July 24, 2008 Issue                                       

©2007 The Chestnut Hill Local

Local News

Chestnut Hill’s Mr. Basketball
From his Hill House apartment, Sidney Goldstein dispenses basketball fundamentals in newly revised books.
by PETE MAZZACCARO

Sidney Goldstein learned to play basketball on Philadelphia playgrounds. (Photo by Erin Vertreace)

Chestnut Hill doesn’t seem like the neighborhood for someone known as Mr. Basketball, but Sidney Goldstein, author of the much-heralded The Basketball Player’s Bible and the The Basketball Coach’s Bible calls the Hill House on W. Evergreen Avenue home.

From his high-rise apartment, Goldstein, 60, operates his one-man basketball publishing empire, Nitty-Gritty Basketball Series. He has completed 14 instructional videos, all edited on his personal Mac computer.  It was also here that he completed revised, second editions of his comprehensive compendiums of basketball fundamentals, which have been in print since 1994.

“Financially this is the most idiotic thing someone could do,” Goldstein said in a recent interview, waving his hand in the air. “I can’t believe I’ve been making money on this.”

Attorney General to investigate association, fund
by JOEL HOFFMANN

The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General is investigating the accounting and managerial practices of the Chestnut Hill Community Association and the Chestnut Hill Community Fund to determine if either organization has violated state law, according to letters released by a senior investigator on July 10.

Run on course for July 26
by Paula M. Riley

When the Montgomery Child Advocacy Project (MCAP) was awarded the Run for the Hill of It, administrative director Mary Pugh, Esq., knew organizing the race would require a great deal of work.  What she didn’t know was how much help she would get.

Joel Levinson’s Arbor House part of architecture tour
by Pete Mazzaccaro

Joel Levinson designed the Arbor House , which is now part of an architecture tour of local work inspired by or in reaction to the work and teachings of Louis I. Kahn.

A local architecture tour for the Society of Architectural Historians that includes the work of renowned architects Robert Venturi, Denise Scott Brown, Louis I. Kahn, Frank Furness and George Howe, will feature a home by local architect Joel Levinson.

Levinson, whose firm, Joel Levinson Associates, is located on W. Highland Avenue in Chestnut Hill said he is honored to be part of the tour, which will bring architecture historians to the area from around the country. The tour’s focus is the legacy of Kahn.

“Obviously, it’s quite an honor,” Levinson said. “It’s interesting how recognition comes to you. I wasn’t looking for it, but this house [the Arbor House] has resulted in a succession of honors.”