks for the info.
Borough Council: Congratulations on exceeding expectations for attracting new business to town.
See the new smoke shop on Bridge St where the Pinball place was?
Whats that make it now? 7, 8 9?????????? How much can one town smoke?
Borough Council: Congratulations on exceeding expectations for attracting new business to town.
See the new smoke shop on Bridge St where the Pinball place was?
Whats that make it now? 7, 8 9?????????? How much can one town smoke?
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