May 8, 2008 Issue                                                     

Local News

Behind the scenes at the Garden Festival
by FRAN O’DONNELL, Main Street Manager, Chestnut Hill Business Association

After a gray morning, it turned out to be a beautiful day for the annual Home and Garden Festival on Germantown Avenue.  The street was filled with people from across the area who gathered for a day of food and fun in Chestnut Hill. Photos (Clockwise from top, left): Tim Cunningham of Caffette showed off his cooking skills as he prepared lunch for many people on the Avenue. Dixie the dog visited with Scott and Natasha  Slezak, 2, of Philadelphia. Juggler, Mike LeRoy of Mt. Airy, entertained the crowd with this live performance on the street. Brad Jackson, 3, of Merion Park showed his soccer skills at the B-101 table with the help of Mike Kelly. (Photos by Jimmy J. Pack Jr.)

Little did I know what was in store for me as the day of my first garden festival as the Chestnut Hill Business Association’s main street manager began. Sure, you can make  plans, but mother nature has a mind of her own.  Let me take you through a garden festival weekend. 

LUPZ approves plans for Treehouse Play Café
by Kristin Pazulski

Plans for the demolition and reconstruction of the building at 8524 Germantown Ave., which will house the proposed Treehouse Play Café, were approved with some provisions on May 1 by the Chestnut Hill Community Association’s Land Use Planning and Zoning Committee.

Local Sports

Springsider sets records, but PC wins meet
by TOM UTESCHER

Springside freshman Taylor Ellis-Watson set three new school records as she won the 100, 200 and 400 meter races. For more photos, visit www.chlocalphotos.com. (Photo by Jimmy J. Pack Jr.)

Springside freshman Taylor Ellis Watson broke her own school records in three events, but the visiting Penn Charter Quakers displayed their depth across the full spectrum of events to win last Friday’s dual meet, 87-40.

Charter improved to 3-1 in Girls Inter-Ac League dual meets, having lost to Germantown Academy by just two points when the teams met in the mid-April. The small Springside squad, which consists of less than two-dozen athletes, came away with a 1-3 mark in the league. The Lions’ victory came over Agnes Irwin early last month.

Agnes Irwin ran in last Friday’s meet in Chestnut Hill as well, but the Owls were officially competing against Penn Charter and not Springside, and the contest was scored as two separate dual meets instead of as a tri-meet. Head-to-head, Charter overwhelmed Irwin, 112-13.

Local crews take 11 medals at City Championships
by TOM UTESCHER

Chestnut Hill Academy’s JV Quad rowers won the silver medal in their event at the Philadelphia City Championships, but their expressions at the finish line show they were hoping for more. (Photo by Tom Utescher)

Overall, area rowers had a good outing at the Philadelphia City Championships last Sunday, although there were a few surprises and disappointments along the way.