Local News
Would-be doctor’ has prescription for ‘Local Life’
 Local Life editor Len Lear
by LAWRENCE H. GELLER
The story of Len Lear begins with all the makings of the stereotypical American success. Hard-working parents who never finished high school, thrilled that their youngest of five sons, a Central High School graduate, was going to be a professional man.
A sidebar on Len's years with Distant Drummer is included with the story.
Developers plan to restore, convert Mt. Airy 'treasures'
A preliminary proposal to convert historic buildings on West Johnson Street to market-rate apartments maximizes green space and includes on-site parking.
 by ANDREW LAZOR
A community meeting held at Grace Baptist Church on Aug. 16 allowed two area developers to formally introduce the preliminary details of a proposal to convert several local historic properties into market-rate apartments.
Sean D. McDougall, who heads Wallingford, Pa.-based Visionary Development Company, and James A. Nolen IV, principal of Manayunk-based Nolen Properties, LLC, joined with City Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller to address questions and concerns from Mt. Airy and Germantown residents. The main purpose of the meeting was to establish a working dialogue that the developers hope will lead to a tangible strategy for the project.
In Guatemala, liberation comes through a camera lens
Ex-Reuters photographer lifts kids 'Out of the Dump'
 "Dancing in Our Alley" by Rosa, one of Nancy McGirr's students, depicts life in Guatemala City's sprawling municipal dump.
by MICHAEL J. MISHAK
When ex-Reuters photographer Nancy McGirr took a break from covering the carnage of war-torn Latin America in the late 1980s, she never expected to stay there. But after 14 years of building a program to educate the region’s children, she’s home.
On a fundraising junket, Nancy McGirr, who lives in Guatemala year-round, shared her story with an audience of about 40 at the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields on Aug. 2.
Jenks students learn artistic process through mobile project
Fourth- and fifth-graders from John S. Jenks School in Chestnut Hill have created an original mobile art work that will welcome students as they return this fall. Hanging in the school's main entrance hall, the mobile was built under the direction of teachers and artist-in-residence Tina Zavitsanos.
A grant from the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts, which was matched dollar for dollar through the fundraising efforts of the Jenks Home and School Association, made the project possible.
VIGIL ON THE HILL
 Scores of anti-war protestors held a candlelight peace vigil at the Top of the Hill last week as part of a national effort to show solidarity with Cindy Sheehan, the Gold Star mother who had been demonstrating outside President Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas. (Photo by Tom M. Warms)
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Local Life
‘Beers to you’ at Iron Hill
Chef Eddie Ebright of Lower ChiChester, has been with the company for seven years.
 by LEN LEAR
I would certainly never claim to be a beer expert or even a beer aficionado, but one thing that has mystified me for years is how any human being with a palate could routinely drink some of these terrible liquid products on the market masquerading as beer, such as Bud Light or Coors Light. After all, would you go to a restaurant and order instant potatoes or instant coffee? Does this stuff even qualify as food? Granted, this faux food may not have many calories, but neither does dirt, and dirt at least comes from nature, not a chemistry lab, and contains real minerals.
Water Tower instructor to open music school in area
by GAIL COHEN
A new music school will be opening in Oreland this October. SoundStage School of Music will occupy the schoolhouse on the property of St. Philip’s in the Field Church at the corner of Oreland Mill Road and Lorraine Avenue. The school offers private instruction and group sessions on a variety of instruments including piano and keyboard, guitar and bass, violin and other strings, voice, choir and musical theater, woodwinds, brass, drums and more. All students are welcome, from beginner to advanced, pre-schoolers to senior citizens. Any style of music can be studied from classical to rock.
Wow, some terrific tomatoes now in lower Chestnut Hill
by PAT STOKES
It’s Saturday morning, and we’re in a locale of current interest and maybe a little controversy. You might guess where: the intersection of Winston Road and Mermaid Lane. On this particular day, Winston Road has indeed been closed off, not just for traffic improvement or whatever, but to allow space for some Lancaster County farmers to set up their stands for one day in order to offer some mighty fine home-grown vegetables for sale.
Pastorius Park concerts set attendance record; local performers touted
By MICHAEL CARUSO
The 2005 season of concerts in Chestnut Hill’s Pastorius Park went out in a blaze of glory last Wednesday evening. Not only was the weather glorious, but the broadly diverse and deeply satisfying programming changes introduced several seasons ago bore their fullest fruition this year.
The series’ previous record attendance, achieved only last year, was 6,200. The final concert, featuring Luvpark, contributed to a new milestone of approximately 8,000 attendees for the summer season, a record worthy of pride on the part of everyone concerned.
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The senior tri-captains for Mount St. Joseph field hockey (left to right): Katie Burke, Casey Pollock, Jess Mulhern (photo by Tom Utescher)