Inquirer.com – Zurich DR

Tag: Inquirer Local

  • Extreme weather tests the township | Inquirer Lower Merion

    Extreme weather tests the township | Inquirer Lower Merion

    Hi, Lower Merion! 👋

    If summer storms seem to be getting worse, you’re not wrong. We look at why, as well as the challenges they pose to local residents and infrastructure. Also this week, a former Main Line Health surgeon is suing the system, a Gladwyne company is looking to add senior housing nearby, plus, a township native’s Eagles fandom is making waves on the Vanderpump Rules spin-off.

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

    How climate change and aging infrastructure are impacting Lower Merion residents

    A July 13 microburst brought down part of a tree in Narberth. Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer

    As summers grow hotter and more humid, residents throughout the region face increased climate threats that can lead to flooding, downed trees, and damaged property.

    That was the case for Tori Bauver, whose Wynnewood apartment was badly damaged in last months’ microburst.

    Once infrequent, intense weather events have ramped up due to climate change. “We get a 100-year storm every year,” said Ray Courtney, a Lower Merion commissioner and chair of the township’s sustainability committee.

    Many areas, including Lower Merion, also contend with aging stormwater infrastructure, which can exacerbate problems.

    The Inquirer’s Denali Sagner delves into how storm intensity has increased, what municipalities are doing to combat it, and why the issues are so complex to solve.

    💡 Community News

    • Gianluca Torregrossa, a former cardiac thoracic surgeon specializing in robotics at Main Line Health, is suing the system for allegedly firing him after he reported a series of bad patient outcomes at the hands of another doctor. The Inquirer’s Abraham Gutman has the details.
    • The Narberth Community Food Bank has abruptly shuttered its doors. In a note on the website, founder Gigi Tevlin-Moffat said the nonprofit didn’t make “this change lightly or quickly,” but also didn’t expand on why it was closing, only noting that “the past year has been overwhelming with challenges.”
    • The Ardmore Avenue Pool won’t open at all this summer, the township’s Parks and Recreation Department said this week. The pool, which the department hoped would open for part of the season, has been closed since last summer to make way for work on the nearby Ardmore Avenue Community Center and area park, which are expected to open early next year.
    • Lower Merion commissioners recently approved an expansion of the Indego bike share program, which will bring three docking stations to Bala Cynwyd. It will be the first expansion of the program outside of Philadelphia.
    • Bala Cynwyd native Rob Evors is currently starring in new Freeform and Hulu unscripted show House of Stassi, where his Eagles fandom has become an unexpected storyline. The Inquirer’s Maggie Prosser explains why.
    • Gladwyne-based Waverly Senior Services is looking to build an independent living community on the historic Glencoe estate property in Radnor Township, which is currently owned by the Haverford School.

    🍽️ On our Plate

    • Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy was in town last week and paid a visit to beloved Bryn Mawr joint Johnny’s Pizza for his “One Bite Pizza Reviews,” giving it an 8.3 on the spot (the official video has yet to be released). Inquirer food critic Craig LaBan noted the Lancaster Avenue eatery is a rare double threat, thanks to its excellent pies and cheesesteaks.

    🎳 Things to Do

    😂 Andrew’s Big Show: This drop-in event will feature juggling and comedy. ⏰ Friday, Aug. 14, 11 a.m.-noon 💵 Free 📍 Ludington Library

    🥽 Pool Party Family Shabbat: Cool down at the pool, where there will also be music, games, and crafts. ⏰ Friday, Aug. 14, 5-8 p.m. 💵 $15 📍 Kaiserman JCC

    🎭 Trial by Jury: The Savoy Company will perform the Gilbert and Sullivan comedic, one-act opera, along with some of the duo’s other works. ⏰ Saturday, Aug. 15, 6-7:30 p.m. 💵 $17-$42 📍 Stoneleigh

    🍿 9 to 5: Catch a screening of the 1980 film starring Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda, and Lily Tomlin. ⏰ Monday, Aug. 17, 7:15 p.m. 💵 $11.75-$16.25 📍 Bryn Mawr Film Institute

    🎵 Music in the Park: Bluegrass-forward Mark Schultz and the Wayne Rangers will take the stage. ⏰ Wednesday, Aug. 19, 7 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Narberth Park gazebo

    🏡 On the Market

    A chic, reimagined Ardmore home

    The interior of the home has been reimagined, while maintaining some of its original elements.Courtesy of Robin Halpern/Compass RE

    This four-bedroom Ardmore home is 20th-century on the outside and 21st-century on the inside. Built in 1910, the stone estate has been overhauled to give it a modern interior while paying homage to its roots. Among its features is a chef’s kitchen, a wine room, a sun room, and a living room with its original carved wood mantel. It also has a primary suite with dual walk-in closets, a soaking tub, a steam shower, and a fireplace. Outside, there’s a patio with a fireplace, plus a detached two-car garage. There are open houses tomorrow from 2 to 4 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 2 p.m.

    See more photos of the home here.

    Price: $3.195M | Size: 5,626 SF | Acreage: 0.45

    🗞️ 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.

  • K-1 center puts residents, school district at odds | Inquirer Greater Media

    K-1 center puts residents, school district at odds | Inquirer Greater Media

    Hi, Greater Media! 👋

    Rose Tree Media School District’s proposed early education center is getting pushback from some residents. Here’s why. Also this week, the developer seeking to reverse a Middletown Township decision preventing it from building a warehouse at the former Franklin Mint site has withdrawn its appeal, plus, Swiss Farms is looking to expand in the region.

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

    Rose Tree Media faces residents’ ire over proposed K-1 center

    A rendering of the Rose Tree Media School District’s proposed K-1 center, which the district hopes to build behind Penncrest High School.ICS with Schradergroup

    Middletown Township residents continue to push back against a Rose Tree Media School District proposal to build a center dedicated to kindergarten and first grade students.

    At a planning commission meeting on Tuesday, residents held signs and wore buttons decrying the early education center that, if approved, would be built on open land behind Penncrest High School. Some neighbors who oppose the plan say it will worsen traffic and burden taxpayers.

    The district contends that it would alleviate overcrowding, which is expected to get worse as enrollment swells, and allow it to offer full-day kindergarten.

    The commission postponed its vote on making a recommendation to council and is expected to take the issue up again in the fall.

    The Inquirer’s Denali Sagner explores the disconnect and why residents are opposed to the center’s proposed location.

    💡 Community News

    • A year after Middletown Township’s council voted to deny Outrigger Industrial’s proposed 330,000-square-foot warehouse at the old Franklin Mint site, the company this week formally withdrew its appeal challenging the decision. It brings an end to a saga that drew considerable community pushback to keep the site from being developed into a warehouse.
    • The state has approved a $10 million fund known as the Freeze Disaster Assistance Recovery Grant to help farmers impacted by the unexpected spring cold snap that devastated certain fruit crops, including peaches and apples at Linvilla Orchards.
    • Delaware County council has appointed the first members of its human relations commission, which it voted to establish last year. The 12-person commission will adjudicate claims of discrimination in cases like housing, employment, healthcare, education, and public housing.
    • Delaware County residents and real estate leaders are at odds over the forthcoming $120 million open space bond referendum that will be on November’s ballot, according to the Philadelphia Business Journal. Some residents are in favor of enhancing green space in the county, while others worry about the cost to taxpayers. Some in the real estate industry say it could hinder housing development in an area already short on inventory.
    • Arasapha Farms owner Randy Bates died recently at the age of 68 after battling cancer, reports CBS News Philadelphia. The Glen Mills farm is home to beloved Halloween experience the Bates Motel, as well as a Christmas tree farm.
    • Elwyn Road will be closed tomorrow through Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. between Route 352 and Baltimore Pike for base repairs.

    🏫 Schools Briefing

    • Springton Lake Middle School in the Rose Tree Media School District has a new assistant principal as of this week. Christine Fleming was confirmed by the board to succeed Melissa McGuire. She has spent three decades in education, including most recently as coordinator of gifted education in the Lower Merion School District, according to her LinkedIn profile.

    🍽️ On our Plate

    • Fast-casual stir-fry chain Honeygrow is opening its newest location at the Promenade at Granite Run tomorrow. It’s located in the same area where wellness concepts HiLo House and Sweathouz, and food hall Wonder opened in the last year.
    • Could more Swiss Farms locations be on the way? New owner Arsh Pola is hoping to expand the local brand — which has locations in Swarthmore and Springfield — including eventually adding gas.

    🎳 Things to Do

    🎶 Rose Tree Summer Concert Festival: The final shows for the season include performances by the U.S. Army Field band and Soldiers’ Chorus tonight, California country rock group Cimarron 615 and fellow country artist Craig Bickhardt tomorrow, nine-piece outfit The Discoteks on Saturday, and Sensational Soul Cruisers on Sunday. ⏰ Thursday, Aug. 13-Sunday, Aug. 16, 7:30 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Rose Tree Park, Media

    👚 Mean Girls: See the cult classic performed live. ⏰ Friday, Aug. 14-Sunday, Aug. 23, days and times vary 💵 $21-$27 📍 The Media Theatre

    😂 Huge Soup: Improv performers will take the stage. ⏰ Friday, Aug. 14, 8 p.m. 💵 $13.50 📍 Players Club of Swarthmore

    🎨 Couples Craft Night: Couples can create a piece of art that represents their relationship. ⏰ Wednesday, Aug. 19, 7-8:30 p.m. 💵 Pay what you wish 📍 Nimble Craft, Media

    🗞️ 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.

  • Residents raise concerns over disbanding police | Inquirer Chester County

    Hi, Chester County! 👋

    As Oxford weighs the future of its police force, some residents are concerned about what those changes could mean for the borough. Also this week, a new timeline on the Boot Road bridge project is expected to have ripple effects in Downingtown, QVC has named an interim head, plus, here’s where to catch tonight’s meteor shower.

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

    Oxford residents are concerned about potentially losing their homegrown police force

    Residents protest against the disbanding of Oxford borough’s police department. Photo courtesy of Danny Graham

    Residents in Oxford are concerned about the future of emergency response times and municipal protections in the 5,800-person borough if council moves ahead with disbanding its police department in favor of joining a regional agency.

    That’s a decision council will make at an Aug. 17 meeting as it grapples with rising costs to maintain a century-old police force.

    For some residents, the decision feels personal. “This is a small town. These guys, all 11 of them, mean something to us. We buy them coffee. We buy them donuts. They are part of our extended family. This matters to us, and how they’re being treated matters to us,” one said.

    The Inquirer’s Brooke Schultz looks at what a regional change could mean and how the borough got to this point.

    📍 Countywide News

    • Traffic signal and safety improvements are expected in six Chester County municipalities thanks to recently awarded state funds. The largest is a nearly $640,000 grant for Tredyffrin Township to make improvements along Lancaster Avenue.
    • The region will see two celestial events — a partial solar eclipse today and the Perseid’s meteor shower, which will peak tonight — and there are several great viewing spots nearby, including Valley Forge National Historical Park and French Creek State Park. Here’s what to know.
    • Expect roadwork, including on Route 30, to cause delays, detours, and some closures throughout the county this week.

    💡 Community News

    • A 9-year-old girl who was injured in an East Goshen home shooting last week, which left one woman dead, is recovering, according to the DA’s office.
    • Downingtown Mayor Erica Deuso is calling on Gov. Josh Shapiro and other state leaders to approach the delayed Boot Road bridge replacement over Amtrak with greater urgency. The East Caln Township project is now projected to continue into next year, further snarling local traffic, emergency routes, and even some other nearby projects.
    • West Chester-based home shopping giant QVC Group has named Mike George as its interim CEO after parting ways with David Rawlinson. George previously served as president and CEO of the company.
    • Honey Brook Township has named Nancy Freenock its next township manager and secretary. An attorney by trade, Freenock previously served as the city manager for Warren and borough manager for Clarion, both in Western Pennsylvania.
    • East Vincent Township is hosting a special planning commission meeting tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. at the municipal complex and on Zoom to consider AQ Dev, LLC’s conditional use application to build 53 single-family homes at 446 Stony Run Rd.
    • West Vincent Township’s board of supervisors is slated to consider Toll Brother’s proposal to build 46 homes near South Chester Springs and Conestoga Roads at its meeting on Monday.
    • The third season of Tires, which was created by comedian Shane Gillis and is set and was partly filmed in West Chester, drops on Netflix tomorrow.
    • Spooky season may still be a couple of months away, but Spirit Halloween has already opened at a former Rite Aid on Paoli Pike in West Chester. It’ll be joined this month by one at the former Tuesday Morning space in Downingtown.
    • A new coworking space, iThrive Coworking, recently opened at 10 Leopard Rd. in Paoli.

    🍽️ On our Plate

    🎳 Things to Do

    🎙️ Sound of Summer Free Concert Series: The final show of the season features a performance by Kennett Square’s own rock band The Holy Smokers. ⏰ Wednesday, Aug. 12, 6:30-8:30 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Anson B. Nixon Park, Kennett Square

    🎸 80’s Revolution: The band will transport attendees back a few decades, playing some of the most iconic tunes from the 1980s (leg warmers optional). ⏰ Friday, Aug. 14, 7:30 p.m. 💵 $23-$28 📍 Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center

    🖼️ Look Around Music and Arts Festival: Hear live music, browse works of art, see skating demonstrations, and grab a bite to eat at this festival. ⏰ Saturday, Aug. 15, noon 💵 $25 in advance, $30 at the door 📍 The Elks Lodge, West Chester

    🎶 Eagleview Summer Concert Series: Old 97’s frontman Rhett Miller headlines the next show. Local trio The MAKs will also perform. ⏰ Tuesday, Aug. 18, 7-9 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Eagleview Town Center, Exton

    🏡 On the Market

    A Kennett Square estate with a guest house and pool

    The property includes a sprawling residence, a guest house, and a pool.Next Door Photos | Courtesy of Pat McGowan/The Collective.Real Estate

    This Kennett Square property features not one but two homes, both situated on a large lot. The main six-bedroom home is a renovated and expanded mid-19th-century barn, complete with old beams, a stone fireplace, and an expansive walk-out lower level with a kitchenette. The second home, a restored 1800s farmhouse with two bedrooms, spans nearly 1,500 square feet and has its own driveway. Both overlook a pool and hot tub.

    See more photos of the property here.

    Price: $2.25M | Size: 7,402 SF | Acreage: 2.56

    🗞️ What other Chester County 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.

  • MLS’ next head got his soccer start here | Inquirer Cherry Hill

    MLS’ next head got his soccer start here | Inquirer Cherry Hill

    Hello, Cherry Hill! 👋

    Major League Soccer’s next commissioner got his start in the sport right here in the township, where he was raised. Also this week, a judge has tossed the district’s lawsuit against a local journalist, a pair of friends with township ties are cutting lawns for free, plus, beloved eatery The Pub is for sale.

    P.S. This will be my last week writing the Cherry Hill newsletter as I pass the baton to my colleague, Laura Smythe. It’s been a pleasure bringing you township news week in and week out for the past year-and-a-half — thanks for making space in your inbox and sharing your feedback with me! Please continue to tell us your ideas and look for me to pop up here every now and again in the future.

    — Lisa Dukart (cherryhill@inquirer.com)

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

    Meet the township native who’ll soon lead Major League Soccer

    Cherry Hill native Larry Berg (right) has been named the next commissioner of Major League Soccer. Major League Soccer

    Major League Soccer has appointed Cherry Hill native Larry Berg its next commissioner, a role he’ll begin come January.

    Unlike his predecessors — he’ll be just the third individual to hold the job — Berg has a major soccer background that he’ll lean on to stoke its next era.

    His passion for the game began thanks in part to a poster for a youth soccer league his dad saw taped to a local telephone pole. Knowing nothing about the sport, Berg’s dad signed him up, and the rest is history.

    Read more about the township native and how he plans to capitalize on the recent World Cup buzz to bolster the MLS.

    💡 Community News

    • A judge has tossed a case against local freelance journalist and former East student Benjamin Shore, who the school district claimed was filing too many public records requests that amounted to harassment.
    • A Cherry Hill lawyer has teamed up with his longtime friend, a former Cherry Hill student who’s now a teacher in Camden, to cut lawns for free throughout Camden in an effort to give back. The Inquirer’s Melanie Burney explains how they got started and why.
    • Township resident, longtime teacher, former two-time chapter president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., and community advocate Betty J. Wilson died recently at the age of 92. Her family remembered her as dynamic, outgoing, and a born leader.
    • A new indoor golf simulator concept is setting up shop in Cherry Hill. Back Nine will be located at 1409 Route 70, though a timeline for opening hasn’t been announced yet.
    • Roadwork continues on Cooper Landing, Haddonfield-Berlin, Kresson, Old Orchard, and Springfield Roads, as well as Chapel Avenue this week. Here’s what to know. There will also be roadwork on Greentree Road through tomorrow.
    • Camden County was scheduled to conduct mosquito spraying throughout Cherry Hill this morning.
    • The fire department is hosting a child safety seat event Friday from 9 a.m. to noon at the Deer Park Station.
    • Philadelphia Magazine recently profiled a couple who turned their Cherry Hill home into a colorful retreat amid the woods. Check it out here. (Want to have your home featured in The Inquirer? Nominate it as a “Haven” by sending some details and photos to properties@inquirer.com).

    🍽️ On our Plate

    • Landmark eatery The Pub in neighboring Pennsauken is for sale after its longtime owners, the Gelman family, who’ve helmed it for the past 26 years, said “it’s time for a new steward.” The Inquirer’s Michael Klein has the details.
    • Drive-through-only chain 7 Brew Coffee is looking to expand into Cherry Hill and is proposing one of its popular concepts at 800 Route 38. The former Delcrest Medical Services building would be demolished to make way for the 510-square-foot shop and its two-lane drive-through, plus a bypass lane. The township’s planning commission will consider the application at Tuesday’s 7:30 p.m. meeting.
    • Sweet Cherry, an ice cream joint that also serves food and Mexican snacks, has opened at 2442 Route 38, taking over the former Sushi House space. It serves burgers, hot dogs, and Mexican street food, in addition to scoops of ice cream, water ice, and shakes. (South Jersey Food Scene)

    🎳 Things to Do

    🎶 Twilight Concert Series: Be transported to the islands when Polynesian luau band Paradise Island takes the stage. ⏰ Thursday, Aug. 13, 8 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Cooper River Park Jack Curtis Stadium

    👻 Monster-Mania Con: Meet celebrities from popular horror films, browse merchandise, and catch some spooky screenings at this three-day event. ⏰ Friday, Aug. 14-Saturday, Aug. 16, times vary 💵 $41.74-$72.49 📍 DoubleTree by Hilton Cherry Hill Philadelphia

    📽️ Oscar Movie Marathon: Catch screenings of Oscar-winning and -nominated films throughout the week. The lineup, Monday through Friday, is: One Battle After Another, F1, Hamnet, Sentimental Value, and Sinners. ⏰ Monday, Aug. 17-Friday, Aug. 21, times vary 💵 Free 📍 Cherry Hill Public Library

    🗓️ Looking for more things to do? Check out our guide to ongoing South Jersey events.

    🏡 On the Market

    A four-bedroom home with a cozy family room

    The family room has lots of windows that look out on the backyard.Derrick Kunzer | Courtesy of Amy Rossano/ Epique Realty

    This four-bedroom split-level home in the Old Orchard section of Cherry Hill has undergone a number of updates, including a renovated eat-in kitchen with white cabinetry and stainless steel appliances. Some of its features include a dining room, a family room with a brick fireplace, and a fenced backyard with a patio. There’s an open house Saturday from noon to 2 p.m.

    See more photos of the home here.

    Price: $559,000 | Size: 2,314 SF | Acreage: 0.2

    🗞️ What other Cherry Hill 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.

  • Woman’s shooting death in Chester County now believed to be suicide

    Woman’s shooting death in Chester County now believed to be suicide

    Chester County authorities believe that the shooting death of a woman in East Goshen Township on Friday was a suicide and that a 9-year-old girl also was wounded by gunfire.

    “The child who was shot continues to recover from her injuries. As we announced on Friday, this was an isolated incident and there was no threat to the general public,” the Chester County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement Monday.

    Police were dispatched just before 11 a.m. to the Summit House condominium complex on West Chester Pike for a reported shooting. Inside the unit, the officers found the woman, described only as in her 40s, dead from a single gunshot wound.

    The girl was treated at the scene by paramedics and was alert and able to speak, said Chief David Leahy of the Westtown-East Goshen Police Department.

    Police found a gun not far from the woman’s body.

    An earlier version of this article incorrectly reported that the Chester County District Attorney’s Office said the girl was struck by the same bullet that killed the woman.

  • How could Cheltenham look in 2040? The township calls for more businesses, community spaces, and may adopt a lesson from Ardmore

    How could Cheltenham look in 2040? The township calls for more businesses, community spaces, and may adopt a lesson from Ardmore

    Cheltenham Township’s latest long-range plan, approved last month, provides a glimpse of how the township of 38,000 could look by 2040.

    The Montgomery County Planning Commission, alongside officials and volunteers from the township — one of Philadelphia’s oldest suburbs — spent several years on the plan, said Carl Freedman, a Cheltenham planning volunteer.

    “Communities like Cheltenham have a difficult time, being so developed, that being given an opportunity to direct where new development goes is helpful,” Freedman said.

    The comprehensive plan, which exceeds 200 pages, lays out challenges and recommendations, ranging from streetlights to denser housing, for the township’s homes, businesses, transportation networks, community services, and historical assets over the next 10 to 15 years.

    More business, more tax money

    Many of Cheltenham’s residents still commute to Philadelphia, but more people are working from home after the pandemic, creating opportunities to welcome new restaurants and other businesses, planners wrote.

    Which is sorely needed, because Cheltenham wants more tax money without a ton of new residents.

    One of the challenges for the township, which has very little undeveloped land remaining, is its large proportion of institutional properties — universities, churches, and other nonprofit entities — that do not pay property tax, planners wrote: “Institutions such as non-profits or higher education have taken over many of the large estates in the township. This supports the preservation of these historic and beautiful places but at the same time has real impacts on the tax revenue of the township.”

    Plans to attract business include reviewing rules for home-based enterprises, identifying opportunities to convert some of the parking spaces at large shopping centers into sites for new shops, and piloting a program to bring more food trucks to major commercial streets.

    More main streets, more trees, slower traffic

    The comprehensive plan identifies several neighborhood hubs with potential for more development that Cheltenham could encourage by slowing traffic with road narrowing and other measures, and adding decor to draw foot traffic into town centers.

    Glenside and Elkins Park East top the list for main street revitalization, according to the plan. Wider sidewalks on Glenside Avenue and decorative lighting on Wesley and East Glenside Avenues could be part of the solution, planners wrote.

    Public art and infrastructure marking the entrances to the downtowns could also help to give these neighborhoods a sense of place.

    Tree cover is also key, the planners wrote — both preserving existing foliage and planting new trees in hotter, exposed areas, like the parking lot at the Elkins Park Square mall.

    Denser housing, more pedestrians

    Cheltenham has plenty of multifamily apartments compared with other Montgomery County towns, making up about a third of residences.

    But putting additional dense housing in the right locations could liven up Cheltenham’s downtowns without adding too much traffic, planners wrote, by encouraging public transit use.

    Putting more apartments above existing storefronts would create taller buildings that balance out some of the township’s wider streets, encouraging pedestrian traffic and patronage of local businesses, the comprehensive plan notes.

    Planners pointed to a similar approach Ardmore took in the 1990s as a model: “Through the Downtown Ardmore District’s work and an increase in multifamily residences in the vicinity of the business district, the neighborhood has experienced increased redevelopment and economic vitality without sacrificing its historic character.”

    Cheltenham could build more attractive bus shelters and benches to further encourage mass transit, and add bike parking at SEPTA Regional Rail stations.

    The township is also considering encouraging more accessory dwelling units, allowing residents to add in-law suites and other small homes to their existing property.

    Tookany Creek in Elkins Park, PA pictured on Monday, April 11, 2022.

    Fresh community spaces

    Cheltenham’s municipal buildings are old: In 2022, the average age of township facilities was 117.

    The township’s administrative building is located in the former home of the Breyer’s ice cream family, Freedman said — and it was built during World War I.

    Cheltenham closed two of its libraries several years ago after boilers failed in both buildings, but plans to renovate only one, La Mott Free Library. The document does not mention plans to rehab the second, East Cheltenham Library.

    The township also plans to continue connecting trails along Tookany Creek and making those trails bike-friendly, and to consider preserving more historic buildings, such as Glenside National Bank.

    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.

  • A Bala Cynwyd native is bringing Philly pride to a ‘Vanderpump Rules’ star’s new spin-off

    A Bala Cynwyd native is bringing Philly pride to a ‘Vanderpump Rules’ star’s new spin-off

    Would you go months without talking to your bestie if they didn’t congratulate you on an Eagles win?

    Well, die-hard fan Rob Evors did. And the fallout was captured by camera crews.

    The Bala Cynwyd native stars in House of Stassi, a new Freeform and Hulu unscripted show that follows former Bravolebrity and Vanderpump Rules “It girl” Stassi Schroeder as she attempts to come back from cancellation and cement herself as the next Kris Jenner. There’s relationship and friendship drama, explosive fights and humble reconciliations, and elaborate parties — all the trappings of binge-worthy reality TV.

    Rob Evors is captured Tuesday, July 28, 2026 , at a cocktail party celebrating Freeform and Hulu’s “House of Stassi” in New York City.Courtesy of Disney/Arthur Gareev

    But a through line of the inaugural eight episodes is an ongoing rift between Evors and Schroeder’s husband, Beau Clark, sparked by a perceived slight against the Philadelphia Eagles.

    An exasperated Clark explained in episode two: “I haven’t talked to [Evors] in nine months because during football season, I didn’t congratulate him on his team’s wins on a couple group chats.”

    Schroeder declared, “This is not about f-ing football, and I won’t let either of them convince the world that it is.”

    What was left out, however, is that Clark, a Rams fan, actually failed to congratulate Evors — who “bleeds green” and has Boathouse Row and the Eagles logo tattooed on his arm — on the 2025 Super Bowl win.

    “It wasn’t like it was Week Six and I was like ‘you’re not texting me about my football team’ — it was winning the Super Bowl,” Evors said in a phone interview.

    “I might as well have given birth to a child and you didn’t reach out.”

    Three Philly-area contestants have entered ‘Love Island USA’ with hopes of finding love and winning $100,000

    So, yeah, the snub went deeper than pigskin: Evors and Clark’s decades-long friendship has ebbed and flowed, and Evors ultimately just wanted Clark to take an interest in his life, he said. (Spoiler: The men hashed out their evolving dynamics on camera, and Evors said the duo are cordial — even after a tumultuous season finale.)

    Evors, 50, moved to Bala Cynwyd as a toddler and grew up a “stone’s throw” from City Avenue, he said. He graduated from Episcopal Academy and left the Philadelphia region for Syracuse University, eventually landing in Los Angeles to pursue acting full-time. He now lives in Austin, Texas.

    His career, however, started on the Main Line doing community theater and training at the Actors Center in Old City. Evors remembers stopping at Roy Rogers on weekly drives to New York City and eventually taking the Peter Pan Bus alone to the Big Apple for auditions; he landed a Dorney Park commercial that “paid for college.”

    Rob Evors pictured in his Philly gear.Courtesy of Rob Evors

    Reality TV is a new world for Evors, who has since racked up acting credits in scripted shows like Criminal Minds, All American, and FBI: International and the 2012 movie Project X, according to IMDb. He also won a game on Wheel of Fortune.

    House of Stassi has been among Hulu’s top-charting series since its debut. And it has been a long time coming for the show’s namesake, who was fired from Bravo’s Vanderpump Rules in 2020 for racist actions against her costar. Across eight seasons on Vanderpump — which initially chronicled the 20-something staff at the West Hollywood restaurant SUR — Schroeder became infamous for her candor, wit, “dark passenger” alter ego, and at times villainous persona. (Bucks County’s own Alex Cooper also made a cameo appearance on House of Stassi.)

    “This is real life,” Evors said of the show. “The things that pop up on that show are still real-life issues in our lives every day.

    “I call it ‘chaotic therapy.’”

  • Chester County police are investigating a shooting that left a woman dead, 9-year-old girl wounded

    Chester County police are investigating a shooting that left a woman dead, 9-year-old girl wounded

    A woman was killed and 9-year-old girl was wounded in a shooting at a home in East Goshen Friday morning, according to Chester County investigators.

    Officers from the Westtown-East Goshen Police Department were dispatched just before 11 a.m. to a unit at the Summit House condominium complex on West Chester Pike for reports of a shooting, Chief David Leahy said.

    Inside the unit, the officers found a woman in her 40s dead from a single gunshot wound, he said. Authorities did not release the woman’s identity. The girl, who was also shot, was treated at the scene by paramedics, and was alert, conscious and able to speak with investigators, he said.

    Investigators found a gun not far from the woman’s body that they believe was used in the shooting.

    There was no information available on a motive or a potential suspect in the case.

    District Attorney Chris de Barrena-Sarobe said there is no threat to the public, and declined to comment further, citing the active investigation.

    “We have just as many questions as you do, and we don’t want to put out any incorrect information,” de Barrena-Sarobe said.

    He said his heart goes out to the family of the victims.

  • Betty J. Wilson, celebrated South Jersey teacher, singer, and poet, has died at 92

    Betty J. Wilson, celebrated South Jersey teacher, singer, and poet, has died at 92

    Betty J. Wilson, 92, of Cherry Hill, celebrated longtime South Jersey teacher, singer, poet, mentor, community advocate, volunteer, and two-time chapter president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., died Thursday, July 16, of cancer at her home.

    Mrs. Wilson taught elementary school students in Bordentown, Bridgeton, and Mount Laurel from the early 1960s to the late 1990s, and served as two-time president of the Mount Laurel Teachers Association. She was named one of the country’s top teachers in 1972 by the old Outstanding Teachers of America Association and told the Courier-Post: “Children are our most valuable asset. If we don’t give them the proper training early, there’s not much chance for the future.”

    Her family called her “dynamic and outgoing” in a tribute, and her daughter, Saundra Umstead-Capers, said: “She was a born leader and had a commanding presence.”

    Mrs. Wilson championed discipline and parental participation in school and at home, and told the Courier-Post: “Most of our children are allowed to talk first and ask too many questions before complete directions are given. … If the child is used to directives, he won’t resent authority. And in life, we all have to take directions from someone else no matter who we are.”

    She represented Mount Laurel teachers during sometimes contentious contract negotiations with Board of Education officials and helped improve teacher benefits and job protection through the New Jersey Education Association.

    She joined Alpha Kappa Alpha in 1953 at what is now Virginia State University. Later, she cofounded local AKA chapters in Cherry Hill and Voorhees, served as two-time president of the Theta Pi Omega chapter in Cherry Hill, and was recognized by national AKA officials for her contributions.

    Friends called Mrs. Wilson “a phenomenal woman” and “a beautiful, smart, professional woman” in online tributes.Courtesy of the family

    The theme of her sorority presidency was service, scholarship, and Black American heritage, and she helped establish social service, public speaking, and scholarship programs. “Her presence,” sorority colleagues said in an online tribute, “will be profoundly missed.”

    As a singer, Mrs. Wilson had a soaring soprano voice, and she took lessons in high school and college. She performed on a local TV station in Western Pennsylvania when she was young and sang with a traveling choir in college and for the school president.

    She also wrote poetry for years and acknowledged the one-year anniversary of the 1999 death of her husband, Wilbur Wilson, by writing in 2000: “Your legacy stays with us and shall always light the way/We thank God for your presence and your sharing every day.”

    She lobbied locally for the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act in the 1960s, and volunteered with the Rancocas Valley chapter of the Links and the South Jersey chapter of the Continental Societies. She served on the education committee at Evergreen Baptist Church in Palmyra and tutored the children of many church members.

    Why did best-selling author Carol Saline email The Inquirer’s obit writer?

    In online tributes, friends called her “a phenomenal woman” and “a beautiful, smart, professional woman.” One friend said: “She impacted so many lives, especially the students she taught.”

    Betty Jane Atkins was born April 6, 1934, in Library, Pa., about 12 miles south of Pittsburgh. The oldest of nine children, she was an honor student and the lead singer in every musical during her years at the old Snowden Township High School.

    She attended Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Library, earned scholarships to attend college, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education at Virginia State.

    Stylish and sophisticated, Mrs. Wilson was a popular figure on the college campus. She was selected by the football team to represent it on their homecoming float in 1953, and she served as the school’s Miss Valentine in February, Miss Apple Blossom in the spring, and Miss ROTC.

    Survivors give advice about mourning their loved ones, as told to The Inquirer’s obit writer

    She was also assistant class president and selected to accompany the daughter of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall during a visit to the campus.

    She met Chester Whittaker in college, and they married, and had a daughter, Saundra. They divorced later, and he died in 1998.

    She married Wilbur Wilson, and they lived in Cherry Hill for decades. She played piano and was an avid reader and an expert seamstress.

    When parents die, even the mundane memories comfort their children. Here are their tales, as told to The Inquirer’s obit writer.

    She was an engaging storyteller and, her daughter said, “a lot of fun.”

    “Sister Wilson embodied the ideals of an Alpha Kappa Alpha woman,” sorority colleagues said, “elegant, poised, and gracious.”

    In addition to her daughter, Mrs. Wilson is survived by a granddaughter, three sisters, a brother, and other relatives. Two sisters and two brothers died earlier.

    Visitation with the family is to be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, at Boyd Funeral Home, 1458 Mt. Ephraim Ave., Camden, N.J. 08104. Services are to be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, at Evergreen Baptist Church, 602 W. 3rd St., Palmyra, N.J. 08065.

    Donations in her name may be made to Evergreen Baptist Church, 602 W. 3rd St., Palmyra, N.J. 08065.

  • 6 new eateries to know about | Inquirer Lower Merion

    6 new eateries to know about | Inquirer Lower Merion

    Hi, Lower Merion! 👋

    Restaurants and eateries continue to proliferate in the region, including two new dessert cafes, a bagel shop, a Jamaican patty joint, a rooftop bar, and a forthcoming Southern Italian spot that’s taking over a longtime staple. Also this week, the township is weighing the future of its aging parking meters, plus the latest on the district’s technology policy.

    We want your feedback! Tell us what you think of the newsletter by taking our survey or emailing us at lowermerion@inquirer.com.

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

    A pair of dessert cafes have opened in Ardmore

    Half A While serves teas and pastries, including a matcha silk crepe. Aidan T. Gallo / Staff Photographer

    Two new dessert cafes, Half A While and Mango Mango, have opened in Ardmore.

    Half A While, which took over the former Kung Fu Tea space and is currently in a soft opening phase, specializes in cold-brewed teas as well as pastries and cakes with Asian influences.

    It’s joined by Asian-inspired dessert chain Mango Mango, which dishes up desserts and teas that lean heavily on the tropical stone fruit.

    Here’s what to know about the new additions.

    Bala Cynwyd’s Aldar Bistro says farewell

    Aldar Bistro is located at 281 Montgomery Ave. in Bala Cynwyd.Michael Klein / Staff

    Longtime Bala Cynwyd staple Aldar Bistro is closing its doors, with the owners selling to the two couples behind Gran Caffè L’Aquila in Center City.

    They plan to convert the Lebanese restaurant into a Southern Italian-focused concept, complete with white tablecloths. Bruzi will dish up house-made pastas and a robust beverage program.

    The Inquirer’s Michael Klein has the details.

    🍽️ In other food news …

    • Bart’s Bagels is now open at 273 Montgomery Ave. in Bala Cynwyd. This marks the third location for the New York-style bagel shop founded by brothers and Bala Cynwyd natives Brett and Kyle Frankel.
    • The Jamaican Pattie Shop is now open at 107 E. County Line Rd. The Ardmore eatery is currently in a soft opening phase.
    • Pomelo Rooftop Terrace is opening this weekend at The Brandywine hotel in Radnor, where it will serve shareable plates, a raw bar, and botanical-focused cocktails.

    💡 Community News

    🏫 Schools Briefing

    • The school board’s policy committee voted to advance updated technology rules earlier this week after shutting down public comment and moving to Zoom for the vote. The new guidelines, which scale back screen time for the youngest students, will go before the full board later this month, The Inquirer’s Maddie Hanna reports.

    🎳 Things to Do

    🎶 Bryn Mawr Twilight Concerts: Steve Forbert, an early pioneer of Americana music, headlines this week’s show. ⏰ Saturday, Aug. 8, 7 p.m. 💵 $25.88, free for kids 12 and under 📍 Bryn Mawr Gazebo

    🚴 Ardmore Rock n’ Ride: Watch the race and catch live music at this annual event benefiting Narberth Ambulance. ⏰ Sunday, Aug. 9, races run from 10:15 a.m.-5 p.m., live music is from noon-7 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Downtown Ardmore

    🎞️ The Princess Bride: Catch a screening of the 1987 cult classic. ⏰ Wednesday, Aug. 12, 7:15 p.m. 💵 $17.75 📍 Bryn Mawr Film Institute

    🏡 On the Market

    A Wynnewood Colonial with curb appeal

    The home sits on a corner lot in Wynnewood.Courtesy of Brett Furman/Real Broker LLC

    Situated on a corner lot near South Ardmore Park, this brick Wynnewood home packs a lot into a small space. The first floor has a living room with a fireplace, a dining room with a bay window, and a kitchen, while all three bedrooms are upstairs. One opens onto a covered second-floor deck, and there’s another covered patio out back. There’s an open house Saturday from noon to 2 p.m.

    See more photos of the home here.

    Price: $675,000 | Size: 1,408 SF | Acreage: 0.17

    🗞️ 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.