All in To The Community
I need to impress upon people that it is vitally important that we all continue to do our part to see our way through the crisis situation caused by the spread of COVID-19.
If you are registered to vote in Pennsylvania, you may now vote in the primary and general elections by using a mail-in ballot, without needing an excuse. The deadline for applying for your no-excuse mail-in ballot is 5 p.m. on May 26. Then, for your vote to count, the election board must receive your completed ballot by 8 p.m. on June 2.
We are so proud of the extra effort, commitment, and adaptability of all of our Co-op staff members (and our volunteers, too) who are keeping our store open and working well for our community. As events unfold, we’re making adjustments to continue accomplishing everything we can for our owners and shoppers.
The Swarthmore Public Library has a nine-member board that helps the library thrive and serve our community. We currently have one open seat for a three-year term.
In 1971, the people of Swarthmore decided to establish a community center to meet the needs of seniors, children, teens, and others. At that time, Swarthmore College offered to rent the old Swarthmore Preparatory School gymnasium to the newly formed Swarthmore Community Center for a nominal fee. The building needed extensive renovations, for which citizens raised $76,000 in grants and donations. Through the hard work and perseverance of many community volunteers, and with donated materials, the center opened its doors in 1978. In July 2019, the board of the community center received a notice from Swarthmore College that it would be terminating our lease and that we must vacate the building by August 2020.
Thank you to everyone who supported our Girl Scout troop at Swarthmore’s recent Small Business Saturday, from our customers (including Mayor Spiegel!) to the Town Center that hosted us. We enjoyed baking goodies for all the shoppers.
There is a special place where the Magic of Swarthmore meets the Magic of Christmas. Every other year, in our small college town tucked away at the southern end of Delaware County, anonymous members of the Swarthmore community produce, fund, and perform the Pageant of the Nativity the Saturday before Christmas in the Lang Music Building on the Swarthmore College campus.
The Swarthmore Historical Society, best known for organizing the popular biennial Swarthmore house tours, is looking for new volunteers to offer ideas and to get involved in the tours as well as in programs, archiving, and other activities.
Thanks to everyone who made the Friends of the Swarthmore Public Library sale a success! Last weekend, the Friends raised $9,358 for the library with its traditional semi-annual Book and Bake sale. Due to the hard work and dedication of countless volunteers — sorters, clerks, bakers, publicity people, set-up people, clean-up people — as well as the excellent library staff, the community came together in a fun and productive manner to benefit the library we all love.
I am collecting school supplies from now through Thanksgiving Day for Harlem Lacrosse, a school-based non-profit that works with underserved kids in Philadelphia by placing full-time staff in school sites. They provide year-round support and individualized attention for kids and use lacrosse to build leadership skills and social responsibility.
The Luminaria Fundraiser Has Begun! Once again, it is time to place your order for the Luminaria fundraiser, which beautifully light up our streets on the evening of New Year’s Day, 2020.
Tuesday, November 5 is Municipal Election Day when voters cast their ballots for an array of county, township, borough, and judicial offices. Municipal elections have traditionally low turnout, and this is a shame because those we elect make important decisions that affect our everyday lives, on matters like police and fire protection, zoning, building codes, parks and open space, waste disposal, public education, and how we pay for it all.
The Luminaria Fundraiser will be beginning very soon, which supports the ABC Strath Haven house in Swarthmore and other students in need from WSSD. The effort of dozens of volunteers culminates in a beautiful display of curbside luminaria the evening of January 1, 2020. We have noticed that a few areas are short of a Block Captain, and that’s where we need your help.
We have successfully achieved the Co-op Freezer Fundraiser goal! The grand total raised is $105,000. Thank you to all Co-op owners and friends in the community that stepped up over the past several months. Also, this weekend the Swarthmore Co-op will join in the celebration of Philadelphia Grocery Co-op Day.
Have you ever read Silent Spring by Rachel Carson? Even if you haven’t, I hope you will consider unsubscribing from your mosquito control service. The pesticides used by these services are broad, not only killing mosquitoes and ticks, but also fireflies, butterflies, moths, etc. I’ve noticed fewer of all these insects since I’ve noticed more mosquito control signs. I can’t remember the last time I saw a ladybug.
At dusk on Sunday, two bicyclists went through the stop sign (failed to stop; didn’t even slow down) at the intersection of Wellesley Road and Swarthmore Avenue. They were going at a fairly high speed, traveling downhill towards town. They didn’t seem to realize that there was a stop sign, or that traffic makes turns from Wellesley onto Swarthmore Avenue. This is a three-way intersection, all-way stop.
On Friday, October 4, we will have a table at the Strath Haven football game against visiting Springfield. Stop by to see us and maybe pick up a giveaway item. And on Saturday, October 5, we will have a table at the Swarthmore Presbyterian Church Fall Fair, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Stop by when you’re enjoying one of the fall’s best local events.
The Swarthmore Public Library would love to invite you to help us continue our mission to empower our community to Read, Meet, Discover and Grow. It takes an involved and active community to support a library as active (and as small!) as ours. There are many ways you can volunteer and support our wonderful library and the programs we offer, and there’s something that’s right for almost everyone.
Bicycle riders traveling from Cornell and Rutgers avenues to downtown: please stop using the driveway of 107 Rutgers Ave. (the building next to the post office) as a cut-through.
The Swarthmore community and beyond came together on Saturday, July 27, to raise money to help the children at the southern border of the United States. The Children of the Wind fundraiser, sponsored by Young People’s Theatre Workshop, was able to raise $6,400 for the children through music, financial donations, and the generosity of spirit of all involved.
