Tag Archives: East Whiteland

malvern is the new minnesota?

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Malvern is the new Minnesota. This happened yesterday at The Yards apartments in Malvern.

Yes ‘The Yards’ on Lancaster Avenue in Malvern, East Whiteland Township, Chester County, PA.

I have been told that they followed this poor guy from Wawa (corner of Planebrook and Lancaster Avenue) and he was apparently a contractor coming to install carpet. Day jobber laborers have shown up outside that Wawa for as long as it has been there. Apparently there were other people according to the post I borrowed the video from, but it seems like they got away since you only see that one terrified man?

Again, this happened earlier on Friday 1/23/2026. We know nothing about this person. Only now yet another community in this country is feeling terrorized like so many other communities.

And I can tell you, I had people blowing up my phone yesterday morning, driving by, etc. who saw this all unfold. I figured eventually video would show up and it did.

Tell me again this isn’t like 1930s Germany with social media?

I found a video on social media and I took it and added it to a couple other things I found on this event from yesterday. No one is or was impeding law enforcement, or whatever you want to call ICE. I am not impeding anything.

I can tell you this sent chills down my spine.

I can tell you it makes us all afraid to go out within our communities because of the chaos that happens when these people are showing up pulling people out of communities.

I have friends who are US citizens or who are first generation born of immigrant parents who are U.S. citizens who walk around with there passports now because they’re afraid that ICE will pick them up.

And don’t tell me that we have nothing to fear from these people, as we’ve seen they kind of just do what they want, which kind of defeats the purpose of an civilized society with actual law enforcement, doesn’t it?

You will also notice in this video that there was absolutely no, as in zero, local law-enforcement involved.

I’m just grateful that no one bearing witness to this yesterday was killed or injured. I know nothing about whoever it was they took.

The point is and I am allowed this opinion whether anyone likes it or not, is this is reminiscent of 1930s Germany. This isn’t any different than soldiers knocking on people’s doors in Berlin or wherever and taking people away.

We are a nation founded upon immigrants, literally.

This is not America.

welcome to new slumlord city?

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Yep. That’s part of the regular view at 249-269 Lancaster Avenue in Malvern, East Whiteland. This week it’s a dumped mattress and some other stuff a couple of weeks ago. It was bags of trash, just sitting in the middle of their property. As in somebody dumped trash, it wasn’t collected there. A lot were white kitchen trash bags.

The property is rotting. It looks like hell. Why should residence and anyone that drives by look at new slumlord city there? And what about the businesses nearby? Don’t they deserve better?

I seem to remember that when the property sold around 2019, we knew that the buildings were going to be torn down and at first we were told a Lidl Market was going there.

Lidl went elsewhere. Then there was this whole thing about putting apartments there. East Whiteland Township did not want that and I don’t remember what happened but the apartments didn’t happen (thank goodness.)

So every once in a while, you hear a little rumor but mostly it just sits in rots and becomes a trash dump.

I took some moody photos in 2020 because I wanted to record the vintageness of both locations.

I don’t know about my readers, but I am of the opinion that these developers and property owners shouldn’t just be allowed to let locations rot because they can’t get their own way. Can you agree on that? I mean, if you want another example, look at one of my favorites, the farmhouse at Clews and Strawbridge with boats in front of it half of the time, right?

Would it be too much to ask if they would tidy up their properties while they are pending whatever is going to happen? And is there other stuff going on with that property that people need to know about?

Would the property owner like to look at this if it was sitting on his front lawn or whatever?

according to federal court dockets, no kings guy kevin krebs to take a plea next week?

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West Chester PD Mugshot of Kevin Krebs from this past summer.

On the Federal Court Docket, the charges read: 26 U.S.C. § 5861(d), (f) and § 5871 unlawful making and possessing of unregistered destructive devices

I have been keeping an eye out since we learned the federal authorities took custody of No Kings

We last heard about Krebs in October when Deanna Durante from NBC10 broke the news that Kevin Krebs was no longer the guest of Chester County, but was becoming a guest of the Feds.

I wrote a post about it at the time:

kevin krebs now guest of the feds…..

Well guess what? He is pleading guilty as per the court dockets I just peeked at:

So that’s all I’ve got. He’s pleading guilty, do not know the particulars. Here is all the docket stuff:

krebs court and plea 12.18.25Download
Speedy Trial Continuance 112025Download
Case 225cr00506MKC Document 11 Filed 12.01.25 USA v KrebsDownload
United States District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania US vs Krebs docket_RedactedDownload

back to demolition by neglect at 310 lancaster avenue malvern, pa (the rotting clews and strawbridge house)

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I took this photo in March, 2025. It continues to rot.

Let’s go back to East Whiteland. To 310 Lancaster Avenue in Malvern, you know where Clews & Strawbridge Boats is?

Once upon a time that farmhouse looked normal. It is part of 3 separate parcels of land totaling about 5 acres. Main Line Watercraft Realty is the name, but looking into the deeds and mortgage, a name emerged. I will post those documents and you can look for yourselves. But hey, this man sits in a very nice house on pricey real estate in the region (not Chester County), while one of Chester County’s historic assets just ROTS and that is so truly terrible isn’t it? And if this property owner cared about the house and historic barn, wouldn’t they be better looked after? Now I am not writing this man’s name, although he has appeared in many public facing media things, especially for his day job so to speak right? No he’s not a real estate developer is he?

All I know is this historic house was once owned by artist Margaret Strawbridge Clews, who died at 91 in 2010. She must be turning over in her grave at the condition of that house, right?

I found her obituary. Here is a link and allow me to share from it:

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/seacoastonline/name/margaret-clews-obituary?id=24425566

HANOVER – Margaret Strawbridge Clews died August 6th at the age of 91 – just six days after she warmly welcomed each of her children, grandchildren, and all eleven great grandchildren as well as nearly 100 friends to the opening of her one-woman art show at the Howe Library in Hanover, NH. Born into the postwar debutante world of Philadelphia in 1919, the year women got the right to vote, she was a life-long activist and artist – devoting much of her art to her favorite causes of women’s rights and peace.

Mrs. Clews was the granddaughter of the founder of Philadelphia’s landmark department stores, Strawbridge & Clothier. With Mancha Madison Clews, her husband of 66 years, she was the proprietor of their family boat business, which thrives to this day in Malvern, Pennsylvania. Their company, Clews and Strawbridge, was the only combination marine & Saab automobile dealership in the USA.

She was a graduate of The Shipley School and of Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Exhibiting her first work at the age of 16

Do we think Margaret would love this decay? The decay of a once lovely 18th century farmhouse? She came up in a post I wrote in 2019:

chester county memories

Here is Margaret’s engagement announcement from the New York Times in 1940:

Here are some more clippings including Margaret’s husband’s death in 2006:

Here’s a post about Margaret’s in-laws and their French Chateau:

The Weird World of Henry and Marie Clews

Another bunch of posts written by one of her children, and Mr. Clews’ obituary:

https://www.snodoglog.com/Margaret-S-Clews.html

https://www.snodoglog.com/10-Family-Photo.html

https://www.fosters.com/story/news/local/2006/12/19/mancha-clews/52554614007

https://www.snodoglog.com/M-Madison-Clews.html

Now Lincoln Highway/Lancaster Pike/Lancaster Ave was laid out in 1732 according to the Tredyffrin-Easttown Historical Society. This farmhouse I was told years ago was built in 1734. And the current property owner just lets it sit and rot? And the rest of the property looks pretty shabby too, doesn’t it? I remember how nice it once looked because years and years ago when the Saab dealership was there, I had friends who got their Saabs there.

310 lancaster ave for sale brochureDownload

I found a brochure advertising the property from a realtor. Don’t know if this is still being marketed by this person or not. So who else is concerned about this property? It narrowly escaped being a very dense residential development a few years ago correct? So now what?

demolition by neglect, east whiteland township, chester county

The house COULD be saved, but not unless the owner sees the light right? He lives far enough away he doesn’t drive by it every day so it’s just something in an investment portfolio, correct?

Is there anyone who can encourage him to see it as the valuable historic asset that it is? Maybe he can make an old house call? Do the right thing?

To follow are the deed and some other things found on public records. Perhaps some reporter somewhere will be inspired to write a real story about the history of this house and the current ownership?

If not, tick tock East Whiteland. It’s time for this guy to respect Chester County’s historic architecture, right? And yes I can have that opinion.

10325928 deed 2Download
10325930 another part to deedDownload
deed p480Download
2007Download
2018- 19 mortgageDownload
Clews and Strawbridge tenant estoppel thingDownload

have you been to this cute art gallery in frazer?

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OK, I bet you’re asking where is this art gallery have we driven past it the answer is yes or it’s there and you don’t realize it.

It’s on the second floor of the Franklin Auto Spa in Frazer PA at 535 Lancaster Avenue!

They are just starting to build a social media presence and you can find them on Facebook and Instagram.

https://franklinartgallery.com/

The gallery is quite literally art in an unexpected place and it’s fun! It’s a big well-lit space on the second floor of the auto spa.

As a matter of fact an amazing artist I know named Leah Macdonald who is an encaustic artist has a show there on Saturday, November 8, 2025 from 4 PM – 6 PM.

Anyway, discovering Leah was doing a show was the cherry on top of the delightful surprise of discovering this new gallery. There were a few different galleries that were in Malvern Borough over the past few years which are now sadly gone.

Art is one of those things that makes the world a happier place, so I hope you check it out. Again the gallery space is on the second floor of the Franklin Auto Spa in their lounge area.

kevin krebs now guest of the feds…..

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West Chester PD mug shot

The case of Kevin Krebs continues to evolve. As of a couple of days ago he is now in Federal custody. Deanna Durante from NBC10 broke the story initially, or at least that’s where I heard it first.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/18/us/no-kings-protester-kevin-krebs

Here is the original “No Kings” video that circulate this summer:

Of course this all makes you wonder about timing given the Daily Local article that preceded the feds taking over:

Gunman held for trial in Chester County rally incident

WEST CHESTER — Kevin Krebs, the Chester County man who carried a loaded firearm to a “No Kings” protest last spring and whose home was later found with explosive devices and other dangerous material, made a brief court appearance here Tuesday, four months after his case made national headlines…..Krebs, 31, of East Whiteland, was dressed in a blue hooded sweatshirt and cargo pants. Flanked by defense attorneys Christian Hoey of Tredyffrin and Thomas Bellwoar of West Chester, Krebs did not say anything to the court during the 10-minute-long proceeding….Although Hoey told Vito that he was uncertain where the case would ultimately wind up — “Who knows where we are going next,” the veteran defense attorney told her after the hearing concluded — he indicated that at least the gun case would be kept at the Common Pleas trial level.

“We are going to aggressively address his defense in state court,” Hoey told the sole reporter attending the hearing in Vito’s court at the Chester County Historic Courthouse. “State court is where this case will be prosecuted, and we intend to defend him vigorously.”

Then the news the other day…. and now Kevin Krebs is in federal custody.

https://patch.com/pennsylvania/westchester/new-charges-filed-against-chester-co-no-kings-protester-who-had-pipe-bombs

Media reports indicate what most of wondered all along, and that was he someone who had challenges and perhaps dealt with mental illness or was on the spectrum of a couple of things and so on? Lots of people, myself included wondered that given how he was on the no kings social media video and the way his expression was in the West Chester PD mugshot. A TV reporter who had been in court relays that he had been adopted from another country, and was on the spectrum. The Inquirer reporters (Vinny Vella and Robert Moran) wrote about that in their article which you can Google and find.

Apparently his dad and brother were in court with him as well? I have to ask, now that his challenges have been confirmed, now what? Is he receiving mental health help while incarcerated?

My other questions are if he does have issues, serious issues, how did his parents ever let him start owning firearms? And no this is not an anti-right to bear arms conversation, it’s a legitimate question. It also once again points out the validity of mental health evaluations and awareness when it comes to owning firearms. Krebs is 31 years old. So did his parents have any freaking idea of all he owned? And what of his brother? Did he know living under the same roof? I mean how could they not know? Will they have some sort of culpability here?

https://www.pennlive.com/crime/2025/10/man-arrested-for-bringing-weapons-to-june-no-kings-protest-now-in-federal-custody.html

https://www.buildzoom.com/contractor/kevin-krebs-electrical-llc

So what happens now? A deal or a trial? Time will tell. To follow please find some stuff found relating to Federal case. This guy needs serious help, but will he ever be safe to live outside of a structured safely behind walls existence of some sort? You really have to wonder about that, and if I’m honest and being selfish, I hope he doesn’t come back to this area. I have to wonder if the feds took this over because he’s going to be institutionalized somewhere for the rest of or majority of his days?

People also want to label him as a political terrorist, and I have never thought that to be the case. Do I think perhaps that was an impetus for his actions in as far as a reaction to the political climate in this country? Yes, but to label a man with obviously this many mental issues per media reports now as a political terrorist I feel is inaccurate and unfair. And I’m not saying that as some sort of bleeding heart, I am saying it because I believe it to be true, and Democrats around here need to remember this guy was one of them at that point as far as political registration, and what nobody seems to be talking about is this once again points to the glaring holes in our healthcare and mental healthcare systems in this country.

This is scary and sad all at the same time. We owe all of the law enforcement agencies from West Chester PD to East Whiteland PD to all of the other federal, county, and other folks in law enforcement a debt of gratitude. I am thankful how on top of this they were. They did their jobs so impressively from No Kings to his bomb and weapon filled house in East Whiteland; they kept us all safe. This could have been a disaster.

krebs fedDownload
44208e75-59cc-424a-a502-2ce500b9d94fDownload
bailDownload

another easy way to support farm boy bbq while penndot holds small businesses hostage in east whiteland.

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I make no secret of the fact that FarmBoy BBQ is one of my favorite local businesses or that I know the owner. I think they have the best barbecue around and their brisket is like a religious experience.

However, I wrote a post here in August about how difficult it is getting in there because of PennDot and their endless sink hole remediation project. The project has been forever and seems to be way behind schedule.

yo penndot, stop messing with our bbq and other businesses’ access.

Farm Boy is located at 625 N. Morehall Road (AKA Route 29) in Malvern.

But guess what I discovered completely by accident today? Farm Boy is on Instacart under the restaurant tab for our area!

So if you would like to help out this restaurant so that they survive PennDot hell part two (they already had to live through this sink hole remediation once with PennDot ), place an order on Instacart and Uber Eats if you don’t want to deal with the aggravation and delays created by PennDot!

Trust me, you’ll be glad you did. And if you’ve never tried Farm Boy, this is as good an excuse as any.

And if you have an extra few minutes, please contact our state Senator Katie Muth, and tell her that PennDot is strangling small businesses with their delays on Route 29.

weston is back on october 14 in west whiteland.

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Freaking Weston is back. I knew it would be and development is inevitable here but West Whiteland’s planning guy talks in circles, and I have always wondered if he was really there for residents?

I haven’t had a chance to read through it, but I am distinctly unsure how many houses they’re talking about. And are they all single-family home or are we talking twins and townhouses?

I don’t trust anything and I certainly don’t trust this township planning employee and I’m sorry not sorry on that regard. I can have these opinions.

And they NEED a traffic signal at Weston Way and King because residents will never be able to get out of driveways and roads in East or West Whiteland.

This photo is several years old.

People can participate on Zoom and I strongly encourage everyone to do so.

This plan is right on W. King Rd. right in West Whiteland over the East Whiteland boundary. It is across the street from the land that Eli Kahn bought from Johnson Matthey for warehouses. that land in particular needs definite careful environmental testing. And I hope that parcel is not big enough for a data center or a mega warehouse.

But first things first and what we’re seeing now is Weston. If you don’t participate where you live, you can’t complain about the outcome.

Tuesday, October 14, 7PM

https://www.westwhiteland.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10142025-1520

hey liz sabo? we see you and you are quite the nasty gal in great valley, aren’t you?

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Oh Liz Sabo what a true gem you are! She’s having a “day of service” so my contribution is pointing out a lovely post she wasn’t quick enough to delete.

This ugly woman wants to run for Great Valley School board yet by this post she is doxxing someone’s underage child?

A woman who targets another woman’s child is not anyone you want elected to anything.

FYI her husband George Sabo is running for supervisor in East Whiteland so sadly I think these folks need to stay in their own basement where they are more comfortable.

I don’t think that the East Whiteland GOP or the Chester County GOP will do anything about this, but if you live in Great Valley and this woman shows up on your ballot in November, you all out there DO have a choice to do something. You have a choice to say no to a woman who targets another woman’s child for harassment at a minimum.

And then she doubles down on the post she removed by lying in a comment? Doxxing a minor child of her opponent and compounding it with lies? You see I happen to know Liz Stabbo’s opponent, and I have for years so I asked her if anything was on her LinkedIn like this because I looked and couldn’t find anything and she said no .

Great Valley’s incredibly double talking and hiding school superintendent Dan Goffredo should say something about this, but considering how he never really protected his staff from the middle school TikTok of it all, I am not holding my breath.

If people wonder why some people‘s children aren’t very nice, this is where you look no further.

However, I truly feel very sorry for Liz Sabo’s daughters. Even if they support their mom, at what cost are they supporting a completely phobic adult spreading hate and vitriol within our community? And can it be said that perhaps her phobias are based on issues with her own sexuality and sexual identity?

Stay in your basement, Liz, where you belong. Targeting an underage kid as a school board campaign tactic is unacceptable. No matter how we feel as adults about politics on any level, you leave people’s children alone, especially the underage variety.

Lady you are a see you next Tuesday.

pssst….frazer antiques is back (and down the road from original location!)

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So I got to do something totally FUN the other day and exciting for me. I got to preview Frazer Antiques new store in their new location further east from where they were on Route 30/Lancaster Avenue in Malvern/Frazer.

It’s a lot of familiar faces that we all love from the original store plus some new faces, some which are already familiar to me. It was just the most positive wonderful thing to see. For example, Daisy Cottage Antiques from Morgantown is coming!

I was very sad, as were so many, when we heard after decades in one location, they literally lost their lease and were getting the heave ho. Well everything happens for a reason and this is a much better space with wonderful flow.

They are loaded with all sorts of interesting things and I think the store is going to be fabulous and it’s a good location because the parking is much easier, among other things.

(If you need an artisanal chocolate gift that will knock your socks off, they will be carrying some of the Ben Wollenberg Chocolates from Canton, OH.)

The soft opening is Monday, September 8 as far as I know.

179 Lancaster Avenue is the address and down the same driveway as Tague Lumber and Malvern Collision.

I hope you love it as much as I do. #shoplocal #vintage #antiques #lovelocal