🌱 Why Swarthmore’s popular Pastry Pants bakery suddenly shut its doors.

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In today's newsletter:

• Why Swarthmore's popular Pastry Pants bakery suddenly shut its doors.
• What the expanded federal antisemitism probe means for Swarthmore College now.

Also on today's calendar: Evaluation Wednesdays On The Main Line | Alderfer Auction and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What is clean when it is black and dirty when it is white? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Mostly sunny and delightful, with a high of 78 and low of 50 degrees.
• Friday: Sunny and delightful, temps: high: 73, low: 50.
• Saturday: High clouds and nice, with a high of 72 and low of 56 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Swarthmore bakery Pastry Pants has closed amid rising costs and waning business (inquirer.com) — Beloved downtown bakery Pastry Pants has closed after three years in Swarthmore, with owner and resident Robert Smythe citing rising ingredient costs, staffing shortages, and weak weekday foot traffic. The shop had become a community hub, known for international pastries, breads, and celebration cakes, and its loss leaves a noticeable gap on Park Avenue. Smythe says closing now lets him pay staff and step back before winter's slowdown.
   

• Trump administration expands antisemitism investigation at Swarthmore College (lodinews.com) — Federal education officials under the Trump administration have expanded their antisemitism investigation into Swarthmore College after a social media account linked to Students for Justice in Palestine reposted a video of an Israeli soldier effigy being burned. The college, which revoked SJP's recognition in 2025, says the group is no longer affiliated and that it condemns the content while pledging to cooperate with investigators. Swarthmore students and residents should watch for potential impacts on campus policies and climate.
   

📸 Around Swarthmore

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Swarthmore

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Wednesday October 14
• Evaluation Wednesdays On The Main Line | Alderfer Auction →
  303 W Lancaster Ave, Suite 2C, Wayne, PA, 19087,
  10:00 am
Saturday October 24
• Pennsylvania Chocolate and Coffee Festival →
  The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center & Fairgrounds, 100 Station Ave, Oaks
  9:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Thursday October 8
• HRC - Human Relations Commission Meeting →
  Swarthmore Borough, PA Calendar Swarthmore, PA 19081
  7:00 pm
Friday October 9
• Nature Nook Fall Session
  Wister Center, 500 College Ave., Swarthmore
  10:00 am
• Hope 4 Hallie - HOCO Football Game
  Ridley High School Folsom, PA 19033
  6:00 pm
Monday October 12
• Delaware County Zone Meeting →
  HMB Ukranian Church, 900 Fairview Rd, Swarthmore
  7:00 pm
Wednesday October 14
• Merchant Meeting →
  Swarthmore Borough, PA Calendar Swarthmore, PA 19081
  12:00 pm
• 2026 Quaker Roots: Horticultural Connections with the Friends Tour
  McCabe Library, 500 College Ave., Swarthmore
  12:00 pm
Thursday October 15
• Planning and Zoning Committee Meeting - moved to October 22, 2026 →
  Swarthmore Borough, PA Calendar Swarthmore, PA 19081
  7:00 pm
Friday October 16
• Perennial Plant Conference
  Lang Performing Arts Center, 500 College Avenue, Swarthmore
  9:00 am
Friday October 23
• Merchants of Swarthmore Night Market →
  Park Ave., Park Ave
  5:00 pm
Sunday October 25
• Pennsylvania Chocolate and Coffee Festival →
  The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center & Fairgrounds, 100 Station Ave, Oaks
  10:00 am

📣 Swarthmore Shout Outs!

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Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Swarthmore PatchAM possible:

• Ajaxtec Appliance Repair — 2674478580
• TCS Property Management and Investment Sales — 2153831439
• Delco Guitar Studios — 6102059461
• Empirical Embrace Counseling — (215) 278-9320

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

🪧 Patch Classifieds

• Business Liquidation and Asset Recovery | Alderfer Auction
  Retiring? Inventory Reduction? ... (More info)

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY HEADQUARTERS posted a job opening for Shipfitter - Manufacturing in Media. Apply here.
• Royal Farms posted a job opening for Customer Service Associate in Glenolden. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Swarthmore here.

🗞 Nearby News

Ridley Park

• 'Murder For Two' opens The Media Theatre's season (delcotimes.com)
• Delloso hosting veterans luncheon in Glenolden Oct. 27 (pahouse.com)

Media

• Authors to offer publishing tips at free Neumann presentation (delcotimes.com)

Ardmore

• Ardmore Day To Celebrate Pivotal Milestone With Expanded Festivities, Family Fun (patch.com)

Ok Swarthmore! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: "What is clean when it is black and dirty when it is white?" — A chalk board (Thank you Charlie H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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