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.
I am disappointed by the proposal to pay local elected officials (mayor, council members, school board directors) for their service.
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.
As mayors and former mayors of communities in Delaware County, we write to urge everyone to vote for former Swarthmore Mayor Rick Lowe to serve as a judge on the Court of Common Pleas in Delaware County. We believe that Rick possesses all the personal and professional qualifications needed to be an exceptional judge.
The leaves are changing colors and there is a chill in the air, and that can only mean one thing … it is time to mark your calendars for the fall Friends of Swarthmore Public Library Book & Bake Sale! This year the fall sale is on November 7, 8 and 9, and features a huge array of excellent books, movies, music, sheet music, and puzzles that will satisfy a wide spectrum of interests and age groups.
President Trump recently pontificated about how his critics were using “the phony emoluments” clause as a cudgel to hammer him. In fact the emoluments clause just happens to be embedded in the United States Constitution. By extension, the President is also questioning the legitimacy and the wisdom of our republic’s founding governing charter. At the same time that he is debasing the Constitution, he is spreading the message that being the President has “cost” him two to five billion dollars in lost income over the past three years.
A terrific man from Folcroft named Joe Billie is running for the PA-05 seat next year. He is a Navy veteran, a 30-year volunteer fireman, and a longtime employee of Scott Paper. He is a true Delaware County man, and he believes in the Constitution.
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.
A legend among many of us activists, I remember Thompson Bradley from his Veterans for Peace time, and as part of Delco Pledge of Resistance (see archives at the Swarthmore College Peace Collection), which was a local branch of National Pledge of Resistance, resisting U.S. Interventions in Central America. He was an inspiration to many of us in both his activities and speeches.
We in Swarthmore are privileged to live in a community rich in history and heritage. For this reason, combined with my personal passion for history, I chose to preserve our past as part of my Eagle Scout project. This project, as many of you may know, was to install historical markers around the borough. Now that the markers have been installed and the project has finally come to a close, I would like to thank everyone who made it possible.
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.
A bit of school district trivia. In fact, the first assistant superintendent of the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District was Harry W. Kingham.
The Swarthmore Public Library will soon be having its annual Mitten Tree. Donations of new mittens, gloves, blankets, scarves and hats, or money to buy similar items will be gratefully accepted at the library from October 15 through December 11.
Thank you to everyone who came out to support the Co-op this past Saturday at the BBQ Fundraiser. Your food purchases and donations added up to $3,206.02 that will be used to renovate the existing café space in the Co-op.
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 story in September 6 Swarthmorean regarding the town center revitalization study generated a lot of positive feedback and interest, and some questions, too. Some of the questions were addressed in an earlier Swarthmorean article but I thought it would be helpful to refresh folks on the original article and add some context.
Last week’s Swarthmorean reported on the most recent Borough Council meeting, including the news that our Council unanimously passed a resolution called “Ready for 100.” It calls for our entire borough — municipal, institutional, business, and residential — to achieve 100% clean, renewable energy by the year 2050, with an intermediate goal of all electricity to be renewable by 2035. What will this mean for Swarthmore residents?
