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  • Asking your pastor for a home | Real Estate Newsletter

    Asking your pastor for a home | Real Estate Newsletter

    Asking your pastor for prayers is one thing. Asking them for a home is another.

    But that’s what members of the Church of Christian Compassion in West Philly did almost 10 years ago. Seniors said they and their homes were aging, and they needed safe, affordable homes that didn’t require so much upkeep. Could the pastor help them in any way?

    The church stepped up.

    This year, it opened an apartment building for seniors, who pay rent based on their income.

    Keep scrolling for that story and more in this week’s edition:

    — Michaelle Bond

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    This church built apartments

    Many Philly seniors struggle to afford basic costs. More than a third of residents 65 and older live below or near the poverty line.

    And as housing costs rise, finding an affordable apartment as a senior can be difficult.

    So the Church of Christian Compassion built a 38-unit apartment building to keep older residents from being pushed out of West Philly. And this week, the church and government officials celebrated the building filling with residents.

    Rents are meant to be affordable for households making 20% to 60% of the area median income — roughly $17,200 to $51,540 for a single-person household.

    A new resident told me she waited more than five years for a chance to get into the building. People told her she was crazy for waiting that long, but she said it was worth it.

    W. Lonnie Herndon, the church’s senior pastor, said he hopes the homes can be “a place where our seniors don’t simply reside, but where they continue to live, laugh, flourish, share their wisdom, and impact the next generation.”

    Keep reading to learn more about the apartment building and how it fits into the church’s mission.

    One of the few seller’s markets

    Across the country, homebuyers have the upper hand. But it’s a seller’s market in Montgomery, Chester, and Bucks Counties.

    That’s because buyers outnumber sellers, which gives sellers an advantage as more people compete for their properties.

    Last month, the combined market that the real estate brokerage Redfin calls Montgomery, Chester, and Bucks Counties was one of only five seller’s markets out of the 49 most-populous U.S. markets that Redfin analyzed.

    The distinction reflects the region’s strong demand for homes and a housing supply that isn’t keeping up.

    Keep reading to learn more about trends in the region and to compare housing markets.

    The latest news to pay attention to

    Home tour: Mount Airy wish-list house

    The real estate gods may have been looking out for Devin and Taylor Lashbrook.

    They got desperate in their search for a home in Mount Airy and tried to buy more than 10 properties without success. But Devin admitted they put offers on houses that he’s glad they didn’t get.

    The Lashbrooks ultimately bought a 19th-century farmhouse next door to a house they’d bid on. But this one checked all their boxes.

    They think they got lucky this time because they found the house over Labor Day weekend in 2020 and the roof needed to be replaced, which may have scared off buyers who weren’t down the Shore.

    The Lashbrooks have tried to preserve the home’s history as they’ve made the property their own.

    Peek inside the couple’s home, which has its quirks.

    📷 Photo quiz

    Do you know the location this photo shows?

    📮 If you think you do, email me back.

    Last week’s quiz stumped you. That was a photo taken at the Kai Yuan Temple on Cottman Avenue in Rhawnhurst.

    ―

    Lynnewood Hall, the formerly abandoned Gilded Age mansion, is back in the news. The historic Elkins Park property will open to the public for the first time in more than 80 years.

    For a limited time, the 100,000-square-foot building is hosting a floral exhibition.

    Let me know if you go. And enjoy the rest of your week.

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

  • 18 grassroots organizations sued another Philly nonprofit after it lost over $400,000

    18 grassroots organizations sued another Philly nonprofit after it lost over $400,000

    A collection of Philadelphia grassroots nonprofits are suing the umbrella organization that lost them hundreds of thousands of dollars from years of mismanagement and poor accounting.

    The 18 small groups have sued the Federation of Neighborhood Centers, a nonprofit that helped them and other small organizations manage grants. FNC, which operated as a fiscal sponsor for more than 100 Philadelphia grassroots nonprofits, collapsed last year after it was unable to distribute money owed to the groups.

    After years of poor recordkeeping and spending itself into a deficit, and in some cases using money designated for one group to pay another, the organization froze outgoing payments by the end of summer 2025 and ceased operations by the end of the year.

    Each of the 18 organizations says it held a positive cash balance with FNC at the time of its collapse. The fiscal sponsor lost more than $426,000 belonging to 24 groups, a third-party audit found. The suit claims the groups had to shut down or cut back operations as a result of the nonprofit’s financial mismanagement.

    A Philly nonprofit lost $426,000 meant for small neighborhood organizations, an audit showed

    The fiscal sponsor’s then-CEO, Michael Harbison, resigned in August 2025. He did not have relevant experience in an executive, management, or financial accounting role, and “does not know why he was hired” as CEO, according to the complaint filed last week in Common Pleas Court.

    The complaint alleges the Federation of Neighborhood Centers should have known about its financial challenges by early 2024, and did not have an adequate workforce to meet the demands of administering fiscal sponsorship services for over 100 small organizations.

    The current CEO, Demir Moore, acknowledged the nonprofit had grown too quickly and took on more clients than it could handle without proper financial guardrails, the complaint said. The collapse of the fiscal sponsorship program was due to a “lapse of management,” Moore previously told The Inquirer, a comment that was quoted in the lawsuit. Moore also said the downfall was “absolutely not attributable to malfeasance or embezzlement.”

    Participants listen to speakers during a February town hall for projects affected by FNC’s collapse.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Moore did not immediately respond to a request for comment, nor did the plaintiffs’ attorneys with Ballard Spahr.

    As the Federation of Neighborhood Centers collapsed and froze operations, Social Impact Commons, an organization that supports fiscal sponsors, came in to conduct the financial audit. It also assisted the fiscal sponsorship program’s shutdown, including helping some grassroots organizations transition to new fiscal sponsors.

    By the time it finished working with FNC in February, Social Impact Commons found 34 projects had gone to new fiscal sponsors or independent nonprofits, 39 were closed or defunct, and 31 had yet to transition. It’s unclear what has happened to those remaining projects since then, or if they have found any financial relief.

    The 18 organizations suing FNC represent a wide range of missions, like improving food access, empowering underrepresented young filmmakers, supporting mothers who have lost children to violence, animal rescue, and more.

  • Fewer people are running red lights, PPA says

    Fewer people are running red lights, PPA says

    Automated red-light enforcement cameras caught up to 17.4% fewer violations this year than in 2025, according to the Philadelphia Parking Authority’s annual report to the state legislature.

    Those cameras have been on guard in the city since 2005, but the program will expire next July, unless legislators renew the law that authorized them.

    “The numbers speak for themselves, and our hope is that they see the benefit of it,” said Gabe Roberts, interim executive director of the PPA.

    Recorded violations citywide declined from 340,931 in fiscal year 2025 to 338,979 in fiscal year 2026 — a decrease of 0.58%

    However, four new intersections were added at different points during this fiscal year. For the PPA, the fiscal year runs from April 1 through March 31.

    Excluding those four intersections, violations at existing program locations declined by 17.4%. Compared with 2024, they dropped 10.4%.

    “The way we measure success is through consistent enforcement, demonstrated changes in behavior, fewer people running red lights, and safer streets,” Roberts said.

    The red-light program has proved its worth, he said.

    New locations

    Over the 21 years of red-light cameras in the city, violations have trended down overall, Roberts said, though when a new location is added, tickets spike at first before leveling off and declining.

    As of March 31, PPA was operating 160 cameras at 38 locations.

    The newest locations are: 20th Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard; Front Street and Hunting Park Avenue; Kelly Drive and Eakins Oval; and 58th Street and Baltimore Avenue.

    Cameras there led to 50,589 warning notices and violations.

    When a red-light camera is installed, there is a 45-day grace period when violators get a warning before tickets start. The fine is $100 per offense, but no points are assessed to a driver’s license.

    There has been continued demand for red-light cameras in the city. PPA received requests for coverage of 19 intersections from the Philadelphia Office of Transportation and Infrastructure and City Council members through March 31.

    Intersections are evaluated on the basis of crash statistics and a fresh traffic study that includes observations of violation levels there.

    Also considered: sight lines, driveways, trees, wires, crosswalk visibility, and the condition of the surrounding infrastructure.

    Usually an intersection gets some upgrades when red-light cameras are installed — new sidewalk accessibility ramps, new signal boxes, better lighting, more visible crosswalks, or the like, said deputy PPA director Corrine O’Connor.

    “You’re not going to put cameras in and have old infrastructure out there,” said O’Connor, who is in charge of automated enforcement programs. “It’s an opportunity to make it better and safer.”

    PPA says it typically takes one to two years to complete an intersection.

    Speed cameras

    In addition to the red-light program, PPA operates automated speed enforcement cameras.

    Speed cameras were first installed on Roosevelt Boulevard in 2020 on a trial basis and more were added in the next two years. State lawmakers made the program permanent in 2023 and gave Philadelphia permission to add them on up to five more dangerous corridors.

    Broad Street, for instance, now has 31 speed cameras spread over 13 miles. They began operating last September.

    New speed cameras went live on portions of Route 13 in North and West Philadelphia on Aug. 31.

  • Fetterman’s favorability hits new low | Morning Newsletter

    Fetterman’s favorability hits new low | Morning Newsletter

    Good morning, Philly. We’re in for a sunny, but breezy, crisp fall day with highs near the upper 60s.

    Today, we start with new polling on Sen. John Fetterman, whose sinking popularity demonstrates that you don’t have to be up for reelection this midterm to affect your party’s mojo.

    And, we look into whether a recent spate of restaurant citations signify a new inspection regime in Philadelphia.

    Plus, Pennsylvania’s measles case count has topped 800, and more news of the day.

    — Laura Benshoff (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    Midterm jitters

    Sen. John Fetterman isn’t on the ballot this November, but his recent behavior has become a source of anxiety among his Democratic colleagues.

    Following his participation in the Republican Party’s midterm convention, and recent reporting alleging a lack of interest in his job, Fetterman’s favorability with voters has dipped lower than ever, according to an Inquirer/New York Times/Siena University poll.

    By the numbers: For the first time in this polling series, a plurality of likely Pennsylvania voters have a negative view of Fetterman: 47%. And, a majority say they view him as more of a Republican than a Democrat.

    Why it matters: Fetterman’s recent breaks with his party are making Democrats nervous. If Democrats retake the Senate majority by one or two votes, his role as a wild card could enable or foil the party’s plans to act as a check on President Donald Trump’s agenda.

    Read on for other fresh takeaways from Pennsylvania voters.

    Inspection lottery

    Restaurant sanitation inspections are an important public health measure. They can also be reassuring to customers, who look to the reports for details about how their food is prepared.

    But recent high-profile enforcement against restaurants that say they hadn’t been penalized previously for the issues raised sent shivers through the food industry.

    Take Stargazy, a British restaurant on Passyunk Avenue that for years offered a Friday fish-and-chips special, only to be told recently that it had to get rid of its deep fryer.

    Then, there’s Heavy Metal Sausage. The darling of best-of lists recently had to halt dinner service after a Health Department citation. Its owners say this was a hit to their revenue.

    For its part, the city says its rules have not changed and there is no crackdown.

    Inquirer food writer Michael Klein explains how both of these things can be true.

    What you should know today

    Quote of the day

    Pennsylvania Republicans such as former U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta worked behind the scenes to secure presidential clemency for John “Johnny Doc” Dougherty.

    Read The Inquirer’s Chris Palmer and Andrew Seidman to learn how they came to rally around the onetime Democratic heavyweight.

    🧠 Trivia time

    Masked thieves stole what from a tractor-trailer in South Philly earlier this week.

    A) Dimes

    B) Crab legs

    C) Beef ribs

    D) Televisions

    Think you know? Check your answer.

    What we’re…

    🎟️ Scoping out. Acts from Gorillaz to Tom Jones to Phoebe Bridgers will be playing in our area in the coming days. The Inquirer’s Dan DeLuca has a full concert list to help plan your weekend.

    🏢 Inspired by. When aging congregants of a West Philly church needed affordable senior housing, The Inquirer’s Michaelle Bond reports, the church responded by building it.

    🇯🇵 Taking note of. Food writer Michael Klein has the lowdown on a new Japanese comfort-food takeout spot that has opened on West Passyunk, specializing in breaded cutlets called katsu.

    🎤 Chuckling at. Live comedy is a high-wire act. The Inquirer’s Earl Hopkins has the full rundown of shows coming this fall that are too big to flop.

    🧩 Unscramble the anagram

    Hint: A new ordinance seeks to give officials in one corner of Chester County more power to address unruly students from this school, who rent houses nearby.

    INVASIVE VOLUNTARILY

    Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.

    Wednesday’s answer was tricky. We received far fewer submissions than average. Cheers to Charlene M. Wiltshire, who correctly guessed the anagram: TRACON. Flight delays at PHL lingered into Tuesday after communication at this, the FAA name for air traffic control facilities, went on the fritz.

    Photo of the day

    Sara Gdula (left), architectural conservator, and Marco J. Federico, principal conservator, both with Heritage Conservation Collective, work on the newly installed Rocky statue on the Art Museum steps on Wednesday.Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer

    Love it or hate it, the Rocky statue is back on top of the Art Museum steps.

    Hope your day is also tops. See you tomorrow 👋

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

  • President Trump tried to stop the press and ended up muzzling himself | Editorial

    President Trump tried to stop the press and ended up muzzling himself | Editorial

    Pressed recently on President Donald Trump’s expulsion of three news organizations from the White House, U.S. Sen. John Barrasso (R., Wyo.) shrugged it off as indistinguishable from Trump’s own past suspension from social media platforms, saying, “So it goes both ways.”

    Huh? The senator is either remarkably ignorant of the Constitution from which he derives his power, or shameless enough to pretend to be.

    What Barrasso didn’t appear to understand is that the First Amendment, like the rest of the Bill of Rights, doesn’t go both ways: It protects us from the government, not vice versa. Specifically, it guards the expression of citizens and publishers against state censorship and interference. Government officials can neither dictate what Facebook posts nor punish CNN for what it airs. If the First Amendment doesn’t mean news organizations can report on the government freely without being barred from public buildings and events as a result, it doesn’t mean anything.

    Pennsylvania’s shameful contribution to President Trump’s immigration crackdown | Editorial

    Trump’s latest trampling of the Constitution is in that sense too clear to be muddied by senatorial sophistry. He expressly denied CNN, Politico, and MS NOW entry to the White House based on the content of their reports, in particular their failure to sufficiently glorify him. This is the essence of what the First Amendment prohibits.

    It’s far from Trump’s first or most consequential authoritarian challenge to the country’s long-protected freedoms of expression and the press. Since his first term, he has derided legitimate journalism as “fake news,” encouraged violence against reporters, and called the press the “enemy of the people,” echoing Josef Stalin and other despots. In his second administration, he has graduated to leveraging the power of the federal government against the media, using the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to try to force late-night host Jimmy Kimmel off the air; wielding government power over mergers and more to reward corporations that rein in independent journalism; and menacing journalists and their employers with lawsuits, investigations, and arrests.

    Should Larry Krasner still lead the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office? | Editorial

    But the ban may be Trump’s most glaring violation of constitutional press protections to date. As the affected organizations noted in a lawsuit filed in federal court this week, the policy “could not be a more direct assault on the First Amendment.” The president himself called it a “ban on the free press” and attributed it to the organizations’ “negative” coverage.

    The courts have blocked his earlier attempts to exclude individual reporters as well as a parallel Pentagon policy instituted by his defense secretary. Even the Trump-friendly U.S. Supreme Court could be hard-pressed to justify this one.

    In addition to laying the groundwork for his next legal defeat, the president’s lockout gave the fractious press corps rare cause for collective action. With other networks declining to provide pooled camera coverage in solidarity with the banned organizations, the lack of competent recording at a ribbon-cutting for a new White House helipad this week ensured an idling chopper drowned out Trump’s remarks — not that very many people missed them.

    It was the sort of pseudo-news event that only raised more questions about the value of broadcasting much of what the president says. Journalists who direct their attention elsewhere are bound to transcribe that much less fake news.

  • Popular food truck from a Camden County nonprofit provides job training for people with disabilities

    Popular food truck from a Camden County nonprofit provides job training for people with disabilities

    When the Three Little Birds Cafe is mixed in among other vendors at local parks and festivals, it might be hard to tell at first that it’s not your average food truck.

    Staffed entirely by people with disabilities, the food truck not only serves handmade American classics — think chicken tenders, smash burgers, and fries — but also embodies the values of the Arc of Camden County.

    For nearly 80 years, the Berlin Borough nonprofit has been supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.

    Today, the Arc provides services ranging from adult day programs to residential care with round-the-clock supervision for hundreds of people across South Jersey, said Michelle Schwarz, a finance specialist with the Arc of Camden County who handles the food truck’s licensing.

    And while the food truck is a great place to grab some hand-breaded chicken wings for lunch, it also serves as a stepping stone for individuals hoping to eventually gain meaningful employment in the community.

    Launched in the summer of 2025 as part of the organization’s occupational training program, the food truck offers hands-on work experience in food service, allowing people to develop the skills and confidence they need to succeed in a restaurant or commercial kitchen, Schwarz said.

    The best way to connect people with jobs where they will thrive is to approach each person as an individual, she said, understanding that where one person may excel, another may struggle.

    The Three Little Birds Cafe food truck serves as a rolling advertisement for the Arc of Camden County, a local nonprofit that provides services for individuals with disabilities.Courtesy of The Arc of Camden County

    “We believe everyone has different skills,” she said. “Just because somebody can’t use their legs and they’re in a wheelchair, that doesn’t mean that they can’t go and work for a hotel and fold towels and put pillows in pillowcases.”

    By providing training in various industries, including janitorial services and product assembly, the Arc has been able to connect countless people with jobs, she said.

    The food truck was initially envisioned to serve primarily as a mobile advertisement for the organization, she said, with a QR code linking to the Arc’s website on the back to educate the public on its mission and potentially boost donations.

    But it has been so popular — both in the community and within the nonprofit — the Three Little Birds Cafe has expanded into the cafeteria at the Arc’s occupational training center in Berlin.

    Launching as a food truck in 2025, Three Little Birds Cafe has since expanded into the kitchen of the Arc of Camden County’s occupational training center in Berlin Borough, N.J.Courtesy of The Arc of Camden County

    Under the expert guidance of kitchen and food truck manager Dana Bradley, individuals have not only learned how to keep a restaurant running smoothly, but also started to learn to cook for themselves.

    “You immediately saw a shift in their confidence,” Schwarz said. “They were so excited to come in and learn something.”

    After spending a couple of years as a group home manager with the organization, Bradley saw Three Little Birds as a way to tap into the passion for cooking that she developed working at Corinne’s Place, her mother’s award-winning soul food restaurant in Camden.

    “I just love to cook,” Bradley said. Before she officially took over the cafeteria in 2025, she would often make elaborate meals at the Arc with whatever she could find lying around.

    Now in charge of the Arc’s large commissary-style kitchen, Bradley is helping train people to work in kitchens across the region.

    So far, three people have moved on from the Arc to work in restaurants and commercial kitchens in Camden and Gloucester Counties, Schwarz said.

    “Here, we just really believe that everyone has abilities, and we focus on their abilities rather than their disabilities,” she said.

  • Inside the township’s composting program | Inquirer Haverford

    Inside the township’s composting program | Inquirer Haverford

    Hello, Haverford!

    Welcome to the first edition of The Inquirer’s weekly newsletter bringing you the most pertinent news from in and around Haverford Township. Each week, you can expect a mix of the biggest community stories, school district and municipal government updates, restaurant and retail comings and goings, as well as local events you won’t want to miss.

    Here’s what’s going on this week: The township’s new compost program is helping turn food waste into compost. We look at how it’s feeding area crops. Also noteworthy, a local gallery owner has been accused of being part of a scheme to sell fraudulent artwork, township resident and Super Bowl champion Brandon Graham has his eye on the future, plus, where to go leaf peeping this fall.

    As we get started, tell us what you think of our newsletter by emailing us back here or taking our survey. And feel free to drop us a line any time, whether it’s with tips, coverage ideas, or just to say hello.

    See you back here next week!

    — Lisa Dukart (haverford@inquirer.com)

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    The township’s organic waste is being repurposed as part of a circular food system

    Chris Pieretti’s Kitchen Harvest turns organic waste into compost at Linvilla Orchards.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    Earlier this year, Haverford Township launched a curbside composting program, becoming the latest local municipality to seek ways to divert organic materials from landfills.

    But what happens to those banana peels, eggshells, and coffee grounds after they’re taken away? Thanks to the initiative, they’re being repurposed at Linvilla Orchards, where composting company Kitchen Harvest is converting food scraps into nutrient-rich, soil-like compost. In turn, the compost feeds Linvilla’s crops and enriches local gardens, creating a circular system.

    In July, 162 tons of organic material was collected, township manager Dave Burman said, adding that the amount of trash collected was down 141 fewer tons this July compared to last July.

    The Inquirer’s Denali Sagner digs into the township’s free program and how residents are diverting waste.

    💡 Community news

    🗺️ Other nearby news

    🏫 Schools briefing

    • Residents can meet with Superintendent Matthew C. Hayes at tomorrow morning’s community connection event at the administration building. The discussion will focus on school year updates.
    • The Haverford School is looking to demolish several buildings on Panmure Road and Buck Lane to make way for two artificial turf fields, a move that some area residents oppose, citing traffic concerns. The township’s planning commission earlier this month said it would not make a decision until a traffic study had been completed.
    • Manoa Nursery School at 153 N. Eagle Rd. has been shut down after operating without a license, but expects to open under new management shortly, the Daily Times reports.

    🍽️ On our plate

    • A La Mousse owner Anna Chen is working to improve mooncakes’ reputation by giving the intricate but otherwise unimpressive treats a twist, The Inquirer’s Kiki Aranita writes, including stuffing them with a range of fillings and flavors. Find Chen’s take on mooncakes at A La Mousse’s Narberth outpost ahead of the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival tomorrow.
    • Nanu’s Hot Chicken reopened last week at 59 W. Lancaster Ave. in Ardmore after being forced to close at the end of July when a vehicle damaged the store.
    • Former Sixers icon Julius “Dr. J” Erving will be at the Fine Wine and Good Spirits on Greenfield Avenue in Ardmore Saturday at 2 p.m. to sign pre-purchased bottles of American Harvest Organic Vodka.

    🎳 Things to do

    🐑 The Farmstead Fair: Harriton House’s annual celebration includes tours, cooking demonstrations, a beer garden, vendors, games, and pumpkin decorating. ⏰ Saturday, Sept. 26, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍 Harriton House

    🎸 Haverford Music Festival: Now in its 14th year, the festival includes performances by Grammy Award-nominated singer-songwriter Shannon McNally, blues artist Buffalo Nichols, and bluegrass outfit Demolition String Band. There will also be food trucks, kids activities, and a beer and wine garden. ⏰ Saturday, Sept. 26, noon-9 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Intersection of Eagle and Darby Roads

    🎵 Imagine Lennon Live: Scot Arch and the Instant Karma Horns will perform a mix of Beatles tunes and John Lennon’s solo hits. ⏰ Saturday, Sept. 26, 7:30-10 p.m. 💵 $26.50-$36.70 📍 Kelly Center

    🌻 Eco-Printing with Wildflowers Workshop: Summer may officially be over, but that doesn’t mean its remnants can’t still make beautiful art. ⏰ Sunday, Sept. 27, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. 💵 $85-$95 📍 Stoneleigh

    🎶 Matchbox 30: The Tim William Bands will pay tribute to Matchbox 20 for the 30th anniversary of its iconic album Yourself or Someone Like You. ⏰ Wednesday, Sept. 30, 7:30 p.m. 💵 $29.50-$71.42 📍 Ardmore Music Hall

    🏡 On the market

    An Ardmore home with a chic, updated interior

    Built in 1945, this three-bedroom Ardmore home has gotten a modern interior makeover to give the first floor an open-concept layout. The space connects a living room with an electric fireplace to a dining area and the kitchen, which has an island, stainless steel appliances, and quartz countertops. All three bedrooms are upstairs, and there’s a finished basement with a half bathroom downstairs. There’s an open house Saturday from noon to 2 p.m.

    See more photos of the home here.

    Price: $499,900 | Size: 1,260 SF | Acreage: 0.06

    Each week we feature an interesting listing in or around the township. Have one we should consider? Email us at haverford@inquirer.com.

    📈 Haverford market report

    • Median listing price: $595,000 (up $2,500 from July) 📈
    • Median sold price: $582,500 (down $7,500 from July) 📉
    • Days on the market: 32 (up three days from July) 📈

    This Haverford market report is published on a monthly basis. Above is data for August from realtor.com.

    🗞️ What other Haverford residents are reading this week:

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

    This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.

  • Leaf blower complaints strain staff | Inquirer Lower Merion

    Leaf blower complaints strain staff | Inquirer Lower Merion

    Hi, Lower Merion!

    The township’s leaf blower ban is putting extra stress on workers, prompting a request for additional funding. Here’s what to know. Also this week, residents’ compost is helping feed a circular food system, a local surgery center is among the busiest of its kind in the region, plus, where to get inventive mooncakes ahead of Mid-Autumn Festival.

    — Lisa Dukart (lowermerion@inquirer.com)

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    The township’s gas-powered leaf blower ban is putting extra strain on staff — and possibly budgets

    Since launching a phased gas-powered leaf blower ban in June, Lower Merion has received 437 violation complaints, putting “tremendous stress” on township staff who then have to investigate.

    That figure is more than five times the number of complaints the township received for all other standard property maintenance violations during the same time period and has prompted officials to ask for extra staffing funds. That includes making a part-time administrative clerk full-time next year and adding a seasonal code compliance officer.

    While nothing’s been decided yet, the changes could cost $83,000, but give flexibility should complaints later drop off.

    The Inquirer’s Denali Sagner explains the proposed staffing changes.

    💡 Community news

    • Lower Merion residents are contributing to a circular food system through the township’s pilot compost program, launched last year in partnership with Wynnewood-based Mother Compost and Bennett Compost in Philadelphia, joining a number of local municipalities diverting food waste from landfills.
    • Main Line Surgery Center, Bala Cynwyd is one of the 20 busiest surgical centers in the region, conducting 8,468 surgical visits last year, according to data from the Pennsylvania Department of Health. It’s closely followed by Bryn Mawr Medical Specialist Endoscopy Associates. The Inquirer’s Harold Brubaker explains why surgery centers have seen a surge in popularity in recent years.
    • Four people were injured and two were hospitalized after a tree fell on several vehicles stopped in traffic on Belmont Avenue near the Old Belmont Avenue split in Bala Cynwyd Friday. One of the individuals suffered serious injuries and was listed in critical but stable condition as of Friday night, 6abc reports.
    • City Ave District has been awarded $400,000 from the state to improve sidewalks on the 200 block of Bala Avenue, as well as North Highland Avenue. Work is expected to get underway in the spring.
    • Lower Merion police are warning residents about locking their vehicles and not leaving valuables inside after several recent thefts and break-ins.
    • Narberth is conducting a pedestrian count via video survey through Monday related to the North Narberth Avenue bridge project.
    • The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office is cracking down on 7-Hydroxymitragynine, more commonly known as 7-OH, and has issued notices to retailers to discontinue sales of concentrated 7-OH products. Sold over the counter at gas stations and smoke shops across the region, unregulated 7-OH kratom has led to addiction for some.

    🗺️ Other nearby news

    🏫 Schools briefing

    🍽️ On our plate

    The Mid-Autumn Festival mooncakes at A La Mousse. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
    • A La Mousse owner Anna Chen is working to improve mooncakes’ reputation by giving the intricate but otherwise unimpressive treats a twist, The Inquirer’s Kiki Aranita writes, including stuffing them with a range of fillings and flavors. Find her take on mooncakes at A La Mousse’s Narberth outpost ahead of the the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival tomorrow.
    • Vintner’s Table is opening its Ardmore outpost on Monday. Located at 24 Cricket Ave., the Italian-inspired wine bar will also have a salumeria and lifestyle boutique.
    • Former Sixers icon Julius “Dr. J” Erving will be at the Fine Wine and Good Spirits on Greenfield Avenue in Ardmore Saturday at 2 p.m. to sign pre-purchased bottles of American Harvest Organic Vodka.

    🎳 Things to do

    🍿 Movie Night: Friends of Linwood Park and Lulu’s Casita will screen The Muppets outdoors. ⏰ Friday, Sept. 25, 6:30 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Linwood Park

    🐑 The Farmstead Fair: Harriton House’s annual celebration includes tours, cooking demonstrations, a beer garden, vendors, games, and pumpkin decorating. ⏰ Saturday, Sept. 26, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍 Harriton House

    🌻 Eco-Printing with Wildflowers Workshop: Summer may officially be over, but that doesn’t mean its remnants can’t still make beautiful art. ⏰ Sunday, Sept. 27, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. 💵 $85-$95 📍 Stoneleigh

    🩰 An Afternoon of English Country Dance: Dust off your Regency-era apparel and learn 18th- and 19th-century country social dances. Registration is required. ⏰ Sunday, Sept. 27, 2-4 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Bala Cynwyd Library

    🧺 Family Picnic in the Park: Narberth Civic Association will have pizza and live music at this event, where neighbors are encouraged to pack a picnic, as well as a shareable dessert. ⏰ Sunday, Sept. 27, 4-6 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Narberth Park

    🏡 On the market

    A charming five-bedroom Bryn Mawr home

    This century-old brick Tudor Bryn Mawr home blends indoor and outdoor living thanks to plenty of windows, a sunroom, a screened-in porch, and a flagstone patio. The home has formal living and dining rooms, an updated eat-in kitchen, and five bedrooms across the second and third floors, including a primary suite with a double sink vanity. There are open houses today from 12:30 to 2 p.m., Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m., and Sunday noon to 2 p.m.

    See more photos of the home here.

    Price: $1.2M | Size: 3,369 SF | Acreage: 0.34

    📈 Lower Merion market report

    • Median listing price: $590,000 (down $67,500 from July) 📉
    • Median sold price: $764,500 (down $435,500 from July) 📉
    • Days on the market: 58 (up eight days from July) 📈

    This Lower Merion market report is published on a monthly basis. Above is data for August from realtor.com.

    🗞️ What other Lower Merion residents are reading this week:

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

    This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.

  • Will Radnor actually get a new courthouse? | Inquirer Radnor

    Will Radnor actually get a new courthouse? | Inquirer Radnor

    Hello, Radnor!

    Welcome to the first edition of The Inquirer’s weekly newsletter bringing you the most pertinent news from in and around Radnor Township. Each week, you can expect a mix of the biggest community stories, school district and municipal government updates, restaurant and retail comings and goings, as well as local events you won’t want to miss.

    Here’s what’s going on this week: Officials’ quest to bring the magisterial district courthouse within township borders is proving a tall task. We explain why. Also noteworthy, a local surgery center is the busiest of its kind in the region, a beloved eatery is celebrating its 10th anniversary, plus, where to go leaf peeping this fall.

    As we get started, tell us what you think of our newsletter by emailing us here or taking our survey. And feel free to drop us a line any time, whether it’s with tips, coverage ideas, or just to say hello.

    See you back here next week!

    — Lisa Dukart (radnor@inquirer.com)

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    Why relocating the magisterial district courthouse remains elusive

    Radnor Township Municipal Building.Jasmine Goldband / Staff

    Radnor officials are still on the hunt for a place to relocate the township’s magisterial district courthouse, which has been housed in Newtown Square for the past few years.

    It’s a tricky needle to thread given county constraints and residents’ preferences, something officials addressed at an information session this week.

    While some residents question the need for relocating the court, calling it a “pet project,” Commissioner Jack Larkin noted that having it within township boundaries is important ahead of the commonwealth’s decennial court district realignment process.

    The Inquirer’s Denali Sagner looks at where things stand, the significance of having a local court, and the challenges the township faces in trying to find a new location.

    💡 Community news

    🗺️ Other nearby news

    🏫 Schools briefing

    • Radnor High School is among the best public schools in the state, landing at No. 7 in Pennsylvania in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings. Nationwide, the school ranks No. 341.

    🍽️ On our plate

    🎳 Things to do

    🇫🇷 Regional French Cuisine and Wine: Chef Karen Bentz will take participants through several regional dishes, including a salad, chicken dish, and dessert. ⏰ Thursday, Sept. 24, 6-8:30 p.m. 💵 $85 for members, $100 for non-members 📍 Wayne Art Center

    📷 Garden Photography Workshop: Chanticleer horticulturist Lisa Roper will guide attendees through a workshop on the garden’s grounds, then work with them to select and edit a few photos. ⏰ Saturday, Sept. 26, 4:30-8:30 p.m. 💵 $95 📍 Chanticleer

    🌻 Eco-Printing with Wildflowers Workshop: Summer may officially be over, but that doesn’t mean its remnants can’t still make beautiful art. ⏰ Sunday, Sept. 27, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. 💵 $85-$95 📍 Stoneleigh

    🎶 Joseph Parsons and Friends: The rock, folk, and soul singer-songwriter will take the stage. ⏰ Sunday, Sept. 27, 3 p.m. 💵 $27.32 📍 118 North

    🏡 On the market

    A century-old Villanova home with a guest cottage

    Dating back to 1900, this updated stone Villanova estate blends past and present. The home features an eat-in kitchen with an island, a living room with a fireplace, and a family room. It has four bedrooms upstairs, including a primary suite with a sitting area. Downstairs, there’s a finished basement with another fireplace. Its grounds include a pond and gardens, in addition to a guest cottage with a kitchenette.

    See more photos of the property here.

    Price: $1.5M | Size: 3,245 SF | Acreage: 3.39

    Each week we feature an interesting listing in or around the township. Have one we should consider? Email us at radnor@inquirer.com.

    📈 Radnor market report

    • Median listing price: $912,000 (down $37,000 from July) 📉
    • Median sold price: $1.2M (same as July)
    • Days on the market: 31 (down 11 days from July) 📉

    This Radnor market report is published on a monthly basis. Above is data for August from realtor.com.

    🗞️ What other Radnor residents are reading this week:

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

    This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.

  • Linvilla’s compost-fueled crops | Inquirer Greater Media

    Linvilla’s compost-fueled crops | Inquirer Greater Media

    Hi, Greater Media, and happy fall!

    A partnership at Linvilla Orchards is turning local food waste into compost. Here’s a look at how it’s feeding area crops. Also this week, Riddle Surgical Center is among the busiest of its facility type in the region, a new indoor play place is now open, plus the final Dining Under the Stars of the season is on the horizon.

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    Food scraps feed a circular system at Linvilla Orchards

    Chris Pieretti’s Kitchen Harvest turns organic waste into compost at Linvilla Orchards. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    What happens to banana peels, eggshells, coffee grounds, and other organic material when area residents are done with them?

    In many cases, they end up in landfills, but thanks to an initiative by Kitchen Harvest at Linvilla Orchards, those same materials are being repurposed into compost. In turn, the nutrient-rich, soil-like product feeds Linvilla’s crops and enriches local gardens, creating a circular system.

    Media became the first municipality to sign on with Kitchen Harvest five years ago, and Swarthmore has launched its own program with EZComposting since. (It’s currently seeking bids for next year’s contract.)

    Composting is “becoming more a piece of the waste management strategy than just this kind of crunchy, environmental practice that I think people thought about it before,” the founder of one local composting company said.

    The Inquirer’s Denali Sagner digs into how local companies and residents are diverting waste.

    💡 Community news

    • Riddle Surgical Center on the Riddle Hospital campus in Middletown Township is one of the 20 busiest surgical centers in the region, conducting 6,078 surgical visits last year, according to data from the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The Inquirer’s Harold Brubaker explains why surgery centers have seen a surge in popularity in recent years.
    • Swarthmore College has renamed the former Trotter Hall and its lawn Edley-Morgan Hall and Edley-Morgan Lawn, respectively, recognizing two prominent Black scholars. The move comes about a year after Swarthmore removed former professor Spencer Trotter’s name after learning that he dug up a Native American burial ground in 1899 and displayed human remains on campus.
    • Media resident Emily Higgins opened a new indoor play place in Chester Heights over the weekend. Located at 77 W. Baltimore Pike, Sprout City offers open play and classes for kids 6 and under and is modeled after a miniature city. It also has coworking spaces for parents.
    • Longtime Delaware County resident Anthony “Tony” Oriente will compete on Wheel of Fortune tonight. Oriente, who lives in Media and works for the county as an assistant county clerk and administrative assistant, is no stranger to competition shows, having previously appeared on The Price is Right and Deal or No Deal.
    • Aqua’s work on Providence Road between West Rose Valley and Chester Roads has returned to daytime hours after a brief overnight stint. Work will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is expected to continue into next year.
    • Delaware County Health Department is kicking off its fall flu vaccination clinics tomorrow, with an event at Media Community Center from noon to 4 p.m.
    • Delaware County Libraries is hosting a “Read at Rose Tree” event today from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Rose Tree Park, where residents can sprawl out with a book and sign up for a library card.
    • A “Win Pigs Fly” lottery ticket worth nearly $245,000 was sold at the Acme in the Concordville Town Centre last week.

    🗺️ Other nearby news

    🏫 Schools briefing

    • Nine local students have been named 2027 National Merit Scholarship semifinalists. In the Rose Tree Media School District, they are Penncrest High School students Owen Cummings and Amar Dhillon. In the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District, semifinalists are Lavanya Dixit, Madeline Garson, Franklin Griffin, Clark Kerkstra, Sophia Shao, Joy Yang, and Emily Zhang. (Clark Kerkstra’s father is an editor at this paper.)
    • Indian Lane Elementary School principal Michelle Britton recently camped on the school’s roof after families exceeded the Bobcat Club Campaign fundraising goal, which supports the school, including the installation of a new mural in the library. See Fox 29’s Judayah Murray catch up with Britton, who was live from the roof.

    🍽️ On our plate

    🎳 Things to do

    🇬🇷 A Taste of Greece: The annual four-day festival returns, complete with Greek cuisine, music, and folk dancing. ⏰ Thursday, Sept. 24-Sunday, Sept. 27, times vary 💵 Pay as you go 📍 St. George Greek Orthodox Church, Media

    🏚️ Bates Motel and Haunted Hayride: Get in the spooky season spirit as the local haunt kicks off its festivities. ⏰ Select days from Friday, Sept. 25-Sunday, Nov. 1, times vary 💵 Prices vary 📍 Bates Motel, Glen Mills

    🍎 Apple Festival: Pick apples and get a taste of apple-flavored treats at this annual festival. ⏰ Saturday, Sept. 26, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. (Rain date: Sept. 27) 💵 Pay as you go 📍 Linvilla Orchards, Media

    🏎️ Delco Downhill Derby: The second annual event will see homemade cars cruise down North Edgmont Street. (Take a look back at last year’s event.) ⏰ Saturday, Sept. 26, noon-5 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Media

    👻 Invasion Vendor Market: Now in its third year, this Delco Horror Haven event features artisans, crafts, food trucks, and plenty of cosplayers. ⏰ Saturday, Sept. 26, noon-6 p.m. 💵 $5.72 📍 Media Borough Community Center

    📈 Greater Media market report

    Media

    • Median listing price: $727,500 (up $27,600 from July) 📈
    • Median sold price: $649,500 (up $29,500 from July) 📈
    • Days on the market: 32 (up five days from July) 📈

    Swarthmore

    • Median listing price: $429,900 (up $54,900 from July) 📈
    • Median sold price: $424,000 (up $59,000 from July) 📈
    • Days on the market: 32 (down 10 days from July) 📉

    Wallingford

    • Median listing price: $450,000 (down $75,000 from July) 📉
    • Median sold price: $560,000 (up $193,500 from July) 📈
    • Days on the market: 31 (up six days from July) 📈

    This Greater Media market report is published on a monthly basis. Above is data for August from realtor.com.

    🗞️ What other Greater Media residents are reading this week:

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

    This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.