Nice language John q..
Don't find it suprising at all with the latest developments.
Birds of a feather.....

It is probably a set up to get Mr. DiNella to be quiet. Perhaps a disgruntled boro employee took it. Who knows. Does the situation really require police involvement, lawyers and national news. Was it B101.5 that called? I am so proud to live in this town--not.

Wow. Let's tally this one up. The Burough removed an apparently much loved memorial, and tossed in the municipal dump. It's been used as a dump for more years than most of us have been alive. You can put it in a dress and call it Sally, but it is still the muni dump. When questioned about the apparent lack of sensitivity, civility, and good manners, Mayor Maley got indignant and said he really had no use for it anyway. Maley has spent the entire week trying desperately to take those words back. All he had to do was say he was sorry, but instead he has gone on one after another, ever more nonsensical , global conspiracy rants. This isn't going to be his fault even of he has to have Mr. Dinella jailed for the rest of his life to make his point. This Mayor is an embarrassment, and he won't have any of the legacy he is trying to protect left if he stays on his current course. This is the type of leadership that inspires junk bond ratings.

no worries - I thought perhaps using the letter F was generic enough - but I guess "Safety Sally" has reared their politically correct head and sensored someone that does not agree with them

f is funky, f is fresh, f is funny, f is first, f is ......................

F is a letter in the alphabet - get over yourself

WOW ..........Collingswood Patch is starting to act like Gloucester Township Patch . Look out so called leaders of CAMDEN COUNTY we all might get together and have some TEA ........Just care , I do
http://youtu.be/N8LZGQ4MkvQ

I have witnessed, at some open portions of town meeting, the display of playground hassles and remarks, between Maley and Dinella.... and it is just crazy, over and over almost at each meeting..... and now it has come to this, and the whole thing just doesn't add up about the plaque and the playground hassles and remarks have now spilled over to the media and national attention.... geeze guys grow up.... Maley is about time that the elected officials in this town stop talking down to us, and listen. Dinella, stop gripping about everything under the sun and do something about it, run for office or get concern citizens to either sign petitions or vote...(trying to get anyone to vote in this town is like pulling teeth, ie the school board elections and budget vote)... what ever but Dinella constant complaining and blaming just gets old... and Maley's lack of anything other then I am always right and this is the way things are cause I am part of the Democratic machine in South Jersey..... well enough said.....

I agree with everything Frank said above.

In various conversations with Mr Dinella I've told him "you stand on the sidelines throwing rocks at everyone making decisions, time to run for office or back off". He did not understand the statement even after explanation.

Curious that the plaque would end up on Dinella's porch of all the porches in town.

All the news about this plaque that was gone for two months before anyone noticed it was gone. It was removed during a citizen cleanup of the park by volunteers. I was at the cleanup but not the removal, we had 100 people there.

The piece of playground equipment in question is useless much of the time do to standing water around it when it rains. Add to that teens that hang out in it writing on the walls with felt tip sharpies. I have children often in the park, I know what's going on there but didn't notice the missing plaque.

We have too many other problems to be worried about a plaque,

Get a life people!

When I was a teenager, and there were no pumpkins to smash on the sidewalk, we used to go around unscrewing plaques from their mounts in borough junk piles, and leaving them on residents' porches. Oh, the thrill in our sixteen year old minds, imagining the sparks that would be flying at the next borough council meeting.

I don't find it credible that anyone "threw away" a plaque made of bronze. You don't throw away things like that, you sell them because the metal is valuable.

So the basis for the story was flimsy to begin with, and more so now that (a) the story has changed and (b) the nature of the person involved and his relationship with the mayor.

According to reports, Dinella allegedly discovered the plaque on his front porch, and later brought it to The Retrospect. Explaining to people that you found a stolen item on your front porch is akin to that item "falling off the back of a truck."

As a former Delco native, CWood is an incredible place to live and raise a family. If I was to move, I would certainly return to PA and locate a town like Ardmore or Media. Cwood is a gem among neighboring towns. Certain people need to be appreciated and thanked, and one of them is Mayor Maley. Cwood is not perfect, and there are things, in my mind, that should be changed; however, the progress that has been made to my town not only benefit me but will benefit my daughter as she grows and becomes more involved town and school activities. Haters of our local government need to either take a stand or run for office. Bashing officials is a sad, lonely, and negative way to live. I challenge anyone to find a town as good as Cwood so close to Phila, that is walkable, bike-friendly, has public transp, parks, restaurants, safety, a plethora of community events, and a promising future of well-educated, young professionals who want to raise families.

Up till now I have been semi-defending the Mayor to the press saying that I'm sure the intention was never to discard the plaque, but now I'm not so sure. When I saw the plaque at the Retrospect a few days ago, it clearly had some damage to its upper left corner, as if something like a front loader (which was used to remove it) had just dumped it along with the concrete base it was attached to. So if it was dumped carelessly onto a pile or the floor at the Public Works Dept., that very well might have loosened the long nail-like devices that held it in place. So I don't buy the story that someone pried it from its base. I think it was probably either mostly or totally off the concrete base when whoever saw it walked buy to rescue it (btw, I would have done the same thing and rescued the plaque). I spoke with Cindy Landon yesterday and she asked if I thought she should call the Mayor. I told her I wasn't sure because it seemed the global outrage about what has happened might be enough to finally push the Mayor and Collingswood to commit to putting the plaque back. But with this ridiculous police investigation, I think maybe a call from Cindy might be needed.

I see Mr. Dinella as a hero who rescued the plaque that I spent a year and a half raising the funds for, and working with the sculpting artists at Paul's Trophies in a neighboring town to create the likeness of Michael Landon on the plaque. However he got it in his possession, I don't care because the town carelessly discarded this dedication plaque of a much beloved man and actor. I had really hoped the Mayor by now would have just said he made a mistake, that when it was taken out for the cleanup of the park, HE should have taken the responsibility to insure its safety and it should have been placed indoors in a locked facility, not outdoors in a pile with dozens of Public Works officials and contractors passing by it all day (which is not a secure location). That is irresponsible and a slap in the face to Michael Landon and his legacy, his family, his fans worldwide and to myself who put hundreds of hours into this project. Commissioner Maley was standing right there at the dedication ceremony in June 1997 when Mike Brennan said that this tribute is not only to the man Michael Landon but also stands as a testament to one volunteer and what one person can accomplish. That was a very nice compliment. Didn't expect it and only did all of it to honor Michael in his hometown.

Perhaps the mayor is trying to embarass Mr Dinella. Mr Maley does not like anyone questioning his authority decisions. This whole situation is an embarassment. Perhaps a "No Comment" from everyone is in order. BTW my w yr old grandson plays in the park and the plaque and its concrete marker posed no threat to him. I think the police have better things to do than carry out petty political agendas.

Whatever the reason Mr. Dinella brought the plaque to the Retrospect office, I do not know what would have happened to it had someone not rescued it. I fear it would have gotten lost in the shuffle and forgotten about. THAT is the Mayor's responsibility.

Collingswood has several other projects that request citizens to make monetary donations such as the bricks in front of the Reformation Building on Haddon Avenue and the pickets on the playground, which I understand are now also at the municipal facility. So, I donate money to honor/memorialize someone and then in 10-15 years it will just be thrown out because they are not wanted anymore? When they removed the pickets, which did not go all the way around the playground equipment, I hope they also removed the frame that held them - it is just the height of a small child. And Abbe, the mayor takes no responsibility - everything is always someone elses fault. It was a nice thing you did to put that plaque in the park. Thank you.

Both Mr. Dinella and Mr. Maley have their flaws, as we all do. Display the plaque in a nice spot somewhere, and let's get on with making 2012 a better year than 2011.

Used to be a caretaker in the park who did a pretty good job of keeping vandals out of the park. Perhaps if we still had a full police department, they could drive through every once in a while to keep people out of the park after dark. Instead, we "invest" in real estate, theater venues and slummy apartment buildings. Although being mayor is a part-time job, it is one that Mr. Maley was elected to do. What exactly is his responsibility? Of course, the people who vandalize the park, steal our cars, break into our houses and shoot at each other do not live in our town.

@Ruth Rouff: Hear, hear! Simple solution.

Let us not forget that as a "part-time" mayor, he has parlayed it into a full-time consulting business

I think this is worth repeating.

Whoever removed the plaque from that facility was not "saving" it. They were, legally speaking, "stealing" it. That's why the cops are involved.

Abbe - my comment was directed at the people who envision the mayor as Boss Hogg sending Roscoe and Cletus over to harass this guy for no reason.

I hope that your great work finds a new and fitting home!

I understand what you are saying and prefer to not get involved with all of the "politics." Thanks for your good wishes about the plaque!

Sometime this weekend everyone please meet at the Pour House. Good night.

Except I don't and can't drink (lol). Boy do I wish I did!

Since Landon loved children, I propose the plaque be remounted on the Blunderyard Condos, since our children will still be paying that debacle off.

Porter
"irrational hatred"? There might be a few, but most critics point to substantive issues - like the whole Lumberyard fiasco. ( btw I like your idea about the Scottish Rite for the plaque to be relocated)

I do (as do many others) give Maley credit for the good things he's done, mainly in the early years. I would even go so far as to say, had not those efforts been made, I very possibly would not have moved to Collingswood. Let's give Joan Leonard credit, too. But acknowledging early good moves is in no way mutally exclusive from or contradictory to holding his feet to the fire for the Lumberyard. And if you watch him at town meetings, his dismissiveness, evasion, and misdirection are a thing to behold. He also refuses to consider any changes in town that he, in his own opinion, does not like - like considering a change to the alcohol situation - he makes up nonsense on the spot. Joe D. may not be perfect, but unlike the rest of us, he's actually gone to town hall and looked up information. Usually Joe's comments I've heard have basis; sometimes he might take something a little far, but at least he's pointing out some valid issues. That's more than all but just a very small handful of people ever do, at least with regard to municipal gov't.

As for the comments about "run for office or shut up", that's just idiotic. There are 3 commissioner positions. are the other 14k residents supposed to not criticize when there is cause? The commissariat is proud.

Bob - I didn't say things were 100% perfect or that there weren't valid reasons for questioning the mayor (my thoughts on parking and the lumberyard have been posted on this site, and they were not supportive; I also think the handling of this matter was downright sloppy) . Nor did I say that ALL critics were irrational "haters". But some are. And those people (let's say the 5%) are typically more about grudges / personal resentment than solutions.

We need people to challenge things. I get that, I support that, I respect that. I do that. But I don't see the critics promoting an alternative. Not even on the ballot. The mayor (full disclosure - I voted for him twice) has run unopposed. They don't even field a candidate? That tells me that the opposition is more concerned with something other than meaningful change.

I have been called by numerous people asking me why "we" (as if I personally removed it, much like how as a Flyers fan I am responsible for what happened at Geno's) removed the plaque. That stinks.

But Abbe, every one of them has also said they had no idea he was from here, and none knew he was a star athlete (and other aspects of his life). So the memorial continues to spread the word! Granted, the scenario could've been better...

personally I do not understand any coments - genos and pats represent the absolute worlds worst cheese steaks - why even mention them - or are you just mindless automitoons that mention your party's favorites for at-best MEDIOCRE steak sandwiches