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, which includes the health department's report. Also listed is each facility's number of violations, out of 54 categories; the reports contain details on the violations.

Ardmore

• American Legion, 233 Simpson Road, Ardmore (inspected 4/24, 4 total violations)
• Felini Café Inc, 31 E. Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore (inspected 4/30, 1 total violation)
• Gillane’s Bar & Grill, 43 Cricket Avenue, Ardmore (inspected 4/18, 6 total violations)
• Jack McShea’s, 34 E. Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore (inspected 4/24, 7 total violations)
• Jule’s Thin Crust, 149 W. Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore (inspected 4/15, 3 total violations)
• Sweetgreen, 68 Coulter Avenue, Ardmore (inspected 4/19, 7 total violations)

Bala Cynwyd

• Acme Market, 121 E. City Line Avenue, Bala Cynwyd (inspected 4/26, 5 total violations)
• Aldair Bistro, 281 Montgomery Avenye, Bala Cynwyd (inspected 4/17, 6 total violations)
• Joe’s Crab Shack, 555 City Avenue, Bala Cynwyd (inspected 4/15, 10 total violations)
• Murray’s Deli, 285 Montgomery Avenue, Bala Cynwyd (inspected 4/17, 5 total violations)
• Roly Poly Sandwiches, 1 Presidential Boulevard, Bala Cynwyd (inspected 4/30, 2 total violations)
• Yosl’s Frozen Yogurt, 137 Montgomery Avenue, Bala Cynwyd (inspected 4/25,1 total violation)

Bryn Mawr

• Bryn Mawr Film Institute, 824 W. Lancaster Avenue, Bryn Mawr (inspected 4/26, (0 total violations)
• Daly Angkor Restaurant, 845 A W. Lancaster Avenue, Bryn Mawr (inspected 4/23, (4 total violations)
• Ekta Indian Cuisine, 1003 ½ W. Lancaster Avenue, Bryn Mawr (inspected 4/24,1 total violation)
• Erin Pub, 1005 Lancaster Avenue, Bryn Mawr (inspected 4/24, 0 total violations)
• Sage at the Shipley School, 1030 Wyndon Avenye, Bryn Mawr (inspected 4/17,0 total violations)
• Sage at the Shipley School, 814 Yarrow Street, Bryn Mawr (inspected 4/17, 3 total violations)
• Verdad Restaurant & Tequila Bar, 818 W. Lancaster Avenue, Bryn Mawr (inspected 4/23, 8 total violations)

Penn Valley

• Acme Market, 829 Montgomery Avenue, Penn Valley (inspected 4/24, 5 total violations)
• Sushi Avenue at Penn Valley Acme, 829 Montgomery Avenue, Penn Valley (inspected 4/24, 1 total violation)

Wynnewood

• Bryce’s Catering Company, 1438 Manoa Road, Wynnewood (inspected 4/17, 5 total violations)
• Dish by Meg and Mimi, 241 E. Lancaster Avenue, Wynnewood (inspected 4/17,0 total violations)
• Superfresh, 250 E. Lancaster Avenue, Wynnewood (inspected 4/16, 6 total violations)
• Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El Synagogue, 1001 Remmington Road, Wynnewood (inspected 4/17, 1 total violation)

Headlined by local musicians Gerald Veasley and Bill Jolly, Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church is hosting a jazz festival this weekend to raise money for a faith-based gun control group.

On Saturday, the "Jazz Fest for Peace" will kick off at 6 p.m. with a dinner and jazz ensemble performance by a group of student musicians from Philadelphia's Girard Academic Music Program. Tickets for the meal and show cost $20 for adults and $10 for children.

At 8 p.m. that evening, Veasley—a Philadelphia-based bassist who has played on a number of Grammy-nominated albums—will perform for the crowd. A general admission ticket for the concert costs $30, while preferred seating runs at $50.

The grand finale of the event is a 1 pm. Sunday concert by Bill Jolly, a keyboardist and composer who's written for numerous films, television shows, and commercials. Ticket's for the Sunday show cost $30 for general admission and $50 for preferred seating. 

All proceeds from the event will benefit Heeding God's Call, a grassroots, interfaith group that works to reduce gun violence.

In the run up to the festival, Bryn Mawr Presbyterian has displayed a memorial in the lawn of its property. 288 T-shirts are planted in the grass, each one representing a Philadelphia who was killed with an illegally-owned hand gun in 2012. The display was erected on April 26, and will remain through the middle of May.

All events will take place at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian, 625 Montgomery Avenue, Bryn Mawr. Tickets are available for purchase at www.bmpc.com.

A lot has changed in the Philadelphia area since 1951, when Albert Barnes died in a crash in the Phoenixville area. For connoisseurs of the arts, perhaps the biggest change was the recent move of the Barnes Foundation's art collection from Lower Merion Township to its new home in Philadelphia.

Now comes another Barnes-related change: One of several homes he owned on Latch’s Lane in Merion Station is going on the market. The asking price: $3,295,000.  

The home at 379 North Latch’s Lane has 7 bedrooms, 5 full baths and two powder rooms and 10,000 square feet of living space on the first and second floors, according to Realtor Beth Samberg with Prudential Fox & Roach. The property also comes with a carriage house at the back of the property.

Tour the house with the photos above.

Very few events are celebrated around the globe, but Earth Day is. This year, it’s come and gone. But we’re here to ask: What can we do to show our love of the earth on that day, and every day? 

On May 31st, Sony will release After Earth, an action-packed movie that takes place 1,000 years after cataclysmic events forced humanity to leave. It’s the kind of scenario that makes you want to donate to Greenpeace, recycle everything, and start biking every where, immediately. So, in honor of Earth Day, Patch has teamed up with Sony to present these ideas for making every day Earth Day.

How can we make every day Earth Day?

Begin with little things. Easy things. Obvious things. Things we take for granted each day, and use and/or abuse because of our lack of knowledge. Let's start there. Remember that children learn from what we do.

There are some wonderful family activities you can do together while learning about the environment. Make a "to do" list and make it fun! Do as many hands-on projects as you can each day to help save the earth in little ways. Have the children keep a chart or journal about everything they do.

Here are some suggestions:

Indoors: Learn more about the earth with your kids - surf the web, read books, magazines, and newspapers. Conserve energy and save water by letting children find (and a parent fix) dripping faucets; only running the dishwasher when full; taking short showers; turning the water off while brushing your teeth; turning off electrical items when not in use; doing full loads of laundry only. Recycle cans, bottles and newspapers.

Outdoors: Plant a tree. Plant a garden. Clean up roadside litter. Create a habitat by putting up a birdhouse. Build a compost for food scraps, leaves and lawn clippings. Save rainwater and reuse for outdoor gardens.

At School: Urge teachers and administrators to do activities for Earth Day and every day. Suggest ideas for projects: write poetry; create environmentally-themed music; have an environmental poster contest. Check to see which sources of electricity you can conserve in your school (electric pencil sharpener, lights on in rooms not used, etc.) and keep a chart about how many ways you saved energy.  

At Work: Make a company Earth Day resolutions list. Conserve paper and electricity. Close shades in the summer to prevent high heat in offices. Don't use air conditioning all the time. Recycle cans, bottles and newspapers at the office.

While Traveling: Visit parks and nature centers. Visit a maritime museum. While on a drive, have children count how many things might be polluting the air, land or water, and then research if anything is being done to correct the problem.    

For Pets: Attend a dog-friendly Earth Day event. Organize a dog park cleanup. Take a hike on a dog-friendly trail. Use natural flea control. Buy organic pet food. Avoid plastic and synthetic toys and dog beds, and use natural fiber products. Scoop up the poop, compost it, or use biodegradable poop bags if you live in the city. Adopt a pet from a shelter. Spay or neuter your pet.

Join a Group: Join organizations that help save endangered animals. Adopt an endangered species online. Join any group that supports Earth Day issues. 

Community Service: Volunteer your time in any way that will improve the environment.  Does your community have a nature center? Maybe you can volunteer there.

How do you make every day Earth Day? Tell us in the comments!

In between customers at Viva Video, Bryan Way, 28, took some time this week to tell Patch about Life After: The Arising, the zombie-themed novel he's self-publishing next month. Way, a Temple grad, has been working on the book on and off for the last decade and is eager to see it hit the (digital) shelves.

For more information about Life After, check out Way's Facebook page here, and check back with Patch next week to learn more about the long strange trip that led the Newtown Square resident to the hard, lonely business of writing novels.

It's common for parents to clear their kids stuff out of the house after the nest has been emptied. Childhood bedrooms, become studies; game rooms become amateur art galleries. It's a little less common though when the kid in question is Kobe Bryant.

According to NBCSports.com, Goldin Auctions, in partnership with Kobe's mom, Pamela Bryant, will be auctioning off a few choice pieces of Kobe memorabilia in June, several of which go back to his days at Lower Merion High School.

The item expected to generate the most interest, according to Goldin's website, is a game-worn jersey from Bryant's Aces career.

The centerpiece of the Kobe Bryant Collection: presented by Goldin Auctions is his road maroon Lower Merion High School (LMHS) basketball uniform (shorts and jersey) from his freshmen year. This uniform is special in that Bryant only wore #24, as a freshman, before switching to #33 for the remainder of his high school career. It is believed to be the only authentic game worn #24 Kobe Bryant LMHS jersey in existence.

The auction is scheduled for June, but a specific date has not yet been set. Kobe-philes can register for the auction, or peruse the additional available items, here.

A 21-year-old Coatesville man was charged with theft on Thursday after, Lower Merion police say, he stole the credit card information of a Gladwyne customer and used it to order almost $200 worth of motorcycle parts.

On Feb. 13, a woman visited her son's Waverly Road home to pay for work Horizon Services—a plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning repair firm that services the tri-state area—was performing on the house. According to court documents, the woman paid the technician, the eventual defendant, with her credit card.

The Horizon charge was for $692, but a day after the work was completed, the woman noticed an additional charge she did not authorize on her card for $194.85, police say. The purchase was made at G2 Ergonomics, a motorcycle supply company in Illinois.

Police retrieved the order information from G2 and, according to court documents, tracked the purchase back to the defendant.

The defendant agreed to come to Lower Merion police headquarters to be interviewed and admitted to using the victim's information to order motorcycle parts, police say.

He was charged with three counts of theft and faces preliminary hearing on Thursday.

Ardmore, a community that prides itself on its artistic bent, might have a new favorite son.

According to Philly.com, Ardmore native and Friends Central graduate Benj Pasek was nominated for a Tony Award on Tuesday morning for the score he and partner Justin Paul wrote for the new musical adaptation of "A Christmas Story." Yes, that "A Christmas Story."

Paskek told the paper the Best Original Score nomination came as a surprise, but a welcome one.

"It’s the craziest day of my life. I’ve never gotten more text messages in my life. It’s so overwhelming," he said.

The Tony Awards are scheduled for June 9. Good luck Benj. And if you take home the statue, be careful: you can poke your eye out with that thing.

A new bill approved in the state House of Representatives aims to crack down on human trafficking and sex work.

House Bill 663, which was unanimously passed 195-0 in the House, expands what the state considers "commercial sex acts" and raises the crime of buying or selling people for sex work from a third-degree to a possible first-degree felony.

Under the new bill, the definition of commercial sex includes being forced to perform "any sexual activity … in which anything of value is given to or received by another person" and includes "prostitution, participation in the production of pornography, performance in strip clubs and sexual activity … regardless of the age of the victim."

As the law is currently written, there are no provisions for "commercial sex" as it is defined. Under the new bill, a person could be found guilty of trafficking in persons if the charges include "commercial sex" in any of the instances outlined above.

The big part of the bill, however, is the amendment to the section of the law that deals with the "selling or buying of minors into commercial sex."

The offense is defined as any time a parent sells or transfers control of a minor, or offers to sell a minor with the knowledge that the minor will engage in commercial sex acts as a result of the sale. 

The bill's sponsor, Brian Ellis (R-11th) said in a release that he hopes the bill will deter future predators.

"Our current law is vague and doesn't provide our criminal justice system with the tools it needs to effectively prosecute and hold human traffickers accountable for their actions." 

You can review the specifics of the bill here.

About this sponsorship: In honor of the 60th anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary’s historic ascent of Mount Everest, Patch and Grape-Nuts are teaming up to highlight those who inspire people around them to climb their own mountains.

A visit to Chasing Rainbows will tell the story behind Gavin Leong's life, his health issues and the progress he had miraculously made, the "paying it forward" his life has prompted, and the outpouring of community generorsity regarding his funeral last week in the blog written by his mom, Kate Gallagher Leong, who was raised in Plymouth Meeting.

After Gavin died at the age of 5 on April 14, his mom asked followers on the Chasing Rainbows Facebook page to help others in Gavin’s name—find a special needs classroom in your community and donate toys you have lying around; help someone struggling to unload groceries; volunteer at a hospital; donate clothes to a women’s shelter; make dinner for a special needs mother in your family… and any other ways to positively impact peoples’ lives.

“Think of Gavin when you do it,” Gallagher Leong said on Facebook. “Share his story with the person you are blessing. Tell them that Gavin Leong changed the world with little acts of courage, determination and a sweet smile... without ever saying a word. And then ask them to pay it forward to honor his legacy.”

Gallagher Leong asked her followers to share the good deeds, and photos, on the Chasing Rainbow’s Facebook page, and they have been flowing in ever since the request was posted.

People from across the county—from Massachusetts to Texas and beyond—have been purchasing coffee for others, donating to non-profits, running 5K races in honor of Gavin, Speak for Yourself, donated clothing, art supplies, volunteering at a local nursing home, purchasing meals and leaving notes for strangers. For a full list of the good deeds done in Gavin's name, visit the Chasing Rainbows Facebook page.

The makers of “Speak for Yourself” app, which helps children who are unable to speak, have given dozens of the apps—that retail at nearly $200—away in Gavin’s honor.

Additionally, the local community rallied around the Leongs for the funeral. 

Gene McGonagle, owner of the Ambler Flower Shop, donated all flowers for the funeral. When Gallagher Leong said on Facebook she was looking for a videographer, dozens offered to help.

For much more on the Leong family's story, visit the Chasing Rainbows website.

The theme of First Friday Main Line is "Art in Unexpected Places." Suffice it to say, it doesn't get a lot more unexpected than in a parking lot behind a video store.

On Friday at 10 p.m., as a capstone of sorts for the May iteration of the monthly festival, Viva Video is hosting a free outdoor screening of Girl Walk//All Day.

If you haven't heard of it, no problem says Viva Video owner Miguel Gomez. The independent feature is a simple story of a girl's adventures in a big city, set entirely to an album by popular DJ Girl Talk.

"These folks took a full album of this guy and made a movie length music video," Gomez explained. "You'd think it would be boring, but it's not. It's people dancing through the streets of New York for 75 minutes!"

Gomez said attendees will be encouraged not only to watch, but to dance along with the action.

And though there's no sex or violence in the film, Gomez does caution that the music has curse words throughout. So parents beware.

The party starts on Friday at 10 p.m. in the parking lot behind the video shop's 16 West Lancaster Avenue building.

After just 10 months at the helm of the school, Orathia Bradley was removed from her post as principal of Welsh Valley Middle School effective Tuesday, Lower Merion School District has confirmed.

Bradley will be moved to an administrative role in the school while Chris Hall, formerly the LMSD supervisor of student achievement programs, will assume the responsibilities associated with the office. Bradley will, however, hold the title of principal until the close of the school year.

According to district communications director Doug Young, Bradley was not suspected of wrongdoing or impropriety of any kind, the district simply decided to move in another direction.

"Bottom line, the administration felt this was the best decision for the day-to-day management of the school," Young said, declining to provide further detail on why the decision was made and put into effect just weeks before the close of the school year.

Young added that the district thinks very highly of Bradley and hopes she has a long administrative career in LMSD.

"Not only is she going to be part of the leadership team, but we hope and expect her to continue in that role," Young said. "We believe in Dr. Bradley. She's a person of strong character."

District parents were made aware of the decision Monday, in a letter from superintendent Christopher McGinley.

Young said he couldn't comment on whether Hall, who joined the district in the fall, will continue serving as Welsh Valley's de facto principal beyond the end of this school year. 

The view from the top, so far, has been pretty good for the Aces.

A month after the team won the PIAA Boys Basketball AAAA state championship over rival Chester by a 63-47 score, the team was invited to the state House of Representatives, where they were recognized by Rep. Tim Briggs (D-Montgomery).

The Aces, including the team's coaching staff, were invited to the House floor during the April 24 session, where Reps. Pam DeLissio and Mary Jo Daley were also on-hand to recognize the group.

Briggs applauded the group for toppling a Chester team that had blown them out in the state finals the previous spring.

“I am so proud of the Aces for defeating a team that had won 78 games in a row over three years against Pennsylvania opponents. It was a feat many critics thought was impossible,” Briggs said, according to a press release. “I never doubted the Aces, and I was thrilled to watch them take the lead in the second quarter and never look back.”

If the Aces do look back now, what they'll see is as impressive a season as the school has ever submitted. The team finished the season with a 30-3 record, tied for the best record in the program's history. The state title that capstoned the year was the seventh in school history, and the third for coach Greg Downer. 

Individual accolades have rolled in as well. Senior BJ Johnson earned First Team All-State, while classmate Yohanny Dalembert earned Second Team honors. Coach Downer was named Pennsylvania Coach of the Year for the third time.

“These young men exemplify dedication and perseverance,” Briggs said. “I am proud to represent the Lower Merion Aces, and can’t wait to root for them as they try to repeat as champions next year.”

This post was created in Storify. If you cannot view it, please click here to go directly to the Storify page.

Participants in the Broad Street Run are planning to show their support for the city of Boston.

From the City of Brotherly Love, one popular way to show the love is apparently through one's socks. According to a recent Philly Mag blogger, and a Facebook group that has more than 1,000 members, many area sporting good stores are stocking up on red socks.

Those participating in the Broad Street Run, slated for Sunday, May 5, are planning to wear red running socks to show the love for Boston. Get it? Red ... Sox ...

Runner and Action News meteorologist Cecily Tynan told her Twitter followers this weekend, "Tried out my red compression socks in a tempo run 2day. Test everything out b4 race day!"

If you're wondering where she got her pair, she says, "Bryn Mawr Running Company. 100% of proceeds go to #OneFundBoston."

Bryn Mawr Running Company has stores in Bryn Mawr, Media and Manayunk.

While the run's increased security will serve as a reminded of the events of the Boston Marathon, at least this showing will be one of solidarity and not one of safety. 

Are you planning to wear red socks at the Broad Street Run? Are you going to watch the run? Tell us in the comments below.

Following the backpack bombings at the Boston Marathon two weeks ago, runners in this year's Broad Street Run in Philadelphia won't be able to tote their gear in a backpack, race organizers announced in a mass email to participants Monday.

Taking a page from the Transportation Safety Administration's playbook, race organizers are mandating runners use clear plastic drawstring bags, which will be handed out at the expo Friday and Saturday, to stow their gear this year.

“You are strongly encouraged to bring as little as possible with you to the start of the race,” race organizers said in the email to runners. “All items brought into the start area are subject to search and/or confiscation.”

Race organizers only indicated backpacks would be banned from the start, not the larger spectator areas in Center City and around Mile 9 near the Wells Fargo Center. Backpacks and coolers have been banned at the finish area inside the Navy Yard.

The race's start area stretches over several blocks, between Olney and Fisher avenues and on to Somerville Avenue around Central High School, near the city's northern border. Around 40,000 runners will pack the course Sunday morning, and city officials have said there will be increased security this year.

“At this time, there are no specific threats or threat incidents in Philadelphia, but of course, we are taking the necessary precautions,” Mayor Michael Nutter said just days after the Boston bombings. “Runners and spectators will, in fact, see a much more visible security presence on race day.”

City and race officials have also announced plans to hand out stickers to runners reading “From Philly to Boston with Love,” as part of a region-wide campaign to express solidarity with the people of Boston, while also raising money for the One Fund Boston, a charity created to help the bombing's victims.

“Boston is a great American city and its people showed tremendous courage on the day of the Boston Marathon,” Nutter said in a statement. “Bostonians have come together to help one another, and Philadelphia admires their strength. We’ve created ‘From Philly to Boston with Love’ to express our support for Boston, a city that has a distinctive culture, a passion for sports, and a profound historical significance in the American story — like Philadelphia.”

An unofficial campaign to get runners to wear red socks for the race to show support for Boston has also garnered some attention, after runners launched a Facebook group dedicated to the idea.

Theodore Augustus Beadle, of Wynnewood and Ardmore, Radnor High School graduate, died at 82.

E. Patricia DeStefano, of Ardmore, died at 80.

Mary Lou Donato, of Ardmore, a Haverford High School and Harcum College graduate, died on April 25.

Elizabeth Nellymay Hewitt, of Ardmore, died at 94.

Jacob Joyce, of Ardmore and Media, who worked in Bryn Mawr, died April 5.

Mary Agnes Kane, of Ardmore, died at 82.

John Francis McKelvey, of Bryn Mawr, died at 45.

Augustus “Gus” Ranieri, Lower Merion School District retiree, died at 67.

Beverly Schffrin, of Gladwyne, died at 92.

Helen Vassallo, of Ardmore, died on April 23.

Harry Joseph Wolfington, of Bryn Mawr and Haverford, Malvern Prep and Villanova alum, died April 20.

Nancy Krell, of Wynnewood, died April 26.

Patrick Joseph Kane, former Lower Merion Plumbing Inspector, died at 78.

Richard Kebart, of Havertown, died April 24.

Rita McNamara, of Narberth and Gladwyne, retired from Merion Mercy Academy, died at 91.

Mary Joan Barrett, of Penn Wynne, died April 18.

Dennis J. O’Connor, of Bala Cynwyd, died April 14.

Miriam Barndt-Webb, of Bryn Mawr, died April 17.

Vincent Benedict, of Bryn Mawr, died at 100.

Frances Hughes Cauffman, of Wayne and Bryn Mawr, nurse at Renfrew and Lankenau, died at 54.

Bonnie Michel, of Bryn Mawr, died at 63.

Evelyn Solomon, Bryn Mawr Alum, died at 70.

Horace “Jerry” Darlington, Westtown School and Haverford College graduate, died at 72.

William “Bill” Miller, of Haverford, died at 98.

Harry Joseph Wolfington, of Bryn Mawr and Haverford, Malvern Prep and Villanova alum, died April 20.

Rosemary Baraldi, of Havertown, died at 92.

Elaine Daley-Wilcock, of Havertown, died at 94.

Paula Heller, of Havertown, died April 21.

Harry Hermann, of Havertown, died at 89.

Dora Hewitt, of Havertown, died at 90.

Rita Raffa, of Havertown, died at 75.

Louise Schuller, of Havertown, died April 17.

Joan Shassian, of Havertown, died April 20.

Nathan Tattar, of Havertown, died April 23.

Margary Randall, of Mt. Airy, died at 95.

William Budd Montague, of Chestnut Hill, died at 81.

Antoinetta Citro, of Roxborough, died at 74.

Helen I. Passio, of Roxborough, died at 46.

Fred P. Rosselli, of Roxborough, died at 89.

John Frederickson, Volunteer Broomall firefighter, died at 74.

John Orlando, of Broomall, died at 92.

Mary Theresa Smith, of Broomall, died at 89.

John “Jack” Daly, of Newtown Square, died April 20.

Thomas Dockray, of Newtown Square, died at 81.

Elizabeth “Betty Lou” McGeary, of Media, died at 85.

Gertrude Zeehandelaar, of New York state and recently Media, died at 91.

Alva Mullikin, of Media, died at 102.

Ella Dorothy Gillespie, of Media, died at 96.

Isabella Boyer, who worked in the Delaware County Courthouse for 45 years, died at 83.

William "Bill" R. Carman, of Drexel Hill and Media, died at 71.

Danielle Beth White, of Berwyn, died at 29.

Rose M. DiMartini Teti, of Devon, died at 98.

William "Bill" Pickard Wagg, who worked for Sport Toyota in Devon for 30 years, died at 83.

Jean P. Bloom, of Wayne, died at 100.

Frances Hughes Cauffman, of Wayne and Bryn Mawr, nurse at Renfrew and Lankenau, died at 54.

Lena Paolantonio, of Wayne, died at 89.

Theodore Augustus Beadle, of Wynnewood and Ardmore, Radnor High School graduate, died at 82.

Miriam A. Hook, who worked at Church Farm School for 20 years, died at 97.

John Gilbert Scott, of Malvern and West Chester, died at 93.

John Harley Jensen, of Phoenixville and Pottstown, who worked for Auger Fabrication of Malvern, died at 20

Francis McBride, of Phoenixville, died at 88.

John Harley Jensen, of Phoenixville and Pottstown, who worked for Auger Fabrication of Malvern, died at 20.

Michael M. Chuck, of Phoenixville, died at 81.

Mark Gaerthe, of Phoenixville, died at 48.

David Katz, of Phoenixville, died at 72.

Anna Mandrusiak, of Phoenixville, died at 88.

Francis McBride, of Phoenixville died at 88.

Joseph P. O'Malley, of Phoenxville, died at 53.

Kathleen Shields, of Phoenixville, died at 67.

Kenneth Weidner, of Phoenixville, died at 80.

Edwin Le Bon, of Springfield, died at 97.

Louise Bianco Lombasie, or Springfield, died at 93.

Patrice "Pat" A. McCoy, of Springfield, died at 80.

Richard R. Megonegal, former Springfield Police Officer and Springfield High graduate, died at 67.

Amy Calvarese Beeman, of West Chester, died April 23.

Gertrude B. Beaton, of West Chester, died at 95.

Rose Marie Arabia-Salzmann, of West Chester, died April 20.

William Philip 'Punkin' Brice, of West Chester, died at 76.

Mary Cirka, of West Chester, died at 93.

Charles William Clark, of West Chester, died at 73.

Horace “Jerry” Darlington, Westtown School and Haverford College graduate, died at 72.

Edna Dix, of West Chester, died at 94.

Ali M. Fausnaught, West Chester University student, died at 19.

Jane N. Hash, of West Chester, died at 74.

Ada Holman Jarrett, of West Chester, died at 98.

William Laub, of West Chester, died at 83.

Joan Mitchell, of West Chester, died at 76.

John Gilbert Scott, of Malvern and West Chester, died at 93.

Theodore "Ted" Francis Roderer, of West Chester, died at 83.

Rose Marie Salzmann, of West Chester, died April 20.

Kristopher Herald died of gunshot wounds on Sept. 3, 2012. He was 27.

Dexter Bowie was 17 when he suffered a similar fate six months earlier.

Layton Hagans was just 22 when gun violence cut his life short last May.

Philadelphia, the city these young men called home, has the ninth highest rate of gun-related homicide in the nation. But just a few miles down the road, in a community of relative wealth and safety, a small church is trying to do something about it.

Bryn Mawr Presbyterian, with a helping hand from Heeding God's Call—a grassroots, interfaith group that works to reduce gun violence—has erected a sobering memorial on the lawn of its 625 Montgomery Avenue property. 288 T-shirts are affixed to white crosses and planted in the earth; each bearing the name, age, and date of death of Dexter, Layton, Kristopher, and the other 285 men, women, and children who were killed with an illegally-owned gun in Philadelphia in 2012.

Pastor Agnes Norfleet says the memorial is simply about raising awareness: homicides are reported in the news, then quickly forgotten, brushed aside by the next thing. What Bryn Mawr Presbyterian has done, she says, is merely account for all the death, quantify it, and force others to reckon with it too.

"When the T-shirts are put on the lawn together, you recognize the magnitude of this problem in the greater Philadelphia area," Norfleet said.

"We want to raise awareness in a visible, poignant way about gun violence. And this church is about doing what we can to promote a more peaceful community for all of God’s children." 

While Bryn Mawr Presbyterian has a progressive bent, parish communications director Donna Barrickman thinks the church's work to control gun violence isn't controversial, or shouldn't be at any rate: she says it's an extension of the message of Christ.

"Is God calling is to just sit here and ignore [gun violence]? Part of our faith is, what are we here for? We’re here to advance peace and promulgate justice,” Barrickman said.

The memorial is just the first prong of the church's plan to raise awareness of the violence that's wrought with illegally-owned guns. On May 4 and May 5, Bryn Mawr Presbyterian is hosting a "Jazz Fest for Peace"—a two day jazz concert that will benefit Heeding God's Call.

"We've sold enough tickets now that we've broken even. All the money now goes directly to Heeding God's Call," Barrickman added.

Ticket's for the Jazz Fest for Peace, and more information about the event, are available here.

Many NBA players, including several with Philadelphia-area ties, reacted supportively after fellow player Jason Collins announced Monday in an interview with Sports Illustrated that he is gay.

Collins, who is the first athlete in a major American sport to come out of the closet during his playing career, got an early supporter in NBA star, and Lower Merion High School grad, Kobe Bryant.

At 11:01 a.m., little more than an hour after the revelation, Bryant tweeted this to his two-million plus followers:

Proud of @jasoncollins34. Don't suffocate who u r because of the ignorance of others #courage #support #mambaarmystandup #BYOU

The message has since been retweeted more than 31,000 times. 

Also supporting Collins was the Philadelphia 76ers' Damien Wilkins, who played with Collins on the Atlanta Hawks in 2011-2012. Wilkins tweeted:

Very proud of and happy for one of the coolest and most down to earth guys I know @jasoncollins34. #Fwhatpplthink

La Salle University graduate Rasual Butler, another NBA veteran, tweeted this at 1:10 p.m.:

Much Respect for @jasoncollins34 that took a lot of courage!

And former Villanova Wildcat and NBA veteran Kyle Lowry tweeted about his former Memphis Grizzlies teammate at 3:14 p.m.:

Respect to @jasoncollins34. great teammate and true professional when we played together.

In addition, NBA Commissioner David Stern and former President Bill Clinton have spoken out in support of Collins.

Bryant, long one of the NBA's biggest stars, was fined two years ago for directing an anti-gay slur at a referee after a questionable call but has since become a vocal critic of homophobic language. In February, he made news when he publicly admonished a Twitter follower for using a similar slur.

What do you think of Jason Collins' announcement and of the reaction it has produced? Tell us in the comments.

Just in time for the summer months, Yosl's Frozen Yogurt opened its 137 Montgomery Avenue doors for the first time on Monday afternoon.

Owner Mark Rubenstein promises the shop will couple a wide variety of froyo toppings and flavors with an old-fashioned family atmosphere. Yosl's is named after Rubenstein's father, who passed away three years ago, and will be managed by his son Blake. 

The shop boasts 12 flavors, more than 50 toppings and, according to Rubenstein, is entirely Kosher. Even the gummy worms.

Yosl's is open from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.