CLOSE UP by Brian Rudnick

Can do wheelies on his wheelchair

Jim Leonard combats the debilitating effects of multiple sclerosis with the assist of an advanced mobility vehicle. No glorified “seat with wheels” Leonard’s device can zip through a mall at 6 miles per hour, recline him horizontally to relieve pressure or elevate him so he can reach the microwave in his kitchen or stir a pot. While waiting to be seated for breakfast at Mainely Meat in Bar Harbor, Maine, Leonard stopped short of demonstrating the 360 degree wheelies he can do with his sophisticated chair. Watch video here.

Shuttle from auto service shop

At 8:00 am sharp two courtesy shuttle vans, divide up Conicelli Auto customers who've driven their cars to the Conshohocken shop for service and shuttle them to their destinations which could be home or work. Your reporter was hoping for a quick ride back to Chestnut Hill but was on the tail end of the loop which winded through the beautiful Main Line and beyond. Jeanette Berstein of Eagleville got dropped off at her workplace in Wayne and recalled the driver, John Duliah, from the last time she had taken the shuttle eight years ago. Duliah, retired from a tobacco company 11 years ago was looking for part time work and began to drive for Conicelli. He didn't mind that the work evolved into full time because he loves to drive. Despite the increase in traffic in recent years, he still finds driving relaxing. Later in the day, customers get a telephone call from the shop with the good and bad news about what was wrong with their cars and how much it cost to fix. Then Duliah's back on the road picking up the customers to retrieve their cars. Watch video here.

Racing, maneuvering miniature cars

Matthew Glover maneuvers his finely tuned miniature vehicles with a remote device at the Water Tower Center and elsewhere. Here HE has them doing sharp turns, climbs and leaps on and around the dirt hill next to the baseball field. The truck (off camera) that he is controlling in the photo above and accompanying video can reach speeds up to 60 miles per hour he says. His fine control appears to keep the vehicles well away from the few kids and dogs out enjoying a spring-like early evening. Watch video here.