Thanks for Birch profile

Thank for your article about Libby Birch.  [“Wyndmoor native Elizabeth ‘Libby’ Birch celebrates 100th birthday,” July 19]

She sat for my brothers, sister and me for years. We were quite a handful, let me tell you! She took care of us with love and humor, but we knew she meant business. As wee ones, we called her “Coffee” because we thought that sounded so funny (I think she did too). We met the toilet flushing feline, along with a few of her other furry loves. We also adored her husband, Bill.

Your article has left me smiling for days. I am going to send it on to my sister. Thank you for profiling such a wonderful woman. Here’s to her celebrating 100 years.

Sarah McGehee Komisin

Charlotte, NC

A great 70th season for park concert series

Our 70th season of the Pastorius Park Concerts (PPC) finished last Wednesday, July 25. We've packed away our stage, and all that remains is to celebrate our wonderful, enthusiastic team of volunteers!  A big THANK YOU to all our dedicated, hardworking PPC volunteers who make the Pastorius Park Concerts a hallmark of summer on the Hill:

Andy (CHCA membership King) Kite, Bob (The Stage) Rossman, Doug Knauer, Tia Burke, Aidan Robinson, Bill, Brian Rudnick, Chris McLaughlin, Dan Pulka, Denise Chapline, Evalina Heep, Finnian Saylor, Floramae McCarron-Cates, Francyne Klein, Hannah Miller, Hans Rossman, Jackie Newlin, Jay Valinis, Joanne Brady, Joel Zickler, John Leonard, Kathy Gannon, Larry McEwen, Maria Vecchiolli, Mike (Ice Man) Chomentowski, Steve (Sharp Shooter) Feistel, and MC Steve Pearson, TJ and Tracy Gardner.

We would also like to thank: our CHCA team (Anne McNiff, Emily Van Sant and Janet Gala); our sponsors Chestnut Hill Community Association and Chestnut Hill Hospital for their generous funding of this years ‘concert series; Philadelphia Parks and Recreation; Friends of Pastorius Park; all our weekly sponsors and advertisers; McNally’s Tavern for bringing the chill to PPC, and our friends at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy for welcoming us when the weather didn't!

Finally, a big thank you to all the wonderful performers who entertained us!  It was a memorable 70th anniversary as we traveled from classical, to zydeco with many wonderful performances.  We hope you enjoyed it, we had a blast! If you'd like to help us next season contact me at pastoriusparkconcerts@gmail.com

Julie Byrne

Chair Pastorius Park Concerts for Chestnut Hill Community Association

Thanks for highlighting church homeless program

Thank you for the article describing the Philadelphia Interfaith Hospitality Network's effective program helping support families working towards finding and maintaining permanent housing. [“Local churches working to fight homelessness,” July 19] The article outlined the excellent efforts of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, one of the local religious congregations that take turns housing and aiding families in the program. It gave a good sense of the scope of the organization and of St.Paul's efforts to give the boost families need towards self-sufficiency.

During the month of July, Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting is hosting three terrific PIHN families. Christ Ascension Lutheran, also a local congregation, is one of our “buddy” congregations, along with Summit Presbyterian in West Mt. Airy. Buddy congregations might not have the facilities to house guests, as we and St. Paul's do, but lend a hand with cooking, dinner hosting and playing with the kids in the evening.

PIHN depends on host congregations and is looking for more! We can always use the help of "buddy" congregations.  It would be a great way to see if your church, synagogue or mosque could volunteer your space in the future. The story gives a peak at this profoundly helpful effort that supports families and deepens the spiritual lives of all our congregation members.

Interested congregations can contact Keyonee Thalia or Rachel Falcove at Philadelphia Interfaith Hospitality Network, at 215-247-4663. to find out more about the program or take a look at the PIHN website, philashelter.org.

Carla White,

Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting's PIHN coordinator