April 6, 2006 Issue                                                     

Local News

Candidates outnumber seats, 2-1
by Kristin Pazulski

After a contentious year in Chestnut Hill, 54 candidates have lined up for 24 seats on the Community Association board in what may be the most crowded field in the organization’s history.

Some contenders have aligned themselves with one of two groups presenting candidate slates: the Second Opinion Caucus and the Action Alliance.

 

Chestnut Hill Community Association Board Candidates

Elaine M. Aiello

Elaine M. Aiello

Residence: Roxborough (previously, Chestnut Hill)
Family: Mother of five children, wife of Lou Aiello.
Education: High school graduate
Occupation: Homemaker, retired
Statement: I wouldn’t say I am the very best candidate for office, but I do love Chestnut Hill with all my heart. I raised five children here and all five were schooled here until college commenced. I have been a member of Our Mother of Consolation for 45 years. I have volunteered at my children’s schools and at the Main Street Fair. I also worked at Chestnut Hill Hospital for 18 years as a secretary/patient testing coordinator in the cardiac telemetry unit. My entire married life has revolved around Chestnut Hill, and now that I have some free time I would like to give back to Chestnut Hill, for it has certainly served my family well. I wish to do all I can to improve and at the same time preserve the uniqueness of this “village on the hill.”

Scott Alloway

Scott Alloway

Statement: I am a Chestnut Hill Local staff member seeking a seat on the board of directors of the Chestnut Hill Community Association. My decision to run was made last fall during the newspaper crisis created by many on the current board and their utter disregard for civility, rule of law and common courtesy. It was reaffirmed by their failures in fund drives, community activities and operational planning. It was finalized by their inability to understand what they have done when they cast themselves as the “reformers.”

 

 

Jain yanks proposal

Sanjiv Jain of Legacy Real Estate has withdrawn his proposal for a controversial bar/restaurant at the 8528 Germantown Ave., former site of the Yankee Candle Co.

Jain said Legacy has signed a lease for the property with Penzeys Spices, a specialty retail company that sells spices and herbs. The company’s headquarters are in Wisconsin, but it has stores nationwide.

 

Neighbors challenge New Covenant’s proposed shelter
by KRISTIN PAZULSKI

Marc Stier of Mt. Airy was one of about 170 neighbors to attend the meeting (Photo by Kristin Pazulski)

About 170 community members turned out last week to learn more about the homeless shelter proposed for the campus of the New Covenant Church, and to express concerns.

A variance is not needed for the proposed Families Forward Programs, which would eventually serve 50 families of women and children. But representatives of the city and New Covenant at the meeting, held March 29, sought to assure residents that they would have a voice in the project, which is not yet on a timeline since they are unsure how long the community and planning process will take.

 

Please make Philadelphia smoke-free
by Vicki D. Lachman

March 27 was the first day of the rest of Scotland’s smoke-free life. The Scots joined an abundant number of countries that have put their citizens’ health above the tobacco industry profits. The same day, I sat in the chambers of Philadelphia City Council as they discussed AGAIN whether to make Philadelphia a smoke-free city for the countless restaurant workers and bartenders in this city. It was clear from the presentations by physicians, health promotion representatives and representatives of minority agencies throughout this city that the facts on secondhand smoke do not move many people to support the idea. The facts were numerous and compelling. For example, one out of six people who die of lung cancer, die from secondhand smoke. Dana Reeves was a recent, notable example. Secondhand smoke profoundly affects our children who have asthma and it causes premature births in mothers.

Local Life

Chestnut Hill’s ‘Music Man’
Golden wins gold; best violin maker in competition
by LEN LEAR

Harold Golden, surrounded by his remarkable award-winning instruments in his Chestnut Hill studio

Even many non-musicians have heard of names like Stradivarius and Guarneri. They were Italian makers of violins about 300 years ago whose power and tone are still so extraordinary that if their wood has not deteriorated over time, they now cost more than $1 million each — if they can be found, that is.

“I have played a $1 million Guaneri violin and a $1 million Stradivarius,” explained Harold Golden, Chestnut Hill resident who knows something about violins himself. “The music from each of those violins sends a chill up your spine.”

 

Hill scientist finds 375-million-year-old fossils
by CAROLYN BELARDO

Chestnut Hill resident Dr. Ted Daeschler, of The Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, co-leader of the historic expedition to Ellesmere Island above the Arctic Circle, shows one of the 375-million-year-old fossils he and his colleagues discovered.

The recent discovery above the Arctic Circle of remarkably well preserved fossils from a new species of ancient fish provides a key marker in the evolutionary transition of fish to limbed animals.

In two related articles highlighted on the April 6 cover of the journal Nature, Chestnut Hill resident Dr. Ted Daeschler of The Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, co-leader of the expedition to Ellesmere Island, and his colleagues announced the discovery of 375-million-year-old fossils with numerous features that place them squarely at the evolutionary transition from fish to limbed animals. The new species has a skull, neck, ribs and part of a fin like the earliest limbed animals, but also has fins and scales like a fish.

 

 

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