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  • Five Cherry Hill elementary schools will be overcrowded by 2028. The district is considering how to redistribute students.

    Five Cherry Hill elementary schools will be overcrowded by 2028. The district is considering how to redistribute students.

    Faced with a forthcoming increase in elementary school enrollment, the Cherry Hill School District may redraw boundaries for its 12 neighborhood schools.

    The South Jersey school district has been studying expected demographics for the coming years and came up short; there are not enough available seats to accommodate an anticipated burst in elementary student population.

    To meet the demand, the district has undertaken an “Elementary Enrollment Balancing,” which means possibly adjusting where students go to school. Cherry Hill is the 12th-largest district in the state, with nearly 11,000 students.

    “We want to make sure there is not a negative impact on children and families,” Superintendent Kwame Morton told parents at a recent community meeting.

    Why is Cherry Hill rebalancing its elementary schools?

    The demographic study conducted in 2024 showed that five of Cherry Hill’s 12 elementary schools are expected to have a shortage of seats in the 2028-29 school year, said George Guy, director of elementary education.

    Based on census data and housing construction projections, the district will be short about 337 seats, according to Guy. The demographic survey examined possible growth over a five-year period, from 2024-25 through 2028-29.

    “Those kids are coming. We have to do something,” Guy said in a recent interview. “We can’t wait to do it.”

    The five schools in question and the expected growth in their enrollment are: Clara Barton, 126 students; Joyce Kilmer, 81 students; Horace Mann, 50 students; Richard Stockton, 56 students; and Woodcrest Elementary, 50 students, Guy said.

    What will the process involve?

    It is not yet clear how many students could be affected by the rebalancing, district officials said. Some elementary schools are nearing capacity, and a few have surplus seats.

    At a school board presentation this month about the enrollment balancing project, several parents expressed concerns about their children possibly being moved. Parents like the convenience and proximity of a neighborhood school.

    “What’s the game plan here?” asked Nicole Marley, who has three sons. “I don’t want my kids to leave their school. It’s stressful.”

    Guy said possible options include grouping schools by proximity, with nearby schools to share students and programs, and reassigning students to less-crowded schools. Also under consideration is converting the Arthur Lewis administration building to an elementary school, which could accommodate about 200 students, he said.

    District officials currently are not considering a bond referendum to raise funds to build a new school, Guy said. In October 2022, Cherry Hill voters overwhelmingly approved a $363 million school bond referendum, one of the largest in New Jersey history.

    “We want to be open to anything,” Guy said. “We don’t want to take anything off the table.”

    Cherry Hill voters approved a $363 million school bond referendum, N.J.’s largest in at least a decade

    How will they make a plan?

    A board committee has been charged with developing a plan to address the overcrowding. Parents peppered the committee with questions at an information session held at Cherry Hill East.

    “We’re still very early in the process,” said board president Gina Winters.

    Currently, the sprawling 24.5-mile community of nearly 75,000 is divided into elementary school zones. Most students are assigned to a neighborhood school within two miles of where they live.

    Morton said the board has set parameters for the rebalancing committee. Besides minimizing potential disruptions, transportation must be taken into consideration, he said.

    The district doesn’t want students riding a bus for long periods of time, especially special needs students, Guy said. Two of the affected schools — Barton and Kilmer — are located on the west side of Cherry Hill, while the other three — Mann, Stockton, and Woodcrest — are on the east side.

    Kwame Morton, superintendent of Cherry Hill schools.

    What is the timeline for the plan?

    The committee plans to present a preliminary rebalancing plan to the school board in January or February. A final plan is expected by June or July.

    The district held three community meetings in November to get feedback from residents and answer questions. More community meetings are planned for March.

    Parent Dan Levin, an urban planner, questioned how the committee gathered its data. He suggested the committee consider more long-term planning for 15 years down the road.

    “You’re shooting in the dark,” said Levin, whose son attends James Johnson Elementary. “You’re throwing good money after bad.”

    Morton said the district wants to implement the rebalancing plan for the 2027-28 school year, before enrollment is expected to swell in the 2028-29 school year.

    Will middle schools and high schools be impacted?

    Guy said the district’s most pressing need for more seats is at the elementary schools. He said officials are not yet examining future enrollment needs at the middle and high schools.

    Cherry Hill is in the third year of a four-year middle school redistricting plan. The district is expanding its preschool program, with 240 new spots set to open in January.

  • A new BYOB looks to bring the flavors of Mexico to Media

    A new BYOB looks to bring the flavors of Mexico to Media

    Editor’s note: Taquero has pushed back its opening date and now plans to open on Dec. 1.

    The longtime chef of Italian restaurant Ariano in Media is readying to open his own eatery on the same block, where he’ll turn his attention to paying homage to his Mexican roots.

    Chef Antonio Garcia began dreaming up Taquero about three years ago and set the plans in motion for his restaurant at 111 Veterans Square last spring. After more than 18 months of work to convert part of a former office building, Taquero will open Nov. 24.

    The BYOB will look to set itself apart from other Mexican eateries in the borough by showcasing a mix of traditional and modern Mexican cuisine, with an emphasis on authentic dishes. The menu will give a nod to Garcia’s hometown of Toluca, while also sampling from elsewhere in the country.

    In conceptualizing his restaurant, Garcia said he wanted to do “something that’s going to make me proud, for me and my family.”

    Some of the restaurant’s offerings are dishes his grandmother made when Garcia was a child, while others borrow from the street food scene in Mexico City, where he spent time before coming to the U.S. nearly 25 years ago.

    “Everybody says their grandma is the best cook. My grandma was, like, insane,” Garcia said. “Everything she cooked was so delicious.”

    Fideo seco is made with toasted pasta, lump crab, chipotle broth, avocado, crema, and queso fresco.

    One nod to her is fideo seco, a traditional Mexican pasta dish made with spaghetti-like noodles in a chipotle broth and served with queso fresco, crema, lump crab, and avocado.

    Other entrées include carne asada, enchiladas, a Mexican-style pork chop, and Mexican-style paella, a spicier take on the Spanish version that’s more chipotle-forward.

    Appetizers will include guacamole; the popular street corn, elote; empanadas; and sopesitos, a tortilla-like base formed into a small bowl to hold toppings like beans. There will be soups, like pozole, made with seafood and hominy, and salads, including a beet-forward option and Garcia’s take on the Caesar salad. Taquero — which translates to taco-maker — will also have a selection of five tacos: fish, birria, carne asada, shrimp, and vegetarian, each served in housemade corn tortillas.

    Some dishes will be served in a classic molcajete, like this one with steak, shrimp, chorizo, salsa tatemada, and panela cheese.

    Desserts, including flan and xangos, a tortilla-wrapped cheesecake served with ice cream, round out the food offerings, which will change seasonally.

    The BYOB will also offer three mixers: a traditional margarita, a paloma, and a daily special. Diners can bring beer, wine, or champagne, with no corkage fee, or sip on a selection of Mexican sodas or the fruit-forward agua fresca.

    The restaurant will launch with lunch and dinner service, with a goal of adding breakfast in the new year.

    In keeping with his desire to make authentic dishes, Garcia is using goods imported from Mexico, including various types of chorizo.

    Garcia plans to split his time between the kitchen and the floor, tapping Jose Rigoberto, who’s been working in the kitchen at Fellini Cafe for years, as his sous chef.

    While Garcia has been focused on Italian cuisine, Media residents may have already sampled some of his Mexican dishes during Ariano’s Mexican Monday nights.

    Ariano’s former owner, Anthony Bellapigna, encouraged Garcia to pursue dishes that were true to his roots, which helped lay the groundwork for him to open his own restaurant. Fittingly, Bellapigna also helped create the copper-topped tables in Taquero, which he, Garcia, and Rigoberto hammered by hand to create their dimpled designs.

    The restaurant has been a labor of love for Garcia, who has been hands-on in the redevelopment of the space, including ripping up the drywall.

    The restaurant spans roughly 1,200 square feet across the first and second floors of the three-story building. It has 14 seats on the ground floor, where diners can see into the kitchen, while the main dining room is on the second floor and features a selection of ceramic Mexican plates on one wall.

    Diners seated on the first floor can see the action in the kitchen.

    Seeing it all come together, Garcia said he’s both nervous and happy, but with the opening on the horizon, he’s more happy than anything.

    Taquero will be open six days a week, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, with dinner service starting at 4 p.m.

    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.

  • Mama’s Pizzeria on the Main Line will close its doors this week

    Mama’s Pizzeria on the Main Line will close its doors this week

    Mama’s Pizzeria, which has served its signature cheesesteak with a three-cheese blend twisted throughout finely chopped sirloin on the Main Line since 1960, is closing its doors next week.

    Second-generation owner Paul Castellucci Sr. said the last day will be either Nov. 28 or Nov. 29, depending on how much meat and bread remain.

    Castellucci had planned to close up the Bala Cynwyd shop after his son, Paul Jr., earned his accountant’s license. He is slated to graduate from St. Joseph’s University in 2026.

    But the timeline was moved up with the elder Castellucci’s recent health issues. The 65-year-old grill man is set to have triple bypass surgery in January, but will start preoperative assessments the first week of December.

    A Main Line cheesesteak shop’s nearly 70-year-old tradition will soon be history

    Paul Castellucci Sr., who has two stents from previous heart issues, was complaining to his cardiologist about shortness of breath. The doctor asked if he had any shoulder pain.

    “Do you know what? I do,” he responded. “I’ve had shoulder pain for 40 years.”

    Over the years, the entire Castellucci family was put to work at Mama’s: kids, grandkids, spouses, cousins.

    Paul Castellucci Sr. started working the grill in 1974 at age 14. Fast-forward to 2025, and “I’m the only one who stayed,” he said in March.

    Paul Castellucci Jr. (right) takes an order from a customer while his dad, Paul Sr., runs the grill at their family restaurant, Mama’s Pizzeria.

    Since word of the closing began to spread on social media, business has picked up.

    Store hours are traditionally 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday. But on Saturday morning, orders started rolling in around 10:30 a.m. By 12:30 p.m., the phone was ringing incessantly, orders were piling up, and there was an hour wait for walk-ins.

    The restaurant was even concerned about running out of rolls.

    “I’m feeling it,” Castellucci said.

    Customers who ordered by phone or in person on Saturday took turns wishing him good luck with his surgery and good health in the new year.

    That all has to make me him feel good, right?

    He thought for a second.

    “It really does,” he said.

  • Former church business manager in Montgomery County charged with $1.1 million theft

    Former church business manager in Montgomery County charged with $1.1 million theft

    The former business manager of St. Matthias Catholic Church in Bala Cynwyd has been charged with theft of more than $1.1 million from the church, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele announced Friday.

    Sean Sweeney, 60, of Mount Pleasant, S.C., served as the church’s business manager from 2017 until his firing in 2024, Steele said.

    Investigators found that from 2018 through 2024, Sweeney was responsible for providing the church’s payroll records processing company, PrimePay, with records for who should be paid and how much. PrimePay paid $1,134,906.35 by direct deposit into bank accounts owned and controlled by Sweeney, Steele said.

    Bank records show that the money Sweeney received was used for his personal expenses, including educational tuition, vehicle-related payments, and vacation costs, Steele said.

    Sweeney surrendered to Montgomery County detectives on Thursday and was arraigned by District Judge Todd N. Barnes, who set bail at $100,000 unsecured, Steele said.

    Sweeney was required to surrender his passport, was ordered not to have contact with employees connected to the case, and is not allowed at or near St. Matthias Church, Steele said.

    Sweeney could not be reached for comment Friday night.

    In December 2024, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Office of Investigations referred the case to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, Steele said.

    Kenneth A. Gavin, a spokesperson for the archdiocese, said in a statement Friday night: “These charges are serious and disturbing to all of us. The Archdiocese and the parish will continue to cooperate with law enforcement as the criminal matter enters its next phase. The Archdiocese is committed to seeking full restitution to the parish.”

    According to the affidavit of probable cause, a member of the church’s finance council who had been a school classmate of Sweeney’s warned a church official in May 2024 “that Sweeney had personal finance issues and was borrowing money from family members and not paying them back.”

  • Cherry Hill’s Activate Gaming transforms childhood games into immersive arenas

    Cherry Hill’s Activate Gaming transforms childhood games into immersive arenas

    Cherry Hill is home to a new gaming space that takes childhood playground games and drops them into padded LED-laden arenas.

    Activate Gaming is a 14,000-square-foot immersive gaming complex opening Nov. 21, where groups can tackle Mission Impossible-esque laser gauntlets and scatter from giant digital eyes in an amped-up game of hide-and-seek (Squid Game, anyone?).

    Staffers (from left) Jason Shacket, Justin Dyaz, Christina Schmidbauer, and Robert Cole, prepare for the laser light gauntlet inside Active Gaming in Cherry Hill, N.J., on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025.

    “We don’t have an age bracket or a specific demographic,” general manager Tahai Exum said. “We want to encourage everyone to come, where a lot of this is just the childhood games that we used to play out in the cul-de-sac or in our backyards with our friends after school.”

    Activate will be transforming the site of a former Rite Aid, a wider trend among landlords to revitalize dormant spaces. As longtime tenants of large retail spaces start to leave these facilities, a new crop of immersive retail experiences is taking them over, including a massive entertainment center in the Moorestown Mall, Cherry Hill Mall getting a Dick’s House of Sport, and Center City’s Fashion District considering experiential retail offerings after the success of Puttshack and F1 Arcade nearby.

    Activate Gaming, located at the site of a former Rite Aid, at 1509 Route 38 in Cherry Hill, pictured on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025.

    What is Activate Gaming?

    Walking into the complex, about a mile down the road from the Cherry Hill Mall, players are equipped with a wristband that activates the game rooms and tracks their scores. Rack up enough points and rewards like Croc accessories, portable speakers, and exclusive apparel are up for grabs.

    Players are ushered into a sprawling, cushion-floored hall with 13 stalls of different games of their choosing. Each round of a game is one to three minutes long, which allows a fresh set of new players to get in.

    From there, players can choose to get back in line and scan their wristband for another round, or try the other games on offer. Think of an arcade with loads of games, but instead of playing with a controller, players are part of the game themselves.

    Shooting hoops, playing hide-and-seek, and the all-time childhood classic “the floor is lava” are heightened in these rooms with interactive prompts, trivia, and thumping techno music.

    For instance, Activate trades the couch cushions and ottomans from traditional “floor is lava” for an LED tile-lined floor that illuminates squares for players to take refuge on. With each new round, players race to the next pressure-triggered tile to win.

    Basketball gets turned into a trivia game where contestants are prompted with questions like “Where is the most densely populated island found?” and shoot a basketball into the correctly labeled hoop. This time the answer is “Haiti,” Exum said, referring to the Haitian island of Ilet a Brouee.

    Players prepare for a race through the laser light gauntlet at Activate Gaming in Cherry Hill on Nov. 18, 2025. The immersive gaming space opens at the end of November.

    In the laser gauntlet room, staffers Robert Cole from Philadelphia and Justyn Diaz from Pennsauken roll like ninjas below the lasers as a smoke machine wafts clouds throughout the room to illuminate the lasers into view. The staffers — even Cole, who previously worked at Dave & Buster’s — have never had employee training like this before.

    The games that guests play are the same ones staffers play every week.

    “I don’t know anywhere you can go and get paid to play games,” Exum said. “Our staff are playing these games ahead of launch, and when we’re open, to better explain and suggest games to guests, but also to provide feedback on the gaming experience.”

    Before you go to Activate Gaming in Cherry Hill

    Activate Gaming is open to everyone ages 6 and up, and yes, Exum said, adults are encouraged to join the fun. Adults must be present at the gaming facility for the entire gaming session for children ages 6 to 13.

    Pricing starts at $24.99 per person for a 60-minute session and $29.99 for 90-minute sessions on weekdays, or $34.99 per person for 60 minutes and $39.99 for 90 minutes on weekends, which should be booked online in advance. Walk-ins are welcome but are subject to availability as time slots get reserved.

    For birthday parties and group visits, the price drops to $19.99 per person with a minimum of 10 guests.

    The display screen where players choose the various game modes within the laser gauntlet at Activate Gaming in Cherry Hill, N.J., on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025.

    There are no limits to how many games you can play in your allotted sessions, so make sure to arrive early so you don’t eat up any valuable gaming time.

    No food or drink is served on the premises, and usually only drinks can be brought inside the lobby or private rooms. But during birthday parties, bringing in party food and birthday cakes can be arranged.

    Cherry Hill’s Activate Gaming is opening on Friday, Nov. 21, with an all-day free gaming event. They are running a limited-time offer of 50% off opening tickets when customers sign up for their newsletter.

    Follow Activate for updates at playactivate.com/new-jersey-cherry-hill or on Instagram and Facebook.

  • Lower Merion bans gas-powered leaf blowers, but not without pushback

    Lower Merion bans gas-powered leaf blowers, but not without pushback

    Gas-powered leaf blowers will be banned in Lower Merion starting in 2029.

    The Montgomery County township on Wednesday became the first in Pennsylvania to ban gas-powered leaf blowers, commissioners said, taking a phased approach that will begin with a seasonal prohibition and transition to an all-out ban over the next four years.

    “Together, we will bring us a step closer to providing our residents the right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic, and aesthetic values of the environment as guaranteed by the Pennsylvania Constitution,” Commissioner Gilda Kramer said, addressing a packed house of attendees at the board meeting.

    The commissioners passed the ordinance 10-4.

    Starting on June 1, 2026, gas-powered leaf blowers will be banned seasonally during the summer (June 1-Oct. 1) and winter (Jan. 1-April 1). The use of portable generators to power electric leaf blowers or charge their batteries will also be banned.

    Starting on Jan. 1, 2028, the use of gas-powered leaf blowers will be permitted only during the fall. They will be banned from Jan. 1 to Oct. 1.

    On Jan. 1, 2029, a full-fledged ban will take effect.

    Residents will still be able to use gas-powered leaf blowers during snowfall and within 24 hours after snow has ceased to fall.

    Similar bans have taken effect in Montclair, N.J.; Montgomery County, Md.; Burlington, Vt.; and Evanston, Ill. The City of Philadelphia and Swarthmore tried for similar bans, but those ordinances did not pass.

    Dozens of residents testified in favor of the ban, citing the noise pollution, environmental impacts, and health consequences associated with the use of gas-powered leaf blowers. One third grader presented a petition with 141 signatures collected at Penn Valley Elementary School.

    While the majority of commissioners characterized the ordinance as a step in the right direction — one that prioritizes safety and environmental health — others dissented, warning that the electric leaf blower technology is not currently strong enough to supplant gas-powered blowers and that the costs of the transition are still unknown.

    “The ordinance that we’re considering tonight is based on an aspiration that the technology is going to be there,” Commissioner Joshua Grimes said. “Right now, staff has told us it is not there. Staff has not told us when it will be there, and no one knows when it’s gonna be there.”

    An amendment to implement a seasonal ban only, not a full ban, failed. The amendment was brought by Commissioner Daniel Bernheim.

    Board President Todd Sinai said that while electric leaf blower technology is not yet fully advanced, the ordinance should be seen as Lower Merion setting ambitious, and important, goals for the future.

    “Some town has to go first. Some town has to be the one that is the starting point for all the other municipalities to coalesce around,” Sinai said. “… If we have to backfill things because we’ve discovered things that are friction points, we will fix them, but at least let’s set an objective and try to accomplish it.”

    Commissioners Bernheim, Grimes, Louis Rossman, and Scott Zelov voted against the ordinance.

    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 township changes you may want to brace for | Inquirer Lower Merion

    The township changes you may want to brace for | Inquirer Lower Merion

    Hi, Lower Merion! 👋

    Could the township see its first parking meter rate hike since 1999? The change is one of several ordinances considered at last night’s township meeting. Also, meet two Rhodes scholars with local ties, and catch up on the latest in the push to merge Lower Merion’s two high school football teams.

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

    Parking meter rates may be going up for the first time since 1999

    Lower Merion Township’s administrative building. The township’s board of commissioners is set to raise parking meter rates, reduce the speed limit on a main artery, and regulate vape and smoke shops in upcoming votes.

    Lower Merion residents may want to brace for a few adjustments on the horizon, including a lower speed limit on parts of Lancaster Avenue and new rules surrounding where smoke and vape shops can operate.

    Township commissioners considered multiple ordinances at their meeting last night, including the speed limit reduction and a proposal that would up the cost of parking in the township for the first time in 25 years, potentially generating around $900,000 annually.

    Read the latest updates from reporter Denali Sagner here.

    💡 Community News

    🏫 Schools Briefing

    • In case you missed it, Lower Merion Superintendent Frank Ranelli made an official recommendation during a recent school board meeting not to merge the district’s football programs. The move comes amid a push from parents to combine teams. A school spokesperson said any further action or vote on a potential football merger would be the school board’s decision.
    • Harriton is hosting a “High School Family Workshop Night” on Monday. It kicks off at 6:30 p.m.
    • Harriton High School’s boys soccer team recently won its first-ever Central Athletic League title, as well as the PIAA District One 3A title, before advancing to the state semifinals, where the team lost to Abington Heights.
    • Today is picture retake day. Also, the book fair continues today and tomorrow at Bala Cynwyd Middle School. And tonight, the high schools kick off their fall plays. Harriton is performing Clue, which runs through Saturday, while Lower Merion High is putting on Legally Blonde, which is on until Sunday. Reminder for families: Elementary and middle school students don’t have class on Tuesday, and all students are out on Wednesday. The district is closed next Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving. See the full calendar here.

    🍽️ On our Plate

    🎳 Things to Do

    🤠 Barn Dance: Brush up on your dancing skills or learn some new steps at this event. ⏰ Friday, Nov. 21, 6:30-9 p.m. 💵 $25 📍 Riverbend Environmental Education Center

    🎁 BHL Holiday Market: Belmont Hills Library is hosting the first of three holiday markets this weekend, where you can shop goods from local artisans. ⏰ Saturday, Nov. 22, 2-7 p.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍 Belmont Hills Library

    🧙‍♀️ Let’s Celebrate the Opening of Wicked: For Good: Kids ages 5 to 12 can make themed edible crafts inspired by Elphaba and Glinda. ⏰ Sunday, Nov. 23, 4-5 p.m. 💵 $21.20 📍 The Candy Lab

    🦕 Movie Matinee: Catch a screening of The Land Before Time at the library. Registration is required. ⏰ Tuesday, Nov. 25, 1-3 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Penn Wynne Library

    🍂 Fall Cornucopia Creations: Create your own Thanksgiving centerpiece. ⏰ Tuesday, Nov. 25, 6-7:30 p.m. 💵 $95 📍 Plant 4 Good

    🚗 Worth the Drive: A Longwood Christmas: Longwood Gardens’ annual holiday display kicks off tomorrow and runs through early January. This year’s theme is inspired by jewels and gems. ⏰ Friday, Nov. 21-Sunday, Jan. 11, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. 💵 $25 for kids 5-18, $45 for adults 19 and older, free for members and kids under 5📍 Longwood Gardens

    🏡 On the Market

    Luxury and privacy in Bryn Mawr

    1075 Green Valley Road in Bryn Mawr is listed for $3.25 million.

    This sprawling, nearly 8,000-square-foot gated estate in Bryn Mawr boasts five bedrooms and five-and-a-half bathrooms. Among its highlights? A sweeping staircase, gym, sauna, wine cellar, and lagoon-style pool.

    See more photos of the property here.

    Price: $3,250,000 | Size: 7,931 | Acreage: 1.61

    🗞️ 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.

  • A new Mexican BYOB is coming to town | Inquirer Greater Media

    A new Mexican BYOB is coming to town | Inquirer Greater Media

    Hi, Greater Media! 👋

    A new Mexican restaurant from a familiar chef is getting ready to open in Media. Also this week, the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District is facing a $2.6 million deficit, we round up where you can get a fresh turkey for Thanksgiving, and an Inquirer columnist stumbled upon an offensively Pennsylvanian outfit at Granite Run.

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

    A new Mexican BYOB is opening in Media next week

    Chef Antonio Garcia (left) will balance being in the kitchen with being on the floor at his new restaurant, Taquero. He’s tapped Jose Rigoberto (right) as his sous chef.

    Media is getting a new Mexican restaurant on Monday, when Chef Antonio Garcia of Ariano opens his own eatery, Taquero.

    Garcia, who’s been in the kitchen at Ariano since it opened over a decade ago, has been working to bring his new BYOB on Veterans Square to life for over 18 months. There, he will be serving a range of modern and traditional dishes from his native Mexico, including some his grandmother used to make.

    “Everybody says their grandma is the best cook. My grandma was, like, insane,” Garcia said. “Everything she cooked was so delicious.”

    Taquero, which translates to taco-maker, will serve five types of tacos, as well as appetizers, soups, salads, entrées, and desserts. It will also offer mixers for people who bring their own alcohol. In crafting the menu, Garcia said he wanted to do “something that’s going to make me proud, for me and my family.”

    Read more about Garcia and the forthcoming Taquero here.

    💡 Community News

    • The state’s long-awaited $50.1 billion budget, signed last week, includes $3 million in supplemental payments for Riddle Hospital, which has seen an increase in patients since Crozer-Chester Medical Center closed earlier this year. There was no additional funding for mass transit, however.
    • Meanwhile, Delaware County last week reported that during the state budget impasse — which began after a missed July 1 deadline — it had spent about $12 million monthly through October from its reserves to backfill for state funding. The county expects to be reimbursed by the state, but it’s unclear when.
    • SEPTA has finished inspecting all 223 of its Silverliner IV Regional Rail cars, but normal service on the commuter system may not return until at least mid-December.
    • Staff members arrived at the Delaware County Republican Party headquarters in Media yesterday morning to find the building’s glass door shattered — the second such incident in 13 months. “It’s just a sign of the times unfortunately,” said party chair Frank Agovino, who also said police are investigating the apparent vandalism.
    • In Philly and Delco, listings and sales of luxury homes are down from last year while prices have grown. In the combined market of both counties, 285 luxury homes sold between July and September of this year — down 16% from the same period in 2024, according to a Redfin analysis.
    • A Delaware County Overdose Response Team was recently added to Riddle Hospital in Media. The partnership between paramedics and a certified recovery specialist team is intended to reduce some of the burden on emergency services. Through the program, a Main Line Health certified recovery specialist will follow ambulances to certain 911 calls and provide additional support to those who have overdosed. (Daily Times)
    • Delaware County libraries have been impacted by the impending closure of one of the largest library book distributors in the country. The county’s 28 libraries used Baker & Taylor to varying degrees, but its abrupt shutdown has meant many librarians are having to do extra work, like applying a protective layer to book covers.
    • When shopping at the Promenade at Granite Run recently, Inquirer columnist Stephanie Farr came across what she believes to be the most offensively Pennsylvanian outfit: matching camouflage sweat suits. “Here were outfits that managed to do what no state legislature or psychological expert ever has: They married rural and urban Pennsylvania,” she writes.
    • A reminder that the Thanksgiving holiday will impact your trash and recycling pickup next week. Not sure when your holiday collection will be? Check the Media or Swarthmore websites. If you live in Nether Providence Township, check with your private trash collector.
    • Nether Providence Township is hosting a bulk trash drop-off event on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., or until the bins are full, at Hepford Park and the South Media Fire Station.
    • Saturday is the last day of the Swarthmore Farmers Market for 2025.

    🏫 Schools Briefing

    • Wallingford-Swarthmore School District is headed for a $2.6 million budget deficit that officials blame on a “spending problem.” Without implementing a “cultural shift” around spending, the district is staring down major fiscal problems for the 2027-28 school year, said business administrator DeJuana Mosley.
    • Book fairs continue at a couple RMTSD schools through Tuesday, and there are parent-teacher conferences at several schools on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday next week. There are no classes for kindergarten through eighth grade students starting Tuesday, and the high school has an early dismissal Wednesday. The district is closed next Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving. See the full calendar here.
    • Tara Irey, a Wallingford-Swarthmore School District first grade teacher who brings “learning to life every day,” was recently named the winner of Welch’s Fruit Snacks and Crayola’s “Thank You Teacher Sweepstakes.” Her prize? A $10,000 classroom makeover.
    • Wallingford Elementary’s book fair continues through tomorrow, and Saturday and Sunday are fall drama performances. There will be no classes next Wednesday, and the district is closed next Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving. See the full calendar here.

    🍽️ On our Plate

    • Tomorrow is the last day to place takeout Thanksgiving orders from White Dog Cafe. The popular eatery, which has a location in Glen Mills, is offering a feast to feed eight or à la carte options.
    • Speaking of Thanksgiving, if you’re still in search of a fresh turkey, we’ve rounded up where you can buy them locally, including at Linvilla Orchards, which has whole birds or breasts. Preorders for turkeys are due today.

    🎳 Things to Do

    🛍️ Penncrest Band Annual Craft Show: Shop over 125 vendors, hear the band play, sample food, and try your luck at a raffle. ⏰ Saturday, Nov. 22, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍 Penncrest High School, Media

    🔥 Fire Pit Fridays: At the YMCA’s final fire pit event of the year, roast s’mores while connecting with other attendees. Hot chocolate will be available for purchase. ⏰ Friday, Nov. 21, 6-8 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Rocky Run YMCA, Media

    🥧 2nd Annual Hoedown and Pie Raffle Fundraiser: Put on your dancing boots for this family-friendly fundraiser that includes barbecue, kids’ crafts, a pie raffle, and a live band with a professional caller to shout out the steps. ⏰ Saturday, Nov. 22, 5 p.m. 💵 $15 for children ages 4 to 9, $35 for attendees 10 and older 📍 Park Avenue Community Center, Swarthmore

    🌲 Cut-Your-Own Christmas Tree: Find your perfect Christmas tree among the pre-cut options or venture into the fields to chop down your own. ⏰ Opening Saturday, Nov. 22 through Tuesday, Dec. 23, times and days vary 💵 $119 per tree plus tax 📍 Linvilla Orchards, Media

    🎭 Little Women: Hedgerow Theatre’s newest show kicks off and is a stage adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s beloved book. ⏰ Wednesday, Nov. 26-Sunday, Dec. 28, times and days vary 💵 $20-$35 📍 Hedgerow Theatre, Rose Valley

    🏃‍➡️ Delco Turkey Trot: Sunday is the last day to register for this year’s race, which includes a 5K or a one-mile “little drumstick” run to benefit Nether Providence Elementary School’s parent-teacher organization. ⏰ Thursday, Nov. 27, 8:30 a.m. 💵 $25 for kids under 12, $40 for everyone else 📍 Nether Providence Elementary School, Wallingford

    🚗 Worth the Drive: A Longwood Christmas: Longwood Gardens’ annual holiday display kicks off tomorrow and runs through early January. This year’s theme is inspired by gems. Timed reservations are required. ⏰ Friday, Nov. 21-Sunday, Jan. 11, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. 💵 $25 for kids 5-18, $45 for adults 19 and older, free for members and kids under 5 📍 Longwood Gardens

    🏡 On the Market

    A Media home that’s well equipped for entertaining

    703 Iris Lane is listed for $957,000.

    A custom bar and a hot tub? This four-bedroom, three-and-a-half bathroom home in Media boasts plenty of space for hosting. Other highlights include a farm sink, double ovens, multiple fireplaces, a two-story foyer, and more.

    See more photos of the property here.

    Price: $957,000 | Size: 3,538

    🗞️ 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.

  • Wallingford-Swarthmore is facing a $2.6 million deficit. Officials blame a ‘spending problem.’

    Wallingford-Swarthmore is facing a $2.6 million deficit. Officials blame a ‘spending problem.’

    The Wallingford-Swarthmore School District is headed for a $2.6 million budget deficit, district officials said during a presentation on Tuesday night.

    At a meeting of the district’s finance committee on Nov. 18, Superintendent Russell Johnston and business administrator DeJuana Mosley presented a dire picture of the school district’s finances. Increased staffing costs, subpar inventory management, and costly building repairs have coincided with a shrinking revenue base in the district, officials said. Without implementing a “cultural shift” around spending, Mosley said, the district is staring down major fiscal problems for the 2027-28 school year.

    “Bottom line, the district has a spending problem,” Mosley said.

    Why is Wallingford-Swarthmore facing a budget deficit?

    District administrators say Wallingford-Swarthmore‘s fiscal issues are largely related to runaway spending and insufficient recordkeeping.

    The school district’s budget has increased by 18%, or around $16 million, over the last five years. Administrators said the district has had to pour resources into its security, nursing staff, and costly building repairs that had been put off for years. On top of that, Mosey outlined a lack of inventory management, describing a culture across the district of “just ordering stuff.”

    Johnston was hired earlier this year to replace former Superintendent Wagner Marseille. The school district parted ways with Marseilles in 2024 amid mounting criticism of his management style and spending decisions.

    The district’s unsustainable spending has been set to the backdrop of a decreasing tax base, officials said. The 2025 taxable assessed value in the school district is $2.6 billion, a $5.8 million decrease from 2024. The decrease resulted in a $174,000 loss in revenue.

    School districts in Pennsylvania are limited by the Act 1 Index, a formula used to determine the maximum tax increase a district can levy (without voter approval). The index is calculated using the statewide change in wages, the nationwide change in school employee compensation costs, and an individual district’s relative wealth. Wallingford-Swarthmore’s 2026-27 Act 1 Index is 3.5%.

    Unlike neighboring school districts like Rose Tree Media, which has seen continued population increases and new construction, Wallingford-Swarthmore is small and almost entirely residential. Limited construction and growth leaves few opportunities to increase the district’s tax base.

    Around 20% of the district’s revenue comes from state and federal subsidies. Mosey said poor recordkeeping had impacted state subsidy and grant revenue (the issue has since been cleaned up, she added).

    How is the district planning to balance the budget?

    If no changes are made, the school district is set to be short about $2.6 million for the 2027-28 school year. Mosley recommended the district cut the budget by double that amount ($5.2 million).

    “I know it’s alarming and it’s aggressive and it’s a lot,” she said. “We’re trying to change the trajectory of what we’re doing.”

    Johnston said the district should look at cost savings that are “furthest away from the classroom,” citing examples like professional development and travel for staff, a reduction of the size of the district’s capital plan, and a review of “potential redundancies in services and staffing.” He also suggested evaluating which services the district is required to provide and which are optional.

    “I almost have to take a deep breath when I say this out loud, but kindergarten transportation is not required,” he said, offering cutting buses for kindergartners as an example.

    Johnston emphasized that he was not making a suggestion to cut kindergarten transportation from the get-go, but was offering it as an example of an optional service the district provides.

    What happens next?

    The district has to present a 2027-28 budget draft by June of next year. Johnston and Mosley said they were deliberately bringing the budget process to the public months in advance to allow for ample conversations with teachers, staff, parents, and the school board.

    In early December, Johnston will host optional community forums with school faculty and the community. The school board’s finance committee will present a potential budget reallocation strategy at its Dec. 16 meeting. On Dec. 22, the board is set to vote on its reallocation expectations.

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

  • What draws the 55+ population to Cherry Hill? | Inquirer Cherry Hill

    What draws the 55+ population to Cherry Hill? | Inquirer Cherry Hill

    Hello, Cherry Hill! 👋

    First up this week, a $70,000 grant from the state will help the township explore a key question: What makes Cherry Hill such a desirable place to live for people 55 and older? Also this week, a Say Yes to the Dress star is coming to town, and we explain why the library is experiencing disruptions.

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

    A new assessment will explore what draws older residents to Cherry Hill

    Cherry Hill will be doing a needs assessment to determine what makes older residents want to stay.

    One-third of Cherry Hill’s residents are 55 or older. As the township’s population continues to grow, local leaders want to understand what makes its older residents stick around.

    “For those that have the means, it’s a conscious decision to stay,” said Mayor Dave Fleisher. “They want to stay close to their kids, close to their grandkids.”

    Cherry Hill will be using a $70,000 grant from the New Jersey Department of Human Services to do a needs assessment, including focus groups, listening sessions, and a survey. The goal of the grant, given to 17 communities in total, is to “make communities more welcoming and livable for people of all ages.”

    Read more about what Cherry Hill leaders hope to learn.

    💡 Community News

    🏫 Schools Briefing

    • In case you missed it, last week, Cherry Hill Public Schools Superintendent Kwame Morton assured parents that the district will not ban or censor library books. The clarification came after an internal memo suggested that students would need parental permission to check out “sensitive” books.
    • Morton also last week released a report on the first quarter of the school year. It outlined key actions, currents challenges, and next steps across five areas, including academic achievement, the school’s climate, and staffing.
    • The district will hold its final meeting about elementary school enrollment “balancing” tomorrow at 7 p.m. over Zoom.
    • Reminder to families: There will be an early dismissal next Wednesday to kick off Thanksgiving break. See the district’s full calendar here.
    • Inspire A Learner, a new Islamic youth education and daycare center, has received zoning approval to operate in a converted office building on Marlkress Road. (70 and 73)

    🍽️ On our Plate

    • The owners of Cherry Hill’s Old World-style Italian restaurant Il Villaggio have an agreement to buy popular Haddon Township pub Keg & Kitchen. It will remain a pub, but undergo a few changes, including to its name, menu, and decor.
    • Bombay Express, an Indian restaurant that recently closed its Marlton location, is heading to Cherry Hill. The eatery, which offers chicken, lamb, and vegetable dishes, in addition to biryanis and tandoori, will open in the Centrum Shoppes on Haddonfield-Berlin Road, though an exact timeline has not yet been shared.
    • Umai Ramen is one of the 20 best ramen shops in the Garden State, according to BestofNJ.com. The food outlet noted the Brace Road restaurant “brings a taste of authentic Japanese street food to Cherry Hill,” suggesting diners try the classic miso, tonkotsu, or the black garlic ramen.

    🎳 Things to Do

    🎅🏻 Coca‑Cola Holiday Caravan: The bright red touring truck is making a stop in Cherry Hill tonight, where you can take photos with Santa, enjoy seasonal activities, and purchase Coca-Cola-themed gifts. ⏰ Wednesday, Nov. 19, 5:30-7:30 p.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍 Roy Rogers

    🛍️ Eyez on U Pop-Up Market: Beat the Black Friday rush and shop local businesses at the mall’s Grand Court. ⏰ Friday, Nov. 21-Sunday, Nov. 23, times vary 💵 Pay as you go 📍 Cherry Hill Mall

    🎄 Holiday House: See Barclay Farmstead decked out for the holidays. ⏰ Friday, Nov. 21-Sunday, Nov. 23, times vary 💵 $5.49 for adults, $3.49 for children 10 and under📍 Barclay Farmstead

    🤖 Philcon 2025: Science fiction, fantasy, and horror buffs will gather to celebrate the genres in books, film, television, and more. This year’s principal speaker is writer Charles Gannon, who is known for his Caine Riordan series. ⏰ Friday, Nov. 21-Sunday, Nov. 23, times vary 💵 $35-$75 📍 DoubleTree by Hilton

    🎧 R&B Night: Drinksgiving: Three DJs will play tunes during this R&B-themed event. ⏰ Friday, Nov. 21, 9 p.m.-2 a.m. 💵 $13.34 📍 Vera

    💎 Holiday Gift Bazaar: Over 40 vendors will be selling everything from accessories and beauty products to home goods at this event. ⏰ Sunday, Nov. 23, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍 Congregation Kol Ami

    🎁 Holiday Craft Fair: Browse an array of vendors selling items like jewelry, scrapbooking supplies, and pottery. ⏰ Sunday, Nov. 23, 1-4 p.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍 Cherry Hill Public Library

    🏡 On the Market

    This four-bedroom Short Hills home has a heated covered patio

    The four-bedroom home spans more than 5,100 square feet.

    Built in 1999, this spacious brick-fronted Short Hills home has a variety of unique features. Its first floor features a two-story foyer; a living room; an office; a family room with a fireplace set into a stone accent wall and vaulted ceilings; a dining room with a quartz waterfall island in lieu of a table; and a kitchen with granite countertops and high-end appliances. It has four bedrooms, including a primary suite, with a massive walk-in closet, a fireplace, a spa-like bathroom, and a balcony. The finished basement has a full bathroom and a home gym. Outside, there’s a heated covered patio and a saltwater fiberglass pool with a rock waterfall.

    See more photos of the property here.

    Price: $1.165M | Size: 5,100 SF | Acreage: 0.38

    🗞️ 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.