DV Journal

Ho Ho –Hey, come back here, thief!

Amid the holiday shopping season, a new study from the Pennsylvania Courts system reports the Delaware Valley has some of the highest retail theft numbers in the state.

Montgomery County ranks second in Pennsylvania for retail theft arrests, accounting for nine percent of the state total, according to Administration Office of Pennsylvania Courts (AOPC) statistics. Philadelphia County ranked third at six percent, while Delaware and Bucks Counties were tied for fourth with Erie County at five percent. Chester County was next at four percent.

Allegheny County topped the list at 13 percent.

AOPC data showed almost 162,000 arrests happened in Pennsylvania between 2019 and 2023. They involved more than 82,000 people and resulted in a 42 percent conviction rate.

Surprisingly, the defendants weren’t necessarily young adults just out of high school or in college. Nearly 30 percent of the suspects were between the ages of 26 and 35. Those between the ages of 36 and 45 made up 21 percent of all suspects, while 22 percent were over 46. Seventeen percent were between 19 and 25.

Police arrested almost the same percentage of women as they did men. Male suspects made up 50 percent of arrests, while females were 48 percent. Two percent were of an unknown gender.

Shoplifting and robbery, including gang-related organized retail theft, have surged across the country since the COVID-19. Here in southeastern Pennsylvania, the statistics are not shocking to Delaware Valley residents or retailers who continue seeing products like medicine and laundry detergent behind locked cases at stores.

“We have been hearing from retailers for the last several years,” Pennsylvania Retailers Association (PRA) Executive Director John Holub told DVJournal.

What seems to be most troubling is the dramatic jump in theft offenses in Montgomery County, where arrests have almost doubled in five years. In 2019, 2,791 suspects were taken into custody. In 2023, it rose to 4,002.

Holub said some of those arrests can be connected to the King of Prussia Mall where high-end retailers like Burberry, Gucci, and Lululemon are located.

There’s another factor to the crime increase, according to Holub, organized retail theft groups. “These are highly organized criminal enterprises, that have focused a lot of their efforts on Philadelphia and the collar counties,” he said.

Law enforcement arrested the 19-year-old suspected ringleader of a smash-and-grab robbery crew that stole more than $75,000 in merchandise from the King of Prussia Mall and several Philadelphia shops. Police say the thieves would burst into stores with trash bags or large bags, grab whatever they could, and then escape. Some thefts dated back to November 2023.

Those robberies cost Pennsylvania businesses big bucks. A Forbes survey released last year found the average value of stolen goods in Pennsylvania was $430 – the highest in the U.S.

Nationwide, the National Retail Federation said businesses lost $112.1 billion in 2022 due to organized retail crime. The robbery losses caused Macy’s to shut down its San Francisco flagship store, costing 400 people their jobs.

Other retailers started pilot programs putting body cameras on loss prevention associates or locked merchandise.

Retailers are teaming up with law enforcement to clamp down on thefts. The Retail Industry Leaders Association and International Association Chiefs of Police announced a new partnership in August to provide more training, best practices, resources, and guidebooks on retail crime topics. The groups promised the training would enhance collaboration between businesses and police.

In Pennsylvania, Holub praised state and Delaware Valley governments for their work in tackling crime.

He said Philadelphia police and prosecutors became “true partners in addressing this issue. That hasn’t always been the case.” Holub thanked the Delaware and Chester County district attorneys for being engaged with retailers. The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office recently launched its Office of Deputy Attorney General for Organized Retail Crime Theft that’s also helped.

“It’s very encouraging the amount of cooperation and coordination we have gotten in the last year from law enforcement, prosecutors and policy makers in Harrisburg,” said Holub.  “I think it is just a matter of time until the statistics reflect these efforts.”

On Thursday, the Montgomery County commissioners joined their fellow Democrats governing Chester and Delaware Counties to give homeowners a lump of coal for Christmas: a nine percent tax hike.

Republican Commissioner Tom DiBello voted against the $610.9 million operating budget, but he backed the $244.4 million capital budget. DVJournal asked why he split his vote.

DiBello explained personnel costs make up the lion’s share of the budget, and he’d asked for detailed analysis from each department but had not received it, so he didn’t feel comfortable voting for the budget. He hopes to get that information next year.

But with the capital budget, there are already projects underway that can’t just be halted.

“Do we want to continue to do everything we’re doing?” DiBello asked. He believes the county needs to be run more like a business. “We need to look into these programs. We can’t continue doing everything we’re doing at the expense of the taxpayers.”

Democratic BOC Chair Jamila Winder touted a new year-round shelter approved Thursday to help the homeless, partnering with Lansdale Borough and Resources for Human Development. It will house 20 people at a time. There were 435 people sleeping outside in Montgomery County during a count of the homeless earlier this year.

“The shelter is a monumental step in our mission to address housing insecurity across Montgomery County,” said Winder. “And most importantly this is a demonstration of our fulfillment of our promise to our residents in Montgomery County.”

It will “provide person-centered, wrap-around services to help our friends and neighbors secure permanent housing and other community services. This is in addition to the second homeless shelter that opened in Lansdale.”

There are often 27 to 38 homeless people in Lansdale, she said.  She thanked the borough for “having the courage” to address homelessness.

Lansdale Council President Mary Fuller said, “The feedback we’ve gotten from our residents has been nothing but positive.”

Chief Financial Officer Dean Dortone presented the 2025 budget, which includes a $15.8 million structural deficit. Expenditures are 7.6 percent higher than in 2024, primarily for personnel costs, debt service and money transferred to the 911 Fund.

He said the deficit will be filled by the real estate tax increase from 5.64 mills to 5.178 mills and money from the unassigned fund balance. Real estate taxes comprise 54 percent of the budget, with federal and state grants contributing 34.6 percent. The remainder is from fees from the various departments.

The average single-family homeowner with a market value of $520,100 would pay $965 to the county, an increase of $79.

The county, which has a Triple-A Moody’s rating, also expects to issue $165 million in new bonds for capital projects in 2025.

County Sheriff Sean Kilkenny thanked the commissioners for “their commitment to public safety.” He thanked them for “gear, vehicles and resources” and funds for vests for the K-9s, as well as increasing their recruiting budget.

Ambler resident David Morgan was concerned about “the galloping horse of a tax increase.”

A woman told the BOC that a 9 percent tax hike was too much.

“It’s really tough on taxpayers,” who also pay federal, state and municipal taxes. “Listen to the taxpayers.” She suggested they delay adopting the budget for a week to find places to save. “There are things to take out of the budget,” she said. “You’re spending our money.”

“Although you’re hearing us, I don’t think you’re listening,” she added.

Winder called the budget a “complicated dance” and said the commissioners take “our fiduciary duty really serious,” and she is “keeping people center of all I do…This was hard, but we have promises to deliver on. We have commitments we made to the community…There’s no luxury spending here in Montgomery County.”

Democrats also control Delaware County and Chester County. Delaware County Council voted to increase taxes by 23 percent this month, and the Chester County BOC voted to increase taxes by 13.47 percent. Bucks County, which Democrats also control, passed its budget Wednesday without a tax increase. Voter registration in Bucks County recently flipped to Republican majority.

The Montgomery County commissioners are poised to hike taxes by nine percent when they adopt the $610.9 million 2025 budget on Dec. 19. At least one local Republican isn’t happy about it.

Montco Commissioner Tom DiBello, the only GOP member of the three-person board, noted, “We’ve seen a cumulative 31 percent tax increase over the last four years.” The nine percent hike would take the total to more than 40 percent in just five years.

“We have to be cognizant our taxpayers are being stretched to the limit with inflation and all the rising costs throughout the county, throughout the state, and country. We see those rising costs today in the county. That’s why some of our expenses are rising faster than we would like,” DiBello said.

“We also see school districts across Montgomery County that are raising taxes on average four to five percent a year. So our county residents are being hit from every angle. We have to look at every opportunity to figure out how we could minimize the tax impacts on our communities.”

According to the website smartasset.com, the property tax rate in Montgomery County is 1.62 percent, which puts it near the state average. A homeowner with a home assessed at $326,200 pays an average of $5,273 annually.

For Bucks County, the owner of a house valued at the median of $340,500 pays $5,282 in property taxes at a rate of 1.55. In Chester County, a homeowner with a home valued at the median of $369,500 pays $5,735 at a rate of 1.55 percent. In Delaware County, with a median home value of $247,900, taxes would be $5,690, and the tax rate is 1.62 percent.

Philadelphia is the least pricy, with a median home at $171,600, taxes at $1,808 and the tax rate at 1.05 percent.

Commissioner Neil Makhija (D) said the budget includes the board’s priorities, including investing in hydroelectric power through the Norristown dam and installing electric vehicle charging stations at county facilities, “which are going to be essential for us to transition to those.”

“We’re also making a film on the success of the whole home repairs program that we launched earlier this year, which gives eligible homeowners grants to address safety concerns, efficiency, and make their units more affordable. We also included an increase in our funding for SEPTA.”

The budget includes $42.3 million to fix the roads and bridges and $7 million for county trails. There is also $3.5 million for open space.

“While all this seems like a lot of money, what we’re doing is in a fiscally responsible way. We’re able to achieve our objectives by leveraging local funds to obtain state and federal money, as well. We’re also simply being smarter in the way we spend and finance money as well,” said Makhija.

He said the county refinanced bonds to save about $1 million in debt service in 2024 and 2025. But debt service is up $3.9 million for 2025.

“We also identified about $3 million in savings in this budget as a result of operational reductions, services and supplies, equipment and training and travel expenses,” said Makhija.

He said poor residents or those on fixed incomes may be able to enroll in a tax abatement program. The county is also giving tax rebates to volunteer EMS and firefighters.

“We will continue to find ways to help those who need it in terms of tax deferral and rebates,” he said.

Chair Jamila Winder (D) said it is “gratifying to me that so many people care for our homeless friends and neighbors.” While they are “always cognizant of the taxpayers, this budget and the seeds that we planted will help some of these issues make a dent. If only there were more people who would care about our homeless residents.”

David Morgan, a resident who attended the meeting, wondered whether the county could find ways to economize.

“I find it concerning that debt service is a paramount reason for the increase,” said Morgan. “That is really concerning. It’s harder to rent or buy in our county. I was disappointed to see a nine percent increase in our taxes. We have people who can barely make ends meet.”

With construction ongoing at the new $415 million Justice Center, “there’s concern about debt obligations and these big projects.”

Rick Buckman, a former Republican commissioner, was surprised to hear about the planned tax increase.

“When Republicans were in charge, we liked less government and less taxes,” said Buckman. “Right now, we have a lot more government and a lot more programs, and it’s not free. It’s nice to hand things out, but you have to pay for these programs. It falls on the rest of us to pay for it.”

Another former Republican county commissioner, Bruce L. Castor Jr., said when Democrats gained the majority they “spent down our surplus and drove up our debt when anyone could see the economic crash of 2008 was upon us.”

But Castor, and his Democratic “governing partners,” Josh Shapiro [now governor] and Leslie Richards restored fiscal soundness and that helped “propel their political careers.”

“Leslie, Josh, and I were heralded as heroes for a while, reining in government excess and taking a practical approach to governing. But once we left, people forgot why we had been heroes. The Democrat machine shifted into gear, Philly came to Norristown and, from there, out to our 62 municipalities. The Philly philosophy, the big-city America philosophy of tax and spend became the default. Raise taxes? No problem when Democrats run this show in Norristown. Like, Philly, NYC, Chicago, LA, etc.”

The Republican National Committee dropped a preliminary injunction request brought against Montgomery County, although its lawsuit remains ongoing.

The RNC released a statement, saying that it filed suit after it learned that count Commissioner Neil Makhija, and Election Board chair, posted to social media that he had cast the first vote in the state, the day after the Secretary of State Al Schmidt announced the ballot was finalized.

County officials had tested a ballot that they believed would be certified on Sept. 10, the RNC said.  They admitted they performed more thorough testing on Sept. 23, after the RNC filed its lawsuit. But the county mailed out ballots before that.

“Why the rush to send out the ballots before then? We are still investigating so this does not happen in the next election,” the RNC said in its release.

“Election officials must be held accountable, and that’s exactly what we’ve done in Montgomery County. Rules, safeguards, and laws are critical to ensuring there are no holes in the system that undermine voters or election integrity. We have verified the facts, confirmed that the illegally sent ballots will be cast and counted properly, and protected early voters in the Keystone State,” said RNC Chairman Michael Whatley.

Each county runs its own election. Counties test ballots prior to providing them to voters to make sure the ballots will be properly counted.  Testing includes ballot format, layout, paper, and ability to be scanned.

“Only after the RNC filed a lawsuit did the County admit what we suspected– they did not perform Ballot Accuracy Testing between the time that the Secretary certified the ballot on September 16, 2024 and when Commissioner Makhija voted,” the release said.

Megan Alt, a spokeswoman for Montgomery County accused the RNC of lying in its press release.

Montgomery County is proud of the excellent work our voter services team did to provide our residents with ballots on time. We are already seeing some of the highest return rates in the Commonwealth for voters of all political parties.

“The RNC’s press release is completely false and only serves to cast unwarranted doubt on the County’s elections processes. As the Pennsylvania Department of State said, the suit was frivolous from the beginning, and the RNC continues to misrepresent the issues and facts. Montgomery County informed the Court of its ballot preparation and L&A [logic and accuracy] processes, which we and the Department of State had already recognized complied with all legal requirements.

“In response, the RNC dropped their request for a preliminary injunction, confirming what the county and Department of State had already said,” said Alt. “The county did not admit to any wrongdoing; instead, we reaffirmed that we have and will continue follow all the necessary guidance. The RNC’s statement is just another disingenuous attempt to undermine Montgomery County’s safe, secure, and accessible election.”

The RNC said, “Montgomery County risked providing voters with ballots that would not be counted correctly, all so the Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Elections could claim to be the first voter in Pennsylvania on social media. Commissioner Makhija may be willing to take chances with your vote – but the RNC is not.”

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Montgomery County is sporting Pennsylvania’s first mobile Voter Services satellite office. It recently made its first stop at the Abington Township Fall Festival in Crestmont Park.

But some Montco Republicans fear it was just the first stop on a taxpayer-funded ballot harvesting tour designed to help Democrats hold onto power.

Montgomery County Commissioner Neil Makhija, chair of the Board of Elections, said, “The Montgomery County Voter Services Mobile Outreach van is the first of its kind in Pennsylvania. It’s one of several steps we’re taking to make this election more accessible than ever. We’ve doubled our secure ballot drop boxes opened more satellite voter services offices than ever, and now this mobile satellite office can reach more people where they already are. Our goal is to increase voter access to the information and tools they need to participate in our democracy.”

The mobile voter services satellite office provides the same services as a regular satellite office, officials said. Citizens can register to vote, update their registration, request a mail-in ballot and return their completed ballot at the voter services van. They can also drop ballots off at any voter services office location across Montgomery County. It is scheduled to travel to various senior communities and public events in the weeks leading up to the Nov. 5 election. The last day to register to vote in Pennsylvania is Oct. 21.

“The voter services van will help us make sure that every eligible voter in Montgomery County has the chance to cast their ballot this general election,” said County Commissioners Chair Jamila H. Winder, vice chair of the Board of Elections. “We can especially reach people in places where accessibility challenges make it harder to visit a voter services office, such as senior facilities and community centers. We’re also able to connect directly with voters at festivals and public events. Wherever the community gathers, we aim to get out there to make sure people are informed and ready to vote this election.”

Both Winder and Makhija are Democrats. Minority Republican County Commissioner Tom DiBello voted against the mobile Voter Services van.

“I call it the ice cream truck of ballot harvesting,” said DiBello, who added he is uncertain that it’s legal. Furthermore, the new van cost the county $143,000, he said. He noted it is going to areas with more Democratic voters to register people.

Abington Township Republican Organization Chair Joe Rooney echoed those concerns.

“Is it targeting Democratic voters? Or is it going to churches and gun shows?” Rooney asked. Rooney is also concerned about the security of ballots left with the van.

And Rooney said the van is just the tip of the iceberg. The county has dispensed with guards at drop boxes, which it previously agreed to because of an Upper Dublin incident where a woman was seen stuffing multiple ballots into a drop box, and officials increased the number of drop boxes. Rooney, a Republican candidate for state representative for District 153 Abington, Upper Dublin and Rockledge, has watched the drop boxes and seen people depositing more than one ballot [the limit is one] and someone with a car with a New Jersey tag depositing a ballot.

He’s also concerned some drop boxes are not in well-lighted areas and voters could become the victims of crime. He pointed out Abington has had some serious incidents recently, with a woman attacked at a laundromat and another woman followed home from a casino by a would-be robber who was shot before he was arrested.

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Senior Assistant Montgomery County solicitor John Marlett said some 474 Montgomery County primary voters returned ballots with the wrong date.

“The year was either missing or incorrect,” he said. The Board of Elections then voted 2-1 to accept ballots without a year or the incorrect year.  However, neighboring Delaware County adopted the opposite policy.

Marlett told the Montgomery County Board of Elections on Friday that the secretary of state’s guidance says a missing or incorrect year does not disqualify the ballot, leaving it up to county boards of election. The state issued that advice despite the fact that the Third Circuit Court of Appeals found wrong dates disqualified the ballots.

Montgomery County Board of Elections Chair Neil Makhija, a Democrat, said the policy of accepting incorrectly dated ballots was implemented during the North Penn special election and “the year [on the ballot] doesn’t provide any sort of security or validation.”

He moved to accept ballots dated between when they were distributed and when the election would be counted. Vice Chair Jamila Winder, also a Democrat, seconded it.

Republican Tom DiBello opposed the move, saying, “My opinion hasn’t changed.”

He noted that Act 77, the law allowing mail-in ballots, has not changed. “There’s been no change to the law. I didn’t support it then, I don’t support it now, and I won’t support it moving forward.”

Makhija said, “We shouldn’t allow something immaterial to disqualify or discount their vote… I think it’s really important for this board to protect the right to vote for all residents.”

The motion passed 2-1.

DiBello said, “Obviously, in Montgomery County, we interpret Act 77 the way we want.” He noted there were “significant issues” in the primary election process and suggested the election board meet monthly leading up to the general election to ensure a smooth process.”

In Delaware County, the Board of Elections took the opposite position from Montgomery County.

“The Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the dates can be required by state law, overruling the federal Circuit Court ruling,” said James P. Allen, elections director for Delaware County. “Therefore, Delaware County did not process any ballots from envelopes that were completely missing a date or that were dated incorrectly.”

Linda Kerns, a Philadelphia election lawyer, said because of the guidance from the secretary of state, counties are making different decisions about which mail-in ballots to count.

“So, yet again, we have counties interpreting the issue quite differently which means, as usual, in Pennsylvania, ballots are being treated differently based on the county where you vote,” said Kerns. “Generally, counties with Republican election offices are interpreting date to mean month, day, year that you filled out the ballot. Democrat-led offices are taking a much more broad and liberal approach. That is not exclusive, though, as some Democrat counties are not counting. So it is, as usual, a disgrace.”

Kerns added, “Each court is interpreting a poorly written law very differently. We should have uniformity as to how these ballots are treated.  That is what is fair and democratic. We do not have that.”

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(From a press release.)

March is International Fraud Prevention Month and Montgomery County Recorder of Deeds Jeanne Sorg is encouraging homeowners to register for FraudSleuth, a free property alert service from her office.

So far, more than 3,100 homeowners have taken advantage of the program provided by the Recorder of Deeds office.

“My team has been working hard to get the word out and help sign up our constituents for this great service – increasing the number of homeowners signed up by 67 percent in just one year,” said Sorg. “But our job is not done until all homeowners in Montgomery County are registered and protected through our free FraudSleuth program.”

While FraudSleuth does not prevent fraud, it is an early warning system, so if fraudulent activity does happen, homeowners can take immediate action. The rate of this type of crime is low in Montgomery County. But Sorg recommends FraudSleuth as a piece of mind tool for homeowners.

“Property is the biggest investment we make,” said Sorg. “My office wants to help you protect that investment.”

Montgomery County property owners should register using their Parcel ID, which is the unique identifier for their property, and they will receive e-mail alerts if a document is recorded at our office against the information included in their profile.

According to Zipdo there was $1.9 billion lost to mortgage and rental fraud in 2020. The average victim lost $4573 per real estate fraud cases.

Homeowners can sign up for FraudSleuth right from the Montgomery County Recorder of Deeds website, or join them at one of their upcoming mobile sign up events.

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Montgomery County plans to spend almost $1.2 million in taxpayer money this year for farmland preservation efforts.

The county commissioners approved the spending last week after Planning Manager Anne Leavitt-Gruberger said the Pennsylvania government would match, and possibly exceed, the county’s contribution.

“In 2023, we certified $1.3 million, which then leveraged $2.8 million additional dollars for this program,” she said. The state funding comes from cigarette taxes, the Environmental Stewardship Fund, and what county documents call “other sources.”

The state requires counties to certify the farm preservation funds by January 31 each year.

The cash was initially approved last year during the budgeting process. Four thousand dollars will be used by the Montgomery County Conservation Districts to help with “required annual inspections” of preserved farms. The rest will be used to buy agricultural preservation easements.

Farm preservation is a major part of the “Montco 2040: A Shared Vision” comprehensive plan for the county. Officials hope to preserve a total of 15,400 farm acres by 2040. The county encouraged landowners to make “a long-term commitment to agriculture” through land use security and financial incentives. That included cash for development rights to prevent any sort of non-agricultural buildings.

Leavitt-Gruberger praised the farmland preservation program for saving 186 farms covering about 10,500 acres since its inception in 1990. She said that by buying the development rights on the farms, the county can keep the agricultural landscape of the region forever.

“[Development is] restricted by these easement purchases to be farms,” Leavitt-Gruberger told the commissioners. “We’re helping people preserve not just their family’s properties and their histories on these farms but also a rural way of life in a lot of these communities.”

Program requirements vary – specifically between large and small farms. Small farms have to be at least 10 acres and not next to “an existing agricultural conservation easement,” according to Montco Farmland Preservation Program documents. County-funded easement purchases are only available for those land parcels.

State money is used for farms of at least 500 acres. Program documents say other eligibility conditions include being located between two different local governmental units in the county, and/or between Montco and another county. At least 500 acres of that land have to be in Montco, though. Half of the soil on the farm must be “available for agricultural production” or horse activity and have at least 10 acres of “harvested cropland, pasture, or grazing land.”

Most of the preserved farms are on the northwestern edge of the county. Other farms have been preserved in Hanover, Upper Frederick, Lower Frederick, and Upper Salford.

“I’ve taken some time to get to know this program, you’ve walked me through it,” said Montgomery County Commissioners Chair Jamila Winder. “It’s super impressive. The work that you and the team are doing to partner with our area farmers to preserve farmland.”

Landowners have until February 1 to turn in applications for the Farmland Preservation Program. They’ll have to include crop production and income information for the last three years. A livestock report will also have to be submitted to the county.

From there, Montco will perform farm evaluations and rankings, appraisals, and farm tours before the Farmland Preservation Board votes on whether to make an offer. If the landowner accepts the offer, it will then be sent to the Pennsylvania Agricultural Land Preservation Board for another vote.

The entire process takes up to two years.

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Permanent preservation plans are in place for 458 acres of vulnerable open space in Montgomery County.

The Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania and the non-profit Natural Lands conservation group recently announced an agreement on Camp Laughing Waters.

The camp, which the Girl Scouts have run since the 1950s, is part of the Swamp Creek Conservation Landscape – a more than 9,300-acre area of Montgomery County. But Natural Lands noted the camp wasn’t considered protected land.

“The property’s permanent preservation has been a priority for decades,” said Kate Raman, conservation project manager with Natural Lands. “We are beyond thrilled to be able to celebrate this conservation success. It’s a win for future generations of Girl Scouts, for wildlife, and for everyone living in this region who will continue to benefit from the fresh air, clean water, climate mitigation, and other ecological services this land provides.”

It’s’ the latest partnership with private land owners in the Delaware Valley for Natural Lands. The Delaware County-based organization has conservation easements covering more than 26,000 acres. Those agreements include annual monitoring and maintaining good relations with hundreds of landowners.

They also include taxpayer funding. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), Montgomery County, New Hanover Township, and Upper Frederick Township all provided what was called “substantial support” for Natural Lands.

DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn called the permanent preservation plans “tremendous news” for the region. She’s especially happy that there will be “expanded public access” to trails within the Swamp Creek Conservation Landscape.

Camp Laughing Waters will remain a Girl Scouts camp. Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania CEO Kim E. Fraites-Dow said the deal makes a lot of sense because the land deserved protection. “Camp activities are dependent on the continued existence of open space…” she said. “This will benefit not just the Girl Scouts but also the flora and fauna that call these lands home, the public who will enjoy the recreational trails, and residents downstream whose property and water supplies will be permanently protected. We are teaching our Girl Scouts by example the importance of protecting land for future generations.”

Montgomery County politicians praised the deal.

“This is great news for advancing and preserving our open space, which will create more opportunities for folks to connect with nature on walking trails or for educational lessons for kids on plants and wildlife,” said state Rep. Donna Scheuren (R-Gilbertsville). “This is also an economic win, as open space attracts tourists and outdoor enthusiasts, helps to generate revenue for local businesses and communities, and delivers higher property values for homes near parks and green spaces as well.”

“New Hanover Township is proud to be a partner in the permanent preservation of 458 acres, ensuring that this vast expanse of land remains protected for future generations,” said Jamie Gwynn, New Hanover Township manager. “The acquisition of the easement not only reflects the Board of Supervisors’ dedication to environmental stewardship but also highlights its unwavering commitment to safeguarding natural resources and fostering sustainable development.”

The Virginia Cretella Mars Foundation and the Redekop Family Foundation at Everence also contribute funds to Natural Lands.

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(From a press release)

On January 3, Montgomery County hosted a public swearing-in ceremony for Commissioners Jamila H. Winder, Neil Makhija, and Thomas DiBello, as well as nine row officers, in the Montgomery County Community College’s Health Science Center Main Gym.

“Montgomery County has a population that is diverse in experiences and backgrounds,” said Winder, chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. “Our community deserves to have leadership that reflects those lived experiences. This new Board of Commissioners, with our dedication to service and diverse perspectives, ensures that everyone who lives, works, visits, or invests in Montgomery County has a voice that speaks for them.”

“It’s an honor to serve alongside Commissioners Winder and DiBello to support the people of Montgomery County. And that is what we are here to do—to serve,” said Makhija. “I am looking forward to the critical work of protecting our elections in 2024, addressing housing affordability and homelessness, leading on the climate crisis, and many more issues we face as a county.”

DiBello said, “I believe we’re going to do a lot of good for the residents of Montgomery County. Together with my fellow Commissioners, we are committed to making advancements for this great county. I look forward to meeting more of the people who live and work here, as well as speaking with and learning from the 2,800-plus county employees who diligently serve our community every day.”

Over 1,000 people registered to attend this significant moment in Montgomery County’s history. Residents, community partners, representatives of federal and state elected officials, and other partners joined together to celebrate the new leaders of the county, with several historic firsts.

With the support of her fellow Commissioners, Jamila H. Winder became the first African American woman to hold the position of Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners.

“This honor of being the first is not lost on me. I am filled with gratitude that other little Black girls and boys can now see themselves in a position of power and can aspire for greatness in their own way,” said Winder. “While this moment is historic, I maintain the same commitment that I have had since I joined the Board of Commissioners last year: creating sustainable solutions that benefit all residents and look out for the most vulnerable.”

Makhija, who made history as the first person of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) descent elected to a Board of Commissioners in Pennsylvania, also was named the Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Elections.

“As Chair of the Board of Elections for the next four years, I assure you that in Montgomery County, no matter who you support, no matter what outside pressures come upon us, we will protect every single vote,” said Makhija. “County government is the bedrock of democracy; it’s where we safeguard our fundamental right to vote which protects all other rights; where every citizen has a chance to shape our shared future.”

The ceremony also honored nine elected officials who head various departments within the County. Those include Clerk of Courts Lori Schrieber, Controller Karen Sanchez, Coroner Dr. Janine Darby, District Attorney Kevin Steele, Prothonotary Noah Marlier, Recorder of Deeds Jeanne Sorg, Register of Wills Tina Lawson, Esq., Sheriff Sean Kilkenny, and Treasurer Jason Salus.

Dr. Janine Darby and Tina Lawson made history as the first Black women to hold the offices of Coroner and Register of Wills in Montgomery County, respectively. Schrieber, Sanchez, Steele, Marlier, Sorg, Kikenny, and Salus continue their service to Montgomery County in their respective offices.

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