Chestnut Hill Local

Another year, another SEPTA budget crisis

Community groups, activists and labor unions rallied last week for dedicated state funding to close the transit agency's $70 million budget gap

by MICHAEL J. MISHAK

In stark contrast to last year's SEPTA standoff, community activists and labor unions joined hands with the transit agency last week to petition Harrisburg for long-term dedicated funding.

SEPTA faces a $70 million shortfall in its operating budget for fiscal 2005.

"Last year, I spent most of my time trashing SEPTA," said Tom Hutt, a founding member of the Northwest Campaign for Public Transportation (NWCPT), at the June 8 rally. "It was us versus SEPTA."

This year, the transit agency has taken a cooperative approach, joining with its harshest critics to present a unified front for dedicated state funding.

Though Gov. Rendell proposed a 3.4 percent increase for mass...

100 HOT DOGS AND A MISSION

Northwest for Kerry, a grassroots volunteer organization dedicated to electing Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, opened its field office at 7152 Germantown Ave. in Mt. Airy on Saturday.

Attempting to recruit volunteers and register voters, Democratic ward leaders John O'Connell, Greg Paulmier and Al Stewart offered hot dogs, soda and ice cream sandwiches to afternoon pedestrians.

"We usually wait until September for this sort of thing," Paulmier said. "But this guy Bush is bad news. We're hearing from constituents who...

Local editor to resign

Citing personal reasons, Katie Worrall will step down
after 25-year career

by MICHAEL J. MISHAK

After more than 25 years of service, Katie Worrall announced her resignation last week as editor of the Chestnut Hill Local.

Worrall, who first joined the Local in 1978 as a volunteer, cited personal reasons.

"I've been thinking about what to do with my future," Worrall said. "I want to step back and have more free time to do something that is completely different."

Ascending the ranks of the community newspaper throughout...

Walter Bell to entertain at Pastorius Park

Sixth annual picnic honoring police officers, firefighters and postal workers planned

Police officers, firefighters and postal workers will be honored by the Chestnut Hill Community Association at a picnic on Wednesday, June 23, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Pastorius Park, Lincoln Drive and Abington Avenue. Following the picnic, at 7:30 p.m., "A Night of Jazz" will be presented by Walter Bell and the Latin Jazz Unit. The concert is the second program in the 2004 concert series.

The picnic, chaired by longtime community volunteer Mary Cunningham, will offer traditional picnic food prepared by Chestnut Hill restaurateurs...

Water Tower Rec. Center adds eight computers, but still needs a new roof

By ED MAHON

Improvements have been made to what is inside the Water Tower Recreation Center, but the building itself needs repairs.

Barbara Diaz, the president of the Water Tower Recreation Center, is very pleased with the recent additions, but she says the building, which is over 70 years old, needs a new roof. Water damage from the faulty roof has resulted in damage to several rooms, which in turn has resulted in the loss of at least one program.

Despite the difficulties, Diaz says the majority of programs are in no danger of being discontinued. "We manage with whatever we have," Diaz said.

And it's a good thing that they will continue because many...

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