August 10, 2006 Issue
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Classified Chestnut Hill Local Online Editor Don't Miss an Issue, Tell us what you see or ©2006 Chestnut Hill Local Winner of One |
From our readersBridge traffic has to go somewhere So far you’ve done a pretty thorough job of covering the closing of the Willow Grove Avenue bridge, as on page 3 of the Local July 27 edition and in Pete Mazzaccaro’s editorial in that same edition, which was excellent. And in the few days since that edition went to press, “Streets” has closed the bridge completely again, solving the short-term problem of possible accidents. However, all of your coverage has missed a major side-effect of the bridge closure: the seriously increased traffic on West Springfield Avenue, especially on the 300 block. Once the folks who used to travel on Willow Grove Avenue find that the bridge is closed, they don’t use the marked detour because they know that, especially if they are going to CHA or into Center City, Springfield is much shorter. This means that the residents of that block, from Lincoln Drive to St. Martin’s Lane, have to deal with very, very heavy traffic during the rush hours — so heavy it’s nearly impossible to pull out into traffic from our curbside parking places (we don’t have driveways). In fact, when CHA is in session and many CHA parents now use Springfield Avenue to get to the drop-off for their kids, the traffic is often backed up all the way from St. Martin’s Lane to Lincoln Drive. The second issue is that, outside the rush hours, many cars go incredibly fast, so the many residents with little children have to be very careful getting their kids into cars and all of us have to be very careful crossing the street. We know we live on a through street in the city and can’t expect our street to be deserted at any hour. But since the bridge closed, with the traffic from two streets funneled into one, the residents of the 300 block of Springfield Avenue have become very concerned. We absolutely cannot let the Streets Department take 10 years to build a new Willow Grove Avenue bridge, much less close it permanently! So we appreciate all the help we can get from the Local and the Community Association to keep up the pressure to fix the bridge. Louise S. Thompson A bargain at twice the price One need only read the engagement announcement in the Aug. 3 Chestnut Hill Local to “get the joke” announcing the merger of the Vanderbilt-Drexel-McIlhenny dynasty with the Rockefeller-DuPont-Vergnetti fortunes which has caused such a commotion in this wee greene countrie village. The real beauty part comes, however, with the editorial Mea Culpa. It was not unlike viewing an autopsy, simultaneously fascinating and repulsive with the queasy realization that suddenly you know way too much about a total stranger. You want to avert your eyes, and the giggle is a nervous one, but you just can’t stop yourself from pressing on. The climax is anti-climax, the threat of delayed wedding announcements while the fact-checkers check facts is a hollow victory for no one in particular. Invoking the royal “we” and shameless toadying to “the elite of our community” pale in comparison to the image of editorial staff members agonizing over how to avoid causing offense to potentially real Vanderbilts, Drexels, Rockefellers and DuPonts plus assorted Carnegies after cleverly recognizing the doctorate in Pyg Latin and the Nobel Prize in kitchen remodeling were “clearly bogus.” Fifty cents (with no minimum or cover charge) for the Chestnut Hill Local is a bargain at twice the price! M. Ni h’Uailaighe Fond memories of Devil’s Pool I recently read the article on Devil’s Pool from the June 20 edition. Growing up in Germantown and West Mt. Airy in the 1960s and 1970s, Devil’s Pool was a beautiful summer oasis where many local teens went to cool off by swimming and drinking beer. Rarely did someone get injured, there was no fighting, no one was indulging in the street art of graffiti and there was a receptacle for trash at the covered end of the wooden bridge. The place was usually safe and clean. It was a sacred place to many of us. In recent years I’ve shared my experience at the pool with my children. We all went to the pool many times for an enjoyable day of swimming. The water was very cool and clear and the surrounding area was surprisingly clean. My only disappointment, besides the knuckleheads jumping from the aqueduct, was that there was a lot of graffiti. The place that many of us held as sacred had been desecrated by the generations of youth that followed. It’s a shame that such a beautiful setting has been marred by morons whose lack of respect for nature has caused so much damage. I can only hope that the natural beauty of Devil’s Pool can be restored by the time I take my grandchildren there to enjoy it’s splendor. John Moss
“…Smug… condescending…uninformed, reactionary… pawns of previous management”… prone to “sour grapes” and carrying “a massive chip on their shoulder”… So goes Jim Foster’s vituperative attack on those of us who didn’t vote with him and who chose to leave the board meeting half an hour early last Thursday (Local, Aug. 3). It gives you a pretty good idea of what he and some of his fellow “reformers” think makes for constructive community dialogue. It also precisely mirrors the tone of many of the comments made by Mssrs. Foster, Recko and others at that meeting. The campaign barrage continues, even though, as Mr. Foster himself insists, his “side” won the election some time ago. The side that, as he put it at the meeting, represents “right” while the rest of us represent “wrong.” Mr. Foster neglects to mention the fact that over the past two months members of his own so-called side have chosen not to vote with him and the new CHCA leadership on many occasions. Does he then believe that they, too, are “Smug, condescending, uninformed reactionary pawns of previous management” prone to “sour grapes” and carrying “a massive chip on their shoulder?” The first listed goal of the CHCA is “encouraging a sense of community in Chestnut Hill.” (CHCA Bylaws, Article 1, B). How Mr. Foster’s strychnine-laced rhetoric gets us any closer to that goal is beyond me. Carol Cope This is in response to Jim Foster’s Letter (Local, Aug. 3). And let me begin by saying I do not have a “massive chip on my shoulder” as he contends many on the board do, but I would be less than honest to myself or to this community if I simply remained silent. I believe the majority of board members put the interests of Chestnut Hill, the issues, problems, complexities and, yes, the opportunities that lie ahead at the top of their agendas. I, for one do not wish to keep “a status quo and a quiet, homey profile.” And I am not, nor are others I’m aware of, “pawns of the previous management.” And I have not “made uninformed reactionary posturing (my) new mantra.” Jim, as President Reagan once said, “There you go again.” My mantra is to do what I was elected to do over a year ago. And that is to act as decisively, as intelligently and passionately as possible for our community — armed with facts and knowledge, not insinuations. Do these qualities make me immune from making mistakes and errors in judgment? Absolutely not. I am not infallible and don’t claim to be. My point is this. The language, the tone of his letter was not what we need at this point. It was, in my opinion, divisive. We can and will have our disagreements, but our focus — our energy — should be channeled to the tasks ahead. Not continuing to foster (no pun intended) unfounded accusations and attacks. And I am not here “to shoot the messenger” as Mr. Foster warned, but perhaps it is his random pot shots that might be more wisely taken. Tom Hemphill Unleashed dogs are still illegal This is in response to the letter in the Local (July 27) beginning “I’m sad.” How about, “I’m bad” as a different beginning. You are breaking the law. Dogs legally cannot run in the park unleashed no matter how much poop you pick up, how many little conflicts you mediate, or how cute it is when a dog takes an occasional burger from a child. Even if you “show your gratitude to the community and the park by helping pick up trash and set up sound systems,” you are still breaking the law. It is like saying, “It is OK that I steal a little because I also volunteer in a homeless shelter.” I don’t believe there is any research that says Pastorius Park has fewer robberies because dog owners are in the park socializing. If you truly believe “it makes sense to take care of things we value,” and care about “common courtesy and common sense,” you will find another place to take your dog and socialize so the near homeowners and other people can also continue to “value and enjoy the park.” You will still find Chestnut Hill welcoming and tolerant and even begin to feel morally better about yourself. Lauren Marks
This is a brief letter to acknowledge the caring proprietors and staff at the Chestnut Hill Farmers Market. A few weeks ago, my mother was shopping there when she became slightly ill. She was quickly offered a chair and a glass of water. Several people even assisted in obtaining a few last food items on her shopping list. After a short rest, mom was ready to walk back home, but with continued concern the staff insisted on providing her a ride home. I have read other letters like this in the paper before which impart such a good feeling of living in/near this community. I wanted to thank everyone at the Farmers Market who care so much for the people in their neighborhood and who went beyond just helping my mom on that day. Michael Davenport A Clarification A letter to the Editor appeared in last week’s Local regarding the CHCA Board meeting of July 27. The letter stated, “At least two people who wanted to attend the meeting, went to the Library, found it locked, no notice on the door (as some will tell you there was) and gave up and went home.” I am writing to provide a clarification. I was the first person to arrive at the Library on the evening of July 27 and found it deserted and locked. As Board members arrived, there was of course discussion about how to proceed. We were unable to contact the librarian, but luckily were able to arrange access to the meeting room (Dixon Hall) at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. At about 7:45 p.m., I prepared a sign which directed latecomers to the new meeting location. I secured my sign to the library’s north side entrance with the help of another Board member. Later, we saw at least two Board members arrive at the new location, presumably having seen the sign which I had prepared. I called the head librarian the next day to confirm the Board meeting schedule through May 2007.
Noreen Spota |
