November Updates in Newtown: Police Receive 975 Calls, Library May See $10,000 Deficit, Green Grants

NEWTOWN SQUARE–At a Board of Supervisors meeting on Monday, a few of the township's department and committee heads reported their monthly activities for November.

Police Receive 975 Calls, Thefts From Unlocked Vehicles Continue

Chief Dennis Anderson reported that a total of 975 emergency calls were received for the month of November. Some of the largest amount of calls police received were for business building checks. A total of 114 calls were made in November for these calls.

In addition, there were 108 traffic citations/vascar incidents reported for the month as well as 75 medical emergencies and 29 fire calls. There were seven motor vehicle accidents involving deer out of the 50 total motor vehicle accidents that occurred in Novemeber.

As , police reported three thefts from vehicles with a reported $50 or less of property stolen and four thefts from vehicles with a reported $200 or more of property stolen.

Anderson stressed that residents be reminded to lock their vehicles even when they are parked in their driveways. Anderson also shared that he, too, was a victim of a recent theft from one of his vehicles that was left locked overnight in their driveway next to the police car.

"We’ve had computers stolen, change, sunglasses, don't leave anything in sight," warned Anderson. "Kids are taking anything. Help yourselves by locking your cars, especially with Christmas time."

Two 15-year-olds were identified as a boy from Newtown Square and a girl from Broomall, who had admitted to and Newtown townships, the Delco News Network reports.

"Marple just arrested two juveniles. The girl said they did over 100 [thefts]. Unfortunately, I was one of them and the car was sitting next to the police car," shared Anderson.

Library Receives $5,000 in Summer Book Sale, May See $10,000 Deficit

Tom Sullivan, representative of the Newtown Public Library Board, told supervisors on Monday night that the library had two successful book sales thanks to the Friends of the Library.

The summer book sale brought in $5,000 that will go towards the children's department of the library, according to Sullivan.

In addition, Sullivan mentioned a few recent staff changes. A 13-year librarian, Deborah McNeely, retired last month. "She was very dedicated...she did a great job," said Sullivan.

One new part-time staff librarian has also joined the library, who is the son of a former children's librarian, and two positions on the Board of Trustees are open, announced Sullivan.

By the end of the year, Sullivan said the library may "close out the year about $10,000-12,000 in deficit and forecasting approximately that kind of deficit for 2012."

Supervisors Push Forward With Green Grants

Supervisors unanimously approved and signed on to apply for the 2012 PECO Green Region Open Space Program grant at the meeting on Monday night.

Paul Seligson, a representative of the township's Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC), said the grant would go towards improvements on the town's parks–particularly .

According to Seligson, the lower pond's bridge is in a "decrepit state" and said that caution tape should be posted there because "anyone can fall through at any time."

Seligson said if the township received the PECO Green Region Open Space grant, it would cover half of the costs to repair the bridge and another TreeVitalize grant is currently being applied for towards this work as well. The first TreeVitalize grant was used towards planting .

In addition Seligson announced that the EAC is looking for volunteers and those with a knack for gardening to help with the landscaping and gardening at the township's municipal building and the , which is currently done by one person.