PECO claims that the removals are necessary because they want to replace existing electrical poles with ones that are 10 feet higher. PECO said this is necessary to enable them to increase voltage to residential customers from 4kV to 13kV, which they say will allow them to provide more reliable service, to shut down the Morton electrical substation (which is becoming obsolete), and to support an expected increase in the use of solar-generated electricity. Free to read and share
Hateful Vandalism at WES, Investigation Ongoing
Superintendent Dr. Wagner Marseille began his remarks at the school board meeting on Monday, November 22, by expressing deep concern about graffiti recently found on Wallingford Elementary School property. He noted that the graffiti, which included a racial slur, was a “gross violation of the school district’s commitment, in its mission statement, to “respect for self and others” and “leadership in the global community” — and he assured those gathered that the district is conducting an investigation into the matter.
Swarthmore Makers Market—A Huge Success
The sun was shining brightly on Swarthmore this past Sunday, November 7, as 75 local and regional artisans and other makers took over the town for the Swarthmore Makers Market. This open-air market, which features a selection of their handmade creations, has typically been held twice a year in front of the Inn at Swarthmore and the SEPTA station. Sunday’s market was the first since November 2019.
A Unique Collaboration for the Community
The Swarthmore Community Center, a nonprofit established in 1978 and long located behind Swarthmore Presbyterian Church, was recently devastated by the effects of the pandemic and by losing its long-held lease. Happily, the center and Swarthmore United Methodist Church (SUMC) have collaborated to use their existing resources to further their respective missions, both of which seek to promote the greater good of our community: they are pleased to announce that they have entered into a joint agreement to establish a new community center, to be called the Park Avenue Community Center—“the PAC Center” for short. It will be located at 129-131 Park Avenue and will open on January 1, 2022. Free to read and share
Public Provides Condo Development Feedback at Planning Commission Meeting
As The Swarthmorean reported online on October 22 in a special recap of the October 20 Swarthmore Planning Commission meeting at Borough Hall, 26 community members stepped up to the microphone to voice their opinions about the proposed condominium project that would span 102-104 and 110-112 Park Avenue in Swarthmore. The comments coalesced around several themes. Free to read and share
Brewery Receives Zoning Approval for ‘Blendery’ Tasting Room and Beer Garden
The decision states that Ship Bottom Brewing, Inc. can operate a “blendery” that will ferment and package beer and cider for on/off site consumption, and operate an indoor retail tasting room and outside beer garden.
School Board Approves Equity and Curriculum Audits, Appoints Interim Member
A recap of the September 13 Wallingford-Swarthmore School District school board meeting. Dr. Denise Citarelli Jones, WSSD’s Director of Education, led a focused discussion recapping the September 2021 meeting of the Educational Affairs committee, which resulted in the recommendation for an equity audit slated for fall of 2021, and a curriculum audit planned for the spring of 2022. The board also voted unanimously to appoint Republican Amy Caruso on an interim basis to fill the seat vacated by Chapin Cimino in August, 2021. Free to read and share.
A Haven Homecoming for Amir
Last Saturday, the Swarthmorean was contacted by former 2006 Strath Haven High School graduate, Wellington Kiiru, to let us know about SHHS English teacher and coach Kevin Haney’s heroic gesture in getting his friend, 2006 SHHS graduate Amir Sidiqi, out of Afghanistan. Wellington and Amir were both students of Mr. Haney. It also appears that another graduate of SHHS piloted the plane that brought Amir to the U.S. Free to read and share
What You're Recommending (and Reading) This Summer
It’s summertime, the time of year when we ask you what books you recommend to others and what else you plan to devour over the next few months. We’ve got quite a list, so let’s get to it. Free to read and share
2021 Swarthmore Independence Day Celebration
Independence Day activities in Swarthmore are back in full swing this year. They are scheduled for Monday, July 5. Here’s the complete schedule of events. Free to read and share
Congratulations Strath Haven High School Class of 2021
Sunny skies smiled upon the Strath Haven Class of 2021 on Thursday, June 10, as they came to the end of their school journey in the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District. Commencement exercises took place on the George L. King Field at Strath Haven High School. Free to share
Humans of The Swarthmorean: Dorothy Briscoe
When Dorothy Briscoe read our March 16 article that described her experience about how Covid-19 is affecting people who are living with disability in our community, she told her support person from Values into Action — a Delaware County organization that provides services and support to people with disabilities — that the piece had gotten some things wrong. To help set the record straight, here is Dorothy Briscoe telling some of her story in her own words.
‘Shine a Light’ Award — Nominations Sought
The Swarthmore Centennial Foundation will recognize a person or organization who has made Swarthmore a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable place to work, learn, do business, or live. Fostering human dignity and an awareness of our common humanity is difficult work. The “Shine a Light” award honors a person or organization who has demonstrated compassion, perseverance, courage, and leadership in working to strengthen the Swarthmore community in this way.
The Swarthmorean 2021 Summer Internship Program
The Swarthmorean invites applications for an unpaid summer internship with flexible working arrangements. The applicant must have 8-15 hours of availability per week for at least five weeks between mid-June and mid-August. Current high school and college students are eligible.
Hoppy Days Are Here for the Swarthmore Co-op
After years of effort and legal wrangling, the Swarthmore Co-op sold its first bottles of beer and wine on Tuesday. Free to read and share
Humans of Swarthmore: Martha Perkins
I’ve lived here for 20 years but I felt like I belonged here and was welcome within a year of moving here. It’s such an open community. The only thing that turned me off was the lack of diversity. But as I got to know people in the town, I realized that that was just the surface. It was just what I was seeing with my eyes.
Preliminary Election Results 2020
These results are preliminary and unofficial, as of November 5 at 11:18 pm. Because of changes to voting rules, and this election’s occurring during a pandemic, far more mail-in and absentee ballots were cast than ever before. Pennsylvania law disallows counting those ballots before election day, so we will have to wait for final results. Free to read and share
Voting Briefing
Our final voting briefing of the 2020 election.
Voting Briefing
A short follow-up to earlier articles about voting from the Swarthmorean.
The Swarthmorean is seeking an associate editor to work part-time (20 hours/week) assisting with many aspects of writing and producing the paper, which has been published every week since 1893.