Swarthmorean publishers, Rob Borgstrom (left) and Greg Hoy (right) were surprised last Sunday night at waR3house3 when disc jockey icon Pierre Robert walked through the door. Since 1981, Pierre has been a highly popular on-air personality for 93.3FM WMMR in Philadelphia, one of the nation’s most recognized rock music stations.

Ace, the cat, enjoys strolling around and window shopping in Swarthmore. Ace, visiting here from Chester, is pictured with his best friends, Mason and Shelby.

Business owner Sean Bruton worked the register at Lunch Break Vintage on Small Business Saturday, November 27. Photo: T. Earl Kufen

Susan J Deininger works the register at her business, Kandy Kids, on Small Business Saturday Photo: T. Earl Kufen

Business owner Shannon Elliot displays holiday gifts for dad at her business, Harvey Oak Mercantile, on Small Business Saturday. Photo: T. Earl Kufen

Outside the waR3house3, Timi Tanzania (Chuck Timmons) takes a moment to wish all in the 19081 zip code, and surrounding communities, blessings and thanks this holiday season. Photo: Ryan Saylor Photography

Just in case you missed the Lunar Eclipse on November 19, Wolfgang Nadler of Cornell Ave. in Swarthmore, was kind enough to share a couple of pictures he took outside his home very early that morning. Here’s one.

Janiece Oblak of Swarthmore wrote to The Swarthmorean that she was very impressed to see a business man like Jason Kilpatrick doing “community service.” Mr. Kilpatrick and his son Luke were picking up litter in the Borough of Swarthmore on Tuesday morning, October 5. Apparently the fact that October 5 was National “Do Something Nice Day” was only a happy coincidence, as this is the second time in a week that Mr Kilpatrick has been spotted “de-littering” the streets of the borough. Great community spirit and an example to all of us, as well as to his son.

Frances Sheehan and Rick Gelman of Swarthmore are thrilled to announce the arrival of their second granddaughter on September 24. Ruby Jean joins her big sister Maya Rose and parents Julia and Marcus Barr of South Philadelphia and SHHS Class of ’07. Proud paternal grandparents are Barbara and Michael Barr of Wallingford.

On September 25, local Cadette Girl Scout Troop 50220 ran the kids’ activity tent at the weekly Swarthmore Farmers Market. 8th grade Troop members Kathleen Kelly, Keegan and Sadie Mansor, Sophie Jackson, Nora Schmutz, Maisie Strachan, and I planned and led the activities. Did you know the first Girl Scout uniform was blue? Kids had a great time answering the trivia, making bracelets, using sidewalk chalk, and getting their faces painted with the Mexican Flag to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month. After so much social distancing, it was especially nice to be with my friends, bringing smiles to lots of little kids. Our troop, led by Jen Armstrong and Kathleen Davis, participates in many local activities that support our community.

Children heading to the Swarthmore-Rutledge School gather at the bus stop on Marietta Avenue for the first day of school. Photo: Megan Slootmaker

The Swarthmore Centennial Foundation honored Jeannine Osayande when it presented the Shine a Light Award for Social Justice, Equity and Inclusion to her on August 12 during Nights in the Ville! The Shine a Light Award carries a $2,500 cash prize and recognizes “a person or organization who has made Swarthmore a more diverse, inclusive and equitable place to work, learn, do business, or live. The award honors a member of the Swarthmore community who has demonstrated compassion, perseverance, courage and leadership by engaging in the difficult work of fostering human dignity and our common humanity.”

Said Ms. Osayande upon receiving the award, “On behalf of our family, on behalf of our ancestors, on behalf of our community, I want to thank all of you.” Ms. Osayande is pictured receiving the award along with her sisters, Donna and Annette. Photo: Todd Strine

Pete Prown of Rose Valley spends a week each summer in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. This year he painted, hiked, and birdwatched for raptors, like kestrels and osprey. He also drove his Subaru off-road for spectacular views of the landscape. Photo: Pete Prown

Tate Strine of Swarthmore has graduated cum laude from the Valley Forge Military Academy and has received his diploma as part of the Class of 2021. Mr. Strine is a member of the 93rd corps of cadets to graduate from the academy. He is the son of Todd and Suzette Strine.

Mr. Strine attended grades 11 and 12 at the academy and rose to the rank of second lieutenant. He was a member of the academy’s Hi-Q team and its regimental band.

“Valley Forge Military Academy prepared me, not just for college, but for life in general,” said Mr. Strine. “I am looking forward to a great future and have a solid education as a foundation.” Mr. Strine plans to attend Colorado State University - Fort Collins in the fall.

Heather Hendry placed an advertisement in the June 18 issue of The Swarthmorean about her lost cat Sally. Sally was found by Suzanne Welsh on N. Princeton Ave. and treated to some tuna fish while waiting to go home. Pictured here is Sally’s with her relieved owners, Heather Hendry and Noah Henderson.

The Nether United U14 boys advanced to their first ever EPYSA State Cup semi-finals. A hard fought game ended up going to PKs where the boys came up short. They finished the 20-21 season with a 14W, 3L, 3D record. Pictured, left to right: Shane McCaffrey, Declan Zeserson, Coach King Saah, Luca Pickup, Alexander Selverian, Colin Jarvis, Jack Leuthold, Ben Santee, Tyler Mickelberg, Jacob Wenke, CJ McLean, Ben Mulligan, Cooper Murley, AJ Turner, Dylan Brown, and Manager Kevin Mickelberg. Photo: Melissa Burkhart Zeserson

Eighth grader Lara Bruno celebrates making it over the bridge to the high school during the middle school’s bridge crossing ceremony. The ceremony, which symbolizes the transition from middle school to high school, was live streamed for the first time this year because parents weren’t allowed inside. It was an especially emotional day because it was one of the only eighth grade traditions that endured through the pandemic. Photo: Kai Lincke

Aaron J. Hill, the son of Robert and Nancy Hill of Swarthmore, graduated cum laude from Penn State University. Aaron earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in philosopy (justice, law and values) and political science. A member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, he will attend Harvard Law School this fall. Aaron graduated with the class of 2017 from Strath Haven High School.

Turtle My Friend is the new single and music video by local singer songwriter and children’s artist educator Allison DeSalvo of World of Song (WOS). The song was released as a benefit for Save-A-Turtle of the Florida Keys (S.A.T.), a volunteer non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and protection of sea turtles.

“I wrote Turtle My Friend in 2012, after watching the PBS documentary, The City Dark, by Ian Cheney about ‘light pollution and the disappearance of the night sky,’” says Allison. “The beauty of these ancient creatures was deeply moving to me. It was especially poignant to see how just-hatched baby loggerhead turtles follow the light of the stars on the water to navigate from the shore to the ocean, and how artificial light causes disorientation impacting their survival.” Allison hopes children will feel connected to these resilient reptiles that have been around since the time of the dinosaurs.

Photo: The first audience for the Turtle My Friend video were the students at Swarthmore Presbyterian Nursery Day School where Allison teaches. Pictured is Maureen Rutkowski’s kindergarten class learning to sign the chorus and illustrate the effects of light pollution on turtles. Photo: Maureen Rutkowski

Carolyn Langdon and Sue Morrison of the Swarthmore Garden Club received a second place ribbon in the 2021 Philadelphia Flower Show in the Windowsill design class. Their windowsill design was inspired by Lady Bird Johnson’s instrumental role in advocating for passage of the 1964 Highway Beautification Act. Photo: Sue Morrison