Letters

King Lear

Thank you for that wonderful article on Len Lear. You are fortunate to have him on your staff.

We remember his “cutting through the bull” profile of George Bush, all of which has proven to be true.

We hope you will give him free rein to do muckraking articles. They foster healthy debate, add life to the paper, and may even shake up and wake up a few folks!

Judy Rubin and Debi Bleicher
Mt. Airy

The Len policy

I was so pleased to read the profile of Len Lear in the Aug. 25 issue, written by Lawrence H. Geller. As a former journalist and current public relations professional, I always found Len to be open to my story ideas and candid when he didn't think they were a fit. I really do appreciate a straight answer versus no answer at all.

I never delved into Len's background too much, although I always believed he was an interesting individual and had a story to share. Thank you for telling it. So often we don't hear these fascinating stories until an obituary is written. I'm so pleased to see this kind of positive profile piece and would like to see more of these.

I also had no idea of his actual age and would like to hear further about his fitness program. Does he starve himself in between the "mouth-watering" restaurant reviews we read about? Inquiring minds want to know.

Barbara Sherf
Flourtown

Social club or government?

A decade ago, there was little question as to the role of the CHCA … it was a government, for better or worse. They even had their own police force. There were real elections and real power struggles. Written and verbal comments about the officers of the association used the person’s last names just like in the real world of politics … first names were used sarcastically if at all. The Local editor didn’t need to start debates; she got in enough hot water by simply printing a dissenting letter. You could expect a retort from the figureheads and the battle could go on for weeks. At some point the president, manager or whomever would state that they, by virtue of their office, service or whatever, were right, the critic knew nothing, and life as we knew it would go on … sounds, walks and talks like a government to me.

It’s comforting to know that the CHCA now prefers to be a social club. As officers of a club, rather than a government, the executive group can make serious errors without criticism. Volunteers are not to be held responsible for their actions. Now, if we can get them to stop acting like they represent the residents of Chestnut Hill, we can all rest a bit easier.

As for the potential sale of the Local … just because of a little criticism … this is either 1) evidence the CHCA officers are extremely thin-skinned; 2) a joke; or 3) a ruse to peddle the paper to the highest bidder. I pick a ruse, as the last time the CHCA considered selling the paper there was a huge outcry that the Local would be turned into an ad sheet instead of an award-winning paper. Then again, if there is no outcry this time, perhaps the awards belong only to the editor of decades ago. Why would a social club need a newspaper anyway?

Ed Budnick
Chestnut Hill

Respect dissent

I was taken aback by Joseph Ferry’s vehement attack on Celeste Zappala (“Noble Cause?” Local, Aug. 25).

Ferry labeled Zappala, and characterized her as undignified, because she doesn’t fit his stereotype of how a woman should behave when she loses her son. Zappala opposed the invasion of Iraq before her son volunteered, and still continues to oppose it. He accuses her of being “politically motivated” as though being politically motivated is a character flaw. Yes, she is politically motivated, driven by her desire to end a war that she thinks puts the U.S. at greater risk. She doesn’t want to see any more of our young men, or Iraqis, killed.

Mr. Ferry implies that her dissent and ideology puts America at risk, and he believes the invasion of Iraq will make us, in the U.S., safer.

Zappala believes the direct opposite; that the invasion will result in further terrorist activity and bombings here and abroad.

The tactic of calling into question her motivations is a tactic Karl Rove and the Bush administration have been practicing since Bush took office. For example, Joseph Wilson, John Kerry, Max Cleland, Richard Clarke and now Cindy Sheehan have been smeared and denigrated. Name-calling is an evasion of having to deal with others’ ideas.

Ferry does not clearly define what he believes to be the “noble cause” our soldiers are dying for.

He hasn’t addressed the fact that half of the people in this country did not buy the fabricated pretexts for the invasion and do not support Bush’s war. Ferry treats dissent as thought it is a danger to the soldiers. Why does it demoralize him to know that people are practicing democracy? You can’t say you are a warrior for freedom and withhold certain freedoms here, chief among them the right to dissent.

Hussein was not an immediate threat. Powell’s case in front of the United Nations was trumped up. There are no WMDs. There is no link between Hussein and 9/11, although the administration tried to infer one to justify their invasion. We are less safe and more a target for terrorists because of our assault on Iraq, abuse of prisoners in Abu Ghraib and causing death to untold numbers of Iraqi civilians.

So, I, along with Ms. Zappala and millions of others, demand the truth from Bush. Empty slogans, “Freedom on the March,” “Stay the Course” and playing on the fears of Americans just doesn’t cut it.

If Mr. Ferry wishes to discuss and debate his differences with Ms. Zappala, he can do so without ad hominem attacks on her character and political motivations, and address her ideas and thoughts on the war. Mr. Ferry wishes to be heard and to have his right to speak respected, regardless of who disagrees with him. The same consideration should be extended toward Ms. Zappala.

Judy Rubin
Mt. Airy

Selective encouragement

Traffic-calming is one of those boilerplate civic improvements, like bicycle lanes or brick pavers, that no one can object to, but for Germantown Avenue, at least, it’s a very bad idea. During the temporary closure of Cresheim Valley Drive, the neighborhood streets of Chestnut Hill were subjected to unpleasant, noisy and dangerous traffic, as frustrated commuters looked for alternative routes. Unfortunately, even though the Drive has reopened, “short-cutters” continue to dash — they are always in a hurry — along our narrow back streets. It seems that once drivers alter their traffic patterns, it’s difficult to make them revert. The lesson is that to keep traffic off side streets, it’s necessary to keep it on main streets, such as Stenton, Cheltenham and yes, Germantown. This means synchronizing traffic lights and allowing as much parking as possible, it doesn’t mean discouraging drivers, which will only push more traffic into the neighborhood.

Witold Rybczynski
Chestnut Hill

Ensemble of support

The Pastorius Park Concert Series, Music Under the Moon, has wrapped up its most successful season in its 57-year history. Nearly 8,000 enthusiastic people attended performances by stellar musicians thrilled to be in our beautiful park under largely cooperative skies. This season would not have been possible without the overwhelming support of so many. 

For financial support, thanks to:

• The generous donors to the Chestnut Hill Community Fund, which provides the bulk of the necessary funding (remember this when the fund drive rolls around in a few months).
• The shops and business of Chestnut Hill for its generous financial support, for providing fantastic raffles prizes each and every week and to many for sponsoring our programs.
• Mark Nottingham and Merrill Lynch – the Nottingham/Sarian Group.
• Norwood Fontbonne Academy and Sister Jean Laurich for supporting the Kidzapalooza.
• D’Ascensio’s Gelato.

For their countless hours and unwavering dedication, thanks to the small army of volunteers and in-kind supporters, including:

• Ed Bedno, who once again provided our beautiful artwork and to Jane Piotrowski who had it all produced.
• Mount Airy Day and Bob Rossman for once again providing our stage. Our stage crew this year included John, Julie and Liam O’Connell, Stewart Graham, Sanjiv Jain (and crew), Mark Keintz, Greg Lattanzi, John Cieslinski, Caleb Meyer, Doug Knauer, Matthew and Nolan Maddox, and wonderful volunteers from Teen Challenge.
• Mary Cunningham, Paul Roller and Greg Welsh for their very hard and equally able work on the Police & Firefighters Picnic, despite blustery skies.
• Carole Haussermann, who left a legacy that is tough to follow but graciously gives her advice, and when possible, her time.
• Doug “The Iceman” Knauer for keeping us cool and so much more.
• Brian Reisman at Hideaway Music for great raffle prizes.
• Dwyer, Inc. and the entire Dwyer Family.
• All of the area organizations who served as our volunteers hosts, and to Wendy Williams for her wonderful coordination skills.
• Julie Byrne (newly arrived from England just in time to staff the snack bar); Leigh Filippini (and family – who served as the official tasters at the snack bar); Jane Piotrowski; Dana Klein; Dina Hitchcock; Mary Anne Koller; Mark Keintz; Matt Cole; Maxine Maddox Dorneman (in charge of weather); Janine Dwyer; and John Shea for all kinds of help.

For behind the scenes support, thanks to three good friends:

• Shelley Smith for working on grand plans for this and next year.

• Lee Polychron, without whom the very first show of the season (and likely others) would not have gone on.
• Kristin Woods, the technical coordinator of the series. Kristin (along with her husband Brent) quite simply makes these shows happen.

A party celebrating all of our dedicated supporters and volunteers (including those who want to help next year) is the only way to close the season. Accordingly, one will be had on Saturday, Sept. 10 from 7 to 10 p.m. For more information, e-mail tia.burke@verizon.net or call the CHCA office at 215-248-8810. 

Finally, thanks to each and every person who attended the series. The warmth and excitement demonstrated by our audiences delighted the performers, each of whom, without fail, want to return next year. It is our community at its best and I, for one, am grateful to be a part of it. 

Tia Burke
Chair, Pastorius Park Concert Series

Keep the Sabbath

First of all, one cannot “prove” the existence of God, but to those who read His Word, the Bible, and believe in Him, all creation testifies of the power, wisdom and goodness of the Creator.

Similarly, I cannot prove a correlation between keeping almost all the shops on “the Hill” open on Sunday and the current crime spree which Chestnut Hill is experiencing. However, I will say an example of unlimited greed, whether it be by global corporations or small unique shops in Chestnut Hill, gives young people one more reason to disrespect their elders and commit crimes against the weak. I do not condone such crimes. I simply beg to inject a Biblical point of view to the situation in Chestnut Hill. If, as the Bible says, “the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,” we are fast becoming a society with no wisdom.

The only major corporation/restaurant I know that closes on Sunday for religious reasons is “Chick-Fil-A.” And Joe Lieberman from Connecticut is a politician who will not work on his Sabbath. These persons at least alert young people that there is something/someone out there more important than themselves. “May their tribe increase!”

Tom Muldoon
East Falls

Closing the base

On Sunday early evenings, whenever he was home, my dad would load six of us 100 block West Durham Street kids and our 66-year-old neighbor, “Old Man Campbell,” in his ’37 Plymouth and take us to the Willow Grove Naval Air Base. We would cheer for the countless planes taking off and landing. “Old Man Campbell” could cheer louder than the six of us kids together.

When it became dark and we headed home, “Old Man Campbell” in his thick Irish brogue would say, “Boys, there just ain’t no way the Japs and Germans goin’ ta win the war. Remember now, say a prayer tonight for all them boys fightin’ for our freedom.” And yes, we would say a prayer each and every night. And yes, “Old Man Campbell” surely was right.

A grandfather’s proud memory growing up as a pre-teen during WWII … tinged with sadness and more than one tear when he read of the Willow Grove Naval Air Base closing in this morning’s newspaper.

Tom Woodruff
Oreland

Is it safe?

People sometimes ask me: "Is it safe to go into the Wissahickon Creek?" "Is it safe for my dog to drink from the Wissahickon?" "Is it safe to eat fish from the Wissahickon?" or simply "The Wissahickon — is it safe?"

My answer is this: Go look at the waterfall where the Wissahickon plunges under the bridge at Ridge Avenue. At this point the Wissahickon is a churning cauldron of gray and stinking suds. Judge for yourself.

Don't bother to ask the Philadelphia Health Department to advise you. They are strangely silent about all this.

Charles Parsons, President
Monoshone Watershed Association

Greens demand peace

Editor’s note: The Northwest Greens have sent the following statement to: Sens. Arlen Specter and Rick Santorum, Reps. Bob Brady, Chakkah Fattah, and Allyson Schwartz, and Democratic candidates Robert A. Casey and Lois Murphy. This letter was signed by 29 individuals.

Despite the courage of Iraqis who went to the polls in January 2005, the human, domestic and moral costs of the war continue to mount and must not go unaddressed by patriotic Americans who are appalled by the continuing carnage in Iraq. More than 1,852 U.S. soldiers have been killed, and estimates of Iraqi civilian deaths range from 23,589 to 100,000 [see: www.iraqbodycount.net]. More than 75 soldiers from Pennsylvania have lost their lives in Iraq.

The financial burden of the Iraq war has been more than $205 billion, and more than $8 billion has been paid by Pennsylvania's taxpayers, with Philadelphia's residents having already paid more than $776 million of that total [see: www.nationalpriorities.org/costofwar/index]. Please consider the enormous good work that $8 billion dollars could have done for the citizens of our Commonwealth.

Northwest Greens — a non-partisan group of 161 patriots from Chestnut Hill, Germantown and Mount Airy — demand that you, as our elected representative, take the following actions to support our troops and to restore real sovereignty to the people of Iraq:

1. We call for a timetable that outlines a planned withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq and an end of the U.S. occupation of Iraq, which the majority of U.S. citizens oppose.

2. We demand that no U.S. military bases are left behind to insure that no vestiges of the U.S. occupation remain.

3. We call upon the U.S. government and its corporate interests to relinquish all control over reconstruction funds, including Iraqi ministries, new police, and security forces. This relinquishment in support of Iraqi sovereignty and reparations means termination of contracts with U.S. companies and the turning over of projects to Iraqis, while providing transparent accounting for all contracts, including all oil contracts.

4. We call for full funding for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to provide psychological counseling, health care, and benefits to Iraq war veterans and their families.

5. We call upon our government to honor the rights of those in the armed forces who seek conscientious objector status.

Northwest Greens