Chestnut Hill Local

by MICHAEL J. MISHAK

Two days before accepting his party's nomination for the U.S. presidency, Sen. John Kerry asked a few thousand soaked Philadelphians for their help in his bid for the White House.

But before the eager crowd, who waited out several rain showers and oppressive humidity last Tuesday, July 27, could hear the Democratic candidate's vision for "A Stronger America," many would wait two-plus hours as people slowly filled the courtyard at the Philadelphia Museum of Art for an evening rally, capped by fireworks.

The event was part of Kerry's last stop on his "America's Freedom Trail" campaign tour, which also courted voters in Virginia and Florida last week. Both the Bush-Cheney...

Record number participate in Run For the Hill of It

By Ed Mahon

The heat and humidity on Saturday didn’t make the day ideal for setting personal running records. But with over 1,2000 entries in the Run For the Hill of It’s five-mile race and one-mile fun walk, an attendance record was set for Run’s 17th year. The event, organized by the Friends of Erik Committee, raises needed funds for a family confronted with the severe illness of a child, while at the same time bringing the community together.

As volunteers worked to sign up runners, and as runners warmed up for the race, this year’s beneficiary, six-year-old blonde-haired and blue-eyed Sean Mahoney told...

New security system for Hill stores

By KATIE WORRALL

The Chestnut Hill Business Association recently instituted a new security notification system for its retail members. The merchant organization is working with SwiftReach, a Ramsey, N.J. company, to offer a system in which retail members will automatically be notified by phone when a crime or other security incident occurs in Chestnut Hill.

Suzanne Biemiller, the CHBA executive director, said that “if, for example, a shoplifter steals an item from a local store, the merchant should call 911 and notify the police. He should then call the CHBA office [at 215-247-6696] and give a description of what occurred. Upon receiving the call, a CHBA staff person will phone a dedicated SwiftReach line and relay the...

Friends of Cresheim Trail seek funds for feasibility study

By Ed Mahon

The Friends of Cresheim Trail, at a meeting last week, discussed ways to gain support from various community organizations to strengthen their application to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). The group hopes to receive approval and aid in funding a feasibility study, costing roughly $40,000, according to member Bob Thomas. The applications must be sent in by October 13, 2004, but the Friends want it set to go by mid-September.

Thomas, who has successfully worked on restoring various trails, including the Perkiomen, outlined three major issues that needed to be studied: acquiring the land, planning the changes and constructing costs.

Even if the DCNR does grant the Friends approval and money, the Friends...

‘Treasures From the Royal Tombs of Ur’ at University Museum

by Dea Adria Mallin

When the Women’s Committee of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology named its recent, sparkling fundraiser “The Lure of Ur,” they weren’t merely rhyming. “Treasures from the Royal Tombs of Ur” is breathtaking and seductive, and though 4,500 years old, of a timeless beauty. Thomas Hoving, former director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, called it “the finest, most resplendent, and magical works of art in all of America.”

The museum’s collection, which most Philadelphians took for granted until it went on a 10-city traveling exhibition schedule in 1998, is back — albeit temporarily, until May 29, 2005 — with...

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