For this summer’s list, Carol Kennedy begins with one of the books that the Swarthmore Public Library is featuring in its One Book, One Swarthmore program: All-American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely. In this excellent young-adult novel, an incident of police brutality threatens to tear a community apart.
Earlier this year, Swarthmore Presbyterian Church began a quest to find a new Minister for Christian Formation to help lead SPC’s youth and to support various needs of its broader congregation. After interviewing numerous worthy candidates, this spring an SPC search committee recommended Alex Evangelista. Alex accepted the call, and on Monday, June 17, began serving in the new position.
Parents of Strath Haven High School’s Class of 2020 will get a say in whether graduation will be held at George L. King Field next year, instead of Neumann University or Villanova University, which between them have hosted Haven graduations since 2007. The plan, presented by SHHS Principal Dr. Kristopher Brown at Monday night’s Wallingford-Swarthmore School Board meeting, grew out of concerns that with growing class sizes, Neumann could become overcrowded.
The Swarthmore Borough Human Relations Commission (HRC) is expanding and looking for additional members to serve our community. The HRC was originally established by ordinance in 2006 to respond to complaints regarding discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identification, as these are not protected by the state’s anti-discrimination laws. Swarthmore Borough Council recently amended the ordinance to include the ability to provide education and outreach to prevent discrimination and address incidents of bias that may lead to tension between racial, ethnic, and other groups. To address this larger scope, more members are needed.
School’s out, and hot summer activities and programs for students and adults have already begun.
Starting this Wednesday, June 19, members of the Swarthmorean Senior Citizens Association are invited to meet informally each Wednesday around 2 p.m. at the Swarthmore Co-Op during summer. This is a change to the venue originally chosen and published in last week’s Swarthmorean (although Hobbs would surely still be delighted to see you at other times).
On Thursday, June 13, the Rotary Club of Swarthmore installed its new officers and board members. Incoming 2019-2020 President Maria Zissimos, General Counsel for Chester Housing Authority, chose as a venue for the celebration the William Penn Homes development and its exciting new Red Brick Café, which has recently opened its doors to the community. A resident-propelled business, Amir’s Catering, provided a first class banquet experience in the heart of this Chester community.
Borough Council’s General Government Committee has been considering changes to parking meter payment fees and duration that would make it more convenient for visitors and Swarthmore residents to park in town and support local businesses.
The farmers’ market voucher program for seniors age 60+ in Delaware County begins now. It provides $20 in vouchers which can be used at farmers markets (including the Swarthmore Farmers Market) to purchase Pennsylvania grown fruits, vegetables and herbs.
The Rose Valley Centennial Foundation was recently awarded a grant of $99,788 through the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Keystone Construction program. The award was announced by State Representative Leanne Krueger, whose office assisted in identifying the funding opportunity.
Continuing a summer tradition initiated in 2017, Thursday Night Live begins again in Swarthmore on June 27 at the Central Park amphitheater, with music by the Swarthmore hometown band Swukestra, and young local acoustic phenoms The Minor Adjustments. The free concerts begin at 7 p.m. in the amphitheater and run until about 10. It’s a perfect setting for a picnic dinner, with food from a number of Swarthmore eateries open for the occasion, or packed at home for your family.
The product of a hometown collaboration, the Swarthmore Public Library’s new logo reflects not only the library’s traditional role as a repository of knowledge and culture but also its modern day missions as a resource for users to read, meet, discover, and grow.
Andy Shelter had an opportunity to apprentice with a photographer. He was coming out of active duty with the Navy and needed a job. But he turned down the apprenticeship — the timing wasn’t right for this kind of work, he decided, as he was newly married with his first child in the way. Luckily for Swarthmore, Shelter saw photography as more than a job opportunity.
On Monday, June 10, 45 students made history as the first graduating class of the Chester Charter School for the Arts in a ceremony at Lang Performing Arts Center of Swarthmore College. All of the students have been accepted into a post-secondary education program, pursuing a wide range of career paths.
Swarthmore Borough Council opened its meeting this Monday night with a public comment session, and Jackie Dering of the 500 block of Cedar Lane quickly took to the podium to address Council on what she called “a neighborhood health issue.” She spoke of an incident last weekend in which a rabid raccoon bit her next door neighbor. Although that raccoon was captured and killed, she said, “That means there are other animals with rabies — that raccoon had to get it from somewhere.” She noted that local raccoons can be fairly bold even when not rabid, appearing by day as well as in their typical nocturnal habit.
Maddie Marks, a graduating Strath Haven senior and recipient of the 2019 Swarthmorean Journalism Award, was also recognized for her creative excellence in the 2019 National Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.
In celebration of SBT’s 30th anniversary, Mrs. Ardis and her daughter, Amber Flynn, choreographed a sumptuous production featuring the absolute fan-favorite dances from three decades of performances. This production, presented in early June, soared from the sweet strains of The Nutcracker o the drama of Giselle, seeming to touch on familiar work representing all moods in between. The program also sampled original creations, including The Dream Weavers conceived by Ardis & Flynn, and two ballets written by SBT resident composer Ray Lindsey.
Two Strath Haven High School seniors, Abigail MacPherson and Benjamin Wainfan, were awarded $5,000 Rotary/Women’s Club scholarships in May 2019. The scholarships are awarded to students who demonstrate community service in keeping with Rotary’s motto of “Service above Self.” The students had a notable record of contributing to the community, either local or global.
At its meeting on Monday night, June 10, the Wallingford-Swarthmore School Board did not come to a conclusive vote regarding a resolution of support for Delaware County Community College’s proposal to open a new campus at the Archbishop Prendergast High School building at 403 N. Lansdowne Avenue in Drexel Hill. Also, the Board announced the retirement of 12 teachers, four of whom were in the audience at the Strath Haven Middle School library that evening.
Sunny skies smiled upon the Strath Haven Class of 2019 on June 6 and 7 as they came to the end of their school journey in the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District, and took the first steps into what’s next.
Thursday’s Commemoration convened the seniors and their families in the dappled evening light of the Scott Outdoor Amphitheater, and Friday afternoon brought more brilliance as the class converged on Neumann College for graduation ceremonies.
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