👋 Good Morning, Lower Merion!

Looking at the forecast, this week could use some warming up. Brrrr 🥶

In the Spotlight:

💡Meet Your State Rep: Join Rep. Mary Jo Daley for a Community Chat

💡Know a Cookie Booth? Let Us Know!

💡Camp Kef Day: Fun for Families and Future Campers

💡Explore Summer Fun at the 38th Annual Main Line Camp Fair

💡Magic, Comedy, and Murray: A Night to Remember

Keep on reading to learn more about what’s going on around Lower Merion and Narberth over the next few days. We hope you find something useful! Stay Warm!

The Lower Merion Spotlight Crew

Are there some local events we should know about? Click the button below and let us know. It’s your newsletter, after all! 🙂

In this issue of the Lower Merion Spotlight

🏘️ Real Estate and Housing Insights

🔍 Your Community: Up Close

📅 Lifestyle and Local Happenings

📝 Community Services and Resources

☀️ Lower Merion Weather

Current Interest Rates – January 2025

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

Federal Reserve Benchmark Rate:

• 5.25% to 5.50%
  (Significant increases over the past two years to combat inflation.)

Mortgage Rates:

• 30-Year Fixed Mortgage Rates: 6.5% to 7%

Savings Account Rates:

• High-Yield Savings Accounts: 4% to 4.5%

📅 Interest Rates One Year Ago – January 2024

• Federal Funds Rate: 4.25% to 4.50%

• 30-Year Fixed Mortgage Rates: 6% to 6.5%

• High-Yield Savings Accounts: 3.5% to 4%

📈 Summary of Changes:

• The federal funds rate has increased by approximately 1% since January 2024.

• Mortgage rates remain high, with a slight uptick compared to last year.

• Savings account rates have risen, offering higher yields as a result of the Fed’s rate hikes.

💡 Key Takeaway: Interest rates are still higher than in recent years, though they’ve stabilized somewhat since mid-2024. The Fed has signaled a cautious approach to further hikes, indicating a period of relative stability in rates.

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?

Meet Your State Rep: Join Rep. Mary Jo Daley for a Community Chat

Know a Cookie Booth? Let Us Know!

Camp Kef Day: Fun for Families and Future Campers

Explore Summer Fun at the 38th Annual Main Line Camp Fair

Would you like to see your camp put in the spotlight? The Lower Merion Spotlight summer camp series begins Friday. E-mail us for details at [email protected]

Magic, Comedy, and Murray: A Night to Remember

Want The Spotlight?

SPECIAL EVENTS

Tuesday, January 21, 2025

• Live Music: Jack Mangene
  📍 Gypsy Saloon | 🕒 6:00 PM

• No Buy-In Texas Hold'Em
  📍 Great American Pub Narberth | 🕒 8:00 PM

• Off Screens & Outside - Virtual Presentation
  📍 Riverbend | 🕒 7:00 - 8:30 PM

Wednesday, January 22, 2025

• Live Music: David Zweiback
  📍 Gypsy Saloon | 🕒 6:30 PM

• Wine Wednesday Tasting Series
  📍 Local Wine & Kitchen | 🕒 6:30 - 8:30 PM

• Jazz Jam Sessions
  📍 McCloskey's Tavern | 🕒 Time TBD

• Karaoke Night
  📍 118 North | 🕒 7:30 PM

• Main Line Camp Fair
  📍 Conestoga High School | 🕒 5:30 - 8:00 PM | details

Thursday, January 23, 2025

• Live Music: Tall Heights
  📍 118 North | 🕒 6:00 PM

• Live Music: Marc Storace
  📍 Gypsy Saloon | 🕒 6:30 PM

• Live Music: Badfish: A Tribute to Sublime
  📍 Ardmore Music Hall | 🕒 8:00 PM

• Quizzo
  📍 Gullifty's | 🕒 8:30 PM

• Live Music: Chris Grunwald
  📍 The Pullman | 🕒 5:30 - 8:30 PM

Friday, January 24, 2025

• Live Music: Jeff & Diandra
  📍 Gypsy Saloon | 🕒 7:30 PM

• Live Music: The Dave Matthews Tribute Band
  📍 Ardmore Music Hall | 🕒 8:00 PM

• Quizzo Night
  📍 John Henry's Pub | 🕒 9:00 PM

• Live Music: Huge in Europe
  📍 118 North | 🕒 9:30 PM

• Live Music: Rich Lanzilotti
  📍 The Pullman | 🕒 6:00 - 9:00 PM

• Live Music: Jen and Friends
  📍 Dawson Street Pub | 🕒 Time TBD

Saturday, January 25, 2025

• Live Music: Stephen Dijoseph
  📍 118 North | 🕒 4:00 PM

• Live Music: Bryan Miller
  📍 Gypsy Saloon | 🕒 7:30 PM

• Girl Dad Day
  📍 Finneran Pavilion | 🕒 Time TBD

• Live Music: Concrete Charlie
  📍 118 North | 🕒 9:00 PM

• Seed to Supper Cooking Workshop
  📍 Riverbend | 🕒 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM

• Milionga Alternative
  📍 Pivot Ballroom | 🕒 5:00 - 9:00 PM

• Live Music: Rich Lanzilotti
  📍 The Pullman | 🕒 6:00 - 9:00 PM

• Live Music: Turtle Ridge w/ Rare Spirits
  📍 Dawson Street Pub | 🕒 Time TBD

Sunday, January 26, 2025

• Live Music: Music of Bruce Springsteen for Kids
  📍 Ardmore Music Hall | 🕒 11:45 AM

• Live Music: Jerry Watkins
  📍 Gypsy Saloon | 🕒 6:00 PM

• Live Music: Lyons Jane & Mighty Joe Castro
  📍 118 North | 🕒 7:30 PM

• Live Music: Janis Joplin Night
  📍 Dawson Street Pub | 🕒 Time TBD

• Camp Kef Day
  📍 Kaiserman JCC | 🕒 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Monday, January 27, 2025

• Live Music: Jack Mangene
  📍 Gypsy Saloon | 🕒 6:00 PM

RECURRING EVENTS

• 12th Annual A Cappella Sing Off | Hosted by Rotary Club of Ardmore
  📍Penn Valley Elementary School | 📅 February 2nd | Get TIX

• NICKEL BOYS | THE BRUTALIST | A COMPLETE UNKNOWN | A REAL PAIN
  📍Bryn Mawr Film Institue | 🕒 Check Showtimes

• Art Exhibition | The Cut-Up Club

  📍Main Line Art Center | 🕒 Gallery Hours

• Kaiserman JCC

  • Full Event Calendar | 🔍Search offerings

• Wolf Performing Arts Center

  • Auditions | 🔍Search offerings

  • Classes | 🔍 Search offerings

• Main Line Art Center

  • Adult and Youth classes start soon

    🔍 Search catalog

• Playin’ Time Productions
  📍Kelly Music Center | 🔍 Search classes
  

LOOKING FOR A BIGGER ADVENTURE?

👇Want your event listed in the Spotlight? Let us know. We’re here for you!👇

LOWER MERION LIBRARY SYSTEM

Tuesday, January 21, 2025

Gladwyne: Profiting from Today’s Record-High Gold & Silver Prices
📍 Gladwyne Library | 🕒 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
📚 Categories: Financial Literacy

BALA CYNWYD: Story Time
📍 Bala Cynwyd Library | 🕒 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM
📚 Categories: Storytimes
👥 Audience: Kids, Families, Babies & Toddlers

BELMONT: Story Time
📍 Belmont Hills Library | 🕒 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM
📚 Categories: Storytimes
👥 Audience: Kids, Families, Babies & Toddlers

LUDINGTON: Story Time with Miss Jackie
📍 Large Auditorium, Ludington Library | 🕒 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM
📚 Categories: Storytimes
👥 Audience: Babies & Toddlers

Ludington: Zoom 101 – How to Join and Host Meetings
📍 Large Meeting Room, Ludington Library | 🕒 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
📚 Categories: Computers
👥 Audience: Adults, Older Adults

Ludington: Open Tech Help
📍 Large Meeting Room, Ludington Library | 🕒 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
📚 Categories: Computers
👥 Audience: Adults, Older Adults

PENN WYNNE: Middle School Meetup (Grades 5–8)
📍 PW Meeting Room, Penn Wynne Library | 🕒 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
📚 Categories: Social Activities
👥 Audience: Teens, Tweens

BELMONT: Tales to Tails
📍 Belmont Hills Library | 🕒 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
📚 Categories: Basic Literacy
👥 Audience: Adults, Teens, Kids, Older Adults, Tweens

Wednesday, January 22, 2025

Ludington: Virtual Chair Yoga with Sinclair Brown
📍 Ludington Library | 🕒 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
📚 Categories: Health Literacy
👥 Audience: Adults, Older Adults

Penn Wynne: Conversational ESL Class
📍 Penn Wynne Library | 🕒 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
📚 Categories: Basic Literacy, Information Literacy
👥 Audience: Adults, Older Adults

LUDINGTON: Story Time with Miss Ashley
📍 Large Auditorium, Ludington Library | 🕒 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM
📚 Categories: Storytimes
👥 Audience: Babies & Toddlers

ARDMORE: Music Playgroup
📍 Ardmore Library | 🕒 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
📚 Categories: Music
👥 Audience: Kids, Families, Babies & Toddlers

Penn Wynne: Crafternoons
📍 PW Meeting Room, Penn Wynne Library | 🕒 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM
📚 Categories: Arts & Crafts
👥 Audience: Teens, Kids, Families, Tweens

BALA CYNWYD: Crochet Club with Miss Ashley
📍 Bala Cynwyd Library | 🕒 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
📚 Categories: Arts & Crafts
👥 Audience: Teens, Tweens

Gladwyne: Comic Book Club
📍 Gladwyne Library | 🕒 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
📚 Categories: Arts & Crafts, Basic Literacy, Writing
👥 Audience: Kids

ARDMORE: Teen Dungeons & Dragons Club
📍 Ardmore Library | 🕒 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
📚 Categories: Gaming
👥 Audience: Teens

PENN WYNNE: Chess Club (Ages 7–10)
📍 PW Meeting Room, Penn Wynne Library | 🕒 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
📚 Categories: Strategy Games
👥 Audience: Kids

BELMONT: What to Expect When You're Expecting and Beyond with Dr. Soni Arora
📍 Belmont Hills Library | 🕒 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
📚 Categories: Health Literacy
👥 Audience: Adults

Thursday, January 23, 2025

LUDINGTON: Story Time with Miss Melody
📍 Large Auditorium, Ludington Library | 🕒 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM
📚 Categories: Storytimes
👥 Audience: Babies & Toddlers

ARDMORE: Ms. Dawnita's Story Time
📍 Ardmore Library | 🕒 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM
📚 Categories: Storytimes
👥 Audience: Babies & Toddlers

Notes on Modern Irrationality with Bestselling Author Amanda Montell
📍 TBD | 🕒 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
📚 Categories: Author Event
👥 Audience: Adults

💡Check the full calendar of events by here. 💡

PARKS AND RECREATION

PARK AND REC NEWS

• Winter programs START SOON!

  • Winter 2025 information

• All activities calendar

MUNICIPAL HIGHLIGHTS - LOWER MERION TOWNSHIP

UPCOMING COUNCIL/COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Finance Committee | 7:00 PM
Administrative & Human Resources Committee | 7:25 PM
Board of Commissioners | 7:30 PM

Monday, January 27, 2025
Historical Commission | 4:00 PM

Tuesday, January 28, 2025
Environmental Advisory Council | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Full Calendar HERE

MORE INFO

• The township NEEDS YOUR FEEDBACK! Please take the Five Year Consolidated Plan Survey HERE (January 31st deadline).

• Click HERE for community resources

MUNICIPAL HIGHLIGHTS - NARBERTH BOROUGH

UPCOMING COUNCIL/COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Full Calendar HERE

MORE INFO

• Click HERE for community resources

Weekly Weather Forecast For Lower Merion Township

• Tuesday: 🌨️ Light Snow | High: 17°F | Low: 7°F

• Wednesday: ☀️ Sunny | High: 16°F | Low: 5°F

• Thursday: ⛅ Mostly Sunny | High: 25°F | Low: 12°F

• Friday: ⛅ Mostly Sunny | High: 29°F | Low: 17°F

• Saturday: 🌤️ Partly Cloudy | High: 33°F | Low: 26°F

• Sunday: ☁️ Cloudy | High: 37°F | Low: 27°F