2025 at 9:57 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Ardmore and Penn Wynne that were featured on the list from Niche PA — Two neighborhoods in Lower Merion Township have been ranked among the best places to live in the United States the ranking from the data-driven platform Niche helps everyone from young people just starting their careers or families to retirees decide where they want to live The report analyzes places of various sizes including cities with populations of 100,000 or more it was Ardmore and Penn Wynne that were featured on the list Ardmore was ranked 11th overall, while Penn Wynne was just behind at No. 13. the media home value in Ardmore is $446,300 "Living in Ardmore offers residents an urban suburban mix feel and most residents own their homes," Niche wrote Many young professionals live in Ardmore and residents tend to be liberal." "Many retirees live in Penn Wynne and residents tend to have moderate political views." Niche noted the public schools in Ardmore and Penn Wynne are highly rated The rankings are based on a wide range of public data sources and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention combined with millions of resident reviews Niche said it analyzed thousands of communities to compile this year’s ranking. Community attributes considered in developing the list included the health of the local housing market, neighborhood diversity, area public schools and walkability, among others. (More on methodology.) the five best places to live in the United States are: Colonial Village See the full list of the best places to live in America online here. Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Rabbi Moshe Brennan of Chabad of Penn Wynne aimed to bring joy and happiness to the community following Tisha B’Av He did so through Shabbat Nachamu — a Shabbat of comfort — including a dinner on Aug followed by musical performances that evening Tisha B’Av is a time of mourning and fasting to commemorate disasters in Jewish history It is tradition to follow the holiday with a more upbeat celebration “Even though we have to remember the negative times — it’s a time of mourning — that’s not the state that we want to stay in and an hour-long Shabbat prayer service with “a lot of singing a lot of joy” preceded the community dinner About 80 congregants and family members shared in the festivities “It’s a really nice family-friendly Shabbat dinner that we had,” Brennan said “I wasn’t even the last one to leave; everyone just comes and they want to stay and hang out In-house Shabbat dinner is a years-long tradition for Chabad of Penn Wynne where Brennan has been the rabbi for 12 years This Shabbat dinner was open to anyone: “It really creates a very positive sense of community.” Brennan said he left the shul around 11:30 p.m. and others stayed until midnight “enjoying the weekend.” attendees ate at a free community luncheon “We had good food and words to keep everyone inspired so it’s enjoyable and inspirational,” Brennan said The night was filled with musical performances The nearly 50 attendees ordered from a mixology bar and noshed on a light Melavah Malka — the fourth meal of the day as the event was “more of an adult thing that rounded out the weekend.” Brennan said organizing and hosting these types of events is something he enjoys doing as he knows he is making a positive difference in others’ lives Shabbat’s the time to kind of dial that all back spend time with family and friends and enjoy yourself,” Brennan said “Take a break from life as we know it to enjoy ourselves for a day before we jump back into the chaos and crazy of the week.” He said Chabad of Penn Wynne staff aim to host a Shabbat dinner once a month or once every six weeks because community members enjoy it so much Brennan said he tries to create a “very friendly homey” atmosphere where people can converse in a laidback manner and connect with new and old friends He has gotten positive feedback from congregants including a note that read: “Thank you so much We really enjoyed the evening and you have a real gift of hospitality.” Some new congregants use these social gatherings as their entry points into the community Brennan said he recognized lots of familiar faces as well with some more familiar than others: “That’s how we grow.” “This is indicative of what our organization is: welcoming to all regardless of their religious affiliation,” Brennan said “You don’t need to be anything; you don’t need to know anything It’s for people looking for a positive Jewish nonjudgmental experience where they don’t need to have any background knowledge; just want to be able to give it a shot; try it out [email protected] and website in this browser for the next time I comment Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application Beloved husband and wife on earth for 70 years and Mary (nee Wilson) Jenkins and Angela was the beloved daughter of Leonard and Mildred (nee DeFeo) DeSantis They are survived by their adoring children Mary Beth Timby (David) and Jennifer Jenkins-Ertel (Robert); 12 grandchildren They were predeceased by their son David Jenkins Jr David and Angela were the proprietors of The Rosin Box for 41 years on Sansom St It was a dance store and they were a respected and loved part of the dance community in Philadelphia This community was a huge part of the Jenkins family as well and they will always be remembered and honored through all the lives they have touched through the years throughout Philadelphia and surrounding communities Relatives and friends are invited to David and Angela’s visitation on Thursday 2025 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM at Presentation BVM PA followed by their funeral mass at 10:00 AM Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardThese 3 Philly-area towns are officially among the best places to live in the U.S.A new national ranking says they’ve got it all — and yes one’s being called the “Fishtown of the Main Line.” Three Philly suburbs just landed among the best places to live in America — and they’re no strangers to the spotlight Chesterbrook (No. 3), Ardmore (No. 11), and Penn Wynne (No. 13) all cracked the top 15 in Niche’s latest rankings of the Best Places to Live in America That’s not just the best in the state — that’s best in the country and real people who live in these communities It aims to capture the full picture of what makes a place livable — from housing and schools to safety and access to amenities All three Philly-area towns earned an A+ overall grade and rave reviews for being great places to raise a family — but each has its own flavor Chesterbrook, a Chester County community of just over 5,400 people, continues to rack up wins. It topped Niche’s national “Best Places to Live in America” list in 2023 1 spot on the site’s “Best Suburbs to Live in America” list and easy access to Valley Forge National Historical Park it’s long been a favorite for families and retirees It might not have the flash of other top-ranked spots but that’s kind of the appeal — it’s low-key and consistently delivers on the things that matter most to families: strong schools What do you get when you combine small-business charm and a thriving walkable downtown with a SEPTA stop That’s how some locals — and Inquirer food reporter Jenn Ladd — describe Ardmore these days with development booming around Suburban Square and Lancaster Avenue As The Inquirer has reported Ardmore stands out on the Main Line for its variety fully accessible SEPTA station is in the works Just a few minutes away — and also in Lower Merion Township — Penn Wynne ranked No. 13 on Niche’s 2025 list of Best Places to Live in America, and even higher on a key sublist: No. 3 in the country for Best Places to Raise a Family Niche described it as offering “an urban suburban mix feel” with “a lot of bars and parks.” The area earned top marks for public schools but it’s beloved — and for plenty of Philly-area families The Main Line suburbs of Philadelphia are known as one of the area’s most wealthy and vibrant suburbs So it’s not much of a surprise that communities along the Main Line are some of the most sought out places to live in our area it’s not every day that communities right here in the Philadelphia area are named to a list honoring The Best Places to Live in the entire country this year it’s actually a bit of a step back for one of our favorite communities in the area the tiny community nestled in between Valley Forge and the Berwyn area (right outside of King of Prussia) has taken home the top honor on the Niche.com list for several years in a row For the 2025 edition of the list, however, it slipped back to third place Here's footage of the victory in 2023 via CBS Philadelphia: It got beat out by Colonial Village in Arlington READ MORE: "Stay Home!" Looking Back at the Most Terrifying Headlines from March 2020 Chesterbook still gets an overall A+ grade from Niche.com for public schools That’s the kind of criteria that this list takes into consideration, by the way. Niche.com says its home to over 140 million reviews and ratings designed to connect students and families with the right schools The weather, however, seemed to be Chesterbook’s biggest detractor in the grades for which it only got a C+. The Philadelphia region was VERY well represented on the total list put out by Niche.com earlier this week which is also located near Philly’s Main Line came in at #11 on the Best Places to Live in America list You can walk to most stores in the area and at a reasonable distance,” the description reads in part READ MORE: King of Prussia Mall Named Best in USA It’s described as a “very safe and pretty neighborhood” with a “good elementary school,” but Niche.com noted it’s a long walk to restaurants and shopping areas You know that Penn Wynne is more of a driving suburb Gallery Credit: Joe, 94.5 PST Three communities in the Philly suburbs have made this year's list.\nRead More The Main Line suburbs of Philadelphia are known as one of the area’s most wealthy and vibrant suburbs For the 2025 edition of the list, however, it slipped back to third place READ MORE: "Stay Home!" Looking Back at the Most Terrifying Headlines from March 2020 Chesterbook still gets an overall A+ grade from Niche.com for public schools That’s the kind of criteria that this list takes into consideration, by the way. Niche.com says its home to over 140 million reviews and ratings designed to connect students and families with the right schools The weather, however, seemed to be Chesterbook’s biggest detractor in the grades for which it only got a C+. The Philadelphia region was VERY well represented on the total list put out by Niche.com earlier this week READ MORE: King of Prussia Mall Named Best in USA Search Home » Blog It all started with one front yard lemonade stand.  ALSF Founder Alex Scott had a big idea: to host lemonade stands to help other kids just like her feel better her lemonade stand raised $1 million for childhood cancer research The last stand that Alex would attend was held at her elementary school, Penn Wynne Elementary School in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania.  Penn Wynne still hosts Alex’s “Original” Lemonade Stand on a Saturday in early June. Each year, Alex's "Original" kicks off Lemonade Days – a full week of supporter lemonade stands hosted in front yards businesses and in communities all across the country We spoke with Alex’s parents about the early days of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation and how Alex’s “Original” got its start What are the origins of Alex’s big idea for a lemonade stand What did Alex want you to do with the money I knew then that she was right; this was not about finding a cure for her It was about truly making a difference for all kids with cancer It was incredible how people answered Alex’s call to action. Alex was on the Today show and so many other news outlets. They were contacting us and telling us they were going to hold a lemonade stand. On the same day as her last stand, there were stands all across the country and donations flooded in. She was able to reach her goal by mid-July 2004 (with big help from Volvo who took her over her goal with a big donation) She passed away just 2 weeks later on August 1st — and I am so grateful that her final goal was met that she was able to see the incredible support I like to think that she knew it would continue without her until the day when all children with cancer are cured Alex's “Original” Stand is held at Penn Wynne Elementary School Why is the school so important to the Foundation What is the energy like at Alex’s “Original” Lemonade Stand Everyone wants their child to be successful in life We see it when we read the amazing scientific breakthroughs that our grants are making possible We feel it when families tell us how ALSF helped them get to treatment Alex’s “Original” is a celebration of where we came from and where we will go Get the inside track on childhood cancer research breakthroughs “Alex’s Lemonade Stand” is a registered service mark of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation 2024 at 12:10 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A Pennsylvania State Police helicopter will be hovering over Wynnewood and Penn Wynne Wednesday afternoon and Lower Merion Police said there is no cause for concern (Amy Lutz/Shutterstock)WYNNEWOOD-PENN WYNNE PA — Lower Merion-area residents who see a helicopter over the region Wednesday afternoon should not be alarmed Lower Merion Police will be visiting some campers at Kaiserman JCC in Wynnewood Wednesday Pennsylvania State Police are expected to circle the Wynnewood and Penn Wynne area in their helicopter between 1 p.m but we thank our friends and neighbors in advance for your understanding and for helping to ensure a special afternoon for some deserving children," police said on social media The aircraft will be hovering around the area Lower Merion Police and local fire companies will also have apparatus in the area of the JCC 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 Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. 2023 at 9:35 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A house fire broke out at about 9:40 p.m (Merion Fire Company of Ardmore)PENN WYNNE PA — Lower Merion firefighters battled a house fire Thursday night in the Penn Wynne section of the township According to the Merion Fire Company of Ardmore crews were called to 220 Rock Glen Road in Penn Wynne for a working house fire at about 9:40 p.m Firefighters attacked the fire aggressively to battle the heavy fire The fire was under control in about 40 minutes and the Fire Marshal's office is investigating the blaze 2022 at 10:51 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Niche gave Penn Wynne and Ardmore A+ grades in its 2022 rankings PA — There is much to love about Lower Merion two of its neighborhoods are in the top 10 best places to live in the Philadelphia area Niche creates its annual Best Places to Live rankings using data from the U.S It also considers factors like affordability >>>RELATED: Ardmore Among The Most Walkable Suburbs: Philly Magazine<<< In its 2022 rankings of the best places to live in the Philadelphia area Niche gave Penn Wynne an overall grade of A+ Penn Wynne's grade includes A+ ranks in public schools and family living with A+ ranks in public schools and family living See the top 15 best places to live in the Philadelphia are from Niche here. The cause of the fire is under investigation Neighbors told local media that fireworks were being set off in the neighborhood just before the fire A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to help DeMuynck's family. Go here to donate Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardVolunteer Montco firefighter dies in blaze the day before he was set to return home to CanadaThe cause of Penn Wynne-Overbrook Hills volunteer firefighter Sean DeMuynck's death remains under investigation Nobody can say what made volunteer firefighter Sean DeMuynck respond to one last call with the Penn Wynne-Overbrook Hills Fire Company on Sunday night just before he and his wife were set to move back to their homeland of Canada on Monday morning it’s what we do,” said company Fire Chief Ted Schmid The Lakeshore Canadiens are deeply saddened by the loss of former assistant coach Sean DeMuynck. Thoughts and prayers to Sean's family and friends. pic.twitter.com/rphw8SgXKX Sunday he became trapped while fighting a house fire in Wynnewood but he was later pronounced dead at Lankenau Medical Center Their voices cracked and they fought to hold back tears as Schmid and Chas McGarvey chief fire officer and fire marshal for Lower Merion Township spoke at a news conference outside of the Penn Wynne Fire Company headquarters Monday afternoon “We lost a true hero last night,” McGarvey said “We as firefighters know the danger we face but somehow you never think one of your guys is going to pay the ultimate sacrifice Penn Wynne-Overbrook Hills Fire Company responded to a house fire on Rosedale Road in Wynnewood at 10:34 p.m Sunday and found heavy smoke and fire at the scene DeMuynck was among a crew of firefighters who went to the third floor in an attempt to extinguish the flames “We’re not quite sure yet what occurred with firefighter DeMuynck He was with two other firefighters at the time; they got out and crews went inside the house to rescue DeMuynck who was found unresponsive on the third floor He was taken by ambulance to Lankenau Medical Center at 11:30 p.m and was pronounced dead there at 12:22 a.m The cause of DeMuynck’s death is not yet known McGarvey declined to comment on what caused the fire including whether fireworks that may have been set off on the street could have a played a role in the blaze The case remains under investigation by the Lower Merion Fire Marshal’s Office the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office which typically investigates line of duty deaths Schmid said DeMuynck was an avid hockey player in Canada and worked with his brother in Toronto before accompanying his wife to the area while she was here on a work visa He began serving with the Penn Wynne-Overbrook Hills Fire Company in August 2019 and earned numerous certifications in firefighting and technical rescues and fell in love with firefighting,” Schmid said DeMuynck was “your classic all-around good guy” who was at the firehouse almost every day and put his handyman skills to work there DeMuynck even planned to pursue firefighting when he returned home to Canada Video from neighbors of the fire in Wynnewood @LowerMerionTwp that took the life of a volunteer firefighter @NBCPhiladelphia pic.twitter.com/BaoFvEgu5S was only 4 years old when she decided to hold a lemonade stand to raise money for "her hospital," so doctors could help other kids like they'd helped her Alex held her first stand in 2000 and continued to hold lemonade stands each year inspiring support from her community and across the nation Although sadly Alex passed away at the age of 8 she knew she had reached the ambitious goal of raising $1 million for childhood cancer research I am carrying on Alex's inspiring legacy by raising money to fight childhood cancer and participating in the Virtual End Childhood Cancer Walk/Run in Philadelphia our small contributions can make a big impact To donate by check, please print and mail this form Donations to this page will support the COVID-19 Fund Where The Money Goes | Meet Alex | Childhood Cancer Facts | Get Involved Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer This Is Lower Merion And Narberth Penn Wynne Commissioner At Odds With School District Chair Rick Churchill (Penn Wynne); have been having a disagreement about expansion plans at Penn Wynne Elementary School The two officials’ disagreement has spilled out recently in publicly shared letters Click here to read Rick Churchill’s entire letter to the Lower Merioin School board Penn Wynne Civic Association letter to residents about latest School District Plans Click here to read School Board President Melissa Gilbert’s full reply to Commissioner Rick Churchill Melissa Gilbert email to “Friends,” re: Rick Churchill and Penn Wynne Civic Association 2022 at 1:18 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}See polling locations in Lower Merion and Narberth here PA — Residents will cast their ballots for Pennsylvania governor Congress and local legislative races in the Nov 8 general election in Lower Merion Township and Narberth Borough If you are unsure about your polling place, you can use the polling place locator Below are Lower Merion Township polling places: 2013 at 12:45 pm ETThe following information comes from Lower Merion School District Lower Merion School District welcomed 51 new teachers for the 2013-14 school year All new staff participated in a variety of orientation activities last week during the District’s annual New Teacher Assistance Program (NTAP) The week began with a welcome from Superintendent Christopher McGinley and included a workshop on educational leadership and classroom strategies with nationally-acclaimed teacher coach Dr presentations on curriculum by LMSD educational services staff a health services presentation and  discussion about strategies for supporting students’ holistic needs a student services presentation on supporting students with special needs Barbara Moore Williams and an introduction to District technology resources and procedures New teachers also had an opportunity to meet leaders of community organizations that support and partner with the District  This year’s diverse group of new teachers come from as far away as California and as close as Lower Merion Township while others bring many years of experience All will officially begin their LMSD teaching careers when students return to class on Tuesday Front row: Allison Gilboy (Cynwyd); Erin Hawkins (Penn Valley); Erin Carrington (Cynwyd); Maureen AuBuchon (Gladwyne); Cindy Murray (Penn Wynne); Melissa Capuano (Penn Wynne) Middle row: Nancy Donato (Belmont Hills); Christopher Landi (Cynwyd/Gladwyne); Marita Needles (Welsh Valley); Amy Zawislak (Gladwyne); Karen Cummings (Penn Wynne) Back row: Albert Ryan (Cynwyd); Kathleen Mascaro (Belmont Hills); Jenna Beaver (Belmont Hills); Nicholas Bell (Penn Valley); Zachary Seitz (Penn Wynne); Matthew Reed (Penn Wynne); Marlea Wright (Gladwyne) Front row: Katie Weber (Welsh Valley); Deborah Strnad (Bala Cynwyd); Rachelle Deitch (Bala Cynwyd); Frances Weaver (Welsh Valley); Jacqueline Cassidy (Welsh Valley); Shameeka Browne (Bala Cynwyd) Back row: Megan Kiczek (Welsh Valley): Go Ozeni (Bala Cynwyd); Natasha Denis (Bala Cynwyd); Kathryn Bromley (Welsh Valley) Front row: Shari Roeder (Harriton/LM); Marita Williams (LM); Taryn Stevens (LM); Jennifer Vallieres (LM); Kerry Connolly (LM); Laura Stiebitz (LM) Back row: Ryan McCloskey (LM); Michael Stoloski (Harriton/LM); Matthew Schwartz (LM); Hanae Nakamura (Harriton); Jo-Ann Montalvo (LM); Veronica Vladimirova-Cambria (Harriton); Ryan Egnaczyk (Harriton); J Penn Wynne Elementary School via Google Maps Parents in the Lower Merion School District want to keep “mega schools” out of their backyards The term means what it sounds like: a really big school… relatively speaking and that influx has led some ill-equipped schools to feel like they’re bursting at the seams One of them is the small Penn Wynne Elementary School in Wynnewood. Penn Wynne currently has about 750 students enrolled, and officials anticipate it will be the home of more than 800 students in 2020 The school board is considering lots of ideas to accommodate the district’s “urgent” capacity needs One of those ideas is to add four to six classrooms and an auxiliary gymnasium at Penn Wynne Some Lower Merion parents are up in arms over the idea, which could cost between $7 million and $10 million A petition against the potential addition has received more than 300 signatures (nearly 200 of which are online the mother of a fifth-grade Penn Wynne student and the parent behind the plea not an expert,” calls the plan a “waste of money.” She argues that the addition would function as “band-aid” that would do little to solve longterm woes stemming from the district’s growth she worries that kids in a “mega school” would “slip through the cracks” – and project construction would eliminate access to the school’s playing field for two years it’s a school board that is planning a short term fix – a $10 million short term fix,” Fenning says “All the data is pointing at the need for a long term plan.” Fenning says she often skips school events because they’re “packed to the gills.” She says she realizes needs at other schools – like some in the Philadelphia School District, which spends roughly half of what Lower Merion does per student – are much more dire she says “a waste of money is a waste of money Fenning and other parents have proposed building a new school altogether – which is something the district is considering The enrollment issue is complicated, and there are many challenges to building a new school – for starters, it’s tricky to find space in a township that’s seen such a surge in development in recent years and some parents say the school board needs to work more closely with township commissioners to do so The district is considering two potential sites for the location of a new school: The Center for Islamic Education located along the 1800 block of Montgomery Avenue in Villanova situated along on Montgomery Avenue in Rosemont are a long way from being deemed suitable for a school said officials are “weighing their options” and that a decision has yet to be made regarding Penn Wynne where four temporary classrooms were installed last year “There are a variety of strategies under consideration,” Young said “I think the board has made it very clear that they’re very receptive to receiving feedback and the feedback that they’ve received has been very valuable.” Parents are weighing in on the issue via the “Lower Merion Politics as Usual” Facebook group One commenter said that “public schools have no choice but to take every kid who comes” and that “the township needs to be more accountable to population increase!” Another commenter said the school board “needs to publish a master plan for handling the increasing enrollment over the next few years.” “Ironically the renovations (that are included in the architectural contract) estimate construction through 2020 which is the cusp of rise in enrollment,” that commenter said [Penn Wynne Elementary School] parents and community deserve answers.” Follow @ClaireSasko on Twitter Get the Most Out of Your Credit Card Rewards 19 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do at the Library The Grammy Awards: A Philadelphia Timeline of Winners and Memorable Moments 2011 at 5:45 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}  Mary Ann Curley, 81, who taught fourth grade for 39 years at , passed away Nov. 9, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported graduated from West Chester State Teachers College (now West Chester University) in 1952 and received a master's degree in education from Temple University "A whip-smart woman with perfect diction and a room-filling presence she despised bad grammar," wrote Inquirer scribe Michael Matza "A Penn Wynne principal once likened her to Mary Poppins." She was also a lifelong member of the Neighborhood Club of Bala Cynwyd "Friends say she was her community's Rock of Gibraltar, civic conscience, and institutional memory," Matza wrote "She was the neighbor who held the spare keys to everyone's house and heart." The district concluded mediation with Counsel Construction and Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland that day, and Monday evening the Board of School Directors approved the settlement Counsel got a contract in 1999 to renovate Penn Wynne Elementary putting up performance bonds with the help of Fidelity and Deposit but the district fired the company "for cause" the following year completing the work with another firm in 2002 The switch in contractors sparked several lawsuits among involved parties before mediation began The district will pay Fidelity and Deposit the $3.75 million "We've been budgeting for this for quite some time "It effectively is the conclusion of the last piece of litigation from all the capital-improvement projects for all the elementary schools." A representative of Zurich in North America the parent company of Fidelity & Deposit did not immediately respond to a request for comment Young said the company sought as much as $14 million from the district the board accepted eight retirements and a resignation and approved 22 hires or rehires The board also agreed to an additional raise and bonus for Superintendent Chris McGinley in 2011-2012 The district's top administrator was already due a 3.4 percent increase in his $208,889 salary from 2010-2011 and to keep his pay market-competitive the board added another 1.3 percent bringing McGinley's 2011-2012 salary to $218,888 With an additional $10,000 bonus to be paid this month McGinley will make $20,000 more this fiscal year than last the board maintained 2011-2012 cafeteria prices throughout the district at 2010-2011 levels: Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardHundreds turn out to honor a Main Line firefighter killed on his last day on the job before returning to Canada“I’ve never seen him as passionate about anything as firefighting,” Sean DeMuynck's wife told the crowd that filled the Lower Merion High School auditorium Sean DeMuynck watched firefighter training videos trying to soak up knowledge as he embraced a new role as a volunteer with the Penn Wynne-Overbrook Fire Company He took pictures of compartments inside his fire station’s trucks memorizing the equipment they contained and their locations He didn’t like to take walks too far from his home in Overbrook And even though he was less than two days from returning to Canada — the end of a two-year stay in Philadelphia for the couple as Richard-Greenblatt pursued a fellowship at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania — DeMuynck answered a final call late last Sunday The 35-year-old became trapped on the third floor and was pronounced dead shortly after “I’ve never seen him as passionate about anything as firefighting,” his wife said Saturday facing hundreds of uniformed men and women and other mourners who filled the Lower Merion High School auditorium to remember DeMuynck’s life and his commitment to a community that wasn’t going to be his permanent home » READ MORE: Sean DeMuynck, a volunteer firefighter who loved being part of a team on the ice and in the firehouse, dies at 35 a line of people wound through the auditorium toward the stage hugging DeMuynck’s family near a table draped with a Lower Merion Fire Department banner and holding a photo of DeMuynck and his wife “Thank you for teaching him everything he wanted to know,” Richard-Greenblatt said “Thank you for being the greatest friends he could ever have.” Before DeMuynck showed up at the station in the summer of 2019 “no one could have imagined how wonderful and generous a person we would have in our lives,” said Ted Schmid DeMuynck dreamed of being a firefighter but had first pursued another passion — hockey He was drafted by a junior team in the Ontario Hockey League and went on to coach he decided he wanted a career in firefighting He was accepted into a top Canadian program But when he saw her interest in the Philadelphia fellowship DeMuynck told his wife that if she got an offer “He believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself,” said Richard-Greenblatt “it felt like we could conquer the world.” DeMuynck didn’t have a work visa but knew he wanted to pursue firefighting He threw himself into his volunteer role with the Penn Wynne-Overbrook Fire Company — advancing through firefighting courses and sharing study guides he’d created with other firefighters “He had a tremendous work ethic,” which inspired others to improve DeMuynck was always ready to help out with projects And he supplied a steady stream of good humor recalled his son’s “infectious laugh and fun-loving nature.” A social person “I can’t tell you how much I loved him,” he said “Know that your son died a true hero,” he said “I remember looking down and seeing Sean’s face,” McGarvey said » READ MORE: Volunteer Montco firefighter dies in blaze the day before he was set to return home to Canada a group of uniformed firefighters rose and went toward the stage taking turns striking a silver bell — five times each four times in a row — in a “four fives” series historically used to notify firefighters of a death Then a “last call” was played — the voice of a dispatcher calling DeMuynck’s name with the time of the Wynnewood fire hundreds of men and women in uniform flanked the road leading from the high school A brigade of bagpipers and drummers led the march down the middle A handful of community members watched from the side who wore a Penn Wynne Fire Station shirt with his name on it who lives in Penn Wynne and has “always loved the fire station,” said DeMuynck always smiled when he visited and sat with him on the back of the fire trucks The turnout for DeMuynck “says a lot about who he was,” said Leo’s mother “It really does affect the whole community.” Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardSean DeMuynck a volunteer firefighter who loved being part of a team on the ice and in the firehouse DeMuynck was fatally injured fighting one last fire in Wynnewood just before he was to return to Canada with his wife A public memorial service will be held Saturday the Penn Wynne-Overbrook Hills Fire Company holds a picnic lunch at the station for firefighters following the local Fourth of July parade But this year the lunch also doubled as a goodbye party for volunteer firefighter Sean DeMuynck who was set to return to his homeland of Canada on July 6 joined the celebration and Chief Ted Schmid presented Mr with a fire company pin and one of the Lower Merion Township department’s original hoseman badges as a tribute to his service “I remember saying to him ‘This isn’t goodbye This is we’ll see you later,’” Schmid said Neither man realized how soon later would come the department received a call for a house fire on Rosedale Road in Wynnewood said her son was at home packing to go back to Canada when the call came in because that’s the kind of guy he is,” she said Mr. DeMuynck died in the line of duty when he became trapped on the third floor of the house where he was found unresponsive by rescue crews Sean went home in a different way a lot sooner,” Schmid said “Knowing that he’s gone now is heartbreaking.” As investigators continue to look into the cause of the fire and await Mr those who knew and loved him remain in shock and mourning “He was just funny and kind and considerate and so handsome and the best son ever,” his mother said and strangers from across the region gathered along a miles-long procession route from the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office to Stretch Funeral Home in Havertown while first responders and civilians held their hands in salute said the tribute to her son was “overwhelming and heartfelt.” “It was just beyond anything I could ever imagine I said to Melissa ‘Sean doesn’t like attention but he’s getting it now,’” his mother said “He never did stuff to try and get attention he was just so good at everything people just wanted to be around him.” “He was the kind of guy everybody loved to be around He would go above and beyond his job description for us and was always willing to lend a hand,” Smith said “He was just a selfless guy who I formed a great friendship with during his time in Windsor It was during his early days with the Frontenacs that Mr who he dated as a teen until life took them on different paths They met again six years ago and were married in March 2019 DeMuynck was working as a manager at an automobile recycling plant when his wife received a two-year fellowship at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania The couple moved to Overbrook in July 2019 who had long dreamed of becoming a firefighter began volunteering with the Penn Wynne-Overbrook Hills Fire Company Though his passion for the ice and firefighting may seem at odds his mother said they both offered one thing he loved — being part of a team DeMuynck not only pushed himself to be better He even built practice tests on the fire company’s server to help future firefighters study for their exams “He went out of his way to train himself to be a better person but also made time to help others train and be better,” Schmid said “He was good for us and we were good for him.” DeMuynck and his wife were just months into their two-year stay in the area when the coronavirus and quarantine hit So the couple devoted themselves to their studies “They’ve had only each other for the last two years through this pandemic and they’ve achieved great things so I think they’re a pretty powerful couple,” Barb DeMuynck said “They both achieved everything they wanted to do and they were both coming home to the next stage of life.” The couple had plans to start a family and Mr DeMuynck was in the second stage of interviews with the Hamilton Fire Department in Ontario DeMuynck is survived by his father and stepmother Carly Jones and Samantha Liska; brother Chris Maillet A public memorial service will be held at 11 a.m The Penn Wynne-Overbrook Hills Fire Company is collecting donations in Mr. DeMuynck’s memory, which will go to his wife. A GoFundMe page has already raised more than $29,000 which should include “Firefighter Sean DeMuynck” in the memo line may be sent to the fire company at 1440 Manoa Rd. 2012 at 5:15 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Ardmore Patch wants you to get to know your first responders They do dangerous work and Patch would like to recognize them Meet this first responder—a second generation firefighter with the Penn Wynne/Overbrook Hills Fire Co.—and look for more first responder profiles in the coming months What do you like most about being a firefighter The comraderie—all the firefighters are pretty much friends here making a difference in the daily lives of the people who call us like showing a kid around the department—I’d often come in like that when I was a kid What do you dislike about being a firefighter We’ve tried figuring out a solution for getting people in the doors and keeping them—that’s a problem affecting not only this house I grew up right here: my dad has been a volunteer firefighter for 35 years What do you want the general public to know about Penn Wynne/Overbrook Hills Fire Company People expect that we’re full time firefighters—but we have regular jobs People can support us by making a donation or by serving as an administration or a board member—they don’t have to be a firefighter 2020 at 10:47 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The Penn Wynne fire station is lit up red in memory of Harold Beck Jr. (Courtesy of the Penn Wynne Fire Company)WYNNEWOOD PA — Penn Wynne-Overbook Hills Fire Company Firefighter Harold Beck Jr died 32 years ago to the day Friday in the 1988 Kiddie City Fire in Ardmore The fire company Friday marked the solemn 32nd anniversary of Beck's death on Oct 1988 at the close of National Fire Prevention Month Beck is the only Penn Wynne-Overbrook Hills firefighter killed in the line of duty died at just 41 when he suffered a heart attack while fighting the nine-alarm fire at Kiddie City in Ardmore Firefighters were called to the store at about 3:20 a.m A passerby reported seeing smoke coming from the Kiddie City building First arriving units were met with heavy black smoke prompting calls for additional fire companies to respond the fire reached nine alarms with 300 firefighters from 11 companies fighting the blaze that had spread beyond Kiddie City and into adjacent buildings The fire was placed under control at 6:42 a.m. however fire company equipment remained on location for days to assist with hotspots Beck was at the Kiddie City fire when he suffered a heart attack Beck was given a Firefighter’s Funeral and has been memorialized with a plaque in the firehouse a longtime firefighter and now Chief of the Penn Wynne-Overbrook Hills Fire Company since 2018 "All of firefighters had fought back the fire and had been able to keep it from engulfing neighboring homes so the mood was jubilant it’s a devastating loss for the firehouse,e and we will never forget it Chief Schmid noted that the company wanted to have a ceremony to remember Beck and say a few words on the anniversary of his death but canceled the event due to safety concerns surrounding the pandemic "We’ll have an event to celebrate him and his life when we can open up the firehouse to the public and share with them how special Harold was and how much of a sacrifice he made." This past Shabbos over seventy people from Chabad of Penn Wynne Pennsylvania spent an uplifting Shabbos – despite the less than perfect weather – at Camp Gan Yisroel in the Poconos Shabbos was a marathon of inspirational services and Farbrengen’s led by Rabbi Lipa Brennan lectures and classes by Scholar-in-Residence Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Ehrenreich Upon arriving Friday guests were treated to swimming The Shabbaton concluded with new friendships being made and for all the participants a deeper awareness of their rich Jewish heritage A commitment to implement some of the many Mitzvos that were spoken about during the Shabbos started right away Sunday morning when a former judge in the NY criminal court system put on Tefillin for the first time in a long time which is directed by Rabbi Moshe and Devorah Brennan has become an attraction to families wishing to be close to a Chabad House and has seen amazing growth with many families moving in within the last year alone The recent growth is credited to all the amenities the community has to offer The Chabad Center is located within the sprawling campus of the Kaiserman JCC enabling them to utilize the many facets of the campus In just a few years the Chabad House has developed from a Shabbos morning Minyan into a cohesive Chabad community individual and group Shiurim as well as Shabbos Minyanim and much more For more information about the Chabad of Penn Wynne community call Rabbi Moshe Brennan at (615) 529-9011 or email moshe@chabadpennwynne.org I visited family a few times and the neighborhood is great Rabbi Brennan is great as is the rest of the community 2022 at 10:53 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Niche gave Narberth an A+ grade in its 2022 rankings it's in the top 10 best places to live in the Philadelphia area Niche gave Narberth an overall grade of A+ 2023 at 9:31 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}(Shutterstock / KOBE611)ARDMORE-MERION-WYNNEWOOD PA — Independence Day is quickly approaching which means it's time to fire up that barbecue and find out what Fourth of July fireworks and festivities are going on in and around Ardmore parades and festivals happening in and around Ardmore and Wynnewood so you can start planning now Here's what's in store this July 4 in and around Ardmore according to recent reportPhiladelphia-area suburb Chesterbrook claimed the top spot Philadelphia-area suburb Chesterbrook claimed the top spot.PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- The Philadelphia suburbs prove that they are a great place to make a life in work and at home Pennsylvania is home to the top cities considered ideal for raising a family according to the national ranking and review firm Niche After crunching the numbers on several factors -- including housing, crime rates, school systems, recreational amenities and diversity -- Philadelphia-area suburb Chesterbrook claimed the top spot Cities in Pennsylvania and Illinois claimed seven of the top ten slots You can read more about the research at Niche.com Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardBeury Building Penn Wynn House among Philly recipients of state historic rehab tax creditThe Philadelphia awards are part of $3 million in credits to preserve historic buildings statewide Pennsylvania officials have awarded $810,000 in tax credits for five historic-rehabilitation projects throughout Philadelphia including $200,000 each for work at the Beury Building on North Broad Street and the Penn Wynne House apartments in West Philadelphia's Wynnefield neighborhood The Philadelphia awards are part of $3 million in credits to preserve historic buildings statewide for the fiscal year ended June 30 "Pennsylvania is proud of the historic buildings that define our unique cities and towns," Wolf said in the release "The economic benefits of historic rehabilitation and the impact of the historic tax credit program go far beyond one building and has the potential to spur reinvestment and revitalization in historic communities across the state." The Beury Building funding will go toward converting the long-blighted historic high-rise at Erie Avenue into apartments a block of which are to be set aside as affordable units The $38.1 million project is being undertaken by socially minded development group Shift Capital A $150,000 credit to help renovate the Mecky Co. building, a former tricycle factory near 17th Street and Allegheny Avenue in the city's Tioga section, as part of a new campus for Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School a private Catholic school for low-income students A $60,000 credit for Civetta Property Group's rehabilitation of the rowhouse building at 257 N in Old City into apartments with ground floor retail The Historic Preservation Tax Credit program is administered by the state Department of Community and Economic Development and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Protesters at today’s rally in support of Penn Wynn residents’ demands About 40 Penn Wynn Manor residents and their supporters in the Philadelphia Tenants Union staged a protest in front of the Centre Square office complex today at noontime to protest the actions of the building’s new owner The remaining residents of the Wynnefield apartment tower who the union is representing in their dispute with Cross say the owners are both giving them too little time to find new living quarters and making it difficult for them to rent suitable new apartments Residents received notices slipped under their doors Jan 17 notifying them that the new owner would not renew their leases A sizable number of the building’s 239 apartments were occupied by disabled veterans and other tenants with special housing needs Some residents did not leave when their leases expired claiming that they could not find suitable replacement housing and that the landlord’s refusal to refund security deposits on the day they move out left them unable to afford the cost of moving One of those who did not move was Karen Harvey a retired social worker who had lived in the building for seven years who lives on Social Security disability payments and we haven’t found suitable housing yet.” is that she can’t find anyone who will rent to her in a decent neighborhood – a problem exacerbated by the two judgments Cross has obtained against her in landlord-tenant court since her lease expired at the beginning of March Without going into detail on the nature of the dispute who Harvey said had let the building deteriorate “There’s mold in every apartment,” she said and the repairs the new owner made to resolve the problem proved ineffective Harvey was one of several residents who contacted the Philadelphia Tenants Union about their dispute in March “They have worked tirelessly on our behalf,” she said and their efforts led her to join the organization and become its secretary The union had gotten Cross to agree to let the remaining tenants stay until June 30 after having set an eviction date of June 1st earlier The group maintains this is still not enough time for them to relocate and are continuing to press to have the deadline extended to Sept “And we’re asking them to refund our security deposits on move-out day” so they can afford to pay their moving costs and to “stop the harassment” of lawsuits The tenants staged a previous protest to call attention to their demands on May 10 on the grounds of the building on Bryn Mawr Avenue According to Office of Property Assessment data purchased the building in November 2016 for $16.35 million The current PTU newsletter states that the “residents…are being evicted so that a big nearby university” — presumably Joseph’s University — “can refurbish the building and rent it out again to richer college students paying a much higher rent and increasing profits for the landlords.” A news release issued by the PTU this morning stated that the protest was targeting Cross Properties Partner and Chief Evangelist Ajay Raju The release mentioned a 2014 Philadelphia magazine profile of Raju and his wife that noted their home was worth $3.1 million and that his shoes cost up to $12,000 a pair Several of the picketers at today’s protest carried signs lampooning Raju’s extravagance and Harvey’s daughter rallied the crowd at one point by saying We’ll move out if we all can move in with you.” Cross Properties officials declined to comment when asked for a response in person Follow Sandy Smith on Twitter Real Estate 2025: The Great Philly Sticker Shock Living in Center City West: A Neighborhood Guide Where to Live If You Love to Shop ’til You Drop November 1, 2021 by The Greenhill Apartment/Condos Were Built In 1964 – After Neighbors Fought Bitterly to Stop The Construction He made a lot of money building apartment houses Marguerite Wood MacCoy was a WASP socialite who owned 22 acres of land along City Line Avenue The Greenhill Condominiums now stand on what once was called The MacCoy Tract the MacCoy Tract was part of a larger parcel of land which became known in 1694 as the Greenhill Tract Members of MacCoy’s family owned the Greenhill Tract It’s highly unlikely that Harry Madway and Marguerite Wood MacCoy would have travelled in the same social circles, but in 1954, somebody must have made a  shidduch. That’s when the two of them struck a deal for Madway to lease the MacCoy Tract from her The whole idea of the lease arrangement was for Madway to build a large highrise apartment complex on the MacCoy Tract The only problem was that the MacCoy Tract wasn’t zoned for the 4-building 490 unit apartment project that Harry and Marguerite envisioned And would you believe it – a bunch of folks in Penn Wynne were not too eager to see this thing get built They “discouraged” the Township Commissioners from changing the zoning  for the benefit of MacCoy and Madway They said “nothing doing” to MacCoy and Madway’s requested zoning change But the following year the commissioners reversed themselves and approved  the zoning change So the coast was clear for the construction of the big apartment complex Development of the MacCoy Tract was stopped cold until 1957 when the Pennsylvania Superior Court ruled that the commissioners’ 1955 rezoning (which allowed for the apartment complex to be built) should stand and Madway couldn’t get financing for his project Madway submitted a plan to the township for his high-rise apartment several commissioners expressed support for the idea of “up-zoning” the MacCoy Tract 11 of the 14 commissioners would have to vote to “up-zone”  the MacCoy Tract back to its pre-1955 status or the change they implemented previously would stand and Madway’s project could move forward and “the up-zoners” could only muster nine votes prospective residents could visit sample apartments at the Green Hill And through the first few months of that year with the help of a robust newspaper advertising campaign The Green Hill quickly filled up with tenants or so (with the exception of periodic mentions in the obituary section) The Green Hill Apartments stayed out of the news the Inquirer reported that Madway Engineering and Constructors had sold the Green Hill Apartments to Green Hill Venture Green Hill Venture posted the required legal advertisement advising the residents of a tenants’ meeting to be held on January 14 Even Before the Court Ruling – A Full-page Ad Promoting the “New” Greenhill Filed Under: History Tagged With: , , , A woman wakes up suddenly in the dead of night She turns on the light and we see her in her bathrobe There are curlers in her hair.  “I need my Kiddush Cup; I need my Kiddush cup now,” she yells The video does not attempt to explain why she […] Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardJohn Thomas Murray the voice of the Lower Merion High School football team for 25 years of complications from a stroke at Fellowship Community Nursing Home in Whitehall Murray had just moved to Whitehall to be near his daughter He left high school to enlist in the Navy in World War II and served in the South Pacific for 16 months aboard the Devosa Murray participated in the invasion of Okinawa in April 1945 He was honorably discharged in May 1946 with the rank of seaman first class Murray completed his education and began a 40-year career as athletic equipment supervisor for the Lower Merion School District He was a member of the Lower Merion High School football coaching staff from 1949 to 1970 Murray then became "the voice of the Aces" for the next 25 years whose legacy and contributions will live on for generations in Lower Merion," said Doug Young director of school and community relations Murray was the author of several articles published in Scholastic Coach magazine and was inducted into the Lower Merion High School Football Hall of Fame in 2007 He was a volunteer for the Penn Wynne-Overbrook Hills Fire Company for 25 years He was a director and past president of the Lower Merion Volunteer Firefighters' Relief Association Murray was a director and past president of the Penn Wynne Civic Association He served as a coach of the Penn Wynne Cub Scout and Colt League baseball teams as well as the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary football teams were longtime members of the Glenhardie Country Club in Wayne Murray is survived by daughters Kathleen Foster and Lynn Dobash; a son Peter; 10 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and a brother Friends may call at the church after 8:30 a.m Donations may be made to Thorncroft Equestrian Center or to the Lower Merion Township Scholarship Fund bcook@phillynews.com 2017 at 12:24 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}What defines a great community access to jobs and an affordable cost of living all play big roles the website has released a rankings report of the best Pennsylvania suburbs to live in for 2017 the Bureau of Labor Statistics and other sources was found to be the best suburb in Pennsylvania It was also ranked as the second best suburb in all of the country Other Pennsylvania communities that made the national list include: Penn Wynne (6th); Devon (10th); Franklin Park (17th); Mount Lebanon Township (43rd); Ardmore (45th); Charlestown Township (51st); Narberth (54th); Upper Uwchlan Township (62nd); and O'Hara Township (78th) Here is the list of the 100 best Pennsylvania suburbs The full list of 2017 Best Suburbs to Live in Pennsylvania can be found on Niche.com. To check out the full national listing, visit Niche. More about the methodology used to create the rankings can also be found on the Niche website. Patch reporter Sherri Lonon contributed to this report Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. The district concluded mediation with Counsel Construction and Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland that day, and Monday evening A representative of Zurich in North America