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7th Annual Progressive Dinner

2013, February 2, Saturday, Groundhog Day

Another PROGRESSIVE DINNER! at the four neighborhood homes of our…

HOSTS

David Neiblum & Suzanne Rosenberg
4:45 to 5:50 PM • Appetizers

Beetsie and Rich Fazio
6 to 6:50 PM • Soups or Salads

Jerry Szczepaniak & Beth Soldwisch • Casserole/Main Dish

Jerry Szczepaniak & Beth Soldwisch • Casserole/Main Dish

Ronnie Balassone & Kirby Tirk
8:10 to 9:00 PM • Dessert, Coffee

Thanks to all the hosts and guests over the years for making this event possible and successful.

Your support brings our next big project closer every year—reinstalling the long-lost, NOW-FOUND FOUNTAIN at Franklin and Marshall Streets, gone since the last mid century!

The day started with a groundhog in Punxatawney failing to see his shadow (the sign of an early spring); but here, the temperature was dropping below freezing as we set out for the 7th Annual Progressive Dinner. Thoughts of the cold dispelled quickly as our first hosts Suzanne Rosenberg and David Neiblum welcomed us to their spectacular home.

Our biggest crowd ever—60 members—spread out through the first floor, exploring the appetizers laid out in the dining room, the huge hearths (one configured as Annie’s bed, a very lucky, friendly dog) and the beautiful living room. As we compared notes on the year past, about travels, about work and family, about the neighborhood, it quickly became apparent many in this group had gone beyond neighborliness and into friendship.

Unexpectedly, Jeff Beitel, our President, called us all upstairs to gather in the huge game room. Jeff updated us on the group’s projects in the park, especially the efforts to restore the long-lost and now recovered fountain.

CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE FOR DETAIL

CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE FOR DETAIL

Jeff also showed off a newly discovered photo of the fountain from 1899 that shows it in more detail than we’ve ever seen.

Running slightly late, we then made our way to the home of Beetsie and Rich Fazio on Virginia Avenue. Dark had come, showing off the luminaries lining the path to each host home. A few thin flakes of snow also struck our cheeks.

The second stop is usually reserved for soup OR salad, but the Fazios decided not to choose and instead offered both, plus a hot pot of chili. Conversation seemed to slow a bit as the crowd dug in, but soon we returned to speaking quite loudly to hear above the background chatter.

Too soon, Linda Scott–perennial majordomo, creater and organizer of the Progressive Dinners–rang the gong; the bright red and very loud fire bell could not be ignored.

Leaving, we discovered the snow had picked up and made the going a little slippery. Thankfully, the next stop was next door at the home of Beth Soldwisch and Jerry Szczepaniak.

Departing from our unwritten custom of buffet dinners balanced precariously upon laps, our hosts for the entree had transformed their home into a multi-room restaurant with seating for all, flowers on each table. The main course was also impressive: huge portions of polenta topped with fresh mozzarella and served with sausage and tomato gravy.

Judging by photos taken during this stop, the crowd was becoming even chummier, with much hugging, some kissing and a few hijinks. Did I mention each home served wine and beer?

The final stop was just around the corner where more luminaries lined the curving walk to the home of Ronnie Balassone and Kirby Tirk–more surprises and delights awaited. The dessert trays and the selection of beverages impressed us. However, we were not prepared for the sound of a jazz duo—piano and bass—playing from the living room. FMSP member Mike Norris and his accompanist simply wowed with one tune after another from their broad repertoire. Of course, with toes tapping, it wasn’t long before a few were dancing.

Now here’s a warning to all future dessert hosts: people do not want to leave. Though some had to hurry home to children and sitters, many stayed way past our posted closing time, thanks to the hospitality of Ronnie, Kirk, and Seuss (another lucky dog). The band played on. The wine, beer and coffee kept pouring. For all we know, some are still there.

The rest of us? The 364-day countdown to next year’s 8th Progressive Dinner starts for us today.

Jim Salvas
FMSP Secretary

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1899 Photo of Fountain Curated by the Chester County Historical Society

The Historical Society just located this photo for us—the clearest and best look we’ve had of the fountain in its original state. Taken just ten years after the fountain’s installation, we can now see the brick piers supporting the base, the jets shooting up from the base of the fountain and the structure of the spray balls at the top. The view is to the northwest, with the main buildings of the old hospital across Marshall Street.

  • Click the picture to enlarge it
  • Click here for the 1889 Daily Local News article about purchasing the fountain
  • Use the PROJECTS Menu at left for more info about this historic fountain and our restoration plans.
Click photo to enlarge for detail.

Click photo to enlarge for detail.

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6th Annual Progressive Dinner

2012, February 4 (Saturday)

Members Only
+ their guests

$37.50 PROGRESSIVE DINNER!
At the four neighborhood homes of our…

HOSTS

Oscar and Vivian Lasko
4:45 to 5:50 PM • Appetizers

Jackie and Paul Cody
6 to 6:50 PM • Soups or Salads

Sandi & Mark DePhillips
7 to 8:00 PM • Casserole/Main Dish

Joe & Gretchen DelRossi
8:10 to 9:00 PM • Dessert, Coffee

Thanks to all the hosts and guests over the years for making this event possible and successful.

Your support brings our next big project closer every year—reinstalling the long-lost FOUNTAIN at Franklin and Marshall Streets, where it was well into the last mid century!

6th ANNUAL
PROGRESSIVE DINNER

CLICK FOR SLIDESHOW
by Jim Salvas

Narrative by Jim Salvas,
FMSP Secretary

“Standing here among the people of Punxsutawney and basking in the warmth of their hearths and hearts, I couldn’t imagine a better fate than a long and lustrous winter.
—Bill Murray, from Groundhog Day

Once again, just after Groundhog Day, Friends of Marshall Square Park gather for their midwinter festivity, the Annual Progressive Dinner. With a chilly dusk approaching, we walk down the hill of North Matlack to the first of our four stops, the sprawling and beautiful home of Oscar and Vivian Lasko.

This first door swings open and there’s Oscar to greet us and lead us to the beverages, with Vivian not far behind, passing around the first trays of appetizers. We greet old friends and meet new ones as we all marvel together at how cozy our hosts have made their large home. Oscar, a 91-year resident of West Chester, is relatively new to the home, having built it only four decades ago.

For many of us, this year’s Progressive Dinner is something of a reunion. For the first time, we gave past hosts “first dibs” on our scarce, hot tickets to show our appreciation. As a result, almost all of them are here, sharing tales of the nights they hosted The Progressive. We see John Cigler and Patrick McCoy, who served the dessert course way back in 2007. Bob and Mary Kay McCann took their turn in 2008; and they’re here, too. There are more from each year; but last year’s hosts take the prize—every one of them is here this year (there’s a 2011 Host Group photo in the slideshow at time 2:49).

Too soon, Linda Scott—our longtime mastermind—rings her new bell (traditionally a gong), and we’re off up the hill a little ways to the stately home of Paul and Jackie Cody. Soup’s on!

Warmed by their den’s fireplace and in the great room (and, wow, is it a GREAT room!), everyone mingles. The party kicks into high gear as we are joined by a few late arrivals. A lot of talk, a few glasses of wine and a delicious cup of soup later, it’s time to move on.

As we make our way to the home of Mark and Sandi DePhillips on Penny Lane—many of course singing the old Beatles tune—those in the know thread our way in the dark through the backyard.

The DePhillips have the distinction of being our first repeat hosts, having also served the main course in 2008. More importantly, they are serving up their warm hospitality. Though theirs is the newest house ever on our tour, they make it feel like an old, friendly gathering spot.

This time Miriam Coleman gets in on the bell-ringing and does it in style, signaling it’s time to move on to our last stop, just up the hill to the stone home of Joe and Gretchen DelRossi, where we find welcoming Christmas decorations shining brightly.

Inside, we’re impressed to find that Gretchen has made almost every one of the delicious desserts herself. How is it she and Joe are so trim? (Gretchen told Lane the coconut ones had no gluten—?)

A cup of coffee… A few last chats… A speech by our stalwart President (since 2007), Jeff Beitel.

The 6th Annual Progressive Dinner ends as we climb back up the hill—a few still holding hands in the midwinter chill.

See SLIDESHOW—6th (most-recent) Progressive Dinner

See PHOTOS and read about PAST PROGRESSIVE DINNERS
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SUPPORT YOUR PARK and OWN A PIECE OF IT TOO!

By Renowned Local Artist JOHN SUPLEE
“THE SWISS COTTAGE” Limited Edition
Signed/Numbered Prints and Note Cards

$50 off framing at
Fast Frame Gallery, 27 W. Gay, Borough of WC
limited time

Download PDF to learn how to get one for yourself.

SEE the Swiss Cottage improvements under our PROJECTS menu

What our Marshall Square Park trees do for us

Have you ever thought about what our trees do all day, every day?

An email volley called What’s happening to the trees? circulated because of the removal of many mature trees during High Street’s sidewalk renovation and drew in local experts.

A tree with a 24-inch girth will typically store more than 100 pounds of carbon, because trees are largely comprised of carbon.

To achieve this girth, the tree has to remove more than 367 pounds of CO2 (a global warming pollutant) from the air. The bigger the tree, the more carbon it stores, and the more CO2 it removes from the air.

As long as a tree is healthy and not extremely old, it keeps taking out more carbon each year. Planting a new, young tree in place of a mature tree cannot mitigate the lost benefit; it takes about sixteen (16) young trees to make up for the loss of one mature tree.

So, now you know what our MSP trees are doing all day, every day.

Now—have you ever wondered what their names are? If so, click here.

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HOT Ticket

Save the Date
Our annual Progressive Dinner falls on Groundhog Day

Always held the first Saturday in February, this year our 2013 Progressive Dinner falls on the evening of Groundhog Day. Though tickets are not yet on sale and reservations begin some time in January, you’ll want to pencil in 2/2 now.

Limited host space strictly limits attendance. The ceiling is a bit higher this year, but the ticket remains HOT.

Look for our January email announcement for opening reservations and get yours in early—no not just early—suddenly!

Check out the video from other FMSP Progressive Dinners, which started in 2007…

2012 Fall Garden Party
Prior Progressive Dinners still on the ORIGINAL 2005 marshallsquarepark.org website, now superseded.