Featured Story:
A magical place for newborns and kids in Flourtown
by Len Lear Dr. Samuel Johnson, the genius author of the first English dictionary, once said that one should approach both love and cooking with reckless abandon. Perhaps the same thing could be said of photography. Someone else once said that photography is the art of observation. It has little to do with the things […]
Latest Stories
New ‘Meltingpot’ podcast from Mt. Airy ‘Colorism’ author
by Len Lear I doubt if many white Americans are familiar with a phenomenon called “Colorism.” Having worked at the Philadelphia Tribune from 1967 to 1977, however, I learned that there have been social organizations made up of light-skinned African Americans who literally would not offer membership to another African American person, no matter how […]
She’s as happy as ‘a kid in a candy store’: Sweet 50-year-old Hill landmark has excited new owner
by Len Lear It is a dream that millions of children dream about at some point: owning your very own candy store. Well, Andorra resident Paula Fingerut may be 58, but she still gets excited every morning when she opens Zipf’s Candy Store, a Chestnut Hill landmark that was started 50 years ago by Muriel […]
Thanksgiving is not the only day to express gratitude
by John Colgan-Davis This Thursday is Thanksgiving, one of my favorite holidays. As my friends know, I put a lot of store in gratitude and giving thanks. It is one of the ways I get outside myself and remember that I am but a small cog in a much bigger picture and that I do […]
Scratching a ‘theater itch’ in kidney transplant drama
by Rita Charleston In the beginning, Wyncote resident Michael Hollinger’s play, “Under the Skin,” seems to be a work about forgiveness. But on closer inspection it’s also about scars, be they the emotional or physical kind. The play, directed by Germantown resident Colleen Bracken, is being presented by The Drama Group through Nov. 24 in […]
Original and daring ‘Under the Skin’ now on G’twn stage
by Hugh Hunter In her opening remarks, Colleen Bracken confesses to “feeling pummeled by repeated reports of the divisions and difficulties in our country.” But she takes heart in directing Michael Hollinger’s off-beat Under the Skin (2015) at Drama Group, and in its message that “…like it or not, we are all connected under the […]
New director of music coming to St. Paul’s Church
by Michael Caruso The search is over! St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Chestnut Hill, has announced the hiring of a director of music to succeed Zachary Hemenway, who departed in June for Seattle. Andrew Kotylo will take over the musical reins of one of Greater Philadelphia’s leading church musical organizations effective Feb. 12, 2019. Kotylo will […]
‘Oliver’ at Quintessence in Mt. Airy; it’s the Dickens
by Clark Groome I’d love to report that the Quintessence Theatre Group’s “Oliver!,” Lionel Bart’s magnificent musical take on Charles Dickens’ “Oliver Twist,” is getting a smashing production at Mt. Airy’s Sedgwick Theater. The truth is that director Alex Burns’ mounting (running through Dec. 23) is a mixed bag. Some of the scenes and performances […]
‘Sabrina’ much more than just ‘Fair’ on Mt. Airy stage
by Hugh Hunter “Sabrina Fair” by Samuel Taylor enjoyed a good Broadway run in 1953. Billy Wilder turned it into a hit movie the next year. In the process, Wilder transformed the play into a conventional love triangle, letting the elfish charm of Audrey Hepburn light up the screen. But director Noël Hanley sticks with […]
News:
Planting trees on the Hill
by Mary Pomichter A crew of Chestnut Hill Tree Tenders braved the snowy weather this past Saturday, continuing their mission of replenishing the canopy of trees throughout Chestnut Hill. As many local trees have been damaged or lost through age or accident, the tree tenders, with the support of the Chestnut Hill Community Association and […]
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Sports:
10 SCH seniors sign college letters of commitment
Ten Springside Chestnut Hill Academy seniors – in six different sports – signed letters of commitment to pursue their passion at the college level next year. In a ceremony held at the school, each senior was recognized with their parents, family and coaches, and had an opportunity to show their future school spirit. The SCH […]
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Schools:
Penn Charter breaks ground on new baseball complex
by Julia Judson-Rea Penn Charter celebrated the construction of the new baseball complex with a ceremonial groundbreaking attended by a dozen distinguished alumni. Some of the attendees included David Montgomery, chairman of the Philadelphia Phillies, Mike Siani, a 2018 graduate who was drafted and signed by the Cincinnati Reds in June, Ruben Amaro Jr., former […]
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Local Life:
New ‘Meltingpot’ podcast from Mt. Airy ‘Colorism’ author
by Len Lear I doubt if many white Americans are familiar with a phenomenon called “Colorism.” Having worked at the Philadelphia Tribune from 1967 to 1977, however, I learned that there have been social organizations made up of light-skinned African Americans who literally would not offer membership to another African American person, no matter how […]
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Opinion:
The most valuable real estate in Chestnut Hill
by Stan Cutler Not For Sale: Top of the Hill property on the 8700 block of Germantown Avenue. It’s a single-floor building with 20-foot ceilings and more than 3,000square feet of hardwood floor. The interior has beautiful natural light from enormous mullioned windows. The place was built in 1909 and has been regularly upgraded and […]
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Arts & Entertainment:
Scratching a ‘theater itch’ in kidney transplant drama
by Rita Charleston In the beginning, Wyncote resident Michael Hollinger’s play, “Under the Skin,” seems to be a work about forgiveness. But on closer inspection it’s also about scars, be they the emotional or physical kind. The play, directed by Germantown resident Colleen Bracken, is being presented by The Drama Group through Nov. 24 in […]