February 2, 2006 Issue                                               

©2005 The Chestnut Hill Local

Local Life

These CHC students are also full-time Philly cops
by LEN LEAR

Michael and Altovise, full-time Chestnut Hill College students and full-time police officers, are seen at their wedding in 1998 at the Ashbourne Country Club in Cheltenham

Michael Craighead and Altovise Love Craighead, of Roxborough, had to jump through hoops just to find the time to be interviewed together by the Local. Compared to this couple, who have the energy and drive of a runaway train, most of us are just malingerers and couch potatoes taking an extended daily siesta.

Michael, 43, and Altovise, 35, are both full-time students at Chestnut Hill College as well as full-time Philadelphia police officers. In addition, Altovise rehearses and acts in plays performed by an organization called TOVA: Artistic Projects for Social Change. (And she does needlepoint.)

‘Actors’ true-crime victims
‘One always hears sobbing throughout the audience’
by LEN LEAR

Victoria Greene (center), of Germantown, a retired social worker, her daughter, Altovise, and Reuben Jones perform in Beyond the Walls: The Road to Redemption, a play in which the actors are real-life crime victims and real-life criminals.

Since the days of ancient Greece, playwrights have been trying to stir the emotions of audiences by having them identify with the words and feelings delivered by actors, but there may have never been a stage play quite as powerful as Beyond the Walls; the Road to Redemption, which premiered last May at the Philadelphia Cathedral, 3723 Chestnut St.

Needed in Chestnut Hill: a more level playing field
by PAT STOKES

The northwest corner of Germantown and Evergreen is quite an eyesore these days. (Photo by Len Lear)

Yep, that Commerce Bank corner at Evergreen and the Avenue is really and truly one of the worst things we’ve had to look at for some time. But perhaps we can take a Pollyanna approach and say that it will change. Things do change, and surely in this case there’s no way to go but better. Let’s just hope that decisions about stonework, glass doors, murals, etc., are reached sooner rather than later. Get with it folks, we’re all tired of looking at that mess.

Hiller takes a holistic approach to weight loss
by KRISTIN PAZULSKI

Emily Clark, a holistic counselor, recently joined forces with Erdenheim’s Woudsma Chiropractic. Her specialty is weight loss, a subject of interest to more than a few Americans.

Ever wonder why we reach for food when depressed, stressed, or really upset? Emily Clark, a holistic counselor who just recently joined forces with Erdenheim’s Woudsma Chiropractic, believes this impulse is the body’s attempt to balance two types of food –“primary” and “secondary.”

Clark categorizes a person’s hobbies, career, family, exercise, spirituality, etc., that create the details of our lives as “primary food.” The substance we put into our mouths is “secondary food.” When one food-type suffers — for primary food, it can be a change in career or problem in the family — then we must balance it out with the other food type. Therefore, when our “primary food” causes stress or depression, we rely on the “secondary food” to balance us out.

Following the prosciutto of happiness at Nido
By LEN LEAR

Co-owner Michele Iovino holds up her tuna carpaccio, one of the awesome signature dishes at Nido. (Photo by Len Lear)

This is both a love story and a food story, which seems appropriate with Valentine’s Day quickly approaching. Five years ago South Philly resident Franco Iovino, then-owner of Girasole, an Italian restaurant at 1305 Locust St. for 15 years until June, 2004 (Pelican Fish is there now), was visiting relatives and friends in Naples, Italy, where he was born and raised.

While there, Franco met a handsome young man named Giuseppe Marisco, a waiter in restaurants and an artist in tile, marble and Venetian stucco. Just as Franco was about to return to Philadelphia, he was met at the Rome Airport by his daughter, Michele, then the manager at Girasole, who was arriving for a vacation. Franco introduced her to Marisco, who had driven Franco to the airport. (Michele had previously lived in Naples from the age of three months to the age of six.)

Hail, Caesar, for triumphant return after two months
by BETH A. BROOKS

Carole Anne Hensley (standing, left), Charlie and Barbara Thorpe, and their son, Chris (holding Caesar), are all thrilled about the return of the beautiful German Shepherd.

Those familiar with ancient history know that Caesar was considered to be a military genius and powerful leader. Those familiar with the story of Caesar, the German Shepherd, might say he’s lived up to his name. As Julius Caesar thought himself to be invincible royalty, much the same could be said about the canine Caesar.

Caesar, part of the Thorpe family since he was six weeks old, was reunited with them on Monday, Jan. 9.

Breathtaking performance by Hill musician
by MICHAEL CARUSO

Every now and again, one has the opportunity to witness a young musician laying out for himself a daunting challenge, one that will require him to pull himself up to an altogether new and higher level of artistic accomplishment. Every now and then, one has the chance to witness that musician not merely achieving a higher goal but surpassing it and, in the process of doing so, establishing for himself a more impressive standing than even his most ardent admirers ever imagined for him so soon in his career.