Marple Township News Spring 2023

TOWNSHIP MARPLE

Joseph A. Rufo, President 610-291-8389 jrufo@marpletwp.com

Robert Knapp 610-353-1835 rknapp@marpletwp.com

Robert Fortebuono, Vice President 610-353-5457 rfortebuono@marpletwp.com

John J. Lucas jlucas@marpletwp.com

John R. Longacre, II 610-356-5475 alongacre1@netzero.net

Michael K. Molinaro 610-353-4710 mmolinaro@marpletwp.com

Michael J. May Jr 484-470-6725 mmay@marpletwp.com

Lawrence J. Gentile, Township Manager

610-356-4040 x503 Lgentile@marpletwp.com

Sharon L. Angelaccio, Township Secretary

610-356-4040 x504 sangelaccio@marpletwp.com

Christine McMenamin, Finance Director

610-356-4040 x507 cmcmenamin@marpletwp.com

Joseph C. Romano, Director of Code 610-356-4040 x511 jromano@marpletwp.com

William Creighton, Director of Public Works

610-356-4040 bcreighton@marpletwp.com

Brandon M. Graeff, Superintendent of Police 610-356-1500 graeff@marplepolice.com

Therese Staquet, Treasurer 610-356-4040 x552

Township Administration Building

227 S. Sproul Road

Broomall, PA 19008-2391

610-356-4040

www.marpletwp.com

Township Police

1001 Sussex Boulevard

Broomall, PA 19008

Emergency and Police call 911

www.marplepolice.com

Township Public Works Garage

446 Marpit Road

Broomall, PA 19008

Marple Public Library

2599 Sproul Road

Broomall, PA 19008

610-356-1510

www.marplelibrary.org

Broomall Fire Company

Non-Emergency 610-353-5225

www.broomallfirecompany.com

Marple Ambulance Corps. Non-Emergency 610-356-1639

www.marpleems.com

Marple Newtown School District

610-359-4200

www.mnsd.org

Paxon Hollow Country Club

850 Paxon Hollow Road

Dan Malley, Golf Pro

610-325-4833

www.paxonhollowgolf.com

Anthony's at Paxon Restaurant & Banquets

610-353-0220

www.anthonysatpaxon.com

District Justice David Lang, Esq. (Wards 2,5,6 & 7) 4655 W. Chester Pike Newtown Sq., PA 19073

610-356-7430

District Justice Robert D'Agostino (Wards 1,3 & 4) 796 Parkway Blvd. Broomall, PA 19008

610-338-2550

Leisure Services/Recreation 20 Media Line Road Newtown Sq., PA 19073

610-353-2326 www.mnrecreation.org

Dear Township Resident,

PARK FACILITY UPGRADES

I am very pleased to inform you Marple Township received another substantial DCNR Grant in the amount of $250,000, that will go towards the construction of a new comfort station at the Veterans Memorial Park. This project is projected to start sometime in May and completed by late summer.

Greetings to all residents and visitors to Marple Township, spring season has been a great time for our community. In addition to the relatively mild winter and a strong financial status with a continued bright outlook, the Board of Commissioners and Township Staff have many exciting projects scheduled for the remainder of 2023. Several community enhancement efforts are already underway by township staff to enhance the quality of life in our community.

The major improvement projects scheduled for 2023 and 2024 include: Additional roadway resurfacing program, after one of the most ambitious roadways improvement programs in recent years. In 2022, the Board of Commissioners approved and invested over 2.5 million dollars towards road resurfacing throughout the community, and we are also planning to invest an additional $600,000 in 2023. The 2023 road resurfacing project is scheduled to begin shortly and will be completed this summer.

Another project for the children of our community is the new Mateflex flooring/surface for the Hockey Court on Highland Avenue. The new surface will last many years and require little to no maintenance.

In addition to this new facility, the new renovated Bocce Courts and new covered Pavilion is complete, and residents are already utilizing this great resource. I would like to commend the talented staff of the Marple Township Public Works Department for their many hours of service towards this new recreation project.

Recycline Reminder

I would like to remind our residents that Pennsylvania made recycling the law in July 1988 with Act 101, Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act, making Pennsylvania the largest state in the nation to require recycling. Curbside recycling is mandatory in municipalities greater than 5,000. Unfortunately, there is still a great number of residents who do not participate in our Single Stream Recycling efforts which save our community thousands of dollars each year

FINANCE NEWS

Refuse bills were mailed to residents the first week of March. There was no increase in the refuse rate from 2022 to 2023. Your refuse fees allow for us to provide you with two trash pick-ups per week and one weekly recycle pick-up. Sewer bills will be mailed to residents the first week of July

Recycling is one to the best ways for you to have a positive impact on the world in which we live and helping reduce our trash disposal fees. Recycling is also important to both the natural environment and us. Soon we will begin enforcing this ordinance to ensure 100% compliance on this requirement.

Our commitment to quality service delivery is paramount. Our Police, Fire, Emergency Medical Services, Public Works, are dedicated to maintaining Marple Township as a safe community. While municipal

All these new improvements will enhance our recreational areas for our community. Our sincere thanks to Commissioner Robert Fortebuono and the Parks and Recreation Board for all their support and assistance with all the Recreational enhancements over the past three years.

services we have offered during these tough economic times have remained constant, our focus is on improvement in the future. We are fortunate to have a dedicated force of public safety professionals and leadership that will continue to seek methods to enhance the operations of the vital services they provide to us each day

My best wishes for a wonderful spring and safe summer,

Larry Gentile Township Manager

and payments are due by July 31, 2023. Please make every effort to pay your refuse and sewer bills on time.

You may pay your refuse and sewer bills in person at the Township building between the hours of 7:30 AM and 4:00 PM.

Also, for your convenience after hours or on weekends, you may place your payment in the drop box located outside the front doors of the Township building.

Another exciting addition to the Veterans Memorial Park is the new Adult Exercise facility which is also scheduled for construction and will be completed early summer

FOR 7TH WARD

After 23 years of distinguished service as the th Township's 7 Ward Commissioner and 6 years as Board Vice President, on January 13, 2023, Dan Leefson retired from his seat on the Board of Commissioners to spend more time with his family.

On Monday, February 13, 2023, the Board of Commissioners appointed longtime Marple th Township resident Mike May as 7 Ward Commissioner to fill the remainder of Dan Leefson' s unexpired term through 2023.

Mike has lived at 3 Guernsey Lane for the last 16 years and lived at 35 School House Lane for 10 years before that.

Mike will be serving on the Finance, Public Works, Library and Parks & Recreation committees. He was also a member of the Township's Planning Commission.

Please visit the Marple Township Websitewww.marpletwp.com

7th Ward Commissioner Michael J. May Jr.

As we emerge from this not-too-harsh winter, take a moment to smell the flowers, the freshly cut grass, and listen for those unmistakable sounds of Spring — the crack of the bat and pop of the mitt! While your senses dance, stay focused on the things that help keep you and your family from being victims of crime:

LOCK YOUR DOORS — CAR & HOME ….All the time!

LOCK YOUR WINDOWS — When they are closed…Even when you are at home! Keep your head on a swivel and be tuned into what's going on around you. Phones and earbuds give a false sense of security and increase your likelihood of becoming a victim.

Look out for your neighbors, your friends, your local businesses, and each other in

general. The best way to keep the consequences of wokeism out of our community is to fight it together, relentlessly. We do not tolerate criminal behavior and do not expect you to have to accept it. Please continue to help us help you by reporting crimes and quality of life issues. Our officers are proactive but cannot see and know all. Call 911, stop in

A warm welcome to Commissioner May Mmay@marpletwp.com

our HQ to speak with an officer, or sidle up to one in the coffee line. When you do, you can bet the officer will be the kind you would expect from MTPD -friendly, professional, and knowledgeable. From traffic enforcement to criminal activity to coaching local sports teams in their spare time, our officers are proactive, engaged, & involved. The men and women of the Marple Township Police Department remain committed to the highest degree of public service, training, and education. The goals of this police department are identical to those of the Marple community a safe, secure township where families, schools, and businesses can thrive together.

Stay informed about what we're doing and what's going on in town by subscribing to our website — https://delaware.crimewatchpa.com/ marpletwppd and by following us @marplepolice on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

ESSAGE by Chief of Police, Brandon M. Graeff

Hoopla is Back at Marple Library

Marple Library is happy to once again offer hoopla to Marple Township residents.

What is hoopla?

Hoopla is an online platform that lets you borrow audiobooks, eBooks, comics, movies, TV, magazines, or music everywhere you have a screen-your computer, your phone, your car, even your TV Hoopla syncs across all your devices. Now Marple Township residents with a library card can stream titles immediately and on your schedule.

How do I access?

Marple Township residents can

access with your library card at https://www.hoopladigital.com/.

You can also find details at marplelibrary.org or stop by the Marple Library Reference Desk.

THANK YOU to the Marple Township community for your generous support. Through your response and contributions to our fundraising efforts we are able to offer high-quality programs and services like hoopla.

We know there is a service, program or event for you this spring. Keep up to date on popular favorites and new plans by joining us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. More information and updates can be found at https://marplelibrary.org/.

ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE Ready to Stop Climate Change? Get it Done!

Battle climate change and get pay back in both cash and the satisfaction of knowing that you and thousands of your neighbors, businesses and Towns throughout the Delaware Valley are getting the job done! Some steps require no investment and some do. ALL can save you money. Web sites like https://haverfordclimateaction.org/ provide a one-stop shop for information on things you can do, upcoming webinars, videos and more.

Solar the Easy Way

Solar PV Tax Credits Supercharged

Home solar tax credits went up to 30% for 2023 and beyond making solar payback even better. Non-profits can now also benefit and get a direct 30% federal rebate for systems turned on in 2023. Deadline to sign up for 2023 is Sept. 30, 2023.

Solarize DelCo Group Pricing

Residents and businesses in Delaware County Email us at solarizedelco@gmail.com with name, address and phone number and we can help you assess whether the Solarize Delco program with vetted vendors and a significant discount over market rates is right for you.

New Low Income Grants and Leasing Options

Income qualified homeowners can apply for a $5,000 grant while funds last or take advantage of our new partnership with a vetted leasing firm that can reduce monthly bills by a combination of Solar PV and weatherization. Solarize Delco can help you decide what is best for you.

Who are we?

Your neighbors, an all volunteer non-profit providing education, unbiased information and an easier path to putting solar on your home, business or house of worship. We can help Houses of Worship and other nonprofits find sources of funding as well. More info at www.solarizedelco.org. Search Solarize Philly and Solarize SE PA for programs outside of DelCo.

Ready to Solarize Now?

In Delaware County, PAfill out a form on www.solarizedelco.org or Email us at solarizedelco@gmail.com with your name, address and phone number and we can help you assess whether the Solarize Delco program with a selected vendor and a significant discount over market rates is right for you. In Bucks, Chester, and Montgomery County - Email solarizesepa@gmail.com.

Climate Webinar Series Videos

Watch these informative recorded Climate Action Workshops on Solar Home, adapting to Electric Vehicle use, Purchasing Renewable Energy, and others at https://www.youtube. com/channel/ UCwISP41eRhD0SUyHxG pY9xQ

The Clean Energy Co-Op can help businesses and nonprofits go solar through education and solar development with the capital of local Co-op members. Contact info@cleanenergy.coop to learn more.

STORMWATER MANAGEMENT

Spring tips for managing stormwater on your property:

1. Plant native plants! Native plants provide biodiversity and require less maintenance and water to thrive.

2. Mulch your grass clippings! Grass clippings are a source of nitrogen fertilizer. Let them decompose on your lawn and NEVER leave them in the street.

3. Use chemicals sparingly! When spreading fertilizer, use it sparingly to ensure the excess does not overflow into the runoff when rain comes.

4. Pick up pet waste! Pick up, bag, and dispose of pet waste properly to prevent unhealthy bacteria from flowing into local waterways.

Summer tips for managing stormwater on your property:

1. Wash your car at a car wash! When you wash your car on the driveway or the street, grease, soap and oil can wash into the streams and creeks.

2. Never dump anything down stormwater drains! Remember that storm drains empty into local waterways without being treated—whatever enters storm drains will flow into streams and creeks.

3. Direct downspouts over porous, not paved surfaces! When possible, direct downspouts into garden beds, your lawn or consider installing a rain barrel.

4. Raise your mower height! Raising your mower height to at least 3 inches will slow the flow of water over your lawn and allow it to absorb more rain water

2023 YARD WASTE DROP-OFF SCHEDULE

The Marple Township Yard Waste drop-off site will be available to Marple Township residents on the following dates and times throught 2023.

TIMES: 9:00 AM TO 12:00 PM

April 8th

April 15th

April 16th

May 6th

June 3rd

July 1st

August 5th

September 2nd

October 7th

October 21st

October 22nd

October 28th

October 29th

November 4th

November 5th

The drop-off site is located at the Old Marple Grade School property on West Chester Pike & Malin Road, directly behind the Broomall Fire Station (separate driveway off West Chester Pike).

Sewer backups and flooding can cause devastating property damage and are not covered by standard homeowners’ insurance policies. The majority of these claims are the responsibility of the property owner. Sewage from sanitary sewer lines occasionally back up into houses through drain pipes. These backups not only cause extensive water damage that is difficult and expensive to repair, but also create health hazards.

Marple Township is not responsible for damages caused by sewers, drains and sump pumps except under limited/special circumstances provided by the Pennsylvania Political Subdivision Tort Claim Act.

Property owners must be aware that they are responsible for the maintenance and repair of their private sewer lateral from their dwelling to and including its connection to the Township sewer main. Owners should also review their Flood and Sewer Backup insurancecoverage with their agent/insurance companies in order to properly protect their personal property.

Please pay particular attention to the following coverages:

Coverage for Sewers, Drains and Sump Pumps:

This valuable coverage is not included under your standard homeowner's policy, But can be purchased by endorsement by a rider for an additional premium.

Flood Coverage:

Flood coverage is not included under your homeowner’s policy. However, flood insurance is available under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and can be obtained through your insurance agent or broker.

THE TOWNSHIP DOES NOT PROVIDE FLOOD INSURANCE.

MARPLE TREE COMMISSION Protect Your Young Trees From Deer Damage

The Marple Tree Commission (MTC) has facilitated the planting of more than 1000 trees in town over 16 years. About500 are located in our eight Township parks, along roadsides and on school campuses and are maintained by MTC volunteers. Another 500 or so through our Re-Leaf Marple program, are located on residential properties. Tree Commission volunteers help participating residents choose an appropriate site and demonstrate correct planting of young trees while homeowners commit to caring for them over the seasons.

However, besides proper maintenance such as weeding, watering and pruning there is another important key to the successful survival and growth of newly planted trees. It is protection! As they establish strong roots, trunks and branches and develop foliage, young trees are very vulnerable to DEER damage. Of course extreme weather conditions and property disturbance in the area where they are planted are also potential hazards, but the biggest threat that young trees face over the seasons is from deer. From August to March bucks damage their tender bark by rubbing their antlers on it. Deer also will happily browse year round on their foliage and young twigs. So it is essential that home owners establish protective caging around newly planted young trees that will thwart this potential damage.

Necessary equipment for a tree cage

A protective cage should be substantial enough to last several seasons as the young tree matures. First, assemble the necessary tools and materials:

1. Four sturdy 6' tall 1” x 1” square wooden stakes,

2. A pounder, mallet or other device to pound the stakes into the soil around the young tree.

3. Deer netting (five feet wide), available at Home Depot's online store, through Amazon or at some hardware stores, box stores or plant nurseries. Most light weight deer netting is wider than 5' so you will have to cut it to the appropriate size. Do not use blueberry netting.

4. Twist ties, available either precut or on a spool with a cutter; or 6” zip or cable straps.

Installing the tree cage

5. With a Sharpie pen, make a mark 1 foot up from the bottom of each wooden stake to signal when each stake is inserted to the depth of 1 foot into the ground.

a. Determine location of each of the four stakes so that no stake is closer than 6” to the leaves/branches of the young tree.

Situate each pair of stakes opposite one another to make a square.

Drive an iron stake or augur into the ground to make a 1-foot deep hole for each of the wooden stakes. Insert each stake into a hole and use a mallet or stake pounder to assure that it fits snuggly into the hole. If a stake wobbles, pour some small gravel or inset a small stick as a wedge into the hole to make the post securely upright.

Attach deer fencing to the wooden stakes using twist ties or zip straps to establish a protective cage around the tree. Attach approximately three twist ties per stake to fasten the fencing to

each stake — one near the top, one near the middle and one near the bottom of the stake. Attach the netting so that the bottom of the cage is about one foot above the ground. This helps facilitate watering and weeding at the base of the tree.

Maintaining tree cages

Tree caging is very successful if properly done. It will provide protection against deer damage to small, low-branched young trees year-round for at least 2 to 4 years. Eventually, when the lower branches of a deciduous tree can be safely trimmed from its trunk — usually when the tree reaches 8 to 10 feet tall or more — the cage can be removed and replaced by protective tubing or garden fencing wrapped around the trunk. (Do not use perforated plastic drain pipe). Typically, deer never really disappear from a region, so again, depending on the tree type/species, it will take several years before it will be able to withstand deer visits without protection.

WOODLAND CONSERVATION & BIRDS

The Importance of Woodland Conservation to our Birds

by Dr. Jonathan Wilson, Haverford College Department of Environmental Studies, Philip

President

PA

Township trees, both at individual scale and in larger woodlands, enhance our environment in many ways, from landscape shade in the summer to absorbing carbon dioxide through photosynthesis. Many articles have focused on the importance of preserving our woodlands and tree canopy

because of their vital role in reducing flooding and stormwater runoff and in sequestering greenhouse gases and moderating climate extremes. 70% of the woodlands in Pennsylvania and the overwhelming majority of woodlands in your Township are on private property, and their conservation is crucial for these, and other, environmental reasons. One of the less-appreciated roles that our trees play is habitat; they are home to a diverse range of animals, including birds. Many bird species have experienced a steep population decline in recent decades, up to 60%, or greater, in the last 50 years. Therefore, in addition to the many other roles they play in your Township as part of our natural landscape and stormwater management “green infrastructure”, preserving Township woodlands is important to stemming the further loss of birds.

Local habitat conservation can play a vital role in supporting diverse and abundant bird populations. Although deforestation of tropical forests in overwintering sites is a factor largely beyond our control, research has shown that forest-dwelling tropical migrant birds (vireos, warblers, tanagers, thrushes, and flycatchers) that visit our area in the summer, have declined much more sharply in areas of forest fragmentation than in areas of continuous forest. This decline is because forest fragments and smaller, less connected woodland areas have more “edge” per unit area, which allows for increased predation and parasitism. For example, more

frequent cowbird parasitism of bird nests and increased predation of eggs occur because nests and eggs are not protected by a larger woodland buffer Although some birds have evolved responses to these challenges (robins and cardinals recognize and remove cowbird eggs from their nests), many birds have not. Therefore, the more fragmentation and reduction of our local woodlands takes place, the greater the loss of birds, and we have already observed populations in decline in our area. For example, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology has recorded a 34% decline in wood thrush, frequently heard in the woodlands of the Trout Creek watershed, 34% from 2007-2021 in the western Pennsylvania suburbs, with other songbirds such as orioles, chickadees, and tanagers recording similar losses. This ongoing loss of birds has cascading effects on our local ecosystems and gardens. For example, each individual songbird consumes up to a thousand caterpillars a day (Leslie Jones Sauer, Once and Future Forest). With fewer birds, our environment loses an important form of insect predation control.

Reducing the number and density of trees in our wooded areas also has negative effects on the environment and bird populations in other ways. First, the close proximity of woodland trees to each other acts as a stabilizing influence on soils and trees, allowing trees to intertwine their roots to support each other during storms. According to Doug Tallamy (The Nature of Oaks), thinning out trees in a woodland does not protect them, but rather decreases their resiliency from winds during storms, increasing tree fall and further loss of habitat. Second, clearing of trees and disturbance of the forest floor leaf litter increases the spreading of invasive plant and animal species, which thrive on sunlight and disturbed soil. Many of these woodland invaders are now supplanting natural regeneration of forests

and hindering regrowth of native shrubs and wildflowers, which play an essential role in supporting our birds and other wildlife.

There is much that we can do to preserve these interconnected populations of birds and trees in our area. Property owners who are fortunate enough to have woodlands or woodland borders on their land can help preserve our bird population through action and vigilance, including the following:

...reducing the amount of any woodland disturbance on their properties; keeping woodland patches intact and connected, wherever possible.

...directing arborists to leave the dead snags of trees to provide habitat for woodpeckers and other birds.

...avoiding compaction of tree roots from heavy equipment and mowing.

...promptly pruning any broken branches on trees.

...leaving woodland floor leaf litter wherever possible; and,

...where tree removal is necessary, replanting canopy trees with shade tree species native to our woodlands and protecting volunteer seedlings from deer browse.

Any or all of these actions will contribute to greater forest health and stronger bird populations in our area.

Pugh Road Wooded Property;

Photo By Jennifer Cox

Witmer, Vice

Bird Town

Wood Thursh; Photo By Bonnie Witmer