Chestnut Hill HealthCare received an operating grant of $3,838 from the Margaret R. and Herbert R. Wakefield Memorial Fund of the Philadelphia Foundation.

St. Paul's Episcopal Church of Chestnut Hill received its second environmental award of the year, on October 14, at the 5th Annual PennFuture Awards Luncheon. PennFuture gave St. Paul's a Green Power Award for its purchase of renewable energy and achievements in energy conservation, recycling and other sustainability initiatives, including the purchase of green energy by 10% of its households. In May 2004, St. Paul's received an Environmental Stewardship Award from the Northwest Interfaith Movement for these achievements.

Andrew A. Zellers-Frederick is celebrating 15 years as the executive director of Historic RittenhouseTown, as the site celebrates 20 years as a nonprofit and education director Catherine Browne celebrates five years with the organization.

In its 2005 publication, the Lila Guide - Baby-Friendly Philadelphia Area issued its highest rating to Mt. Airy's Trolley Car Diner. With a rating of five stars, Trolley Car Diner was one of only three Philadelphia restaurants to receive the top designation of "extraordinary." The Lila Guide cited the diner's friendly service, Tuesday 1/2-price kids' night and bathroom changing stations. According to the Lila Guide, "the Sunday brunch is well worth the price ... (and) the ice cream trolley car makes it a wonderful place to visit during the summer months ..."

Carla R. Withers has been appointed youth director intern for Plymouth Valley Community Church in Plymouth Meeting.

Navy Midshipman Justin N. Sen, son of Nancy E. and Subrata K. Sen of Mt. Airy, recently completed Plebe Summer at the United States Naval Academy and has begun four years of preparation for commissioning as a Navy or Marine Corps officer. Sen is a 2003 graduate of La Salle College High School.

Colleen Falicki, a sales associate with Long & Foster Realtors Blue Bell office, 598 Skippack Pike, has been named "Top Seller" for November, and Francine Graglia has joined the company as a sales associate.

The NHS Foundation recently held its first annual "Leading the Way" awards gala to benefit Northwestern Human Services -- and honoring award-winning actress Patty Duke and Robert D. Falese Jr. of Commerce Bank. The NHS Foundation was established to ensure security, stability and continuity for the critical work of Northwestern Human Services in the areas of mental health, mental retardation, juvenile justice, substance abuse, and children's services, one life at a time. Approximately $100,000 was netted for the NHS Foundation from the gala, buoyed by additional support pledged by Commerce Bank corporate giving program.

The Business Center at New Covenant Campus has received a $35,500 grant from the William Penn Foundation for business development in Germantown and Mt. Airy. The grant is earmarked to provide technical assistance and support services for businesses along Germantown Avenue as well as the Mt. Airy and Germantown area at large.

State Rep. LeAnna Washington, D-Phila., was honored at the "Jazz It Up" Healthy Lives Campaign event on Nov. 19 for her efforts to educate the public about health-related issues. Throughout her 11 years serving as representative of the 200th Legislative District, Washington has maintained a legislative focus on health-related issues. She has been an outspoken proponent of increased funding for both local and statewide health programs, as well as their expansion and diversification in underserved communities. She has also actively promoted awareness programs related to disease prevention, substance abuse and mental health, particularly those programs that serve African-American and other minority communities. The Healthy Lives Campaign is a nonprofit organization based in Philadelphia that is committed to helping underserved and minority communities achieve a better quality of life through health promotions, multicultural events and ongoing medical education.

The Rev. Daniel Jones, pastor, Grace Baptist Church of Germantown, was a recipient of a "Men: Making a Difference in the Community" award from the Legacy of Love Foundation on Nov. 12.

Margaret ("Peggy") Dolan received the 2004 National Caring Award from the American Red Cross Blood Services, Penn-Jersey Region. Dolan, a graduate of Chestnut Hill College, has been a member of the Penn-Jersey Region's board of directors for the past seven years and serves as chair emerita. She is co-founder and executive director of the Kelly Anne Dolan Memorial Fund.

Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP announced that it has hired Mt. Airy resident Nicola Mitchell as an associate for the center city law firm. Mitchell will concentrate her practice at Linebarger in delinquent real estate tax matters.

Reverend Dr. Nicholas Salios has been appointed interim pastor for Plymouth Valley Community Church. He will be responsible for coordinating and supporting the church's mission and pastoral care ministries during the search process for a permanent pastor.

~~ ACADEMIA ~ ~

La Salle College High School's Community Service Corps collected more than 40 baskets of food, 40 turkeys and over $1,700 in additional funds to provide Thanksgiving dinners to the families of Germantown via St. Vincent De Paul Parish.

Alexander Emmanuel Kaplan, of Chestnut Hill, has enrolled as a member of the class of 2008 at Dartmouth College. Kaplan is the son of Steven Kaplan and Ellen M. Kaplan.

Mount Saint Joseph Academy senior field hockey player Sarah Reinprecht, of North Wales, has been selected as a member of the 2004 High School All-Region Team by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association. Ms. Reinprecht is one of just 16 students from the Mideast Region to be chosen for the team.