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CHESTNUT HILL LOCAL
Thursday, October 18, 2018
Witches and Wizards: A new Halloween-themed festival in Chestnut Hill
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his fall, Chestnut Hill introduces a new seasonal tradition for the charming urban village that unites mischief and ghosts of wizards past with family fun for an action-packed Witches & Wizards Festival weekend. Kicking off with the revamped Brews and Broomsticks Pub Crawl on Friday, Oct. 19 and continuing with a day full of family-friendly programming on Saturday, Oct. 20, the 2018 Witches & Wizards Festival promises spooktacular entertainment and activities in a whimsical community setting. "We are excited to bring a new experience for visitors to our community during the Witches & Wizards Festival,” said Philip Dawson, Executive Director of Chestnut Hill Business District. “From the reincarnation of the beloved pub crawl, to all the free, family-friendly activities, the weekend of Witches & Wizards festivities embodies all the magic that happens in Chestnut Hill yearround." On Saturday, visitors should be on the lookout for a zombie dance party, hayrides, a costume parade and contest, the return of the Chestnut Hill College Quidditch Tournament and the Woodmere Art Museum Straw Maze. Featured events during the Festival include: Brews and Broomsticks Pub Crawl Friday, Oct. 19, 7:30 p.m. – 10 p.m. Restaurants and Pubs along Germantown Avenue Pub Crawl Tickets: $25 per person, pay-as-you-go food and drink specials A new twist on a former fanfavorite, this updated Pub Crawl offers an evening of magical fun including spirited food and drink specials, two outdoor beer gardens, costumed actors and fortune tellers along Germantown Avenue, performances by circus aerialists and firebreathers and a recreational archery range. The Brews & Broomsticks Pub Crawl ticket includes exclusive access to drink specials ($4 beer, $5 wine, $6 cocktails with the wristband) at participating locations, Witches & Wizards swag (including a reusable bag, cup and t-shirt), one free activity ticket and live DJ entertainment. Tickets are on sale at https://chestnuthillpa.com/events/wi tches-wizards-pub-crawl/ Witches & Wizards Festival Saturday, Oct. 20, 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. Throughout Chestnut Hill Cost: Free to attend. Pay-as-you-go activities. Fun for the entire family, Witches & Wizards is a day full of autumnal festivities for a pre-Halloween celebration. The Ninth Annual Brotherly Love Cup Quidditch Tournament and Woodmere Art Museum Straw Maze headline the event, while locals and visitors can also enjoy hands-on craft activities, live entertainment, hay rides, shopping and more throughout the Chestnut Hill community. Philadelphia Brotherly Love Cup Quidditch Tournament Saturday, Oct. 20, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Chestnut Hill College Cost: Free to attend. The Ninth Annual Philadelphia Brotherly Love Cup Quidditch Tournament returns with teams from visiting colleges and the local community team competing in round-robin style Quidditch matches. Visit https://www.chc.edu/quidditch-tournament-information for additional details and a list of participating teams. (Continued on page 3)
Thursday, October 18, 2018
Witches and Wizards (Continued from page 2)
Hocus Pocus Headquarters Kids’ Craft Zone Saturday, Oct. 20, 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. The Blue Lot, 150 E. Evergreen Avenue. Cost: $10 per child, parents free. Reserve your child’s magical wristband to take part in the kids’ crafting activities at “Hocus Pocus Headquarters” (recommended or children ages 3-10.) Admission entitles you to activities including: Creepy pumpkin crafting, making your own spooky slime, potionmaking with a fortune teller and an Insectarium Visit. Pre-purchase of tickets is highly encouraged. Tickets are available at https://chestnut-hill.ticketleap.com/hocus-poc us-headquarters/ Woodmere Art Museum Straw Maze and Little Circus Saturday, Oct. 20, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Woodmere Art Museum Cost: Tickets: $5 per child, parents free. Pre-purchase of tickets is highly encouraged. Also returning for the eighth year – play, climb and explore the Woodmere Art Museum Straw Maze. Made from massive straw bales, the maze features multiple levels, spirals and surprises. New this year, come see The Little Circus, featuring outdoor aerial performances, juggling and tightrope walking, beginning at 2 p.m. Jenks Academy of Witchcraft & Wizardry Saturday, Oct. 20, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Jenks School for Arts & Sciences Cost: Free to attend. Various costs at the event. Students of magic both young and old can participate in Wizard Chess, play on bouncy castles, enjoy potions and a bite to eat, play themed games, craft wands and much more. Visit http://www.friendsofjsjenks.org/wit ches-and-wizards for more details.
side! In this two-hour class, you will create your own masterpiece to take home, as well as get a paint brush wand to make magical art at home. There will be themed prizes and giveaways throughout the event. We supply the 12×16 canvas, easels, aprons, paint, brushes and all your needs for the event. All you need to do is bring yourself and have fun! This event is BYOB. This event will be a collaboration with Chestnut Hill United Church as a fundraiser for the church community. Face painting, caricatures and slow-motion video booth Saturday, Oct. 20 Cost: $5 tickets available on location Archery Range Saturday, Oct. 20 $1 tickets available on location Fall Festivities at Fresh Market Where: 8208 Germantown Avenue Visitor Experience Chestnut Hill is hard at work creating a new, fun festival for visitors during Witches & Wizards. Activities that were held on the Avenue in previous years will no longer occur on the street – please note that Germantown Avenue will not be closed to traffic for the 2018 event. Parking Five public paid parking lots will be open throughout Chestnut Hill during the event. Lot locations and pricing can be found at chestnuthillpa.com/parking. Limited street parking is also available. Overflow parking will also be available on the campus of the New Covenant Church of Philadelphia at 7500 Germantown Avenue. Parking for the Quidditch Tournament will be available on the grounds of Chestnut Hill College. Circulator shuttles will be running for the duration of the events to move people between the College, Woodmere, the overflow parking lot and downtown Chestnut Hill. As parking capacity is limited, visitors traveling to Chestnut Hill for Witches & Wizards are strongly encouraged to utilize public transportation.
Create a Trick-or-Treat Tote at AR Workshop Chestnut Hill Saturday, Oct. 20, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. AR Workshop Chestnut Hill, 8607 Germantown Avenue Transportation Cost: $15 to make one Trick or Public transportation is the most Treat Tote. $25 to make two Trick convenient way to travel to and or Treat Totes (per person): from Chestnut Hill. SEPTA arworkshop.com/chestnuthill/even ts/witches-wizards-festival-on-germantown-ave-drop-in-to-make-atrick-or-treat-bag/ What: Join AR Workshop Chestnut Hill to make any of their new trick-or-treat totes! Walk-ins will be welcome, but registration is recommended to guarantee your spot and allow time to prepare your design. While there, enjoy complimentary treats, and check out all of their home decor, gifts, jewelry and accessories. Owls at the Venetian Social Club Saturday, Oct. 20 See and learn about owls with falconer Mike DuPuy! Teens Inc. Ghost Walk Saturday, Oct. 20, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Chestnut Hill Free Library Cost: $10, $5 for kids Magic Paint & Sip Saturday, Oct. 20, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. Chestnut Hill United Church Cost: $35 Join Chestnut Hill's Witches and Wizards and tap into your creative
(Philadelphia’s regional transit system) has two station stops in Chestnut Hill located just a short walk from the heart of the community: Chestnut Hill West and Chestnut Hill East. This train system provides round-trip transportation from Center City Philadelphia and Chestnut Hill. Visit www.iseptaphilly.com for complete schedules and details. For more information, visit www.chestnuthillpa.com. Join the conversation on social media with @chestnuthillpa and be sure to share the love with the hashtag #chestnuthillpa.
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CHESTNUT HILL LOCAL
Thursday, October 18, 2018
Harr y Potter Conference takes academic study into undiscovered territor y by Pete Mazzaccaro
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n the first honors interdisciplinary course that Chestnut Hill College professors Dr. Karen Wendling and Dr. Patrick McCauley taught together on religious studies and science, they combined both disciplines with a long study of great coming-of-age literature – tales of complex characters that were challenged and changed over time. The idea was for the students to study both disciplines and apply what they learned to the larger works they were reading simultaneously. When the classic Greek epic poem “The Odyssey” failed to grab the attention of their students, the professors turned to more popular fare: Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, Phillip Pullman’s Golden Compass trilogy and J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series. Potter proved to be particularly riveting for the students. “What Harry Potter does for us with these students is it gets them at the edge of their chairs, wakes them up and gets them to become aware of what their true capacity might actually be and you can’t turn that down as a teacher, “McCauley said. “The timing is perfect, because these students are facing all of these major decisions – and they’re at the same stage of as these characters,” Wendling said. “Those characters are modeling decision making and for what to do when things go wrong.” And it worked. And at the end of the year, both professors were noting that the final papers produced by the students were among the best student work they’d ever read. “Karen said, ‘This is sad. We’re the only ones reading these papers,’” McCauley said. “We knew then we
Dr. Karen Wendling (left) and Dr. Patrick McCauley -- the founders and organizers of the annual Harry Potter Academic Conference at Chestnut Hill College.
needed to find a way to get this work before a larger, public audience.” And that is when the idea for an academic conference on Harry Potter at Chestnut Hill College was born. This weekend, that conference will enter its 7th year and it’s come a long way from being a place for local faculty and students to share their final papers on Harry Potter. It has hosted faculty from
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around the country and even the world, in disciplines from folklore to psychology and economics. It is the single largest annual conference on Harry Potter scholarship in the country and possibly the world. Wendling stressed that the conference, while centered on a popular series of books and one in which papers will be delivered by both PhDs and high school students, is a serious academic affair. “This is a conference, not a convention,” she said, noting the latter’s focus on showing up in costumes to drink butterbeer and wave wands. A look at this year’s program confirms it. Among the talks given over the two-day conference on Friday Oct. 20 and Saturday, Oct. 21. are:
“Quidditch and Cultural Imperialism” “A Comparative Study of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone with the German and Korean Translation in Communicating Cultural-Specific Items” “Dumbledore’s Army: Leadership in Resistance and Authenticity” That the conference exists at all, let alone that it is entering its 7th year, is no small feat. Academic study is a serious and even competitive area for nearly everyone who teaches at a university and spending any of that research time on a series of books that some still consider to be exclusively for children carries career risks of which both Wendling and McCauley are well aware. “There was a time when Potter Scholarship was sort of verboten,” Wendling said. “It was considered juvenile or not up to the level, par-
ticularly for the Ivy League. We’ve been part of the transition to Harry Potter scholarship that can be seen as worthy and be accepted.” “We’re not saying Harry Potter is Shakespeare,” McCauley said. “But what we have created, Karen and I, with the support of the school, is a space academically where a serious academic can come and not get laughed at.” In recent years, the conference has attracted relatively heavy hitters in the realm of Potter studies. Maria Tatar, the John L. Loeb Professor of Germanic Languages and Literatures and chair of the Folklore and Mythology program at Harvard University was the conference plenary speaker in 2015. In 2016, Dr. Loris Vezalli, Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia in Italy, delivered a plenary lecture on a study he conducted that determined that reading the Harry Potter series did more to develop empathy for marginalized classes of people than any other factor including having empathetic parents or friends in those marginalized groups. “I was really excited by that talk,” Wendling said. “This was a legitimate scientific study that shows Harry Potter books as a force of acceptance.” That quality – of acceptance – is something that both McCauley and Wendling said is a big part of the conference. There are a lot of different people representing a wide range of academic accomplishment, from undergrads to PhDs, but who all share a genuine love of Harry Potter and want very much to discuss it with like-minded people. “People read these books, which are about having loyal friends that have your back, but largely reading is solitary. It’s something we do by ourselves,” McCauley said. “Many of these readers want to do more than drink butterbeer and hang out in costumes. They want to discuss the books. ...These people are being moved and affected by the books and so they need that moment of community.” And the Harry Potter Conference delivers that community. The conference is open to the public but registration is required. For more information, see harrypotterconfernce.com
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Thursday, October 18, 2018
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Brotherly Cup Schedule
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atch-ups for Pool Play were randomly drawn from a magical chalice (aka red solo cup), under the supervision of Roland Hooch (look it up if you miss the reference), that wasn’t being used to consume butter beer. Matches take place on two separate pitches: Pitch One 10 a.m.: Kutztown vs. Vassar 10:20 a.m.: West UPenn vs. Salisbury 10:40 a.m.: Drexel vs. Kutztown 11:00 a.m.: Vassar vs. West UPenn 11:20 a.m.: Salisbury vs. Drexel
CHC’s 9th annual Philadelphia Brotherly Love Cup Quidditch Tournament
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hestnut Hill College will host the ninth annual Philadelphia Brotherly Love Cup Quidditch Tournament on Saturday, Oct. 20. Athletes from 10 schools and communities come together to participate in exciting rounds of fun and frenetic quidditch play. The student-run tournament takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on CHC’s softball field. The event, which is open to the public, pits athletes from numerous schools and communities across the Northeast U.S. — such as Drexel University, Syracuse University and
Lafayette College — against one another in games of fast-paced quidditch play. Quidditch is a combination of rugby, dodgeball and basketball. Along with the quidditch tournament, the Brotherly Love Cup will feature merchandise, food and beautiful scenery. There is no admission fee for the event; however, food, merchandise and games are pay as you go. Parking is $10 per vehicle. For more information, visit chc.edu/quidditch-tournamentinformation
About Chestnut Hill College Chestnut Hill College offers a rigorous four-year undergraduate curriculum that provides students with a broad background in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. Today, we have added programming such as cybersecurity, exercise science and forensic sciences designed to help our students find successful careers. CHC also offers accelerated undergraduate degrees, master’s degrees and a doctoral program. For more information, please visit chc.edu.
Pitch Two 10 a.m.: CHC vs. UMass Amherst 10:20 a.m.: Lafayette vs. Honeybadgers 10:40 a.m.: Villanova vs. UMass Amherst 11 a.m.: Layafette vs. CHC 11:20 a.m.: Villanova vs. Honeybadgers
Pool Play will end around 11:40 a.m; there will be a break until 12:40 p.m. Teams will be seeded for Tournament Play using the following criteria: 1. Win/Loss Record 2. Snitches Caught 3. Points Scored 4. Points Allowed 5. Broom Race Please note that seeding decisions are the final decision of Griff Quidd. Any complaints can be directed to the College’s two Labrador Retrievers, who conveniently do not speak muggle. The goal for tournament play (bracket below) is to use only 1 pitch to generate the largest crowds possible. However, Griff Quidd reserves the right to utilize both pitches if we are running behind, the weather takes a turn and we need to hurry the games, or if Ron Weasley has to get back for a meeting with Albus Dumbledore. For complete rules please visit: https://www.usquidditch.org/files/ USQ_Rulebook_10.pdf
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CHESTNUT HILL LOCAL
Thursday, October 18, 2018
Halloween Hikes & Hayrides at the Schuylkill Center
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ooking for a unique Halloween experience for the whole family? Our annual fall festival – a family favorite – includes a signature hike through our candlelit forest to meet friendly nocturnal animals like owls, opossums, bats and foxes. Each animal tells the children about its habitat and offers special treats for their goody bags. After the hike, enjoy hayrides, craft activities and kid-friendly fare from Brotherly Grub for dinner. End the night with s’mores by the campfire. Costumes are encouraged. The last hike of the evening leaves at 9:15 p.m. The event will be held on Friday, Oct. 26 and Saturday, Oct. 27 from 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. on both days. The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education is
located at 8480 Hagy’s Mill Rd., Philadelphia, Pa. 19128. Tickets are $5 for members who pre-register online, and $10 at the door. For more information about Halloween Hikes & Hayrides – and other fall and winter events – visit our online calendar. The Schuylkill Center was founded in 1965 as Philadelphia’s first environmental education center. Its 340 acres of fields and forests serve as a living laboratory to foster appreciation, deepen understanding and encourage stewardship of the environment. The Center offers a wildlife rehabilitation clinic, an environmental art program, volunteer opportunities and educational programs for all ages, including Nature Preschool.
CHC to host 4th Annual Cybersecurity and Forensics Conference
FESTIVAL SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, 12-5 PM
ALL AGES The Little Circus returns with outdoor aerial performances, juggling, tightrope walking and all kinds of Halloween fun. Venture into the haunted straw maze, and cast a spell with wizard-y art making.
An afternoon of family fun at Woodmere that celebrates Chestnut Hill's 2018 Witches and Wizards festival. Straw maze: noon-5:00 pm Art-making activities: 12:30-3:30 pm The Little Circus: 2:00 pm $5/child; parents are free Registration is required.
For Tickets, visit woodmereartmuseum.org
TELLING THE STORY OF
PHILADELPHIA’S ARTS AND ARTISTS
9201 Germantown Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19118 woodmereartmuseum.org | 215.247.0948
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n Oct. 26, Chestnut Hill College hosts its 4th Annual Cybersecurity and Forensics Conference, bringing together government, private industry and academia to learn and share information about the fields of cybersecurity and forensics. The conference, open to the public and free of admission, is cosponsored by CHC’s High Technology Crime Investigation Association (HTCIA) Student Chapter and the HTCIA Delaware Valley Chapter. The full-day event addresses issues associated with investigations, apprehensions and methodologies associated with the newest breed of high-tech criminals and features industry experts, recruiters and thought leaders. In addition, the conference will feature members of the Philadelphia Women and Cyber Security group. Women make up only 11 percent of the cybersecurity workforce; because of such low representation in the field, the Philadelphia Women Cyber Security group advocates for and assists women as they navigate through the cybersecurity industry. There will also be a number of vendors set up to display their products. With the explosion in use of
computers and the internet, there is an uprising in criminal activities that employ these powerful tools. From computer viruses to data processing fraud, there are many growing threats that expose our society to a new kind of criminal activity. To prepare students who are interested in pursuing careers in fields that combat cybercrime, CHC, with the help of cybersecurity experts in both government and industry, recently created a new undergraduate major — cybersecurity. The program, established with a grant from the National Science Foundation, is among the first of its kind in the Philadelphia area, providing students who earn a degree a path of employment to one of the country’s fastest-growing job sectors. Students in the program will have the opportunity to obtain industry certifications and participate in service work. Registration and breakfast start at 8:00 a.m. Opening remarks and speakers begin at 8:30 a.m. The vendors sponsor the breakfast and lunch. Admission is free; however, registration is encouraged. To register, please visit eventbrite.com/e/4th-annualchc-cyber-security-forensics-conference-tickets-48383795234. Other inquiries can be directed to cybersec@chc.edu. About Chestnut Hill College Chestnut Hill College offers a rigorous four-year undergraduate curriculum that provides students with a broad background in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. Today, we have added programming such as cybersecurity, exercise science and forensic sciences designed to help our students find successful careers. CHC also offers accelerated undergraduate degrees, master’s degrees and a doctoral program. Visit www.chc.edu.
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Draw your favorite part of below ... Submit it to us at the Chestnut Hill Local, Attn: Art Contest 8434 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19118 The top 3 will be published in our annual Kids Edition, receive a custom Chestnut Hill Local front cover/poster featuring your design and a $20 gift card!
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Thursday, October 18, 2018
The ‘rapture’ that never came: The stor y of ‘The Hermits of the Wissahickon’ by Kevin Dicciani In the spirit of Halloween, we’re resharing this excellent story about a group of ‘hermits’ led by Johannes Kelpius – the first doomsday cult in North America – who settled in the Wissahickon Valley. This story first appeared in the Local in April 2015. ohannes Kelpius believed the world was going to end in 1694. Kelpius, a 17th century German Pietist and mystic, based his belief on the teachings of his mentor, Johann Jacob Zimmermann, who through astrology foretold the Second Coming of Christ, and was convinced the coming apocalypse would happen at the “edge of the wilderness.” This prophecy he attributed to a passage in the Book of Revelations about a woman who fled into the wilderness, where God had readied for her a place to await the impending rapture. Zimmermann began negotiations with William Penn to obtain a land settlement in the Province of Pennsylvania so that he and his followers, “The Society of the Woman in the Wilderness,” could prepare for the day of reckoning. The 40 followers – 40 being a significant number for the society – were mystics who belonged to a Pietist sect in Lutheranism, and
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they chose Pennsylvania because of its reputation for religious tolerance. In 1693, before the sect could journey from Germany to Philadelphia, Zimmermann died suddenly, leaving his disciple, Kelpius, a 26year-old, as the society’s leader. Kelpius was born in Transylvania, in the same town as Vlad the Impaler, to a Lutheran pastor, who helped foster in him as a young boy an interest in theology and philosophy. At the age of 21, Kelpius received a doctorate in philosophy, and a year later earned a master’s degree in theology at the University of Altdorf, not far from Nuremberg. Fluent in German, English, Latin, Hebrew, and Greek, Kelpius went on to publish several works, devoting himself to his studies, which encompassed botany, alchemy, music, astronomy, medicine, astrology, and mysticism. Setting out from Rotterdam and traveling aboard the “Sarah Maria Hopewell,” the group landed in Philadelphia on June 23, 1694. They hiked for four days to Germantown, where they stayed with the locals for a few nights before heading down to the Wissahickon Creek. There, Kelpius and his followers established their pious community of solitude and study at the
Entrance to the ‘Cave of Kelpius.’
base of a secluded ravine, lured by its remoteness, its natural spring waters, and its place on the 40th parallel. Known to locals as “The Hermits of the Wissahickon,” the society began developing its land into a self-sustaining commune. They planted a garden that provided them with food, medicinal herbs and material they later spun into clothes. They erected a 40-squarefoot tabernacle, aligned in perfect symmetry with the cardinal points of a compass, and used its first floor for religious and musical services, a schoolhouse for children, and worshipping and living quarters for members of the community. Atop the tabernacle rested an observatory, believed to be the first of its kind in America, which the society constructed so they could inspect the twilight for signs of the final resurrection. Legend has it that Kelpius lived and meditated in a cave built into the hillside of the ravine. But, as with most legends, there is a sizable gray area in the story. The cave is said to have been an old springhouse, occasionally used by group members for meditating. Some
sources do say that Kelpius spent some nights in a cave, but which cave they are actually referring to is unknown. While members of “The Society of the Woman in The Wilderness” anticipated the end of the world, they spent their time hosting public services, bloodletting Germantown residents, studying religion, observing the stars and planets, and practicing alchemy and numerology. One of the focal points of their worshipping practices was music, and most of the sect’s members were musicians, including Kelpius, who some consider the first Pennsylvania composer. One of its members, Dr. Christopher Witt, supposedly built the community a pipe organ, which is said to have been the first one in America. Additionally, Witt painted a portrait in 1705 of Kelpius, now considered the first oil painting made in America. It is currently in the possession of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. When 1694 came and went without the Last Judgment, Kelpius and the society looked towards the year 1700. The advent of the new century, they believed, was certain
to bring the finale of mankind. But when the year arrived and Jesus did not, the enthusiasm of the society’s members began to wane with each failed promise of the world’s demise. That zeal and devotion would almost die out completely when Kelpius became ill with tuberculosis. In 1705, he was forced out of the tabernacle and had to move into a former member’s home in Germantown, where he would live out the rest of his days bedridden and weak, although he remained devout to his work, his writing and his music. Another legend says that Kelpius, on his deathbed, gave his assistant, Daniel Giessler, a locked box that possessed magical items and the legendary philosopher’s stone, and told him to throw it into the Schuylkill River. When he didn’t do as asked, Kelpius supposedly knew, and demanded that he throw it into the river immediately. This time Giessler followed out his orders and tossed the box in the river. When the box touched the water, a flash of lightning splin(Continued on page 9)
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PB & Jammers
Wee Folk
Our PB & Jammers will get a hands on experience with some basic instruments including shakers, bells and tambourines. They will learn the fundamentals of rhythm and melody as well as a basic introduction to singing and music theory.
(Recommended Newborn to 24 months)
Wee Folk sessions will continue to introduce gentle sounds to your Wee Folk’s tender ears through sing-a-longs, stories and basic children’s percussive instruments. Parents and caregivers can participate in lullabies and sing-a-longs and help little ones clap along to basic rhythms. Wee Folk classes will also introduce more movement as our little ones become more active.
(Recommended 2 to 4 years)
Tuesdays @ 4:30pm, 10/2 - 11/6
Adult Hand Drums (Ages 13 and up) Tuesdays @ 5:30pm, 10/2 - 11/6
Owning The Stage, Professional Development Workshop Tuesdays @ 7:00pm, 10/9 - 10/30
Beginner Ukulele for Kids (ages 5 - 12)
Wednesdays @ 5:15pm, 10/10 - 12/12
Beginner Ukulele for Kids (Ages 13 and up)
Tuesdays @ 11am, 10/2 - 10/23
Wednesdays @ 6:15pm, 10/10 - 12/12
Saturdays @ 10am, 10/20 - 12/15 Tuesdays @ 11am, 1/8 - 2/26
Adult Beginner Guitar (Ages 13 and up)
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Call or visit our website for more information. 6156 Ridge Avenue đ Philadelphia, PA 19128 đ 215-247-1300 đ www.pfs.org
Adult Intermediate Guitar (Ages 13 and up)
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Thursdays @ 5:00pm, 1/10 - 2/28
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CHESTNUT HILL LOCAL
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The ‘rapture’ that never came: The stor y of ‘The Hermits of the Wissahickon’ (Continued from page 8)
tered across the surface and a blare of thunder bellowed from the void as it sank to the bottom to never be seen again. Kelpius died in 1708. His followers came and took his body back to the tabernacle and buried him in the garden, lowering his coffin into the ground at the same time they released a dove into the sky. The society, while surviving for another decade or so, though without the passion of Kelpius to lead it, eventually passed away without a trace. The ravine where the community once lived can still be found today off Hermit Lane in Roxborough – the name of which can actually be traced to a letter that Kelpius once wrote about “foxes burrowing in the rocks.� If you walk about a half-mile through the woods, down winding paths to the base of the valley, which is enshrouded by trees and dissected with small streams, you’ll come upon the area now known as Hermit’s Glen. The remains of the commune are either no longer in existence or have been obscured by nature and time. All that is left of “The Society of the Woman in the Wilderness� is the so-called “Cave of Kelpius.� Next to its opening is a monolith that was erected in 1961 by the Grand Lodge Rosicrucians, asserting that the cave was, in fact, used as a shelter and sanctum by Kelpius. Again, the further you close in on the story, the more the lines between truth and fiction blur. Whether or not the cave is Kelpius’ authentic refuge doesn’t matter – it’s an astounding structure, an artifact of local history, and the legend that surrounds it only adds to its sense of mystery, to the sensation it imparts upon seeing it and touching it – one that distorts our perceptions of time and causes us to view the past, the present and the future not as separate eras, but as part of the same continuum. Today there is nothing in the cave. Rocks scatter the dirt floor, water beads on the stones above, a silence permeates between the walls. There are no signs of life inside – humans, animals or insects – and the feeling this produces is quite surreal, if not outright eerie. As I stood at the back of the cave, peering out of the entrance into the green grove glowing yellow in the blades of the sun, I couldn’t help but imagine Kelpius, more than 300 years ago, standing where I stood and looking out on the same world I was looking at in awe – a world of tranquility, a world of solitude, a world that never ended. The sources used for this article are HiddenCity Philadelphia, PhilaPlace, and Weird U.S.
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Looking out if the “Cave of Kelpius.�
A plaque at the cave to commemorate Johnannes Kelpius.
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CHESTNUT HILL LOCAL
Thursday, October 18, 2018
A Taste of Chestnut Hill – A local picks food favorites on the Avenue
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f it’s your first time in Chestnut Hill, try these best bets for a good meal and more. It is no secret that Chestnut Hill is a neighborhood steeped in tradition. Since its founding, the neighborhood has remained an easily distinguishable section of Philadelphia with distinct features that set it apart from its neighbors. Part of this unique identity, as anybody who has lived here will tell you, is its foods. Along Germantown Avenue, visitors and locals alike can find a plethora of food establishments catering to a variety of different tastes and atmospheres. However, there are a few that standout as essential flavors to the Chestnut Hill experience. McNally’s Tavern The Schmitter McNally’s is about as iconic as it gets when it comes to Chestnut Hill’s signature eateries. In its almost 100 years of operation, the family-style tavern on Germantown Avenue has established a reputation that is recognized far beyond Chestnut Hill. McNallys was established in 1921 as “McNally’s Quick Lunch” in a corrugated steel building attached to the trolley tracks. The sandwich shop was one of the few businesses in the privileged neighborhood where working men were welcomed, but it soon became a favorite for locals of all classes. It gained its claim to fame in the form of a signature sandwich, the Schmitter. The sandwich is a combination of sliced beef, salami, fried onions, extra cheese, and the “secret sauce”. It’s a heart-stoppingly delicious cousin of the cheesesteak that was originally invented by Hugh James McNally, the original owner’s son. He named the sandwich after his friend and regular patron, Dennis Krenich, aka Schmidter. He had earned his nickname because of his preference for the local beer, Schmidt’s, and after Hugh McNally whipped up a special sandwich for him one night, and the Schmitter was born.
The Schmitter at McNally’s.
The sandwich became so popular that it was drafted into service at both the Eagles and Phillies stadiums in 2004. Since then, it has been a special guest at New York’s Shea Stadium, Super Bowl XXXIX, and two World Series. Besides the Schmitter, guests can enjoy a variety of delicious sandwich platters and a full array of craft beers in its’ simple, comfortable, and familyfriendly tavern-style environment. McNallys Tavern • 8634 Germantown Ave., 215-247-9736 Cosimo’s Pizza Cafe Author’s Choice: Grandma’s deep dish BTR Pizza (Bacon, Tomato, Ranch) For anybody who has spent a significant part of their youth in Chestnut Hill, Cosmo’s is an undeniable classic. The walls of its brightly lit dining room are adorned with the crests of all the area schools – and even a CHA class picture dating back to the ear-
ly 1900’s. This is because Cosimo’s is a weekend/after-school favorite among teens and pre-teens who live in the neighborhood and attend school here. Ask just about any local kid, and they will tell you that Cosmo’s is the go-to spot for meeting up with friends, or simply grabbing a hot slice after school. They also deliver and cater. As a resident of Chestnut Hill, I can’t remember the last time my family went a month without ordering in from Cosmo’s, or the last time I went a day without seeing their delivery car makes its rounds through the neighborhood. For older patrons, Cosmo’s’ diverse menu offers a variety of quality alternatives to pizza. Whether it is one of their generous pasta dishes, quality hot sandwich, or even a salad, Cosmo’s consistently dishes out simple, tasty food to a loyal base of customers. Cosimo’s Pizza Café, 8624 Germantown Ave., 215-242-9900
Bredenbeck's Bakery & Ice delivery truck unloading warm goods out front every single day. Cream It is an essential culinary asset to Author’s Choice: Guatemalan the neighborhood and its awardRipple Ice Cream. winning, hand-shaped loaves are Bredenbeck’s is yet another consistently stocked in pantries Chestnut Hill staple whose reputa- throughout the area. Their bagels, tion for food excellence has cookie, and baguettes have all been reached beyond the neighborhood staples in my mother's kitchen since as long as I can remember, and Philadelphia at large. The bakery and ice cream parlor and it’s not uncommon to find has been in business in Philadel- their bread stocked at all manner of phia since 1889, when Bavarian food establishments throughout immigrant and baker Frederick the city. Baker Street Bread Co., 8009 Robert Bredenbeck opened the original bakery in the Northern Germantown Avenue, 267-336Liberties section of Philadelphia. 7410 In 1954, the Bredenbeck family Chestnut Hill Coffee Co. handed the business over to Walter Author’s Choice: Triple and Otto Haug, two longtime Shot Latte employees who had proven their loyalty to the company. In 1983, Although Starbucks does a Walter’s daughter, Karen H. BoydRhode opened Bredenbeck’s cur- strong business at its Germantown rent location in Chestnut Hill. Avenue location, true coffee conEver since, the bakery has become noisseurs know that the realest an essential part of the Chestnut roast on the hill can be found just a Hill palette and has gained a block down the street, at the Chestnut Hill Coffee Co. national reputation. Tucked away next to Hideaway Their cakes are ordered by customers across the country, and the Records, the Coffee Co. is a local bakery has made cakes for the likes favorite for those who appreciate of Sesame Place, the Philadelphia fine coffee and a relaxed atmosPhillies, Tastykake, and the phere. Modeled after the upscale expresso bars of Seattle and Philadelphia Zoo. Despite gaining such fame, Bre- Europe, this storefront cafe offers denbeck’s has stayed true to its tra- patrons the chance to enjoy artiditions of baking everything from sanal espresso beverages and passcratch, seven days a week. The ice tries in a warm and welcoming two cream parlor has also gained local story space. The coffee itself is the main reaacclaim for its variety of delicious creations, all using Philadelphia’s son the Coffee Co. has established itself as a Chestnut Hill signature. own Basset’s Ice Cream. Bredenbeck’s Bakery & Ice Cream The beans are roasted by experiParlor, 8126 Germantown Ave.,215- enced roasters who, according to its website, “roast the beans by sight, 247-7374 smell, and experience alone, to have the greatest mastery over the Baker Street Bread beans’ flavor.” Coffee enthusiasts Author’s Choice: Everything travel from all over the city to pick Bagel or the Pumpkin up a bag of fresh-roasted beans and Scone(seasonal) savor the complimentary cup of Although Baker Street Bread coffee that comes with it. A great place to get work done, Co., Philadelphia’s first artisan bakery, no longer bakes its bread or simply grab a cup for the road, in-house at its Germantown Chestnut Hill Coffee Co. is a must Avenue storefront, the tantalizing visit for any visitor to Chestnut aroma of their artisan baked goods Hill. Chestnut Hill Coffee Co., Phone: still permeates the block on which they reside. Baker Street moved its 215-242-8600 baking operation to a larger, noncommercial space in the past year, but even so, you can find their
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Thursday, October 18, 2018
What is Quidditch?
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nspired by the Quidditch game in the J.K. Rowling book series, students at Middlebury College in Vermont in 2005 devised a landbased version for mortals known as muggles. Quidditch has been compared to rugby, polo, flag football and dodgeball and the coed sport is both competitive and congenial. In the fall of 2008, Chestnut Hill College students initiated a team and hosted its first Quidditch on the Hill Tournament – Pennsylvania’s first – in the fall of 2008. Chestnut Hill College’s team grew in ability and fame. They were featured on “Good Morning America” and ESPN and traveled the East Coast to compete. The tournament grew and became the Brotherly Love Cup and attracted teams from hundreds of miles away. The sport of Quidditch now has its own international association and boasts more than 300 high school and college teams with colorful names like the Tufts University Tufflepuffs, the Rutgers Nearly Headless Knights and the New York Badassalisks. These photos show scenes from Chestnut Hill College’s Brotherly Cup Quidditch Tournament through the years.
CHESTNUT HILL LOCAL
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CHESTNUT HILL LOCAL
Thursday, October 18, 2018