Good times roll through Radnor Hunt at Concours D’Elegance
More than 3,000 collectors and car buffs oohed and aahed at a smashing array of vintage vehicles at the Malvern show grounds last weekend. Zipping along in its 21st year, the Radnor Hunt Concours is now internationally recognized as one of the world’s premier automotive shows.
The Wheels: Per usual, the Concours invited only the finest to its three-day post-Labor Day show: classic coupes, roadsters, vintage motorcycles, tractors and carriages, even Victorian-era bicycles and high-wheelers. Featured classes this year: Auburn, Cord and Duesenbergs and the snazzy race cars of the legendary Roger Penske.
The Concours: Some 50 judges sized up the competition in scores of categories, inspecting for such things as artistry, elegance, design and sportsmanship. The car show capped off a weekend of festivities including a welcome barbecue, a road rally through Chester County, a black-tie gala and carriage parade.
Not just horseless carriages: True to its Main Line setting, the Radnor Hunt Concours is the only nationally recognized show that features horse-drawn coaches and carriages.
The Beneficiary: Thorncroft Equestrian Center, the Malvern nonprofit that offers therapeutic riding and related mental health programs for special needs and handicapped riders.
Debbie Bowden of Penn Valley, car judge Ted Heffernan of Malvern and his wife Holly, who rode in the carriage parade.
David Benway of Radnor with Porsche Club instructors Ginger Carfrey of Wayne and Carol and Mark Reynolds of West Chester.
Max King and Dawn Heefner of Wayne celebrate their 1953 Alpine roadster’s win in the “Debutante” category. The same car – but in blue – was made famous by Grace Kelly and Cary Grant in the Hitchcock classic, “To Catch a Thief.”
Concours D'Elegance Ambassadors Jennifer DiCanio, Suzy Helme of Westtown and Debbie McKeel of Paoli.
Jackson Geraghty of Malvern and Claire Bailey of Berwyn.
Exhibitor Ted Reimel of Wayne with son Patrick and his girlfriend Gabrielle of Radnor, with the Concours’ poster car.
Kristy Sevag of Devon with Liz, Chuck and baby Carly Reimel of Bryn Mawr and Melissa Reimel of Wayne.
Thorncroft Equestrian Center Executive Director Sallie Dixon of Malvern, Treasurer Sue Murray of Devon and Concours D’Elegance board member Jane Altmann of Chester Springs.
Sue Baron of Penn Valley and Blair and Derek Pew and Jennifer Bellis (right) of Philadelphia, with Radnor Hunt Concours D’Elegance founder and chairman, Michael Tillson.
Jim Wallace of Devon and his daughter, Hailey.
Carriage aficionado Joe Moran of Cincinnati and hackney driver Kelly Carroll of Unionville.
Smokin’ hot kosher cook-off draws 4,500 to Wynnewood temple
Hava NaGrilla, the region’s first kosher BBQ competition, was a smash hit for Wynnewood’s Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El.
The contestants: Twenty professional BBQ teams from around the U.S. began slicing and seasoning Thursday night, paused for Shabbat, then fired up their grills and lit their smokers Saturday at sundown. To monitor their meats, many slept under the stars. Joining them at the camp-out was “The Big Rib,” aka Dr. Stu Gordon of Haverford, the event organizer.
The festival: Enticed by mechanical bull rides, whisky tastings, a beer garden, a pickle-eating contest, and what-have-you, the throngs began arriving late morning, hours before the judging on Sunday, Aug. 27.
Mazel Tov: Among the locals who went home happy: Robert Krause of Gladwyne, whose team, Bob’s Kosher Klub, was named Reserve Champion, and Wynnewood’s Len Lodish, who led his Smokin’ Chutzpah team to a “best brisket” win.
The Mitzvah: Hosted by the temple’s men’s club, Hava NaGrilla raised more than $20,000 and collected 400 lbs. of canned kosher food for the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia’s Mitzvah Food Project.
Overseeing the official opening of the festival are Lori Cooper of Wynnewood, Marianne and Stuart Gordon of Haverford and Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El Rabbi Neil Cooper. Stuart Gordon is chair of the Hava Nagrilla event, which is organized by the Men’s Club of the Temple.
Wynnewood residents Bonnie Zimmerman, Beth Rothschild, Shelley Goldstein and Merle Horowitz check-in festival goers at Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El.
Entering the BBQ competition as Philadelphia’s Jake’s Kosher Smoked Meats are Sanford Bruk of Merion Station, and Jonathan Zaslow, owner Jeff “Jake” Klein and Adam Levine, all of Bala Cynwyd.
Men’s Club Co-Presidents Jeffrey Bookman and David Oriel, both of Wynnewood, stand beside a table filled with trophies for the BBQ competition winners.
Cooking is a family affair at Smokin’ Chutzpah for Caleb Lodish and his father, Chaim, both who travelled from Burlington, Vt., to participate in the competition with Zayde Len Lodish of Wynnewood. They placed first in the Brisket competition. Blair C. Johnson, who started cooking with the family 13 years ago, said it was the first time they were using charcoal. Their Vermont contingent brought maple wood with them, as well as maple syrup that was injected into a turkey in their smoker.
Honorary Board member and past Treasurer Caryn Becker, Board President Randy Goldberg and Vice President of Fundraising Robin Oriel, all of Wynnewood.
Bubbe Susan Lodish watches over chicken thighs just placed on the grill.
Lydia and Adam Ibrahim of Ardmore and their children, Jude and Marcel, who just came back from a trip to Israel, purchased their lunch of barbecue beef sandwiches and tacos with all the fixings at the Wandering Que booth.
Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El Rabbi Marc Israel of Wynnewood, with his son, Micah, and wife, Abbey Frank.
Men’s Club member Avrum Pollock of Wynnewood encourages kids and adults to try a mechanical bull ride, donated by Ethel Hoffman.
Howard Zwick of Wynnewood and Craig Speerman of Philadelphia offer free samples of Aaron’s polish sausage and chicken wings donated to the event by Giant Markets.
Frank and Kristie Adamo of Gulph Mills and their son, Owen, got a tour of Lower Merion Fire Department’s Fire Safety House —and a hat — from Deputy Fire Marshall Matthew Maguire, who was also handing out fire prevention material and keeping an eye out for barbecue fires.
Lankenau Medical Center’s Associate Marketing Manager Jennifer Myers and Director of Marketing Charlene Starankovic of Haverford offers Jackie Saltzman of Wynnewood sunglasses and moist toilettes, perfect for a BBQ, and other information about Lankenau’s Services.
Philly sports stars light up Kendall’s Crusade, laughing all the way
More than 250 FOK’s (Friends of the Kemms) turned out for the 2nd Annual Comedy Classic at Valley Forge Casino Resort, a midsummer soirée for Kendall’s Crusade.
The Crusade: Funding a cure and helping survivors of AVMs (Arteriovenous Malformations) and aneurysms.
The Berwyn family behind it: A grassroots charity, Kendall’s Crusade was started by young Kendall Kemm and her parents – former TV sports reporter Leslie Gudel and PA State Trooper Jaime Kemm – after Kendall suffered a stroke from a ruptured AVM at age 10. Now in eighth grade at Valley Forge Middle School, Kendall gets radiation treatments for three other aneurysms and wants to help others with this puzzling vascular disease.
The Classic: Drinks, dinner, a sports memorabilia-laden silent auction, and a rip-roaring standup show by comedian Craig Shoemaker. Dr. Robert Rosenwasser, chief of Neurosurgery at Jefferson’s Farber Institute, was honored for his contributions to AVM research and treatment.
The bottom line: The 2017 Comedy Classic raised $75,000. In less than two years, Kendall’s Crusade has raised $200,000, funding AVM research at Stanford, helping individual AVM families in need and establishing a patient fund.
The family behind Kendall’s Crusade: Leslie Gudel, Kendall, Chase and Jamie Kemm of Berwyn.
Kendall’s friends who volunteered to sell raffle tickets: Grace Arnott of Wayne, Jade Boruk of Chadds Ford, Brennah Busch of Berwyn and Carly Hutchins and Carly Broseman, both of Wayne.
Checking in guests are Lisa Bianchini of Plymouth Meeting, Martha Winters of Devon, and Krista Ross and Brigid Maugeri, both of Berwyn.
Kendall’s Crusade honoree Dr. Robert Rosenwasser, chief of Neurosurgery at Jefferson’s Farber Institute, with event emcee John Boruka, sportscaster Howard Erskin and Leslie Gudel Kemm, Kendall’s mother.
Survivor Eric Chobert of Wayne, a firefighter with the Radnor Fire Co., and his wife, Joyce, were featured in a film shown at the event about AVMs. They spoke of their experience with the disease after a rupture in his brain in Nov. 2014.
Frank and Barbara Pettit of Wayne had a great conversation with Phillies legend Gary Maddox.
Former Philadelphia Eagle and broadcast personality Mike Quick (center) hangs out with SportsRadio 94 WIP host Glen Macnow of Havertown and Ray Didinger, Comcast Sportsnet's Eagles analyst.
Katlyn Winters of Devon helps sell t-shirts with the slogan “Fight AVMs” for $15.
Carl and Michele Ippoliti of Berwyn and Ron and Karen Seifert of Wayne.
Chris Konen and his wife, Robin, an AVM survivor, had dinner with fellow survivor Jillian DeFazio and her children, Jordan and Alexandra. Robin was featured in a film discussing her treatment since discovering an inoperable AVM after a car accident in 1987 at age 25.
Supporting Kendall’s Crusade are friends Tory Snyder of Wayne, Lynne Nicander of Bryn Mawr and Margie Mattes of Chester Springs.
Kendall’s brother, Chase Kemm of Berwyn, met up with his former teacher, Bill Adlin of Conshohocken, and Jeff Prickitt of Ambler.
Adding star power to the Comedy Classic: longtime Philly sportscasters Howard Eskin, John Boruka and Tony Bruno, and Miss Robin Austin, a producer and radio personality.
Friends Amy Fahey and Kari Godorecci, both of Devon, and Karen Ceifert of Wayne mingled during the reception, dinner and silent auction.
LBBC previews fall Butterfly Ball
Living Beyond Breast Cancer held an alfresco preview party this summer for its annual Butterfly Ball. Nearly 100 guests gathered to sip and schmooze at the Chestnut Hill home of two gala co-chairs, Katy and Jason Friedland.
The Ball: LBBC’s biggest fundraiser, The Butterfly Ball flies into the Loews Philadelpha Hotel Nov. 11. Last year’s ball brought in nearly $1 million.
The Going Beyond Awardees: Dr. Marisa Gefen and Teresa Kohl, both of Wynnewood, Megan Do Nasciemento of Mt. Airy and Felicia Johnson of Philadelphia – four women whose lives have been impacted by a breast cancer diagnosis. Each chose to use her personal experience to help and inspire others.
Founders Awardee: Author of the bestselling book, After Cancer Care, Pallav Mehta, MD, will receive LBBC’s highest honor, The Founders Award. Dr. Mehta is director of Integrative Oncology at the MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper.
The cause: Rated a four-star charity for 13 straight years and based in Bala Cynwyd, LBBC gives people impacted by breast cancer free access to high-quality info and advice, helping with medical, emotional and practical concerns.
Living Beyond Breast Cancer CEO Jean Sachs with Butterfly Ball Honorees Megan Do Nascimento of Mt. Airy, Teresa Kohl and Dr. Marisa Gefen of Wynnewood, and (seated) Dr. Pallav Mehta of Chestnut Hill.
Butterfly Ball Co-Chairs Steve and Susie Krupnick of Society Hill and Preview Party Hosts Katy and Jason Friedland of Chestnut Hill.
LBBC Vice President of Advancement Sandy Martin of Haverford, Justina Calgiano of Swarthmore and Gala Committee members Julia Wilson of Glen Mills and Megan Rutt of Wyndmoor.
Butterfly Ball Co-Chairs Linda and Jonathan Brassington of Phoenixville and Jennifer and Samuel Goldfarb of Bala Cynwyd enjoy cocktails and conversation around a high-top table.
Gala Committee member Barbara Link of Penn Valley, Board member Amy Lessack of Blue Bell and Marci Hackel of Maple Glen.
LBBC Board member Niv Singhal of Bryn Mawr, Gala Committee member Judy Weinstein of Mt. Airy and Holy Redeemer Hospital CEO Hank Unger of Wyncote.
Matthew Rutt of Wyndmoor and Gala Committee members Sarah Van Stones of Lower Gwynedd and Liz Pearson of Chestnut Hill.
Guests get crackin’ at Gladwyne Crab Fest for Help Hope Live
The young and young at heart – some 200 strong – picnicked on all-you-can-eat blue crabs, corn and fried chicken at St. Christopher’s Church in Gladwyne Aug. 6.
Adding to the fun: Live music, lawn games for kids and grownups, the lovely setting and plenty of plastic bibs and claw crackers.
The cause: The Fest raised $15,000 for Help Hope Live, a national nonprofit headquartered in Radnor that helps families and communities raise money for people with crisis medical needs including organ transplants. Since 1983, Help Hope Live campaigns have raised more than $126 million to pay patient expenses.
Be The Match: The National Marrow Donor Program was on hand with its Be the Match initiative, swabbing guests’ cheeks to see if they could become bone marrow or stem cell donors.
Help Hope Live Board member Stephanie McAlaine of Devon and her husband, Bob, and father-in-law, Paul, enjoy the afternoon with Board chair Jim Madden of Malvern and Client Services Manager Jen Spottiswoode of Wayne.
Help Hope Live Communications Director Shannon Shensky of Radnor, board member Ron Siggs of Wayne and his wife, Terri, Interim Executive Director Gail Ober, and board member Art Rainey of Villanova.
Past Board member Fred Kauffman of Bryn Mawr and his wife, Wendy, and daughter, Madeline, a former intern with Help Hope Live.
Board secretary James Kelley of Bryn Mawr shares a table with Jim Melwert of Collegeville, who donated a kidney to his aunt 10 years ago. He received the 2015 Hope Award for his work with Gift of Life's transplant team.
On a heart transplant list for more than 600 days, Jeff Marsh travels from his Hamburg home to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania for twice-monthly checkups – with financial assistance from Help Hope Live. With him are his wife, Terry, heart transplant recipients John Clyde and Bill Soloway, and Bill's fiancée, Kathleen Lynch. Help Hope Live helped Clyde and Soloway pay for immunosuppressants.
Felicia Butler and Henry Rhoades of Folcroft enjoy the crab dinner.
Betty Kelly from the National Marrow Donor Program and Help Hope Live Development Manager Kelly Bertolette staff the “Be The Match” table.
Help Us Adopt gets ready to ring in 10 years building families
A nonprofit that helps people pay for adoptions threw a poolside soirée at a private Gladwyne home to thank volunteers as it gears up for its big 10th anniversary fundraiser.
The hosts: Gladwyne’s Jennifer and Mike Miller are co-chairing Help Us Adopt’s Tenth Anniversary Family Building event set for Oct. 18 at Overbrook Country Club. A former teacher in one of Maryland’s neediest school districts, Jennifer Miller says she supports Help Us Adopt because she saw firsthand the challenges facing kids who don’t have permanent homes.
The cause: With an average price tag of $40K or more, adoption is expensive! Help Us Adopt was founded by Shipley alum Becky Fawcett, who is raising two adopted children with her husband, Kip, in NYC. Becky’s unique nonprofit gives grants of up to $15,000 to couples and individuals to help pay for domestic, international and foster care adoptions. In ten years, Help Us Adopt has awarded $1.9 million in grants, helping to build 218 families.
Former 6 ABC anchor/reporter Erin O’Hearn Paone and Sal Paone of Gwynedd Valley.
Help Us Adopt founder Becky Fawcett, board member Liad Pernock of Villanova, and party hosts Jennifer and Mike Miller.
Dianne Burkitt of Wayne, Kristin Haines of Paoli and Marie Kraft of Ambler.
Erin Brady and Jeff Day of Haverford, who have two adopted children, and Carrie Soroush of Bryn Mawr.
Jen Unterberger of Newtown Square, Monica DeSanctis of Villanova and Alison Elderton of Drexel Hill.
Ann and Marty Snyder, the parents of Help Us Adopt founder Becky Fawcett, and Tricia Mackay, all of Villanova.
Laura Stacey of Malven, Mary Miller of Worcester and Avi Koffler of Villanova.
Monica Mandell of Bala Cynwyd, Cara Kahn Fudenberg of Merion Station and Amy Jerrehian of Wynnewood, one of the many adoptive mothers who support Help Us Adopt.
Gary and Brooke Fritz of Wayne. Brooke’s friendship with Help Us Adopt’s Becky Fawcett dates back to their Shipley School days.
Barbara Bigford of Paoli, Donna Boyle of Havertown and Meeghan Mullin of Radnor.
Kelly Cenicola of Villanova and Brooke Cordes of Gladwyne.
Changing of the guard at Baker Industries
The Malvern nonprofit that gives jobs, work skills and hope to hard-to-employ adults celebrated its leadership – old and new – at a summer cocktail party.
The setting: David and Lisa Habig welcomed Baker believers to their home, Little Stream Farm, near Chesterbrook. David Habig took guests on ATV tours of their historic estate.
The Presidents: Baker Industries Board President Rich Bevan, a former healthcare executive, succeeds Turk Thacher, who stepped down after 15 years but will stay on as Baker’s board vice president.
The Platform: Bevan will keep the Baker ball rolling: advancing the nonprofit company’s 37-year mission to hire and support people who otherwise might not be employable: adults with mental and physical disabilities, ex-offenders, people with substance abuse disorders and the homeless. Participants get paychecks and real-world job experience at production facilities in Malvern and Philadelphia.
Anne Grauer and party host Lisa Habig (right) with outgoing and incoming Baker Industries presidents Turk Thatcher of Devon and Rich Bevan of Strafford.
Baker Industries volunteer Cati Ritchie offers hors d’oeuvres to Debi Rabin of Wayne and Beth Tiewater of Chesterbrook.
Longtime Baker Industries supporters Gail Batchelder of Newtown Square and Carol Thacher of Devon.
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Some of the Baker Industries brass: Director of Finance Mike Ritchie of Wayne, Board Chair Rick Ill of Berwyn, and President Rich Bevan of Strafford.
National Night Out started – and still draws crowds – in Wynnewood
Hundreds of locals congregated at the Wynnewood Shopping Center for the 34th Annual National Night Out Festival Aug. 1.
Main Line roots, international reach: Wynnewood’s Matt Peskin created the event in 1984 to promote police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie. It’s since spread to 16,000 communities in all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide.
The Wynnewood festivities: Live music, fab food, the Phillie Phanatic, rides, carnival games, Lower Merion police, fire and EMS exhibits, roving entertainers and booths providing safety info and promoting local nonprofits.
Be a good neighbor: Spot a streetlight that’s out, a wire that’s down, a truck parked in a vacationing neighbor’s driveway? Get involved and report your suspicions via Lower Merion Community Watch.
Alicia and Andy Dizio of Ardmore brought their girls, Kendall and Evelyn, to the Wynnewood Shopping Center for the National Night Out event.
Rhoda Antolino of Wynnewood gives out information on the Lower Merion Community Watch Program.
National Night Out Event staffers include Ellen Barsky of Havertown, Allison Worthington and Melissa Barsky of West Chester, and Tara Miller of Philadelphia.
Cheyenne and Joe Toscano of Narberth walked to the event with their children, Ellis and Kent.
Clark Rosenberry of Bryn Mawr and daughter Shoshanna and Lena Ryder of Ardmore and son Jack wait their turns to play in a large, inflated obstacle course.
Jeremy and Lauren Menkowitz of Villanova, whose boys Ben and Will attend nearby Temple Beth Hillel, had anticipated attending the National Night Out for months.
Lower Merion Police Sgt. John String, Lt. Peter Sharpe and Officer Madeline Lewis hand out lanyards and answer questions.
Jane Murray of Ardmore enjoys the evening with her children, Molly and Graham MacNeal, and mom Ellen Brennan.
Wearing their National Night Out shirts are Trish and Madison McCarrim, Amaia Altuna and Cole McCarrim, all of West Chester.
Community health nurse Millie Gondek of Havertown offers information on services available through Bryn Mawr Hospital, including skin cancer and blood-pressure screenings and fear-of-falling classes.
Maddie Taylor and her mother, Schaunel Steinnagel, of Haverford wait in line for a ride.
Jennie and Grace Anderson of Wynnewood watch as sister Olivia gets on a ride.
Rob and Spencer Block of Wynnewood and Sharon and Jonah Weiss of Penn Valley hold blow-up hammers after their boys hit 400 on the "kiddie striker" game.
Wagging tails, proud owners at Ardmore Doggie Derby
Animal lovers converged in the courtyard at Suburban Square for Doggie Derby Day, a canine meet-and-greet benefit for the local nonprofit, Paws and Affection. The festival featured fashion dog sketches by Denise Fike, portraits with your pooch, balloon hats, live music and kids crafts.
The Paws cause: Paws and Affection trains service dogs at its Narberth facility, then places them with Philly-area kids with disabilities. P and A’s pups do amazing things: everything from opening doors and picking up dropped items for kids with mobility and balance issues to alerting a diabetic child to a sugar crash. They’re also trusty companions and boost kids’ self-confidence.
At the Paws and Affection booth, Executive Director and Founder Laura O’Kane of Narberth, Training and Program Director Susie Daily of Philadelphia and Marketing Coordinator Danielle Radomile of Havertown with Louie, an eight-month-old Golden Retriever in training to be a service dog.
Pam Tama of Gladwyne holds her five-month-old shelter dog, Payton, who likes to high-five and roll over and sit.
Emily Liss of Gladwyne brought Lucy, her three-year-old Labradoodle.
Tracie King of Bala Cynwyd, her daughter, Emery, and their seven-year-old cocker spaniel, Henny.
Kelli and Annabel Byrne of Gladwyne brought their dog, Chewy, a five-month-old Shitzu.
Relaxing outside are Dom DiPrinzio of Wynnewood and his cocker, Romeo.
Sam, a nine-year-old boxer-pit bull mix, who likes to swim in the Schuykill, gets a hug from Paisey Wilkinson of Haverford. Joining them are Camille Purdy, Camissie Wilkinson and Stef Riegel.
Jill and Aliza Wolf of Villanova brought their 14-year-old poodle, Kazoo, to the Derby.
Mara Mendoza of Havertown is teaching her 12-year-old Boston terrier, Meatball, to say "I love you" (three barks).
It would be more advantageous to read about events upcoming rather than events after the fact.
Dorothy Pisano