Marple Newtown High School seniors Madeline Baxter and Gregory Stulpin have been named as Semifinalists in the 2011 National Merit Scholarship Program. They are among approximately 16,000 students designated by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation in the 57th annual program.

Baxter and Stulpin have the opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,300 scholarships worth more than $34 million to be offered in the spring. About 90 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, with more than half earning the title of Merit Scholar and winning a scholarship.

Adam Helker, Allison Hughes, Rebecca Lin, Min Sim, Michael Wozniak and David Yeroushalmi were named Commended Students.

Front row (left to right) Madeline Baxter, Rebecca Lin and Allison Hughes

Back row (left to right) Adam Helker, Michael Wozniak, Gregory Stulpin, David

Yeroushalmi and Min Sim 

On nights and weekends, the parquet at the O’Donoghue Center of the BYC (Brandywine Youth Club) Complex in Concord is lined for basketball, volleyball, wrestling and cheerleading.

On Monday afternoons and Tuesday mornings, however, the measurements turn to pickleball.

A combination of table tennis, badminton and tennis, pickleball is the rage among local seniors. The technique and effort needed make the game far more than merely ensuring the ball clears the net. 

“It is so much fun,” said Maris Grove resident Betty Allcorn. “It’s like tennis, without the tennis elbow.”

Named for the family pet of one of the game’s co-inventors, pickleball has more than 100,000 active players, according to statistics from the United States Pickleball Association. The website (www.usapa.org) includes a monthly newsletter and information about equipment, regional sites and tournaments. 

Pickleball is played with a wooden paddle and whiffle-type orb on a court sized for doubles badminton. The surface is striped like a tennis court, minus the alleys, and divided by service lines. A no-volley zone extends seven feet from the net on either side.

The ball, served underhand, is hit diagonally to the opponent’s service zone, with points scored by the serving side when the opposing player is unable to return the shot. The winning side is the first to score 11 points and lead by at least two.

The local players, the majority of whom live in Concord Crossing, Concord Pointe, Fox Hill Farm, Maris Grove and Windsor, or are members of Concord Township Seniors, were like “the man without a country,” or at least a pickleball court, until they learned of the BYC facility. The topic was raised during a meeting at Maris Grove and supervisor John Gillespie, liaison to the senior citizen group, realized with a few new lines and nets, the parquet could be transformed.

“Betty (Allcorn) mentioned the need for a place to play,” he said. “When we told them about the gym, they realized it would be perfect for their needs.”

The league, which began at the site on Halloween, sets up court 3-5p.m., Monday and 9-11a.m., Tuesday; the former for more advanced players, the latter for those newer to the game. Each session is filled with men and women playing matches or honing their skills.

An avid tennis player, Gary and Betsy Kamin, of Chester Heights, have adapted their serve and stance to pickleball. After watching a demonstration, they were hooked.

“We went to a pickle ball open house and had a ball,” said Gary. “It took us a few days to learn and now we love it.” 

People are aware of the duties they see performed by police officers.

It’s the ones they can’t see, however, that are often the most significant.

Upland Police Investigator Steven Jackson was applauded during the borough council meeting, Jan. 10, for his efforts in three recent cases. In each instance, his endeavors resulted in the arrest of those involved and he was presented with the Upland Borough Exceptional Service Award by Chief of Police John Easton and Mayor Michael Ciach.

A letter from Easton outlined the incidents. Jackson was assigned to investigate a burglary-rape-robbery and robbery-homicide, major, forcible felonies which occurred in the borough within a month’s time this spring. He collected the evidence, conducted the necessary interviews, identified the perpetrators and arrested the criminals responsible for committing the heinous crimes.

“Investigator Jackson attacked these investigations, as he refused to stop, he refused to go home and he refused to rest,” according to the letter read by Ciach. “He went above and beyond the requirements in order to protect and serve our borough.”

Jackson was also the lead investigator in a third incident in which a man was beaten, stabbed, dragged from a house and left to die in a nearby driveway. Similar to the other situations, he worked the crime scene, collected DNA and fingerprints and completed interviews. His actions resulted in the arrest of two additional criminals, both of whom are in Delaware County Prison, with high bail and awaiting trial.

“Jackson was in Philadelphia on a date when he took the phone call from me,” wrote Easton. “He deposited his girlfriend and drove directly to Upland.”

Easton and Ciach have recommended Jackson for a promotion to the position of Detective.

“We recognize him for an incredibly outstanding display of perseverance, professionalism and tremendous concern for the wellbeing of our community,” said the letter. “Thank you, Steve, for a job well done.”

The Marple Newtown High School Girls Varsity basketball team won its holiday tournament for the third consecutive year, defeating Bishop Shanahan 42-38. Melissa Levy was named tournament MVP and Rylee Power made the all-tournament team. Erica Brown, Madison Collins, Carley Hamilton, Carly Morrow and Maria Tsingas also contributed to the win. 

The residents at the Belvedere Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Chester presented a holiday program for visitors which included singing, dancing, readings and poem recitals, followed by a reception featuring homemade cookies and beverages.

Homestead residents Myrtle Freas, Marie Beaudet and Sara Jean McCoog led the group in singing Christmas Carols.

Resident Matthew Battinieri performed a spirited rendition of “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.”

Janet Daly (second from right), an English Language Learners (ELL) teacher in the Marple Newtown School District, has been named the Marple Newtown Education Association "Teacher of the Year 2011-2012." Daly, who has been teaching ELL for 26 years, organizes field trips for the children, visits families in their homes when there is a need and has conducted before-school tutoring programs for students in their individual schools. Each year she and the ELL team also host a family fun night.

A graduate of MNHS, Daly has an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education, a Master's degree in Multicultural Studies and state ELL certification. She and her husband raised their two daughters in the district and she runs a summer camp in her church for 400 children. 

Show your four-legged friend how much you care this holiday season by purchasing a 2012 dog license. Licensed dogs are registered under the “Return a Lost Dog” program on the Delaware County website and is the best way to ensure a pooch is reunited with his or her owner. State Law also requires all dogs to be licensed and the fine for unlicensed dogs is $300.

Licenses may be obtained 20 locations including the county Treasurer’s Office in Media. For more information, visit www.co.delaware.pa.us or call (610) 891-4276. 

Were you married at St. Timothy Lutheran Church in Aston, or know someone who was?

As part of the church's 50th Anniversary celebration, there will be a "Celebration of Love" on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012.

While the readings, hymns and sermons will reflect how the promises that are made in the most public declaration of love within the church - marriage - can be the foundation of many different kinds of love, there will also be a reaffirmation of wedding vows during the service that day.

The 50th Anniversary Committee is looking for all couples who were married in the church during that 50-year span.

If you were married in the church, whether you are a member or not, or know the address of some other couple who was also married there, please email that information to the church office at STLC@comcast.net, using the word 'Love" in the subject line.