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Love, Family Overcome Christmas Crime In Lansdale
North Penn Now's weekly newsletter
James Kratch
December 24, 2024
Courtesy of Discover Lansdale
Welcome back to North Penn Now’s weekly newsletter! And Merry Christmas Eve! The effort to revitalize the historic Lansdale Freight House has received a new boost. Organizers announced a patron has pledged to double all donations through the end of the year.
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In This Week's Email:
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📆 Upcoming Nearby Events
Thursday, Dec. 26
🕎 Hanukkah Menorah Lighting | Railroad Plaza in Lansdale | 6 p.m., more details here
Friday, Dec. 27
📚 Mr. Jim Story Time | Union Library Company in Hatboro | 10:30-11:30 a.m., more details here
Saturday, Dec. 28
🍇 Winemaker's Tour | Evansburg Vineyards in Collegeville | 12-1 p.m., more details here
You can find a calendar of events for the towns in the NPN region by following these links: Franconia | Hatfield | Hilltown | Lansdale | Lower Salford | Montgomery Township | North Wales | Sellersville | Souderton | Telford | Towamencin | Upper Gwynedd
🎄 A Reminder Of The Meaning Of Christmas
A former Lansdale couple came home for Christmas, only to have at least $1,200 worth of presents for their children and grandchildren stolen.
Monica Zellman, who now resides in Canadensis, said thieves broke into her car outside the Homewood Suites in the borough last Friday and stole the gifts and a bin of gear and tools -- but did leave the cookies.
The windows were smashed; no other cars in the lot were hit. Zellman hopes her auto insurance will cover the loss, so she has not yet replaced the presents. She was devastated she would not have gifts for her family, but then her granddaughter spoke up and reminded her of the real reasons for the season. You can read the rest of the heartwarming story here.
🍺 Harleysville Bar Opens As Chain Stores Shutter
Courtesy of Neshaminy Creek Brewing Co.
Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company opened its new taproom in the old Harleysville Bank on Main Street last week.
The venue is now an indoor retail space called The Vault Town Center. The opening day features 16 Neshaminy Creek brews on tap, plus local Pennsylvania wine and canned cocktails. Takeout beer and merchandise is also available. Food is bring-your-own or delivery; hours of operation are 4-9 p.m. on Tuesday through Thursday, 12-11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 12-7 p.m. on Sunday (the taproom is closed on Monday).
Also: The area Big Lots and Party City locations will shutter after the retail chains declared bankruptcy and announced all stores will close nationwide. Big Lots has 64 stores in the state, including one in Lansdale; Party City has a location in Montgomeryville.
⚖️ Homicide Charges Filed in Fatal Route 309 Crash
A Kutztown University student from Towamencin faces two counts each of vehicular homicide and homicide by vehicle while DUI, among other charges, for his alleged role in a fatal crash on Bethlehem Pike in Hatfield last summer.
Michael Patrick Lennon, 21, is accused of speeding on June 8 with traces of marijuana in his system when he lost control and collided with another car. Eva Burgos of Hatfield died at the scene and her husband, Jaime Burgos, died two later. Lennon faces up to seven years in prison and a fine as high as $15,000 for each vehicular homicide count.
🗞️ News Links
☀️ Lansdale Signs Off On Green Initiative
Courtesy of MediaNews Group
Rex Heat Treat -- one of Lansdale's biggest businesses and its top power consumer -- has received approval to install a solar panel array on Eighth Street. The metal treatment company will build over an acre of panels and anticipates the solar farm will cover about 16% of its annual electrical costs.
Last Chance To Enter Our Holiday Pet Photo Contest!
Is your pet in the running yet? Don’t miss out — voting starts tomorrow to win prizes and be featured! A HUGE THANK YOU to our amazing prize donors who have made the Pet Holiday Photo Contest extra special: Best Paw Forward Dog Training, Katz Dogs K9, Nancy's Paws for All, Too, Brewscuits, Canine Behavior Solutions, EnVi Pet Care, LLC and EnVi Dog Rescue & Animal Sanctuary, Tail Spinz LLC, Pawsitively Perfect LLC and NS Designs.
🫡 North Wales Mourns Local Legends
North Wales' town council honored two community fixtures during its final meeting of 2024. Longtime fire company volunteer Herb Kavash and ex-councilman John Strobel died recently. You can read more about their contributions here.
🏘️ In Other Nearby News
To keep up with news outside the North Penn Now area, make sure to subscribe to the newsletters for our siblings sites — Central Bucks Now and Wiss Now.
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🏀 Montco Man Tied To NBA Scandal
A Lansdale man admitted his involvement in the sports betting scheme that led to NBA player Jontay Porter's lifetime ban from the sport.
Mahmud Mollah pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud charges. A federal judge will sentence him in May; he faces up to 20 years in prison. Mollah was one of the gamblers who placed specific bets on Porter -- like how many points he would score -- and then benefitted when Porter manipulated the game to ensure the wager paid off.
Prosecutors said Mollah placed an $80,000 bet at an Atlantic City casino that translated into a fraudulent $1.2 million win, among other tainted bets and actions regarding the scheme.
🏈 Play Ball
For more on local sports, subscribe to our Philly sports newsletter, On Pattison (sent 5x per week):
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🚨 More Local Shoplifting Incidents
A Worcester woman with previous retail theft convictions faces new felony charges after allegedly stealing close to $500 in merchandise from the Upper Gwynedd Weis over a four-month period, utilizing the self-checkout to steal items in several incidents.
A Flourtown woman and Warrington man are accused of stealing over $200 in champagne and tequila from the Fine Wine and Good Spirits store in Montgomery Township; they were linked to the crime after being apprehended for shoplifting at the Target in Cheltenham.
In other local crime news: A Lansdale man faces felony charges from a rash of Upper Gwynedd motor vehicle break-in thefts in early 2023, plus several alleged thefts from inside cars this year in Lansdale, Montgomery Township and related crimes in Horsham. And a Roslyn man is accused of smoking crack cocaine and then attacking a victim inside their Franconia home, causing serious injuries. The suspect also faces drug distribution charges.
🐶 Rescue of the Week
James Short | North Penn Now
Meet Luke, a five-year-old coonhound looking for a forever home through Home At Last Dog Rescue. He is an active dog who loves to explore and is used to noise and sounds after previously living in the city. Luke is crate- and house-trained, walks well on a leash and does well with other dogs and in the car. He is best suited in an active household
If you are interested in adopting Chloe or would like more information, you can reach out to Home At Last Dog Rescue at [email protected] or visit the group's website.
📊 This Week’s Poll Question
Are you done with your Christmas shopping?Let us know! |
Last week’s poll question: What is your favorite Christmas cookie?
Chocolate chip cookie (33%)
Chocolate crinkles (33%)
Decorated sand tarts (33%)
Thanks for reading! See you next week!
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