October 11, 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 readersNIMBY mindset blows his mind It blows my mind that the suburban “not-in-my-backyard” mindset can extend even to something as low-impact as the proposed Cresheim bicycle and hiking trail. It’s not like we’re talking about an expressway here. A trail is relatively quiet, offers safe recreation for neighborhood children and would probably raise property values. After all, plenty of bikers and hikers would pay a premium for a home that backed a trail rather than have to strap them to the car to find a safe place to ride. I propose that, should these property owners’ opposition derail plans for this excellent project, we instead find the money to reactivate the freight line, the abandonment of which allows for this proposed trail in the first place. After all, these people did buy homes that backed to a former freight line; perhaps they would enjoy the clattering of 50 CSX cars full of coal running behind their homes on a Sunday morning more than the sounds of bicycle tires and feet.
Rob Formica
Shop locally In reading last week’s article about the Avenue’s health, I wanted to encourage everyone to make a point to shop locally, especially with the holiday season approaching. Personally, I abhor driving and get nauseous being enclosed in the manufactured “mall experience.” The long trip to the big box store to save $5 I do not understand (doesn’t the gas to get you there and time wasted void the benefit?). Walking to the Avenue, which many of us are fortunate to be able to do with its proximity to so many, is pleasant and invigorating. Yes, there are some gaps (remember the days of buying wrapping paper, ornaments and gifts at Frederick’s), but the Avenue — top and bottom and into Mt. Airy, which is full of eclectic stores and Center City-style restaurants — offers the one-of-a-kind finds not available elsewhere. The perception that shopping here is expensive is not right when you compare what you spend with the check-out at Target or similar stores. My friends joke that there is a $100 cover charge at Target — because you buy cheap albeit stylish stuff you don’t need and run up a huge bill. And this overconsuming feeds into today’s throwaway mentality. Yesterday, my girls received an O’Doodles catalogue jammed with pictures of “awesome toys.” This is where I will shop for my daughter’s birthday next month and for their holiday gifts in December. I’ve had casual conversations with Bob O’Donnell and others who work there and my kids love hanging around playing with all the toys (which they encourage). Staff has assembled toys for me and offer great advice on birthday gifts. Just like at Toys ‘R Us, right? If you don’t shop at the stores on Germantown Avenue, they won’t be there anymore.
Pam Thistle
‘Annoying’ writer is ‘Johnny-One-Note’ One of the things I really enjoy about the Local is the humorous opinion pieces by Jim Harris and Mike Todd. I must say they make me laugh, and I can’t say that about too many writers, even with the major papers like the Inquirer. But one who is really annoying is Jimmy J. Pack Jr. He is a Johnny One-Note. No matter what the subject of the article, what we learn is that Mr. Pack basically hates people. He travels all over the country to find people he cannot stand. What’s the point? He can stay here and not stand anybody. We all have these feelings from time to time, but Mr. Pack has them about everybody, and his misanthropy gets old really fast. Aren’t columnist supposed to show a little imagination and unpredictability? Not Mr. Pack. You know what he is going to write before he writes it. All human beings stink but him! Boring! Lewis H. Palmer
Tough word on torture right on Kudos to Ralph Hirshorn for the letter, “Torture has no excuse.” [Local, Sept. 27] I agree with Mr. Hirshorn and his opinion, “Iraq is one of our greatest foreign policy blunders, and a serious moral lapse by our government leaders.” In thinking about torture we the people should stand up to shutting down Guantanamo, now.
Chiqui Somers
A thoughtful writer Thank you so very much for the beautiful article in this week’s Local about the Northwest Artists Collective. I think that Marie Fowler is a thoughtful writer who really listens to what her subjects might like to convey. In addition, her own art experience really came through in every question and direction the interview took. It was really a pleasure for each of us to talk with her, and we are so appreciative of such wonderful coverage for our group.
Barbara Rosin
Dog fighting incomprehensible The ravages of dog fighting are incomprehensible [Local, Oct. 4]. Philadelphia City Paper’s cover story (May 25, 2000) titled “Mortal Combat” presented a most disturbing exposé of this sociopath behavior. Psychologist Randall Lockwood considers dog fighting the “most heinous violation of the relationship between man and dog.” Dog fighting dens are places of extreme cruelty where there are drugs, weapons and large sums of gambling money. I once witnessed a most wrenching video, which had been entered into evidence. Both dogs had been seriously injured, one losing part of a foot, according to a veterinarian. Just as disturbing as the video was the conspicuous demeanor of the many defendants. It appeared that most considered the trial a trivial matter and an inconvenience. Discovered in southwest Germantown were some 20 carcasses in three parks. An investigator while searching the culprit’s garage found what was “hard even for a seasoned humane officer to see.” He shared with me photographs of the varied grisly remains of the tortured victims of this blood sport. An abandoned house in east Germantown was raided and 12 abused and emaciated pit bulls were removed. Investigators said that the dogs were “starved and taunted with live animals dangling from the ceiling.” Cats and small dogs are used as bait to be torn apart for practice. Pet “owners” beware. “Free to good home” ads may involve risk. Bait animals are often stolen pets. Be vigilant at all times. Until these thugs are treated like the criminals they are, we can’t change society’s attitude about the unspeakable nature of this pernicious behavior. Further, law enforcement must get up to speed on this serious issue. It’s a booming business and growing. It’s time for extreme action. Following a raid in north Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Daily News came out saying, “A sweeter justice would have been if the dogs had given their owners a taste of their own sport” (April 25, 2000). I’ll withhold my comments.
Bridget W. Irons
Justice for Vick-tims Thank you to Buzz Miller for his article titled “Where is Justice for Vick-tims of Animal Cruelty?” [Local, Oct. 4] There is some good news for the dogs remaining alive in Mr. Vick’s care. BADRAP, a nationally-known American Pitbull Terrier rescue, partnered with the ASPCA in Virginia to evaluate the Vick-tims. All but one of the 49 dogs was deemed to be fit for either adoption to families or use as police dogs. (See www.lawdogsusa.org for information about the use of ABPTs as bomb-detection dogs.) The 49th dog had been so abused that rehabilitation was not an option and will be humanely euthanized. Twenty-nine had been drowned, electrocuted or otherwise tortured to death by Mr. Vick and his cohorts, most likely because they did NOT WANT TO FIGHT! Every dog needs to be evaluated as an individual, not a BREED. American Pitbull Terriers, now under siege in this country, may potentially, though not always, be dog-aggressive, but this does not automatically make them human-aggressive. Historically, they have been known to be total people-lovers. It takes a human to change this in their nature. Sadly, there are many humans out there doing just that these days. First it was German Shepherd dogs, then it was Doberman Pinschers, then Rottweilers. One prays for the day that the fascination by the media and the thugs fades into the twilight. In the meantime, while we wait, learn the Monster Myths about APBTs by visiting the www.badrap.org Web Site and educate yourself. If you click on the NewsFlash on the site, you can read their blog and learn more about this incredible breed.
Dina Hitchcock
Fall festival Better than ever Another successful Fall for the Arts Festival with beautiful weather! Thirty thousand attendees saw more than 200 vendors, restaurants, community organizations, stores, musicians, dancers, living sculpture and aerialists lining Germantown Avenue — every year we see an increase in participation and the definition of Arts broadened. The crowd enjoyed Chestnut Hill at its finest. The Chestnut Hill Business Association would like to thank the following people for helping to put the festival together: Our terrific corporate sponsors — Subaru, B101-FM Olive Oils of Spain, Verizon, Owens-Corning, National Penn Bank, Valley Green Bank, Philadelphia Inquirer. Joe Magarity, who so generously allows his parking lot to be turned into a food court. The Thomas Family, owners of Jacob Ruth Funeral Home, who loans us space to store equipment. To all of our members who come out and added their contribution. Myles Menardi and his associate Felix for supplying electricity to all those who needed it. This year Myles Jr. became a permanent part of the team. Sergeant Rich Paraschak and all of the other police officers who help keep the Avenue free from traffic and pitch in on the oh-so-many other jobs that need to get done. Katie Longstreth, Tabitha Longstreth, Kyle Danielson and Owen Clark who staff the CHBA office. City of Philadelphia Streets Department, who coordinate post-festival street cleaning! To Pat Conran for helping with emergency street repair. To all of Chestnut Hill for joining in with good spirits and open hearts. Most of all Peg Hendrie, Peg Miller and Kate O’Neill for running the doggone thing!
Bob Previdi
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