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Tag: Media

  • 17 local holiday events you won’t want to miss | Inquirer Greater Media

    17 local holiday events you won’t want to miss | Inquirer Greater Media

    Hi, Greater Media! 👋

    Happy Thanksgiving! With one holiday here and several others fast approaching, we’ve rounded up over a dozen events you’ll want to add to your calendar. Also this week, the Delco-set HBO series Task will return for a second season, SEPTA is getting additional funding for Regional Rail car repairs, plus a gift guide with a very Philly twist.

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

    Over a dozen holiday events you won’t want to miss this season

    Christmasland returns to Linvilla Orchards, where visitors can cut their own tree or pick a pre-cut one.

    The holiday season is officially upon us and with it, a slew of festive events. Whether you’re looking to snag a picture with Santa Claus or be dazzled by light displays, there’s no shortage of things to do in and around Media.

    We’ve rounded up more than a dozen holiday festivities this season, including shopping pop-ups, holiday parades, cookie swaps, and more.

    See the full list of holiday events here.

    💡 Community News

    🏫 Schools Briefing

    • RTMSD is closed today and tomorrow for Thanksgiving.
    • WSSD is closed today and tomorrow for Thanksgiving. Keystone testing dates begin Wednesday.

    🍽️ On our Plate

    🎳 Things to Do

    🎭 Annie: The Media Theatre kicks off its run of the beloved Broadway hit about an orphan who finds an unlikely champion in a billionaire. ⏰ Friday, Nov. 28-Sunday, Jan. 4, days and times vary 💵 $27-$47 📍 The Media Theatre

    🎶 The Whitewalls: The nine-piece horn Philadelphia party band specializes in R&B, funk, pop, disco, and Top 40 tunes. ⏰ Saturday, Nov. 29, 8:30 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Shere-e-Punjab

    🏡 On the Market

    A brick ranch with a three-season room

    The home spans 3,300 square feet and has an above-ground pool.

    Built in 1957, this updated brick ranch offers single-floor living with a living room, dining room, kitchen, and four bedrooms all situated on the ground level. It also has an enclosed rear porch leading to a fenced backyard, where there’s an above-ground pool. There’s also a finished basement. There are open houses this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m.

    See more photos of the property here.

    Price: $675,000 | Size: 3,300 SF | Acreage: 0.27

    🗞️ 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.

  • Over a dozen holiday events in and around Media you won’t want to miss this season

    Over a dozen holiday events in and around Media you won’t want to miss this season

    The holiday season is officially upon us and with it, a slew of festive events. From Santa sightings to a cocoa crawl, here’s how and where to celebrate in and around Media.

    Christmasland

    Linvilla Orchards will transform for the holidays, complete with a Winter Makers Market on most Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays throughout December. There will also be ice skating, live music, and visits with Santa. Plus, you can cut your own Christmas tree.

    ⏰ Through Sunday, Dec. 21, times vary 💵 Pay as you go 📍Linvilla Orchards, 137 W. Knowlton Rd., Media

    Holiday Tree Lighting at the Promenade at Granite Run

    See the tree lit and explore area small businesses, which will have tables set up for the occasion.

    ⏰ Saturday, Nov. 29, 5-6 p.m. 💵 Free 📍Promenade at Granite Run, 1067 W. Baltimore Pike, Media

    Santa’s Parade, Fun Run, and Block Party

    Get into the holiday spirit with a free block party at Veterans Square, where attendees are asked to contribute goods to the Media Food Bank or an unwrapped gift for Toys for Tots. There will be a holiday costume contest at 4 p.m., followed by a fun run and walk at 4:15 p.m. Festivities conclude with Santa parading along State and Front Streets, complete with mummers, musicians, classic cars, and fire trucks.

    ⏰ Sunday, Nov. 30, 2:30-7 p.m. 💵 Free, donations to Media Food Bank or Toys for Tots encouraged 📍Downtown Media

    The Festival of Lights returns to Rose Tree County Park.

    Rose Tree Festival of Lights

    Marking its 50th anniversary this year, the festival will be open nightly for a month, with food trucks, vendors, and live entertainment on Dec. 4, 6, 7, 13, and 14. The tree lighting takes place Dec. 4 at 5 p.m.

    ⏰ Thursday, Dec. 4-Saturday, Jan. 3 💵 Pay as you go 📍Rose Tree County Park, 1671 N. Providence Rd., Media

    Community Arts Center’s Holiday Sale

    The Community Arts Center and the Potters Guild are teaming up for a holiday sale of pottery and other crafts.

    ⏰ Friday, Dec. 5-Sunday, Dec. 14, times vary 💵 Pay as you go 📍Community Arts Center, 414 Plush Mill Rd., Wallingford

    Home for the Holidays

    This annual tradition returns with an all-day celebration that includes the Reindeer Dash one-mile walk and run at 11:30 a.m. Participants are encouraged to dress for the season. From noon to 4:30 p.m., the Winter Village will take over the borough parking lot, complete with a pub, food vendors, and crafts. There will also be 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. 💵 Pay as you go 📍 Swarthmore town center

    Holiday Artisans Market

    Shop from local artisans selling goods like candles, ceramics, wine, soap, and art in Tyler Arboretum’s historic barn.

    ⏰ Saturday, Dec. 6, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 💵 $10-$18 admission required for non-members 📍 Tyler Arboretum, 515 Painter Rd., Media

    Middletown Township Tree Lighting

    See the tree lit for the first time this season, accompanied by tunes from Penncrest High performers. There will also be treats and a special visitor.

    ⏰ Sunday, Dec. 7, 5:30 p.m. 💵 Free, but new toy donations are encouraged 📍Middletown Township municipal building, 27 N. Pennell Rd., Media

    2025 Cookie Walk

    Love holiday cookies but don’t love baking? Or just want to sample an array of treats? This annual event lets attendees pick and pay for the homemade cookies they want.

    ⏰ Saturday, Dec. 13, 9 a.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍Middletown Church, 273 S. Old Middletown Rd., 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. Register online in advance.

    ⏰ Saturday, Dec. 13, 10 a.m.-noon 💵 Free 📍Media Community Center, 301 N. Jackson St., Media

    Brunch with Santa

    Enjoy brunch, crafts, and face painting in a festive environment, take a picture with Santa during timed slots, and shop from a selection of vendors.

    ⏰ Saturday, Dec. 13, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 💵 $5-$20📍St. George Greek Orthodox Church of Media, 30 E. Forge Rd., Media

    The Grinch Visits State Street

    The infamous star of the popular Dr. Seuss book will be around town.

    ⏰ Saturday, Dec. 13, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 💵 Free 📍State Street, Media

    Victorian Holiday Tea

    Tea, tea sandwiches, holiday confections, and a glass of bubbly will be served during this Victorian-style holiday event.

    ⏰ Saturday, Dec. 13, 2-4 p.m. 💵 $46 📍Park Avenue Community Center, 129 Park Ave., Swarthmore

    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. 💵 $21 📍Park Avenue Community Center, 129 Park Ave., Swarthmore

    Santa Strolls State Street

    Catch up with the big man before his journey around the globe to deliver gifts.

    ⏰ Friday, Dec. 19, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. 💵 Free 📍State Street, Media

    State Street Cocoa Crawl

    Nearly a dozen participating restaurants will be offering free hot chocolate to shoppers.

    ⏰ Saturday, Dec. 20, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. 💵 Free 📍Downtown Media

    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. 💵 $41 📍The Media Theatre, 104 E. State St., Media

    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 BYOB looks to bring the flavors of Mexico to Media

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Hi, Greater Media! 👋

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

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

    A new Mexican BYOB is opening in Media next week

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

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

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

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

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

    Read more about Garcia and the forthcoming Taquero here.

    💡 Community News

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

    🏫 Schools Briefing

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

    🍽️ On our Plate

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

    🎳 Things to Do

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    🏡 On the Market

    A Media home that’s well equipped for entertaining

    703 Iris Lane is listed for $957,000.

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

    See more photos of the property here.

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

    🗞️ What other Greater Media residents are reading this week:

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

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

  • Swarthmore is tabling an earned income tax | Inquirer Greater Media

    Swarthmore is tabling an earned income tax | Inquirer Greater Media

    Hi, Greater Media! 👋

    Swarthmore Borough residents won’t have to pay an earned income tax, at least for the time being. Also this week, Task, the Delco-set HBO mini-series, has wrapped up, the Media Business Authority is pursuing possible eateries to fill the now-empty Iron Hill Brewery space, and new entertainment venue and bar Martinique Deux is hosting its grand opening tonight.

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

    Swarthmore tables earned income tax for the time being

    Swarthmore has tabled a proposal to implement an earned income tax after Swarthmore College stepped up to help fill a budget hole.

    Swarthmore residents aren’t facing an earned income tax, at least for the time being.

    The borough last week agreed to table an unpopular proposal to implement an EIT after Swarthmore College agreed to contribute $638,000 to cover a funding gap left by the closure of Crozer-Chester Medical Center earlier this year, The Inquirer’s Denali Sagner reports.

    The borough is, however, considering implementing an emergency services tax. It will continue budget discussions at Monday’s finance committee meeting.

    Read more about the ongoing budget talks here.

    💡 Community News

    • Task wrapped up on Sunday, delivering a bittersweet conclusion to the seven-episode show starring Mark Ruffalo. While the Delco-set HBO mini-series was undoubtedly a cops and robbers-heavy story, it also provided “a brooding, layered examination of fatherhood in various forms,” The Inquirer’s Rosa Cartagena reports. Its ending is exactly what show creator and Berwyn native Brad Ingelsby wanted. Read more about the finale here. (Warning: Spoilers!)
    • With the conclusion of Task, we’ve also put together a final map of the show’s local filming locations, including the Delaware County Courthouse and Government Center in Media, which was featured in the finale. We also gathered video of some of the cast’s favorite Delco phrases, which you can watch here. Those who watched were treated to some of the region’s wooded scenery, so much so that it prompted The New York Times to refer to the region as “rural America.” The Inquirer’s Jason Nark took issue with that characterization and with another journalist calling the region “downtrodden,” noting “Delco’s not much different from Philadelphia’s other ring counties.”
    • The Promenade at Granite Run continues to evolve, and come spring, will be home to an IKEA “plan and order point with pick-up” store. Unlike traditional stores, which are shoppable, the smaller format allows customers to meet with IKEA team members to plan out home spaces and then arrange delivery or pick up of their goods. The new store, part of a pad site near Middletown Road, will span about 3,755 square feet.
    • Despite Democrats holding power in Delaware County Council for the past few years, Republicans see an opening to regain representation after a double-digit property tax increase last year. Voters will elect two members to the five-person board on Nov. 4, and Republicans are hoping to build up traction.
    • Speaking of the election, Tuesday is the last day for registered voters to request a mail-in ballot for next month’s election. You can apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot here.
    • SEPTA’s inspections of 225 Silverliner IV Regional Rail cars are more than a third complete. The Inquirer is tracking the agency’s inspection progress here.
    • Ahead of the holidays, the Media Food Bank is seeking donations for an array of goods, including shelf-stable foods, personal care items, pet food, household goods, and items for babies. Find a list of needed supplies here.
    • Artist Susan O’Reilly is relocating her eponymous studio from Aston to 415 Dartmouth Ave. in Swarthmore next month, taking over the space formerly home to barbershop Cutz to Cutz. She will offer fine art classes and workshops, as well as individual sessions, with plans to add children’s programming later. The same block will also be home to secondhand store Heart and Soul’d come the new year, which is relocating to 407 Dartmouth Ave. It will maintain its current space at 14 Park Ave. until then, using its new space to show larger pieces like furniture by request. (The Swarthmorean)
    • Swarthmore is hosting a flu vaccine clinic on Wednesday from 4 to 6 p.m. at the borough council room. Those interested must register in advance.

    🏫 Schools Briefing

    • Media Elementary School is hosting a trunk-or-treat event Friday, and fall theater performances kick off Saturday and run through Tuesday. There’s also a boys basketball tournament this weekend and a community blood drive on Tuesday. See the district’s full calendar here.
    • Tomorrow is picture day makeups for Wallingford-Swarthmore students, and on Saturday, Wallingford Elementary is hosting its pancake breakfast and Halloween carnival from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. See the district’s full calendar here. WSSD is also hosting community conversation sessions on Tuesday with superintendent Russell D. Johnston. The morning session will be held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. and an evening session will be from 6 to 7 p.m., both at Strath Haven Middle School.

    🍽️ On our Plate

    🎳 Things to Do

    🎭 Young Frankenstein: It’s your last chance to catch this musical comedy about a doctor who’s inherited his grandfather’s estate in Transylvania. ⏰ Through Sunday, Oct. 26, times vary 💵 $27-$47 📍 The Media Theatre

    🍫 Creekside’s Halloween Party: Creekside Swim Club’s community party includes a mad scientist’s lab, costumes, face painting, raffles, and, of course, candy. ⏰ Friday, Oct. 24, 5-7 p.m. 💵 $10 📍 Creekside Swim Club, Wallingford

    🛍️ Merchant Night Market: Swarthmore stores will stay open later for this special shopping event. ⏰ Friday, Oct. 24, 5-9 p.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍 Swarthmore

    👻 Halloween Parade: Media Borough is hosting its annual Halloween parade, complete with performances by Penncrest and Strath Haven’s marching bands. Put on your costume and join the fun along State Street, where there will also be appearances by the Philadelphia Ghostbusters, and Star Wars cosplayers Garrison Carida and Kyber Base. ⏰ Saturday, Oct. 25, 11 a.m. 💵 Free 📍 State Street, Media

    🍬 Haunted Trail: Middletown Township’s Halloween-themed event for kids ages 12 and under includes trick-or-treating and games. ⏰ Saturday, Oct. 25, 4-7:30 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Sleighton Park

    🧙‍♀️ Costume Party: This month’s Teen Activity Day at the Rocky Run YMCA is a Halloween-themed party. It’s open to 13- to 18-year-olds. ⏰ Saturday, Oct. 25, 5:30-7 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Rocky Run YMCA, Media

    🕺 Delco Dance Night: Put on your costume and dance to tunes at this 21-and-over Halloween-themed event. ⏰ Saturday, Oct. 25, 7-10 p.m. 💵 $15.75 in advance, $20 at the door 📍 Park Avenue Community Center, Swarthmore

    🎃 PumpkinPalooza: The Media borough’s event includes a jack-o-lantern stroll and contest, as well as yard games and fall treats. ⏰ Sunday, Oct. 26, 6-7:30 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Media Community Center lawn

    🗡️ Jack The Ripper: A Virtual London Walking Tour for Grown-Ups: Take a virtual walking tour following in the footsteps of the notorious 1800s serial killer. Registration is required. ⏰ Tuesday, Oct. 28, 5:30-6:45 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Helen Kate Furness Free Library, Wallingford

    🏡 On the Market

    A Wallingford townhome with a cozy fireplace

    The home’s family room has a fireplace and connects to the kitchen and dining room.

    Situated in the Mills at Rose Valley, this two-story townhome has three bedrooms and three-and-a-half bathrooms. The first floor features a living room, a family room with a fireplace, a dining room, and an eat-in kitchen. The bedrooms are located on the second floor, including a primary suite with a walk-in closet and a bathroom with a soaking tub. The home also has a finished basement that has space for an additional bedroom or a home office, as well as a deck out back.

    See more photos of the property here.

    Price: $575,000 | Size: 2,983 SF

    🗞️ 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.

  • Rose Tree Media school leaders hope to finally bring full-day kindergarten to the district with new K-1 school

    Rose Tree Media school leaders hope to finally bring full-day kindergarten to the district with new K-1 school

    The Rose Tree Media School District is moving forward with plans to build a kindergarten and first-grade school in Middletown Township, marking its second attempt in recent years to build a new school amid rising enrollment and shrinking classroom space.

    The district says the school will be necessary to accommodate increasing student numbers and will finally allow the Delaware County community to offer full-day kindergarten. Yet an uphill battle remains before crews can break ground, as the district must receive approvals from Middletown Township’s council, which has signaled apprehension over traffic and development in the growing municipality.

    Why is the district planning to build a new school?

    The Rose Tree Media School District plans to build a new elementary school for kindergarten and first-grade students, known as the K-1 Early Learning Center, on district-owned land behind Penncrest High School.

    Put simply, “We are overcrowded at the elementary level,” said Rose Tree Media School District Superintendent Joe Meloche.

    The school district estimates that more than 600 new homes have been built within its bounds in the last six years, including major developments like Pond’s Edge and the Franklin Mint site. The school district serves Media Borough and Edgmont, Middletown, and Upper Providence Townships. Between 2020 and 2024, Middletown saw a nearly 6% growth rate, due in large part to the new developments. The district projects it will grow by around 300 students in the next 10 years.

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    This growth has forced the district to adopt space-saving measures. At Glenwood Elementary School, two modular classrooms were installed in 2023. The school got two more modular classrooms in 2024, then two more in 2025. There are now 10 modular classrooms being used across the district.

    While Rose Tree Media can temporarily expand its classroom space, it can’t expand gyms, cafeterias, auditoriums, nurse’s offices, and other communal spaces. Beyond that, Meloche said, older school buildings aren’t designed to accommodate a modern school day, which includes far more individualized services, breakout groups, and collaborative work than it used to.

    What will the new school look like?

    Rose Tree Media is working with the Schrader Group, an architecture firm that has designed schools throughout the Philly region, including a K-1 school in Phoenixville.

    Having Rose Tree Media’s youngest learners in one building will allow the district to add some “nuanced things” to the school’s design, Meloche said. Small water fountains, tiny sinks, and low-to-the-ground chairs come to mind. The K-1 Center will also place all of the district’s kindergarten and first-grade teachers in one place, making professional development and sharing of resources easier, Meloche said.

    The project is currently estimated to cost $84 million. The district says it plans to sell bonds to build the school.

    Though suggestions have floated around that Rose Tree Media remodel an old school, rather than build something new, district officials say it’s unrealistic. According to the district, purchasing and repurposing an old building “would be costly and would not meet the needs of young children” as it would lack accessibility features, safe play areas, and elements designed specifically for early learners.

    What will this mean for full-day kindergarten?

    Rose Tree Media is one of many districts in the Philadelphia region that have historically not offered full-day kindergarten.

    Citing families’ needs for childcare and the developmental benefits of full-day schooling, many districts in the region have begun implementing full-day programs. The Penn-Delco School District implemented full-day kindergarten in 2023. Lower Merion switched from half-day to full-day last school year. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed a law ending half-day kindergarten across the state earlier this summer.

    Meloche said bringing full-day kindergarten to Rose Tree Media has been on the table since he came to the district from Cherry Hill in 2023. Full-day kindergarten, Meloche said, will allow the district to “provide a much more substantial foundation for our children.” Under the half-day model, learning is crammed into a shorter period, he said, leaving little time for developmentally important activities like free play, outdoor activities, and specials like art, music, and physical education. Rose Tree Media’s existing elementary schools could not accommodate full-day kindergarten, according to the district.

    What happened to the district’s previous proposal in Edgmont Township?

    Rose Tree Media evaluated 23 potential sites for a new school before landing on a piece of land in Edgmont Township. That plan fell apart after the township denied the school district’s application in 2023, prompting the district to sue. The school district withdrew its legal challenge last spring and pivoted to the K-1 Center proposal.

    Meloche said the district is in the process of selling the 37-acre Edgmont Township property on Route 352. The school district is finalizing the appraisal and has a buyer. They hope to finalize the process, including receiving court approval to sell, by the end of the year.

    What will the approval process with Middletown Township look like?

    Though the district already owns the property behind Penncrest High School, it is required to go through a planning and development process with local and state governing bodies, which can take several months.

    The township has asked the district to undergo an expanded traffic study, which will include evaluations of the intersections of Middletown and Oriole Roads, Rose Tree Road and Hunting Hills Lane, and three access points to Penncrest High School on Barren Road. Once the district completes its expanded traffic study, it will submit a preliminary land development plan to the township. That will kick off a series of public hearings.

    The district plans to hold an Act 34 hearing in January, a public meeting required by Pennsylvania law that gives residents and employees an opportunity to weigh in on the project.

    During public meetings this fall, some residents urged the Middletown Township Council to deny the school district’s proposal, referencing traffic concerns and the desire to preserve green space. Others implored them to approve the school, citing a need to accommodate residents of new apartments and offer full-day kindergarten to working parents.

    Council members noted that the school district will have the opportunity to address community concerns before an official plan is brought to the council.

    Councilmember David Bialek said at a Sept. 17 meeting that the district has implied to the public that the K-1 Center is “a done deal” and “rubber-stamped,” when a preliminary plan has not yet been submitted.

    In an emailed statement, Meloche said, “We have stated multiple times publicly that we have identified the K-1 Center’s location and purpose, and are now in the approval phase, which includes a rigorous process of approvals from Middletown Township, Delaware County, DEP and PennDot. We have been clear that the land development process must be completed prior to obtaining a building permit. The discussion at our Board meetings, the information on the Time to Bloom web page, and our monthly Time to Bloom email updates have laid out the land development process in detail.”

    A rendering of the Rose Tree Media School District’s proposed K-1 center, which the district hopes to build behind Penncrest High School.

    Township council chair Bibianna Dussling said at an Oct. 1 meeting that the “details are going to be key” as the council considers the K-1 Center plans.

    “It’s complicated because you can see the pros and cons,” Dussling said. “There’s a lot of concerns as far as the location, traffic, the neighbors, the neighborhood in very close proximity to it, the roadways there that are already busy.”

    The district has said its professionals are working on creating an “optimal traffic flow,” which may include adding an additional parking lot for athletic fields and routing K-1 Center bus access around the back of Penncrest High School.

    “We believe that we are all on the same side and on the same team,” Meloche said, adding that the goal is “to meet the needs of our community at-large, and to do so in a fiscally responsible but forward-thinking and future-looking way.”

    The district says the new school will open in time for the 2028-29 school year. If the application is denied, a spokesperson from the district said they do not have an alternative plan for the K-1 Center.

    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 entertainment venue and bar looks to become a Media staple

    A new entertainment venue and bar looks to become a Media staple

    With the exception of a sign etched onto a glass window on the ground floor, there’s no indication that an entertainment venue and bar awaits beyond the doors of Media’s predominately office-focused Phoenix building.

    Inside is equally vague. There’s just a large sign that reads “Martinique Deux” situated on a staircase leading to the basement. Following it downstairs, there’s an innocuous door that leads to a speakeasy-like bar.

    Martinique Deux’s owners — business partners James Matika, Jason Fogg, and Pat Collins — like that it has a bit of a mystique, at least for the time being.

    That will change when the entertainment venue and bar debuts on Oct. 17 and Oct. 18, during a soft opening in advance of its grand opening on Oct. 23.

    Located at 115 W. State St., the 2,400-square-foot space features a long bar with chairs, high- and low-top tables, including some with church pews for seating, a stage with a piano, as well as a back section with couches and a big-screen TV.

    Though largely dark and atmospheric, there are some pop culture nods, like a large painting of David Bowie and a photo of Princess Diana sporting an Eagles jacket.

    When Martinique Deux opens, its owners envision it as a lively place where people can grab a drink before or after dinner, watch a game, play darts, and enjoy a music or comedy show. It will be open from 4 p.m. to midnight on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, and open earlier on weekends.

    A dart board on the wall at Martinique Deux in Media.

    The 21-and-over venue will have live entertainment at least three days a week, with music performances on Fridays and Saturdays and comedy shows on Thursdays, though the lineups will vary. They plan to launch with a range of musical acts and comedy, with some being ticketed events and others charging a cover.

    Sports fans can also catch games, with a large TV taking center stage during Eagles games.

    “If there’s Philly sports on, that’s what will be on,” Matika said.

    After football season ends, they’re contemplating adding acoustic performances on Sundays. Weekends may also see Martinique Deux open earlier to accommodate Premier League soccer fans.

    Martinique Deux will also be open on Wednesdays starting around Thanksgiving, but largely without planned entertainment.

    The bar will offer staple food items like soft pretzels, popcorn, and chips, with plans to partner with neighboring pizza joint Lariele Wood Fired Square Pie. They’re also contemplating a rotating food truck lineup on live entertainment nights.

    While they’re still finalizing the cocktail list, it will likely be bourbon-forward and feature Pops McCann liquors, Fogg’s Pottstown distillery that produces bourbons, whiskeys, and a rum, and is planning to expand into vodkas and tequilas.

    “We’re going to keep it simple,” Matika said.

    The bar will feature Pops McCann liquors, Fogg’s Pottstown distillery.

    The bar will also serve other Pennsylvania-made beverages like Stateside Vodka and Surfside iced tea and lemonade, wines from urban winery John Robert Cellars, which has a tasting room on the ground floor of the Phoenix building, as well as beers from Sterling Pig Brewery.

    When Martinique Deux opens, it will mark the end of a year-and-a-half-long effort to bring the concept to life. Matika and Collins began working on it together last March after each independently considered similar ideas. They soon connected and set about transforming the space, which was sitting empty after an escape room there closed amid the pandemic.

    Both also have experience in the industry — Matika worked at Tap 24 and La Belle Epoque in Media and grew up in the bars his father owned, including The Martinique in Wildwood. Similarly, Collins’ father formerly owned the Clam Tavern in Clifton Heights, and Collins himself said he owned a dive bar in South Philly previously.

    They later connected with Fogg through a mutual friend, bringing the entire vision together.

    Owners Jason Fogg, James Matika, and Pat Collins pose for a photo at the bar.

    Martinique Deux joins an evolving scene in the heart of the borough, where just down the street, Mediterranean restaurant Maris and cheesesteak joint Jackson St. Steaks are opening soon.

    “I think it’s going to be one of Media’s staples,” Collins said.

    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.