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RIDLEY TOWNSHIP — The Harlem Wizards basketball team entertained a soldout crowd as they took on the Ridley All-Stars, a team of teachers, staff, and administrators in the Ridley School District.
The event, hosted by the Ridley Educational Foundation on Monday, March 10 in the Ridley High School gym, had the packed audience laughing and seeming to enjoy every moment. The energy at a Harlem Wizards game is enhanced with rim-rattling dunks, mesmerizing ball-handling, and jaw-dropping tricks. From on-court experiences for kids to cheering on beloved teachers, everyone had a chance to be part of the fun.
Kids with a Wizards jersey joined the team for pre-game warm-ups, and audience members volunteered in contests and hilarious acts throughout the evening. As a grand finale, all students were invited to join the Wizards on the court for an end-of-night dance celebration. Zac’s Burgers and Aldo & Manny Pizza provided food during the game.
Proceeds from the event benefited the foundation, which operates independently from the Ridley School District to support various school district initiatives. The funds raised will help the foundation provide grants, scholarships and other programs that enhance the educational experience for both teachers and students in the district.
Southeast Delco School District recognized with three PenSPRA awards
The Southeast Delco School District has earned three awards in the Pennsylvania School Public Relations Association’s (PenSPRA) 2024 Excellence in Communications Contest.
The district, in partnership with the Donovan Group, earned an Award of Excellence in the marketing category for its employment brochure. Additionally, the district secured awards of merit in the video category for its November 2024 Superintendent Update and the newsletter category for the Knight News employee newsletter.
“It is an honor to be recognized by PenSPRA for our communication efforts and materials,” said Dr. Yamil Sanchez Rivera, district superintendent. “These awards are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire school community. When we communicate, we’re sharing the stories of our teachers, staff, students, and families, so these awards would not be possible without them. We remain committed to prioritizing communication, creativity, and transparency as we move forward.”
PenSPRA’s annual Excellence in Communications Contest recognizes outstanding school district communication efforts across Pennsylvania. This year, more than 200 entries were submitted. Eligible materials must have been produced between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2024.
The Award of Excellence winners were acknowledged at the Annual PenSPRA Symposium during the President’s Luncheon on March 20 at The Penn Stater Hotel & Conference Center in State College.
To view Southeast Delco’s award-winning materials, along with other winners from this year’s contest, visit https://penspra.com/2024-contest-winners.
Norwood UM Church to hold kids’ consignment sale
Norwood United Methodist Church, 315 Chester Pike, Norwood, will hold its annual Kids’ Stuff Consignment Spring/Summer Sale on Friday, March 28 from noon to 8 p.m. and again Saturday, March 29 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Items will be half price the last hour on Saturday from noon to 1 p.m.
All proceeds will benefit Little Blessings Christian Preschool.
Gently used baby gear, maternity apparel, kids’ clothes in sizes infant through 18, shoes, toys, books, kids’ movies, furniture, sports equipment, and much more will be for sale.
Consignors are wanted and welcome. For more information on consigning items, reach out to 610-565-0924 or JimSallyVickers@verizon.net.
To view all upcoming events at Norwood UM Church, go to www.NorwoodUMC.org.
Rotary Club of Media honors Penncrest students of the month
The Rotary Club of Media welcomed two Penncrest High School students, Zayna Alrez and Reese Bigier, as the Rotary’s students of the month for March.
Zayna is an 11th-grade student who is in the National Honor Society, and had a biomedical engineering internship at Drexel University. She also worked as a volunteer counselor at the Temple University Art-Sci camp, and was a volunteer robotics judge at the first Lego League competition.
Additionally, Zayna volunteered at the HIAS-PA Thanksgiving dinner, the Media Harvest Fair, Rose Tree Community Day, and as a tree planter with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. She is her class representative on Student Council and a co-founder and co-president of the Penncrest Women Empowerment Club, as well as a member of Worldwide Pride at Penncrest.
Reese is a 12th grade student, and is also a member of the National Honor Society, along with the English, Math, Science, Social Studies and World Language honor societies. She has earned distinguished honor roll in every marking period and has received the Academic Excellence Award three times. Reese is captain of the varsity soccer team and captain as a four-year starter on the lacrosse team. She is All-Delco and All Central teams honorable mention for soccer.
Additionally, Reese volunteers at the Media Food Bank and for the Optimist Club’s lacrosse clinics. She is committed to Temple University for lacrosse, and plans to major in biology to become a dentist.
Swarthmore Food Truckathon slated for April 6
Swarthmore Town Center will host its annual Swarthmore Food Truckathon from 2 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, April 6 on Park Avenue in the town.
The event will feature 23 food vendors and live music by the Dan & Dan Band in the amphitheater. Everyone is welcome to the community event. The event is being sponsored by Heiler Painting and The Swarthmore Co-op.
The Swarthmore Town Center is a nonprofit, whose purpose is to promote and plan educational, cultural and charitable community events.
For more information, or to get more information about signing up as a vendor for the Food Truckathon, go to www.facebook.com/SwarthmoreTownCenter.
Springfield resident holds book launching party
Author Lindsay Smith of Springfield will hold a book launching party for her new book, “No One Needs Another Company Mug: Stop Branding, Start Experiencing,” from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 27 at Bar Sera, 382 Elm St., Conshohocken.
Born from her passion for experiences and their impact on relationships, the book challenges businesses to move beyond traditional marketing and focus on crafting remarkable experiences that drive customer loyalty.
Smith shares her journey of growing a business by prioritizing customer care and real connections. The book features Kimpton Hotels, Pieri Hospitality Group and High Mark Distillery, as three brands revolutionizing their industries through hyper-personalized and purposeful moments.
The author and business strategist hopes her book will inspire local entrepreneurs and business leaders to create unforgettable experiences, rather than rely on traditional branding strategies.
Smith graduated from St. Kevin Grade School in 1996, Cardinal O’Hara High School in 2000 and LaSalle University in 2004.
Books will be available for purchase onsite. They are also available at amazon.com.
Space is limited at the free book launch party and must be reserved by contacting Lindsay Smith at letstalk@amplify-experiences.com.
Malvern Prep announces $5 million gift
Malvern Preparatory School recently announced a $5 million gift from Mr. and Mrs. Jim Davis, Class of 1978.
The transformational gift will support the construction of the Student Life Center, establish an endowment fund for operational expenses of the building, and provide ongoing support for the Malvern Fund. This comprehensive gift directly reflects the tenets set forth by “Malvern Forever: The Campaign for our Future.”
“Supporting the mission and students of Malvern Prep is very important to me. This gift supports and acknowledges the faculty, staff, and administration who tirelessly carry out our proud Augustinian mission on a daily basis,” Jim Davis said.
Projected to open in the 2026-27 academic year, the Student Life Center will serve the school community with features like specialized classrooms for programs like data analytics and health & wellness, state-of-the-art athletic locker rooms, and dedicated spaces for faculty supporting student life.
The Malvern Forever comprehensive campaign, which has reached 88% of its $65 million goal, is dedicated to securing the resources needed to sustain and enhance its programs, facilities and student opportunities.
Investments in this initiative ensure that Malvern Prep continues to be a leader in education, fostering the growth of young men who are prepared to excel in college and beyond. For more information, visit http://malvernprep.org.
Older adults invited to register for free chronic disease self-management program
Adults age 60 or older living with chronic health conditions may register for the “Steps to Healthy Living: Chronic Disease Self-Management Program,” sponsored by the Delaware County Office of Services for the Aging (COSA) in collaboration with the PA Department of Aging.
The Stanford University program provides participants with self-care tools and life skills to support them in reaching their personal goals to manage their chronic conditions.
The program will meet virtually on Zoom, once a week, for six weeks on Mondays, from April 7 through May 12 from 1 to 3:30 p.m.
Program costs are covered by COSA and the PA Department of Aging, allowing the program to be offered for free. Each participant will receive a complimentary personal copy of the book “Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds that 6 in 10 Americans live with at least one chronic disease and 4 in 10 adults have two or more of these conditions. Illnesses like heart disease, cancer, chronic lung disease, stroke, diabetes, and other chronic diseases are the leading causes of death and disability in America and a leading driver of health care costs.
Space is limited and registration is required for the program. To register, contact Ellen Williams, COSA Health and Wellness program manager, at williamse@co.delaware.pa.us or call 610-499-1937 and provide name, home address, phone number and email address.
Readers can send community news and photos to Peg DeGrassa at pdegrassa@21st-centurymedia.com.
