Famous peoples

Franklin Park mourns loss of passionate leader

Weakened by cancer and short of breath, Carl Cherry stood at a public meeting last October and told state health officials what he thought of them.

For 20 years, his neighborhood had suffered from the government's failure to keep lead out of its drinking water -- and Cherry said that was inexcusable.

The passionate comments Cherry gave that night defined him and his commitment to the Franklin Park neighborhood, friends and family said Monday.

Cherry, 57, died late last week after a two-year struggle with lung cancer. He had lived in Franklin Park for 34 years, working for the community and his family.

In UN speech, Bush assails Iran leaders - President directs address to people in Iran, Syria

NEW YORK -- With a potential showdown looming at the United Nations over Iran's nuclear program, President Bush criticized the Iranian government before the world body Tuesday but made no mention of U.S.-threatened sanctions and offered praise for the Iranian people.

Standing inside a hall where bitterness over his administration's policies still runs deep, Bush said he wanted to speak "directly to the people across the broader Middle East," assuring that his government is not on the offensive against Muslims even as he took aim at Iran and other governments in the region that are opposed to U.S. actions.

British ex-leader addresses Phila. real estate meeting

A 35-person local real estate company spent the morning yesterday discussing threats to global peace and the economy -- with John Major, the former British prime minister.

It was the fourth annual meeting for Spectrum Alliance L.P., an investment fund established in 2001 by Trefoil Properties Inc., of Lansdale.

Ward leaders make Council choices

The three vacant seats on City Council were essentially filled last night by the city's Democratic ward leaders, who met in private to nominate three of their own -- Carol Campbell, William Greenlee and Daniel Savage -- to run in the Nov. 7 special election.

Although voters will still have a choice between a Republican and a Democratic candidate for each of the seats, the party's nomination is tantamount to an early election victory because of the overwhelming dominance of the Democratic Party in the city. One nominee, Campbell, has even made a round of phone calls in search of potential staff hires and has discussed where in Council's chamber she will sit during meetings.

In a sign of the party's well-oiled political machinery, the addition of these three candidates would bring to nine, out of 17, the number of Council members who also are ward leaders.