Miscellaneous

Former Whitpain Township police officer Gerald Schwartz has been acquitted of all charges stemming from a drunk driving arrest and an alleged physical altercation with his wife while he was off duty in Whitemarsh Township almost a year and a half ago.   During the trial, an attorney for the 47-year-old Philadelphia resident argued there was insufficient evidence to convict Schwartz.   His wife, the alleged target of the violence, did not testify against her husband.

The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office has reached a settlement with Merck in a lawsuit over the painkiller Vioxx.

Read more: Pa, Merck, Reach Vioxx Settlement

Univest Senior Vice President of Investments Bill VanSant says the retirement plans people depend on have transitioned from Social Security and defined benefit pension plans to 401-k’s and other plans they pay into, and too many people are not saving enough.

Read more: People Not Saving Enough For Retirement

Lansdale officials Wednesday postponed action pending further legal review on contracts with an architectural firm that could be tapped to do the design work for a big construction project at the Municipal Complex on Vine Street as well as the old Performing Arts Center on West Main Street.   But the Spiezle Group and its proposals for dealing with dilapidated conditions at Borough Hall and the police station still took center stage at the February business meeting of Borough Council Wednesday evening.   Former Council Member Bill Henning presented a petition asking that demolition not be considered for the current Borough Hall.   Boro Manager Timi Kirchner said the emphasis remains on the proposal that would preserve the facade of the existing building but officials were also looking at building a completely new facility for comparision purposes.   She also said combining the police station with Borough Hall would save money and improve services for Lansdale residents.