October 11, 2007 Issue                                       

©2007 The Chestnut Hill Local

Local Life

‘Ordinary’ Hiller moves to Africa — to save lives
by LEN LEAR

Barbara with some of her friends in Bududa, Uganda. “They like North Americans,” she says.

“Don’t make the article too glowing. I’m just an ordinary person,” insisted Barbara Wybar in a conversation last Friday when she learned this article would be appearing in the Local.

But despite her appealing modesty, calling Barbara Wybar ordinary would be like calling Jimmy Rollins an ordinary baseball player. After all, an “ordinary” person does not climb 19,340 feet to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa and one of the highest in the world, at the age of 59 (in April of 2006). And an “ordinary” big city dweller definitely does not leave Chestnut Hill at the age of 61 to live in a rural village in Uganda with no running water or electricity or meat or much of anything else we are all used to.

But that is what this single mother of four adult children will do in early November when the career teacher puts the belongings from her Rex Avenue home in storage and leaves for Africa in order to care for children orphaned by AIDS and to make sure that a school she helped start continues to survive and provide a quality education. (Ironically, even though we live in the world’s richest country, many public schools here are plagued by violence, bullies, drugs, delinquency, inadequate or nonexistent penalties for horrendous behavior and a complete disdain for education, while the school Wybar helped start in one of the world’s poorest countries exhibits none of those problems. The students can’t wait to get to school.)

Will teach workshops in local church Mt. Airy ‘living legend’ helped end apartheid
by LIZ MILNER

Sharon Katz and Shophi, one member of The Peace Train, have performed South African music in many nations and continents.

Writing about a living legend can be a bear. There’s all the back-story to contend with and the problem of separating the warm, fuzzy feelings I have for Sharon Katz’ many good works from her work as a musician. (Katz will be teaching workshops on South African music and dance  for Mt. Airy Learning Tree starting Oct. 15, every Monday, 7 to 8:30 p.m., through Nov. 19 at Mt Airy Presbyterian Church, 13 E. Mt. Pleasant Ave. Call 215-843-6333.)

Let’s begin with the back-story. Sharon Katz, a South African from Port Elizabeth who wound up living in Mt. Airy after coming to the U.S., distinguished herself as an anti-apartheid activist who formed South Africa’s first multicultural and multilingual musical group in 1993. She and her performers tirelessly toured the country on “The Peace Train” promoting tolerance and a peaceful transition to democracy in South Africa.

Nightmare in Mt. Airy Here’s a word to the wise …before the roof caves in
by SALLY COHEN

The names in this story have been changed to protect the foolish and avoid further conflict. But the intent stays true:  To share my maladventures in contracting for a new roof in hopes that the readers of this paper can make smarter decisions than I made.

More than just pub grub at sports bar in Glenside
by BARBARA L. SHERF

Patrick Deacon is front and center at the Jerzee’s Sports Bar and Grill in Glenside. Deacon, a former electrical contractor, is trying his hand as a restaurateur. (Photos by Barbara Sherf)

When friends of ours suggested we go to a local sports bar for a quiet Sunday night dinner, I scoffed. This couple, however, was somewhat insistent that I try the Alaskan king crab legs, so off we went. 

In my mind I envisioned the establishment would be noisy, smoky and provide just an OK meal. Upon entering Jerzee’s Sports Bar and Grill in Glenside, my concerns were initially justified. It was smoky and loud, and most patrons were sitting around the bar drinking, not eating. But as we went to the separate dining area, there was smoke-free dining, bright lights and a low noise level. It helped that only one other couple was in the restaurant side. 

Did you know Columbus had 30 lawyers on his ship?
by JIM HARRIS

“In 1493, Columbus sailed the bright blue sea.” Every school child knows this simple rhyme, but who was Christopher Columbus really? In this scholarly paper, I have humbly attempted to separate man from myth.