September 20, 2007 Issue
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Classified Chestnut Hill Local Don't Miss an Issue, Tell us what you see or Winner of Two |
From our readersGala a smash hit The Gala came and went, but not without an incredible high from the evening. We all had a great night. Everyone looked gorgeous. When this community pulls together, we make some pretty awesome music. Thank you to everyone who attended and supported the CHCA’s “Casablanca” at the Black White Gala. Special thanks go out to our Creative Production Team, my co-chair — Janine Dwyer, thank you. YEAH! WE DID IT! Dina Hitchcock, an amazing job with the food. MaryAnn Koller, oh queen of the tent, Susan Hemphill, Nancy Evans, Pam Thistle, Tia Burke, Peggy Gallagher, Sally Cornbrooks, Paula Reilly, Joanne Dhody, Denise Sullivan, Janice Manzi, Annie Hopkin Neary. Carol Cope — oh those velvet ropes. You all are the true stars of the night. This TRULY could not have happened without all of you. And to one of the BEST SUPPORTING STAFF I have ever worked with — Martha Sharkey, Noreen Spota, Sue Kowert, Claudia Bordo, Phyllis Sunberg and Doris Cafiero — you are true pros. Also thanks to Elaine Aiello, Nancy Hutter and Scott Alloway – good job on the book. Nancy McGettigan who never left her post selling the “Jewel of a Dontation”. Nancy you are an awesome friend. GREAT JOB! Wendy Concannon, Janine Zaikowski for all of those fabulous photos and hard work. To all that helped us with the setup — Brendan Dwyer, Michael Dwyer, Matt George, Michael Bozzacco of Teenagers, Inc., Doug Knauer, Pat Moran, Ann McNally, Lou Aiello, Mark Keintz, Meridith Sonderskov, Bob Previdi. THANK YOU.
Jane M. Piotrowski
I was wrong This is an open letter to the community. I was wrong to have removed a “for rent” sign from a Bowman Properties building at Germantown and Abington Avenues last year. James Gleason
Drive 25 Needed I just wanted to let you know that I am one of the many people who drive to Chestnut Hill every day, as my daughter attends Norwood Fontbonne Academy. Though I don’t live here, I empathize with the Follos. I live on a very busy street in Elkins Park. The speed limit on my street is 35, but one would think it’s the Pennsylvania Turnpike. My oldest daughter just recently got her license and you can only imagine the stress I have when she just leaves the driveway! It would benefit the Drive 25 campaign greatly if it had more of a police presence especially on Norwood Avenue. If I received a dollar for every person that tailgates, I could retire, no kidding. What is most frightening is that there are people walking home from work and people who have their children out playing, and the people driving by have absolutely no concern about the pedestrians. I’ve even had Chestnut Hill neighbors come over to my car to thank me for doing being careful! One particular morning, I was being tailgated by someone in a BMW. I was doing the speed limit ( 25mph). The person was so angry with me that they proceeded to pass me illegally, was stopped by the red light and when I stopped behind him, he backed his car up on my bumper because he was THAT ANGRY —at me doing the speed limit… I hope that the community continuously keeps up the campaign for people to slow down. I hope that I am a visible presence as I make a point to do 25mph — often being tailgated by people in a hurry. Greta Brown
Where the $$$ is It was ironic to read the excellent article on the Hill’s firehouse in the Sept. 13 Local, especially its last two paragraphs covering the closing in 1949 and eventual demolition of the adjoining police substation. The irony came from what else was on page 3; the lengthy Crime Report and the article headed, “Stenton Sovereign [bank] Robbed Again.” Others have suggested reinstituting a police substation somewhere on the Hill. I am suggesting it again, and not simply because more banks are arriving on or near the Avenue. The Hill area is simply too big, too populous, too business-oriented and too full of shade trees and escape routes to be protected by an occasional police car meandering in from Germantown Avenue and Haines Street. Now, the closing of Germantown Avenue from Cresheim Valley Drive to Gowen Avenue will further isolate the Hill, making police coverage even more remote. Town Watch is wonderful, but it can’t do it all, nor should it be expected to. So, here’s a three-part proposal, plus something we all should do now: 1) Bring back even a small substation, with at least one police car and its team, thus creating both the perception of crime deterrence and a degree of its reality. 2) Consider adding one or two motorcycle officers to the substation. Cycles can get to more places faster than cars. (And where are the bike cops? Or did I miss something?) 3) Deputize and train the Parking Authority ticket-writers to create added law-enforcement presence. (Okay, that last may not be possible, but why not try?) When asked why he robbed banks, Willie Sutton famously said, “Because that’s where the money is.” He could have said the same of Chestnut Hill. Richard S. Lee
Mugabe no hero Robert Mugabe has indeed brutally repressed all groups of people in Zimbabwe who are not his political supporters, especially during the last 10 years, even engaging in a genocide toward the Matabele people. But for Lynne Haase to call him a hero [Forum, Sept. 13] as he fought for independence is typical liberal rubbish. Robert Mugabe recruited his supporters by raiding villages and forcing young men to fight for him. He is reputed to have killed his main political rival in his own party to become leader of ZANU and ZANLA (the military wing of the party); there is even a play about it running in London. He has always been a violent thug who used terrorist tactics to gain power. The white minority government of Ian Smith was trying to share power with the traditional tribal chiefs, while Mugabe was murdering anyone who got in his way. Mugabe has not changed his stripes recently, he was never a hero. Glen Watkins
Torture article rapped for ‘bashing’ our guys The article, “Hiller interviewed Iraqis tortured by Americans,” by Louise Wright (Sept. 13 issue) was certainly well written, but the photos were disgusting, and I am getting sick and tired of the bash-America articles in the liberal press. Remember, whatever methods were used to extract information from these prisoners were used only to prevent more car bombings and other terrorist acts that have killed thousands of Americans. Do you really think the prisoners are going to give up this information by being asked polite questions? Don’t our guys, who are over there being killed to bring freedom to the Iraqis in a selfless, noble cause, have a right to use whatever methods they have to use to get the information they need? Would the other side be so thoughtful to our guys if they were taken prisoner? They would torture and kill our men and cut their heads off without a monent’s thought, as they have done countless times in the past. These evil monsters have done this over and over again. When are you liberals in the media going to realize how evil this enemy is? They are counting on us to play by your “nice guy” rules while they continue to murder innocent people at random. Instead of writing a play that accuses our guys of horrible crimes, Jennifer Schelter should write a play about the evils of the terrorists. Deborah Collier
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