Margaret Davis (right) of Wallingford was one of two recipients of Widener University’s William David Eckard Jr. Award for Distinguished Service. Widener president Julie E. Wollman (center) presented the awards to Davis and to Molly Acri, Widener Assistant Dean of Administration and Registrar (left). Davis, a senior payroll specialist, has consistently demonstrated outstanding levels of service in her 12 years at Widener. Payroll Director Robin Dyroff said, “I consider myself and Widener University very lucky to have her as a part of our team.” For her part, Davis said “I am very happy to know that the employees at Widener appreciate the work that we do in Payroll.”

U.S. Congresswomen Mary Gay Scanlon (left) of Swarthmore and Madeleine Dean (right) of Glenside joined House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco last Friday at Delaware County Community College to discuss post-secondary education opportunities and education policy. Photo by Scanlon for Congress.

Tess Berger, a 3rd grader at Swarthmore-Rutledge School, won first place for her poem, “Snow Day,” in the 30th annual Young Poets of Delaware County Poetry Contest, sponsored by Delaware County Libraries.

Tess is the daughter of Debbie Morton and Ben Berger.

Last Friday afternoon in Thatcher Park, Daisy Troop 556 and parent leaders assembled to dedicate a Little Free Library to Swarthmore. During their meetings this spring, the girls painted and drew designs on the little library and voted on which words and ideas to include with their designs. As one Daisy Scout cut the ceremonial ribbon, the girls linked hands for the Daisy squeeze. In speeches, chair of the borough Public Works, Parks and Recreation committee Ross Schmucki and Mayor Marty Speigel thanked the girls (and troop leaders Quincy Carpenter and Catherine Iversen) for their efforts and creative work, accepted their gift to the town, and described how this project was their start towards being the helpful citizens of our future. Swarthmore Public Library director Amber Osborne and youth services coordinator Scott Schumacher represented our community of readers. The girls filled the library with books they donated, then celebrated with a picnic in the park. (Left to right) Adults: Marty Spiegel, Scott Schumacher, Ross Schmucki, Amber Osborne, Quincy Carpenter, and Catherine Iversen; Scouts: Nadia, Gigi, Diya, Clara, Noa, June T., June B., Emma, Dakota, Erin, Audrey. Photo by Audrey Molineux.

The Strath Haven High School varsity boys’ ultimate Frisbee team finished second at the PHUEL Philadelphia area “city” championships on Saturday, May 4, and will be one of the top seeds at the USA Ultimate Pennsylvania State Championships on May 25-26 outside Pittsburgh. This team picture by Don Mennig was taken the previous weekend, when the Panther squad took first place at Hip Hop, a tournament held at Lower Perkiomen Valley Park. They went 5-0, beating Radnor 10-8 in the semifinals and Science Leadership Academy 13-7 in the finals. The team is led by coaches Len Magargee and Petter Abrahamsson. Photos by Don Mennig.

Emmy Kerr and Kasey O’Sullivan were among many Swarthmore-Rutledge School students who rose to the occasion on National Bike to School Day last Wednesday. The annual event promotes National Bike Month and provides an opportunity for schools across the country to join together to celebrate on one day. It’s also a way to keep that energy going and encourage families to continue to bike or walk to school – an environmentally friendly and a healthy alternative to sitting on bus or in a car. Photo by Kimberly Angstadt.

It was a tough ending to a good season for the Swarthmore College women’s lacrosse team, which fell just short of making the postseason. The Garnet lost their final game, 9-8, to Haverford College on April 27. It was also the final game for the three senior captains of the team, captured postgame in this photo by team parent Steve Labows. Seniors are (left to right) Tess Wild, Eliza Wainwright and Kathryn Restrepo, flanked by assistant coaches Elyse Tierney (far left) and Kathy Krannebitter, and head coach Karen Borbee on the right. Restrepo, a Swarthmore native and Strath Haven High School alumna, was among three Haven starters on the Garnet squad, each of whom scored more than 100 goals in her Swarthmore career, without missing a game. Haven talent on the team also included sophomores Kacy Hafertape and Elizabeth Labows, who joined forces with onetime Central League rival and sophomore Sarah Roberts from Penncrest, which is also Coach Borbee’s alma mater.

Ringing the bell Saturday to open the Swarthmore Farmers Market season were Swarthmore mayor Marty Spiegel, market manager Andy Rosen, former Co-op general manager Jack Cavanagh, and Congressman Tim Kearney.

Young activists from the Sunrise movement’s Swarthmore College chapter hosted a session on the Green New Deal Monday night at Swarthmore United Methodist Church. About 40 neighbors came to hear and inquire about the case for the plan, to share stories about environmental issues affecting their lives, and to explore opportunities for activism in Delaware County. Panelists included (from left) Zulene Mayfield, Alex Danovitch, Nicole Karsch, Eric Jensen, and Jim Irby.

In an act of grass roots environmental action, Swarthmorean Colin Purrington gave out milkweed seedlings he cultivated during First Friday last week outside Harvey Oak Mercantile on Park Avenue, His customer here is Haylee Reimann, with grandparents Tom and Mary Beth Reimann of Morton.

The Chester Children’s Chorus holds its spring concert twice this weekend, on Friday and Saturday, May 10 and 11, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. The talented chorus of 100+ students from the Chester-Upland School District joins in harmony and counterpoint at Lang Concert Hall of the Swarthmore College campus, led by founder and artistic director John Alston and assistant music director Sean Tripline. Admission is free and no tickets are required. Doors open at 6:45 for those seeking the best seating. Information is at chesterchildrenschorus.org and 610-328-8180.

The Silvertones finished their biennial Italian tour in a hallowed and historic setting, performing during a noontime Easter Mass at St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice. It was the capstone of an 11-day round of performances, travel, cultural osmosis, and sightseeing for nearly 40 members of the Strath Haven High School ensemble. Led by Silvertones Director John Shankweiler and chaperoned by a dozen fortunate parents, the powerhouse vocal group worked for two years to raise funds and master their repertoire. Photo by Bridgett Scott.

On Saturday, April 27, community members from Swarthmore and Wallingford volunteered at the Chester-Upland Youth Soccer annual Spring Play Day. (See cuys.org.) Nearly 100 students who benefit from the free, after-school “Soccer for Success” program competed in friendly matches while being cheered on by their family members and other fans. Supportive coaches and referees included Strath Haven middle-schoolers Daphne Much and Harry Midgette as well as enthusiastic students from Swarthmore College and Widener University. Daphne is a Wallingford resident who selected CUYS as the recipient of her Bat Mitzvah philanthropy (see the Facebook page entitled “Daphne’s Bat Mitzvah Project for CUYS.” Daphne, who helps out at Soccer for Success whenever she doesn’t have her own soccer practice and games, said, “Soccer brightens kids’ moods and removes them from hard things that are happening in their lives. It makes me happy to see them enjoying sports the way that I do.”