The Narberth Business Association is giving away some great prizes in the 2020 Pumpkin Decorating Contest.  You can carve your pumpkin, paint it, or decorate it anyway you want.  Just take a picture or a video of your pumpkin creation, and include something from Narberth in the shot. The Narberth "something" in the photo with the pumpkin can be a t-shirt, a magnet, Oktoberfest mug, a hoagie you bought from American Family market -  anything that evokes the Borough and/or our local businesses. Post your photo or video to the “Narberth” Facebook group, or the @NarberthOnline Instagram, or email it to narberthonline@gmail.com. The NBA will be awarding gift certificate prizes to some of your favorite Narberth shops and restaurants. There will be at least one category for pumpkins decorated by kids.

When it comes to this town, I’ve never been one to say something can’t be done. In my opinion, we can have just about anything we want, as long as we’re willing to do the work and pay the price. One reason Narberth has been so special over the years is a spirit of volunteerism that lets us not only fill our all-volunteer elected government and dozens of official committee positions, but also, host so many annual events that we are the envy of communities many times our size.

When we face a challenge, like deciding how to best support a restaurant/business community through an era of social distancing, getting people’s ideas is an important first step. But, as with most projects, ideas are the easy part. Literally everyone has ideas. The really challenging steps come next. I encourage everyone here to participate in these next steps where we compare ideas, weigh the pros and cons, estimate costs, consider unintended consequences, fund and execute the plan, then observe the results and revise accordingly.

The Borough Manager and his staff, the police chief, the mayor, Borough Council members, business owners and a number of citizen volunteers started these discussions on this topic many weeks ago. To help move the current discussion along, it might be helpful for me to recap where we are, lay out a couple of facts, and present some unanswered questions.

Where are we now:  To date, we’ve seen a system of accommodations on a case-by-case basis.  For instance, McSheas’s has been given permission to use a number of  Borough parking lot spaces for a set time each day, while the Pub and The Greeks have been given signage to limit sidewalk traffic, and help pedestrians distance from diners during dinner hours. This patchwork system is a start, but certainly leaves tons of room for improvement.

The business community rarely speaks with one mind, and it's not uncommon for their preferences to be diametrically opposed.  The same goes for the other stakeholders in this process, including non-restaurant business owners, downtown apartment residents, local pedestrians who use the sidewalks, bike riders and vehicle drivers, and public transportations riders. So we need to be careful not to generalize and say that “everyone” wants something or another - that’s almost never the case. 

Some restaurants want as much outdoor seating as they can get to make up for the limited indoor capacity.  Those restaurants still need street access for takeout/curbside pickup and delivery. Some restaurants prefer to stick exclusively with the takeout/delivery model and have chosen not to start onsite dining. Any solution that affects the street and parking spaces in front of restaurants must take all of the stakeholder business models into consideration. 

Solutions involving public spaces may not suit the needs of businesses.  For instance, the Borough parking lot behind McShea’s solves some of McShea’s needs, but isn’t an attractive option to other non-contiguous restaurants. The Commerce Way Alley, also owned by the Borough, was also not a desired option for any of the businesses we talked to.

Parking in a small town is always a hot-button issue. Being able to park three blocks from your destination may seem like good fortune in downtown Philadelphia, but that same driver may be irritated if they can’t park directly in front of the liquor store. We don’t need to take any solutions off the table, but we have to be aware that any solution which takes away parking spaces will make some stakeholders unhappy. 

In 2020, we’ve canceled more events than we’ve held. In a normal year, like 2019, we closed down the first downtown block of Haverford Avenue, and the first block of Forrest on three Sundays - twice for Music Festivals and once for the Dickens Fest. We also closed Station Circle for a couple of hours for Santa in December, and for the young Dance Xpress dancers in May. We closed a small part of Forrest Ave for the Leprechaun Hunt, The Witch Hunt, and the Narbark Dog Parade. Every time we close the street, organizers meet first with the police chief and the director of public works to discuss safety, traffic, trash collection, Borough equipment, and logistics. If Haverford Ave needs to be closed, then Borough Office arranges a temporary detour with SEPTA. For large gatherings, the chief arranges for trucks to block streets, extra officers, ambulance coverage, and sometimes, additional police manpower from SEPTA.

Any plan that changes normal traffic patterns, or puts pedestrians or diners into space normally reserved for cars, must be run past the mayor and the police chief, who are tasked with public safety here in the Borough. 
Any plan that uses parking spaces, in addition to recognizing the non-restaurant stakeholders, needs to address the safety issues of putting pedestrians/diners at increased risk. Plans that close Haverford Ave need to address the lack of options (especially with the bridge down) to get from East to West when Haverford is closed.

Any plan that uses parking spaces, in addition to addressing the safety issues, needs to consider a few details, including hours of operation, whether the barriers are permanent or temporary, installation resources (daily set-up and break-down if temporary), and the needs of other stakeholders. 

Any plan that creates a “food court”, that is not contiguous with some or all of the restaurants it serves (parking lots, alleys, streets, station circle) needs to take into consideration the inherent risks of creating a gathering spot in a time where social distancing is still required. Manpower is our most expensive resource, and our police can only be in so many places at one time. How will the “food court” area be set up and broken down, kept clean, supervised, and what will happen if people refuse to follow state guidelines?  

Every challenge can be met if we’re willing to invest the resources. It may be that we figure this one out. What we can’t do is just outright dismiss equitable rights of other stakeholders or ignore safety concerns because we are just more optimistic about safety. And no matter what we do, we won’t please everyone.  But that’s OK. If we always fail to act because we don’t have 100% agreement, we’ll rarely get anything done.

Join the virtual meeting on Wednesday night if you have strong opinions and/or something to contribute to this discussion.  See you there!




​

This information is from Narberth Borough. For more details, please go to the Borough's Green Phase Covid Web Page. 

For more details, please go to the Borough's Green Phase Covid Web Page. 

From the Narberth Community Food Bank: 

Friends and Neighbors,                                                                                                                  3/19/2020
What a difference a week makes! The challenges kept coming and have not stopped yet.
Last week NCFB asked for your help and you answered the call. We may never be able to thank you enough for your immediate and generous support!

In this time of unknowns, we have come together as one community, with a resounding response to this crisis; We will not allow our neighbors to go without. Bravo!

NCFB will be extending our Tuesday hours.  Beginning 3/24/2020 we will be open between 10am and 4pm and 6pm and 8pm.

On 3/24/2020 we will begin deliveries to those who are most vulnerable and ordinarily visit the food bank in person. We are prepared to increase our deliveries as needed until this epidemic is over.

NCFB is asking for your help in three new ways

- Please check on your neighbors. If something doesn’t seem right, call the police and ask for a well check.

- Help neighbors by sharing area resource information:
https://narberthcommunityfoodbank.org/resources/

- VICTORY gardens: Yes, we have done this before! We have seen the depleted supermarket shelves. Growing more food in your garden each season will help you, your neighbors and your larger community. You don’t like mowing grass anyway!
​
Conserve your dollars and our natural resources: We know the economic recovery is far off.  You can save your funds and the environment by considering the return of clothesline, gas up only one car while we all are working from home, install a new ceiling fan, and reconsider how early the air conditioner needs to be turned on.


Emergencies notwithstanding, we will be closed to external business on Friday, March 20 as we attempt to re-focus internally on continuing to meet the ongoing crisis. Please give us an opportunity to recover and reschedule a different day for visits, calls and shelf-stable food donations. ​

General Guidance

• Freedom of travel will remain, but all Pennsylvanians are asked to refrain from non-essential travel.
• The Wolf Administration strongly encourages the suspension of large gatherings, events, conferences of more than 10 people, and per White House guidelines, ask that individuals and groups cancel any gatherings planned over the next eight weeks.
• The Wolf Administration encourages religious leaders to exercise discretion in order to mitigate the spread of illness.

Businesses

• Governor Tom Wolf ordered all non-life-sustaining businesses in Pennsylvania to close their physical locations as of 8 p.m. March 19, 2020 to slow the spread of COVID-19. Enforcement actions against businesses that do not close physical locations will begin at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, March 21.
• The governor also required restaurants and bars to stop all dine-in services. Enforcement for establishments with a liquor license began at 8 p.m. March 18, and enforcement for all other food establishments will begin at 8 p.m. March 19. Food establishments can offer carry-out, delivery, and drive-through food and beverage service, including alcohol.

More information about the order can be found here.
To request a waiver to keep your location open, please submit this form. All decisions will be communicated by email and will balance public health, safety, and the security of our industry supply chains supporting life sustaining businesses.
A list of life-sustaining businesses can be found here.



Schools

• Governor Tom Wolf announced on March 13 that all K-12 Pennsylvania schools will be closed for 10 business days effective Monday, March 16.

Care Facilities

• Restricted visitors in state centers to ensure health and safety for individuals with an intellectual disability.
• Restricted visitors in assisted living and personal care homes to minimize exposure to our seniors and individuals with disabilities.
• All child care centers licensed by the commonwealth close as of Tuesday, March 17 and will be re-evaluated at the conclusion of the 14-day statewide closures. Philadelphia County families should check with their child care facilities to determine status of business operations.
• Adult day care centers, adult training facilities, Provocations facilities, LIFE centers and Senior Community Centers close beginning Tuesday, March 17, and will be re-evaluated at the conclusion of the 14-day statewide closures.

Government Services

• Essential state, county, and municipal services will be open: police, fire, emergency medical services, sanitation, and essential services for vulnerable populations.
• A no-visitor policy for correctional facilities and nursing homes has been implemented and will be evaluated for other facilities.

What Is Social Distancing?

Social distancing means staying away from close contact in public spaces. It includes actions like staying out of places where lots of people gather and maintaining distance — approximately 6 feet — from others.
Social distancing also includes minimizing contact with people by avoiding public transportation when possible, limiting nonessential travel, working from home, and skipping social gatherings.
All Pennsylvanians should practice social distancing — not just those who are seriously ill or at high risk.
Social distancing is a proven way to slow the spread of pandemics.


FOR INDIVIDUALS
Unemployment Compensation

If you are employed in Pennsylvania and are unable to work because of COVID-19, you may be eligible for Unemployment Compensation (UC) or Workers’ Compensation (WC) benefits.
The following changes to UC have been made to help Pennsylvanians during the COVID-19 pandemic:

• The Waiting Week is suspended. Previously, claimants were not eligible for benefits during their first week of unemployment (the “waiting week”). This has been suspended; eligible claimants may receive benefits for the first week that they are unemployed.
• Work Search and Work Registration requirements are temporarily waived for all UC claimants. Claimants are not required to prove they have applied or searched for a new job to maintain their UC benefits. Claimants are also not required to register with PACareerLink.gov.

Find out more about UC and WC eligibility and how to apply.



Driver Services

All Driver License Centers and Photo License Centers in Pennsylvania will be closed for two weeks effective close of business on Monday, March 16.
Driver and vehicle online services are still available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. These services include driver’s license, photo ID and vehicle registration renewals; driver-history services; changes of address; driver license and vehicle registration restoration letters; ability to pay driver license or vehicle insurance restoration fee; driver license and photo ID duplicates; and driver exam scheduling. There are no additional fees for using online services.
More information on changes being implemented as part of PennDOT’s response to COVID-19.
Expiration DatesExpiration dates for driver licenses, identification cards, vehicle registrations, and safety and emission inspections scheduled to expire from March 16, 2020 through March 31, 2020 will be extended until April 30, 2020.
Pennsylvania TurnpikeThe Pennsylvania Turnpike has temporarily suspended cash payments. Find out more about accepted forms of payment.
Rest Areas for Truck ParkingTo address safety concerns raised, PennDOT has identified 13 of its 30 rest areas in critical locations that will be available for truck parking starting March 19, 2020. See the list of locations.



Avoiding Scams

As the nation continues to respond to COVID-19, be wary of potential financial scams trying to take advantage of the situation.
Here are some frequent characteristics of scams:

• Sense of urgency and limited-time offers. Scammers will attempt to prompt you into immediate action and catch you off guard. No government agency will call you asking for payment or take punitive action against you if you don’t act quickly.
• Payment with wire transfer or gift cards. Once information is provided, the money is essentially gone and you cannot get it back.
• Secrecy and the need to not tell anyone. Never make a decision without consulting a credible and trustworthy source.
• Low or minimal risks with guaranteed high returns. Be cautious of any offer that guarantees a high rate of return with little or no risk or does not disclose risk.
• Unsolicited offers, including social media avenues. A new post on your Facebook wall, a tweet mentioning you, a direct message, an email, a text, a phone call, or any other unsolicited communication regarding an investment “opportunity” related to COVID-19.

If you believe you have fallen victim to a scam, contact local law enforcement. Find out more about how to avoid financial scams.



Mental Health

The news around coronavirus can be anxiety-provoking. Fear, anxiety, sadness, and uncertainty are all normal, but it is important to take care of your mental health.
Ways to take care of yourself include:

• Reading the news from reliable sources (like the Pennsylvania Department of Health) and taking breaks from the news.
• Recognizing the things you can control, like having good hygiene.
• Taking measures only if recommended by the CDC.
• Practicing self-care.

Help is available. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, contact the crisis text line by texting PA to 741-741.



Substance Use Disorder

If COVID-19 has you feeling down, you are not alone.
The Get Help Now hotline is a confidential, 24/7, 365 treatment and information service for individuals and families looking for help with a drug or alcohol problem.
Call 1-800-662-HELP.



Food Assistance

If you are out of work without pay, you are eligible to receive food sourced from the state and federal government from a food bank or food pantry in Pennsylvania.
This includes service workers who are unable to get shifts or hourly wage employees of non-essential businesses that have voluntarily closed due to COVID-19 mitigation. Find out more about how to get emergency food assistance.



Public Assistance Programs

The Department of Human Services (DHS) is closing all county assistance offices (CAOs) statewide to the public beginning Tuesday, March 17 in coordination with Governor Wolf’s mitigation guidance regarding COVID-19.
In-person business will resume no sooner than Wednesday, April 1. Pennsylvanians are encouraged to use DHS’ online applications and resources to apply for benefits or submit paperwork as necessary.


FOR FAMILIES
Meals for Students

The Pennsylvania Department of Education received approval from the federal government to allow K-12 schools in Pennsylvania closed due to COVID-19 to serve meals offsite to students.
These meals will be available at no cost to low-income children and make it possible for kids to receive nutritious meals and snacks while schools are temporarily closed.
For more information, contact your local school.



Talking to Kids About COVID-19

Children may feel frightened, overwhelmed, or traumatized by what they’re seeing and hearing about the coronavirus.
Here’s how you can reduce their fears and help them feel safe:

• Offer reassurance. Let children know doctors and researchers are studying and learning as much as they can, as quickly as possible, to help keep people safe.
• Watch for signs of anxiety. Children may not be able to express their feelings, but they may show them (i.e. cranky, clingy, distracted, difficulty sleeping). Continue to reassure them and maintain normal routines.
• Monitor media consumption. Keep young children away from frightening images they may see on TV, social media, computers, etc. Talk to older children about what they’re hearing on the news and correct any misinformation or rumors you may hear.
• Give them control. This is a great time to remind children of what they can do to help — wash hands often, cough and sneeze into their elbow, and get enough sleep.

Find more information from the National Association of School Psychologists.



PSSA Testing and Keystone Exams

The Pennsylvania Department of Education has cancelled all PSSA testing and Keystone exams for the 2019-20 school year as a result of COVID-19. This includes the Pennsylvania Alternate System of Assessment (PASA).



Reporting Abuse

All Pennsylvanians are asked to practice social distancing to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. That doesn’t mean it’s any less important to report child abuse.
Report suspected child abuse or neglect to ChildLine by calling 1-800-932-0313. The line is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Mandated reporters can report electronically.



State Correctional Institutions

As part of the statewide COVID-19 mitigation effort, visits at all state correctional institutions are cancelled effective March 13 and for a period of 14 days.
The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections understands the impact that canceling visits could have on inmates and their families and friends.
Video visitation is a free service being offered to inmates and authorized visitors while visitation
is suspended at the facilities in response to COVID-19 precautions. Find out how to participate.


FOR BUSINESSES
Non-Life-Sustaining Businesses

Governor Wolf has ordered all non-life-sustaining businesses in Pennsylvania to close their physical locations as of 8 p.m. March 19, to slow the spread of COVID-19. Enforcement actions against businesses that do not close physical locations will begin at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, March 21.

• See Governor Wolf’s order.
• See the Secretary of Health’s order.
• See a list of life-sustaining businesses.

To request a waiver to keep your location open, please submit this form. All decisions will be communicated by email and will balance public health, safety, and the security of our industry supply chains supporting life sustaining businesses.



Restaurants and Bars

All restaurants and bars have been ordered to close their dine-in facilities to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
Businesses that offer carry-out, delivery, and drive-through food and beverage service may continue to do so, but eating and drinking inside restaurants and bars is temporarily prohibited.
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board announced steps to enforce this order beginning on Wednesday, March 18 at 8:00 PM.
Businesses offering carry-out, delivery, and drive-through food and beverage should employ social distancing best practices and be aware of the Trump Administration’s guidance to avoid gatherings of 10 or more people.



Failure to Comply and Enforcement

Failure to comply with these requirements will result in enforcement action that could include citations, fines, or license suspensions.
The governor has directed the following state agencies and local officials to enforce the closure orders to the full extent of the law:

• Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board
• Department of Health
• Department of Agriculture
• Pennsylvania State Police

Local officials, using their resources to enforce closure orders within their jurisdictions
Private businesses, local organizations and other noncompliant entities that fail or refuse to comply with the governor’s orders that protect the lives and health of Pennsylvanians will forfeit their ability to receive any applicable disaster relief and/or may be subject to other appropriate administrative action. Such action may include termination of state loan or grant funding, including Redevelopment Assistance Capital Project (RACP) grant funding and/or suspension or revocation of licensure for violation of the law.
Finally, in addition to any other criminal charges that might be applicable, the Department of Health is authorized to prosecute noncompliant entities for the failure to comply with health laws, including quarantine, isolation or other disease control measures. Violators are subject to fines or imprisonment.



Resources and Loans

Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic DevelopmentThe Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development offers working capital loans that could be of assistance to businesses impacted by COVID-19. Resources and information can be found here as they become available.
U.S. Small Business AdministrationOn March 19, 2020, Governor Wolf announced the availability of low-interest loans for small businesses and eligible non-profits in all 67 counties in Pennsylvania through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
Loan applications can also be downloaded at sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via the SBA’s secure website at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Completed applications should be returned to the local DLOC or mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.



Industry-specific Guidance

The Wolf Administration has released the following industry-specific COVID-19 mitigation guidance:

• Child Care Providers
• Food Supply
  • Essential Agricultural Businesses
  • Farms and On-Farm Deliveries
  • Farmers Markets and On-Farm Markets
  • Food Processors and Manufacturers (PDF)
  • Dairy Guidance (PDF)
• Behavioral Health Services
• Aging Services
• Telemedicine

FOR SCHOOLS

The Pennsylvania Department of Education is committed to providing school communities with ongoing guidance, resources, and information regarding COVID-19.
You can find up-to-date guidance and answers to common questions on the Department of Education website.