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  • Where to celebrate the Fourth of July | Inquirer Cherry Hill

    Hello, Cherry Hill! 👋

    Communities throughout the region are pulling out the stops to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary this weekend. We’ve rounded up spots to catch everything from fireworks to parades. Also this week, a Hindu temple is closer to undergoing a major overhaul, area hospitals may be forced to make tough decisions in the face of Medicaid losses, plus, several local restaurants earned Wine Spectator awards.

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

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    Nine Fourth of July events to check out in Camden County

    Here’s where to catch fireworks displays and other festivities for the Fourth of July. CHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer

    Celebrate the nation’s Semiquincentennial at one of these festive events, which are replete with fireworks, parades, and musical performances.

    • Barrington: There will be a parade at 6 p.m. followed by fireworks around dusk. ⏰ Thursday, July 2, 6 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Behind Woodland School
    • Gloucester City: Celebrate in advance of the holiday with food trucks and fireworks. ⏰ Thursday, July 2, starts at 6 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Proprietor’s Park
    • Cherry Hill: The township will mark the nation’s 250th anniversary with a fireworks display around 9 p.m. There will also be a DJ, marching bands, and food trucks. ⏰ Thursday, July 2, starts at 7 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Cherry Hill High School West
    • Haddonfield: This celebration includes a festive parade followed by a block party, complete with live music, food trucks, and games. The night will be capped with a drone show around 9 p.m. ⏰ Friday, July 3, starts at 10 a.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍 Downtown Haddonfield
    • Audubon: The borough’s two-day event kicks off Friday with food trucks, live music, and a fireworks display at Audubon High School. On Independence Day, there will be a parade, a reading of the Declaration of Independence, family-friendly activities, and an open house of the Audubon Historical Society Museum at the Senior Center. ⏰ Friday, July 3, starts at 6 p.m. and Saturday, July 4, 8:15 a.m.-4 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Audubon
    • Haddon Township: On the eve of the nation’s 250th birthday, catch a fireworks show at Haddon Township High School, complete with live music and food trucks. The following day, the township will host its annual parade, which ends at Crystal Lake Pool. ⏰ Friday, July 3, 7 p.m. and Saturday, July 4, 11:30 a.m. 💵 Free 📍 Haddon Township
    • Collingswood: Decorate your bike starting at 9 a.m. and then join the parade at 10 a.m. Later, there will be games and races at Roberts Pool. Cap the day with a performance from To the Max at 7:45 p.m. and fireworks at the high school field at dusk. ⏰ Saturday, July 4, starts at 9 a.m. 💵 Free 📍 Collingswood
    • Camden: This year’s Freedom Festival features aptly named funk, soul, and R&B outfit The Commodores at 8 p.m., followed by the Wawa Welcome America fireworks display over the Delaware River. ⏰ Saturday, July 4, 6-11 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Wiggins Park
    • Camden: Hop aboard the historic Battleship New Jersey, where there will be live music, food, and a full-service bar, all with a view of the fireworks display over the Delaware River. ⏰ Friday, July 4, 7:30 p.m. 💵 $15 general admission 📍 Battleship New Jersey

    Looking for more area events? Check out our full guide here.

    💡 Community News

    • Hindu temple BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is one step closer to moving ahead with its planned 18,330-square-foot expansion and renovation after getting zoning board approval last week, though it will still require additional approvals before construction can begin. Located at 1 Carnegie Plaza, the temple’s plans call for transforming its exterior to give it a more decorative look, in addition to adding a gym and prayer hall.
    • Due to this week’s skyrocketing temperatures, township residents’ trash will be picked up starting at 6 a.m. today, tomorrow, and Friday.
    • South Jersey hospitals, including in Cherry Hill, could be forced to cut some community programs as they face an estimated $3.6 billion loss from Medicaid changes in the coming years. The Inquirer’s Harold Brubaker has the details.
    • Heads up for drivers: Roadwork continues throughout the township, including on Kenilworth Avenue, which will be closed between Route 38 and Longwood Avenue and between Helena and Edwards Avenues from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. through Thursday. Work continues on Kresson Road through Thursday, which will have a partial westbound closure between Springdale Road and Ravenswood Way from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., and closures at its intersection with Springdale Road and between Browning Lane from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.
    • Registration is open for the township’s upcoming wiffleball tournament, which will take place July 22 and has four age divisions.
    • Friends of Cherry Hill Public is hosting a book sale next week. On Tuesday, Friends members who are township residents get first access, followed by all Friends members next Wednesday. The sale then opens to the public next Thursday and continues through Saturday.

    🏫 Schools Briefing

    • Registration for the district’s 2026-27 School-Age Child Care program opens today at 4 p.m. The program is available to those in kindergarten through fifth grade. Learn more here.
    • Graduation may be behind us, but the district recently shared its annual clap-out video for members of the class of 2026. See it here.
    • Speaking of graduation, South Jersey Media shared photos from West’s commencement, where 333 students earned diplomas.

    🍽️ On our Plate

    • Four Cherry Hill restaurants earned honors in the latest Wine Spectator Restaurant Awards, released last week. 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.” Caffe Aldo Lamberti was recognized for its selection of wines from California; Tuscany and Piedmont, Italy; and Bordeaux, France. Also making the list are chains Seasons 52, The Capital Grille, and Eddie V’s Prime Seafood, which each have a local outpost.
    • Belgian waffle eatery La Liégeoise closed its brick-and-mortar storefront at 1871 E. Marlton Pike last week, citing low visibility and customer traffic at the location. The waffle shop plans to continue its operations as a fully mobile concept.
    • Philly Pretzel Factory will be moving one block from its current home at 910 Route 70 to 800 Route 70 this month. The shop will close Sunday, with a planned opening at its new space on July 15.

    🎳 Things to Do

    🚬 Cigar Sunday: Sample premium cigars, listen to music, and sips drinks on an outdoor deck. ⏰ Sunday, July 5, 2-5 p.m. 💵 $19.03 📍Vera

    🦖 Paw Patrol Dino Skate: Hit the rink for dino-themed skating complete with a dinosaur egg scavenger hunt. ⏰ Wednesday, July 8, 1-4 p.m. and 5:30-8:30 p.m. 💵 $6 from 1-4 p.m., $5 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. 📍 Hot Wheelz

    🏡 On the Market

    A striking four-bedroom home with a pool and spa

    The home has a striking design out front and a pool out back.Derrick Kunzer | Courtesy of Amy Rossano/Epique Realty

    Located in the Wilderness Run neighborhood, this four-bedroom, five-bathroom home features a floating curved staircase in the foyer and a two-story family room with a spiral staircase leading to a library. The dining room has Italian mirrored panels that open to reveal a bar with wine storage. Out back, there’s a spa and gunite pool, complete with a diving board.

    See more photos of the home here.

    Price: $1.999M | Size: 4,800 SF | Acreage: 0.62

    📈 Cherry Hill market report

    • Median listing price: $515,000 (down $4,900 from April) 📉
    • Median sold price: $509,000 (up $24,000 from April) 📈
    • Median days on the market: 29 (up seven days from April) 📈

    This Cherry Hill market report is published on a monthly basis. Above is data for May from realtor.com.

    🗞️ 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.

  • Two measles cases reported in Chester County, widening spread in Southeastern Pennsylvania

    Two Chester County residents have been diagnosed with measles, local health officials said on Tuesday, the first cases reported in the Philadelphia region this summer.

    Pennsylvania has identified 88 measles cases so far this year, the highest case count in three decades and more than five times the cases reported in 2025.

    Chester is now the seventh Pennsylvania county with confirmed measles cases since April.

    Jeanne Franklin, the county’s public health director, said it was too early to tell whether the two adults’ cases were linked to a growing measles outbreak centered in Lancaster County, which borders Chester.

    Health workers in Chester County have conducted contact tracing regularly for months, speaking to about 100 people since the beginning of the year who had come into contact with someone with measles.

    “The process is working,” Franklin said. She added that the county is preparing to identify more cases as they continue contact tracing.

    The two Chester County residents with measles had initially sought care in Lancaster County, she said, and county officials were still working to determine their vaccination status.

    Earlier in June, Delaware County health officials announced they had detected measles in wastewater samples, meaning a person with measles — either a resident or a person passing through the county — had used a bathroom connected to the county’s public water supply.

    Since late April, officials have recorded 43 cases in Lancaster County, 20 in Lebanon County, six in Northumberland County, two each in Berks, Chester, and Dauphin Counties, and one in York County. (A winter outbreak saw 12 cases among Chester, Montgomery, and Lancaster Counties.)

    The current outbreak is spreading largely among people who are unvaccinated, state officials have said.

    The public health threat remains unpredictable in the Philadelphia metro area, where a recent Inquirer analysis found under-vaccinated pockets pose a rising risk to a region with higher overall vaccination rates.

    Franklin said her department is increasing public communications about the measles risk, and encouraging local health providers to vaccinate infants with a “dose zero” of the measles, mumps, and rubella shot.

    Typically, children receive an MMR dose at around 1 year old and before entering kindergarten. A “dose zero” is given at six months and provides additional protection before children receive two more doses of the vaccine.

    State officials last week also recommended that physicians in affected areas provide early measles vaccinations to infants and young children.

    Chester County officials are also working with the state to analyze school-level vaccination data to pinpoint at-risk communities, Franklin said.

    Overall, 94.5% of Chester County kindergarteners were vaccinated against measles in the 2024-2025 school year, the last for which data is available. That’s just below the 95% threshold required to prevent the spread of the virus.

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    Spread may be wider than cases reported

    Some providers in Lancaster County have said that they fear measles is spreading more widely than state officials have been able to track, either because patients don’t realize the importance of informing health officials about their condition or are avoiding providers.

    Chester County also is contending with uncertainty. Franklin said that some residents who have had contact with infected patients have told health workers that they’d rather not get tested for measles.

    “They say, ‘I don’t want to be tested. Let this run the course,’” she said.

    Contact tracers stress that they’re not judging that decision, she said. But the department emphasizes that they need residents to work with contact tracers, so other potentially exposed families can make informed decisions about their health.

    Franklin urged Chester County residents to check their vaccination records to ensure they are protected against measles, which can infect up to 90% of unvaccinated people exposed to the disease.

    If they can’t find their records, a primary care physician can order a test to determine whether they’re immune.

    Residents should also look out for symptoms of measles, including a fever, a cough, and a runny nose — similar to other respiratory diseases — that often emerge before patients develop a telltale rash.

    Several people sickened this summer have experienced severe illness and required hospitalization for serious electrolyte abnormalities and liver and kidney dysfunction, according to physicians in Lancaster County.

    “If you previously decided not to get a vaccine, this is the time to reconsider, based on what’s going on,” Franklin said. “The window to get a vaccine once you’ve been exposed is very small.”

  • A Chester County lake is planned for draining as a dam is decommissioned. Residents are worried about what it’ll become.

    A Chester County lake is planned for draining as a dam is decommissioned. Residents are worried about what it’ll become.

    Dorothy Verdon had a history of moving around every few years. But when she found her lakefront — or, technically, lake-back — home in the Arbours of West Goshen in Chester County 12 years ago, she just really liked it.

    Her loudest neighbors are the geese, who live at the banks of Fernhill Lake, a 64-acre impoundment formed from Aqua’s Township Line Dam. But under a plan from the public water company to partially decommission the dam and draw down the reservoir, returning the natural flow of Chester Creek, Verdon and her neighbors’ backyards would be subject to great ecological change in the coming years.

    It’s a change environmentalists generally support, as dams greatly affect the ecosystem around them: increasing water temperature, generating algae growth, and fragmenting habitats. But residents, some of whom paid up to $20,000 for their lake-facing yards, worry what their backyards, and the developed habitat, could become.

    “My immediate concern, and that of several residents and the township, is what’s going to happen to the ecosystem, because it is a water-based ecosystem,” Verdon said. “There’s that. It’s really financial. And it’s aesthetic. What are we going to have behind us as the lake gets drained?”

    A view of Fernhill Lake from the Arbours at West Goshen in West Goshen, Pa., on Monday, June 22, 2026.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    The planned decommissioning

    Built in 1935, Township Line Dam once supplied drinking water for surrounding customers. But, as with a number of dams before it, that has not been the case for decades. Aqua acquired the dam in 1998 and does not use it for daily operations.

    Township Line requires “extensive investment” to satisfy requirements from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, which outweighs the benefits of a dam that no longer serves its purpose, Michael Fili, the company’s vice president of planning, design, and construction, wrote in a letter to the township’s board of supervisors in May.

    Under its plan, the company will begin drawing down the water in the reservoir by eight to 10 feet, leaving the water at that reduced level until it begins construction for partial dam removal in early 2028 through 2029, Fili wrote. At that time, the entire lake would be drained. (The company originally planned to begin the process in July, but pushed the timeline back to fall following concerns from residents.)

    A view of the Township Line Dam along Airport Road in West Goshen, Pa., on Monday, June 22, 2026. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Following decommissioning, Aqua proposed transferring ownership of the 114 acres to West Goshen Township, making the municipality “stewards of the land” that could “utilize the land for the benefit of its residents,” Fili wrote.

    “We understand the reservoir and surrounding area is enjoyed by the community, and we do not take this action lightly,” Fili wrote.

    The announcement drew concerns during a May board meeting from residents, who questioned why it had to be drawn down so quickly, and worried about what would become of the land — fearing further development, or lack of adequate care to keep it from becoming an eyesore. Some wondered if there might be a path to maintaining the lake.

    “With all due respect to my fellow supervisors’ opinion, I don’t think we have an option here,” said Shaun Walsh, chairman of the township’s board. “If you keep it as a dam, you need to spend millions of dollars to fix it.”

    Walsh said the township would keep it as an open space, possibly turning it into a mixture of wetlands, meadow, woodlands with walking trails — an “ultimately real beautiful amenity for people in the area to use,” he said.

    “I think there are so many advantages in it becoming a publicly owned asset, given that the township is so built out,” he added. “I personally believe in 10 years’ time we should have an attractive amenity there for the community.”

    (“When we’re all dead,” someone in the meeting responded.)

    West Chester appears to have a right of first refusal to purchase the property at low cost, based on old agreements, officials for the borough said. West Goshen Township Manager Chris Bashore said that town was waiting to see what West Chester decides.

    In a message, Aqua said it is communicating with both municipalities and “no determination has yet been made as to whether the 114 acres of property will be conveyed and to whom.”

    Birds rest on the Township Line Dam along Airport Road in West Goshen, Pa., on Monday, June 22, 2026. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Dams and wildlife

    Residents also worry about what will become of the waterfowl, turtles, fish, and a bald eagle who have begun to call it home over nearly a century.

    Largely, environmental activists believe that “the positives of dam removal outweigh any kind of negatives” said Faith Zerbe, advocacy and science community action coordinator with the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, which has sought the decommissioning of multiple dams over the last two decades.

    The Chester Creek, a tributary of the Delaware River, is steeped with “impairments” — situations when a waterway does not meet environmental or regulatory quality — along much of its length. Removing the dam would help chip away at some of those larger issues.

    “Removing a dam, allowing the natural stream to find its pattern over time as that dam removal takes place, and then restoring the stream banks with natural native indigenous species is kind of a critical piece to getting ecology back to the river,” she said.

    Aqua said it is coordinating with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and the federal Fish and Wildlife Services, as it prepares for its drawdown.

    It is essential for the dam decommissioning to be done right, environmentalists said. But when done “thoughtfully and with the proper permissions, dam removal can have remarkable benefits for local ecosystems, allowing these areas to return to their original landscape,” said Carly Lare, executive director of Chester Ridley Crum Watersheds Association.

    Her organization has been communicating with Aqua to better understand the project’s goals and timelines, she said.

    “Since colonization of the area, this landscape has greatly changed, which in turn alters which native species can survive throughout our region,” Lare said. “When habitats are fragmented, our creeks experience diminished migration of native fish populations, which in turn influences the health and diversity of other native organisms, ranging from freshwater mussels to river otters.”

    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.

  • The death of Edward Weinrich, longtime owner of Weinrich’s Bakery in Willow Grove, has sparked an outpouring of support

    The death of Edward Weinrich, longtime owner of Weinrich’s Bakery in Willow Grove, has sparked an outpouring of support

    Born above a Philadelphia bakery and forged in Willow Grove, Edward M. Weinrich, 92, died of natural causes at his home beside a Florida river on June 17 surrounded by the sons who keep his beloved cake shop alive.

    Weinrich’s parents ran a bake shop on Front Street in North Philadelphia before opening their Willow Grove konditorei — the German word for patisserie — at 55 Easton Rd. in 1952. By the 1970s, Weinrich had graduated from Villanova University, spent two years stationed in Hawaii with the Army, had five children, and taken over the Willow Grove bakery with his wife, Kippy, selling cookies, pies, danishes and cakes — many made from inherited recipes, like their famous butter cake.

    “Still today there are recipe books in the bakery archive that are written in German,” said Stephen Weinrich, the youngest of his five sons.

    Edward and Kathryn Weinrich pose in Villanova sweatshirts with their four oldest children.courtesy of Stephen Weinrich

    He also invented his own: In the 1960s, Weinrich worked with food scientists to develop his signature frosting — a buttercream that doesn’t turn gritty. It’s still used in custom cakes the store makes for birthdays, weddings, and First Holy Communions.

    Weinrich learned the trade from his dad, Herman, who left Naumburg in 1913 to help his brother August run a Manhattan bakery, opening his own in 1919. (It is descendants of their cousin, Ludwig, who operate R. Weinrich German Bakery in Newtown Square.)

    Weinrich made wedding cakes for many couples over the years. By the end of his career in 2005, he was making wedding cakes for their grandchildren.

    The news of his death this month sparked an outpouring of remembrances on social media.

    “My mother … wouldn’t get dressed to go to the doctors, but she’d call and order and drive down in her nightgown and robe for a curbside pickup,” one social media user wrote. “Her last trip to the hospital, she only worried that we froze her Weinrich order so it didn’t go to waste.”

    “We were just blown away,” said Michael Kirby, the bakery’s general manager and Weinrich’s great nephew. “It’s unbelievable how many people had such fond memories of him and the things we made.”

    Their products travel far, Kirby added. “We have people come from across the country for our butter cakes because they can’t get them anywhere else.”

    Weinrich’s Bakery in Willow Grove.courtesy of Weinrich's Bakery

    Three of Weinrich’s sons still work for the bakery, which is now owned by the third son, Herman, and his wife, Beth.

    Though they took over the store in the 2000s, Weinrich and Kippy still showed up regularly to offer advice and to greet many of the bakery’s lifelong customers.

    After Kippy died of Alzheimer’s disease in 2015, Weinrich retired to Fort Myers, Florida. But he still asked about the bakery daily, Herman and Beth wrote on social media.

    Their cousins’ kids are now there full-time, too, Stephen said: “We have a fourth generation of family working every day in the store.”

    Weinrich was an active member of his parishes at St. David Roman Catholic Church in Willow Grove and then Immaculate Conception Church in Jenkintown, and a longtime supporter of the Abington Police Athletic League, Stephen said.

    “He is and will forever be remembered for his kind presence and loyalty to all of us,” Herman and Beth wrote.

    Funeral arrangements will be made after Weinrich is returned to Pennsylvania, the family said.

    He leaves behind his sons and their families, including 16 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

    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.

  • The Buttery comes to Bryn Mawr | Inquirer Lower Merion

    The Buttery comes to Bryn Mawr | Inquirer Lower Merion

    Hi, Lower Merion! 👋

    Beloved Main Line bakery The Buttery has opened its newest outpost in Bryn Mawr. Take a peek at the owners’ plans and pastries. Also this week, a slate of commercial properties worth millions are for sale, Main Line Health patients who get insurance through UnitedHealthcare won’t see a disruption in care Tuesday, plus a strange breakthrough after a string of thefts.

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

    Now open on Lancaster Avenue

    The pastry case at The Buttery in Bryn Mawr.Allie Ippolito / For The Inquirer

    Sourdough, coffee, and locally sourced eats enthusiasts, this one’s for you. Popular Main Line bakery The Buttery has officially opened its third location at 836 W. Lancaster Ave. in Bryn Mawr.

    The bakery-coffee shop and scratch kitchen mash-up is known for its sourdough breads, homemade pastries, and seasonal dishes. Paoli couple John and Silenia Rhoads opened the first Buttery location in Malvern back in 2015 before expanding into the Ardmore Farmers Market last fall.

    The Rhoadses credited the bakehouse they launched a year ago in Norristown with providing the space and resources they needed to grow the concept. Bryn Mawr felt like “a good center point on the Main Line,” John Rhoads said, with Silenia Rhoads adding she’s already noticed the “sense of community.”

    The 82-seat location offers full breakfast and lunch menus, including bagels, quiches, sandwiches, open-face tartines, salads, and Passenger coffee and tea beverages. Dinner service is anticipated to launch in the fall or winter, the Rhoadses said.

    The Inquirer’s Denali Sagner has all the details.

    🥐 Plus: Nearly 26,000 square feet of downtown Bryn Mawr is for sale, including the building that houses The Buttery.

    💡 Community News

    • Main Line Health and UnitedHealthcare reached an “agreement in principle” on a new contract, Main Line Health said Wednesday. Their current contract was set to expire Tuesday, potentially disrupting service for 32,000 people who rely on the health system’s doctors and have insurance through United. Main Line Health owns Bryn Mawr Hospital and Lankenau Medical Center.
    • Lower Merion’s board of commissioners last week passed an amendment to the township’s gas-powered leaf blower ban that specifies exemptions for walk-behind, stand-on, riding, and tow-behind leaf blowers and vacuums, The Inquirer’s Denali Sagner reports. The board also approved a pay raise for future commissioners from $4,000 to $6,000 annually. The raise will go into effect for commissioners who take officer after Jan. 3, 2028, and will not impact sitting commissioners, unless they are reelected.
    • Township police said they linked a hidden camera found along the 900 block of Stony Lane in Gladwyne to a theft ring connected to several Main Line burglaries. (6abc)
    • Montgomery County has selected six designs for the “I Voted” stickers it will give to voters in November’s election. The county put out a call to local artists earlier this year, receiving over 300 submissions. The final six were designed by county residents ranging from 8 to 42, including one Narberth resident.
    • The Party Place in Ardmore has closed, the Lancaster Avenue business announced this month.
    • A Gladwyne designer recently worked with an Ardmore family to transform the second floor of their older home. To bring it into the current century, Rupam Patheja of Ru and Co. Interior Design knocked down walls in the primary suite to create two walk-in closets, and added colorful wallpaper for flair. Philadelphia magazine took a peek inside.

    🏫 Schools Briefing

    • Summer school kicks off on Monday and continues Monday through Thursday until Aug. 6.
    • Three Lower Merion School District students were honored as winners of the Art & Poetry of Freedom Contest, held as part of Montgomery County’s annual Juneteenth celebration. The K-2 poetry winner was Cora Fusi, a first-grader at Penn Valley Elementary School; the 6-8 poetry winner was Jaliyah Taylor, a seventh-grader at Welsh Valley Elementary School; and the 9-12 poetry winner was Ariel Dichamp, a ninth-grader at Harriton High School.

    🍽️ On our Plate

    • Local healthy foods chain ANEU Kitchens will open its fifth location, a 650-square-foot cafe at the Ardmore Farmers Market in Suburban Square, this Monday. Starting at 8 a.m., the first 100 customers will receive free samples of the brand’s YEU snacks. ANEU also plans to add a 20,000-square-foot production kitchen, eatery, and wellness center in Tredyffrin Township.

    🎳 Things to Do

    🔮 Mystic of the Main Line’s Inception Day: The Ardmore shop is marking its one-year anniversary with readings and refreshments. ⏰ Saturday, June 27, 7-11 p.m. 💵 Pay-as-you-go 📍 Mystic of the Main Line

    🎶 Bryn Mawr Twilight Concerts: Vermont-based singer, songwriter, and guitarist Mihali headlines this week’s show. ⏰ Sunday, June 28, 7 p.m. 💵 $25.88, free for kids 12 and under 📍 Bryn Mawr Gazebo

    🎵 Music in the Park: Four Lean Hounds, a Grateful Dead tribute band, will perform at the next concert. ⏰ Wednesday, July 1, 7 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Narberth Park gazebo

    🏡 On the Market

    A newly built three-bedroom Narberth home

    The home has a dedicated driveway, a garage, and a covered front porch.Colin Burkhardt | Courtesy of Karen Strid/Compass

    This newly built Narberth home is situated in a five-home community and has its own private driveway. The home’s open-concept first floor has a living room and eat-in kitchen with two-tone cabinetry and an island. There are three bedrooms upstairs, including a primary suite with a walk-in closet and a double-sink vanity. The home also has a finished basement and a covered front porch.

    See more photos of the home here.

    Price: $1.25M | Size: 2,199 SF | Acreage: 0.07

    🗞️ 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.

  • Media’s homegrown World Cup star | Inquirer Greater Media

    Media’s homegrown World Cup star | Inquirer Greater Media

    Hi, Greater Media! 👋

    Delaware County-born Auston Trusty is living it up on the U.S. Men’s National Team. Ahead of the World Cup match against Turkey tonight, learn more about the Media native’s local soccer roots. Also this week, a judge denied a motion to dismiss trespassing charges against the so-called Swarthmore 9, measles was detected in area wastewater samples, plus the county announced its cooling center locations amid summer heat.

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    ‘It’s just all meant to be’

    Media’s Auston Trusty (right) embraces Wayne’s Matt Freese after the U.S.’ win over Australia on Friday.Manu Fernandez

    Delco is on the international stage, thanks to some homegrown soccer talent.

    USMNT’s Auston Trusty was born in Media and played with the Nether United Soccer Club in Wallingford in his youth. He attended Penncrest High School, trained at the Philadelphia Union’s youth academy, and began his pro career with the Union.

    “When you’re a little kid, dreaming about the stadiums you play in and the atmospheres and everything involved, to play in a home turf World Cup, get minutes, it’s a dream come true,” the 27-year-old said after Friday’s shutout.

    Read Inquirer reporter Jonathan Tannenwald‘s dispatch to learn how Trusty and a fellow “Delco-head,” Wayne-born Matt Freese, are helping the USMNT make World Cup history.

    ⚽ Plus: See Trusty’s sweet tribute to his local upbringing and career journey on Instagram.

    💡 Community News

    • A Delco judge on Monday denied a motion to dismiss trespassing charges filed against nine people for refusing to leave a pro-Palestinian encampment on Swarthmore College’s campus last spring. The decision sets the stage for the so-called Swarthmore 9 to face trial next week.
    • Main Line Health and UnitedHealthcare reached an “agreement in principle” on a new contract, Main Line Health said Wednesday. Their current contract was set to expire Tuesday, potentially disrupting service for 32,000 people who rely on the health system’s doctors and have insurance through United. Main Line Health owns Riddle Hospital in Middletown Township.
    • Measles was detected in wastewater samples taken in Delaware County on two days earlier this month, health officials said last week, though no one in the county had been officially diagnosed with the disease. Health reporter Aubrey Whelan has more.
    • Middletown Township’s manager, John McMullan, is leaving at the end of August for a new position with another municipality. McMullan shared the news at last week’s council meeting.
    • Roland Walter Bailey, a 64-year-old Media man, has been charged with possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing today. (Daily Times)
    • The county announced its 2026 heat plan to bring relief to residents during periods of extreme heat. As part of the plan, 30 cooling centers will be open across Delco, including at the Swarthmore Public Library and at Helen Kate Furness Free Library in Wallingford.
    • Springfield Mall’s valuation continues to drop and had an appraisal value of $30 million recently, down 73% from when owners PREIT and Simon Property Group took out a loan for it in 2015. At the time, the mall was valued at $112 million. (Bisnow)

    🍽️ On our Plate

    • It’s not hard to find a quality hoagie in Delaware County. Delco.Today rounded up nine sandwich shops worth traveling for in the region, including A Cut Above Deli in Newtown Square and Boccella’s Deli in Havertown.

    🎳 Things to Do

    🎶 Rose Tree Summer Concert Festival: The upcoming lineup features performances from Doobie Brothers tribute band Minute by Minute tonight, blues band Three Fourteen tomorrow, ‘80s tribute band Class of ‘84 on Saturday, and the Blackbird Society Orchestra on Sunday. Next Wednesday, the Chester County Concert Band takes the stage. ⏰ Thursday, June 25-Wednesday, July 1, 7:30 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Rose Tree Park, Media

    🎥 Death on the Brandywine: Catch a screening of this political murder mystery set in the Brandywine Valley. ⏰ Friday, June 26, 8-10 p.m. 💵 $19.50 📍 The Media Theatre

    🇺🇸 A Celebration of Patriotic Sports Movies: Radio personalities Ray Didinger and Glen Macnow are teaming up to host this event looking at iconic U.S. sports movies. ⏰ Saturday, June 27, 7:30 p.m. 💵 $39 📍 PCS Theater, Swarthmore

    ✨ Nature at Night: Learn about fireflies while exploring the arboretum after dark. ⏰ Tuesday, June 30, 8-9:30 p.m. 💵 $10-$25 📍 Tyler Arboretum, Media

    🎂 Swarthmore’s 250th Birthday: The library is throwing a birthday party party in the lead up to the nation’s 250th birthday. ⏰ Wednesday, July 1, 2-4 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Swarthmore Public Library

    🏡 On the Market

    An updated three-bedroom Colonial in Swarthmore

    The home has undergone a number of updates, inside and out.Courtesy of Brian Tuner/Coldwell Banker Realty

    Located less than a mile from the Swarthmore town center, this 1950 Colonial has been extensively updated for modern living. The home features a living room with a fireplace, a three-season room, and an eat-in kitchen with white cabinetry and stainless steel appliances. There are three bedrooms upstairs, including a primary suite and a bonus room. In addition to interior renovations, the home’s systems have also been updated, as have the roof and windows.

    See more photos of the home here.

    Price: $850,000 | Size: 2,262 SF | Acreage: 0.24

    🗞️ 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.

  • Abington is planning a new, multi-million-dollar library to replace its 1950s-era building

    Abington is planning a new, multi-million-dollar library to replace its 1950s-era building

    Abington is planning to tear down and replace its flagship library building.

    The Pennsylvania Department of Education announced more than $11 million in grants in April for libraries across the state. Abington Township received $749,750 “to plan and design a library facility that is sustainable, accessible, efficient and tailored to the needs of the community.”

    Town officials are now hard at work doing just that, Abington Township Public Library executive director Elizabeth Fitzgerald said.

    The library has already put out a call for a fundraising consultant who will help raise the roughly $50 million total that township officials think they’ll need to replace the main library at 1030 Old York Road with something bigger. The consultant will be paid with private donations from the library’s endowment, Fitzgerald said.

    Officials hope some of that money will come from state and federal sources, too. Fitzgerald asked state Sen. Art Haywood about possible funding through the Pennsylvania’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, according to minutes from the May library trustees meeting.

    The 1954 building was previously a Best and Co. department store. Abington took over the property in the mid-1970s.

    A 1957 image of the Best and Co. department store in Abington held at the Library of Congress.Gottscho-Schleisner Collection, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.

    Maintaining the 72-year-old structure has “caused countless interruptions in services and building closures,” Fitzgerald wrote in a statement announcing the grant.

    And the community has now outgrown it, the library director said. Earlier this month, the library hosted author Pam Jenoff at a Penn State building down the road in order to fit some 125 attendees.

    In addition to author events, the library hosts activities for kids, an adult literacy program, and a “library of things“ ranging from birding backpacks to electricity usage monitors.

    Nearly 24,000 people attended over 800 library programs in 2025, Fitzgerald wrote in the grant announcement. “Abington Township needs a new, 21st century library building that can accommodate the needs of our community for generations to come.”

    Next steps include hiring an architectural engineering firm using the state grant money, Fitzgerald said. The town expects to demolish the current structure sometime after September 2027 and rebuild on the same land.

    In the meantime, officials will seek community input on the project “with surveys, focus groups, town halls, and one-on-one conversations,” Fitzgerald wrote.

    “The planning is not in my hands,” she said. “This is the community’s library.”

    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.

  • 🏓 Ping-pong prowess in Phoenixville | Inquirer Chester County

    Hi, Chester County! 👋

    The USA Table Tennis Pennsylvania Open is coming to Phoenixville this weekend. Local players say the sport is about winning glory, but also forming community. Also this week, the county announced a new voter services director, the man accused of randomly shooting a CHOP nurse in Tredyffrin Township appeared in court, and the Spring-Ford school district is moving to fire a teacher supported by community members.

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    ‘I’m finally trying to live my childhood dream’

    About 40 to 50 table tennis players will compete for rankings, cash prizes, and trophies in Phoenixville on June 27 as part of the USA Table Tennis Pennsylvania Open.Photo courtesy of Nick Flor

    Dozens of Philly-area ping-pong enthusiasts will take to the Phoenixville Recreation Center on Saturday for the USA Table Tennis Pennsylvania Open.

    Local players will square off for cash prizes, trophies, and rankings, gathering official points that could even help to one day elevate their USA Table Tennis standing high enough to qualify for the Olympics. Categories include women’s singles, juniors, and over 40.

    But aside from the fame and glory, many Chester County ping-pongers are building community and living out their childhood dreams via the sport. Deepak Gupta, the owner of Exton Table Tennis, said he has built friendships as he plays against other local fathers.

    “Once I started playing table tennis with some of the other dads, we started getting to know each other more as individuals and more as friends,” the 52-year-old said, “and then taking that spirit and … expanding it to a community.”

    The Inquirer’s Brooke Schultz has the details, including on which popular table tennis movie has elevated the sport the most.

    Chester County hires new voter services director

    People fill out mail-in ballots for the 2024 general election at a Voters Services satellite office at the Chester County Government Services Center, Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in West Chester, Pa.Matt Slocum / AP

    West Chester resident Michele DiCaprio will soon take over as Chester County’s new director of voter services, inheriting an office recently marred by controversy, including staff turnover, hostile work environment allegations, and election administration-related issues.

    DiCaprio’s experience as a former foreign service officer sets her up for success in the role, the county said in a news release.

    She replaces Karen Barsoum, who announced her resignation in March and ended her tenure on June 12. DiCaprio will begin the role on July 20.

    Reporter Fallon Roth has more on DiCaprio and what’s on her plate when it comes to repairing residents’ trust in the county’s voting security practices.

    📍 Countywide News

    • Heads up for drivers: Work on a number of area roads could cause delays or detours this week, including on East Reeceville Road, where a monthslong project is slated to get underway. Here’s the roadwork to watch out for this week.
    • Chester County Solid Waste Authority is hosting a household hazardous waste event Friday in Coatesville. Registration is required.

    💡 Community News

    • Steve Jahn, the Berwyn man accused of fatally shooting Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia nurse Megan Nieberle, 53, in Tredyffrin Township in March, appeared for the first time in court Monday. The apparently random act shocked the Chester County community and incited conversation about mental illness and firearms. Jahn, 44, has been charged with first- and third-degree murder, among other crimes.
    • The Chester County District Attorney’s Office is investigating after an officer with the North Coventry Township Police Department was involved in a shooting Monday. Few details were available about the incident as of Tuesday, including whether anyone was injured.
    • Coatesville couple Mousa Hawa and Holly Back were sentenced to decades in prison last week for the murder of their 8-year-old son. Prosecutors said Hunter died of an overdose in 2023 after ingesting drugs in their home, The Inquirer’s Vinny Vella reports.
    • Wawa has filed for a liquor license for its forthcoming location at 799 Valley Forge Rd. in Schuylkill Township.
    • The Borough of West Chester is seeking feedback about a potential shared shuttle bus program with West Chester University. Take the survey here.

    🏫 Schools Briefing

    • Spring-Ford Area School District is moving to fire an eighth-grade Spanish teacher, Jasmine Ewing, for reasons it has not made public. The school board vote to approve a statement of charges came amid an outpouring of community support shared during a public meeting Monday, The Inquirer’s Maddie Hanna reports.
    • Phoenixville Area School District’s board approved Kathryn “Kate” Pacitto as its next assistant superintendent at its most recent meeting. Pacitto currently serves as executive director of curriculum and pupil services for the district. She’s been signed to a five-year contract and will assume the new role July 1.
    • Registration is open for West Chester Area School District’s school safety summit, which will take place Aug. 6 at Rustin High School.

    🍽️ On our Plate

    🎳 Things to Do

    🎙️ Sound of Summer Free Concert Series: Delaware rock band Too Tall Slim and the Guilty Pleasures headlines this week’s show. There will also be food trucks. ⏰ Wednesday, June 24, 6:30-8:30 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Anson B. Nixon Park, Kennett Square

    🎹 Tredyffrin Township Summer Concert Series: Philadelphia-area band The Sin Brothers headline this week’s show. ⏰ Thursday, June 25, 7 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Wilson Farm Park, Wayne

    🍿 Movie Night: West Bradford will screen Wicked: For Good outdoors. There will also be $1 ice creams. ⏰ Thursday, June 25, 8:30 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Broad Run Park, Downingtown

    🍺 Rhythm & Brews: There will be live music, food trucks, and yard games at this recurring New Garden event. ⏰ Tuesday, June 30, 6-8 p.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍 New Garden Park, Landenberg

    🎶 Eagleview Summer Concert Series: Hear local cover band LeCompt, along with special guest and fellow local Lia Menaker. ⏰ Tuesday, June 30, 7-9 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Eagleview Town Center, Exton

    🗞️ 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.

  • Cherry Hill is home to these iconic dishes | Inquirer Cherry Hill

    Cherry Hill is home to these iconic dishes | Inquirer Cherry Hill

    Hello, Cherry Hill! 👋

    The township is home to some of the most iconic dishes in the region, according to our food reporters. Here’s what makes the cut. Also this week, meet the Knicks exec who got his start at East, learn about free legal services for military members and veterans, and find soft-shell crabs at a local eatery.

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    Get hungry

    Find the panzarotti at Tarantini Panzarotti. Clay Hickson / For The Inquirer

    Earlier this month, The Inquirer dropped our list of the 76 most iconic dishes in the region, a handful of which can be found right here in the township.

    Ranking at No. 61 is Santucci’s upside-down pizza, a pie so distinctive reporter Michael Klein said it helps give the region its own pizza identity. You can snag your own square pie with the sauce on the top at the outpost on Springdale Road.

    Head a few miles down Springdale and you can order a panzarotti at Tarantini Panzarotti. The calzone-adjacent food ranks No. 29 on our list.

    Also making the cut at No. 51 is gelati, the decidedly Philly spin on water ice (on its own, it ranks No. 2) and custard. Reporter Beatrice Forman reups the tastiness of a Dubai chocolate dupe at Cherry’s Ice Cream & Water Ice.

    Check out the full list here. But be warned: You’ll be hungry after you finish reading it.

    The Knicks exec with local roots

    Leon Rose (front row, far left) played for Cherry Hill East’s junior varsity as a freshman.Cherry Hill East

    Meeting Leon Rose today means knowing him as president of the New York Knicks, the team that has catapulted to the top of the headlines after clinching its first NBA title since 1973. But when many longtime South Jersey residents think of Rose, memories of a force-to-be-reckoned-with “gym rat” playing and coaching at Cherry Hill East are what come to mind.

    Rose played under head coach John Valore from 1975 to 1979 before joining Valore’s staff in the early ‘80s while studying at Temple University’s law school. Even after attracting clients as famous as 76ers legend Allen Iverson and LeBron James, Rose could be found volunteer coaching at Katz JCC, where his 88-year-old father is still a regular.

    From pickup hoops in Cherry Hill to the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy, take a deep dive into Rose’s basketball legacy with Inquirer reporter Alex Coffey.

    💡 Community News

    • The zoning board is holding a special meeting tomorrow night, which will include discussion about BAPS Cherry Hill’s application to expand its building. The Hindu temple at 1 Carnegie Plaza is looking to add a 15,350-square-foot second story for a gym and classrooms, in addition to a 2,930-square-foot lobby. It’s also looking to add 23 new parking spaces and make some changes to its existing interior and exterior. BAPS’ space now spans over 65,000 square feet.
    • Camden County military members, veterans, and their spouses can access free legal services at the township’s One-Stop Career Center starting this month. The first Veterans Will Clinic, offering last will and testament, power of attorney, and an advance directive, is today. The second will be on July 29, The Inquirer’s Sarah Nicell reports.
    • The community is mourning Robin Cogan, a West alum who became a Camden City School District school nurse and national health and safety advocate. She died of cancer at Cooper University Hospital earlier this month.
    • Camden County residents have reported a spate of roving peacocks in recent weeks. Reporter Sarah Nicell reminds that in March, Cherry Hill had its own rogue peacock sighting.
    • Heads up for drivers: Work continues on Kresson Road, which will have a partial closure westbound between Springdale Road and Ravenswood Way from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. through Friday.
    • Ready for spooky season? Summer just began, but Spirit Halloween is already preparing its return to the Plaza at Cherry Hill. (42 Freeway)

    🏫 Schools Briefing

    • More than 500 East students graduated in a ceremony at Temple University’s Liacouras Center last week. South Jersey Media has photos from the event.
    • East has a relatively high summative rating, according to data from the state Department of Education’s annual School Performance Reports, which gave it an 83.98. The score factors in graduation rates, standardized test scores, student academic growth, and chronic absenteeism, among other things. West’s rating falls considerably lower at 32. (NJ.com)

    🍽️ On our Plate

    • Soft-shell crab season is officially here. Looking for a spot to snag the sweet, briny dish? The Inquirer’s Michael Klein suggests trying the dish at Caffe Aldo Lamberti, where the presentation regularly changes.
    • The “lucky six” soup dumplings at Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao are the best dumplings in the state, according to a ranking from NJ.com. The outlet noted that they come in a rainbow of colors and are filled with ingredient combinations like truffle and pork, scallops and pork, and shrimp and pork.

    🎳 Things to Do

    🛼 Summer Kickoff Skate Party: Celebrate the end of the school year and the state of summer with face painting, a glam station, relay races, and hidden beach balls. ⏰ Thursday, June 25, noon-8 p.m. 💵 $5 admission 📍 Hot Wheelz

    🗓️ In My Bag: Summer Social: This women’s-only event includes line dancing, singalongs, and networking. ⏰ Saturday, June 27, 2-5 p.m. 💵 $24.71 📍 Vera

    🦖 Jurassic Park: Teenagers can catch a screening of the popular 1993 film. Registration is required. ⏰ Tuesday, June 30, 6-8:30 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Cherry Hill Public Library

    🏡 On the Market

    An updated Barclay home with curb appeal

    The front of the home features landscaping and hardscaping.Michael Gilliss/HomeJab | Courtesy of Ashley McGuire/Coldwell Banker Realty

    Located in the Barclay section of Cherry Hill, this four-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bathroom home has undergone a number of updates recently, including a full renovation to the kitchen. The space features stainless steel appliances and a subway tile backsplash. Also on the first floor is a living room, dining room, a den with a fireplace, and a bonus room. Upstairs there’s an office as well as all four bedrooms, including the primary suite with a walk-in closet. Out back, there’s a stone water feature and landscaping.

    See more photos of the property here.

    Price: $625,000 | Size: 2,366 SF | Acreage: 0.27

    🗞️ 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.

  • The housing density debate comes to Narberth | Inquirer Lower Merion

    The housing density debate comes to Narberth | Inquirer Lower Merion

    Hi, Lower Merion! 👋

    As Narberth weighs zoning changes to up housing density, residents are divided on the pros and cons. Here’s what to know. Also this week, we get to know the local dads and granddads gaining internet fame for their a cappella stylings, a Villanova estate gets preserved, plus the iconic local sip you can find nearby.

    Have a question about town? Submit it to Curious Lower Merion and one of our reporters might track down the answer.

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

    Narberth residents are divided on proposed housing density changes

    Narberth is in the middle of a debate over zoning that has raised questions over affordability, neighborhood character, and how far the small borough should go in trying to solve the country’s acute housing shortage. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    As housing costs continue to outpace affordability, a debate has sparked in Narberth about what, if anything, the borough should do to help combat the crisis.

    Narberth has become increasingly expensive, recording the highest median housing sales price in Montgomery County in 2024.

    Last year, borough council asked its planning commission to study possible zoning changes to increase affordable housing, and the commission came back with several suggestions. While nothing has been decided, and likely won’t be for months, residents have decidedly mixed feelings.

    Some say increasing housing density and incentivizing developers to include affordable units would help ease the burden on those otherwise priced out. Others worry it’s a misguided effort that could exacerbate parking woes and reshape the community’s identity without really addressing the problem.

    The Inquirer’s Denali Sagner spoke with residents about both the positives and negatives.

    Meet the Main Line dads and granddads taking the internet by storm

    The Tonics, a Philly-area a capella group made up largely of middle-aged men, rehearse in a member’s kitchen in Haverford on Thursday, May 28, 2026.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    A group of mostly middle-aged Main Line fathers and grandfathers are going viral for their harmonizing.

    Known as the Tonics, the a capella group has gained a global audience thanks to videos of their riffs circulating online. The group has even caught the attention of some big names, including Gigi Hadid and Michael Bublé.

    Most of the group’s 19 members hail from around the Main Line, including Bryn Mawr, Haverford, and Wayne.

    The Inquirer’s Dugan Arnett delves into their history and how they’ve charmed audiences worldwide.

    💡 Community News

    • Reminder for residents: There will be no trash or recycling pickup and the township offices will be closed tomorrow for Juneteenth. See how your pickup could be impacted here.
    • The township is hosting a capital improvement plan workshop Wednesday at 6 p.m. The meeting will also be streamed live and is accessible via Zoom.
    • The 13-acre Oakwell estate in Villanova is officially preserved after two nonprofits, Natural Lands and the Wyncote Foundation, purchased it in two parcels for a combined $13 million. Situated adjacent to Stoneleigh, the property will now be incorporated into the 42-acre public garden.
    • The average starter home in Villanova clocks in with a value of $1 million or more, according to new data from Zillow — about five times the national average. Villanova is the only community in the state to carry the distinction of having starter home pricing that high. The Inquirer’s Michaelle Bond explains the uptick.
    • The community is mourning the death of Bryn Mawr resident Bennett L. Aaron, who died earlier this month at the age of 92. Aaron was a longtime lawyer, honorary trustee of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, and former president of the Federation of Jewish Agencies of Greater Philadelphia.
    • Gladwyne Fire Company is hosting a free car seat safety check event Tuesday from 9 a.m. to noon at the fire house. Advanced registration is required.

    🏫 Schools Briefing

    • The district’s school board voted to repeal its existing technology policy earlier this week, to the frustration of parents who don’t want their kids on district-issued devices. The move could mean the district is no longer required to accommodate families who don’t sign electronic device use agreements as many are pushing to limit school-related screen time for their kids.

    🍽️ On our Plate

    • Last week, The Inquirer dropped its list of the 76 most iconic dishes in the region and there’s a local tie among them. Ranking at No. 15 is La Colombe’s draft latte, a portable version of the “frothy, stylish cold coffee,” reporter Michael Klein says. You can get it in many area stores, as well as at La Colombe’s Bryn Mawr cafe.
    • After much anticipation, The Buttery is opening its newest outpost in Bryn Mawr this weekend. Located at 836 Lancaster Ave. in the former Kindred Collective space, The Buttery will host a grand opening Saturday complete with giveaways and a special pastry. The new location has seating for 82 people and will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

    🎳 Things to Do

    🎶 Bryn Mawr Twilight Concerts: There are two shows this weekend, starting with indie pop singer/songwriter Marielle Kraft and songwriter Kevin Walkman on Friday. On Saturday, Livingston Taylor, who wrote Top-40 hits for his brother James Taylor, takes the stage. ⏰ Friday, June 19, 7 p.m., and Saturday, June 20, 7 p.m. 💵 $25.88, free for kids 12 and under 📍 Bryn Mawr Gazebo

    🍦 Father’s Day Ice Cream Social: Celebrate dad at Harriton House’s annual event, which includes yard games, crafts, and, of course, ice cream. ⏰ Sunday, June 21, 1-4 p.m. 💵 $6.98-$12.16, free for dads 📍 Harriton House

    🍛 Coconut and Turmeric Chickpea Curry with Mrs. Mayuri: Learn to the make this dish and then sample it. Registration is required. ⏰ Wednesday, June 24, 5-6:30 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Ardmore Library

    🎵 Music in the Park: The next concert features country singer/songwriter Craig Bickhardt. ⏰ Wednesday, June 24, 7 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Narberth Park gazebo

    🏡 On the Market

    A four-bedroom Penn Valley home with a basketball hoop

    The home spans just over 3,000 square feet.Dave Ocenas | Courtesy of Damon Michels/Keller Williams

    Built in 1948, this home gives a nod to the past thanks to its classic stone exterior, while the interior is contemporary. It has formal living and dining rooms, the latter with a cool chandelier, a den, a family room, a bonus room, and an eat-in kitchen. There are four bedrooms upstairs and additional living space in the finished basement. Outside, there’s a patio and a basketball hoop.

    See more photos of the home here.

    Price: $1.199M | Size: 3,074 SF | Acreage: 0.65

    🗞️ 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.