January 31, 2008 Issue                                                     

Local News

Norwood-Fontbonne students excited by new quarters
by Kristin Pazulski

Seventh and eighth graders at Norwood-Fontbonne Academy are excited about the lockers that line the halls of the school’s new classroom addition on the Norwood campus. The addition opened last week, as did the school’s new commons building. (Photo by Erin Vertreace)

The seventh and eighth graders at Norwood-Fontbonne Academy returned from their three-day weekend (in honor of Martin Luther King) to brand new classrooms, new desks and whiteboards so high that some of the teachers cannot even reach the top.

NFA opened its James Anthony Hall addition to students on Jan. 22. The addition, situated on the Norwood campus, includes new classrooms, a high-tech science lab and even an outdoor classroom with a chalkboard (for warmer weather).

Granted, on Tuesday, when the Local visited, many of the classrooms still had piles of boxed books in the corners and the walls were pretty barren. But that won’t last long. Already Anna Marie Croney’s science classroom, decorated with a whaling theme and Peanuts’ characters, and the students’ full lockers showed that teachers and students were making the new addition their own.

“It’s a dream come true,” said assistant principal George Aspen, who has taught at NFA since 1970. “The best part is the excitement among the students and the fact that our facilities continue to improve for the sake of quality of learning.”

Democratic majority riles Republicans in Whitemarsh
by Kristin Pazulski

Whitemarsh Township’s Board of Supervisors started off the new year contentiously — with charges of  “secret” meetings, partisan division, suspected pay-to-play and resident frustration — but at the regular board meeting on Jan. 24, emotions appeared to have calmed, with the exception of one comment from a board member and a resident’s public statement that revisited frustration felt earlier this month.

Local Sports

CHC men proceed past Pioneers
by TOM UTESCHER

Chestnut Hill College’s Larz Jeter (left) scored 15 points and L. B. Rebstock  scored 10 against Columbia Union. (Photo by Jimmy J. Pack Jr.)

The men’s hoop squad at Chestnut Hill College hasn’t had an easy season, but last Thursday evening the Griffins hosted a team struggling through a truly woeful winter.

Arriving on Thursday, Jan. 24, in Chestnut Hill from Maryland, Columbia Union University owned an overall record of 1-15, and had allowed opponents to score more than 100 points on half-a-dozen occasions, including a 156-91 offensive festival at Virginia Military Institute.

However, at the beginning of last week, Pioneers acquired Cliff Ault, a transfer from Division I Howard University, and in his initial outing with the Pioneers he helped them chalk up their first victory of the season, an 87-84 win over Maryland Bible College on Monday night.

At CHC, the Pioneers proved pesky, but the Griffins did not waste this ideal opportunity to nail down a “W,” conquering Columbia 86-75 and raising their record to 3-13 overall. Columbia Union competes in NCAA Division II as an independent, so Chestnut Hill’s record within the Central Atlantic Athletic Conference remained at 2-5.

Mount calms ‘Canes a second time
by TOM UTESCHER

Mount St. Joe Prep senior Ryann Gallagher scored six points and grabbed five rebounds. (Photo by Jimmy J. Pack Jr.)

In Catholic Academies basketball it’s never been easy to sweep a regular- season series against Villa Maria. Mount St. Joseph Academy won out at Villa, 48-39, at the beginning of the month, but last Tuesday’s rematch, Jan. 23, at the Mount was a nailbiter, with a 44-42 MSJ victory assured only when a final lay-up by the visiting Hurricanes avoided the cylinder with a second to go.

The Magic kept their league ledger unblemished at 10-0 (17-1 overall), while second-place Villa (12-4 overall) returned to Malvern with an 8-2 record in the AACA.

Pinballing all over the court, the Magic’s Elle Hagedorn scored all of her 12 points for the day before the intermission, including the Mount’s first three field goals of the game.

“They played a lot of zone in the first half, and Elle was able to drive against the zone,” noted Mount coach John Miller.

Villa was able to counter Hagedorn’s heroics in the first quarter, as forward Erin Mann deposited three baskets of her own and guard Lindsay Corcoran added a lay-up and a short jumper. The Canes took an 11-10 edge into the second period.