Newsmakers

Chestnut Hill Academy 8th grade history students, on Oct. 24, participated along with students from 20 area high schools in United Nations Day 2005 at Chestnut Hill College. The topic this year was “Water: A Basic Human Right.” This was the sixth year that CHA, led by Middle School history teacher, Susan McBride, has participated in this conference put on by GEM, Global Education Motivators. As a follow-up to this conference, two of the CHA students will attend the International Telecommunications conference to discuss the same topic with students from around the world. (Front row: l. to r.): Patrick Hawkins, Keenan Kline, Zach Schweitzer, Dylan Ward, Gordon Anthony. (Back row: l to r): Shane Trainor, Ethan Wang, Jonathan McAllister, Charles Trulear and Susan McBride.
	Michael Anthony Homes participated in the Light the Night walk for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. A local Corporate Sponsor for the charitable event, the employees at Michael Anthony Homes, along with many contractors and friends of the company, raised $3,480.00 among themselves. This amount was matched by the Company for a total donation of $6,960.00. In addition, 12 personnel, including company President, Michael A. Nolen demonstrated additional support by walking the two mile walk which took place at Gwynedd-Mercy College in Gwynedd Valley, Pa on October 15. From left to right; First row kneeling: Mike Nolen, Noah Weller, Second row, Jane Nolen, Hannah Weller, Christina Sica Third row: Andrea Secrest, Lauren Walters, Cliff Weller, Bob De La Cour.
Kitty Kelly, Philadelphia Irish Fiddler and third generation Hiller will appear at the Mermaid Inn on Wednesday, Nov. 30 at 8:30 p.m. for an evening of Irsh ceili music and song. She is pictured with her husband, guitarist Mike Albrecht.
	Sam and Connie Katz, Chestnut Hill and Marcy and Dan Bacine, West Mt. Airy, were honored at the Terri Lynne Lokoff Child Care Foundation Rose Gala Saturday night, Oct. 29 at the Hyatt Penns Landing.
Mount Saint Joseph Academy’s Robotics Team, “The Firebirds,” participated in its first competition of the year, The Duel on the Delaware at Salem Community College. At this event, the mentor for “The Firebirds,” and the MSJA Science Chair, Robert Foell, was named Outstanding Master Volunteer by FIRST, the competition’s sponsoring organization. Nominated by Mount Seniors Liz Campo and Allison Britt, the Outstanding Master Volunteer award is given to a team mentor/coach who exhibits great support, leadership, and guidance of a FIRST Robotics team. In their nomination letter, the Mount students wrote that Mr. Foell was “well recognized on the team as a friend first and a teacher and mentor second.” Further, the students see Mr. Foell as an individual “who thinks outside the box” and fosters “an environment of gracious professionalism, which thrives on respect, both within the Mount team and in relation to other teams.” Mr. Foell’s dedication to the Robotics team is a great source of pride for “The Firebirds” and Mount Saint Joseph Academy. After a terrific year in 2004-2005, “The Firebirds” look forward to continued success this academic year, especially with Robert Foell as their mentor.
	The 2005-2006 Norwood-Fontbonne Academy Student Council officers and Homeroom Representatives were installed at a special ceremony in the fall. (Front 1.-r.) Meredith Bracken, secretary; Alexandra Melnick, vice-president; Devlin Carey, president; Taylor Stable, public relations rep.; Tara Beppel, treasurer. (Back l.-r.) Mrs. Mickie Sheehan, moderator; Angela Saponaro, Caroline Cilio, Saara-Anne Azizi, Meaghan Bricker, Jeremy Bailey, Jane Maguire, Victoria Stitt homeroom representatives; Sister Jean Laurich, principal; Zachary Melnick; Mrs. Judy Riviezzo, moderator, Joseph Kenny.
Mt. Airy residents Sol and Judy Levy, pictured to the right, along with Chestnut Hill residents Diane Freedman and Christine Stainton, are featured on ComingofAge.org, a new online resource designed to guide the Greater Philadelphia region’s 1.5 million people age 50+ to new opportunities. Seif and the Levy’s both share personal stories of finding a hobby in retirement, and Stainton writes about finding a second career as a nurse and advocate for public health. Sol Levy and Freedman are also available to answer users’ questions about financial planning and preparing for the future, respectively, in their roles as ComingofAge.org Site Guides. “Whether you’re interested in making a difference, pursuing learning or finding meaningful work, this site offers you an abundance of resources,” said Dick Goldberg, director of Coming of Age and a resident of Chestnut Hill.
	The holiday boutique sponsored by the Women’s Committee of Children’s Hospital, will be at the Merion Cricket Club, Haverford on Friday, Dec. 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with lunch available from noon to 2 p.m. There will be a preview party and silent auction on Thursday, Dec. 1 from 5-9 p.m. Women’s committee members at the invitation meeting at Anne Hamilton’s home are: Alexandra Driscoll, Julia Ward, Susan Morse and Marnie Grasso of Chestnut Hill; Anna Cooke Smith of Flourtown holding Oliver; Cameron Peake Oreland and Melen Boothby, a Vice-president of the committee also of Chestnut Hill.
The Morris Arboretum’s popular summer Garden Railway Display is returning again this winter as the 5th Annual Holiday Garden Railway Display. Visitors will enjoy model trains running through a miniature village featuring some of Philadelphia’s most architecturally significant buildings. Each of the buildings is decorated and holiday lights twinkle along the tracks and within the surrounding landscape. The Garden Railway Display has become one of the Arboretum’s most beloved attractions since it opened in 1998, and the Holiday Garden Railway has become a new holiday tradition for many families. The Holiday Garden Railway Display will open on Nov. 25. The trains will run daily from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily through Dec. 31. The display is free with regular garden admission: $10 adults, $8 for seniors, students and youth (13-18) $5, children under age three and members free.
	The Springside third grade class, taught by David McCullough, entered a group-written play, “The Party Princess,” to the Philadelphia Young Playwrights play competition last spring. They received a second place award from among over two hundred plays submitted in the Elementary Division. The girls pictured from left to right are: (top row): Morgan Schneer, Emery Schaffer, Karah Barrist, Hannah Brazier, Anna Morris, Sydney Weigert, (middle row): Hannah Jansen, Finola Goudy, Sarah-Chen Ogorek, Olivia Fiechter, (bottom row): Elizabeth Bixler, Sarrah Schreffler, Weatherly Saunders, Liza Gendler, and Isabella Holland.

Holiday tour picture