Speed cushions are a necessary device

I am responding to a discussion that occurred at the Chestnut Hill Community Association’s Development Review Committee meeting with the Streets Department, during which some questioned where the speed cushions came from.

Ten years ago I was approached by a number of community people about the need to slow down speeds in Chestnut Hill when I was a member of the Community Association’s Traffic, Transportation and Parking Committee. I arranged a meeting between residents and the Streets Department and we visited particular streets on the east side of Germantown Avenue. The Streets Department then performed a study looking at the number of cars using the street each day and their average speed. It is clear to anyone who lives here that speeding is an issue and the data from the Streets Department confirmed that.

One of the solutions proposed was the installation of speed cushions. They are not quite speed bumps but if driven over at a low rate of speed are barely noticeable. But try to exceed the speed limit and there is a jarring jump.

Unfortunately, because the city's budget problems the Streets Department put the installation on hold, and they could have done a better job of informing the community that they were only now getting to that installation, but the results are clear. They are working at slowing traffic down, which is a good thing. Everyone is in a hurry to get to work, but that gives nobody the right to go racing throughout community

I hope those who like these will show their appreciation by contacting me or the Streets Department or Councilwoman Bass to voice your approval.

Bob Previdi

bobprevidi@verizon.net

Chestnut Hill

Unfriendly towing

Dear Customer Service at Streets Department,

My car was almost towed off Gravers Lane in Chestnut Hill today because your temporary signs are in illogical places.

Others had already been towed because they had not seen your signs.

The temporary signs saying, "not to park today." were placed way down the road on a telephone pole on the OPPOSITE side of the street from where people park.

The everyday parking signs had nothing placed over them to say otherwise than the normal two hour parking.

Why not put your temporary signs over the normal parking signs where we all look for parking instructions?

Logical, correct?

You should rescind the towing charges because your department put the temporary no parking signs are in the wrong locations.

I hope this is helpful.

Gardner A. Cadwalader

Chestnut Hill

Thanks to all for their support

After more than two years of being in and out of hospitals and rehab centers, my mother, Barbara A. Sherf, recently passed at 79, surrounded by three of her four children and the angels from Holy Redeemer Hospice, at her Jersey shore home.

My mother had multiple health issues, including metastatic breast cancer, and her full obituary can be read on my blog at CommunicationsPro.com.

This is an open thank you to those in my community who have supported me during this life journey by advising, listening, sending encouraging and often humorous e-mails, inviting me out to an event, giving me a complimentary massage, or respecting my need to go within and take care of myself.

My sincere apologies for my inability to keep a number of appointments and make longstanding commitments. Prior to Personal History Awareness month in May, I did write that I would waive my speaking fee to groups interested in hearing the importance of capturing our stories during May. I was unable to keep many of those obligations, and so that offer remains open for the summer.

Having said that, I am also in need of getting back on track and making a steady income as a writer, publicist, speech coach and personal historian, using my gifts to help individuals and businesses tell there stories – for that is what connects us.

I thank the Chestnut Hill Quaker Friends for their support of me, initially with the arduous process of getting my father, who has dementia, into the Veteran’s Home in Vineland, along with the dual journey of getting my mother on Medicaid and advocating for her as best I could. I am encouraged that the Friends have created an active End of Life planning committee to help guide others who are struggling with these issues that we as a society need to come to terms with.

The Quaker community and a dedicated group of friends and neighbors are helping me with closure and continuing to support me as my focus shifts to helping my younger brother, who was my mother’s primary caregiver, with financial, emotional and medical hurdles.

Invaluable lessons have been given to me that I will be honored to share as the healing process continues and as I figure out the next steps in my life plan.

Barbara L. Sherf

Flourtown

Hunter wrong ‘bout ‘Good People’

I don't know what play it was that Hugh Hunter was reporting about in last week's Local, but I do not agree with his opinion. I saw the play "Good People" at Stagecrafters on Thursday night with my daughter and we both loved it!

The cast was excellent, without exception, each actor portraying his/her role perfectly in character. There were many good hearty laughs, yet the play delivered a strong message about how people coming from similar roots go in many different directions, some successful and some struggling through life.

Jen Allegra was superb in the demanding role of Margaret, a single, unemployed mom facing many challenges. She kept the audience on edge of their seats with her many mood changes, always coming across as natural. Feisty, then pleading, sad, aggressive, passive, almost every human emotion was portrayed convincingly from the heart.

John Reardon also portrayed his role perfectly in character as Margaret's high school boyfriend, now a successful doctor, both fascinated yet put off by her sudden intrusion into his fairly stable life. His wife, Kate, played with both authority and compassion, was portrayed impeccably by Sara Osi Scott.

Margaret's bingo-playing friends and confidantes were perfectly in character as played by Mare Mikalic and Lauren Rozensky Flanagan. Stevie, though a small role in the first act, was well-done by Matthew Thompson.

Extremely well directed, with understanding, by David Flagg, the show moved along with positive energy, great timing and no gaps in the action.

I don't have any idea what Mr. Hunter means when he calls the dramatic premise "thin" or that ‘Good People’ is stepping into a void and falls short of greatness." I strongly disagree, and I recommend this play to everyone who enjoys good theater. There are three more evening performances, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and a matinee on Sunday afternoon. Reservations available at 215-247-8881. Go! You'll be glad you did!

Linda Baldwin

Chestnut Hill