FREE FREE Vol. 3 No. 2 FebruaryVol2018 2 No. 6 JUNE 2017
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CONTENT 4 MAYOR’S MEMO 5 N E W S DI G E S T 6 - 7 SCHOOL NEWS 8 BUSINESS PROFILE - MICHELE LEAHY 9 SPORTS - CCA SWIM CLUB 10 VALENTINE’S DAY SECTION 11 COMMENTARY - PASTOR LACEY 12 CPW R O TA R Y NE W S 13 YOGA HOME COMMUNITY PROJECT 1 4 S I L V E R SP R I NG S F E A T U R E 1 5 F I N A N C E - Y OU R F I S C AL F I T NE S S 16 CONSHOHOCKEN EAC 1 7 C L A S SI F I E D S 18-19 COMMUNITY EVENTS
ON THE COVER This month’s cover page we feature Simone Christian Albert and Stacie Evans coowners of Conshohocken’s only Flower shop, Prestigious Petals. The shop is located on the lower end at 121 Fayette Street. Stop by to get Valentine’s Day arrangement! February 2018 | MontCoMedia.com | Conshy Courier | 3
Mayor’s Memo By Conshohocken Mayor, Yaniv Aronson Here is just a small sampling of all of the great happenings in the borough this month. If you would like your event, business, or organization highlighted, please email me at yaronson@conshohockenpa.gov. 1. First Lady Fridays First Lady Sarah has been hard at work curating new opportunities for residents to become involved in our borough. Every Friday, Sarah will post to our Facebook pages, “Yaniv Aronson” and “Yaniv Aronson Mayor of Conshohocken,” and at yanivaronson.com, with a specific theme. She is also working to facilitate a Mental Health Awareness month in May that will include specials and fundraisers at local businesses, wellness events, and a panel discussion with emergency and public health officials. 2. Public Office Hours I am excited to announce that I will be holding regular public office hours to help constituents better navigate local government services. Starting in February, office hours will take place at the Conshohocken Library, in the downstairs Community Room, as follows: The 3rd Saturday of each month, from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon, and The 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month (starting in March), from 4:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. My inaugural office hours will occur on Saturday, February 17. 3. VFW and Auxiliary Conshohocken VFW Post 1074 is open for business! The mission of the VFW and its Auxiliary (300 E. 5th Ave.) is to serve as a space for veterans and the community to come together. The post has recently gone smoke-free and added a fryer for a new food menu. All residents are welcome to stop in and check them out during normal business hours. Social memberships are also available for purchase, with sponsorship from an
active member. More information can be found on Facebook at “VFW Post 1074.” 4. Save the Date: Spring Trail Cleanup The Conshohocken Environmental Advisory Council will be holding its annual Schuylkill River Trail Cleanup on April 7th from 9:30-11:00 a.m. at the Conshohocken Brewing Company (739 E. Elm St.). This is your chance to help beautify our trail by clearing trash and debris in advance of the busy spring and summer season. Coffee, donuts, and cleaning supplies will be provided and all residents are welcome to participate!
5. Conshohocken Borough Smartphone App Have you ever needed to contact someone at the borough? Have you been looking for a convenient source for borough news, events, and announcements? Have you wondered about the best way to report a problem or issue you see in the area? The borough now has an app to download for your smartphone with all of these resources called “Conshohocken Borough.” Check it out and please let me know how you think it is working and how it can be improved. I hope to see you in the neighborhood! You can contact Mayor Aronson at: YAronson@conshohockenpa.gov 484-532-8144 Follow me on Facebook @Yaniv Aronson
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Roof Top Dining coming to Great American Pub At the Council meeting on Wednesday, 1/17/2018, The Hemchers of The Great American Pub presented plans for a rooftop garden addition for dining and events. A waiver was sought for off-street parking and a parking study which was unanimously approved by Borough Council The rooftop garden would have a capacity of no more than 200 people. The Hemchers anticipate to have this additional dining space available by June of this year!
Montgomery County Health Department No Cost Influenza Immunizations January 3rd- June 29th, 2018* For anyone who wishes to reduce their risk of getting the flu! It’s not too late! Influenza can occur at any time. In recent seasons, most infections have occurred in January and February. Everyone 6 months of age and older should get flu vaccine every year! Norristown Health Center 1430 DeKalb Street, Norristown, PA 19404 610-278-5145 Mondays — children under 19 years old by appointment only (times vary), please call for an appointment** Tuesdays — all ages on a walk-in basis from 9:00am-3:00pm
OFFICER HALL RECEIVES CMSWAT AWARD On Wednesday, January 17, 2018 Police Officer Eric Hall, a Conshohocken Police officer, was presented The Central Montgomery Special Weapons and Tactics’ (CMSWAT) SWAT Officer of the Year for 2017. Upper Merion Chief of Police, Thomas
Nolan presented the award to Officer Hall. CMSWAT is a multi-jurisdiction tactical team of officers from Conshohocken and 13 Montgomery County Police Departments.
Officer Hall poses with his Award flanked by his parents and family members February 2018 | MontCoMedia.com | Conshy Courier | 5
NEW GYM RISES AT PWHS The new gymnasium at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School (PWHS) continues to take shape. Construction of the 39,000 square foot addition at the west end of the school began last summer. The project is expanding the footprint of the old west gymnasium northward into the grass area once used for bonfires. The facility will feature climate controls, new locker rooms, an atrium lobby and seating for 1,750 for assemblies and potential indoor graduations. Seating for basketball games will be 1,300, or 400 more than the current capacity of the Colonial Elementary School gymnasium, which has been the home of PWHS basketball since the 1960s.
The new gym will feature space for three basketball courts. There will be two physical education teaching stations and an auxiliary space, which will be used for adaptive physical educa-
tion, Adult Evening School classes and practice space for cheerleaders, the drumline, color guard and sports teams. The new gym is expected to open in August.
“Government is not reason; it is not eloquence; it is force! Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a a fearful master.�
COLONIAL UNDERSTANDS SPECIAL EDUCATION (CUSP) HOSTS KICK-OFF ON MARCH 22 The Colonial School District has announced the formation of Colonial Understands Special Education (CUSP), a collaboration of parents and Colonial staff whose goal is to provide opportunities for the community to get together to learn about current topics relevant to Colonial's families and students with special needs. The group is hosting a kick-off event on March 22 that will answer the question, What's the big "IDEA," and serve as an informative introduction to the history and requirements of Special Education through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and how services are delivered in the Colonial School District. "We hope you'll 'get on the CUSP' and join us. We're very excited about this initiative," said Karen Berk, Director of Pupil Services and Special Education. The event will be held on Thursday, March 22 at 7 p.m. in the General Meeting Room on the first floor of Colonial Elementary School, 230 Flourtown Road in Plymouth Meeting. 6 | Conshy Courier | MontCoMedia.com | February 2018
REGISTER NOW FOR KINDERGARTEN The Colonial School District is encouraging parents to register children now for kindergarten beginning next September. The registration process has never been easier. Register online at www.colonialsd.org/register. Parents must call 610-834-1670, ext. 2150, to schedule an appointment and complete registration process. An orientation for kindergarten parents will be held at each of the District's K-3 schools at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 25. By Colonial School Board policy, children entering kindergarten must be five years old by September 15.
PWHS ADULT EVENING SCHOOL REGISTRATION IS OPEN Registration is now open for the Plymouth Whitemarsh High School (PWHS) Adult Evening School spring session. The session begins the week of February 26 and runs through the first week of May. There are no classes during spring Break, the week of March 26. Art class returns this spring, as well as Tai Chi and the 10-week water aerobics classes. Also, two new health/ nutrition classes join our regular favorites! Visit: https://www.colonialsd.org/community/adultevening-school
CORPUS TO PLAY SOCCER AT CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY Plymouth Whitemarsh High School (PWHS) senior Patrick Corpus plans to play soccer next fall at Catholic University. A goalkeeper, Corpus started 35 games for the Colonials during his junior and senior seasons. He posted 10 shutouts, including three in his last five games. His final shutout came in a 1-0 win over Abington in the first round of the PIAA District I playoffs. Corpus was also a member of the PWHS Technology Student Association team that placed second in the nation in Engineering Design last summer. Seated (l to r): Allan Corpus, Patrick Corpus and Holly Corpus. Standing Brendan Corpus.
HOLSINGER QUALIFIES FOR REGION VI FESTIVAL Congratulations to Plymouth Whitemarsh High School junior Morgan Holsinger who placed first chair for Soprano 2 at the recent Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) District 11 Chorus Festival. She has qualified for the PMEA Region VI Chorus Festival to be held March 1-3.
SAVE THE DATE! 3/22/2018 CSD COMMUNITY BLOOD DRIVE
The annual Colonial School District community blood drive in conjunction with the American Red Cross is scheduled for Thursday, March 22. The event will take place from 2:30-7:30 p.m. in the Plymouth Whitemarsh High School Large Group Instruction room or LGI. The LGI is the site of the old east cafeteria at the font, eastern most corner of the high school. Severe winter weather has created an urgent need for blood and platelet donations. Please register online now at www.redcrossblood.org. Use the sponsor code colonial sd. Donors must be at least 16 years old (with parental consent) and weigh at least 110 pounds. Federal Regulations require 56 days between regular whole blood donations.
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THE REVOLUTION IS WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE! On a sundrenched Saturday morning, thousands of women came together on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia to protest women’s rights. This local iteration of the Women’s March on Washington aimed to bring awareness to the inequities that exist today, which is furthered by the current administration. Michele Leahy, founder of M. Leahy and Associates, was chosen among hundreds of applicants to speak about the ways in which women with disabilities are marginalized. This marginalization occurs across every aspect of their lives – the boardroom, the bedroom, and their own backyards. The Americans with Disabilities Act exists to provide accommodations so everyone can access the same resources, but Michele is still forced to call before networking events and dinners to be sure the venue is wheelchair accessible. She is still forced to advocate for her own sexuality because there is no representation of disabled women in the media. She is still forced to consider every bar and restaurant choice for social outings, because “one step is Mt. Everest” for her. Women as a whole, are regularly paid less for the same work as her male counterpart. Disabled women? They can legally be paid just 33 cents an hour. As Michele so accurately articulated: “Every door to make yourself successful is being slammed in your face”. Even with a master’s degree and years of professional experience and service in the nonprofit sector, Michele is
By Michele Leahy
regularly passed over. She is offered less because government assistance is available to her due to her disability. Michele even shared that in one of her previous positions she was forced to “get into her car and drive to the grocery store next door just to use the restroom”. As she tries to build a business helping Continued on Page 15
Now Providing Notary Services
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COLONIAL COMMUNITY AQUATICS MAKES A SPLASH: SPRING TRAINING SWIMMING SESSION NOW OPEN Two years ago, a dedicated group of youth swimmers, parents and swim coaches from the Colonial community joined together to form a new swimming program: Colonial Community Aquatics (CCA). This organization has made a huge splash, assembling a group of over 200 swimmers and divers who participated in competitive swimming and diving meets, establishing a high school mentorship program, honing the skills of a wide range of swimmers, giving back to the Colonial community and, most importantly, having fun along the way. As CCA’s winter swim season draws to a close, this group takes a look back at the past few months of great successes and also takes a look ahead: Spring 2018 Swimming & Diving Clinics Are Available: Open for all simmers and divers ages 5 - 18, these training sessions are great for all levels: from the novices who have never been on a swim team to those who have years of competitive swimming under their belt who are looking for a tune-up. CCA’s Spring clinics are a great way to keep in swimming shape and to prepare for the summer swimming season. CCA will be running two sessions (Session 1 from February 12 through March 23 and Session 2 from April 9 through May 25). For more information on pricing and practice times, interested swimmers can visit colonialcommunityaquatics.com. Highlights From CCA’s Second Season: CCA’s boys swimming team, girls swimming team and diving teams just wrapped up their second season of swimming and diving in the Suburban Aquatic League (SAL) with great success: Competitive Meets: CCA’s members competed in five SAL meets in November and December, two league championship meets in January, Divisional Championships on January 27 and A Championships on February 4 and 11. Nearly all of CCA’s swimmers improved their times during the season and posted new personal bests in their events. CCA is also very proud of its 21-member diving team who also honed their skills through the season.
Each month, CCA also hosted swim meets designed for 8 and under developmental swimmers and divers. These informal, “mock” swim meets give CCA’s youngest members a taste of competition and help them prepare for more formal meets when they gain experience. CCA’s High School Mentors: CCA is beyond fortunate to have dedicated high school mentors – local high school swimmers and divers who serve as leaders for the younger competitors. Through their service as mentors, leaders, and role models, the community’s high school students can earn community service credits and become eligible for the CCA Scholarship. These high school competitors are the role models for our leaders of tomorrow. Giving Back to the Colonial Community: As its name implies, Colonial Community Aquatics is deeply invested in the welfare of the local community. This year, a family with roots in the Colonial community, lost family members and their home in a devastating fire. CCA and its members raised over $3,000 to help them with housing, food and clothing. CCA was also proud to partner this year with the Colonial Neighborhood Council during the holiday season to provide badly needed toiletry and household items for local families in need. About CCA CCA is a swim and dive team designed for all Colonial residents. As a member of CCA, children work with a team of experienced and dedicated coaches to learn the skills necessary to compete in and out of the pool. It’s not just about the individual – it’s about the team – Colonial’s community swim and diving team. To join CCA and be a part of Colonial’s fastest growing team, please visit www.colonialcommunityaquatics.com and like CCA on Facebook.
“Mini Meets” for Developmental Swimmers & Divers:
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Happy Valentine’s Day BE IN LOVE WITH YOURSELF THIS VALENTINE’S DAY! Whether you’re in a relationship or not, there is always room to learn how to love yourself more often. Try these five tips on how to fall more in love with yourself this Valentine’s day! 1. Go on a date…WITH YOURSELF! Find a restaurant that you have been dying to go to and set up a date…with yourself! Use this time to reflect on the accomplishments and goals you’ve achieved in your life. Bring your journal and write a list of all of the amazing things you have achieved up until now, and buy yourself an extra glass of wine! 2. Don’t compare yourself to others! We are constantly comparing ourselves to others. All. The. Time. “Why can’t I be skinny like her?” “They have such an awesome house that is way bigger than ours.” “Why can’t I make as much money as him?” “Her kids are so well behaved! What am I doing wrong?” These are the thoughts that we can get stuck in so easily, which make us feel like nothing we ever do is good enough. ENOUGH OF THAT! YOU ARE 100% GOOD ENOUGH! Love yourself, stop comparing yourself to others, and be grateful for all that you have. Start right now by reading tip #5. 3. Make a gratitude list. Finding things you are grateful for on a daily basis can leave you feeling more hopeful about your present life and less stuck in the past or the future.
By Alison Seponara
Gratitude can also help you find perspective. Are you healthy? Did you wake up this morning and have all of your limbs? Do you have food to eat? Do you have clean air to breathe? Do you have a warm bed to sleep in at night? Many people in the world do not and some of them continue to remain hopeful and fulfilled. Make a list of things that you are grateful for and hang it up somewhere you can see it on a daily basis. This daily reminder will leave you with an understanding that you are alive, well, and fully capable of making a difference in your life! You may even start to cultivate an appreciation for your strengths and gifts. 4. Forgive yourself for your mistakes. People make mistakes. It happens. If you are home, go to your mirror and say this aloud: “I FORGIVE MYSELF FOR…” Repeat this as much as you want. Learn to say you are sorry to yourself over and over again. The best thing about making a mistake is that you can learn from them and become a more forgiving person. Think about it. When you forgive someone else for their mistake, it ultimately brings you so much closer to that person right? Just imagine how much love will show within YOU once you learn to forgive yourself. 5. Valentine’s Month Self-Love Challenge: Write down one thing that you love about yourself every day in the month of February. Buy some Post-Its and hang Continued on page 15
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We Cry, Mercy!
By Pastor Bradley Lacey
“Now is the winter of our discontent Made glorious summer by this sun of York; And all the clouds that lour’d upon our house the deep bosom of the ocean buried. Now are our brows bound with victorious wreaths; Our bruised arms hung up for monuments; Our stern alarums changed to merry meetings, Our dreadful marches to delightful measures.” Shakespeare had a way with words; did he not? That was poetic language to celebrate the advent of Richard III to the English throne, a victory won upon the political and military landscape of what was assuredly not (at least at the time) “merry ol’ England.” Philadelphians have their own language; don’t yous’? It will be in full view of the sporting world if the Philadelphia Eagles can de-throne the New England Patriots on Sunday evening, February 4, on the playing fields of Minnesota. We shall see; won’t we? Can Nick Foles prove more effective than legendary Tom Brady? Will Philly’s notable defense be able to stop the likes of superman Rob Gronkowski? Might the notorious mastermind Bill Belichick be thwarted by the men from south Philly? Perhaps, though full disclosure requires me to tell you that I am a born-and-bred Bostonian, so my sympathies and sentiments lie diametrically opposite to most of you who read this essay … It’s all good, though; isn’t it … isn’t it? Of course, it is. We are fellow Conshohockenites, fellow Pennsylvanians and fellow Americans, divided only by our allegiance to particular sporting teams; though now, it does appear that there is so much more that can separate us than once was the case. We have become a house divided, a continental rift of such cultural separation that it is becoming unduly alarming and disconcerting. The culture wars are real— tragically and unnecessarily. May God have mercy upon us! “A house divided against itself shall not stand.” The Bible knew that. President Abraham Lincoln knew that. We are learning it in a manner that is fast and furious. Such a fissure to our life together is both frustrating and fatal. What can be done? I remember leading a prayer service at the request of President George W. Bush that a Day of Prayer be observed on Friday, September 14, 2001, in the immediate aftermath of the attacks upon our nation on 9/11. The wisest counsel that I could offer to the packed crowd that filled our church sanctuary was for us to plead the mercy of God. It remains, almost seventeen years later, the wisest counsel that I can fathom or muster.
from of old” (Psalm 25.6). The prophet Isaiah reminded God’s people that “In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old” (Isaiah 63.9). His prophetic colleague Habakkuk added, “Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy” (Habakkuk 3.2). God is merciful by nature. We are needy by the circumstances of our nature, which is inherently sinful, as well as by the hard fact that our sins warrant divine wrath, but God would, by his nature, first-and-foremost mercifully-disposed towards us. The Gospel mercifully makes known that, notwithstanding our sinful natures and desires, that “because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved” (Ephesians 2.4, 5). Are you troubled by the disheartening times in which we find ourselves? There is hope: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1.3-5). I can’t offer or promise you a Super Bowl victory, but I can share with you the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There is life, and mercy, and hope to be had through Jesus, who loved us with His very life. He says to anyone and everyone, “Come to me, all who are labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11.28-30). He is the best that I have to offer you… He even makes Brady and Belichick look like lightweights, though whether the ‘Iggles can is an entirely different story!
King David worshiped God as he beseeched Him, saying, “Remember, O Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are February 2018 | MontCoMedia.com | Conshy Courier | 11
CONSHOHOCKEN PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH ROTARY NEWS New Member Inducted The Conshohocken Plymouth Whitemarsh Rotary Club inducted its newest member, Stacey Gorter of East Falls, on January 22, 2018.
CPW Annual Casino Night The Conshohocken Plymouth Whitemarsh Rotary Club will hold its annual Casino Night on Saturday, February 17 at the Spring Mill Ball Room in Conshohocken. Doors open at 6 and game tables for poker, blackjack, craps, and roulette open at 6:30. Included in the $40 ticket price is $50 worth of gaming play money, beer, finger foods, desserts, and the chance to win great raffle prizes including gift cards, Philly sports tickets, and more! This year's event benefits the CPW Rotary's Smiles For Guatemala project. In September, the region's top doctors and nurses will travel to Guatemala and, assisted by local Rotarians as non-medical
L-R: Director of Membership Matt Doyle, Stacey Gorter, CPW Rotary President Renee DeCoskey
volunteers, perform life-changing surgeries for children born with cleft lip & palate. Proceeds from this event will go towards providing the supplies that the team needs for a successful mission in order to help the most children possible.
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FROM HOME TO HAITI: A SERVICE LEARNING AND CULTURAL IMMERSION COLLABORATION WITH YOGA HOME & HOPE FOR HAITI On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Hope for Haiti, a Naples, FLbased organization, is launching a philanthropic partnership with Yoga Home of Conshohocken, PA. #FromHometoHaiti will provide volunteers from the greater Philadelphia area yoga community with an opportunity to make positive change in Haiti through direct service. An exploration into the heart of yoga and service, participants will engage in meaningful activities in Hope for Haiti’s core programmatic areas of education, healthcare, water, infrastructure and economy. Yoga Home’s co-founder, Maura Manzo, has a successful history of engaging the yoga community in service learning trips: “We are delighted to launch this partnership on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. In partnering with Hope for Haiti, Yoga Home wishes to support both the individual and collective growth of participants, as well as provide an experience that demonstrates yoga in action. Creating a deeper connection to self and to others around the world helps fosters a deeper sense of purpose and cultivates a world that embodies respect and compassion for all.” Skyler Badenoch, Hope for Haiti’s CEO, is as equally enthusiastic: “Our team is looking forward to helping facilitate meaningful dialogue about the history, culture, challenges and opportunities that exist within the Haitian context and putting this into action to make meaningful change.” In preparation for the trip, over the next 11 months, Yoga
Home and Hope for Haiti will engage in a curriculum that promotes a shared vision of health and wellness by connecting the local yoga community to various service and fundraising opportunities, culminating with an event in May and trip to Haiti in November. About Hope for Haiti: Hope for Haiti is a Naples, Florida, based 501(c)(3) charitable organization with the mission to improve the quality of life for the Haitian people, particularly children. Building upon 29 years of experience, Hope for Haiti works in five core program areas (Education, Healthcare, Water, Infrastructure and Economy) to connect, heal and empower communities in the Greater South of Haiti. Hope for Haiti is a 4-star rated charity by Charity Navigator and is a participant at the Platinum Level through the GuideStar Exchange, two leading independent evaluators recognizing the organization’s transparency and careful stewardship of donor resources. About Yoga Home: At Yoga Home, our vision is to create a holistically based community of empowered, happy and healthy individuals. Our mission is to educate and empower individuals through the art and science of yoga, engage in sustainable community outreach and support the spiritual growth and evolution of all our members. We strive to create a safe and inclusive space for all who enter and it is our highest intention to integrate mind-body approaches and wellness practices into mainstream daily life to do our part in creating a world that acknowledges the sacredness of all things and thrives to its fullest capacity.
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ARE YOU READY FOR HIGH SCHOOL? High school can be a scary place. You are going somewhere different and you will have high expectations for yourself. You are basically becoming an adult. You are supposed to be prepared for high school. How do you know if you are? These are the things you should ask yourself. Can you make good choices? High school is like the real world. You learn how to make the right choices. Most people learn how to make the right choices based on the consequences they experienced in the past. For example, homework is a big part of your grade, so if you don’t do it, it will really affect your movement to the next level. I know people who failed because they didn’t do their homework and they thought high school was a big joke. During their last year, even if they did well, colleges didn’t offer them scholarships because their grades weren’t consistent. Do you come on time to class? Coming on time for class is also important. If you don’t come on time you won’t know the information you need for your classwork and your homework. Attendance will help your grades improve and learn what you need to know for your assignments. If you want to participate on a basketball team or join a club you have to go to all your classes and have a GPA of 2.5 or above to play and go to all your practices. Think of high school classes as one of the practices you have to go to all the time. How do you present yourself? Go into high school with proper attire or people will judge you or mock you by the way you look. If you dress inappropriately, you might get suspended. When you go to visit a college for a scholarship or interview, you will need to dress nice, smell good and your grammar should be proper. You have to be focused on the person interviewing you and not look around. Focusing on your classes, your coach, and your school work will help develop these skills. It is best for you to remember these steps, not only in high school but for your career in life. High school will help you develop into a mature student and adult!
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By Ku-Loni B.
About the Author Ku-Loni’s favorite classes are Math, English Language Arts, and Science. He is interested in both Fire and Rescue and business. After high school, Ku-Loni would like to attend Florida State University, Temple, or Oregon.
About Silver Springs - Martin Luther School Silver Springs – Martin Luther School provides a full range of services to assist children and their families. SS-MLS partners with families and caregivers to provide individualized services that promote resilience, stability and bright futures. Gifts to Silver Springs-Martin Luther School aid our approved private school, residential treatment program, and community-based programs, and help to support our mission. For more information, please contact Lynn Unipan, Development Director, at info@silver-springs.org or 610-835-4440, ext. 206 or visit us on the web at www.silver-springs.org.
CHECK YOUR FISCAL FITNESS
Presented by Joanna Craney
How Fiscally Fit Are You? The beginning of each year is an excellent time to improve those areas of your life that need enhancement. You may vow to get into shape, lose weight, and eat healthier or some other measure to improve your overall physical health. While these things will help you to feel better and hopefully live longer, they still require a strong will and self-discipline to meet the goal. Just as physical fitness can renew your vitality and increase your energy, fiscal fitness can help to invigorate your financial future. Don’t be fooled, because this too takes discipline. The following test will help you measure your fiscal fitness. If you are one of the fortunate people who have everything well under control – carry on. If you don’t fall into this category – then it might be time to for a check-up. YOUR FISCAL FITNESS TEST Do you find yourself financially short before each payday? Do you have trouble knowing where your money went? Has a recent change in your job or family status caused increased financial pressure? Are you sure that the life, health and dental insurance that you receive from your employer will be sufficient for your family? Are you saving for your children’s future education? Will you run out of money during your retirement years? Should your current savings be working harder for you? Are your assets positioned properly to pass on to your beneficiary(s)? Do you plan adequately for taxes, or is April 15 disaster time? Lastly, have you established an emergency fund? If so, will it be sufficient for at least 3 months? How did you do? If you’re uncomfortable with your answers,
then it might be time to revisit your plans. If you need assistance – don’t put it off – get it now. There are a number of planning tools available that can help you feel more in control of your financial well-being. It might also be beneficial for you to discuss your needs with financial professionals who can help by recommending an appropriate strategy designed specifically for you. It all boils down to this… …regardless of your method; getting started is the key to helping you secure, not only your fiscal fitness, but also your financial future.
THE REVOLUTION Continued from Page 15 other disabled individuals, she is constantly fighting the uphill battle of even remaining a “blip of anyone’s radar”. Accessibility is rarely a top priority for networking organizations when choosing venues for networking events. It is time for the same opportunities that are offered to men to also be offered to women as a whole – including those with a disability. The beauty standards set by popular media are unattainable for most women. Even more so for women with a disability. Michele pointed out that there are absolutely no representations of disabled women in movies and television: “no man is approaching a woman in a wheelchair to get her number”. This does not negate the fact that these women still have the same wants and needs as every other woman rising up today, demanding control of their bodies and their sexuality. The current administration has made it clear they do not respect women, and the time’s up. The current administration is chipping away the rights of women, especially for women with a disability, and the time’s up. Michele Leahy rolled
onto a stage in front of the Rocky statue demanding consideration in the boardroom, the bedroom, and her backyard. With deep strength and determination, she thundered: “I want you to take action. The only way to include all women in this tapestry of diversity is by giving access to all of us – in the boardrooms, in the backyards, and in the bedrooms. Sometimes we all need a ramp to help us rise up”. To learn more about how Michele Leahy advocates for all of her clients with a disability, please visit www.leahylifeplan.com, or contact michele@leahylifeplan.com
THIS VALENTINE’’S DAY
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them up all around your house. Seriously. Do it! I am all about visual reminders that help you—figuratively and literally—see your strengths and amazing qualities that you should love more about yourself! February 2018 | MontCoMedia.com | Conshy Courier | 15
CONSHOHOCKEN ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COUNCIL The purpose of the Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) is to identify environmental problems and recommend plans and programs to the Borough Council, the Planning Commission and other committees and boards of the Borough. The EAC functions to promote the conservation of natural resources, and the protection and improvement of the Borough's environment. The Council meets on the third Thursday of the month at 7:00pm. The community is encouraged to attend all meetings. Should you need special accommodations please contact the Borough Administration Office at (610) 828-1092 as soon as possible to make arrangements. The EAC will be on hosting a Trail Cleanup and Invasive Plant Species removal on Saturday, April 7th, 2018 from 9:30am – 11:00pm. The meeting location will be at the Conshohocken Brewery. More detailed information to come! Please follow the Council on Facebook for regular updates @ConshyEAC
We firmly believe the environmental issues cannot be addressed without extensive public participation, but people need to be informed before they can get involved. ~ Ma Jun
Test Your Green Vocabulary… E S U E R K K O U Y Q Z G M Q D K Q S H
V A M P I R E P O W E R E Z R P A L H O
G Y N B S C Z Q E C E R B B F O E C F W
G F T L C K Z M K E Q N B T N U T P W S
E L W I Y J I Z N L O D M N F C N E Z D
L D O B L S J H I I M F N E P A I F T H
F E A B S I O Y T I O C V M O R R Z R M
R P U I A U B A L R Z I E N L B P O D V
H E O F S L V A Z N T V C O L O T Y H H
Y N C E L R W W N A K L U R U N O F K X
S G G Y E I E A N I A I D I T D O K Z Q
F A R S C T S R R L A Z E V I I F I L K
S O N E A L E S M M W T R N O O N M S G
E O E M N T E Z O U I R S E N X O I L S
C W I G L E S Q Q F U N N U A I B G G C
E L B A W E N E R D F Q G Q S D R K Z U
C X H E Q Z J H B I O F U E L E A W P M
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R S T N E A V K J Z L Y I G U J C N Q L
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