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Author: Lisa Dukart

  • People’s Light cast reunites for ‘Steel Magnolias’ | Inquirer Chester County

    People’s Light cast reunites for ‘Steel Magnolias’ | Inquirer Chester County

    Hi, Chester County! 👋

    A beloved production recently took the stage at People’s Light in Malvern, and thanks to a longtime bond, the cast thinks it will connect with modern audiences. Also this week, a West Caln man has pleaded guilty in the death of his 12-year-old daughter, dining habit changes are impacting some local restaurants, plus municipalities are getting a major cash influx for parks and open space.

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    ‘Steel Magnolias’ cast forges yet another bond among these actors

    Some of the members of the cast of “Steel Magnolias” have known each other for decades.

    People’s Light in Malvern kicked off its latest performance on Sunday with the debut of Steel Magnolias, which runs through Feb. 15. Much like the characters in the show, the cast and director bringing them to life have surprisingly long and deep connections.

    Some have known each other for 50 years and have overlapped in at least a dozen shows recently. They believe those connections are an asset on stage as they portray women who show both vulnerability and support for one another, something they imagine will strike a chord with today’s audiences.

    The Inquirer’s Brooke Schultz sat down with members of the cast to talk about their relationships and how it translates to the show.

    📍 Countywide News

    • PennDot is nearing completion of a new design for proposed changes along a 7.5-mile stretch of U.S. 30 impacting the communities of Caln, East Brandywine, Easttown, West Brandywine, Uwchlan, and Downingtown. The plan calls for widening the road by up to 35 feet and introducing flexible use lanes. Construction on the $874 million project isn’t expected to start until spring 2034.
    • The Chester County Economic Development Council held its 22nd annual economic outlook last week, analyzing the local, national, and global economic landscape. With generally low consumer sentiment across the nation, experts advised local businesses that there could be an uptick come tax refund time. The Inquirer’s Brooke Schultz has several other key takeaways from the event, including on affordability, and recent job and population growth.
    • Dozens of Philadelphia Police Department employees live in Chester County, according to a new Inquirer analysis, which shows about a third of full-time staff live outside the city. The largest concentrations in Chesco are in Coatesville (18), West Grove (13), West Chester (eight), Avondale, Downingtown, and Phoenixville (six each), and Malvern (five). See a map of where employees live here.
    • West Chester nonprofit Friends Association is marking the opening of its new family shelter and office today. The new facility, located at 825 Paoli Pike in West Chester, will provide emergency housing for families in need. It has 10 apartments consisting of two- and three-bedroom units, which more than doubles the organization’s housing capacity from six families to 16.

    💡 Community News

    • Developer Stonewall Capital has closed on its purchase of a 187-acre tract of land in New Garden Township, making way for it to build a $300 million mixed-use project with 622 residential units and 115,000 square feet of commercial space. While there has been pushback from some residents, Township Manager Christopher Himes said the development will add more affordable housing to the region. (Philadelphia Business Journal)
    • On Friday, Rendell Hoagland, 54, of West Caln, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the death of his daughter, Malinda, who died in May 2024 from severe malnutrition. Hoagland and his fiancee, Cindy Marie Warren, allegedly tortured the 12-year-old for months before her death. Hoagland will be confined in prison for life without the possibility of parole, while Warren, who is also charged with first-degree murder and related crimes, is scheduled for a pretrial hearing in May.
    • Earlier this month, a jury found Avondale resident and former New Garden Township Supervisor Warren Reynolds guilty of over 30 charges, including aggravated indecent assault. Reynolds was charged in 2022 with sexually abusing a girl when she was 8 to 13 years old and in his care between 1999 and 2003.
    • Herman “Pluck” McMullen of Coatesville was sentenced earlier this month to nine to 18 years in state prison for drug dealing. McMullen was arrested in 2024 in connection with the so-called “Bad Bunny” drug ring, helping transport fentanyl-laced heroin that led to multiple fatal overdoses from Philadelphia to Coatesville.
    • Municipalities throughout Chester County were recently awarded over $6 million from the state’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Community Conservation Partnerships Program Grants, which will go toward land acquisitions, park improvements, and plenty of pickleball courts. Some notable fund allocations will go to: Natural Lands to help it pay for over 21 acres of passive recreation and open space in Newlin Township ($1.2 million); Caln Township to develop the next phase of the planned 3-mile Beaver Creek Trail ($472,500); rehabilitation and development of Towpath Park in East Coventry Township ($330,000); additional development of East Fallowfield Township Community Park, including pickleball courts and pedestrian walkways ($250,000); work on Nichol Park in London Britain Township, including pickleball courts and pedestrian walkways ($121,600); new play equipment at Kenilworth Park in North Coventry Township ($119,900); construction of pickleball courts, a dog park, and a pedestrian walkway at Layton Park in West Caln Township ($250,000); and construction of pedestrian walkways, a pavilion, and pickleball courts at West Nantmeal Park ($250,000). Westtown Township also received $75,000 to help it develop a comprehensive plan for Crebilly Preserve and the county received $500,000 toward the rehabilitation design of the Downingtown Trestle.
    • Two other parcels of land are being preserved in the county. Nonprofit Natural Lands has preserved 23.4 acres in East Bradford Township under a conservation easement. And Schuylkill Township recently completed its $17 million purchase of the 64.7-acre Sedgley Farm property, bringing a nearly 20-year effort to preserve the land, which is also home to the historic William Reeves House, to a close. The township will embark on plans for the property, which is not currently open to the public.
    • Pocopson Township is gearing up to form a Comprehensive Plan Task Force and is seeking two community members to provide input throughout the process. The township’s most recent comprehensive plan was adopted in 2014.
    • The Oxford Area Historical Association is planning to purchase its longtime home at 119 S. 5th St. in Oxford, the former site of the Union School building, after getting a $700,000 investment from the state. The organization plans to continue developing the location into a “gateway for regional tourism.”
    • Chester Road between South Fairfield and South Waterloo Roads in Easttown Township will be closed to regular traffic tomorrow, Friday, and Monday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for sewer work. Residents will be asked by the inspector to limit water usage during work on their section.
    • Friday is the last day for Malvern Borough residents to submit a request to have a shade tree planted this spring.
    • Claranda Tay Candles Co. has opened a brick-and-mortar at 9 N. 2nd Ave. in Coatesville. The brand sells elaborate candles that look like desserts and will offer candle-making classes and events at its new shop.
    • Nightingale Materials, the art supply and gift store on North High Street in West Chester, plans to close its doors on March 15.

    🏫 Schools Briefing

    • Kennett Consolidated School District’s board of school directors approved the 2026-27 instructional calendar last week, which you can see here. Classes will start about a week later, on Aug. 31, but end around the same time. The district has also done away with one October closure and an in-service day.
    • West Chester Area School District has released course selection and course guides for next school year for students in sixth through 12th grade.

    🍽️ On our Plate

    • A new dim sum joint has opened in West Chester. Located at 127 W. Gay St., Dim Sum Taste specializes in Shanghai cuisine and offers an array of dumplings, stir-fries, and other dishes.
    • Consumers’ dining habits have changed in recent years, whether for financial reasons or because of the growing use of GLP-1 drugs. Stove & Co. is seeing smaller tabs at some of its more casual spots (it operates Al Pastor in Exton, Stove & Tap in West Chester, and Revival Pizza Pub in Chester Springs), with diners foregoing things like appetizers, a second drink, and dessert. That’s not the case at its steakhouse Joey Chops, though.

    🎳 Things to Do

    🎤 Sugar Mountain: Musicians will pay tribute to Neil Young by performing some of his most iconic songs. ⏰ Friday, Jan. 23, 7:30 p.m. 💵 $41-$60 📍 Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center, West Chester

    🎶 Name That Tune Trivia Night: Test your musical knowledge at this trivia night, where individuals and teams of four can compete. There will also be music from The Holts. ⏰ Saturday, Jan. 24, 6 p.m. 💵 $12 for individuals, $40 for teams 📍 Steel City Coffeehouse & Brewery, Coatesville

    🧘 Beer & Yoga: Start your morning with this all-levels yoga class, followed by a beer. ⏰ Sunday, Jan. 25, 10-11 a.m. 💵 $20 📍 Victory Brewing Downingtown

    🏡 On the Market

    A five-bedroom Kennett Square home with an outdoor space for entertaining

    The home has an outdoor living space complete with a TV, gas fireplace, and motorized screens.

    This spacious Kennett Square home provides plenty of room to spread out. The first floor features an open-concept dining and living area complete with a fireplace, a formal living room, and a modern kitchen with a waterfall quartz island. An adjoining breakfast room leads to one of the home’s most impressive features: an outdoor living space with motorized screens, a TV, a gas fireplace, and heat lamps. There are four bedrooms on the upper level, including a primary suite with a walk-in closet and sitting room, while the walk-out lower level, which has a bar and theater room, has space for another suite.

    See more photos of the home here.

    Price: $983,000 | Size: 5,952 SF | Acreage: 1.11

    🗞️ 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.

  • A teen’s search for her mom’s long-lost demo | Inquirer Cherry Hill

    A teen’s search for her mom’s long-lost demo | Inquirer Cherry Hill

    Hello, Cherry Hill! 👋

    What would you do to find a long-lost piece of a parent’s past? One Cherry Hill teen has spent four years on such a quest. Here’s why. Also this week, work is underway for a 64-unit affordable apartment project, plus there are more changes at the mall.

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    This Cherry Hill teen is on a mission to find her mom’s long-lost demo

    Cherry Hill High School East junior Charlotte Astor is on the hunt for a copy of her mom’s long-lost demo.

    A Cherry Hill teenager has embarked on an unlikely journey to find a demo tape her mom recorded with her hardcore band more than 30 years ago.

    Charlotte Astor, a 16-year-old East student, has gone down something of a rabbit hole in search of a tangible connection to her mom’s youth, turning up leads across the country.

    Everything Astor knows about her 47-year-old mom is from stories, but she wants something more. Astor’s quest has connected her with hundreds of people who have tried to help locate one of just a few dozens copies of the tape, made shortly before the group broke up.

    The Inquirer’s Dugan Arnett delves into Astor’s search and the unexpected connections she’s made along the way.

    💡 Community News

    • Township tax bills for the first half of 2026 will be sent out Friday, and residents will have extra time to pay them due to the delayed mailing. There will be an extended grace period until Feb. 18.
    • Work is underway to clear a vacant former residential property at 1991 Route 70 East near Wexford Leas Swim Club. A developer plans to build 64 affordable apartments, including 52 senior independent-living apartments and 12 units for those needing supportive care. (70 and 73)
    • A few mall updates: The Dick’s House of Sport is starting to take shape, with steel framing now rising at the site of the former One Cherry Hill office building. The 120,000-square-foot store is slated to open sometime this year. And inside the mall, plus-size women’s clothing brand Torrid and accessories and apparel retailer Michael Kors recently closed their doors. (42 Freeway)
    • The township is hosting two meetings in the next week where residents 55 and older can provide feedback on the ongoing senior needs assessment. About a third of the township’s residents are 55 and older, so officials want to understand their specific needs. The meetings will take place at the library tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Tuesday from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

    🏫 Schools Briefing

    • There’s a preschool information session tonight at 6:30 p.m. at West’s new auditorium. And on Tuesday, the Board of Education will host a meeting at 6:30 p.m. See the district’s full calendar here.
    • The school district is currently looking to expand its experiential learning program for seniors and is seeking businesses to offer internship-like experiences. Juniors apply and interview for positions and the program runs from September to March. Learn more about the program here.

    🍽️ On our Plate

    🎳 Things to Do

    🛼 Soda Pop Boba Skate Party: K-Pop fans won’t want to miss this themed skate party, which will feature the popular Korean music, along with Top 40 hits. Popping boba flights will also be available for $9. ⏰ Friday, Jan. 23, 6:30-9:30 p.m. 💵 $14 admission, plus $6 skate rental 📍Hot Wheelz

    ☪️ Create and Celebrate: Kids ages 7 to 12 can make crafts inspired by Muslim culture and traditions as part of the library’s Muslim Heritage Month for Kids series. Registration is required. ⏰ Saturday, Jan. 24, 10 a.m.-noon 💵 Free 📍Cherry Hill Public Library

    🎶 Wicked Drag Brunch: Performers will dress as characters from the iconic Broadway show-turned-movie and belt out favorite tunes. ⏰ Sunday, Jan. 25, 2:30-5 p.m. 💵 $19.03 📍Vera

    🏡 On the Market

    An updated five-bedroom home with a show-stopping kitchen

    The 12-foot island has seating for eight people.

    This five-bedroom Voken Tract home has undergone a full makeover, giving it a sleek and bright interior offset by black accents. The home has a living room with a wood-burning fireplace and a wine bar, and an open-concept dining and sitting area that flows into the kitchen, which features a 12-foot island, white cabinetry, quartz countertops, a stone-tiled backsplash, and professional-grade appliances. There are five bedrooms, including a primary suite with a walk-in closet, soaking tub, and double vanity. Other features include a finished basement, an in-ground pool, and outdoor dining and entertaining areas.

    See more photos of the home here.

    Price: $1.3M | Size: 4,030 SF | Acreage: 0.95

    🗞️ 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.

  • Peek inside a Villanova estate for sale for $9.9M | Inquirer Lower Merion

    Peek inside a Villanova estate for sale for $9.9M | Inquirer Lower Merion

    Hi, Lower Merion! 👋

    In the market for not one, but two multimillion dollar homes? We take a look at a Villanova property for sale for nearly $10 million. Also this week, a pair of Bala Cynwyd natives are expanding their bagel shop with a Montgomery Avenue outpost, Rosemont College has been asked to submit reports to its accrediting body ahead of its closure, plus there are a dozen other restaurant openings we’re keeping tabs on.

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    This two-home Villanova estate could be yours for $9.9M

    The listing includes the main fieldstone house, which spans over 11,000 square feet.

    A 3.85-acre Villanova estate featuring a sprawling century-old, seven-bedroom home and a more modern carriage house have hit the market for a combined $9.9 million.

    Located on Creighton Road, which the listing agent says has become known as the “estate street,” the properties are being sold together or separately, but with one caveat: If a buyer doesn’t want both, then the main home must sell first before the owners will entertain offers on the carriage house.

    The main fieldstone house spans over 11,000 square feet and has a commercial kitchen, a solarium, a wine cellar, a movie room, and a gym, while the carriage house spans just over 1,000 square feet and has a heated saltwater pool.

    Take a peek inside.

    Bart’s Bagels is Bala Cynwyd bound

    Bart’s Bagels specializes in kettle-boiled bagels.

    Bala Cynwyd brothers Brett and Kyle Frankel are coming home. Sort of. The duo behind West and South Philadelphia shop Bart’s Bagels is expanding to a third location, this time in their hometown of Bala Cynwyd.

    The new shop is planned to open this summer at 273 Montgomery Ave. There, the Lower Merion High School alums will dish up kettle-boiled bagels — which patrons can watch being made — along with smoked meats, egg sandwiches, and unique schmears.

    Read more about the Frankels and their latest bagel shop.

    💡 Community News

    • In case you missed it, design firm Haldon House is partnering with billionaire Jeff Yass and his wife Janine on a proposal reimagining part of downtown Gladwyne. Last week, Haldon House unveiled plans to redevelop a half-dozen properties with historic architecture, green spaces, and new businesses.
    • A Montgomery County office that one commissioner described as a less controversial version of the Department of Government Efficiency has helped save the county $14 million since its founding last February.
    • The Middle States Commission on Higher Education has asked Rosemont College to provide information on its student records and finances and policies as the liberal arts school winds down ahead of its closure in 2028. It’s unclear what prompted the request, but the school has until Tuesday to comply.
    • Barbara Thomas, 46, was sentenced this week in Montgomery County Court for her role in a $1.76 million Medicaid fraud scheme at Bala Cynwyd-based ComfortZone Home Health Care. From 2020 to 2023, when Thomas was the office manager and a case manager, the home care agency allegedly submitted fabricated Medicaid reimbursement claims. Thomas has been sentenced to serve nine to 23 months in prison and ordered to pay $1.39 million in restitution in part with her co-defendants. So far, 18 people have pleaded guilty to involvement in the scheme.
    • Good news for Regional Rail riders: SEPTA last week restored 24 express trips, including on the Paoli/Thorndale line, which had previously been operating as local services.
    • The final phase of Ardmore’s Suburban Square redevelopment is set to open later this month. Developers spent $100 million to create Coulter Place, which has 131 apartments and 20,000 square feet of retail space that has been leased to New Balance, Rhone, Sugared + Bronzed, Skin Laundry, and Barry’s. Two retail spaces remain. Rent for a one-bedroom unit in the five-story building, which has a fitness center and pool deck for residents, starts at around $3,000 per month. (Philadelphia Business Journal)
    • Heads up for drivers and pedestrians: With work underway on the mixed-use Piazza development in Ardmore, there will be sidewalk closures on Lancaster Avenue between Greenfield and Ardmore Avenues through its completion, which is projected for early 2028.
    • Part of Lancaster Avenue, between Indian Creek Lane and Woodcircle Drive, will also have a weekday lane closure in both directions from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. as PennDot installs new lane departure signage. Installation will begin tomorrow and run through next Friday.
    • Part of Elmwood and South Narberth Avenues in Narberth will be closed to traffic starting Monday for bridge construction. Pedestrians and cyclists will have designated access.
    • Thinking about a home renovation? Inquirer contributor Terri Akman recently spoke with couples who overhauled parts of their home for tips on protecting their relationships through what can be a stressful process. Wynnewood couple Jena and Brandon Fisher, who updated all of their home’s bathrooms, recognized their different approaches to decision-making up front. Here’s how other couples approached renovations.
    • Speaking of home renovations, the founders of Gladwyne interior design firm Bergman Vass recently launched a new minimalist furniture collection. The duo is planning to open a showroom in Philadelphia’s Navy Yard early this year where buyers can see the items in person. (Philadelphia Magazine)
    • Ever have a question about the township you can’t answer? Submit it to Curious Lower Merion and one of our reporters might try to track down the answer.

    🏫 Schools Briefing

    • In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the school district is hosting a “Junior Afternoon of Service” today from 4 to 6 p.m., when students and their families can help with various community projects.
    • The district is closed Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. There are several concerts today and tonight and Black Rock eighth graders will pose for their class photo tomorrow. Tuesday begins the midyear experience for Lower Merion and Harriton High students. See the district’s full calendar here.
    • After new Pennsylvania School Code requirements went into effect at the start of the year, LMSD is reminding families about how it will communicate about weapons found on school property, offering a three-tiered approach. See it here.

    🍽️ On our Plate

    • Lower Merion’s restaurant scene is set to boom in 2026, with nearly a dozen openings in the coming months, including Dim Sum Factory, EMei, and Malooga. A little further along the Main Line, Salt Korean Barbecue Steakhouse/Yugo is planning a late summer opening in Devon, while Testa Rossa, from the team behind White Dog Cafe, is slated to open in Radnor this spring. The Inquirer’s Michael Klein has rounded up the region’s anticipated openings. With so many new restaurants on the way, the Main Line has landed among Klein’s “hot neighborhoods” for dining this year.
    • Speaking of openings, Love & Honey Fried Chicken, which opened last month at 1111 W. Lancaster Ave., is hosting a grand opening for its Bryn Mawr location on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be giveaways, discounted food, a ribbon cutting, and music.
    • And with openings come some closings. Belmont Hills BYOB Core de Roma, which specialized in Roman cuisine, has closed after five years. In a note on its website, the team behind the restaurant said it had decided not to buy the space or extend its lease at 201 Jefferson St. In September, the real estate hit the market with an asking price of $599,000.

    🎳 Things to Do

    🎸 The Ledbetters: Hear the Pearl Jam tribute perform some of the band’s biggest hits. ⏰ Friday, Jan. 16, 8 p.m. 💵 $33.38 📍 Ardmore Music Hall

    🧸 Paddington 2: Catch a screening of the sequel to the beloved children’s movie. There’s another screening on Jan. 31. ⏰ Saturday, Jan. 17, 11 a.m. 💵 $6.75-$7.75 📍 Bryn Mawr Film Institute

    🍹 Wallace Dry Goods x Home Appetit Moms Night Out: Geared toward moms, including those who are pregnant or nursing, sample non-alcoholic beverages and light bites. Registration is required. ⏰ Wednesday, Jan. 21, 5-7 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Wallace Dry Goods

    🪴 Herbal Teas, Salves and Tinctures Workshop: Learn to create your own blends during this guided class. ⏰ Wednesday, Jan. 21, 6-8 p.m. 💵 $45 📍 Plant4Good

    🏡 On the Market

    A five-bedroom 1900s Colonial with a separate studio

    The stone Colonial dates back to 1900.

    Built in 1900, this Ardmore Colonial blends classic design elements — like dormers and a portico — with modern living. There are a number of fireplaces throughout, including in the living room, dining room, and a bedroom. The five-bedroom home features original woodwork and crown moldings, has a sunroom leading to the patio, and a kitchen with granite countertops, including a large island. Its five bedrooms are spread across the second and third floors, including the second-floor primary suite which has a walk-in closet, a standalone tub, and a fireplace. Other features include a partially finished basement and a detached two-car garage with a studio apartment. There’s an open house Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m.

    See more photos of the home here.

    Price: $1.595M | Size: 3,699 SF | Acreage: 0.33

    🗞️ 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.

  • 8 Media restaurants with happy hour deals | Inquirer Greater Media

    8 Media restaurants with happy hour deals | Inquirer Greater Media

    Hi, Greater Media! 👋

    Looking for a great happy hour spot? We’ve rounded up eight to try right now. Also this week, demonstrators protested ICE actions outside the Delaware County Courthouse, Kate Winslet teased the return of Mare of Easttown, plus a Nordstrom Rack is opening at the Promenade at Granite Run.

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    8 Media happy hours to try right now

    There are plenty of spots to enjoy happy hour in Media this winter.

    Looking for a spot to grab a light bite or drink during happy hour this winter? Media has plenty of options to choose from — and with special pricing — whether you’re looking for a classic cocktail, a specialty sip, or shareable bites like tandoori chicken dumplings, buck-a-shuck oysters, or arancini.

    The Inquirer’s Denali Sagner has rounded up eight spots in Media with happy hour offerings, including relative newcomers like Departure or Maris Mediterranean and longtime favorites like Spasso Italian Grill or Stephen’s on State.

    See what’s on the menu at these eight happy hours.

    💡 Community News

    • Scores of demonstrators protesting the killing of Renee Good by an ICE officer gathered across the region over the weekend, including in Media. Protesters ranging in age chanted “United we stand, divided we fall” outside the Delaware County Courthouse on Sunday, while some children carried crayon-drawn signs with messages like “ICE Cream, not ICE.” One Wallingford woman brought her 8-year-old daughter and said she came out because “I want to show them it’s important to stand up to a bully.”
    • Could popular HBO series Mare of Easttown return for a second season? Kate Winslet seems to be ready for the Delaware County-set show, created by Berwyn native Brad Ingelsby, to return, and recently indicated filming could start as early as 2027. While the award-winning actor is on board, nothing official has been announced yet.
    • The offerings at the Promenade at Granite Run are growing. Retailer Nordstrom Rack plans to open a 30,000-square-foot shop there this fall, and SweatHouz, which specializes in contrast therapy, opened yesterday. Located in the ground floor retail section of apartment building eleven33, SweatHouz offers infrared sauna and cold plunge therapy in private suites. The Promenade is also adding a small-format Ikea this year and recently welcomed food hall Wonder.
    • Good news for Regional Rail riders: SEPTA last week restored 24 express trips, including on the Media/Wawa line, which had previously been operating as local services.
    • Riddle Hospital’s emergency medical service, Riddle EMS, has been rebranded as Main Line Health EMS in an effort to better align it with the wider health system. It serves all four of the system’s hospitals, including Riddle.
    • Media Borough has been awarded nearly $600,000 in state grants to support the purchase of a new ambulance, pedestrian enhancements, and the Barrall Park Field and tennis courts project.
    • Heart & Soul’d, the nonprofit thrift store that supports foster care and adoption services, is now open at its new location at 407 Dartmouth Ave. in Swarthmore. It moved there from its previous home at 14 Park Ave., also in Swarthmore.
    • Kandy Kids Toys and Gifts, located at 5 S. Chester Rd. in Swarthmore, announced last week that it will close at the end of February after 10 years in business.
    • The GameStop at Marple Cross Roads in Springfield shuttered last week as part of a mass closure by the gaming retail store.
    • The rehab hospital at the site of the former Concordville Inn in Glen Mills is getting closer to opening. Encompass Health plans to open the 50-bed inpatient facility in May. It will offer care to patients recovering from strokes, brain and spinal cord injuries, amputations, and other orthopedic conditions. (Philadelphia Business Journal)
    • Jonathan Prichard IV, a longtime Swarthmore resident who lives on one of his family’s original homesteads, told 6abc he was shocked to learn about robberies of human remains from a cemetery straddling Philadelphia and Yeadon Borough where his great-great-grandfather was buried. Last week, a Lancaster County man was charged with stealing more than 100 pieces of human remains from the site. Investigators are also looking into whether the man tried to sell them on social media.
    • Certified Laughter Yoga Master Trainer Alexa Fong Drubay is helping area residents discover a lesser-known form of yoga that is intended to help with stress relief. Based in Media, Fong Drubay offers individual and group classes on laughter yoga, which focuses on poses that hone in on yogic breathing. Laughter yoga is credited to a doctor in India, who started it in 1995. “Don’t we all deserve a little bit more laughter in our life?” Fong Drubay told 6abc in a recent segment.

    🏫 Schools Briefing

    • There are no classes tomorrow for Wallingford-Swarthmore School District, which has a teacher in-service day. The district is then closed Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. See the full calendar here.
    • Rose Tree Media School District is closed Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. There’s a winter talent show tomorrow evening, and next week is Springton Lake’s spirit week. See the district’s full calendar here.

    🍽️ On our Plate

    • Terrain Cafe, which has a location in Glen Mills, is hosting a “bonus restaurant week” from Jan. 26 through Feb. 8, featuring prix fixe brunch and dinner menus for $30 and $45 per person, respectively. Both meals include a starter, half salad, and an entrée.

    🎳 Things to Do

    🩰 Ballet of Lights: Sleeping Beauty: Tickets are going fast for this ballet performance of the classic fairytale, where dancers will wear glow-in-the-dark costumes. ⏰ Friday, Jan. 16, 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. 💵 $44-$69 📍The Media Theatre

    🎵 A Proud Monkey: Hear tunes from the Dave Matthews Band tribute. ⏰ Saturday, Jan. 17, 8-11:30 p.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍Shere-E-Punjab, Media

    🥾 Martin Luther King Jr. Day Mini-Adventure Camp: Kids in kindergarten through third grade will explore the arboretum, go hiking, play games, and make crafts. ⏰ Monday, Jan. 19, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 💵 $30-$113 📍Tyler Arboretum

    🎭 Draw the Circle: This one-person show by Mashuq Mushtaq Deen explores the courage it takes to live as your authentic self. ⏰ Wednesday, Jan. 21-Sunday, Feb. 1, times vary 💵 $20-$35 📍Hedgerow Theatre, Rose Valley

    🏡 On the Market

    A century-old Dutch Colonial with ample outdoor living space

    The home was built in the Dutch Colonial style and sits on a hill.

    This stately and historic home is just a short walk to the heart of downtown Media. Built in 1926, the Dutch Colonial has an updated interior, including living, dining, and family rooms, as well as a kitchen with granite countertops, an island, and double wall ovens. There are three bedrooms, including a primary suite with a walk-in closet on the second floor, and a fourth ensuite bedroom on the third floor. There’s plenty of living space outside, too, thanks to a covered side porch and a slate patio with a stone fireplace and built-in pizza oven.

    See more photos of the home here.

    Price: $970,000 | Size: 3,351 SF | Acreage: 0.69

    🗞️ 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.

  • Get ready for an artsy new restaurant and cocktail bar | Inquirer Chester County

    Get ready for an artsy new restaurant and cocktail bar | Inquirer Chester County

    Hi, Chester County! 👋

    The group helping to revitalize Kennett Square’s Birch Street has two new projects in the works, including a restaurant and cocktail lounge. Also this week, a vacant office building in Exton has been converted to a new use, a Coatesville native is appearing on the new season of a reality TV show alongside Donna Kelce, plus why The Inquirer’s Craig LaBan says this West Chester restaurant is one to watch.

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    A new restaurant and cocktail lounge is opening in Kennett Square

    A rendering depicts the proposed exterior of Opus, a new restaurant and cocktail lounge slated to open in the summer.

    A new restaurant and cocktail lounge is coming to Kennett Square this summer. Opus will take over the two-story space at 201 Birch St., which is adjoined to 14-room boutique hotel Artelo. The restaurant space was most recently occupied by Hank’s Place while the Chadds Ford institution rebuilt its longtime home, which was flooded by Hurricane Ida in 2021.

    The 6,000-square-foot building will have a two-story terrace with outdoor dining and serve New American cuisine.

    Opus is the latest development from Square Roots Collective, which has been helping to revitalize Birch Street for the past decade, including through projects like The Creamery, the former dairy turned family-friendly beer garden. Another of its nearby projects, The Francis, is set to open this year. The boutique hotel at 205 S. Union St., also in Kennett Square, will have eight rooms in a reimagined 18th-century home.

    Read more about Opus and The Francis.

    📍 Countywide News

    • Scores of demonstrators protesting the killing of Renee Good by an ICE officer gathered across the region over the weekend, including a rally in West Chester on Sunday that drew about 1,000 attendees. (Daily Local News)
    • County officials are reviewing findings from an investigation into an error that excluded independent voters from poll books during the November election. Officials said they will develop a plan following their review so that similar errors don’t happen again. The county will present findings and its response at the Board of Elections meeting on Jan. 27 at 7 p.m.
    • PennDot is hosting two public meetings in the next week regarding plans for what it’s dubbed the U.S. 30 Eastern Project Area, which includes alternative routes for the Route 30 mainline and the Reeceville Road, Route 340, and Route 322 interchanges, as well as revised alternatives for the Norwood Road and Route 113 interchanges. The construction is part of a larger project to upgrade 14.5 miles of the Coatesville-Downingtown Bypass to reduce traffic congestion, improve safety, and accommodate future development. The first meeting will be held virtually tomorrow at 6 p.m. There’s a second in-person meeting on Tuesday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Pope John Paul II Regional Catholic Elementary School in West Brandywine Township.
    • Good news for Regional Rail riders: SEPTA last week restored 24 express trips, including on the Paoli/Thorndale line, which had previously been operating as local services.

    💡 Community News

    • Four police officers were injured last week when responding to a call on the 400 block of Main Street in Atglen Borough. The officers detained Jon Marcos Muniz, who allegedly fired a handgun into two occupied apartments and barricaded his front door. No other injuries were reported. Muniz is facing a number of felony and misdemeanor charges.
    • M. Patricia Muller was selected as chair of Kennett Township’s Board of Supervisors last week, making her the first woman in the township’s history to hold the role.
    • West Vincent Township’s Board of Supervisors voted last week to pass an ordinance increasing membership on its Open Space Review Board from five to seven members. It also added a trails subcommittee.
    • Heads up for drivers: Newark Road in West Marlborough Township will be closed Monday through Friday next week from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for tree removal. Norwood Road in East Caln Township will be operating as a single lane with flaggers next Monday through Friday for sewer line work. Peco will be doing electrical work along Happy Creek Lane and Copeland School Road in West Bradford Township as part of a $450,000 infrastructure project to improve reliability and reduce outages, including from storms. Work is scheduled to take place January through April and will impact both roads and some residential yards.
    • A vacant office building at 319 N. Pottstown Pike in Exton has been transformed into “hotel-apartments” with 24 studio and eight one-bedroom units. The group behind it plans to market The Flats On 100 to consultants and visitors of nearby employers, such as Vanguard and QVC, and sees it as a potential model for the region’s empty office buildings.
    • Also in Exton, retailer Nordstrom Rack plans to open a 30,000-square-foot shop at Main Street at Exton this fall.
    • Could popular HBO series Mare of Easttown return for a second season? Kate Winslet seems to be ready for the Delaware County-set show, created by Berwyn native Brad Ingelsby, to return, and recently indicated filming could start as early as 2027. While the award-winning actor is on board, nothing official has been announced yet.
    • Coatesville native and figure skating icon Johnny Weir made his debut on the fourth season of Peacock reality TV show The Traitors last week. Weir is joined on this season of challenge-meets-eliminations-style show — hosted by Alan Cumming at his castle in Scotland — by Donna Kelce, Tara Lipinski, and a slew of reality TV personalities. The first three episodes dropped last week. Catch up on what happened here. (Warning: Spoilers!)
    • Phoenixville residents may have recently spotted an unusual sight on phone poles: Fliers that read “Seeking: Experienced Witch to Curse My Ex.” The Inquirer’s Brooke Schultz delves into how they came to be.
    • The GameStop at 1115 West Chester Pike in West Chester shuttered last week as part of a mass closure by the gaming retailer.

    🏫 Schools Briefing

    • Reminder for families: There are no classes Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
    • Avon Grove School District is considering adopting a new textbook, myPerspectives, from Savvas Learning Company for sixth through eighth grade English Language Arts students next school year. The public can review the textbook, which was put to the school’s education committee for consideration earlier this month, and provide feedback during a 30-day period through early February. The proposed change comes as part of the district’s regular curriculum review cycle, said Jason Kotch, assistant superintendent for teaching and learning.
    • Tredyffrin/Easttown School District has released its 2026-27 preliminary budget proposal, which includes a $14.9 million operational deficit. The district’s board and administration say they plan to close the gap through “a combination of increases in the property tax rate, expenditure reductions, or the use of existing reserves.” It will host budget workshops on March 9 and April 13, with plans to adopt the budget in June. The board will not vote on a tax rate before June 8. See the preliminary budget here. The district is also hosting a special school board meeting tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. at Conestoga High School to discuss the school board director vacancy. And from Jan. 20 to 26, there will be an open registration period for all new kindergarten and first grade students planning to start school in September.
    • Octorara Area School District is hosting a “kindergarten readiness” event tomorrow from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Octorara Primary Learning Center in Atglen for families with children eligible for kindergarten next school year.
    • West Chester Area School District student registration for the 2026-27 school year is open.

    🍽️ On our Plate

    🎳 Things to Do

    👭 Steel Magnolias: Tickets are going fast for this adaptation of the popular 1989 film taking center stage for its monthlong run at People’s Light. ⏰ Wednesday, Jan. 14-Sunday, Feb. 15, days and times vary 💵 Prices vary 📍 People’s Light, Malvern

    🍔 Taste of Phoenixville: Now in its 24th year, the annual fundraiser will bring together over 20 food and drink vendors. There will also be live music and a silent auction. ⏰ Thursday, Jan. 15, 6 p.m. 💵 $150 📍 Franklin Commons, Phoenixville

    🌿 Winter Wonder: While Christmas may get most of the attention, Longwood Gardens’ conservatories will be filled with colorful plants throughout the remainder of winter. The gardens are open daily except Tuesdays. ⏰ Friday, Jan. 16-Sunday, March 22 💵 $17-$32 for non-members, free to members 📍 Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square

    🎭 Broadway at the Colonial Theatre: Several Broadway stars, including area native Amanda Jane Cooper, who played Glinda in the North American tour of Wicked, will perform. ⏰ Sunday, Jan. 18, 7 p.m. 💵 $30-$65 📍 The Colonial Theatre, Phoenixville

    🏡 On the Market

    A West Chester Colonial accessed via a covered bridge

    The front of the home has a covered porch.

    Situated in a wooded stretch of East Goshen, this Colonial, along with several others in its cul-de-sac, has a unique access point: Locksley Covered Bridge, which was erected in the 1960s. The four-bedroom, two-and-half-bath home features a family room, living room, dining room, and eat-in kitchen, which has granite countertops and a wood-burning fireplace. There’s a screened-in porch off the dining room, with skylights and brick flooring, which leads to the backyard, where there’s a patio and play set.

    See more photos of the property here.

    Price: $764,000 | Size: 3,137 SF | Acreage: 1

    🗞️ 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.

  • Where does South Jersey start anyway? | Inquirer Cherry Hill

    Where does South Jersey start anyway? | Inquirer Cherry Hill

    Hello, Cherry Hill! 👋

    It’s the great debate: Where does South Jersey start, and is there even a Central Jersey? Let us know what you think by marking South Jersey on our interactive map. Also this week, a high-end gym is opening in Ellisburg Shopping Center, plus a Tony Award-winning Broadway show currently at the Academy of Music has surprisingly local ties.

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    Where does South Jersey actually start?

    It’s a longstanding question: Where does South Jersey start? Is the dividing line the same as where Eagles fans stop and Giants fans begin? Is it based on your area code? Is there some other sign that you’ve crossed from the North to the South?

    The Inquirer is posing that very question to readers, along with one other hotly debated item: Is there such a thing as Central Jersey?

    Readers can weigh in on both and see how others responded here.

    💡 Community News

    • A high-end gym is taking over the former Buy Buy Baby space in the Ellisburg Shopping Center. Club Studio Fitness is expected to open a 30,240-square-foot gym in spring 2027. Club Studio Fitness, the boutique-style gym from parent company LA Fitness, is known for its premium amenities like cryotherapy and red-light therapy, a juice bar, stretch stations, and locker rooms, in addition to its fitness and wellness offerings. Memberships at Club Studio Fitness’ only other New Jersey location, in Edgewater, range from $189 to $249 per month.
    • In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the township is hosting two service events in the coming week. On Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m., volunteers will help with trail maintenance throughout Croft Farm. And on Monday, kids 11 to 17 can participate in a youth leadership workshop with the police department. Advanced registration is required.
    • Two Cherry Hill residents are among the 2026 Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Medal recipients, awarded by Camden County. Artist Giselle Brown and Col. Ted Gallagher, director of veterans affairs for Camden County, will be recognized alongside nine other recipients next Wednesday. Brown is a 17-year-old whose work has been recognized at the local, state, and national level, and Gallagher is a decorated 28-year military veteran who went on to work at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services before joining the county.
    • Broadway show Suffs is currently in town and has two South Jersey connections, one far less obvious than the other. The touring musical, which is at the Academy of Music through Sunday, was created by playwright, composer, and actor Shaina Taub, whose mother is a Cherry Hill native. It follows the suffrage movement and centers on South Jersey Quaker activist Alice Paul, who was born in Mount Laurel. The Inquirer’s Rosa Cartagena dives into what inspired the Tony Award-winning production.
    • Washington, D.C.-based Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies has named a new principal to its Cherry Hill office. Braxton Plummer will help grow the government relations firm’s practice throughout New Jersey and the region.
    • Park Royal Orthodontics recently opened at 921 Haddonfield Rd. at Towne Place at Garden State Park. The practice offers orthodontic care for all ages.
    • A clarification: We noted in last week’s newsletter that Appliances Outlet will be moving into the space occupied by Whole Hog Cafe and Wine Legend. Appliances Outlet will only take over part of the space, and neither of the current businesses are slated to close.

    🏫 Schools Briefing

    🍽️ On our Plate

    • Chick’s Deli got a shout-out from BestofNJ.com as one of the best sandwich shops in New Jersey. The website noted specialty sandwiches like the chicken cheesesteak with broccoli rabe and sharp provolone “really shine.” It also suggested trying the mushroom cheesesteak.

    🎳 Things to Do

    ♒ Napkin Wars: Battle of the Zodiac!: Represent your zodiac sign during this fun “napkin war” party, where three DJs will spin tunes. ⏰ Saturday, Jan. 17, 9 p.m.-2 a.m. 💵 $19.03 📍 Vera

    👩‍⚕️ Game Plan for Wellness: Jefferson Cherry Hill Hospital’s community health expo will include wellness stations and tables, healthcare screenings, cooking and exercise demos, and more. ⏰ Sunday, Jan. 18, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Jefferson Cherry Hill Hospital

    🧁 Valentine’s Day Cupcake Decorating: Registration opens tomorrow for this event geared toward kids in sixth through 12th grade. ⏰ Sunday, Feb. 8, 2-3:30 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Cherry Hill Public Library

    🏡 On the Market

    A four-bedroom Olde Springs home with an eye-catching kitchen

    The kitchen island has cabinetry which contrasts with the slate-gray cabinets throughout the rest of the space.

    Located in the Olde Springs neighborhood, this four-bedroom, three-and-a-half bathroom home blends classic and modern design elements. Its first floor features include a dining room, a multipurpose room with a tiled fireplace, a laundry and mudroom, and an open-concept kitchen and living room. The kitchen has a large island with white cabinetry that contrasts with the slate-gray cabinets throughout the rest of the space and matches the subway tile backsplash. It opens into a two-story living room. The bedrooms are upstairs, including a primary suite with a double vanity and soaking tub.

    See more photos of the home here.

    Price: $800,000 | Size: 4,053 SF | Acreage: 0.41

    🗞️ 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.

  • Meet the township’s five new commissioners | Inquirer Lower Merion

    Meet the township’s five new commissioners | Inquirer Lower Merion

    Hi, Lower Merion! 👋

    Welcome to the first full week of 2026. To kick off the year, we get to know the township’s five new commissioners, who were sworn in Monday. Also this week, a popular Manayunk bakery specializing in gluten-free breads and pastries is moving to Bryn Mawr, plus construction on The Piazza is underway.

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

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

    Get to know Lower Merion’s five new commissioners

    Lower Merion has five new commissioners.

    Five new Lower Merion commissioners were sworn in Monday evening: Michael Daly, Charles Gregory, Christine McGuire, Craig Timberlake, and Shelby Sparrow. Each replaces a township official who chose not to seek reelection.

    The new commissioners come from across the township and have varied backgrounds, including local government, law, forensic psychology, business, and community organizing.

    With its new members now in place, the board will make some big decisions in the year ahead, including negotiating collective bargaining agreements, overseeing Main Line Health’s redevelopment of the St. Charles Borromeo Seminary property, and addressing township finances, The Inquirer’s Denali Sagner reports.

    Learn more about the new commissioners and what’s on the docket for 2026.

    A popular gluten-free bakery is moving to Bryn Mawr

    Lila Colello is bringing her popular gluten-free bakery Flakely to Bryn Mawr.

    Popular Manayunk bakery Flakely is relocating to Bryn Mawr in February, where it will take over a former hookah lounge at 1007 W. Lancaster Ave.

    Flakely is known for its gluten-free breads and pastries and is the brainchild of Lila Colello, who’s worked for the Ritz Carlton and Wolfgang Puck Catering. She came up with the business after being diagnosed with Celiac disease.

    The new location, which will be takeout only, will offer everything from fresh baguettes to browned butter chocolate chip cookies, as well as frozen take-and-bake doughs, The Inquirer’s Beatrice Forman reports.

    Read more about Flakely’s new Main Line location here.

    💡 Community News

    🏫 Schools Briefing

    • Harriton High School is hosting its winter one act plays today through Saturday, and a number of other schools will have concerts next week. There are evening conferences at both high schools tonight and school board committee meetings Monday, in addition to an education association council meeting. See the district’s full calendar here.

    🍽️ On our Plate

    🎳 Things to Do

    🎶 Unforgettable Fire: Tickets are going fast for the U2 tribute band which will perform some of the Irish outfit’s best-known songs. ⏰ Friday, Jan. 9, 8 p.m. 💵 $33.38 📍 Ardmore Music Hall

    🍿 Paddington: See the film adaptation of the beloved children’s series on the big screen. Bryn Mawr Film Institute will have another screening on Jan. 24, plus screenings of the sequel on Jan. 17 and Jan. 31. ⏰ Saturday, Jan. 10, 11 a.m. 💵 $6.75-$7.75 📍 Bryn Mawr Film Institute

    🌹 Create Beautiful Paper Poppies: Add a little color to your winter by learning to make paper versions of these flowers. ⏰ Tuesday, Jan. 13, 6-8 p.m. 💵 $40 📍 Plant 4 Good

    🏡 On the Market

    A century-old stone Colonial in Merion Station

    The stone colonial was built in 1925.

    Built in 1925, this classic five-bedroom stone Colonial mixes modern amenities with classic charm. Its features include a living room with a fireplace, a family room, a dining room, and a modern kitchen with exposed wood beams and white cabinetry.

    See more photos of the property here.

    Price: $1.3M | Size: 3,110 SF | Acreage: 0.32

    🗞️ 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.

  • Meet this Media biochemist-turned-artist | Inquirer Greater Media

    Meet this Media biochemist-turned-artist | Inquirer Greater Media

    Hi, Greater Media! 👋

    Welcome to the first full week of 2026. To kick off the new year, get to know a Media artist who blends folk art from her native India with scenes from the area. Also this week, the new mayors of Media and Swarthmore have been sworn in, along with county officials, including the new district attorney.

    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.

    How a Media artist blends Indian folk art with local imagery

    Rinal Parikh poses in her Media studio with a few of her paintings.

    It’s not every day that you come across a biochemist who is also an artist, but that’s the case for Rinal Parikh.

    Born in India, Parikh has lived in the U.S. for 20 years, and from her home in Media blends several traditional styles of Indian art, drawing on observations from her own backyard.

    The 43-year-old delved into art after her son was born with health complications, stepping away from the lab to focus on him. She soon found inspiration and an artistic community, including at the Creative Living Room in Swarthmore, The Inquirer’s Denali Sagner reports.

    Today, her work, which spans the traditional Indian folk forms Warli, Madhubani, and Kalamkari, adorns her family’s home and has been exhibited throughout the region.

    Read more about what inspires Parikh’s works here.

    💡 Community News

    • This week marked a new era for a number of municipal and countywide roles, as recently elected officials took office. On Monday evening, Joi Washington was sworn in as the new mayor of Media, making her the first woman and first person of color to hold the office. And in Swarthmore, Conlen Booth was sworn in as mayor, succeeding Marty Spiegel. Booth is Swarthmore fire chief and previously worked for Crozer-Keystone Health System and its successor, Crozer Health. (The Swarthmorean)
    • Delaware County has a new district attorney. Tanner Rouse was sworn in Monday, taking over for Jack Stollsteimer. The Inquirer’s Vinny Vella spoke with Rouse about his goals, including continuing to reduce violent crime and the possibility of reciprocity agreements with his counterparts in other collar counties.
    • Also at the county level, Siddiq Kamara has been sworn in as sheriff. Just 30 years old, Kamara is the youngest sheriff in the U.S., according to the county, and the first Liberian-American to hold the office in Delco. (NBC10)
    • Pennsylvania State Police are investigating a sexual assault that was reported last month on the Chester Creek Trail in Middletown Township. A 24-year-old woman from Chester was allegedly raped shortly after midnight on Dec. 5. No additional details have been released. See the report on Page 8 here.
    • Have a Christmas tree to dispose of? Middletown Township is collecting them through Jan. 16. Trees should be placed curbside by 8 a.m. Swarthmore Borough will conduct a final round of curbside pickups next week. See your schedule here. Media will collect trees wherever you put your trash out throughout the month. And Nether Providence township is collecting trees curbside through Jan. 30.

    🏫 Schools Briefing

    • Rose Tree Media has a school board work session tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Springton Lake Middle School. See the district’s full calendar here.
    • In Wallingford-Swarthmore, there’s a Strath Haven High School Home and School Association meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m. and parent-teacher organization meetings for Wallingford and Nether Providence Elementary Schools on Tuesday evening. See the district’s full calendar here.

    🍽️ On our Plate

    • In case you missed it, The Inquirer’s Michael Klein reflected on the most notable restaurant openings of 2025. Among them is Maris, Loïc Barnieu’s Mediterranean eatery on West State Street in Media that opened late last year. See the full list here.
    • Santucci’s Original Square Pizza, which has a location in Media, is among the best takeout pizza spots in the Philadelphia suburbs, according to The Keystone, which noted the plain pie is served with cheese on the bottom and a generous coating of garlicky sauce on top.

    🎳 Things to Do

    ❄️ Snowy Songs, Stories & Sparkly Art: In this month’s Second Saturday Family Fun Series, kids ages 18 months to 5 years old can explore music, art, and stories with their caregivers. Registration is recommended. ⏰ Saturday, Jan. 10, 10:30-11:30 a.m. 💵 Free 📍Park Avenue Community Center, Swarthmore

    🌱 Winter Gardening: Seed Starting for Pollinators: It’s never too early to start preparing for spring. Learn how and what seeds you can start sowing now. ⏰ Sunday, Jan. 11, 1-2:30 p.m. 💵 $21.25 for members, $25 for non-members 📍Tyler Arboretum, Media

    🖼️ January 2026 Artists Reception: Explore the latest artwork on display at the Community Arts Center, including pieces from Carolyn Kline-Coyle and Jennifer Domal. ⏰ Monday, Jan. 12, 2-4 p.m. 💵 Free 📍Community Arts Center, Wallingford

    🏡 On the Market

    A charming five-bedroom Colonial in Rose Valley

    The Rose Valley home spans over 3,600 square feet.

    Built in 1937, this five-bedroom Colonial in Rose Valley exudes charm thanks to a covered front porch, dormers, and exposed stone along the front façade. Some of its features include a living room that has an ornate fireplace with handmade inlays; a dining room with a large brick fireplace; an updated kitchen; and a family room with another fireplace. The primary suite has its own bathroom as well as built-in wardrobes.

    See more photos of the home here.

    Price: $975,000 | Size: 3,641 SF | Acreage: 0.58

    🗞️ 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.

  • A Malvern teen is launching free art classes for kids | Inquirer Chester County

    A Malvern teen is launching free art classes for kids | Inquirer Chester County

    Hi, Chester County! 👋

    Welcome to the first full week of 2026. We’re kicking off the new year with the story of a Malvern teen who’s helping kids find joy in art. Also this week, four new county officials have been sworn in, West Bradford Township’s property taxes are being slashed, plus the search is on for a new tenant at the former Iron Hill in West Chester.

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

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

    A 15-year-old’s nonprofit looks to spread the joy of art

    Faridah Ismaila launched nonprofit A Paint-full of Promise to connect younger students with free monthly art classes.

    A Great Valley High School sophomore will soon be bringing her passion for art to young students in the district.

    Inspired by the phrase “Do what makes you happy,” Faridah Ismaila recently launched nonprofit A Paint-full of Promise to provide free monthly art classes for kindergarteners through sixth graders, The Inquirer’s Brooke Schultz reports.

    The program is slated to kick off this month with a winter wonderland-themed class. Ismaila is working with district educators to offer the workshops where students can learn new skills and express themselves.

    Read more about what inspired A Paint-full of Promise.

    📍 Countywide News

    💡 Community News

    • Erica Deuso was sworn in Monday as mayor of Downingtown, making her the first openly transgender mayor in the state.
    • A person on a trail on Warwick Furnace Road in Warwick Township was recently injured by a coyote, prompting the Chester County Health Department to look for the animal. It’s unknown if the coyote is rabid.
    • Residents of West Bradford Township will see a decrease in their property taxes this year, bucking a trend in the region. The 50% reduction is due in part to a mix of savings during the pandemic and more revenue from long-term leases.
    • The community is mourning the death of photographer, filmmaker, and Kennett Square resident Robert Caputo, who died Dec. 18 at a voluntary assisted dying center in Switzerland. Throughout his career, Mr. Caputo traveled the world, producing stories, films, and photographs for National Geographic magazine, Time, PBS, and TNT. The 76-year-old was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease last year.
    • A Malvern office building at 52 Swedesford Rd. is poised for demolition to make way for a mixed-use development with 250 apartments and retail space, including a market and cafe. (Philadelphia Business Journal)
    • The 33,000-square-foot Acme-anchored shopping center at 785 Starr St. in Phoenixville recently sold for nearly $7.4 million. The sale didn’t include Acme’s space.
    • The state’s Department of Environmental Protection is expected to evaluate surface and well water at the Bishop Tube HSCA Site in East Whiteland Township this month for contaminants such as PFAS, volatile organic compounds, and inorganics, as well as fluoride.
    • The Paoli Memorial Association in Malvern has been awarded a $325,000 grant, which will help fund construction of the Paoli-Malvern Heritage Center. The center, which will be adjacent to the Paoli Battlefield, will preserve an 1817 obelisk and offer interpretive exhibits.
    • Several Chester County communities have received funding from the state’s Green Light-Go Program aimed at improving traffic safety and mobility. Upper Uwchlan Township has been awarded over $920,000 to upgrade detection and controller equipment at Route 100 and Graphite Mine Road. West Whiteland Township is getting nearly $390,000 to upgrade multiple intersections along Route 100 and Commerce Drive. And East Whiteland Township will get almost $192,000 to modernize Lancaster Avenue and Conestoga Road.
    • Heads up for drivers: Asplundh will be pruning trees along Goshen Road between Pottstown Pike and Hillside Drive in West Chester throughout the first quarter of 2026.
    • Paoli Hospital is among Forbes Top Hospitals for 2026 and is the sole Chester County institution on the list.
    • Two new gyms are now open: CrossFit Reckoning opened this week at 199 Reeceville Rd. in Coatesville and Planet Fitness has opened at 270 Swedesford Rd. in Berwyn.
    • On Monday, Coatesville-based Presence Bank became part of Norwood Financial Corp.’s Wayne Bank after being acquired for $54.9 million. Presence has two Chester County branches, in Coatesville and Oxford.
    • Kennett Area Senior Center, the nonprofit helping older adults, took on a new name at the start of the year. It’s now known as The Gathering Place at Kennett.
    • Looking to dispose of your Christmas tree? Upper Uwchlan will collect trees curbside on Jan. 15; Spring City residents can place trees curbside daily through Jan. 30 for pickup; East Pikeland residents can place trees curbside on Wednesdays in January or drop them off at the township yard waste recycling facility; West Vincent residents can drop them off at the township building through Jan. 23; and Phoenixville residents can place them curbside with trash through Feb. 28. Trees can also be dropped off at the compost site at 18 S. 2nd Ave.
    • It’s the last chance for residents in Easttown (through Jan. 12) and Upper Uwchlan (through Jan. 15) to recycle old holiday lights.

    🏫 Schools Briefing

    • Tredyffrin/Easttown School District is hosting its elementary new student registration window for next school year from Jan. 20-26. Learn more here.
    • West Chester Area School District has an opening on its school board following Alex Christy’s resignation ahead of his term’s expiration next December. Applications to fill the vacancy are open until noon on Jan. 21.
    • Coatesville offensive lineman Maxwell Hiller was named to Sporting News’ 2025 High School Football All-America Team. The junior is rated the top interior offensive line in his class.

    🍽️ On our Plate

    • The search is on for someone to take over the former Iron Hill Brewery in West Chester. Over the holidays, building owner John Barry acquired the liquor license and all assets inside the space, which he said will help him “to get a better tenant in there.”
    • In case you missed it, The Inquirer’s Michael Klein reflected on the most notable restaurant openings of 2025. They include Bao Nine in Malvern, The Borough in Downingtown, Jolene’s in West Chester, L’Olivo Trattoria in Exton, The Local in Phoenixville, and Stubborn Goat Brewing in West Grove. See the full list here. The Borough also made Klein’s roundup of the best new pizza restaurants to open in the region last year.
    • As for the best things Inquirer food writers ate last year, the Caramelia at Longwood Gardens’ 1906 restaurant was up there. Paying homage to Kennett Square’s mushroom industry, the red-topped mushroom-shaped dessert features chocolate mousse with espresso and caramel flavors.

    🎳 Things to Do

    🎨 An Ancestral Journey: Moore College of Art grad Roe Murray’s works will be on display for the next few weeks. She will also participate in an artist talk on Jan. 28. ⏰ Thursday, Jan. 8-Thursday, Jan. 29, times vary 💵 Free 📍 Chester County Art Association West Chester Galleries

    🎶 A Grand Night For Singing: This rendition will celebrate the wide-ranging works of Rodgers & Hammerstein with singing, dancing, and a live orchestra. ⏰ Friday, Jan. 9-Sunday, Jan. 18, select days and times 💵 $31.60-$36.70 📍 SALT Performing Arts, Chester Springs

    🧁 Pinkalicious the Musical: The musical adaptation of the book follows a pink-loving heroine who inadvertently turns herself into her favorite color by eating too many cupcakes. ⏰ Friday, Jan. 9-Sunday, Jan. 18, select days and times 💵 $21-$30 📍 Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center, West Chester

    🏡 On the Market

    An airy four-bedroom Kennett Square carriage home

    The carriage home has a two-car garage and a screened-in porch that leads to a deck.

    Located in the Villages at Northridge, this Kennett Square carriage home is just a few years old. The great room, which has a fireplace, opens to the kitchen, where there’s two-toned cabinetry, an island with a farmhouse sink, a pantry, and a dining area with a built-in beverage station complete with a bar refrigerator and ice maker. The great room also has access to the screened-in porch, which leads to the deck. There are three bedrooms upstairs, including a primary suite with a walk-in closet and a bathroom with a double sink vanity. The finished lower level walk-out has another bedroom, a full bathroom, and a living room.

    See more photos of the property here.

    Price: $975,000 | Size: 3,544 SF | Acreage: 0.06

    🗞️ 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.

  • The story behind a colonial-era Woodcrest cemetery | Inquirer Cherry Hill

    The story behind a colonial-era Woodcrest cemetery | Inquirer Cherry Hill

    Hello, Cherry Hill! 👋

    Did you know one of South Jersey’s first colonial families is laid to rest in Woodcrest? Learn more about the cemetery tucked into a residential part of town. Also this week, a new Inquirer analysis shows how Cherry Hill voters shifted toward Democrats in the last election, plus work is still underway to update H Mart.

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

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

    The story behind a colonial-era gravesite in Woodcrest

    The Matlack Family Cemetery is located at 535 Balsam Rd.

    The residential street of Balsam Road in Woodcrest is an unlikely spot for a gravesite, but tucked among the houses and sassafras trees, there’s a small cemetery that dates back nearly 300 years.

    The site is the final resting place for the Matlacks, one of South Jersey’s first colonial families, as well as an unknown number of servants and enslaved people.

    A township resident, curious about how the gravesite came to be, posed his question to Curious Cherry Hill. The Inquirer’s Denali Sagner set out to learn more about the family and its patriarch, who moved to New Jersey in 1677 from England as an indentured servant and ultimately began one of the largest colonial-era families in the region.

    Here’s what she uncovered.

    Have a question about town you want answered? Submit it to Curious Cherry Hill here.

    💡 Community News

    • There was a 3.9% shift among Cherry Hill voters to Democrats in 2024-25, with about 68% voting for Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill in November’s election. The Inquirer recently analyzed Sherrill’s path to victory, finding that the largest shift within Cherry Hill took place in District 10, encompassing Brookfield, where there was a 10.3% shift, followed by District 8 (9.4%), which includes Kenilworth, and District 2 (8.2%), which spans Cooper Park Village, Kingsway Village, and Waterford Park. See a map of how districts shifted.
    • Cherry Hill Township Council held its reorganization meeting on Monday night, where William Carter was reelected council president and Michele Golkow was elected vice president.
    • The new season of King of Collectibles began streaming late last month on Netflix, where Cherry Hill native Ken Goldin takes viewers inside his South Jersey auction house. One of the highlights of Season 3 is a jersey used by soccer legend Lionel Messi when he was a child. In a video by The Inquirer, Goldin gives viewers a glimpse. He also shows off some of the Philly sports gems in his possession.
    • The Eagles are heading into the NFC Wild Card playoffs as the No. 3 seed, taking on the 49ers at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday. As the team gears up for the postseason, the Road to Victory Bus Tour is stopping in town Thursday, where you can shop for gear and enter for a chance to score playoff game tickets. It’ll be at the P.J. Whelihan’s on Marlton Pike from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
    • Work is still underway to overhaul the H Mart on Route 70. The popular chain Asian grocery store closed in July for renovations, including an expansion of the second floor and the addition of an open-concept food court. The Cherry Hill location, which was expected to reopen in October, remains closed as work on the entire complex continues. (42 Freeway)
    • Some retail shakeups are happening around town. The New Balance at Tuscany Marketplace closed its doors indefinitely on Dec. 27. At the mall, plus-size women’s apparel brand Torrid is closing on Jan. 19, athleisure brand Lululemon Athletica is relocating to a larger space, and jeweler Pandora is expanding next door. And on Route 70, Appliances Outlet will be taking over the space occupied by Whole Hog Cafe and part of Wine Legend. (A View From Evesham)
    • Fox29’s Bob Kelly recently dropped by D&Q Skate, Snow, and Surf shop in Cherry Hill to chat about trending gear for those heading to the slopes. Catch the segment here starting around the 5-minute mark.

    🏫 Schools Briefing

    • There’s a board of education meeting Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
    • Teachers in Cherry Hill Public Schools made a median salary of $102,148 last school year, according to an NJ.com analysis. It is one of 30 districts statewide with a median salary greater than $100,000. The district’s median salary last year marked a 4.1% increase over the previous year and was nearly $20,000 higher than the statewide median.

    🍽️ On our Plate

    🎳 Things to Do

    😂 All Laughs, No Hate: Latin comedy and culture take center stage during this comedy night. ⏰ Friday, Jan. 9, 6:30-8:30 p.m. 💵 $36.09 📍Vera

    🌱 Winter Sowing: This workshop will teach you how to get a jump on your spring gardening. ⏰ Saturday, Jan. 10, 10 a.m.-noon 💵 $15 📍Camden County Environmental Center

    💡 Panoply: Test your knowledge of pop culture, sports, music, history, and more in this out-of-the-box game night. The event is 21 and older. ⏰ Saturday, Jan. 10, 7-9:45 p.m. 💵 $36 📍Katz JCC

    🍷 January Wine Down Wednesday: Sip five, two-ounce pours and enjoy appetizers at this event. ⏰ Wednesday, Jan. 14, reservations available from 6 to 8 p.m. 💵 $25 📍Randall’s Restaurant

    🏡 On the Market

    An updated five-bedroom Woodcrest ranch

    The home has an open-concept living and dining room.

    This Woodcrest ranch was recently remodeled to give its interior and exterior a modern makeover. It features an open-concept dining and living room, a sunroom, and an eat-in kitchen with quartz countertops and a gray-and-white herringbone backsplash. It has five bedrooms and three bathrooms, including a primary suite with a walk-in closet and its own bathroom. There’s also a finished basement.

    See more photos of the property here.

    Price: $759,900 | Size: 2,592 SF | Acreage: 0.29

    🗞️ 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.