Deserves better

I was disappointed to read the scathing and unsupported comments of Mr. Matt Tarbuck in the letters section of the Local dated April 22. This follows a similar reactionary comment the previous week. What I believe is missing in both instances is understanding of what it takes to bring a professional neighborhood weekly to print; particularly one that is as inclusive as the Chestnut Hill Local.

One should only compare the Local with some of the other weeklys in Philadelphia and the suburbs and gain some insight into what separates a true editor from a "cut and paste clerk." Many small newspapers suffer from the latter approach to journalism. Rarely do we find mistakes in spelling, grammar or misposted information in the Local. Many small journals are replete with errors. The Local is one of the most professional newspapers in its category one could find.

Prioritizing what is considered important news and making value judgments is another matter, but Mr. Tarbuck gave little supporting information in that direction. As an unpaid contributing writer who has seen his thoughts in print in the Local since the week after the 9/11 tragedy, I think I have some understanding of the subject at hand. We all have agendas, and my political views are well defined and probably run contrary to those of the vast majority of the regular readers of the Chestnut Hill Local.

Despite that, Ms. Worrall has printed, without a single word edited out, a number of my opinion pieces and letters in what I would consider the best interests of comparative journalism. It would be very simple to print only that pabulum commentary that would be preaching to the choir as "feel good" reinforcement of already entrenched views.

When it comes to evaluation of the newspaper as a whole I have also taken issue with the direction of the section that Mr. Tarbuck finds most valuable. While I would not condemn the entire section, particular articles and columns in Local Life are often sensationalized and amateur and I have said so in print. However, when I did, I made specific references to what I found objectionable and why.

Mr. Tarbuck, living in Plymouth Meeting, may find the primary issues in Chestnut Hill of secondary value, but this is a neighborhood publication. I live in Mt. Airy and don't follow every localized report in detail, but that does not stop me from recognizing and enjoying a serious and professional publication.

The Chestnut Hill Local, and Ms. Worrall in particular, deserve better than the broad-brush condemnation they have received.

Jim Foster
Mt. Airy

Ignore them

Eleven years ago I moved from Philadelphia to Vermont. I am planning to move to the Chestnut Hill area this summer and have subscribed to the Local in order to see what's going on and to reorient. I eagerly await each publication and have found them to be most informative in presenting the community overview, and helpful in my effort to locate suitable housing and office space.

Dismayed and bored with the arrogant protestations of certain editorials regarding the quality of the CHL, I just want you to know that many of us are delighted with the splendid job you and your staff are doing. There are always malcontents who seek an outlet for their dark and needy bid for attention. Ignore them and carry on. 

Wishing you continued success.

Andrea Vlacho-Christos
Stowe, Vermont

BID is needed

As a supporter of the Chestnut Hill Business Improvement District (BID), I am writing in advocacy of the BID and to thank those with questions and concerns for raising their voices and being open to compromise.

New ideas always raise debate in a healthy democracy. The BID success across the country and in Philadelphia neighborhoods should inspire us to do even better. Open dialogue and open-mindedness will give us the strength to help make the BID an economic and psychological boon. We will continue to identify our needs and our collective intentions and resources and will work to address them in a planned, organized and dynamic manner.

The BID will become a tool to identify and remedy, and our joint cooperation will lead us. I am confident a more vibrant, active, safer and even more attractive Chestnut Hill will result. It's a grand idea, worthy of support. Everyone's help and ideas will be needed and solicited. We need the BID and, more importantly, the mindset the BID represents.

John Adams
Community Audio

Coffee shop clamor

Marie Lachat's graceful mea culpa to the owners of the Labrador Café (Local, April 22) colorfully included the customary penance of dining on crow. Nicely done, and surely appreciated by Labrador's owners. But we are not finished yet. We loyal drinkers of the great coffee at Rollers Expresso at Germantown Avenue and East Gravers Lane can be labeled "The Remaining Aggrieved."

In addition to satisfying fully all criteria Marie used in comparing Labrador and Starbucks, Rollers Expresso (like Labrador) features a comely female proprietor. It is understandable that Marie wouldn't include that as a vital measure, but men enjoy all the extras beyond the coffee that's paid for. The guys like to chat with Becky Roller and the gals enjoy visits with manager John Lawrence as the fine coffee and food are consumed.

Fortunately, there's another corrective action available for a sinner who has eaten crow but not yet fully cleansed the situation: eating one's hat. I look forward to an announcement that such a ceremony will be held. Hats offer a much wider creative range than crows; coming up with a tasty one offers a challenge.

James E. Barrett
Wyndmoor

Deepest appreciation

With gratitude I write to express my thanks to the Chestnut Hill community. On March 9, my brother, Chris Bergan, died after an 11-month battle with a brain tumor caused by radiation of a nonmalignant tumor in 1982. During that time and in the weeks since his death, the letters, calls, gifts, visits and the support and compassion given by the community have overwhelmed our family. McNally's and police officers Joe, Rich and Tom showed special kindness. Chris was able to realize his dream of traveling to Ireland aided by the fundraising of the Bocce Club, St. Vincent dePaul Society and other contributors. Friends, neighbors and Our Mother of Consolation Church have provided an important support system for us. Many attending the funeral told stories about their friendship with Chris, things we hadn't know but now will always treasure. Although we know that Chris was a kind, gentle and loving person, it was comforting to hear hundreds of people at the funeral voice that same opinion. Chestnut Hill is a wonderful community and one that Chris was proud to call home. Thank you again for all you have done.

Marian Bergan Cottrell and the entire Bergan Family

Reject bylaws proposal

To the reader: If you're already tired of reading about proposed CHCA bylaws changes, stop reading now.

To the editor: Last week's article on the proposed changes not only failed to offer any discussion or explanation, but it didn't even report the most important item: namely that the terms of elected directors be increased from two to three years. How did that happen?

To those still reading this letter: I think this proposal is a bad idea. No, it won't change the total number (36) of elected directors (the annual elections will be reduced from 18 to 12), but increasing the required commitment to three years is likely to reduce the number of people actually willing to volunteer, especially those who might be volunteering for the first time. And I also suspect that this requirement will only serve to further homogenize, rather than diversify, the composition of the board.

And we don't have any diversity to spare. Of course, this proposal was made to solve a problem. I'm told that it is supposed to reduce the proportion of inexperienced board members, since under the new rule, no more than one-third of the elected members would be in the first year of their first term. But given that, like this year, we often fail to get enough two-year volunteers to even have an election, this "problem" would seem to be more a consequence of failing to retain current volunteers than of having too many new ones.

And what would be so bad about having a lot of first-year first-term board members anyway? We need these "newbies" to help control our occasional collective impulse to be (ahem) self-referential and self-reverential.

I wonder if this is subconsciously more about being embarrassed that we rarely actually have elections anymore, because there are fewer volunteers than positions. This is a problem all right, but raising the barrier to serve on the board is not the solution.

There are other arguments against and for this proposal, which I won't take up space with here. I can only add this: this proposal will become a bylaw only if approved at the annual meeting of members on Thursday evening, April 29 (you can find time and place elsewhere in this issue). At that meeting, I will move that the membership reject this proposal.

Mark Keintz
CHCA Board Member