In this editorial, editor Rachel Pastan asks herself what the role of a small-town newspaper editor is when it comes to writing about the January 6 assault on the Capitol in Washington D.C., and reflects on connections between our community and the greater world.
All tagged 2021/01
Freedom and Isolation: How Community Members Are Managing During the Pandemic
Many of us are doing our best to embrace the freedoms created by this moment in history, while also struggling with its isolation. No matter our circumstances, the pandemic has forced us all to adjust. In this essay, associate editor Satya Nelms shares her own experiences and reports on those of a family with school-aged children, a college student, and a resident of a senior living community.
Kearney Highlights Threads Linking Harrisburg, Washington
“The election has been disputed from day one,” says State Senator Tim Kearney (D-26). He’s not talking about the presidential election, but rather about an attempt by Pennsylvania State Senate Republicans not to seat Democrat Jim Brewster, who won the race to represent Pennsylvania’s 45th district by 69 votes.
School After COVID
Since they first closed schools last March because of the COVID-19 pandemic, educators have made changes and adjustments to schooling to keep students safe and healthy. How many of these adjustments are here to stay?
Tree Branch Fort in Umoja Park
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.