December 18, 2008 Issue                                                     

Local News

A Local plan for action

Weathering the Storm:
How the Chestnut Hill Local will survive "the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression."

14th District sees decrease in two crime categories
by JENNIFER KATZ

Capt. Winton Singletary and Crime Prevention Officer Synell Hall of the 14th Police District came to the Germantown Jewish Centre in West Mt. Airy last week to deliver some good news and talk to residents about crime prevention.

The district as a whole has seen a decrease in violent crime, with homicides down 20 percent – five points more than the citywide figure. Gunpoint robberies are also down 19 percent.

As most residents know, burglaries remain high in what Singletary describes as the biggest police district in the city. The district comprises 13 square miles and will grow by the end of the month when it absorbs approximately two miles of the Fairmount Park system after the 92nd District officially closes.

Bank puts up funds to save historic Garrett-Dunn House
by JOEL HOFFMANN

National Penn Bank has promised $20,000 to seal the historic Garrett-Dunn house. The house has been exposed since contruction at the site stopped in April. (Photo by Erin Vertreace)

Philadelphia history buffs can breathe a collective sigh of relief.

The Garrett-Dunn House, a 19th century landmark in Mt. Airy, will remain standing despite sustaining structural damage after construction crews left its lathwork exposed in April.

The contractors stopped working because local developer John J. Capoferri had run out of money for a renovation project at the site, 7048 Germantown Ave., where he had planned to turn the existing house and barn into five luxury residences. Fourteen new town houses were also slated for the property, according to the developer’s Web site.

Fortunately, damage to the property was less severe than city inspectors had expected, according to Plan Philly, a blog published by the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Design.

Local Sports

Champs from GFS, PC and host CHA at annual wrestling tourney
by TOM UTESCHER

CHA Sophomore Dan Gallagher in his first match of the tournament vs. Cardinal O’Hara’s Matt Rooney. Gallagher, who won by pin in the second period, was the 160 lb. champion and was named most putstanding wrestler of the tourney.  For more photos visit chlocalphotos.com. (Photos by Jimmy J. Pack Jr.)

Host CHA, Germantown Friends School, and Penn Charter each produced an individual champion last Saturday at the 2008 Chestnut Hill Academy Invitational Wrestling Tournament, but the team title went to Westtown School, the defending champions in GFS’ own Friends School League.

Springside squash succumbs to Irwin
by TOM UTESCHER

Springside School won its squash season opener over Shipley, 8-1, at the start of the month, but since then the Lions have fallen prey to several more experienced opponents.

After dropping road matches at Baldwin and Lawrenceville, Springside (1-3) returned home for a tilt with Agnes Irwin (1-1) last Wednesday, and the visiting Owls came away with a 7-2 victory. Because of the popularity of the sport at most of the Girls Inter-Ac League schools, nine individual matches are now counted in the official team scoring, instead of the traditional seven.