Mt. Airy Day 2011 draws big crowds and plenty of candidates

Mt. Airy Day 2011 attracted large crowds, the mayor, and a slew of candidates running for office in this year’s May 17 primary. The annual event organized by East Mt. Airy Neighbors (EMAN) and West Mt. Airy Neighbors (WMAN) was held again on the grounds of the historic Cliveden home, the site of the Battle of Germantown in 1777.

Mt. Airy is a neighborhood in Philadelphia’s northwest section.

Most notable this year was the addition of nearly every Eighth District City Council candidate. Howard Treatman even had a volunteer clown at his table entertaining kids. Treatman along with Cindy Bass, Andrew Lofton, Greg Paulmier, Robin Tasco and Verna Tyner could be seen shaking hands and visiting nearly every vendor table on the grounds. NewsWorks didn’t see William Durham, but he may have also been there.

Former WMAN Executive Director Lizabeth Macoretta was spotted hanging out with the Mt. Airy USA team. She has been hired as a consultant to help the local community development corporation organize its big October fundraising event Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner. The ironic part is that WMAN and Mt. Airy USA share office space at 6703 Germantown Avenue.

One new element to Mt. Airy Day was the opening of the slave quarters for public tours at Cliveden. David Young, the executive director of Cliveden, told NewsWorks that this is the first time that the public had a chance to see this part of the home. Cliveden was the home to several generations of the Chew family, which at one time owned many slaves.

Mt. Airy Day is a symbolic event that promotes Mt. Airy residents coming together. Germantown Avenue has historically served as a dividing line between the a more affluent residents in West Mt. Airy and the mostly middle class residents in East Mt. Airy.

This was the second year in a row that NewsWorks participated in Mt. Airy Day.

Special thanks to Patrick Cobbs, Chris Satullo, and Aaron Moselle for their help staffing our table.

Correction: The original version of this article misidentified the volunteer clown working at Howard Treatman’s table. NewsWorks regrets the error.