Gouldsburger’s is among the recent openings in Ardmore.
Downtown Ardmore has welcomed a dozen new businesses so far this year, with more still on the horizon.
Newcomers have ranged broadly from a Japanese barbecue joint to a home goods spot to a new yoga studio. A pair of burger eateries have also joined the fray.
The community is mourning the death of Narberth resident and longtime Friendsâ Central Lower School teacher Peter Grove, who died in May at the age of 82. An award-winning educator, Grove mentored other teachers and fellow naturalists, and created dozens of notable community gardens throughout the region.
Two people, a 35-year-old woman and a 40-year-old man, were critically injured when a tree fell on their car while they were driving in Lower Merion on Friday. A 10-year-old girl who was also in the car suffered minor injuries. (6abc)
There will be a virtual meeting Monday at 11 a.m. for residents interested in learning more about Ardmore House II, the affordable senior community expected to open later this year.
Penn Valley resident Samantha Paige Rosenâs debut book, Living, Together: Reimagining Community in the Age of Disconnection, is due out Tuesday. In it, she and nearly two dozen other writers explore what it means to live communally. Sheâll host a book launch event next Thursday from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Philadelphia Ethical Society.
đœïž On our Plate
Popular local sushi purveyor Sam Li recently opened his latest eatery, but with a decidedly different focus. OGYU, which took over the former Iron Hill Brewery space in Ardmore and has a club-like atmosphere, specializes in Japanese barbecue. The Inquirerâs Denali Sagner explains why Li chose to switch things up.
Craving the viral dessert of summer? You donât have to look far to find the TikTok-famous dot cake, which is available at Bakery House. The Bryn Mawr establishment has seen the layered cake in a cup, coated with the signature nonpareil sprinkles, flying off its shelves since it began offering it at the end of May.
đł Things to Do
đž Echoes: Tickets are going fast for the Pink Floyd tribute band, which will perform the entirety of âWish You Were Here.â â° Friday, July 10, 8 p.m. đ” $26.91 đ Ardmore Music Hall
đ§ The Little Mermen and The Princess Pals: The kid-friendly show will include performances of iconic Disney songs through the ages. â° Sunday, July 12, noon đ” $26.91-$67.28 đ Ardmore Music Hall
đ¶ Bryn Mawr Twilight Concerts: American folk duo Shovels & Rope, made up of husband-and-wife duo Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst, will take the stage. â° Sunday, July 12, 7 p.m. đ” $25.88, free for kids 12 and under đ Bryn Mawr Gazebo
đ” Music in the Park: The Daniel Villarreal Trio brings its mash up of psychedelia, jazz, Latin rock, and funk to the stage. â° Wednesday, July 15, 7 p.m. đ” Free đ Narberth Park gazebo
The lodge-style home has its own dock and plenty of water vistas.
Situated on the banks of the Schuylkill River, this Gladwyne home has unobstructed water views and multiple decks to enjoy them from, in addition to its own dock. The main living level features a living room that looks out on the water and also has a wood stove surrounded by Moravian tiles. The space opens onto a rounded deck, as well as a dining area and kitchen. There are four bedrooms, including a primary suite with its own balcony and walk-in closet.
By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirerâs 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 Inquirerâs high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.
Montgomery County prosecutors have withdrawn criminal charges against longtime Philly sports personality Mike Missanelli, ending their investigation into an alleged domestic dispute between him and his fiancee.
Missanelli, a former Inquirer sportswriter best known for his 15-year stint as a host at 97.5 The Fanatic, was arrested in April and charged with simple assault and harassment after his fiancee accused him of slapping her across the face during an argument inside their home in Lower Merion.
During a preliminary hearing late last month, prosecutors declined to move forward with the case.
In a statement Wednesday, Kate Delano, a spokesperson for District Attorney Kevin Steele, said that âafter reviewing additional information, the office made the determination that it would withdraw the charges.â
âIn every case, we are always continuing to investigate after charges are filed,â she said.
Missanelliâs attorney, Brian McMonagle, declined to comment Wednesday. Missanelli did not respond to a request for comment.
In the affidavit of probable cause filed by Lower Merion police, officers wrote that Missanelli, 70, was in a heated argument with his fiancee over their engagement. His fianceeâs name was redacted from court records.
Police responded to a 911 hangup shortly after midnight, and Missanelli told officers the argument led to a âscuffle.â
The fiancee struck him in the chest and Missanelliâs âopen hand slapped her on the left side of her face/head,â the affidavit said. One officer said he saw fresh blood on the womanâs forehead from a laceration allegedly caused by the slap.
Missanelli was fired from WIP in 2006 after he punched a producer. He was then fired by 6abc in 2017 for misogynistic comments he made about Beth Mowins, an ESPN broadcaster.
In recent years, Missanelli has been in the news for various job changes. After 15 years with 97.5 The Fanatic, he was pushed out by management in 2022, then brought back in 2024, only to be ousted once more last August.
Currently, he is embroiled with a legal battle with JAKIB Media and its owner, Joe Krause, for their alleged failure to pay him $85,000.
Staff writer Rob Tornoe contributed to this article.
A dozen new businesses have opened in downtown Ardmore so far this year, bringing Japanese barbecue, build-your-own salads, and organic dog treats, among other goods, to the Main Line community. New and incoming businesses include mom-and-pop shops, national chains, and expansions of popular Philly-area names, such as decorated Szechuan eatery EMei and New Jersey-based burger chain Gouldsburgerâs.
Hereâs a breakdown of the new retailers that have opened in Ardmore this year, and some others that are on the horizon.
Whatâs new?
OGYU Japanese BBQ
OGYU Japanese BBQ (60 Greenfield Ave.) is a tabletop cooking Japanese steakhouse experience from Osushi owner Sam Li. OGYU offers an all-you-can-eat, tiered, fixed-price menu, as well as a full bar. Li has opened Osushi locations in Wayne, Ardmore, and Marlton, as well as upscale eatery Hiramasa in Newtown Square. OGYU opened last month.
Just Salad
Healthy food chain Just Salad (167 W. Lancaster Ave.) opened in Ardmore in May, adding to the companyâs more than 100 locations across seven states. Just Salad serves fast-casual salads, warm bowls, wraps, and smoothies.
Barizi
Barizi (29 W. Lancaster Ave.) is a design, home, and gift store offering curated ceramics, textiles, leather goods, vintage furniture, and self-care items. Bariziâs Ardmore store opened in May and is its second after New York City.
Gouldsburgerâs
Gouldsburgerâs (4 Station Rd.), a Jersey-based mini-chain serving up burgers, cheesesteaks, chicken sandwiches, and other fried snacks, opened across from Ardmoreâs train station in February. The restaurant has vegan and vegetarian options, and its cheesesteak has even made the ranks of the Inquirerâs favorites.
Inside OGYU Japanese BBQ in Ardmore.
CorePower Yoga
CorePower Yoga (169 W. Lancaster Ave.), a heated yoga and strength training studio with hundreds of locations across the U.S., opened in Ardmore in April. This is the chainâs third location in the Philadelphia area, after Center City and Northern Liberties.
Bikini Burger
Penn Valley resident Mia Robertston opened Bikini Burger (44 Rittenhouse Pl.) in January with the goal of bringing a simple and âreally good burgerâ to the area. Robertsonâs Burgers are made with beef from a Lancaster County butcher, can be topped with Cooper Sharp, among other accoutrements, and are never smashed.
R3 Gaming & Toys
R3 Gaming & Toys (6 W. Lancaster Ave.) is a toy and game shop built for collectors and âcurious minds of all ages.â The store stocks classic toys, board games, puzzles, comics, graphic novels, and other novelties.
Jersey Mikeâs
Sub sandwich giant Jersey Mikeâs (20 Greenfield Ave.) opened its doors in the former Revitalize Aesthetics storefront in March. The sub shop is open seven days a week and offers both hot and cold sandwich options.
Mia Robertson, owner of Bikini Burger, makes a cheeseburger at the Bikini Burger in Ardmore. The burger joint is one of a slate of new businesses to open in Ardmore this year.
Raffs Italian Cuisine (65 Cricket Ave.) is the second restaurant of chef and owner Raffael Kupa, who also runs Buona Vita in Somers Point, N.J. Raffs, which opened in April, is BYOB, open for dinner seven days a week, and offers traditional Italian fare.
At Mango Mango (38 Greenfield Ave.), an Asian-inspired dessert chain with locations across the U.S., âmangoâs our muse.â Mango Mango serves mango- and non-mango-flavored cakes, waffles, smoothies, ice creams, and teas. Its Ardmore franchisewill be opening later this month.
Vintnerâs Table
Vintnerâs Table (24 Cricket Ave.) is an Italian-inspired wine bar affiliated with Folino Estate Winery & Restaurant in Kutztown. The Ardmore location will be the third Vintnerâs Table after Phoenixville and Wyomissing. Vitnerâs Table has not shared an anticipated opening date yet.
Chef Yongcheng Zhao preparing a crispy whole boneless sea bass dish at EMei in Chinatown. The restaurant is set to expand to Ardmore.
EMei
Inquirer food critic Craig Laban says EMei (98 Cricket Ave.) is a âSzechuan feast with few peers in Philly.â The lauded Chinatown eatery, owned by Dan Tsao, is expanding to South Philly and Ardmore in the near future, though the timeline for expansion has been pushed back due to permitting and architecture hiccups.
Pure Green
Cold-pressed juice company Pure Green (56 E. Lancaster Ave.) is set to open in Ardmore next year. Pure Green offers superfood smoothies, acai and pitaya bowls, steel-cut oatmeal bowls, sourdough toasts, and cold-pressed juices.
Calm and Strong Yoga and Pilates
Calm and Strong (46 Rittenhouse Pl.) is a yoga and pilates studio bringing a variety of sculpt, flow, and strength classes to Ardmore. The studio is set to open this fall.
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 Inquirerâs high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.
Wynnewood resident Lori Ney, along with her dogs Ava and Lilly, attended the Armyâs Pershingâs Own followed by fireworks at the Great Plaza at Delaware River Waterfront in 2023.
Celebrate the nationâs Semiquincentennial at one of these festive events, which are replete with parades, fireworks, and musical performances.
Bala Cynwyd: The Neighborhood Club of Bala Cynwydâs annual parade starts at the Union Fire House and ends at the playground at Bala Cynwyd Park, where there will be a rock wall, pony rides, a petting zoo, and music. â° Saturday, July 4, starts at 9:30 a.m. đ” Wristbands are $15-$45 đ Union Fire House and Bala Cynwyd Park
Ardmore: The community will celebrate the nationâs 250th anniversary with a ribbon cutting for its new mural, a âfreedom walk,â and crafts and sweet treats at Linwood Park. â° Saturday, July 4, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. đ” Free đ Throughout Ardmore
Penn Wynne: The Penn Wynne Civic Associationâs annual celebration kicks off with a parade at 10 a.m. followed by a carnival at Penn Wynne Park. â° Saturday, July 4, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. đ” Wristbands are $10-$30 đ Penn Wynne-Overbrook Hills Firehouse and Penn Wynne Park
Narberth: This daylong event kicks off at 10 a.m. with a carnival, games, and pie-eating contest, which run until 1:30 p.m. After a break, the celebration continues at 6:30 p.m. with food trucks, live music, and a reading of the Declaration of Independence before the fireworks show. â° Saturday, July 4, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and 6:30-10:30 p.m. đ” Free to attend, pay as you go for the carnival and food trucks đ Narberth Park
Garrett Hill and Rosemont: This festive hourlong parade starts at the Rosemont Business Campus at the corner of Conestoga and Williams Roads at 10:45 a.m. and ends at Clem Macrone Park, where there will be entertainment and live music. Residents can join in by decorating a bike or float. The judging begins at 10 a.m. â° Saturday, July 4, 10:45 a.m. đ” Free đ Rosemont Business Center to Clem Macrone Park
Reminder for residents: There will be no trash and recycling pickup tomorrow when the township is closed in observance of the holiday. See how your household might be impacted here.
After a 17-year tenure in Narberth, Dan Gold remembers his time in the borough helming Dannyâs Guitar Shop as âjust perfect.â The Inquirerâs Denali Sagner caught up with the musician, who recently closed the guitar lesson and shop, about his career and what comes next.
World Cup fever continues throughout the region, and one resident who grew up in Lower Merion said the tournament has made him especially proud of his Ecuadorian roots. Rowan Teran, 24, was among those celebrating ahead of the teamâs early round match at Lincoln Financial Field, finding joy with his fellow Ecuador fans.
Blackbird Health opened a new clinic last week at 225 E. City Ave. in Bala Cynwyd. The Pennsylvania-based chain offers mental healthcare for children, teens, and families.
đ« Schools Briefing
Applications are now open for eligible Lower Merion and Narberth seniors to get a 2025 rebate for property taxes paid to the school district. Learn more about the program here.
đœïž On our Plate
Two new eateries are getting closer to opening in Ardmore. Dessert spot Mango Mango is teeing up a July opening at 38 Greenfield Ave., while Vintnerâs Table, a wine bar that dishes up Italian cuisine, is aiming to open in August on Cricket Avenue.
đł Things to Do
đ Book Signing and Discussion with Jessica Knoll and Jennifer Weiner: Shipley School alum Jessica Knoll, who gained acclaim for her 2015 novel Luckiest Girl Alive, will sign copies of her new book, Helpless, and discuss it with fellow local author Jennifer Weiner. â° Tuesday, July 7, 6 p.m. đ” Free to attend, $25 for the book đ Barnes & Noble Bryn Mawr
đ” Music in the Park: The next concert features a performance by the Brazilian jazz outfit the Minas Trio. â° Wednesday, July 8, 7 p.m. đ” Free đ Narberth Park gazebo
The exterior of the home blends the Arts & Crafts and Tudor styles.
A Wynnewood cottage once part of the Clothier estate is back on the market, this time with a new price. Designed in the Arts & Crafts and Tudor styles, the three-bedroom cottage has a distinctive exterior from its stone facade to its woodwork. Inside, the home has been overhauled to give it modern amenities, including a sleek eat-in kitchen which complements the original herringbone-patterned floors. It also has a patio, a deck, and a fenced yard. Thereâs an open house Sunday from noon to 2 p.m.
By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirerâs 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 Inquirerâs 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 oneâs 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 âa good center point on the Main Line,â John Rhoads said, with Silenia Rhoads adding sheâs already noticed the âsense of community.â
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 âagreement in principleâ 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 systemâs doctors and have insurance through United. Main Line Health owns Bryn Mawr Hospital and Lankenau Medical Center.
Lower Merionâs board of commissioners last week passed an amendment to the townshipâs gas-powered leaf blower ban that specifies exemptions for walk-behind, stand-on, riding, and tow-behind leaf blowers and vacuums, The Inquirerâs 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.
đ« 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 Countyâs 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.
đœïž 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 brandâs YEU snacks. ANEU also plans to add a 20,000-square-foot production kitchen, eatery, and wellness center in Tredyffrin Township.
đł Things to Do
đź Mystic of the Main Lineâs Inception Day: The Ardmore shop is marking its one-year anniversary with readings and refreshments. â° Saturday, June 27, 7-11 p.m. đ” Pay-as-you-go đ Mystic of the Main Line
đ¶ Bryn Mawr Twilight Concerts: Vermont-based singer, songwriter, and guitarist Mihali headlines this weekâs show. â° Sunday, June 28, 7 p.m. đ” $25.88, free for kids 12 and under đ Bryn Mawr Gazebo
đ” Music in the Park: Four Lean Hounds, a Grateful Dead tribute band, will perform at the next concert. â° Wednesday, July 1, 7 p.m. đ” Free đ 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 homeâs 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 Inquirerâs 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 Inquirerâs high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.
Five buildings in downtown Bryn Mawr, including the storefronts of Carina Sorella, Jeniâs Splendid Ice Creams, and the Buttery Bryn Mawr, are up for sale.
The Bryn Mawr Collection, a nearly26,000-square-foot portfolio that includes residential, retail, medical, and office space, was recently listed by real estate firm CBRE. The properties are owned by Main Line-based real estate developer Tim Rubin and are located in the heart of Bryn Mawr at 834-40 W. Lancaster Ave. and 860-66 W. Lancaster Ave.
CBREâs Chris Munley said the properties could sell for around $12 million.
Rubin is a Narberth native who has owned the properties for almost 20 years. With the sale, he is hoping to recycle capital and make a similar investment somewhere else, Munley said.
The Bryn Mawr Collection is âextremely rare, irreplaceable âMain Streetâ real estate, providing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to break into a high barrier to entry market,â according to the listing. The portfolio is a stoneâs throw from the Bryn Mawr SEPTA station and down the road from Villanova University, making it well positioned in one of the regionâs most âaffluent, educated, and densely populated suburban communities,â the listing reads.
The properties are currently home to TCO Fly Shop, the Buttery, Jeniâs Splendid Ice Creams, and Carina Sorella, as well as apartments and offices.
Beloved tenants such as Carina Sorella and The Buttery, which opened last week, arenât going anywhere, Munley said. The successful businesses are âone of the reasons this is attractiveâ for potential buyers, and they have long-term leases that would extend beyond the sale of the properties.
The properties are in their second week on the market, and Munley said the level of interest has been âeye-opening.â In addition to local players looking to expand their portfolio on the Main Line, Munley said he has seen interest from investors that usually focus on larger markets like New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
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 Inquirerâs high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.
As the newly appointed National Teacher of the Year, Haverford High Schoolâs Leon Smith has been celebrated on television: from CBS Mornings and Good Morning America to the Kelly Clarkson Show.
But as the lone Black teacher when he started teaching at Haverford 25 years ago, Smith got a different reception. He experienced racism, he told a group of young people interested in teaching, and if it werenât for a Black vice principal that listened and supported him, he might not still be teaching today.
âShe would just be very honest with me, and be like, âFirst of all, youâre an excellent educator. … Keep being you. Somebody calls and says something crazy, Iâm just hanging up,ââ Smith told teaching fellows gathered in Germantown on Wednesday with Breakthrough of Greater Philadelphia, a nonprofit that trains aspiring teachers to lead enrichment programs for middle-school students.
The event, sponsored by the Equitable Foundation, was just one of many for Smith during his yearlong stint as Teacher of the Year, a platform he was awarded in April by the Council of Chief State School Officers. In that role, heâs spending the year traveling the country to advocate for the teaching profession and growing its ranks.
Smith, who teaches Advanced Placement U.S. History and Advanced Placement African American Studies at Haverford, spoke passionately to the fellows Wednesdayabout his motivation to be the teacher he didnât have growing up, and the immense impact teachers can have on studentsâ lives â presenting the profession as a deeply rewarding opportunity to help kids recognize their talents.
But he was also honest about the challenges. Fielding questions about his career from fellows gathered in an auditorium on the Germantown Friends School campus, Smith said he had struggled to find his way as a new teacher, staying up too late trying to perfect lessons.
He described the sometimes lonely experience of being his predominantly white high schoolâs only Black teacher, and how he developed strategies to respond to racism, including learning when to walk away and when to speak out.
He told fellowsto find supportive colleagues and to be selective when they considered job offers.
âDo your research. Make sure itâs a space thatâs going to take care of you,â he said.
Smith also described feeling self-conscious when he was younger about some of his lessons â worrying that students would say, ââOh, all he does is talk about Black history,ââ Smith said. But he began hearing from students about how grateful they were to have learned about subjects that hadnât been covered in other classes; an audit later identified African American studies as a class community members wanted to see added.
âMy whyâ
His comments resonated with the teaching fellows, some of whom said theyâre committed to careers in education.
Dominique Sidae, a 23-year-old rising senior at Florida A&M University, is planning to become a special-education teacher. She said she wasinspired by her appreciation for a teacher who helped her younger brothers, who have autism.
Sidae said she is often the only Black person in teaching spaces. âIt feels good to know this isnât only happening to me,â she said. âYou donât really learn that in college.â
Dominique Sidae, 23, a fellow with the Breakthrough of Greater Philadelphia, listens to a talk by Leon Smith last week.
Miles Baldwin, an 18-year-old graduate of Harriton High School in Lower Merion, isnât sure he wants to become a teacher. But he enjoyed working with students last summer in the Breakthrough program â âa lot of kids came in hating it, and left wanting more,â he said â and Smithâs pitch about being a mentor was compelling to him.
âHonestly, yeah,â he said, when asked if hearing from Smith made him more interested in teaching.
Smithâs agenda this summer includes attending the National PTA Convention in Pittsburgh and giving a keynote speech at the Smithsonianâs National Education Summit. He also will be joining other state teachers of the year at Space Camp in Alabama and participating in professional development.
But addressing the Breakthrough teaching fellows Wednesday âreminds me of my why,â Smith said in a brief interview. He said the fellowsâ eagerness to ask questions âshows they want to be the best they can be,â and reflects qualities of good teachers: âYou have to be curious, sometimes silent … often humbled,â Smith said.
Leon Smith, a teacher at Haverford High School, was named National Teacher of the Year this spring.
Teaching students to lead
In a model lesson after his talk, Smith put some of those skills on display. He started by gathering the 34 fellows in a circle, asking them each to share their name and a brief story about it; the group periodically broke into laughter at humorous anecdotes.
Smith then outlined the objectives for his lesson about assessing the credibility of sources. He passed out copies of a photo, asking fellows to silently write and then discuss in small groups whether it provided strong evidence of the Fukushima power plant explosion.
âI always tell my students, you want to be a leader,â Smith said, encouraging fellows to stand by their analyses, even if others disagreed. He then called on people, asking them to explain their thinking while challenging some of their points.
Leon Smith talks to fellows at Breakthrough Collaborative last week.
Matt Greenawalt, co-dean of faculty for the Breakthrough summer program and a teacher at Germantown Friends â which supports Breakthrough â was planning to breakdown Smithâs approach for the fellows after the lesson. He noted how Smith was walking through the room, engaging with the fellows as they talked, and Smithâs ability to affirm and redirect them when an answer wasnât on point.
Smithâs visit came on day three of a two-week orientation for the fellows, before they would begin teaching students during Breakthroughâs six-week free summer program.
While access to academics is key for the programâs students, many of whom come from Germantown, âa big piece of it too is having role models,â Greenawalt said.
Smith told fellows that when the students arrived, âtheyâre going to just admire you so much.â
âYouâre going to be able to see the light inside of them, and sometimes it just takes someone else to notice, right? … Theyâll just kind of be doing their work, and then as you get to know them, youâll notice certain characteristics and youâll just pour into it.â
What really helps make a connection with kids, Smith said, is âjust you being yourself.â
âYou walking in there and walking in your own life, and bringing your passion and all the reasons why you wanted to become a teacher,â he said. âYour students are going to feel that.â
Known for its sourdough breads, homemade pastries, and seasonal dishes, The Buttery describes itself as âpart village bakery, part coffee shop, and part scratch kitchen.â
The Rhoadses opened the first Buttery location in Malvern in 2015 and have since expanded into the Ardmore Farmers Market and now Bryn Mawr, at 836 W. Lancaster Ave. The Buttery previously had a satellite location at the Malvern train station, which closed in December.
Vinny Petraglia, culinary operations director, drizzles olive oil on the avocado toast at The Buttery in Bryn Mawr.
Joli Ridenour, The Butteryâs community manager, said customers have been asking the bakery to expand for years. When they opened in Ardmore in October, patrons were over the moon about not needing to drive to Malvern to get their beloved kouign-amann and sourdough.
John Rhoads grew up in Devon, and he, Silenia, and their three teenagers now live in Paoli, so finding another outpost on the Main Line just felt right.
Bryn Mawr felt like âa good center point on the Main Line,â John Rhoads said.
âWeâre so excited to be in this town. Thereâs such a hustle and bustle,â Silenia Rhoads said, adding that sheâs already seen a âsense of community.â
At the bakeryâs soft opening on Wednesday, loaves of sourdough and baguettes peeked out from behind long glass cases stuff with butter croissants, lemon currant scones, and fresh bagels. Packaged cookies, branded T-shirts, and bags of homemade granola lined the walls, and customers stopped to chat with the Rhoadses.
Silenia (left) and John Rhoads, owners of The Buttery, at their new location in Bryn Mawr. Said Joli Ridenour, The Butteryâs community manager, âWe want people to feel really at home and welcome and like theyâre walking into an old friendâs house.â
âWe want people to feel really at home and welcome and like theyâre walking into an old friendâs house,â Ridenour said.
The Butteryâs Bryn Mawr location is serving its full breakfast and lunch menu, which includes bagels, quiches, sandwiches, open-face tartines, salads, and speciality Passenger coffee and tea drinks. The Rhoadses said they are hoping to expand to dinner service, as they have in Malvern, in the fall or winter.
Ridenour said the bakery always tries to source locally, milling flour out of local grain and purchasing eggs from Highspire Hills Farm in Glenmoore. Almost everything is made in-house, including roasting their own meat for roast beef sandwiches.
Turkish eggs with homemade naan at The Buttery in Bryn Mawr.
The Buttery has been able to expand in large part due to a bakehouse the Rhoadses opened in Norristown a year ago. With more space and a centralized food preparation location, the bakehouse has âenabled us to set our sights on more,â John Rhoads said.
The couple said a Northern Liberties location will open later this year, and further growth is on the horizon for 2027.
The Buttery will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., with kitchen service until 3 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 Inquirerâs high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.
Brenna Carswell has lived on the same street in Narberth for a decade.
Carswell moved to Narberth,a small Montgomery County borough encircled by Lower Merion, in 2011 from Upper Darby with her younger daughter after a divorce. She knew early on that her daughter would need more support than the Upper Darby schools could provide, so she scraped together the cash for a rental in the Lower Merion School District.
âItâs been a great place for my girls to grow up,â Carswell said of her Main Line community. âItâs given them a town that I didnât have.â
After four years and threerentals, Carswell, 44, a small-business owner, bought a home in the borough.In early 2020,she sold her house with the intention of buying another place in Narberth, but the pandemic hit and Carswell was furloughed. She ended up in a rental across the street, where she still lives. By the time Carswell was ready to buy again, houses around her had exploded in price.
She and her family have outgrown their space, but in the current market, âthereâs literally nowhere to go.â
Narberthâs borough council last August directed its planning commission to studyhow it could use zoning to increase affordable housing and support the local economy. Officials say living in the borough has become increasingly expensive, as experiences like Carswellâs become more and more common.
In February, the commission came back with a handful of recommendations in two zoning districts: the higher-density residential area that surrounds the Haverford Avenue downtown, and the commercial mixed-use corridor along Montgomery Avenue.
Recommendations included allowing apartments, cottages, and rowhouses by-right, in the ring around the downtown core, and permittingextra floors for apartment buildings that include affordable units in both zoning districts. The commission suggested reducing minimum parking requirements, allowing ground-floor apartments on Montgomery Avenue, and lettingdevelopers build off-site parking lots for apartment complexes.
Adam Krom, the planning commissionâs chair, has said the changes would âprovide flexibilityâ and incentivize developers to build both market-rate andaffordable housing units in areas where similardevelopments already exist.
But what began as a municipal land-use discussion has morphed into a monthslong debate in the borough over what, if anything, Narberth should do to fight Americaâs housing crisis. Proponents say changes would bring inmuch-needed tax revenue, create foot traffic for downtown businesses, and help preserve socioeconomic diversity. Others, however,feel that a small contingent on the borough council has charged ahead with proposals to increase density while ignoring growing concerns over traffic, neighborhood character, and the reality of supportingtransit-oriented development with a transit system marred by uncertainty.
Shops line North Narberth Avenue.
Rising costs, shrinking options
In Narberth, and across the Philadelphia suburbs, the cost of housing is outpacing the ability of large segments of the population to afford it, said Scott France, executive director of the Montgomery County Planning Commission, which consults the borough on land-use issues.
Narberth had the highest median housing sales price of any municipality in Montgomery County in 2024, at $751,000, a 70% increase from 2014.
The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Narberth is $2,050 per month, according to Zillow rental data. As housing prices have risen, incomes have stayed largelystagnant. In2024, 46% of renters and 19% of homeowners in Montgomery County were spending more than 30% of their income on housing, according to a Housing Blueprint recently published by the county.
In Montgomery County, boroughs like Narberth were often the first point of entry for people looking to settle in the suburbs, France said, given their more urban-suburban feel and smaller lot sizes.
Yet the factors that once made places like Narberth starter-home magnets have now made them increasingly inaccessible. As millennialshave sought outpremiums like walkability and transit access, the cost of both renting and homeownership in places like Narberth, Conshohocken, and Ambler has risen, France said.
Montgomery Countyâs and Narberthâs housing woes are part of a well-documented housing shortage that has swept the United States, as a widening gulf between supply and demand has put homeownership further out of reach for many, especially for younger people.
Some communities facing housing shortages have loosened zoning restrictions in order to court developers who are willing to build housing and, in certain cases, set aside affordable units in exchange for height and other bonuses. On the Main Line, luxury apartmentshave cropped up in large numbers, especially in areas where officials have used zoning to increase density.
Fred Bush, president of Narberthâs borough council, said the countyâs Housing Blueprint crystallizes why Narberth needs to ease its zoning regulations and incentivize development.
âItâs very difficult for people who come in here â who are renting or who are looking to move in, young families â to find a place to stay,â Bush said.
Narberth Borough Council President Fred Bush. Bush is part of a contingent of borough council members who see zoning changes as a key to increasing the availability of affordable housing in the borough.
âIs that whatâs best for this area?â
Narberth residents like Margot and Jason Deitz describe the push to rezone as confusing and misguided. The couple, both 40, have lived together in Narberth since 2020. Their house is near the Montgomery Avenue corridor, where changes are being considered.
The Deitzes are among a large contingent who feel the proposals would complicate an already hairy parking situation, allow for buildings outside of Narberthâs quaint character, and tip the balance of the borough in favor of renter-occupied units. They feel the borough is putting the cart before the horse, trying to address national problems rather than the sidewalk repairs and parking shortages on their front steps.
For Margot Deitz, the idea of building fewer parking spaces and askingresidents to rely on SEPTA, a sometimes unreliable transit system, was confounding. Her questions to the borough council about parking went unanswered, she said. Both Margot and Jason Deitz wondered how, in a town with shuttered storefronts and parking problems, building new apartments became the councilâs priority.
Homeowner Michelle Karten, 52, went to a public meeting to ask questions about the proposals but felt the changes were a âforegone conclusion.â
Karten said she hopes the borough can find a more âholisticâ approach, rather than just allowing for the proliferation of luxury apartments. She believes the borough has already made a number of concessions to developers and does not need to offer density bonuses to get affordable housing.
âDo we really need to go up that extra level? Is that whatâs best for this area? And what other solutions could there be?â Karten said.
Matt Patrick, 37, a homeowner in the borough since 2018, is ânot against affordable unitsâ but thinks the council is using the affordability crisis to push through incongruous density in spite of resident opposition.
âIt seems like more of a developer bonus than something aimed at conquering affordability,â Patrick said.
Narberth’s SEPTA train station on the Paoli/Thorndale Line.
Luxury apartmentsâ âtwo truths problemâ
For others, the debates over parking requirements and maximum heights are a distraction from a looming reality: The national housing crisis has hit Narberth, and prices will only continue to rise without new inventory.
Blessing Osazuwa, 28, thinks the changes are a âgreat idea.â Osazuwagrew up in Lower Merion and moved to Narberth three years ago. Her roommateâs family owns the house they live in, giving her a break on the rentthat allows her to affordNarberth.
âI love Narberth,â Osazuwa said. âI would love to stay, but thereâs no way that Iâll be able to afford that on my own, and itâs a shame, because I feel like I contribute to the community.â
Numerous residents said the conversation around zoning in Narberth has devolved into misconceptions and ad hominem attacks hurled from all sides, across public meeting forums and Facebook groups.
Carswell said there is amisconception that Narberth and surrounding communities alreadyhave plenty of affordable apartments.
Little existsin Carswellâs price range in or around Narberth. She has chased multiple âghostâ listings, reaching out to property managers only to find out listed units are occupied. She wants to stay in Narberth to provide consistency for her kids. When she explains her reality, she said, she is often told to just move somewhere else.
Osazuwa said the refrain that those who cannot afford Narberth should simply move ignores a souring economic reality.
âI tend to encounter that âpulling yourself up from the bootstrapsâ mentality without regard to the times that weâre living in, without regard to inflation, without regard to the fact that jobs donât pay as much,â shesaid.
Advocatesacknowledge thatfuture development will likely rely on luxury rentals, many ofwhich have popped up in neighboring communities like Ardmore andBala Cynwyd andwould be unaffordable to all but a wealthy set of renters. They believe, however,that any new housing units can help moderate the market, and even a few affordable units attached to the developments could provide housing for lower-income residents.
âI agree that struggling families are not going to be moving into luxury apartments, but it just puts an overall downward pressure on rental prices for the rest of the market,â Bush said.
Vincent Reina, a University of Pennsylvania professor and founder of the Housing Initiative at Penn, said there is âa two truths problemâ when it comes to luxury apartments. High-end buildings do not fill the need for affordable housing. But, without new construction, existing prices can be pushed up even further as demand continues to outpace supply.
âWhat you arenât going to see is the natural market production of [low-cost] units because the price is too high,â he said. Without government incentives for affordable units, âthe numbers just donât pencil out.â
Narberth Reel Cinemas. The borough is considering zoning changes that would increase density around its downtown core.
Balancing âwhat should be complementary interestsâ
The borough council has drafted comments to send back to the planning commission for consideration. The draft splits the difference on some issues, dropping the parking reduction and someheight bonuses, but keeping other changes. It could be months before any changes are actually adopted.
Council member Mike Salmanson said Narberth is trying to balance âcomplementary interestsâ in keeping the boroughâs character while ensuring fiscal stability. Salmanson said the borough has maxed out how much it can charge in earned income tax. Because Pennsylvania does not require regular property reassessments, it is difficult for municipalities to collect the revenue they need without just raising taxrates.
âIncreased housing creates a broader tax base,â Salmanson said. âI see the advantages of that.â
But he also called zoning changes that cater to current market conditions, and not the long-term success of the borough, âshort-sighted.â
Council member Cyndi Rickards believes the council has yet to meaningfully engage withincentivizing housing options beyond luxury apartments, such as reasonably priced ownership opportunities that would allow residentsto build equity.
Carswell said she understands the concerns about zoning changes and was once opposed herself.
âThere is a deep fear, that I understand, that the good old days are slipping away,â Carswell said. âThe good old days are gone. ⊠The changes that happened to our economy on a national scale absolutely impacted Narberth.â
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 Inquirerâs high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.
Two prominent Jewish day schools are merging. Hereâs why. Also this week, the Gladwyne man who duped some of the regionâs wealthiest families into investing in his companies has been sentenced to prison, the township is gearing up to present two final plans for Schauffele Plazaâs redesign, and the county has appointed members to its human relations commission.
The Perelman Jewish Day School is merging with the Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy.
Perelman Jewish Day School and the Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy are merging in a âproactiveâ move the two Jewish day schools say will keep them competitive.
The schools plan to keep their geographic footprints, which span Barrackâs Bryn Mawr campus and Perelmanâs Melrose Park and Wynnewood facilities.
While many students currently matriculate from Perelman to Barrack, the merger will allow families to enroll students in a single institution from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.
This isnât the first time the two schools have come together. In 2012, they combined their middle schools to create a sixth-through-eighth-grade program on Barrackâs campus.
Ardmoreâs Schauffele Plaza is slated for a redesign, and two final options will be presented at the Lower Merion Building and Planning Committee Meeting next Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. The goal of the redesign is to better utilize the public space and make it more of what the township is calling a âvibrant downtown gathering place.â Both plans call for outdoor dining space and central lawns, but the sizes and amount of greenery in each varies, with one plan reducing overall parking spaces by 56 spots, and the other by 38. See the two plans here.
Lankenau Medical Center named a new president this week. Anna Michelle Brandt succeeds Katie Galbraith and comes to the Wynnewood institution from University Hospital in New Jersey, where she was most recently its COO.
Speaking of Lankenau, it was recently ranked among the best hospitals in the United States by Newsweek, landing at No. 131. Bryn Mawr Hospital is No. 201 in the U.S.
Last month, the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners appointed the first members of its newhuman relations commission. The members are Samuel Coleman IV, Desha Dickson, Fiona Dow, John Han, Rosemary Jenkins, Shahidul Partha, Burt Siegel, and Akilah Williams-Valdez. The commission will allow residents who believe theyâve been discriminated against to mediate their claims. Members will specifically focus on unlawful discrimination in employment, real estate, housing, and public accommodations across the county.
Lower Merion Township has installed four new electric vehicle chargers in the municipal lot in Bryn Mawr across from Ludington Library. Two of the spaces are ADA accessible.
Services at the Center for Positive Aging in Lower Merion are returning to its main building at 117 Ardmore Ave. in Ardmore after it underwent a renovation.
Sugared + Bronzed is opening at Ardmoreâs Suburban Square on Monday. Located at 127 Coulter Ave., it will be in the ground floor retail space of the new apartment complex Coulter Place, which opened earlier this year. Sugared + Bronzed offers âsugaring hair removal,â as well as airbrush tanning.
Leveaux Pilates in Ardmore has expanded and is now offering heated mat pilates, a hot take on the classic workout.
đ« Schools Briefing
Registration is open for all new students starting at any LMSD school for the 2026-27 academic year. Learn more about how to register here.
Tonight is the Freedom Tournament at Cynwyd Elementary and Taste of Penn Wynne. Tomorrow, Lower Merion High has its jazz festival, Penn Valley is hosting its âPV Idol,â and Welsh Valleyâs spring musical, The Music Man Jr., kicks off. There are school board committee meetings on Monday and a fourth and fifth grade transition information session for Black Rock parents. See the districtâs full calendar here.
The Prom Boutique is open again on Tuesday at Lower Merion High School from 3:30 to 7 p.m.
Students from Bala Cynwyd, Black Rock, and Welsh Valley Middle Schools, and Harriton and Lower Merion High Schools raked in a collective 99 awards at this yearâs Pennsylvania Technology Student Association Region 5 Conference, held in late January, with 34 first-place finishes. Some will move onto the state conference, which takes place in mid-April.
Friendsâ Central Schoolâs girlsâ basketball team defeated the Westtown School 62-54 last week to claim the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association championship.
Shipley School sophomore Kate Ulrich took home second place in the U.S. Squash Junior Championship Tournament in the Girls Under 17 division, which was held in January in Philadelphia.
đœïž On our Plate
Gouldsburgerâs opened last week in Ardmore at 4 Station Rd. The latest location for the cheesesteak and burger joint is open every day but Monday.
Ripplewood Whiskey & Craftâs bourbon chicken was one of the best things an Inquirer reporter ate last week. The way Chef Kenjiro Omori prepares the bourbon-lacquered chicken is similar to Peking duck and is the perfect antidote to a cold winter night, Michael Klein reports.
đł Things to Do
đ Science with Food: Kids ages 6 and up can make several science-themed edible crafts, including one inspired by a volcano. â° Saturday, March 7, 4-5:30 p.m. đ” $37.10 đThe Candy Lab
đ St. Patrickâs Day Crafternoon: Kids can make a leprechaun craft during this drop-in event. â° Wednesday, March 11, 3-5 p.m. đ” Free đGladwyne Library
The home was built in 1939 and sits on over 2 acres.
Built in 1939, this sprawling stone manor estate blends the past and present. The first floor features a formal living room with a gas fireplace and built-ins, a formal dining room with dedicated china closets and a crystal chandelier, an office with its own fireplace, and a kitchen with two-tone cabinetry, a large center island, high-end appliances, and granite countertops. Nearthe kitchen, thereâs also a butlerâs pantry. There are four bedrooms upstairs, including a primary suite with a dressing room and four closets, while the bathroom has a soaking tub and double vanity. Other features include a cedar closet in the attic and a partially finished basement. Outside, thereâs a pool, gardens, a covered patio, and a chicken coop. Thereâs an open house Saturday from noon to 3 p.m.
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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 Inquirerâs high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.
