CLOSE UP by Brian Rudnick

Offspring of the European Beech and its admirers

In October of 1999, Bill proposed to his now wife while sitting on a bench under their favorite tree at the Morris Arboretum in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, a huge European beech on the upper slope. The tree was badly damaged about a year later and only the decaying snag remains. But the tree is surrounded by its offspring, a circle of tall, closely spaced trees which had taken root where the original beech's long, pendulous branches had touched the ground. On a recent fall day, the family, now consisting of a 7 and 9 year old were revisiting the special place.

Watch video interview here.

Grand wedding in India to follow

Vinita Dora, a masters student in public health in Saint Louis and Karthik Gowrishankar who works in IT in Los Angeles were getting ready for their engagement party the next day at the Hill Stead Museum in Farmington, Connecticut, Vinita’s home town. They met online, then met in person, fell in love, and “wanted to take it forward” says Karthik. They then introduced themselves to their prospective in-laws which involved Karthik’s parents travelling to the States from Chennai. The bride’s family is originally from Bombay. A grand wedding will follow next year in India. Watch video interview here.

Early spring wedding at Valley Green

 IS THIS YOUR JOB OR ARE YOU ASSOCIATED WITH THE PARTY? Oh, no, I’m friends of the party. I’m just doing courtesy duty. SO WHAT’S THEIR STORY? They met at Trinity Baptist Church which is in the Fairmount section of the city and unexpectedly to most people, I guess, they eventually started dating, which a lot of people didn’t see coming. They announced their engagement, I think, last fall and decided to go with a short engagement, and today’s the big day…I knew both of them before they were dating but once they started dating it just kind of seemed like, yeah, this seems right. A great couple, really great people.” Rob Rineer, friend of bride and groom, before the wedding.

I WAS HERE EARLIER AND IT LOOKS LIKE YOU TIED THE KNOT. Michael Reyes: “Yes, we did .. happily so” WELL, CONGRATULATIONS! Lisa Gale: “Thank you.” YOU PICKED A BEAUTIFUL DAY. MR: “It was stunning, everything we could have imagined happened today. It was perfect.” LG: “It’s hard to plan for sunshine but we got it. I’m so glad”. WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS NOW? MR.”Enjoy each other” WHERE YOU’RE HONEYMOONING IS A SECRET, RIGHT? MR: The immediate honeymoon is Montego Bay, Jamaica then later on we’ll be going to Costa Rica, in the summertime, for an extended honeymoon.” EXCELLENT. Newlyweds Lisa Gale and Michael Reyes, Valley Green.

Watch video interviews here.