But sometimes.. and this is the beauty of the internet .. someone reads a post and tells me that I have my facts wrong.

This is exactly what happened in reference to a post about an inicident on Marshall Avenue. If you want, you can read the original post HERE.

I wrote that post back in August and there it remained. New crimes occurred… new opinions were shared.. the presidental race started heating up… until yesterday.

A woman named Jane commented on the post and graciously offered to tell everything that happened surrounding this incident. I promised to post it because for me, it isn’t about my opinion being the right one. It isn’t about keeping an arm’s length away from what is happening in my neighborhood. It’s about what is the right thing to do.

This is the email I received from Jane, unedited:

I am a neighbor who lives on Marshall Avenue very close to the Bailey’s house, where a racial incident took place in mid-July 2008. for those unfamiliar with the incident, the Bailey family van and car were vandalized. The van had four tires slashed and spray painted, while the car had the words “F***” and then the “N” word under that. In addition to the N word, several other symbols were scratched into the car. In total the vandalism caused over $4000 worth of damage to the vehicles.

I will never forget waking up that first morning to see the van, all of its tires deflated, and the Bailey children with tears running down their cheeks, trying to clean up the vile language while neighbors swarmed around attempting to make sense of what had happened.

I was immediately told by the Bailey family that “someone” had seen three young, white males near the scene and had witnessed the crime take place. I was also told that the police had told the Baileys there was “nothing to be done” about the vandalism because they “didn’t have any leads”. Apparently an anonymous neighbor had called the Baileys to report what she had seen, but she did not want to come forward and wanted to remain anonymous, and so the Baileys did not reveal her name at the time.

At the same time that all of us neighbors were outside talking to the Baileys about what had happened, I saw and heard a minor on the block a few houses down point to house #226 and say, “Dad, Dad, they did it! It was them!” House 226 was where brothers Anthony, Brandon and Michael Kelly were residing at the time.

I was told later that day by a separate minor that she had witnessed Anthony Kelly and Brandon Kelly pop the tires and spray paint the vehicles.

I went to the police station to inform them of this information and at that time I asked them why they had not started an investigation. The officer I spoke to said that they were “busy” and that there were “no leads” but now that he had spoken to me, they could start to do something. It took four days for the police to start their investigation which involved going door to door.

About a week after the incident I was told by several neighbors that the father of Brandon and Anthony was “personal friends” with the police and the judge, and that he “carpets all of their houses”. In addition, I was told that Brandon and Anthony Kelly have had previous charges brought against them for various crimes over the years, and that all they ever receive is a “slap on the wrist” because of their father having connections iwth the cops and the judge.

This is the allegation of several neighbors and it remains just that – an allegation. However, this allegation has caused me great concern and alarm. i would hate to think that anyone would be let off easy for a hate crime because of a misuse of power by anyone in the county.

Armed wit this information I approached the police and asked them if the alleged connections between them and Mr. Smith (the boy’s father) were true. I have been assured by the police that it “does not matter” who is friends with whom and that “justice will be carried out”. The police continued their investigation and reassured me that things were moving forward. I do believe that the police have done an excellent job so far and I want to trust that no one would abuse their power, but doubt keeps nagging at me.

About a month after the incident I learned the identity of the first adult eyewitness through my conversations with additional neighbors. I approached her and verified that she did indeed see Anthony Kelly, Michael Kelly and Brandon Kelly sitting on their porch at 226 Marshall Ave and that she did witness Anthony Kelly and Brandon Kelly popping all four tires of the Bailey’s van. The Bailey’s van was parked just a few feet away from the brother’s porch.

Shortly after that, I spoke with a second adult eyewitness who saw the three brother’s sitting on their porch and laughing right around the time of the incident.

I approached the first adult eyewitness and urged her to come forward to the police, which she finally agreed to. She gave a written, sworn statement to the police as to what she saw. In addition to that evidence, there is matching graffiti on the van which ties Brandon Kelly to it, because of earlier graffiti linked to him in another section of town.

Cops spoke with both of the  minor children on the block, who told them that they also witnessed the crime occur and I believe there may have been additional witnesses, because when police came to my door during the investigation I was told that “many people” on the block had told them that Brandon and Anthony were the one’s responsible.

Anthony and Brandon turned themselves in to police in September and as of this article they have had one preliminary hearing which was “continued” for later in October. My conern, and the reason I am writing this post, is that I can’t shake the feeling of “what if”. What if the connections their father allegedly has with the police and/or judge will cause them to receive a lesser sentence?

As of matter of fact, it is my belief that neighbors and all of the eyewitnesses, have been made to believe by Mr. Smith, that the Smith-Kelly family has ties to the county/police/judge and that those ties have protected them in the past. it is for this reason that the eyewitnesses were actually frightened to come forward, and why they had wanted to remain anonymous at first.

If there is anoyone out there reading this who what occurred during the first trial, or when the continuation of that trial will be taking place, please leave your comments. I would also like to know if anyone has any information about these alleged connections and favoritism. If these allegations are false, I will be relieved. I am NOT accusing the cops or the judge of any wrongdoing whatsoever, but I am concerned about what I have seen and heard, as I think any reasonable citizen would be.

 I would also like to state that the motivation for the crime was, in my opinion, partially racial and partially for revenge. A neighbor had reported the brothers for using drugs and complained to their mother several weeks prior ro the incident. It seems that the revenge was taken out upon the Bailey’s in error, though, as it was actually a different neighbor who had reported the brother’s drug use. The brothers apparently got the wrong family, mistakenly thinking it was the Bailey’s who had complained.

With regard to the racial motivation aspect, there has been much rumor and hearsay on the block about the “ignorance” of the family and how they were indeed racist. One preson told me that she heard the mother complain that she did not want to live near black people. Again, that is hearsay only, and I did not witness the mother saying this directly. The only thing I have firsthand knowledge of is firsthand accounts from the eyewitnesses to the crime which as I stated included two minor children, one adult, and one adult who witnessed the brothers on their porch right around the time of the incident. However, given the nature of what the brothers wrote on the car, added to what I have heard from neighbors, I can only surmise that racism did play a role in this incident.

It is my hope that this case will be seen through to the end and that jsutice will be doled out to the fullest extent of the law. The Bailey children have been traumatized by what they saw. The N word is a word that carries with it much history, much hatred. I don’t thiank any non-black person, myself included can fully comprehend the harmful scarring that word can cause. To the poeple who that word does not directly affect, well, we just have to trust black people when they tell us it really hurts.

Its because of that trust and because of the pain on the faces of the Bailey children that I pursue this. I hope my pursuit will not be in vain.

My thanks again to Jane for not only taking the time to write this, but to also bring back to light the incident on Marshall Ave.

As always, comments and thoughts are most welcome.

The only news is one that is really no news.

Time cannot be stopped. Life goes on. Pain deminishes. But here’s what really sucks…

Faith’s family and friends marked the second month of her death recently. A Japanese dogwood tree was planted in her memory. A plaque will be dedicated towards the end of the month. According to an article in the Delco Times, Faith’s family and friends gathered and shared stories and memories. Faith’s mom spends time reading at the cemetary which I’m sure gives her some sense of solice and peace.

While life is moving on and more importantly, life without Faith is slowing becoming the norm, there is still an ongoing police investigation which will eventually lead to an arrest and a trial.

And a trial means reliving that terrible night all over again.  The pain is in the details. Personally, I have a tendency to force myself to remember painful things as a way to overcome it. One can only hurt so much and then the pain starts to diminsh. For me, anyway.

My prayer is when that day enevitably comes, the Sinclair family and the friends of Faith relive that pain knowing that there is now an end to the waiting for justice to be served.

Yknow.. with all the bull being slung in the presidental election about who’s going to change what the real mark of degridation in this society is the recent developement in the Suburban Armory robbery case.

You really want change? Make the punishment fit the crime.

According to today’s Delco Times, 2 of the degenerates :: the 15 year old Collingdale resident and the 16 year old Chester resident :: pleaded guilty or rather MADE ADMISSIONS :: whatever that means :: on Friday and were released to their parents.

Their punishment?

How about 64 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE AND THEY MUST ATTEND SPECIFIED CLASSES.

One thinks that “specified” doesn’t mean your basic english or language arts class.

The owner of the Armory is livid. The community is livid. I’m sorry but every law abiding citizen should be livid. Regardless of their age, they stole a hell of a whole lot of guns and ammo. ALOT.

So what kind of message does this send? That it’s okay to burglarize a gun store as long as your 12 to 24 months shy of being 18? That all you have to do if caught is ride it out and you’ll end up with community service?

So now here’s fuel for the fire.

Remember the dibachery at Eden Cemetary? Where over 200 grave stones were overturned? The three involved are below the age of 18. Well, at least 2 that i know of are… what do you think THEIR sentence is going to be?

Me thinks it’s going to be alot heavier then 64 hours of community service.

And is that fair? Really. Regardless of what you personally believe the motivation was in the Cemetary case… is it really more horrible or dangerous then stealing 15 guns and 250 rounds of ammunition?

Personally, if I was the parents of the Eden offenders I would definately make that point known.

Thoughts?

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Palin herself revels in the fact that she was born and raised in a small town and later mayored that same small town.

I’ve been meaning to post this :: blame squirrels for eating my wires for not being able to use my laptop at home :: and after the McCain / Palin stop in Media yesterday I think nows a good time to do it.

I grew up in Philadelphia and lived in one section or another up until last year when I moved to Collingdale. I’m not going to get into the Right vs Left; Blue vs Red, Dem vs Rep aspects because it has no bearing. As a matter of fact, growing up in South Philly from the mid-sixties to the mid-seventies was almost like being in a small town neighborhood wise.

At any rate, I didn’t actually get the actual “small town feel” until the 4th of July parade.

If I remember right, the sky was alittle over-cast as me and my husband walked down a closed off Laffayette with American flags dotting the lawns and red, white and blue streamers across front porches. Onto a bare MacDade Blvd where people had already set up beach chairs to watch the small crew of bikers drive by.. kids with decorated bicycles race by.. people tossing candy at the spectators.. the fire truck blaring it’s siren as it passed.

The whole parade probably took around 10 minutes and my husband sounded alittle embarrassed when he said, “.. well, that’s it. Collingdale’s 4th of July Parade”

But I loved every minute of it. It is exactly those types of things that set small towns apart from urban cities and exactly those types of things that made me want to live in a small town all my life.

Small towns make you want to get involved.. make you want to volunteer your time.. make you want to meet your neighbors and have yard sales and buy the dollar donation footballs for St. Joe’s even though your kid doesn’t go there.

I’m not naive.. I know full well the underside of Collingdale but you know what? I’ll take that along with cuddling with my husband .. getting soaked by the rain watching the fireworks anytime.

Last night I drove by Collingdale Florist on the way home from work and the huge neon sign was off. The corner was dim and only light shining was coming from inside Collingdale Deli.

I have to tell you that I got a lump in my throat and I felt my eyes well up a bit. I’m not good with death to begin with.. worse with when it’s someone I had a connection with.

Here’s the obituary that ran in the Delco Times today:

Yesterday I found out that Phyllis Grillo, the woman who has owned and operated Collingdale Florist on MacDade and WoodLawn Ave passed away. She :: thankfully :: passed in her sleep and was found by her son on Saturday morning.

I was so incredibly shocked. Still am. I adored Phyllis. She was funny and spunky and was just a joy. I didn’t know her really well.. I mean, we weren’t best friends or chatted on the phone but everytime I did run into her, I always came away smiling. Truly a bright light.

I don’t know what happened… and I’m not even going to speculate. They “why’s” of what happened are best left alone for me. She lived a full life and was taken :: in my opinion :: in the most peaceful way possible.

My sincerest sympathies to her family and to Ed and Tina, who created magnificant arrangements. I know that if she touched me in the short time I knew her then I know what they’re feeling in a hundred times worse.

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Too much credit. He’s more like a mindless minion…

At any rate.. the article is copied below. I read it… I almost lost my breakfast. In a way, I wish I was on that jury. I’m sure there a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment amoung the jury that THEY were the ones responsible for putting these degenerates away. I would have liked to feel like that… that I would forever be associated with putting probably the worst child abuser behind bars.

The other half of me is glad that I wasn’t. I wouldn’t want to have had to look at those images… because they would have stuck with me as I’m sure they will for the jurors. I really don’t know if I would be able to handle that. The courts appointed a psychiatrist :: or psychologist :: to talk with the jurors after the trial. That’s commendable… because whether or not they consciencely thought they neede done… subconsciencely they did.

But regardless of what they saw… I really feel for the victims. They had to live through it.. they had to bear witness to it… and as sad as it is to say, I don’t think any of them will be able to move on from it. It’s one of those things that I think affect a person for the rest of their lives.. the decisions that they make.. the value they place on themselves… how they allow themselves to be treated by others.

It’s a ripple affect.. and I don’t think we’re any where close to understanding how damaged these kids are.. even more sadly, we won’t.

Jury members describe child predator as ‘Satan’

By: Marlene DiGiacomo, mdigiacomo@delcotimes.com

09/19/2008

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PHILADELPHIA – A federal jury Thursday convicted an Upper Darby mother on charges she aided and abetted John Jackey Worman, found guilty a day earlier of related child-predator charges.
And members of the panel said Worman was perceived during the trial as evil personified.
“It was like looking at Satan sitting at the table,” juror Joseph Springer said about Worman.
Springer made his comments after the jury had been released Thursday from its two-week ordeal.
During the trial, the jurors had the painful task of viewing unspeakable images of children as young as 3 months old being sexually assaulted by Worman, 41, of Colwyn.
The case had been so traumatic that U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence Stengel arranged for jurors to meet with a psychologist Thursday.
After the panel had finalized its last task Thursday and delivered the guilty verdicts against Dorothy Prawdzik, 44, of Drexel Hill, members remained closeted with the psychologist for several hours at the federal courthouse.
Several said they appreciated the counseling session because the evidence had been so disturbing.
“We have some visuals in our mind that we can’t get rid of,” said Desma Johnson, another juror.
During the proceedings, computer monitors were set up directly in front of the panel members to view the evidence. However, reporters and spectators in the courtroom were shielded from seeing the material by a privacy screen.
“It was excruciatingly difficult – something a sane, normal human being should never have to look at,” said Simon Yachooh, 35, a flight attendant and jury foreman.
Yachooh was the juror who, after looking at the pathetic images of an infant being victimized, told U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence Stengel that he needed a break.
“My eyes couldn’t take it any more,” said Yachooh.
However, as juror foreman, Yachooh used his piercing brown eyes to stare directly at Worman and deliver the guilty verdicts to 56 counts in a case in which authorities had to sift through more than a million horrific images of children being victimized.
Worman was convicted Wednesday by the same jury of 55 counts of manufacturing child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography in what could be one of the worst cases in the nation because of the sheer volume of images found in the defendant’s possession.
The case involved voluminous images of child pornography – most snapped by the defendant while he committed anal, oral and vaginal sex on the youngsters ranging from infants to 15 years old during a nine-year period.
After the verdicts against Prawdzik were delivered and she was being handcuffed to be taken back to jail, FBI Special Agent Jennifer Coughlin gave a thumbs-up signal to Delaware County Detective Sgt. Jack Kelly. Both had been involved in the long investigation leading to the pair’s convictions.
“Justice was served today and (Wednesday),” said Kelly. The veteran detective said when he first got a look at the enormity of the child pornography confiscated by lawmen he knew that “they (Worman and Prawdzik) had to be taken off of the streets.”
Both face life in jail. Stengel set sentencing for them for Dec. 18, at 11 a.m. for Worman and 1:30 p.m. for Prawdzik.
The defendants went on trial together, but were separated for verdicts so that Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Rotella could bring in Prawdzik’s statement, which also incriminated Worman. However, under the law, her admission could not be used against him.
Prawdzik seemed to grow pale with the readings of each count of guilty. However, she stared straight ahead.
“Was she surprised? No. Upset? Yes,” said court-appointed defense counsel Steven Laver.
Prawdzik was convicted of 15 counts of producing and possessing pornography. Videos and still photos showed Prawdzik undressing and then posing the naked youngsters on a chair or safe in front of camera to feed Worman’s predatory appetite.
Juror Johnson, who is a grandmother, couldn’t fathom how Prawdzik, as a mother, could “offer up” children to Worman.
“How can a mother do that?” she asked. “It’s just plain, old humanity. How can one human being do that to another – let alone (do it to) a child?”
In one of the videos that included sound, Prawdzik could be heard ordering a victim to “spread her legs.” A childish voice asks “why” and Prawdzik continues demanding the child do as she is told.
In another, a child is heard telling Worman, “It hurts … it hurts.”
Rotella said there is a video that shows children innocently doing homework when Worman comes up for sex.
Following the verdicts, Rotella said she sees little difference between Worman and Prawdzik.
Some of the victims were in Prawdzik’s care and Rotella told the jury the defendant was the “last line of defense” for those youngsters.
“Instead of protecting them, she victimized them over and over again,” Rotella said in her closing argument. “She made a conscious choice – to allow John Worman to do what he did.”
The jurors said while the evidence was overwhelming, they went through each and every element during deliberations.
“The evidence didn’t leave much to disagree on.”
They did offer kind words for Laver and court-appointed defense attorney Mark Cedrone, who represented Worman.
“In the defense’s defense, they valiantly and conscientiously did their jobs,” said a juror.
“The evidence spoke for itself,” added Yachooh. “They were guilty of heinous crimes.”

Well… everyone thought the OJ Trial was a no-brainer also and we know how that one panned out.

At any rate..  :: calling him what AUSA Michelle Rotella calls him :: this MONSTER was found guilty of 55 counts of manufacturing child pornography and 1 cound of possession of child pornography.

Will someone please explain something to me? Maybe I’m dense.. maybe I don’t know enough about the spider web known as the legal system… but I’m not getting why he was tried for MANUFACTURING and POSSESSING and not for ACTUALLY COMMITTING THE SEXUAL ABUSE AND MOLESTATIONS?

I mean… am I being random in thinking that actually performing the crime is ALOT worse then taking pictures of it? Is Delaware County waiting to get their hands on him because this is where the actual abuse occurred? I mean.. what the fuck?

Another thing…

Each count holds a mandatory 15 years in jail… that’s 840 years.. :: I’m not EVEN going to get into why it’s taking until December to sentence him ::

Do I want MY tax dollars going to support him in jail for how ever long he’s in there??

Do the FAMILIES of the victims want their tax dollars to support him?

Yea.. I don’t think so. And you can be sure that if there’s someone that I can conplain about that to, I will.

I had a thought earlier … and don’t take this as anything except me being me… but if I was one of those parents who found out that this Monster had laid a hand on my child, I would go up to him in broad daylight with as many witness’ were around and blow his head off.

If HE can have a defense.. and Concetta Jackson can have a defense… and Dorothy Prawdzik can have a defense .. then I can have one too..

It’s called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

My only comforting thought is that in general, prisoners have just as much of a distast for child molesters as I do… and John Jackey Worman is the worst of the worse.

Have fun in jail, Worm

Bob Harrison
Sales Manager, Mid-Atlantic Region
100 Naamans Rd.
Claymont, DE 19708
1-800-MUNTERS

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A log of things coming out of the court room are disturbing to me. They were all printed in the Delco Times but two stand out the most.

A woman testified that when she was looking for a babysitter for her infant daughter and young son, she called an ad in the paper and did as much as she could possibly do.. interviewing the babysitter.. checking the house for child proofing devices, smoke detectors, and even did a criminal background check to ensure her kid’s safety.  The baby sitter was Concetta Jackson. The house she checked? Westmont Ave in Collingdale.

I can only imagine the guilt this mother feels for willingly placing her kids in a den of iniquity.

The other thing that disturbs me is that when the videos and still pictures of abuse were shown in court, Worman was focusing on them … never taking his eyes off of them… now you and I both know what was going on. It’s sick.. it’s disgusting and anyone in their right mind shouldn’t even have a doubt about what he did.

Like the juror who literally got sick to his stomach and had to request a break.

If you want to read about how Worman was acting up, click HERE

If you want to read more on the trial and the prosecuter’s witnesses, click HERE

If you want to read even more on the trial, click HERE

But one thing I want you to comment on… how the HELL does Mark Cedrone sleep at night defending this bastard?

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Bob Harrison
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1-800-MUNTERS

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I’m SO not the “soccer mom” type but with three boys, the middle one already hitting 6′ at 13, we needed something that he would be able to fit in…

So a wagon it was. To tell the truth… I don’t mind it… but keep that a secret!! LOL!!

At any rate, for the past couple of weeks I’ve had problems with the steering tightening up. Usually when the air conditioner was turned on or if I was making a hard turn. My husband, who used to build cars before he was a responsible adult with kids, told me not to worry about it.. it was only this or that…

Well, last Sunday when he was driving to Wendy’s he called me up to tell me that the steering went but it wasn’t anything he couldn’t fix and since the next day was a holiday and I didn’t have to work.. there wasn’t anything to get stressed about.

To make a really long story short… Tuesday it had to be taken to a mechanic. That being the fantastic guys at Mobile Auto Care on MacDade and Woodlawn :: right across the street from Collingdale Florist and the Collingdale Deli ::

Charlie, the owner and Ricky worked on my car for 2 days. Turns out it was “only” a harmonic balancer and crank shaft pulley.

Don’t ask me. My brain only hears BLAH.. BLAH.. BLAH between the sentences “… what’s the problem” and “… this is how much you owe”.

But seriously, these guys know their stuff and they aren’t out to rip anybody off. The price to fix my car was WAY more reasonable then either me or my husband thought. They kept apologizing for the length of time they had to keep it even though it had nothing to do with them :: parts had to be ordered by the wholesaler they deal with ::

So in all seriousness.. if you’re looking for or need a place to get your car fixed, give these guys a shot. I promise you won’t be disappointed or broke!

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My 10 year old step-son’s bike was stolen off our front lawn on Friday. Was it chained? Ehhh… he says he “thinks” it was but I doubt it. If anything, he probably wrapped the chain around the bike and around the fence without actually locking it.

Funny thing is that there was another bike on the side of the house, half way between the front lawn and the back yard. I automatically assumed it belonged to one of my eldest step-son’s friends but no. It probably belongs to whoever stole my kids’ bike.

It’s now on my front porch. Waiting.

So, of course, my stepson’s upset. The bike had been a birthday gift from his mother :: extremely long story there :: and I kind of felt bad about not telling him to bring the bike inside when school started. He asked me to call the police and I did… not that I think they will find it and not that I think they’ll even look for it.. but more because he asked me to and I wanted him to believe that his bike being stolen was as important to everyone else as it was to him.

Funny thing happened, though.

NOTE: As you get to know me more you’ll realize that I really do need a reality show!! LOL!

I call 911 and tell the operator what happened and she takes my name and address and tells me that they will send a cop to the house.

I pull up the blinds on the front door… open the middle door and sit at the head of the table facing the door while me and my 10 yo and 13 yo step sons eat dinner. The phone starts to ring and because I never bought the AA batteries for the caller ID, I tell my 10 yo to answer it and if it’s someone looking for me, tell them to call my cell phone and hang up.

Which he did :: and got great joy out of doing it too!! ::

Not two minutes later, the phone rings again and he answers it. This time he apologizes and hands me the phone. Thinking that it was my mom or brother or somebody, I take the phone and say hello.

This very gruff and very pissed off voice comes over the phone demanding if I’m me. I say I am and he goes on a tangent about how he is Officer So and So and he’s calling from dispatch and he just got hung up on.

I apologize profusely and tell him I will beat my kid with a bat for doing that. He asks me why I haven’t answered my door.. that the officer taking the report is at my hosue and there is no answer. I tell him that the officer is NOT at my door because I am staring at my door. He doesn’t believe me.  I can tell he doesn’t believe me. I tell him that I purposely openned the doors and sat at my dining room table for dinner so that I could see him when he arrived. Plus, I have two dogs that will bark at turning leaves.

My 10 year old goes out the front door and stands on the front step. I ask him if there’s a cop outside and he says no. I rely this to the officer on the phone.

He radios somebody and asks them something in cop-lingo and then gets back on the phone. His whole attitude changed and he tells me the officer will be there in a few minutes.

And he was.

Here, he had gone to the wrong house.

Nice.

At any rate, he came and took a report. The bike is a silver 7 speed mongoose-like bike. The only distiquishing thing about it is that it doesn’t have any pedals :: don’t ask :: and there a zip tie on one of the pegs.

I doubt if we’ll see the bike again. And I hope whoever stole it hits a rock and face plants on the concrete.

Oh.. and if you know anyone who had a lime green and white bike stolen, let me know. The one I have on my porch MAY be yours!

Nice way of saying that she set up the camera and taped her boyfriend raping a 10 month old baby.

The law has such a way with words, doesn’t it?

The worse part of it … not that any of it is LESS then worse … is that this woman was a babysitter. And she used that position to let her degenerate boyfriend, John Jackey Worman, abuse the kids in her “care” :: I use THAT term loosely ::

There’s more… there’s always more in cases like this.. but that’s the gist of it. Rather, that’s about as much as I can report without literally running to the bathroom. You can read about it here

Of course, her defense attorney parasite tried to say that Jackson was a victim. They always are, aren’t they? That she was taken advantage of… that Worman saw her vulnerability and manipulated her. That she was on disability and had been in prior abusive relatinships.

Let’s clarify something right here. While she may have been all the things her attorney stated, she is still a mother of 4 kids. How the HELL does a mother let this happen to a child? Seriously! How the HELL do you not only allow it to happen but PARTICIPATE in it? We’re talking about a man who had 1.2 MILLION pictures of child porn on his computer!

How does one conceive that they will not get caught? He’s been charged with 55 counts of manufacturing child porn. ALLEGEDLY, over 9 years, he molested at LEAST 12 kids…. God knows how many TIMES he molested him. This is someone you want in your life? Want near you’re kids? What? He was SO great and wonderful that you would help him because you didn’t want to lose him?

Come the fuck on!

I can’t help but think about all the scars and mental issues these kids are suffering and are going to suffer as they get older.

I can’t help but think that if it was MY kid, I’d be making the papers and going on trial for a whole other reason!!!

The 11 year old Philly boy that part of this band of idiots will be released from the Juvenile Detention Center in Lima and will be monitored at home. Considering that his mother thought that he was HOME IN BED during the time he was boosting a gun shop, how effective is this monitoring going to be? I’m assuming they’re talking about one of those electronic ankle devices but come on.. anyone who saw the movie DISTURBIA knows how effective they are!

But that’s not the funniest part…

The 18 and 19 year old who were arrested have really high bail. Well “really high” meaning that it’s going to be difficult to come up with the cash but relatively, for what they did and who was involved I think the bail is pretty low.

But I digress…

One of them… don’t know which one.. went before Judge McKeon to try and get his bail reduced. His mouthpiece :: read Public Defender :: angle was that YES, this kid grew up in Philly :: well, THAT’s not a bad thing considering that’s where I grew up and didn’t break into gun stores :: he DOES have a rap sheet :: for aggrevated assault. Nice :: BUT currently has nothing pending :: let’s hear it for the boy!:: and if he makes bail he will be living with his grandmother. 

McKeon asked if any of the family members were present in the court room and there wasn’t. BAIL REDUCTION DENIED.

Here’s the thing. I had to have dealing with Judge McKeon before and you can say anything you want about him but one thing I know for sure is that he really does have the best interest for youth offenders at heart and if a defendents family shows no interest or gives up on the person then it kind of makes it hard to make a good case for them, doesn’t it?

Actually.. and not to get into the whole pschyco-bable about why kids turn into adults who do what they do … but yknow.. babies, toddlers, kids are all blank slates that learn from what’s around them and if they don’t have a solid base well… stuff like this happens.

As far as the 11 year old goes… when people would mention that they called the boy’s mother and she thought he was in bed, my first response was that she was probably in a bar when she got the car.

That’s actually unfair. She may be a single mother who works 3 jobs trying to provide for her kids OR she may be the worst crack head in Philly.. I don’t know… it just makes perfect sense in my left of center little mind that there’s something lacking somewhere if all of them :: not just the 11 year old :: thought that robbing a gun store was a good thing to do.

But there was an article in the DelCo Times last week that not only grabbed my attention but being a history buff, captivated it.

A woman by the name of Lindy Wardell happened to be walking around Mt. Zion Cemetary with her husband one night and came across a forgotten 300 year old cemetary named the Darby Methodist Meeting Cemetary.

She founded the Darby Bourough Historical and Preservation Society and is also the president of the Friends of Darby Methodist Meeting Cemetary.

Apparently, this cemetary has something like 950 people buried there all between like 1775 and 1900 with soldiers who fought in wars going back to the Revolution.

Abraham Lincoln also had ties to the area and has relatives who are buried in the cemetary. In fact, next May Mrs. Wardell and the committee are planning an event at the cemetary with re-enactors and babpipers for the National Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission celebration.

Pretty cool stuff.. right here in our own back yard.

If you want to read the article, CLICK HERE

Apparently, a bike costing ALOT more then a mongoose was stolen and the kid who stole it was approaching people on Laffayette in an attempt to sell it for $20.00.

Can you hear the line now? Come on man… just buy it… it’s only 20 bucks and I need to get my Twizzler fix!

Yea.. anyway…

The kid didn’t get any takers until he ran into a guy who had has HIS bike stolen awhile ago. So he bought it for the 20 and that was that.

But this is Collingdale.. so you know the story doesn’t end there!

The guy was riding the bike and a car happened to pull up next to him and called out to him. He said, “Let me guess.. this is your bike” Whoever was in the car said that it was and the guy handed the bike back to them mentioning that he was out the 20 bucks.

The people in the car told him that they wanted to know where he lived because they had offered a 200.00 reward for finding the bike and they wanted to give it to him. The guy :: to his credit :: was like, Nah.. I just want my 20 bucks back. But from how I heard the story, the people insisted and the guy is going to get the 200.00.

Something so wrong actually, in this case, turned into something right. I know who the guy is that bought the bike and I think coming into a windfall of 200.00 is probably a relief for him.

I guess maybe I’m old-school. I would never have :: still won’t :: touch something that wasn’t mine.. let alone steal it. Definately not try to resell it… but I guess those days are long gone and in a little town like Collingdale.. so vastly different from Philly… isn’t really different at all.

Kids will be kids and all that blah blah blah but it’s time to put that retoric to bed… because once you steal something it makes it that much easier to steal somthing else. And as they get older the things they take get bigger and bigger.

How many bikes to you think the pillars of society that broke into Suburban Armory stole when they were young?

Not only did he steal it.. but he left his own bike in it’s place. Honor amoung theives, I guess.

At any rate, it didn’t take long for someone to give a description of the bike stealer and pass along that he lived on Wayne Ave.

The owner of the deli :: a hell of a nice guy with kids of his own :: walked over to Wayne Ave to see if he could find the bike. Turns out, a few hours later, the bike was found in Darby. Not sure if they found the kid but they know who he is and I’m sure has some explaining to do to the police.

While not as .. um.. HIGH profile as the Armory robbery.. it did touch a cord with the neighbors in the surrounding area.

It’s no secret that the area isn’t affluent.. and buying a Mongoose bike tends to be alittle bit of a stress on the family income so to have a bike stolen is alot more gut punching then if it happened in say.. I don’t know.. Penn Valley?

I heard about it in the deli and one of the things that Tim, the owner, pointed out was that as a parent if one of his kids came home with a bike that a.) wasn’t theirs and b.) they couldn’t explain then they would get an ass whipping and it’s mind boggling that kids today can just take what they want and not have to answer to anyone about it.. especially their parent(s). He deals with the kids from Wayne Ave all the time and although they’re innocent to the situation they were born into, that isn’t an excuse for not acting appropriately or with respect. A point that he makes sure they know when they walk into his store. I’ve been there when he corrects their grammer or forces them to be respectful. Doing that may prove to be turning point for one of them. One certainly hopes so.

But, at any rate, the bike was recovered and whatever happens to the boy happens to the boy. I hope, thought, that it doesn’t go any further then this.

Thoughts?

The guy who owns Suburban Armory on MacDade is a hell of a nice guy… I’ve talked to him a number of times and he’s just passionate about guns. Not in a Take The Nearest Water Tower With A Sniper Rifle kind of way… he enjoys the sport.. hunting.. etc. But most importantly, he promotes safety. Something I know first hand when I brought my 13 year old almost step son to the store one day because he has an interest in guns and I wanted it to be a HEALTH one.. not the one where playing 19 hours of Call of Duty 4 online makes you think you’re an expert.

At any rate… here’s the thing. The Armory has been around for like… 40 years or something. The guy who owns it now bought it awhile ago but there was never any issue with robberies and the such. He has internal security but the front of the store is basically all glass windows that have some type of security screen behind it and the glass door.

After the robbery, he wanted to install those roll down iron gates over the front. The township said a resounding NO. I don’t know what their reasoning is.. or if there is some type of something on some type of books but I’ll tell you one thing… if they’re worried about a roll down gate not looking “nice” on MacDade Blvd then they really need to do something about the 400 lb woman who walk around bra-less in wife beaters and pajama bottoms.

Personally, I’d rather see a roll down gate any day!

And of course, there are the people who have nothing better to do then pick apart everything the owner of the gun shop has done, tried to do or wanted to do… because let’s face it… Collingdale is FULL of savants that know just about everything… AND are willing to tell you about it!

All this guy is doing is trying to run a business in a field that he knows and loves… something that I guess brings out the jealousy in people who dread trudging to work in the morning. That is, if they have a job. HE isn’t the one doing anything wrong. HE isn’t the one who’s doing anything illegal. HE’s not the sole source of the gun problems in this country. HE if anything.. is trying to do the opposite.

And he shouldn’t be condemned for it.. he actually should be commended.

At any rate.. so one thing I didn’t get a chance to post last night :: rather, early this morning :: is the “other” big news on the Collingdale Crime Blotter: The vandelism of property belonging to a black family on Marshall Ave.

NOTE: If you’re going to get your knickers in a twist because I used the term “black” … just do me a favor and don’t, ok? It isn’t meant in a derogatory way and if you take it as such, then you have more of an issue then you think I do.

On with it…

 So in case you hadn’t heard, a few weeks ago there was an incident where the family’s car :: i believe :: was scratched with the “N” word and to date, I haven’t heard of any arrests being made yet. In doing a little web search to refresh my brain with the facts, I came across an article by George Cook. Reat it HERE

Is it just me or is Mr. Cook’s article full of subjectives?

• … LEAD ONE TO BELIEVE that the CPD know who committed the crime
• … many FEEL this incident was done by the children of one particular family
• … many BELIEVE that 3 brothers committed the crime
• … many BELIEVE that they were involved in the vandalism of Eden Cemetary
• … Townspeople also BELIEVE that the were involved in the vandalism of a chuch.

To his credit, Mr. Cook did state that from what he had heard Collingdale is not a racist town. It is no more or less racist then any place else.

The thing that struck me odd about this article is that there’s a whole lot of people doing a whole lot of finger pointing towards one family. I don’t know how many people contacted Mr. Cook regarding this or what their proximity is to both the victims and the brothers. But i will tell you this… there are ALOT of dumbass teenagers in Collingdale who do stupid stuff out of boredom or to cause a stir. It just seems wrong to assume that it was one particular family because of past transgressions. It’s like pointing the finger only in the opposite direction.

While there is no doubt that what they wrote was RACIAL.. I don’t believe it generated from a deep seated core value. The same way the tipping of the headstones in Eden didn’t have anything to do with race. In all honestly, I doubt that either of those kids involved in Eden even KNOW it’s an African American cemetary.

They are dumbasses, after all.

And that whole favoritism thing? In all seriousness, what would you have preferred? I happen to know that Judge McKeon has every kids’ best interest at heart when they stand in front of him. What purpose would sending these kids to the Meadows or Lima serve? Scare them or harden them?

I understand the emotion that comes with a crime like this and the rush to have justiced served. But no where is it written that we need to be made instantly privy to information from the police.

I would much rather have them take their time and arrest the RIGHT person then to rush to judgement and arrest the wrong one.

From what I understand, there was always a deli there. First it was Collingdale Cold Cuts :: run by a well liked guy named Jim :: and then it was called Love’s Lunch Box :: run by a not-so-well liked couple :: Now, it’s Collingdale Deli.

I don’t know how it was before… but from what people have told me, it is NOTHING like the way it is now. This place is CLEAN. Bright white walls… no clutter.. and did I mention clean?

I’ve been in there a few times and not only are the couple who own it really welcoming, friendly and funny :: they’re actually like Lucy and Desi :: but something is always being cleaned. The slicers or the glass doors on the refrigerators or the floor being swept. It really makes a nice impression.. especially now a days when everyone :: including myself when it comes to food :: is germaphobic.

On top of that.. their prices are really, really reasonable and the food is delicious. The hoagie that I had was better then I ever had in the city :: imagine that :: and the potato salad? OM freakin G!!! The Sleepy Hallow Delly on Springfield Rd MAY CLAIM to have the world’s best potato salad but you haven’t tasted potato salad until you’ve tasted HIS potato salad.

From what him and his wife were telling me, he’s been a chef for 26 years and I don’t doubt it for a minute. All the salads are home made at the store and he also makes his own roast pork for sandwiches and stuff and they also have breakfast stuff made to order. They’ll be having more things that people will be able to buy to take home and heat up instead of cooking themselves once things settle down a bit and I can’t wait to see what he has to offer.

I like going in there because it’s almost like the corner stores I grew up with. They’re neighborhood people so it’s not like they live out in someplace like East Goshen and wanted to slum it. So pay them a visit.

I guarentee you’ll really like it.. and them!