...what do I have with Chestnut Hill. Well - familiar affairs.

My mother’s franc father went by the name of Nussbaum, that means
chestnut tree. He spent his whole life with doings about the village
where he lived, also greater works when a dam was built in the wider
region (near Aachen, the old franc capital most west in northern
rhenanian Germany). He had six children and died two months before
my birth from Tetanus which he had contracted while working in a
cow stead. A little injury, and he was done for. I didn’t hear much
of that until far in my adult age. In the later times of my wanderings
through Europe and Germany it often so happened that when I had
found a pleasant place in nature where I would want to stay for a
while, I also found one or several chestnut trees about. My grandmother
who bore this name was to become my godmother and it seems that
my relation to physical chestnut trees is that of a human to a godparent
spirit, a thing that may be similarly known with certain indian habits.
Also, in later times when I rested near my home place, I found a
location where to stay, a notable Löss hill on the edge of the Rhine
valley northwest of Cologne, right near the villages of my childhood
and youth. The sight is very fine there, one can nearly see until the
Eifel mountains near Aachen, to the Rhine metropoles of Cologne
and Düsseldorf. Opposite on the other side of the valley a mountain
range is well visible, not high but markedly. The soil of the hill is of
most exquisite Löss that is mixed with marl so that it crunches under
the foot when it’s not so dry as to form marvelously heavy dust,
nearly white, pale. At the Rhine valley side of the hill a chestnut tree
stands, about fifty years old. I found it when I took residence there
and spent much of my days holding and watching a fire
from abundant old wood.
Just recently I came to check about Immanuel Kant the prussian
philosopher of enlightenment. I found that not only has he been an
astronomer but also he whilesomely teached building techniques
of fortresses. However else, this man became the archspirit of prussian
doings in the large, as concerned with moral obligation and reason.
In the wake of the changes Napoleon had brought about, the Prussians
got hold of Rhenania. Prussian thrust in ostentatiously taking party
at the side of deadly insulted Austria brought about the First World War.
What this war was to be is well known, it was a first instance of
engaging mighty America in European and wider affairs. Later in the
war staff decided to build a strategic railroad parallel to the Rhine valley
through our lands, intended to carry support to the front and transport
lignite which is dug up in considerable dimensions nearby to the
cities in the Rhine valley and further. The railway dam was built straight
through our lands, it runs at even level with the fields near my youth
village and cuts through the hill, to form a hollow at the southern end of it
before running on as a rather high dam over the brook that surrounds the
hillside there. When the war was lost the railroad was not yet finished
and its completion was interdicted in the Versailles Treaty. In the 20ies
some bridges were yet built because the landscape had already been
altered but no railway ever existed there. The state uses the land
to plant poplars, and since, short beeches, oaks and lime; beyond
that one has made the place into a riding path and walkabout for people
with dogs and so on. In the 90ies I lived at this dam in a bridge right
beside my youth village, and there I was shown how the spirit of
Immanuel Kant and his like had really instrumented a thing here.
One may see the dam as a kind of fortification. I had very much,
pretty silent times by the fire under the bridge with long nights and
during these meditative times I came to observe that the bow of the
bridge was very finely weighed out with the movements of celestial
lights, especially the moon. At times when that circled low through
the heavens it very finely contoured the edge of the bridge bow,
and when I was very very silent I could even follow its movement
with the open eye, therefore also feel the effect of the centrifugal
force from the rotation of the earth, which in our zones lightens
every particle of matter, also whole bodies, by about 1 / 40 of its
weight, with direction to the celestial equator. This observation
enthusiasmed me, and, as I said: it is just recently that I found
about this fact that Kant with his astronomical background
occasionally teached the building of fortifications. That both came
together at this bridge. Other elements corroborated this picture:
the typical prussian animals were visible: dogs, horses, a very genial
rat that gave me company, also a woman lived nearby who came
from Berlin and had a dog and horses herself. For the french party
a cat appeared that had born six kittens in the wild and when they
were able to move somewhat coherently she brought them to me
and set off without returning; also there was a very spirited night
bird, perhaps a hawk that talked very intensely to me and did really
nice and interesting audio dramas with decided sounds of its very
sharp claws in the foliage at earth. The bridge seemed to be the
border arch in several animal affairs; animals liked to come there
and have things cleared like little turf quarrels they fought out
before me.
The bridge lies about one mile north of the hill, directly besides
the village and especially the mill, which is now an assortment
of silos. After three years of holding fire there I moved to the hill
because things at the bridge had become a bit too crowded.
Over the following time I erected several tents, one after the
other, and lived between the hollow and the chestnut tree. The sky
here also is very peculiar, wide to all horizons and full of clowd
pictures at times, visions all the day. A family of roe lived nearby
who don’t fret before man; they consequently showed me how they
live und sometimes visited me at my tent. We surely had some
fine kind of interaction. Besides that, from the times at the bridge
already, I cared for the cow wherever I found some. Times for
these became bad, however; one farmer after the other abandoned
the job and sold his herd to the slaughterer. This place near the
chestnut tree has its distinctive features. First of all: the animals
like the place and they like to be genial. Several laws seem to be
valid there, one of which is: one suffices, that means when a new
species appears at the place there is always a decent place for
just one exemplary of it, for certain, but for more, nothing is sure.
Another law seems to be the theme of uncomparable companions.
So once a very large and a rather small dog appeared there,
promenading alone, then the very genial goshawk and a small
hawk one time showed me a little artistic figure together in which
the goshawk serenely flew some curves between the poplar trees
and the hawk flew with him, accompaniying him, straightly flying
in perfect correspondence directly and precisely three hands over
the other’s tail. And they blinked to me while doing it! Another time
yet I wondered whether the owl chases the bat. Only three days
later I was standing at the edge of the hollow and the field on the
high of the hill, and silently the owl passed, the bat flying coolly
at his left side, wing tip at wing tip.
The chestnut tree is forked in height of the thigh into two strong
branches. That seems to be a verse on the landform there. The
hill, about a half mile in diameter, pure heap of löss down to the
foundations, is curvy so and so at all sides. The brook comes from
the south through a near village, literally runs into the hill at a point
where the distance to the Rhine valley is just a third of a mile -
there the brook bends sharply to the left and surrounds the hill foot
on the south and west side. The hill’s surface on the Rhine side
swings in two parallel grooves down into the valley. These two
grooves unite farther down and form thus a fork, which fact is
obviously reproduced in the fork shape of the tree. The land forms
a kind of cushion between the grooves, and out of this cushion the
tree draws this certain special smoothness and sweetness that is
to be tasted from its fruit. When I took residence there I soon detected
a serious flaw: the dam cut is drawn thus through the hill that it cuts
through both these grooves. The grooves are discreet waterlines.
In the original state water trickled from the high side of the hill
through them and perhaps came out visibly farther down, where
the fork of the grooves unites. However, now the dam cut is there,
the water that would normally seep down unseen, breaks down
into the open at the upper side of the cut, especially at the more
southward, greater groove whose cut-off upper part forms a pan
in which the water gathers. This business was a severe sacrilege.
The animals too, roe and hare, sometimes commented on this.
Which leaves us to remark that Immanuel Kant has best to be
understood out of his time when people started to gather in
permanence and therefore had to learn how to behave properly
in questions like when to take leave from duty in order to decently
have a leak. This also is depicted in this construction. It could
apparently not be avoided - but sanctioned, like in the Versailles
Treaty.
Upside on the hill top they now place tree plantations which are
very hotly accepted by the roe who like places to hide and rest.
Beyond, all the hillside is used agriculturally. On the crest between
the valley side of the brook and the southern slope of the greater
groove a small plantation of fir grows where the roe familiy used
to stay. There is sharp hunt but they gladly seem to know the
calendar - whenever shooting appears in the near, they will have
certainly been absent for at least a day.
Animals mark the east-downward slope into the Rhine valley.
First I found a dropping of the fox who lives not far from here
and seems to like the place. Then I found one piece from the roe.
I picked it up and kept it, to be used in a certain transaction:
At the lowest point of my home village, directly besides the brook,
a historic site is to be found. A pit hole is dug out there in the
dimensions of a moat that in former times, so so from the 6th
to 14th century, circled a small watercastle with four towers.
The people from this castle seem to have been known well enough
in the Empire. The castle has long since gone and a four-sided farm
house stands in the moat, surrounded by an old and sweet meadow
well known by all grazing animals in the land. There is perceptably
a special force with this place: once in an evening when a strong
southwest wind was blowing, I was out in the fields over the brook.
The atmosphere in the brook valley is very subtle, at ideal times
there tend to be tiny clouds in the way of some vents where the
slightly humid air from the brook blows up over the fields around.
In this windy evening now I saw a whole row of such tiny clowds
hover high like poplar tops over the southern edge of the moat.
And the best is: the really strong wind did not blow them away,
they did not move such a bit. I concentrated on watching this play
of nature, but really, they remained like riveted.
In former times the farm in the moat had been a normal place with
cow and hen and dog and swine, but one day the cowstead burned
off and so only the dog and hen and swine remained, then swine
and dog, at last only a tribe of hogs. That was not quite ideal.
Three years then I had good play with troups of beautiful and
spirited heifers, timewise the young from the herd over there that
got skipped because of plague fears. Beautiful people, I can tell.
Cow can be very charming. These heifer groups apparently
laid siege to the hog heaven of the farm quarter. I had much to do
with them and I could follow the goings on. The cow kids once
even engaged me as a go-between to the hogs. When I had found
that roe dropping, a fine, dense cylinder of matter, I thought it
could help in this. Also, I knew some more - I went to a Kiosque
somewhere and bought a pulp novel with the title “The lost soul”.
With this and the roe dropping I went to the Pigstead in the farm.
I showed to a sweet friendly pig that was near what this issue was -
it behaved a little strangely, ducking away like morally fearful under
its ears. But the essence of the gesture seemed clearly understood.
I stuffed the volume at the side of the muck the swine lived in and
added the piece of roe dung. That would have to make it.
Beyond that, the heifers played their little manoeuvres arond the
house and some meditated the unseen swine in the stable.
And right: things changed with the owners, the son would not
like to raise hog anymore so the stead was cleared out of them,
but since then also the meadow outside is in no use anymore,
the siege has ended, the cow can only stay away.
As for the roe, they like to do similar magic: one day I came along
the dam to the smaller groove, I mounted there on the valley side
and found a roe standing right ahead of me at the border of the field.
Roe can spurt off like that when found in the wrong moment but they
do not the least fear man that they know for good. So this sweet
animal just stayed where it was, twelve steps ahead; before it there
was a puddle in the margin of the field planted with sugar beet.
And now the animal did a bit of its magic: it dipped its nose very
slightly onto the puddle, then, before a long neck, it made little
throwing movements with its nose like dealing singular drops to
singular plants before it. I watched. It dipped its nose once more
and repeated the gesture. O.k., I saw, all was fine - I turned
around and went, not wanting to disturb such spirits.

The greatest community of chestnut trees, I read, is to be found at a
side of the Tianshan Mountains in westernmost China and beyond.
It is knowm that chestnuts disperse from their leaves a sort of
poison that inhibits most other plants to grow under the tree.
At my hill this can clearly be seen. The tree grows on a strip of land
about three steps broad between the edge of the dam ditch and
the outlaying field. This strip is densely grown with stinging nettle.
Three years I also spent clearing this place from rampaging hollies
and blackberry bush. Under the tree that towers half over the strip,
half over the field, one can easily see the poison work; also in the
field under the tree nothing grows. For some while I had an
agreement with a little animal I have never seen. Wenn all the nuts
were fallen from the tree, the animal would appear and eat all the
nuts on the strip, but it wouldn’t touch those in the field. Thus,
we about parted the treasure by half and both came off gladly.
I tried to transplant a

Oh yeah now I see I was all in an error - of cause my people, my
spirit and all are WALNUT. It goes on like this: I dug out a little
chestnut plant at a famous chestnut alley having been planted
by Napoleon or for Napoleon, at least in that time, I transplanted
it to the strip on the border of the acre but shucks, it just would
not grow. Year after year goes and it remains as tiny as a hand and
a half. The stinging nettle held themselves before this little plant
but once they should have grown over it it will be done for. Also,
the majestic alley near a fine castle nearby where I took it from
has been cut down, as I hear.

Teehee. What can I say now - perhaps this: Phillyfuture the name
of this here blogomatic could well be seen with reference to the
title of Philadelphia as groundstone of american historical existence.
I should suppose a switch with which to return at the beginning
of all this and see everything that has happened since as in the
future of that place in time. And everything that still is going to happen
is also placed in that frame of reference. Is that how Philadelphians
feel about the future, any future?

I find it very appealing that the state of Pennsylvania has “Virtues”
as a state parole. That, I think, is the word missing in all the great
declarations that founded the US. Fine that at least one state at all
should not forget it. My sympathies to you, therefore.

Besides all that, there ARE Chestnut trees at the hill but not on top
but at the brook where it has passed through a tunnel under the dam
where that comes out of the hollow. Anyway...

And fate - New England is an atlantic zone. One time I could see
how the great wind demon of the Atlantic keeps balance. A great
storm had been in the eastern US and after that they showed a
picture of a very huge, strong tree in Hope, Arkansas that hat been
kicked over by the wind. Normally, when something has happened over
there it takes about a week until the spoils, of Hurricanes for instance,
can be felt here with us. Also, our little Highland over the Rhine valley
can experience considerable winds - therefore the mill, and I myself
have seen how a wind that missed the mill broke over a poplar tree
some yards further. But here this Hope storm was an extra one.
When its response hit home with us I wasn’t there but returning
I found the wind had broken my delicious Lalique tree, a normally
rather elastic being that was my joy because I could sit inside its
span, the sphere of its ornamentally curled twigs around me, seeing
the eastern Sky thus decoratively fragmented. I have had my joy,
mad fury had to take it away...

My, the world will have to do without it, like it shall have to do
without me someday. Greetings to all philosophers, I think this
stuff will but have to do now. Ciao folks.

Philadelphia, City of the friends of Apollon...

Let me give you some good words that need not be unspoken.
Mostly they are aphorisms, some written originally
in English,others in German or French. The german sayings
I shall quote in original, then translate them. My words
know to mean something, I am a master of thoughts.
Be my guest!

(Besides that, I read a bit about the place in the Internet -
there is not much, but significant. When I contacted the page
of the government the whole picture tilted and I had to close
down my computer, restart it. Last thing I saw was: In Philly,
we don’t smoke. That’s for official. Very significative I found
the information that the town was the capital of the then U.S.
during the years in which the revolution and its spoils shuddered
through France and Europe. Someone someday wanted to please
his god by slaughtering a pleasant bull (Taurus) for him.
Some distant but certainly real day in Philadelphia Town someone
offered the first bull, and he need not have meant it for the Gods.
It was just that the animal got expressedly, expertly killed.

I find this by some distant association with the picture
of the astronomical-astrological sky of this year. Be greeted
my fellow men, something really great is going on. At the start
of this sun year the sun, Jupiter, Mercury and Pluto convened
at the winter meridian. Jupiter went three days ahead, Mercury
hurried through between sun and Jupiter, the sun followed and Pluto
in the far high background of the picture will definitely pass
the meridian through this year, recurving around the meridian
like striking a string. Once when early in the 80ies in France
I found myself invited by some fine young people into a village
in the mediterranean mountains.
We celebrated the anniversary of Helene by sharing
an LSD-Trip. A cat was in the house, black and strong.
When high, alone with the cat and a very finely strung guitar,
I repeatedly struck the cords in an airy feeling, delighted
(exalted) by the audible effects I thus exacted. Besides that,
I cuddled with the cat and made it purr intensely. Finally,
the cat jumped from my arm, took his right paw to the strings
of the (upstanding) guitar,and, really, a tone sounded.
That’s understood. So, it remains to be said that during this year
Pluto, the outermost planet of the known system and guardian
of the sun’s riches ageinst the nothingness of empty space,
will start another run around the sky for 248 years now.
Last time that happened, the industrial revolution was about
to set out, with a glance upon the provinces
in America. Also with this, a new run around the heavens for 12 years
then will start Jupiter. A time that may make see those who know
to find sense, in themselves as in the world picture. Another
remarkable occurrance of this year is that the sun with her nearest
planets, Mercury and Venus, is now already in the way of passing
through the sky without one of the other, outer planets standing
in the way before far sky. So to say, the sun is acting as star
between the stars, judging the planetary system and
especially earth AND especially everything that led the US
to send up several satellites far beyond everything, into open space,
thouroughly, since the passage without intermediary planets between
her and the other stars in all distance will last from April to August,
a stretch of a third of the zodiak. The most interesting ocurrence
during this span shall be an imminent move of Mercury around the sun,
forming a figure line like the profile of a cow’s tongue sticking out
to an iron spike that had been drawn by the planet Mars on the
summer high of the celestial sky. Everything clear so far? I have more often
encountered cow who sticked their tongue against a spike of the barbed wire
that fenced them in. The Mercury curve will then rush down at the right side
of the sun to form a spike that points sharply to the Taurus star,
the red Aldebaran. In our steads I somdeday found a pleasant young bull,
really nice guy, sturdy, awake, strong enough. I often wrangled with his head,
and he seemed to like this play. But I found a slight bump at the right side
of his face. His owner told me that he had piqued and infected himself there,
as it sometimes happened with cow (comes the term “holy cow” out of Philadelphia?),
and he would have to be slaughtered because of the sickness. This boy’s fate
was an omen for the whole stead because some time later when rumours were
far about over mad cow desease and mouth and claw plague the owner on the spot
sold his whole herd into instant oblivion. You see, a sign like that in the
emerging sky picture preannounces itself in earthly events. I felt very sorry
over this because this herd was an exceptionally fine one and very private to me.
In France, during this time or later, I found that the bovines business is
handled like a Mithras cult, very expressly, that’s a kind of state cult
in the republic that follows those who beheaded les rois de tous boeufs.
Oyoy.

Well - bad news from Asia show how concernedly one is deemed
to experience this. The year goes on. Watch it, it’s going to be great -
in ways that no human would intend... )

AND NOW: FOR THE DICTIONS

The word "god" is part of the public domain.
_________

Die Sinne sind ein Kleid, das Kindern mitgegeben wird,
und Vernunft ist: wie man sich anzieht.

The senses are a suit given to the children
and resaon is: how to dress.
_________

Der krummste Stecken,
an einen festen Punkt gestellt,
befährt mit seinem oberen Ende
die idealste Sphäre. Yeah.

The most crooked stick
put to a firm point
will move its upper end
in the most ideal sphere. Jawohl.
_________

"Dem Prinzip genügt das Eine."

„The One suffices for principle.“
_________

Wer nicht warten kann,
dem kann man auch nichts versprechen.

You can’t give promises
to those who don’t know how to wait.
_________

Wissen schärft den Blick. Sonst ist es zu nicht viel nütze,
darüberhinaus.

Knowledge sharpens regard. Beyond that,
it is of not much use.
_________

"God knows. He read of it."
_________

Schöne Dinge wissen, was sie meinen

Beautiful things know what they mean
_________

Die obere, die feine Seite der Ironie ist der heilige Ernst.

The upper, the fine side of irony is holy ernest
_________

"I'd love to." That's what love is to me.
_________

don't mind LOSING time. You don't own it.
_________

Pride proscribes envy.
_________

Prayer won't change things but meaning.
_________

The secret of elegance is secret bliss.
_________

"Der König kümmert sich nur um das, was sich ihm gibt."

„The King only cares about the given.“
_________

Geld muß man ernstnehmen, aber nicht wichtiger, als es ist.

Money has to be taken serious but not more important
than it is.
_________

Creature comforts. Moral comforts. Es ist eine
große Errungenschaft, angenehm sein zu können.

Creature comforts. Moral comforts. It is a
great achievement the ability to comfort.
_________

Ich schlafe gern bei Konservativen. Bei Bäumen.

I love to sleep near conservatives. Near trees.
_________

Dieu, c'est une façon à dire.
_________

Formlosigkeit ist das Ende der Welt.

Formlessness is the end of the world.
_________

VERSTEHENDES Schweigen ist Gold!

KNOWING silence is gold!
_________

Reden, damit das Schweigen etwas wiegt.

To talk in order to make silence weigh.
_________

Ich habe verdient, frei zu sein.
Ich habe die Freiheit immer gut aussehen lassen.

I deserve to be free.
I have always known to make freedom appear good.
_________

Fürchte Dich nicht vor Dreck. Aber sei wählerisch mit ihm.

Don’t fret for smut but know how to be choicy with it.
_________

Wem Artemis nicht hilft, dem hilft nur Hermes.

For whom Artemis can’t care, Hermes will help.
_________

Zum Strafen: ein beschädigter Lebender, das macht Moral.
Tote sind keine Unterhaltung.

As for punishing: a damaged alive makes morality.
The dead don’t entertain.
_________

Freiheit ist das, worüber man sich gewöhnlich
am wenigsten beklagen wird.

Freedom is that about which no one would
normally lament.
_________

Wenn Du klug bist, laß es die Leute nur wissen.
Aber die richtigen.

When you’re bright, let the people know.
But the right ones.
_________

Find the sweet spots of the world. Do it.
Don't get stuck in the first best one.

Sei souverän!
_________

SILENTLY burn money. Don't be flashy trashy!
_________

Meinungen wie losfliegende kleine Vögel...
Frauen. Rehe.

Views like little birds flowing off...
Women. Roe.
_________

"You didn't inherit the world??"
"No. I just found it."
_________

Rangunterschiede, die von beiden Seiten geachtet werden,
sind das Nobelste überhaupt.

Differences in standing being respected by both sides
are the most noble at all.
_________

Ein Hund, der bellt, fühlt sich allein und weiß, daß er's nicht ist.

A dog barking feels alone and knows he isn’t.
_________
_____

So much, my dear friends, from here for now. Bowow!

Building Bridges Program to Feature Wissahickon History at Cliveden
May 8, 2008. 7PM

Philadelphia, PA – Cliveden of the National Trust presents “Journey in the Wissahickon,” a presentation given by Dr. David Contosta and Dr. Carol L. Franklin. The talk is part of an ongoing series of monthly programs being held in conjunction with Cliveden’s Building Bridges: Linking Lives and Communities exhibit, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Walnut Lane Bridge.

The presentation will take place on May 8, at 7PM in Cliveden’s Carriage House. The program is open to the general public at a cost of $5.00 per ticket. Members of the Walnut Lane Bridge Club receive free admission to the talk.

The illustrated presentation will focus on the bridges of the Wissahickon, improvements made in Fairmount Park during the 20th century, and the role of the park in the lives of community members. For Contosta and Franklin, the discussion will be a preview of a book they co-authored coming out this fall which details the history of the Wissahickon.

Dr. Contosta is a Professor of History at Chestnut Hill College. He is the preeminent historian for Wissahickon history and is the author of 15 books and over 100 articles, reviews, and scholarly papers. Dr. Franklin is a nationally recognized expert in sustainable design and has been a professor of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning at the University of Pennsylvania for over 30 years.

For further exhibition information, visit the Walnut Lane Bridge Blog at www.waluntlanebridge.org or call Cliveden at 215-848-1777. Cliveden is located at 6401 Germantown Avenue and is open for tours April to December, Thursday – Sunday, 12PM – 4PM. Regular tour admission rates apply for Cliveden house tours.

Building Bridges: Linking Lives and Communities
May 1 – December 31, 2008

Philadelphia, PA – Cliveden of the National Trust presents Building Bridges: Linking Lives and Communities, an exhibition celebrating the 100th anniversary of the construction the Walnut Lane Bridge. The exhibition, open from May 1st to December 31, 2008, will present monthly programming documenting the arduous effort to construct and preserve the bridge.

Finished in 1908, the Walnut Lane Bridge was the longest concrete arch bridge in the world at the time. Connecting the Roxborough and Germantown communities in Northwest Philadelphia, many drivers pass across the bridge too quickly too even notice its beauty. The view from underneath the bridge, however, has inspired many artists and writers, such as Christopher Morley and Troy Sayers.

Building Bridges: Linking Lives and Communities will feature highlights from a newly discovered collection of lantern slides which document the construction of the bridge from 1906 -1908. Designed by area artist Keith Ragone, the exhibit will feature drawings from the City of Philadelphia Department of Bridges, contemporary newspaper accounts, and rare photographs from descendants of bridge construction workers. In addition, modern photographs and works of art will be on display, including original work by Sayers which highlights the bridge’s enduring beauty.

The exhibition is free to the general public. Visitors are encouraged to join the Walnut Lane Bridge Club, which will allow them to get into all of the year’s bridge programs at a single, one-time $10 fee. Bridge Club funds will be used to support ongoing efforts to clean up around the bridge and preserve its history

An exclusive exhibition preview and reception event will take place at Cliveden on Sunday, April 27th at 3:00PM. The preview event is available to the general public as a cost of $25, RSVP only.

For further exhibition information, visit the Walnut Lane Bridge Blog at www.waluntlanebridge.org or call Cliveden at 215-848-1777.

Cliveden is located at 6401 Germantown Avenue and is open for tours April to December, Thursday – Sunday, 12PM – 4PM. Regular tour admission rates apply for Cliveden house tours.

Come check out the second annual Mt. Airy Kids' Literary Festival- from Friday, April 11 to Sunday, April 13, 2008, presented by the Big Blue Marble Bookstore in the Mt. Airy neighborhood of Philadelphia! Authors/illustrators/musicians include Two of a Kind, Alix Berenzy, Charlene Crawford, Dar Hosta, Adam Rex,Catherine Gilbert Murdock, Eloise Prescott, Muriel Feelings, Miriam Peskowitz, and Denise Valentine.

Here's the full schedule:

Mt. Airy Kids' Literary Festival
Friday April 11 through Sunday April 13, 2008
Friday, April 11

7:00-7:45pm - KIDS' CONCERT! with Two of a Kind.
Location: Big Blue Marble Cafe
Saturday, April 12

10:30am - Olivia Crafty Fun and Activities! (For preschoolers and younger readers)
Location: Big Blue Marble Cafe
Join Olivia the pig, and color, cut, and race her through a variety of paper activities.
With pastry refreshments from High Point Cafe.
Sponsored by High Point Cafe

11:00am - Reading and Collage/Art Activity with Dar Hosta, author of Mavis & Her Marvelous Mooncakes and If I Were a Tree.
Location: Big Blue Marble Cafe

12:00pm - Reading with Alix Berenzy, author of Sammy the Classroom Guinea Pig.
Location: Big Blue Marble Cafe
With refreshments from Weavers Way.
Sponsored by Weavers Way Co-op

12:45pm - Game/Giveaways!
Location: Big Blue Marble
Wander around the Big Blue Marble and participate in games and giveaways of kid literary fun!

1:00pm - Reading with Charlene Crawford, author of Adventures with Granny in the Garden.
Location: Big Blue Marble Cafe

2:00pm - Reading with Adam Rex, author of The True Meaning of Smekday and Pssst!
Location: Big Blue Marble Cafe

3:00pm - Reading with Catherine Gilbert Murdock, author of Dairy Queen and Princess Ben.
Location: Big Blue Marble Cafe

4:00pm - Daring Book for Girls Scavenger Hunt/Book Signing! Join us while we scavenge for books, following clues around the Big Blue Marble, and meet Miriam Peskowitz, co-author of The Daring Book for Girls.
Location: Big Blue Marble Cafe

5:00pm - Favorite Bedtime Story Reading!
Location: Maternal Wellness Center
Join the folks at the Maternal Wellness Center and cuddle up in their community living room for a cozy bedtime story reading. Kids, come dressed in your pajamas, share your stories, and eat snacks.
Sponsored by the Maternal Wellness Center
Sunday, April 13

12:30pm - Craft/Art Activity and Signing with Jan Jugran, author of Willow Becomes Brave and Puppy Love.
Location: Big Blue Marble Cafe

1:30pm - Reading with Muriel Feelings, author of Jambo means Hello and Moja means One.
Location: Big Blue Marble Cafe

2:30 - Storytelling with Denise Valentine, of Keepers of the Culture Storytelling Organization.
Location: Big Blue Marble Cafe

3:30 - Reading with Eloise Prescott, author of Aisha's Crowning Glory.
Location: Big Blue Marble Cafe

Yay!

Last Tuesday, I went to the Trolley Car Diner (7619 Germantown Ave) in Mt. Airy for a local beer tasting course taught (in conjunction with the Mt. Airy Learning Tree) by none other than Joe Sixpack himself, Don Russell (pictured above). I attended the event with my good friend Pat who, along with his wife, bought me a ticket to the event as a Christmas present. After reading Tony's account of the February class, I was quite excited for the event.

About 30 attendees sat in booths and shared each bottle/can beer between them. Our table only had 3 so we had slightly larger portions per person than the rest of the class! Each student received a packet for the night complete with a list of all the beers we'd be sampling that night (I had had 5 out of the 11); a list of some of Don's favorite bars and a list, with examples, of various styles of beers. The first thing I learned was that all beers fall into one of two categories: Ales or Lagers. I never knew that. According to the handout, an Ale is "Brewed quickly with top-fermenting yeast at warm temperature." A Lager is "Brewed slowly with bottom-fermenting yeast at cool temperature." Who knew Beamish and Yards Philly Pale Ale were in the same family!

The first "beer" sampled was the most popular beer sold in Philadelphia. The watered down beauty taking this crown is Miller Lite. I thought, for sure, that Yuengling Lager would take #1, but nope. Don served this one first for the class to have an understanding of the baseline of beers in the town was. Moving on to the first real beer... a can of Phoenixville, PA's Sly Fox Pikeland Pils (German Pilsner, 4.9% ABV). The label on the can had a set of hops right on it so I knew I'd most likely not be a fan (not into hoppy beers yet at my young age). It was hoppy, but not overpowering. Don took a sec to explain the aluminum can phenomenon in craft beers these days. Apparently, a Canadian company has found a way to produce small quantities of aluminum cans (relative to the output of the Coors/Busch guys I suppose) at an affordable price. More durable than glass bottles, they end up being easier to transport. He said to be on the lookout for more and more small breweries to produce aluminum can versions of their beers. He added that the cans had a special coating to protect the beer from getting a tinny taste to them, but the psychological tie to drinking straight from the can still remains; he advised us to pour it into a glass instead.

The Big Picture is the Veggie Tales and small children worship coming to St. Michael's Lutheran Church...for more information, please call the church office 215-848-0199 and leave a message for Pastor Ingram!

After the breakout sessions, all three groups reconvened in the gym for the Q&A session. Councilman Curtis Jones took a walk over to my group's giant sticky notes which were taped to the wall. He took it all in and turned to say: "They're gonna ask me all these questions?!" to which I replied with a smile, "As many as they can."

The crowd took their seats after grabbing some coffee and cookies from the spread in the back. The Inquirer's Chris Satullo took the time to introduce the newly elected Jones to the crowd and thanked him for coming down into the fray and for the good turnout on that cold night. And then the questions started. Two of the earliest questions were about zoning/development, specifically if Jones would pledge his support to local community groups who have concerns about incoming development. Jones started off by saying that he thinks this district is the hottest in terms of new development and invited the crowd to tell the other council members he said so. He pledged his support for local causes and said that 9 times out of 10, he'd err on the side of the community's wishes instead of those of developers'. He added that he'd propose regional zoning boards.

Approximately 50 people gathered for Monday night's Great Expectations District 4 agenda forum at the North Light Community Center (175 Green Ln) in hilly and narrow-streeted Manayunk/Roxborough. I sat down at a table with 5 locals, most who had been to a previous Great Expectations meeting. Barbara was especially pleased she attended the citizezns convention in December and was looking forward to seeing how the Nutter administration does over the next year in regards to the agenda laid out by the citizens through this project. The ongoing basketball games next door in the other gym kept a steady beat throughout the night for the group to work by. The fluorescent lights kept things difficult for me to take photos. We were told that 4th District Councilman Curtis Jones Jr., 40 days into office, would be attending and hopefully At-Large Councilwoman Bondell Reynolds Brown would make it too.

Join us for a service commemorating the memory of Martin Luther King, Jr...

In addition to our regular worship, which includes the Word and Holy Communion, we will also have our liturgical dancers..

All are welcomed!

St. Michael's Lutheran Church
6671 Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia, Pa 19119
(215)848-0199

Worship begins at 11:00 am
Adult Forum at 9:30 am

If you are a Philadelphia resident who is unemployed, employed part-time, or under-employed, JEVS/Orleans Technical Institute has a FREE Job Placement Program available throughout January to May.

Applicants must be Philadelphia residents 18 years of age or older who are seeking full-time employment. The program will do a complete assessment of skills and work history to help determine a job that will be a good match. Participants must also meet the low-income government guidelines but not receiving cash assistance from welfare.

All participants will attend an intensive two-day job readiness program where they will learn to set up an email account for jobs and practice interviewing skills. The staff will prepare an effective resume and cover letter. They will also learn how to do a thorough Internet job search to help assist in their employment goals. Successful participants who find employment will be eligible to receive a gift card for $50.00 after their first month of employment.

The program is located at 1330 Rhawn Street in Northeast Philadelphia, accessible to public transportation from anywhere within the city. If you would like to join this excellent source of job searching support, please call Stephanie Scotton at at 215-728-4709 for more information.###

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You are invited to St. Michael's Watch Night Service, which will be held on December 31, 2007 at 11:00 pm.

Pastor Ingram
(267)625-1318

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Have you been a past WYBE supporter? Do you want to learn how your favorite community TV station is changing? Now is the time.

MiND TV is holding its second open house on December 13th at 5:30PM at its community headquarters in Roxborough (8200 Ridge Avenue).

The night includes:

->Tour of our studio
->Preview of our new programs
->Mixing with our staff, and other community members
->Guacamole

Please RSVP to Kim Kunda at kkunda@mindtv.org or 215-483-3900 ext. 209 to let us know to expect you!

Christmas can be a painful time for some. It may be the first Christmas without a loved family member who has recently died; it may be a time that has always been difficult.

The constant refrain on the radio and television, in shopping malls and churches, about the happiness of the season, about getting together with family and friends, reminds many people of what they have lost or have never had. The anguish of broken relationships, the insecurity of unemployment, the weariness of ill health, the pain of isolation - all these can make us feel very alone in the midst of the celebrating and spending. We need the space and time to acknowledge our sadness and concern; we need to know that we are not alone.

Our spirits sink, as the days grow shorter. We feel the darkness growing deeper around us. We need encouragement to live the days ahead of us.

For these reasons, St Michael's Lutheran Church offers a special “Longest Night” service on December 21st at 7:00 pm. Come out, and join with us in sharing and hearing prayers, scripture, and music that acknowledge that God’s presence is for those who mourn, for those who struggle - and that God’s Word comes to shine light into our darkness. Everyone, regardless of church background (or lack of it) is welcome.

We are located at 6671 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa 19119, for more information, please call the church office: (215) 848-0199.