Acclaimed author Elizabeth Eulberg had Wallingford Elementary School students on the edges of their seats recently as she read from Shelby Holmes and the Haunted Hound, the latest in her award-winning series starring detective duo Shelby and Watson She discussed the work that goes into writing, and her struggles with bullies, dyslexia, and learning disabilities, which she overcame with hard work, perseverance and a sense of humor. She shared lots of laughs, generously answered questions from the elementary school students, but said they would have to read the book to find out if Shelby and Watson can crack their spookiest case yet — a haunting! Elizabeth Eulberg came to WES through the efforts of WES librarian Martha Lambertsen, Principal Gabriel Savage, WES PTO guest author coordinator Heather Warley and Children’s Book World of Haverford. Above are (l. to r.) Gabriel Savage, Elizabeth Eulberg, and Martha Lambertsen, with students (left to right) Sydney H., Luke K., Anna C., Derrick O., Cierra H., and Sienna F. Photo by Antoinette Barrett.

Alex Nackenoff and Emily Wehby were married in Nashville, Tenn., in Wightman Chapel, Scarritt Bennett Center on October 12.

Alex, who grew up in Swarthmore, is the son of Swarthmore residents Carol Nackenoff and Jim Greer. After graduating from Macalester College, Alex earned his Ph.D. in Pharmacology from Vanderbilt University, specializing in depression and addiction research, and currently holds a postdoctoral fellowship at Vanderbilt Medical School.

Emily, the daughter of Dr. Joseph Wehby and Kim Wehby of Nashville, is an art history graduate of Rhodes College and currently works in the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance.

Cassidy Aileen Blair, 7 lbs., 12 oz. and 19.5 inches long, was born at 2:55 a.m. on Thursday, September 19, to Carolyn and Patrick Blair of Swarthmore. Paternal grandparents are Tom and Jean Marie Blair of Newtown Square, and maternal grandparents, Jim and Eileen Lynch, are from Wyndmoor. Cassidy is named after both her grandmothers and their mothers.

Emily Richardson of Swarthmore celebrated her 92nd birthday on August 10 with her family. She is pictured here with her grandchildren Julianna and Carson Stevens of Massachusetts; also present were her children Al of Swarthmore, Emily of Philadelphia, and Anne Stevens of Gloucester, Mass. It was a gathering immensely enjoyed by all. This photograph was taken by Emily the younger, who perhaps acquired some framing skills from her mother. The 92-year-old Emily is a gifted photographer whose work depicting the beauty of wildflowers in Texas, coastal scenes in New England, and roses at Swarthmore College was displayed for many years in the Studio in Swarthmore. One of her photos is now on display in the Swarthmore Friends of the Arts group show at Borough Hall.

In advance of World Polio Day, Rotary Club of Swarthmore members (from left) Anne Hansen, Ken Wright, and Club President Maria Zissimos shared swag and information with youngsters at the Swarthmore Farmers Market last Saturday, October 19. Rotary International and clubs like Swarthmore’s have brought polio to the brink of eradication through initiatives that have helped immunize billions of children worldwide in the past 40 years. Photograph by Gudmund Iversen.

Leaders of the SRS Home and School Association send thanks to all who came out to support the Swarthmore-Rutledge School Fall Festival on Friday, October 11. Families enjoyed games, a DJ, food trucks, a pumpkin sale, face painting, and more, all in the name of raising funds — more than $5,000 — for SRS Home and School programs. Reveling in autumn were 3rd graders (l. to r.) Fiona Cleary, Kylie Elliott, and Ruby Hezlep. Photo by Shannon Elliott.

Creative siblings Jennifer and Matt Holm inspired students at Wallingford Elementary School this month with a talk, a reading, and illustration sessions for kindergartners through second graders. The Holms have written and illustrated a series of graphic novels and a new picture book series, The Evil Princess Versus the Brave Knight. In costume, they interpreted these characters for delighted students, who then had a chance for to obtain signed copies of the books. On hand for the reading were (back row, left to right) WES librarian Martha Lambertsen, author/illustrator Matt Holm, author Jennifer Holm; (front row, l. to r.): Theodore C., Emelia H., Rhys W., and Kamille G.

Fifth graders Charlotte T. (left) and Maya D. recently drafted a petition, putting into action their shared belief that “the time has come to ban Styrofoam from Swarthmore” The petition, which has drawn 138 signatures at press time, seeks to influence Swarthmore Borough Council to pass a law banning use of the non-recyclable, non-biodegradable material. The young authors also call on Swarthmore-Rutledge School to find alternatives to the Styrofoam used in their cafeteria: “Just think about that; hundreds of kids buying lunch every day, each using trays made of this terrible substance. This is one of the main reasons we were motivated to start this project.” To read and sign the petition, visit chng.it/7H6HVLwQ.

Actually, they are no longer UFOs but IFOs — Identified Flying Objects — though there were a couple of days when Betsy and Randy Larsen thought they’d had a close encounter. Betsy reported that “Around 5 p.m. Saturday, Randy noticed what looked like a bright light above the oak tree in the back yard almost directly east. We thought it might be a Mylar balloon or a drone, but it stayed in about the same place, at the same size, as we observed it on and off for over 45 minutes. Looking at it through binoculars, it looked like two offset half-circles ‘outlines’ of light that didn’t quite match up to form a circle. The light was larger than any star or planet that we have ever observed.”

It turns out that the Larsens were on the right track, The objects were indeed balloons — giant polyethylene “Loons” sent aloft to 60,000 feet or more in tests, as part of a Google X project to expand internet connectivity worldwide. The reflected sunset made them appear illuminated. Betsy said, “To be clear, we don’t actually think these were UFOs, but it was really weird to see these two large, bright, non-moving lights during daylight.”

Allan McPherson of Rose Valley will talk about and read from his new book Ghosts of Sheridan Circle: How a Washington Assassination Brought Pinochet’s Terrorist State to Justice next Thursday, October 17, at 7 p.m. at the Narberth Bookshop, 221 Haverford Rd. in Narberth. McPherson is a professor of history and director of CENFAD at Temple University.

On Saturday, October 5, the Strath Haven Cross Country team finished fourth in the Delaware County Cross Country Championships, contested at Rose Tree Park. The team was led by Paul Faggioli, a junior who finished sixth overall. From the left, boys’ XC team members are Sam Neat, Alex Melly, Paul Faggioli, Ben Ent, Kenneth Chiem, Nick Falsone, and Julian Carmichael.

Nate Linderman, a scout with BSA Troop 112, recently completed his Eagle Scout project, which was to install a series of historical markers throughout Swarthmore, commemorating the borough’s history. Nate is seen here at the corner of Yale and Kenyon avenues, with the marker for the historically Black neighborhood of Swarthmore. Other markers throughout town identify significant sites including the Strath Haven Inn, Swarthmore Fire and Protective Association, Hannum and Huffnal, Little Crum Creek Park, Hedgleigh, Hedgleigh Spring, West Hill Land Company, and Riverview Farm. Information on each of the sites is accessible by scanning the QR codes on each of the markers with a smartphone.