What to know about the school board and other races on Tuesday | Inquirer Lower Merion
Plus, a new shop in Ardmore dishes up a popular Chinese street snack and TikTok-famous dry yogurt.
Hi, Lower Merion! 👋
We’re just a few days away from the election. Still deciding how you’ll vote? We’ve put together a guide to who’s on your ballot. Also this week, a PAC’s endorsement of a school board slate is causing backlash, we check out a recently opened dry yogurt shop, plus everything we know about the SEPTA Regional Rail trains that caught fire, leading to ongoing inspections.
We want your feedback! Tell us what you think about the newsletter by taking our survey or emailing us at lowermerion@inquirer.com.
If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.
There will be some major races on the ballot when Lower Merion residents head to the polls Tuesday, including the retention election for three state Supreme Court justices, seats on the Superior and Commonwealth Courts, as well as judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the 38th District.
Voters will also decide on four school board seats, bringing a conclusion to a contentious race. A slew of municipal administrative positions, including township tax collector, are also up for grabs.
To make Election Day easier, The Inquirer’s Henry Savage has put together a look at the key races.
🗳️ Here’s how and where to cast your ballot
For those voting by mail, returned ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Nov. 4. They can also be returned in person at one of the county’s drop boxes, including at the Ludington Library in Bryn Mawr and the Lower Merion Magisterial District Courts in Narberth. You can find a list of the county’s drop boxes here.
For those voting in person, you can find your polling place here.
A new dessert shop in Ardmore is bringing popular Chinese street snack tanghulu to the Main Line. Chums opened in August at 45 E. Lancaster Ave., where it’s dishing up the sugar-dipped fruit skewers, as well as TikTok-popular dry yogurt bowls, an ultra-thick, extra-strained version often shaped into colorful balls and topped with fruit and granola, The Inquirer’s Beatrice Forman reports.
Owner Grace Yang was inspired to open the shop after splitting her childhood between Shanghai and the Main Line. Chums also offers crêpes, yogurt drinks and smoothies, and has a build-your-own-bowl bar with frozen yogurt and sherbet.
Read more about what inspired the shop’s owner and how Chums makes dry yogurt.
💡 Community News
A political action committee that works to elect conservatives to school boards nationwide is backing several Lower Merion candidates, including Talia Nissim, Deena Pack, and Omer Dekel. While the slate say they disagree with the PAC’s “culture-war” issues, they are aligned on supporting parental involvement in schools and greater transparency. The Inquirer’s Fallon Roth looks at why the endorsement has prompted backlash.
Lower Merion Township’s Board of Commissioners last week approved a motion to advertise a zoning amendment that would prohibit smoke shops from opening within 1,000 feet of public or private schools. The proposal comes after continued community pushback over where such shops could open. The commissioners are expected to make a final vote on the change next month. During last week’s meeting, commissioners also voted unanimously to vacate Bliss Street, meaning the township is no longer responsible for the small and unused portion of roadway in Gladwyne.
A new gaming venue with a restaurant and bar is coming to the King of Prussia Mall in 2027. Level99 will span 46,000 square feet and have 50 “life-size mini games” geared toward adults.
As SEPTA continues to inspect its 225 Silverliner IV rail cars ahead of an Oct. 31 deadline, The Inquirer’s Jasen Lo and Steve Madden take a look at what led the transit agency to this point and what we know about the five Regional Rail fires that broke out this year.
Bala Cynwyd resident and longtime political and commercial lobbyist John R. Saler died Friday at the age of 67. During his time as a lobbyist, he worked closely with former Philadelphia Mayors Wilson Goode and Michael Nutter, as well as former Gov. Ed Rendell, and also worked with Wawa, Peco, and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Gov. Josh Shapiro, who he also worked with, said Saler was someone “you could always count on.”
As the government shutdown continues, certain federal programs, including SNAP, will not have funding starting Nov. 1. To help area residents, Ardmore Initiative has launched a food pantry at Schauffele Plaza that’s stocked with nonperishable foods for anyone in need. Goods can be donated to the pantry directly or at the initiative’s office at 56 E. Lancaster Ave.
Aly McBride, a Bryn Mawr business owner, recently traveled to Washington, D.C. alongside eBay’s CEO Jamie Iannone and the marketplace’s other top sellers to meet with members of Congress and advocate for e-commerce businesses. The Main Line Times recently caught up with McBride about her trip.
A Merion Station dad recently launched The Bedtime Scientist podcast inspired by his son’s bedtime routine. The goal is to help listeners, primarily children, drift off to sleep. Each episode focuses on a different simplified scientific topic. (Patch)
🏫 Schools Briefing
There are a number of events throughout the district this week and next, including the continuation of spirit week at LMHS, and trunk-or-treat events at Merion and Cynwyd Elementary Schools tonight. Penn Wynne Elementary is also hosting a “Treat Street” this evening. Next week there are book fairs and ice cream socials, school photo make up days, and a bake sale. Reminder: Schools are closed for students tomorrow and Tuesday. See the district’s full calendar here.
A group of Cynwyd Elementary students showed off their passion for the Eagles on a recent 6abc segment, sharing what they love about the Birds and who their favorite players are.
Tickets are on sale for fourth grade students’ “Bowling Night Out.” The event takes place Nov. 14 at Sproul Lanes.
🍽️ On our Plate
In case you missed it, a new speakeasy opened on the Main Line last week below Maison Lotus in Wayne. Jade Rabbit is serving up a Vietnamese-inspired list of sips like Circle Jawn, which steeps in an infuser and is meant to resemble a bowl of pho, in addition to bites like Bangkok toast and larger plates like steak and sea bass.
🎳 Things to Do
👻 Narberth Halloween Parade: This year’s parade starts outside the Narberth movie theater and ends at the police station, where a trunk-or-treat will be set up. ⏰ Thursday, Oct. 30, 6:15 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 100 block of North Narberth Avenue
😱 Teen Movie Night: Teens ages 13 to 17 can watch the 2019 horror flick, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. Registration is recommended. ⏰ Thursday, Oct. 30, 6:30-8:30 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Bala Cynwyd Library
🎵 Mr. Greengenes: The band is performing a two-night reunion show, complete with a Halloween bash. ⏰ Thursday, Oct. 30 and Friday, Oct. 31, 8 p.m. 💵 $71.42-$112.82 📍 Ardmore Music Hall
🎃 Trunk-or-Treat: Now in its third year, this expanded event is open to the entire Gladwyne community and beyond. ⏰ Friday, Oct. 31, 3-5 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Gladwyne Park
🍿 Jumanji: Catch a screening of the 1995 film in which Robin Williams’ character is released from a game he’s been trapped in, and with him, a slew of jungle dangers. ⏰ Saturday, Nov. 1, 11 a.m. 💵 $6.75 for kids, $7.75 for adults 📍 Bryn Mawr Film Institute
🏡 On the Market
Located in Belmont Hills, this three-bedroom ranch has a living room with a fireplace, a dining room, a family room with an exposed stone wall, and an eat-in kitchen with stainless steel appliances and granite countertops. All the bedrooms are located on the main floor, while the basement serves as another living space that could accommodate an additional bedroom. There, you’ll also find a bar and a full bathroom. The home also has a fenced backyard.
See more photos of the property here.
Price: $749,000 | Size: 3,629 SF | Acreage: 0.19
🗞️ What other Lower Merion residents are reading this week:
By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.