1. The Bel Canto was wonderful beyond my ability to describe it. Many of the patrons came from the Suburbs and Center City. UC was underrepresented. It might be because we are such a lively neighborhood. Many people mentioned conflicts with other cool activities, but anyone who stayed home on the couch... you might have been wowed by this 'happening". Cecilia was such a hot, passionate "Norma" that my confirmed heterosexuality felt temporarily threatened. Bel Canto was a complete package of drama, music, song and architecture. And, there was a tasty "after" party for the UC crowd at ABBRACIO. Diners clapped as the Bel Canto stars made their entrances. I think the CC crowd and the orchestral stars headed to White Dog. I was fortunate enough to be included among the volunteers who put it together this year, and I am on board for next year. I want to be part of bringing talent and culture into the neighborhood. I can't sing or play an instrument, but I can sell tickets and work on the program book.
2. The Memorial Service for Rosemarie Simonis attracted more people than a Christmas Mass. As the church filled, mourners accepted standing spots on the sides and in the back of the church. I was awed to consider the esteem which was evident for this good, fourth grade teacher. Rosemarie had taught for 13 years and there were rows and rows of youngsters and young adults. Most of the high school and college kids came on their own, not dragged by parents, but motivated by affection, gratitude or a need for peer support. Many were still in uniforms, and it was easy to differentiate kids who had moved on to West Catholic, Hallihan, Roman, C.Dougherty and even public schools. The ripple of her good deeds was evident in the distances people came, through space and time, to say goodbye. Good teachers should take a bow. Heads of industry can't buy this size crowd. Genuine emotion is earned. Teaching excellance is valued. The SFDS choir prepared a French Requiem piece to honor Rosemarie's survivors, many of whom use French as a primary language. It was touching and magical. If Cecelia Chaisson has a CD out, she should be on the recently generated music list. She performs the music that can most profoundly touch me. At Christmas, when I am happy, her "Ave Maria" can reduce me to tears. It reaches into my longings for my mother, and for more skill in my own mothering. It is a reminder of how we must all depend upon each other and how difficult are the times we face. At Rosemarie's funeral the same song restored some peace. The atheist on the list may cringe, but I was glad to be transported to faith that Rosemarie has a mother in heaven and that this mother can be with all of us at the "hour of our death". Cecelia's voice is pure and strong and envelops listeners in sound which supports and comforts our flagging emotions. And, some of us are fortunate to hear her free, every Sunday at 10 AM. 3. I am another reader offended by Neil Lifson's letter. It contains the same tired HD cliches and continues to promote the concept that Tenants, Landlords and Home Owners are natural enemies. Neil's statements ring false. My experience with large landlord's is that MOST will maintain a standard near or above the neighborhood norm in order to maximize income and reduce liabilities. It is rare to find gaping holes in the sidewalks of folks who have a lot to lose. Some large landlords held onto larger properties through the lean times and began putting profits back into window boxes and lawns, as soon as profits improved. There are blocks where the best looking property on the street is the one owned by the "large" landlord. I am a Home Owner and a small Landlord. My Tenants partner with me in the success of our few buildings. Their timely rent and reasonable suggestions are welcome and permit me to buy heat and improvements. I try to engage my tenants in the neighborhood and it is surprising how generous they can be when they are invited to help. One Tenant donated Scuba Instruction to my husband's Scout troop. Another faithfully waters the flower boxes I placed at a property at her request. A third never misses a block cleanup and also co-ops at Mariposa. Defining others by the things they own is foolish. We change. Today's Bratz may be tomorrow's Barbie and next year's Britney. Tenants may be ownership challenged by youth, conflicting agendas or a lack of money (all things that change). Large landlords could be headed to a rich retirement or even bankruptcy. Many home owners do a great job and others are disasters as property stewards. We are all part of this neighborhood and we are natural allies and should embrace the strength and compatibility of our differences. National HD is something we already have. Local HD is a taking of property rights. The pro HD types want us to think we are missing something by not owning the HD label. But, those that want designer houses can buy a designer label. And those of us who don't want any more expense, delay and oversight than is already written into our Zoning, L&I and Building codes should join with other like minded citizens to protect our bundle of property rights. Anyone who has ever attended an HD hearing has seen how home owners are reduced to serf-like supplicants before the lords-of-the-manors (fellows who work at law, architecture and construction firms) and who seem to find loop holes or compromises where they benefit and make arbitrary punitive judgements where they don't. A friend is creating a resource for people who are either against HD or at least open to facts about HD (from folks stuck inside existing local HDs and from pending cases before the commission and from other sources and other areas of the city.) Reply privately if you want me to forward your e-address to him. 4. Real Estate Values have gone up - throughout the city. The April 2004 Philadelphia Magazine has an interesting chart. I sell in Center City and in University City and both areas have seen huge gains. I am amazed at the difference in UC between the SAP School catchment and surrounding blocks. I ran the numbers and they are huge. I think this makes the outlying areas a great buy for the child-free and those like me who prefer something other than SAPS for their kids. 2-4-6-8 Cents! Liz ________________________________________________________________ The best thing to hit the Internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the Web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today! ---- You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see <http://www.purple.com/list.html>.
