Longtime Immaculata University president Barbara Lettiere said she will retire next summer, following a decade at the helm of the Catholic school.
Lettiere, an Immaculata alumna, donor, and former board chair, was named the first lay president of the Chester County university in 2017.
“The time has come in my life and the life of Immaculata for the next chapter,” Lettiere, 76, said in a statement. “I did not make this decision easily, and it comes with some very mixed emotions.”
The university, which is affiliated with the congregation Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary,enrolled nearly 2,800 students last academic year, and plans to do a national search for her replacement.
“The board accepts her decision with deep gratitude for her outstanding leadership and dedicated service over the past ten years,” Peggy Behm, board chair, and Sister Mary Ellen Tennity, IHM’s general superior, said in a statement. “Her deep dedication to Immaculata, its students, faculty and staff, and her love for the mission of the IHM Congregation have left a lasting and meaningful impact on the University community.”
Lettiere, a 1972 graduate, had previously served as vice president for finance and administration at Trinity Washington University.
The University of Valley Forge, a small Christian school that prepares students for leadership in the church and the world, has been given a serious warning that it is in danger of losing its accreditation.
The Phoenixville-based college has until Sept. 1 to “show cause” to justify why it should not lose accreditation, according to the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which posted the action on its website this week. Colleges need accreditation to keep their students eligible for federal aid.
The “show cause” action is the most serious that the commission issues. Others include warning and probation.
The commission cited “insufficient evidence that the institution is in compliance” with standards involving planning, resources, and institutional improvement, and governance, leadership, and administration.
The university must document in its show-cause report “financial resources, funding base, and plans for financial development to support its educational purposes and programs and to ensure financial stability,” the commission said. The school also must provide information on long-range financial planning that includes “realistic enrollment projections and the assumptions on which they are based,” the commission said.
The university did not immediately return a call for comment Wednesday, and when asked for the current enrollment, an employee said she was not permitted to disclose any information and hung up. The school enrolls 589 students, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
Under the action, the school is required to immediately notify its community of Middle States’ action.
The university started in 1939 as the Eastern Bible Institute, which was aimed at training pastors, evangelists, missionaries and Christian educators, and lay workers, according to the school’s website. It became a college in 1975 and the University of Valley Forge in 2014. The university is part of an international network of Assemblies of God colleges and universities and offers more than 60 degree programs, according to its website.
West Goshen’s 64-acre Fernhill Lake will soon be drained under water company Aqua’s plans to partially decommission the Township Line Dam, which dates back to 1935.
Geese, turtles, and a bald eagle are among the critters that have called the dam home for nearly a century. Nearby residents worry about the ecological changes the draining would cause in their backyards, though environmentalists generally support the move.
Aesthetically, neighbors also fear ending up with an unmaintained eyesore, particularly as some shelled out up to $20,000 to ensure a lake view from their backyards. A township official defended the scheduled drainage in a recent board meeting, despite residents’ pushback.
Last week, Chester County welcomed 63 new citizens hailing from 17 countries. They took their oath of citizenship in Valley Forge, where they were welcomed by Gov. Josh Shapiro and a George Washington reenactor.
The county made a pair of personnel changes last week. Faith Mattox-Baldini has been elevated to county solicitor on a permanent basis after serving as acting county solicitor since April, and prior to that, deputy county solicitor. And Susanna DeWese has been named chief public defender, effective Aug. 5, after 23 years in the public defender’s office.
In case you missed it, Exton Square Mall officially closed its doors yesterday after five decades in operation. A few businesses will remain open: Boscov’s, Main Line Health, and Round 1.
Good news for Main Line Health patients insured by UnitedHealthcare: The two parties have reached an “agreement in principle” for a new contract and plan to continue coverage until it’s finalized. If they hadn’t, some 32,000 patients risked losing coverage when the existing contract expired yesterday, including to providers at Paoli Hospital.
Local caterer John Serock has taken over operations of Loch Aerie Mansion after purchasing the Malvern estate and its events business for $4 million. He plans to increase offerings for midweek corporate and nonprofit events, while keeping weekends for weddings.
Notorious West Chester native Bam Margera returned to the big screen Friday when Jackass: Best and Last made its debut, featuring unseen archival footage and outtakes from the series’ early days. While Margera didn’t attend the premiere or film new stunts, he sat down with The Inquirer’s Jason Nark to discuss his sobriety, his passion for boxing, and more.
A new “fitness court” opened last week at Charlestown Township Park. It features seven exercise stations geared toward individuals 14 and older.
New Garden Township recently passed an ordinance restricting large trucks on a number of roads, except those making local deliveries. See which roads are impacted here.
🏫 Schools Briefing
Coatesville Area School District will have screenings next Tuesday and Wednesday for incoming kindergartners, helping the district understand their needs and interests. Learn more here.
Great Valley High School’s tennis courts will be closed this summer while they undergo an update.
The Kennett Consolidated School District is partnering with the Believe and Achieve Foundation to host its “Fresh Market Tuesdays” throughout July. The event will take place in the Kennett Library parking lot where fresh produce will be available, along with recipes and other resources. The markets kick off next Tuesday.
Applications are now open for Twin Valley High School’s Preschool Lab this coming school year. The program helps kids ages 3 to 5 socialize, while high school students can get hands-on experience with early childhood education. Learn more here.
Unionville-Chadds Ford School District has named Brett Thomas the new principal of Hillendale Elementary School, taking over for Josh Leight, who has been named the district’s director of human resources. Thomas was most recently principal of Russell Elementary School in the Marple Newtown School District.
🍽️ On our Plate
Nottingham-based Herr’s recently released the winners of its “Flavored by Philly” campaign. Curious what Freedom Loaded Cheese Fries, Liberty Hickory Barbecue, and United Jalapeño Cream Cheese taste like? Inquirer reporters share their thoughts.
Tickets go on sale today for the fall edition of Kennett Brewfest, which will take place Oct. 10 in Kennett Square.
🎆 Where to celebrate the Fourth of July
Norco Fire Company Fair: The annual fair includes rides, live music, and a beer garden. There will be a fireworks show at 9:30 p.m. on July 2, with a rain date of July 3. ⏰ Through Saturday, July 4, times vary 💵 Free admission; pay as you go for rides or $30 for a wristband 📍 Norco Fire Company, Pottstown
Parkesburg 250: The borough is hosting a five-day celebration complete with a carnival, beer garden, live music, and baseball game, as well as a fireworks show on Friday. ⏰ Wednesday, July 1-Sunday, July 5, times vary 💵 Pay as you go 📍 Throughout Parkesburg
Longwood Gardens’ Fireworks and Fountains: The summer show gets a patriotic twist, featuring a fireworks and fountain show set to great American composers’ works. ⏰ Thursday, July 2, 9:15 p.m. 💵 $64-$84 for reserved seating 📍Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square
West Goshen Decorated Bike Parade: Catch a parade featuring decked-out bikes, tricycles, strollers, scooters, and wheel chairs. ⏰ Friday, July 3, 10 a.m. 💵 Free 📍 West Goshen Community Park
West Caln Township: Take a step back in time at this event, which features muskets, a skirmish, food and other festivities. ⏰ Friday, July 3, 4-9 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Layton Park, Coatesville
Good Neighbor Day: This daylong event benefiting Downingtown’s emergency services includes friendly competitions, a carnival, music, and cornhole. The day is capped by a fireworks display at 9:30 p.m. ⏰ Saturday, July 4, 8 a.m.-10 p.m. 💵 Prices vary 📍 Kerr Park, Downingtown
Easttown Township’s Annual July 4th Community Picnic and Concert: The community event kicks off with a children’s bike parade, followed by a picnic at the park. There will be games, inflatables, a barbecue, and live music from Uptown Band. ⏰ Saturday, July 4, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Frank Johnson Memorial Park, Berwyn
Demo Day and Independence Day Celebration: The Mill at Anselma will offer historic demonstrations, live music, and face painting. ⏰ Saturday, July 4, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 💵 $5-$10 📍 The Mill at Anselma, Chester Springs
Phoenixville Food Trucks and Fireworks: Grab a bite to eat at one of the food trucks on site and then enjoy the fireworks show. ⏰ Saturday, July 4, 5-9 p.m. 💵 Free 📍Friendship Field, Phoenixville
Tredyffrin Township Fourth of July Celebration: Listen to music and grab a bite to eat from one of the food trucks ahead of the main event. The fireworks show kicks off around dusk. ⏰ Saturday, July 4, 7-9:15 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Wilson Farm Park, Wayne
Exton Park Community Day: Keep the festivities going past the nation’s birthday with this community event that features kids activities, food trucks, a beer and wine garden, music, yard games, and a fireworks show. ⏰ Saturday, July 11, 4-10 p.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍 Exton Park
The home dates back to the first half of the 18th century and sits on over 27 acres.
History buffs, rejoice. This sprawling 1700s stone home in Newlin Township is situated on part of the 20,000 acres of original Pennsylvania land granted by William Penn, according to the listing agent. The updated home has four bedrooms and three bathrooms, in addition to a brick terrace, ponds, and a bank barn.
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.
Nine Fourth of July events to check out in Camden County
Here’s where to catch fireworks displays and other festivities for the Fourth of July.
Celebrate the nation’s Semiquincentennial at one of these festive events, which are replete with fireworks, parades, and musical performances.
Barrington: There will be a parade at 6 p.m. followed by fireworks around dusk. ⏰ Thursday, July 2, 6 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Behind Woodland School
Gloucester City: Celebrate in advance of the holiday with food trucks and fireworks. ⏰ Thursday, July 2, starts at 6 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Proprietor’s Park
Cherry Hill: The township will mark the nation’s 250th anniversary with a fireworks display around 9 p.m. There will also be a DJ, marching bands, and food trucks. ⏰ Thursday, July 2, starts at 7 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Cherry Hill High School West
Haddonfield: This celebration includes a festive parade followed by a block party, complete with live music, food trucks, and games. The night will be capped with a drone show around 9 p.m. ⏰ Friday, July 3, starts at 10 a.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍 Downtown Haddonfield
Audubon: The borough’s two-day event kicks off Friday with food trucks, live music, and a fireworks display at Audubon High School. On Independence Day, there will be a parade, a reading of the Declaration of Independence, family-friendly activities, and an open house of the Audubon Historical Society Museum at the Senior Center. ⏰ Friday, July 3, starts at 6 p.m. and Saturday, July 4, 8:15 a.m.-4 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Audubon
Haddon Township: On the eve of the nation’s 250th birthday, catch a fireworks show at Haddon Township High School, complete with live music and food trucks. The following day, the township will host its annual parade, which ends at Crystal Lake Pool. ⏰ Friday, July 3, 7 p.m. and Saturday, July 4, 11:30 a.m. 💵 Free 📍 Haddon Township
Collingswood: Decorate your bike starting at 9 a.m. and then join the parade at 10 a.m. Later, there will be games and races at Roberts Pool. Cap the day with a performance from To the Max at 7:45 p.m. and fireworks at the high school field at dusk. ⏰ Saturday, July 4, starts at 9 a.m. 💵 Free 📍 Collingswood
Camden: This year’s Freedom Festival features aptly named funk, soul, and R&B outfit The Commodores at 8 p.m., followed by the Wawa Welcome America fireworks display over the Delaware River. ⏰ Saturday, July 4, 6-11 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Wiggins Park
Camden: Hop aboard the historic Battleship New Jersey, where there will be live music, food, and a full-service bar, all with a view of the fireworks display over the Delaware River. ⏰ Friday, July 4, 7:30 p.m. 💵 $15 general admission 📍 Battleship New Jersey
Hindu temple BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is one step closer to moving ahead with its planned 18,330-square-foot expansion and renovation after getting zoning board approval last week, though it will still require additional approvals before construction can begin. Located at1 Carnegie Plaza, the temple’s plans call for transforming its exterior to give it a more decorative look, in addition to adding a gym and prayer hall.
South Jersey hospitals, including in Cherry Hill, could be forced to cut some community programs as they face an estimated $3.6 billion loss from Medicaid changes in the coming years. The Inquirer’s Harold Brubaker has the details.
Heads up for drivers: Roadwork continues throughout the township, including on Kenilworth Avenue, which will be closed between Route 38 and Longwood Avenue and between Helena and Edwards Avenues from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. through Thursday. Work continues on Kresson Road through Thursday, which will have a partial westbound closure between Springdale Road and Ravenswood Way from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., and closures at its intersection with Springdale Road and between Browning Lane from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Registration is open for the township’s upcoming wiffleball tournament, which will take place July 22 and has four age divisions.
Friends of Cherry Hill Public is hosting a book sale next week. On Tuesday, Friends members who are township residents get first access, followed by all Friends members next Wednesday. The sale then opens to the public next Thursday and continues through Saturday.
🏫 Schools Briefing
Registration for the district’s 2026-27 School-Age Child Care program opens today at 4 p.m. The program is available to those in kindergarten through fifth grade. Learn more here.
Graduation may be behind us, but the district recently shared its annual clap-out video for members of the class of 2026. See it here.
Speaking of graduation, South Jersey Media shared photos from West’s commencement, where 333 students earned diplomas.
🍽️ On our Plate
Four Cherry Hill restaurants earned honors in the latest Wine Spectator Restaurant Awards, released last week. The magazine recognizes establishments with wine lists offering what it deems interesting selections that are “appropriate to their cuisine” and “appeal to a wide range of wine lovers.” Caffe Aldo Lamberti was recognized for its selection of wines from California; Tuscany and Piedmont, Italy; and Bordeaux, France. Also making the list are chains Seasons 52, The Capital Grille, and Eddie V’s Prime Seafood, which each have a local outpost.
Belgian waffle eatery La Liégeoise closed its brick-and-mortar storefront at 1871 E. Marlton Pike last week, citing low visibility and customer traffic at the location. The waffle shop plans to continue its operations as a fully mobile concept.
Philly Pretzel Factory will be moving one block from its current home at 910 Route 70 to 800 Route 70 this month. The shop will close Sunday, with a planned opening at its new space on July 15.
🎳 Things to Do
🚬 Cigar Sunday: Sample premium cigars, listen to music, and sips drinks on an outdoor deck. ⏰ Sunday, July 5, 2-5 p.m. 💵 $19.03 📍Vera
🦖 Paw Patrol Dino Skate: Hit the rink for dino-themed skating complete with a dinosaur egg scavenger hunt. ⏰ Wednesday, July 8, 1-4 p.m. and 5:30-8:30 p.m. 💵 $6 from 1-4 p.m., $5 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. 📍 Hot Wheelz
The home has a striking design out front and a pool out back.
Located in the Wilderness Run neighborhood, this four-bedroom, five-bathroom home features a floating curved staircase in the foyer and a two-story family room with a spiral staircase leading to a library. The dining room has Italian mirrored panels that open to reveal a bar with wine storage. Out back, there’s a spa and gunite pool, complete with a diving board.
By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.
Two Chester County residents have been diagnosed with measles, local health officials said on Tuesday, the first cases reported in the Philadelphia region this summer.
Pennsylvania has identified 88 measles cases so far this year, the highest case count in three decades and more than five times the cases reported in 2025.
Chester is now the seventh Pennsylvania county with confirmed measles cases since April.
Jeanne Franklin, the county’s public health director, said it was too early to tell whether the two adults’ cases were linked to a growing measles outbreak centered in Lancaster County, which borders Chester.
Health workers in Chester County have conducted contact tracing regularly for months, speaking to about 100 people since the beginning of the year who had come into contact with someone with measles.
“The process is working,” Franklin said. She added that the county is preparing to identify more cases as they continue contact tracing.
The two Chester County residents with measles had initially sought care in Lancaster County, she said, and county officials were still working to determine their vaccination status.
Earlier in June, Delaware County health officials announced they had detected measles in wastewater samples, meaning a person with measles — either a resident or a person passing through the county — had used a bathroom connected to the county’s public water supply.
Since late April, officials have recorded 43 cases in Lancaster County, 20 in Lebanon County, six in Northumberland County, two each in Berks, Chester, and Dauphin Counties, and one in York County. (A winter outbreak saw 12 cases among Chester, Montgomery, and Lancaster Counties.)
Franklin said her department is increasing public communications about the measles risk, and encouraging local health providers to vaccinate infants with a “dose zero” of the measles, mumps, and rubella shot.
Typically, children receive an MMR dose at around 1 year old and before entering kindergarten. A “dose zero” is given at six months and provides additional protection before children receive two more doses of the vaccine.
State officials last week also recommended that physicians in affected areas provide early measles vaccinations to infants and young children.
Chester County officials are also working with the state to analyze school-level vaccination data to pinpoint at-risk communities, Franklin said.
Overall, 94.5% of Chester County kindergarteners were vaccinated against measles in the 2024-2025 school year, the last for which data is available. That’s just below the 95% threshold required to prevent the spread of the virus.
(function() {
var l2 = function() {
new pym.Parent(‘HE_MEASLES4.html’,
‘https://media.inquirer.com/storage/inquirer/projects/innovation/arcgis_iframe/HE_MEASLES4.html’);
};
if (typeof(pym) === ‘undefined’) {
var h = document.getElementsByTagName(‘head’)[0],
s = document.createElement(‘script’);
s.type = ‘text/javascript’;
s.src = ‘https://pym.nprapps.org/pym.v1.min.js’;
s.onload = l2;
h.appendChild(s);
} else {
l2();
}
})();
Spread may be wider than cases reported
Some providers in Lancaster County have said that they fear measles is spreading more widely than state officials have been able to track, either because patients don’t realize the importance of informing health officials about their condition or are avoiding providers.
Chester County also is contending with uncertainty. Franklin said that some residents who have had contact with infected patients have told health workers that they’d rather not get tested for measles.
“They say, ‘I don’t want to be tested. Let this run the course,’” she said.
Contact tracers stress that they’re not judging that decision, she said. But the department emphasizes that they need residents to work with contact tracers, so other potentially exposed families can make informed decisions about their health.
Franklin urged Chester County residents to check their vaccination records to ensure they are protected against measles, which can infect up to 90% of unvaccinated people exposed to the disease.
If they can’t find their records, a primary care physician can order a test to determine whether they’re immune.
Residents should also look out for symptoms of measles, including a fever, a cough, and a runny nose — similar to other respiratory diseases — that often emerge before patients develop a telltale rash.
Several people sickened this summer have experienced severe illness and required hospitalization for serious electrolyte abnormalities and liver and kidney dysfunction, according to physicians in Lancaster County.
“If you previously decided not to get a vaccine, this is the time to reconsider, based on what’s going on,” Franklin said. “The window to get a vaccine once you’ve been exposed is very small.”
Dorothy Verdon had a history of moving around every few years. But when she found her lakefront — or, technically, lake-back — home in the Arbours of West Goshen in Chester County 12 years ago, she just really liked it.
Her loudest neighbors are the geese, who live at the banks of Fernhill Lake, a 64-acre impoundment formed from Aqua’s Township Line Dam. But under a plan from the public water company to partially decommission the dam and draw down the reservoir, returning the natural flow of Chester Creek, Verdon and her neighbors’ backyards would be subject to great ecological change in the coming years.
It’s a change environmentalists generally support, as dams greatly affect the ecosystem around them: increasing water temperature, generating algae growth, and fragmenting habitats. But residents, some of whom paid up to $20,000 for their lake-facing yards,worry what their backyards, and the developed habitat, could become.
“My immediate concern, and that of several residents and the township, is what’s going to happen to the ecosystem, because it is a water-based ecosystem,” Verdon said. “There’s that. It’s really financial. And it’s aesthetic. What are we going to have behind us as the lake gets drained?”
A view of Fernhill Lake from the Arbours at West Goshen in West Goshen, Pa., on Monday, June 22, 2026.
The planned decommissioning
Built in 1935, Township Line Dam once supplied drinking water for surrounding customers. But, as with a number of dams before it, that has not been the case for decades. Aqua acquired the dam in 1998 and does not use it for daily operations.
Township Line requires “extensive investment” to satisfy requirements from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, which outweighs the benefits of a dam that no longer serves its purpose, Michael Fili, the company’s vice president of planning, design, and construction, wrote in a letter to the township’s board of supervisors in May.
Under its plan, the company will begin drawing down the water in the reservoir by eight to 10 feet, leaving the water at that reduced level until it begins construction for partial dam removal in early 2028 through 2029, Fili wrote. At that time, the entire lake would be drained. (The company originally planned to begin the process in July, but pushed the timeline back to fall following concerns from residents.)
A view of the Township Line Dam along Airport Road in West Goshen, Pa., on Monday, June 22, 2026.
Following decommissioning, Aqua proposed transferring ownership of the 114 acres to West Goshen Township, making the municipality “stewards of the land” that could “utilize the land for the benefit of its residents,” Fili wrote.
“We understand the reservoir and surrounding area is enjoyed by the community, and we do not take this action lightly,” Fili wrote.
The announcement drew concerns during a May board meeting from residents, who questioned why it had to be drawn down so quickly, and worried about what would become of the land — fearing further development, or lack of adequate care to keep it from becoming an eyesore. Some wondered if there might be a path to maintaining the lake.
“With all due respect to my fellow supervisors’ opinion, I don’t think we have an option here,” said Shaun Walsh, chairman of the township’s board. “If you keep it as a dam, you need to spend millions of dollars to fix it.”
Walsh said the township would keep it as an open space, possibly turning it into a mixture of wetlands, meadow, woodlands with walking trails — an “ultimately real beautiful amenity for people in the area to use,” he said.
“I think there are so many advantages in it becoming a publicly owned asset, given that the township is so built out,” he added. “I personally believe in 10 years’ time we should have an attractive amenity there for the community.”
(“When we’re all dead,” someone in the meeting responded.)
West Chester appears to have a right of first refusal to purchase the property at low cost, based on old agreements, officials for the borough said. West Goshen Township Manager Chris Bashore said that town was waiting to see what West Chester decides.
In a message, Aqua said it is communicating with both municipalities and “no determination has yet been made as to whether the 114 acres of property will be conveyed and to whom.”
Birds rest on the Township Line Dam along Airport Road in West Goshen, Pa., on Monday, June 22, 2026.
Dams and wildlife
Residents also worry about what will become of the waterfowl, turtles, fish, and a bald eagle who have begun to call it home over nearly a century.
Largely, environmental activists believe that “the positives of dam removal outweigh any kind of negatives” said Faith Zerbe, advocacy and science community action coordinator with the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, which has sought the decommissioning of multiple dams over the last two decades.
The Chester Creek, a tributary of the Delaware River, is steeped with “impairments” — situations when a waterway does not meet environmental or regulatory quality — along much of its length. Removing the dam would help chip away at some of those larger issues.
“Removing a dam, allowing the natural stream to find its pattern over time as that dam removal takes place, and then restoring the stream banks with natural native indigenous species is kind of a critical piece to getting ecology back to the river,” she said.
Aqua said it is coordinating with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and the federal Fish and Wildlife Services, as it prepares for its drawdown.
It is essential for the dam decommissioning to be done right, environmentalists said. But when done “thoughtfully and with the proper permissions, dam removal can have remarkable benefits for local ecosystems, allowing these areas to return to their original landscape,” said Carly Lare, executive director of Chester Ridley Crum Watersheds Association.
Her organization has been communicating with Aqua to better understand the project’s goals and timelines, she said.
“Since colonization of the area, this landscape has greatly changed, which in turn alters which native species can survive throughout our region,” Lare said. “When habitats are fragmented, our creeks experience diminished migration of native fish populations, which in turn influences the health and diversity of other native organisms, ranging from freshwater mussels to river otters.”
This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.
Born above a Philadelphia bakery and forged in Willow Grove, Edward M. Weinrich, 92, died of natural causes at his home beside a Florida river on June 17 surrounded by the sons who keep his beloved cake shop alive.
Weinrich’s parents ran a bake shop on Front Street in North Philadelphia before opening their Willow Grove konditorei — the German word for patisserie — at 55 Easton Rd. in 1952. By the 1970s, Weinrich had graduated from Villanova University, spent two years stationed in Hawaii with the Army, had five children, and taken over the Willow Grove bakery with his wife, Kippy, selling cookies, pies, danishes and cakes — many made from inherited recipes, like their famous butter cake.
“Still today there are recipe books in the bakery archive that are written in German,” said Stephen Weinrich, the youngest of his five sons.
Edward and Kathryn Weinrich pose in Villanova sweatshirts with their four oldest children.
He also invented his own: In the 1960s, Weinrich worked with food scientists to develop his signature frosting — a buttercream that doesn’t turn gritty. It’s still used in custom cakes the store makes for birthdays, weddings, and First Holy Communions.
Weinrich learned the trade from his dad, Herman, who left Naumburg in 1913 to help his brother August run a Manhattan bakery, opening his own in 1919. (It is descendants of their cousin, Ludwig, who operate R. Weinrich German Bakery in Newtown Square.)
Weinrich made wedding cakes for many couples over the years. By the end of his career in 2005, he was making wedding cakes for their grandchildren.
“My mother … wouldn’t get dressed to go to the doctors, but she’d call and order and drive down in her nightgown and robe for a curbside pickup,” one social media user wrote. “Her last trip to the hospital, she only worried that we froze her Weinrich order so it didn’t go to waste.”
“We were just blown away,” said Michael Kirby, the bakery’s general manager and Weinrich’s great nephew. “It’s unbelievable how many people had such fond memories of him and the things we made.”
Their products travel far, Kirby added. “We have people come from across the country for our butter cakes because they can’t get them anywhere else.”
Weinrich’s Bakery in Willow Grove.
Three of Weinrich’s sons still work for the bakery, which is now owned by the third son, Herman, and his wife, Beth.
Though they took over the store in the 2000s, Weinrich and Kippy still showed up regularly to offer advice and to greet many of the bakery’s lifelong customers.
After Kippy died of Alzheimer’s disease in 2015, Weinrich retired to Fort Myers, Florida. But he still asked about the bakery daily, Herman and Beth wrote on social media.
Their cousins’ kids are now there full-time, too, Stephen said: “We have a fourth generation of family working every day in the store.”
Weinrich was an active member of his parishes at St. David Roman Catholic Church in Willow Grove and then Immaculate Conception Church in Jenkintown, and a longtime supporter of the Abington Police Athletic League, Stephen said.
“He is and will forever be remembered for his kind presence and loyalty to all of us,” Herman and Beth wrote.
Funeral arrangements will be made after Weinrich is returned to Pennsylvania, the family said.
He leaves behind his sons and their families, including 16 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.
Sourdough, coffee, and locally sourced eats enthusiasts, this one’s for you. Popular Main Line bakery The Buttery has officially opened its third location at 836 W. Lancaster Ave. in Bryn Mawr.
The bakery-coffee shop and scratch kitchen mash-up is known for its sourdough breads, homemade pastries, and seasonal dishes. Paoli couple John and Silenia Rhoads opened the first Buttery location in Malvern back in 2015 before expanding into the Ardmore Farmers Market last fall.
The Rhoadses credited the bakehouse they launched a year ago in Norristown with providing the space and resources they needed to grow the concept. Bryn Mawr felt like “a good center point on the Main Line,” John Rhoads said, with Silenia Rhoads adding she’s already noticed the “sense of community.”
The 82-seat location offers full breakfast and lunch menus, including bagels, quiches, sandwiches, open-face tartines, salads, and Passenger coffee and tea beverages. Dinner service is anticipated to launch in the fall or winter, the Rhoadses said.
Main Line Health and UnitedHealthcare reached an “agreement in principle” on a new contract, Main Line Health said Wednesday. Their current contract was set to expire Tuesday, potentially disrupting service for 32,000 people who rely on the health system’s doctors and have insurance through United. Main Line Health owns Bryn Mawr Hospital and Lankenau Medical Center.
Lower Merion’s board of commissioners last week passed an amendment to the township’s gas-powered leaf blower ban that specifies exemptions for walk-behind, stand-on, riding, and tow-behind leaf blowers and vacuums, The Inquirer’s Denali Sagner reports. The board also approved a pay raise for future commissioners from $4,000 to $6,000 annually. The raise will go into effect for commissioners who take officer after Jan. 3, 2028, and will not impact sitting commissioners, unless they are reelected.
Township police said they linked a hidden camera found along the 900 block of Stony Lane in Gladwyne to a theft ring connected to several Main Line burglaries. (6abc)
A Gladwyne designer recently worked with an Ardmore family to transform the second floor of their older home. To bring it into the current century, Rupam Patheja of Ru and Co. Interior Design knocked down walls in the primary suite to create two walk-in closets, and added colorful wallpaper for flair. Philadelphia magazine took a peek inside.
🏫 Schools Briefing
Summer school kicks off on Monday and continues Monday through Thursday until Aug. 6.
Three Lower Merion School District students were honored as winners of the Art & Poetry of Freedom Contest, held as part of Montgomery County’s annual Juneteenth celebration. The K-2 poetry winner was Cora Fusi, a first-grader at Penn Valley Elementary School; the 6-8 poetry winner was Jaliyah Taylor, a seventh-grader at Welsh Valley Elementary School; and the 9-12 poetry winner was Ariel Dichamp, a ninth-grader at Harriton High School.
🍽️ On our Plate
Local healthy foods chain ANEU Kitchens will open its fifth location, a 650-square-foot cafe at the Ardmore Farmers Market in Suburban Square, this Monday. Starting at 8 a.m., the first 100 customers will receive free samples of the brand’s YEU snacks. ANEU also plans to add a 20,000-square-foot production kitchen, eatery, and wellness center in Tredyffrin Township.
🎳 Things to Do
🔮 Mystic of the Main Line’s Inception Day: The Ardmore shop is marking its one-year anniversary with readings and refreshments. ⏰ Saturday, June 27, 7-11 p.m. 💵 Pay-as-you-go 📍 Mystic of the Main Line
🎶 Bryn Mawr Twilight Concerts: Vermont-based singer, songwriter, and guitarist Mihali headlines this week’s show. ⏰ Sunday, June 28, 7 p.m. 💵 $25.88, free for kids 12 and under 📍 Bryn Mawr Gazebo
🎵 Music in the Park: Four Lean Hounds, a Grateful Dead tribute band, will perform at the next concert. ⏰ Wednesday, July 1, 7 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Narberth Park gazebo
The home has a dedicated driveway, a garage, and a covered front porch.
This newly built Narberth home is situated in a five-home community and has its own private driveway. The home’s open-concept first floor has a living room and eat-in kitchen with two-tone cabinetry and an island. There are three bedrooms upstairs, including a primary suite with a walk-in closet and a double-sink vanity. The home also has a finished basement and a covered front porch.
By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.
Media’s Auston Trusty (right) embraces Wayne’s Matt Freese after the U.S.’ win over Australia on Friday.
Delco is on the international stage, thanks to some homegrown soccer talent.
USMNT’s Auston Trusty was born in Media and played with the Nether United Soccer Club in Wallingford in his youth. He attended Penncrest High School, trained at the Philadelphia Union’s youth academy, and began his pro career with the Union.
“When you’re a little kid, dreaming about the stadiums you play in and the atmospheres and everything involved, to play in a home turf World Cup, get minutes, it’s a dream come true,” the 27-year-old said after Friday’s shutout.
⚽ Plus: See Trusty’s sweet tribute to his local upbringing and career journey on Instagram.
💡 Community News
A Delco judge on Monday denied a motion to dismiss trespassing charges filed against nine people for refusing to leave a pro-Palestinian encampment on Swarthmore College’s campus last spring. The decision sets the stage for the so-called Swarthmore 9 to face trial next week.
Main Line Health and UnitedHealthcare reached an “agreement in principle” on a new contract, Main Line Health said Wednesday. Their current contract was set to expire Tuesday, potentially disrupting service for 32,000 people who rely on the health system’s doctors and have insurance through United. Main Line Health owns Riddle Hospital in Middletown Township.
Measles was detected in wastewater samples taken in Delaware County on two days earlier this month, health officials said last week, though no one in the county had been officially diagnosed with the disease. Health reporter Aubrey Whelan has more.
Middletown Township’s manager, John McMullan, is leaving at the end of August for a new position with another municipality. McMullan shared the news at last week’s council meeting.
Roland Walter Bailey, a 64-year-old Media man, has been charged with possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing today. (Daily Times)
The county announced its 2026 heat plan to bring relief to residents during periods of extreme heat. As part of the plan, 30 cooling centers will be open across Delco, including at the Swarthmore Public Library and at Helen Kate Furness Free Library in Wallingford.
Springfield Mall’s valuation continues to drop and had an appraisal value of $30 million recently, down 73% from when owners PREIT and Simon Property Group took out a loan for it in 2015. At the time, the mall was valued at $112 million. (Bisnow)
🍽️ On our Plate
It’s not hard to find a quality hoagie in Delaware County. Delco.Today rounded up nine sandwich shops worth traveling for in the region, including A Cut Above Deli in Newtown Square and Boccella’s Deli in Havertown.
🎳 Things to Do
🎶 Rose Tree Summer Concert Festival: The upcoming lineup features performances from Doobie Brothers tribute band Minute by Minute tonight, blues band Three Fourteen tomorrow, ‘80s tribute band Class of ‘84 on Saturday, and the Blackbird Society Orchestra on Sunday. Next Wednesday, the Chester County Concert Band takes the stage. ⏰ Thursday, June 25-Wednesday, July 1, 7:30 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Rose Tree Park, Media
🎥 Death on the Brandywine: Catch a screening of this political murder mystery set in the Brandywine Valley. ⏰ Friday, June 26, 8-10 p.m. 💵 $19.50 📍 The Media Theatre
🇺🇸A Celebration of Patriotic Sports Movies: Radio personalities Ray Didinger and Glen Macnow are teaming up to host this event looking at iconic U.S. sports movies. ⏰ Saturday, June 27, 7:30 p.m. 💵 $39 📍 PCS Theater, Swarthmore
✨ Nature at Night: Learn about fireflies while exploring the arboretum after dark. ⏰ Tuesday, June 30, 8-9:30 p.m. 💵 $10-$25 📍 Tyler Arboretum, Media
🎂Swarthmore’s 250th Birthday: The library is throwing a birthday party party in the lead up to the nation’s 250th birthday. ⏰ Wednesday, July 1, 2-4 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Swarthmore Public Library
The home has undergone a number of updates, inside and out.
Located less than a mile from the Swarthmore town center, this 1950 Colonial has been extensively updated for modern living. The home features a living room with a fireplace, a three-season room, and an eat-in kitchen with white cabinetry and stainless steel appliances. There are three bedrooms upstairs, including a primary suite and a bonus room. In addition to interior renovations, the home’s systems have also been updated, as have the roof and windows.
By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.
Abington is planning to tear down and replace its flagship library building.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education announced more than $11 million in grants in April for libraries across the state. Abington Township received $749,750 “to plan and design a library facility that is sustainable, accessible, efficient and tailored to the needs of the community.”
Town officials are now hard at work doing just that, Abington Township Public Library executive director Elizabeth Fitzgerald said.
The library has already put out a call for a fundraising consultant who will help raise the roughly $50 million total that township officials think they’ll need to replace the main library at 1030 Old York Road with something bigger. The consultant will be paid with private donations from the library’s endowment, Fitzgerald said.
Officials hope some of that money will come from state and federal sources, too. Fitzgerald asked state Sen. Art Haywood about possible funding through the Pennsylvania’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, according to minutes from the May library trustees meeting.
The 1954 building was previously a Best and Co. department store. Abington took over the property in the mid-1970s.
A 1957 image of the Best and Co. department store in Abington held at the Library of Congress.
Maintaining the 72-year-old structure has “caused countless interruptions in services and building closures,” Fitzgerald wrote in a statement announcing the grant.
And the community has now outgrown it, the library director said. Earlier this month, the library hosted author Pam Jenoff at a Penn State building down the road in order to fit some 125 attendees.
Nearly 24,000 people attended over 800 library programs in 2025, Fitzgerald wrote in the grant announcement. “Abington Township needs a new, 21st century library building that can accommodate the needs of our community for generations to come.”
Next steps include hiring an architectural engineering firm using the state grant money, Fitzgerald said. The town expects to demolish the current structure sometime after September 2027 and rebuild on the same land.
In the meantime, officials will seek community input on the project “with surveys, focus groups, town halls, and one-on-one conversations,” Fitzgerald wrote.
“The planning is not in my hands,” she said. “This is the community’s library.”
This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.
