  The CHCA encourages a sense of community and works to improve the quality of life in Chestnut Hill. Visit us at Town Hall 8434 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118, 215-248-8810 info@chestnuthill.org, www.chestnuthill.org Dear Friends & Neighbors, Fall is finally here! There are few prettier places in Philadelphia than Chestnut Hill in the Fall. I hope you have a chance to get outside and enjoy these beautiful days. Thank you to everyone who attended the Fall Frolic. It was a lovely night and a good time was had by all. Proceeds from the event will help sustain the operations of the CHCA so we are very grateful for your support. Be sure to come on out to the Halloween Pet Parade either as a participant in the parade with your pet or as a parade watcher along Germantown Ave. It is lots of fun and laughter! It is a busy time of year in Chestnut Hill and you can see info about just some of the things that are happening in our partner event section below. Best wishes for a crisp, sunny, fall filled with changing leaves, pumpkins, kids in silly costumes and all the things that make the season special! Regards,   Public Input Wanted for Philadelphia2050  Public input for Philadelphia 2050, the City’s comprehensive plan, continues this fall. Click HERE to learn more and take the survey. Passport Partner Spotlight  Our featured Passport Partner for October is Zipf’s Candies! Zipf’s opened the doors of its iconic storefront in the courtyard off of 8400 Germantown avenue in 1964, deriving its name from a Reading based candy company of the same name that originally supplied the shop’s chocolates. Since then, its offerings have only grown. To walk into Zipf’s is to be overcome with a childlike sense of awe at the sheer variety of candies that line the shelves of the tiny storefront. In addition to specialty chocolates, Zipf’s offers vintage candy, international treats, gummies in all shapes and sizes, and an assortment of food-allergy-friendly treats.For Zipf’s customers, it’s that sense of wonder one gets upon entering the shop that keeps them coming back as much as the candy itself. Owned since 2018 by Paula Fingerut, Paula and her team maintain the shop’s vintage charm and foster a warm and welcoming environment that makes visitors feel like, well, a kid in a candy store. Whether you’re looking for a Halloween treat, or simply need your fix of old-world charm, be sure to stop by Zipf’s this October! CHCA members can receive a free 1/4lb box of chocolates with their Passport to the Chestnut Hill Experience CHCA Public Meetings  CHCA Public Meetings Note: Agenda items are subject to change. To confirm an item is on a specific meeting agenda, please email info@chestnuthill.org Registration for online meetings at: chestnuthill.org/meetings.php Board of Directors MeetingTues. Oct. 22, 2026 7:00pm To register for this meeting, go to: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/xlN36hAvSiuwYNtrHbya9w More agenda info. is at chestnuthill.org/meetings.php CHCA Info & Events  The Chestnut Hill Conservancyin collaboration with the CHCApresentAsk the Experts: Connected Homes Integrating Smart Technology to Make Historic Homes More Resilient  Wednesday, October 21, 2026 Virtual via Zoom and In-Person in Philadelphia, PA 191186:00-6:30 PM: Networking (in-person attendees)6:30-8:00 PM: Presentation and Q&A (hybrid)8:00-8:30 PM: Networking (in-person attendees)The Chestnut Hill Conservancy presents Ask the Experts: Connected Homes – Integrating Smart Technology to Make Historic Homes More Resilient, a free hybrid program exploring how today’s connected technologies can help homeowners better protect, maintain, and steward their homes. From water leaks and electrical fires to cybersecurity and remote monitoring, advances in connected-home technology are changing the way homeowners protect and maintain their properties. Whether caring for a historic home or a contemporary residence, participants will learn how practical technologies can complement routine maintenance, support long-term stewardship, and help reduce the risk of costly damage without compromising the character of their homes. The program will feature Kate MacDougall, Senior Risk Consultant and Historic Home Specialist at Chubb, and Kevin Chung, Agency Sales Manager at Chubb. Drawing upon their combined experience in historic homes, residential risk assessment, and homeowner education, they will discuss practical strategies for reducing household risks through connected technology while exploring considerations unique to both historic and contemporary homes. Ask the Experts is the Conservancy’s free public education series offering practical, expert-led guidance on preservation, conservation, and stewardship topics relevant to historic homes, landscapes, and communities. This program is intended for homeowners, property managers, preservation advocates, and anyone interested in practical strategies for caring for homes at every stage of homeownership. The program is offered in collaboration with the Chestnut Hill Community Association. Click HERE to learn more and to register  CHCA Partner’s Events & Information        19th Annual Scarecrow WalkThursday, October 1 – Sunday, November 1 Click HERE to learn more  This Halloween, we’re taking a trip through the 70s—any 70s! In honor of America’s 250th anniversary, participants designed scarecrows inspired by the 1770s, the 1970s, the 2070s, or any decade ending in “70” throughout history and beyond.See the spooktacular designs on display throughout the Morris from October 1 through November 1. Visitors will vote on-site October 1 through October 18 for their favorite scarecrow to determine the winners. The top three scarecrows win a cash prize—top prize is $300! Scarecrow frames are generously provided by Tague Lumber.  OPEN EVERY SATURDAY ALL YEAR ROUNDOpen 9am – 12pm Location: intersection of Germantown Avenue and Mermaid Lane, in front of The Mermaid Inn Dates and Time: every Saturday year-round; regular season hours in effect, 9am – 12pm One of the longest running farmers markets in Philly, this Saturday neighborhood event features an all-star lineup of local farms, bakeries, and food artisans. Vendor list below.   Arc of PromiseJune 20, 2026 – January 10, 2027 In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, Arc of Promise explores how Philadelphia’s artists have envisioned “America” as an idea, from the nation’s founding to today. Drawing largely from Woodmere’s collection, the exhibition spans the 1790s to the present, with painting, sculpture, and works on paper that reflect the ever-renewed ideal of the American experiment. Art with depictions of maps and flags, as well as social and allegorical representations from the 18th through the 21st centuries, is placed in dialogue, revealing how Philadelphia’s artists across generations have grappled with questions of national identity and freedom. The exhibition’s title is inspired by Philadelphia-born artist Jerry Pinkney (1939–2021), whose notion of the “arc of promise” acknowledges America’s painful histories—slavery, displacement, injustice—while affirming its capacity for renewal. Pinkney’s vision, grounded in optimism and equity, frames the exhibition’s central idea: that the promise of America is not fixed, but continuously reimagined by those who believe in its unfolding potential. Arc of Promise was supported by generous grants from the Philadelphia Funder Collaborative for the Semiquincentennial, and the Henry Luce Foundation.   Jen Silverman’s – WITCHS September 30 to October 25, 2026adapted from The Witch of Edmonton by John Ford and Thomas DekkerDirected by Maura KrauseA charming devil arrives in the quiet village of Edmonton to bargain for the souls of its residents in exchange for their darkest wishes. Elizabeth should be his easiest target, having been labeled a “witch” and cast out by the town, but her soul is not so readily bought. As the devil returns to convince her – and her neighbors – unexpected passions flare, alliances are formed, and the village is forever changed. An inventive retelling of a Jacobean tragicomedy, this sharp, subversive fable debates how much our souls are worth when hope is hard to come by.    Don’t just live in Chestnut Hill, be part of the community.Support year round fun, interesting and entertaining ideas. Read your local paper produced right here, under local ownership, by real journalists and expert contributors. Take a stroll and enjoy the shade of the tree-lined streets and know you are a part of keeping this neighborhood green. Enjoy the Passport to the Chestnut Hill Experience, a membership perk with $1,000 in discounts and free offers from Chestnut Hill area businesses and restaurants. Don’t just live in Chestnut Hill. Experience it. JOIN | RENEW    Chestnut Hill Community Association8434 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118215-248-8810, info@chestnuthill.org |
