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  • Road closures and more to know for Delco 10 Miler | Inquirer Greater Media

    Road closures and more to know for Delco 10 Miler | Inquirer Greater Media

    Hi, Greater Media!

    The Delco 10 Miler returns Sunday, bringing with it a slew of runners as well as road closures. Meet some of the most notable participants and check out how the race could impact your neighborhood. Also this week, we take a peek inside a Wallingford Colonial on the market, Pennsylvania farms are turning to alternative revenue streams like short-term rentals and Halloween displays, plus the second season of Task is filming nearby.

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    Some of the notable runners to see at this year’s Delco 10 Miler

    Zach Miller will be defending his title on Sunday.PEL Productions for Visit Delco

    More than 2,000 runners will hit the pavement Sunday for the second annual Delco 10 Miler, traversing a slightly altered course from Upper Providence Township to the Philadelphia Union’s stadium in Chester.

    Among those running this year are the Getty family, who will be joined on the course by teachers from Wallingford Elementary School. They’ll take turns pushing 8-year-old Will Getty, who has cerebral palsy, to the finish line as part of an effort to raise funds for an accessible playground at the school.

    They’ll race alongside 2024 Team USA Olympian Allie Wilson, a 30-year-old Wallingford native and Strath Haven alum who runs 800-meter events, and Zach Miller, who won the inaugural race last year.

    The Inquirer’s Torin Sweeney shares more about these runners and why they’re lacing up their sneakers Sunday.

    👟 Here are all the racecourse details to know, including road closures.

    💡 Community news

    • A three-bedroom Wallingford Colonial is on the market for $545,000. The couple who bought it seven years ago are relocating so husband Mike Gentile can run his family’s multigenerational Ohio bakery. Take a look inside The Inquirer’s House of the Week.
    • Former Swarthmore resident, literary scholar, and Temple University professor Rachel Blau DuPlessis died last month of respiratory failure at the age of 84. An eclectic experimental poet, she wrote hundreds of poems about feminism, modernism, connectivity, imagery, and consciousness.
    • A group of alumni and students of Haverford, Swarthmore, and Bryn Mawr Colleges signed an open letter calling on Haverford to “preserve the rights to free speech and academic freedom” after the neighboring school settled a lawsuit alleging it allowed antisemitic speech on campus.
    • Airbnb is looking to add more farm stays to its platform and is targeting Pennsylvania farmers. It’s one of the creative ways local farmers are finding alternate revenue sources, something Arasapha Farm has tapped into with its annual Halloween attractions.
    • Kevin Boyer was named to Media’s borough council last month, filling a vacancy through Jan. 1, 2028. Boyer previously served on council from 2014 to 2025.
    • Swarthmore borough is hosting an information session Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Park Avenue Community Center. The meeting includes an overview of 2027 budget issues.
    • Media resident and county employee Anthony “Tony” Oriente made it to the bonus round on an episode of Wheel of Fortune last week, ultimately winning over $25,000, as well as a trip to Vancouver Island. Oriente has previously appeared on The Price is Right and Deal or No Deal. Catch the episode here.
    • Today, Media borough launched its “Fall Frenzy” app challenge, which runs through the end of the month. Participants can take on challenges to better acquaint themselves with the community, with the winning individual or team scoring gift cards.
    • Starting Tuesday and continuing through February, Providence Road will be closed weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. between Cherry Street and the State Road intersection for utility work.

    🗺️ Other nearby news

    🏫 Schools briefing

    • Wallingford-Swarthmore School District is hosting two community conversations next week, one on Wednesday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and another next Friday from 9 to 10 a.m., at Strath Haven Middle School.

    🍽️ On our plate

    • 6abc recently featured the Media Farmers Market in a segment of FYI Philly. The North Edgmont Street spot is a producer- and culinary-focused market that’s seen attendance grow as more people focus on where their food comes from. It’s open Sundays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Looking for other farmers markets? Check out The Inquirer’s guide to area outposts.

    🎳 Things to do

    🗡️ Murder for Two: This musical comedy puts a twist on the classic whodunit. ⏰ Select days from Thursday, Oct. 1-Sunday, Oct. 18, times vary 💵 $27-$47 📍 Media Theatre

    🎨 Delco Arts Week: The annual countywide event pays homage to the region’s varied art scene. ⏰ Saturday, Oct. 3-Sunday, Oct. 11, times vary 💵 Prices vary 📍 Throughout Delaware County

    🍿 Monsters, Inc.: As spooky season officially gets underway, catch a screening of the Disney Pixar classic under the stars. ⏰ Saturday, Oct. 3, 7 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Media Borough Hall lawn

    🍁 State Street Fall Festival: Kick off fall with this harvest stroll-inspired event, complete with over 150 vendors, live entertainment, and kids activities. ⏰ Sunday, Oct. 4, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍 State Street, Media

    🍻 Craft Beer Fest: Sample a selection of local beers and wines while listening to live music. ⏰ Thursday, Oct. 8, 6-9 p.m. 💵 $60 📍 Middletown Free Library, Media

    🗞️ What other Greater Media residents are reading this week:

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

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

  • The second Delco 10 Miler is bigger than last year and will close some county roads. Here’s what to know.

    The second Delco 10 Miler is bigger than last year and will close some county roads. Here’s what to know.

    The Delco 10 Miler will take off again Sunday, cutting a partially different path across the county that organizers hope is safer, more driver-friendly, and more fun for participants.

    In addition to a new course, the race will host up to 2,500 runners, up from 1,200 last year, and benefit some new groups in the community.

    Here’s what to know about the second Delco 10 Miler.

    The Delco 10 Miler’s new course

    Last year’s race followed a mostly straight line down Providence Road from Rose Tree Park before taking a few turns on Widener University’s campus, crossing I-95, and then carrying on through Chester toward Subaru Park.

    The start and end are the same this year, but organizers made a few improvements. Runners will turn off Providence Road at West Rose Valley Road and take a few turns through neighborhoods in Nether Providence. There, the route will meet up with its original course on Widener’s campus.

    Here are the runners to look out for at this year’s Delco 10 Miler

    This change will free up more of Providence Road to drivers and will make it easier for parishioners to attend church services along the route. It is also more runner-friendly, said Diana Shacklock, director of special projects at Visit Delco, the race’s organizer.

    Last year’s course brought runners to a spot where they could see the finish line, but made them run several blocks past it before looping back, Shacklock said. Some runners commented on it after the race, so the loop was eliminated.

    “It is no longer an ugly finish,” race director Kevin Nolan said.

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    Road closures for the race

    Roads along the route will be closed between 7:30 and 10 a.m. Police will have rolling openings and closings, meaning some roads will be open before runners reach that part of the course and after they pass.

    The ramps from the Route 1 Media Bypass to Providence Road/Route 252 will be closed at 7:30 a.m.

    Organizers asked for patience and recommended planning ahead if you need to travel along the route.

    The Delco 10 Miler is back with a new course and twice as many runners

    What runners need to know

    Organizers recommend parking at Subaru Park lot G before the race and taking the shuttle from Subaru Park to the starting line. Shuttles run between 5:30 and 6:30 a.m. Runners can also be dropped off at Springton Lake Middle School near the starting line, but any cars left there will be ticketed and towed, Shacklock said.

    Runners can stow their items in mobile lockers, which will be delivered to the finish line. Unwanted clothing can be donated.

    The first group of runners will take off at 8 a.m. and the rest will be staggered over three- to five-minute intervals. Runners pushing wheelchairs will be able to leave a few minutes before the first corral.

    Runners will be treated to refreshments from Delco Steaks and 2SP Brewing at the finish line.

    What groups are partnering with the Delco 10 Miler this year?

    The race will benefit the HEADstrong Foundation, the Riddle HealthCare Foundation, Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital, the Greenhouse Project, and Delco Volunteers.

    Delco Volunteers was created as an effort to give back during America’s 250th, and funding from the race is intended to help the group continue beyond 2026, organizers said.

    There will be a simultaneous festival at Wallingford Elementary School, with food, games, and a station where attendees can make signs for runners, who will pass directly in front of the school. The school is working with the Kyle Pease Foundation and accepting donations at givebutter.com/wes-loves-pease. Proceeds will go toward making the school’s playground inclusive for children with disabilities.

    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.

  • Here are the runners to look out for at this year’s Delco 10 Miler

    Here are the runners to look out for at this year’s Delco 10 Miler

    The Delco 10 Miler hits the road for the second time Sunday. This year’s race will have a new course and a new pace, and is open to twice as many runners.

    Here are a few of the runners to look out for:

    Dad and son run for a personal cause

    Will Getty, 8, is pumped to run the Delco 10 Miler, said his mom, Jessica, and dad, Mark, who will push him in an adaptive jogging stroller on Sunday. But it’s more than just a fun run for Will, who has cerebral palsy, and his family.

    It is also part of an effort to raise money for an accessible playground at Wallingford Elementary School with help from the Kyle Pease Foundation.

    Pease, 41, who also has cerebral palsy, visited the school in 2025 to meet students and share his foundation’s purpose: creating inclusive opportunities in sports and endurance races for people with disabilities.

    After his visit, teachers began brainstorming. What if Will and Pease participated in the Delco 10 Miler together? And could they support fundraising for the playground at the same time?

    The second Delco 10 Miler is bigger than last year and will close some county roads. Here’s what to know.

    “It was a perfect opportunity to cheer them both on and to hold an event where we could raise the money and awareness of what we’re trying to do here,” special education teacher Lauren Bannon said.

    The school, which is on the race course on Providence Road, will hold a festival with food, games, and a station to create signs for Will from 8 to 10 a.m. on the morning of the race. School officials recommended getting there early before Providence Road closes and using the school’s rear entrance on Kershaw Road.

    The Kyle Pease Foundation donated Will’s jogging stroller and is managing fundraising for the playground. Donations can be made at https://givebutter.com/wes-loves-pease.

    Will’s dad said a group of Wallingford teachers will take turns pushing Will to the finish line. Training has become a new way to bond for Will and his dad, and a playlist of Will’s favorite band, Coldplay, has been essential listening during practice runs.

    “He sees people, waves to them, and if I put the music down for a second, he’s telling me to turn it back up,” Mark Getty said.

    Allie Wilson won a heat in the women’s 800-meter run during the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Team Trials on June 21, 2024, in Eugene, Ore.Charlie Neibergall

    Just a normal Sunday for Olympian Allie Wilson

    Running 10 miles on a Sunday is part of the normal training routine for Strath Haven grad and Olympian Allie Wilson. This weekend, there will be a little more fanfare to it.

    Wilson’s older sister, Val, is running the Delco 10 Miler and asked Allie to join her.

    “I might as well have fun and get to be around other people for once, since I’m usually just running by myself,” Allie Wilson said.

    Is a gold medal in the bag? It’s a little bit longer than her usual race, Wilson said, by 9½ miles.

    “My race is 800 meters,” Wilson said. “It’s less than two minutes long. Like, I’m borderline a sprinter.”

    But you don’t get to the Olympics without a competitive edge. Wilson originally planned to stick with Val in the race, but she said her sister told her not to.

    “I know I’m going to get excited and I’m going to feel left out if I want to be trying to go with the people up front,” Wilson said. “We decided my competitiveness might come out too much.”

    Next up for Wilson after the Delco 10 Miler: She will continue training with her sights set on a return to the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028.

    Zach Miller crossed the finish line first at the Delco 10 Miler on Sept. 28, 2025.PEL Productions for Visit Delco

    A run down memory lane for last year’s winner

    The Delco 10 Miler charts a course through some of the most important parts of Zach Miller’s life.

    The starting line is near Rose Tree Park, where Miller ran cross-country races in high school and later proposed to his wife, Heather. It goes through Media, where he grew up, and passes through Widener University, which is Miller’s alma mater and the place he met Heather.

    “It’s these little nuggets that make the race kind of special to me,” said Miller, 43, of West Chester.

    One more nugget to make it special: Miller won the inaugural 10 Miler last year.

    He has been waking up at 5:15 a.m. on Wednesdays to train with longtime Downingtown West High School cross-country coach Scott Burns and a group of fellow runners.

    “I really wouldn’t be training or, you know, competing at the level I am without the support and kind of accountability of that group,” Miller said.

    Miller said he is excited for this year’s race but considers Steve Jordan, another member of his group who is also training for the Olympics, to be the front-runner.

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

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

    Linvilla’s compost-fueled crops | Inquirer Greater Media

    Hi, Greater Media, and happy fall!

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

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

    Food scraps feed a circular system at Linvilla Orchards

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

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

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

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

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

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

    💡 Community news

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

    🗺️ Other nearby news

    🏫 Schools briefing

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

    🍽️ On our plate

    🎳 Things to do

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

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

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

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

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

    📈 Greater Media market report

    Media

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

    Swarthmore

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

    Wallingford

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

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

    🗞️ What other Greater Media residents are reading this week:

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

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

  • Curbside compost is trending in the Philly suburbs. In Delco, many residents’ scraps are ending up at Linvilla.

    Curbside compost is trending in the Philly suburbs. In Delco, many residents’ scraps are ending up at Linvilla.

    Fifteen years ago, Chris Pieretti was just trying to get people to come around on compost.

    Now, the Upper Darby resident and compost aficionado spends his days traversing the region in his truck, collecting a potpourri of food scraps in green buckets, and turning eggshells, banana peels, and coffee grounds into a nutrient-rich, soil-like product.

    Pieretti is behind Kitchen Harvest, which collects compostable materials and processes them on a five-acre site at Linvilla Orchards in Delaware County. Kitchen Harvest is, in Pieretti’s words, part of “a better, more sustainable future of a full-circle food system.”

    It is part of a growing network of providers and composters across the Philadelphia region who are working to reduce waste and improve food system circularity, where scraps of food once grown in the Earth can return to it, fertilizing soil for new crops.

    With Haverford Township debuting its municipal compost program this summer, joining Media and Swarthmore, among other municipalities, compost purveyors say the practice is breaking out of its crunchy origins and becoming a key part of the region’s waste management strategy.

    Chris Pieretti holds a compost bag at Kitchen Harvest in Delaware County. Pieretti is working with local homes and municipalities to compost food scraps and yard waste. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    What is composting?

    Composting is the process of recycling organic materials like food scraps and yard waste, breaking them down into a brown, soil-like material called compost, and using that material in farms and gardens to enrich other plants and crops.

    The composting process happens on micro and macro scales — in small home gardens and at multi-acre sites like Kitchen Harvest’s.

    Compost advocates tout both its environmental and agricultural benefits. In the U.S., food is the single most common material sent to landfills, where it is responsible for 58% of methane emissions, a powerful greenhouse gas, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Adding compost to soil increases its nutrient content, conserves water by helping retain moisture, and reduces reliance on chemical fertilizers, the EPA says.

    “Food is only wasted when we throw it in the trash. It’s our choice to dispose of it in that method, but we don’t have to,” said Gwenn Nolan, founder of Mother Compost, a company that collects compost material throughout the Philly suburbs and brings it to the Kitchen Harvest site at Linvilla.

    Reading Terminal Market’s efforts to prevent food waste get the attention of the EPA

    Going from ‘crunchy’ to ‘waste management strategy’

    Many compost enthusiasts have a similar story: What started as a backyard experiment grew, through trial and error, into a way of life and, for some, a career.

    Nolan, of Mother Compost, got her start asking 10 friends on the Main Line to try composting so she could test demand for a compost collection service. She bought a small truck, picking up the bins of food scraps early in the morning before heading to her job in financial services. After the pandemic, residential demand ballooned, and Nolan made Mother Compost her full-time job. Now, the company serves around 1,500 homes; schools including Bryn Mawr College and Villanova University; culinary institutions including Reading Terminal Market; and corporate offices.

    Nolan collects compost in her truck and carts it out to Pieretti, whom she calls “the master mixologist,” for processing.

    “It’s really exciting to see the commercial side and the institutional side coming online as well,” Nolan said. “It’s becoming more a piece of the waste management strategy than just this kind of crunchy, environmental practice that I think people thought about it before.”

    Kate Jacoby, who runs Center City vegan restaurant Vedge with her husband, Rich Landau, is one of Nolan’s loyal customers. Jacoby began composting in her small Philadelphia backyard during the pandemic, expanding her home compost operation when the couple moved to Chester County in 2021 and, eventually, bringing composting to the Vedge kitchen.

    “I get such a satisfaction knowing that it’s going to go into the soil and it’s not going to sit in a landfill,” Jacoby said.

    Foods scraps like banana peels, onion skins, and lemons are turned into compost. JESSICA GRIFFIN / Staff Photographer

    An expanding suburban compost network

    As compost accessibility grows, so, too, does the number of municipal governments offering compost services to residents.

    Media became the first municipality to sign on with Kitchen Harvest in 2021, embracing a borough-wide compost program with a catchy “Gotta Getta Bucket” promotional video.

    “The community at-large really supported the idea, and the participation was really high,” Pieretti said of Media.

    Many suburban programs have followed in the footsteps of Bennett Compost, which has been serving the city of Philadelphia since 2009.

    Lower Merion in 2025 debuted both a community drop-off and a curbside pickup pilot program through Mother Compost and Bennett Compost. Swarthmore Borough launched a curbside compost program through EZComposting in January.

    When Haverford Township launched its Kitchen Harvest partnership this summer, Pieretti felt like he had “won the compost championship.”

    In July, Haverford Township collected 162 tons of organic material, an increase of 111 tons from last July, according to township manager Dave Burman, who called the program “pretty successful.” The township also collected 141 fewer tons of trash this July than the year prior.

    Haverford Township’s program is optional, with no additional cost or registration process for residents.

    “We’ve tried to make it as easy as we could for people to participate, and so far, so good,” Burman said.

    Buckets of finished compost at the Kitchen Harvest site at Linvilla Orchards. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    At its best, proponents say, compost creates a circular system. Much of Kitchen Harvest’s compost product is used by Linvilla Orchards to feed the crops, and composters can buy back bags of the finished product at a discounted rate.

    Sarah Linvill, team member at Linvilla, said the farm is grateful to work with Kitchen Harvest and to “be hosts for that kind of work.”

    Composting services are “just invaluable to the community,” Linvill said.

    Nolan called Linvilla “a tremendous resource for the region” when it comes to compost.

    Composters like Jacoby, of Vedge, say they now cannot imagine a world where they simply toss an apple core into the trash.

    “If you really, really dig down and want to get kind of philosophical about it,” Jacoby said, “when your soil is healthy and it’s full of nutrients, you’re going to have better-tasting food for yourself to consume.”

    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.

  • Pulling back on classroom tech | Inquirer Greater Media

    Pulling back on classroom tech | Inquirer Greater Media

    Hi, Greater Media!

    Wallingford-Swarthmore School District continues to adapt its technology usage in the classroom as parents push back on screen time. Here are the latest changes as the school year gets underway. Plus, part of the district was briefly locked down Monday — here’s why. Also this week, the first day of fall is on the horizon and we’ve rounded up the best local spots to view peak foliage.

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

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

    Local districts, including Wallingford-Swarthmore, scale back some tech amid pushback

    Wallingford-Swarthmore School District Superintendent Russell D. Johnston.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    As parents push back on screen time in the classroom, a number of local school districts have made efforts to scale it back, including Wallingford-Swarthmore.

    For the youngest students, that means limits for online assessments and restrictions on YouTube access.

    In making decisions, the district has sought parents’ feedback, including creating a forthcoming Technology Advisory Council focused on device use in grades six to 12.

    For Alex Bird Becker, a parent in the district who’s active in the statewide group PA Unplugged, setting limits gets harder in middle school, where “the device culture has become really ingrained with curriculum,” she said.

    The Inquirer’s Maddie Hanna delves into what steps the district has taken so far and what it hopes to achieve.

    💡 Community News

    The Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art in Chadds Ford.Courtesy of Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art
    • Tuesday is the first day of fall. Making plans for the season? The Inquirer has rounded up can’t-miss festivals, including the Community Arts Center Fall Festival in Wallingford. If you’re looking to leaf peep, check out The Inquirer’s guide to a dozen great spots, including the nearby Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art.
    • A four-month investigation by Nether Providence Township police resulted in five felony arrest warrants being issued last week related to nearly $60,000 in fraudulent withdrawals from a victim’s bank account. Among those accused in the scheme is Robin Massing, who faces unrelated forgery charges for allegedly attempting to change and deposit checks from Media Little League.
    • One member of the cast of hit HBO show Task, which was filmed throughout the region, took home an Emmy Award Monday night. Tom Pelphrey, who played Robbie Prendergrast, won in the supporting actor in a drama series category. Task is returning for a second season, though a release date hasn’t been announced yet.
    • Swarthmore resident and Celia Bookshop literary director Rachel Pastan’s new book came out this week. We’re So Lucky to Live Here follows a 27-year-old protagonist who moves back to her childhood home in the Philadelphia suburbs, struggling to afford it in the wake of her mother’s death. The book was inspired in part by Pastan’s work on the borough’s affordability task force. She’s hosting a book launch and discussion Saturday at 7 p.m.
    • Expect overnight roadwork on Swarthmore Avenue between Dartmouth and Benjamin West Avenues for borough paving from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. through Saturday. And in Nether Providence Township, work on Providence Road between West Rose Valley and Chester Roads switches to overnight hours this week, taking place Mondays through Thursdays from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. Work is expected to continue into early next year.

    🏫 Schools Briefing

    🍽️ On our Plate

    • Looking for gluten-free pizza? Main Line Today rounded up nine spots, including Poseidon Pizza in Media.

    🎳 Things to Do

    🍁 Hayrides at Linvilla: Hayride season arrives at Linvilla this weekend, including autumn moon options and hayrides to the witch’s house. ⏰ Select days, Friday, Sept. 18-Friday, Oct. 30, times vary 💵 $8-$11 in advance, $10-$14 at the door for autumn moon hayrides; $10-$13 in advance, $12-$16 at the door for hayrides to the witch’s house 📍 Linvilla Orchards, Media

    🍔 Food Truckathon: Nosh on bites from over 20 food trucks and listen to live music. ⏰ Friday, Sept. 18, 5-9 p.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍 Swarthmore town center

    🎭 Dear Evan Hansen: See the hit Broadway musical live. ⏰ Select days from Friday, Sept. 18-Saturday, Oct. 3, times vary 💵 $18.50-$30.50 📍 PCS Theater

    🪕 Porchfest: Catch musicians performing on porches throughout Media. ⏰ Saturday, Sept. 19, noon-6 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Throughout Media borough

    📖 Well Red Fundraiser: This Helen Kate Furness Free Library benefit includes food, drinks, and a silent auction. ⏰ Saturday, Sept. 19, 7-10 p.m. 💵 $75 📍 Helen Kate Furness Free Library, Wallingford

    🗞️ 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.

  • Remembering the local pilot who died on 9/11 | Inquirer Greater Media

    Remembering the local pilot who died on 9/11 | Inquirer Greater Media

    Hi, Greater Media. 👋

    Tomorrow marks the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. We look back on the life of the local pilot of one of the ill-fated flights and how his loved ones have ensured his legacy lives on. Also this week, Rose Tree Media School District’s proposed K-1 Early Learning Center moves one step closer to reality, a new breakfast and lunch joint is gearing up to open in a former Media cafe, plus an outdoors store will make its debut.

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    Remembering Michael Horrocks, the local resident who died co-piloting one of the 9/11 flights

    Michael Horrocks’ former West Chester University teammates continue to pay tribute to their late friend, who died co-piloting United Airlines Flight 175 on Sept. 11, 2001.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    When Bob Rafferty ran into Michael Horrocks at the Granite Run Mall in December 2000, neither likely expected it would be the last time they’d see one another. The former West Chester University football teammates briefly caught up amid holiday shopping, with Horrocks mentioning he’d become a commercial pilot.

    About nine months later, Rafferty had a feeling that Horrocks, a Glen Mills resident, might be on one of the hijacked planes that crashed into the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.

    The 38-year-old was co-piloting United Airlines Flight 175, which hit the South Tower.

    After Horrocks’ tragic death, former teammates like Rafferty came together to honor his legacy, including with a scholarship and statue at his alma mater, helping keep his memory alive.

    The Inquirer’s Alex Coffey looks back at Horrocks’ legacy and how his loved ones continue to honor his memory.

    📽️ Hear from his teammates in this Inquirer video.

    🗓️ Delaware County is hosting a remembrance ceremony at Rose Tree Park tomorrow at 11 a.m. to honor those who lost their lives in the 9/11 attacks.

    💡 Community News

    • In case you missed it, last week the boroughs of Rose Valley, Rutledge, and Swarthmore, along with Nether Providence and Upper Providence Townships, voted to establish a new emergency medical services authority. Media, which was previously contemplating joining, opted to continue with its current provider.
    • At its Tuesday meeting, the Middletown Township planning commission voted 4-2 to recommend conditional approval for Rose Tree Media School District’s proposed K-1 Early Learning Center, acting township manager Vincent M. Visoskas told The Inquirer. RTMSD has extended the timeline for the township to make a decision on its application to Nov. 21, he added. Council is next slated to meet on Wednesday.
    • New “outdoor lifestyle store” Media Mercantile is opening its doors on Saturday. Located at 21 E. State St., it’s taking over the former home of Homesewn, which moved about a block away earlier this year.
    • Nemours Children’s Health is slated to open a pediatric urgent care at its Glen Mills facility Wednesday.
    • Eric C. Fransen, 50, of Wallingford, has been charged with touching and secretly filming a girl in a bathroom, according to the Daily Times. Investigators found over 170 photos and videos of the victim that appeared to come from a hidden camera. Fransen is scheduled for a preliminary hearing next Friday.
    • Media native and Penncrest High School alum Norah Martin is one of a few individuals who’s been driving the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile throughout the U.S. this year. Known as “Nacho Dog Norah,” she earned degrees in public relations and Spanish from Penn State prior to embarking on the journey earlier this summer, according to Axios.
    • The county is hosting a household hazardous waste event Saturday at Rose Tree Park, where you can dispose of unwanted items like certain paints, chemicals, and batteries. Registration is required.

    🏫 Schools Briefing

    • Architectural firm KCBA is expected to present updated plans for Strath Haven High School’s renovation at the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District’s facilities committee board meeting Tuesday.

    🍽️ On our Plate

    • Dozens of new restaurants are opening throughout the region this fall, including a new breakfast and lunch spot in Media. The Hungry Hub will take over the former Rivalry Cafe and is targeting an Oct. 1 opening.

    🎳 Things to Do

    🖼️ Arts and Craft Festival: Gear up for fall with this festival featuring vendors, live music, and the start of Pumpkinland. ⏰ Saturday, Sept. 12 and Sunday, Sept. 13, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍 Linvilla Orchards, Media

    🍺 Ship Bottom Oktoberfest: Raise a pint of German-style beer at this festival, complete with food trucks, games, live music, and a stein-holding contest. ⏰ Saturday, Sept. 12, 3-10 p.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍 Ship Bottom Brewery, Swarthmore

    🍔 Middletown Township Food Truck Festival: Food trucks will descend on Longview Park, where there will also be music and games. ⏰ Thursday, Sept. 17, 4-8 p.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍 Longview Park, Media

    🗞️ What other Greater Media residents are reading this week:

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

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

  • Delaware County communities approve ordinance creating EMS authority without Media

    Delaware County communities approve ordinance creating EMS authority without Media

    Five Delaware County communities voted Wednesday to establish a new authority to provide emergency medical services funded by annual fees paid by residents, businesses, and other entities in their municipalities.

    The Municipal Emergency Medical Services Authority of Delaware County will provide advanced life support, or ALS, to Nether Providence, Rose Valley, Rutledge, Swarthmore, and Upper Providence.

    Media was originally part of the working group developing the authority proposal, but announced last week it would not be joining for financial reasons.

    Each community approved an ordinance to join the authority Wednesday night at Strath Haven Middle School and appointed a representative to the authority board.

    A new regional EMS authority, funded by property owners, could be coming to some Delco towns

    Nether Providence, Rose Valley, Rutledge, and Swarthmore voted unanimously to approve the ordinance. Upper Providence voted 3-1 in favor.

    The appointed board members include Nether Providence Township commissioner Max Cooper, former Rose Valley council member David Firn, Rutledge fire marshal Thomas Moleski, former Swarthmore council member Kristen Seymore, and former Upper Providence council member Christen Rexing.

    Creating an EMS authority is essential to provide reliable ALS service by stabilizing funding and staff, Swarthmore Mayor Conlen Booth said. Booth was a member of the authority working group.

    “The authority model, sharing fees across all potential users of the system, is in my opinion the most equitable way to ensure that a reliable EMS service is available to everyone who may need it,” he said.

    Talks kicked off last year shortly after Prospect Medical Holdings closed Crozer-Chester Medical Center and Taylor Hospital, leaving a gap in ALS support throughout the region.

    The authority’s name was originally going to be the Delaware County Emergency Services Authority, but was changed to avoid being confused with other county organizations and make clear that it was only providing medical service and not a police or fire response, Cooper said.

    Nether Providence Township Commissioner Max Cooper speaks after five Delaware County communities approved the creation of a regional EMS authority Wednesday at Strath Haven Middle School in Nether Providence.Torin Sweeney / Staff

    The next steps for the authority

    While the vote established the authority, it won’t immediately go into service. The new board members will be charged with building the authority based on the foundations laid by the working group.

    The recommended fee for residents will be $95 a year, although that is strictly a starting point for discussions, working group members said, and will be subject to future public hearings.

    “Ninety-five dollars is similar to the yearly voluntary subscription models that many of our local firehouses use, and is similar to other recently formed EMS authorities in the state,” Cooper said. “This works out to less than $8 a month and our working group views it as a reasonable cost to ensure stable funding for such a critically important service.”

    Businesses, nonprofit entities, and the municipalities themselves will have to contribute yearly fees as well. Using an authority and fee-based model was important for making sure nonprofits contribute to the costs of an EMS service, Cooper said. Nonprofits would not have to contribute if the system were tax based.

    “We anticipate this will decrease the amount of taxes which will need to be dedicated to this system, and relieve some municipal pressure to raise taxes on residents every year,” Cooper said.

    The board will have to decide the level of staffing and equipment needed. A potential partnership with Main Line Health is being discussed to provide some level of service.

    “The authority could contract just their staff, but the authority could choose to own the ambulances and equipment,” Booth said. “It could also be that the authority contracts them to provide all the services in their entirety and then the board manages the contract. There’s a lot of potential.”

    Representatives from Nether Providence, Rose Valley, Rutledge, Swarthmore, and Upper Providence pose for a picture after approving an ordinance to create a regional EMS authority Wednesday at Strath Haven Middle School in Nether Providence.Torin Sweeney / Staff

    The working group hosted a presentation about the EMS authority and took public comments before each town approved the ordinance. Several attendees who identified themselves as Upper Providence residents spoke against the authority, questioning the logistics and cost.

    “This is a tax increase, like it or not,” Upper Providence resident Justin Perry said to scattered applause.

    Another Upper Providence resident, former longtime Marple Township Ambulance Corps member Vince Delvacchio, spoke in support.

    “I don’t know where you think you’re going to get an ambulance if we don’t do this,” Delvacchio said, to more applause.

    Why Media opted out of the authority proposal

    Media had been part of the working group for the proposed authority, but borough council decided not to proceed for financial reasons, Borough Manager Brittany Forman said.

    The borough has an existing contract with Main Line Health to provide ALS service and had been in discussions with them about projected 2027 costs. The council tasked Forman with comparing how those costs would affect taxpayers vs. the authority’s proposed fees for residents and businesses.

    Ultimately the borough determined it would be less expensive to stay with Main Line Health, Forman said.

    “Our council is interested to see this get implemented and really does want to keep the dialogue open,” Forman said. “Even though we’re not joining this year, I think this is still just a great step for the region.”

  • Your guide to local apple picking | Inquirer Greater Media

    Your guide to local apple picking | Inquirer Greater Media

    Hi, Greater Media! 👋

    September is officially here and with it apple-picking season. Here’s our guide to great local spots. If sipping something apple flavored is more your vibe, Ship Bottom Brewery, with its local outposts, is in the midst of releasing its fall lineup. Also this week, discussions are slated to resume on Rose Tree Media’s proposed early education center, a woman has been charged with stealing funds from a local Little League outfit, plus the county has a new tool to help it track flooding.

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

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

    Apple-picking season is here

    Apple-picking season is approaching at Linvilla Orchards. Linvilla Orchard

    While this week’s weather may not suggest it, September is officially here, which means all things pumpkin spice and apple are right around the corner.

    Luckily the region has no shortage of spots to go apple picking and a relatively long runway to score the fruit at the peak of its season. While crops took a hit due to a late spring freeze, two of Media’s best-known orchards have pick-your-own options this fall.

    Both Indian Orchards Farm and Linvilla Orchards grow about 25 varieties and are gearing up for hayride offerings. You can also grab apple cider donuts and attend fall festivities at Linvilla.

    Looking to venture further afield? Here’s a guide to the region’s orchards.

    💡 Community News

    • Middletown Township’s planning commission is set to resume discussions about the proposed Rose Tree Media K-1 Early Learning Center during a meeting Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Penn State Brandywine. The district is aiming to build on open land behind Penncrest High School, a proposal that’s received considerable community pushback, with residents citing traffic safety concerns.
    • Delaware County plans to install 70 flood gauges to help it better track data and plan for future extreme weather, as well as improve flood responses. Possible gauge locations include Little Crum Creek and Smedley Park. The region has experienced an unusually high number of flooding events this summer, posting some of the largest numbers of warnings issued nationwide.
    • A 57-year-old woman, Robin Massing, was charged this week after allegedly stealing more than $7,000 from Media Little League, including through forgery and bad checks.
    • Media lawyer Daniel A. Pallen pleaded guilty this week to tax evasion and mail fraud related to submitting over $400,000 in fake checks as part of a scheme to evade federal taxes. He is also accused of using a fake cashier’s check to purchase a vehicle. Pallen, whose offices are at 114 W. Front St., faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
    • A Media man, Matthew McDonough, 40, was charged last week with burglary and criminal trespass after he allegedly broke into the Fine Wine & Good Spirits store on Baltimore Avenue and was later found bloody and drunk in Glen Providence Park, the Daily Times reports.
    • Longtime Media resident Jeffrey Louis Pettit, a lawyer and former member of the Rose Tree Media school board, died last week at the age of 76. A graduate of Yale University and Villanova Law School, Pettit was also active in the lacrosse community, founding lacrosse and field hockey youth sports organization Rose Tree Media Optimist Sports.
    • Trash and recycling pickups may operate on an altered schedule for Labor Day. Check with your municipality or service provider for details.

    🏫 Schools Briefing

    • Both Rose Tree Media and Wallingford-Swarthmore School Districts are closed Monday for Labor Day. RTMSD is also closed tomorrow.
    • Tonight is the Media Bowl, which will see Penncrest take on Strath Haven. The 7 p.m. football game takes place at Penncrest and includes a kindergarten run prior to kickoff.

    🍽️ On our Plate

    • Ship Bottom Brewery, which has an outpost in Swarthmore and at Linvilla, is gearing up for fall with new brews. The Oktoberfest-inspired Festbier lager is a 5.2% ABV with Czech Saaz hops, while the 9.4% ABV Imperial Pumpkin Ale blends pumpkin pie spices with vanilla. Both will come in cans and on draft. Ship Bottom also has plans to bring back its Cider Donut Hard Cider in partnership with Linvilla.

    🎳 Things to Do

    🍿 Freakier Friday: Catch the much-anticipated follow-up to the 2003 Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis body-swap film. ⏰ Saturday, Sept. 5, 8 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Media Borough Hall lawn

    🎸 90s Unplugged: Hear a set of covers featuring iconic 1990s hits including “Zombie,” “Wonderwall,” and “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” ⏰ Saturday, Sept. 5, 8:45 p.m. 💵 $39.96-$88.56 📍 Media Theatre

    🎈 PCS 115th Birthday Party: The theater will mark its anniversary with a special cabaret show, food, and drinks. ⏰ Thursday, Sept. 10, 6 p.m. 💵 $28.50 📍 Players Club of Swarthmore

    🗞️ 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.

  • Woman charged with forging checks to steal from a Delco Little League team

    Woman charged with forging checks to steal from a Delco Little League team

    A woman is facing multiple charges, including forgery, after authorities said she stole more than $7,000 from a Little League team in Delaware County.

    Robin Massing, 57, was charged Tuesday, following an investigation into fraudulent checks.

    Media Little League upper management contacted the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office to report check fraud, telling authorities three checks were mailed on behalf of the organization and sent through a mailbox in Upper Providence Township, in May 2025.

    In February, the Little League got word that one of the checks was deposited via mobile to Philadelphia Federal Credit Union for $7,200. But the amount, endorsement, and signature had been changed.

    A month later, a Fulton Bank in Southampton contacted the Little League management to verify a payment they found suspicious, the District Attorney’s Office said.

    Like the February check, the name and amount had also been changed, but the check number was the same as the February one, leading the bank to open its own investigation.

    According to the District Attorney’s Office, the bank retrieved footage that identified Massing as the person behind the theft.

    No lawyer is listed in court records for Massing, who was described in the affidavit as homeless.

    In June 2025, Massing was detained in Chester County for producing and forging a check at TD Bank, the District Attorney’s Office said.

    Now, Massing faces one count of forgery, bad checks, theft by unlawful taking, and receiving stolen property.

    The Media Little League has been organizing and teaching baseball to the community since 1952. In 2023, they made it all the way to Little League Baseball World Series in Williamsport.

    “It is hard to imagine a more disappointing target for personal greed than an organization raising money for kids,” said District Attorney Tanner Rouse in a Wednesday statement.

    The money was meant to go to uniforms, equipment, fields, and other resources for the kids, Rouse said.

    “To steal those funds and use forged checks to divert money for personal benefit is not just a financial crime; it is a profound betrayal of the entire community,” Rouse said.