Vassallo

A Philadelphia police officer accused of lying to a federal grand jury about the beating of a burglary suspect in a police van was acquitted yesterday. The same U.S. District Court jury was unable to reach a verdict for a second defendant, a retired police sergeant who had also been charged with lying to a grand jury about the 1993 beating. The burglarly suspect, Lawrence Jones, was arrested in the 5600 block of Germantown Avenue on April 20, 1993, after a rooftop chase. He was being sought by police in a series of burglaries.

The Mount Holly Township Council is awaiting the findings of a report by the Police Department to determine whether it will increase the number of hours taverns may operate in the municipality. In December, the council voted to reduce the hours of operation by one hour and placed restrictions on "last call" and consumption times. The bars are now allowed to be open from 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. on weekdays and until 1:30 a.m. on weekends. Previously, the taverns were permitted to be open from 8:30 a.m. until 2 a.m. on weekdays and until 2:30 a.m. on weekends.

Wynnewood Lanes nearly had a 300 game recently, when Joe Vassallo came within one pin of perfection. Bowling in the Guys and Dolls Mixed League on March 23, Vassallo, who has a 201 average, started with 11 in a row, reaching the 12th and final ball with a chance to get the 300. However, number 12 did not come, as the 10-pin remained standing. "I thought it had a chance, it was a solid 10," Vassallo said. "The first 11 were all right there and so was the last one, but it wasn't quite solid enough.

Leslie Vassallo is disgusted, worried and frightened. A mother of five with two mortgages on her home, Vassallo, along with her neighbors in the Bethayres section of Lower Moreland Township, will soon be billed for use of new public sewers. She says she does not want and cannot afford the change. She is one of about 380 home and business owners in the township required to dismantle their backyard sewers and pay for a connection to a new township sewer system early next year.

COULDN'T Frank Vassallo of Wilmington have found something better to do with $675,000 than buy an old license plate? It amazes me how rich idiots find such useless junk to spend money on. You think maybe some of the homeless people in Delaware could have used a few of those dollars? You probably never had to work a day in your life. Mommy and daddy probably give you play money. Well, here's a tip: Spend it on something worthwhile, like human beings in need. Enjoy your useless plate.

Twelve Atco residents will begin work tomorrow on a plan for keeping projected enrollment increases from overwhelming the district's three elementary schools. The Board of Education solicited residents for the panel after a study in December by the Helfgott Group Inc. of Margate. The study recommends building additions at the Thomas Richards and Waterford Elementary Schools, and using 30-year-old Atco Elementary solely for Waterford's first graders. Atco now houses first and second graders.

It was a clean sweep for the defense. After two trials, three former Philadelphia police officers had been acquitted, two for allegedly lying to a federal grand jury to cover up an alleged beating of a handcuffed prisoner by a third ex-cop. After quickly acquitting two of the three officers yesterday, following a week-long trial, several jurors were highly critical of the way the case was investigated by the FBI and city authorities. "Surreal and ridiculous," one juror said of the government's case against the cops.

FIVE MONTHS AGO, Daniel Vassallo was undergoing abdominal surgery. Today, he is the winner of the men's Philadelphia Marathon. Vassallo, part of a record-setting field of 23,000 in the 17th annual event that included the half marathon and an 8K this past weekend, finished yesterday's race in 2 hours, 21 minutes, 28 seconds. It eclipsed his previous personal best, which he set in Houston earlier this year. "I was kind of overcome by emotion a couple times," Vassallo said minutes after he crossed the finish line.

An explosion that killed a man and leveled a house Sunday was caused by combustible materials intentionally brought into the house, the Delaware Fire Marshal's Office announced yesterday. Investigators believe the material was ignited inside the house, causing a tremendous explosion and resulting fire. Police responding to a 5:53 a.m. call Sunday in Brandywine Hundred found the collapsing husk of the two-story, stone house engulfed in flames and a man buried in the rubble. Louis Riccio, 29, of Wilmington, was an employee of the home's owners and was looking after their house while they were in Italy.

Flourtown residents have told the Springfield Township commissioners that they disapprove of the construction of an extra-large garage at 25 Jones Ave. The garage, which is under construction, would be 20 feet by 60 feet, according to the building plans. The property is owned by Joseph Vassallo of Churchville, according to Christopher J. Gehlhaus, secretary to the township zoning board. At a meeting Wednesday night, about 20 residents urged the township commissioners to reconsider their decision to allow the garage to be built.