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The story behind Sabrina Carpenter's Grammy Award shout out to a Bala Cynwyd music studio
Sabrina Carpenter poses in the press room with the award for best pop solo performance
and best pop vocal album during the 67th annual Grammy Awards
When pop sensation and Quakertown native Sabrina Carpenter took the stage to accept her first Grammy award for her album Short n’ Sweet
she expressed her gratitude for the years of voice lessons she took in Bala Cynwyd
While many viewers might struggle to locate Bala Cynwyd on a map
those living near Philadelphia likely know the suburb just on the city’s western edge
The music studio where Sabrina’s mother drove her each week
her daughter Kathy Cavell remains close to the popstar and shared with Avi that the singer’s emotional acceptance speech brought her to tears
WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.
Mural Arts Philadelphia has created more than 4,000 murals
The nonprofit organization also helps kids hone their artistic and social skills after school
Star Wars Day has transformed into a full-blown cultural holiday
The original “Cato” was a favorite play of George Washington
Philadelphia Artists’ Collective reimagines it with a critical lens
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Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardA Main Line cheesesteak shop’s nearly 70-year-old tradition will soon be historySince 1960
Mama's Pizzeria has been supplying Bala Cynwyd with finely crafted cheesesteaks
Its second-generation grillman plans to hang up the spatula once his son earns his accounting license
The bold yellow sign above the front door still says Mama’s Pizzeria
but it’s been at least a decade since a pizza has emerged from the oven
Mama’s in Bala Cynwyd is strictly a cheesesteak joint now
The steaks are cooked by second-generation owner Paul Castellucci in the same way they have been for nearly 50 years: with a three-cheese blend twisted throughout the finely chopped sirloin
Castellucci’s spatula never stops sparring with the flattop as he steals glances at the wall clock
“You can take a picture of the sign,” Castellucci’s son
The younger Castellucci — Paulie — cuts rolls
generation of Castelluccis to work at Mama’s
an additional seven workers were required to handle the line that regularly snaked out the door
dresses in overalls and wears a red cap with the insignia of St
where he’s studying for his accountant’s license
The end of Mama’s will be a loss not just for Bala Cynwyd
Its consistency is a hallmark of the family-run shops that sprouted up in the region throughout the 1960s and the following decades
and all of the idiosyncratic ways they cook steaks
» READ MORE: Frusco’s Steaks was one of Philly’s only woman-owned cheesesteak shops. Here’s what she taught me about great steaks.
and his wife Miriam found a spot on Main Street in Manayunk to start a family pizza shop
and Miriam put the whole family to work: kids
“You always did have somebody from the family here
It’s a little easier to yell at your family than to yell at people that aren’t.”
and his son all have different middle names.)
makes cheesesteaks the way his parents did: He chops the steak into a mound of thin-cut ribbons
sprinkles a shredded three-cheese blend on top
folds the meat over until the cheese twists with the meat and it all melts together
I recently took my 79-year-old father to the family-run shop
where he remembers eating in the ‘70s and ‘80s
He guesses that the cheese is a mix of mozzarella
with a nod toward the shop’s original purpose
I ate the steak over a napkin to get a sense of how much oil is in it; there was barely a footprint left behind
said he uses both vegetable and olive oil on the flattop griddle
“Olive oil can be too strong sometimes,” he said
spongy roll maintains its structural integrity until the last bite
which is impressive for a soft roll that’s so completely filled with meat and cheese
“Our bread here is so much different than in any other part of the country,” Paul Jr
will be the last grillman at Mama’s Pizzeria is that he’s the only one who can do it
but I can’t make these cheesesteaks,” Paulie said
The shop will begin its closure after Paulie passes his CPA exam
the Castelluccis’ signature steak-making style will fade away
And in her acceptance speech
she gave a special shoutout to a small but well-known Philly suburb
“I want to thank my mom for driving me to every voice lesson in Bala Cynwyd,” Carpenter said
recognizing the role the community played in her musical journey
Carpenter took early voice lessons at Cavell Music Studio in Bala Cynwyd
Bala Cynwyd — pronounced BAH-lu KIN-wood — is in Lower Merion Township
just across from Philadelphia along City Avenue
It has long been associated with affluent neighborhoods
and several major radio and TV broadcast stations
Carpenter
starring in “Girl Meets World,” from 2014 to 2017 as well as other Disney vehicles
and later built her music career with break out hits like “Feather” and “Espresso.” But
she started performing in local talent shows and regional theater in Pennsylvania
She also has starred “A Nonsense Christmas with Sabrina Carpenter,” a musical variety show that debuted in December
Jerry Haught is a New Jersey-based journalist with the Mid-Atlantic Connect Team
2025 at 3:11 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Pennsylvania State Police took three teenagers into custody after a chase in Bala Cynwyd Tuesday morning
PA — Three teenagers were taken into custody by Pennsylvania State Police Tuesday after leading troopers on a chase in Bala Cynwyd
when a state police trooper stopped a Kia Optima at Righters Ferry Road and Belmont Avenue that was reportedly stolen out of Philadelphia
Police said the vehicle fled from the stop
police used a precision immobilization technique to stop the vehicle on the 200 block of Garnet Lane in Bala Cynwyd
were taken into custody after trying to run off
Police did not release the suspects' names
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and I am now pushing aside the bikes and tools in our garage to make room for a massive crate
the culmination of a journey of discovery and connection
Inside the crate is a luminous blue and gold Pennsylvania historical marker
awaiting its moment in the sun to reveal the long-hidden story of a family of remarkable women who also called my corner of the world home
1908 Atlas of Lower Merion Township showing the Idenlea estate in Bala Cynwyd
| Image courtesy of Lower Merion Historical Society
Although my training as a scientist prepared me to ask questions
then collect and analyze data to answer them
nothing prepared me for the thrill of the historical research that I began that fall day
just waiting to be pieced together into a historical marker nomination to honor Dr
Lucretia Mott Longshore Blankenburg (1845-1937)
All three were determined leaders in the causes of abolition of slavery
They championed civic and municipal reform
especially during Lucretia’s years as the First Lady of Philadelphia alongside her husband Mayor Rudolph Blankenburg
Here I share moments of discovery about compelling aspects of this family’s story–moments that connected with my awakening about the role of local history in helping us understand our own place and time
When I discovered that the connection between Idenlea and the names on the atlas was not yet something Google could reveal
I made my first research visit to a historical archive
the Longshore Family Papers documenting the some of the origins of women in medicine at the Legacy Center Archives and Special Collections at Drexel University College of Medicine
Buried in this collection is the Autobiography of Thomas Longshore
As I skimmed the looping cursive it became apparent that this was not the life story of the writer and prominent abolitionist
but was in fact a detailed account of his wife
I learned that Hannah and her sister Jane’s curiosity about the natural world and commitment to social justice was nurtured by their father
While both girls had big dreams about higher education
the family couldn’t afford tuition at Oberlin College
one of the few educational institutions open to women in the 1840s
Hannah and Jane self-educated on topics ranging from botany to literature while they helped maintain the family farm in Ohio
When Elizabeth Blackwell and her peers began to challenge the system of educating physicians in the United States
Hannah seized an opportunity to enter the profession of medicine
Along with her supportive husband and their infant daughter Lucretia
the family traveled by wagon to Philadelphia where she apprenticed with her brother-in-law
a founder of the city’s new Female Medical College of Pennsylvania (later Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania)
the world’s first school established to train women in medicine
| Image courtesy of Drexel Legacy Center
Hannah graduated in the first class of the college in 1851 in a ceremony that required police protection due to threats to the students
She became the first woman physician to open a medical practice in Pennsylvania and the first woman faculty member of an American medical school
The collection at Drexel contains a powerful memory in an autobiographical speech given at her alma mater when she was nearly 80 years old
“The first women physicians in Philadelphia did not find their paths strewn with flowers
nor their advent welcomed by the general public or by the profession
I went to one of the leading pharmacists to purchase some ounces of drugs
Go home and darn your husband’s stockings
Housekeeping is the business for women!’ I informed him that my house was probably as well kept as his and that the stockings were darned
As a graduate of the Female Medical College
chartered by the Legislature of Pennsylvania
I proposed to practice medicine as long as the women of Philadelphia saw fit to employ me and I had the strength to work.”
Hannah created a career path that simply hadn’t existed for women
her sister Jane joined her in Philadelphia to enroll in the college
they were practicing medicine alongside each other
treating the women and children of Philadelphia
these daughters of a struggling farmer earned enough to purchase a hilltop property in Cynwyd and commission architect Isaac Pursell to design a three-story stone house featuring distinctive arches and a clear view of Philadelphia from its windows
The home was the family’s country retreat from busy careers and activism in the city
They named it Idenlea to honor the matriarch of their Quaker family
An undated portrait of Lucretia Blankenburg
| Photo courtesy of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania
Hannah’s daughter Lucretia Blankenburg published an autobiography along with her biography of her husband
I was delighted to see Lucretia had signed it herself in blue ink
Lucretia was raised in a dynamic household at the center of the biggest issues of pre-and post-Civil War America
recalling that “the success of my mother as a doctor brought many advanced thinkers and reformers to our home.” Like her mother
her long life dedicated to service and progressive ideals
She was known as the “Grand Old Lady of Philadelphia,” a renowned leader who worked to make things better for people from all walks of life
whether that be through protections and playgrounds for children
An inspiring inscription and signature by 83-year-old Lucretia Mott Longshore Blankenburg in “The Blankenburgs of Philadelphia”
her biography of her husband Rudolph and memoir of her own life
My visits to the archives of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania provided insights into the lives of the Blankenburgs
One item in particular encapsulated what this woman meant to the city and beyond
notable figures in Pennsylvania organized a luncheon attended by over 100 civic and women’s organizations and assembled a commemorative volume testifying to the impact of her work
When I submitted a call slip for the volume
and was surprised to flip through hundreds of gilded pages with entries by political leaders and extraordinary friends like artist Violet Oakley and suffragist Jane Campbell
I could not understand how a woman of Lucretia’s stature had no public recognition in the city that she worked to transform
strengthening my resolve to bring her story out of the shadows
Myers is the most elusive of the three women of the Idenlea estate
Lucretia described “Aunt Jane” as a private person who did not seek the public attention enjoyed by the rest of their family
but let her successful medical career speak for itself
The most evocative trace of Jane comes from a 1950 oral history by a Bala Cynwyd resident
hidden in the files of the Lower Merion Historical Society
“We also had characters in our neighborhood
She was a strictly modern woman of her day
and felt that female attire of her time was ill-suited to the needs of a professional woman
And so instead of shirtwaists and feminine headgear
and derby hats–that is until she was arrested for wearing clothing unbecoming a woman
She fought it out and ultimately compromised to the extent of wearing a skirt instead of trousers
but kept the rest.” I found this profile to be utterly endearing
a small indication of the fierce self-determination that distinguished Jane’s life.
Of all the ways that learning about these women has influenced my own life since I first read their names
A visit to a cemetery turned into an enduring mystery
First, some context. Philadelphia’s great reform power couple had a simple beginning. As the country emerged from the Civil War, Lucretia met a kind German immigrant named Rudolph Blankenburg. The city’s 1876 Centennial Exposition launched their political consciousness
and each found their own path in public affairs
They were blessed with three healthy daughters
birthed by the skilled hands of their grandmother and great aunt
the family suffered crushing loss as all three girls succumbed
to infectious diseases and were buried in the family plot at historic Fair Hill Burial Ground in Germantown
Reflecting on these compounded tragedies that stole the next generation of this remarkable family
Lucretia wrote “We resolved to do all we could to help others and improve civic affairs.”
A young Rudolph and his daughter Julia hand in hand at their farm in New Jersey
Reading Lucretia’s words about the loss of her three daughters made my heart ache
I decided to visit their graves and stopped to buy a bouquet of white roses on the way
knowing it had probably been close to 100 years since someone had paid respects
I started at Chelten Hills Cemetery in North Philadelphia
I asked a staff member to direct me to the gravesite
She disappeared into the office before returning to tell me there was no record of her burial
I then drove to Fair Hill Burial Ground to find the rest of the family
A groundskeeper pointed me to a section of dense headstones
I was stunned to find grass-covered gaps where the family’s markers had once been
I took my white roses back home and pulled up the cemetery’s records
My heartache turned to bewilderment as it became evident that on the same day in 1921
the remains of 11 family members were disinterred and cremated at Chelten Hills Crematory
I reached out to Chelten Hills for more information
The answer arrived as scanned pink notecards that constituted the cemetery’s filing system a century ago
The cremains of the remarkable women of Idenlea and their family members were retrieved by Quaker undertaker Ellwood Heacock
the first president of the Philadelphia NAACP
The historical record contains no clues other than the timing of the disinterment
a date that has everything to do with Idenlea.
An undated photograph of former Philadelphia Mayor Rudolph Blankenburg
The mystery about the final resting place of this family hinges on how Lucretia came to live in her Aunt Jane’s Idenlea estate
the only independent mayor in the history of Philadelphia
Rudolph Blankenburg married into a family of powerhouse women and was determined to leave a worthy legacy. After the loss of his last surviving child, he shifted his focus from humanitarian causes to launch a 20-year battle against the entrenched political machine of Philadelphia and its corrupt business associates
His pursuit of good government earned him the nickname “Old Warhorse of Reform.”
he ran for mayor on a platform that foreshadowed modern campaigns: a focus on education
and an administration “not for the profit and gain of the few
but for the benefit of all.” During his years of service at City Hall
despite the efforts of the machine to oppose his reforms
Mayor Rudolph Blankenburg with his cabinet in the Reception Room at City Hall on May 4
He was interred alongside his beloved daughter
Bereaved Lucretia relocated to the family estate of Idenlea to grieve their losses
Congress passed the 19th amendment granting women the right to vote
and Lucretia resolved to move back to Philadelphia to resume her social activism
and inexplicably chose to disinter the remains of her entire family and relocate them to a place that is now unknown and lost to time
Of the 31 male mayors of Philadelphia from the Civil War-era to the election of Cherelle Parker
six are still living and all others remain in their final resting places
which is less than a mile away from Idenlea
there can be no visit to the final resting place of Mayor Blankenburg who battled the political machine of his day and fought for women’s rights alongside his family
I hope that a final piece completing this puzzle will emerge one day so that those of us inspired by this family’s stories can pay our respects
Neighborhood friends playing in the snow in front of Idenlea in Bala Cynwyd
The house that Jane and Hannah built in 1890 is perched at the highest point of our neighborhood
Since I did most of my research while my daughters slept
I often found myself gazing at it from the windows of my home office
musing about how my findings might connect with conversations that happened behind its stone walls long ago
While I was often moved by the persistence of these brave and brilliant women
there was only one discovery that brought me to tears because of its profound significance
I was scrolling through late night search results when something unexpected caught my eye: in 1921
as Lucretia was busy relocating to Philadelphia from Idenlea
Lucretia used the proceeds of Idenlea’s sale to establish two memorial scholarships at Bryn Mawr College
for women who also had big dreams of pursuing medicine
These two scholarships have supported the careers of women in medicine to this very day
over 170 years after the first women physicians received their medical degrees
and Lucretia created a legacy of generations of changemakers who continue to shape our lives today and carry on the purpose of those who came before them
A dedication ceremony for the Pennsylvania historical marker honoring the women of Idenlea is scheduled for Sunday, September 15 at 2 p.m. See Lower Merion Historical Society’s website for more information: https://lowermerionhistory.org/events/women-of-idenlea-estate-state-historical-marker-dedication/
For a comprehensive exploration of Erin Betley’s research on Idenlea, watch her 2022 public presentation for Lower Merion Library System: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wu47lDIk55o
Tags: Lower Merion medical history suburbs Women's history
Erin Betley is a conservation scientist and educator at the American Museum of Natural History and Vice President of the Lower Merion Historical Society
I lived in the first floor apartment in this house in 2008-2009 and had no idea of its history
My Great Grandmother was Also a Doctor in the Philadelphia area I only know her First name Louisa … She was somehow tide into the Stranahan & Everwine Families.
the Idenlea estate—a sanctuary where formidable women like Dr
Longshore and Lucretia Blankenburg orchestrated symphonies of progress
Their endeavors in medicine and suffrage were not mere acts of defiance but calculated moves in a grander game of societal transformation
reminding us that true power often resides in the shadows
whose stories now reclaim their rightful place in history.
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Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardAnd the survey says: This Philly family was made for ‘Family Feud’ gloryA Bala Cynwyd family needed to do something special for a sibling's birthday
Birthdays are a big deal for the Heuislers of Bala Cynwyd
the Philly-area natives have made it a point to reunite for each of their 40th birthdays
The celebration typically calls for a surprise that’s a bit outside the box
When John, 49, the oldest, turned 40, the family surprised him during a 26-mile marathon in Raleigh
They invited his friends and former rowing teammates to cheer him on at every one-mile mark
his loved ones showed up at a golf course in Los Angeles
and revealed surprise “golfers” at all 18 holes
and all four siblings played a different phase of the former actor’s life
They even made a soundtrack with the help of Philly-area native Don McCloskey
and premiered the film at a local theater near his current home in Belmont
it was time for their sister Katy’s 40th surprise
But the second youngest of the five took matters into her own hands and decided to get married a day before her 40th birthday
“It kind of threw off our plans,” said Chris
While the wedding “was a great party,” Bill said
And Katy’s four brothers weren’t letting her milestone go unmarked
Chris was cooking dinner when he heard Steve Harvey’s voice blaring from the TV
The long-running game show Family Feud was on
I just applied for Family Feud.’ Moon shot idea
but it would be epic to kidnap Katy and fly to Family Feud,” Chris said
the four brothers had a Zoom interview scheduled with a Family Feud casting director
they had to put the kidnapping idea to rest and bring Katy into the fold
They invited her on a Zoom call and revealed their audition video for the show
“It took me a minute to realize what was happening
“I was overwhelmed with the lengths that they went to make this special thing happen.”
After their interview, the Family Feud showrunners invited the family down to Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta to film for the show’s 26th season
They flew to Atlanta in April 2024 and after a series of preliminary rounds behind the scenes
the Katy-led squad earned a spot on the Family Feud stage
said the experience felt like he was playing with “house money.” He even had a chance to talk about Philly with Harvey in between rounds
“One of my siblings is kind of neurotic and was probably more anxious
Chris said a flurry of unexpected emotion came over him
“I got teared up walking out because I got my four favorite people in the world to my left and my right,” Chris said
The combination led to a less-than-ideal start to their episode
“Steve literally looked me in the eye and said
‘What the hell is wrong with you man?’ I kind of blacked out
but I thought you were trying to throw the game,” Tim
While the goal was to take home the $20,000 prize
Katy said the sibling reunion was the real treat
and it felt like we were back to childhood,” she said
“It was just us five goofballs having the time of our lives.”
A day before he flew out to Boston for Christmas
Chris got the email that revealed their episode’s airtime — Feb
“It was the best Christmas present,” Tim said
will finally come full circle on Tuesday night
And while her 40th birthday surprise will arrive at age 42-and-a-half
Katy said the experience was beyond worthwhile
She’s excited for the world to see her crazed
The new episode of “Family Feud” is available on CW Philly 57 at 7 p.m
The show is also available on live streaming services like Philo
2024 at 1:19 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Henry ComfortZone Home Health Care
and 18 other people are charged with Medicaid fraud
tampering with public records and conspiracy
PA — A Main Line home care agency was operating a Medicaid fraud scheme
according to the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office
Attorney General Michelle Henry ComfortZone Home Health Care
and 18 other people — including Mobley's daughter and other family members— were charged in a scheme that allegedly defrauded the Medicaid program out of millions of dollars
ComfortZone Home Health Care is a Medicaid provider permitted to provide Personal Assistance Services to eligible recipients
Naya Campbell — who served as Mobley’s second in command — and others conspired to defraud the program by submitting claims for reimbursement for services that were not provided
according to charges filed by the Attorney General's office
All 20 defendants are charged with Medicaid fraud
They are expected to surrender and be arraigned this week in Montgomery County court
"The Medicaid program is designed to help vulnerable people in the Commonwealth
not line the pockets of those who deliberately exploit it," Henry said
"Every dollar stolen from the Medicaid program deprives an individual or family in need of funding that could have paid for essential services."
The charges were filed following a two-year
collaborative investigation by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General Medicaid Fraud Control Section and the FBI
and Barbara Thomas are also charged with corrupt organizations
and Tiffany Hogans are also charged with perjury
Authorities allege these crimes happened between 2020 and 2023
The cases are being prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Benjamin McKenna
The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty
2025 at 1:03 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}See which establishments had health code violations in February here
PA — Health inspectors visited numerous Narberth and Bala Cynwyd establishments in February looking for health code violations
Find full details on these inspections by searching the establishment name online here for Montgomery County
2025 at 10:51 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Montgomery County's stores had the third-highest sales of all Pennsylvania counties
PA — Tipplers in the Narberth and Bala Cynwyd spent more than $11.5 million on alcohol in 2024
according to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board released its annual report recently
And the report features sale figures for individual Fine Wine and Good Spirits stores across the state
Two of those are located in Narberth and Bala Cynwyd
Bala Cynwyd's Fine Wine and Good Spirits store
sold $9.16 million worth of alcohol in 2024 over the course of 262,810 transactions
totalling 121,233 transactions to the tune of $5.24 million
Montgomery County's stores had the third-highest sales of all Pennsylvania counties
See the full 2024 report from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board online here.
2024 at 4:09 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Another small brush fire began at about 2 p.m
but it was knocked down in about half an hour
PA — Firefighters in Lower Merion Township took on a brush fire along the Cynwyd Heritage Trail Monday morning as dry conditions persist in the region
According to the Belmont Hills Fire Company
were sent to the trail for a reported brush fire
firefighters saw smoke rising in the sky and asked for more units
which led the Gladwyne Volunteer Fire Company and Union Fire Association to respond as well
>>>Montgomery County Enacts Burn Ban Amid Dangerous Dry Spell<<<
firefighters found a large brush fire that was moving quickly up the hill towards Westminster Cemetery
prompting the Merion Fire Company of Ardmore and Narberth Fire Company to join in fighting the blaze
>>>Burn Ban Instated In Lower Merion Township<<<
the fire was out and all units returned to service
said another small brush fire began at about 2 p.m
That fire was taken care of in about half an hour
Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardA 77-year-old woman died after rescuers pulled her from a car in the SchuylkillThe woman was taken to Lankenau Medical Center
A 911 caller alerted rescuers that a car was in the river at 9:08 a.m
Two Lower Merion police officers and a Union Fire Company firefighter were first on the scene and pulled the woman from the car
An investigation into the incident is ongoing
The police officers and firefighter were also taken to Lankenau for evaluation and were released Tuesday afternoon
Several cars have had to be pulled from the Schuylkill this fall
2024 at 10:10 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The Ford Explorer above was involved in a Jan
(Lower Merion Police Department)BALA CYNWYD
PA — Police in Lower Merion are seeking to solve a hit and run from early 2023 that they said led to significant property damage
smashed into a building on 200 Monument Road in Bala Cynwyd
contact the Lower Merion Traffic Safety Unit at 610-645-6260
2024 at 8:38 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Firefighters removed the vehicle's roof and doors to rescue the occupants
who suffered non-life-threatening injuries
PA — Two people were rescued from a crashed vehicle in Bala Cynwyd Thursday night
The Belmont Hills and Penn Wynne Fire companies were called to 5 Montgomery Ave
emergency responders found a crashed Maserati with two people entrapped in the vehicle
According to Action News, the vehicle got wedged between a dry cleaner and an entrance ramp.
Firefighters removed the vehicle's roof and doors to rescue the occupants
The scene was clear in about an hour's time
according to the Belmont Hills Fire Company
2024 at 4:46 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A 77-year-old woman died after she was rescued from a vehicle that crashed into the Schuylkill River Tuesday morning (Pete Gains)BALA CYNWYD
PA — The woman involved in a car crash into the Schuylkill River Tuesday morning in Bala Cynwyd has died
Lower Merion Township authorities Tuesday afternoon
First responders were called to 601 Righters Ferry Road at about 9:08 a.m
Two Lower Merion Police officers and a firefighter from the Union Fire Company were the first to arrive
Those three pulled a 77-year-old woman from the car
The woman was taken to Lankenau Medical Center by Narberth Ambulance crews
She was listed in critical condition before dying later in the day
The officers and firefighter were also taken to Lankenau evaluation
There is no word yet on what caused the crash
Jonathan Deutsch
Hymie’s in Bala Cynwyd has everything you want in an old-school Jewish deli. If you grew up Jewish, it brings back the nostalgic smells and flavors of your grandmother’s kitchen, and if you didn’t, you’ll feel like you did by the time lunch is over. Like a beloved grandmother from any culture, Hymie’s will feed you way too much and then insist you take more with you from the gauntlet of oversized desserts on the way to the cash register.
Ardmore
Ripplewood in Ardmore is one of the best gastropubs in the Philly area
Japanese
Steaks
Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardA Bala Cynwyd woman got a fake letter notifying her she’d have to house migrants under a nonexistent Biden-Harris program‘Congratulations’ the fake letter reads
‘you have been selected as a Wayward Steward exchange home for homeless immigrants and victims of foreign wars.’
A Bala Cynwyd voter got a detailed letter this week from the made-up Pennsylvania Congressional Office of Immigration Affairs notifying her that her household had been selected to house five migrant refugees
“I’m concerned to find out how many people might have actually gotten it and to make sure the record’s set straight so people aren’t getting fearful or angry and deciding to vote another way,” Elizabeth Bennett
The letter says Bennett was selected as a “wayward steward” as part of “US5Ca12-B ..
written into Law by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.” No such law exists
It advised Bennett she’d been selected based on property and income records and would receive an $80 weekly stipend for food costs
The letter suggested a “minimum of one bedroom be prepared with a minimum of 5 beds,” with a link to “government-approved” bunk beds
The return address listed is for an intersection in front of the Capitol building in Harrisburg
Neither the governor’s office nor the department of state immediately returned a request for comment
She has a large Harris/Walz sign in her front yard
she’s also done volunteer resettlement work with immigrants for the last 30 years but she assumes that was just a coincidence
“Of all the people they could send this to
we gotta take care of these people,’” she said
she realized the program was fake and intended to scare people
even for me reading this letter it felt threatening even though I’m very pro-immigrant because it felt like something that was being imposed on me,” she said
It’s unclear if other Pennsylvanians received the letter
Bennett posted about it in small Facebook groups but hasn’t heard from others who received it
But whoever created the letter took time to make it look like an official document
including an imprint of a fake Pennsylvania seal on the letterhead and a stamped date informing Bennett when to expect the migrants
goes to a voicemail for the named office where a messaging service invites the caller to press one for housing vouchers
and three to “expand your footprint to help more people.”
The letter Bennett received went on to specify garages or sheds without electricity and running water could not be used
“Thank you for your dedication to the health and safety of these future Americans!” it concluded
The federal Office of Refugee Resettlement does invite people to be part of a government hosting program but participation is entirely optional
Philadelphia) is an immigration attorney who called the letter “a betrayal of the actual spirit of our country.”
“It’s definitely designed to make people think that there’s a broader government program to resettle refugees and my guess is that the intention is to stir up fear of immigrants and refugees,” he said
“That’s reprehensible It’s a betrayal of the actual spirit of our country of being a welcoming beacon to people who are seeking freedom.”
Hohenstein is cosponsoring a bill to establish an Office of New Pennsylvanians
which would help provide support services for refugee businesses and migrants fleeing persecution in Pennsylvania
“This would provide help to people who need it,” he said
Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardA 61-year-old woman in a wheelchair who was killed in a hit-and-run has been identifiedJamal McCullough
has been charged in the November hit-and-run and turned himself in to Lower Merion police
A Philadelphia man has been charged in her death
Tracy E. Cary was killed when Jamal McCullough, 37, allegedly struck her with a Toyota Camry on City Avenue, south of Conshohocken State Road
Cary was homeless at the time of the incident but was a former Philadelphia resident
McCullough faces several charges in the hit-and-run
including causing an accident involving death and tampering with evidence
He surrendered to Lower Merion police on Monday
McCullough allegedly was driving southbound on City Avenue on his way to work at Waste Management of Delaware Valley when he struck Cary at approximately 2:07 a.m
shielding her from traffic with his parked car
according to the Lower Merion Township Police Department
Cary was transported by ambulance to Lankenau Medical Center
» READ MORE: 61-year-old woman in wheelchair killed by hit-and-run driver on City Avenue
Surveillance video allegedly shows McCullough returning to the collision scene minutes afterward
pacing back and forth “within feet” of Cary for about three minutes
reporting that McCullough had informed his supervisor he was involved in a car crash with an older woman after it was reported on the news
Lower Merion police officers met McCullough at his job
McCullough allegedly informed the officers that he had hired an attorney and would not be able to speak about the incident
Some of McCullough’s coworkers told police that he had confessed to them about the incident
but that he said he believed he hit an empty wheelchair in the road
which is why he did not immediately stop his car
Other surveillance footage allegedly showed McCullough inspecting the damage to the front of his car shortly after the crash
Lower Merion police officers recovered McCullough’s Camry with the assistance of his attorney
Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardLower Merion led racial equity efforts in the ′90s
But its achievement gap has only widened.Lower Merion spends more per student than almost any other district in Pennsylvania
but Black parents say it’s not delivering the same caliber of education for all children
Yet those gaps between Black students and their peers persist — and have only widened since the district committed to closing them
Black students in third through eighth grades trailed white students by 28.4 percentage points in English language arts standardized tests
the difference in English scores had grown to 33.4 points
Administrators who presented the latest test results in December said they were well aware of the problem
“We know people are asking us questions about it
Lower Merion is not an anomaly; other suburban districts with similar shares of Black students — 9% of Lower Merion’s students are Black — have also seen their gaps widen
according to an Inquirer review of historical test data
But its response has alarmed and frustrated Lower Merion’s Black parents, who say even though the district spends more on its programs than almost any other school system in the state
it is not delivering the same caliber of education for all children
Some fault racism and teachers who are not culturally competent or who maintain low standards for their children
Others see an unwillingness to make wholesale changes that could upset white parents
who they feel are prioritized by the district
who has one child in the district and another who recently graduated
is among those parents questioning the sincerity of Lower Merion’s efforts
She sees a disconnect between the district’s public statements and how it interacts with Black parents — failing to connect the dots
between individual test scores and a systemic problem
“At what point do they stop and look at how effective their approach is
After progress was made in the 1970s and ’80s
efforts to shrink the Black-white achievement gap have stalled across the country
The gap has not changed much in the last few decades
a professor at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Education
The segregation of Black students in high-poverty schools and socioeconomic differences between Black and white families have traditionally driven the divide
though “the places with the largest Black-white gaps tend to be small
as other communities with significant gaps
Lower Merion officials did not address why they think the district’s achievement gap has widened over the years
but noted the gap “exists in nearly every school district in the nation.”
which is majority Black but was also an early leader in school racial equity efforts
the Black-white achievement gap is 34.8 points in English and 42.8 points in math
Lower Merion’s efforts in addressing racial disparities date back to at least 1997
when a group of Black parents raised concerns
Among their complaints: Black students were disciplined more often than white students
were overidentified as needing special education
and were underrepresented in gifted classes
The district that year formed the Committee to Address Race in Education (CARE)
which continues meeting monthly with teachers
Lower Merion has also sought to make its curriculum more culturally relevant
with all resources reviewed “to ensure they include diverse voices
perspectives and representation,” the district said
It also said professional development is “ongoing
with all staff receiving specific training in cultural proficiency.”
while 90% were white — staff make assumptions about Black children and “don’t even know they’re doing it,” said Heller
Heller said she had worked with a child who was recruited by the Haverford School; that school’s testing revealed he had a 130 IQ
who said Lower Merion had never recognized he was gifted
“They look at the kids who are bright as unusual,” Heller said
who is Black and graduated from Lower Merion in 1995
recalled how his mother had to battle to get him into honors English
it’s ‘a challenge.’ For Black students … it’s
based on recent experience working in the district and as a current district parent
“That’s a lot of the way the biases creep in
There are additional struggles for Black students in the minority in an advanced class
It’s intimidating to participate if you’re afraid not just of being wrong
but also that “your being wrong goes to invalidate your presence as a Black student,” Wilson said
Students may feel it’s safer to be quiet — a “psychologically corrosive” situation
who worked as an instructional aide at Harriton High School before leaving in 2022
said some Black students in the school’s International Baccalaureate program told him they felt isolated
having encountered “all of my most visceral experiences” with racism while in Lower Merion schools
Wilson’s oldest did not attend elementary school in the district
when he had already developed self-confidence
His son graduated with a full ride to Howard University
stopped wanting to go to school in second grade
she told Wilson why: She was uncomfortable around a white student who had been repeatedly touching her hair
Wilson’s daughter told him she didn’t want to tell her teacher
who believed his daughter’s instincts were probably right
When Wilson informed the teacher — and said it was problematic that his daughter was afraid of speaking up — she did not acknowledge that concern
she moved his daughter to a different table
In a report submitted to Lower Merion school officials in September, the Main Line NAACP noted one-third of Black high schoolers
had individualized education plans for special education; about 20% of Lower Merion students districtwide receive special education
while representing only 9% of district enrollment
account for 30% of its disciplinary actions
25% of Black high school students in the district were enrolled in Advanced Placement courses
said there is a link between disproportionate placement and other outcomes
Black students in special education are more likely to be disciplined
Special education is “this door where we go in and don’t come out,” said Carter, whose three children attended district schools. A federal judge dismissed the lawsuit in 2011
ruling there was no evidence of discrimination
Some parents then brought individual complaints against the district
» READ MORE: Conservative parent group accuses Lower Merion of discrimination because of its ‘affinity groups’
Disparities like those reported by the NAACP can reflect how a district’s equity mission is “disconnected from the practices that are actually happening and everyday social interactions people have in the context of the school,” said John Diamond
a sociology and education policy professor at Brown University
who wrote Despite the Best Intentions: How Inequality Thrives in Good Schools
Diamond said how districts track students into higher-level classes and administer discipline “can reproduce inequalities people aren’t even conscious of.”
Among local districts with similar achievement gaps
a spokesperson for the Colonial School District called its gap “concerning” and said the district offers interventions including small group instruction
North Penn Superintendent Todd Bauer said that while his district’s gap was historically smaller than the state average
“we must ask ourselves ‘why’ and work to ensure that all students achieve at their highest potential.”
Diamond said districts should be analyzing practices like how course placements are decided
or tests with outcomes correlated with race and class?” he said
» READ MORE: Black and Hispanic students in Philly suburbs are disciplined more harshly than white peers, underrepresented in AP classes, report finds
Even though Lower Merion teachers recommend whether students should take higher-level courses
district officials said any student can enroll
as long as the prerequisite courses have been completed
They also said there are opportunities for students to take more-advanced math classes
even if they do not initially place into them
The percentage of Black students in high school honors classes has been growing since 2020
It also pointed to standardized test data showing that Black students last year scored above or well above for growth in most subjects
district officials said they follow a student code “that emphasizes uniformity
pair discipline with a “restorative approach.”
Officials also said CARE and other committees provide a forum for students and parents to voice where improvements are needed
said CARE’s focus “had evolved into more of a conversation along belonging … vs
‘Here’s our plan’” for fixing the achievement gap
“The moment you identify an issue of whiteness, that represents a fundamental threat,” Wilson said. He said the debate and subsequent demands for antisemitism training spoke to the “sense of ownership white parents
who moved to Lower Merion from Los Angeles in 2011
said she had high hopes for her two daughters
But despite monitoring their grades and attending parent-teacher conferences
she felt she didn’t know how well they were faring
that a teacher shared concerns about her older daughter’s writing
Now that her youngest daughter is a senior
“I can’t say this was a great move for my family,” James said
She doesn’t think the district is operating with urgency when it comes to improving Black students’ achievement
“The wool is pulled over people’s eyes,” she said
“They trust and believe in a system that’s not working for them.”
Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardWhat stores are open on Christmas in Philadelphia
Here’s what you need to knowNeed to grab last-minute essentials on Christmas Day
Here's a quick guide to stores in Philadelphia that are open
You’re all set to relax on Christmas morning when it hits you — you forgot something crucial
Maybe it’s an ingredient for the holiday meal or that last-minute gift for Aunt Sally
it helps to know which stores are open and which ones are taking the day off
Here’s a quick guide to stores and grocery options for Christmas Day
Some grocery stores will open with limited hours on Christmas Day
These stores will not open their doors on Christmas
If you’re looking for a bottle of wine or a last-minute gift
Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores are closed on Christmas Day
but you can stop by on Christmas Eve during modified hours — they’ll close by 6 p.m
CVS: Most locations open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Check your store hours to be safe at cvs.com/store-locator/landing
Walgreens: Open, but hours have not been announced — check your local store at walgreens.com/storelocator
You won’t be able to shop at these big-box or specialty retailers on Christmas:
Call ahead: While these hours are accurate at the time of publication
it’s always a good idea to check with your local store to confirm
Plan for crowds: Stores open on Christmas tend to get busy
Whether you’re grabbing essentials or finishing up last-minute holiday prep
knowing where to go can save you from the frustration of closed doors.