The Heron's Nest: Clock Is Ticking for Pa. Senate, Abuse Victims; What Will Be Built on Don Guanella Site; Giant Leap for Eagles

By Phil Heron
Delco Times
October 12, 2018

https://www.delcotimes.com/news/the-heron-s-nest-clock-is-ticking-for-pa-senate/article_e8c6cd0a-ce10-11e8-be90-bb0a1a66c331.html

The drumbeat is getting louder.

But is the Pennsylvania Senate listening?

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, the man behind that damning grand jury report on priest abuse in six Pennsylvania dioceses, today will stand with victims of abuse to put pressure on the state Senate.

Right now there is still no indication if the Senate will take up a bill passed by the House that would open a two-year window for victims of childhood sexual abuse.

The House bill would eliminate the statute of limitations to bring criminal charges in sex abuse cases, and also expand the window for victims to bring civil actions against their accusers, from the current 30 years of age to age 50.

But those are only for future cases. They do nothing to deliver justice to victims from decades ago who have been denied justice because the statute of limitations in nearly all of these cases has long since expired.

Experts indicate that it often takes victims well into adulthood to come to grips with their abuse.

That's why Rep. Mark Rozzi, D-Berks, added an amendment to open the two-year window. It's one of the things that the grand jury - which detailed more than 300 predator priests who preyed on more than 1,000 children for decades, all while the church hierarchy covered it up - recommended in its report.

Shapiro will stand with several district attorneys as well as victims of abuse as a show of support and to urge the Senate to take action on the bill.

What will be built on the Don Guanella tract?

Here's the deal.

I think at this point it's fairly safe to assume that something is going to be built on the home of the former Don Guanella School off Sproul Road in Marple.

The question is what.

Carlino Development was before Marple commissioners this week to get conditional approval for a development of more than 200 homes - even though that's not really what they want.

What do they want? The Town Center at Marple Preserve, which would combine some retail with a new Wegmans supermarket and a commercial shopping center. That plan also would preserve a huge chunk of the 213-acre tract, and also offer space for new athletic fields for township youth organizations. But they need a zoning change to do it.

In the meantime, residents are concerned about traffic.

And a local grassroots group believes the town center is simply too large for the surrounding area.

There are three possibilities here:

• A massive housing development, which would see the entire tract and acres of forest bulldozed.

• The town center, which would preserve a huge chunk of the tract, and offer a new shopping venue and athletic fields.

• A smaller shopping center.

Which one would you like to see built there? Or would you rather have nothing built there. I don't think that's happening.

A Giant step forward for Eagles

Turns out the only thing the Eagles needed was a visit to the lowly NFC East.

The struggling Birds made the jaunt up the New Jersey Turnpike last night and found just the tonic to shake off their Super Bowl Hangover.

The New York Giants.

The Eagles certainly looked super last night in dispatching the Giants, 34-12.

But is that because the Birds are rounding into shape, or that the G-Men are that bad.

I think it's a little of both.

But make no mistake, I'll take it.

The much-needed win lifts the Birds to 3-3 and - believe it or not - into first place in the NFC East.

Carson Wentz had a good night, connecting on 26 of 36 passes for 278 yards, three TDs and no interceptions.

That might be the most important stat. Wentz did not do something he had done in both of the losses since his return from knee surgery. That would be turn the ball over.

That's a claims that Eli Manning can't make. He was tossed an interception on the first possession of the game, leading to the Eagles' first score. The Birds never looked back.

Don't get too excited, Iggles fans. We'll now have to cool our heels for nine days until the Birds host the Panthers Oct. 21.