Newsletter
Oct. 10, 2019
In this Issue:
  • THANKS to ALL PRO BONO VOLUNTEERS!
  • Pro Bono Spotlight on Mardi Busanus: 20 years as LASP volunteer
  • Pro Bono events in all 4 counties
  • Pottstown Open House photos
  • Encore! THANK YOU to Chester Co. Paralegal Assoc. + photos
  • BUCKS: Eviction prevention CLE Oct. 18
  • CHESCO: Upcoming Expungement Workshops in Coatesville & Exton
  • DELCO: Clean Slate CLE
  • MONTGOMERY: Family Law section meets in recognition of Domestic Violence Month
  • LASP job openings: Dir. of Information Technology | Bristol Bucks County Managing Attorney
THANK YOU to our pro bono volunteers!
Pro bono volunteers extend LASP's reach
In honor of Pro Bono Month in October, LASP extends a special thanks to our pro bono volunteers . You increase access to justice throughout the year for low-income, vulnerable residents of Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties.
How to volunteer:

To learn more about pro bono volunteering, CLEs-for-pro bono service , and emeritus attorney status , please contact  Kesha James , Pro Bono Director, at 610-275-5400 x131, or one of LASP's pro bono coordinators:
 
Bucks County
Jennifer Pierce,
215-340-1818 x205 or jpierce@lasp.org

Chester County
Brian Doyle, 610-436-4510 x211 or bdoyle@lasp.org

Delaware County
Tom Kerstan, 610-874-8421 x313 or tkerstan@lasp.org

Montgomery County
Mike Kelley, 610-275-5400 x125 or mekelley@lasp.org
Pro Bono Spotlight
Mardi Busanus: 20 years as LASP volunteer
PHOTO ABOVE : Mardi Busanus (at left) with Rhonda Sherrod, Staff Attorney. PHOTO BELOW : Mardi with Elizabeth Wood Fritsch, former Executive Director. PHOTO AT BOTTOM : Cheyenne Stahley, David J. Juall, Mardi Busanus, Kimberly Litzke, and Jahn Chesnov.
Randi Riefner (at left), Staff Paralegal; Erika Becker , Staff Attorney; Cheyenne Stahley , Paralegal Intern; Jennifer Pierce , Doylestown Managing Attorney; Mardi Busanus ; Carol Wilbur , Doylestown Office Manager; Rhonda Sherrod , Staff Attorney; and Tracey Potere , Staff Attorney.
DOYLESTOWN - Mardi Busanus celebrated her 20th year of volunteering for LASP’s Doylestown office on Sept. 1. Under the guise of a pro bono meeting at the Bucks County Bar Association, LASP staff and pro bono attorneys surprised her with a small celebration Sept. 25.

Across two decades, Mardi has donated literally thousands of hours to LASP – including 623 hours in 2018-19 alone. "On Wednesdays I go to PFA court to assist the attorneys and court, and on Fridays I am in the office answering phones, assisting clients and handling other office duties," she said. “It’s very satisfying. I’ve carved out my little niche.”
From time to time, she has helped during staff transitions in temporary paid roles, but always returned to volunteering.

Some of life’s bumps have reinforced her volunteer spirit and have given Mardi compassion for clients. She and her husband, Jim, recently celebrated their 46th anniversary and 50th year since their blind date. Their son, Greg, also volunteered with LASP when he was in high school and college and created the longstanding mail merge system.
Pro Bono Month celebrations & events in all 4 counties
Montgomery County Pro Bono Month
Pro Bono Reception Oct. 16

Wednesday, Oct. 16 | 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Montgomery Bar Association, 100 W. Airy St., Norristown, PA 19401.

For more information or to register: http://bit.ly/2mox1Lz.
Reentry simulation: CLE/CJE Oct. 23 for judges & district judges
NORRISTOWN - The Montgomery County Bar Association will offer a Pro Bono Week CLE/CJE (2 hours Substantive) on " Understanding and Addressing the Challenges of Reentry" on Wednesday, Oct. 23  from 2 - 4 p.m . at the Montgomery Bar Association (MBA) CLE room, 100 W. Airy St., Norristown, PA 19401.

Leslie Faith Jones , Esq., Policy & Advocacy Director for the Montgomery County Public Defenders' office, and Nancy Walsh , Director of Engagement, Leadership & Community Outreach for MBA, will facilitate. The Reentry Simulation brings awareness to the struggles and challenges faced by individuals who are transitioning from incarceration back into society. Volunteers will staff tables representing the various organizations with whom returning citizens interact, including Probation, Clerk of Courts, Housing, Drug and Alcohol Treatment, Transportation, etc. Follow-up discussion will explore takeaways and potential solutions. Space is limited! Reception will follow CLE, from 4 - 5 p.m. To register, visit: http://bit.ly/2Vnixsx .
Delaware County Pro Bono Week
Birth Certificate Clinic Oct. 23 at Catholic Social Services, Chester city
CHESTER City - A free Birth Certificate Clinic will be held Wednesday, Oct. 23 from  11 a.m. - 2 p.m. , at Catholic Social Services of Delaware County, 130 E. Seventh St., Chester city, PA 19013 . 

No ID is required . Attendees will meet with an attorney who will assist with requesting a Pennsylvania birth certificate.  To register , call LASP's Chester city office at 610-874-8421. The clinic and birth certificate fees are sponsored by Santander Bank and the Delaware County Bar Foundation . Please see the clickable flyer .
Free Criminal Record Expungement Clinic Oct. 23 in Chester city
CHESTER City - LASP, partnering with State Rep. Brian Kirkland, will present a free Criminal Record Expungement Clinic and Re-Entry Resource Fair on Wednesday, Oct. 23 from 5 - 8 p.m. at Chester City Hall, 1 W. 4th St., Chester, PA 19013.

Please see the clickable flyer.

* Additional pro bono legal help is needed for this event! * Please contact Thomas Kerstan, Staff Attorney & Delaware County Pro Bono Coordinator, at 610-874-8421, ext. 313 or tkerstan@lasp.org if you can volunteer for part or all of this clinic.
Bucks County Pro Bono Week

Pro Bono Week CLE on "Neurobiology of Trauma" & its impact on the brain from NOVA; awards & thank you reception Oct. 23
Wednesday,  Oct. 23  |  4 - 5 p.m. | Free CLE on " Neurobiology of Trauma, " presented by Network of Victim Assistance (NOVA).

Charity O’Reilly , Counseling Coordinator for the Network of Victims Assistance (NOVA) in Bucks County, will explain the neurobiology of trauma and its impact on the brain. Charity will discuss how the experience of trauma impacts human behavior and will help identify different techniques for effective communication with trauma victims as they navigate the legal system.

The Bucks Bar Association's Pro Bono Committee will present the free CLE at the Bucks Bar Association (BCBA), 135 E. State St., Doylestown, PA 18901. One (1) Substantive PA CLE credit.  Registration: http://bit.ly/BucksProBonoWk2019CLE.

Wednesday,  Oct. 23 | 5 - 7 p.m. | Pro Bono Award Presentation & Reception
The Pro Bono Award Presentation & Reception will follow the CLE at the BCBA, 135 E. State St, Doylestown, PA 18901. Registration: http://bit.ly/BucksProBonoAwards2019.

Registration and more information are also available through Emily Norton, BCBA Associate Director of Member Services, at 215-348-9413 x110 or EmilyN@bucksbar.org .
Chester County Pro Bono Week
Pro Bono Week Family Law CLE Oct. 25

The CLE will take place Friday, Oct. 25 from  8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.  Topics will include child custody and the new Protection from Sexual Violence and Intimidation Act. The CLE is free for those who agree to take a pro bono case . It will be held at the Chester County Bar Association, 15 W. Gay St., West Chester, PA 19380. For more information or to register , please contact Emily Donnon, CCBA Lawyer Referral & Access to Justice Administrator, at edonnon@chescobar.org or 610-692-1889.
Encore! THANK YOU!
Front row : Donald P. Bristol, Ann Marie Romani. Second row : Amy McCall, Luciann Givonetti.
Third row : Michele Luczeczko, Mandie Sload, Deborah Steeves, Esq., Donna D’Ortone, John Farrell, Esq., Karen Abdala, Barbara Butler, Brian Doyle, Esq. Back row : Keeley Mitchell-Wallace, Esq., Monica Muehsam, Gloria Robb, Karen Carter, Pat Klim.
Thanks to Chester County Paralegal Association & supporters; Encore! fundraiser benefits LASP & CCPA!

WEST CHESTER - THANK YOU to the Chester County Paralegal Association (CCPA)! The 2019 Encore! Fundraiser, supporting LASP and CCPA, featured food, fellowship and the talented Chester County legal community. Thank you to all event sponsors, donors and attendees for supporting LASP and CCPA on Oct. 3, and to the musicians, magician, storytellers, and humorists who shared their talents - including, in one case, a brief iteration of Beethoven's legal problems, preceding a Beethoven piano rendition. For 40+ photos, please see LASP's Flickr album at https://flic.kr/s/aHsmHttFm9.
Live auction in progress.
Some members of LASP's team: John Farrell (at left), Staff Attorney; Brian Doyle, Staff Attorney; Shawn Boehringer, Executive Director; and Catherine Voit, Board of Directors.
LASP Open House
In Pottstown since 1977, and now in a new location!
POTTSTOWN - LASP celebrated our relocated Pottstown office at an Open House Sept. 25. Thanks to our community partners, friends and colleagues for joining us! LASP's original Pottstown office opened in 1977 and moved in April after decades on King St., to a new, fully accessible location at 933 N. Charlotte St.

Shawn Boehringer , Executive Director; Judith A. Algeo , President of the Board of Directors; and Patrick J. Kurtas , President-Elect of the Montgomery Bar Association, all spoke briefly at the event. LASP's longtime dedicated team of three, Catherine Guido , Managing Attorney; Donald B. Cheetham, 3rd , Staff Attorney; and Jean Gauger , Office Manager, were noted to have more than 100 years' combined legal aid service in Pottstown.
Bill Shimer (at left), who opened the original Pottstown office in 1977 (at the time, Montgomery County Legal Aid Service); Shawn Boehringer , Executive Director; Kesha James , Deputy Director for Advocacy; Dean Beer, Montgomery County Public Defender; and Patrick Kurtas , President-Elect of the Montgomery Bar Association.
Jean Gauger (at left), Pottstown Office Manager; Bill Shimer ; retired Pottstown Managing Attorney; Nena Fields , Human Resources Manager; and Susan Rizzardi , Norristown Office Manager.
Judith Algeo , President of the Board of Directors, with Dean Beer , Montgomery County Public Defender.
Erin Robert (at left), Domestic Abuse Response Team (DART) Advocate for  Laurel House ; Colleen Coonelly , Laurel House Director of Legal Services; and Donald Cheetham , LASP Staff Attorney based in Pottstown.
Darrell Lewis , Montgomery County Navicate, with Becka Hoover (second from left), Jenn Brown and Ryan Plump , all with the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities.
Underutilized program for winter heating season
LIHEAP applications open Nov. 1 for 2019-20 home heating season
Applications open Friday, Nov. 1 for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). This program helps low-income families pay their heating bills. " LIHEAP is a very underutilized program; only approximately 65% of eligible households apply for and receive this benefit ," said Phil Rosenthal, Staff Attorney in Chester city, Delaware County.
To receive help:
  • You don’t need to be receiving public assistance/welfare.
  • You don’t need to have an unpaid heating bill. Your heat can still be on.
  • You can rent or own your home.

There are three parts of LIHEAP. You can get all three if you qualify:
  1. Cash grants help with your heating bill. Grants range from $200 - $1,000. It can take up to 30 days to process a cash grant application.
  2. Crisis grants help families who have an emergency and are in danger of being without heat. Crisis grants range from $25 - $600.
  3. Weatherization can help families repair or replace an inoperable or inadequate heating system.

The Pennsylvania Dept. of Human Services administers the program through this link: http://bit.ly/31MTYY8, where you can find more information and download LIHEAP applications starting Nov. 1 in English and Spanish. You also may call 1-866-857-7095 to request an application or to ask about the status of your LIHEAP application.

Apply for LIHEAP online at www.compass.state.pa.us, or go to your County Assistance Office (CAO) (all are open from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday - Friday):
  • Bucks County Assistance Office: 1214 Veterans Highway, Bristol, PA 19007.
  • Chester County Assistance Office: 100 James Buchanan Drive, Thorndale, PA 19372.
  • Delaware County Assistance Office: 701 Crosby St., Chester, PA 19013.
  • Delaware Co. Darby District, 845 Main St., Darby, PA 19023.
  • Montgomery County Assistance Office: 1931 New Hope St., Norristown, PA 19401.

Applications for LIHEAP will not be accepted after April 10, 2020. If you received LIHEAP last year, you must reapply this year.
In the counties
Bucks County
Free: Eviction prevention CLE Oct. 18 at Bucks Bar Association
DOYLESTOWN - Ronald Smolow, Esq. will present a CLE, " Helping Residential Tenants Avoid Eviction " on Friday, Oct. 18 . The CLE (1 credit substantive) will be held from 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. at the Bucks County Bar Association, 135 E. State St., Doylestown, PA 18901 .

The CLE will offer basic training for lawyers representing residential tenants who face eviction in PA Magisterial District Courts. The course will focus on a review of PA statutes and procedures. This CLE is free. Attorneys who attend are invited to volunteer for the BCBA One Day Tenant Representation Program .

Questions? Contact Emily Norman at 215-348-9413 x110 or EmilyN@bucksbar.org.  See the clickable flyer or r egister at : http://bit.ly/2ZoXCpg
Addiction Prevention & Recovery open house
YARDLEY - Robert Kim, Staff Attorney based in Bristol, and Jennifer Pierce, Doylestown Managing Attorney, hosted a LASP legal information table (photo at right) at the Addiction Prevention & Recovery Open House Sept. 16. Sponsored by State Sen. Steve Santarsiero, the event helped those at risk of or struggling with addiction to find the support they need. It was held at William Penn Middle School, Yardley.
Chester County
Monthly expungement workshops in Coatesville through December
COATESVILLE - LASP, in partnership with the Coatesville Center for Community Health , will present Expungement / Clean Slate workshops through December. Choose the date which works best for you! Each workshop will be held at Coatesville Center for Community Health, 1001 E. Lincoln Highway, Coatesville, PA 19320 (across the street from Turkey Hill). Pictured at the Sept. 18 clinic are Deborah Steeves , LASP Staff Attorney, with Kathryn Spurlock , Director of the Coatesville Center for Community Health.

Workshops will be:

To register, call 610-383-4612, email kathryn@coatesvillecenter.org or click the Eventbrite link for your choice of workshop.
Expungement workshops at PA CareerLink in Exton
EXTON - Check out the newly scheduled Expungement / Clean Slate workshops, planned for November and December at the Financial Stability Center, 479 Thomas Jones Way, Exton PA 19341. LASP, together with United Way of Chester County and PA CareerLink of Chester County, partner to present the workshops:

  • Thursday, Nov. 7 at 2 p.m.
  • Monday, Dec. 9 at 10:30 a.m.

To register, please see page 2 of the clickable flyer.
Birth Certificate Clinic at Family Promise Center
KENNETT SQUARE - LASP and Family Promise Center of Southern Chester County partnered to present a Birth Certificate Clinic Sept. 25 in Kennett Square. The Chester County Bar Association sponsored the birth certificate fees.

PICTURED (from left): Shaina Bethala , LASP Intern; Omar Henriquez , Family Promise Center case manager; Guillermo Rivera ; Hillary Sheridan , pro bono attorney; Basil Joy , pro bono attorney; Brian Doyle , LASP Staff Attorney & Chester County Pro Bono Coordinator; and Sandra Ortiz , LASP Chester County Office Manager. MISSING: George D'Ambrosio , Esq. and Pat D'Ambrosio , pro bono volunteers.
Delaware County
LASP at Senior Expo Oct. 16 at Drexelbrook

DREXEL HILL - LASP will have a legal information table at the Senior Expo Wednesday, Oct. 16 . from 9 a.m. - noon . Karen Tyler , Staff Paralegal specializing in elder law, will answer questions about LASP services. Co-sponsored by State Sen. Tim Kearney ( http://bit.ly/2ocKE1u) and State Rep. Mike Zabel ( http://bit.ly/2MeXu72) , the event will be at Drexelbrook, 4700 Drexelbrook Drive, Drexel Hill, PA 19026.
Expungement clinic: LASP & Sen. Kearney's office at Ridley Township Public Library
RIDLEY TOWNSHIP - LASP, partnering with State Sen. Tim Kearney, presented a free Criminal Record Expungement Clinic on Oct. 7 at Ridley Township Public Library, Folsom.
Volunteers providing pro bono service for the Expungement Clinic (from left): Chris Orrin, Liel Azoolin, Jonathan Feingold, Julia Curley, Emily Delisle, and Richard Lutz with Erica Briant (at right), Supervising Attorney, LASP Community Engagement Unit.
Majovie "Joe" Bland and Diane Norsworthy , both Constituent Relations Associates for Sen. Tim Kearney's office.
LASP staff attorneys present Clean Slate / Expungement CLE

MEDIA - Erica Briant , Supervising Attorney, Community Engagement Unit; and Phil Rosenthal , Staff Attorney, presented a CLE on Pennsylvania's new Clean Slate law, automated sealing vs. petitioning, and the continuing importance of expungements for clients. The CLE was held Sept. 12 at the Delaware County Bar Association, Media.
Montgomery County
CLE in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month
NORRISTOWN - LASP Staff Attorney  Beverly Boyle and Laurel House Staff Attorney Nicole Levitt presented “New Developments in PFA Law and Related Issues” at the Montgomery Bar Association Family Law Section’s annual program in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness month.
2019 PA Legal Aid Network Conference
LASP presents on Title XX compliance and, with partner organizations, on new developments in domestic violence law, overpayments & waivers

HARRISBURG - PA's legal aid community gathered in Harrisburg from Sept.18-20 to discuss latest developments in laws impacting our clients and strategies for helping clients. The statewide conference provided a great opportunity to share expertise and best practices.
Nicole Levitt (at left), Staff Attorney for Laurel House, and Beverly Boyle , LASP Staff Attorney, present new developments in the Protection from Abuse Act at the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network Conference Sept. 19.
Kesha James , LASP's Deputy Director for Advocacy, discusses compliance issues related to Title XX notices at a packed house at the PLAN Conference Sept. 18.
Phil Rosenthal (at left), LASP Staff Attorney, and Samuel Brooks , Staff Attorney for Community Legal Services of Philadelphia, present new developments in overpayments and waiver requests for those representing SSD/SSI recipients before the Social Security Administration.
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