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ASTON — Seven Delaware County residents earned Bachelor of Science degrees in nursing at Neumann University on May 18.
The graduates included Abdul Tholley, Natalie Hopkins, Emma Schneider, Leianne Tatlonghari, Rachel June, Shanna Lisaint and Abdullah Al Nibir.
The university awarded two associate’s degrees, 229 bachelor’s degrees, 86 master’s degrees, and 44 doctoral degrees at the graduation ceremony.
For more information about Neumann University, go to http://Neumann.edu.
Upper Darby schools awarded $1.7M in Solar for Schools grants
State Rep. Heather Boyd announced that four schools in the Upper Darby School District were awarded a combined $1.7 million from Pennsylvania’s Solar for Schools Grant Program.
The following schools received grants: Drexel Hill Middle School, $500,000; Westbook Park Elementary School, $431,600; Primos Elementary School, $334,913; and Hillcrest Elementary School, $446,363.
The funding will help lower energy costs and support renewable energy use.
“This investment will create renewable, sustainable and long-term energy for our schools,” Boyd said. “It also provides an educational opportunity for students to learn about sustainability and the importance of preserving our environment.”
The Solar for Schools Grant Program was created in July 2024 to reduce the cost of implementing solar energy systems into schools across the state. School districts, intermediate units, charter schools, technical schools and community colleges are eligible for the program. The funding may cover the purchase and installation of equipment, permit fees, energy storage and utility interconnection.
The Commonwealth Financing Authority is an independent agency and administers the Solar for Schools Grant Program, as well as other state economic stimulus packages.
Chester to host Safe Summer Fair to connect families with youth programs
Chester will hold the 2025 Safe Summer Fair on Thursday May 29 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Chester City Hall, 1 E. Fourth St.
The free community event is designed to connect families with the wide array of summer programs, camps, and activities available for Chester youth.
The event is an opportunity for children and families to explore free and low-cost summer options that are safe, fun, and enriching. From sports and arts to academic enrichment and community activities, there’s a program available for every interest and age.
Local organizations offering summer programming are invited to participate at no cost by hosting a table to share information, engage with families, and recruit new participants. This is a valuable chance to showcase their offerings and help Chester families plan a summer full of opportunity and growth.
Organizations can register to host a table by visiting https://bit.ly/SafeSummerFair2025.
Philadelphia Union Foundation unveils new mural inside Subaru Park
The Philadelphia Union Foundation unveiled a new mural inside Subaru Park in Chester on May 14 prior to that night’smatch against the LA Galaxy.
The mural, which includes a circle of cleats around a soccer ball featuring the foundation’s hand and heart logo, is designed to represent the foundation and all that it does to leverage the power of soccer to change lives for the better.
“We wanted a visual representation of the impact of the work we do to support young people in the community of Chester and beyond,” said Alyssa Radu, foundation executive director. “Now every fan who walks through Subaru Park on game day will see this incredible mural, and hopefully it will spur them to learn more about the foundation and get involved.”
In the logo, 11 feet are touching the soccer ball at the center, representing all of the players on the pitch and reminding us that every player, and every person, matters.
The mural includes references to each of the Foundation’s core programs:
The iAM Project: Helps aspirational high school students maximize their personal, academic and professional potential
HeadFirst: Promotes mental health awareness and provides support within the soccer community
Chester soccer: Brings the transformative experience of youth soccer to the Chester community, empowering young athletes and instilling the values of teamwork, discipline and personal growth
Safe spaces: Creates places for families throughout the area to play soccer, while increasing access to the sport and strengthening our communities
The more than 158-square-foot art was created by Tiff Urquhart, who has designed and painted murals with the Philadelphia Eagles, Philadelphia 76ers and Mural Arts Philadelphia. Urquhart worked closely with the team at the foundation and MOD Health, the foundation’s creative agency, to develop the mural.
“Tiff was the perfect artist to create a piece that symbolizes the incredible positive impact the foundation has, and the power of soccer to bring communities together,” said Tiffany Kimicata, director of marketing, MODHealth. “She has deep ties to the Philadelphia sports community, played soccer herself and is an outspoken advocate for mental health. You can see her passion for both art and soccer in this mural. It’s exactly what we hoped for when we started this project.”
The mural is located on the main concourse by section 110.
The Philadelphia Union Foundation has been, and will always be, an agent of change for the underserved, serving the area through its four core programs, the foundation said. For more information, visit http://PhiladelphiaUnionFoundation.org.
Vendors can register for Tree of Life flea market
The Tree of Life Church, 933 Baltimore Pike, Springfield, will host a flea market from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 7.
Dozens of vendors with a variety of items to sell will be on site. In the fellowship hall, the church will be selling gently used items, as well as some art pieces for sale.
Morning food of bagels and coffee will be available, along with lunch food of hoagies and hot dogs.
Anyone who wishes to rent a space, the cost is $40. Register online at www.treeoflifepc.org and pay via PayPal or print the online form and send to the church with a check payable to “Tree of Life Church.”
For more information, go to the website or call the church office on Tuesday or Thursday at 610-543-9533.
St. James Regional offers tours
St. James Regional Catholic School, 500 Tome St., Ridley Park, is now scheduling tours for families interested in learning more about its programs. The school offers PreK for 3- and 4-year-olds with both full and part-time options, as well as full-day Catholic education for kindergarten through eighth grade.
At St. James, teachers and staff are dedicated to nurturing both the academic and spiritual growth of the students, providing a foundation grounded in faith and values. For families needing additional support, the school also offers a CARES before and after-school program.
To schedule a tour or for more information, contact Kristen Kilman, enrollment manager, at kkilman@stjamesregional.com or call 610-583-3662.
Unique baseball treasure to be on display at Sports Legends
A bit of baseball memorabilia from 68 years ago will be on display June 8 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum, 301 Iven Ave., Radnor.
It’s a panel of baseball-quality horsehide measuring 25 inches by 45 inches on which is inscribed the personal signatures of every player, coach and manager of every team in the American League of 1957.
This priceless piece of baseball lore was obtained by former Marcus Hook and Wallingford resident, the late Mickey Vernon, when he played for the Boston Red Sox during the 1957 season.
During spring training of that year, Vernon obtained a blank horsehide from a sales representative. He had the inspiration to have his teammates sign it and then saw to it that members of the opposing teams added their signatures when they came to Fenway Park to play the Red Sox during that same 1957 season.
Nineteen of the signatures are accompanied by a caricature of the player drawn by an illustrator working for the Boston Herald at the time.
Everyone is welcome to stop by to see this national treasure on display. For more information, email museum historian Rich Pagano rp1751@aol.com or call Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919.
Chanticleer features new shoe exhibit
Chanticleer Garden in Wayne guests are encountering something unexpected among the blooms: sculptural shoes made not of leather and laces, but of leaves, bark, cones, dried flowers, stems and moss.
Delaware artist and horticulturist Lenny Wilson debuts “Botanical Shoes,” a fantastical series of handmade footwear crafted entirely from plant parts collected in the garden. A fusion of fashion, craft, and horticultural whimsy, each shoe invites a sense of play and curiosity.
“Each pair of shoes seems to take on a life of its own,” Wilson said recently. “Like well worn footwear, they develop character over time, revealing glimpses into the imagined life of their wearer.”
The installation at Chanticleer is the first of what Wilson envisions as a global series, one that could be recreated in gardens and arboreta around the world, using local plants and natural materials.
“It’s another way to draw attention to plants and educate the public,” Wilson noted.
The current exhibition draws its creative energy from Chanticleer’s own layered history.
Wilson found inspiration in archival photographs of the Rosengarten family, who once lived in the house and stewarded the land.
The first series of “Botanical Shoes” are on display now, with a second rotation of new shoes debuting later this summer. Visitors are encouraged to return and experience the evolving installation as it changes with the seasons, and with the plants themselves.
Chanticleer will present a special program, “Fashioned by Nature: The Story of Green Art Shoes,” an engaging afternoon with Lenny Wilson on Sunday, June 1 from 3 to 4:30 p.m.
The program will include an illustrated artist talk, and a guided walk through the installation.
Wilson is a multidisciplinary artist whose work bridges fine craft, horticulture and sculpture. Trained in traditional shoemaking at a leather trades college in London and deeply rooted in botanical art, Wilson creates imaginative, site-specific works that celebrate the beauty and complexity of the natural world.
For information and to register, visit www.chanticleergarden.org/classes.html. Chanticleer is at 786 Church Road, Wayne.
For more information, call 610- 687-4163 or visit www.chanticleergarden.org.
Main Line Health facilities achieve prestigious designation
Lankenau Medical Center, Riddle Hospital and HomeCare & Hospice — all part of Main Line Health — have each earned the Pathway to Excellence designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. This recognition underscores the hospitals’ commitment to creating positive practice environments where nurses thrive and deliver exceptional patient care.
Lankenau Medical Center, which earned one exemplar, Riddle Hospital and HomeCare & Hospice, the first homecare and hospice organization in the world to earn Pathway designation, join Bryn Mawr Hospital, Paoli Hospital and Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital, which achieved Pathway to Excellence designation earlier this year.
The Pathway to Excellence designation is a rigorous, data-driven process recognizing health care organizations that demonstrate a commitment to creating a work environment where nurses feel empowered, valued and supported.
The Pathway to Excellence model emphasizes six key standards essential to creating a positive practice environment for nurses. These standards are integrated into the hospitals’ daily operations and guide their efforts to continually improve the nursing work environment.
The designation confirms to nurses that these facilities are committed to the following:
Shared governance: Nurses have a voice in decisions that impact their practice and patient care.
Leadership: Nurse leaders are supportive, accessible and advocate for their staff
Safety: The hospitals prioritize a safe and healthy work environment for both employees and patients.
Quality: The hospitals are committed to delivering high-quality, evidence-based care.
Well-being: The hospitals support the physical and emotional well-being of employees
Professional development: The hospitals encourage and support ongoing learning and professional growth opportunities.
“This is a remarkable achievement for Lankenau Medical Center, Riddle Hospital and HomeCare & Hospice, and a testament to the dedication and professionalism of our nursing teams,” said Elizabeth Craig, senior vice president and chief nursing officer of Main Line Health. “The Pathway to Excellence designation reflects our unwavering commitment to fostering a culture of excellence in nursing practice, which ultimately translates to better outcomes for our patients.”
Readers can send community news and photos to Peg DeGrassa at pdegrassa@21st-centurymedia.com.
