Letters: May 30

Posted 5/30/13

MALT director will be missed

Many of you have heard by now that Jonna Naylor no longer is executive director of the Mt. Airy Learning Tree. As directors of two Mt. Airy community organizations …

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Letters: May 30

Posted

MALT director will be missed

Many of you have heard by now that Jonna Naylor no longer is executive director of the Mt. Airy Learning Tree. As directors of two Mt. Airy community organizations that have worked closely with Jonna on countless projects and events, we would be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge the excellent and important work she did during her tenure at MALT.

MALT has been a valuable resource for all of Northwest Philadelphia since 1980. Founded by community members with a commitment to lifelong learning and a belief that everyone has information, skills and ideas to share, MALT continues as a key ommunity asset.

Jonna arrived in Philly from Texas in the Summer of 1997, started volunteering at MALT the next year, and was hired as executive director in 1999. It was a great match. MALT grew enormously as a result of Jonna’s vision, energy and dedication; the number of classes offered quadrupled under her leadership. As executive director, she also spearheaded the “Make This Our Home” campaign, which raised $300,000 to purchase the building at Greene and Hortter streets that houses MALT’s offices.

Other local organizations benefited from Jonna’s commitment and talents, as well. She has been a dedicated Mt. Airy Day volunteer. She has served on the boards of directors of Weavers Way Co-op and the Chestnut Hill Community Association, and has been active at the Chestnut Hill Center for Enrichment, Summit Presbyterian Church and Chestnut Hill College. Jonna also served the community by helping to establish public rowing and horseback riding programs.

The growth of any of our community nonprofits supports the growth of the entire community. We thank you, Jonna, for your service, and wish you the best in your next chapter!

Elayne Bender, Executive

Director, East Mt. Airy Neighbors (EMAN)

Marilyn Cohen, Executive

Director,West Mt. Airy Neighbors (WMAN)

 

Prominent birder offers corrections

I am writing to you to draw your attention to the following corrections that are needed in the article that appeared in your paper on May 16, page 23 (“Ruth Pfeffer is for the birds — and very proud of it”).

Incorrect spellings in the article are followed by the correct spellings: Atlantic puffin, Atlantic Puffin; common yellow-throated warbler, Common Yellowthroat; robin, American Robin; tree swallows, Tree swallows; American kestrel, American Kestrel; orchid oriole, Orchard Oriole; red-winged black bird, Red-winged Black Bird; green heron, Green Heron; Prothonotary warbler, Prothonotary Warbler.

These two “birds” in the article are a combination of several birds: blue-belly nat catcher: White-breasted Nuthatch, Red-bellied Woodpecker and Blue-gray Gnat Catcher; Savannah starling: Savannah Sparrow and European Starling.

Also the “Academy of Natural Sciences ornithology collection” should be “The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Ornithology Collection.”

Ruth Pfeffer

“Birding with Ruth”

Willow Grove

Ed. Note: We apologize for any misspellings, of course. Regarding the issue of capitalization, however, we did check with the Associated Press Stylebook, which is followed by almost every major newspaper in the country. AP style is to lower-case the names of all animals ("robin,” “puffin," etc.) except when it is the first word in a sentence or when there is a "proper name" like American or Atlantic connected to it. In the latter case the "American, Atlantic," etc., is capitalized, and the connected word ("puffin, kestrel," etc.) is lower-case. In other words, "tree swallows, green heron, Atlantic puffin," etc., are correct according to the Associated Press Stylebook and almost every newspaper in the U.S.

 

‘Loved article’ on AIDS novel

Thank you for the article (“Author’s ‘dad with AIDS’ novel based on real life,” by Louise E. Wright, May 23). It is perfect! I bought 10 copies.

Just wanted to let you know my editor, my agent and the head of Philomel all loved your article!

Cordelia Jensen

Mt. Airy

 

Appreciates Rice article

I want to thank Lou Mancinelli and Len Lear for their willingness to spotlight my Women’s Coaching Circles in the Chestnut Hill Local this week (“Empowerment of women growing with Rice in Erdenheim,” May 23).

I was delighted with how thoroughly and thoughtfully Lou captured our conversation and conveyed the essence of the coaching circles. I wasn’t sure I was doing justice to them when we spoke, but somehow Lou made sense of it all and wrote the article in such a way that the purpose and benefits shined through. No small feat on his part.

And I appreciate Lear’s prompt receptivity and willingness to provide such a healthy amount of space in the paper and allowing me to share this opportunity with local residents.

I thank them both again for their time and talents.

Cheryl Rice

Erdenheim

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