| Death Inside a Chesco Home is Declared Murder
The November 2007 death of a Chester County, Pa. man is now a case of murder, although it may take some time before any charges are filed. Michael Caulder, 60, was killed by a single shot to the head inside his Tredyffrin Township home. It took this long for toxicology test results to come in. But for Chester County coroner Dr. Robert Satriale, it was just common sense to label this a homicide: "The facts and circumstances surrounding the case had a lot to do with our final ruling, particularly the fact that there was no weapon found at the scene." The man’s wife, a Philadelphia real estate attorney, has been questioned in the case, but at this point no one has been charged or labeled a suspect. And Satriale expects that won’t change for a while, as township police and Chester County detectives -- who have devoted thousands of man-hours to this investigation -- continue their probe.
Holocaust Museum founder Lerman dies
Miles Lerman, who fought against the Nazis in Poland and later helped found the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., has died. He was 88. Lerman's wife, Rosalie, confirmed Wednesday that he died Tuesday at his home in Philadelphia. Lerman was a member of a prosperous family whose flour mills were seized by the Nazis. Lerman escaped from a slave labor camp and fought the Nazis with other partisans for nearly two years in the forests of Poland. "Our job was to raise havoc, to raise hell with them and survive," he once told The Philadelphia Inquirer. Lerman and his wife immigrated to New York City in 1947. He worked as a grocery warehouse clerk in Brooklyn, N.Y., then had a chicken farm in Vineland, N.J. He later started a home heating oil business that grew into a major distributorship, and invested in real estate.
Phila. Councilman Kelly Acknowledges FBI Probe of Staffer
A Philadelphia City Councilman says he's cooperating fully with a federal probe that reportedly involves a member of his staff. The Philadelphia Daily News reports that federal investigators are probing the dealings of Councilman Jack Kelly's chief of staff with two real estate developers. The US Attorney's office will neither confirm nor deny the report. Kelly himself was not available. His legislative aide, John Cerone, says Kelly and other staffers are cooperating: Q: "The Councilman has been interviewed by the FBI, correct?" Cerone: "It is my understanding that the Councilman has cooperated fully with all authorities, as has his staff." And Cerone stresses that Kelly has not been accused of any wrongdoing. Kelly, a Republican at-large Councilman, just narrowly survived his re-election bid, beating a challenger by only about 100 votes.
Dan Gross: Cabaret coming to Morris House
CABARET IS the name of the restaurant that Neil Stein and partners are hoping to bring to the Morris House Hotel (225 S. 8th). Stein is partnered up with Lindsay Ratkovich, a real-estate developer and daughter of Los Angeles real-estate titan Wayne Ratkovich, and Morris House owners Michael DiPaolo and Gene LeFevre. As the name suggests, says Lindsay Ratkovich, Cabaret will be "a space designed to entertain," and the food will be "American-Parisian bistro cuisine." Look for red decor and a piano bar as part of the restaurant. * The Tap Room will open Thursday night at Four Points by Sheraton, formerly the Doubletree Club (Boulevard & Grant). It's open from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily. Joseph Pergine is looking to showcase local brews and lagers from "across the pond." Out and about Billy Joel, who performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra Saturday night at the Academy Ball, substituted "a bottle of red" - red-wine vinaigrette that is - for balsamic on his salad at Brasserie-Perrier (1619 Walnut), where he lunched Friday.
Educator Robert Marvin Chatman, 85
ROBERT Marvin Chatman, Philadelphia public-school teacher for 23 years, active church leader and Army veteran of World War II, died Thursday of brain cancer. He was 85 and lived in Wynnefield. He taught at a number of local schools and was a tailoring teacher at Germantown High School before his retirement in 1987. Robert was a man of many skills. At one time or another, he took a course for surgical technicians, studied oil-burner service, real estate and pattern-making. He had a dry-cleaning establishment, was a mortician and had numerous jobs as a handyman - all with the aim of better supporting his family. He was born in Honea Path, S.C., to Howard L. and Marie Lewis Chatman. He got his early education in Honea Path and attended the Colored Normal, Industrial Agricultural and Mechanical College, now South Carolina State University at Orangeburg.
Central Florida: Land of lakes, lush gardens and lots of airplanes
Two pairs of sand hill cranes standing around in an open field, red heads on the males, convinced me that the middle of Florida is a great place to meet real life. No animatronics or robots in Lakeland, Lake Wales, Winter Haven and the smaller parts of Polk County, Fla. Real life happens here and it's easy to join in. Disney's next door so go if you like, but abundant fun in real communities and spectacular sights wrapped up with lots of lakes and gardens filled my attention span in this big central Florida county. I had no idea most of them existed and I live only a four-hour drive away. Others, like Cypress Gardens I've missed all these years to my dismay now that I've walked under the branches of the 72-year-old banyan tree, explored the lovely grounds and applauded the water ski show.
Cats tougher, uglier, better
More Joe Frazier grit than Muhammad Ali grace. "To make ball games as ugly as possible," Crawford said with a that-should-be-plain-enough tone to his voice. "Try to make it as hard as possible for the other team. Get them out of their offense. Fight inside. Just make things as tough as possible." Kentucky (7-8) conceded little in what could have been a rout for Mississippi State. UK played without guards Jodie Meeks and Derrick Jasper. State arguably had the two best players in the game: shot blocker Jarvis Varnado and Cat-killer Jamont Gordon. A raucous crowd thirsted for a knockout. UK shook off all of that and the psychological pummeling associated with 15 blocked shots. Yet the outcome remained in doubt with 5.3 seconds left. Cruel irony had State, which helped Kentucky immensely by missing free throws, make three of four foul shots in the final seconds to clinch the victory.
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