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 Greg Welsh and Paul Roller.  The picnic will be free for police officers, firefighters and postal workers, their immediate family members and all children under eight.

Admission for community members is $7.50; reservations may be made by calling the CHCA office at 215-248-8810 or completing the adjacent coupon by June 21.

Bell, a Philadelphia native who moved to the Chestnut Hill area nine years ago, hosts a jazz radio show on a public radio station in Washington, D.C., at WPFW 89.3 FM every other Wednesday called the "Latin flavor." Bell, who travels around the country, employs 25 musicians in Philadelphia, Virginia, New York and Washington. A founder of a record label 10 years ago, he is the senior partner of Reika Records. He has recorded live at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, done soundtracks for cable television and for New Millennium Records.

In his Pastorius Park debut, Bell will play tunes from his nine CDs, including a mixture of styles such as Brazilian bossas, rhythm and blues and ballads. His career also includes working with WRTI-FM.

Following Walter Bell's concert, the Pastorius Park concert series will continue with The Allentown Band, the country's oldest concert band, June 30; City Rhythm Orchestra, swing music, July 7; Klingon Klez, Klezmer music, July 14; Solas, traditional Irish music, July 21; the Quaker City String Band, an award-winning Mummers band, July 28; Amos Lee, soul, August 4; the Savoy Company, Gilbert & Sullivan favorites, August 11; and Zydeco a Go Go, August 18.

Also planned is a children's concert, to be given by Erin Flynn & Co-op Band, on Sunday, July 11, at 3:30 p.m. This band is known for its high-energy interactive spin on kids' classics and family-friendly versions of their parents' favorites.

Supporting the concert series this year are North by Northwest, Citizens Bank, Magarity Ford and Magarity Chevrolet, Merrill Lynch-Sarian / Nottingham Group, Eichler & Moffly, McNally's and the Chestnut Hill Business Association.

Brochures are available at the CHCA office at Town Hall, 8434 Germantown Ave. The concerts are funded by the Chestnut Hill Community Fund, the CHCA's nonprofit arm, which raises money for community programs from area residents and businesspeople.

Admission is free but donations will be requested from concertgoers. Rain place is Springside School, 8000 Cherokee St.