Upper Moreland Veterans Freedom Memorial in the Home Stretch

A recent $2,500 donation from Susquehanna Bank will help bring the Veterans Memorial Park memorial much closer to realization.

The incoming Veterans Freedom Memorial at Veterans Memorial Park, which will feature an actual de-militarized UH-1D Vietnam-era helicopter, received a big boost toward completion with a recent $2,500 donation from Susquehanna Bank. According to Ralph Storti, chairman of the Veterans Memorial Committee, the donation will enable the committee’s organizing body, the nonprofit Willow Grove Community Services, to purchase the five remaining flag poles of the memorial. Each pole will fly the flags of the respective United States military services: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard; and will be arranged around the incoming helicopter. Storti said that Susquehanna Bank’s $2,500 donation was the most recent from a list of local corporate …

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Fencing Purchase to Increase Safety at Veterans Memorial Park

Upper Moreland Township will spend $3,200 on metal fencing to help prevent falls at park.

Upper Moreland Township has approved the purchase of metal fencing at Veterans Memorial Park in an effort to increase safety at the streabank area. Commissioners made a motion to purchase 64 lineal feet of permanent metal fencing that will cost a total of $3,200 ($50 per lineal foot). At the Parks and Rec meeting in February, Commissioner Kevin Spearing said he wanted to be “creative” to explore ways around having to buy fencing. One idea was to plant bushes and shrubbery as a protection guard. Spearing also said he wanted to try and save costs by not having to put fencing up around most of the park. “It was about $12,000 to $13,000 along the streambank and we could not come to terms of exactly what we should do there.” Commissioner Lisa …

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Snapshot: Downtown Willow Grove at Twilight

Just a recent scene at dusk from Old York Road and Veterans Memorial Drive

The water fountatin at the entrance to Veterans Memorial Park off of Old York Road, during the twilight hours of a summer's evening in Willow Grove.

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Rita

12:37 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Perfect!   more ›

Kiwanis Unveils New Township Holiday Tree

Nearly 150 Upper Moreland residents came out to celebrate the township's Holiday Tree unveiling.

Upper Moreland residents participated in a long-awaited Holiday Tree Lighting ceremony. An estimated 150 participants gathered,  and were encouraged by the unseasonably warm weather, in the fountain area of Veterans Memorial Park for the event. The event featured sounds of the seasons by The Party Continues, as well as free refreshments. The Kiwanis of Old York Road spearheaded the event, organizing the festivities, as well as purchasing the $7,000, 18-foot artificial tree. According to Kiwanis of Old York Road president, Bob Young, the tree is expected to last over a decade, and will be accompanied by an annual tree-lighting ceremony. The tree itself is adorned with 750 LED, energy-efficient light bulbs, and may increase incrementally …

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Residents Tell Their Hurricane Irene Experience

For many Upper Moreland residents, it's the cleanup that's the hardest part.

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Viewfinder: Got Game Basketball Camp

Youngsters competed in the final day of the Got Game Basketball Camp at Veterans Memorial Park on Friday, August 26.

Not a traditional camp, Got Game's philosophy is to run camps driven around competition. Kids do what they want most - play. No drills, no stations, no hour-long lecturers, no standard procedure. Much like the NBA Playoffs, teams based on age and ability teams played against one another in elimination brackets. For more information, visit the Got Game Sports website.

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PennDOT Reimburses Township $443,435

Two years after the Memorial Park Drive entrance way construction, PennDOT finally reimburses the township for work done on Route 611.

An off-agenda item announced during the Community Development Committee portion of last night’s regular board meeting roused waves of applause from among the gathered board members and public audience. After receiving the ‘OK’ from Ward 4 commissioner and committee chairperson Joseph Lavalle, township manager David Dodies revealed that PennDOT reimbursed the township to the tune of $443,435. The reimbursement was derived from the construction of the Memorial Drive entrance to Veterans Memorial Park, and specifically the subsequent improvements to Route 611 (York Road), which occurred during the entranceway construction. “It is certainly good news,” Dodies said, noting that the entranceway project was completed two years ago. “It is quite …

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Tom Winterberg

7:47 am on Thursday, August 4, 2011

From what I understand, no one is saying that geothermal doesn't work, all that is being said is that it will take 60 to 90 days to make the proper determination as to wether it will or not. This project needs to be fully vetted out with the proper experts weighing in on the feasability of use in the township building. I for one think that the whole building needs to have an energy audit done to …   more ›

Memorial Day Ceremony Honors Veterans, Begins Construction of New Monument

The dedication of flagpoles begins the physical realization of the monument seven years after planning began.

Over 80 community members came out on a hot Memorial Day morning to attend a ceremony of remembrance and dedication. Veterans who served and gave all were honored in Veterans Memorial Park.   At the same time, the in-progress Veterans Monument was dedicated with the raising of three flags on new flagpoles, the beginnings of a larger Veterans Monument. “We must not forget the sacrifices these comrades have made,” said VFW Post 3612 Commander Harry Lynd. The memorial ceremony included laying flowers and a flag before the current memorial plaques in the parks and a gun salute to honor those who gave their lives in military service. The new flagpoles were then dedicated by raising the American, Pennsylvania, and M.I.A.-P.O.W. flags. In the …

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Hopes will be Raised for Helicopter Memorial Monument

On Memorial Day, a special flag-raising ceremony will take place to honor fallen soldiers. The flags also represent a seven-year vision starting to come into fruition.

This Memorial Day, a special flag-raising ceremony will take place at Veterans Memorial Park. The Willow Grove VFW will lead the 10 a.m. ceremony, which is meant to honor those whose military service has asked of them the ultimate sacrifice. During the special ceremony, the Willow Grove VFW Post commander and other post officers will present symbolic tributes. Local government officials will also speak at the occasion, including Upper Moreland Township board president Sam Valenza and state Rep. Tom Murt, as well as an officer with the 111th Fighter Wing, PA Air National Guard. A color guard presentation, 21-gun salute and the playing of “Taps” will help to honor the occasion. Ralph Storti, president of the Willow Grove VFW Home Association…

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Community Comes Out to Cleanup Veterans Memorial Park

Braving cold winds and torrential downpours, St. David's School CYO leads community volunteers in cleaning up Veterans Memorial Park over the weekend.

Led by St. David's School CYO, approximately 40 community members came out in the rain to help clean up Veterans Memorial Park April 16. Volunteers of all ages showed enthusiasm about the daunting task at hand, helping to find and throw away trash as big shopping carts and as small as candy wrappers. Click on the video for the full story.

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