February 2, 2006 Issue                                               

©2005 The Chestnut Hill Local

Needed in Chestnut Hill: a more level playing field
by PAT STOKES

The northwest corner of Germantown and Evergreen is quite an eyesore these days. (Photo by Len Lear)

Yep, that Commerce Bank corner at Evergreen and the Avenue is really and truly one of the worst things we’ve had to look at for some time. But perhaps we can take a Pollyanna approach and say that it will change. Things do change, and surely in this case there’s no way to go but better. Let’s just hope that decisions about stonework, glass doors, murals, etc., are reached sooner rather than later. Get with it folks, we’re all tired of looking at that mess.

In the meantime I thought maybe Local readers would enjoy a back story about that particular spot of real estate on the Chestnut Hill map. Several years before the Gap came into being on that corner, an Arco gas station was there. Anyone remember that? It was owned by an interesting character by the name of Dan Bavuso. Around 1986 Bavuso closed the station and quick as a wink, it was replaced by a vegetable stand, known appropiately as The Stand. The Stand was the brainchild of none other than Bill Markloff, originator and owner of our popular Top of the Hill Market, purveyor of beautifully fresh veggies.

Across the Avenue from the Arco station plus a few doors up was a shop known as Concept Natural Foods, where you could buy things like unbleached flour, sea salt, raw sugar, unsaturated oils and delicious yogurt (years before people discovered how good yogurt tastes and how good it is for you).

Bill was running the Stand, and I was running the health food store. One day I thought, “Why not put two and two together and write up some recipes using products from both places?” The various natural foods cookbooks offered some interesting ideas. I typed two or three recipes a week, illustrated them with some goofy drawings of veggies, made lots of copies and put them on the counters of both places. Examples: Falafel-stuffed tomatoes; layered vegetable terrine with tomato-basil sauce; savory stuffed eggplant; peach melba pie. It was fun for customers and for us, and everybody learned something.

An Off the Avenue thought: I’m happy that at last a financial report on the results of the Holiday House Tour has appeared (Local, Jan. 26). So the bottom line was about $7000, falling short of the hoped-for $20,000. Better than a complete loss, right?

As for why there may have been fewer tickets sold than expected: Of the several reasons that have been put forth, none has mentioned that Meadowbrook Lane is a pretty steep hill, in terms of liesurely walking. We lived at 9503 for 10 years when the children were small. That hill did not exactly welcome bikes, roller skates, strollers or just simply going for a walk. So perhaps the thought of trudging up and down to visit the various houses might have discouraged some would-be attendees. Kind of gives new meaning to the expression, “needing a level playing field.”

Here’s our periodic reminder about Bird-in-Hand consignment shop.With Valentine’s Day coming up you might find a small lovely gift for, not necessarily a romantic Valentine, but some special person you care about. Remember, proceeds go to the Community Association projects such as Teens, Seniors, etc., 8419 Germantown Ave. 215-248-2473. See you on the Avenue.