Please Support Continuous Local Covid-19 Coverage on MoreThanTheCurve Penn Medicine has broken ground for a forthcoming $270 million outpatient center at 200 DeKalb Pike in North Wales (Montgomeryville), the nonprofit health system announced last week The 162,000 sf multispecialty outpatient facility is expected to open in late 2027 and “will expand options for patients to receive advanced care in Montgomery and Bucks counties” It will also provide comprehensive cancer care including radiation oncology services and chemotherapy and specialized services in women’s health and surgical consultations especially those undergoing cancer therapy that can last for months we’re not just enhancing accessibility—we’re transforming the entire treatment journey,” said Kevin B CEO of the University of Pennsylvania Health System “Penn Medicine Montgomeryville will make getting care easier for patients while reimagining how treatments should be delivered and experienced.” Other Penn Medicine multispecialty ambulatory sites include: in Philadelphia and Washington Square; elsewhere in Pennsylvania 2025 at 10:47 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Albert Sergio Jr. PA — A Souderton man and public official in Montgomery County was arrested after sexually assaulting a woman at knife-point and then leading police on an hours-long chase before his capture according to authorities and media reports the assistant fire marshal for Cheltenham Township April 25 on East Chestnut Street in Souderton Sergio knew the woman who he sexually assaulted He then fled from the scene and into nearby Hilltown Township, where he broke into a home while hiding from police, NBC Philadelphia reports Sergio was eventually captured in the morning hours of April 26 in the woods after being tracked by K9s Souderton Police have declined to make public comment on the case He was booked at Montgomery County Correctional Facility after failing to post $100,000 bail Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. 2025 at 9:32 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}One person was killed in a crash in Salford Township early Thursday PA — One person is dead after a single vehicle crash in Montgomery County early Thursday morning The incident occurred in Salford Township on Badman Road near Whites Mill Road at around 2:41 a.m State police say they do not yet know if the driver is the victim or if the victim was a passenger and the driver fled the scene The victim has not yet been identified by police Contact state police in Skippack if you have any information at 215-452-5208 2025 at 9:53 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Scam callers pretending to be Montgomery County Sheriff's Deputies have been attempting to steal money PA — Police are warning Montgomery County residents of an increase in calls from scammers pretending to be sheriff's deputies Residents in Montgomery Township have reported several of the scam calls in recent days and a similar scam has been plaguing the area since mid-February The callers claim to be with the Montgomery County Sheriff's Department and tell victims that they missed jury duty They say that an arrest warrant will be issued if payment is not made account numbers and payment information provided by the fraudsters has been forwarded to the County Detectives Bureau for investigation," officials said Authorities added that they never contact residents to collect fines for missed jury duty contact the sheriff's office at 610-278-3331 2025 at 9:48 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Montgomery Township is opening up a new traffic garden PA — A special new "Traffic Garden" in Montgomery County aims to teach children and the general public about the basic rules of safety on the road The special installation will be opened up to the public on Saturday Officials describe the installation as a "safe playful environment" to teach kids and others about the road The garden will feature free bike safety resources and more A special ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 9:30 a.m 2025 at 9:35 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A Montgomery County store is among the Joann Fabrics locations closing PA — Joann Fabrics will shut down one of its locations in Montgomery County as part of a nationwide closure of 500 of its 800 stores Court filings show that Joann will close stores in all 50 states, with Pennsylvania, California, Florida, Indiana, Michigan, New York and Washington among those affected most, according to CNN The 81-year-old Ohio-based retailer has identified dozens of stores in Pennsylvania for potential immediate closure in court documents, according to ABC. A company spokesperson said that “right-sizing our store footprint is a critical part of our efforts to ensure the best path forward.” The spokesperson also told USA Today it was "a very difficult decision to make given the major impact we know it will have on our Team Members our customers and all of the communities we serve." The news comes as other major retailers have announced closures as well with Kohl's notably among those last month With reporting from Patch coorespondent Chris Rhatigan 2025 at 10:29 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Montgomery Township police have issued more than a thousand violations thanks to the new traffic light violation camera PA — Montgomery Township's newly implemented traffic cameras have recorded more than a thousand violations that were later approved by officers in their first month of operation The new automated red light enforcement system went into place in Montgomery Township on March 14 and has since recorded a total of 1,043 approved violations the traffic cameras are designed to detect and then record vehicles that enter an intersection after the traffic signal has turned red Cameras then record the vehicle's license plate and identifying characteristics of the car who approve it before a citation is issued to the vehicle's owner It's similar to technology used by the North Penn School District and Montgomery Township police on school bus stop arms where cameras record the license plate of vehicles that swing around stopped buses and endanger children While numerous leaders from across the aisle in Pennsylvania have spoken out in support of the technology Automated systems are not perfect, and far from it, in some cases. In one survey of red light violation cameras in Pennsylvania, the accuracy rate was as low as 3 percent, according to an Inquirer investigation other critics point to cameras less as a safety enforcement technique and more as a way for local governments to make more money The nonprofit Fines and Fees Justice Center argued in a report that automated systems do not improve community safety on the whole and also disproportionately impact communities of color 2025 at 11:50 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Montgomery Township's Five Points intersection remains under construction in 2025 PA — Construction on the Five Points Intersection in Montgomery Township will continue through the rest of 2025 the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation announced this week The $14.2 million project is widening existing lanes and adding news lanes and improving stormwater drainage in the area The work will impact traffic on Bethlehem Pike Lane closures and slower traffic patterns are expected from 9 a.m on every weekday in the following locations: The project is fully funded by the federal government 2025 at 9:26 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A woman was attacked and beaten outside her apartment on her way to work early Thursday in Hatfield Township PA — A woman was attacked and beaten in the early morning hours Thursday in Hatfield Township as she left her apartment on the way to work Security footage from the scene circulating social media showed the man leaping out from the bushes at the victim and repeatedly kicking and punching her before fleeing The suspect was wearing gloves and a ski mask when he attacked the woman A neighbor hear her screaming and witnessed the attack, and called 911, 6ABC reports Investigators say they believe the attack to be targeted and not a random act of violence 2025 at 10:05 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A teenage girl has gone missing in North Wales (Montgomery Township Police)MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP PA — Police are asking for the public's help after a teenager ran away from home in Montgomery County and went missing Trinity Greene was last seen at her foster home in North Wales She has black hair with a blonde patch in the front She was last seen wearing a purple long sleeved crop top contact the Montgomery Township Police Department at 215-362-2301 2024 at 6:17 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A gas leak occurred at the Five Points Intersection in Montgomery Township Thursday (Patch Graphics)EDIT: The intersection is now open and the leak has been repaired PA — A gas leak has shut down the Five Points Intersection in Montgomery Township Crews have been conducting ongoing work in the area There is no word yet on when the incident will be cleared More information will be provided as it becomes available 2025 at 12:37 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The Longest Yarn is now open in Lansdale (Theresa Katalinas/Cynthia Hermann)LANSDALE PA — A new hands-on yarn and knitting business in Lansdale will give customers the chance to participate in a variety of classes April 26 at its brand new home on 325 Madison Street in the borough Owner Cynthia Hermann grew up with a love of teaching Her business combines both aspects of her experience “I grew up crocheting lace doilies and always loved the intricacy of lace work," Hermann shared very formulaic — and that structure really appeals to the logical Hermann said she spent some nine years studying business ideas and then working with Score an organization that provides mentoring and assistance to small businesses around the region Hermann's own work has been showcased at art shows in Lansdale and North Wales She wants to not only outfit knitters with supplies but help inculcate their passion by teaching herself Some of her planned classes and sessions include topics like sock-making She also encourages customers to bring in their stashes of extra yarn to her events She wants to help people "turn those odds and ends into a beautiful shawl or wrap." The Longest Yarn is open now at their home by the Lansdale Station Apartments Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardPenn Medicine starts building a $270M outpatient center on Route 202 in MontgomeryvilleThe 162,000-square-foot center on Route 202 near the intersection with Route 309 in Montgomery County is expected to open in late 2027 Penn Medicine has broken ground for construction of a $270 million outpatient center in Montgomeryville The 162,000-square-foot center at 200 DeKalb Pike will fill a geographic gap in Penn’s network of outpatient centers where patients can receive a wide range of health-care services Penn Medicine Montgomeryville is expected to open in late 2027 The location along Route 202 will sit between Penn’s similar large outpatient facility in Radnor Among the specialties planned for the Montgomeryville site are radiation oncology services and chemotherapy provided by Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center Other service areas are expected to include primary care and specialized services in women’s health and surgical consultations 2025 at 2:52 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Grays Lane in Montgomery Township pis the site of a unique new traffic calming measure PA — Montgomery Township has implemented a unique new safety feature on one of its local roads designed to reduce speeding: squiggly traffic lines The bizarre-appearing setup is so unusual that the announcement prompted skeptical and befuddled responses from some local residents who thought it was an early April Fool's joke the township will also install delineators in the road center to help clarify the lanes "These traffic calming measures are being installed due to the numerous complaints/concerns we receive from residents about the 'speedway' Grays Lane has become," the township said in a statement "Our highway safety officers and traffic engineers have determined that this is the best course of action for the area to ensure the safety of the local residents." A police department trailer is on site at the head of the road to warn drivers of the new traffic pattern 2025 at 10:49 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The 36th annual International Spring Festival will once again be held at North Penn High School PA — One of the Philadelphia region's largest multicultural celebrations will return to Montgomery County again in 2025 The 36th annual International Spring Festival will be held at North Penn High School on April 26 from 10 a.m It's highlighted by the "Parade of Nations," a procession of representatives from more than 60 countries displaying cultural pride The festival also includes a health and wellness fair live entertainment on seven different stages a wide variety of artistry through crafts and exhibits and of course the International Food Court The 2025 theme is “Americans Celebrating Heritage and Culture." and Irish performers take the various stages 2025 at 10:56 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}​Biliver Ramos​ of Buckingham Township has been charged with aggravated assault and carrying firearms without a license PA — A man who fired a gun 12 times inside a Montgomery County bar before attacking a victim back in December has been captured Biliver Ramos of Buckingham Township was charged with aggravated assault and carrying firearms without a license at the Boca Del Mar Restaurant in Montgomery Township It's not clear what led to the confrontation but after firing his gun 12 times inside the premises and at the feet of the victim Ramos struck him twice in the face with his forehead Montgomery Township police executed multiple search warrants and conducted several interviews with witnesses to track down Ramos He was arrested at his Buckingham Township home early Wednesday morning Ramos was booked at Montgomery County Correctional Facility 2024 at 11:47 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}New Year's Eve celebrations to ring in 2025 are right around the corner PA — The greater Lansdale and Montgomery County areas are filled with unique events to ring in 2025 in style Here's a glance at few ways to celebrate in the local community: The transition from one year to the next is often marked by the singing of “Auld Lang Syne,” a Scottish folk song whose title roughly translates to “days gone by,” according to Encyclopedia Britannica and History.com The tradition of New Year’s resolutions dates back 8,000 years to ancient Babylonians who made promises to return borrowed items and repay debts at the beginning of the new year which was in mid-March when they planted their crops the pagan gods would grant them favor in the coming year Many secular New Year’s resolutions focus on imagining new The failure rate of New Year’s resolutions is about 80 percent but a big one is they’re made out of remorse — for gaining weight for example — and aren’t accompanied by a shift in attitude or a plan for coping with the stress and discomfort that comes with changing a habit or condition 2025 at 4:27 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Officials broke ground on a new homeless shelter in Lansdale on Monday afternoon PA — Montgomery County broke ground on a new homeless shelter in Lansdale on Monday the latest in a flurry of moves to address the ongoing housing crisis in the region The new Lansdale shelter will be located on 1107 E Main Street and will house about 20 individuals "This initiative reflects Montgomery County’s commitment to addressing housing insecurity by offering immediate shelter and long-term solutions to support stability and self-sufficiency for residents in need," the county said in a statement "It also demonstrates the power of successful partnership between County and municipal partners when working together to serve our residents." The county is working with both the borough of Lansdale and Resources for Human Development on the project Features of the shelter will include individualized case management The county's January 2024 point in time count an annual effort to count all individuals in the county experiencing homelessness found 7 unsheltered and 31 sheltered people living in Lansdale Officials estimated about 27 people are homeless year-round in the borough alone Lansdale Mayor Gary Herbert said when the shelter was announced in December that the facts bore out a clear "gap." we are always striving to build a better place to live and play,” Herbert said “Doing so requires addressing gaps in our social safety net at all levels of government and partnering to meet the needs of everyone in our community." The county says they are working on similar partnerships and projects with officials in Norristown and they said additional shelters could be announced in the new year Individuals experiencing homelessness in Montgomery County can contact the Your Way Home Call Center at 610-278-3522 for resources and more information 2024 at 11:25 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Five Points Intersection will be shut down overnight next month PA — One of the region's busiest intersections will be shut down overnight next month for construction A large overhead sign structure will be removed from Montgomery Township's Five Points Intersection Five Points brings together Route 309 (Bethlehem Pike) Drivers will be detoured during the closure from each direction 2025 at 6:21 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Bethlehem Pike was shut down in Montgomery Township on Wednesday (Kristin Borden/Patch)MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP PA — Bethlehem Pike has reopened after being shut down in Montgomery Township on Wednesday afternoon following a major accident The closure impacts both the northbound and southbound lanes between Stump Road and Upper State Road The extent of any injuries is not yet clear nor is it yet known precisely what caused the accident 2025 at 5:12 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Saquon Barkley was spotted dining in Montgomery County this week PA — A Super Bowl champion and one of the greatest running backs in NFL history made a surprise appearance at a North Wales restaurant this week fresh off his championship season in which he ran for more yards in the regular season and postseason combined than any player ever The restaurant shared a photo of Saquon after the Monday night stop but the brewery said he ordered their pub burger Related: Eagles Sign Saquon Barkley To NFL Record-Setting Extension: Reports Barkley is one of the Eagles best players and most visible faces of their championship team appearing on Jimmy Fallon after the Super Bowl with Jalen Hurts and the offensive line he signed the largest contract for a running back ever $41.2 million extension,lengthening the existing three-year deal he signed with Philly last year Barkley will now be in Philly through 2028 and will have plenty of chances to create a Philly dynasty with Hurts and a tremendous offensive and defensive line 2025 at 12:28 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}North Penn High School's renovations will begin in May PA — The future of the North Penn School District has arrived The long awaited reconstruction and renovations to the high school will begin with a "tile breaking" ceremony on May 19 "The ceremony will begin Phase 1 renovations marking a significant step forward in transforming North Penn High School into a state-of-the-art facility that will inspire and empower students for years to come," the district said in a statement "Renovations to the school will begin with the natatorium and will eventually span the entire building." with various visions for the future of the high school going through several iterations before the current plan was agreed upon See related: Improvements To North Penn Voted Down In Special Election the district identified priorities as ADA access throughout the building upgraded hallway organization to minimize congestion and will be held at the Rick Carroll Natatorium on 1340 Valley Forge Road A small number of commemorative tiles from the "tile breaking" portion of the ceremony will be distributed to those in attendance 2024 at 3:01 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A four alarm fire was battled in Colmar Tuesday afternoon PA — Crews continue to battle a major fire broke at a Montgomery County warehouse amid dangerously dry drought conditions late Tuesday morning leading to authorities ringing four alarms in the Colmar section of Hatfield Township Drivers are urged to avoid the general area Walnut Street has been shut down between County Line Road and Discovery Drive Dorman Products is an auto body parts supplier with a large warehouse See also: Burn Ban Extends To More Communities Across Montgomery County Crews from fire companies around the region have responded and hazmat crews have also been called to the scene "Thank you to the firefighters from 30 different departments who have come to Hatfield Township to battle the blaze at Dorman Products," State Rep "Please avoid the area for your safety and theirs." North Penn Goodwill is providing assistance to first responders and employees 2024 at 10:38 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Coyote sightings have increased around Lansdale recently PA — There has been an increase in coyote sightings around the Montgomery County suburbs for years and a particular increase in Wissahickon Park in Lansdale in recent weeks The area around the 17.8 acre park provides all of what coyotes need to thrive in an "edge" habitat with the shelter of woods and access to food Human sloppiness is the primary contributing factor to increased coyote activity in Montgomery County and across Pennsylvania a state wildlife biologist previously told Patch Two main human habits contribute to an increase in coyote sightings and coyote-human interaction: garbage left outside and unsecured and pet food left on the porch and available for anything that comes along in the night feeding coyotes directly also can cause huge problems Lansdale police urged residents to avoid feeding them When coyotes are fed they adapt to the new situation and gradually lose their fear of humans But attacks on humans are extraordinarily rare as it is simply not in the coyote's nature to be confrontational with humans By far the greater threat coyotes pose is to pets The eastern coyote is native to Pennsylvania and has been here forever but populations have also long ago adapted to thrive in urban and suburban environments New developments and sprawl around Lansdale could contribute to coyote sightings but not in the way that many residents might imagine “New developments that take out forest land are not really an encroachment on coyote habitat,” Tom Hardisky a biologist with the Pennsylvania Game Commission “(But) the new development could be a significant factor Aside from times when they become dependent on humans coyotes are relatively amicable creatures that are not aggressive to humans 2024 at 10:46 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The investigation continues into the massive fire in Colmar on Tuesday PA — An investigation remains ongoing into the massive five-alarm fire in the Colmar section of Hatfield Township on Election Day The cause of the blaze has not yet been determined Officials said that firefighters from more than 30 departments around the region worked together to quell the fire The incident began in the late morning hours Tuesday at the large warehouse at Dorman Products a manufacturer of auto body parts and more on 3400 E and firefighters swept the length of the building to ensure there were no trapped victims Companies from across Bucks and Montgomery County responded including engines from as far away as Pennsburg and Lower Merion "With the strategy in place throughout Montgomery County as to not deplete resources from areas across the region we were able to gain support and resources from companies across multiple municipalities using 'single-pull' dispatching," Colmar Volunteer Fire Company said in a statement The status of the investigation is not yet clear 2025 at 11:37 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A robbery suspect was arrested in Montgomery Township PA — A man who robbed a Montgomery Township bank before fleeing a month ago was captured by authorities late Thursday 5 at the Santander Bank on Welsh Road at around 4:54 p.m whose name has not yet been released by authorities provided the bank teller with a note requesting money He then fled with an unknown amount of cash about five minutes later He wore a face mask and winter hat during the robbery The suspect was arrested Thursday after attempting a similar robbery in Bucks County The FBI continues to assist Montgomery Township Police in their ongoing follow-up investigation A preliminary hearing for the suspect is forthcoming 2024 at 10:09 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The Montgomery Township Police Department seeks the public's help in finding a missing 15-year-old girl (Montgomery Township Police Department)MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP PA —The Montgomery Township Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance with locating a missing juvenile Police said 15-year-old Chloe Earhart walked away from her home in the 100 block of Horseshoe Lane in North Wales at 5 p.m She is described as being 5’5” and about 130 lbs with brown eyes and brown hair with blonde highlights Anyone who has seen this missing person or has information that could assist police in locating her please call 911 immediately or the Montgomery Township Police Department at 215-362-2301 2025 at 12:21 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The ruby throated hummingbird is one of Pennsylvania's many notable bird residents a migratory species that arrives in the local area in late April each year PA — A sixteenth community in Montgomery County has been named an official "Pennsylvania Bird Town," further underlining the county's status as one of the leading bird conservation areas in the region recognizing a commitment by the township to conservation and stewardship of key habitats The designation was granted by Pennsylvania Bird Town a program spun off from the National Audubon Society The township's environmental advisory committee made an official application to the group's outreach committee as well as a presentation to Towamencin's Board of Supervisors which voted this month to approve the township's participation in the program Bird Town and the Audubon Society will help Towamencin to highlight the borough's ecological diversity and wildlife resources as well as provide outreach and environmental education to property owners as to how they can make their yards and homes more bird friendly Other municipalities have received native plant pop-up gardens and storm water management assistance as PA Bird Town members Towamencin is the 77th municipality in Pennsylvania to be accorded the honor which comprises a significant portion of all of the state's Bird Towns A thriving bird ecosystem has positive ripple effects across the environment Species diversity among birds allows native plant life to flourish and birds are a significant predator of nuisances and disease spreading creatures like mosquitoes and ticks For guidance on creating a backyard habitat, see here. 2024 at 11:13 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Route 309 has reopened in Hatfield Township after a crash Friday morning PA — Route 309 has reopened in Hatfield Township after a major at the intersection of Route 309 and Unionville Pike It's not yet clear exactly what caused the crash or the extent of any injuries The road was shut down for about 45 minutes as police urged motorists to avoid the area 2025 at 11:42 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}North Penn's boys ice hockey team has won their first Pennsylvania state championship in history PA — The North Penn High School boys ice hockey team made school history over the weekend as they became the first Knights squad to ever win a state championship North Penn won the AA final over Erie Cathedral Prep by a final of 4-1 on Saturday afternoon The Knights were trailing 1-0 heading into the the third period when they exploded for four goals leaving an exclamation mark on their win at the Robert Morris University Island Sports Center outside Pittsburgh "We have a great program," North Penn Superintendent Todd Bauer said during Monday morning's Superintendent Live Update broadcast "We have a ton of students and families who participate." Bauer coordinated a police escort for the team from the turnpike back to the high school The boys were welcomed back to town with sirens and air horns a major invitational featuring the top teams from across the eastern half of the state While hockey is one of America's four major sports it remains unsponsored by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association all hockey teams competing in PA are actually club teams 2025 at 10:13 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Authorities are searching for a missing girl in Norlh Wales (Montgomery Township Police Department)NORTH WALES PA — A teenage girl has gone missing from Montgomery County Chloe Earhart was last seen leaving her home in North Wales on Jan Montgomery Township Police did not indicate any specific locations where they believe she may be She has brown eyes and reddish brown hair with pink and red highlights in the front 2025 at 3:58 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}U.S Madeleine Dean responded to President Trump's address to Congress this week who represents most of Montgomery County in Washington lashed out at President Trump this week after she said his speech to a joint session of Congress was riddled with "countless" lies Trump's wide ranging address was met with resounding cheers from Republicans and raucous boos and walkouts from many Democrats Dean specifically pointed to Trump's claims about rampant fraud in Social Security "We heard incorrect claims about crucial benefits," Dean said We heard countless more falsehoods tonight." I would have hoped this Joint Address to Congress would be a vision for a bright future," she added I would have hoped for an address in which the President invites us all to come together on behalf of the American people I knew better than to hope for that tonight I am disappointed but unsurprised that President Trump used a joint session to further his lies and division." While little in Trump's speech — or Dean's response — directly addresses Pennsylvania the policies Trump has championed and Dean has opposed have had trickling effects in the local region Montgomery County officials say they have been "ghosted" by the federal government's Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) over the past month and that the agency has withheld $5 million in critical grant funding The money is the chief source of funding for Your Way Home and other issues related to domestic violence and the ongoing homeless crisis Authorities say there is no actual order to withhold the grant in question County commissioners said they were told only that some contracts were stalled due to "confusion" at the federal level Trump and his administration have boasted of major cost savings and say they are eliminating government waste But threats of similar cuts or an outright federal freeze in funding have sparked anxiety and chaos as local and county governments and nonprofits reliant upon the funding scramble to find alternatives "We know the President will say whatever he wants Dean's 4th district covers most of Montgomery County which is full of voters both blue and red and everywhere in between but the balance of power almost always tilts to the left in recent district and countywide contests