AT THE TABLE WITH: Mark Pinto
Mark Pinto is a familiar site to patrons of the Phoenixville Public Library. He has been with the library for 20 years, now as the director of adult services.
Originally from Roxborough, he received an undergraduate degree from La Salle University in communications. His first job was with radio station WFLN as the overnight weekend host. Mark discovered that this work did not pay the bills. He went on to Drexel to receive a master’s in library science.
He has found a way to combine his communications background and his love of music. Each Saturday between noon and 1 p.m. and later from 5 to 6 p.m., Mark hosts WRTI’S Classical News Release programs, carrying on the tradition of his father, William Pinto, who hosted a popular musical program on WRTI in the 1950s. Mark brings cataloging expertise to the station’s database.
In 1996, Mark and his wife, Donna, married, finally settling in Limerick. They met while attending a dating event for singles in Philadelphia. Sparks flew with a mutual interest in music. For 10 years, Donna has been the organist/choir director at St. James United Church of Christ.
Outside the library, music is all consuming. He is a self-taught pianist, starting at the age of 7. Mark is a cantor at St. Eleanor’s Church in Collegeville and a tenor member of the choir. He sings with several groups in the area and volunteers actively with the Chester County Pops Orchestra. The Pintos make frequent trips to Philadelphia and are subscribers to the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Mark and Donna bowl on the same team. He bowls mostly a 300 game and has bowled quite a few 800 games. Brother Paul Pinto is a professional bowler.
A little background on the Phoenixville Library — it started off in 1896 with a small collection of books as a private subscription library. It was in 1901 that Andrew Carnegie bestowed upon the town a new building for a public library. This library has grown to have the third-largest circulating collection in Chester County. Trustees continue to support the goals set down by Carnegie.
The Harrop meeting room in the library houses a complete collection of Sports Illustrated magazines (1954 to present), as well as Sports Illustrated for Kids (1989 to present). The magazines once belonged Dr. Donald Harrop. Dr. Harrop found a home for them, and special lock door shelving has been installed with glass doors to display.
With so many more things to do besides cooking, Mark and Donna do list this recipe is a favorite of theirs.
HAWAIIAN CHICKEN
12 oz. jar of apricot preserves
8 oz. bottle of Sweet & Sour Salad Dressing or 8 oz. bottle red Russian Dressing
1 packet onion soup mix
4 to 8 boneless chicken breast halves
Combine all the ingredients together, except the chicken breast. Marinate the chicken overnight in the mixture. Place chicken breast in lightly greased baking pan. Cover with the sauce that it was marinated in. Bake uncovered in preheated 350-degree oven for 40 to 45 minutes. Serve with rice of your choice.