Est. 2026 · Wayne · St. David's · Radnor Township

The Radnor Gazette

All the News That Fits the Township
Vol. I, No. 19 Sunday, July 26, 2026 Price: Free to Residents
This Week's Top Items
  1. Suspect arrested in Lewis Lane vehicle theft; stolen car recovered July 18. Delco Times reports Radnor police recovered the vehicle at approximately 5 p.m. July 18 and took a suspect into custody. See lead story.
  2. Land Rover of the Mainline reports four sets of rims and tires stolen July 17. The township posted an alert July 20 about a theft between 2:55 a.m. and 3:50 a.m. at 325 E. Lancaster Avenue. See lead column.
  3. Goat's Beard team names "Dahlia," a $2.5M higher-end Mexican restaurant, for former Di Bruno Bros. at Strafford. The Zoning Hearing Board granted the required parking variance on July 16. See lead column.
  4. Board of Commissioners introduces Ordinance 2026-19 for the $1.45M court purchase at its July 20 meeting. The board also took up an $82,500 bridge design contract for Ithan Valley Park. See Township Action Items.
  5. PECO storm damage closes Conestoga Road Tuesday and Bryn Mawr Avenue Wednesday. Both closures were announced within 24 hours as PECO crews responded. See Township Action Items.
The Lead

Suspect in Custody After Lewis Lane Vehicle Theft; Car Recovered July 18

Accountability loop closes on last week's overnight vehicle crime cluster.

Suspect Arrested in Lewis Lane Vehicle Theft

Radnor police recovered the vehicle stolen overnight July 17 to 18 from Lewis Lane at approximately 5 p.m. on July 18 and took a suspect into custody, according to Rich Ilgenfritz's July 20 police report roundup in the Delco Times. Vol. I, No. 18 led with the Lewis Lane theft as part of an overnight cluster that also entered vehicles on Barcladen Road and Browning Lane. The charges are allegations and have not been proven in court.

Four Sets of Rims and Tires Stolen From Land Rover of the Mainline

Motor vehicle parts were stolen between 2:55 a.m. and 3:50 a.m. on July 17 from vehicles in the lot of Land Rover of the Mainline at 325 E. Lancaster Avenue, according to a Radnor Township alert posted July 20. Stolen were four sets of rims and tires. The dealership is on the same commercial stretch of Lancaster Avenue where a similar Land Rover parts theft occurred in February.

Dahlia: $2.5M Higher-End Mexican Restaurant Planned for Former Di Bruno Site at Strafford

Goat's Beard co-owners Mike MacCrory and Sean Coyle plan a $2.5 million buildout of the former Di Bruno market at 385 W. Lancaster Avenue into "Dahlia," a higher-end Mexican restaurant with 180 indoor seats and 42 patio seats, SAVVY Main Line reported July 23. The Radnor Zoning Hearing Board granted the required parking variance on July 16, Patch reported July 22. The partners have signed a 10-year lease with two five-year options.

On the 18th about 5 p.m., the stolen vehicle was recovered, and a suspect was taken into custody. Delco Times, July 20 Radnor police report roundup.

Township Action Items  ·  Development and Real Estate

Conestoga Road Closed Tuesday for Downed Tree and Wires

Conestoga Road was closed between Boxwood and Meadowood roads around 8 a.m. Tuesday, July 21, according to Patch. About 20 area customers lost power, per PECO data cited in that report; the township posted the same alert.

Ordinance 2026-19 Introduced Monday for $1.45M Court Building Purchase

The Board of Commissioners introduced Ordinance 2026-19 at its July 20 meeting, authorizing purchase of 405 W. Wayne Avenue for $1.45 million so Delaware County can lease and relocate Magisterial District Court 32-2-43 back to Radnor. Adoption is pending the statutory public-notice window.

Resolution 2026-85 Authorizes Ithan Valley Park Bridge Design

The board acted on Resolution 2026-85 Monday, authorizing Carroll Engineering to perform design, permitting and bidding documents for rehabilitation of the upstream bridge at Ithan Valley Park in the amount of $82,500. Construction is not yet funded.

Dahlia Mexican Restaurant Confirmed for Former Di Bruno Bros.

See lead column for full detail on the plan by Mike MacCrory and Sean Coyle to convert the former Di Bruno Bros. at 385 W. Lancaster Avenue into a higher-end Mexican restaurant. Both Patch and SAVVY Main Line reported the concrete plan details this week.

Emerson Group Waiver on Monday's Agenda

The business agenda included a motion to approve the Emerson Group's request for waiver of land-development requirements; the plan set is attached on Granicus.

Safety Beat  ·  Schools (RTSD)

Residential Burglary Reported Early Saturday

Radnor Township Police posted on Facebook that officers are investigating a residential burglary that occurred at approximately 12:15 a.m. on Saturday, July 25, in the 700 block of a Radnor Township street. The township's crime alerts page had not published a companion release at deadline.

Quiet Week at RTSD; District in Summer Recess

The RTSD board calendar lists a School Board Business Meeting for Tuesday, July 28 at 7 p.m., marked "if necessary." The next regular business meeting is Tuesday, August 25. No committee or board meeting was streamed to RTSD-TV in the July 20 to 26 window.

New State School Code: Cyberbullying and AI Provisions

Spotlight PA reported July 12 that the state's $50.8 billion 2026-27 budget package includes new bullying and cyberbullying policy requirements for school districts and directs $121 million to school safety and mental-health grants. RTSD's ongoing policy review will operate under the new framework once districts receive PDE guidance.

RTSD Board Roster

Board of School Directors, 2025-2026: Liz Duffy (President), Susan Stern (Vice President), Sarah Dunn Esq., Clare Girton, Jannie Lau, Thomas Le, Lon Rosenblum, Lydia T. Solomon, DJ Thornton. Superintendent: Kenneth Batchelor. Contact information at rtsd.org/board/board.

Environment and Parks  ·  Community and Lifestyle

Shade Tree Commission Meets July 29

The commission's July 29 agenda is posted on Granicus. The meeting is 6:30 p.m. at the Township Building.

PA 352 / US 1 Draft PEL Comment Period Closes July 31

PennDOT extended the public comment period for the Draft Planning and Environmental Linkages Report for the PA 352 and US 1 Roadway Improvements Project to Friday, July 31, per Rep. Borowski's July 23 newsletter. The project affects the interchange in Middletown Township; comments may be filed online.

Author Events at Main Point Books

Programming continues at Main Point Books, 116 N. Wayne Avenue; full schedule at the store's website.

Upcoming Events

DateEventDetails
Tue Jul 28, 7:00 PMRTSD School Board Business Meeting (if necessary)Radnorshire Room, 301 Iven Ave. BoardDocs.
Wed Jul 29, 6:30 PMShade Tree CommissionTownship Building. Agenda.
Wed Jul 29American Red Cross Blood Drive with Rep. BorowskiNewtown Square. Newsletter.
Wed Jul 29Scam Jam with Rep. BorowskiNewtown Square. Newsletter.
Fri Jul 31PennDOT PA 352 / US 1 Draft PEL public comment period closesDetails.
Sat Aug 1Delaware County annual assessment appeal deadline (filings received Mon Aug 3 are timely)County form.
Mon Aug 3, 6:30 PMPlanning CommissionTownship Building. Calendar.
Wed Aug 5, 6:30 PMHistorical & Architectural Review BoardTownship Building. Calendar.
Sat Aug 8Rep. Borowski Paper Shredding & E-RecyclingNewtown Square. Newsletter.
Wed Aug 12, 6:00 PMDesign Review BoardTownship Building. Calendar.
Tue Aug 25, 7:00 PMRTSD School Board Business MeetingRadnorshire Room, 301 Iven Ave.
Aug 23 to 24SEPTA Bus Network Redesign Phase 1 launchesRegional transit change previewed in Vol. I, No. 17.

Also Reported This Week