Wedding Bells

I’ve been away from Blogging for a little while. A death in the family, some lengthy projects and … oh yeah – Donna and I finally got married on 9/18/09 !!

Joe & Donna

$3 Car Wash ? Maybe – FREE Vacuums – NO WAY

If you’re like me, and have traveled Baltimore Pike through Springfield several times a day for the past 30 years, then you know that at Leamy Av. and the Pike can be found an UNBELIEVEABLE deal.  A $3 Car Wash and FREE Vacuums !!   Well my Aunt Minnie was the first to tell me if a deal seems too good to be true – it is !

What I found out today, is the FREE vacuums are not so FREE.  You must get a Car Wash in order to use them, or employees will approach you and tell you that the Vacuums are for Car Wash users only.  That was my experience this morning. 

They’ve done a great job at putting up DO NOT ENTER signs on every apron other than the one that leads to the Car Wash lane itself.  I was told by an employee that her boss said “the township insisted on that”.

See the issue isn’t that I used the FREE vacuums, which by the way there is no signage saying YOU MUST BUY A CAR WASH TO USE OUR FREE VACUUMS.  Instead I was told that I came in the wrong way.  I admit I came in off a Baltimore Pike apron where there is a DO NOT ENTER sign.  But I didn’t see it.  HEY – that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

So I called Morton Boro (yes, it’s actually in Morton) and asked about their requirement on that property.  I was told that there had been many accidents off the Leamy Av apron and the Boro indeed required there be no left turn from that exit for safety reasons.  That sounded reasonable.  I was also told that since The Pike is a state highway, that PennDOT and the Engineer would have information about the other aprons.  I called Charles Catania (the Engineer) but he wasn’t in today.

Look folks, I already spent 20 minutes more on this issue (just on this post) then I intended.  We’re not stupid are we?  Why doesn’t the new owner of the new Car Wash just put up a sign and tell the truth about the FREE Vacuums ?  I just hate getting lied to, don’t you?  After all what is he a Politician !

By the way, two days ago I did get my GMC Acadia washed at the $3 car Wash.  It cost me $12 (I wanted upgrades) – but it really was a good Car Wash !

The Springfield Rat

Three labor unions have been picketing the future site of the Giant Supermarket at Routes 420 & 320 for the past month, protesting the use of non-union laborers.  A “giant” inflatable Rat can be seen on the Woodland Av. side of the property.

“It’s about wages and standards,” said Teamsters Local 312 in Chester. “We’re trying to protect the standards of our workers in Delaware and Chester County.”  Teamsters are supporting fellow union members in the construction crafts, operating engineers and laborers.

An organizer for Operating Engineers Union Local 542, whose members operate heavy equipment, said the main issues are wages and working conditions. “They are using non-union labor for construction, demolition, asbestos removal and trucking,” he said.

To Buy or Not to Buy – THAT is the question.

If you want to know the future, know the past.

“Some people say they want to wait for a clearer view of the future.  But when the future is again clear, the present bargains will have vanished.  In fact, does anyone think that today’s prices will prevail once full confidence has been restored?”

- Dean Witter, May of 1932

I Like Coffee !

OK – so before I launched this blog I promised Donna I wouldn’t speak politically.   Tea Parties across the country and a small one in Delaware County yesterday, made me decide to Blog (but not about politics).

I DON”T LIKE TEA !

I think we need to start trusting each other, in that we can have a point of view different from one another.   I think it’s also time to believe that as individuals we can have an opinion that is independent of party.   Just because some one is an Elephant or a Donkey doesn’t mean they agree with everything their party believes, or for that matter that they disagree with everything the other party believes.

We are all Americans – a melted pot, all different. While I might agree with some of the Tea Party sentiments, me - I like Coffee !

Farwell Harry the K

OK so usually when a celeb passes away, I get really tired in the first 24 hours of the almost ghoullish coverage on TV.  But WHO did NOT love HARRY KALAS ?

As a child of the 60’s/man of the 80’s-  most icons in my life (except my Dad and Hulk Hogan<eg>) weren’t around very long.   A whole crop of legendary movie stars and sports stars gained immortality and then quickly retired or died all before I was 30 years old.  Thousands are on this list, everyone from John Wayne to Dr. J ., but HARRY was always there !

Since I was 9 years old I listened to that wonderful voice call Phillies games.  I was at the Vet when Carlton won his 26th game in 1972, then listened to Harry call the 27th win a few days later.  (I was on the front porch – listening on the radio.)  Schmidt’s 500th, Tugger and the Cardiac Kids in 80, the painful late 80’s early 90’s – Harry never gave up.

I’m sure it’s all been said, more eloquently than I could ever say.  But I will miss him.  Who ever takes his place (as if anyone could) I’m sure I’ll listen - but I’ll be (as Sinatra said) fighting vainly the old ennui.

Farewell Harry.

GeoThermal Springfield

OK so anyone driving through Springfield on Rte 420 (that’s a million a week) have surely seen the construction project at the ETR school.  You may have also heard this is the site of the new K-1 (yes that’s right just Kindergarten and First grade) school called “The Literacy Center”.

What you may not have known is that this new school is on the cutting edge of Green technology.  If everything goes as planned, It will run on Geothermal power, relying strictly on the heat and water in the earth below for it’s energy source !  Think of the “Old Faithful” geyser running your heat and lights – pretty cool huh?

Keep an eye here for more info as development continues.

You could win $221,000.00

OK so – CENTURY 21 is giving away big bucks toward the purchase of a home.  You do NOT have to be a buyer or seller to enter, anyone can enter and win. You don’t even have to be working with me !  You can tell all your friends, anyone at all can enter.  Just go to www.century21.com/sweepstakes  for details.

If you win, can I at least let me sell you a house ?!?

SELLERS – Rain Rain Go Away !

OK so I thoguht the rain would actually come through my roof today – wicked !

A Buyer I was working with recently, asked me about a wet basement we wandered through during a showing, and why the Seller said the basement never gets water.  Two things came to mind.

Sellers must disclose all patent and latent defects. That means even material defects not readily visible.  Just becasue the basement isn’t wet now doesn’t mean you don’t have to tell potential Buyers that there is a built in swimming pool on the property – - IN THE BASEMENT !

Secondly, the majority of wet basements (according to the NAR) are wet because of poor drainage near the foundation and/or poor water discharge from roof drainage.

So remember that April showers bring the May flowers (and Mayflowers bring the Pilgrims ha-ha).  Spring is a great time to check your gutters and spouts, and pay close attention to the grading around the foundation of your home.  If you do, chances are you can save trouble with potential Buyers down the road.

Giant comes to town.

OK so I’m really psyched. 

I leave in Beatty Hills, near the intersection of Rtes 420 & 320.  I just made a call and confirmed the story I read in the Daily Times last week (hey – they don’t always get it right!) that Giant Super Market will be coming to the spot of the now defunct Value City.

Now if they’d just build a WaWa there – my life would be perfect !

l8r