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  • 13 ways to ring in the new year nearby | Inquirer Greater Media

    13 ways to ring in the new year nearby | Inquirer Greater Media

    Hi, Greater Media! 👋

    With the new year just over a week away, we’ve rounded up over a dozen ways to celebrate 2026 in and around town. Also this week, a shop with two local spots is among the region’s best independent wine stores, new license plate readers are coming to Nether Providence, plus how Task helps make the case that 2025 was the year of the Philly crime drama.

    This is our final Inquirer Greater Media newsletter of 2025, but we’ll be back in your inboxes on Jan. 8. Thanks for reading and happy new year!

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

    Where to celebrate the new year around town

    Ship Bottom Brewery will host a “keg drop” to usher in the new year.

    The countdown to 2026 is on, and there’s no shortage of ways to celebrate the end of one year and the start of another.

    We’ve rounded up over a dozen celebrations nearby, including Media’s annual ball drop, Ship Bottom’s keg drop in Swarthmore, noontime celebrations for kids, as well as spots to dine on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

    Check out the events happening in and around Media here.

    💡 Community News

    • Trash and recycling pickup days will be impacted for the next two weeks for Christmas and New Year’s Day. 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.
    • Was 2025 the year of the Philly crime show? The Inquirer’s Stephanie Farr makes the case that it was, thanks in part to the Delco-based HBO series, Task, which has been picked up for a second season.
    • Three area projects have been awarded Local Share Account grants, including $28,000 to install 16 license plate readers at four intersections in Nether Providence Township. Other funding includes $454,604 to replace equipment at the Fair Acres Pump Station and $150,000 for lighting updates at the Delaware County Emergency Services Center, both in Middletown Township.
    • Friends of Ridley Creek State Park is hosting a “First Day” hike on Jan. 1 along a 3.5-mile loop with creek views and a stop at historic hilltop Russell Cemetery. Looking for other locations to get outdoors? We’ve rounded up 10 walking and hiking spots in the area.
    • Rose Valley Borough recently adopted its 2026 budget, which calls for a slight increase in the millage rate, from 1.32 this year to 1.39 next year. See the borough’s budget here. (The Swarthmorean)
    • L.L. Bean is planning to open a 20,300-square-foot store at the Concordville Town Centre in Glen Mills next year, taking over a former Staples. (Philadelphia Business Journal)
    • Wawa is the 21st largest private company in the country based on revenue, according to the latest Forbes ranking of America’s Top Private Companies, released last week. The beloved convenience chain reported $18.639 billion in revenue in its most recent fiscal year and is the largest private company in Pennsylvania.
    • The Media Theatre’s main stage is currently hosting Broadway hit Annie, which continues its run through Jan. 4. NBC Philadelphia recently caught up with Violet Roche and Faye Lorena Stockmal, who share the titular role, along with director Hannah Catanoso, about lessons they’ve learned from the musical, favorite songs, and more. See the segment here.

    đŸœïž On our Plate

    • Looking for a great natural wine? Residents don’t need to look further than 320 Market Cafe. Jack Cunicelli’s shop, which has locations in Media and Swarthmore, is one of the best independent wine shops in the Philadelphia area, according to Inquirer contributor Sande Friedman. It showcases minimal-intervention wines with a global representation.

    🎳 Things to Do

    🍿 Movie Matinee: See a screening of the 1980s holiday classic Gremlins. Registration is required. ⏰ Saturday, Dec. 27, 2-4 p.m. đŸ’” Free 📍Helen Kate Furness Free Library, Wallingford

    🎭 Little Women: There are just a few days left to catch Hedgerow Theatre’s adaptation of the popular Louisa May Alcott novel. ⏰ Through Sunday, Dec. 28, times vary đŸ’” $20-$35 📍Hedgerow Theatre, Rose Valley

    🏡 On the Market

    A five-bedroom home tucked in a Media cul-de-sac

    The home spans over 4,100 square feet.

    This Media home has a classic look thanks to a combination of brick and siding on its façade. Spanning five bedrooms, it has an eat-in kitchen with granite countertops, living and dining rooms, an office, as well as a family room with vaulted ceilings and a fireplace. The finished basement has an additional family room, a bedroom, a bathroom, and a bar. Other features include a deck, patio, and covered front porch.

    See more photos of the home here.

    Price: $1.075M | Size: 4,135 | Acreage: 1.3

    đŸ—žïž 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.

  • 13 ways to celebrate the new year in and around Media

    13 ways to celebrate the new year in and around Media

    The countdown to 2026 is on, and there’s no shortage of ways to celebrate the end of one year and the start of another. From New Year’s Eve dinner specials to adults-only celebrations and family-friendly gatherings, here’s how to ring in the new year in and around Media.

    New Year’s Eve Events for Adults

    Ship Bottom Brewery will host a “keg drop” to usher in the new year.
    Ship Bottom Brewery’s Keg Drop

    Now in its third year, the Swarthmore location of the brewery will usher in the new year with a keg drop. Festivities kick off around 3 p.m. and there will be live music from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., followed by a DJ from 9 p.m. until midnight, as well as food trucks.

    ⏰ Wednesday, Dec. 31, 3 p.m.-midnight đŸ’” Pay as you go 📍Ship Bottom Brewery, 5 Park Ave., Swarthmore

    New Year’s Eve with Jawn of the Dead

    Ring in the new year by listening to local Grateful Dead tribute band Jawn of the Dead perform at Shere-E-Punjab. Tickets are for the standing-room-only show. Separate reservations are needed for dinner.

    ⏰ Wednesday, Dec. 31, 8 p.m.-12:30 a.m. đŸ’” $40 📍Shere-E-Punjab, 210 W. State St., Media

    Springfield Country Club is hosting its annual New Year’s Eve bash.
    Ring in 2026 at Springfield Country Club

    Springfield Country Club’s 21-and-over celebration includes a dinner buffet, dancing, music, an open bar, and a champagne toast.

    ⏰ Wednesday, Dec. 31, 8 p.m.-12:30 a.m. đŸ’” $129.89 📍Springfield Country Club, 400 W. Sproul Rd., Springfield

    State Street Pub’s New Year’s Eve Party

    There will be Ă  la carte dining throughout the night, and starting at 9:30 p.m., DJ Josh Jamz will be spinning tunes. Families are welcome, but children must be accompanied by an adult 21 or older.

    ⏰ Wednesday, Dec. 31, 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. đŸ’” Pay as you go 📍State Street Pub, 37 E. State St., Media

    Family-Friendly New Year’s Events

    Countdown to Noon at the Rocky Run YMCA

    This event includes crafts, games, music, and a countdown to noon, complete with a ball drop. There will also be hot chocolate available for purchase.

    ⏰ Wednesday, Dec. 31, 11 a.m.-noon. đŸ’” Free 📍Rocky Run YMCA, 1299 W. Baltimore Pike, Media

    Swarthmore Public Library’s Noon Year’s Eve

    There will be games, activities, and a countdown to noon at this drop-in event for young kids who can’t make it to midnight.

    ⏰ Wednesday, Dec. 31, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. đŸ’” Free 📍Swarthmore Public Library, 121 Park Ave., Swarthmore

    Media-Upper Providence Free Library’s Noon Year’s Eve

    Families with preschool and elementary age kids can listen to music and a story, craft a disco ball, and count down to noon at this event. Registration is required.

    ⏰ Wednesday, Dec. 31, 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. đŸ’” Free 📍Media-Upper Providence Free Library, 1 E. Front St., Media

    Global Noon Year’s Eve Celebration

    Helen Kate Furness Free Library will ring in the new year by showcasing several traditions from around the world, including making a Japanese craft and eating a snack that’s meant to bring luck for the year ahead. Registration is required.

    ⏰ Wednesday, Dec. 31, noon-1 p.m. đŸ’” Free 📍Helen Kate Furness Free Library, 100 N. Providence Rd., Wallingford

    Media’s New Year’s Eve Ball Drop

    Watch the ball drop from over 100 feet above Spasso Italian Grill in the borough as 2025 turns to 2026. There will be a DJ performing near Jackson and State Streets, as well.

    ⏰ Wednesday, Dec. 31, 11:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. đŸ’” Free 📍Spasso Italian Grill, 1 W. State St., Media

    New Year’s Day 5K Race

    Kick off the year with a brisk 5K race through Swarthmore. There will also be a free race for kids ages 2 to 13 and their families.

    ⏰ Thursday, Jan. 1, 10:30 a.m. đŸ’” $40-$45 📍Swarthmore College Field House, 500 Fieldhouse Lane, Swarthmore

    New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day Dining

    Broad Table Tavern is offering a prix fixe menu for New Year’s Eve.
    Broad Table Tavern

    The restaurant at the Inn at Swarthmore will serve a special prix fixe menu for New Year’s Eve that gives comfort food a spice-forward twist. The three-course menu includes starter options like roasted cauliflower soup, cider-braised pork belly, fennel-crusted yellowfin tuna, and truffle mushroom arancini. EntrĂ©e options include filet mignon, sea bass, stuffed pork loin, and winter squash gnocchi. The meal will be capped with a poached pear tart or gingerbread truffles. Dinner will be served from 4 to 9 p.m., and the bar will be open until midnight.

    ⏰ Wednesday, Dec. 31, 4-9 p.m. đŸ’” $75 📍Inn at Swarthmore, 12 S. Chester Rd., Swarthmore

    Fond

    The Wallingford BYOB is offering a five-course meal for New Year’s Eve that includes a first course soup; a salad, tuna tartare, or foie gras second course; scallops for the third course; entrĂ©es like pork belly, Scottish salmon, and filet and shrimp; and a dessert of hazelnut chocolate mousse. A half-dozen oysters are also available to add to the meal for $21.

    ⏰ Wednesday, Dec. 31, 4:30-9 p.m. đŸ’” $135 📍Fond, 21 N. Providence Rd., Wallingford

    White Dog Cafe is hosting a New Year’s Day “pajama brunch,” where attendees are encouraged to where their PJs.
    Pajama Brunch at White Dog Cafe

    On New Year’s Day, White Dog Cafe is again hosting its Pajama Brunch, which encourages attendees to wear their PJs to the restaurant, where an à la carte menu will be available. Reservations are encouraged.

    ⏰ Thursday, Jan. 1, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. đŸ’” Prices vary 📍White Dog Cafe, 981 Baltimore Pike, Glen Mills

    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 food hall brings over a dozen restaurants to Media | Inquirer Greater Media

    A new food hall brings over a dozen restaurants to Media | Inquirer Greater Media

    Hi, Greater Media! 👋

    It’s a big week for a short stretch along Route 1, where two new businesses are opening. Food hall Wonder is hosting its grand opening today, and less than a mile down the road, Middletown Township has welcomed its first full-service hotel. Also this week, Nether Providence Township police are searching for the person who left a large amount of cash in a South Providence Road mailbox, plus Swarthmore College is mourning the death of a beloved former professor.

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

    Wonder food hall opens at Granite Run

    Eddie Jefferson is the operations leader at Wonder’s newest location, which opens today at the Promenade at Granite Run.

    Good news for parents of chronically picky eaters: Wonder, the fast-growing food hall chain, opens at the Promenade at Granite Run today.

    It will offer a wide-ranging array of foods from over a dozen restaurant brands, including Bobby Flay Steak, Detroit Brick Pizza Co., comfort food spot Bellies, and Burger Baby.

    “I have children who never really could settle on the same food. So it was like, ‘Oh this makes sense,’” said Eddie Jefferson, the location’s operations leader.

    The Inquirer’s Torin Sweeney has details on all the food you can find at the latest location, along with grand opening plans.

    Middletown Township hopes to cash in on tourism with its first full-service hotel

    The new Hilton Garden Inn opened Tuesday in Middletown Township.

    Middletown Township’s first full-service hotel opened this week at the former Franklin Mint site.

    The long-planned 107-room Hilton Garden Inn opens at a fortuitous time for the region, with a swell of tourists expected in 2026 for FIFA World Cup matches, semiquincentennial celebrations, the MLB All-Star Game, and the PGA Championship, The Inquirer’s Denali Sagner reports.

    The new hotel also provides an additional option for local visitors, including those coming in for events at one of the county’s 12 colleges and universities or visiting major corporations like Wawa, which has its campus just a short drive down the road.

    Read more about the new hotel and its restaurant, which is open to the public.

    💡 Community News

    đŸ« Schools Briefing

    • Springton Lake Middle School was recently recognized among Pennsylvania Don Eichhorn Schools’ “Schools to Watch” for the 2025-26 academic year. This is the third time Springton Lake has been recognized since the program was launched during the 2006-07 school year. It recognizes schools based on a number of factors, including academic excellence, developmental responsiveness, social equity, and organizational structures and processes.
    • In Wallingford-Swarthmore, there are fifth grade winter band and chorus concerts today, a school board meeting Monday at 7 p.m., and winter classroom parties on Tuesday. WSSD begins its winter break on Wednesday. See the district’s full calendar here.
    • In Rose Tree Media, winter parties kick off tomorrow and continue Monday, when there are also winter concerts. There are early dismissals Tuesday, and no afternoon kindergarten. RTMSD’s winter break begins Wednesday. See the district’s full calendar here.

    đŸœïž On our Plate

    • For those in search of Christmas Eve reservations, Fava Ristorante Italiano and Harvest Seasonal Grill & Wine Bar, both in Glen Mills, will be open. Prefer to dine in? White Dog CafĂ©, also in Glen Mills, is offering a “Christmas at Home” package with options for beef tenderloin, glazed ham, and beef lasagna. (Main Line Today)
    • If you’ve already got your eye on New Year’s Eve plans, Wallingford BYOB Fond is offering a five-course dinner for $135. It includes oysters, tuna tartare, seared foie gras, scallops, pork belly, and dessert.

    🎳 Things to Do

    🎄 Lenora: A One-Woman Christmas Carol: Kate Brennan puts a modern twist on A Christmas Carol with this show centered on a woman who gets trapped in her apartment on Christmas Eve and ends up assessing how technology and devices both connect and disconnect us. ⏰ Thursday, Dec. 18, 12:30 p.m., and Friday, Dec. 19, 7 p.m. đŸ’” $21 📍Park Avenue Community Center, Swarthmore

    🎭 Hello, Dolly!: PCS Theater will put its spin on the hit musical. ⏰ Friday, Dec. 19-Sunday, Jan. 4, times vary đŸ’” $28.50-$30.50 📍PCS Theater, Swarthmore

    đŸȘ Teen Activity Days: Teens 13 to 18 can decorate holiday cookies at this month’s event. ⏰ Saturday, Dec. 20, 1-3 p.m. đŸ’” Free 📍Rocky Run YMCA, Media

    đŸ’« Winter Solstice: Celebrate the darkest day of the year with luminary lights, poetry readings, and carolers. ⏰ Saturday, Dec. 20, 5:30-8 p.m. đŸ’” Free 📍Plum and State Streets, Media

    đŸŽ™ïž Lights Out: A Very Valli Holiday: This tribute to Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons features classic hits and festive tunes, as well as audience participation. ⏰ Saturday, Dec. 21, 7 p.m. đŸ’” $41 📍The Media Theatre

    🏡 On the Market

    A four-bedroom Media home with lots of natural light

    The family room has a stone accent wall with a fireplace, exposed wood beams, and a staircase leading to a loft.

    Located in Spring Oak Estates, this four-bedroom home feels light and bright thanks to a number of vaulted ceilings and skylights. The first floor features a two-story foyer, a living room with vaulted ceilings and a marble fireplace, a dining room, a kitchen with granite countertops, and a family room with exposed wood beams, vaulted ceilings, and a fireplace within a stone accent wall. It also has a spiral staircase leading to a loft. The primary suite, also with skylights, is on the first floor, while three additional bedrooms are upstairs. The home has a finished walk-out basement, a deck, and a fenced yard.

    See more photos of the home here.

    Price: $1.049M | Size: 3,302 SF | Acreage: 1.1

    đŸ—žïž 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.

  • Middletown Township welcomes first full-service hotel ahead of major tourism events in Delco

    Middletown Township welcomes first full-service hotel ahead of major tourism events in Delco

    On a frigid Tuesday morning, stakeholders from across Delaware County toasted champagne and popped mini pastries under the roof of Middletown Township’s new Hilton Garden Inn.

    “We may be the only Hilton Garden Inn in the world that serves Wawa coffee and drinks it all the time,” quipped hotel owner Patrick J. Burns, standing before a sea of family members, hotel staffers, business associates, and elected officials.

    The 107-room, 67,000-square-foot Hilton, located off Baltimore Pike at the former Franklin Mint site, is open and welcoming guests. It’s the 42nd hotel in Delaware County and first full-service hotel in Middletown Township.

    The hotel features app-to-room device integration, mobile key and contactless check-in, meeting and banquet spaces, an outdoor patio with fire pits, a fitness center, and the Garden Grill, a restaurant serving “American cuisine with local flair” that will be open to the public.

    The hotel is long awaited, borne from a yearslong planning process and delayed by pandemic-era construction slowdowns. On Tuesday, attendees expressed gratitude that what was once an economic dream for the township was finally becoming reality.

    The Hilton marks an important expansion of the collar county’s tourism economy, according to Delaware County’s major economic stakeholders. And as far as tourism in Delco, they say, it’s only up from here.

    The bar area off of the lobby at the new Hilton Garden Inn of Middletown Township on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025.

    Delaware County hosted 4.5 million visitors in 2024, according to Steve Bryne, executive director of Visit Delco. Those visitors spent $860 million, generated $1.2 billion in economic impact, and sustained 13,000 jobs. In 2025, the county is on track to sell more than one million hotel room nights for the first time in its history.

    Representatives from the Hilton say it created 200 construction jobs and 40 new hospitality jobs.

    Bryne said tourism to Delaware County is a “combination of everything.” The county doesn’t have one major anchor (like Longwood Gardens in Chester County, for example). Rather, it’s home to 12 colleges and universities, major corporate employers like Wawa, and sports complexes like IceWorks and Subaru Park, home of the Philadelphia Union. That means regular tournaments, business conferences, parents weekends, homecomings, and graduations — events that, collectively, help power the county’s economy.

    Already, Penn State Brandywine, located down the road, has named the Hilton Garden Inn its host hotel.

    Delaware County also gets spillover from visitors to Philadelphia, especially those who want proximity to Philadelphia International Airport.

    The hotel is a property of Metro Philly Management, owned by Burns. Burns’ management company also owns the Courtyard by Marriott in Springfield, the Fairfield Inn & Suites in Broomall, and the Springfield Country Club, as well as numerous grocery stores and restaurants.

    Patrick J. Burns, pictured at Middletown Township’s new Hilton Garden Inn on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. The hotel is owned by Burns’ company, Metro Philly Management.

    Stakeholders lauded the hotel’s location in a central, and rapidly developing, part of Middletown Township.

    The former Franklin Mint complex, now home to the Hilton, has been a hotbed of development in Middletown Township since the mint shuttered in 2004. Two newer housing developments — Pond’s Edge and Franklin Station — have added over 450 units of housing to the site. Middletown Township outpaced its neighbors — Media, Nether Providence, and Upper Providence — in population growth in 2024.

    “Middletown Township is such a vital corridor of Delaware County,” Burns said.

    The hotel’s opening coincides with major events coming to the region in the coming months: semiquincentennial celebrations in Philadelphia and in Delco, the FIFA World Cup, the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club, and the MLB All-Star Game. For the PGA Championship alone, Delaware County is expecting 200,000 visitors and $125 million in economic impact.

    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.

  • Wonder opens its latest location in Media as it prepares to more than double its number of restaurants

    Wonder opens its latest location in Media as it prepares to more than double its number of restaurants

    Wonder is continuing its rapid expansion in the Philadelphia area with a new Media location formally opening Thursday.

    The ribbon-cutting starts at 4:30 p.m. at the new site at 1127 W. Baltimore Pike, with the first 100 guests getting a Wonder gift and live music.

    Wonder prepares to open Delco locations as part of its rapid expansion in the Philly area

    Part of Wonder’s sales pitch is that it offers something for everyone, from pizza and cheesesteaks to Mediterranean and steak.

    That flexibility, with parents of finicky kids in mind, is part of what drew Eddie Jefferson to Wonder.

    “The picky eater thing kind of sits with me,” said Jefferson, senior operations leader for Wonder’s Media location. “I have children who never really could settle on the same food. So it was like, ‘Oh, this makes sense.’”

    Steve Skalis, of Springfield, picks up an oder of drunken noodles during Wonder’s soft opening in Media on Tuesday, December 16, 2025.

    Jefferson said he wants Wonder to be more than just a chain takeout restaurant.

    “I want to make sure we’re a staple of the community,” Jefferson said. “I do want to be here for a very long time.”

    Wonder is donating $1 to Philabundance for every order at the Media location this week. Jefferson said he hopes that’s just the first local partnership and he will be able to be active in the community.

    “Once we settle in to this community I’ll be able to be outside shaking hands and kissing babies.”

    What to know about trying Wonder, the chain of food halls coming to Philly and the Main Line

    Restaurants available at the Media Wonder include:

    • Alanza
    • Alanza Pizza
    • Bobby Flay Steak
    • Burger Baby
    • Detroit Brick Pizza Co.
    • Di Fara Pizza
    • Fred’s Meat & Bread
    • Hanu Poke
    • Kin House
    • Limesalt
    • Maydan
    • Royal Greens
    • SirPraPhai
    • Streetbird by Marcus Samuelsson
    • Tejas Barbecue
    • Yasas by Michael Symon
    • Bellies
    • Room for Dessert

    Wonder’s Media location brings the total to 91 sites across the Northeast, from Rhode Island to Virginia. The plan for 2026 is to more than double that, according to Jason Rusk, head of restaurant operations.

    “Our plan is to grow 110 locations, so we’ll go from 91 locations to just over 200 locations by the end of next year,” Rusk said.

    Eddie Jefferson, senior operations leader at Wonder in Media, reaches for one of many menus Tuesday, December 16, 2025.

    Wonder plans to open locations in Drexel Hill and Roxborough in early 2026, a representative said. It is also planning a foray into Allentown and the rest of the Lehigh Valley.

    Rusk said sales have been good across the Philly area’s 20-plus stores, with Cherry Hill one of the strongest openings.

    “There is no sign of stopping,” Rusk said. ”I have no doubt in my mind that we will fully have a Wonder that services nearly every part of the broader Philly [area].”

    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.

  • WSSD seeks ideas to fix its dire budget issues | Inquirer Greater Media

    WSSD seeks ideas to fix its dire budget issues | Inquirer Greater Media

    Hi, Greater Media! 👋

    Last night, Delaware County Council approved a tax hike for 2026. We share more details below. Also this week, Wallingford-Swarthmore School District is looking at ways to stem its budget deficit, plus Ridley Creek remediation to clean up a September oil spill is nearing completion.

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

    Wallingford-Swarthmore is looking for ways to dig out of its budget deficit

    Wallingford-Swarthmore School District held listening sessions about its budget at Strath Haven Middle School on Monday.

    Facing a $2.6 million budget deficit for the 2027-28 school year, Wallingford-Swarthmore School District is considering any idea to trim that figure.

    That was the takeaway from a Monday listening session, where Superintendent Russell Johnston said the district is “turning over every stone” in its quest and took suggestions from the public.

    Unlike neighboring districts, WSSD is predominately supported by homeowners’ tax dollars, many of whom already feel stretched thin, The Inquirer’s Denali Sagner reports.

    While some attendees left the meeting feeling better about the school’s objectives, others still wonder how it got in this hole in the first place.

    Read more about Wallingford-Swarthmore’s plans to address its budget woes here.

    Ridley Creek cleanup is nearing the finish line after an oil tanker crash earlier this year

    Remediation work to clean up a September oil spill that contaminated Ridley Creek is nearing completion.

    Work to clean up oil that spilled into Ridley Creek when a tanker crashed on the Route 1 Bypass in September is nearly finished. Officials expect to wrap up next week, with road closures on Ridley Creek Road continuing until then.

    Crews have been remediating the area, where an estimated 1,000 to 2,000 gallons of oil spilled, including removing contaminated soil and refilling the site, The Inquirer’s Torin Sweeney reports.

    Read more about how crews have tackled the cleanup here.

    💡 Community News

    • Last night, Delaware County Council voted to approve a 19% property tax hike for 2026. Despite pushback from residents, the council enacted a double-digit increase for the second consecutive year. For the average assessed home, taxes will go up an additional $188 annually.
    • Delaware County Council voted unanimously last week to enact a policy protecting LGBTQ+ individuals from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. It is one of at least 79 local governments in Pennsylvania to adopt similar nondiscrimination ordinances.
    • SEPTA missed Friday’s federally imposed deadline to finish repairs to the heat-detection system on its Regional Rail cars. The agency said the lapse was due to a shortage of the thermal wire required to make the repairs. Installation of the backordered wire for 30 of SEPTA’s remaining trains is expected to be completed next week.
    • Now in its 50th year, the Festival of Lights officially got underway last week at Rose Tree County Park in Media, and will be lit nightly through Jan. 3. We take a look back at highlights from the opening night.
    • An Inquirer analysis of a year’s worth of Riddle Hospital inspections found that the Media hospital was cited once between last November and this October for failing to properly monitor a patient’s vital signs while waiting for care in the emergency department.
    • Residential parking permits for 2026 are now available for Media borough residents. Fees are $5 each for a household’s first two cars and $15 each thereafter. New for 2026, the borough will not distribute a physical sticker, but will instead track registration through the Passport Parking app.
    • Newlin Grist Mill has named a new executive director to lead the historic Concord Township site. Amy Ricci, who most recently held that same role at former Philadelphia paper mill Historic Rittenhouse Town, will assume the position in January, becoming the organization’s fourth executive director.
    • Wawa is opening its 1,000th fuel store today at 675 Baltimore Pike in Springfield. The first 250 guests will get a free T-shirt and coffee. (Daily Times)

    đŸ« Schools Briefing

    • Notre Dame de Lourdes School in Swarthmore took home first place in the kindergarten through eighth grade category of B101’s annual Christmas Choir Competition for its rendition of Like It’s Christmas. The school will receive $5,000 for its music program and will perform the winning song at the Philly Pops’ A Philly Holiday Spectacular on Sunday.
    • There’s a school board meeting tonight at Penncrest High School. On Monday and Tuesday, Rose Tree Elementary will host its fifth grade band concert. Penncrest High School’s winter choral concert is on Wednesday. See RTMSD’s full calendar here.
    • Tonight is Swarthmore-Rutledge School’s winter concert, Strath Haven High’s orchestra concert is Monday, and its choral concert is Tuesday. Wallingford Elementary is hosting winter concerts on Wednesday and Thursday. See WSSD’s full calendar here.
    • WSSD is also hosting a community artificial intelligence forum tonight from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Strath Haven Middle School’s library, where attendees can provide feedback about policies.

    đŸœïž On our Plate

    • Wonder is opening next week at the Promenade at Granite Run. The food hall at 1145 W. Baltimore Pike will host a “friends and family” preview Monday through Wednesday ahead of its grand opening next Thursday.
    • The Towne House in Media has been transformed for the five-week run of “Holly Jolly.” The holiday dĂ©cor will be on display through Jan. 4, during which time festive drinks can also be ordered. Options include the Mistletoe Kiss, made with vodka, rosemary simple syrup, lemon, and club soda, or Holly’s Hot Chocolate, which gives hot cocoa a kick thanks to vanilla vodka and Irish cream.
    • Santa will be making a stop in Glen Mills this weekend alongside Mrs. Claus when the duo visit Harvest Seasonal Grill Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Kids can also decorate cookies during the holiday brunch buffet. Tickets are $25 for children and $35 for adults. Reservations are required.

    🎳 Things to Do

    🌃 Night Market: Swarthmore merchants will stay open later on Friday, and there will also be pop-up vendors, food, drinks, and an ugly sweater competition. ⏰ Friday, Dec. 12, 5-8 p.m. đŸ’” Pay as you go 📍 Swarthmore town center

    đŸŽ™ïž The Newspaper Taxis: Hear tunes from this Beatles tribute band. ⏰ Friday, Dec. 12, 8 p.m. đŸ’” Free 📍 Shere-E-Punjab, Media

    đŸȘ Cookie Walk: Love holiday cookies but don’t love baking? Or just want to get a larger array? This annual event lets attendees pick and pay for the homemade sweets they want. ⏰ Saturday, Dec. 13, 9 a.m. đŸ’” Pay as you go 📍 Middletown Church, Media

    ☕ Cocoa and Photos with the Clauses and Friends: Write a letter to Santa, decorate cookies, and pose for festive photos with Olaf, Jolly Bear, and the big man himself. ⏰ Saturday, Dec. 13, 10 a.m.-noon đŸ’” Free 📍 Media Community Center

    🕎 Chanukah Village: A number of stores throughout Media will host crafts and other activities in celebration of the first night of the holiday. A 4:30 p.m. menorah lighting will be held at the Delaware County Courthouse. ⏰ Sunday, Dec. 14, 3-5 p.m. đŸ’” Free 📍 Various locations

    🏡 On the Market

    A modern four-bedroom townhouse in Middletown Township

    The townhome spans over 3,600 square feet and backs up to woods.

    Built in 2022, this spacious townhouse’s first floor features an open-concept kitchen, dining, and living area, which has access to a deck overlooking the woods. There are four bedrooms upstairs, including a primary suite with double vanities and a walk-in closet. It also has a finished walk-out basement with a full bathroom, and access to the community clubhouse and a tot lot. There’s an open house this Saturday from noon to 3 p.m.

    See more photos of the townhouse here.

    Price: $815,000 | Size: 3,640 SF

    đŸ—žïž 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.

  • Cleanup of Ridley Creek oil spill near Media is almost complete

    Cleanup of Ridley Creek oil spill near Media is almost complete

    Crews are in the final stages of cleaning up the site where oil leaked into Ridley Creek after a tanker truck crashed near Media in September, according to municipal and county officials.

    Ridley Creek Road will continue to have road closures from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. until the work is finished.

    Work should be completed next week, said Larry Bak, the county’s hazmat crew chief. Crews from Lewis Environmental have removed the contaminated soil and are refilling the site. Environmental consulting firm Aquaterra is overseeing the remediation work and testing.

    A Cardinal USA truck carrying home heating oil crashed on Sept. 22 while traveling north on the Route 1 Bypass at the border of Upper Providence and Middletown Townships. The truck swerved across the highway and rolled an undetermined number of times, according to Upper Providence Fire Marshal Alan Mancill.

    The truck came to rest with the cab hanging off the east side of an overpass and a gash in its side that spilled 1,000 to 2,000 gallons of oil onto the roadway and into Ridley Creek below, Mancill said.

    The cause of the crash is unclear and Upper Providence police could not be reached for comment.

    Remediation work continues on Ridley Creek Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, under the Route 1 overpass in Media, Delaware County where a tanker overturned spilling thousands of gallons of home heating oil in September.

    Blocking the oil’s flow downstream was a priority for the Delaware County Emergency Services Department’s hazmat team, Bak said.

    “I sent half of my team up onto the bridge to work with the tank truck, and I sent the other half of my initial response down to the creek to get in front of it as it was going downstream,” Bak said. The crew put containment booms across the creek to halt the spread of oil.

    Aqua’s Ridley Creek water treatment facility is about a mile and a half downstream from the site. Bak said the facility was quickly alerted to shut off its intake after the spill. It was reopened after the water was deemed safe, but the booms remain in place just in case.

    “I believe the expression is ‘an overabundance of caution,’” Bak said.

    The site of the crash posed a challenge to the cleanup crew, with oil contaminating a hillside as well as the creek and marshy area below the bridge. Crews used a special excavator with 35-foot arms.

    “It had to reach out and down because it’s a fairly steep hill,” Bak said. “It’s not an insignificant height.”

    To reach the contaminated areas, the crew also built a dam from the Ridley Creek Road side with pipes underneath to let the creek flow underneath. The dam will be removed after work is complete, Bak said.

    Once the work is done, soil will continue to be monitored for two years.

    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 kickoff of the 50th annual Festival of Lights in Media, in photos

    The kickoff of the 50th annual Festival of Lights in Media, in photos

    The Festival of Lights, now in its 50th year, kicked off its seasonal run at Rose Tree County Park in Media on Thursday night. Santa was on hand as more than 125 trees decked out in some 300,000 lights were lit for the first time this season.

    Despite the chilly temperatures, spirits were high, with families coming out to see the lights, visit with Saint Nick, and shop from vendors at Delco’s first Fare & Flair night for the season.

    The festival will be lit nightly through Jan. 3.

    Below are highlights from the opening night.

    Everything you need to know about Rose Tree County Park’s Festival of Lights
    Rose Tree County Park’s Festival of Lights was lit for the first time on Dec. 4. It will be lit nightly through Jan. 3.
    The Springton Lake Middle School Select Choir counts down the illumination of the 50th annual Festival of Lights at Rose Tree County Park.
    An attendee captured the lighting, which includes some 300,000 lights.
    Santa met with festivalgoers throughout the night, including 7-year-old Iris Yang.
    While the temperatures were cold enough for snow, only the faux kind fell during the opening night of the Festival of Lights.
    Three-year-old Liliana Napoletano and Marco Napoletano, both of Media, reveled in the faux snow that fell during the festival’s lighting.
    The display includes a walk-through lighted tunnel.
    A display of reindeer also returned this year.
    Savannah, 3, and Ace, 8, of Drexel Hill, looked at the lights.
    Thursday was the first night of the Delco’s Fare & Flair nights, when food trucks and vendors line the back of the park.
    Work to wrap some 125 trees throughout the park began in October.
    Even dogs came out to enjoy the festival’s kickoff on Thursday.

    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 to know about this year’s Festival of Lights | Inquirer Greater Media

    What to know about this year’s Festival of Lights | Inquirer Greater Media

    Hi, Greater Media! 👋

    The Festival of Lights in Media kicks off tonight and is expected to draw over 100,000 people during its month-long run. Also this week, Swarthmore College is proposing updates to its athletic fields, Wallingford-Swarthmore School District is hosting meetings about its finances, plus a festive pop-up bar has returned for the season.

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

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

    100,000 visitors are expected to attend this year’s Festival of Lights

    This year’s Festival of Lights kicks off at Rose Tree County Park on Dec. 4.

    The Festival of Lights returns to Rose Tree County Park tonight, when some 300,000 lights adorning over 125 trees will be lit for the first time this season.

    The beloved annual tradition is marking its 50th anniversary this year and will include longtime favorite displays, plus live performances, food, drinks, and vendors on select Delco’s Fare & Flair nights.

    New this year: a “Delco Bell” celebrating the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary.

    Here’s everything you need to know before heading to this year’s festival.

    What to know about Swarthmore College’s plans to redevelop its athletic fields

    A rendering shows the proposed Cunningham Park athletic complex at Swarthmore College.

    Swarthmore College is looking to redevelop its athletic complex as its existing infrastructure ages, with plans to update its facilities off College Avenue and North Chester Road, known as Cunningham Fields. They are currently home to four grass fields, six tennis courts, locker rooms, and restrooms.

    Under its proposal, the school would install new tennis courts, spectator seating, and a pavilion with restrooms and team meeting areas, as well as updated grass and turf fields.

    The college has made significant changes to its initial plans after hearing community members’ concerns. Approval from the county and borough could still take months or longer.

    Read more about Swarthmore’s current plans here.

    💡 Community News

    • Heads up for drivers: Swarthmore Avenue is closed for the next eight weeks at the railroad tracks, but pedestrians are still able to access the area. And throughout December, PennDot is working to improve portions of I-476 in both directions between its interchanges with I-76 and and I-95. Overnight roadwork and closures will take place Sundays through Thursdays from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.
    • The Foundation for Delaware County has rebranded its support programs like those that provide at-home prenatal visits, housing assistance, legal aid, doulas, mental health resources for new mothers, and a fathers’ support group, under a new name: Family Village. The nonprofit hopes the update will raise greater awareness for its services, particularly in the wake of Crozer-Chester Medical Center’s closure earlier this year.
    • On Monday, Blackbird Health opened a clinic at 1023 E. Baltimore Pike in Media. Blackbird Health specializes in mental healthcare services for children, teenagers, and young adults.
    • Swarthmore Public Library has hired Cyreena Bowman as its new teen librarian. (The Swarthmorean)

    đŸ« Schools Briefing

    • Wallingford-Swarthmore School District is hosting two community meetings about its finances after the district said it was facing the possibility of a $2.6 million budget deficit come the 2027-28 school year. The meetings will both take place Monday, with one at 9:30 a.m. and another at 6 p.m., at Strath Haven Middle School.
    • WSSD this week also voted on new school board of directors leadership. Vice President Michelle Williams will become president, Mary Jo Witkowski-Smith will become vice president, Robert Miller will be treasurer, and Nannette Whitsett will serve as assistant board secretary.
    • Nether Providence Elementary has picture retakes tomorrow. There are also fine and applied arts nights tonight and Tuesday. See WSSD’s full calendar here.
    • Rose Tree Media School District has a number of winter concerts tonight and next week. See RTMSD’s full calendar here.

    đŸœïž On our Plate

    • Now in its seventh year, roving holiday pop-up bar Jingle on State has returned, this time to Tap 24 in Media. It’s open Tuesdays through Sundays starting at noon, with happy hour taking place Tuesdays through Fridays from 4 to 6 p.m. Jingle on State is serving up festive sips like a Red-Nosed Mule made with vodka, ginger beer, lime, and cranberry juice, and Santa’s Pick-Me-Up, made with vanilla vodka, espresso, peppermint simple syrup, peppermint rum, and Kahlua.

    🎳 Things to Do

    🎄 Home for the Holidays: The all-day celebration includes a Reindeer Dash one-mile walk and run, a Winter Village, a Kwanzaa celebration, trolley rides, and caroling, capped by a fire truck parade with Santa that ends with the town’s tree lighting. ⏰ Saturday, Dec. 6, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. đŸ’” Prices vary 📍 Swarthmore town center

    đŸ›ïž Holiday Artisans Market: Shop from local artisans selling things like candles, ceramics, wine, soap, and art in Tyler Arboretum’s historic barn. ⏰ Saturday, Dec. 6, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. đŸ’” $10-$18 admission required for non-members, free for members 📍 Tyler Arboretum, Media

    🧚 Peter Pan Jr.: The Media Theatre will put its spin on the Disney classic. ⏰ Saturday, Dec. 6-Sunday, Dec. 21, select days and times đŸ’” $21-$27 📍 The Media Theatre

    🏡 On the Market

    A charming stone colonial in Wallingford

    The stone colonial spans over 2,700 square feet.

    Built in 1956, this four-bedroom stone colonial has undergone a number of recent updates. Those include a new kitchen with stainless steel appliances and soapstone and walnut countertops, a new roof and HVAC system, and a new concrete patio out back. Other features include a first-floor bedroom, a dining room with a fireplace, and a finished basement.

    See more photos of the home here.

    Price: $775,000 | Size: 2,718 SF | Acreage: 0.51

    đŸ—žïž 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.

  • ‘It’s putting Delco on the map’: The Festival of Lights returns to Media this week

    ‘It’s putting Delco on the map’: The Festival of Lights returns to Media this week

    Rose Tree County Park in Media will once again transform into a winter wonderland this holiday season for the 50th annual Festival of Lights.

    Starting Thursday, some 300,000 lights will adorn over 125 trees at the center of the 118-acre park, which will also play host to vendors, musical performances, and food trucks on select nights during the festival’s run through Jan. 3.

    More than a beloved tradition, the free festival is “putting Delco on the map,” says Delaware County Parks and Recreation Interim Director Anne Stauffer. The festival drew about 97,000 visitors last year, according to Visit Delco data, and Stauffer expects more than 100,000 this year.

    Over the past few years, the festival has significantly grown its footprint. While it used to largely attract residents from in and around Media, a major change in 2021 helped attract more visitors from across the region.

    ARPA funding helped grow the Festival of Lights to include larger trees.

    Using funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, organizers grew the number of lights on display — including extending it to the park’s tallest trees — and added pop-up shopping elements, a format that has been replicated each year since. With a refreshed display, the festival went from a local event to a “regional draw,” Stauffer said.

    Now, the annual festival is one of the park’s biggest undertakings, with work beginning in mid-October.

    This year’s festival will see a return of many favorite displays, like a lighted archway, Snoopy and other Peanuts characters, a gingerbread family, and Santa and his reindeer. A Visit Delco selfie station featuring a giant Adirondack chair will be moved to the front of the park. There will also be musical performances on Delco’s Fare & Flair nights, along with a selection of food, drinks, and other vendors.

    New this year will be the unveiling of a “Delco Bell,” which will make its debut at 4 p.m. Thursday, and remain on display through next December, even after the festival wraps up. It’s one of many bells being displayed statewide as part of America250PA’s “Bells Across PA” initiative, which began rolling out in April in anticipation of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

    “I think it’s a beautiful opportunity to be able to show the public artistry and history,” Stauffer said.

    This is also a milestone year for Rose Tree County Park, which opened in 1975 and is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

    Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s Festival of Lights:

    When will the Festival of Lights be open?

    This year’s festival kicks off on Dec. 4 at 5 p.m., when the entire park will be lit up for the first time this season. As part of the festivities, the Springton Lake Middle School Select Choir will perform seasonal songs, and Santa will help light the park before zipping around on one of Delaware County Parks and Recreation’s electric ATVs. He’ll remain on site until 8:30 p.m.

    In addition to the ceremonial lighting, opening night will also be the first of this year’s Delco’s Fare & Flair Nights, which include music, food, drinks, and other local vendors.

    From Dec. 4 to Jan. 3, the park will be lit nightly at 5 p.m. and remain lit until 9:30 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

    Who are this year’s vendors?

    There will be vendors, food, drinks, and live entertainment on Delco’s Fare & Flair Nights, weather permitting. These will take place Dec. 4, 6, 7, 13, and 14 from 5 to 8:30 p.m.

    Expect a selection of food and drinks vendors each night, including Albie’s Fresh Burgers and Crabcakes, Auntie Anne’s, Brick & Brew, Calaveras Street Tacos, DonutNV, Dos Gringos Mexican Kitchen, The Munchy Machine, Napoletano Brothers, Owl’s Water Ice and Treats, Pizzeria La Familia, Rollin’ Phatties BBQ Smokeshack, and Savannah’s Southern Cuisine.

    Artisan vendors will also be selling goods including clothing, home decor, and candles.

    On Delco’s Fare & Flair Nights, local bands will perform at 5 p.m., followed by a DJ spinning tunes until 8:30 p.m.

    You can see the vendors attending each Delco’s Fare & Flair night on the county’s website here.

    What’s new for 2025?

    While visitors will find a similarly festive display to years past, there will be a few additions for 2025, including one celebrating the nation’s semiquincentennial. A Delaware County-themed bell will be unveiled at 4 p.m. on Dec. 4, and remain on display through the festival and next year.

    Where to park when you get there

    Delaware County Park Police will be directing traffic on Delco’s Fare & Flair nights, with parking available in the main lots at the front of Rose Tree County Park, closest to Nether Providence Road. The rear lot, near the Hunt Club building, will have additional parking on nights when Delco’s Fare & Flair is not taking place. There will be overflow parking on the grass, as weather permits.

    📍 1671 N. Providence Rd., Media đŸ’” Free

    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.