Lower Merion Spring 2026

SPRING 2026

LOWER MERION NEWS THE COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER

ANGELA BERKE Buying or Selling on the Main Line?

Look no Further!

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20 + years of experience ~ Millions Sold ~ Proven Results Buying or Selling on the Main Line? I bring the strategy, the edge, and the experience to make it happen. Let my experience work for you!

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CONTENTS:

Township Directory.................................4 Narberth Ambulance ...............................6 Pennsylvania Children’s Services.........8 Parenting Your Teen..............................10 Community Connections......................12 Valley Forge Park Events .....................12 Washington Memorial Chapel..............14 Health & Wellness .................................18 Exploring Solar Options .......................20 Stormwater Management .....................22 FBI Fraud Alert ......................................24 Voting Topics .........................................26 Willows Park Preserve..........................28 Wayne Art Center News........................30 This publication is an effort to keep the community informed with what is actually happening in your area. For future editions, I welcome your thoughts on topics that affect the community.

I'd be happy to publish your opinions on any relevant topics.

Do you have an event that you'd like to publicize? Let me know, and I'll do my best to incorporate your event into the newsletter.

This is your community. This is your home. Use this publication to share your thoughts and ideas with your neighbors. Are you ready to get involved in your community?

David Amsterdam · franklinmaps@aol.com

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TOWNSHIP DIRECTORY TOWNSHIP ADMINISTRATION BUILDING

75 East Lancaster Avenue Ardmore, PA 19003-2323 www.lowermerion.org 610-649-4000 Mon - Fri 8:15 am to 4:30 pm Township Manager...........610-645-6102

FIRE DEPARTMENTS Emergency Phone: 9-1-1 Main : 610-645-6190 21 - Penn Wynne

301 East Montgomery Ave Ardmore, PA 19003 610.645.1800 lmsd.org

22 - Belmont Hills

MAIN LINE ART CENTER

1440 Manoa Road Wynnewood, PA 19096 610-642-9688

Township Secretary...........610-645-6145

4 S. Washington Avenue Belmont Hills, PA 19004 610-664-9185

Building & Planning ........610-645-6200

23 - Bryn Mawr

Finance Department.........610-645-6160

107 West Chester Pike Havertown, PA 19083 610-446-9870

Human Resources.............610-645-6120

24 - Gladwyne

Information Technology...610-645-6180

1044 Black Rock Road Gladwyne, PA 19035 610-642-9586

Parking Services...............610-645-6230

25 - Merion (Ardmore)

Parks and Recreation.......610-645-6220

35 Greenfield Avenue Ardmore, PA 19003 610-642-9580

Public Information ...........610-645-6199

26 - Narberth

Public Works.....................610-645-6150

PUBLISHED BY FRANKLIN MAPS 610-265-6277 FranklinMaps@aol.com

LOWER MERION SCHOOL DISTRICT

100 Conway Avenue Narberth, PA 19072 610-664-9278

28 - Union (Bala Cynwyd) 149 Montgomery Avenue Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004 610-664-9112

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746 Panmure Road Havertford, PA 19041 610-525-0272 www.mainlineart.org

HOLIDAY CLOSURES New Year's Day Martin Luther King, Jr's Birthday Presidents' Day Good Friday Memorial Day Juneteenth Independence Day Labor Day Thanksgiving Day Christmas Day

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Devereux Pennsylvania Children's Services operates six Approved Private Schools throughout Chester and Montgomery Counties that offer high-quality, innovative special education programming for students who need care, compassion and support to succeed and thrive. All schools are licensed by the PA State Board of Private Academic Schools and accept 4010 placements.

Children, adolescents and young adults may come to Devereux as day students, or as a part of residential treatment. Each student has an Individualized Educational Plan, which outlines goals for skill development and the best strategies by which the student can reach his/her goals. A multi-disciplinary team, including the individual's parent(s) or guardian, regularly reviews the plan to discuss challenges, progress and adjustments to goals as appropriate.

CARES (CENTER FOR AUTISM RESEARCH & EDUCATION SERVICES)

600 Boot Road Downingtown, PA 19335 Full-time placement: Co-ed youth, ages 5-21, with autism; intellectual disabilities; speech and language disorders.

The School for Integrated Learning

390 East Boot Road West Chester, PA 19380 Full-time placement: Co-ed youth, ages 5-21, with autism; intellectual/multiple disabilities; emotional disturbances; speech and language disorders.

Day Academy — Audubon

2650 Eisenhower Ave, Suite A101 Norristown, PA 19401 Full-time emotional support placement (day):Co-ed youth, grades 4-8, with emotional, behavioral and cognitive differences.

Day Academy — Landenberg

20 McMaster Blvd, Suites 3 and 4 Landenberg, PA 19350 Full-time emotional support placement (day): Co-ed youth, grades K-8, with emotional disturbances, learning disabilities and autism.

Brandywine School

390 E. Boot Road West Chester, PA 19383 Full-time emotional support placement (day/residential): Co-ed youth, grades 6-12, with learning disabilities and emotional disturbances.

Mapleton School

655 Sugartown Rd., Building 100 Malvern, PA 19355 Full-time emotional support placement (day/residential): Co-ed youth, grades K-12, with emotional disturbances, learning disabilities and autism.

Contact Devereux at PAEducationReferrals@devereux.org or 267-418-9623. Admissions team members will help you determine which program is most appropriate for your child.

Visit www.devereuxpa.org for more information about Devereux's Approved Private Schools and other services for children.

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PARENTING YOUR TEEN

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IN CENT’S

HARDWOOD FLOORING

INSTALLATION & REFINISHING www.vincentsfloors.com | vhflooring@msn.com For more information visit MLTV21.org or call 610-687-5189 Lower Merion Public Access TV • Verizon 34 and Comcast 99 (Also found on Channel 21 in Radnor Township)

610-842-0719 Proudly Serving Montgomery & Delaware Counties

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COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

BY RICK ANTHONY, MLTV21 PRODUCER/HOST

Could Maria Middleton Become America's First Millennial Saint?

From her deathbed, suffering from the debilitating ravages of an inoperable brain tumor, 18-year-old Maria Middleton made a final entry in her journal: “Think Hope.” Two words that summed up Marsa's remarkable life, became the title of an inspirational book and a rallying call for her parents and the thousands of people around the world who prayed for her.

In my interview with Maria's parents, Suan and Brian Middleton, for MLTV21, they described the unyielding faith in God of a young girl who believed “You don't have to be weird to be holy.”

According to the accounts in “Think Hope,” the book written by her parents, Maria was a teacher, mostly by her example, but also by her words. In a speech she gave at an eighth-grade graduation ceremony, she said: “In a world where many teenagers struggle to find real meaning and purpose, we know that our purpose in life is to know, love and serve God so we can be happy with him in heaven. This understanding calls us to lead others to Him through our words and actions.”

In another passage from the book, a friend describes Maria as “Funny, hopeful, smart, faithful, witty, and resilient. - traits that attracted friends and, eventually, led her friends and others from despair to hope.”

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When I asked her parents why the book did not contain a definition of hope, they said it wasn't necessary because “Maria was a witness to hope. She lived it.”

In anexample of her indomitable faith, 17year-old Maria sent an email to Philadelphia's Archbishop Perez chastising him for closing the churches during Covid.”

Your decision to suspend the Mass and Sacraments is preventing me from going to Church and receiving the Sacraments — which are graces I need.” Within 15 minutes, the Archbishop replied telling Maria that he would personally bring Holy Communion to her, which he did. He later said that Maria's email lit up his computer screen. After a three-hour visit with Maria in the sunroom of her home, he said he had the most profound conversation he'd ever had in his life about the role of the Eucharist and grace and suffering. They remained friends until her death.

Whether the Catholic Church, after scrupulously examining her life, proclaims Maria a saint will take years to determine.

Nonetheless, in the hearts and minds of thousands of people around the world, Maria's life was unquestionably saintly.

Think Hope.org

In the Forward in the book, the Archbishop wrote: “'Think Hope' was the simple phrase used by Maria Middleton as she faced the immense challenge of dealing with terminal brain cancer, a diagnosis that came during her sophomore year of high school. She, and the family, faced this challenge with steadfast hope — a hope rooted in faith and expressed in love.”

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WASHINGTON MEMORIAL CHAPEL

Celebrating 100 Years of Bells at Valley Forge - Washington Memorial Chapel's Carillon The 110 ft. tall tower currently holds a carillon of 58 bells: one bell representing each of the U.S.States, seven bells representing our U.S. Territories, and the c.1926 National Birthday Bell.

Washington Memorial Chapel and Carillon, Valley Forge

Inspired by Washington Memorial Chapel's founder, the Rev. W. Herbert Burk, the Washington Memorial National Carillon developed from an earlier installation known as the “Star-Spangled Banner National Peace Chime.”This initial chime consisted of 14 bells: one for each of the 13 colonies and a 14th bell, the National Birthday Bell. This bell bears a star and inscription for every colony not among the colonies.

Enlarged bell tower on the west side of Chapel holding 28 bells, c.1950

Bigelow, an engineering professor and campanologist, oversaw the casting and tuning of the new French bells to assure that their sound would perfectly match the

Cast by Meneely & Company of Watervliet (West Troy), New York then the nation's leading bell foundry these fourteen bells ranged in weight from approximately 225 lbs. to 3,500 lbs. The bells and keyboard were housed in a temporary wooden structure on the northwest corner of the Chapel Cloisters. The chime was dedicated on July 4, 1926, commemorating the 150th anniversary of American independence.

The first piece performed at the dedication ceremony was “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Washington Memorial National Carillon c.1953

The instrument is played by Doug Gefvert, who has been the Chapel's Carillonneur for 27 years. The bells are played for Sunday Chapel services, weddings and funerals, and Sunday afternoons April-June and September-November. There are 112 steps up a winding stairway to the keyboard where Carillonneur Gefvert manually plays the bells from a keyboard similar to that of a piano only larger and fist and feet (pedals) are used instead of fingers.

Arthur Bigelow adjusts the bells before the carillon's dedication.

The Dedication Ceremony, July 4, 1926. 14 bells.

Rev. Burk appears in the foreground.

The 1926 installation was conceived as just the first stage in assembling a grand National Carillon, centrally located, with a bell for each state. Through the 1920's and 1930's 14 additional bells were cast by the Meneely bell foundry and placed into an enlarged bell tower. Bell size was determined by the state's population at that time.

Construction of the new bell tower began in 1941, but was suspended for the duration of World War II. Once construction was resumed in 1950, it took three years to complete. An additional 30 bells were cast by the Paccard Bell Foundry of Annecy, France and added to the earlier bells cast by Meneely. The carillon's designer, Arthur 14 LOWER MERION NEWS · SPRING 2026

American Meneely bells.

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution funded the new stone tower and the additional bells, and the Pennsylvania State Society DAR continues to fund special projects and maintenance of this tower. Like at the dedication of the first 14 bells in 1926, the first piece performed at the 1953 tower dedication ceremony was “The StarSpangled Banner.”

The carillon is played using fists and feet (pedals).

Since 1953, the Chapel's summer carillon concerts have featured outstanding performances by leading carillonneurs from America and around the world. Bring dinner or snacks and listen to the world's best carillonneurs present hour-long outdoor concerts every Wednesday evening at 7:30 PM during July and August. Rain or Shine.

Come enjoy world-class carillonneurs playing this world-class carillon.

Three of the mid-range Meneelybells

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

Emergency Department vs. Urgent Care: Where Should You Go? • Splints and stitches • Colds, viruses and the flu • Stomach ailments and respiratory illnesses • Strep throat, ear infections and allergic reactions • Flu and tetanus shots; physicals for work, camp, sports and drivers' licenses • X-ray and EKG

Jennifer Campbell, DO Medical Director, Main Line Health Urgent Care & Occupational Medicine Making quick choices is tough, especially when you or someone in your family needs fast medical attention. When it comes to getting treatment for injury or illness, where should you be going: an urgent care center or the emergency department (ED)? Urgent care centers and EDs both offer similar services, but depending on your medical need, one facility might be a better option than the other. Although split-second decisions are typical in medical emergencies, it's helpful to familiarize yourself with what constitutes a trip to urgent care or the ED before you need to make the trip. Check out the lists below to see what facility is the right option in an emergency.

Urgent Care Centers Urgent care centers are for accidents and illnesses that require a physician or nurse practitioner's attention, but not a trip to the emergency department. Common conditions and treatments provided at an urgent care center include: • Minor cuts, lacerations and burns • Muscle aches, strains and sprains

Where Should I Go for Care?

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Urgent care centers provide excellent quality of care for patients who need help with injuries and illnesses when most doctors' offices are typically closed. Main Line Health Urgent Care, with locations in Broomall, Concordville, Exton, Oaks and Wynnewood, offers a variety of options for after-hours and emergency care and has hours on nights, weekends and holidays.

“Urgent care provides the right level of care for non-life-threatening needs, giving patients an alternative to both waiting for an office visit and heading straight to the ED. We're here for the times when your doctor's office is closed, but you still need medical attention whether it's a sprain on the soccer field, a child's fever on a Sunday evening or a cut that needs stitches on a holiday. Our goal is to provide safe, timely care when you need it most at a location convenient to you,” said Jennifer Campbell, DO, a Main Line Health physician who specializes in both urgent care and emergency medicine. Additionally, Main Line Health hospitals are near these urgent care locations, which allows patients to be easily transferred to the emergency department if they require a higher level of care.

Emergency Departments Emergency departments are for lifethreatening conditions and symptoms like: • Heart attack • Major trauma • Numbness in the face, arm or leg • Difficulty speaking • Coughing or vomiting blood

• Severe shortness of breath • Uncontrolled or excessive bleeding • Severe headache or burns • Poisoning • Confusion, lethargy and changes in mental status • Changes or loss of vision • Chest pain • Significant abdominal pain • Behavioral emergencies, such as suicidal or homicidal feelings While urgent care centers and emergency departments provide different levels of care, don't take too long to decide which one you should go to. While many people's first thought is to head to the emergency department, what you should do is head to whatever facility is closest. And if you're experiencing symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath or any of the other symptoms listed above, call 911 to be transported. “The most important thing to remember is to not delay your care,” said Campbell. “If you're experiencing serious symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath or signs of a stroke, the emergency department is always the safest place to be.

But for so many other health concerns from minor injuries and infections to fevers or stomach bugs urgent care is a convenient option.”

Main Line Health is home to four emergency departments at Lankenau Medical Center, Bryn Mawr Hospital, Paoli Hospital and Riddle Hospital. Main Line Health serves patients at hospitals and health centers throughout the Philadelphia region. Virtually jump in line and join the waitlist at mainlinehealth.org/urgentcare.

For life-threatening conditions, visit an emergency department or call 911. Conditions include heart attack; numbness in face, arm or leg; difficulty speaking; coughing or vomiting blood; major trauma; severe shortness of breath; uncontrolled or excessive bleeding; severe headaches; severe burns; poisoning; suicidal or homicidal feelings.

Main Line Health urgent care and emergency department locations

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SOLARIZE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

Ready to Stop Climate Change?

Battle climate change and get pay back in both cash and the satisfaction of knowing that you and thousands of your neighbors, businesses and Towns throughout the Delaware Valley are getting the job done!

Some steps require no investment and some do. ALL can save you money. Web sites like https://haverfordclimateaction.org/ provide a one-stop shop for information on things you can do, upcoming webinars, videos and more. The biggest savings in energy is to use less; please consider an energy assessment if you have not had one done. PECO offers this for $49. For a limited time, PECO is offering Solarize Delco participants a special $10 discount for any home energy assessment. Please use the special promo code SOLARDEL on the website or call 888.573.2672 to schedule your appointment.

Solar the Easy Way

Solar PV Tax Credits for residents ended in 2025: Commercial accounts can still get a direct 30% federal rebate for installed solar systems. PECO offers solar rebates: $500 for residential and first year production based for commercial. Grants and low cost leasing are available for income eligible households. NEW in 2026 Power Purchase Agreement offers no upfront cost and rates lower than PECO's price to compare!

Solarize DelCo Group Pricing: Residents, non-profits and

businesses in Delaware County Email us at solarizedelco@gmail.com with name, address and phone number and we can help you assess whether the Solarize Delco program with vetted vendors and a significant discount over market rates is right for you.

Who are we? Your neighbors, an all Climate Webinar Series volunteer non-profit providing education, Videos Watch these informative unbiased information and an easier path to

Low Income Grants and Leasing Options: Income qualified homeowners

can apply for a grant (up to $5,000) while funds last or take advantage of partnerships with vetted leasing firms that can reduce monthly bills by a combination of Solar PV and weatherization. Solarize Delco can help you decide what is best for you.

Power Purchase Agreement (PPA):

putting solar on your home, business or house of worship. We can help Houses of Worship and other non-profits find sources of funding as well. More info at www.solarizedelco.org. Search Solarize Philly and Solarize SE PA for programs outside of DelCo.

Ready to Solarize Now?

When you purchase solar power from a solar company they own the system but you receive the benefits of low cost electricity.You can lock in a rate today cheaper than PECO for the next 25 years.

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In Delaware County, PA fill out a form on www.solarizedelco.org or Email us at solarizedelco@gmail.com with your name, address and phone number and we can help you assess whether the Solarize Delco program with a selected vendor and a significant discount over market rates is right for you. In Bucks, Chester, and Montgomery County - Email solarizesepa@gmail.com.

recorded Climate Action Workshops on Solar Home, adapting to Electric Vehicle use, Purchasing Renewable Energy, and others at https://www.youtube.com/HaverfordEAC.

The Clean Energy Co-Op

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VOTING INFORMATION THE ROAD TO CITIZENSHIP for travel, and divided into categories such as immigrant and nonimmigrant with a set length of time determined by several variables).

• One must prove continuous permanent residence in the United States for at least five years, or three years if married to a U.S. citizen. Further, you must have lived for at least three months in your current state of residence.

• give up allegiance to their country of origin, • promise to defend and protect the United States and its Constitution against all enemies,

Next, there is the test given by USCIS officers.

Immigration is in the news! Many people wonder why immigrants just don't become U.S. Citizens. To many, it seems like citizenship would solve many of the current issues we see and hear immigrants struggling with each day. However, the road to citizenship is not without its potholes and detours. Many immigrants, at their own expense, obtain an immigration lawyer to navigate their journeys to citizenship.

• One must be 18 or older to file Form N-400, “Application for Naturalization.”

This paperwork is accompanied by a general filing fee of $765 that can be waived for military service. There can also be other fees and requirements detailed by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) depending on the applicant's situation.

• One needs to have a “Green Card” that immigrants sometimes call the “ticket to the American Dream.” These cards (officially a “Permanent Resident Card”) are issued by USCIS and look like creditcard-sized pieces of beige or light green plastic. They feature a red, white, and blue flag design along with the holder's photo, biographical data, and security holograms. These cards grant foreign nationals the right to live, work, and study anywhere in America, travel freely in and out of the county, and to pursue a path to citizenship. Green cards are not just issued to anyone coming into the country. They are generally obtained through family sponsorships, offers of employment, refugee/asylee status, or the annual Diversity Visa Lottery. Those with green cards cannot vote in federal elections and may be restricted from holding certain government jobs.

• agree to bear arms on behalf of the U.S., and

• Applicants are interviewed to assess their ability to read, write, speak, and understand English. They are asked personal questions about their background.

• To test speaking ability, officers share photos of typical activities that immigrants need to explain.

• After studying materials to prepare for an assessment of their knowledge of U.S. history and government, applicants need to know vocabulary on history and civics topics. To pass, the immigrant must answer six out of ten questions drawn from a list of 100 study questions.

Questions can include topics such as “What is the supreme law of the land?” or “Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?”. (Questions are available on-line if you wish to test yourself!)

Finally, there is the Naturalization Ceremony that may be held in a park, arena, or courthouse. Each immigrant takes the Oath of Allegiance in which they

• perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by law.

Friends and families also attend these inspirational events to support and celebrate new citizens who have reached their destination: the attainment of all the rights, responsibilities, freedoms, and privileges of every American. Members of the League of Women Voters are a part of these ceremonies that mark the culmination of years of time and effort. When League members welcome each new citizen, they share voter registration materials to assure that everyone has the opportunity to make their voice heard through voting. Voting is an American right (and responsibility) envied around the world.

The League of Women Voters is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

• The permanent card must be valid and current. Green cards expire every ten years (or two years for conditional residents) and must be renewed. (Visas, on the other hand, are temporary, used 26 LOWER MERION NEWS · SPRING 2026

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WILLOWS PARK PRESERVE

Establishing Partnerships with Other Nonprofits Since its establishment on the brink of a global pandemic, the Willows Park Preserve (WPP), a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization, has made great progress toward the fulfillment of its mission: “to revitalize the Willows Mansion” in Radnor Township and “open it to the community as a welcoming and inclusive place for relaxation, connection, celebration and life-long learning.”

Restoration activities that have taken place over the past few years include replacement of the Mansion's roof, upgrading restrooms to meet ADA requirements, repainting the Mansion's exterior and interior spaces, modernization of the kitchen, repairs to the HVAC system, installation of a new steam boiler, replacement of windows and much more. Free and low-cost community programs that have been offered at the Mansion include classes on topics such as gardening, local history, birding and music. In December, the WPP held its fourth annual Holiday Open House featuring vendors, free activities for children, music by local students and plenty of hot chocolate and cookies. In February, the WPP hosted its annual Love and Chocolate event, with free activities and chocolate treats for kids. In April, the WPP will once again be hosting its free Wellness at the Willows event, with classes on yoga, mindfulness, healthy eating and other topics.

None of these restoration activities and community programs would have been possible without the support of generous donors, Radnor Township, state grants and revenues from private events.

There is still much that remains to be done at the historic Mansion, and the WPP will be relying on the support of its donors, the Township, grants and revenues from private events as it continues to serve its purpose. But with all of the physical improvements to the Mansion that have been made over the past few years, the WPP is now in a position to help other local nonprofit organizations fulfill their missions while simultaneously fulfilling its own. The key is partnerships!

There are numerous small, nonprofit organizations in Radnor that serve the local community in various ways: offering educational opportunities for students of all ages, supporting

the arts, assisting victims of domestic abuse, preserving our history, protecting our environment, encouraging literacy, protecting our homes and businesses from fire, providing support services for our senior citizens . . . the list goes on! When organizations like these are able to share their resources they can increase the level of services they offer and everybody benefits: the partners themselves and the community they serve.

A great example of this is the partnership recently established between the WPP and the Wayne Senior Center (WSC). The mission of the WSC is “to provide community, friendship and resources which enrich the lives of older adults.”

One of the WSC's many services is the provision of free lunches for the senior members of our community. The WSC serves 100 patrons each weekday at its Wayne facility. Preparing meals for so many people requires a good deal of space and equipment, both of which are limited at the WSC's facility. However, with the help of generous donors and a Keystone Communities grant from the state of Pennsylvania, the WPP was able to upgrade the kitchen at the Willows Mansion with a new exhaust hood, dishwasher and refrigerator and other improvements. The previously unusable kitchen is now up to code and up to task. Although the kitchen is used primarily by the WPP's caterer for revenuegenerating events such as weddings and other parties and for community programs involving food preparation, it is typically not in use on weekday mornings. Recognizing an opportunity for collaboration, the WSC and WPP have entered into an arrangement by which the WSC will use the Mansion's kitchen on weekday mornings for meal preparation for its clients. This collaboration enables each organization to serve the community in accordance with its mission. It is, as they say a “win-win.”

The WPP has also established a mutually beneficial partnership with Main Line School Night (MLSN), a nonprofit organization that has served not just Radnor but the entire Main Line community since 1938. MLSN's mission is “to offer adults of all ages affordable educational experiences to promote personal enrichment and to enhance the quality of our community.”

The nonprofit's programs and classes are

extremely popular and widely attended. Indeed, the catalogue for Spring 2026 offers over 400 classes. Although some of these classes are offered online, most are live and most take place in one of a handful of small, makeshift classrooms in the Creutzberg Center's historic mansion. Restoration efforts at the Center will reduce the already limited classroom space. The solution? A partnership with the WPP which enables the MLSN to use the restored spaces in the Willows Mansion for some of its classes while enabling the WPP to use the Mansion for one of its primary purposes: the promotion of life-long learning.

The WPP has formed additional partnerships with other nonprofit organizations, such as the Radnor Historical Society, the Radnor Conservancy, the Radnor League of Women Voters and the Skunk Hollow Community Garden, to organize and offer programs and to provide affordable space for events. The WPP also partners with local schools and universities, providing opportunities for students to showcase their talents at concerts at the Mansion, meet their community service requirements, and learn about the management of a nonprofit corporation. The WPP also has partnered with numerous local businesses and commercial organizations, such as the Wayne Business Association, Main Line Chamber of Commerce, and the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce.

As the poet John Donne wrote, “No man is an island.” The same is true for small nonprofits that serve the same community, albeit in different ways. For such organizations to succeed in the fullest sense they need to do what they can, when they can, to ensure one another's success. Creative partnerships between and among our local nonprofits serve more than just the partners. They serve the entire community.

If you would like to host your next event at the WPP, register for a program, learn about volunteer opportunities, provide financial support, or simply want to learn more about the WPP, please visit our website: www.willowsparkpreserve.org or email us at: info@willowsparkpreserve.org

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vv ayne art center Enriching Our Community through the Arts Wayne Art Center Summer Art Camp 2026: ART 250 - Visions of America

Wayne Art Center Announces Art Quilt Elements 2026

Wayne Art Center is proud to announce 2026 Summer Art Camp, featuring the landmark theme ART 250: Visions of America. In honor of our nation's 250th Anniversary, this summer's program invites campers to embark on an 11-week journey through the diverse landscape of American history, culture, and artistic expression.

Wayne Art Center is pleased to present Art Quilt Elements 2026, an international juried exhibition celebrating contemporary fine art quilts. This biennial show features the work of 55 artists from 22 U.S. states and two international locations — Australia and Luxembourg.

Through ART 250, students will explore how artists from varied backgrounds and eras have captured the essence of America's land, people, and evolving ideas. Each week, campers will translate these historical inspirations into contemporary masterpieces, blending education with hands-on studio innovation.

The exhibition will be on view March 23 through April 25, 2026, in the Davenport, Ethel Sergeant Clark Smith, and Vidinghoff Galleries. An awards ceremony and reception will take place on Sunday, March 29, from 3-5 pm, followed by a Meet the Artists Gallery Talk, where participating artists will discuss their work.

The exhibition will also be available online at artquiltelements.org.

Program Highlights • Diverse Curriculum: More than 200 unique classes including drawing, painting, cartooning, ceramics, sculpture, photography, cooking, and jewelry making.

• Ages & Levels: Tailored instruction for children and teens ages 4-17.

• Flexible Scheduling: 11 one-week sessions with morning, afternoon, and late-afternoon options.

• Full-Day Experience: Families can combine sessions with the supervised “Lunch Bunch” program for a full day of creative engagement.

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN! Parents are encouraged to register early to secure preferred sessions and help their children's creativity thrive this summer. For more information, please call 610-688-3553 or email camp@wayneart.org.

Since its inception, Art Quilt Elements has become a respected showcase for innovation in the art quilt field, attracting thousands of visitors and highlighting the evolving role of textile art in contemporary practice.

Gallery Hours: Monday-Friday: 10 am - 5 pm Saturday: 10 am - 4 pm For more information, call 610-688-3553 or visit wayneart.org or artquiltelements.org.

Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival Celebrates 18 Years This year marks the 18th anniversary of the Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival, one of the nation’s longest running and most beloved outdoor painting events.

Over the course of seven days, 32 nationally recognized plein air artists will create more than 300 original paintings inspired by the lush landscapes, local landmarks, charming towns, and vibrant cityscapes that define our region. These impressive masterpieces will be available for sale at Wayne Art Center from Saturday, May 9 through June 20, 2026.

Plein Air Festival, May 3 - May 9 Collectors’ Preview Party, May 9, 6 -9pm Plein Air Exhibition, May 9 – June 20 Minis and Mimosas for Moms, May 10, 11am-1pm Juror’s Talk & Demo with Mark Boedges, May 10, 1-3pm Origins of Plein Air Lecture with William Perthes, June 4, 6-7:30pm Exhibition Closing Reception, June 20, 2-4pm

About Wayne Art Center

Through outreach programs and community Wayne Art Center offers more than 500 Established in 1931, Wayne Art Center has partnerships, Wayne Art Center expands classes and workshops in the visual, served the cultural needs of the community access to the arts by providing enrichment performing, and culinary arts. A dynamic for more than 95 years. Today, it is one of opportunities for underserved populations and diverse schedule of exhibitions attracts the most vibrant art centers in the and individuals with special needs. artists and visitors from across the United Philadelphia region, welcoming over 35,000 States and around the world. visitors and program participants annually. vv ayne art center 413 Maplewood Avenue • Wayne, PA • 610-688-3553 • wayneart.org 30 LOWER MERION NEWS · SPRING 2026

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