February 28, 2008 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 readersShame on us I was deeply saddened to learn about the condemned home on Ardleigh Street [Northwest News Brief, Feb. 7]. I am sad for the former occupant and her family, but mostly I am sad for our community. Chestnut Hill is a wonderful place to live for many reasons, not the least of which are the people who make up our neighborhood. Have we become so smug and complacent that we have forgotten to show compassion and concern for each other? Perhaps this situation might have been avoided had there been some awareness and care on our part. Shame on us! Harriet H. Palmer
Thanks for ROAL coverage Thank you very much for the prominent place you gave our new Resources for Older Adults (ROAL) [“Editorial, New resource for seniors welcome,” Feb. 14]. You very correctly understood the great value ROAL will have for older adults in our community, and we look forward to assisting them. I think it is important that the community understand that ROAL is a joint effort of many organizations. With considerable foresight and funding, the Chestnut Hill Health Care Foundation encouraged us to reach out to other agencies to create a comprehensive resource center to help older adults live healthy and productive lives in their homes and within their community. Building on an existing partnership known as Seniors in Partnership Across the Northwest (SPAN), Northwest Interfaith Movement (NIM) partnered with Center in the Park, Chestnut Hill Senior Services Center, the Mayor’s Commission on Aging, New Courtland Elder Services, Unitarian Universalist House Outreach and the Visiting Nurses Association of Philadelphia and Montgomery County in order to serve older adults in Northwest Philadelphia and nearby Montgomery County. ROAL is a marvelous example of what can happen when individuals and organizations work together to create resources for community-wide benefit. I remind older adult readers and their families and providers to call ROAL, at 215-843-5602, to find all kinds of services to improve the quality of their lives. Rabbi George Stern
Article was a fun read We all enjoyed your very thoughtful and very comprehensive article about The Blue Horse in the Chestnut Hill Local [“General Grant on triumphant march with Blue Horse,” Feb. 21] by Len Lear. It was wonderfully written, factual and entertaining, and he really captured (I think) what chef Grant Langdon Brown is all about and the good things at the restaurant that we are striving to accomplish. It’s not just the very nice things that were said, but the way they were said. A fun read! With much thanks again and warm regards. Frank Ferro, co-owner
Puzzled by coverage charge I was puzzled by a recent letter [“Where’s the CHCA,” Jan. 31] signed by four members of the Chestnut Hill Community Association, which accused the Local of not covering CHCA activities. The letter claims, “This paper is owned and published by the Chestnut Hill Community Association, but if you weren’t told that you would never know that fact from perusing the contents.” First of all, the masthead of the paper clearly states that it is published by the CHCA. Further, the premise of the letter is that because the paper is owned by the CHCA, its main purpose should therefore be to report the minutiae of committee meetings and other daily activities of the CHCA. I think of the Christian Science Monitor — it is owned and published by the Church of Christian Science, but it functions as one of the best international newspapers in the world. Although they own the paper, the Church allows it to act as an independent newspaper, except for a daily religion column on the Home Forum page. I believe the editor of the Local has tried to institute a similar weekly page devoted to the CHCA, in which the association and its 36 committees are welcome to report their activities. I suggest to the CHCA board that they take a moment in their next meeting to remind committee chairs that if they have news worthy of reporting to the rest of the community, they take the time to send a note, e-mail or press release to the newspaper. Otherwise, perhaps a newsletter would be a good way for the CHCA to communicate internally about issues that are of little importance to the rest of the people residing in Northwest Philadelphia, who are, after all, the newspaper’s customers. Jen Miller
The elephants in the room Cue calliope music … Hurry, hurry! Come one, come all to the Greatest show in 19118! This Thursday Night at the Library! The CHCA Circus is in town once again! Witness feats of Denial, Mendacity, and the Ever Popular Subversion of Democracy — All in Your Home Town! Watch in Amazement as Ringmistress Dina Hitchcock refuses to answer questions — Again! Gasp as she begins every Lecture with the phrase “What you have to understand is…” Leer! — As she whispers instructions to her assistant, President Tolis! All this, in a neighborhood in a City of which she is not a resident! Astounding! Reel, as Tolis ignores the Democratic Process once again in his adopted Country by adjourning Meetings before Old … or New Business, rather than allowing Residents to Speak! Gape — as Dina, Tolis and Treasurer Moss uncover more financial problems at the Local — That only They have been able to find! Watch Editor Pete’s face as he hears about these “New” problems — for the first time! All this while previously denied CHCA debt is forgiven! Amazing! Cower! — as aged members go on and on about their achievements during the Eisenhower years … and then forget what they were talking about! Stare! — as Moss’s Scripted Financial Report includes Editorial Comment — Again! Shiver! — as expensive hired accountants admit that they were never informed that the CHCA had a Members challenge to see to its Financial Records — Until they read about it in the Local! Shriek — As Jean “The Fixer” Hemphill uses one more Lawyerly obstruction to Delay the Inevitable Examination of the Records! All while she confers with the shadowy figure behind so much of the spectacle, Stewart “I’m a Republican in Philadelphia — I’ve got plenty of Time” Graham! Rizzo Junior’s assistant and Alexander Hemphill’s Daughter. I’m torn here between an easy “spinning in his grave” metaphor, or a more scholarly discussion of diminished gene pools. But more of this later! For now — Come to the Big Top! Maybe Sanjiv and his Chorus Line of Makers Mark Mommies will stumble in with their babies in tow for a surrealist finish! Oh, and me — making everybody’s evening miserable — Again! You can’t say I don’t keep my Promises! Ed (There’s one born every minute-but it aint me) Feldman
Opinion ignored cost of war Re: [“This Liberal Supports the War,” Feb. 21], Mr. Will falls into this pseudo-patriotic nonsense of supporting the war because it is necessary to forestall what some call the advancing evil regimes in the world. While I can appreciate his falling into this — it’s all about fear, I fear — I wonder if — be one either “liberal” or “conservative” — he takes a minute and looks around to calculate the cost of this venture into nation-building. We have surrendered this country to the whims of an administration which is bent on enriching certain sectors while ignoring most others. And we will pay and pay for this folly. While the Social Security Trust is regularly pilfered, border security is nonexistent, port security is likewise, health care is inaccessible for millions of children and Medicaid assistance to States, and hence assistance to thousands of the most vulnerable populations, we tolerate billions being spent — and a lot of it unaccounted for — on this unplanned, unmanaged and conceivably unending mess. It is truly unfortunate that people have succumbed, without protest (or very little ) to ignoring our responsibilities here at home while the machinery takes home profits by the truckload. Michael P. Saunders, Jr., MSW, CSWM
Outdoor barriers During the winter months some of the pedestrian obstacles in Chestnut Hill have disappeared. However, those in front of the cafe and sports store at the top of the Hill continue to make passage difficult for strollers, wheelchairs and just two people walking abreast. Outside dining and selling can be charming. It is not charming and, in fact, is against the law where the pedestrian right of way is narrow. I urge residents of Chestnut Hill not to give business to stores who flaunt this law until they eliminate their outdoor barriers. Joan M. Martini
Former Whitemarsh solicitor moves on Thank you to the many Whitemarsh residents who have taken the time to call me and send notes of support and thanks. I was honored and grateful to have served as your solicitor over the last four years. However, my community service started much earlier, first as a resident and then as a director and Legal Committee chair of the Whitemarsh Township Residents Association. I have served with many dedicated volunteers, including former supervisors Corcoran, Brown and Weiss. Without partisanship and with a team of dedicated volunteer board and commission members, these volunteers managed to redirect a ship that was terribly off-course. However, my own accomplishments must be shared with many others. I am fortunate to practice in the largest Montgomery County-based law firm, which met all of the township’s legal needs in areas as diverse as land use, labor, employment, complex litigation and tax. My own 25 years of experience is supported by a full-time land use department of eight lawyers and two paralegals, many with degrees in land planning, architecture and engineering. We devoted the full measure of our expertise to Whitemarsh Township, which enabled us to bring cutting-edge improvements to sometimes antiquated codes and practices. In an open and honest discussion of non-partisan qualifications, I have yet to see a better choice. The good news is that I will continue my services to the community by re-joining the WTRA board of directors. This is a critical time as the township will face new challenges, most notably the need to make critical decisions and appointments based upon competency and not partisan politics. We should all be watching carefully and must always remain involved and vigilant. To remain silent will allow the ship to stray off course again. Neil Stein Mr. Stein, a principal with the law firm of Kaplin Stewart, has been representing developers, homebuilders and those engaged in the architecture and engineering professions in land use, zoning, environmental and real estate law matters for over 25 years. He can be reached at 610-941-2469.
Voting abroad Today [Feb. 21] is the first Global Primary. Democrats abroad are voting internationally, like a little district, winning 22 delegates worth 11 votes. The election in Paris is exciting. It is interesting to see it from abroad! This week I attended an Obama rally jammed with the French press and people. The leaders spoke then answered questions from the French. I was impressed they were so interested! They are intrigued that Obama comes from three continents and two races and hopes for global unity. It is heartening to see their renewed faith in the universality of his candidacy and to think that the US might restore its tarnished image abroad. The press asked why Obama was different and I tried to answer, ahem, in French! I said something like: I learned about Obama from his books: Dreams of My Father and The Audacity of Hope. He is different because he is not a typical politician seeking power, money and fame. He accepts no money from corporations. He has worked in the slums of Chicago and gone to the best schools. He is authentic and leads from within, responding to the people, seeking to unify. In the US and abroad we need to tend to the war, economy, poverty, health care, immigration and global warming. Problems of this magnitude can only be solved by coming together, not only in the US but internationally. The French are inspired by the world appeal of Obama. I spoke with a reporter who said he was a French Muslim and that he wished Obama were Muslim! I laughed and said that I was a Philadelphia Quaker and sometimes wished I were French … and then we both laughed! People want hope. It is comforting to dream of new beginnings! Kitsie Converse
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