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One Way to Think Through the Condominium Decision

As a Professor of Finance and Economics at Wharton and a 45-year resident of Swarthmore, I have been following the recent debate over plans to build a 36-unit condominium opposite the library with more than passing interest. I’m afraid I could not resist thinking this through as an economist, and thought it might be useful to share my thoughts—for better or worse, you decide.

SSCA and PAC— Great Together!

The Boards of Directors of the Swarthmore Senior Citizens Association and the Park Avenue Community Center join in announcing the Senior Association as a Founding Partner in a new Community Center for Swarthmore and surrounding communities. The Senior Association will donate $100,000 toward the establishment of the PAC Center and will subsequently make the Center its permanent home.

New Community Center Gets Green Light from Zoning Board

At the November 30 Swarthmore Zoning Hearing Board meeting, the board approved a joint application by Swarthmore United Methodist Church and the nonprofit Swarthmore Community Center, Inc. for a use variance to permit the center to operate a new community center—to be called Park Avenue Community Center—on the church’s property.

Persimmons

For decades, I have marveled at the native American persimmon, Diospyros virginiana, which is found in our native deciduous woods from Connecticut in the north to Florida in the south, and as far west as Kansas. This upright tree is easily identified in any season by its black trunk and alligator-skin-like bark. The American persimmon bears round orange fruits about the circumference of a quarter. Eating the fruit before it is fully ripe produces an astringent sensation in the mouth, because its tannins are still soluble. And if the fruit has not been subjected to frost a couple of times, it will make your mouth pucker.

New Exhibit at Borough Hall —The Page Brothers

An exhibition of photography and verse by the Page Brothers, Paul (photographer) and David (author), will be on display from December 2 to January 2, 2022, at Swarthmore Borough Hall. The public is invited to the opening reception on Friday, December 3, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. This project has been a creative collaboration between the two brothers, an exploration of light, image, and possibilities filtered through a photographic lens and a keyboard.

Panthers to Face West Chester Rustin in District 1 5A Football Championship

This week’s championship matchup could not look any more even “on paper.” The #1 seed will play the #2 seed. Both teams vanquished a league opponent for a second time in the playoffs. Both teams favor a “ground-and-pound” approach with a Wing-T offense. Both teams have longtime coaches with a history of success. And so, the District 1 5A Championship football game will land as predicted by the playoff bracket, as top-ranked West Chester Rustin will host #2 Strath Haven, with a trip to the state semifinals on the line.

Swarthmore High School Class of 1981 Celebrates 40th Reunion

From 20 different states and three different countries, nearly 60 percent of Swarthmore High School’s Class of 1981 descended on Swarthmore to celebrate a magical 40th reunion weekend on October 8th and 9th, 2021. It was the largest gathering of these classmates since the group’s commencement ceremony on June 8, 1981.

Stefan Roots Brings Change to Chester Politics

Poll workers at the Hayes Senior Center in Chester seemed upbeat and cheerful about the prospect of assisting voters. As expected, early morning turnout was slow, but it picked up toward noon. Some voters had detailed questions about the candidates: For example, they wanted to know more about Stefan Roots: What is he proposing to do about the high incidence of gun violence in their community? What about the recent disturbances at Chester High School—how can they be avoided in the future?

Rose Valley’s Will Price Historical Marker

Nearly 75 history- and architecture enthusiasts gathered Nov. 6 for the unveiling of a historical marker, which honors William Lightfoot Price (1861-1916), who was the founder of Rose Valley and a nationally known architect in the Arts and Crafts style. The marker, provided by the borough following approval by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC), is surrounded by Price-designed houses and situated on the grounds of the home where he once lived.

New Condo Building – We Can Do Better

I am one of the 26 community members who offered my opinion at the October 20 Planning Commission meeting about the proposed 5-story condominium project on Park Avenue. I appreciate the developers taking the time to respond to the community’s concerns in last week’s issue of The Swarthmorean. However, I believe they still misunderstand the deeper issue: their current vision for this building is fundamentally at odds with the character of Swarthmore.