Oct. 6, 1966

CHCA attends consumer fraud hearing

The Chestnut Hill Community Association was represented at a City Council-sponsored public hearing on consumer frauds held last Wednesday in City Hall. Witnesses described the sort of frauds perpetuated principally on those who can afford it least. It was unanimously resolved that the president of City Council should set up a committee with subpoena powers to make a full investigation of the situation. Fraudulent practices to be investigated included “the sale of fire alarm systems, used automobiles, used television sets sold as new, home improvement contracts, and food and freezer plans,” according to the resolution. It also listed “unscrupulous practices by certain insurance companies in dodging payments of claims and declaring bankruptcy; illegal fees for arranging loans; and fraudulent advertising of bank rates and illegal and excessive late charges extorted from borrowers.”

Oct. 7, 1976

Parapsychology talk at CHA

An expert will lecture on his personal investigations into the spirit religions of Brazil and psychic healings to the members and friends of the Delaware Valley Society of Parapsychology tomorrow at 8 p.m. The lecture, which includes a slide demonstration, will be held in the library of Chestnut Hill Academy. An all-day workshop will be presented on Saturday at CHA on creativity, dreams, and altered states of consciousness, followed by a wine and cheese social. Parapsychology is the scientific study of paranormal or “psychic” phenomena, such as extrasensory perception and mind-matter interactions, that lack accepted natural explanations.

Oct. 9, 1986

Write to the governor, says SEPTA

Go directly to the governor. That was the message that a SEPTA official brought to the Chestnut Hill Community Association on Oct. 6. SEPTA has been repeating that suggestion at hearings throughout the city on proposed cutbacks in service designed to produce a balanced budget by the end of November. Changing the current method of funding would go a long way toward solving financial crises being experienced not only by SEPTA but also by other transit authorities in Pennsylvania, the official said. The agency calls the state’s contributions inadequate, and says the method of distributing dollars to transit authorities in Pennsylvania needs reform. But given political realities, nothing will be done until after the election, the SEPTA official said.

Oct. 10, 1996

Swing set’s ‘Johnny Appleseed’ to meet area kids

Time magazine called him “the Johnny Appleseed of the swing set,” who works with communities to build playgrounds that are planned with the help of the children who will enjoy them. But architect Bob Leathers, who will visit Chestnut Hill this week for Children’s Park Design Day, is more than a free spirit who inspires communities to work together for a common cause. He’s also a project planner and supervisor whose firm has worked for 20 years with more than 1,000 communities to design and build play areas. When he arrives here, he will meet on Thursday with members of a steering committee, who in turn will escort him to an hour-long public meeting with children and parents interested in the project. On Friday, he’ll visit the proposed playground site at the J.S. Jenks School, then move to three separate student design sessions at Springside School, St. Paul’s Parish House, and back to Jenks. At each stop, Leathers will ask the children, “if they could have anything in the world,” what would they have in their playground?

Oct. 12, 2006

Much ado about a duck

Only in the drama-loving community of Chestnut Hill could a duck named Lil’ Quacky cause so much turmoil. Ed Feldman, AbZOOlutely artist and Chestnut Hill Community Association executive committee member, has kidnapped (for lack of a better word) the duck he painted for the Chestnut Hill Business Association’s public arts event, AbZOOlutely. Feldman claims the kidnapping — and subsequent handcuffing of the duck to himself — is his reaction to the business association’s attempt to censor him. Censorship is the same motive that inspired him to add black-painted stitches over the duck’s eyelids and beak. The drama began when rumor got out that Feldman was planning to adorn the duck with the words “Duck U” on its body. The business association asked him not to do it because it was seen as inappropriate for an event geared toward kids.

Oct. 6, 2016

Wyndmoor nonprofit steps in, saves dog

Last year, an 8-year-old Pit Bull Terrier named Helen had a life-threatening infection and her owner couldn’t afford the treatment. Fortunately, a grant from Sam’s Hope in Wyndmoor provided emergency surgery just in time. But this year, Helen again faced an emergency: Her owner could no longer afford her house and was forced to move temporarily to a no-pets home. In the interim, she once again reached out to Sam’s Hope, hoping for a second miracle. The agency spent a week searching for an angel and found a Chester County family willing to foster Helen until her mom could resettle. Helen did very well with her foster family. On Oct. 1, the family drove her to be reunited with her owner, at her new, pet-friendly home in South Philadelphia.