February 21, 2008 Issue                                                     

Local News

Oreland soldier learns life, death not far in Iraq
by Jimmy J. Pack Jr.

Private First Class Dan Prior of Oreland. (Photo by Jimmy J. Pack Jr.)

We’re lucky people, living on the Hill. While many of our lives involve personal problems and quiet desperation, we somehow get by, dealing with our own dramas. When we wake up, there are seldom issues that face us daily that involve choices in life and death. For one man, Private First Class Daniel Prior of neighboring Oreland, one of his life dramas involved just that. Every second of his life was tenuous — the mere fact that any minute he could die was a reality.

Pvt. Prior has the face of a soldier. The harsh angles of his bones, constantly hidden smile, lend him a fiercely masculine intimidation that gives the outward appearance of a man bent, twisted and shaped by weeks of basic training and months of living — of surviving — in the desert of Iraq.

Business leaders optimistic despite Avenue store closures
by Kristin Pazulski

Evangeline is one of two Avenue boutiques to close in the last month. Despite closings, local business leaders are optimistic. (Photo By Erin Vertreace)

The Avenue’s retail variety continues to be an overriding concern for community and business leaders and residents in Chestnut Hill, especially with the recent loss of two shops and the upcoming sale of Caruso’s Market.

Just last week, at a meeting of Weavers Way held to discuss the possibility of the co-op opening a second location in Chestnut Hill, people expressed their frustration over the number of local bank branches; it was clear that those in attendance preferred the grocer.

And more uncertainty is likely.

The sale of Caruso’s Market has people wondering if the grocery will remain open (the market’s owners, the Marano family, insist that the store will remain a grocery store, although they will not reveal the identity of the buyer) and the recent departure of two women’s boutiques leaves the Avenue with two more vacancies, adding to the nine vacant store fronts, according to the Chestnut Hill Business Association already on the Avenue between Cresheim Valley Drive and Chestnut Hill Avenue.

In August, the Local discussed the Avenue’s changing retail mix, and the many bank branches that have reduced that variety. At the time, business leaders had said women’s boutiques were the most requested use for the Avenue’s retail storefronts, but in the past few weeks, two women’s boutiques, Evangeline and Lamaj De’Amor have left.

Local Sports

GA second, CHA eighth at PA Wrestling Champs
by TOM UTESCHER

CHA’s Henry Gilbert wrestles an Archbishop Wood opponent. Gilbert took 4th  place in the 171lbs. weight class. For more photos visit www.chlocalphotos.com. (Photos by Jimmy J. Pack Jr.)

At last weekend’s PA Independent School Wrestling Tournament, meet host Germantown Academy duplicated its 2007 finish, placing second behind defending team champ Wyoming Seminary of Wilkes Barre.

The Inter-Ac League champion GA Patriots had four wrestlers win class championships, but so did “Sem,” and Blue Knights also picked up four second-place finishes to GA’s three. With a third and a fifth-place showing as well, the upstate squad piled up 254 team points, while the Pats posted 241. Northeast Catholic High School was not far behind with 234, and La Salle High placed fourth with 171.5 points.

GA girls finish with a flourish
by TOM UTESCHER

GA’s Maggie Lucas takes a foul shot. For more photos visit www.chlocalphotos.com. (Photos by Jimmy J. Pack Jr.)

After getting off to a shaky 2-3 start in the 2007-2008 basketball season, the girls of Germantown Academy ended up on firm footing, easily winning their 10th straight Girls Inter-Ac League championship and turning in a final record of 22-8 after playing a variety of tough non-league opponents from the Philadelphia region and from out-of-state.

Over the last few weeks of the season, the Patriots cruised past longtime league rival Notre Dame twice (64-39 and 57-37), and captured a 52-40 victory over Archbishop Carroll, always a respected rival.

In their February 7 encounter, GA and Carroll were locked up at 15-all after the initial eight minutes, but intensified defense allowed Germantown to win the second stanza, 17-3, laying the foundation for victory. Holding sharpshooting Carroll sisters Kerri and Erin Shields to nine and eight points, respectively, GA received 18 and 13 points from sophomores Maggie Lucas and Tory Theirolf, seven from freshman Alexa Gallagher, and six apiece from juniors Jesse Carey and Laura Karbach.