A year ago on May 1, was the first of two fires which devastated an old historic home at 400 Leopard Road in Berwyn. Both fires were vicious and devastating, putting first responders at risk and not exactly creating a safe scenario for neighbors.
I had loved the whimsy of this house since I was a teenager growing up on the Main Line. I had friends who grew up in this part of the Main Line, and those who live here as an adult not so far away, so I have literally been driving past it forever. Sugartown is also one of my favorite drives from Chester County to the Main Line.
And here she sits. The first fire was May 1, 2024 and the second devastating fire was late July, 2024.
As we know the former homeowner, Kathryn Frankel, was charged with the second fire, I have no clue what happened with the first fire.
The house just sits a lonely sentinel to a senseless tragedy to this day as you drive by.
Can this house be restored? I am thinking no, but who knows? I just think someone will see a corner lot and eventually place a McMansion with not nearly the heart and soul once held by 400 Leopard Road.
There has not been a trial yet. It is just so sad. ***But if you look at the docket it looks like her bail was revoked???***
Savvy’s screenshot gave me pause. Watched the meeting video and then saw a familiar face….
Well in addition to the malarkey over books courtesy of this Mike Lake at Radnor Township School District School Board Meetings, he apparently has an erstwhile assistant? Gosh we’ve all seen her at meetings out here, haven’t we? Radnor residents, we apologize that the dead baby book banning poster toting woman from Great Valley is assisting the foaming at the mouth book banning man in your township now.
Her name is Fenicia Redman and people in Great Valley are rolling their eyes, right? Yeah we remember her and her dead baby posters etc., don’t we? Taxpayers go to pay for her nonsense until the courts eventually dismissed what she was attempting. She wanted the samey same books banned in Great Valley. (And remarkably her GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/f/5j8tn5 is still up AND Mike Lake donated to it.)
So Mr. Lake, the thing is the police in East Whiteland actually investigated and well ummm….d’oh there was nothing actionable, was there? I mean dude you can ask East Whiteland Police yourself, ok?
So now Fenicia (who tried to get in my face at a historical marker ceremony in September, 2023, because she wanted me to KNOW her and she will tell you that I told her to her face with supervisors, residents, and a state rep right there that I still had NO desire to know her) is being a busy bee in Radnor? Bzzzzzzz and the most important take away? She LOST here in Chester County in the Great Valley School District.
So I noticed in the Savvy Main Line screenshot a woman holding signs. And I looked at the video. I thought nahhh it can’t be, but it was, sadly. I doubt she moved to Radnor Township (although people out here could be hopeful, right?) so I would say she is merely lending her chaos expertise as it were.
Look, this whole thing year after year is ridiculous. It is not up to these people to decide for everyone and everyone’s kids. And I always wonder whose sexuality are they worried about when they go on these crusades?
Anyway, birds of a putrid feather and all that. Barf.
Just remember: she LOST in Great Valley. Here’s hoping Radnor Township School District School Board remember where they left their balls?
A student at Villanova University who reported allegations of sexual misconduct was asked to sign a form that prevented her from sharing evidence of the case with almost anyone, even her parents. Violating the terms could have affected the outcome of the school’s investigation into what happened….At York College of Pennsylvania, one student said he was threatened with academic discipline for telling his story on a podcast, violating a nondisclosure agreement that said he couldn’t discuss his allegations, even though he didn’t name the student he accused of rape.
So this week, the news broke that the guy that videotaped the woman being sexually assaulted most recently at Villanova was still walking for graduation with the rest of his class. It resulted in an uproar as it should have.
If you’ve ever been a victim of any level of sexual assault, one of the things that you face is being re-victimized.
And it’s one of those things where this guy did something really really wrong. He’s not in jail, but it doesn’t mean that his life returns to normal as he finishes college.
A Villanova University student who was sexually assaulted in a Villanova dorm room in 2022 is demanding that a student who was present for the assault and videotaped the incident not walk at graduation this May, according to the victim’s attorney.
Today someone made a comment on my blog‘s Facebook page. And it just sort of made me stop not because I think they’re a bad person but because I think they don’t get it. This is what they said:
Villanova is a Catholic university , you would think the standards would be higher
Why would anyone think they had higher standards because they’re Catholic? I’m Catholic and I don’t think that matters a hill of beans to a lot of these schools even if they are Catholic.
I feel is the Catholic Church continually covers things up. Look at all the coverups of sexual abuse on the part of priests. Why do we think this is any different at Villanova? The university is run by Augustinians and they’re like money focused aren’t they?
Now the super Catholics are getting on my case, about my opinion on Villanova and sexual assaults. All of those people need to revisit the Clery Act and how that came to be.
Time to revisit the Clery Act Villanova University
And I have never thought Villanova does enough. And I have all sorts of questions.
This stuff with Villanova University is everything and part of the problem is this is not the first time young women have been assaulted on this campus over the years is it? Things the media needs to look at include:
✅How is Villanova recording and reporting these incidents?
✅Are victims encouraged to go to the hospital and get rape kits after a sexual assault or just to go to the health center?
✅The health center should be a reporter of crimes like this to law enforcement not merely campus security, but are they?
It’s time for Villanova to really step up. I was speaking with a friend yesterday, whose daughter had been interested in the university and my friend and her husband have decided they don’t want her even looking at the school. and I know a lot of people are talking about this.
I’m sure Villanova alumni are circling the wagons because they have very dedicated alumni. And that’s great, but this is where the alumni need to stand up. And if they have to, they need to put their money where their mouth is and get Villanova to really change their ways.
I realize there’s only so much that a school can control, but they need to do better here. Students need to feel safe on campus, and God forbid something happens. They need to feel safe, reporting it.
I honestly have to say to any student out there that if something happens, you hit 911 you don’t just call Villanova security. You get real police on campus to help you.
And so we’re clear, Villanova did not tell Juan Eguiguren he wasn’t walking, Juan Eguiguren decided on his own. That means Villanova did nothing. That means Villanova‘s in the less than zero category when it comes to sexual assault of students and the aftermath.
Apparently, Villanova students are protesting the university and their behavior here this coming Saturday, which is also accepted students day. That’s a big message for the university. I’m waiting for the school to try to do something to bully the students into not protesting.
Villanova wants to tell students what it takes to be a good Catholic, I think they need to start by leading by example don’t you?
Have a good evening everyone and here are some other assorted links to follow.
Yeah that. Talk about taking the boring out of Wednesday AKA “hump day”, right? Is this to be filed under emperor’s new clothes does a strip tease and enters burlesque phase?
Oh wait, am I being bitchy? Gosh I am sorry Allow me to share these little articles:
In 2021/2022 she got non-profit status from the IRS:
So today when I went to the IRS site to look up Farmer Jawn I found:
Ok READ IT. It says:
Organizations whose federal tax exempt status was automatically revoked for not filing a Form 990-series return or notice for three consecutive years. Important note: Just because an organization appears on this list, it does not mean the organization is currently revoked, as they may have been reinstated.
Exemption Type: 501(c)(3)
Exemption Reinstatement Date:
Revocation Date: 05-15-2024
Revocation Posting Date: 08-12-2024
Then looked up on PA Charity search thingy and the only thing on there :
You she’s in Westtown, right? Chester County, right? So why in the hell does everything still say 6730 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19119? She rented that space and there is a spa there that has zero as in ziltch to do with her, correct? Which makes one question this little nugget from today’s news:
Separately, Barfield and her company, LifeLeaf Organic Farms, owe the state more than $6,300 in unpaid sales taxes and penalties, per a lien filed against her Germantown Avenue property in March by the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue.
People have been noticing a whole lot of nothing at Westtown so what gives?
What about all that grant money Congresswoman Houlahan allocated last year? Where is it and how much was spent?
And whatever happened with that horrible graffiti case from last year? (Note “Police tell Axios the case hasn’t been solved.”)
So the Fauxmer has been busy giving away free eggs including in New York, which is right down 926 from Westtown, right?
Now so we are CLEAR: I applaud efforts like this to educate and reduce food insecurity. I support local and regional farmers.
But I have questioned this woman ever since she started posing on tractors at Westtown. And it was never because she replaced Pete’s Produce. Pete retired, and that dog still don’t hunt.
Every time I have questioned anything here I am abused essentially and called a racist. This has never had anything to do with race. It has been about right and wrong. Like another wrong is she always talks about URBAN farming and well, Westtown ain’t urban…but then technically she’s not fauxmering in Westtown yet, right?
I expect her publicist (because all glamour fauxmers have publicists, right?) will be putting out something soon right? Either to address it or deflect? Are both she and the land lying fallow? Inquiring minds want to know!
Whatever. I am sure I will somehow be blamed for this news although I hadn’t a clue until a little while ago. This sure makes thing interesting and wouldn’t you LOVE to be a fly on the wall with James Beard , Rodale, and Westtown School about now? Does she actually pay rent to Westtown School?
So yo, Narbs and Lower Merion neighbors, did you think this was going away? It is NOT. I wrote about this before and the lawyer fighting to save this park is working hard (Phil Rosenzweig) BUT people? You need to go BACK to meetings and speak. Or speak via zoom. Email. Contact media.
I checked when this all went up on Narberth Borough’s website for this evening and well, can you say shifty? They barely provide notice and that is a TYPICAL SLEZOID move to keep people away from meetings.
Narberth’s Democrats should be ashamed since well.. developing a park is hardly environmentally friendly is it? It’s just greed and laziness.
Where is the clause about shady shit in trying to sell a park for development???
People, you can zoom or go in person. But NOTHING beats bodies in the seats in person.
The Save Sabine Coalition has a website. It does need to be updated, as people have lives and they get busy. But folks? It’s pretty simple: if you don’t take an interest, Narberth Borough Council will continue down this path, which to me is sad and I thought they had grown past it but they haven’t.
I can’t fight this fight for you guys, I can only point it out. And I can say I think it is WRONG because it is wrong. But these people who are Narberth Borough government including lame duck Mayor Andrea Deutsch need to hear it from you guys.
That is kind of all I have got.
Narberth has issues and there are people on this borough council who leave me gobsmacked that they don’t get this.
Downingtown tried this a few years ago and got smacked down all the way to the PA Supremes.
The above ad keeps floating around on Facebook. So I decided to take the image of the jewelry store you see and put it in a Google image search. Not surprisingly, it is fake.
This morning I devoted my time on WCHE All Politics Are Local with Barry Dee on a woman I never met, but am still concerned about because this could be any woman but I am speaking about Anna Maciejewska.
This is what I said and it will be podcasted later so you can listen if you missed it:
This week I am deviating from some of the usual topics to another topic which I feel strongly about. This week I am devoting my time to Anna Maciejewska, late of Malvern PA.
Specifically Charlestown Township since people from outside of Chester County who speak about Anna and Malvern, think all of Malvern is the main street town of Malvern Borough. As we all know, Malvern falls into multiple municipalities.
Anna Maciejewska disappeared around April 10, 2017. I say “around” because when Anna disappeared, it wasn’t her husband who initially reported her missing, it was friends and co-workers. According to police reports, family last heard from Anna on/around March 30 of 2017.
On March 30, Anna abruptly canceled a scheduled trip to Poland to visit family. It was to be her father’s 80th birthday. Her Polish family at the time said her final text message seemed to be non-native speaking Polish.
When Anna initially disappeared, there was a flurry of media exposure. As time goes by it has dwindled.
Anna was from Charlestown Township which is serviced by Pennsylvania State Police. I can’t think of the last time they updated the public on this case.
This year, 2025, marks EIGHT years since Anna disappeared. There have been 3 Chester County District Attorneys. Tom Hogan was DA when she initially went missing, then Deb Ryan before she became a judge, and now the DA is Chris de Barrena-Sarobe.
I have written about Anna so many times now I have forgotten the number of posts. I did not know her. But now we all feel like she is part of us and still missing.
I remember when I first started writing about her some of the Finding Anna people on Facebook were a smidge obnoxious and a few accused me of putting up a second Anna is missing Facebook page. I had put up no such page, but it was shortly after I was accused of this stupidity it was discovered some man had put it up. I am still waiting for some of those people to apologize. Some did, others did not. They had a page up, they were her friends and co-workers, I would NOT have detracted from their very personal efforts. All I was doing was writing about Anna being missing, and trying to do my bit to keep her name out there, as I continue to do today.
In 2018 I saw her missing start to be referred to as a missing person’s case and presumed homicide. Her husband Allan Gould was eventually named a person of interest.
Back when Anna was first missing, media reports said for more than a week before she was announced as missing, Anna’s mother Janina said she tried to reach Anna her daughter on her landline phone due to poor cell reception in her Malvern home. Once, her husband Allan Gould reportedly answered, saying Anna was sick and would call in a few days.
On Tuesday, April 11, 2017 Janina (her mother) said in an interview around the time that it happened that her son in law said Anna had left for work the day before and never returned. Anna worked at Voya Financial. I recently discovered that she appears to have been significantly younger than her husband. Her little boy, whose name I think is Andrew was around 4 when she disappeared. So, he’s around 12 now right? What is his life like? He probably no longer remembers the sound of Anna’s voice, or what it felt like to be held by her. Her parents did have to take the husband to court for visitation.
Anna has been the subject of so many podcast things. They range from making sense to wild theories like a recent one where the podcaster named Annie Elise made a stunning pronouncement about obviously Anna being jealous of her then little boy? I mean HUH? She also conflated Malvern Charlestown Township into Malvern Borough. This podcaster also seemed to the visits to Poland were unusual and why? I have three female friends who are Polish nationals by birth although US Citizens for decades at this point, and they are why I first took an interest. My friends ALL go back to Poland to visit. They ALL take their kids, etc. and still do so they also know their Polish heritage.
I also don’t think Anna was going to run away to Poland with her son and ditch an amazing career and house she created. I have always pondered if Anna was getting ready to exit a perhaps no longer so fabulous marriage. It happens.
I think it has been a long time since law enforcement and the District Attorney have seemed to take an interest here, rendering a woman with so much life left to live a cold case.
I get these cases can be impossible. But hi, hello, how about I am missing the feeling that anyone is trying or truly gives a darn at this point.
I think everyone deserves answers, her family and son most importantly. Say her name. Anna Maciejewska matters.
Regency Park is a Low-Income Multi Family community that offers 2 & 3 Bedroom Apartments.
We are conveniently located to public transportation, with easy access to dining, entertainment, & shopping.
The apartments offer a well lit private entrance and include modern appliances.
We have a very active Full-time Social Service Coordinator that provides services & programs for all Residents.
Our community includes an on-site laundry facility, community room, beautiful community garden and playground.
With our great location in Coatesville, Pennsylvania not only do we have privacy as a community but we also have the convenience of various shops, restaurants, entertainment, pharmacies, and more just minutes away.
So do the photos people in Coatesville are starting to post look nice to you?
Not to me.
I have been seeing these images increase and conversation online. Over the years, my experience has been that those who live in rent controlled or low income housing don’t really open their mouths unless it’s so bad it’s completely untenable because they fear they will be evicted or punished or worse.
Even people in regular apartments that aren’t section 8 or HUD or anything or loath to complain to a landlord especially if there’s someplace that is somewhat safe for them to live. Years ago, when I was still single and living in Lower Merion Township, I lived in a crappy apartment in a safe neighborhood and you couldn’t get the landlord to do anything unless the township had been through on a rental inspection. You had to play games just to survive.
My kitchen floor back then in my former apartment completely flexed as in you could feel it move when you walked on it because I think there was termite damage underneath. Only it was never repaired. The township back then told them to fix it, they never bothered. The floor had duct tape on it because it was bowing and everything so badly that the tiles kept popping up. Our doors in and out were not exterior grade doors. They were just interior doors and none of the windows locked in any apartments. Some tenants didn’t even have doors that actually locked properly.
So I feel for these people who don’t really have a choice they can’t just pick up and leave, they can’t just move. And where would they move to? It’s not like rentals are particularly affordable at this point even in Chester County. And is it true that this building has lots of single moms? Are they actually safe?
Apparently, Coatesville knows there are problems as in the city of so why don’t they act? How can the county turn a blind eye? It seems that a company out of Camden NJ runs the place, the Michaels Organization ?
They had me at Camden. SMH. Anyway I took a look at their executives on their website. Wonder if any of them have ever been to the property in Coatesville?
I don’t know anyone who lives in these apartments in Coatesville. But while things like the Daily Local’s “Operation Holiday” is running around why don’t they look into some folks who could use help? Or any other print or television media out there? Only a media spotlight will help and they could be the difference because the bad optics during the holiday season might mean these people will get help.
And Chester County Commissioners while you’re out raising taxes maybe do something about this? You like photo ops in Coatesville so go out with your inspectors and whomever is supposed to be in charge of affordable housing?
Ok I hope these people get attention. According to social media they are planning a peaceful protest on December 2 at 3 PM. 699 Victoria Drive Coatesville in front of “home office.”
I am not the media, just a blogger, and it should not be so hard for these people to get help. But hey, it’s a media desert out there.
So Michaels are y’all awake yet? Chester County? Coatesville? This place looks disgusting and a coat of paint will not address all that ails this complex will it? And I will note that the ONLY email Michaels lists for EVERYTHING is info@tmo.com
A story of a politician turned pastor or a part time pastor who also used to be a politician before he was a full time pastor?
Once upon a time there was a Coatesville City Councilman named Kurt W. Schenk. His name was familiar to me back in the days of eminent domain in Coatesville against the Saha farm. He was also familiar to me as a frequent flyer topic once upon a time on Coatesville Dems blogspot. But his name REALLY rang a bell from that time the ACLU sent Coatesville City Council a letter about preaching City Councilmen….that made the papers.
My name is Pastor Kurt W. Schenk. I have been married to Lori Schenk for 37 years.
We have two children Kori Haines who is married to Steve Haines and two grandchildren Emmy and Lainey, and a son Dr. Kurt W. Schenk II.
I worked for McIntyre Masonry after high school and then worked for Metal Fabricating Company. I started Metal Fab. Recycling Co. in 2009.
I was a community worker for Olivet UMC in Coatesville for several years before being licensed for pastoral ministry by Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. I served Olivet UMC as associate pastor and went on to pastor Freemont Union UMC in Nottingham, PA.
The congregation of Freemont UMC voted unanimously to leave the denomination of the United Methodist Church in 2017 due to the lack of scriptural integrity of the leadership of the UMC. We spent the next twenty months and twenty days in a rental hall in Nottingham, PA.
We were incorporated in August 2017 as New Beginnings Church of the Cross.
We are a bible believing non-denominational church.
I was ordained in 2018.
Fathers’ Day 2019 was our first Sunday in our present building at 1 Penn Ave in beautiful Christiana, PA.
In 2022 we sold our home in Coatesville that we lived for 28 years and the family business and moved 1.9 miles from the church to go into full ministry.
My favorite bible verse is Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
New Beginnings Church of the Cross’s Vision Statement is, “Love, Obey, and Proclaim Jesus Christ.”
Current location 1 Penn Ave. Christiana, PA owned by Church
Alrighty then. They seem to do normal things that uber Christian Churches do like baptize people in above ground pools and do bakes sales, youth groups, and church newsletters…and they are You Tube stars.
Full disclosure: I do not do proselytizing. I know plenty of true Christians, truly Godly people, and they don’t have to try so hard. I don’t believe in angry God messages and this guy is a yeller.
The Church is in Lancaster County in Christiana at 1 Penn Street. Their present church seems to be occupying the site of an old Quaker meeting – the old Christiana Mennonite Church. It is a historically listed structure. It was also the site of Living Truth Church (some form of Baptist or Anabaptist?) and I think originally as per a marker I saw it was a Quaker meeting?
Anyway, and yes I am burying the lede. Why? Because it’s kind of terrible.
God don’t like ugly, and I do not know where to go in my head. Jesus sends no message to me other than if this all happened, he’s got nothing.
So what the hell happened and how has this been kept quiet?
