Hello, Greater Abington!

Welcome to the inaugural edition of Inquirer Greater Abington, your go-to weekly roundup of the top stories affecting your community, from updates on your local government leaders and schools to restaurant openings and events. We hope to make your day a little easier with helpful and accurate news you can really use.

👋 I’m Laura, your trusty newsletter writer. I’ve called Greater Philadelphia home for about 12 years, and am endlessly charmed by the distinct identities of every borough, township, suburb, and city neighborhood. I hope this space will become your reliable news hub for everything Abington, Jenkintown, Cheltenham, and Elkins Park.

I’m hopeful I’ll hear feedback from you as this newsletter grows. Seriously, I want to know what you like most about this digest, what’s not working for you, and any suggestions for improvement or story tips. Just be nice — you’ve got real humans working on the other end of this thing.

Now, let’s get into the news.

Jenkintown residents are leading the charge on planning and fundraising for the borough’s new $1.3 million playground project. Also this week, e-bikes and e-scooters face a potential ban in parts of Abington, eligible homeowners can apply for emergency home repairs assistance, and arrests were made in two nearly identical cases affecting both the Abington and Cheltenham school districts after adult men allegedly had illegal sexual contact with students who are minors.

<i>— Laura Smythe (greaterabington@inquirer.com)</i>

P.S. Tell us what you think of the newsletter by taking our survey or emailing us at greaterabington@inquirer.com.

Jenkintown’s community-oriented, DIY spirit is on full display as residents gear up to build the borough’s new playground at the end of the month, following the beloved Jenkintown Castle demolition in April. Dubbed Legacy Park, the forthcoming $1.3 million project will include slides, swings, a toddler section, and an imaginative play area with a stage donated by Jenkintown Music Theatre.

Local volunteers have spearheaded planning and fundraising for the playground, while contractors will handle tasks such as land work, water drainage, and installing equipment to ensure safety and longevity.

The hands-on effort reflects Jenkintonians’ desire for the playground “to be a community project that benefits the most people,” said Kelly Hudson, a volunteer who helms the newly formed playground board. “We’re very prideful about our small little town.”

The Inquirer’s Jess Rohan, who covers all things Greater Abington, has the details on the project, including how you can volunteer to be part of it.

💡 Community news

Abington is moving toward banning e-bikes and e-scooters at public parks and trails following crashes across the region, but some local cyclists argue the current proposed ban is too broad.

Phillip Prince, a 40-year-old Glenside man, has been charged with attempted murder after Montgomery County prosecutors said he intentionally drove his car into a cyclist, The Inquirer’s Vinny Vella reports.

Neighbors can sue Gov. Josh Shapiro and his wife, Lori, as regular Montgomery County homeowners, but not in his official capacity, a federal judge ruled — something they’re pursuing after claiming the Shapiros used yard space that doesn’t belong to them to build an eight-foot security fence.

Commuters using the Jenkintown-Wyncote station will soon see a development underway that will include 86 apartments. Plus, 40 new apartments are headed to the former Helweg funeral home site in Jenkintown.

Some Abington residents are eligible to apply for a piece of the $200,000 Pennsylvania recently awarded to the township’s emergency home repairs program.

Area residents are taking to social media to share fond memories of Weinrich’s Bakery patriarch Edward Weinrich, who ran the Willow Grove family institution for decades. Weinrich died last month at 92.

Cheltenham’s board of commissioners has selected Jonathan Altshul, current town manager of Newington, Connecticut, as the township’s new incoming manager, per Glenside Local. He’ll be formally appointed at the board’s legislative meeting on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at Curtis Hall in Wyncote, as well as on Zoom.

Jenkintown’s Capricorn Books has moved to a new location, Glenside Local reports.

Schools briefing

Abington’s new forthcoming middle school, part of a $285 million project, could feature more parking, a class “pod” setup, and layouts for easier monitoring of classrooms and bathrooms.

A 21-year-old Philadelphia man, Jamaal Raheem, has been charged with unlawful sexual contact with a minor and related crimes after allegedly posing as a teenager to persuade an underage student to enter Cheltenham High School after hours.

Abington School District has launched an internal investigation to review security protocols after a nearly identical case, in which police charged Raeem Grange-Allen, 25, with attempted rape by force and attempted statutory sexual assault of a 14-year-old student who let him inside Abington Senior High School, according to a police affidavit.

🍽️ On our plate

Four Jenkintown bars participated in a Nicolas Cage-themed bar crawl last month, shaking up themed cocktails inspired by the actor and hosting “Cage match” challenges based on his films. Inquirer columnist Stephanie Farr details her experience at the crawl, likening it to many of Cage’s movies: “not a blockbuster, but still quirky and fun.”

🎳 Things to do

🎨 <b>Blacklight Ben Franklin Bridge 100th Anniversary</b>: Get smocked up and bring your artistic vision of the century-old bridge to life during this guided, BYOB painting session. ⏰ Friday, July 17, 7-9 p.m. 💵 $45 📍 Painting With a Twist, Jenkintown

🧵 <b>Flag-Making Workshop</b>: Get hands on with a variety of fabrics and materials to create a one-of-a-kind flag that tells your story. ⏰ Saturday, July 18, 10 a.m.-noon 💵 Free 📍 Abington Art Center

🥁 <b>Free Summer Concert Series</b>: Soak in the summer night while jamming out to the tunes of Irish band Shades of Green. ⏰ Saturday, July 18, 6 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 High School Park, Elkins Park

🏡 On the market

A 20th-century Tudor with elegant details

This property in Abington’s Baederwood neighborhood was constructed in 1938 for the Pennsylvania family behind now-defunct Laird & Schober Shoes, according to the listing. Details in this five-bedroom home include stone fireplaces, a handcrafted staircase in the foyer, and a great room with cathedral ceilings, exposed beams, glass-paneled walls, and a Juliet balcony.

See more photos of the property here.

<b>Price:</b> $1.2M | <b>Size:</b> 4,328 | <b>Acreage:</b> 0.93

📈 Greater Abington market report

Abington

<b>Median listing price</b>: $487,500 (down $7,400 from April) 📉

<b>Median sold price</b>: $451,000 (same as April)

<b>Median days on the market</b>: 25 (up five days from April) 📈

Jenkintown

<b>Median listing price</b>: $275,000 (down $50,000 from April) 📉

<b>Median sold price</b>: $553,800 (up $36,300 from April) 📈

<b>Median days on the market</b>: 27 (down 9 days from April) 📉

Cheltenham

<b>Median listing price</b>: $497,800 (up $65,300 from April) 📈

<b>Median sold price</b>: $530,000 (up $48,800 from April) 📈

<b>Median days on the market</b>: 25 (up one day from April) 📈

Elkins Park

<b>Median listing price</b>: $496,500 (up $71,600 from April) 📈

<b>Median sold price</b>: $425,000 (up $35,100 from April) 📈

<b>Median days on the market</b>: 28 (down three days from April) 📉

<i>This Greater Abington market report is published on a monthly basis. Above is data for May from realtor.com.</i>

🗞️ What other Greater Abington residents are reading this week:

Freedom Fuel stations across the Philly region offer cheap gas, feature local owners, and raise ethical concerns

Where to eat at the Jersey Shore this year, from Cape May to Ocean City

A beloved Eagles player moved to our neighborhood. Should we pretend he’s not a Super Bowl champion?!

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