©2006 The Chestnut Hill Local

From our readers

Chestnut Tim isn’t funny

Having labored through the “satirical” article penned by an anonymous author, [“If I had a banner…,” July 20] I trust that the first in a proposed series will also be the last — or at least the last sophomoric piece.

In the broadest terms, no social ill was addressed. Indeed, the only remedy to Tim’s perceived problem with banners was an offensive, shorthanded obscenity.

SoHa banners were intended to address a very real marketing deficiency. If the author has a better solution, then by all means let’s have it.

In the meantime, the Local should not confuse vulgarity with a high literary form. Chestnut Tim is no Jonathan Swift.

Eileen Regan Reynolds
Chestnut Hill

In the interest of balance, I received a great deal of calls and comments from our readers in the last week. An overwhelming majority said they enjoyed Chestnut Tim’s piece. The above is the only letter we received on the subject.

The introductory editor’s note did not intend to equate SoHa banners with a “social ill,” but rather to distinguish the piece from regular news and other opinions in the paper. — The Ed.

No fan of siren song

A few nights ago at 11:50 PM, an ambulance screamed up Germantown Avenue with its siren on full. I could hear it from below Mt. Airy Avenue all the way up past Highland Avenue and beyond. Who could possibly have been on the Avenue all that way at that late hour for a siren to be needed? Was it necessary to disturb everyone for more than two miles at that time of night? There are normally about eight to 10 screaming ambulances traveling along this stretch of Germantown Avenue each day going to and from the hospital; they are quite noisy. Is that noise always necessary?

The official protocols for using sirens seem to give EMS drivers full permission to be a “cowboy” and to be a nuisance to any community in Philadelphia. The fire trucks are the same. Of course, I understand the need to use a siren when one needs to use a siren. Everyone understands the need for sirens when there really is an emergency! The use of sirens is critical. The protocols, however, and the keyboard of panic making, ear piercing, klaxon sounds in EMS’s, encourage the EMS drivers to do just the opposite of what is needed for the rapid and safe delivery of their patients. The progression through the louder, more panic-creating “aagga aggaghhs,” “oogga ooggahs” and then, the loud electronic panic button noises, cause car drivers to tense up and to drive dangerously, when traffic calming and rational thinking is needed to open the way for the ambulance to proceed.

Throughout the city, we all witness the need for ambulances to get through traffic; but we, also, know the need for consideration of the neighborhoods, when using these extremely high decibel and very annoying noise makers in ambulances. There is a clear need to adjust siren protocols, modify the sirens themselves and to be more reasonable about using the sirens.

Gardner A. Cadwalader
Chestnut Hill

Wasted Air

|On Monday, July 17, when the temperature was 100 degrees and PECO reported that they had the second highest demand for power in their history, I was horrified to walk past Talbot’s and Express on Germantown Avenue, just above Gravers Lane, to see that their front doors were propped open. As I walked by, frigid air was pouring out onto the street. I believe that this somewhat new practice — which is certainly not confined to these two stores, but which are the ones I observed on this trip — is both morally and economically repugnant. How can the managers of those stores justify allowing air that they’ve paid to cool to float out their front door? Do the home offices of their companies condone this practice? I for one have decided to boycott any store that follows this practice, and if you share my sentiments, I urge you to do the same, telling the stores what you’re doing and why.

I would suggest that the Chestnut Hill Business Association send a notice to their members reminding them what a wasteful practice this is and urging all stores to keep their doors closed when the air-conditioners are on.

Cynthia Claus
Philadelphia

Not welcome in Pastorius Park?

I’m sad.

My first connection here in Philadelphia happened at the dog park (Pastorius). My dog and I made friends with a Rottweiler, Decker, and his owner, Martin, who told me where to get food and fresh produce in the neighborhood and even got me a photography gig! It sure made being new and alone in town less painful.

I have tried over the last 10 years to show how grateful I am to both to the community and the park. Heck, I even pick up the bottles and trash in the creek. I try to go on Wednesdays in the summertime so I can scan the “concert bowl” for any missed land mines (doggie versions), and I met Kristin [Wood, technical coordinator with Pastorius Park Concert Series] last season and help her set up the sound system and stage.

I have always picked up poop, my dog’s or not. I even mediate mild disputes when I see them happen and can lend assistance. Many other dog-owners go the extra mile to take care of the park, too. Why? Because it is a great park with wonderful people and pets, and it makes sense to take care of the things we value. I have been amazed at the “urban tolerance” I have witnessed and experienced at Pastorius. Using nothing but some common courtesy and common sense, many different people and pets have played well together for years. Long before I happened onto the scene.

Sure, every spring there will be one or two letters in the Local with a “Dog nabs burger”-type headline. The police pop by and give out a few tickets, and then a week or so later it is all over. But this spring something was different. The letters kept coming, and in a few of them behavior like mine was called criminal. Ouch. Not welcome anymore?

If you chase off people who are using the park, I hope that those people who think they are protecting the park are willing to police it in the early evening in winter. Rain or shine, we dog walkers have been there, keeping it safe for others. As we all know, more traffic means less crime. I would think the public would rather have people with their dogs off-leash than robbers and burglars.

If I have to leave, I will miss the dog park. It has its own special vibe — one of community and tolerance. But I will move on it I must, if Chestnut Hill has really grown as unwelcoming and intolerant as I read in the Local.

Jonna Naylor
West Mt. Airy

Expressing our thanks

I would like to take a moment to say a word about Bowman Properties, especially Richard Snowden.

It has been our pleasure to have been a tenant of Mr. Snowden and to have the pleasure of knowing him personally. He has been just a great landlord; fair, friendly, warm and considerate, and most accommodating.

For those of you who have never been in a mall situation truly don’t know how tuff and cold-hearted a landlord can be, where just the bottom line of how much rent can be gotten out of a space. Whereas, Richard Snowden is more personable and truly cares about what and whom occupy his buildings. His staff couldn’t do enough for us, and we appreciate it. Someday more people hopefully will appreciate Richard and stop being so negative. We for one want to express our thanks to him for giving us the opportunity of having owned and operated Manner & Knoll. It has been a wonderful experience and we thank everyone for the time we had in Chestnut Hill.

Stephen and Linda Solomon
Formerly of Manner & Knoll

Picnic appreciation

Last Wednesday was a great night where friends, neighbors and many volunteers came out and enjoyed an evening of fun, food and music in Pastorius Park in support of our Police, Fire Fighters and Postal workers.

Many thanks to our supporters and volunteers for a job well done:

Paul Roller, Chris Kemezis, Joe Pie, Anne McNally, Tom Ivory, Peggy Miller, Peggy Hendrie, Kate O’Neil, Wendy Williams, Mary Ann Koller, Maxine Dornemann, Lou Aiello, Susan and Joe Pizzano, Julie and Stan Moat, Dina Hitchcock, Meredith Sonderskov, Mary Ann Dwyer, Ed Budnick, Ron Recko and Jennifer Katz

Jane M. Piotrowski
CHCA
V.P. Social Division

Helping Hands

On a cold, rainy Wednesday night in June I had the privilege of standing under a canvas canopy outside Mt. Airy’s Trolley Car Diner (and for a while, to warm up, inside the entryway), greeting all who had come to dinner. Many were members of the Chestnut Hill Senior Services Center, our Board of Directors, family, and friends who knew that on this night the Senior Center would be the “Helping Hands” beneficiary. Others were just unsuspecting neighbors dropping in for a meal and some company. Every person graciously accepted my invitation to let the server or cashier know they wanted a portion of their dinner bill earmarked for the Center. And every single person had a delicious meal, provided by managers and servers who could not do enough to make the evening pleasant. A week later the mail brought us a generous donation from the Diner and its owners, a percentage of their receipts from that “Helping Hands” night.

So…the Chestnut Hill Senior Center (which serves adults of all ages and from all neighborhoods) wants to publicly thank the Trolley Car Diner and everyone associated with it for a delightful dinner and successful fundraiser. We also want to acknowledge the Diner’s patrons that June evening, to thank them for their contribution and extend an invitation to visit our Center at 7999 Crittenden Street between 9 and 3 any weekday.

Mary McNeill Zell
Executive Director

Enough is Enough in Israel

I write to add my two shekels-worth to the July 20 letters on the Israeli situation.

Fifty-eight years is enough!! Since being granted statehood in May 1948, Israel has lived under the cloak of terrorism from its Arab neighbors. It is pertinent to know that the first act of terrorism against the Jewish state occurred 10 weeks before Israel even became independent. On February 22, 1948, in anticipation of Israel’s independence a triple truck bomb was detonated by Arab terrorists in the Jewish section of Jerusalem. Fifty-four people were killed and hundreds were wounded. The climate of Israel’s threatened existence is peppered with words like PLO, jihad, and intifada.

Now the militant Islamic hydra has grown two new heads, Hamas and Hezbollah, both pledged to destroy Israel. Based on past history, Israel must defend itself by the Herculean task of severing and cauterizing these two stinking heads of destruction.

Israel is now waging its own war to end its infection of terror just as we in the United States responded with “Shock and Awe” to blast Iraq when terrorism threatened our own country. Israel wants no more of its sons kidnapped, no more school buses exploded, and no more Passover Seders interrupted by violence and death.

Indeed, 58 years is enough! Israel must strive, to seek, to find, to strike, and not to yield in its war against Middle East terrorism.

Gloria S. Feldscher
Plymouth Meeting