Est. 2026 Vol. I · No. 2 Price: Free to Residents

The Radnor Gazette

All the News That Fits the Township
Wayne · St. David’s · Radnor Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Sunday, March 22, 2026 Radnor Township, PA 19087 15 Stories This Edition

Radnor’s AI Deepfake Crisis Reaches the Governor’s Office;
Shapiro Pledges Statewide School Standards

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Parents Tell Shapiro: “We Were Victimized More by the School”

Three Radnor parents sat across from Governor Josh Shapiro and Attorney General Dave Sunday at a roundtable in West Chester on Thursday, March 19, and delivered a blunt assessment of how their daughters’ school handled an AI deepfake crisis that has consumed the community since December.

Adam and Morgan Dorfman and Audrey Greenberg—whose daughters were among the freshmen girls depicted in AI-generated pornographic images allegedly created by a male classmate—told the bipartisan gathering that the Radnor Township School District’s response left families feeling abandoned. “We were victimized more by the school than this kid who made the video,” Greenberg stated.

Shapiro responded with substance. He pledged to direct the Pennsylvania Department of Education to develop statewide standards for how schools respond to deepfake incidents, acknowledging “a hole in the state’s approach.” Attorney General Sunday said his office is investigating both criminal uses of AI technology and consumer protection issues. The governor also committed to a personal follow-up with Morgan Dorfman regarding parent guidance protocols.

The incident first came to light in early December when freshmen girls at Radnor High School learned a classmate had allegedly used AI to create explicit imagery of them. Police charged the student with harassment, though the alleged images were reportedly deleted and never recovered.

Meanwhile, the RTSD school board continues refining policy revisions that would explicitly classify AI-generated sexualized imagery as cyberbullying and sexual harassment requiring immediate investigation. The full board is expected to review the changes at their end-of-March meeting, though final policy language and enforcement mechanisms remain undefined four months after the incident.

— Philadelphia Inquirer, 3/19; NBC10; FOX 29; pa.gov

“If we don’t enforce those policies and kids aren’t held accountable… then what are we teaching our kids?”

— Morgan Dorfman, Radnor parent · See Editorial, Page Bottom

Township Action Bulletin

  • VFMA vote March 23: Right-of-first-refusal agreement expected on commissioners’ agenda Monday. Five-year deal would give township first bid on any future sale.
  • Pay-by-plate March 30: ParkMobile app goes live for 900+ township parking spaces. Kiosks follow week of April 13. First 10 minutes free.
  • Aqua PA work: West Wayne Avenue closed for utility work this week.
  • DUI patrols: Northern Delaware County Taskforce running roving checkpoints March 20–22.

2026 Priorities Watch

  • Leaf blower ban: EAC drafting ordinance; town halls TBD.
  • Trail extension: Crossing options under review. No new timeline.
  • Stormwater: $10M backlog. Three projects in design. No milestones this week.
  • Vision for Radnor: Code updates continuing.
  • Ithan Elementary: $75M rebuild on schedule for 2027–28. $20.5M borrowing in 2026.

Upcoming Meetings

  • March 23 — Board of Commissioners (VFMA vote)
  • Late March — RTSD School Board (AI policy)
Safety & Police

Police Urge Vigilance After School Employee’s Arrest

Radnor police issued a public statement on March 8 encouraging residents to report suspicious activity, following the February 26 arrest of Radnor Middle School paraprofessional Michael Robinson, 43. Robinson was apprehended by U.S. Marshals on a Texas warrant for aggravated sexual assault of a child under 15. He allegedly traveled to Tyler, Texas, in August 2024 to assault a juvenile he met online. RTSD confirmed Robinson was placed on leave and said they have no indication of inappropriate behavior with Radnor students.

— Main Line Media News, 3/8; Inquirer, 2/26

DUI Enforcement Active This Weekend

The Northern Delaware County DUI Taskforce—Haverford, Marple, Newtown, Radnor, and Springfield police—is conducting roving patrols through Sunday, March 22.

— Radnor Patch; Delco Times

Police Blotter

Offensive stickers (3/17): Political stickers placed on lamp posts at the Farmer’s Market, 389 W. Lancaster Ave. Reported to police.

Retail theft (3/9): CVS at 316 E. Lancaster Ave. Reported 3/17.

Schools — RTSD

AI Policy Heads to Full Board After Shapiro Roundtable

With the deepfake scandal now drawing attention from the Governor’s office (see lead story), the RTSD school board’s policy committee continues refining language that would add detailed definitions of cyberbullying specific to AI-generated content, classify such behavior as sexual harassment, and mandate immediate investigation. The revisions will be sent to the full board for review at their end-of-March meeting. However, jurisdiction remains a thorny issue: the board is still working to define its role in incidents that originate outside school but affect students during the school day.

— FOX 29; Radnor Patch; Audacy/KYW

Ithan Elementary: On Track

The $75 million Ithan Elementary replacement remains on schedule for the 2027–28 school year. The district is borrowing $20.5 million in 2026 as part of phased financing. The 1960s-era, 80,100-sq-ft building will be replaced with a 114,000-sq-ft facility on the same site. No new milestones this week.

— rtsd.org; Main Line Media News

Development & Real Estate

Upscale Restaurant Approved for Downtown Wayne

The Board of Commissioners approved the transfer of a liquor license to 166 E. Lancaster Ave., clearing the way for a new 85-seat upscale restaurant. Owner Larry Kagan (corporate name: “Free Hugs”) described the concept as “boutiquey”—a wood-fired grill featuring steaks, dry-aged fish, poultry, and smoked vegetables. The chef is a Wayne native, and the architect designed two recent Michelin-starred Philadelphia restaurants. Hours will be Tuesday–Sunday from 5:30 p.m. The name has not been announced.

— Main Line Media News, 3/15

The Brandywine Hotel Nears Spring Opening

The 121-room Marriott Bonvoy Tribute Portfolio hotel at 165 King of Prussia Road is on track for a spring opening. The $59.5 million property by Brandywine Realty Trust will feature Merrick’s Tavern and Pomelo Rooftop Terrace, minutes from the Radnor SEPTA station.

— Brandywine Realty Trust; Hotel Online

Strafford Walk: 29 Luxury Homes Advancing

Rockwell Development Group continues work on 29 luxury homes ($2.5M+) on the 8-acre estate of the late Campbell Soup heiress Dorrance “Dodo” Hamilton at 204 Strafford Ave. Commissioner approval and land development review pending.

— Delco Today; SAVVY Main Line

Development Bulletin

  • VFMA land: Right-of-first-refusal vote March 23.
  • Charter school: Withdrew Jan. 15; will resubmit after eminent domain clarifies.
Environment & Parks

Girls Flag Football Launches March 30

Radnor Parks & Recreation is partnering with Skyhawks to launch the township’s first girls flag football program at North Wayne Park Field. Session 1 begins March 30 (ages 5–8 at 5:30 p.m., ages 9–12 at 6:40 p.m.) and runs through April 27. Session 2 runs May 11–June 15. Registration is open at radnorpa.myrec.com.

— Main Line Media News, 3/16; Radnor Patch

Chanticleer Opens April 1

Wayne’s beloved pleasure garden opens for the season on Wednesday, April 1, with hours Wednesday–Sunday through November 8. Guided tours Thursday–Saturday at 11 a.m.; cooking demonstrations Wednesday and Saturday at 2 p.m.

— chanticleergarden.org

Wellness Week at the Willows

The Willows Mansion (490 Darby Paoli Rd., Villanova) is hosting Wellness Week events on March 21, 25, 26, and 29 with yoga, guided walks, and health programming.

— Radnor Township; Willows Park Preserve

Environment Bulletin

  • Leaf blower ban: EAC continues drafting ordinance.
  • Stormwater: $10M backlog. No new milestones.
  • Radnor Conservancy: Quiet week.
Community & Lifestyle

SEPTA Bus Redesign Hits Lancaster Ave. in August

SEPTA announced March 11 that its “New Bus Network”—the first comprehensive redesign in the agency’s 63-year history—will roll out in phases starting August 2026. The Lancaster Avenue corridor, running through Wayne and Radnor, is included in Phase 1. The system shrinks from 124 to 106 routes, but frequent service (every 15 minutes, 7 days/week) expands from 9 to 29 routes. Community outreach begins this month.

— Inquirer, 3/11; SEPTA.org

Delco Property Taxes Climb 19%

Delaware County’s 2026 budget includes a 19% property tax increase (4.609 mills), adding roughly $188/year for the average homeowner. The $340 million budget addresses the county’s structural deficit while continuing infrastructure investments. This is separate from Radnor Township and RTSD taxes.

— WHYY; Delco Times

Community Calendar

April 11: NYC Bus Trip to WICKED on Broadway (Radnor & Tredyffrin Parks & Rec).

April 28: EAC Lecture — “The Buzz About Bees: Pollinators in Peril.”

August 2026: SEPTA New Bus Network Phase 1 launches.

Upcoming Events
Date Event Details
March 23 (Mon) Board of Commissioners VFMA right-of-first-refusal vote expected
March 25, 26, 29 Wellness Week at the Willows Yoga, walks, wellness — 490 Darby Paoli Rd
March 30 (Mon) Pay-by-Plate Parking Begins ParkMobile app live for 900+ township spaces
March 30 (Mon) Girls Flag Football Starts North Wayne Park Field; ages 5–12
Late March RTSD School Board Meeting AI/cyberbullying policy revisions
April 1 (Wed) Chanticleer Garden Opens Wed–Sun through November 8
April 11 (Sat) NYC Bus Trip to WICKED Co-hosted with Tredyffrin Township
Week of April 13 Pay-by-Plate Kiosks Installed Physical kiosks supplement ParkMobile app
April 28 (Tue) EAC: Pollinators in Peril “The Buzz About Bees” lecture
August 2026 SEPTA New Bus Network Phase 1 Lancaster Ave. corridor among first areas
Hot Take
The Single Most Consequential Story of the Week

Radnor’s AI Crisis Just Got a Governor’s Attention — Now What?

When freshmen girls at Radnor High School learned in December that a classmate had allegedly used AI to create pornographic images of them, the fallout was devastating and deeply personal. Three months later, it has become a statewide inflection point.

On Thursday, three Radnor parents sat across from Governor Josh Shapiro and Attorney General Dave Sunday in West Chester and told them, plainly, that the system failed their daughters. Audrey Greenberg’s words landed hard: “We were victimized more by the school than this kid who made the video.” That is not hyperbole from an aggrieved parent—it is an indictment of the procedural vacuum that exists when AI-generated harm falls between criminal law, school policy, and parental expectation.

Shapiro’s response was substantive. Directing the PA Department of Education to create statewide response standards is exactly the right move—it takes the burden off individual districts to improvise and creates a baseline of accountability. Attorney General Sunday’s involvement adds criminal-justice muscle. The bipartisan optics don’t hurt either.

But the real question is speed. RTSD’s own school board is still workshopping policy language that would classify AI deepfakes as cyberbullying and sexual harassment. The board meets at the end of March, and “it’s not clear what the final policy changes will look like.” That ambiguity, four months after the incident, is the problem. Harrisburg can set standards, but Radnor’s board needs to lead by example and adopt clear, enforceable policy before the school year ends.

Your move: Attend the RTSD school board meeting at the end of March. The policy language matters. Show up and make sure the board knows that Radnor families expect specificity, not platitudes.

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The Radnor Gazette · Vol. I, No. 2 · Published Sunday, March 22, 2026

Sources: Philadelphia Inquirer · Main Line Media News · Delco Times · Delco Today · Radnor Patch · FOX 29 · NBC10 Philadelphia · 6ABC · WHYY · pa.gov · Broad & Liberty · radnor.com · rtsd.org · SEPTA.org · chanticleergarden.org · Brandywine Realty Trust · Hotel Online · Radnor Township Police Blotter

Researched and compiled automatically on March 22, 2026.

Freshness Scorecard: 6 new stories · 4 updated stories · 5 recurring (bulletin only)