December 18, 2008 Issue                                       

©2007 The Chestnut Hill Local

From our readers

Christmas traditions in a non-traditional year

Every Christmas I have gone in search of the perfect tree. Fifty years ago I dragged the best of the lot through the ice and snow of Chicago; 30 years ago I had delivered a 15-foot beauty from a contractor; 10 years ago I found it at a Pennsylvania tree farm. It always seemed like a worthy task.

This year my task was simpler. Go find the best tree at the best price. That I did, with a deal at Home Depot (Cheltenham): an 8.5-foot, Frazier fir, for $32. That was outdone this week by Produce Junction (Glenside) that offered ANY Frazier fir for $27 (including tax). Some were taller than 10 feet.

Why do I mention the price? Because in these times of economic distress, price should not be ignored. In the spirit of Christmas, I’ve decided not to publish local tree prices, but suffice it to say that the prices I’ve cited for premium trees elsewhere are less than those offered for the smallest of the local offerings.

It is your money, and you can do your own research. The local merchants do a great job of displaying their product. Location, display and service are all retail strengths. But is a bargain one or two miles away a violation of the buy local mantra?

Trees are admittedly a relatively small part of the Christmas buying spree, but a good barometer. Walmart execs say they know what the people need, what they want and what they are willing to spend. They have long lines at cash registers; we have empty stores. They have necessities; we have novelties. They have extended hours; our stores close after 6 p.m. and on Sunday. Buying local is good. But what do they have for sale, when are they open and at what price?

Ed Budnick
Chestnut Hill

Solutions, anyone?

As the current board of CHCA has gotten completely out of hand, has anyone considered just filing an injunction to stop it from acting in any capacity?  Given that the ringleader is always someone who doesn’t even live in Chestnut Hill, is particularly galling. 

There is precedent for such an injunctive action in Pennsylvania law. As no politician or citizen can or has the will to stop them, maybe the courts can. 

Also, as far as the rotten produce in the old Caruso’s, isn’t this a violation of the health code? Can’t the City fine the owner enough for such a flagrant violation that it can seize the building and put it up for sale at a reasonable price as opposed to the exorbitant rent that is asked now?

There are solutions, people. But is takes community support and less fear.

Darlene Davis Heep
Chestnut Hill

Mountain bikers ignore signs

On this mild Sunday afternoon as we get close to Christmas I took a walk in the Wissahickan. Something I have done off and on my whole life, a pleasant walk in the park. Choosing a trail on which no bicycles are permitted, I enjoyed the more pedestrian meanderings of this less heavily used trail. On my return along the trail, two “mountain cyclists” entered the trail at its inception, where it is clearly marked with a large red “NO” symbol over a bike.

I informed the riders that they were on the wrong trail and did they see the sign just behind them. They replied that “yeah”, “we know” and added “it’s no big deal” I told them it was, and told them to turn around, that this is illegal. They pushed past me, and began their ride. These moutain bikers were well outfitted, in professional looking cycle gear, on high-end specialized expensive bikes, and claimed to be informed that what they were doing was wrong. They did it anyway. Shame on them. These trails were explicitly set aside to be free from vehicles, and the mountain bikers continue to ignore the rules. There should be a fee charged for a permit if mountain biking is allowed in the Wissahickan Valley, and this fee should pay for enforcement. Try doing this in New York City, and a policeman will take your bike.

Erik Werner
Germantown

Former Local’s ad manager weighs in

As a former Advertising Manager for the Chestnut Hill Local, I tried very hard to help improve the bottom line for the newspaper and, several times submitted proposals, and gave recommendations and explanations of options that could be put into place at the Local. I was told I would have to wait for election of the new board, or the new chairman, or the new committee, and the problems were never addressed.

I have worked for other newspapers and publishing companies over the years, and have never been on the receiving end of a 17.5 percent commission on new, old or house accounts.  There must be a graduated system where a sales representative will make a certain percentage on existing and frequently running accounts, e.g. 4 percent, and a higher percentage, e.g., 5 percent, on new advertising.  Set a goal every month and pay extra for goals reached and exceeded. It’s only logical! A much smaller percentage, or none at all, should be paid on advertising placed by a media buying company such as Hitchings and Associates. You must reward sales people for bringing in new business, but you have made it very comfortable for reps to sit back and just “take orders over the phone.” 

Please check with other publishing companies and find out how they do things.  Advertising revenue in print media is down across the board, but with the Local being the special newspaper that it is, your research could pay off for its bottom line.

Ellen Swoyer Manning
Flourtown

An immodest proposal

During this time of year I like to put on my holiday finery and stroll up from my Lower Hill residence to visit the many fine shops of Chestnut Hill. As I begin my ascent up Germantown, the number of empty window fronts concerns me. When I reach the segregation point, Jenks, I continued to be perplexed by the ‘for lease’ signs on a significant number of viable real estate properties.

I press on till I reach the pinnacle of our business district and then, like a steel spike thrust through my cranium, it dawns on me. We have a glut of empty, unrented, businesses. Each fronts Germantown Ave with a clear, glass facade. Each has at least a small, somewhat clean space behind it (except for the former Caruso’s. Rotted food? Gross!) We can at one time serve both the needs of the business community and the general population. With a few changes to local and state laws we can turn Chestnut Hill into “The Pennsylvanian Amsterdam.”

Surely this is a solution to the problem. Providing entertainment to men and women, gay and straight, (no discrimination here) we can begin an economic boom. Sure, there might possibly be an increase in crime, and everyone knows prostitution is not a victimless crime but does it really matter when it compares to a profession that continues to require businesses to pay exorbitant rents or put up with erratic landlord behavior? We can be at the forefront of the USA economic turnaround! People across the land will cite us as an example of what a “can do” spirit can accomplish. Las Vegas is seedy. All of Nevada is seedy. Chestnut Hill will have store-front prostitutes amongst an eclectic array of specialty shops with whimsical amusements to entertain the members of your family not patronizing the “oldest profession.”

I think it’s time for the Chestnut Hill Business Association to think outside the “box.”

Charles Smith
Chestnut Hill

Don’t blame Mt. Airy

I write concerning the December 11, 2008 article regarding the new Soul restaurant (“No One Can Deny It.  Hill Now Has Soul”). 

I congratulate Ms. Brown on her new venture, and sincerely wish her good luck.  I am also glad to hear that she finally has been able to escape the hardscrabble streets of West Mt. Airy for the utopian world of Chestnut Hill.  She must be so relieved.  I found it amazing, however, that she blamed her prior failure in Mt. Airy on the fact that Chestnut Hill customers that allegedly “loved” her food said they wouldn’t be back because of “the neighborhood.”  The fact that her statement came in the same issue of the Local that carried the front page headline “Burglaries Rise on the Hill” provided a wonderfully ironic twist to the story. 

Ms. Brown only vaguely alludes to the supposed neighborhood problems, so the reader is left to wonder whether she was referring to the plethora of strollers clogging our sidewalks, the glut of highly-educated, engaged and interesting citizenry or some other form of urban decay.  Nevertheless, I am sure the alleged neighborhood problems would come as a great surprise to other local restaurants that are thriving mere steps from Ms. Brown’s failed Mt. Airy restaurant.  These establishments include the excellent Tiffin, about 100 yards away from the previous Angie Brown’s, and the wonderful Bacio, directly across the street from her prior location.  Indeed, the “neighborhood” never seemed to hurt Ms. Brown’s longstanding predecessor in that same space, the sorely missed Goat Hollow. 

I respectfully submit that she will be more successful in her present location if she learns from the fundamental mistakes of her past.  I hope she does. 

Joseph C. Monahan
Mt. Airy

Smoking Santa !?

I am writing to express my shock and outrage at the utter tastelessness displayed by BnB Cigars amid a bustling holiday shopping atmosphere on Saturday afternoon, Dec. 13.  On the sidewalk, at the entrance to the shop, in full view of many children, was Santa Claus himself, waving and schmoozing, with a giant stogie sticking out of his mouth for all to see.  If Santa is into cigars, what hope do any of us have in discouraging kids from smoking?  If tobacco companies are held criminally responsible for mascots like Joe Camel, why does BnB get a free pass? 

Tom McLaughlin
Mt. Airy

Better to have than to have not

In response to Cindy Margolis’ “Do morals require faith?” [Dec. 11]: It was apparent from your writing that you are a sensitive person and, from the tone of your words, a very compassionate human being. I would prefer that more opinions in the Local were penned in love — as you have chosen to do — rather than the anger and intolerance expressed by far too many contributors to the Local.

I, of course, differ with your assessment of the ultimate value of atheism. I found your fondness for Albert Einstein’s utterances a somewhat weak defense. Others might have helped propel your thesis into stronger debate. Nevertheless, I respect your inclusion of his thought process. May I suggest another influential name from the past as my rebuttal? Robert Browning, in his dramatic defense of the Christian faith in “Bishop Blougram,” is cogent. What the poet saw with piercing clearness was that, if the difficulties facing belief are bad enough, those confronting unbelief are much worse; and that all the skepticism does is to land he mind in problems far more intractable and embarrassing than those it seeks to escape. His words ring ever true this day. This is the fact that us forcing itself into recognition at the present hour,

David Seip, Pastor
Chestnut Hill Baptist Church

Shelter the animals

Some churches are featuring Nativity scenes to welcome the Christmas season.  Some of these reverent presentations feature human participants as well animals reminiscent of the animals in the original Nativity.

The advent of Christmas is cold.  At night the people participants in the Nativity retire to the warmth of their homes.  I certainly hope that the animals also are afforded the comfort of warm shelter.  It is morally incumbent upon us to ensure this in the spirit of compassion and respect for the one whose birth Christmas celebrates.

These animals are not animated ornaments but sentient beings capable of shivering in the cold.

Gloria S. Feldscher 
Plymouth Meeting