Evelyn Meeker, a rising senior at Strath Haven High School, attended a Black Lives Matter protest on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. She sent us this photo and writes:

The energy and emotion of the people was palpable as they held their ground against the police and the National Guard. As protesters marched, one man said, “I love my city.” To me, that says it all. While there is a great deal of very real and justified anger, communities are also coming together in a beautiful way. Like many people, I was hesitant about protesting because of the continued risk of coronavirus. However, I also know that as a white person, I often profit from the oppression of others and that it’s easy for me and people like me to do so silently. Now is not the time for silence.

The Delaware County Youth Orchestra (DCYO) has released a performance of the Toreador Song from Georges Bizet’s opera “Carmen” on YouTube. The finished product was assembled by DCYO conductor and musical director Andrew Hauze from individual videos the musicians recorded at home. Hauze writes:

After I saw the Rotterdam Philharmonic’s inspirational video of Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy,” I realized that we could do something similar with DCYO. It has been so frustrating not to be able to make music together as an ensemble, and I wanted at least some way for students to play their instruments and lend their talents to a joint project, even though we can’t be in the same space. It’s quite difficult because the students can’t hear one another while they make their own recording. They can only hear a reference track that they listen to on headphones so that they’ll be in sync with the other students. In that way it’s not very gratifying for each player while they are playing their own part. It’s also quite challenging to put together on a technical level: I have a fair amount of video editing experience, but syncing 53 separate videos and editing them together in a comprehensible way was a steep but exciting challenge! It was more than worth doing, though, since, in the final video, we can finally see and hear one another as an orchestra again! Watch the video.

Rev. Joyce Shin, pastor of Swarthmore Presbyterian Church (SPC), received her Ph.D. in theological ethics from the Divinity School of the University of Chicago at a virtual commencement ceremony on June 12. When Shin began her tenure at SPC in 2016 as its 10th pastor and its head of staff, she had completed her doctoral research but still needed to finish writing her dissertation — a difficult challenge, given her schedule. So, in August 2019, with the support of the SPC Personnel Committee and the Session (SPC’s governing body), Shin took a one-month administrative leave to complete and submit that dissertation, “Faith in an Age of Cultural Pluralism: An Aesthetic Approach to Transformation.” On the acknowledgements page, Shin wrote: “Writing a dissertation takes some solitary time. I thank the congregations of Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago, Illinois, and Swarthmore Presbyterian Church of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, who, while I served them in ministry, cheerfully encouraged me to take the time I needed to complete this dissertation. These are congregations whose love of learning has been extended generously to me.” The congregation of SPC sends their heartfelt congratulations to their pastor, whom they will now be able to call “the Reverend Doctor Joyce Shin.”

Photo: Micah Marty

Paul M. Gallo, M.D., Ph.D., son of Carol and Joseph Gallo of 117 Yale Ave., Swarthmore, recently completed his residency in pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and will begin a fellowship in hematology-oncology at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in July. He earned his M.D.-Ph.D. at Temple University in 2017, where he received the Angelo M. DiGeorge award as the outstanding senior student in pediatric medicine. Paul edited the nephrology chapter in the 22nd edition of the “Harriet Lane Handbook,” a pediatrics reference used around the world.

Many people are spending a lot of time on their electronic devices during the pandemic, and for some of them, the learning curve is steep. Dan Snyder of Swarthmore has been helping neighbors use their Apple iPhones, iPads, and Macs. He has taught several iPhone and iPad courses for Wallingford Swarthmore Community Classes over the years, and now offers his help on a one-on-one, volunteer basis.

Dan helped Peg Christensen learn to use Zoom so she could lead online board meetings for Wallingford Swarthmore Community Classes and for the Strath Haven Condominium Association, and so she could attend her book club. He helped Kitty White figure out why her printer wouldn’t work. He helped Joan Skivo learn to check out e-books from the library and read them on her Kindle and iPad. He helped Linda Donnelly decide on a computer purchase by explaining the tradeoffs between laptop and desktop computers. He helped Sheila Bell convince her iPhone to stop announcing every incoming email with an annoying “ding.” You can reach him at dan.snyder.x@gmail.com. If he can solve your problem, or teach you something new, he will.

Tom and Lisa Starr are proud to announce that their son, Ethan Starr (Strath Haven High School ‘16), has graduated from Kenyon College, receiving a Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, with a double-major in music and philosophy.

A 100-year-old white pine came down behind Ashton House on the Swarthmore College campus during June 3’s storm. Photo: David Page

A color guard from Boy Scout Troop 112 decorated the war memorial in Swarthmore’s Monument Park on Memorial Day. The Swarthmore Fire & Protective Association rang the bell at Borough Hall, and a representative of the Silver Dollar Band played taps. Eastlawn Cemetery in Ridley Township was decorated earlier in the weekend. Photo: Al Federico

Robert Morbeck of Rutledge writes: Our silent sentry León (he’s from Spain) has become a minor celebrity along the unit block of President Avenue in Rutledge. We supply him with a bucket hat when the spring rains arrive. Various neighbors have added their own accoutrements: a face shield to ward off the coronavirus and a beautiful butterfly which he’s using as a bowtie. Photo: Robert Morbeck

Although the Leiper House is not open to the public yet, outside work is going strong. Check out the newly refurbished front gate and fence and the plantings around it. We will let you know when we are open again for tours.