Friends from Wayne journeyed to Virginia for the woodsy wedding of NBC News’ political reporter Kasie Hunt, Conestoga ’03, where the requested dress was “rustic formal.”
The bride and groom: One of Conestoga’s many success stories, Kasie Hunt, 31, is now seen on TVs across the country, covering Capitol Hill politics for NBC News and MSNBC. Kasie is magna cum laude graduate of George Washington U. and has a master’s in sociology from King’s College in Cambridge, UK. Groom Matt Rivera, 35, is the digital producer of “Meet the Press.” The two wrap up a two-week honeymoon in Thailand this weekend.
The venue: Scenic Shenandoah Woods, nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains near Luray, Virginia. Kasie told the Washington Post she was “so touched that so many … made the trek out to spend a weekend celebrating away from all the noise and distraction of our crazy lives in journalism.”
Special moments: When the bride danced to “Sentimental Joutney” with her 91-year-old Buppa. And when she played guitar ’round the campfire at the afterparty. (New to strings, Kasie played trombone at Stoga.)
Spotted in the crowd: NBC News’ other top political reporter, White House correspondent Kristen Welker, who was married in Philly March 4.
Why Derby Day? The couple met at a Kentucky Derby party hosted by Kasie. Matt brought the mint.
Kasie's younger sister Carly was her maid of honor.
Longtime friends from Sullivan’s Road in the Glenhardie section of Wayne: the parents of the bride, Bruce and Krista Hunt, Pam and Kevin Mahoney, and Marian and Steve Sieke.
Friends from Kasie's Main Line childhood included Steve Sieke, Susan Raebeck, Meredith Shinners and (right) Rick Shinners and Alex Sieke.
Sisters Carly and Kasie at the rehearsal dinner.
NBC News’ Willie Geist hosts Philly’s brainiest black-tie, the Franklin Institute Awards
A sold-out crowd of 800 philanthropic, government and corporate leaders – and a science geek or two – turned out May 4 for the Franklin Awards, aka Philly’s Nobel prizes.
The pomp: Guests ascended blue-carpeted steps to the science museum, where they rubbed elbows with awardees and each other at a cocktail party, medal ceremony and dinner.
The circumstance: After a weeklong series of events spotlighting their achievements, nine laureates were fêted for their extraordinary contributions to science, technology, engineering and business leadership. Over the years, an astounding 117 Franklin laureates have won 119 Nobel prizes.
The host: Fresh from MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Willie Geist emceed the medals program in the science museum’s grand rotunda, joking that he was a science failure in grade school. Also presiding: Old Ben Franklin himself – all 20 ft. and 30 tons of him, memorialized in marble.
The history: The Franklin Institute awards date back to 1824, are endowed by benefactors and rake in big bucks for the museum. 2017’s laureates aren’t household names … yet. Past awardees include Frank Lloyd Wright, Edwin Hubble, Jacques Cousteau, Jane Goodall, Marie Curie and Thomas Edison.
Annette and Don Parker of Devon and Friends Committee member Pam Mahoney of Malvern and her husband, Kevin.
Franklin Awards Laureate Claude Lorius, Ph.D., of Paris, France, winner of the Bower Award and Prize for Achievement in Science is all smiles as he celebrates with his liaisons, Institute Trustee Grete Greenacre of Wayne and (right) Friends Committee member Sally Henriques of New Hope.
Friends Committee member Jennifer Rice, Corporate Committee chair and Franklin Awards co-chair Michael Forman of Society Hill, Friends Committee Vice Chair Leanne McMenamin of Newtown Square, and Friends Committee Chair and Franklin Awards co-chair Maureen Brennan-Miller of Chesterbrook and her husband, David Miller.
Franklin Institute board member Chris McIsaac of Newtown Square and his wife, Linda, and Tim Buckley of Wayne on the blue carpet en route to the gala.
Friends Committee member and Laureate Liaison Karen Nagel Kemp of Haverford and Friends Advisory Committee member and Laureate Liaison Hollie Holt of Wayne.
Ralph and Rosemarie Mazzeo of Villanova and Bryan and Linda Hauptfuhrer of Wayne. The women are on the Friends committee.
Former board member Paul Heintz of Radnor and his wife, Jane, and Nominating Committee Chair and board member Don Callaghan of Bryn Mawr.
Michele Porterfield of Malvern and Betsy Bogacki of Downingtown.
Martyn Greenacre of Wayne, Laureate Liaison Sandy Nesbitt of Newtown Square and her husband, John, in the museum's Grand Lobby.
Friends Committee member Marion Fox of Ardmore, Charlie Dagit of Gladwyne and his wife, Alice, also a Friends Committee member, Russell Dupuis and Christine Wang.
Board of Trustees Chair Donald Morel Jr., Franklin Institute President and CEO Larry Dubinski, Bank of America Managing Director and regional president Jim Dever, and Institute Trustee Robert McMenamin of Newtown Square.
Historic barns and farms highlight Episcopal house tour
Braving rain and mud, the good sports on EA’s 25th annual tour on May 5 viewed properties owned by William Penn, famed architect Brognard Okie, and a Revolutionary War outpost of Gen. Washington.
The tour: Eight “Beautiful Barns and Historic Homes” spanning Wayne, Newtown Square and Malvern. On display: converted party barns, barn homes, and working horse barns and 17th- and 18th-century farmhouses and grand estates, all enhanced by donated flowers and catered nibbles.
The bonus: “Boutique” shopping in the Barn at Crumdale Farm, where an original tavern room dates back to the 1600s. Cool.
Among the showstoppers: The totally renovated Grantham Estate on Pembroke Lane in Wayne, recently featured in Architectural Digest and on sale for $6.9 million. (Sorry, no sign of Downton’s Lord and Lady at the Grantham estate). And Malvern’s Alliquippa Farm: 80 acres, four residences, two barns (for 27 horses) and indoor and outdoor rings, originally owned by William Penn.
Aimee Gallagher of Rosemont brought her mother, Kathleen Dickey of Moorestown, NJ, along to enjoy the house tour.
In the foyer of the Wayne estate she renovated is Lauren Wylonis, owner of Paoli's KingsHaven Design, with house coordinator Maria Doyle and tour volunteer Paige Sargent.
Debra Copit of Wynnewood, Mimi Fleming of Bryn Mawr (proprietor of Mimi Fleming Designs) and Eileen Myers of Wayne.
Episcopal Academy parents Esther Langkafel of Wayne and Anna Doyle of Newtown Square walk through a meadow to the next house tour location.
EA school store manager Lisa McDonnell of Wayne shows school spirit items to House Tour Co-Chair Sonia Churchman of Malvern and Jeannie Wolfington of Newtown Square.
Echo Valley Farm owner Anna Kreuzberger of Newtown Square, realtor Mary D’Alonzo of Center City and Lisa Canavarro of Media sample cavatelli prepared by Teca co-owner Alberto Guadagnini of Newtown Square.
Heartwood Farm house coordinator Lauren Royer of Wayne and Kathy Jacoby of Villanova greet guests on the tour.
Amy Hagner of Malvern, vendor Kate Lawson of Berwyn, owner of Menagerie boutiques in Haverford and Wayne, and Linda Huptfuhrer of Wayne.
Susan Swanson of Devon and Becky Brinks of Havertown in the library of a Newtown Square home.
Meghan Allshouse of Collegeville, Allyson Smith of Washington Crossing, and Sharon Buckley and Gayle Gibson of Newtown came in from the rain to shop the boutiques at the Crumdale Farm in Newtown Square.
Hats were haute stuff at Wayne Hotel’s Paramour
A sold-out crowd of 100 dazzled in their Derby-Day best at the Wayne Hotel’s 6th annual party.
The call to post: Neither cool temps nor scattered showers stayed these revelers from their appointed rounds: showing off their inner southern belle or gent at the hotel’s afternoon soirée.
The competition: Wasn’t just fierce at Churchill Downs. A line of best-dressed hopefuls trotted before Paramour’s three-judge panel.
Also cleaning up: The event’s charity beneficiary, Radnor Educational Foundation, which raked in $4,850.
Drs. Edward Chan and Shobana Sood of Wayne and Radnor Educational Foundation Director Meg Haist of Bryn Mawr and her husband, Steve.
Nancy Begier, Julie Kelly and Kim Hannum of Wayne, Luisa Ramona of Bryn Mawr, Robin Elliott, Siobhan Welsh and Kristine Cox of Wayne.
Mark Borowski of Newtown Square and his wife, Lisa, a Radnor Educational Foundation board member, with Marie and John Reilly of Rosemont. John is president of the foundation.
Kathy Apfelbaum of Newtown Square and Irene Lane of Haverford.
Tracey DiGiacomo of St. Davids, Tom and Elizabeth Lowy of Wayne and Maddie Hammond of St. Davids.
Michael Reed and Brooke Lawrence of Wayne, Laura Corley and Kayleigh DiGiacomo of Chestnut Hill and Jake Kolem of Wyndmoor celebrated Kayleigh’s 26th birthday at the party.
Emily Schwarz and Brian Newmark of Villanova and Shailu Jaswal and Suleena Kalra of Bryn Mawr enjoy the hotel's porch, which just opened for the season.
Ileana and Tamas Szene of Wayne, Jeff and Grace Liu of Radnor and F.S. and Gokcen Gurk of Villanova.
First-place winners of the party's Best Dressed Contest Kathleen Kenneally of Wayne and Frank Pastva of Collegeville.
Julie Speitel of Bryn Mawr and Amanda Munch of Wayne, and (right) Ben and Amy Witmer of Radnor.
Thinking pink, handing over green at Breastcancer.org’s Baubles blowout
200 women filled pink shopping bags with fashion, décor and sundries at a spectacular Malvern estate May 4.
The showplace: The address says Malvern but Twin Willows Estate, a brick beauty built in 1967 and remodeled in 2009, looks Colonial Williamsburg all the way. At least on the outside.
The baubles: Fifteen pop-up shops sold everything from hats and handbags to garden gizmos and pottery. And jewelry, LOTS of jewelry.
Under all the fluff: Support for a serious mission. In 18 years, the Main Line-bred website, Breastcancer.org, has become a top global resource for expert and personal advice for people touched by breast cancer. Founder Marissa Weiss, a Lankenau oncologist and breast cancer survivor herself, is now campaigning for mammograms to begin at age 40. #40SavesLives. Pass it on.
The shopping night’s organizers included Kim Wakiyama of Villanova, Rita Lusen of Eagleville and Maura Wynn of Center City.
Mad Hatter Kevin Towell with Kathe Morris of Paoli, her daughter-in-law Kirsten Morris of Devon, Donna Gosselin and Eileen Oakes, both of West Chester. The mad Hatter was on hand to rouse spirits for Take the Fright Out of Breast Cancer, the nonprofit’s costume-party fundraiser set for Oct. 7.
Sue Checcio of Wayne, Mary Ellen Coyle of Berwyn and daughter Kathleen O’Neill of West Chester.
Vendor ML Wilcox and shoppers Lisa Taddei of Wynnewood and Natalie Bracaglia of Wayne.
Paoli Plato’s Closet owner Lois Duffy and Karen Consalo, both of Berwyn.
Showing off baby doll pjs and Hanky Panky “Candy Bar” boy shorts sold at Gie Gie Lingerie in Paoli are store owner Gina Mastrangelo (center), Jan Molendyke of West Chester and Krista Ross of Glen Mills.
Touché Accessories owner Conni McDonnell, Breastcancer.org board member Jean Kane of Devon and the nonprofit’s advancement director Thom Harmon.
Main Line Psychiatric’s Taliba Foster, M.D. and Deneen Marcel of Deneen Marcel Lashes (and brows) in Bryn Mawr and Center City.
Heigh-Ho Jewelry Co.’s Laurie Dougherty of Newtown Square peddles baubles to Ellen Sweeney of Broomall, Kristen Kearns of Wayne, and Laura Reed of Malvern.
Malvern gals Linda Brewington and Debbie Riener shop at the Gingy’s pop-up with Kim Dreibelbis and owner Jean Tremblay.
Marnie Bowen of Villanova and Contain Yourself gardens and Lori Horning of Devon, a manager of the Paoli boutique Polka Dots.
Susan Connors of Wayne, Maryann Toner of Willistown and Sandy Lindberg of Wayne.
Banner night for Peter’s Place, whose healing mission is ever green and sunny
The Radnor nonprofit’s April 29 Evergreen gala, held at Merion Golf Club, broke records for attendance – 350 – and proceeds – $220,000.
The draw: Antiques Roadshow auctioneer Alasdair Nichol of Freeman’s upped the bidding for a stay at the shore and a fun BBQ party package, among other prizes.
The cause: Peter’s Place offers peer support programs to grieving children and families at its Radnor HQ and in schools throughout the region, as well as education for professionals. More than 1,400 children used its programs last year.
The new digs: Founded in 2001 in memory of Peter Morsbach who died suddenly at age 10, the nonprofit just keeps getting bigger and better. It just cut the ribbon on its first permanent home on King of Prussia Rd. in Radnor.
Evergreen co-chairs Georgine Trumpbour of Villanova, Lauren Addis of Wayne, Lara Evans of Bryn Mawr, Liz Cahill of Wayne, and Carrie Grau of Devon. (David Campli Photography)
Peter’s Place board members Jim Buck and George Bodenger, both of Bryn Mawr, co-founders Susan Burch of Gladwyne and Eleanor Morsbach Godin of Wayne, and board members El Godin and Robin Pew, both of Haverford, Lindy Cummiskey of Ardmore, and Bill Haines of Lancaster. (David Campli Photography)
Event sponsors Susan and Doug Yearley of Wayne. (Campli Photography)
Charlie and Anne Wilmerding of Villanova, with Rick and Lesty Ill of Berwyn. (Campli Photography)
Barry and Betsy Rorer of Villanova. (Campli Photography)
Penelope Reed of Rose Valley, Kim Sheppard of Flourtown, board member and emcee Jane McNeil of Villanova, Susan Beard of Manayunk, and Robert Goeringer. (Campli Photography)
Allison and Jon Lubert of Haverford. (Campli Photography)
Sam and Tracey Freeman of West Chester, Britt Murdoch, and auctioneer Alasdair Nichol from event sponsor Freeman’s Auctions (NYC and Philly). (Campli Photography)
Evergreen guests listen to Keynote Speaker Kimberly Lewis Pratt at Merion Golf Club. (Campli Photography)
Valley Forge Montessori school bets on ‘A Night At the Races’
The only school in the U.S. located inside a national park (!), the Montessori Children’s House of Valley Forge cleaned up at its Spring Fling fundraiser at Waynesborough CC May 6.
The races: Parents placed bets on real horse races shown on a big screen. Some had bought the rights to name horses, mostly in honor of teachers and staff, so competition was fierce.
Winner’s circle: The folks who walked away with trips to St. John, BVI, Cape May and the Florida Keys, auctioned off after dinner. Nice going.
The finish line: $37,000 was raised for school programs.
Fun Fact: In 2009, the school began leasing the circa-1895 Ivy Hollow Farm from Valley Forge National Historical Park in exchange for renovations and maintenance. It currently serves 142 kiddos, ages 1 to 6.
Montessori Children’s House of Valley Forge Administrator Gill Gutteridge of Wayne, Spring Fling co-chairs Katie Egan of Wayne and Jess DiMartini of Berwyn, Mary Pat Elison of Collegeville, head of the school's PTO, and Spring Fling co-chair Amy Terlecki of Wayne.
William and Marta Milliken and Maren and Dave Levine, all of Devon.
Purdy and Josh Bailer of Wayne, and Alissa and Derek Bower of Phoenixville.
Geisa Arnold of Malvern, Elizabeth Trupkovich of Wayne, Maria Martinelli of Berwyn and Marnia Cortes of Radnor.
Paul and Diane Bidez of Phoenixville.
Megan Edwards of Wayne, Renee Dole of Berwyn, Tiffany Robin of Devon and Alex Bente of Wayne.
Jon and Julie Duffy and Susan and Scott Moses, all of Wayne.
Jessica and Buzz Beckwith of Malvern, Lisa Korab of Wayne and Karin Hellberg of Malvern.
Jill Conlin, Un Kyong Ho and Chichi Momah, all from Wayne.
Phoenixville couples Cara and Jeremy Dabbeekah and Kari and Amir Shahpari.
Andrei and Camelia Stoica of Wayne, and Susan and Dave Demski of Audubon.
Art Works auction creates hope and healing for kids in crisis
It took a village of 220 friends to raise $245,000 for the Rosemont nonprofit, theVillage, at Merion Cricket Club May 4.
The art: Guests wandered through a gallery of paintings and sculpture created by children enrolled in theVillage’s programs. In seven years, the annual art show/auction has raised $1 million.
The (good) works: On 43-acres in Rosemont, theVillage (one word intentional) offers sanctuary and healing to children impacted by violence, neglect, racism, mental illness, poverty and other trauma. Known as the Presbyterian Children’s Village until 2014, theVillage helps children through residential, counseling, and creative arts programs, including equine, dance, photography, knitting and the fine arts.
The Village People: Yardly and Scott Jenkins received the Healing Spirits Award, and the Corporate Dream Builder Honoree was the Nehrbas Group of Janney Montgomery Scott.
Carol Pendergrass of Gladwyne, Katie Jenkins of New York City, Healing Spirits Honorees Yardley and Scott Jenkins of Rosemont, Sarah Jenkins of South Africa, and Frank Roberts and Erin Hogan of Arlington, VA.
Members of theVillage Executive Leadership Team: Jack Cavanaugh of Woodlyn, Jamie Fenstermaker of Ambler, Cheryl Burkett of Philadelphia, Darlene Hewett of West Chester, Jillian Theorgood of Darby, Jane Shuster of Newtown and Jory Barrad of Media.
Local bloggers play show and tell at Anthro
No topic was off-limits when local bloggers and their followers gathered at Anthropologie in Wayne.
The party: Anthro rolled out the welcome mat – and an artsy-chic one, at that – for a Local Bloggers Styling Party on May 3. Home decor and tabletop vignettes were spritzed among spring fashions. Shopping and schmoozing ensued.
Spotted in the crowd: Larina Kase of LarinaKaseInteriorDesign.com, Haven Duddy of mainlinehaven.com, Ashley Meyers of smilelulabelle.com, and Lindsey Schuster of theMotherChic.com.
Who else showed up? Penn Valley breast cancer survivor and blogger Randi Rentz. A compilation of her blog posts – “Why Buy a Wig When You Can Buy Diamonds?” – is being made into a book.
Local bloggers and party hosts at Anthropologie in Wayne: Lindsey Schuster of Villanova, editor of theMotherChic.com, a lifestyle and fashion blog; Ashley Meyers of Berwyn, owner and stylist of smilelulabelle.com; Haven Duddy of Newtown Square, real estate guru with mainlinehaven.com; and Larina Kase of Devon, an interior designer with LarinaKaseInteriorDesign.com.
Margaret Hino and Dena Honesty of Wayne, and Natalia Pryszlak and Alex Bak-Boychuk, both of Lafayette Hill.
Maggie Bangham of Lancaster and Meg Veno of Malvern, owner of Life’s Patina at Willowbrook Farm.
Blog follower Suzanne Comer of Wayne and Randi Rentz of Penn Valley, who writes about breast cancer in her blog, randirentz.com.
Photographer Michelle Sweeney of Havertown, teacher Erin Kennedy of Swarthmore and photographer Alison Cornell of Devon.
Cancer Support Community friends lounge around Fairmount Park
Enjoying “Cocktails in the Park,” the Cancer Support Community of Greater Philadelphia awarded its first Ben Strauss Memorial Scholarship to a youth volunteer. The award is named for the late Pep Boys heir from Haverford, who passed from prostate cancer. His wife co-chaired the fundraiser.
The evening: A lux lounge theme with tapas, cocktails and demos of CSCGP’s drumming, painting, mandala and movement programs.
The cause: Free services to enhance the body, mind and spirit of people affected by cancer. Think support groups, lectures, yoga, Zumba, knitting, tai ji, qigong and meditation.
The awards: The Ann Silverman Award went to Lankenau Precision Oncologist Gerald Messerschmidt of Bryn Mawr. The John Green family received the courage award and CSCGP supporter Brian Kappra of Evantine Design was given the inspiration award.
The Ben Strauss Scholarship: Chosen by survivors and patients, $1,000 went to Gettysburg-bound Gennaro Pannone, for his honest video about the guilt he felt for being happy while his father was being treated for cancer
The take: More than $200,000 for Cancer Support’s free programs.
Sharon Bozentka of Newtown Square, Susie Sargent of Malvern and Maria Delany of Wayne.
Event co-chairs Iliana Strauss of Villanova and Wendy Rosen of Center City. Iliana Strauss is the widow of Ben Strauss, the scholarship's namesake. (Photo by Thomas Robert Clarke)
Sharon Freedman of Villanova, Inspiration Award honoree Brian Kappra of Evantine Design, Nicole Dresnin Schaeffer of Villanova and Nancy Amoroso of Wynnewood. (Photo by Thomas Robert Clarke)
Ellen Churchill of Malvern, Lisa Blank of Merion Station and Wendy Rosen of Center City.
Sandy and Robert Edelstein of Penn Valley. (Photo by Thomas Robert Clarke)
James and Nicole Schaeffer of Villanova with (center) Cancer Support Community of Philadelphia Board Chair Ralph Zuccarini.
Wandering among the wisteria: Wistar Institute friends
The Wisteria Garden at Morris Arboretum was the perfect backdrop for the Wistar Institute’s elegant May 10 soirée.
The guests: Loyal supporters of the elite medical research and training center in West Philly – the first of its kind in the U.S. not affiliated with another institution. The party was a thank you for their dedication and part of Wistar’s yearlong celebration of its 125th anniversary.
So, what came first: the Wistar Institute or wisteria? The flowering vine’s been around a while but was named for Dr. Caspar Wistar, bff of Thomas Jefferson and the author of America’s first anatomy textbook. The Wistar Institute was founded by the good doctor’s great nephew and named in his honor.
The Wistar-Morris Connection: Goes back 300 years to when Rebecca Wistar married Samuel Morris. The summer home of their descendants, the Chestnut Hill arboretum was once called “Compton.”
Speaking and signing: New York Times-bestselling author of The Founding Gardeners, Andrea Wulf.
James Lovett of Villanova and his wife, Robin Halpern Lovett, Nicole Dresnin Schaeffer of Villanova, Jane Kaufman of Chestnut Hall and James Schaeffer.
Carrie Gish of Bala Cynwyd, with Dr. Ashani Weeraratna of Merion Station and her husband, Dr. Pat Morin.
Judy Soltz of Bryn Mawr, Jennifer Evans Stacey of Radnor, Dr. Dario Altieri of Philadelphia, Richard Belas of Bryn Mawr, and Helen and David Pudlin of Bryn Mawr.
Gale and Bruce Gillespie of Villanova.
Louise and Peter Havens of Villanova.
Dr. Dario Altieri, Wistar Institute’s president and CEO, and historian and New York Times best-selling author Andrea Wulf who discussed her book, Founding Gardeners.
West Laurel Hill Cemetery hosts splashy Derby Bash
Nearly 150 revelers in bow ties and dress hats enjoyed carriage rides, a best-dressed contest, dancing and mint julep bars at West Laurel Hill Cemetery May 6.
Revving the crowd before the Run for the Roses: The Red Hot Ramblers, games of chance, InstaShack photos and bidding on three mystery gifts: a cruise on the Delaware, a spa package and a chocolate, wine and champagne pairing.
Also a hit: Using metallic ink on black parchment, fashion illustrator Denise Fike sketched ladies, many in their Lilly Pulitzer-esque best.
The cause: Tickets were $50; $100 for VIPs, raising $4,000 for Hope Springs Equestrian Therapy.
are these events published prior to your newsletter anywhere? Would love to attend some…
They really aren’t really in one place. MLMNews publishes a printed Green Book social calendar each Sept. and Hugh E. Dillon just launched The Philadelphia Social Calendar. But many of these events aren’t listed on either
https://www.philadelphiasocialcalendar.com