Peek inside an artfully designed Narberth home | Inquirer Lower Merion
Plus, the township’s first red-light enforcement cameras are here.
Hi, Lower Merion! 👋
Think your home is personal? A Narberth woman has embellished hers with her own artwork, giving it colorful and creative touches. We take a peek inside. Also this week, the township’s first red-light enforcement cameras are here, Saks Fifth Avenue will soon depart its longtime home on City Avenue, plus, these Eshkol dishes impressed Inquirer food critic Craig LaBan.
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When Carla Krash purchased her 1,450-square-foot, two-story Narberth home in 2005, she set out to make it her personal canvas.
A psychotherapist by trade, Krash is also an artist who studied at the Rhode Island School of Design. Thanks to her skills, her home is full of creative touches like a guest bathroom that has blue iridescent glass tiles, and features a pedestal sink made from a salad bowl and wall accents crafted from painted orecchiette pasta.
“I love the richness and mix of the varied materials, both in color and tactility,” she said.
She’s also put her stamp on some of the furniture, including on her dining room sideboard, which is embellished with a repeating pattern of her daughter’s Chinese name made with a stamp gifted to Krash after she adopted her from China.
Inquirer contributor Terri Akman spoke with Krash about her inspiration.
💡 Community News
Red-light enforcement cameras are officially up and running at the intersection of Remington Road and Lancaster Avenue on the Penn Wynne and Wynnewood border. The cameras are part of a pilot program to gauge their effectiveness at curbing traffic violations. The township’s board of commissioners voted unanimously last summer to pass an ordinance for the program. During the initial phase, which runs through June 5, drivers who fail to follow the law will be issued a warning, after which they will receive $100 fines.
This week marks the end of an era as Saks Fifth Avenue shutters its longtime outpost on City Avenue in Bala Cynwyd. Saks’ parent company announced the closure earlier this year as it looks to restructure amid a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. The store is slated to close Saturday.
This past Saturday marked the 35th anniversary of a fatal helicopter and plane collision over Merion Elementary School that killed 52-year-old U.S. Sen. John Heinz, four pilots, and two schoolchildren. In his weekly series on Philadelphia-area history, The Inquirer’s Tommy Rowan looks back on how the tragedy unfolded and the impact it had on many others.
Local sports media personality and former host on 97.5 The Fanatic Mike Missanelli was arrested and charged by Lower Merion police yesterday for simple assault and harassment in connection with a domestic dispute he had with his fiancee in Wynnewood. Missanelli was arraigned yesterday and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on April 22.
Bryn Mawr resident Jane Kim has been named a 2026 recipient of the Pennsylvania Blue Ribbon Champions for Safe Kids Award. The director of client engagement and initiatives for Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center of Montgomery County, Kim has dedicated the last 16 years to the nonprofit that supports kids who have faced child abuse. The award is given annually in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.
The Atlantic recently profiled Lower Merion High School alum Rachel Cruz (née McCormick) and her husband, Irvi Cruz, about their decision to leave the U.S. for Irvi’s native Mexico last year. The painstaking choice came after President Donald Trump was reelected in 2024, with the family opting to leave before Irvi, who is undocumented, could be deported. Rachel is one of nearly 4.2 million American citizens and permanent residents with an undocumented spouse, and their daughters are among the country’s 6.3 million children with an undocumented parent, according to the Migration Policy Institute.
The township is hosting a cleanup weekend this Saturday and Sunday when residents can dispose of unwanted goods at the Lower Merion Public Works Complex. The site will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. There’s a $20 charge to participate.
As part of a regular analysis of healthcare institutions, The Inquirer recently looked at Bryn Mawr Hospital’s records with the Pennsylvania Department of Health during the 12-month period ending in January, and found the hospital had no citations during that timeframe.
A man who broke into two Lower Merion homes in October 2023 has been sentenced to 20 to 48 months in prison after pleading guilty to two felony charges. Miguel Angel Guzman-Pardo, 45, will be remanded to a state correctional institution and then be deported to his native Chile. Guzman-Pardo claimed he was smuggled into the country by kidnappers with the intention of burglarizing homes. (The Mercury)
🏫 Schools Briefing
Some Lower Merion families who used college and career readiness platform Naviance in the last five years could be eligible for part of a $17.25 million settlement over data privacy. The district said some families had been notified about the settlement over the weekend, which could be divided by as many as 10 million families across the U.S.
The district is hosting a virtual college and career readiness planning session tonight at 7 p.m. for eighth-grade families. Tomorrow is Belmont Hills’ talent show and silent auction. There are school board committee meetings Monday, and on Wednesday, Cynwyd and Merion Elementary Schools will host their third-grade music concerts. See the district’s full calendar here.
Penn Valley Elementary is hosting its Blue and White Party on Saturday at 6 p.m. The event at Main Line Reform Temple in Wynnewood includes heavy hors d’oeuvres and an auction.
The Lower Merion Liberty scored its first Flyers Cup Championship last month, defeating Avon Grove 3-1. The girls club hockey team is made up of players from Harriton and Lower Merion High Schools.
🍽️ On our Plate
Inquirer food critic Craig LaBan was impressed by his recent visit to Eshkol, the Lancaster Avenue eatery that opened just over a year ago in Ardmore. Among the can’t-miss items? The silky orange shiro puree, the gingery gomen collards, and the chicken doro wot, LaBan says, adding that the kitfo, a mitmita-spiced raw beef dish, is worth ordering as its own side.
The owners behind popular local eatery Federal Donuts & Chicken are working to reopen several area outposts after a franchisee closed them earlier this year. It’s unclear if or when the Radnor location will reopen.
Lassan Indian Traditional is opening Sunday at 232 Woodbine Ave. in Narberth, an expansion from its original outpost in Lafayette Hill.
Malvern’s The Buttery kicks off its new dinner service tonight and will have daily offerings of menu items including Neapolitan pizzas, seasonal salads, and shareable plates.
🎳 Things to Do
🍫 Spring Crafts: Kids will make five edible, spring-inspired crafts during this workshop. ⏰ Saturday, April 11, 4-5 p.m. 💵 $21.20 📍 The Candy Lab
🪻 Main Line Home and Garden Market: Get inspiration for your home’s spring spruce-up at this inaugural event. ⏰ Sunday, April 12, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍 7 N. Bryn Mawr Ave., Bryn Mawr
🇬🇷 Mezzes! Small Plates of Greece: Learn to make Greek-inspired small plates, including stuffed grape leaves, spanakopita, and an eggplant and parsley dip. ⏰ Wednesday, April 15, 7-9 p.m. 💵 $95 📍 BodyX
🏡 On the Market
Situated on a spacious lot, this Gladwyne home offers ample privacy as well as a glimpse into the past. The original home dates back hundreds of years and was later expanded and updated while retaining original architectural features. The home’s first floor features a family room with a stone fireplace, a living room, two offices, a dining room, and a library. The eat-in kitchen has an island, high-end appliances, and a walk-in pantry. There are four bedrooms on the second floor, including the primary suite with two walk-in closets, a sitting area, and a fireplace. There are two additional bedrooms and a full bathroom on the third floor. The gated grounds also include a five-stall barn. A separate 3.21-acre parcel is also available to purchase with the property for an additional $2 million.
See more photos of the property here.
Price: $3.5M | Size: 6,847 SF | Acreage: 5.91
🗞️ What other Lower Merion residents are reading this week:
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