Morning, Greater Abington,
Firehouses in Jenkintown and Cheltenham are among those in the region trying out different methods to recruit more volunteers.
Also in the headlines, the assaults in the Cheltenham High locker room last year have prompted a new law that will require suspected hazing to be reported to the state, Adath Jeshurun synagogue is leaving Melrose Park after 60 years, and the nonprofit health system that operates Holy Redeemer Hospital in Abington has filed for bankruptcy protection.
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â Laura Smythe (greaterabington@inquirer.com)
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Calls to fire departments have tripled over the last 50 years, data shows, while volunteer firefighter headcounts have nosedived. Local communities, including Cheltenham and Jenkintown, are among those across the country sounding the alarm â and getting creative to recruit more volunteers.
La Mott Fire Company, for example, has seen success by offering economic incentives such as property tax rebates. It also recently received a federal grant for a recruitment campaign, a tactic that has helped Jenkintown grow its force by 60%.
Itâs a tricky situation: All-career firehouses could cost some Montgomery County municipalities millions of dollars. In Cheltenham, that scenario would yield an âastronomicalâ price tag, said the townshipâs fire marshal, Scott Lynch.
đĄ Community news
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Abingtonâs Holy Redeemer Hospital will continue operating while the nonprofit health system that controls it navigates bankruptcy.
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Adath Jeshurun, a Conservative synagogue that has been in Cheltenham for upward of 60 years, will leave Melrose Park to merge with Temple Sinai in nearby Dresher, motivated by potential growth opportunity among the young Jewish families that live there.
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Community ideas for the planned new Abington library that were gathered via surveys and focus groups will be shared during three public town hall meetings with the projectâs architect and community engagement team this weekend. Two meetings will take place Friday: 2 p.m. at Abington Free Library and 6:30 p.m. at Human Robot Jenkintown. On Saturday, the third town hall will take place at 1 p.m. at Abington Presbyterian Church.
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Abingtonâs leaf collection is underway, continuing through Dec. 24. See when your collection is.
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Police in Cheltenham assisted regional law enforcement in an investigation that resulted in charges against seven Philadelphia men who allegedly stole nearly $3 million in merchandise from area retailers including Home Depot and Loweâs.
đşď¸ Other nearby news
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Inquirer contributor Paul Jablow takes us inside a three-bedroom, 1½-bathroom brick rowhouse thatâs on the market in Chestnut Hill. The two sisters who own the home have updated its interior design throughout the more than 15 years theyâve lived there.
đŤ Schools briefing
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Students are off school today in Jenkintown, Abington, and Cheltenham school districts.
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A new law, passed in response to last yearâs locker-room assaults of a football player at Cheltenham High, will require school officials to report suspected hazing to law enforcement. It will take effect in January.
đ˝ď¸ On our plate
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Jamaican eatery Cafe Jama-Icaâs is now open in the former Pita Pocket space on Cottman Avenue in Cheltenham.
đł Things to do
đ Writersâ Meet and Greet: Get to know fellow literary creatives from across the region at this Society of Childrenâs Book Writers and Illustrators event. â° Tuesday, Nov. 3, 7-9 p.m. đľ Free, food and drinks available for purchase đ Human Robot Jenkintown
đ¤ Philly Songwriters In The Round: Give a listen to original musical works by local songwriters. â° Thursday, Nov. 5, 7-9:30 p.m. đľ $25 đ The Royal
đ Cosmic Encounters: Learn a thing or two about the stars from astronomer Gregory Leonard, a researcher with the NASA-funded Catalina Sky Survey. â° Friday, Nov. 6, 6:30 p.m. đľ $5 general admission, free for Elkins Park SkyWatchers Astronomy Club members đ Cheshire Brewing Co.
đ¨ Art Party: This annual event pairs art-making with an auction. â° Saturday, Nov. 7, 7-10 p.m. đľ $35 đ Cheltenham Center for the Arts
đĄ On the market
This four-bedroom, three-bathroom Victorian twin in Elkins Park was built in 1910 and has a front porch, deck, and backyard. Other features include hardwood flooring, high ceilings, and a gas fireplace. A lower level provides additional space for storage or activities. The home is a 10-minute walk from the SEPTA Melrose Park Regional Rail Station.
See more photos of the property here.
Price: $375,000 | Size: 2,428 SF | Acreage: 0.11
đď¸ What other Greater Abington residents are reading this week:
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