Abington geese vs. lasers | Inquirer Greater Abington
Plus, the Cheltenham School District is under federal investigation.
Hi, Greater Abington. 👋
Local and federal officials are on a mission to clear geese out of Alverthorpe Park, which has become an accidental paradise for the bacteria-spreading waterfowl. Also this week, the Cheltenham School District is under federal investigation, SEPTA is trying to reduce congestion between Glenside and Wayne Junction, and we take a closer look at the $1.2 million “Tall Trees” estate.
— Laura Smythe (greaterabington@inquirer.com)
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A stroll through Alverthorpe Park over the next year might come with a side of green light beams, propane-powered noisemakers, and remote-controlled boats as township and federal officials team up to scare geese away from the vicinity.
The township has contracted the U.S. Department of Agriculture for Canada goose abatement support as the birds that have taken up residence in the park attack people driving golf carts, dig into sand traps, and each drop up to a pound of slippery, bacteria-laden feces daily.
“It’s a mess,” assistant parks director Patricia Platt said.
💡 Community news
SEPTA is trading Glenside Regional Rail riders three daytime trains for new off-peak options, more train cars, and new schedules aimed at reducing congestion between Glenside and Wayne Junction, The Inquirer’s Jess Rohan reports.
Beginning Thursday, Jenkintown businesses will no longer be allowed to provide single-use plastic bags to shoppers, under new borough regulations. Compostable straws and stirrers will now be the default, too.
Remember last week’s On The Market? Take a closer look inside “Tall Trees,” a 1920s home in Abington that is thought to have ties to defunct Philadelphia company Laird & Schober Shoes, which collaborated with esteemed Italian designer Elsa Schiaparelli and won a shoe manufacturing award from the Franklin Institute in 1900.
In-state undergraduates at the Penn State Abington campus will see no tuition increase in 2027-28, marking the fifth year in a row without a price hike, even as University Park campus attendees face a 2.5% rise in tuition and room and board, The Inquirer’s Susan Snyder reports.
Baederwood Park’s new playground, which includes swings, slides, and climbing structures, is ready for action.
Robyn Faye, an OB-GYN at Jefferson Abington Hospital, spoke with The Inquirer’s Wendy Ruderman about the validity of concerns surrounding tampons after the FDA released a new study confirming they contain trace amounts of metals.
🏫 Schools briefing
In case you missed it, the U.S. Department of Education is investigating the Cheltenham School District as federal officials target sexual misconduct by teachers across the country that they say schools have not adequately addressed.
Jenkintown sees the most high school sports participation and spends the most on sports per pupil among Greater Philadelphia school districts, allocating upward of $1,100 per student toward athletics, a new report indicates. The Inquirer’s Maddie Hanna unpacks the details.
🍽️ On our plate
The second iteration of Glenside Lunch Week will run from Sunday to Aug. 1, featuring lunch specials at participating restaurants, including Fill A Bagel & Breads, Glenside Pizza, and Rooster’s Glenside.
Glenside Local has the details on an application for a Taco Bell at the former Citizens Bank location at 1919 Easton Rd. in Willow Grove.
🎳 Things to do
🎵 The Perkolators: The band, fronted by guitar player Tim “the Perkolator” Perks, will perform blues, rock and roll, and roots tunes. ⏰ Friday, July 24, 7 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 The Ways Restaurant and Brewery, Glenside
🥾 Common Ground: Trailblazing for All: Cheltenham Parks & Recreation and the Active Transportation Committee will host a community event centered around local trails accessible for people of all abilities. ⏰ Saturday, July 25, 10 a.m. 💵 Free 📍 Gimbel Field, Elkins Park
🧶 Teen Artisan Craft Fair: Local young artists will sell their handmade wares, like paintings, crocheted items, and jewelry, at the third-annual event. ⏰ Saturday, July 25, 1-4 p.m. 💵 Pay as you go📍 Abington Free Library
✍️ Character Creation Workshop: Kids ages 11 to 15 will learn how to develop characters in this interactive class, taught by local fantasy and romance author Kathleen Zoll. ⏰ Tuesday, July 28, 6-8 p.m. 💵 Free, registration required 📍 Glenside Free Library
🏡 On the market
Elegant columns line the entryway to this four-bedroom Jenkintown house, complete with a home theater, cedar closet, gas fireplace, jetted tub, and custom built-in bookcases. The home, which is under contract, includes two full bathrooms and two half-baths, as well as a deck out back.
See more photos of the property here.
Price: $700,000 | Size: 3,343 SF | Acreage: 0.35
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