Marching to move forward | Inquirer Greater Abington

Hi, Greater Abington. 👋

Cheltenham parents, students, and school district officials marched across town to show support for students ahead of the new academic year as the community continues to grapple with the fallout of the recent football hazing scandal.

Also on the radar, a judge ruled Cheltenham’s controversial pool project can continue, Jenkintown may expand its library, and a few nearby kindergartens are below the herd immunity vaccination rate against measles.

Heads up: Next week’s edition of this newsletter will arrive in your inboxes on Wednesday, Sept. 9, instead of Tuesday, as our team will be out of the office for Labor Day on Monday.

— Laura Smythe (greaterabington@inquirer.com)

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Cheltenham community marches to support students after alleged hazing incidents

Roughly three dozen parents, students, and officials of Cheltenham School District marched across town over the weekend in an effort to show support for students in the aftermath of a football hazing scandal that led to criminal charges for coaches and players.

Taking place just days before the start of the 2026-27 academic year, Saturday’s march covered an almost two-mile stretch from the school district building to the high school.

“We need to come together as a community, address needed changes, and also push back against some of the false information out there,” said Ikysha Dearry, president of the Cheltenham African American Alliance.

Attendees who spoke with The Inquirer shared the mixed feelings of a community contending with public outrage while trying to guide students through a new school year.

💡 Community news

• The controversial $4.5 million pool project in Cheltenham can continue after a judge denied a resident’s injunction request over allegations that the township violated public bidding rules, The Inquirer’s Jess Rohan reports.
• Jenkintown residents will be able to give feedback on the master plan for its historic library’s makeover. The borough is seeking a design and engineering consultant to guide the overhaul.
• Cheltenham police killed a reportedly aggressive coyote in Wyncote, which they said tested positive for rabies.
• Montgomery County Commissioner Neil Makhija is among the Pennsylvania Democrats working to reassure voters they’ll have the option to vote by mail in November’s midterm elections after a recent Supreme Court decision caused uncertainty.
• Abington Township pools will close for the season after Labor Day. The Alverthorpe Wading Pool concludes its 2026 run on Thursday at 5 p.m., and the mini-golf course at Alverthorpe Park will transition from a daily schedule to weekend-only hours after the holiday for the remainder of September.
• Labor Day is also the final day of the pool season in Cheltenham Township.
• A Cheltenham town hall with state Rep. Napoleon Nelson will be held tonight at Curtis Hall & Arboretum.
• Jenkintown’s Cherry Street will be closed between York Road and Johnson Street on Tuesday and Wednesday between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. while steel material is transported in the area. Additionally, pipe replacement work in Cheltenham will close a northbound lane on Washington Lane between Ashbourne Road and Rock Lane through the end of Friday.

🏫 Schools briefing

• The 2026-27 academic year for Abington School District begins next Tuesday.
• Schools are closed on Monday in the Cheltenham and Jenkintown school districts in recognition of Labor Day.
• A few area kindergartens have dipped below a 95% vaccination rate against measles — the threshold recommended by scientists to achieve herd immunity against the highly contagious disease. See what’s happening at your school.

🍽️ On our plate

• Island Flavor Cuisine, an Elkins Park food truck serving up Caribbean eats such as oxtail, red snapper, and jerk chicken, celebrated its grand opening at 209 Township Line Rd. over the weekend.

🎳 Things to do

🧗 Wyncote Women’s Climb: Rock climbers of all skill levels can climb and connect. ⏰ Tuesday, Sept. 1, 6-8 p.m. 💵 $30.50 for a day pass 📍 Philadelphia Rock Gyms, Wyncote

🎲 Game Night for Adults: Get to know your neighbors over some board and card games. ⏰ Tuesday, Sept. 1, 6:30-8:45 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Glenside Library

🐦 Curtis Arboretum Bird Walk: Spot late-summer migrant birds during this outdoor excursion with Liberty Bird Alliance. ⏰ Friday, Sept. 4, 8-10 a.m. 💵 Free 📍 Curtis Arboretum, Wyncote

🏡 On the market

A sprawling estate with a pool house by Philadelphia Museum of Art’s architect

This nine-bedroom, eight-bathroom estate dates back to 1903 and has played host to a slew of interesting people within its walls: Inventor Walter Herring, who has ties to ticket turnstiles and the Slinky, once called the Normandy Tudor-style residence home, while Amelia Earhart and composer John Philip Sousa are thought to have spent time there.

Hand-painted and -crafted elements include exposed wooden beams and murals, and stained glass windows portray various fairy tales. The roof is composed of Italian terracotta shingles, per the listing agent. The property features a concrete whisper bench, plus a pool house designed by Horace Trumbauer, the Beaux-Arts architect who worked on notable buildings including Elkins Park’s Lynnewood Hall and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

See more photos of the estate here.

Price: $2,900,000 | Size: 12,000 SF | Acreage: 5.38

🗞️ What other Greater Abington residents are reading this week:

• Police believe a new video shows violent pornographer Raymond ‘R.C.’ Horsch killing a woman on camera, sources say
• Eagles reveal 53-man roster, keep four quarterbacks amid roster cuts
• Olivia Li is one of the Curtis Institute’s most promising new students. She’s 7 years old.

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