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  • A Main Line man who brought guns to a ‘No Kings’ protest was sentenced to more than 3 years in prison for having bombs at his house

    A Main Line man who brought guns to a ‘No Kings’ protest was sentenced to more than 3 years in prison for having bombs at his house

    A Malvern man was sentenced Tuesday to more than three years in prison for having a collection of homemade bombs at his house — a discovery police made after he was arrested for bringing guns to a “No Kings” protest in West Chester last year.

    Kevin Krebs, 32, apologized for his actions, saying he had let his family down and adding: “I really screwed up, and I regret everything that I did.”

    His family said in court that Krebs — who was adopted from a Lithuanian orphanage as a toddler — had suffered from lifelong developmental disabilities, including autism. And they believed his interest in bombs and firearms was part of an obsessive nature that he also displayed in other, non-threatening technical areas, such as electrical work, which he performed professionally.

    Krebs told U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Costello that he had built the bombs only to blow up pumpkins in the Poconos, calling his pursuit “purely recreational.”

    Costello said she was not sure that was true. And in any case, she said, his possession and interest in building such devices was a threat to himself and others.

    “Just having these bombs in your home posed a grave danger to other people,” Costello said.

    In addition to imposing a 37-month prison sentence, Costello ordered Krebs to serve three years of supervised release. He had pleaded guilty in December to a charge of possessing unregistered devices.

    A firearms case remains pending in Chester County, with a trial scheduled to begin next week, according to court records.

    The events that led to Krebs’ arrest began last June, when attendees at a “No Kings” protest in West Chester told officers they thought Krebs had been carrying a gun.

    Police who stopped Krebs found him carrying a loaded handgun, extra rounds of ammunition, and other weapons including a knife and bayonet, prosecutors said. He also had an AR-15 rifle in his car.

    He did not have a concealed carry permit, and Chester County prosecutors charged him with illegal gun possession.

    Two days later, police searched his home on Conestoga Road and found 13 homemade pipe bombs, prosecutors said, some of which contained nails or screws, which can make the devices more violent when they detonate. Investigators also found components used to make detonators and tactical vests, which prosecutors said demonstrated that he was not simply experimenting with explosives — he was building an “arsenal” of dangerous weapons.

    County prosecutors charged Krebs with new crimes including possessing weapons of mass destruction and causing a catastrophe, and federal prosecutors went on to adopt the portions of the case that related to explosives.

    Krebs’ case attracted attention in part due to its connection to the No Kings demonstration, one in a series of recurring events at which protesters across the country rally against President Donald Trump. But prosecutors said Krebs’ beliefs and potential motives were not particularly clear.

    Krebs was a registered Democrat but had previously been registered as a Republican and said online that he had voted for Trump. Writing online, Krebs later said he came to regret that vote, and before the No Kings event, he had been posting violent rhetoric about Trump and police.

    Krebs said in court Tuesday that he attended the protest “in support of the rally” but did not elaborate.

    Krebs’ parents told Costello, the judge, that they harbored deep remorse and shame for failing to recognize their son’s drift toward dangerous habits.

    But Costello said they had done everything they could to provide their son a better life — welcoming him into a safe home, providing him structure and support, and seeking to connect him with therapy and medications throughout his life.

    “This is not your fault,” Costello said. “This was Mr. Krebs’ doing, and he’s going to have to face the consequences of that.”

  • Who’s rebuilding Jenkintown’s only playground? Maybe you are.

    Who’s rebuilding Jenkintown’s only playground? Maybe you are.

    Jenkintown residents are building a playground this month.

    Or at least, part of a playground.

    “They’re not professional contractors,” said Darrell Campana of Eustace Engineering, which is handling land work, like regrading and water drainage. The playground company Kompan is installing the play equipment.

    But local volunteers do plan to construct parts of the replacement for Jenkintown’s only playground on the last weekend in July after Eustace demolished the beloved Jenkintown Castle there in April.

    The finished playground, dubbed Legacy Park, will include slides, swings, a toddler section, and an imaginative play area with a stage donated by Jenkintown Music Theatre, said Kelly Hudson, who spearheaded the roughly $1.3 million project as a volunteer on the newly formed playground board.

    Residents have led planning and fundraising for the project as Jenkintown tries to balance its proud DIY ethos with the present-day constraints of construction, insurance, and liability.

    Beloved Jenkintown Castle demolished

    Playground renovation plans began after a 2024 inspection revealed several parts of the play area, which is next to Jenkintown Elementary, were unsafe.

    The castle play area was built in 2002 and lovingly maintained by residents — which may be why the structure, expected to last about 12 years, lasted more than two decades said Nina Russakoff, a Jenkintown school board member who’s helping to coordinate the new project.

    In a 2024 update on the damaged castle ahead of the renovation, school officials had to remind residents to stop fixing it themselves: “We know your intentions are good, but we need to … [follow] the recommendations of the engineer.”

    Residents held a farewell picnic and fundraiser at the castle in March before it was destroyed.

    The school’s nonprofit arm, the Jenkintown Education Foundation, and other community groups have raised about $1.5 million for the project known as Legacy Park, Hudson said. If the playground doesn’t go over budget, the remaining funds will be used to make further improvements to the park.

    There are many older, community-built parks like Jenkintown’s in the Philadelphia area, said Scott Lean of Kompan, the company providing the play equipment, but that model has become less viable in recent years.

    “The liability standpoint from doing a community build just seems a little risky in this day and age,” he said.

    Residents help rebuild Jenkintown playground

    Residents can still shape the playground’s future, though.

    Project leaders are recruiting volunteers for the community build weekend from July 30 to Aug. 2. The residents will be supervised by experienced crew leaders, with a meal and free childcare for people who volunteer a shift.

    Residents will be working on drumming stations, a sign language fence, and log seating carved from trees felled on the school grounds.

    An illustration of the DIY projects that Jenkintown residents will work on during the volunteer weekend planned this month for the town’s new parkLegacy Park Community Board

    In the meantime, land work will continue this month, although several retaining walls are already in place, Campana said.

    Volunteers may be playing a smaller role in playground construction this time around, but it was local residents who fundraised most of the park’s budget.

    Large donations came from fastener factory SPS Technologies and other local businesses, a state grant, and several families, with more than 1,600 individual donations.

    What will Jenkintown’s new playground look like?

    Volunteers also led the design of the new playground with guidance from students, teachers, and parents.

    The layout will be different from the old playground: All play areas will be visible to teachers calling children back from recess, Hudson said, and the equipment will be situated so that kids can play without distracting students inside during school hours.

    “Most screaming will move to the new location,” Russakoff said.

    Residents wanted to ensure the new play equipment is both accessible and durable, Hudson said: “Everything the kids touch in Jenkintown is 10 times over because it’s the only playground. It gets used heavily.”

    Slides, swings, mountaineering ropes, and a toddler area are set to be finished around the start of school, Lean said. The theater area will open later this fall.

    Legacy Park will be open to the public outside school hours, and the toddler area will stay open during school when students aren’t at recess.

    Jenkintown School District “has an outsized impact on the community around it,” the borough’s state representative, Napoleon Nelson, said in a statement on the project. “Its grounds are open to all, Jenkintown residents and non-residents alike.”

    Hudson said Jenkintonians want the playground “to be a community project that benefits the most people.”

    “We’re very prideful about our small little town.”

    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.

  • Narberth, Lower Merion residents and officials grapple with afternoon of vicious microburst storms

    Narberth, Lower Merion residents and officials grapple with afternoon of vicious microburst storms

    When a violent microburst storm slammed into Narberth on Saturday, it brought down a 120-year-old Sycamore tree onto a home in the historic Narbrook Park neighborhood.

    The fire department in the surrounding Lower Merion Township responded to 98 incidents over the weekend, making numerous water rescues.

    And residents are still grappling with the aftermath of a violent storm shaking their communities.

    Communities in Montgomery County, along with other spots in the Philadelphia region, suffered vast amounts of damage Saturday afternoon as microburst storms ripped through the area.

    A microburst is a highly-localized column of sinking air during a thunderstorm that can produce strong winds and extensive damage and, in some instances, can be life-threatening, according to the National Weather Service.

    Peco has continued to restore power to affected households, as of roughly 5:30 p.m. Monday, with 119 outages affecting a little more than 1,500 customers.

    Narberth Council Vice President Cyndi Rickards said the skies went from clear to stormy in just a matter of minutes Saturday before a microburst ripped through the Montgomery County community.

    Then, just as quickly as it arrived, came the downed trees, power lines, flooding, and power outages.

    It was something Rickards, a more than 20-year resident of the community, had never seen before.

    “It became apparent that nearly every street in Narberth had a tree down, a substantial tree on a car,” Rickards said. “I believe we had two that fell on or near houses. Many that narrowly missed houses.”

    One of those near misses happened at Hugh Parker’s residence while he was spending time with relatives down the Shore. Once he and his family heard about the 40-foot tree knocked down in their front yard — covering their driveway and the car of his wife, Grace, they rushed home.

    Their basement had also been flooded and the family’s newly reconnected power lines started a fire, which eventually went out on its own.

    Hugh and Grace Parker continue the cleanup in the basement of their Narberth home Monday, July 13, 2026, following the weekend’s storm. They weren’t home so don’t know why it flooded, as the house had not had any water enter since it was built in the 1990s. They also had a tree fall in front, crushing one of their cars.Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer

    Rickards described the local government’s response to the storm as “such a comprehensive disaster response for a small little borough,” adding that Jeff Eldon, the public works director, closed down any streets where he suspected downed wires or trees.

    Narberth Mayor Dana Edwards also declared a state of emergency, which has since been lifted, and has facilitated a spot at the borough hall where residents can cool off and charge their devices. He also indicated that the borough had “great support” from Peco.

    “It was really everything we could do just to keep everybody as comfortable as possible,” Edwards said.

    In the surrounding Lower Merion Township, commissioner Ray Courtney reported similar issues as Narberth’s, especially when it came to old trees that were toppled by the storm.

    A pickup truck is left crushed Monday, July 13, 2026, after the tree that fell on it had been cleared as the cleanup continued following the weekend’s microbursts that ripped through parts of the city and Montgomery County, downing trees and power lines and causing outages and road closures. This was along Wynnewood Avenue by the baseball fields in Narberth.Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer

    When the storm was over, the public works department closed the roads, some of which continued into Sunday morning, said Courtney, who represents parts of Ardmore and Wynnewood. As of Sunday night, crews had cleared 59 downed trees and there were 38 remaining.

    For local officials, the episode also underscored a need for further discussions regarding improving local infrastructure and resources for extreme weather events.

    Many communities, like Narberth and Ardmore, for instance, have historic infrastructure that cannot always handle aggressive storms.

    “I think this is the reality of storms now,” Courtney said. “They are hard, they are intense, and they dump a lot of precipitation in a short period of time, and all local governments, and our state and federal government, need to be thinking about improvements to our infrastructure, and the resiliency against this kind of weather event.”

    In the immediate aftermath of Saturday’s storm, residents — especially those whose property has been damaged — are hoping for incremental improvements.

    Utility workers restore power on Beacom Lane in Merion Station, Monday, July 13, 2026, as cleanup continues following the weekend’s microbursts that ripped through parts of the city and Montgomery County, downing trees and power lines and causing outages and road closures.Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer

    A neighbor’s tree fell on the roof of Robert Hilton’s home on Merion Avenue. Water started dripping into his second-floor bedroom and the carpet remained soaked.

    “I’ve lived here for 41 years, and I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Hilton.

    The fallen tree, Hilton says, had been a concern for more than 20 years. It was old, unhealthy, and situated at the top of a bank, making it prone to structural instability. The microburst was the final piece of the puzzle, and the uprooted trunk now lays tangled with power lines in the middle of the street.

    Hilton lost power during Saturday’s storm, but it was reconnected on Monday at 2:30 p.m. “It’s baby steps,” he said. “That’s all we can hope for.”

  • Richard D. Wood Jr., Wawa chair emeritus and ‘guiding heart and soul,’ has died at 88

    Richard D. Wood Jr., Wawa chair emeritus and ‘guiding heart and soul,’ has died at 88

    Richard D. Wood Jr., 88, of Wawa, Delaware County, chair emeritus and former chief executive officer and president of Wawa Inc., Convenience Store News Hall of Famer, lawyer, trustee, mentor, veteran, and philanthropist, died Friday, July 10, of age-associated decline at his home.

    Born in Philadelphia, Mr. Wood earned a law degree at what is now the University of Pennsylvania’s Carey Law School in 1964 and joined his family’s nascent Wawa food market company in 1970 as its first general counsel. His great-grandfather founded the Wawa dairy in 1902, and his father’s cousin opened the first Wawa food market in 1964.

    By 1977, Mr. Wood had ascended to president of the company, and its innovations, including 24-7 hours of operation and custom-made hoagies, made it the region’s dominant convenience store. He became CEO in 1980 and chair in 1982, and was named chair emeritus in 2020.

    In 2020, Inquirer business writer Joseph N. DiStefano said Mr. Wood “presided over the board during the period of Wawa’s rapid growth from a regional cokes-smokes-milk-and-hoagies chain to a convenience store and gas outlet with more than $12 billion in annual sales and 850 stores from New Jersey to Florida.”

    For more than 40 years, Mr. Wood supervised Wawa’s multistate expansion, addition of gas pumps, expanded inventory, rigorous employee training, and popular employee stock ownership plan. During his tenure, the company grew to more than 36,000 associates and was one of the largest privately held companies in the country.

    Through it all, Mr. Wood was affable and curious, friends and family said. He wanted to know everybody’s name and what they thought, and he enjoyed touring the stores and chatting up associates and customers, especially on Christmas Day. He told colleagues he wanted to “create an environment where each of us believes that we can make a difference.”

    “Dick Wood was our true lead goose who was the guiding heart and soul of the company,” Chris Gheysens, Wawa’s chairman and CEO, said in a tribute. “He is the reason why Wawa is the company we are today and why we enjoy so much share of heart from our customers and dedication from our associates.”

    Mr. Wood hired students and women to work in the stores, and offered flexible schedules to accommodate their availability. He oversaw Wawa’s $200 million of donations to community nonprofits and its college tuition reimbursement plan for associates.

    This photo of Mr. Wood and a story about Wawa appeared in the Daily News in 1994. Newspapers.com

    In 2021, to mark his 50th anniversary at the company, Wawa established the Dick Wood College Scholarship Fund for associates. He told Inc. magazine in 2018: “Values and culture mean more in this company than being smart.”

    Colleagues called him “humble, gracious, curious, and kind” and “a beloved treasure to the company” in tributes. His life-size bronze statue greets visitors at Wawa’s corporate headquarters.

    “He made people feel important,” said Barbara Ennis, his longtime assistant, ”because to him, they were.”

    Mr. Wood was onetime chair of the executive committee of the National Association of Convenience Stores and on boards at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Riddle Memorial Hospital, Philadelphia National Bank, Bok Tower Gardens in Florida, and other organizations. He appeared often in The Inquirer and Daily News, spoke on panels and at conferences about corporate leadership, and was inducted into the Convenience Store News Hall of Fame in 1996.

    Mr. Wood (left) worked closely with fellow CHOP trustee N. Scott Adzick.Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

    He served on the Chester Heights Borough Council in the early 1980s and was named 1996 businessman of the year by the Great Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce. Before Wawa, Mr. Wood was a public defender in Philadelphia and a lawyer at Montgomery McCracken.

    “People loved to follow him,” said his son, Richard D. Wood III. “He was larger than life,” said his daughter, Lisa Wright.

    As a philanthropist, Mr. Wood and his family donated $25 million to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in 2021, and CHOP named its Richard D. Wood Jr. Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment in his honor. His family also funded the Richard D. Wood Jr. and Jeanette A. Wood Endowed Chair in Pediatric Diagnostic Medicine, and he instituted a volunteer services program at CHOP.

    Sometimes, his family said, Mr. Wood walked the halls of the hospital, sharing Wawa coffee and conversation with patients and families. CHOP honored him at its 2019 Carousel Ball. Madeline Bell, CEO at CHOP, said: “I will truly miss his warmth, wisdom, and generous spirit.”

    Mr. Wood and his wife, Jeanette, married in 1964.Courtesy of the family

    Howard Stoeckel, former Wawa vice chair, CEO, and president, said in a tribute: “He had a special mix of heart, compassion, empathy, and humility that made him a true believer and practitioner of servant leadership.”

    Richard Davis Wood Jr. was born March 4, 1938. He graduated from St. Paul’s School in Concord, N.H., earned a bachelor’s degree in business at the University of Virginia, and served for a year in the Marine Corps and later in the Marine Corps Reserve.

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

    He met Jeannette Andrews when he was visiting New York with friends, and they married in 1964. They lived in Philadelphia and Wawa, and had a daughter, Lisa, and a son, Richard III. His wife died in 2025.

    Mr. Wood was an avid golfer, and he belonged to the Gulph Mills and Pine Valley Golf Clubs, and the Mountain Lake Club in Florida. He played tennis and bridge, and was a longtime season ticket holder for the Eagles and Flyers.

    Mr. Wood (right) enjoyed meeting and talking with Wawa associates and customers.
    Jonathan Wilson / Staff Photographer

    He and his wife traveled, hosted family holiday parties, and spent memorable winters in Lake Wales, Fla. He drove his favorite Honda Accord for years and followed Virginia college football and basketball closely.

    He championed conservation, education, and health. “He treated every single person the same,” his daughter said. His son said: “Humility defined him.”

    Mr. Wood said in a 2020 video for CHOP: “It’s a great feeling to know that you’re helping out.”

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

    In addition to his children, Mr. Wood is survived by five grandchildren, a sister, a brother, and other relatives. Two brothers died earlier.

    A celebration of his life is to be held later.

    Donations in his name may be made to the Richard D. Wood Jr. Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Box 781352, Philadelphia, Pa. 19178; and Bok Tower Gardens, 1151 Tower Blvd., Lake Wales, Fla. 33853.

  • Abington looks to ban e-bikes at parks and trails, citing safety concerns

    Abington looks to ban e-bikes at parks and trails, citing safety concerns

    Abington moved toward banning e-bikes and e-scooters at public parks and trails during Thursday’s commissioners meeting.

    A majority of Abington’s 15-member commissioner board voted to advance a proposed ban on electric vehicles from Abington park systems because of safety and disruption concerns, according to a summary of the proposal.

    The ban would not apply to electrified vehicles designed for people with disabilities, and would not cover county-owned sites such as Lorimer Park.

    The rise in popularity of small electric vehicles has led to crashes and fatalities across the region. Earlier this week, two people in Pottstown were sent to the hospital after an apparent collision between an e-bike and an e-scooter.

    But some Abington commissioners voted against the motion after local cyclists raised concern that the ban would be too broad.

    Many local cyclists want a narrower ban that still allows slower, lighter e-bikes, said Ross Abel of Bike Montgomery County.

    Pedal-assisted bikes help seniors and parents with young children reach parks, Abel said. A full ban “would really prevent them from getting out in nature on their bikes.”

    The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia has argued that the slower e-bikes have been wrongly lumped together with powerful e-moto bikes that look similar but can cause more damage.

    Last year, a cyclist on Schuylkill River Trail near Norristown was hit by an unregistered electric motorcycle, leaving him with a partially dissected artery in his neck.

    State law differentiates e-bikes from vehicles that require a license, like motorcycles. But unlike many e-bike manufacturers, Pennsylvania does not distinguish different e-bikes by power and top speed. And in practice, distinctions can be murky.

    Police responding to the Norristown collision appeared to view the faster vehicle as an e-bike, referring to the e-moto rider as “the other cyclist.”

    That trouble telling the bikes apart is exactly why some argue a narrower ban would be impractical for township staff to enforce, Abington commissioner John Spiegelman said.

    Though Abington’s commissioners have 60 days to finalize the ban once it’s advertised, some are already considering revisions.

    “I’ve been trying to think of some kind of workable compromise that accommodates all parties’ concerns,” Spiegelman said, “while ultimately protecting the folks in our parks and on our trails, including young kids, from injury.”

    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.

  • ‘Your life is officially over’: Oregon man who murdered Cherry Hill veterinarian sentenced to 30 years in prison

    ‘Your life is officially over’: Oregon man who murdered Cherry Hill veterinarian sentenced to 30 years in prison

    An Oregon man on Thursday was ordered to spend 30 years in prison for fatally stabbing a beloved South Jersey veterinarian at the vet’s Cherry Hill home.

    Cristian Custodio-Aquino, 28, of Portland, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in June for the killing of 45-year-old Michael Anthony.

    The body of Anthony, a divorced father of two, was discovered on the front lawn of his home in Cherry Hill’s Barclay Farm section in December 2024.

    He had been stabbed in the body, neck, and head. Detectives used a variety of methods to link Custodio-Aquino to the crime, including the collection of DNA from a pair of prescription eyeglasses he had left at the crime scene.

    During Custodio-Aquino’s sentencing before Camden County Superior Court Judge Judith Charny, Anthony’s family members spoke tearfully of late veterinarian, who they described as kind, wickedly funny, and a devoted father to his sons.

    Above all, they grappled for answers as to why Custodio-Aquino murdered Anthony that morning on his front lawn.

    “You took all of the future moments that should have belong to him,” said Patricia Anthony Gershefski, one of Anthony’s sisters.

    Anthony Gershefski said her brother was warm and sensitive, even moving his veterinarian practice just to be closer to his children.

    The brutal nature of the crime confounds the family to this day.

    In her career as a professional psychologist, Anthony Gershefski said, she has found “no diagnostic category for the deliberate destruction of another person’s life in this savage and grotesque manner.”

    Kyle Bartsch, Anthony’s partner, said in a statement read by prosecutors that Anthony had filled their home on Sharrowvale Road with love and laughter.

    His death, Bartsch said, leaves “a permanent void in the lives of those who knew him.”

    While Custodio-Aquino’s attorneys had previously suggested that prosecutors did not have enough evidence to convict their client of murder, they were mum throughout the proceeding.

    In addition to the eyeglasses investigators linked to the Peru native, license plate readers captured Custodio-Aquino’s car entering and exiting Anthony’s neighborhood that morning, and forensic experts later recovered a sample of the veterinarian’s blood from the vehicle.

    Prosecutors believe Custodio-Aquino traversed the country in a fit of jealousy that fall before killing Anthony.

    He had previously dated Anthony’s partner, Bartsch, and once lived with the man in Haddon Township before the couple separated in 2021 after a domestic dispute, according to prosecutors.

    Custodio-Aquino, given the opportunity to address the court, spoke so softly that Charny asked that he repeat himself.

    Raising his voice, he said: “I do agree that the world is less than without Michael Anthony.”

    He was sentenced to 30 years in a state correctional facility without parole. Charny offered few words on the ruling beyond wishing Custodio-Aquino good luck.

    It was Henry Anthony, Anthony’s teenage son, who saved some of the most biting remarks for his father’s killer.

    “Your life is officially over,” Anthony said, turning to look at Custodio-Aquino. “I honestly wonder what your reason for living will be for the next 30 years.”

  • Ardmore adds a dozen businesses | Inquirer Lower Merion

    Ardmore adds a dozen businesses | Inquirer Lower Merion

    Hi, Lower Merion! 👋

    If it seems new spots are opening regularly in Ardmore, you’re not wrong. We take a look at the dozen businesses that have set up shop this year and the ones still to come. Also this week, we pay a visit to new Japanese steakhouse OGYU, the viral dot cake has come to Bryn Mawr, plus, the district attorney has dropped assault charges against Mike Missanelli.

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

    Ardmore’s retail boom continues

    Gouldsburger’s is among the recent openings in Ardmore. Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer

    Downtown Ardmore has welcomed a dozen new businesses so far this year, with more still on the horizon.

    Newcomers have ranged broadly from a Japanese barbecue joint to a home goods spot to a new yoga studio. A pair of burger eateries have also joined the fray.

    The downtown core’s scene will continue to grow when five new concepts open later this year. Here’s the scoop on what’s still to come.

    💡 Community News

    • The Montgomery County District Attorney’s office has concluded its investigation into an April domestic incident between Mike Missanelli and his fiancée at their home in Lower Merion and withdrawn assault charges against the sports radio personality.
    • The community is mourning the death of Narberth resident and longtime Friends’ Central Lower School teacher Peter Grove, who died in May at the age of 82. An award-winning educator, Grove mentored other teachers and fellow naturalists, and created dozens of notable community gardens throughout the region.
    • Two people, a 35-year-old woman and a 40-year-old man, were critically injured when a tree fell on their car while they were driving in Lower Merion on Friday. A 10-year-old girl who was also in the car suffered minor injuries. (6abc)
    • There will be a virtual meeting Monday at 11 a.m. for residents interested in learning more about Ardmore House II, the affordable senior community expected to open later this year.
    • Penn Valley resident Samantha Paige Rosen’s debut book, Living, Together: Reimagining Community in the Age of Disconnection, is due out Tuesday. In it, she and nearly two dozen other writers explore what it means to live communally. She’ll host a book launch event next Thursday from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Philadelphia Ethical Society.

    🍽️ On our Plate

    🎳 Things to Do

    🎸 Echoes: Tickets are going fast for the Pink Floyd tribute band, which will perform the entirety of “Wish You Were Here.” ⏰ Friday, July 10, 8 p.m. 💵 $26.91 📍 Ardmore Music Hall

    🧚 The Little Mermen and The Princess Pals: The kid-friendly show will include performances of iconic Disney songs through the ages. ⏰ Sunday, July 12, noon 💵 $26.91-$67.28 📍 Ardmore Music Hall

    🎶 Bryn Mawr Twilight Concerts: American folk duo Shovels & Rope, made up of husband-and-wife duo Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst, will take the stage. ⏰ Sunday, July 12, 7 p.m. 💵 $25.88, free for kids 12 and under 📍 Bryn Mawr Gazebo

    🎵 Music in the Park: The Daniel Villarreal Trio brings its mash up of psychedelia, jazz, Latin rock, and funk to the stage. ⏰ Wednesday, July 15, 7 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Narberth Park gazebo

    🏡 On the Market

    A waterfront Gladwyne home with a private dock

    The lodge-style home has its own dock and plenty of water vistas.Gary Schempp | Courtesy of Janice Manzi/Elfant Wissahickon-Chestnut Hill

    Situated on the banks of the Schuylkill River, this Gladwyne home has unobstructed water views and multiple decks to enjoy them from, in addition to its own dock. The main living level features a living room that looks out on the water and also has a wood stove surrounded by Moravian tiles. The space opens onto a rounded deck, as well as a dining area and kitchen. There are four bedrooms, including a primary suite with its own balcony and walk-in closet.

    See more photos of the home here.

    Price: $899,900 | Size: 2,200 SF | Acreage: 0.1

    🗞️ 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.

  • What will Media look like in 2035? | Inquirer Greater Media

    What will Media look like in 2035? | Inquirer Greater Media

    Hi, Greater Media! 👋

    Wonder what Media might look like in a decade? A new comprehensive plan lays out goals for the borough through 2035. Also this week, filming for the second season of Task — which just scored a handful of Emmy nods — gets underway, local coaches and players reflect on the significance of seeing Auston Trusty play in the World Cup, plus we round up area farmers markets to check out this season.

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    Media’s new comprehensive plan plots the next decade

    Media recently adopted a comprehensive plan that looks ahead to 2035. Alejandro A. Alvarez / Staff Photographer

    Media has adopted a new comprehensive plan designed to help shape the next decade of local land use, housing, economic development, traffic planning, and environmental decision making.

    Based on feedback from several hundred residents, “Media 2035” reflects the community’s desire to protect the borough’s “small-town feel” as well as concerns about housing affordability, parking, and traffic.

    The Inquirer’s Denali Sagner delves into the four key takeaways intended to preserve the character of “Everybody’s Hometown.”

    💡 Community News

    • Good news for Task fans: The Delco-set HBO drama was scheduled to begin filming Season 2 this week, with shots planned around Manayunk. The filming comes around the same time the show and members of its cast scored a combined six Emmy Award nominations, including Mark Ruffalo’s “lead actor” nod.
    • Team USA’s World Cup hopes may have come to an end Monday night, but seeing Media native Auston Trusty on the field throughout this year’s tournament has meant a lot to those who played with or coached him back in the day. The Inquirer’s Alex Coffey spoke with some of them about how surreal it was to see Trusty compete on the global stage.
    • Heads up for drivers: A six-month Aqua Pennsylvania utility project is slated to get underway Monday on Providence Road in Nether Providence Township. Through the end of the year, expect weekday road closures from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. between West Rose Valley Road and Providence Road’s intersection with Chester Road. Work will also take place on Leslie Lane. Other roadwork includes lane closures on Route 1 between Pennell and Middletown Roads in Middletown Township for resurfacing. Work is slated to start today and continue through next Friday, taking place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. on weekdays.
    • Delaware County is investigating a hack of its network last month that resulted in service disruptions. Here’s what we know.
    • A new “outdoor lifestyle store” is opening in Media, taking over the space formerly occupied by Homesewn, which recently moved two blocks. Media Mercantile is targeting a late summer opening at 21 E. State St.
    • The pool at Timberwyck Swim Club in Upper Providence Township has reopened after undergoing an extensive renovation.
    • Middletown Township buried a time capsule last week to capture a snapshot of what the community looks like in 2026. It includes documents, photos, and memorabilia and is slated to be opened in 2061, when the township will mark its 375th anniversary.

    🏫 Schools Briefing

    • Rose Tree Media School District will present plans for its proposed K-1 Early Learning Center at the Middletown Township planning commission meeting Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will be held at Penn State Brandywine’s student union building to accommodate an anticipated increase in attendees.

    🍽️ On our Plate

    🎳 Things to Do

    🎶 Rose Tree Summer Festival: The upcoming lineup features performances from local eight-piece band Four Lean Hounds tonight, Carlos Santana-inspired outfit Rumbaile tomorrow, Taylor Swift tribute Jexxa and the Antiheroes on Saturday, and event band Chico’s Vibe on Sunday. On Wednesday, Bon Jovi tribute Bad Medicine will take the stage. ⏰ Thursday, July 9-Wednesday, July 15, 7:30 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Rose Tree Park, Media

    🍿 Movie Night: This month’s featured film is the Nicholas Cage classic National Treasure. ⏰ Friday, July 10, 8 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Media Borough Hall lawn

    🫐 Blueberry Festival: Pick your own fruit, try your hand at a pie-eating contest, and get your face painted at this annual event. ⏰ Saturday, July 11, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. (Rain date: July 12) 💵 Pay as you go 📍 Linvilla Orchards, Media

    🐉 Dragons Love Tacos: This kid-friendly show, adapted from the picture book of the same name, explores what dragons do and don’t like to eat. ⏰ Saturdays and Sundays, July 11-19, 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. 💵 $13.50-$18.50 📍 PCS Theater, Swarthmore

    🎵 Tribute to Fleetwood Mac: The Listeso String Quartet will perform some of the band’s greatest hits. ⏰ Saturday, July 11, 8:45 p.m. 💵 $42-$76 📍 The Media Theatre

    🗞️ 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.

  • SEPTA cuts 3 Glenside Regional Rail trains along with other schedule changes

    SEPTA cuts 3 Glenside Regional Rail trains along with other schedule changes

    SEPTA is trading Glenside Regional Rail riders three daytime trains for new off-peak options, more train cars, and new schedules aimed at reducing congestion between Glenside and Wayne Junction.

    The Warminster Line, which runs through southeastern Montgomery County, is the only Regional Rail line losing multiple trains under systemwide changes that began on July 5 to make trains more consistent and prevent delays.

    The new schedule cuts two weekday trains that left Glenside at 8:40 a.m. and 2:47 p.m. for Center City, and one weekday train that left Suburban Station at 4:53 p.m. toward Warminster.

    The morning train cut leaves a 27-minute gap in service to Center City from Glenside, while the afternoon cuts each add five minutes or less to the wait for the next train.

    SEPTA also added a train to the Warminster Line that leaves Suburban Station at 11:35 p.m. on weekdays, and a train on the West Trenton Line that leaves Suburban Station at 5:28 a.m.

    The late-night train will serve airport workers, and the dawn departure is convenient for people who commute into the suburbs, SEPTA spokesperson Kelly Greene said.

    The changes SEPTA made across the commuter rail system this week are aimed at improving consistency and reliability, the agency said.

    “As SEPTA continues to increase the number of train cars available for service, trains will be longer and provide more space for riders,” officials wrote in a statement.

    Between Wayne Junction and Glenside, SEPTA said, it hopes the new schedule will help “prevent trains from bunching together, which can cause delays.”

    The 8:40 a.m. train from Glenside was cut to reduce congestion, Greene said, and had the lowest ridership of the trains running around that time.

    Other changes affecting the Abington area include new departure times for some trains on the Lansdale/Doylestown, Warminster, and West Trenton Lines.

    SEPTA put out a full list last month of what is changing on each line, along with updated train schedules.

    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.

  • What will become of St. Peter’s Village? | Inquirer Chester County

    What will become of St. Peter’s Village? | Inquirer Chester County

    Hi, Chester County! 👋

    The quaint St. Peter’s Village is heading to auction this fall, leaving many wondering what its future holds. Also this week, Bluebird Distilling has debuted a new renovation and expanded its offerings, plus the county has reported its first measles cases this season.

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

    Historic St. Peter’s Village is headed to the auction block

    The entirety of the 83-acre St. Peter’s Village will be sold at auction this September. Steven M. Falk / For The Inquirer

    The future of St. Peter’s Village hangs on the auction block, where it will be sold this September to the highest bidder.

    The entirety of the 83-acre historic village in the northwest of Chester County is up for sale in what is a decidedly unusual offering. That includes 121 homes and 13 historic and commercial village buildings.

    As the bidding nears, some are expressing concerns over its future, while others are hopeful for revitalization.

    The Inquirer’s Brooke Schultz explores what could become of the picturesque community.

    Bluebird Distilling adds pizza to the menu after $2.2M renovation

    The dining room at Bluebird Distilling and Dough House was expanded as part of a larger renovation. Ed Newton

    Popular Phoenixville distillery Bluebird Distilling reopened yesterday with a new look and fresh menu items following a $2.2 million renovation.

    Now known as Bluebird Distilling & Dough House, the concept offers a “neo-Neopolitan” pizzeria and restaurant, in addition to an expanded bar, dining room, and bottle shop.

    The idea to add pizza came after owner Jared Adkins started taking classes to learn the art.

    Read more about the expansion and what else you can expect at the new iteration.

    📍 Countywide News

    💡 Community News

    • In case you missed it, last week the developer of a proposed East Whiteland data center was ordered to temporarily stop work that disturbs the soil. Here’s why.
    • North Coventry Township’s zoning board is scheduled to discuss an application for a Sheetz at 1395 S. Hanover St. and several neighboring parcels tomorrow at 7 p.m.
    • Oxford Borough council is hosting a meeting tonight at 7 p.m. to discuss potential changes to its police services as it weighs its finances.
    • Phoenixville-based Christian school the University of Valley Forge has been warned it could lose its accreditation and been given until Sept. 1 to prove it should keep its status.
    • In other higher-ed news, longtime Immaculata University president Barbara Lettiere plans to retire next summer after leading the school for a decade.
    • Spring City is relocating its borough hall and police department to temporary offices today as work continues on the new municipal building. The borough office will temporarily be located at 2 Riverside Dr., with borough meetings taking place at Liberty Fire Company’s social building, while the police will temporarily be at 7 Riverside Dr.
    • Lit Fitness is taking over the former ImpactFit in Exton at 35 E. Uwchlan Ave. There’s no timeline yet for the official transition.
    • Ash Park reopened yesterday in Coatesville after undergoing a yearlong overhaul. The updated 9.3-acre park has a new pavilion, an expanded playground, new water fountains and lighting, an expanded basketball area, and meadows.
    • French and Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust has preserved 34.9 acres in North Coventry Township, adding to the 13,700 acres it’s conserved nearby.

    🏫 Schools Briefing

    • Octorara Area School District has named Nancy Young as its director of special education and student wellness.

    🍽️ On our Plate

    • Longwood Garden’s 1906 is the lone Chester County restaurant to earn honors in this year’s Wine Spectator Restaurant Awards. The magazine recognizes establishments with wine lists offering what it deems interesting selections that are “appropriate to their cuisine” and “appeal to a wide range of wine lovers.” It recognized 1906 — which Inquirer food critic Craig LaBan recently called one of the best restaurants in the suburbs — for its selection of wines from California and France.

    🎳 Things to Do

    🎙️ Sound of Summer Free Concert Series: Pop-rock artist Olivia Rubini headlines this week’s show. ⏰ Wednesday, July 8, 6:30-8:30 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Anson B. Nixon Park, Kennett Square

    🎭 Ain’t Misbehavin’: This summer musical will transport audiences back to the Harlem Renaissance. ⏰ Select days from Wednesday, July 8-Sunday, Aug. 16, times vary 💵 Prices vary 📍 People’s Light, Malvern

    🎹 Tredyffrin Township Summer Concert Series: Hear party music from the ‘60s through the ‘90s when The O’Fenders takes the stage. ⏰ Thursday, July 9, 7 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Wilson Farm Park, Wayne

    📽️ Blobfest: This year’s three-day festival is circus-themed and kicks off with a screening of the film and the run-out. Other events include a ball, “dinner en blob,” and screenings of other films. ⏰ Friday, July 10-Sunday, July 12, times vary 💵 Prices vary 📍 The Colonial Theatre, Phoenixville

    🍖 KS-Que BBQ Festival: Sample local barbecue as teams compete for bragging rights. ⏰ Saturday, July 11, noon-5 p.m. 💵 $25 📍 The Creamery, Kennett Square

    🎶 Eagleview Summer Concert Series: American rocker Sophie Gault will headline the upcoming show. Local Americana band Lazy Villains will also perform. ⏰ Tuesday, July 14, 7-9 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Eagleview Town Center, Exton

    🏡 On the Market

    An 18th-century Phoenixville home with an impressive primary suite

    The home dates back to the late 1700s.Michael Eckstrom/MJE Photographic | Courtesy of Marie Dezarate Sales Group

    Dating back to the late 18th century, this updated five-bedroom Phoenixville home is replete with preserved period elements like millwork and fireplaces. The first floor has a family room, living room, office, and a kitchen with an exposed stone wall and radiant heated brick floors. It opens onto a sunroom with space for dining and lounging that overlooks the woods of Pickering Creek Preserve. The primary suite features exposed beams, its own sitting room, and a bright bathroom with skylights. There’s an open house Saturday from noon to 2 p.m.

    See more photos of the property here.

    Price: $880,000 | Size: 3,281 SF | Acreage: 2.5

    🗞️ 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.