Muffy Marracco grew up in Swarthmore, graduated from Strath Haven High School, Brown University, and Stockholm University (with a Masters in Swedish social studies!). A tutor and movie screenwriter (Girl’s Best Friend, Lifetime), her life has been anything but trivial. Yet trivia is where she has made her biggest splash, as a winner of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and The Chase.

Now Muffy will apply her prodigious skills and knowledge of the arcane and obscure in a new program called the Best Ever Trivia Show, scheduled to premiere on June 10 in a 65-episode run on TV’s Game Show Network. Marracco will be one of eight experts (including Jeopardy legend Ken Jennings) who face off against guest contestants in preliminary rounds and then the “Ultimate Trivia Challenge” each episode, with $10,000 on the line.

Marracco said: “Best Ever Trivia Show is an absolute joy to be a part of — I get to show off my knowledge, work with great people, wear all my pairs of eyeglasses, and play alongside amazing experts and impressive contestants. I always joke that my ability to retain trivial tidbits is not the most vital life skill, but I’m so happy it brought me this opportunity!”

Wallingford Elementary School’s Reading Raccoons and Lightning Readers competed against teams from all over in the annual Delaware County Intermediate Unit Reading Olympics competition, held this April at Northley Middle School in Aston. The teams, coached by WES librarian Martha Lambertsen and enrichment teacher Larry Miller, both scored at the highest levels in the competition and came home with blue ribbons. Since October, the 25 WES Reading Olympians have met after school two to four times a month with Mrs. Lambertsen, Mr. Miller, and reading specialist Dr. Valerie Denton, discussing, summarizing, and posing questions about the 45 books on this year’s DCIU Reading Olympics book list.

Olympians included (left to right) back row: Tommy S., Mr. Larry Miller, Elizabeth C., Abigail O., Eme C., Mira G., Charlotte T., Kiera B., Sophia A., and Mrs. Martha Lambertsen; middle row: Liliana F., Leah R., Leah M., Norah M., Lexi B., Harper M., Katie S., Carly T., Sonya B., and Joe L.; front row: Evie F., Elsie S.-B., Avril B., Abigale B., Maddie J.-B., Zachary C., and Patrick O.

Photo courtesy of Suzanne O’Neil.

Nothing but the Blues for Rose Tree Gardeners: Members of the Rose Tree Gardeners excelled in their entry “A Kind Lady Lives Here” at the Philadelphia Flower Show this year. The gardeners won two blue ribbons and then “Best of Blues,” scoring a perfect and exceptional 100 points, Celebrating at the show were (from left) chairs of the exhibit Sally Alyanakian and Sarah Makin, and co-chairs Murray Blanchett and Marge Firn. The entry represented a home and garden which welcomed all travelers during Depression Era, sharing the bounties and blessings of life with those less fortunate.

At the outset of its Monday meeting, Swarthmore Borough Council and Mayor Marty Spiegel (right) commended the Swarthmore College men’s basketball team for the superb season in which the Garnet posted a record of 29-4 and advanced to the NCAA Division III championship game. The borough presented a proclamation to coach Landry Kosmalski ( 2nd right) and players Peter Foggo (left) and Nate Shafer (2nd left,) who were warmly welcomed by a roomful of proud fans including college president Dr. Valerie Smith. Mayor Spiegel also detailed some of the other athletic successes of Swarthmore College teams, coaches, and athletes during a period of extraordinary accomplishments.

Three girls among the 17 Swarthmore-Rutledge School students in the March 23 Habitat for Humanity 2019 “Build a House...Build a Dream” contest made it to the final round, including third place finisher Lila Martell (pictured above with her entry), honorable mentionee Maya Hartung, and first place team member Giana Gliko.

Swarthmore resident Cavonne Sedeno became one of America’s newest citizens at the 321st naturalization ceremony held recently at the Delaware County Courthouse. Ms. Sedeno, born in Trinidad & Tobago, received her Certificate of Naturalization from Court of Common Pleas Judge Anthony D. Scanlon.