Tax day eve – Thanks to Conshohocken for making things difficult

Posted by Spencer on Apr 14, 2009 in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania | 13243 commentshttp://www.iamspencer.com/2009/04/14/tax-day-eve-thanks-to-conshohocken-for-making-things-difficult/Tax+day+eve+-+Thanks+to+Conshohocken+for+making+things+difficult2009-04-14+23%3A13%3A27Spencer

Yes I procrastinated.

First few months of this year, I was busy and on the road and honestly just avoided it. We always get a refund, so no big deal…until this year. This year we owe and owe big. And of course the timing couldn’t be better with me without a job.

Oy.

Anyway one thing that’s always annoyed me about taxes is that we have local authorities taxing us too. I don’t mind paying them a tax, as a matter of fact, I feel it’s our patriotic duty to pay taxes.  But honestly it’s amateur hour sometimes when you get small towns taxing you. In Conshohocken you have to pay taxes to two authorities – Berkheimer and Keystone, half a percent to each. As to why we can’t pay a full percent to one authority, I don’t know (I will ask though). Because of this, I have to fill out two tax forms for a borough of around 8,000 people – that’s one more tax form than I have to fill out for the federal government. I guess this is better than two years ago – Conshohocken decided to switch to the two tax authority system mid-year. This meant for half the year we had to pay one tax authority a full percent and the other half of the year we split that percent between two authorities; this led to some creative math.  Honestly with all the websites that are out there to do your federal taxes, it’s more straightforward to complete than the local taxes.

Thank goodness it’s over save for paying and a few signatures.

50 States, 50 Bloggers Project (Spencer in video)

Posted by Spencer on Jan 9, 2009 in About Spencer, Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, Politics | 11991 commenthttp://www.iamspencer.com/2009/01/09/50-states-50-bloggers-project-spencer-in-video/50+States%2C+50+Bloggers+Project+%28Spencer+in+video%292009-01-09+16%3A19%3A37Spencer

I was asked to participate in a project for the website Purplestates.tv. They asked one blogger from each state to participate and I got to be the Pennsylvania representative. I’ll write more when I’m less busy, but for now – here’s my video.

Fundraiser for Conshohocken Fire Victims

Posted by Spencer on Aug 25, 2008 in Conshohocken | 9500 commentshttp://www.iamspencer.com/2008/08/25/fundraiser-for-conshohocken-fire-victims/Fundraiser+for+Conshohocken+Fire+Victims2008-08-25+15%3A30%3A05Spencer

Guppies is having another fundraiser – this time there’s a little more notice.  All $20 goes to displaced residents.

Come on down, all $20 will go directly to the help the Riverwalk Victims.

Should be a blast, with live entertainment

Thanks a lot and look forward to seeing you at Guppy’s

Local Bar to help Conshohocken Fire Victims

Posted by Spencer on Aug 15, 2008 in Conshohocken | 9431 commenthttp://www.iamspencer.com/2008/08/15/local-bar-to-help-conshohocken-fire-victims/Local+Bar+to+help+Conshohocken+Fire+Victims2008-08-15+20%3A58%3A48Spencer

Just received a message from Conshohocken Councilman Jason Salus regarding a local bar’s efforts to help local fire victims.

Guppy’s (2 Maple Street in Conshohocken) has just announced that they will donate 25% of their sales from tomorrow (8/16) and 75% of their sales from this Sunday (8/17) to aid the fire victims.  Guppy’s is open from 8 AM until 2 AM on Saturday; and from 8 AM until 12 Midnight on Sunday, serving coffee and pastries in the morning and afternoon and alcoholic beverages and pub food in the evening.

I recommend Guppies wholeheartedly.  Probably my favorite bar in the borough (not saying a whole lot, but it’s a really good bar).  Great beer selection – awesome bartenders.  More down to earth than the Boathouse and the Pub.

Conshohocken Burning

Posted by Spencer on Aug 14, 2008 in Conshohocken | 9402 commentshttp://www.iamspencer.com/2008/08/14/conshohocken-burning/Conshohocken+Burning2008-08-15+03%3A14%3A41Spencer

Yesterday there was a huge fire that displaced many people, destroyed personal belongings, and killed many pets. The fire at the Riverwalk at Millenium destroyed 375 apartments in 3 buildings, 400 displaced renters, and another 3 damaged buildings.  The Riverwalk has been a part of a renaissance here in Conshohocken.  The new restaurants, a diversifying of the people that live here, and a huge improvement to the reputation of this former blue collar town, this borough looked forward to what this development would bring to the area.

I rushed home when I heard embers were found up to 12 blocks away, and we live only 2 blocks as the crow (or ember) flies.  Our house and cats were a little smoky, but fine.

These luxury apartment allowed pets, so of course there were a lot of pets there.  It was 4:30 when the fire broke out, so not many people were home.

Eight alarms and almost 6 hours later before being declared under control.  Firemen were at the site well into today dousing hotspots, while construction equipment began the job of tearing down the remains of what was left.  People who lost everything cried, asked questions, and try to rebuild.  I can not even begin to imagine.

Currently it appears that the Red Cross has things under control, but with people needing so much help, financial donations are needed.  Please visit the Red Cross Pennsylvania site and make a donation.

Iamspencer is read far and wide (also I should be careful)

Posted by Spencer on May 28, 2008 in Conshohocken | 8763 commentshttp://www.iamspencer.com/2008/05/28/iamspencer-is-read-far-and-wide-also-i-should-be-careful/Iamspencer+is+read+far+and+wide+%28also+I+should+be+careful%292008-05-29+02%3A46%3A11Spencer

Today I went to Conshohocken meeting about to discuss the current state of the Conshohocken website (horrible). I didn’t want to just complain, I wanted to try and do something about the situation. So we go through introductions, a couple of councilmen, a concerned citizen, and the final introduction was the head of the public works department, the man who was responsible for the “You’re Trash” sign I found on our doorstep recently.

I had never run into someone that I had called out online. Really, really nice guy, and I felt bad.

Not that it will stop me the next time, but maybe I’ll be nicer? Or not. But it a good reminder that there are real people reading this crap and it it’s always a good idea to remember that.