Haverford has National Teacher of the Year Finalist

Happy Wednesday, Delco.

Hope everyone's staying warm out there. We're in for a cold stretch this week — highs barely cracking the mid-30s today and dropping into the low 20s by the weekend. If you're planning anything outdoors, Friday might be your best window before the deep freeze sets in Saturday and Sunday.

On the bright side, it's a big week for Delco pride. One of our own is in the running for the top teaching honor in the country, and there's plenty happening around the county worth knowing about.

Now, in today's edition:

— From Ridley to Radnor

Leon Smith, a social studies teacher at Haverford High School, has been named one of just five finalists nationwide for the 2026 National Teacher of the Year — and it's the second year in a row a Pennsylvania educator has made the finals.

Smith has spent more than two decades in the Haverford Township School District, where he teaches AP US History and AP African American Studies. Beyond his classroom, he's an African American Cultural Enrichment adviser, freshman boys basketball coach, and the founder of the district's "Grow Your Own" teacher pipeline program that encourages students to pursue careers in education.

Here's what makes this special:

Haverford Superintendent Matthew C. Hayes called Smith someone who "exemplifies excellence in teaching" and whose enthusiasm "inspires everyone around him."

Read more: WHYY coverage of Leon Smith's nomination

Havertown lost a beloved figure this weekend. Carl Henderson, the owner of Carl's Cards & Collectibles on West Eagle Road, passed away. He was the kind of person who made a sports card shop feel like a second home for thousands of Philly sports fans.

For over 31 years, Carl's shop wasn't just a place to buy memorabilia — it was a gathering spot. If traffic was backed up on Eagle Road on a Saturday, there was a good chance an Eagle, Phillie, Sixer, or Flyer was inside signing autographs. Athletes like Jason Kelce, Brandon Graham, Bernie Parent, and Jamie Moyer all came through over the years.

His family shared the news on social media: "Carl was the best person we knew and then some, with a love for Philly Sports that was infectious, and a love for his store that was unmatched."

The store will remain open. Staff said Carl "would absolutely hate if it wasn't open" and encouraged the community to stop in and share their stories.

📍 Carl's Cards & Collectibles — 22 W. Eagle Road, Havertown

If you've been watching the construction at Ellis Preserve and wondering what's going in, here's your answer.

Napa Kitchen & Wine opens February 9 at 3747 Equus Boulevard in Newtown Square. It's the brand's first franchise location, brought to Delco by DJB Hospitality (the team behind Sedona Taphouse). The concept is inspired by California wine country — think an extensive domestic and international wine list in a polished but approachable setting.

What to know before you go:

This is part of a wave of new restaurants hitting Delco in 2026 — Testa Rossa is also getting a second location in Wayne this summer, and a Nashville-themed honky-tonk called Boondocks Bar and Grill is coming to Glen Mills in the fall.

If you're a regular at Di Bruno Bros. in Wayne or Ardmore, time is running out.

The beloved gourmet grocer is shutting down three of its five locations as part of a "refocusing" by parent company Wakefern Food Corp., which acquired the brand in 2024. The Ardmore Farmer's Market location in Suburban Square closed February 4. The Wayne store in Strafford Shopping Center is set to close February 11. A Center City location is also shutting down.

The two remaining stores — the original 9th Street Italian Market shop and the Rittenhouse Square location — will stay open, along with the online business.

Customers told The Inquirer they've noticed a decline in quality since the ownership change. One Narberth resident said simply: "Why am I going to pay upmarket prices for a midmarket product?"

If you want one last visit, the Wayne store is still open through next week.

Here's a hidden gem most people don't know about: Chanticleer Garden in Wayne is opening for special winter preview days this month, long before the regular April-October season begins.

You can visit on February 7, 11, and 14 (and again in March) to get a behind-the-scenes look at what the horticulturists are working on and catch the earliest signs of spring.

The Valentine's Day opening (Feb. 14) could make for a unique date idea — just dress warm and wear sturdy shoes.

📍 Chanticleer Garden — 786 Church Road, Wayne, PA 19087

Looking for a free, family-friendly Valentine's celebration? The Willows Mansion in Radnor is hosting their annual Love & Chocolate event on Sunday, February 8 from 11 AM to 2 PM.

📍 Willows Park Preserve — Radnor, PA | [email protected]

🎵 Third Coast Percussion at Swarthmore College — Saturday at 8 PM, Grammy-winning ensemble performs "Strum, Strike, Bend" at Lang Concert Hall with soloist Simone Porter. A world-class show right in our backyard.

🎸 Get the Led Out at the Lansdowne Theater — Feb. 27-28, the acclaimed Led Zeppelin tribute act performs at the beautifully restored Lansdowne Theater.

⛳ Linvilla Orchards: Fore! The Planet Indoor Mini Golf — Open daily, 18 educational holes exploring everything from butterfly metamorphosis to dinosaur extinction. Great for kids.

📋 Free Tax Prep — Community Action Agency of Delaware County (CAADC) is running free volunteer tax assistance sites for the 20th year. Open now.

🚌 SEPTA Senior ID Event — Feb. 18, 11 AM–1 PM at Surrey Services for Seniors, 505 Parkway, Broomall. Free Senior Key Card applications for ages 65+. Bring a PA ID. Call 610-789-3000 to register.

Delaware County adopted its Vision Zero Action Plan in 2025 with an ambitious goal: reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries to zero by 2050. Between 2018 and 2022, 130 people were killed on Delco roads and another 883 were seriously injured.

The plan is now moving into the implementation phase, with a focus on safer road design, lower speed limits, equitable enforcement, and community education. The county has identified 28 miles of "corridors of concern" — roads that make up just 1% of the county's network but account for 18% of all injury crashes.

Recommendations include speed cameras (similar to Roosevelt Boulevard in Philly), raised crosswalks, red light cameras, traffic circles, and better lighting. The county is also building a data dashboard so municipalities can access real-time roadway information.

CAADC's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites are open for the season, offering free tax preparation help to qualifying Delaware County residents. This is their 20th year running the program. Check delcocaa.org for locations and hours.

That's it for this week, Delco. Stay warm out there. If you know someone who'd enjoy this newsletter, share it with them — and we'll see you next Wednesday.

From Ridley to Radnor — your weekly Delaware County digest.