Letters Sept 21: Generosity extended, DACA is on Congress

Posted 9/20/17

Donations extend generosity in memory of Eleanore Kurtz                      

Eleanore S. Kurtz, 95, a retired typing teacher, secretary, and community volunteer died July …

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Letters Sept 21: Generosity extended, DACA is on Congress

Posted

Donations extend generosity in memory of Eleanore Kurtz                      

Eleanore S. Kurtz, 95, a retired typing teacher, secretary, and community volunteer died July 22 at her home in Chestnut Hill.

Mrs. Kurtz had worked for 31 years at Springside School.  She had also had been a volunteer at The Clothes Closet (a resale shop at SCHA), the Springfield Residence, election polls, and delivered meals for Chestnut Hill Meals on Wheels.

Her obituary appeared in the Chestnut Hill Local on Aug. 10, and it directed any memorial donations to be made to Chestnut Hill Meals on Wheels, located in Flourtown, Pa.

So far, more than $500 has been sent to Chestnut Hill Meals on Wheels in honor of Mrs. Kurtz.  She clearly had a very positive impact on those she came in contact with. The checks that come in have notes with them that say things like “in loving memory of Ellie Kurtz.”  We feel very fortunate to be the beneficiary of these thoughtful donations and Mrs. Kurtz’s work.

Chestnut Hill Meals on Wheels is a community based, nonprofit organization devoted to meeting the daily nutritional needs of any of our neighbors challenged by illness, disability or age.  CHMOW provides two fresh meals a day to clients in nine neighborhoods in Philadelphia and Montgomery counties:  Flourtown, Glenside, Lafayette Hill, Germantown, Mt. Airy, Chestnut Hill, Erdenheim, Oreland, and Wyndmoor.

The meals are prepared daily at Halligan’s Pub on Bethlehem Pike. To learn more, please visit the website at chestnuthillmow.org or call 215 233-555

Grif Bates

Executive Director at Chestnut Hill Meals on Wheels

 

Trump DACA action puts onus on Congress where it belongs

Senator Casey recently spoke at Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church on several topics, one of which was DACA.  He characterized President Trump’s recent decision as both “immoral” and “an insult to our values.” President Obama was recently quoted as calling it “cruel.”

Here are some historical facts about DACA that might be of interest to some readers.

While President Obama was a junior senator from Illinois, a bipartisan immigration plan was proposed by President George Bush and Senator Ted Kennedy.  President Obama opposed the plan. During his first two years as President, when he had the votes in Congress to pass a comprehensive immigration bill, Obama failed to even push for a vote.

Instead, late in his first term, he instituted by executive action the policy on DACA that he had previously admitted was beyond his constitutional authority, as per Article 2 of the U.S. Constitution.  I quote: “I know some here wish that I could just bypass Congress in change the law myself. But that's not how democracy works.”

Instead, in 2012, he decided to change the law himself.

So, when President Obama and a Democratic congress had the chance to legalize some 11 million illegal immigrants, they opted instead to do an end-run around the U.S. Constitution.

President Trump's action, while understandably unpopular, rightfully puts the onus on Congress -- exactly where it belongs. Hopefully, the legislative branch of our government can see its way past partisan bickering and political posturing to finally do the job it was  elected to do.

Sharon Reiss

Mt. Airy

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