November 13, 2008 Issue                                       

©2007 The Chestnut Hill Local

Local News

Obama sweeps Northwest wards
by JOEL HOFFMANN

Rian Bacon (right), 30, shared his excitement about President-elect Barack Obama’s victory and his hopes for the nation’s future with Local reporter Joel Hoffman, outside the Philadelphia Hair Co. in Germantown. (Photo by Erin Vertreace)

Across the Avenue from Vernon Park, beyond the red neon Philadelphia Hair Co. sign perched above two columns of Obama campaign posters, Larry Sweat Jr. sat next in line for a trim, gathering his thoughts.

 “I knew he was going to win,” Sweat said. “You never count your eggs before they hatch, but I knew he was going to win.”

Sweat, a 31-year-old medical billing clerk, was one of at least 20,000 people who attended a pre-election Obama rally at Vernon Park on Oct. 11. He was struck by the diversity of Obama supporters and swept up in a wave of confidence. That’s when he knew Obama was going to win.

Magarity Ford set to close this year
by JOEL HOFFMANN

Magarity Ford and its 1.7 acre lot are up for sale.

Add Magarity Ford to the casualties of the global economic downturn.

The dealership at 8200 Germantown Ave. has been run by the Magarity family for 20 years, but it could close by the end of this month, according to owner Joe Magarity.

Magarity said he was thankful for Hillers’ support over the past two decades, but shrinking credit lines and Ford’s plans to reduce its dealership presence nationwide made it necessary to close shop.

“Our hand was forced to move,” he said. “The capital is not available.”

Thanksgiving jars on Avenue counters
by PAULA M. RILEY

Jean Dwyer

There are certain signs that Thanksgiving is near. Falling leaves, colder weather and gravy boats in store windows are subtle prompts. In Chestnut Hill, the glass jars on counters of Hill stores also remind locals that the holiday is close.

The jars bear the sign “St. Vincent Food Kitchen Thanksgiving Collection,” welcoming our spare change and reminding us that not everyone will be seated at a large banquet this holiday. These jars have become a fixture when November arrives in Chestnut Hill.

For the last 15 years, lifelong Chestnut Hill resident Jean Dwyer has been collecting money and pies for Thanksgiving dinner at St. Vincent’s Dining Room in Germantown.

The effort started quite innocently when the dining room’s director told Dwyer she had no desserts for Thanksgiving. Dwyer began baking and asking her friends and neighbors to do the same.

Holiday House Tour kicks off with 19th century Italianate home
by PAULA M. RILEY

The Annual Chestnut Hill Holiday House Tour on Dec 6 features local homes decorated for the holiday by area designers and florists.  This festive mantle was created for a past tour.  This year’s décor will include creative and surprising use of everyday materials to accentuate the style of the featured residences.

The Chestnut Hill Community Association will again host its popular Holiday House Tour, on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Four magnificent homes, each with a unique design and architectural style, will be decorated for the holidays and open to the public. Each step of this year’s tour will deliver festive designs sure to capture the imagination and put visitors in a holiday mood.

A beautiful Queen Anne style home, charming center hall colonial, and a 20th century colonial revival will be full of festive décor and colorful greenery. The first stop, however, will be an intriguing Italianate style home.