‘BIG RED’ AT END OF McCALLUM STREET BRIDGE: “Big Red” is an eye-catching sculpture, 160” x 180” x 156”, that was commissioned by the Cherokee Apartments at McCallum Street and Mermaid Lane. It was created by Glenside artist John W. Parker, 57, and installed last fall for permanent display. Parker has created dozens of sculptures for Woodmere Art Museum, Port of History Museum, Phila. Art Alliance and many other public and corporate entities.

A FRIEND IN NEED … Springside alumna Gigi Glendinning made two trips to Louisiana to help the 1,900 animals rescued by Noah’s Wish, a group that helps animals during natural disasters, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. As part of her work there, Gigi cleaned cages, walked and bathed dogs, played with cats, assisted people through the adoption process, and got to witness many joyous reunions of owners and their pets. Gigi returned with Fluffy, the cat pictured here, and showed slides from her trips. Some of the fourth grade students, on their own initiative, collected money earlier in the fall for the animals affected by the hurricane. Alison Weiss presented Gigi with a check that is earmarked for Noah’s Wish. Left to right are: Cece Charendoff; Gigi’s niece, Lily Glendinning; Gigi; Sarrah Schreffler; Alison Weiss; Weatherly Saunders; Elizabeth Bixler; and Morgan Schneer.

YOUNG AREA ENVIRONMENTALISTS: As part of the school’s ongoing stewardship of the section of the Wissahickon adjacent to the school, 161 Springside students from first through fifth grades put on their boots and grabbed shovels, rakes, and loppers before heading into the woods. Under the guidance of Fairmount Park’s Volunteer Coordinator David Bower, the girls restored and marked trails, cleared debris, removed invasive pachysandra and planted 35 native trees and shrubs.

PROUD NANA! Chestnut Hill Local staffer Nancy Berger announces the birth of her first grandchild, Max Berger Ginsburg, on Oct. 28. Max’s parents are Jane and Lev Ginsburg of Albany, N.Y. Lucky Max has many grandparents: Howard Ginsburg, of Troy, N.Y.; Joanne and Steven Sininsky of Suffern, N.Y.; Bill and Peggy Berger, of Allentown, Pa.; plus Nancy and her husband, Chris Henderson, of Mt. Airy.

GFS STUDENTS share holiday cheer: Heather Tannenbaum of Mount Airy (standing) joins fellow Germantown Friends School drama students in reading Dylan Thomas’s “A Child’s Christmas in Wales” to residents of Stapeley in Germantown, a Quaker-sponsored retirement community. GFS drama students traditionally visit Stapeley at holiday time to spread cheer and sing holiday songs. Both groups enjoy the sharing of stories and ideas across generations.