Banned by the school board | Inquirer Lower Merion
Plus, a new taco spot is coming to Ardmore.
Hi, Lower Merion! 👋
The school board recently told two parents they aren’t allowed to attend in-person meetings for the next year, raising questions about the legality of the decision. Also this week, a new taco joint is coming to Ardmore, we look back at basketball brand AND1’s locally rooted trash-talking legacy, plus everything you need to know about SEPTA’s bus route changes.
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Two parents were recently banned from attending Lower Merion school board meetings in person for the next year, with the district saying one exhibited “bullying” and “disruptive” behavior.
The parents, Rebecca Foscolo and David Smyth, are among those pushing for less screen time for their kids, a topic that Foscolo admits led to some “extra spicy” behavior at a recent meeting.
But being banned from in-person attendance — both can submit written comments and watch live streams — could be violating their constitutional rights, according to the ACLU of Pennsylvania.
The Inquirer’s Maddie Hanna delves into the details.
✏️ Plus: After holding a remote-only meeting Monday, the school board passed a new technology policy, which puts limits on district-issued devices for the youngest students.
💡 Community News
In case you missed it, Bryn Mawr psychiatrist Amy Mazza MacIntyre has been allowed to continue practicing while she appeals the revocation of her medical license. It was stripped after an investigation found she had a yearslong sexual relationship with a young patient while prescribing him highly addictive psychotropic drugs.
West Nile virus-positive mosquitoes were recently found in the township. Officials suggest residents take precautions, including by reducing standing water on their properties and wearing protective clothing or repellent when outdoors.
SEPTA is rolling out the first phase of its bus network overhaul Sunday, impacting 30 routes, including along the Lancaster Avenue corridor. Here’s what to expect. See how your route is impacted with The Inquirer’s interactive map.
Wynnewood resident Albert James Mamary, attending physician and professor of thoracic medicine and surgery at Temple University, died last month at the age of 59 after battling a rare cancer. Throughout his career, Mamary treated thousands of patients and mentored hundreds of students and doctors.
Basketball brand AND1 may be synonymous with New York, but it’s rooted in the Main Line. The Inquirer’s Alex Coffey revisits the cheeky company’s early days, which included an inaugural location in Ardmore and later Rosemont.
Neighboring Upper Merion Township rejected a proposed 5-million-square-foot AI data center campus last week, the nearest of which would have been not far over the township line at 411 Swedeland Rd. in King of Prussia. Developer Brian O’Neill can still appeal the board’s denial.
Two ramps on I-476 will be closed Friday at 10 p.m. and reopen Saturday at 9 a.m. They are the the northbound I-476 ramp to westbound I-76 and the westbound I-76 ramp to southbound I-476.
🍽️ On our Plate
Texas-style taco joint Taco Heart is expanding to the Main Line this fall, when it will open an outpost at the Ardmore Farmers Market.
Mazaj, a Yemeni- and Saudi-inspired cafe that got its start as a halal coffee-and-pastry counter inside Malooga in Narberth, has opened its own brick-and-mortar in Willow Grove.
🎳 Things to Do
🎸 Classic Albums Live: Hear covers of the Rolling Stones, the Black Crowes, and Aerosmith. ⏰ Friday, Aug. 21, 8 p.m. 💵 $29.50-$71.42 📍 Ardmore Music Hall
📚 Philadelphia Book Crawl: Several local bookshops — Mavey Books in Ardmore, Children’s Book World in Haverford, Narberth Bookshop, and Chapter Two Books in Wynnewood — are participating in the region-wide event. ⏰ Saturday, Aug. 22, times vary 💵 Pay as you go 📍 Locations vary
🍬 End of Summer Camp: Kids can make edible crafts and play candy-themed games during each day session of this weeklong camp. ⏰ Monday, Aug. 24-Friday, Aug. 28, 10 a.m.-noon 💵 $42.40 per session 📍 The Candy Lab
🎵 Music in the Park: The final concert of the season features a performance by folk duo The Mingo Creek Balladeers. ⏰ Wednesday, Aug. 26, 7 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Narberth Park gazebo
🏡 On the Market
Spanning four bedrooms and four bathrooms, this Ardmore home has been completely updated, inside and out. Among its features are a first-floor office, a kitchen with a butler’s pantry, and a nearby mudroom. It also has a finished basement with a full bathroom that could serve multiple uses. Upstairs, the primary suite has a walk-in closet, while outside there’s a deck leading to the backyard. There’s an open house today from 5 to 7 p.m. and on Saturday from noon to 2 p.m.
See more photos of the home here.
Price: $1.295M | Size: 2,777 SF | Acreage: 0.14
📈 Lower Merion market report
Median listing price: $657,500 (down $52,500 from June) 📉
Median sold price: $1.2M (up $200,000 from June) 📈
Median days on the market: 50 (up 12 days from June) 📈
This Lower Merion market report is published on a monthly basis. Above is data for July from realtor.com.
🗞️ What other Lower Merion residents are reading this week:
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