On Christmas Eve, a large limb from an eastern hemlock came down in Swarthmore’s Umoja Park. Two residents who live near the park wrote to us about it.
Community Classes Go Online This Spring
After a hiatus last fall due to the pandemic, Wallingford-Swarthmore Community Classes will return this spring, with a roster of online adult education courses offered via Zoom.
Concerns About Bicycles, Budget Finalized
After concerns about kids riding bicycles on sidewalks in the business district were raised at Swarthmore Borough Council’s December 7 work session, five residents attended the December 21 council meeting to express their sense that the bicycle problem is getting out of hand. Also, the council voted not raise taxes in 2021.
Journalist vs. Engineer
Engineer and contributing opinion writer Stefan Roots highlights the dismal state of education in Chester, and muses on why his writing skills are currently more in demand than his engineer’s credentials.
The Best Hollies
We are fortunate to live in the mid-Atlantic region, one of the best places for growing hollies and home to the largest diversity of hollies in the United States. If I could choose only one species of holly for my garden, I would have to select the winterberry, Ilex verticillata, which, unlike most hollies, is deciduous.
Community Survey on School District Superintendent Search
The Wallingford-Swarthmore School Board has begun a search process for the school district’s next superintendent. If you are a district resident, and you do not currently have a child enrolled in public school in the district, you are invited to complete a community survey.
Superintendent to Retire, Board Hears Options for More In-Person Learning at High School
Wallingford-Swarthmore School District Superintendent Lisa Palmer will retire in June. Many local residents are calling on the district to hire a replacement with experience in equity and anti-racism education. Strath Haven High School Principal Greg Hilden outlines several possible plans to increase the time students spend attending in-person school.
Spotlight On: Mason & Martindale Creative
Hally Stief and Heidi Sharkey are Mason and Martindale Creative, a design company in Swarthmore. Fifteen years ago, they were dragging their kids to auctions; recently, they helped Swarthmore wine bar Village Vine prepare for its opening, using the Swarthmore Co-op’s original sign and decorating the bar with paper cutouts made from old copies of the Swarthmorean.
Wintertime Storybook Walk
Storybook Walks have been a feature of Swarthmore’s Little Crum Creek Park since 2017. Now the Swarthmore Public Library and Swarthmore Town Center have teamed up to bring the strolling-and-reading experience to the center of town.
Something for the Holidays
Associate editor Satya Nelms offers a suggestion for something to read, something to watch, and something to listen to this holiday season.
2020 in Review: Before and (Mostly) After
Rereading articles from this past January and February is like peering through the wrong end of a telescope into a lost world. Here’s a review of what we were doing and thinking about in 2020, as it showed up in the pages (and website) of this newspaper — both BC (Before COVID) and AD (After Distancing).
The Swarthmorean: A Year of Growth
A catalog of the Swarthmorean’s changes over the past year, and a shout-out to the many who helped.
Unscientific Survey: Sleep
Anecdotal evidence abounds that COVID-19 has negatively affected people’s sleep, and scientific data is starting to come in. The New York Times recently reported on a study in which 44% of people said their sleep had worsened during the pandemic, compared to 10% who said their sleep had improved. By that standard, Swarthmorean readers are doing pretty well.
Delco Strong ‘Rapid Response’ Grants Available Now
Delaware County is offering financial support, through its “Delco Strong: Rapid Response” program, to businesses that are directly affected by the county’s new COVID-19 mitigation mandate (issued on December 10 and continuing through January 4).
Ohev Shalom Raises the Curtain on a Second Century
Ohev Shalom synagogue in Wallingford celebrates its hundredth anniversary this year. To mark the occasion, the congregation commissioned a vibrant new ark curtain from Indian-American-Jewish artist Siona Benjamin. The symbol-rich curtain tells the story of the prophet Joseph, an outsider who overcame oppression. This connects to the synagogue’s efforts at “tikkun olam,” repairing the world.
Something to Read: ‘Our Subway Baby,’ written by Peter Mercurio, illustrated by Leo Espinosa
The publisher describes this children’s picture book this way: “Some babies are born into their families. Some are adopted. This is the story of how one baby found his family in the New York City subway.”
Last Call for Santa
With only a few days left until Christmas, Santa is finalizing travel plans for his annual Christmas Eve visit to the Village of Swarthmore. Time is running out to schedule a special visit!
Going, Going, Gone: Community Donates to Library Benefit Auction
On the evening of January 6, Briggsauction.com will open online bidding to the public in an auction to raise funds for the Swarthmore Public Library.
Holiday Cookies and Other Treats
As the winter holiday season gets underway, many of us are turning on our ovens and opening our recipe books to make our favorite holiday treats. For those who want to try something new this year, the Swarthmorean — in collaboration with the Swarthmore Co-op — has a few suggestions submitted by local residents.
Writer Sought for Disability Journalism Project
Seeking writer fluent in issues facing disabled people in the Greater Philadelphia Area for grant-funded project focusing on the impact of COVID-19. The project seeks to connect community newspapers (including the Swarthmorean) with disabled writers who will write four to eight articles under the supervision of the newspaper editor.