September 11, 2008 Issue                                                     

Local News

AND THEY’RE OFF Chestnut Hill Academy’s cross country team breezed to a victory over Shipley last week. See LOCAL SPORTS.. (Photo by Jimmy J. Pack Jr.)

Hospital CEO defends closing of obstetrics
by JOEL HOFFMANN

Chestnut Hill Hospital CEO M. Brooks Turkel believes he made the best decision for the community in closing the hospital’s obstetrics unit, but he understands the pain behind the numbers.

New teachers’ fund provides money for classroom materials
by JENNIFER KATZ

State Sen. LeAnna Washington and Mt. Airy’s Ken Weinstein took a small bite out of the funding constraints for five local public schools by announcing the formation of the Mt. Airy Teachers’ Fund, a grant program that provides enrichment opportunities for teachers.

Local Sports

CHA cross country cruises past Shipley
by TOM UTESCHER

?CHA freshman Dustin Wilson, who finished first with a 15:53 time. For more photos visit www.chlocalphotos.com. (Photos by Pack Jr.)

Freshman Dustin Wilson showed why he is considered one of the rising running talents in the Inter-Ac League, and other Chestnut Hill Academy harriers provided a strong supporting cast as the Blue Devils won their opening dual meet last Friday.

Wilson won by more than a minute and senior Mike Fitzkee, sophomore Mike Fuery, and junior Dylan Ward placed third, fourth, and fifth respectively, as the Devils knocked off visiting Shipley School, 20-38.

Wilson needed just 15 minutes and 53 seconds to complete the CHA course, which measures just about three miles even. Arne Anderson led the visiting Gators by taking second place overall in 16:54, while Fitzkee, Fuery, Ward and Shipley’s Nate Kuntz (sixth place) all finished in the 17-minute bracket. Ryan Ansel was Chestnut Hill’s fifth scorer and the seventh finisher overall, and his junior classmate Justin Anglin came in eighth.

The compact, streamlined Wilson took command early and was never challenged after that.

“He’s on target to break Ned Cunningham’s [‘08] school and course record,” longtime CHA coach Paul Hines said. “Right now he’s only six seconds off of that.”

The Blue Devils’ mentor added, “Michael Fitzkee, Michael Fuery, Justin Anglin and Ryan Ansel all ran PR’s today. I can’t remember a team we’ve had that’s run this well this early. We had six guys go 18:32 or better.”

Springside Cross Country shuts out Shipley
by TOM UTESCHER

Springside’s Katie Fitzkee crossed the finish line first at 21:32. For more photos of cross countryvisit www.chlocalphotos.com.

Just seven names appear on the 2008 Springside School cross country roster, but with only five runners making up the official score in a dual meet, the Lions had enough womanpower to overwhelm visiting Shipley School last Friday afternoon.

Taking the top five places, Springside scored a technical shutout against the Gators, winning 15-44 in the first race of the season.

On Chestnut Hill Academy’s three-mile course, junior Katie Fitzkee led the Lions with a time of 21 minutes, 32 seconds, and freshman Toni Hall was just 18 ticks behind in second place. The other scoring runners for the Lions were sophomore Gabi Novo (third place), senior Teghan Boyle (fourth), and junior Stephanie Sherman (fifth).

Lauren Scott, who came in sixth in 27:13, was the first Shipley runner to cross the line, and her Gator teammate Elizabeth Owens took seventh place.

Kate Butler, who was presiding over her first meet as Springside’s coach, is new to the team but not to the school. She played field hockey, squash, and lacrosse for the Lions, and when she graduated in 1992 she went on to play lacrosse at Georgetown University.

Looking to stay active after graduating from college, Butler took up running and began to race in 10K events and half-marathons. While teaching school in Massachusetts she began to coach cross country, and she stayed with it when she moved out to the West Coast. Last season the squad she coached in Pasadena, CA finished third in the state.