{"id":93499,"date":"2026-01-22T11:02:07","date_gmt":"2026-01-22T11:02:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/93499\/"},"modified":"2026-01-22T11:02:07","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T11:02:07","slug":"get-to-know-dana-edwards-narberths-new-mayor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/93499\/","title":{"rendered":"Get to know Dana Edwards, Narberth’s new mayor"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hi, Lower Merion<\/a>! \ud83d\udc4b<\/p>\n

Dana Edwards may be a fairly new Narberth transplant, but the recently sworn-in mayor has a clear vision for the borough<\/a>. Also this week, we look back at how Kobe Bryant spurred a high school basketball rivalry<\/a>, Villanova University is now paying some of its athletes<\/a>, plus the surprising spot that one Inquirer reporter says serves the best meal she\u2019s eaten on the Main Line<\/a>. We\u2019re also gearing up for a (potentially big) snowstorm this weekend. Follow along here for the latest forecast<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Narberth\u2019s new mayor may have only lived in the 4,500-person borough for five years, but he\u2019s already got a vision for it. <\/p>\n

Dana Edwards, 53, was sworn into office earlier this month after securing the backing of Narberth\u2019s Democratic committee and running unopposed in both the primary and general elections. <\/p>\n

Now the Puerto Rico native who\u2019s lived in several other parts of the U.S. before settling in Narberth is focused on sustainable growth while maintaining the borough\u2019s \u201chometown feel,\u201d The Inquirer\u2019s Denali Sagner reports. <\/p>\n

Read more about Edwards\u2019 background and some of his goals for his term<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Decades may have passed, but a longtime rivalry between two high school basketball teams, begun in part by legend Kobe Bryant, still lives on today. <\/p>\n

When Bryant joined the Lower Merion Aces his freshman year, the school wasn\u2019t a basketball powerhouse. But as the program improved, it soon built a rivalry with the much-more-stacked Chester High School, so much so that their matchups would often sell out venues. <\/p>\n

The Inquirer\u2019s Alex Coffey delves into the rivalry\u2019s roots and how Bryant played a role<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udca1 Community News<\/p>\n

Saks Fifth Avenue\u2019s parent company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last week, leaving some questions about the future of its stores. For the time being, the Saks on City Avenue in Bala Cynwyd will remain open while the company restructures. Here\u2019s what we know so far<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Women\u2019s apparel and accessories store Francesca\u2019s, which has a location at Suburban Square in Ardmore, is reportedly closing its remaining stores after years of financial turmoil. Francesca\u2019s filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in late 2020. (Fox Business<\/a>) <\/p>\n

Villanova University is among a handful of Pennsylvania colleges that are now paying some of its athletes directly. The move comes after a federal class-action lawsuit last year regarding student athlete compensation. Villanova said it will primarily pay athletes on its basketball teams<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Coulter Place, an apartment community at Suburban Square, is now open. The 131-unit, five-story building has a fitness center, clubroom, game room, pool, coworking spaces, and pet-care spaces with rents ranging from about $3,030 to $7,035 per month<\/a>. <\/p>\n

A handful of Philadelphia Police Department employees live in and around Lower Merion, according to a new Inquirer analysis. An increasing number of Philadelphia police employees \u2014 about a third of full-time staff \u2014 live outside the city, with four who reside in Bala Cynwyd, three in Bryn Mawr, and two each in Ardmore, Narberth, Villanova, and Wynnewood. See a map of where employees live here<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Bala Cynwyd resident Jenny Sved has been named the new executive director of Teach PA, the statewide affiliate of Jewish education advocacy organization Teach Coalition, which represents Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy and Perelman Jewish Day School. <\/p>\n

A new pet boutique, Mila\u2019s Pup Tienda, is coming to Ardmore<\/a>, taking over the space at 18 E. Lancaster Ave.<\/p>\n

6abc recently caught up with Carolyn Vachani, the owner of Plant 4 Good in Ardmore. When the former nurse was ready to retire, she decided to open the shop at 100 Cricket Ave. to help connect others to plants and gardening. See the segment here<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Wynnewood\u2019s English Village recently marked a milestone, turning 100 last year, and a century later still remains a coveted, if under-the-radar spot for homebuyers. The village sits between Cherry Lane and Wister Road and spans 29 Tudor-style homes. (Main Line Today<\/a>) <\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfeb Schools Briefing<\/p>\n

The district is hosting its third strategic plan community input meeting<\/a> on Wednesday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Lower Merion High School cafeteria. There, members of the community can share their thoughts on the district\u2019s strategic plan for 2026 to 2031. <\/p>\n

Tonight is Welsh Valley\u2019s winter choral concert. The school board will meet from 7 to 9 p.m. on Monday, and there will be tours of Harriton High for eighth grade students and their families on Wednesday, which is also course selection night. See the district\u2019s full calendar here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Lower Merion High School\u2019s wrestling team recently took home third place overall<\/a> in the Central League Championship Tournament, held at Harriton High School. It was the team\u2019s best overall performance. Senior Sam Soeffing also took home first place in his competition. <\/p>\n

\ud83c\udf7d\ufe0f On our Plate<\/p>\n

With a more than 700-person waitlist, a Gladwyne restaurant is surprisingly tough to get into, but it\u2019s the best meal The Inquirer\u2019s Kiki Aranita has eaten on the Main Line. Why\u2019s it so difficult to score a table? Partly because Carlton Commons is in senior-living community Waverly Heights and requires residency. For those with friends or relatives there, it\u2019s worth tagging along for the osso buco, butternut squash risotto, rigatoni alla vodka, or the signature tomato aspic<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Bikini Burger, a new eatery at 44 Rittenhouse Place in Ardmore, is hosting a ribbon cutting today<\/a> at 11:30 a.m. to mark its official opening. Its menu<\/a> includes burgers, milkshakes, and fries. <\/p>\n

Looking for a non-alcoholic cocktail? Char & Stave in Ardmore has a barrel-aged \u201cOld Fashioned,\u201d which Philadelphia Magazine says is among the best alcohol-free sips<\/a> on area menus currently, noting its barrel-aged espresso base gives it \u201ca bourbon-like, oaky smoothness.\u201d <\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfb3 Things to Do<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfb6 The Music of Beyonc\u00e9 and More for Kids<\/a>: This kid-friendly show will feature music from the iconic artist. \u23f0 Sunday, Jan. 25, 11:45 a.m. \ud83d\udcb5 $20.44 \ud83d\udccd Ardmore Music Hall<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfa5 The Awful Truth<\/a>: Catch a screening of this Cary Grant and Irene Dunne screwball comedy. \u23f0 Wednesday, Jan. 28, 7:15 p.m. \ud83d\udcb5 $11.75-$16.25 \ud83d\udccd Bryn Mawr Film Institute <\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfe1 On the Market<\/p>\n

A four-bedroom Wynnewood stone Colonial<\/a> <\/p>\n

Built in 1925, this spacious Wynnewood stone Colonial has a classic exterior and a contemporary updated interior. The home\u2019s first floor features a living room with a fireplace, and a dining room that opens onto the kitchen, which has a waterfall peninsula with a breakfast bar. There are four bedrooms and three full bathrooms on the second floor, and a \u201cbonus room\u201d on the third floor. The home also has a finished basement with a half bathroom. <\/p>\n

See more photos of the home here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Price: $1.25M | Size: 4,173 SF | Acreage: 0.18<\/p>\n

\ud83d\uddde\ufe0f What other Lower Merion residents are reading this week:<\/p>\n

By submitting your written, visual, and\/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer\u2019s Terms of Use<\/a>, including the grant of rights in Section 10.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com\/donate<\/a>. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org\/supporters<\/a>.<\/p>\n