Learning this week about the deserved pardon for Bayard Rustin, the West Chester-born Quaker activist who championed non-violence and organized the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, I am reminded how much I appreciate the Quaker values embedded in our town.
On Sunday, January 26, CADES was transformed into an international world of indoor winter putt putt fun with a super turnout from the community (640 golfers), help from 150 plus volunteers, and 18 groups of brilliant mini golf hole makers. The festivities included more than 50 raffle baskets donated by local groups such as the Community Arts Center, Vicki’s Place, the Inn at Swarthmore, and the Philadelphia Eagles, to name just a few.
It is with much sadness that I read about the recent passing of Ray Ripper. Ray was a founding member of Swarthmore Friends of the Arts. For many years, he served as our “ladder man,” helping hang art in the high spaces in Borough Hall before we adopted a system that made this job less precarious. He used his wordsmithing talents to craft our mission statement: “….. to encourage the free expression of all forms of art by local artists, and to exhibit these works in our Borough Hall for the enrichment and enlightenment of the community.”
I’m writing to follow up on the article about the upcoming Wellness Fair. Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to the Honorarium Fund. Everyone who contributes will be recognized as a Friend of the SSCA Wellness Fair in the Wellness Fair program.
Forgive me for arriving late to the Swarthmore pronunciation train, but I didn’t get a chance to see the survey until today. I was surprised that no one commented on how the word Swarthmore may be the most difficult word in the English language for a non-native speaker. An S followed by a W? And then an R smack up against a TH?
The impeachment hearings have shone a bright light on a group of heretofore nameless and faceless career public servants who defied Trump’s demand that they not comply with congressional subpoenas to testify in the House’s inquiry. As a result of their willingness to come forward, these courageous individuals have endured harassment, attacks on their personal character, and even death threats. I would like to propose a Wall of Fame at the U.S. Department of State and nominate the following individuals…
I am proud to live in a nation whose people observe a holiday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. As a Christian, I am proud of the “days of service” organized by churches and other faith communities. King would feel grateful and honored that his birthday is celebrated in this way. But MLK would feel dishonored by the churches’ silence in response to his pleas to boldly and publicly oppose racial and economic injustice.
Sugar, our precious Pomeranian, also known as “the Heart,” crossed the rainbow bridge on November 27, 2019 — exactly 15½ years after she was born. Since her passing, we’ve realized that dogs teach us to be loyal, to love unconditionally, to have compassion, play, and live in the moment. Some may think when you have a dog, you are taking care of them. But, we’ve learned, all this time, through every major life event as well as the mundane, she has been taking care of us.
We are delighted to report that Luminaria 2020 was a tremendous success, raising over $40,000 for A Better Chance Strath Haven (ABC) and other local non-profit organizations. This good work could not happen without the involvement and support of our Wallingford-Swarthmore School District (WSSD) Community.
In my life, I’ve learned that there are infinitely special people on this planet and that not one of them is replaceable. I was inspired to pay tribute to our child’s bus driver, “Mr. Jim,” after receiving news from him in the form of a handwritten letter that he will be retiring early. Jim laments leaving the children who ride his bus; he cherishes them as if they were his own grandchildren. As I strolled along afterwards on that balmy winter evening, feeling saddened, I was struck by a sudden reflective appreciation for this significant soul in our lives.
At Trader Joe’s in Media three weeks ago, I could find no California dried apricots, only Turkish. “Wildfire in California,” I thought.
In a year-end poll, Donald Trump and Barack Obama were tied for being the “most admired” men in the country. How does this happen and what does it say about us, the American people?
Regarding Stefan Roots’ opinion piece of January 3: a perspective from our neighboring town to the south is refreshing, but criticism of a proposed sale of the Chester Water Authority to help alleviate financial problems is unfair. Chester has many ills rooted in multiple causes going back decades under both Republican and Democratic administrations. While I agree that extended one-party rule is unhealthy for democracy, this is not the cause of Chester’s problems.
After reading the Swarthmorean article “Made by Hand” earlier this month, I thought I’d share this almost 50-year-old article about a seasonal crafted Christmas shop that Louise Howe Rowland, Prue Dunning, and I had for two years in Swarthmore.
In his recent Letter to the Editor, ‘A sad fact of life’ (12/6), Jim Riviello contends that “Carbon dioxide levels have nothing to do with the rising temperatures,” relying instead on contrarian climate research that blames “Anything But Carbon (ABC)” — here, banned CFCs causing “fluctuations of the sun” — for our planet’s woes. By doing so, he rejects numerous, validated studies demonstrating that emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gasses from fossil fuel combustion are the drivers of climate change at rates never before seen. What I find most disturbing about Mr. Riviello’s piece, however, is the way he appears to so easily jettison those most impacted by climate change.
Just Roses (Annie Fetter, Cindy Chadderdon, Nikki Hansen, and Sue Hunt) want to thank all who came out Saturday night to support their annual benefit concert at waR3house3 for Musicians on Call. A total of $400 was raised to support this amazing program which brings live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities.
I have some gift ideas for anyone still looking to spend their holiday budget, especially those who haven’t found material items serving their purposes.
The 2019 Mitten Tree at the Swarthmore Public Library was able to raise a large amount of money ($182) to buy warm clothing for CityTeam Ministries in Chester! Equally important were the contributions of blankets, scarves, mittens, gloves, hats, socks, and sweaters which were collected and also donated to CityTeam.
As residents at the intersection of Yale and Cornell avenues, we read with interest about discussions of accidents and safety measures at the recent Public Safety Committee meeting. Recitations of accidents “proportional to traffic volume,” hedges trimmed within allowable limits, and signage about cars ahead not stopping seemed, if we may, out of proportion to our experiences and observations of what happens at this intersection.
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.
