I'll try to answer your questions, but I have incomplete information.  
Ken may have more details.

> So, what is the REAL reason behind this library?

They see this as an opportunity to "bring home the pork." Commissioner  
Benzak said "I'm counting on a 10-1 ratio of county and state money  
vs. Abington money."


> Is this someone's pet project?

Commissioner Schrieber.


> What is this person's motivation?

Reelection and political ascendancy, I assume. She may genuinely  
believe that this project is good for the community.

> Is this some personal grudge against the owner of the property?

Unknown, but the family is of the opposite political persuasion of  
Schreiber. There is certainly some history there.

> Why is the storefront empty?

Abington has blocked multiple clients over the years by refusing to  
issue occupancy permits, claiming inadequate parking etc. Of course,  
this is no longer a concern for the township.

It has been empty for 20 years, but according to commissioners, has no  
code violations or safety concerns.


> What was in there before?

I don't know.

> How did the owner come by the property? What did she do to get it?
> Work hard and save for 50 years? Any details you can come by may be
> helpful.

The property has been in the family for 100 years. Much of the  
community was developed by the owner's father.


> What other storefronts or contiguous property does the owner have?

The township split their parcel and is talking half. The attached  
storefronts are also the Patane's. They own other properties, but I'm  
not sure which ones.


> What other parking options are there for those storefronts?

That lot in the back seems plenty big to me. Much of it will be taken  
for the library, including the parking owned by the nail salon and  
shoe repair store.

I hope that helps,

Jim







>
> Thanks!
>
> On Mon, Oct 26, 2009 at 11:21 PM, Kenholio <[address removed]> wrote:
>>
>> George:
>>
>>        The paper is a weekly that comes out on Wednesdays, and  
>> their LTE
>> deadline is noon on Mondays.  Word count is no object.  Short is  
>> best,
>> of course, but I've seen some letters that took up a few dozen column
>> inches.  Personally, I aim to keep it under 500 words.  Think of your
>> readers!  No "going Galt" here.  Be sure to add verification info
>> (address & phone) or they won't publish it.  Still, they tend to
>> publish virtually everything.  I have maybe 1 out of 10 letters
>> rejected.  It's also okay to send letters in week after week,  
>> provided
>> they're somewhat different letters.  The paper is part of a chain of
>> 12 that are scattered throughout Montgomery County, so if your letter
>> is really good, it'll get printed in all 12.  My annual "Dear Santa"
>> letters have made all 12 every time.  (www.tinyurl.com/Dea­rSanta2005,
>> www.tinyurl.com/Dear­Santa2006, www.tinyurl.com/Dear­Santa2008)
>>
>>        It's a primarily-print newspaper, so few letters make it  
>> onto the
>> web.  However, EVERY politician in town subscribes to it.  I get it
>> primarily for the letters (and the puzzle page for my daughter).   
>> Some
>> call it yellow journalism, but hey: what isn't?
>>
>>        - Ken
>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: [address removed]
>>> [mailto:[address removed]]On
>>> Behalf Of George Donnelly
>>> Sent: Monday, October 26,[masked]:44 PM
>>> To: [address removed]
>>> Subject: Re: [libertarian-251] Property rights LTE contest (win some
>>> silver)
>>>
>>>
>>> What are the LTE guidelines for this periodical? Do you know?
>>>
>>> On Mon, Oct 26, 2009 at 12:22 PM, James Babb
>>> <[address removed]> wrote:
>>>> Hi Folks,
>>>>
>>>> Attached is a letter published in Montgomery Newspapers
>>> glorifying the
>>>> "right" of government to grab private property and
>>> criticizing "right-wing"
>>>> libertarians for daring to rally in defense of individual
>>> rights. You can
>>>> also download the letter image here: https://tinyurl.co...­ .
>>>>
>>>> I'm offering 1 oz of silver for each response letter
>>> published. I'm also
>>>> offering another ounce for the best letter (published or not).
>>>>
>>>> Judging will be based on impact, wit and a demonstration
>>> of reasoning from
>>>> first principles. The deadline for submissions is Friday,
>>> 10/30. Time is
>>>> short.
>>>>
>>>> Send your responses to [address removed] and please
>>> CC this group and
>>>> [address removed].
>>>>
>>>> Letters should reference the attached letter and be
>>> brief. Include your full
>>>> contact information so the paper can verify your existence.
>>>>
>>>> Feel free to share this with anyone you think may be interested.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks,
>>>>
>>>> Jim Babb
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Please Note: If you hit "REPLY", your message will be
>>> sent to everyone on
>>>> this mailing list ([address removed])
>>>> https://libertaria...­
>>>> This message was sent by James Babb ([address removed])
>>> from The Montgomery
>>>> County Libertarian Party Meetup Group.
>>>> To learn more about James Babb, visit his/her member profile:
>>>> https://libertaria...­
>>>> To unsubscribe or to update your mailing list settings,
>>> click here:
>>>> https://www.meetup...­
>>>> Meetup Inc. PO Box 4668 #37895 New York, New York[masked] |
>>>> [address removed]
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> George Donnelly
>>> (215)[masked]
>>> [address removed]
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Please Note: If you hit "REPLY", your message will be sent
>>> to everyone on this mailing list ([address removed])
>>> https://libertaria...­
>>> This message was sent by George Donnelly
>>> ([address removed]) from The Montgomery County
>>> Libertarian Party Meetup Group.
>>> To learn more about George Donnelly, visit his/her member
>>> profile: https://libertaria...­
>>> To unsubscribe or to update your mailing list settings,
>>> click here: https://www.meetup...­
>>> Meetup Inc. PO Box 4668 #37895 New York, New York
>>>[masked]­ | [address removed]
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Please Note: If you hit "REPLY", your message will be sent to  
>> everyone on this mailing list ([address removed])
>> https://libertaria...­
>> This message was sent by Kenholio ([address removed]) from The  
>> Montgomery County Libertarian Party Meetup Group.
>> To learn more about Kenholio, visit his/her member profile: https://libertaria...­
>> To unsubscribe or to update your mailing list settings, click here: https://www.meetup...­
>> Meetup Inc. PO Box 4668 #37895 New York, New York[masked] | [address removed]
>>
>>
>
>
>
> -- 
> George Donnelly
> (215)[masked]
> [address removed]
>
>
>
> --
> Please Note: If you hit "REPLY", your message will be sent to  
> everyone on this mailing list ([address removed])
> https://libertaria...­
> This message was sent by George Donnelly ([address removed])  
> from The Montgomery County Libertarian Party Meetup Group.
> To learn more about George Donnelly, visit his/her member profile: https://libertaria...­
> To unsubscribe or to update your mailing list settings, click here: https://www.meetup...­
> Meetup Inc. PO Box 4668 #37895 New York, New York[masked] | [address removed]
>