CHESTER — The Philadelphia Union Foundation announced the launch of Exit 6, a new clothing line inspired by the history, culture, and community of Chester.
Featuring T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, and bags, Exit 6 pays homage to the community that has been home to the Philadelphia Union, Subaru Park, and the foundation since the club’s arrival in Chester.
The line’s name references Exit 6 on Interstate 95, the primary exit the community takes to get into Chester, a familiar reference point and source of local pride.
In the designs is “The Real Penn’s Landing.”
William Penn first set foot in Pennsylvania in Chester in 1682 and renamed the city, which was then called Upland, to Chester. He initially wanted to make it the colony’s capital. Chester itself was first settled in 1644, making it Pennsylvania’s oldest city, a date that’s visibly noted within the clothing line. In 1970, Chester Mayor John “Jack” Nacrelli ceded the “Penn’s Landing” naming rights to Philadelphia, even though the actual landing happened in Chester.
At its core, the Philadelphia Union Foundation is committed to supporting the Chester community, and Exit 6 represents that connection. Proceeds from the clothing line will benefit the Foundation’s core initiatives, including the iAM Project, Chester Soccer, HeadFirst, and Safe Spaces, helping create opportunities and positive impact for youth and families throughout the community.
The foundation officially unveiled the Exit 6 collection during Foundation Night at the Philadelphia Union game on Wednesday, Sept. 9 at Subaru Park. Fans will have the opportunity to learn more about the collection and celebrate the community that has been at the heart of the Union and Foundation for more than a decade.
The line is available for purchase at https://chester-union.tri-pod.com.
The Philadelphia Union Foundation is an agent of change for the underserved. It leverages the power of soccer to change lives for the better through three key programs.
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.
HeadFirst is a groundbreaking program aimed at promoting mental health awareness and providing support within the soccer community. Through this program, the Foundation provides a digital toolkit for players, parents and coaches, delivers in-person education, and hosts an annual Mental Fitness Forum.
The iAM Project helps high school students at Chester Charter Scholars Academy maximize their personal, academic and professional potential by connecting them with some of the region’s largest companies, as well as a network of inspirational speakers, mentors, universities and internships.
Additionally, the foundation partners with organizations across the region to build safe places to play soccer for families throughout Philadelphia and supports groups that increase access to the sport and strengthen our communities. For more information, visit http://PhiladelphiaUnionFoundation.org.
Laura Kasper, president and CEO of Monarch Staffing, will be the recipient of the 2026 ATHENA Leadership Award, presented by the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce at a special luncheon event on Oct. 7 at the Springfield Country Club. (COURTESY OF DELCO CHAMBER)
Delco County Chamber to present Laura Kasper with 2026 ATHENA Award
The Delaware County Chamber of Commerce has announced that Laura Kasper, president and CEO of Monarch Staffing, will be the recipient of the 2026 ATHENA Leadership Award, recognizing her professional leadership, commitment to the community and dedication to creating opportunities for women and girls.
Kasper will be honored at the 2026 ATHENA Leadership Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7 at Springfield Country Club, 400 W. Sproul Rd., Springfield.
“Laura truly embodies the spirit of the ATHENA Leadership Award,” said Trish McFarland, president of the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce. “She has built an incredibly successful career while consistently using her leadership and influence to open doors for others. Her dedication to our business community, her commitment to mentorship and her passion for empowering the next generation of women leaders make her exceptionally deserving of this recognition.”
A Delaware County native, Kasper founded Monarch Staffing in 2001. Under her leadership, the certified woman-owned staffing and recruitment firm has placed more than 15,000 job seekers and helped nearly 1,200 employers find talent throughout the region. Monarch Staffing was previously named Small Business of the Year by the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce.
Kasper has also dedicated much of her career to education, workforce development and mentorship, including 10 years of service on the boards of the Delaware County Community College Foundation and Delaware County Workforce Development Board.
“Giving back has always been in my DNA,” Kasper said. “As a Delaware County native, I’ve built my life and my work around the belief that success means more when you use it to lift others. Whether through Monarch Staffing, Girls Spark, or my community service, I believe in the power of connections, conversations, and opening doors for others. I am beyond honored to receive the prestigious ATHENA Leadership Award and humbled to join the remarkable women who have received this recognition before me.”
Kasper currently serves as Immediate Past Board President and a fundraising volunteer for Girls Spark, a nonprofit founded by her daughter, Julia Kasper, at age 16. Girls Spark has reached more than 3,400 girls through programs designed to educate and empower middle and high school students.
In keeping with Kasper’s commitment to giving back, the ATHENA luncheon will also serve as a collection event for Girls Spark’s Style Your Spark Prom Dress Exchange and Fashion Show. Attendees are encouraged to bring new or gently loved prom dresses, formal or semi-formal dresses and accessories, with a goal of collecting at least 50 dresses at the luncheon.
Presented locally by the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce in partnership with ATHENA International, the ATHENA Leadership Award recognizes accomplished individuals who demonstrate professional excellence, provide valuable service to their communities and actively assist women in achieving their full leadership potential.
The Chamber has presented the award since 1989 to more than 35 distinguished recipients.
Registration and sponsorship opportunities are available through the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce. For more information or luncheon tickets, contact Jaclyn Miley at jaclynm@delcochamber.org.
Shereen Pavlides will be as luncheon speaker at Broadcast Pioneers
Broadcast Pioneers will present Shereen Pavlides, professional chef and social media influencer, as speaker at its first luncheon of the 2026-27 season
It will be held Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 11:30 a.m. at McCall’s Golf Club, 201 N. Lynn Blvd., Upper Darby.
With 5 million followers on TikTok, 1.45 million subscribers on YouTube and 2.1 million followers on Facebook, Pavlides is not just an online star, she’s also the best-selling cookbook author of “Cooking with Shereen from Scratch, Because you Can!” and “Cooking with Shereen: RockStar Dinners!”
A regular guest on “LIVE! with Kelly and Mark,” she’s also appeared on “GMA,” the “Today” show, “Access Daily,” “The Doctors,” and the “Tamron Hall Show,” as well as over 180 live appearances as a guest on the QVC shopping network.
For tickets, or more information: http://broadcastpioneers.org.
Home and School, marching band to hold flea markets at UDHS
The Upper Darby High School Home and School Association will hold a flea market at the high school, 601 N. Lansdowne Ave., Upper Darby, on Sunday, Sept. 27 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Upper Darby High School Marching Band will also host a flea market from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 25. For further information on the events, including vendor details, call 215-834-2157.
Ron Tarver’s “Nathan Youngblood,” Victoria, TX, 1994 will be among the exhibition pieces at Swarthmore College’s”Black Western Culture through Music, Film, and Art” event series. (COURTESY OF SWARTHMORE COLLEGE)
Swarthmore College explores Black Western Culture through music, film, and art
Swarthmore College will present “Black Western Culture through Music, Film, and Art,” an event series celebrating the historical and contemporary significance of Black Western heritage in America.
Presented during America’s 250th anniversary and amid a renewed cultural interest in the Black cowboy, the series will bring together the preeminent experts of Black Western culture and history to examine how the myth and reality of the American West continue to shape our understanding of the nation’s past and present.
The series is organized by Associate Professor and Chair of Art Ron Tarver, a Pulitzer Prize-, Pew Fellowship-, and Guggenheim Fellowship-winning photographer who has spent more than 30 years documenting Black cowboys.
His iconic imagery is compiled in his award-winning book, “The Long Ride Home: Black Cowboys in America.”
“We all built this country,” says Tarver, “and to remind people that we were in this culture and have been for a long time is important.”
Each event in the series is free. This series is supported by the William Cooper Foundation.
The “Black West in Color Exhibition” runs through Sunday, Oct. 11 in the Lang Performing Arts Center.
List Gallery Works by artists Praise Fuller, Rick Gerrity, Keith Jackson, Charles Lee, Ivan McClellan, Vinetta Miller, and Nate Young, presented alongside reproductions of historical photographs and a selection of prints by Tarver, create a dialogue between historical record and contemporary artistic interpretation.
A reception will be held Wednesday, Sept. 23. Gallery hours are Tuesday to Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.
The world premiere for Charles Perry’s documentary, “The Black Cowboy,” will be held at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2 in the Lang Performing Arts Center, Pearson-Hall Theatre.
“The Black Cowboy” screening will be followed by a panel discussion with Perry; Art Burton, historian, author, and retired professor; El-dog Ferrell, founder of Fletcher Street Urban Riding Club; Mia Mask, historian, author, and film professor at Vassar College; and Ivan McClellan, photojournalist and producer of Eight Seconds Rodeo. The discussion will be moderated by Tarver.
The American Songster and “The Bronze Buckaroo” will come to Swarthmore College for a live performance at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3 in Lang Performing Arts Center, Pearson-Hall Theatre.
Dom Flemons, Grammy-award-winning multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter will perform a live soundtrack for the 1939 film “The Bronze Buckaroo,” the first Western film to feature an all-Black cast, followed by a performance of his album, “Black Cowboys.”
Swarthmore students will also have opportunities to attend a music workshop with Flemons, visit the historic Fletcher Street Urban Riding Club, and attend the second annual 8 Seconds Rodeo in Philadelphia.
To find out more about these special events and programs, and other related programs, go to http://swarthmore.edu.
Bethel Township to host shredding event
Bethel Township will host a shredding event on Saturday, Sept. 12 from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Bethel Township Municipal Building, 1092 Bethel Road, Garnet Valley.
Residents can bring up to two boxes of paper for shredding, free of charge. They are encouraged to take advantage of this service to reduce their risk of becoming a victim of identity theft. Secure shredding will be done by J&K Secure Shreddng LLC.
For more information, call Bethel Township at 610-459-1529 or J&K at 610-497-3800.
CareLink celebrates Haverford Township’s historic Torrey House
CareLink Community Support Services, a Greater Philadelphia-area human services provider, will host a celebration of Torrey House on Thursday, Sept. 17 from 1 to 3 p.m. at 3520 Darby Road, Haverford Township.
The event will feature brief remarks from CareLink President and CEO Gary Woomer, a visit from State Sen. Amanda Cappelletti and recognition of the Torrey House legacy.
“Torrey House is a living symbol of hope and compassionate care,” said Woomer. “We are proud to honor its legacy and continue providing a stable home where residents with severe mental illness can live with dignity and thrive.”
Torrey House, a rare surviving mansion from the former Haverford State Hospital grounds and now part of the Haverford Reserve development, was originally part of inventor A. Atwater Kent’s estate before being transferred to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It served as the hospital’s first operational building when it opened as an outpatient clinic in 1958.
In 1986, grassroots fundraising by local families helped convert the mansion into a 24-hour supervised residence, which CareLink Community Support Services, then known as Tricounty Fountain Center, began managing. The home was named in honor of psychiatrist Dr. E. Fuller Torrey for his pioneering work on schizophrenia and severe mental illness.
Torrey House operates as a 14-bed personal care home for adults with severe and persistent mental illness. In a stable residential setting with no fixed discharge timeline, residents receive daily living assistance, medication management, life skills training, and psychosocial rehabilitation.
Since 1959, CareLink Community Support Services has provided people with mental illness and developmental disabilities with the caring support they need to live, work, and take part in the community with dignity and independence.
CareLink currently serves individuals in community programs throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey. For more information: http://carelinkservices.org.
Readers can send community news and photos to Peg DeGrassa at pdegrassa@21st-centurymedia.com.