Monday night’s final Borough Council meeting was enlivened by interruptions of official business to celebrate Borough Council President Creagan, who has served for a total of eight years. Creagan’s calm and measured demeanor, cited by many of his colleagues throughout the meeting, was on display last night as he simultaneously ran an efficient meeting, paused to address a community-merit-badge-seeking Boy Scout in the audience, and found affectionate words for all.
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The Swarthmore Senior Citizens Association (SSCA) Sidewalk Committee met in June with Borough Manager Jane Billings and Ross Schmucki, chair of council’s Public Works Committee, to discuss sidewalk regulation and repair. Homeowners in the borough are responsible for maintaining their own sidewalks, and the borough code is precise in its specifications. At the same time, repairing a sidewalk can be expensive. Getting rid of the sidewalk permit fee was a recommendation of the SSCA. Was it approved?
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Later this week, in a pretty Victorian house on Park Avenue in Swarthmore, a group of six women artists and makers will carry half the furniture upstairs. They’ll move the remaining tables and cabinets around until they’ve created just the right backdrop. Then they’ll begin arranging their work: jewelry, handbags, photographs, candles shaped like pinecones and beehives. Hat stands, tea towels, bowls made from salvaged wood. By Thursday evening, they’ll be ready to pour the wine, set out the cookies, and welcome the public. The fifth annual Handmade Holiday Home Sale will have begun.
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There is a lot of holiday spirit happening in Swarthmore and the surrounding communities this weekend. The Swarthmorean has assembled a guide to help you navigate all of the activities, all in one place.
An unofficial theme has emerged in this Thanksgiving week issue of The Swarthmorean: community. We talked with two Swarthmoreans who recently moved back to the borough about what this place means to them, and both of them cited a sense of community as a special quality of the town.
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The thorny subject of Swarthmoreans renting out their homes for short periods of time was debated by the Planning and Zoning Committee of Swarthmore Borough Council at its monthly meeting on November 14. The issue was brought to the committee’s attention by neighbors of a house frequently rented out on Airbnb—sometimes to large groups—when the owners are away.
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“I was invited to throw out the first pitch this year for the Swarthmore-Nether Providence T-ball game…I throw out the first pitch, and then they throw all the balls at me.” Such are the pleasures and perils of life as a small-town mayor. Marty Spiegel has been serving as mayor of Swarthmore since February, when Borough Council appointed him to replace Tim Kearney, who resigned after being elected state senator of the 26th district. On November 5, Spiegel was elected to the position by the borough’s voters.
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When I moved to Swarthmore in June 2000, our real estate agent gave us a year’s subscription to The Swarthmorean. I remember how happy it made me to leaf through those pages. The articles, the ads for local business, the calendar, and the classifieds were all windows into this new, unknown community I was joining. In the nearly 20 years since, I have looked forward every week to getting the paper. Even as I came to know my neighbors, get drawn into local organizations, and see my kids’ procession from first grade at SRS all the way through the high school, I have counted on The Swarthmorean to inform me, enliven me, and help me feel connected. My goal as editor will be to continue these missions and to broaden outward.
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Swarthmore Borough Council led off its monthly legislative session on Tuesday night with the ceremonial swearing of new police officer George Dunn, who was celebrated by a throng of fellow and family members. Officer Dunn actually began in the job last week following his official oath of office. Council president David Creagan congratulated council members Mary Walk and Ross Schmucki on their reelection, new member Jill Gaieski upon her election, and Mayor Marty Spiegel on election to his first full term. Gaieski will replace Creagan on Council as of the upcoming reorganization meeting.
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Since the 1970s, A Better Chance - Strath Haven has provided educational opportunities for students from across the U.S. to attend Strath Haven High School and reside in Swarthmore during the school year. ABC Scholars are selected among applicants for the program through a highly competitive selection process, which looks at academic and leadership potential as well as need. This year’s incoming class includes two 9th graders, Amayah Wade and Assane Wade (yes, they are twins, and come from Landover, Md.) and 10th grader Teghan Sydnor of Voorhees, N.J., who joined ABC when a student transferred to another school.
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Delaware County is governed by a five-member County Council, which is responsible for all legislative and administrative functions of the County government. On November 5th, an unprecedented three Council seats are up for grabs. Democrats seek their first Council majority in history. We asked both Democratic and Republican candidates several questions of interest to Delaware County voters.
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On November 5th in Delaware County, three seats on county council, six judgeships, and the District Attorney’s office are on the countywide ballot. The Court of Common Pleas has the authority to hear all varieties of cases within Delaware County. Judicial terms run for ten years. We asked both Democratic and Republican candidates what they see their roles as, and what makes them equipped to do the job.
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In its two October meetings, Swarthmore Borough Council approved several measures which should make the borough less attractive to speeders, and safer for all residents. Council members voted to approve the conditional offer of employment to Folcroft resident George Dunn as a patrol officer, gave the go-ahead to purchase two solar-powered radar speed signs, and adopted standards for hardscaping in the borough zoning code.
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Swarthmorean editor Chris Reynolds will be moving on from his post this fall. “Editing the Swarthmorean for the past 4 ½ years has been a great job, but to everything, there is a season. I’ll be leaving the paper in solid condition, with loyal readers and lots of upside,” Chris said.
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In a decision issued late last week, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board approved Village Vine LLC’s’ application for the transfer of a restaurant liquor license. Knauer said, “We’re delighted that the license has been approved and look forward to starting renovations and opening for business.”
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For the past two decades, Conestoga and Radnor have ruled the Central League when it comes to high school golf. That changed this fall when the Strath Haven golf team won the school’s first-ever league championship, posting a perfect 13-0 record. Along the way, Haven’s deep squad of seniors and underclassmen scored impressive wins over the Main Line powers.
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After a productive first summer growing season in Tyler Arboretum‘s Edible Garden, the harvest can be reckoned not just the tons of vegetables and fruit produced, but also in the seeds of ideas planted in the minds of visitors to the historic public garden in Media. A goal of the recently-completed $1.4 million project was to help visitors connect with nature on an entirely new level, said Mandy Santiago, Tyler’s executive director. “More than 800 children this summer attended camps at Tyler, and dedicated parts of each day to helping plant, dig, prune, and harvest crops in the Edible Garden.”
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It’s big, big day in Swarthmore September 21, with the Community Arts Center’s Fine Arts & Crafts Festival taking center stage. But that’s only the start. The Swarthmorean has got you covered.
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It’s interesting how things can come full circle. My goal as a skater was to earn a place on Team USA, whose members travel internationally. I achieved that back in 2001, and my partner and I were assigned competitions in Japan and the Czech Republic. Then, right before we were to leave to compete, the tragedy of 9/11 occurred, and the U.S. skating federation felt it was safer to keep the younger athletes home for that year. And one of the greatest rewards yet came a couple months ago, when I was selected to be a PT for the very first Junior Grand Prix skating event, to be held on our home turf in the iconic Olympic Village of Lake Placid, N.Y. I was thrilled to once again be named as a member of Team USA!
Swarthmorean Summer Travel Series
By Emma Phibbs, PT, DPT
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In the coming week, Delaware County will become a festive carousel of art and artists, and on Saturday, Swarthmore will be its hub. The Fine Arts and Craft Festival, presented by the Community Arts Center, returns to Swarthmore for its fifth consecutive year this Saturday, September 21, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine. It’s one of the first events in the first-ever Delco Arts Week, which involves more than 50 events and exhibitions across the County through Sept. 29.
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