October 23, 2008 Issue                                       

©2007 The Chestnut Hill Local

Local News

Avenue businesses feel the recession
Chestnut Hill merchants hope to combat slowdown in the economy.
by JENNIFER KATZ

Joe Magarity, pictured in the showroom of his Ford dealership at Germantown Ave. and Hartwell Ln., has had to make cut backs and diversify his fleet to keep afloat during these trying economic times. (Photo by Joel Hoffmann)

The news isn’t good. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is dropping and rising with the frequency of dough in the hands of a pizza baker. The National Retail Federation’s name has become synonymous with apocalyptic gloom, and the “big boys” of the corporate world are looking more like exposed bullies on the playground.

For years now, Hillers have debated the fate and general economic health of the Avenue, specifically that illustrious strip from Bethlehem Pike and its environs to the very bottom of the bottom of the Hill at Cresheim Valley Road.

There have been forums and PowerPoint presentations, surveys and studies — all aimed at taking the temperature of the businesses along the Avenue in Chestnut Hill.

Ghost Walk begins Saturday on the Hill

Annie Hart

Can’t decide what to do for the Halloween season? The Ghost Walk is the best deal in town at $5 a person and no charge for those under five.

On Saturday, Oct. 25, Teenagers, Inc. invites the surrounding community to join a haunted Ghost Walk of Chestnut Hill. Participants will quietly follow the lantern-bearing guides snaking through the old homes and churches of the Hill and encountering along the way four spellbinding storytellers who will weave their tales of the fantastic and the startling. 

Storytellers include:

Audrey Roll is a professional storyteller who for more than 20 years has performed traditional folk songs and composed original tales. She has performed narration for books in audio format, and video presentations for professional promotions. She is a full time children’s librarian for the Free Library of Philadelphia who loves sharing tales. Roll has been part of the Ghost Walk for several years.

Water test for Pastorius pond ‘falls through cracks’ at PWD
by JOEL HOFFMANN

A request made in early August for the Philadelphia Water Department to test Pastorius Park pond for contaminants has “fallen through the cracks,” according to Mike DeSanto, facilities manager for the Fairmount Park Commission.

In August, DeSanto said that pesticides and weed-killing chemicals were flowing into the pond from surrounding properties, but he did not think it was an imminent health risk. The chemicals were raising nitrogen levels, though, and feeding the growth of algae.

Local markets consider Caruso’s takeover
by JOEL HOFFMANN

Weaver’s Way Co-op, a West Mt. Airy-based market, is in negotiations with CMS Companies to take over Caruso’s Market.

“We’d love to be there,” said Glenn Bergman, general manager of Weaver’s Way. “Many of our members would like us to be there. The issue is the cost of getting into Chestnut Hill”