February 7, 2008 Issue
|
|
|
|
February 7, 2008 Issue
|
|
|
About
Us Chestnut Hill Local Webmaster Don't Miss an Issue, Tell us what you see or
|
Fairview resident celebrates 100th
Last Friday, Kristine Priedite sat in a typical waiting room chair turned birthday throne to celebrate her 100th birthday. A halo of gold and black paper stars formed a backdrop to Priedite’s tiny frame, and she wore a black gown speckled with gold and a necklace of stars. Every month there is a birthday celebration at the Fairview Care Center, a retirement home on Bethlehem Pike, when all the residents with birthdays in that month are honored with cake, decorations and socializing. But the celebration last Friday was held exclusively for Priedite to celebrate her 100-year milestone on Feb. 1. Florence Thorton, director of therapeutic recreation at Fairview, said every 100th birthday at the center is celebrated with a party, and in her 30-some years at the center, she has helped celebrate about 10. Currently, there are three residents over 100 living at the center, including Priedite.
At age 70, Harry Groome has not yet learned what the term “retire” means as he celebrates the publication of his first book, Wing Walking, a novel (based on true events) that portrays the emotional and personal side of the large corporate players in the pharmaceutical industry. Groome, a native Hiller and Chestnut Hill Academy graduate, worked in corporate pharmaceutical companies for more than 30 years, starting out as a writer and advancing, eventually, to chairman of SmithKline Beecham Consumer HealthCare. When he was 52 and retirement loomed eight years ahead (SmithKline, a British company, required employees to retire at 60), someone had suggested he begin writing again. “I filed it away,” he said of the suggestion, and when retirement came a few years later, he gave writing a whirl. Patriots steal victory from Devils
For both Germantown Academy and Chestnut Hill Academy, it was a tale of two halves. In the first half of last Tuesday's (Jan. 29) pivotal basketball match, both teams had trouble stopping the other on offense which led to a 30-30 tie at the break. But in the third quarter, GA came out focused and determined and opened up an eight-point lead behind the hot shooting of guard Joe Hill and forward Jeff Holton to propel the Patriots to a 69-51 win. The victory gives GA sole possession of first place in the Inter-Ac with three games left to play. Though CHA had been playing well offensively, that was not the best sign for head coach Bill Dooley moving into the second half. "The score at the half concerned me because it was too high for us," Dooley said. "We don't have as much offensive firepower as they do, so it is much more important for us to get stops on the defensive end which we could not do with any sort of consistency." At the 6:10 mark of the fourth period, Holton nailed a three from the right wing to give the Patriots a 52-41 lead that all but sealed the contest. "Coaches always say the first four minutes of the second half are really crucial and really important, especially in a tie game," Hill said. "We really came out with energy in the first four minutes and tried to take it to them then."
CHA wrestlers conquer Quakers, 51-15
Host Chestnut Hill Academy earned four pins and a decision out on the mat, and the Blue Devils also benefited from four forfeits by the visiting Penn Charter Quakers to win last Friday’s Inter-Ac League meet, 51-15. It was the last home appearance for senior co-captains Alex Blenheim (135 lbs.) and Henry Gilbert (171 lbs.), who each pinned their opponents to help CHA level its league record at 2-2 while improving to 10-5 overall. The Devils will be on the road at Episcopal Academy for their final Inter-Ac dual meet. |
Local LifeArea writer, 82, bases Civil War novel on own family
Mary Hennessy of Fort Washington has a life story every bit as fascinating as the adventures of her not-totally-fictitious Civil War hero, Henry Washington Sawyer. Sawyer, born in Pennsylvania in 1829, is connected to Hennessy through her daughter’s marriage — and as we’ll see, this real-life Civil War cavalry officer had a latter-day Chestnut Hill connection.
Close Up
|
