November 13, 2008 Issue                                       

©2007 The Chestnut Hill Local

Local Life

Obama invested in cashier
Mt. Airy phone bank pays big dividends
By PAMELA ROGOW

Debbie Garrett, a cashier in the Germantown Friends School cafeteria, had no previous political experience but created “one of the best campaign office phone banks in the country.” (Photos by Pamela Rogow)

Barack Obama won’t have time to thank Debbie Garrett, a cashier in the Germantown Friends School cafeteria, for getting out the vote locally. So we will thank her here. Although Garrett had no previous political experience, she is being credited by politically seasoned colleagues with creating “one of the best campaign office phone banks in the country” at local Obama headquarters on Germantown Avenue. A volunteer, she oversaw that project for weeks.

Barack Obama got 98% of the vote in the 22nd ward, which encompasses most of Chestnut Hill and West Mt. Airy. That’s not just stellar. It’s intra-galactic. (Ed. Note: It’s like a vote for Stalin in the Soviet Union.)

In February, Debbie showed up at campaign offices on Sansom Street in Center City, asking to volunteer. “There was only one job left on the list,” she said, “and that was the Phone Bank Coordinator for Northwest Philly for Change office. Jordan Dillard, Democratic committeeperson for this ward, offered me the job. I took it, not realizing how difficult it would be.”

Cancer survivor brings peace to terminal patients with harp
by JEAN-BERNARD HYPPOLITE and LEN LEAR

Marilyn Lemke uses her skill as a harpist to soothe both traumatized animals and critically ill patients.

You probably never heard of this musical specialty, but Springfield Township resident Marilyn Lemke, 65, is a certified “bedside harpist.” She volunteers her skills at the Keystone Hospice on Stenton Avenue in Wyndmoor. Lemke plays her harp while walking from room to room, watching for the responses of terminally ill patients who are interested in listening to the soothing sounds of her small 23-string harp.

When the patient gives Marilyn permission to come in, she sits down beside the patient and plays. The interesting part in all of this is when Marilyn plays her harp, it is not necessarily just a musical interlude for the individual beside her; it’s a type of healing session.

“The purpose is to honor and respect them while bringing comfort, relaxation, joy and possibly distraction along with a cradle of sound,” explained Marilyn. This method of therapy helps to relax more than just the patients. Comments from family members, visitors and staff indicate that it affects them in a positive way as well.

Frugal diner flexes his mussels
Urban Café: grand dinner in Germantown, $33 for two
by DANIEL JEFFERSON

Smiling servers Lou Henninger and Rachel Koller serve up flavorful, delicious dishes at bargain prices at The Urban Café in Germantown. (Photo by Erin Vertreace)

At the end of May, 2008, my wife and I had our life as we knew it vanish as our livelihoods went down the drain. Our life as lower middle class bohemians (in Germantown) was gone, and we faced actual poverty, as we had no savings. We had always loved the dining out and restaurant experience, and it seemed gone forever. Then a friend gave us $100 and told me to take my wife out and treat her to dinner. Rather than one grand expensive meal, we decided to have three grand inexpensive meals. This is one of those meals.

Where can two people go in northwest Philadelphia and eat a grand meal for only $33 including tip?