Saturday night's Powerball jackpot has climbed to $550 million—the second highest Powerball prize of all time. A winner who matches all five numbers and the red Powerball can get a $350.1 million cash payout (before taxes).

The Powerball drawing is held every Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. 

The largest Powerball Jackpot cash payout to date was $384 million and was won in November 2012 in Arizona and Missouri.

Here are some local places to buy Powerball tickets:

• 7-Eleven, 169 W. City Ave., Bala Cynwyd
• Acme, 121 E. City Ave., Bala Cynwyd
• Acme, 829 Montgomery Ave., Penn Valley
• Bala News, 1 Bala Plaza, Bala Cynwyd
• Bala Pizza, 163 Bala Ave., Bala Cynwyd
• Express Deli, 2 Bala Plaza, Bala Cynwyd
• Narberth Pharmacy, 220 Haverford Ave., Narberth
• Rite Aid, 640 Montgomery Ave., Narberth
• Sunoco, 101 Belmont Ave., Bala Cynwyd
• Sunoco, 1 E. City Ave., Bala Cynwyd
• U.S. Mailroom, 45 E. City Ave., Bala Cynwyd
• Wawa, 193 Belmont Ave., Bala Cynwyd
• Wawa, Route 23 and Rock Hill Road, Bala Cynwyd
• Wawa, 949 Montgomery Ave., Penn Valley
• 7-Eleven, 969 Glenbrook Ave., Bryn Mawr
• Acme, 601 W. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr
• Bryn Mawr Beverage, 196 Landover Road, Bryn Mawr
• Bryn Mawr News Agency, 916 W. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr
• Mrs. Marty's Deli, 22 N. Bryn Mawr Ave., Bryn Mawr
• Rite Aid, 705 W. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr
• Sunoco, 1240 Lancaster Ave., Rosemont
• Sunoco, 775 W. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr
• Super Fresh, 1110 Youngs Ford Road, Gladwyne
• Wawa, 201 S. Bryn Mawr Ave., Bryn Mawr

Here's How to Play Powerball, according to the PA Lottery:

1. Visit your PA Lottery retailer and pick up a Powerball Lottery playslip. Each game is $2. For an additional dollar, you can select the Powerball Power Play® option. 
2. Play up to five panels on your Powerball playslip. On each game panel, select five numbers from 1 to 59 in the top grid, and select one number from 1 to 35 in the bottom grid – that’s your Powerball number! Or, select the quick pick option to have your numbers randomly selected by the computer.
3. Be sure to check your Powerball ticket as soon as you receive it to verify that the information is correct and legible.

There are 23 open houses scheduled for the weekend of May 18-19 in the Ardmore-Merion-Wynnewood Patch coverage area, according to the listings on AOL Real Estate.

The highest asking price is $1,250,000, for 317 Berkley Road. It has 6 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms and can be seen Sunday between 2 and 4 p.m.

To find more open houses around the greater Philadelphia area, visit realestate.aol.com.

If you are in favor of privatizing the state’s liquor sales, odds are good that your neighbor feels differently, at least according to one poll.

The Frankin and Marshall College poll of Pennsylvania voters for May 2013 showed that voters are nearly split on the issue of liquor sales in the state. 47 percent of polled voters are in favor of ending state control.

According to the poll, the 47 percent in May is “significantly lower than it was in February,” when 53 percent of voters were in favor privatizing liquor.

“Support for selling the state stores has declined from February among both Republicans (54 percent, down from 61 percent) and Democrats (41 percent, down from 48 percent),” the study states. 

Additionally, the number of voters who “strongly oppose” changing the state-run liquor business rose from 24 percent in February to 31 percent in May. Check out the February poll here.

“Despite support for the liquor stores sales, more registered voters believe the state-owned liquor stores should continue as they are (31 percent) or be modernized (26 percent) than believe they should be sold to private companies (37 percent),” the study states.

The poll also found that privatizing Pennsylvania liquor stores was low on voter priorities, getting a mean score of 4.9 out of 10 and making it the second-lowest rated issue of the poll in front of “privatizing the lottery.” The highest-rated issue was “improve the state economy.”

Do you think Pennsylvania should privatize liquor stores? How important is it to you that lawmakers address this issue? Share your opinions in the comments area below.

Check out more findings from the Franklin & Marshall College Poll from May 2013:

• Same-Sex Marraige 
• Legalized Pot

The Montgomery County Health Department recently conducted inspections on facilities in Lower Merion Township.

Below is each facility's name as well as the date of its inspection. Also listed is each facility's number of violations, out of 54 categories. To see the complete report for each listing, visit the Montgomery County Health Department website here.

Ardmore

• Barbacoa, 64 Rittenhouse Place, Ardmore (inspected 5/13, 1 total violation)
• Cupcakes Gourmet, Ardmore Farmer’s Market, 120 Coulter Avenue, Ardmore (inspected 5/7, 0 total violations)
• Dunkin Donuts, 163 W. Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore (inspected 5/9, 1 total violation)
• McCloskey’s Tavern, 17 Cricket Avenue, Ardmore (inspected 5/2, 6 total violations)
• Shreeji Subway Inc., 61 W. Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore (inspected 5/7, 1 total violation)
• Silver Springs Chinese and Japanese Cuisine, 11 Cricket Avenue, Ardmore (inspected 5/9, 11 total violations)
• Starbucks, 41 St. James Place, Ardmore (inspected 5/9, 0 total violations)
• Stoultzfus Poultry and Meat, 120 Coulter Avenue, Ardmore (inspected 5/7, 2 total violations)

Bala Cynwyd

• Group Dynamics In Focus, Inc., 555 City Line Avenue, Bala Cynwyd (inspected 5/7. total violations 1)
• Juice Plus (LA Fitness), 25 E. City Avenue, Bala Cynwyd (inspected 5/7, 2 total violations)
• The New Tavern Restaurant, 261 Montgomery Avenue, Bala Cynwyd (inspected 5/7, 6 total violatons)

Bryn Mawr

• Bryn Mawr Hospital Café, 130 S. Bryn Mawr Avenue, Bryn Mawr (inspected 5/8, 4 total violations)
• Lourdas Greek Taverna Inc., 50 N. Bryn Mawr Avenue, Bryn Mawr (inspected 5/7, 4 total violations)
• Pinkberry, 761 W. Lancaster Avenue, Bryn Mawr (inspected 5/9, 2 total violations)
• Sunoco, 775 W. Lancaster Avenue, Bryn Mawr (inspected 5/13, 0 total violations)

Gladwyne

• The Gladwyne Lunch Box, 951 Youngsford Road, Gladwyne (inspected 5/13, 2 total violations)
• The Old Guard House Inn, 953 Youngsford Road, Gladwyne (inspected 5/9, 3 total violations)

Haverford

• Kiwi Yogurt, 392 W. Lancaster Avenue, Haverford (inspected 5/13, 3 total violations)
• Sunrise Assisted Living, 217 W. Montgomery Avenue, Haverford (inspected 5/13, 2 total violations)

Rosemont

• McDonalds, 1257 Lancaster Avenue, Rosemont (inspected 5/7, 6 total violations)
• Rosemont A Plus, 1240 E. Lancaster Avenue, Rosemont (inspected 5/13, 5 total violations)

Wynnewood

• Sunoco A Plus Mini Market, 330 E. Lancaster Avenue, Wynnewood(inspected 5/13, 2 total violations)

Americans may be living longer, but our retirement plans aren’t keeping up. Which means people are living longer with smaller bank accounts.

But Marlene Konkoly will retire at age 50. How did she do it? She contributes a whopping 45 percent of the gross annual income she earns as a procurement officer for an automotive finance company to her retirement—all while owning a home and remaining debt-free.

Konkoly is actually well ahead of the retirement savings curve compared to many of her fellow Americans. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, fewer than half of Americans even know how much money they would need to retire. And nearly a third of employees who had access to a defined contribution plan such as a 401(k) did not participate in it.

“Save at least what your employer matches in your 401(k),” Konkoly said. “It’s like saying no to free money if you don’t.”

Konkoly, who lives in Royal Oak, MI, said she started saving at 22—but only because other people said she should. She saved a mere 2 percent at her first job out of college. 

“I didn’t think I could afford much. I didn’t have any understanding of savings and how it would affect my future,” she said.

$17,000 in Debt

At 27, she had $17,000 in credit card debt—but this became a turning point in her financial history.

“I made the decision right then to get myself out of debt,” she said. “I took on extra work where I could. I started to learn how to research purchases before I bought items, and I began budgeting for the first time ever. I successfully eliminated my debt five years later.”

Once she was out of credit card debt, Konkoly, who is single and has no children, turned her focus to her golden years.

“I started to see people around me who simply could not afford to ever retire,” she said. “I knew I didn’t want to be in that position, so I started applying the same principles which got me out of debt toward saving more for retirement.”

How She Got Smart

Konkoly decided to get smart: She took graduate classes in personal finance to understand her portfolio and learn about retirement savings. She reads books, researches on the Internet and follows blogs about saving and investing. And she works with a financial adviser she trusts.

“Just because I can do it myself doesn’t mean I have to,” Konkoly said. “Having a professional adviser allows me to focus on other parts of my life without the time commitment of constantly researching the market.”

Maxing Out Her 401K

Konkoly “maxes out” on everything. She contributes the maximum to her employer’s 401(k), to other retirement investments such as a Roth IRA, and to her employer’s health savings account. She also has a personal investment account for everything else except emergencies.

Fitness for $12 a Month

“My favorite fitness trainer says, ‘Nothing that is easy is ever going to change your body,’” Konkoly said. “The same principle applies to finances. If it’s easy, it won’t move the needle. Yes, it does mean I have to sacrifice in other areas, and sometimes it makes me uncomfortable thinking of all the things I can buy with that money, but I remain focused on my goals to counteract that discomfort.”

To really maximize her savings, Konkoly uses coupons, and takes advantage of loyalty programs, travel miles and credit card points. She streams television on the Internet rather than paying for cable, and subscribes to a $12-a-month fitness video on-demand service instead of a gym membership.

She Pays Herself First

“I put savings at a higher priority than all of the other creature comforts,” she said.

Her One Splurge

She does, however, splurge now and then, and her ultimate passion is travel. For her 40th birthday last year, she spent 10 days traveling to Austria, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. She stayed in nothing but five-star resorts, and spent a total of $1,400 on airfare, accommodations, meals and train transportation.

In her retirement, Konkoly plans to continue to travel the world, and says she would love to relocate to Sausalito, CA “for the wonderful weather and gorgeous views of San Francisco Bay.”

About this series: As part of our Smart Spending reporting, Patch is profiling people across the country who have found creative ways to save money. Are you an extreme saver? We want to hear from you! Share your story here or in the comments section below.

Lower Merion Police will conduct impaired driving checkpoints and roving patrols through the township from May 17 to May 19.

According to the township, the initiative is part of a partnership with a national impaired driving crackdown that entails highly visible enforcement activities and uses the tagline, “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”      

The sobriety checkpoint is being funded by a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation grant.

The final episode of 'The Office' isn't just a difficult goodbye for the long-running NBC sitcom's die hard fans. It marks a major turning point for the cast too.

In an interview with Philly.com, America's favorite fictional alcoholic, Ardmore native Kate Flannery, opened up about her humble beginnings and her favorite moments from what was she said was the best, and longest, job of her life.

Here's what the Archbishop John Carroll graduate said when asked about her favorite episode of the show:

Favorite episode ever, from Meredith's perspective?

"I'm going to have to say 'Moroccan Christmas,' where Michael Scott [Steve Carell] basically decides to hold an intervention during a Christmas party, literally dragging [Meredith, whose hair caught fire in the episode] into rehab. And that episode was directed by Paul Feig, who directed 'Bridesmaids.' "

To read the full interview, click here.

It’s that time of year again and you’re outside, enjoying your yard. Then you start nosing around—maybe you’re inspecting your plants, or reviewing the condition of your lawn or setting up your sprinklers—and before you know it, reality hits.

You need to paint the house.   

A daunting task. An expensive task. A necessary task—because it's not just about how your house looks, it's about your home's value. Neglect is not an option.

Take heart, however. Information and resources have never been more easily available to help you through this project.

Know Your Options

Your options are to either hire a contractor or paint it yourself. Hiring a contractor is an expensive option, but if it's in your budget and you do the necessary research to find a quality contractor, you won't regret it.

The best method to find a professional painter is word-of-mouth. Ask a neighbor who's recently repainted, or go to a local paint store and ask for recommendations. You could also use a service such as the popular Angie's List. Once you've contacted the painter, ask for references before you even bother getting a quote.

Most professional contractors will give you a free estimate. They know what they're looking for and can point out important issues you may have missed such as carpentry work on deteriorated siding.

If your house is extremely tall or has dangerous gables, professionals have the equipment and insurance to handle this type of treacherous job. And many contractors guarantee their work for a year, so if something chips or peels, you’re covered.

Your DIY Checklist

If your budget—or your house—is smaller, and you enjoy a good do-it-yourself project, you can paint your house yourself. It's a multi-step process, and you’ll want to spend some time preparing for it. Here’s a brief game plan:

1. Decide when to paint. Spring and fall are the best times of year to paint. When outside temperatures are in the mid-50s and higher, the caulk, primer and paint cure properly.

2. Decide where to start your prep work. Do you need to scrape peeling areas? Do you have any rotten wood that needs to be replaced? Be sure to check the base of your columns and areas around and under gutters. Also check all window sills, especially windows that are in damp, shady areas. Replacing wood might require a handyman, and getting someone who knows what they are doing is worth every penny.

Do you have metal railings or awnings that need painting? This requires a whole different set of supplies and techniques.

3. Once all the scraping and potential rot problems are addressed, the next job is to pressure wash your house. Even if it's brick or stucco, wash it anyway to remove any mold or mildew that will compromise your new paint job. If you’re doing this yourself, you’ll need to rent equipment and plan a day (at least) to complete the task.  

There is skill involved in pressure washing. Not too hard, not too soft. Make sure you find out which PSI setting the sprayer should be on for your particular house materials. To bleach or not to bleach? If your bleach is too strong, it will kill your plants, so consider holding off on new plantings until the job is done.  

You can do this yourself—just do your homework first. Pressure washing is a very satisfying job, but it's not an easy one.

4. Now she's clean—sparkling even. Time to caulk and prime. You’ll want to get every joint, every crack, every piece of wood. Caulking makes your paint job appear seamless, and seals off your home from infestation of termites, bees, and other problematic invaders. It also makes your home more energy efficient.

If your house already has several coats of paint, you may only need to prime new or recently exposed wood. The quality and type of primer you use in those cases is important. Many new paints have built-in primer, but old-school painters don't go for that. Primer is an entirely different product from paint, so choose carefully. Primer not only protects your paint job, it can help you solve for lead-based paint issues and oil vs. latex.  

5. Now for the fun part! The colors. If your house is brick and you only need to paint a few siding areas, shutters and trim, you might want to keep the colors that came with the house. But if you're open, a change can make it feel like a brand new home!

The newest software at Behr Paint offers color visualizer options that help you select both interior and exterior colors. You can view varying styles of homes and select swatches to make a virtual colorboard. You can also get sample bottles for a small fee at local Home Depot stores so you can try it before you buy it.   

Home Depot’s website offers a wealth of information on all the brands of paint it carries, including Martha Stewart and Glidden paints, and the top-rated Behr. Speaking of name brand paints, do your homework here as well. Cheap paint won't hold up to sun and weather. This is an extremely labor-intensive job and you don't want to have to do it again for at least another ten years. Don't skimp on quality when it comes to exterior paint. If you are using a professional painter, make sure you find out what brand they prefer. Sometimes it's more about their bottom line than the longevity of the paint job. Make sure they are using quality products.

Looking to choose an entirely new paint palette? Take a ride through nearby neighborhoods on a sunny afternoon to see what others are doing. It's important to consider the colors of your roof shingles and any stone or brick on the foundation before you decide on a color. Reviewing exterior colors on other homes might change your ideas about what colors to choose for your own house.

If you just can’t make up your mind, hire a professional color consultant for a one-hour consultation.

Once you select your colors, you'll need to determine quantities and buy supplies. Ask the experts at the store. Paint department employees have extensive training and experience and they really know their stuff. They can talk you through brushing vs. spraying, rolling vs. brushing, and all the other possibilities.  

It's a lot of work to paint your own house. But if you take your time with it, you can save thousands of dollars and take great pride in your finished product.

Lower Merion Police have arrested the man they believe was the driver in the April 25 hit-and-run that injured a Bryn Mawr mother and her 5-year-old twins.

Stephen John Groch, 27, a resident of the 90 block of Ellis Road in Havertown, was charged on Wednesday after Lower Merion Police used cellphone records to tie him to the accident, according to township public information officer Tom Walsh. Groch was charged with three felony charges of accident involving death or physical injury and three additional misdemeanors.

On April 25 at 1:30 p.m., a 46-year-old Bryn Mawr woman and her 5-year-old twins were hit by a black Ford F-150 pickup truck as they crossed the intersection of Lancaster and Bryn Mawr avenues. According to police, the truck did not stop after the impact, continuing westbound on Lancaster Avenue.

The three victims were taken to Bryn Mawr Hospital. According to Lower Merion Police, one of the children sustained a skull fracture and additional fractures to the left hip and pelvis. The girl was transferred to the Nemours/Alfred I.duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware due to the severity of her injuries, but has since been released.

According to police, roughly two hours after the accident, a black Ford F-150 pickup truck was seen parked in the parking lot of Bryn Mawr College's West House on Wyndon Avenue—about a half mile north of the crash scene. According to police, the vehicle was found with its front wheels turned all the way to the left and the headlights still on.

At this point, Lower Merion Police say they contacted Groch, who said that the Ford must have been stolen.

The truck was then impounded, police say, and search warrants were acquired for Groch's cell phone records and the vehicle itself. Police say a search of the truck produced no evidence indicating it had been stolen, while the cellphone records suggested Groch was in the vicinity of the crash at the time of the accident.

Based on this information, Groch was charged on Wednesday.

A federal judge on Tuesday set a trial date for Kobe Bryant's escalating battle with his mother over $1.5 million of memorabilia she says he left at her Pennsylvania home, the Courier-Post is reporting.

According to the paper, the Bryants will have what figures to be a tense family reunion on June 17 in a courtroom in Camden, where U.S. District Judge Renee Marie Bum will allow Kobe's California-based complaint to be transferred into her court. Philly.com has reported that, according to their attorneys, both Kobe and mom Pamela Bryant will be in attendance.

The mother-son beef began on April 30, when Goldin Auctions, a New Jersey-based auction house, announced that it would be selling off an estimated $1.5 million of Kobe's memorabilia—including jerseys and a ring from his time at Lower Merion High School—in June. Pamela Bryant received a reported $450,000 advance for the items, which she says Kobe left in her home 15 years ago.

Kobe's legal team immediately sent the auction house a cease-and-desist letter, alleging that Pamela Bryant was not the rightful owner of the property. This prompted a lawsuit brought by Goldin, in which the company reasserted its right to sell the items, which in turn precipitated further legal action by Kobe's representatives.

The Bryant family is split on the question of who owns the property; Kobe's mom, dad, and maternal grandmother believe it belongs to Pamela Bryant, while, according to Philly.com, Kobe's sister maintains the memorabilia is clearly her brother's.

You wonder if Kobe misses the days when his biggest in-house rivalry was with Shaquille O'Neal. 

More from Patch on the Strange Case of Kobe and His Mom

• Kobe Bryant's Mom is Auctioning Off His Stuff
• Kobe Taking Mom to Court to Stop Memorabilia Auction
• Judge: Kobe's Mom Can't Sell His Stuff, Yet

More Ardmore Real Estate Listings >>

More Merion Real Estate Listings >>

More Wynnewood Real Estate Listings >>

Best resources for Ardmore-Merion-Wynnewood Real Estate:

Federal Realty Investment Trust

Egan Real Estate

Mahoney Realty Group

Merion Realty Partners

Main Line Executive Management

The Bala Cynwyd Farmer's Market is back. 

On Thursday in the parking Lot of the GSB Building, located at the corner of Belmont Avenue and St. Asaphs Road, the 2013 season begins.

On hand for opening day, according to an announcement posted on Narberth-Bala Cynwyd Patch, will be the following vendors:

• Blue Mountain Vineyards
• Davidson Exotics 
• Down to Earth Harvest
• Frecon Farms
• Lancaster Hummus 
• Fruitwood Farms
• Green Zebra Farm
• Jimmies Cupcake Co. 
• John & Kira's Livengood Family Farm
• Jenny and Frank's Artisan 
• Neil's Sharpening 
• Sarah Bakes 
• Wonderful Good Bread & Cheese

The market will be open from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. You can visit the BCFM website here to get more information.

See you there!

One drink could be the standard for drunken driving – at least for some people if the National Transporation Safety Board has its way.

On Tuesday, the NTSB recommended states lower the blood-alcohol threshold for driving under the influence from 0.08 percent to 0.05 percent.

What do you think? Is the proposal reasonable?

About 10,000 deaths a year are related to drunken driving. The NTSB says the lower limit would save 500 to 800 lives a year.

Officials at the American Beverage Institute called the proposal "ludicrous." It said the average woman could reach the 0.05 percent limit by having one drink.

Internationally, only a handful of countries, including Canada, the United States and England, have a BAC limit of .08 while most of the world has it set at .05 or less. Some countries, such as Norway and Sweden have a .02 limit, which is essentially a zero tolerance for DUI.

Act 24, which lowered Pennsylvania's legal limit of alcohol from .10 to .08, was enacted in 2003.

Some counties in our Patch area—Bucks, Montgomery and Chester—rank in the top 10 for the most traffic-related deaths in the state, based on 2011 statistics from the Pennsylvania Bureau of Highway Safety and Traffic Engineering. There were 428 alcohol-related deaths in the state that year; here’s the breakdown of alcohol-related deaths for our area:

• Bucks, 20 (The 2nd highest number of deaths in the state)
• Chester, 14 (Tied for 7th highest number of deaths in the state)
• Delaware, 4 (Tied for 16th highest number of deaths in the state)
• Lehigh, 12 (Tied for 9th highest number of deaths in the state)
• Montgomery, 13 (Tied for 8th highest number of deaths in the state)
• Northampton, 8 (Ted for 12th highest number of deaths in the state)
• Philadelphia, 23 (Ranked 1st in highest number of deaths in the state)

This week: How much do lawn services cost?

How much do you pay for your lawn service? And what does that cover - just mowing, or does it cover weeding, pruning, planting?  Please share in the comments below - we promise we won't judge you! And if you've got a lawn service you love, tell us that too. 

This is the first of an ongoing series, "What's the Going Rate for..." where Patch seeks to uncover how much things cost so you never have to ask again. 

Last year, the Main Line Art Center in Haverford marked 75 years in existence. While celebrating its long past it also took a step into the future with the hiring of a new exective director.

In the summer, professional photographer and arts administrator Amie Potsic succeed executive director Judy Herman, who retired after nearly 25 years there.

So far, Potsic has curated two shows that she said were "contemporary, challenging and brought in new artists," Atmospheric and Urban Pop (see photos) and is overseeing a renovation and addition to the art center's building.

While still offering more traditional exhibits, Potsic said she was brought into the organization for her artistic vision for exhibit programming in addition to her arts management and administration.

"We have a great history and reputation," she said, adding that she wants to create "wow factors" that the art center's visitors might not expect from them.

As part of the renovation, the center's main entrance will bring visitors directly into the galleries as part of a strategy to strengthen the exhibit side of the organization.

Potsic, a Berwyn native, traveled extensively around the world as a photographer. But she has also taught and been an arts advocate, manager and curator. She said she brings the perspective of living and traveling elsewhere back to her home area.

She also brings strong ties to the Philadelphia arts community, as evidenced by her two curated collections.

"The board wanted to see change, but change that would work with the past," she said.

Potsic said the art center's mission is "art for everyone." And it's right here. "They don't have to go downtown" for art—whether it be traditional or modern.

A majority of state voters said they are in favor of allowing gay and lesbian couples to legally marry, according to one pole.

The Frankin and Marshall College poll of Pennsylvania voters for May 2013 showed that 54 percent of voters polled were in favor of allowing legal same-sex marriages.

The 54 percent in favor is up from 48 percent in the previous year.

The poll, which was conducted between April 30 and May 5, gathered responses from 526 registered voters, including 265 Democrats, 196 Republicans and 65 Independents.

The full poll is available for review here.

The following information representes the questions asked in the survey and the results given by voters.

1) Would you favor or oppose a constitutional amendment that would allow same sex couples to get legally married?

Strongly Favor Somewhat Favor Somewhat Oppose Strongly Oppose Don't Know May 2013 37 percent 16 percent 7 percent 36 percent 4 percent June 2012 35 percent 13 percent 8 percent 41 percent 4 percent August 2011 33 percent 17 percent 5 percent 37 percent 8 percent June 2009 27 percent 15 percent 12 percent 40 percent 6 percent

2) Would you favor or oppose a state law that would allow same sex couples to legally form civil unions, giving them some of the legal rights of married couples?

Strongly Favor Somewhat Favor Somewhat Oppose Strongly Oppose Don't Know May 2013 40 percent 25 percent 7 percent 24 percent 4 percent June 2012 40 percent 23 percent 7 percent 26 percent 3 percent August 2011 37 percent 25 percent 5 percent 29 percent 5 percent June 2009 33 percent 25 percent 7 percent 30 percent 5 percent

A January Quinnipiac University poll found 47 percent in favor and 43 percent against legalizing same-sex marraige.

Here are the Class of 2013 undergraduate commencement speakers for some Philadelphia-area colleges, in chronological order. Information is obtained by the schools' websites unless otherwise noted.

Valley Forge Christian College, Friday, May 3: Pastor Mark Batterson 

Penn State Brandywine, Saturday, May 4: David H. Lipson Jr., a 1978 Penn State graduate and the president of the company that publishes Philadelphia Magazine

St. Joseph's University, Saturday, May 11: Elisabeth A. Hagen, a 1991 graduate and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Undersecretary for Food Safety

Chestnut Hill College, Saturday, May 11: Mary Louise Quinlan, author of “The God Box: Sharing My Mother’s Gift of Faith, Love, and Letting Go” 

Rosemont College, Saturday, May 11: Diane Dalto Woosnam, member of the Cultural Advisory Council in Philadelphia

Harcum College, Saturday, May 11: Donna Allie, president and founder of Team Clean Inc.

Philadelphia University, Saturday, May 11: Carson Kressley, star of "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy"

University of Pennsylvania, Monday, May 13: Joe Biden, Vice President of the United States

Temple University, Thursday, May 16: Dan Baker, a 1972 graduate of Temple's College of Education and the public address announcer for the Philadelphia Phillies and Philadelphia Eagles

Valley Forge Military College, Friday, May 17: Bob Mensch, a 1965 graduate and a Pennsylvania state senator

Palmer Theological Seminary, Saturday, May 18: Mimi Haddad, president of Christians for Biblical Equality

Bryn Mawr College, Saturday, May 18: Meenakshi Gopinath, president of Lady Shri Ram College in India

West Chester University, Saturday, May 18: Trent Crable, a 1978 graduate and the chief operating officer of the Brooklyn Hospital Center, and Kathy Romano, a 2000 graduate and a radio personality on WMMR

Cheyney University, Saturday, May 18: Charisse R. Lillie, Vice President of Community Investment of Comcast Corporation and President of the Comcast Foundation

La Salle University, Sunday, May 19: Marcelina Hollender, a 2013 graduate incoming employee of the Disney Company

Immaculata University, Sunday, May 19: Jamie Moyer, pitcher for the 2008 World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies

Haverford College, Sunday, May 19: Max Essex, Stanley Nelson, Hunter Rawlings (a 1966 graduate) and Sheila Wellington

Villanova University, Sunday, May 19: Pat Toomey, junior U.S. senator of Pennsylvania

Cabrini College, Sunday, May 19: James J. Maguire Sr., founder of Philadelphia Insurance Companies

Delaware County Community College, Thursday, May 23: Frank J. McKee, a 1970 graduate and the president of The McKee Group

Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades, Friday, May 31, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett

 

Did we miss a graduation speaker you think is important to our readers? Please post the information in our comments section below.

Zoes Kitchen is coming to Bryn Mawr.

On May 23, the increasingly popular Alabama-based franchise will open its 87th restaurant at 761 W. Lancaster Ave.

The restaurant, located in the former Bryn Mawr Square home of TLA Video, will celebrate its grand opening by giving away 500 free meals its first week in business, according to general manager Imani McKenzie.

"We’ll be going around to different businesses and giving away freebies," McKenizie said, adding that customers can also visit Zoes' Facebook page to apply to win the coupons.

According to Zoes' website, the restaurant boasts Mediterranean-style cuisine with a southern twist. 

Our tasty, Mediterranean-inspired recipes originate from the southern kitchen of founder Zoë Cassimus, drawing from her Greek heritage. Today, everything is still made fresh daily.

While each Zoes franchise has a unique menu, the Bryn Mawr location has items that range from hummus and pita sandwiches, to soup and kabobs. (See the full menu here.)

Zoes, according to McKenzie, also goes out of its way to accommodate customers with gluten intolerance and other food allergies.

"When gluten free comes up, everyone changes their gloves. We wipe the counter down and we clean the grille."

A rematch between former U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak and U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey is in the works as Sestak announced Tuesday that he's exploring a run for the Senate in 2016.

Democrat Sestak, a former Navy vice admiral, lost narrowly to Republican Toomey in 2010.

Sestak, of Delaware County, has formed an exploratory committee—the equivalent of launching a campaign in terms of Federal Elections Commission paperwork, according to a Washington Post report.

Can Sestak beat Toomey? Who would you vote for if the Senate election was held today? Tell us in the comments section below.

Tuesday's announcement ends speculation that Sestak, 61, is raising money to challenge Gov. Tom Corbett. Sestak raised $460,000 in the first quarter of this year.

A Sestak-Toomey rematch "instantly makes Pennsylvania one of the nation’s marquee U.S. Senate battlegrounds in the nation in 2016," according to PoliticsPa.

Toomey, of Zionsville, Lehigh County, is currently the beneficiary of a new TV commercial by Mayors Against Illegal Guns, praising him for his "courage and common sense" for trying to expand background checks. Toomey's gun control amendment failed in the Senate but put him in the national spotlight.

Sestak ran successfully for Congress to represent Pennsylvania's seventh district, which is traditionally Republican, in 2006.

The district is made up of most of Delaware County along with portions of Chester County, Montgomery County, Berks County, and Lancaster County.

“Today, we’re launching a campaign for leadership, for a better America,” Sestak said in a video released Tuesday. “The Senate needs a leader accountable only to we the people, not any other interest.”

Lower Merion Police are investigating a trio of burglaries that occurred in the township in the last week, the department told reporters at a recent briefing. Charges are yet to be filed in each crime.

• On May 12, police said a home on the 10 block of Upland Terrace in Bala Cynwyd was burglarized sometime between Friday at 3:15 p.m. and Sunday at 5:41 p.m. According to the department, the residents returned home from a weekend away to find their rear door open. There was no sign of a forced entry. The victims discovered that the master bedroom had been ransacked and two pieces of jewelry were missing. The victims told police that the house was locked when they left.
• On May 7, police said copper piping and some hearing radiators were stolen from a vacant property on the unit block of Overbrook Parkway. The executor of the estate told police that the house is for sale, but that there is no security alarm on the property. A neighborhood check was conducted, during which a resident of Roland Road told police that she saw an approximately 60-year-old man, short and scruffy, wandering around the property.
• On May 6, a family on the 200 block of Broughton Lane in Villanova discovered that jewelry and personal affects—including tickets to the Devon Horse Show—had been stolen from their home while they were away. The break-in was discovered by the family’s housekeeper, who saw that a rear door had been pried open and called 911. Police arrived and found that the master bedroom had been plundered. Police performed a neighborhood search, which was unfruitful.