Community news of Delaware County

GLEN MILLS — For many young people who stutter, introducing themselves, giving presentations, or speaking up in a group can feel overwhelming.

Their voices often go unheard, not because they have nothing to say, but because they’re unsure how to say it. Despite affecting more than 70 million people globally, including about 3 million in the U.S., stuttering remains one of the most misunderstood communication differences.

The inaugural Clonakilty Stuttering Leadership Exchange brought together 17 young adults who stutter from the United States and Ireland for a groundbreaking program promoting personal growth, acceptance, and leadership development.

Jacob Sniras of Glen Mills, a 2025 graduate of Garnet Valley High School, was among the program participants.

The son of Rob and Amy Sniras, Jacob will attend Wilkes University in the fall to major in secondary education/history. The freshman will play basketball for Wilkes men’s basketball program.

From Aug. 1 to 8, participants traveled from Philadelphia to Ireland, where they immersed themselves in the country’s rich culture, sports, and history, while engaging in transformative leadership workshops and team-building activities. The program’s mission extended beyond cultural exchange. Its goal was to identify and equip future leaders who happen to stutter with the tools, confidence, and vision to make a difference in their communities.

The immersive international leadership program was created specifically for young people who stutter.

Through workshops, cultural immersion, and conversations with civic leaders, participants explored how vulnerability, self-acceptance, and community can drive authentic leadership.

The experience was shaped by contributions from some of Ireland’s most accomplished and inspiring leaders, including Gillian Coughlan, councillor for the Bandon Kinsale Municipal District; Cian O’Neill, All-Ireland winning coach of the Kerry Football Team; Con Burns, who introduced participants to Munster Technological University and the sport of hurling; Gary “Spike” O’Sullivan, world champion boxer; Juliet Murphy, 10-time All-Ireland football champion; Michael Collins, TD; Chief Superintendent Tom Myers; Jarlath Burns, president of the Gaelic Athletic Association; Emily Magner Hurley, soprano and County Cork native; Councillor Damian Boylan; Fergal Dennehy, lord mayor of Cork; Colm Burke, TD; and Ian Doyle, mayor of Cork City.

The trip was made possible through the dedicated support of The Nolan Stuttering Foundation.

Nolan Stuttering Foundation’s primary purpose is to bring young people who stutter together and help them become the best versions of themselves. The organization does this through programming designed to help youth share and navigate the unique communication and psychological challenges they experience.

President Brian Nolan organized the leadership curriculum of the Clonakilty Stuttering Leadership Exchange and Dr. Joseph Donaher, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, organized the stuttering curriculum.

In addition, Stuttering Awareness Mental Wellbeing Ireland, played a significant role in Ireland.

This program marks the beginning of an ongoing exchange. In 2026, the Nolan Stuttering Foundation will host young adults who stutter from Ireland in the Philadelphia region, continuing this unique tradition of cross-cultural leadership and connection.

For more information, go to 

Grands Stepping Up to hold school supply giveaway

Grands Stepping Up, a Delaware County organization supporting grandparents raising grandparents and other kinship families, will hold its annual school supply distribution.

It will be held Saturday, Aug. 23 from 10 a.m. to noon at Bethany Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 5 Concord Ave., Havertown.

The bookbags and supplies will help to make a positive impact on the children being raised by their grandparents or other kin. Each child will receive a bookbag full of supplies.

Grands Stepping Up is a nonprofit dedicated to assisting grandparents/kinship guardians who are raising their grandchildren, due to issues such as incarceration, the opiate epidemic, mental health issues, death or illness of the parents, any issue that causes the parents to be unable to perform in their traditional parental roles.

Grands assists the grand family units through the creation of many holistic programs that support the grand families financially, legally, psychologically and socially.

To register, donate, or find out more information about the back-to-school drive, or ways to support the nonprofit, go to www.grandssteppingupinfo.com or email [email protected] and a registration link will be sent via email.

Student places first in Pa. with winning investment portfolio

As Warren Buffett once said, “Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.”

That idea is at the heart of Myra Ralhan’s winning essay, which emphasized the value of building financial stability through informed investing.

Myra, an eighth-grade student at The Episcopal Academy in Newtown Square, is planting the seeds for a financially secure future. Her thoughtful, long-term investment plan earned a prestigious First in Pennsylvania and seventh place win nationally in the SIFMA Foundation’s Spring 2025 InvestWrite competition, the nation’s premier youth financial writing challenge.

Chosen from thousands of entries, Myra’s essay demonstrated a clear understanding of diversification, long-term investing, and risk, core concepts that define smart financial decision making.

Myra and teacher Kristen Powell were honored by the SIFMA Foundation and the Foundation for Free Enterprise Education in a ceremony held this summer.

InvestWrite is the capstone to the SIFMA Foundation’s Stock Market Game, a curriculum-based simulation in which students manage a hypothetical $100,000 portfolio of stocks, bonds, mutual funds and cash.

The program has reached more than 23 million students since 1977 and is widely recognized for improving academic achievement in math, economics and personal finance.

“We’re thrilled to celebrate Myra for this outstanding achievement,” said Melanie Mortimer, SIFMA Foundation president. “This is a powerful example of how financial education helps young people take control of their futures. By understanding long-term investing, students like Myra are building not just portfolios, but real financial confidence, know-how and independence.”

For more information on the SIFMA Foundation, visit www.sifma.org/foundation. For more information about the Foundation for Free Enterprise Education, visit www.pfew.org. For more information about InvestWrite, visit www.investwrite.org.

2025 Rose Tree Summer Festival concludes 50th year

The 50th annual Rose Tree Summer Festival concluded on Sunday, Aug. 10, with a concert featuring the Six-String Soldiers, an ensemble of the Army Field Band and one of the most popular military bands in the world.

“What an incredible finale for Rose Tree’s 50th concert season!” said Delaware County Parks and Recreation interim director, Anne Stauffer. “After a stormy and steamy summer, we were thankful to end on a high note, so to speak, with a week of enthusiastic crowds enjoying excellent entertainment under beautiful evening skies.”

The beloved concert series in Rose Tree Park’s scenic amphitheater opened on June 11 and ran for nine-weeks, with 44 scheduled shows for the public to enjoy admission-free. The festival is presented by Delaware County, produced by its Parks & Recreation Department, and supported by private patrons.

The variety of entertainment ranged from big band to bluegrass, classical to Cajun, and beyond, and included children’s concerts, community orchestras, tribute bands and specialty acts.

“We all enjoyed the synchronicity of the Rose Tree Summer Festival turning 50 at the same time as the Shooting Stars,” noted Stauffer. “Our programs have a lot of shared history that began when creative visionaries started them back in 1975. As Delaware County celebrated the nation’s bicentennial, could anyone have imagined that it would endure for generations and still be going strong at the semiquincentennial?”

For more information about next year’s lineup, visit Delaware County Parks and Recreation at  or call 610-891-4455.

Volunteers sought for Delco 10 Miler

In addition to runners, Visit Delco’s Delco 10 Miler, planned for Sunday, Sept. 28, needs more volunteers, especially as course marshals.

Volunteering is an opportunity to be part of the excitement. Course marshals will be situated along the running route, from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. between Rose Tree Park in Upper Providence and Subaru Park in Chester.

All volunteers will receive a Delco 10 Miler T-shirt, a reusable Delco “Wooder” bottle, and access to the post-race celebration at Union Yards with complimentary food and drink.

To get a volunteer application, go to

If a group has 10 or more volunteers who can assist with course marshaling on race morning, Visit Delco is also offering an in-kind sponsorship level. For more information, reach out to the race director at [email protected].

John Robert Cellars opens second site in Media

John Robert Cellars, a winery at 301 Wanamaker Ave., Tinicum Township, has expanded in Delaware County, with a second location in Media.

On Friday, Aug. 8, co-owners John Irving and Robert Goodwin opened a new tasting room on the ground floor of the Phoenix Building, 115 W. State St.

The owners, both with a passion for winemaking and fine wines, opened their thriving wine bar and tasting room in Essington in 2020.

In addition to a curated selection of wines and signature wines from John Robert Cellars, their new Media tasting room serves a variety of Pennsylvania-made liquors, as well as beer from Sterling Pig Brewery. Tasting flights will be available on Sundays.

The new Media location will offer a selection of shareable plates. Their specials will include a variety of flatbreads, proteins and salads, all served tapas-style for a flavorful, sharable experience.

For more information about either location, go to or call 484-6576.

Upper Darby Class of 1970 to hold fall reunion

The Upper Darby High School Class of 1970 will have its 55th reunion, 6 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4 at Barnaby’s Restaurant and Pub, 1901 Old West Chester Pike, Havertown.

The cost is $40, which includes food and entertainment, with a cash bar.

All classmates and guests are welcome to come celebrate and meet up with old friends. For more information, go to or email [email protected].

Readers can send community news and photos to Peg DeGrassa at [email protected].