Yet more Hill residents may be victims of mail theft

A Chestnut Hill couple who say they had $40,000 mysteriously disappear from their Wells Fargo savings account allegedly were victims of bank fraud.

Springfield residents taxed by bungled collections

When the Springfield Township Board of Commissioners accepted the resignation of deputy tax collector Bonny Davis in April, it marked the completion of a 13-year tenure that ended in controversy.

Bass gets tough on “Rebuild” funding

When it became clear that Kenney’s “Rebuild” initiative didn’t intend to split spending equally among city council’s 10 districts and that hers would be getting $31 million while some others would get closer to $60 million, Bass raised complaints.

Cranes come for 30 W. Highland

Demolition of 30 W. Highland Ave. got underway last week, marking the start of construction for a controversial condominium project that sparked endless neighborhood debate over the nature of development, what historic preservation really means and just what new housing in Chestnut Hill should look like.

Features

Actor, author, and war zone tank commander

Lafayette Hill resident Richard Lyntton's life would make a pretty good movie. He’s been a captain and a tank commander in the British military, observed and documented war crimes in Bosnia, been abducted by Serbs in Sarajevo and written several books.

Mt. Airy author can walk her way into your heart

You might not think that a book about walking would be a page-turner, but a new book proves that any subject can be fascinating if it is told in a compelling way.

Taking on the U.S. Postal Service

Residents have had longtime issues with the neighborhood’s only post office. They say mail has been lost, stolen, and incorrectly or slowly delivered.

Locals celebrate Juneteenth with a range of events

This weekend brings a variety of opportunities to celebrate Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day and Black Independence Day.

Snacktime Philly brings the party to Chestnut Hill

The COVID pandemic may have resulted in some of the most stressful, isolated moments in many of our lives, but it was good for at least one thing. It brought us the city’s favorite brass band, Snacktime, which is scheduled to play the second concert in this year’s Chestnut Hill Community Association’s Pastorius Park summer concert series on June 22 at 7:30 p.m.

Grassroots push to preserve Harston Woods gains momentum

If you think you’ve been seeing a lot of “Save Harston Woods” yard signs in Springfield Township that’s because nearly 200 have been sold by the Friends of Harston Woods (FHW), a grassroots organization trying to save one of the few remaining open spaces in the township.

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Local Calendar

Community Feature

Summer hoops league launches at Germantown Academy

Summer league basketball action got underway on Monday, June 13, with the Germantown Academy Patriots playing host to a number of Suburban One League girls' teams, as well as St. Hubert's.

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Crime Report

Due to the holiday schedule, this week’s crime report will appear in next week’s paper.

What can a resident do for me?

You wonder, “Isn’t a resident a student?” And then, “If there’s a resident working, then what is an intern?”

Thurs. June 23, 2022: CHCA annual membership meeting, 6:00 pm regular business meeting

Agenda

A local foodie’s tour of Italy delights and satisfies

Mamma Pina carved thin slices of horse meat for the luncheon carpaccio. Her son-in-law, award-winning Philadelphia chef Jeff Michaud, stirred an antique copper pot of bubbling polenta on the kitchen’s wood-burning stove.

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Business

Time’s running out for preserving audiovisual materials

Almost a quarter into the 21st century, a new problem has entered our lives. People of all ages now find themselves with more personal audiovisual material than ever before - and with so many of …

Jun 28, 2022 issue

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Crime

Crime Report: May 16 to June 6

The following crime report is for crimes reported in Chestnut Hill and Mt. Airy for the period from May 16 to June 6.

Traditionalism’s cozier spaces are making a comeback

Today’s living rooms are providing us with much more than a place to put guests after a family meal. Whether you call it a drawing room, sitting room, living room or family room, the “heart of the home,” as it is so often called, is now receiving wider decorative attention than ever.

Man on a mission to rescue strangled trees

Nicolas Troyano is on a mission to remove the invasive ivy that is strangling so many huge trees in Chestnut Hill.

Architecture is best when it serves humans, not stars

Christopher Alexander believed that ordinary people, not just trained architects, should have a hand in designing their own houses, neighborhoods and cities.

Historic Germantown charts a path toward greater relevance

Even before pandemic shutdowns, historic house museums were having a rough time. But our local house museums are working hard to buck that trend, including those in Historic Germantown.

Celebrating Modern architecture in the Northwest

Northwest Philadelphia’s remarkable treasures of Modern architecture are being celebrated in late May at the annual DOCOMOMO-US conference, this year being held in Philadelphia.

Women's college league back for summer basketball season

Last Tuesday was opening night in the long-running Philadelphia/Suburban Women's Summer Basketball League, which got its start decades ago at Chestnut Hill's own Water Tower Recreation Center.

Area scullers earn four medals at Stotesbury Cup Regatta

Rowers from Germantown Academy, Germantown Friends School, Penn Charter, and Springside Chestnut Hill Academy joined athletes from more than 180 other schools last Friday and Saturday for the annual Stotesbury Cup Regatta.

Four gold medals, six finalists for Mount at Stotesbury

Last Friday and Saturday Mount St. Joseph Academy upheld a long tradition of success at major crew events as the Magic competed in the 95th annual Stotesbury Cup Regatta on the Schuylkill.

SCH softball is Inter-Ac League co-champion for 2022

With two easy softball victories last week, Springside Chestnut Hill Academy became co-champion of the Inter-Ac League for 2022.

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Uvalde tragedy prompts Springfield Township to review plans for a school shooting

At the June 6 workshop meeting, Springfield Township manager Michael Taylor outlined updated strategies implemented by township police in response to the mass shooting last month at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.

10th anniversary and a $3 million gift for SCH

Springside Chestnut Hill Academy celebrated the 10th anniversary of its distinctive program for teaching entrepreneurship this year with the announcement of a $3 million gift from former board chair Dick Hayne.

A leadership transition at SCH as Druggan departs

Almost a year and a half after announcing his departure, Head of School Stephen L. Druggan is stepping down from Springside Chestnut Hill Academy to become the Superintendent of the American School of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

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Letters to the editor

- Letter: Tips for avoiding mail theft
  
  In the past few months, the Local has published multiple articles and letters from readers about theft from mailboxes and post offices. I offer …
- Letter: As it did with Ukraine, the U.S. must recognize the Iranian people’s right to resistance
  
  In leading in confronting aggression in Ukraine, America is upholding the idea that freedom is not free.
- Letter: Thanks for reminder that bikes are great transportation
  
  Hats off (or rather, bike helmets off) to John Meigs for his recent letter promoting bicycling by means of his gentle corrective to a May 26 …
- Letter: Calling for better communication between SEPTA and riders
  
  Part of the problem between the SEPTA board and the riders is that the members of the board do not always listen carefully to riders' concerns …
- Letter: EMAN, shame on you
  
  EMAN has now created a division between the residential community and the business community....divisive to say the least. Working together to …
- Letter: A Roe v. Wade repeal offers hope
  
  The repeal of Roe v. Wade offers the people of this nation a hope that we may begin the arduous process of reclaiming representative government …
- Letter: The Local’s progressive assumption
  
  I’ve grown weary of articles in the Local that assume a progressive consensus in our neighborhood on almost everything related to sexuality, …
- Letter: Pastorius Park is not an off–leash dog run
  
  We are hoping to change the norm of treating Pastorius Park as an off-leash dog park, which it is not.

Mt. Airy Day Cancelled

Mt. Airy Day, the annual festival celebrating the Northwest Philadelphia neighborhood, has been cancelled because of weather forecasts predicting rain and thunderstorms this weekend.

Bass commits to funding more pickleball courts

City Councilmember Cindy Bass committed to contributing capital funding to move pickleball courts from the Water Tower Recreation Center during a Monday night meeting and said that her office would work to create more pickleball courts across the 8th Councilmanic District.

Philly Goat Project visits Hill preschoolers

The 65 children brushed the five animals in three separate half-hour sessions, and gave them carrot treats in the playground.

Parks & Rec put on notice by Water Tower neighbors over pickleball noise

June 15 will mark the end of the city’s piloting period for new hours, which started in March.

Community Rallies to Support the Water Tower Recreation Center

Thursday’s dinner was the first event of an effort to fund components of a Master Plan developed to improve the recreation center and grounds now and in the coming years.