3 Charged In Upper Dublin Man's 'Shocking' Death

Welcome back to Wiss Now’s weekly newsletter! Happy New Year! We are awaiting more details after an Upper Dublin traffic accident was apparently caused by something “exploding” in a driver’s face.

In This Week's Email:

• 📆 Upcoming Nearby Events

• 🚨 Montco DA Stunned By ‘Depravity’ Of Man’s Death

• 👷‍♂️ Development In Lower Gwynedd, Upper Dublin

• 🐾 New Blue Bell Business Is For The Dogs

• 🗞️ News Links

• 🍷 Get Ready For ‘A Sommelier Smackdown’

• 🏘️ In Other Nearby News

• 🐶 Rescue of the Week

• 🏟️ Play Ball

• 📊 This Week’s Poll

📆 Upcoming Nearby Events

Saturday, Jan. 4

• 🤣 Dance Time Dance Academy Comedy Night | Puck Live in Doylestown | 6 p.m., more details here

• 🥁 Bubba Bash 2025 | Keswick Theatre in Glenside | 7 p.m., more details here

Sunday, Jan. 5

• ❄️ Winter White Floral Arrangement | The Rhoads Garden in North Wales | 1-2 p.m., more details here

You can find a calendar of events for the towns in the Wiss Now region by following these links: Ambler | Lower Gwynedd | Upper Dublin | Whitemarsh | Whitpain | Regional calendar

🚨 Montco DA Stunned By ‘Depravity’ Of Man’s Death

The caretaker and parents of a late Upper Dublin man face charges ranging from first-degree murder to theft by deception in his death. 

Tylim Hatchett, a care-dependent 21-year-old man, was found dead on Sept. 19 in his apartment. Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele said he was blind, deaf, non-verbal and used a wheelchair due to cerebral palsy. But prosecutors believe he was left alone over 80% of the time leading up to his death as paid helpers and his parents neglected him regularly. "The depravity of all of this is shocking," Steele said.

Hatchett's mother, Sherrilynn Hawkins, 42, of Dresher, is being held without bail on murder charges. His father, 39-year-old Vernon Hatchett of Glenside faces involuntary manslaughter charges. Caretaker Loretta Harris, a 45-year-old from Philadelphia, was charged with theft. All three also face neglect charges.

👷‍♂️ Development In Lower Gwynedd, Upper Dublin

Lower Gwynedd has landed on a location for its new public works building.

The township has proposed a new Sumneytown Pike facility behind the Giant supermarket. A 2022 study concluded the current DPW facility was crowded, inefficient and outdated. A full presentation of the proposed new facility can be found here; the plan will be the subject of ongoing public talks in the new year.

Also: The controversial effort to build a school bus depot behind Fort Washington Elementary School in Upper Dublin continues. The Upper Dublin School District is seeking four variances to construct a 11,000-square-foot facility; the plan has met stiff resistance from residents in the surrounding neighborhoods. A new point of contention is whether UDSD alsi needs a use variance -- something its legal representation denies, arguing the depot would be a "permitted accessory use."

🐾 New Blue Bell Business Is For The Dogs

MiAmore Pet Boutique + Dog Bath — an upscale shop on Dekalb Pike in Blue Bell within Whitpain — has opened its doors. The business mission statement is to "provide the highest quality products from comfortable apparel and durable walking gear to innovative feeding stations and adorable toys, and everything in between." The boutique also offers a luxury self-serve dog wash modeled as a relaxing, spa-like experience for your best friend.

🗞️ News Links

• Fort Washington Fire Company certified for water rescues

• Car vs. Pole accident in Upper Dublin

• Police still seeking suspect in Ambler burglary, kidnapping

🍷 Get Ready For ‘A Sommelier Smackdown’

The Blue Bell Inn will host its second Wine Sommelier Smackdown event on Jan. 17. It features a five-course meal with two experts — Mark Kauterman of Southern Wines and Vintage Wines' Dave Greenstein — going head-to-head with competing wine pairings. Tickets are $125 plus tax and gratuity; they can be purchased here.

🏘️ In Other Nearby News

• A look at the region’s colorful holiday displays

• Catalytic converter theft ring convictions assisted by local cops

• Hatfield honors heroes, including Penn Pro Roofing

To keep up with news outside the Wiss Now area, make sure to subscribe to the weekly newsletters for our siblings sites — North Penn Now and Central Bucks Now.

🐶 Rescue of the Week

Meet Periwinkle, a five- to nine-year-old pitbull looking for a forever home through Home At Last Dog Rescue. She is being fostered in the area after making her way up from South Carolina. Periwinkle is a happy girl who loves to meet new people. She is very sweet and loves to cuddle; Periwinkle is crate- and house-trained and great with older kids and other animals her own size. A fenced-in yard would be a great benefit in a new home, although not a requirement.

If you are interested in adopting Chloe or would like more information, you can reach out to Home At Last Dog Rescue at [email protected] or visit the group's website.

🏟️ Play Ball

• Matvei Michkov is being handled properly

• On the Saquon Barkley Week 18 discourse

• Jesus Luzardo is excited to be a Phil

For more on local sports, subscribe to our Philly sports newsletter, On Pattison (sent 5x per week):

📊 This Week’s Poll

Thanks for reading! See you next week. Be sure to follow Wiss Now on Facebook.