holidays - Chestnut Hill Local Philadelphia PA

Holidays 

on the 

Hill 

INSIDE 

Get ready to celebrate 

the holidays here. The 

Chestnut Hill Business 

Association will bring 

Santa Claus, music and 

extra shopping days. The 

Chestnut Hill Community 

Association will present its 

annual holiday house tour, 

while the Chestnut Hill 

Historical Society will 

stage its annual 

spectacular gala. Caroling 

at the Creche will return, 

the Hill’s Center for Enrichment 

will have some 

special offerings, the 

Water Tower Recreation 

Center will host its annual 

craft show and Light Up a 

Life will mark its 20th tree 

lighting in Chestnut Hill. 

Friends of the Wissahickon 

will show families how to 

make their own holiday 

wreaths and the popuar 

Holiday Garden Railway 

will re-open. 

A supplement to the Thursday, November 25, 2010 Page 41

Page 42 chestnut hill local thursday, november 25, 2010 

Lights, music and Santa herald holidays on the Hill 

by Ruth R. Russell 

Chestnut Hill will celebrate 

the holidays in its traditional 

way, according to Peggy 

Miller, of the Chestnut Hill Business 

Association (CHBA). 

There will be special shopping 

hours for stores and restaurants, lively 

music and, of course, visits by Santa 

Claus. 

The season is already underway, 

jump-started here by Holiday Tree 

Lighting and a Circle of Trees Celebration 

last Friday afternoon at 

Christ Ascension Church. 

Jointly presented by the CHBA, 

the Chestnut Hill District and the 

Chestnut Hill Community Association, 

the event featured the lighting 

of outdoor trees, live music, caroling 

and cookies and hot chocolate. A 

special guest arrived, much to the 

delight of the kids. 

“We will have Stag & Doe Nights 

and Sundays with Santa,” Miller 

continued. “These are our trademarks. 

However, there will be some 

new things. 

“We will have an art exhibit in the 

Holidays on the Hill 

former Magarity showroom at 8200 

Germantown Ave. A Main Line 

artist, Laura Cohn, is bringing a 10day 

show here called ‘From Bali to 

Bala’ that will focus on the Indonesian 

culture. 

“Handcrafted items will be for 

sale, with the proceeds going to an 

Indonesian health clinic. She will 

open the 27th and be in the same 

block with some restaurants and 

stores and, with her early evening 

hours, hopes to attract diners and 

shoppers.” 

Also new to the holiday mix this 

year will be a First Friday on December 

3, from 6 to 8 p.m. These special 

shopping opportunities began in 

September so this will be the first 

one during a holiday season. 

Stag & Doe Nights will be on 

Wednesday evenings, December 8, 

15 and 22, from 6 to 9. Started many 

years ago to give people who worked 

during the day a chance to do holiday 

shopping here, the occasions feature 

wine and cheese, cookies and 

cocoa, music and caroling, chestnuts 

roasting and visits from Santa Claus. 

Sunday afternoons, December 5, 

12 and 19, shops will be open from 

about noon to 4 and Santa will once 

again be strolling the Avenue and listening 

to children’s gift wishes. 

Entertainment for the expanded 

shopping opportunities is still being 

planned, according to the Business 

Association’s Kate O’Neill. 

“We will definitely have the Alex 

Siniavski Brass Quartet on Stag & 

Doe Nights and on Sunday afternoons 

from 1 to 3,” she said. Groups 

who have appeared previously are 

Water Tower Recreation Center, 

in Chestnut Hill, will again host a 

holiday craft show on Saturday, 

December 11, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 

and on Sunday, December 12, from 

11 a.m. to 4 p.m.- 

This will be the 29th year for the 

popular event, and more than 50 

crafters from the tri- state area will be 

in attendance to sell their fabulous 

creations. 

Santa hears gift wishes from child on 

the Avenue. 

being contacted to help to create a 

festive shopping experience. 

For more information about activities 

of the Chestnut Hill Business 

Association during the holiday season, 

call 215-247-6696 or visit chestnuthillpa.com. 

Craft Show at Water Tower 

Ginny Finch, of Chestnut Hill, displays 

her jewelry. 

Among the items for sale will be 

purses, holiday wreaths and centerpieces, 

jewelry, soaps, candles clothing 

made from recycled sweaters, 

woven items, coats, hats, gifts for 

your pets, gifts for men, stained glass 

and wooden bowls. 

Come and spend the day, have 

lunch served by Under the Oak of 

Oak Lane, and enjoy live entertainment 

with Judith Stern and her band 

on Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. 

“This is a free event,” reports 

Kathy Lombardo, who has organized 

the show for the last 10 years. “Area 

residents come out for a fun-filled 

day and to have lunch with friends. 

“The spirit in the building is wonderful,” 

she added. “Just look for the 

pink signs that will soon be appearing 

around the Hill.” 

Water Tower Recreation Center is 

located on Hartwell Lane, east of 

8200 Germantown Avenue. Proceeds 

will benefit the Water Tower 

Sports program. 

For more information, call 215- 

635-2760. (RRR)

thursday, november 25, 2010 chestnut hill local Page 43 

Holiday House Tour a great way to enjoy holiday season 

by Paula Riley 

Atrip on the Chestnut Hill 

Holiday House Tour on 

Saturday, December 5 (10 

a.m. to 4 p.m.), is a great way to 

celebrate the holiday season. 

Consider making the tour part of 

your annual holiday tradition as 

many Hillers have done for years! 

Five wonderful homes in Chestnut 

Hill will be on display, decorated by 

the area’s finest designers and florists. 

The homes’ distinctive architectural 

styles will keep tour guests fascinated 

as they travel from these properties 

all located near and around the 8100 

block of Germantown Avenue. 

Tour guests will enjoy exploring a 

quaint 1883 Colonial Revival center 

hall house with a recently renovated 

kitchen that exudes warmth through 

its rich wood cabinetry and subtle 

earth tones. 

After touring the house, guests can 

explore the backyard, a serene getaway 

with a large deck and a walkway 

to a sitting porch off the living 

room. 

Just steps away, the next house on 

the tour is a Civil War era farmhouse 

featuring eclectic cottage furnishings. 

Enter into the intimate living 

room and move into the beautifully 

decorated dining room ready for a 

holiday feast. Adjacent to this festive 

space is a surprisingly cozy 

kitchen, reading nook and expansive 

deck and patio. Each inch of this 

stunning home features charming 

details 

In grand contrast to these historic 

dwellings is the LEED (Leadership in 

Energy and Environmental Design) 

Platinum certified home. Green holiday 

décor will complement the 

Jewelry 

Wearable art 

Fine crafts 

7151 

Germantown 

avenue 

215-248-2450 

Cocina 

Latina 

7402 

Germantown 

Avenue 

267-385-6857 

Exterior of Germantown Avenue home on this year’s Holiday House Tour. 

green building strategies implemented 

throughout the house including 

the use of environmentally preferred 

products with high recycle content, 

water efficiency and emissions reduction. 

Decorated by the owner, a talented 

interior designer, the home 

reflects her aesthetic sensibility and 

style. 

A 1931 Anglo-Norman style 

Cotswold cottage invites tour guests 

to experience European flare with its 

British and French architectural elements. 

With beautiful hardwood 

floors, casement windows, French 

doors and the living room fireplace 

surrounded by built-in bookcases, 

the home is captivating. Outside is as 

lovely as indoors with a wonderful 

flagstone patio and gardens. 

The final stop on the tour is a 

1820s Federal townhouse with several 

additions. Hidden from the main 

Avenue, the home is full of surprises. 

Art Avenue 

& Framing 

6873 

Germantown 

Avenue 

215-848-4420 

charles 

todd 

Guests will roam through an awardwinning 

garden as they enter the 

home, which is full of architectural 

by Renee Polsky 

details. Homeowners have transformed 

this wonderful historical 

home to fit into their modern 

lifestyle quite well. 

Guests will enjoy the “holiday party” 

theme created for the tour, 

including a large Christmas tree decorated 

with bright colors. 

On tour day, include lunch or dinner 

at one of the Hill’s many restaurants 

that offer 10 percent discount 

for tour guests. Just be sure to save 

time for shopping. 

While you have holiday decorating 

on your mind, consider a visit to 

Laurel Hill Gardens for a personalized 

holiday wreath or Lavender Hill 

for holiday home accents. 

New to the tour this year is a wine 

& cheese reception at Woodmere 

Art Museum from 2 to 6 p.m. 

Woodmere invites all House Tour 

guest to visit The Founders Gallery, 

which will be decorated for the holidays. 

Tour participants are also wel- 

come to view museum exhibitions 

that are open that day. 

Be sure to add a trip on the Holiday 

House Tour to your holiday plans 

and turn your Saturday into an afternoon 

of holiday fun! All tour guests 

will receive a keepsake guidebook 

with map, and details of the decorating 

efforts. 

Tickets for the House Tour are $30 

for Chestnut Hill Community Association 

(CHCA) members and $35 

for non-members and can be 

reserved in advance by calling 

Noreen Spota at 215-248-8810, or 

via the web at www.chestnuthillorg. 

On the day of the tour, wristbands, 

programs and tour maps can be 

picked up at the former Magarity 

Ford at 8100 Germantown Ave. 

Groups of 10 or more will receive 

a 10 percent ticket discount with 

advanced reservation. 

Gift certificates are also available. 

Holiday gifts for one dollar? 

Is it still possible to buy a holiday 

gift for $1.00? Yes, it is. 

Visit the Friends of the Chestnut 

Hill Library’s book sale where you 

will find hundreds of gently used 

hardcover books for $1. You will also 

find paperback books for 25 cents 

and 50 cents. 

How is this possible? Generous 

people, patrons of the library, have 

donated these books. 

The librarians choose what they 

need for the library’s permanent collection 

and then we get the remaining 

books for our sale. All the money 

Eco - Boutique 

Clothing 

& 

Accessories 

7125 

Germantown 

Avenue 

215-242-2976 

received from the sale goes back to 

the library so that new books and 

other materials may be purchased for 

its patrons. 

You will be surprised at the quality 

and quantity of our sale books. We 

sell books on varied subjects: science, 

art, history, religion, politics, economics, 

humor, crafts, biographies, 

how-to books, cookbooks and classics. 

Dictionaries, foreign language 

literature, children’s books, young 

adult literature, short story anthologies, 

poetry, plays and antique books 

will taken be out of our storage closets 

and put on sale. 

Let’s not forget videos, CDs (music 

and books), cassettes, DVDs and, of 

Wood-Fired 

Pizza 

& 

Brewery 

7130 

Germantown 

Avenue 

215-242-6666 

7145 

Germantown 

avenue 

(Main number) 

215-276-6000 

7619 

Germantown 

Avenue 

215-753-1500 

course, fiction (hardcover, trade size 

and small size paperbacks) which 

round out our collection. Our sale 

will begin on Monday, December 20, 

at 1:15 p.m., and continue to Monday, 

January 3, at 5 p.m. Our hours 

will be the same as the library’s hours: 

Monday and Wednesday, 1 to 9; 

Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 10 

to 5; closed Friday, Sunday and 

December 25 and January 1. 

The Chestnut Hill Branch of the 

Free Library of Philadelphia is located 

at 8711 Germantown Ave. Call 

215-248-0977 to learn more. 

Renee Polsky is president of Friends 

of Chestnut Hill Library. 

Come Visit Downtown Mt. Airy 

With it’s longtime favorites and promising newcomers, Mout Airy is home to an exciting and innovative restaurant 

retail and art scene. You’ll be pleased with the variety Mount Airy has to offer 

Organic Skin 

Therapy 

Massage 

Reflexology 

7203 

Germantown 

Avenue 

215-381-9903 

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Germantown 

avenue 

215-247-3020 

Majecki 

Stained Glass 

Works 

Unique 

Gifts 

7112 

Germantown 

avenue 

215-242-1586 

Mt. airy 

custom 

Furniture inc. 

7054 

Germantown 

Avenue 

215-264-2062 

Eyewear 

Consultants 

7228 

Germantown 

Avenue 

215-248-6070 


HAIR STUDIO 

7201 

Germantown 

Avenue 

215-242-1314 

Salon 

& 

Boutique 

7119 

Germantown 

Avenue 

215-242-0113 

Ancient Ways 

for 

Modern Life 

20 E. 

Mt. Airy 

Avenue 

267-286-1011 

Your real 

local 

Florist 

in 

Philadelphia 

1908 - 2010 

7148 

Germantown 

Avenue 

215-247-0832 

three 

convenient 

locations 

For 

appointments 

call 215-276-6111 

www.teivision.com 

Milkshake, 

Rattle, and Roll! 

trolleycar23@ 

trolleycardiner.com 

Wholesome 

Foods for 

Everyone 

Local artisanal 

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featuring 

allergy-sensative 

fare & more! 

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Germantown 

Avenue 

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BYOB 

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reservations 

7131 

Germantown 

Avenue 

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• Jewelry 

• Gifts 

• Fun Stuff 

with Style 

•Vintage 

7118 

Germantown 

Avenue 

215-242-5440 

Walk a 

crooked 

Mile 

80,000 books 

in 8 rooms 

paperbacks 

to rare and 

fine used books 

7423 

devon street 

Mt. airy train station 

215-242-0854


Caroling at the Crèche to return to Top of the Hill 

by Ruth R. Russell 

Caroling at the Crèche will 

once again take place on the 

Monday before Christmas, 

starting at 7:30 p.m., in front of Sovereign 

Bank at the Top of the Hill. 

Area residents of all ages are invited 

to sing in front of the nativity 

scene outside the bank at Germantown 

Avenue and Bethlehem Pike 

on December 20, and gather for 

refreshments afterwards. 

Song sheets will be provided by 

the bank and the singers will be 

accompanied by area musicians, 

according to Janine Dwyer, proprietor 

of Janine Salon de Coiffure and 

co-chair of the Caroling with her 

friend and fellow hair stylist 

Antoinette DuBiel. 

They have been working on this 

annual event for more than a decade, 

and are very enthusiastic about the 


tradition. “We look forward to it 

every year,” said Dwyer. “We are 

delighted to be helping to provide 

such a wonderful treat for the community 

again,” said DuBiel. 

The pair are pleased that Classic 

Management, owner of the Sovereign 

Bank building, will be putting 

up the crèche on Monday, December 

6. Members of the Caroling at the 

Crèche committee will be on hand 

for the installation of the framework, 

nativity figures and surrounding 

evergreen branches donated by Top 

of the Hill Market. 

Then the co-chairs and fellow volunteers 

Paul and Becky Roller and 

Ginny Wilson will “put the finishing 

touches on it,” said Dwyer. 

For many years the singing has 

been followed at a reception given by 

Friends of Chestnut Hill Library at 

the branch at 8711 Germantown 

Ave. “We expect to be doing this 

again,” said Renee Polsky, Friends 

president. “We serve cookies that we 

request from the local bakeries.” 

Punch or cider, often made by Paul 

Roller, accompanies the goodies. 

The caroling event will again be 

presented by Friends of the Crèche, 

an organization not connected to the 

Chestnut Hill Community Association. 

This popular tradition was begun 

by a few individuals after Mrs. Morgan 

(Peggy) Hebard suggested at a 

community meeting in 1952 that 

something should be done to counteract 

what she felt was the commercialization 

of the holiday. 

Her idea was adopted, and since 

then the Friends of the Crèche have 

set up a nativity scene with lights 

and greens at the Top of the Hill 

Janine Dwyer 

each December. Mrs. Hebard donated 

the original figures — Mary, 

Joseph, the baby Jesus, the Wise Men 

and shepherds — and a manger 

framework was constructed. 

Nearby is placed a sign with a message 

written by the late Mary Wickham 

Bond, a Chestnut Hill resident 

and author, saying: “With fervent 

prayers for Peace on Earth, the Community 

of Chestnut Hill acclaims 

the Holy Birth of the Prince of Peace 

at Christmas Time.” 

5 E. Highland Avenue 

Philadelphia, PA 19118 

267.335.2271 

i n f o @ b a l a n c e c h . c o m 

w w w . b a l a n c e c h . c o m

This year’s Chestnut Hill Historical 

Society’s Preservation 

Potpourri is shaping up to be 

as exciting and popular as last year’s 

sold-out gala. The 2010 Gala will 

take place on Saturday, December 4, 

from 7 to 11 p.m., at “Four Seasons,” 

a private residence on West Chestnut 

Hill Avenue. 

A wonderful way to kick off your 

holiday party season, the gala serves 

as the Society’s biggest fundraiser; 

raising one-quarter of the organization’s 

operating funds. In a festive 

and elegant black-tie atmosphere, 

guests will enjoy cocktails, dinner, 

dancing and a silent auction. A party 

to see-and-be-seen, Potpourri 

attracts guests from Chestnut Hill 

and the greater Philadelphia region. 

Each year the gala is staged at an 

exquisitely designed private home of 

historical distinction. This year is no 

different. The Four Seasons, a neo- 

Georgian home designed by Arthur 

Brockie that was once home to Fernanda 

Wanamaker, serves as the perfect 

location for a party as lavish as 

Preservation Potpourri. The Four 

Seasons boasts a large square-shaped 

entry foyer, two large fireplaces and 

classic neo-Georgian details. 

“Lisa Mancuso and I are thrilled 

and honored to serve as co-chairs of 

this year’s event and are enormously 

grateful to the homeowners for sharing 

their stunning, historic residence 

with the community to benefit the 

Historical Society,” said Christina 

Fournaris, Preservation Potpourri 

Co-Chair. Fournaris noted that 

reservations are rolling in quickly 

and encouraged people wishing to 

attend to sign up for the festive event 

now to avoid disappointment. 

Bacchus Catering will provide 

hors d’oeuvres and the dinner, and 

John Hoey Band will entertain the 

crowd with a lively swing sound. 

Preservation Potpourri presenting 

sponsor Chubb Personal Insurance 

in partnership with VIST Insurance 

will be joined by new Corporate 

Sponsor Cantor Fitzgerald and 

Chestnut Hill Resale, Citibank, and 

Eichler & Moffly Realtors in support 

of this event. 

At this year’s silent auction, bidders 

will have the chance to win 

unique experiences including shadowing 

Councilman Frank Rizzo for 

the day and taking a yoga class at 

The Morris Arboretum. The silent 

auction will appeal to music lovers 

and sports fans alike. Music lovers 

will vie for a chance to see Lady 

Gaga in premier VIP stage side seats 

and sports fans will fight for an 

authenticated Sidney Crosby jersey 

of the 2009 Stanley Cup champion 

Pittsburgh Penguins. 

Potpourri is one of the area’s most 

celebrated holiday events. The 

annual party attracts guests who love 

to celebrate in style. For over 25 

years, dedicated community members 

celebrate and raise money to 

help protect and preserve the physical, 

historical and cultural resources 


2010 Preservation Potpourri a popular holiday gala 

by Paula M Riley 


Guests at last year’s Chestnut Hill Historical Society Preservation Potpourri. 

HOLIDAYS 

ON THE HILL 

a supplement to the 

Edited by Ruth R. Russell for 

RUTH R. RUSSELL 

EDITORIAL SERVICES INC. 

rrreditservices@aol.com 

of Chestnut Hill. 

Funds raised at the gala help keep 

the Historical Society Archives open 

six days a week, offering public access 

to over 20,000 items documenting 

the community’s history. The Society 

provides resources to homeowners 

and maintains an easement 

program, which permanently protects 

68 acres and 12 historical 

façades. 

Preservation Potpourri tickets are 

$175 for non-members and $150 for 

members. Benefactors ($275 per 

ticket) will enjoy a private tour of 

Four Seasons and champagne reception 

at 6 p.m. For information and to 

purchase tickets, contact Audrey at 

the Chestnut Hill Historical Society, 

215-247-0417, extension 103, or visit 

www.chhist.org.


20th Anniversary of Light Up a Life in Chestnut Hill 

by Andrea McLean 

The 20th anniversary of Light 

Up a Life in Chestnut Hill 

will be celebrated on Sunday, 

December 5, by Penn Wissahickon 

Hospice at Chestnut Hill 

Hospital. 

Light Up a Life takes place each 

year as a meaningful way to kick off 

the holiday season. The 20th 

annual event will begin at 4 p.m. 

and will feature music, speakers, 

and the illuminating of the Light 

Up a Life tree. 

On the tree will be thousands of 

lights, each one dedicated in someone’s 

honor or memory. Each light 

also represents a contribution to 

Penn Wissahickon Hospice’s 

Needy Patient Fund, which allows 

the hospice to provide care for 

those who are terminally ill but 

unable to afford care on their own. 

This year, Light Up a Life sponsors 

include Baxter Bioscience, 

Carr & Duff, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 

Green Tree Community 

Health Foundation, IMC Construction, 

National Penn Bank and 

Penn Home Care & Hospice Services. 

“How extraordinary to be celebrating 

our 20th Light Up a Life in 

Chestnut Hill,” said Joan Doyle, 

Executive Director of Penn Home 

Care & Hospice Services and a 

Chestnut Hill resident. “Our roots 

are so deeply connected to Chestnut 

Hill, and we are profoundly 

grateful to the community for their 

enduring support.” 

Chestnut Hill resident Vicki 

Lachman, PhD, APRN, Clinical 

Associate Professor, Drexel University 

College of Nursing & 

Health Professions, is chairing the 

event. Community members Caroline 

Haussermann, the Rev. Maxine 

Maddox Dornemann, and 

Ritajean Reed serve on the planning 

committee, along with Chestnut 

Hill Hospital Cancer Resource 

Center’s Suzan O’Driscoll and several 

members of the Penn Wissahickon 

Hospice staff. 

“I am committed to Light Up a 

Life because the hospice was 

founded in Chestnut Hill, my 

home,” said committee member 

Caroline Haussermann. “Light Up 

a Life was an outgrowth of the 

movement that began here nearly 

30 years ago, and I feel strongly 

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Members of the 2010 Chestnut Hill Light Up A Life committee are (from left) 

Ritajean Reed, Caroline Haussermann, the Rev. Maxine Maddox Dornemann, 

event chair Dr. Vicki Lachman and Suzan O’Driscoll 

about supporting it.” 

“Throughout the past two 

decades, Penn Wissahickon Hospice 

has honored and remembered 

tens of thousands of people at these 

ceremonies, including all of the 

patients for whom the hospice has 

Get 

Local. 

Call 215-248-8813 

Today. 

cared,” said event chair Dr. Vicki 

Lachman. “I look forward to these 

events each year as an opportunity 

during the rush of the holiday season 

to reflect on and celebrate 

what is most important — the people 

who have impacted our lives. 

This is the 6th year I have served as 

the chairperson of the Chestnut 

Hill Light Up a Life, and I am honored 

to be part of these events.” 

The first Light Up a Life ceremony 

was staged in Chestnut Hill in 

1990. Since then, the events have 

expanded to Pennsylvania Hospital, 

Penn Presbyterian Medical 

Center and Penn Medicine at Rittenhouse. 

Each December, the 

lights on the Light Up a Life trees 

have shone brightly as symbols of 

hope and of Penn Wissahickon 

Hospice’s commitment to the care, 

comfort and support of terminally 

ill patients and their families. 

Penn Wissahickon Hospice is 

part of the University of Pennsylvania 

Health System. Established 

in 1982, it is one of the oldest and 

largest hospice programs in the 

region and was the first Medicarecertified 

hospice in Pennsylvania. 

Serving Philadelphia, Montgomery, 

Bucks, Delaware and 

Chester Counties in southeastern 

Pennsylvania, Penn Wissahickon 

Hospice provides services to terminally 

ill adults and their families. 

Hospice and palliative care provide 

a way for patients to take control of 

their life and treatment, encouraging 

them to take an active role in 

the important medical and legal 

decisions that affect them and 

those around them. Penn Wissahickon 

Hospice’s team of professionals 

and trained volunteers 

provides a wide range of support, 

allowing patients to live out their 

final months comfortably, in control, 

and with dignity and respect. 

For more information about 

Light Up a Life and Penn Wissahickon 

Hospice, call 1-800-700- 

8807 or visit www.pennmedicine.org/hospice. 

Andrea McLean is associate director 

of development, Penn Home Care 

& Hospice Services

Photo of Valley Green Inn by Eileen Tonkinson, circa 1990s. 

In times past, Valley Green Inn 

offered a free bottle of champagne 

to the first sled that reached the 

Inn after a snowfall. The Friends of 

the Wissahickon (FOW) can’t guarantee 

snow or champagne to those 

who come to ‘Winter in the Wissahickon,’ 

but they will promise 

chestnuts roasting on an open fire, 

hot apple cider, and a holiday wreath 

you decorate yourself. This special 

holiday event will take place on Saturday, 

December 4, from noon to 4 

p.m., at Valley Green Inn and is a 

wonderful start to the winter holidays 

for the whole family. 

Decorated wreaths made from 

evergreens can often cost $75. At 

‘Winter in the Wissahickon,’ a family 

of four can create their own 

wreath and enjoy roasted chestnuts, 

warm apple cider, a winter woods 

hike led by staff from the Wissahickon 

Environmental Center, and 

lunch at Valley Green Inn, all for 

$75. 

FOW will have experts on hand to 

help you design your wreath, many of 

which are made from locally grown 

greens, such as white pine and Dou- 


‘Winter in the Wissahickon’ a family holiday event 

by Denise Larrabee 

Cobblestones 

Fine Gifts 

Hostess Gifts • Home Décor 

Annie Glass • Arte Italica 

Casafina • Julia Knight Designs • Mariposa • Nambe 

Pandora Jewelry • Simon Pearce • Vietri • Vera Bradley 

8433 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia PA 

www.cobblestonesfinegifts.com 

215-247-3180 

Remember to visit us during Stag & Doe Nights 

Mon.-Sat. 10am - 5:30pm 

Wed. 10am - 8pm & Sun. 12pm - 4pm 


glas firs. 

The Friends will provide a variety 

of decorations found in nature to 

enhance the wreaths, such as western 

juniper with blue berries, 

incense-cedar with its yellow tips, 

holly with red berries, and assorted 

white pine cones. 

Proceeds from ‘Winter in the Wissahickon’ 

will benefit the Friends of 

the Wissahickon, a non-profit organization 

dedicated to preserving the 

Wissahickon Valley. FOW works in 

partnership with Philadelphia Parks 

and Recreation to restore historical 

structures throughout the park, eliminate 

invasive plant species, monitor 

watershed management issues, and 

restore trails throughout the park system 

with its Sustainable Trails Initiative. 

Tickets to ‘Winter in the Wissahickon’ 

are $30 for adults and $10 

for children, with a special family 

AVAILABLE AT ALL LOCAL BOOKSTORES 

www.temple.edu/tempress 

package of $75 for two adults and 

two children. Price includes one 

wreath per adult or family and all 

food and beverages. This is a rain or 

shine event and tickets are limited. 

Valley Green Inn is located on 

Forbidden Drive in Wissahickon 

Valley Park. For more information or 

to purchase tickets, call 215-247- 

0417 or visit www.fow.org. 

Denise Larrabee is editor/publicist at 

Friends of the Wissahickon. 

Books make PERFECT holiday gifts 

New


Holiday gift giving solutions at Center for Enrichment 

Monday Creative Craft group at Chestnut Hill Enrichment Center gathers with 

Ginny McDonald (standing, second from right), who was the winning bidder in 

this year’s silent auction for the hand-designed, hand-painted and hand-sewn nursery 

rhyme quilt. 

by Sue Davis 

This gift giving season, be sure 

not to overlook the possibilities 

at the Center for 

Enrichment (CHCE). Located 

conveniently at 8431 Germantown 

Ave., the Center may just have a 

few new answers to the age-old 

question, what on earth can I get 

for…the new baby, the art lover, 

mom, grandma, my bored neighbor 

who has too much time on his/her 

hands? 

Handmade crafts showcasing the 

skills of the Monday Craft Group 

are perfect for baby gifts and stocking 

stuffers. Choose from soft dolls, 

bibs, hand-knit scarves, stroller 

blankies, scissor-holders, plastic 

bag holders, and much more. 

For the over-50 crowd, consider 

a gift certificate good for any of the 

wide variety of events and activities 

the Center offers through the 

year. This is a good option for 

someone who might enjoy a lecture 

at Morris Arboretum, an afternoon 

show at the Kimmel, International 

Folk Dancing sessions, Italian or 

tai chi classes. 

Gift certificates are also perfect 

for a full year of CHCE membership. 

Gift certificates are available 

in any amount. 

The Center’s Second Annual 

Art Show remains on display until 

December 17, featuring photographs, 

abstract paintings, pet 

THE SHOPS OF FLOURTOWN 

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE 

‘Tis the season to spread the joy, share happy times and 

give thanks for all our blessings, family and friends 

Barbara B’s 

Jewelers 


botanical expressions 

Invite you to celebrate the season 

Botanical Expressions is a full-service florist, offering unique floral 

arrangements, plants, orchids and exquisite gifts for all occasions. 

and share Mother’s some Day is May 9th refreshments 

- bring in this ad 

and get 10% off your order. 

Free delivery to Flourtown, Erdenheim, Chestnut Hill or 

Wyndmoor if you place your order by May 5. 

THURSDAY, DEC. 2ND, NOON-8 

(215) 836-4959 • 1510 Bethlehem Pike, Flourtown, PA 19031 

FRIDAY, Designated parking DEC. off Bysher Ave, 3RD, behind Collex 10-5 Collision 

www.botanical-expressions.com 

SATURDAY, DEC. 4TH, 10-5 

Our shops are filled with lush holiday décor, 

floral arrangements & exotic plants, one-of-a-kind gifts, 

snazzy attire, sparkling jewels & festive trim for all 

your gift giving & decorating needs! 

Please come share some holiday spirit with 

THE SHOPS OF FLOURTOWN 

Located in the 1500 Block of Bethlehem Pike, Flourtown, PA 

* Convenient Off-Street Parking * 

215-233-2522 – Barbara B’s Jewelers 

215-836-4959 – botanical expressions 

267-682-0839 – Scarlet Begonias 

portraits and sculpture by local 

artists. These upscale, unique gifts 

cover a wide price range from $140 

upwards. 

Stop by the Center for Enrichment 

Monday through Friday, 9 

a.m. to 4 p.m., to gift shop or pick 

up a calendar of classes and events. 

The Center will also be open during 

Chestnut Hill’s Stag & Doe 

Nights on Wednesdays, December 

8, 15 and 22. 

For additional information, call 

215-248-0180 or email chseniors@cavtel.net. 

Sue Davis is assistant director, 

Chestnut Hill Center for Enrichment. 

Holiday Garden 

Railway to open 

November 26 

by Susan Crane 

The Morris Arboretum’s popular 

Garden Railway Display 

returns the day after Thanksgiving 

as the Holiday Garden Railway 

display. 

Visitors of all ages will be wow-ed 

by a quarter mile of track featuring 

seven loops and tunnels with 15 different 

rail lines and two cable cars, 

nine bridges (including a trestle 

bridge you can walk under), and 

bustling model trains, all set in the 

lovely winter garden of the Morris 

Arboretum. 

The display and buildings are all 

made of natural materials — bark, 

leaves, twigs, hollow logs, mosses, 

acorns, dried flowers, seeds and 

stones — to form a perfectly proportioned 

miniature landscape complete 

with miniature rivers. Each building, 

while an exact replica of the original, 

is unique in its design. 

Philadelphia-area landmarks such 

as a masterpiece replica of Independence 

Hall are made using pinecone 

seeds for shingles, acorns as finials 

and twigs as downspouts. The buildings 

are all meticulously decorated 

for the holidays with lights that twinkle 

along the tracks and around the 

surrounding landscape. 

The Garden Railway Display has 

become one of the Arboretum’s most 

beloved attractions since it opened 

in 1998, and the Holiday Garden 

Railway is quickly becoming a 

favorite holiday tradition for many 

families. The Holiday Garden Railway 

opens the day after Thanksgiving 

and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 

4 p.m. through January 2, (closed 

Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and 

New Year’s Day). 

A special Holiday Garden Railway 

Grand Opening Celebration will 

take place on Saturday, November 

27, from 1 to 3 p.m., that will include 

the sounds of carolers. Kids and 

adults will also have the opportunity 

to make an ornament or decoration 

from natural materials to take home. 

The Holiday Garden Railway is a 

great way to kick off the holiday season 

and is free with regular garden 

admission: $14 adults, $12 for 

seniors, students and youth (13-18) 

$7; children under age three and 

members enter free. 

The Morris Arboretum of the 

University of Pennsylvania is located 

at 100 East Northwestern Ave. in 

Chestnut Hill. The 92-acre horticulture 

display garden features a 

spectacular collection of mature trees 

in a beautiful and colorful landscape. 

The Arboretum features numerous 

picturesque spots such as a formal 

rose garden, Japanese gardens, swan 

pond, an elegant Fernery and the 

2010 Best of Philly Award Winning 

Out on a Limb canopy walk. 

Susan Crane is director of marketing 

at Morris Arboretum.

holidays - Chestnut Hill Local Philadelphia PA

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