👋 Good Morning, Lower Merion!

We hope your week got off to a great start! We trust everyone celebrated St. Patrick’s Day safely 🍀. For all you college hoops fans, it’s NCAA tournament time! St. Francis, PA anyone? If you know their mascot without looking, you deserve a HIGH 5!

As always, much gratitude to our section sponsors: The Main Line Guide, Your trustworthy Main Line realtor, Carolyn Kauffman, travel planner extraordinaires, The Magic Travel Pros, Main Line Athletes, and MainLineJobs.com.

We hope you find this issue helpful!

The Lower Merion Spotlight Crew

Whether it’s an outdoor excursion, a mini adventure with the family, or some nighttime entertainment you’re looking for, The Main Line Guide has you covered. Explore local events and see what the Lower Merion area has to offer.

💡SPOTLIGHT EVENT💡

Join the Main Line Networking Live event at Flip & Bailey’s on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, and get connected! Connect with local business owners and professionals in a private upstairs room at this trendy, historic gastropub. Savor light appetizers, drink specials, and a chance to win door prizes while making valuable connections. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door—space is limited! Showcase your brand by reserving a table and speak directly to an engaged crowd. Don’t miss this vibrant evening of networking done right. For more info and to register, CLICK HERE.

NIGHT LIFE

WELLNESS:

FAMILY FRIENDLY

Want to browse more events in Lower Merion and the surrounding area? Are you hosting an event you’d like thousands of locals to know about? You can do both by CLICKING HERE to visit The Main Line Guide.

TIRED OF FACEBOOK GROUP GUESSWORK?

At some point, it’s likely you will be deciding where to grab a bite or a drink. Let’s see if we can help.

If you know of a drink, dish, spot, deal, or sweet treat you think everyone should know about, make sure to e-mail us at [email protected].

LOCAL SWEET TREATS:

LOCAL SPECIAL:

LOCAL SPOT:

CLICK HERE to explore The Main Line Guide for more delicious restaurants and food specials in the area! Discover new flavors and hidden gems that will satisfy your cravings. Happy eating!

TIRED OF FACEBOOK GROUP GUESSWORK?

Introducing a new lifestyle section that highlights the diverse and exciting activities available in Lower Merion! Twice a week, readers will discover a variety of local lifestyle vibes designed to inspire mini-adventures and enrich daily life. Enjoy exploring all that this vibrant community has to offer!

Today’s share: The spring awakening at Rolling Hill’s blooming trails

Rolling Hill Park in Gladwyne blooms into spring with 103 acres of trails, a seasonal spotlight for outdoor enthusiasts. Wander through budding meadows or picnic with Schuylkill views nearby, where early crocuses dot the landscape. Open daily, its paths wind past serene vistas, perfect for a refreshing stroll or dog walk (leashed pups welcome). The park’s natural beauty invites you to soak in the season’s renewal, bring a blanket and enjoy the fresh air!

Located at 1301 Rose Glen Road, Gladwyne, PA

Want more inspiration? CLICK HERE to search The Main Line Guide for the lifestyle vibes that fit you. Hosting activities or running a venue that does? Get your info in there and let locals find you! Visit The Main Line Guide today!

LOOKING FOR A BIGGER ADVENTURE?

I had the pleasure of chatting with Alex, the owner of the Philadelphia Whitemarsh Rugby Academy over the weekend. As a 20-year elementary PE teacher, Alex recognized a growing hesitation in children to face physical challenges and embrace adversity. Inspired to make a difference, he founded the Philadelphia Whitemarsh Rugby Academy to introduce young kids to rugby, a sport that builds resilience, teamwork, and confidence. In this Q&A, Alex shares how his teaching experience shaped the academy and why rugby is a game-changer for youth development in the region. As a 19 year PE teacher myself…I coudn’t agree more with his sentiment.

Q - As a 20-year elementary PE teacher, what inspired you to channel your passion for youth into founding the Philadelphia Whitemarsh Rugby Academy?
A - While teaching K-4 PE for so many years, I noticed a change in children. Many have become hesitant to make mistakes and shy away from difficult physical challenges—and don’t even get me started on the screen time. The game of rugby highlights the need for all children to overcome real-life obstacles and push through difficult challenges in our lives, all while being part of something bigger than ourselves. Rugby allows all kiddos to experience adversity, make friends, discover their strengths, improve their weaknesses, and provide many opportunities for future experiences.

Q - How do you see rugby as a unique sport to foster physical and mental growth in young children compared to other sports?
A - I coached a successful single-school high school rugby team for 16 years, won a Pennsylvania state championship, and grew it to over 100 girl and boy student-athletes. I now want to share the game of rugby with all the other local area youth and allow them to see the greatest game ever created and share the rugby culture across our region. Rather than exclude kiddos from my previous single-school program, we now want to include all the area youth to join our regional youth rugby club.

Q - What personal experiences from your teaching career have shaped the values and programs you’ve implemented at the academy?
A - Our rugby academy makes rugby fun. We model our program after the best teaching practices in education. Many of our coaches are educators and ensure all athletes find enjoyment and success in learning the game of rugby.

Q - How does the academy cater to children of all skill levels, and what steps do you take to ensure every child feels included?
A - We offer all age levels from kindergarten up to 8th grade right now. We also include both flag and tackle options in our program to allow for introductory and advanced levels. We encourage girls and boys to be part of our growing rugby club. Rugby caters to all sizes and ability levels with so many positions offered.

Q - Can you share a memorable story of a child whose life was positively impacted by participating in your rugby programs?
A - I cannot count the number of times a high school senior athlete has come up to me and said, “I wish I would have had the chance to play rugby sooner.” I have seen those players go on to play professionally and even lead their college rugby programs as captains. I now want to make up for not giving younger kiddos that chance to start earlier.

Q - What challenges did you face when starting the academy, and how did your teaching background help you overcome them?
A - Growing a program from nothing is never easy. Getting the word out to parents about starting a less mainstream sport was the biggest challenge. After four years now, we have started to grow in parents’ conversations. I guess with teaching students K-4, you see their growth over the years and know there is a long game for each of them. Our PW Rugby Academy wants to play the long game by offering a quality sports program for girls and boys K-12, and we are excited to put in the time with these young athletes.

Q - How do you balance the competitive aspects of rugby with the importance of fun and personal development for the kids?
A - The game itself lends itself to fun and competitiveness. It is mentally impossible to master and always induces physical challenge. It shows the value of sacrificing for others and trusting your teammates. Everything about rugby highlights the importance of possessing positive character traits.

Q - What role do you believe community involvement plays in the success of the academy, and how do you encourage parental participation?
A - It takes a village. Parents are vital to the success of our program but also in their child’s choice of activities. We value that choice and put together an experience completely different from all other competitive sports. Once people learn the game of rugby and its culture, they rarely ever leave it.

Q - With your deep passion for youth, how do you plan to expand the academy’s reach to underserved or diverse communities?
A - Most other spring sports require expensive equipment and lavish travel expectations. Rugby requires cleats and a mouthpiece. Our commitment level is what each person makes of it. You can make it your life, or you can make it your part-time game. There are positions for all shapes, abilities, and sizes. Rugby is a game for all.

Q - Looking ahead, what long-term vision do you have for the Philadelphia Whitemarsh Rugby Academy and the future of youth rugby in the region?
A - We want to grow into a dominating high school rugby club program that offers rugby from kindergarten to 12th grade. We want to offer competitive levels and commitment levels for all players. This game can change so many lives for the better; we want everyone to find their passion for it.

Ready to give your kids a transformative rugby experience? Join the Philadelphia Whitemarsh Rugby Academy! You can contact Alex at [email protected] to get your K-12 child involved in a sport that builds resilience, teamwork, and fun. Don’t miss out on being part of this growing community!

MainLineJobs.com: Your Local Career Connection

Market Activity Report for Lower Merion and Narberth (Last 30 Days) 📊

_{Brought to you by our sponsor, Carolyn Kaufmann, Realtor with Keller Williams Main Line}

ARE YOU:

• 🤔 Curious about real-time market activity in your neighborhood?

• 💰 Looking to find out your home’s value in minutes?

• 📋 Interested in viewing all active and coming soon listings?

• 🏠 Looking to help someone buy or sell a home in Lower Merion?

Weekly Weather Forecast For Lower Merion Township

• Tuesday: ☀️ Sunny | High: 61°F | Low: 41°F

• Wednesday: ☁️ Cloudy | High: 66°F | Low: 44°F

• Thursday: 🌧️ Rain Showers | High: 64°F | Low: 38°F

• Friday: ☀️ Sunny | High: 47°F | Low: 36°F

• Saturday: ☁️ Cloudy | High: 56°F | Low: 39°F

• Sunday: ⛅ Partly Cloudy | High: 55°F | Low: 39°F

• Monday: 🌧️❄️ Rain and Snow | High: 58°F | Low: 43°F