These FREE events at Schoolhouse Center are open to the public, but registration is required.   Call (610) 237-8100.

Senior Community Services’ Center for Life Long Learning is offering a presentation on the Caregiver Help Program, on Wednesday, October 20, 2010, 11:00 AM, at Good Neighbor Center, 1085 Hook Rd in Sharon Hill, with Instructor, Herb Jenkin.  Caring for an elderly family member can be a stressful as well as fulfilling experience.  With families caught between the demands of career, children and the needs of older loved one, the balance can be difficult.  Learn about publicly funded programs and fee for service programs that can assist you. No fee. To register or for further information, call (610) 586-8170.   

  Comcast Cable and Aqua PA will sponsor a Meet the Candidates Night 6:30p.m., Monday (Oct. 11) at the Drexelbrook Catering and Corporate Events Center.
  This is the Chamber’s Annual Forum which will introduce the candidates who are running for local offices in Delaware County.
  Each candidate receives a dedicated time-frame to speak to their constituents and remind them to get out and vote on Nov. 2. Representatives from both the Republican and Democratic parties will be present to discuss their platforms and qualifications. The audience will have an opportunity to ask questions or air concerns to the candidates
  There is NO COST to attend. For more information, contact Trish McFarland at trishj@delcochamber.org.

County Offers FREE Whooping Cough Vaccinations

  With an alarming increase nationwide in the number of pertussis (whopping cough) cases, Delaware County Council and the Pennsylvania Department of Health are sponsoring a free TDAP booster shot program, 11a.m. to 2p.m., Friday (Oct. 8) at the County Government Center, adjacent to the courthouse in Media.
  TDAP stands for tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. People may be due for the adolescent-adult  booster if they are between ten and 64 years of age and not fully immunized, a woman of child-bearing age, before or immediately after pregnancy, has had contact with pregnant women or infants, and is a family member or caregiver of an infant.
  According to a press release on the vaccination program, the county has experienced an increase in the number of whooping cough cases, and public health experts fear this may get worse now that children are back in school.
  Parking for the Oct. 8 event will be available in the Jury Parking garage at Front and Orange streets. Metered street parking is also available throughout Media. To access the FREE clinic, residents can enter the county complex through the front doors of the courthouse on Front Street or the main doors to the Government Center through the courtyard off Orange Street, at the rear of the courthouse.

 

- The Archmere Academy Athletic Training Department, in conjunction with Nemours AI DuPont Hospital for Children, will present Concussions in Adolescents, What Parents Need to Know. The program will be held in the Archmere Academy Performing Arts Center On Philadelphia Pike in Claymong, Delaware on October 19, beginning at 7 pm.
  Presenting information that evening will be Dr. Kathleen O'Brien, Head of the Center for Sports Medicine at Nemours AI DuPont Hospital, Kenneth Rogers, PhD, ATC, Senior Clinical Researcher and Program Manager at the Center for Sports Medicine, Nemours AI DuPont Hospital, and James F. Malseed, M.Ed., ATC, Athletic Trainer at Archmere Academy.
   The program is FREE of charge and open to the public.
  For further details, contact Jim Malseed in the Athletic Training Department at Archmere Academy at 302-798-6632, extension 816.

OcTrolleyFest 2010
The OcTrolleyFest celebration will be from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.  on Saturday, Oct. 2.  Now in its sixth year, this is a FREE celebration of transportation heritage and community centered around the streetcar lines which first came to Darby in 1858.
This year the celebration is particularly significant because it is the 100th anniversary of Postal Worker Ed Bolden's founding the 1925 Negro Baseball League World Champion Darby Hilldale Baseball Club, the 100th Anniversary of Darby Fire Co. No. 2 and the 235th of Darby No. 1 and other anniversaries. We are also celebrating Buttonwood Park at the new Darby Transportation Center www.darbyhistory.com/Buttonwood  and the community we call home.
The day will begin at 10:30 a.m. at the Buttonwood Park, 9th and Main streets, with a dedication of the new historical marker signs and reenactors telling stories of Darby's transportation history. The scene will then shift to Darby Fire Company No. 1 for historical displays, food, music, fun, art contest winners, scarecrow making, a Pumpkin Parade and more. Beginning at Noon there will be FREE rides on a 1947 vintage PCCII Trolley (space permitting) through 365 years of history. Keith Lockhart’s slides of local history and Joe Becton's Evolution of Jazz will round out the day beginning at 3 p.m.
If you would like to experience or learn about “living history,” we can help you research and dress as historical people associated with Darby. These people might include Ed Bolden, John Drew or any of the Hilldales who are now in the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
We are hoping for visits from W.C. Fields, trolley and civil rights activists William Still and Octavius Catto (who are buried up the hill from Darby in Eden Cemetery), Lucretia Mott, Thomas Garratt, singer Marion Anderson (who is also buried at Eden), as well as other figures connected with Darby’s rich history.
These people are important icons of our past and worthy inspirations for today.
Living History is a different and engaging way to experience and/or teach history and Historical Interpretation is a valuable skill.
More information can be found on the Web site http://www.octrolleyfest.org/ or by calling 610-583-0788.

Free ‘green’ workshops
The Delaware County Conservation District is partnering with the Pennsylvania Resources Council (PRC) to offer a series of free, educational workshops aimed at helping residents establish environmentally friendly practices in the home and work place.      “Green Energy Home” will take on Sept. 16. The second series, titled “We All Live Downstream,” will be scheduled in spring 2011. For information about either program, residents can call the Delaware County Conservation District at 610-892-9484 or visit http://www.delcocd.org/.
 “Bringing Green Energy Home” workshops are scheduled for: Wednesday, Oct. 6, at the Pennsylvania Resources Council, 3606 Providence Road in Newtown Square; Monday, Oct. 18 at Watkins Senior Center, 326 Watkins Ave. in Upper Darby; Tuesday, Nov. 9 at Chester City Hall, 1 Fourth St. in Chester; Thursday, Dec. 2 at Morton Borough Hall, Sycamore and Highland avenues in Morton and Tuesday, Dec. 14 at the Pennsylvania Resources Council.
The series of five “We All Live Downstream” workshops will be conducted through the spring and summer of 2011.  Workshop dates and locations will be announced in the future.
People can also call the Delaware County Conservation District at 610-892-9484. Online registration is preferred.

Marple Public Library welcomes author Jeffrey Zaslow to receive the first "One Book, One Broomall" award at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 10 at the library, 2599 Sproul Road in Broomall.  Zaslow is a former Marple Township resident, and writes a column for The Wall Street Journal. His books "The Last Lecture," co-written with Randy Pausch, "Highest Duty," co-written with Chesley Sullenberger, and "The Girls from Ames" are all New York Times’ Best Sellers List. Registration is required for this free event. For more information, please contact Jennifer Stock, assistant director, at 610-356-1510. 


‘Lil Raiders Reading Club
Annunciation B.V.M. School, 401 Brookline Boulevard in Havertown, is hosting a free reading club event from 6-7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 7.  The Lil' Raiders Reading Club is a free family activity for parents and their children ages 3-5 years old.  The Reading Club is a structured hour of book-centered activities involving reading, songs, crafts, and socialization.  Children leave with a book and a goodie bag.  This event is open to the whole community but space is limited.  We look forward to seeing you and your child! 
   To find our more information and register please visit www.abvmhavertown.com/ and look for Lil' Raiders Reading Club under Latest News at the bottom of the Web page.

FREE Halloween Party for kids At Tinicum Library

  Tinicum Memorial Public Library,  620 Seneca St., Essington,  will hold a FREE Family  Halloween Party 6:30 p.m. Oct. 28 .      Lots of spooky fun for the whole family is planned, including special guest Don Dougherty, a storyteller reading  "Scary Story.”                                                 Costumes are optional. Registration is required.
  For more information, call Tinicum Memorial Public Library  at 610-521-9344

  Sure, we all know about the FREE events at our own township or borough FREE libraries, but often, we don't know about events going on in neighboring towns (the events are FREE to EVERYONE in Delco!) So here's a few events coming up, you may want to mark on your calendars! Enjoy!


Soccer Player To Read At Library

  The Delaware County Library System (DCLS) will host Philadelphia Union soccer player Shea Salinas as a guest reader 2p.m., Sunday (Sept. 26) at the Helen Kate Furness Free Library on Providence Road in Wallingford.
  Salinas, a wingback for the Major League Soccer team that plays at PPL Park, will read one his favorite books, “Where the Wild Things Are.”
  Joining Salinas will be Children’s Librarian Lori Friedgen-Veitch, who will read books on soccer, including the new Pele picture book autobiography.
  At 3p.m., after the story time, Salinas will answer questions and sign copies of his poster, one of several celebrity “Read” posters created by DCLS to promote literacy and library use. Copies of the poster will be given to the first 50 participants.
  The soccer story time is geared toward children age 3 to grade 3. The story time will be limited to 50 children and their caregivers. Registration is required.  Register online at http://www.delcolibraries.org/ or in-person at the Furness Library.

Ridley Twp. Library Offers FREE ‘Titanic’ Presentation

  The British luxury steamship, the Titanic, collided with an iceberg and sank on April 14, 1912. Over 1500 of the passengers and crew members on board died. What is it about the Titanic tragedy that continues to capture people's imagination ninety-eight years later?
  How did the tragedy impact our literature, music and movies? Join Dr. J. Joseph Edgette at Ridley Township Public Library on  Wed. (Sept. 29) at  6:15 pm to find out. Dr. Edgette, Professor Emeritus and Folklorist Emeritus at Widener University, is an author, popular public lecturer, exhibitor, and is no stranger to radio and television. He is frequently quoted in  newspapers, trade magazines, and journals throughout the country. His international reputation is in the area of Gravestone Studies. His current research centers on the sinking of the Titanic.
   This free program will be held in Garling Hall. Email reference@ridleylibrary.org, call 610-583-0593, or stop in at 100 E. MacDade Blvd., Folsom, PA to register.


Legos And Laughs At Library

The first ever Lego Club at the Middletown Free Library brought in nearly 70 children and parents, all eager to play, socialize, and show off their Lego creations. Parents jumped in and contributed to the Lego masterpieces. With Mega Blocks, Duplo Blocks, and Legos, Lego Club is for all ages and will be held once a month on Saturdays from 1 to 3p.m. The Library provides the snacks and Legos.  The Middletown Free Library is still in need of Legos, and or donations to purchase them. Call Children's Librarian Juliann Kutchen (610-566-7828) about donations, to sign up children, or for further information. The library is at 21 N. Pennell Road, Lima.

Swarthmore Library Hosts FREE Webinar On Job Search

  Swarthmore Library will host “Career Webinar:  Find Hidden Job Leads Online and at the Library,” 3 to 4p.m., Wednesday (Sept. 29).
  There's a wealth of FREE and low-cost information available to job seekers that can be used to improve the efficiency of a search and potentially secure a new job faster. During this webinar, participants will learn what research and job information tools are available both online and off and how to incorporate these tools into their search strategy. 
  All programs are FREE and open to the public.  Registration is required. Call the library at 610-543-0436, email swarthmore@delcolibraries.org or use the Eventkeeper link at www. delcolibraries.org.




Taylor Doctor Presents FREE ‘Dizziness’ Lecture

   John Feehery, M.D., chief of the section of Otolaryngology at Taylor Hospital, for "Understanding Balance Disorders" 7 p.m. Tuesday, (Sept. 28) at  in the Downstairs Meeting Room of Springfield Library, 70 Powell Rd., Springfield.
   Learn all about balance disorders, how to improve balance and decrease the risk for a fall, and how to maintain or improve your balance function to enhance your current lifestyle and activity.
  Dr. Feehery will be available to answer questions after the presentation.
    Call 1-800-CK-HEALTH (1-800-254-3258) to register.

  FBI Agent/Author Talks About Saving World’s Treasures
  Swarthmore Public Library, 121 Park Ave. will host “An Evening with Robert K. Wittman,” author of the best selling book, Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World’s Stolen Treasures, 7p.m., Thursday (Sept. 23).
  Wittman, an FBI agent specializing in art crime, spent 20 years recovering more than 225 million dollars worth of artwork in undercover operations all over the world. His memoir describes the danger, suspense and intrigue required to save the world’s masterpieces from theft. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing by the author after the program.
  All programs are free and open to the public. Register by calling 610-543-0436, email swarthmore@delcolibraries.org or use the Eventkeeper link at delcolibraries.org.

Unlacing the Victorian Woman at Ridley Township Library

  Neumann Holds FREE Blessing Of Animals

The Blessing of the Animals, a popular annual event at Neumann University, will take place 4p.m., Sunday (Oct. 3) in the St. John Neumann Circle on the Aston campus. The event will open a week-long celebration of the legacy of St. Francis of Assisi.
  Fr. Jude Michael Krill, OFM Conv., will bless pets and animals of all kinds. Last year, more than 50 pets -- including hamsters, fish, parakeets, rabbits, dogs and cats -- were among the animals blessed at the event that marks the feast of St. Francis.
  All are welcome to the FREE event. For more information call 610-361-5307.

Philabundance Looking For 575 Delco Seniors To Receive Food Boxes

  The USDA-funded Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), which provides seniors with monthly food boxes, expansion has made great strides in the Delaware Valley since March . The expansion aims to assist 18,945 more seniors in PA in 2010.
  Philabundance is now serving 8,952 seniors a month in the Delaware Valley, up from 3,623 seniors before the expansion. Philabundance still needs 575 more seniors to sign up from Delaware County by Sept. 30 to meet the programs deadlines, in order for the food to remain in Delaware County.
  To qualify for the program, participants must be 60 years or older and have an income that is at or below 130 percent of the poverty line. Interested seniors should call 1-800-319-Food (3663) to be directed to a nearby CSFP food box location near them.
  Boxes are approximately 30 pounds and contain canned and boxed food including vegetables, fruit, juice, pasta, milk, cereal, canned meat and a non-meat protein. Each box is also accompanied by fresh cheese.
  “Signing up 575 new seniors by September 30th is challenging, but Philabundance is working to meet the goal,” said Bill Clark, President and Executive Director of Philabundance. “We are doing aggressive outreach through Delaware County to sign-up seniors and senior centers, so that individuals aged 60-years and over can receive the much needed monthly CSFP food boxes to help them put food on their tables.”

FREE Weatherization Can Help Lower Utility Bills (and you'll be surprised how many can qualify- check it out!)
  With cold weather on the way and the economic downturn continuing, many families are looking for ways to reduce home heating bills. It has become more and more difficult for families and senior citizens to pay the escalating costs. However, there is something though that they can do now to help lower bills.
  Weatherization provides a cost-effective permanent solution for reducing the heavy energy burden on low-income Americans. The Weatherization Program is also a priority of the federal economic stimulus plan to help make low-income households more energy efficient, so there is additional funding available.
  The Weatherization Assistance Program in Delaware County is administered by the Community Action Agency of Delaware County, Inc. (CAADC).  The program provides quality energy education and home conservation modifications up to $6,500. On average, the program reduces heating bills by 31%.  All services are free.
  “This program can make a real tangible difference immediately to those already on a strained budget, and continue to help them in the future,” said CAADC Chief Executive Officer Edward Coleman. “This is an excellent time to call and get fast service before winter arrives and the program gets very busy.”
  Annual income guidelines are: family of 1, $21,660; family of 2, $29,140; family of 3, $36,620; family of 4, $44,100; family of 5, $51,580; family of 6, $59,060.
  Delaware County renters and homeowners are eligible to apply as long as they have not had their homes weatherized since Sept., 1994 and meet income eligibility guidelines. To apply or for additional information, call CAADC at 610-521-8770. 

     Free Workshops For Women Wanting To Start (Or Grow)  A Business

  I wanted to provide this tip to women who are thinking about starting or who want to grow a business. I know women who attended these FREE workshops and found them extremely  helpful.

  The Women’s Business and Development Center, 1315 Walnut St.,  Philadelphia offers FREE training and consulting for women who are interested in starting or growing a business.
  Upcoming FREE workshops include:
    “Orientation and Business Assessment Workshop”
  Offered 6-7 pm on the following dates: Monday, October 4, Wed., Nov. 10 and then offered again on Monday, Dec. 6.   
   Participants will complete a business develpment survey tool, discuss their business needs, learn about WBDC resources and meet other business owners.
  Pre-registration is required. For more information, visit http://www.womensbdc.org/ or call 215-790-WBDC.
 
 

Redwood Community Center Heats Up With Hawaiian Luau Night

   Head to the Franklin Institute for Target Community Nights at The Franklin Institute, a FREE educational and fun-filled science extravaganza sponsored by Target! Everyone is welcome to join in the fun, and experience The Franklin Institute's exhibitions, special programs, and themed activities.
Activities Include*:
» FREE access to all of The Franklin Institute’s hand-on exhibits, like Sports Challenge and The Giant Heart!
» FREE tickets to the Tuttleman IMAX Theater!**
» FREE 3D Shows in The Franklin Theater!
» FREE awe-inspiring LIVE Science Shows!
» FREE Fels Planetarium Shows!
» FREE access to the Joel N. Bloom Observatory!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW!
Remaining 2010 Target Community Nights are tonight, Sept. 15, plus October 20 and November 17.

Target Community Nights are from 5:00PM-8:00PM. You'll be asked to register when you arrive.
The registration desk opens at 5:00PM.
For more information visit  www2.fi.edu

Location: 222 North 20th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103

This event is appropriate for the whole family

Cost is FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Looking for something very unusual to do, something thought-provoking and different? Check out this FREE event (it even includes dinner!)

Tyme Gallery Poetry Reading By The Pond
 
   Tyme Gallery's annual Poetry by the Pond is slated for  5 p.m.  Saturday, Sept. 25.  Are you looking for a venue to read your poetry or do you just like to listen?  The evening starts with food and company.  Then everyone settles down to the main course and poetry outside by the pond.
 The event is hosted by Edna and Michael Davis and it is directed by poet Janet Sadler.  The hosts provide the main entree and beverages.  The guests are asked to bring a side dish and  their poetry.  All interested parties are asked to make reservations. Directions to the event will be given when registering.  
  The event is FREE, but attendees must make a reservation.  Call the gallery at 610-853-1215 or email madametyme@tymegallery.com.  The event is cancelled if it rains.   Tyme Gallery is at 17 W. Eagle Road in Havertown.  The gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Free Concert At Cabrini College

   A free concert featuring a Philadelphia Orchestra flutist and an acclaimed pianist is set for 3 p.m. Sept. 26 in the Mansion on the campus of Cabrini College, 610 King of Prussia Road, Radnor. The dynamic duo of Mimi Stillman (flute) and Charles Abramovic (piano) have performed together for more than eight years, and will present works by Gabriel Fauré, Michel Blavet, Olivier Messiaen, and music from Stillman and Abramovic’s forthcoming compact disc.
   A highly regarded concert flutist, Stillman has performed at Carnegie Hall and The Kennedy Center. At the age of 12, she was the youngest wind player admitted to the Curtis Institute of Music. She is founder and artistic director of the Dolce Suono Chamber Music Concert Series in Philadelphia.
  Abramovic made his orchestral debut at 14 with the Pittsburgh Symphony, and has received critical acclaim for international performances as soloist and chamber musician. He is a professor of keyboard studies at Temple University’s Esther Boyer College of Music. He is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, Peabody Conservatory. He earned a doctor of musical arts degree from Temple University.
    For information, contact Dr. Adeline Bethany, professor of fine arts, at 610-902-8380.

Families Invited To FREE Fall Festival

  Everyone is invited to learn about Girl Scouting when the Ridley-Springfield Girl Scouts of the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania open their doors to the community.
   The organization will hold a FREE Fall Festival on Saturday, September 25 (rain or shine) from Noon to 4pm at Princeton Presbyterian Church, 933 Baltimore Pike, Springfield. The family-focused event will include moon bounces, balloon sculptures, face painting, crafts, games, refreshments, and more. Admission and activities at the event are free; proceeds from refreshment sales will benefit Girl Scouts’ program-year activities. Attendees are asked to bring a canned food item for the Ridley-Springfield Girl Scouts’ annual Fall Food Drive.
   For more information, visit http://www.ridleyspringfieldgirlscouts.com/, email Iwant2beagirlscout@yahoo.com, or call 610-328-3100.

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FREE Event For The Kids At Borders Books 11 a.m. Sept. 18

Filled with both adventure and silliness, THE CAT IN THE HAT KNOWS A LOT ABOUT THAT!, based on the acclaimed The Cat in the Hat's Learning Library book series, will appeal to preschoolers' natural curiosity, and engage them in the process of scientific exploration and discovery. Call the store for event details.
  Celebrate a new PBS kids series at Borders book store. There will be stories, games, stickers and more! This is not a costume character event. For more information: www.borders.com
Location:
Springfield Square Shopping Center
Springfield, PA 19064

Glen Mills
968 Baltimore Pike
Glen Mills, PA 19342

Bryn Mawr
Rosemont Shopping Center
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010

Wynnewood
80 East Wynnewood Road
Wynnewood, PA 19096

This event is appropriate for: the whole family

Cost: FREE to attend

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Do you have something that you just hate throwing out because you know someone can probably use it? Furniture, exercise equipment, a fish tank, games, craft materials, a sewing machine, a swing set, a children's playhouse or high chair......just about anything ....Well, Town Talk will publish your FREE stuff for FREE at absolutely no charge to you in its classified.
  Call 610-583-4432, ext. 100 to get more information and place your ad. Ads must not exceepd four lines. Go ahead, be generous and help out a neighbor by offering some FREE stuff to them! You'll de-clutter your home and save the earth by not throwing out perfectly good items!

Alright, it's not free, but filling a bag with clothes for five bucks, is pretty close to FREE!!!

Fill A Bag Of Clothes At Olivet For $5

  The Beacon Of Hope (BOH) Clothes Closet will have a Fill-A-Bag sale for $5 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sat. (Sept. 18).
  Located on the top floor of Olivet Presbyterian Church, 1001 Washington Ave, Prospect Park, the Beacon of Hope offers new and gently used clothing for the entire family. The next BOH Opening will be Saturday, Oct. 2.

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Arts And Music Festival At Linvilla


  The Arts and Music Festival at Linvilla Orchards, set for Sept. 18-19 (rain date Sept. 25-26), will showcase local artisans along with six lively bands.
   Pumpkinland will be open featuring the towering scarecrow and Jack-O-Lantern exhibit. There will be hayrides, pick your own apples and pony rides, along with the challenge of the cornfield maze. The Linvilla Grill will be open.
  Festival hours are 9 to 5. Linvilla Orchards is at 137 West Knowlton Road, Media.
   Artists interested in participating in the Arts & Crafts Show, should fill out an the application posted on Linvilla's website at www.linvilla.com. For questions, e-mail artshow@linvilla.com.

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Taylor Doctor Presents FREE ‘Dizziness’ Lecture


   John Feehery, M.D., chief of the section of Otolaryngology at Taylor Hospital, for "Understanding Balance Disorders" 7 p.m. Tuesday, (Sept. 28) at in the Downstairs Meeting Room of Springfield Library, 70 Powell Rd., Springfield.
  Learn all about balance disorders, how to improve balance and decrease the risk for a fall, and how to maintain or improve your balance function to enhance your current lifestyle and activity.
   Dr. Feehery will be available to answer questions after the presentation. Call 1-800-CK-HEALTH (1-800-254-3258) to register.

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Master Gardeners Host Annual Fall Festival
    The Delaware County Master Gardeners will hold its annual Fall Fest 9 to 3, Saturday (Sept. 25) in Smedley Park, 20 Paper Mill Road, Springfield. Parking and admission are FREE. A fee will be charged for lectures and workshops.
  Lecture/workshop topics are: 9-9:45a.m., "Gardening for Butterflies" will teach the basics of garden design that will keep butterflies returning year after year; 10-11a.m., "Honeybees and Native Bees" explains what bees need to thrive and how to attract them to your garden; 11:15-12:15p.m., the “Versatile Herb" will explain ways to incorporate herbs into a landscape, recipes and crafts. (A fee of $35 for lectures will include lunch.) An optional workshop from 1:30 to 2:30p.m., “Terrarium Workshop," will teach how to prepare and plant a terrarium to take home ($40 fee includes terrarium and all plant and soil).
   Features of the Fest include a Plant Sale offering house plants, perennials, herbs, shrubs and trees). Frugal Gardener will sell gardening tools, books, crafts, ornaments and unique items created by Master Gardeners. A Bake Sale will offer fresh baked cookies, cakes, breads.

Also, an On-Site Orchid Specialist will answer questions on the care of orchids; and a Silent Auction will feature a choice of “garden-centric” items up for bid.

Activities for children and food tastings from the garden will be included.

Winners of the Annual Delco Garden Contest will be announced and honored.

Master Gardeners are a part of the Cooperative Extension of the Penn State University College of Agricultural Sciences.  For information, go to http://delaware.extension.psu.edu/, email:DelawareMG@psu.edu or phone 610 690 2655.

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FREE Help With Plotting Family Tree, Tracing Roots

  The Philadelphia Chapter 9 of POINTers in Person (PIP) will meet, 10 a.m., Oct. 16 at the Church of the Latter Day Saints, 741 Paxon Hollow Road, Broomall.  The group helps everyone with charting geneology and any questions.  Those just getting started with researching their ancestry will find the group very helpful.

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Oktoberfest At Camilla Hall Oct. 9


    Camilla Hall Nursing Home for the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM), will celebrate its 50th anniversary at its Oktoberfest 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sat. (Oct. 9) on the grounds in Immaculata. Admission is FREE.

Celebration will include food, entertainment, children;’s games, hay rides, white elephant sale items, crafts and more. All proceeds will benefit the IHM sisters.

Camilla Hall is located south of the intersection of routes 30 and 352, between Paoli and Exton.

For more information, call Sister Susan Cronin at 610-647-4400, ext. 3273 or Sister Rose Mulligan at 610-889-1553, ext. 1975.

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C-K Rehab Offers FREE Program For Active Adults With Neurological Disorders


   Crozer-Keystone Rehabilitation Services will present its "Active Living Series: Rehabilitation and Resources for an Active Lifestyle," a four-part series that kicks off on Sat. (Sept.18) with a program at the Aston Community Center, 257 Concord Rd., Aston, from noon to 2 p.m. It will continue throughout the fall.

Learn how to live healthy with a neurological disorder, such as Multiple Sclerosis, ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), Parkinson's disease, stroke and dementia. Learn more about these conditions and available treatments/therapies. Free hearing and stroke screenings will also be offered at the event, as well as FREE refreshments and giveaways.

All participants will be entered into a raffle for a 30-day membership to the Healthplex® Sports Club in Springfield.

Call 1-877-CK-MOTION (1-877-256-6846) to register.

Crozer-Keystone Hospitals Offer Free Prostate Screenings


 In recognition of national Prostate Health Month, Crozer-Keystone Health System is offering free prostate screenings in September. Screenings are available for men who are over 50 years old (40 years old if they are African American or have a family history of prostate cancer). Participants should not be under the care of a urologist, been treated for prostate cancer, or have had a PSA test within the last year. The PSA test will be offered.

Free prostate screenings will continue from 5 to 7p.m. at the following locations:

Sept. 16, Crozer-Chester Medical Center, Crozer Regional Cancer Center, One Medical Center Blvd., Upland;

Sept. 23, Springfield Hospital, Pavilion I, Suite 210, 196 W. Sproul Rd., Springfield;

Sept. 27, Delaware County Memorial Hospital, Regional Cancer Center, 501 N. Lansdowne Ave., Drexel Hill.

Appointments are necessary for screenings; space is limited. Call 1-800-CK-HEALTH (1-800-254-3258) to register.

The John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum will be hosting its annual FREE “Cradle of Birding” Wildlife and Conservation Festival, 7 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday, Sept.18, sponsored by the Friends of the Heinz Refuge and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.


This year’s featured speaker will be Adrian Binns, past president and long time field trip leader for the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club. Adrian, along with Kevin Laughlin, have founded the Pennsylvania Young Birders Club to help introduce a new generation to the avian world. He will share fun stories and photos of his birding adventures.

Organizations showcasing their animals will be the Philadelphia Zoo, the Bailey Foundation Exotic Bird Rescue, Delco Bird Club, Inc., Academy of Natural Sciences, the Pinelands Retriever Club of NJ, and the high flying raptors of “Talons: A Bird of Prey Experience”.

The day kicks off with a “Bird-A-Thon” (early morning bird identification walks starting at 7 a.m., 8 a.m. and 9 a.m.). Starting between 7 and 10 a.m. workshops for “Advanced Birding”, “Intro to Nature Photography”, “Beginner Birding”, and “Birding by Ear” will take place.

Throughout the day numerous workshops and demonstrations will be going on including birding, fly tying, fishing, woodcarving, archery and retriever dog training. Exhibitors from local, state and federal resource agencies will be on hand along with many nonprofit environmental organizations.

Special interpretive trolley tours of the refuge run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.and there will be free lunch of hot dogs and soft drinks for all in attendance.

The Friends of the Heinz Wildlife Refuge Photo Group will be recognizing the winners of this year’s Photo Contest and unveiling their new exhibit of the natural wonders of the refuge.

The “Tinicum Treasures” Gift Shop will be also be open.

For more information visit, www.fws.gov/heinz or call 215-365-3118.

Free Family Fun Night At Healthplex


     The Healthplex Sports Club will host a free "Family Fun Night" 6 to 8 p.m. Fri. (Sept. 17) at the club, 194 W. Sproul Rd. in Springfield (next to Springfield Hospital).
   The event will have a "Carnival" theme and will feature games, prizes, a moonbounce, face painting, sports challenges and more. The event will also feature a special appearance by Philadelphia Union player Nick Zimmerman (exact player subject to change).
   Parents can also learn more about the many programs the Healthplex offers to help keep kids healthy and happy, including fitness programs, tennis and swimming classes, and parties.
  Attendees will also be eligible for a special membership offer.
    For more information, contact the club at 610-328-8888.

    The Academy of Natural Sciences on Saturday, Sept. 25, will participate in a nationwide program offering free admission to visitors who present a ticket downloaded from Smithsonian magazine’s website.

    The Museum Day Ticket is available to download at www.smithsonian.com/museumday. Visitors who present the official pass will gain free admission for two people. One ticket is permitted per household, per e-mail address.
   The offer is part of the Smithsonian’s sixth annual Museum Day in which 1,300 museums and cultural institutions nationwide are participating.
   Founded in 1812, the Academy is the oldest natural history museum in the Americas and a world leader in biodiversity and environmental research. The mission of the Academy is the encouragement and cultivation of the sciences.
   HOURS: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. ADMISSION: $12 adults; $10 children 3-12, seniors, college students, and military personnel; free for members and children under 3.
   $2 fee for Butterflies!

    Attention all of you teachers out there! Beginning today (Sept. 8) and continuing each Tuesday through the month of September, Dunkin' Donuts is offering free coffee to teachers.
   To take advantage of this offer, teachers can go to any Dunkin' Donuts with proof of their employment and they'll get a free medium coffee.
   Dunkin' Donuts will be offering the same deal to firefighters and EMT's in October, members of the military in November, and police officers in December.
    In addition, Dunkin' Donuts is asking Greater Philadelphia area residents to help identify and recognize local heroes who keep the community running every day. From September 15, 2010, to November 1, 2010, Dunkin' Donuts is encouraging people to log on to www.DDThanksToYou.com to nominate an individual or organization that has made a difference in their community.
    In honor of Dunkin' Donuts 60th Birthday, 60 Greater Philadelphia area community heroes will be selected as the 2010 Dunkin' Donuts "Thanks to You" Community Heroes of the Year. Selected heroes will receive coffee for a year and recognition at a special ceremony later this year.

  While I am posting lots of FREE opportunities to Delaware County residents, I would be amiss if I didn't reprint a column I wrote on Delco Freecycle, the GRAND DADDY of all that is free. If you haven't checked out DelcoFreeCycle recently, I advise you to hurry and get on board! You can really find some great free stuff on there. It's especially great for teachers, scout leaders, nursing home activities directors and others who can turn one man's trash into a lot of treasures! See the reprinted column below and if you give freecycle a try, let me know how you like it:
Delco Freecycle: The Ultimate Freebie Grand Central

“Mom, you’re obsessed.” They were the exact words of my daughter when she walked through the room and spotted I was back on the “Delco Freecyle” web site for the zillionth time that week! I understand many Delco residents have long been members and many more know about the site, but it was a whole new experience for me. I’ve been hooked ever since I discovered it about a month or so ago.

Let me back up and explain for those who don’t know about Delco Freecycle. We all have things laying around our homes that we don’t need, but we’d feel badly throwing away. The items may not be the type of things you’d donate to Goodwill or your church’s flea market, or you may only have a few things you don‘t want or need anymore, not enough to have a yard sale. Enter Delco Freecycle to the rescue!

Delco Freecyle’s mission is “to build a worldwide gifting movement that reduces waste, saves precious resources, eases the burden on landfills while enabling members to benefit from the strength of a larger community.” The Delaware County Freecycle Network(TM) is open to all residents who want to "recycle" that special something rather than throw it away. Whether it's a chair, a fax machine, piano or an old door, local residents post their give-aways on the site for others to browse and see if they can use them. If someone can use an item, they contact the giver and arrange a pick-up. If the giver doesn’t want people in their home, he can leave the item(s) out on his porch or curb for easy pick-up.

One of the main rules of Delco Freecycle is no money can be exchanged at any time. The purpose of the site is to keep items out of landfills, encouraging environmentally friendly behavior by allowing items to be reused. Delco Freecycle is a give and take site, offering items to our Delco neighbors and taking what we ourselves can use, gaining nothing more than peace of mind and the satisfaction that we’ve helped another individual or group and helped the environment as well.

The site has three categories: “OFFER” to advertise any item you want to get rid of; “WANTED” to post any item you are looking for so people can notify you if they have it and want to give it to you and “TAKEN” to let people know the item is gone, so they don’t keep e-mailing you about it, holding on to their hope of getting it.

In one week’s time, I gave away a set of encyclopedias and dictionaries to a third grade teacher in my school district who wanted them for her classroom; an old rocking chair to a lady whose apartment is decorated in all vintage furniture; an entertainment center with a door that was broken off accidentally by my granddaughter, but the taker was happily going to repair it since he just moved here from North Carolina and needs furniture for his new place; board games - some to a teacher and some to a mother who homeschools; and curtins to a mother who wanted to redecorate, but has an extremely limited budget to do it.

When I told my co-workers about Delco Freecycle, some were already using it. Someone told me she’d recently given a couch with a small stain to a college kid for her dorm and another told me, as a Girl Scout leader, she uses Delco Freecycle regularly to get free craft supplies for her troop.

Teachers, scout leaders, college kids, the budget-minded- these are only a few people who I can see using this site regularly. I keep thinking, how great is this site for people who may need a rabbit hutch when they first get a bunny, a coach or high chair for a visiting grandchild or bags of yarn for a knitting project. These things and hundreds of others are all available for FREE (the main buzz word here) on the site.

I like the fact you can also seek oddball items on the site. For example, I see someone looking for empty CD cases, old movie cameras, and past issues of National Geographic magazines. The nice part of the site is that it’s local to Delaware County. With the posting, most people add their town of residence so you usually only have to go around the corner to pick up the item. With Craig’s List, the free items are often offered from other places and so they’re inconvenient to go get.

So, yes, maybe the first few weeks after finding this site, there’s a grain of truth in saying I did become obsessed. I happened to discover it while in the midst of redecorating some rooms of my home so I was in a position of wanting to get rid of a few things. But my fascination was more wrapped up in reading all that my neighbors were getting rid of and things others were searching for- it just amused me for some reason.
   Whenever I discover something new, I love passing along the info to others… so my fellow Delaware County-ites, if you have stuff you want to get rid of while doing your spring cleaning or if you need items and don’t have (or don’t want) to lay out any bucks to acquire them, visit www.freecycle.org and type “Delaware County PA” in the “Browse Groups” tab. I can almost guarantee you’ll soon begin YOUR obsession with the site. Go green! Go Delcofreecycle!
Readers can e-mail Peg DeGrassa at pdegrassa@delcofreecycle.com.




This one just in! Kids can eat free at the Springfield Chick-fil-A tonight, Sept. 7, 5-8, plus there's a FREE child ID program there 5-8 too! The eatery is next to Target, Baltimore Pike and Woodland Ave.

Get the family to Brandywine River Museum in Chadds Ford before 12 noon on Sundays in Sept. and it's Freeeeeee! See below:
ENJOY FREE SUNDAY MORNINGS IN SEPTEMBER AT THE BRANDYWINE RIVER MUSEUM


   Enjoy complimentary admission from 9:30 a.m. until noon in September at the Brandywine River Museum. With Free Sunday Mornings in September the museum offers:
   Reality Check: American Contemporary Trompe l'Oeil, an exhibition inspired by the museum's own collection of 19th- and early 20th-century American trompe l'oeil painting. The exhibition explores the genre in the 21st century through the work of contemporary artists who bring innovative and exciting approaches to the tradition.
  Self-guided tours of the museum's celebrated collection of American art including works by N.C. Wyeth, Andrew Wyeth and Jamie Wyeth,
   Fall Harvest Market in the museum courtyard, featuring handcrafted items and giftware and,
   Free second audio tour with the rental of one at regular price.
WHEN: September 12, 19 & 26
WHERE: Brandywine River Museum, U.S. Route 1, Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania
ADMISSION: Free. Advance registration is not necessary. Regular admission will be charged after noon ($10 for adults; $6 for senior citizens, students, and children ages 6-12; free for children under 6 and Brandywine Conservancy members.)
MORE INFORMATION:Brandywine River Museum, 610-388-2700

Veterans get a second chance to check out a new exhibit- for FREE- at the National Consititution Center in Sept. See below:
NATIONAL CONSTITUTION CENTER TO TRANSFORM INTO  1940s USO CANTEEN DURING OPENING WEEKEND OF ART OF THE AMERICAN SOLDIER
Includes FREE admission for veterans

Philadelphia, PA (September 7, 2010) – To celebrate the world debut of the Art of the American Soldier exhibition, visitors are invited to enjoy special opening weekend events at the National Constitution Center from Friday, September 24 through Sunday, September 26, 2010, as the Center’s Grand Hall Lobby is transformed into a 1940s USO canteen. In honor of our nation’s service men and women, admission will be FREE for veterans during opening weekend. (Admission is free at all times for active military personnel and career military retirees.)
   On Friday, September 24 at 10:00 a.m., a ribbon-cutting ceremony with National Constitution Center President and CEO David Eisner will mark the official opening of the exhibition to the public. The Center’s donkey and elephant mascots, who will be dressed in military attire, will also participate in the event. Following the ribbon-cutting, visitors of all ages will be transported to a 1940s USO canteen, featuring World War II era décor, music, dancing, and photo opportunities. The USO’s singing troupe, the Liberty Bells, will perform period favorites and patriotic music, including a medley of military songs. Guests can learn about the experiences of American soldiers during different time periods during the special interactive program In the Army Now, as well as participate in an Army Protocol Workshop that teaches military etiquette, including the proper way to salute and wear a uniform. Children are invited make World War II era crafts, such as model airplanes, playing cards, and victory gardens, to learn about the different ways children helped the war effort from the home front. The Center will also pay tribute to the work of the United Services Organization, which has a proud history of serving our nation’s Armed Forces.
   On Sunday, September 26 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., veterans, active military personnel, and career military retirees are invited to an exclusive viewing of the Art of the American Soldier exhibition before the Center opens to the public.
   Created by the National Constitution Center in conjunction with the U.S. Army Center of Military History and the National Museum of the United States Army, Art of the American Soldier unveils powerful works of art created by American soldiers in the line of duty. Drawn from the Army’s rarely seen collection of over 15,000 paintings and sketches, the exhibition showcases the artistic response of soldiers from World War I through the present day. The unprecedented exhibition will make its world debut at the Center from September 24, 2010 through January 10, 2011.
  Admission to Art of the American Soldier is FREE with regular museum admission of $12 for adults, $11 for seniors ages 65 and over, and $8 for children ages 4-12. Veterans and military families will receive $2 off admission. Active military personnel, career military retirees, and children ages 3 and under are free. Group rates are also available. iPod audio tours cost an additional $5. The Art of the American Soldier iPod tour has been generously underwritten by Team Clean, Inc. For ticket information, call 215.409.6700 or visit www.constitutioncenter.org.
  The Philadelphia Coca-Cola Bottling Company and The Coca-Cola Company are the presenting local sponsors for the Art of the American Soldier exhibition at the National Constitution Center.
   CBS 3 and The CW Philly are the official media partners of Art of the American Soldier. CBS 3 (KYW-TV) and The CW Philly 57 (WPSG-TV) are part of CBS Television Stations, a division of CBS Corporation.
   Army art is furnished courtesy of the Department of the Army, Center of Military History. Sponsorship of this exhibition does not constitute an endorsement by the Department of the Army of the sponsor's products or services.
   The National Constitution Center, located at 525 Arch St. on Philadelphia’s Independence Mall, is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing public understanding of the U.S. Constitution and the ideas and values it represents. The Center serves as a museum, an education center, and a forum for debate on constitutional issues. The museum dramatically tells the story of the Constitution from Revolutionary times to the present through more than 100 interactive, multimedia exhibits, film, photographs, text, sculpture and artifacts, and features a powerful, award-winning theatrical performance, “Freedom Rising.” The Center also houses the Annenberg Center for Education and Outreach, which serves as the hub for national constitutional education. Also, as a nonpartisan forum for constitutional discourse, the Center presents – without endorsement – programs that contain diverse viewpoints on a broad range of issues. For more information, call 215.409.6700 or visit www.constitutioncenter.org.

  For all those who are looking for a totally FREE day for the family or those who always wanted to visit the National Constitution Center but haven't yet done so, check out the offer below! And while you're in Old City, stop by the Visitors Center and ask about the other totally FREE places you can visit to learn more about America's history! The weather is cooling down and this is a perfect time of year to rediscover these local national treasures right out our front door! Enjoy!

CELEBRATE CONSTITUTION DAY SEPTEMBER 17
AT THE NATIONAL CONSTITUTION CENTER
Free admission to the museum, courtesy of Beneficial Bank


   Philadelphia, PA (August 26, 2010) – The signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787 is one of the most important and influential events in American history, establishing the many rights and freedoms "We the People" enjoy today. On Constitution Day, Friday, September 17, 2010, the National Constitution Center – located only steps away from Independence Hall, where the signing took place – will celebrate the 223rd anniversary of this remarkable day in history with a wide array of inspiring and educational activities. Admission to the Center is FREE on Constitution Day, courtesy of Beneficial Bank.
   Highlights of the Center’s Constitution Day celebration include a special broadcast of the Center’s distance learning program, Constitution Hall Pass, with an introduction by Sandra Day O’ Connor, to one million students across the country through Channel One News, as well as the dramatic conclusion of the Center’s Twitter Convention, as the identity of the mystery tweeter from the Constitutional Convention is finally revealed.
   “We encourage active citizenship year-round at the National Constitution Center, but Constitution Day provides an ideal opportunity to instill a deeper understanding of and appreciation for the Constitution,” said National Constitution Center President and CEO David Eisner. “The Constitution is just as relevant today as it was when our Founding Fathers first crafted it 223 years ago.”
“As the oldest and largest bank headquartered in Philadelphia, we are proud to partner with the National Constitution Center to provide free admission to the Center to every American that wants to come together to celebrate this significant day in our nation’s history,” said Gerard P. Cuddy, President and CEO of Beneficial Bank. “As an education company, Beneficial Bank shares the National Constitution Center’s mission of educating citizens about our nation’s history and how our Founding Fathers’ ideals continue to shape who we are as a country today. I encourage all residents to visit the National Constitution Center, free of charge, on September 17 and partake in the wide-range of educational events planned for Constitution Day.”
    The festivities will begin at 8:30 a.m. with 223: The Preamble Challenge on the Center’s Rooftop Terrace, which offers a spectacular view of the Preamble of the Constitution etched on the façade of the building. Two hundred and twenty three students from Constitution High School will gather to recite from memory the Preamble, in honor of the 223rd anniversary of the signing of this historic document.
   At 10:00 a.m., Susette Kelo, known for her courageous role as the plaintiff in the Supreme Court Case against eminent domain abuse, Kelo vs. New London (2005), will have her name added to the American National Tree, a popular exhibit inside The Story of We the People that tells the stories of more than 100 Americans whose actions have helped write the story of the Constitution. Although Kelo lost her case against the city of New London, Conn., she sparked a national movement against the use of eminent domain for economic redevelopment, leading eight state supreme courts and 43 state legislatures to strengthen private property laws. The Center, in partnership with Scholastic Inc., the global children’s publishing, education, and media company, and the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers, the nonprofit that administers the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, selected high school student Nick Liu of North Carolina as the winner of the 2010 M.R. Robinson National Constitution Center American National Tree Award. Liu will author the biography of Kelo that will be featured in the exhibit. Following the ceremony, visitors are invited to the Grand Hall Overlook at 10:30 a.m. for a special reading by Liu of his winning essay on Kelo, as well as a question and answer session regarding her struggle for her individual rights against the constitutional principle of eminent domain.
   During a Preamble Printing workshop, guests can visit the Center’s old-fashioned print shop, complete with a replica printing press from the 1700s, to create a copy of the Preamble in the same way Claypool and Dunlap did when they printed the Constitution. Visitors can also join in Calligraphy Demonstrations, and learn about the Copperplate printing technique used to sign the Constitution. These activities will be available in the Grand Hall Lobby between 10:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
    In addition, between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., visitors can join in a Constitution Celebration! Guests will learn about the three branches of government during the “Balance of Powers Demonstration” and the “Separation of Powers Show.” They can also participate in a special “Decoding the Document Workshop” to discover more about the Pennsylvania Packet printing of the Constitution, which is on display in the Center’s core exhibition, The Story of We the People.
  In addition, visitors can compete in a race to reassemble the words of the Preamble during the  “Preamble Scramble.” The Center will also offer special tours of Signers’ Hall that highlight the leadership styles of the Founding Fathers.
    At 11:00 a.m., a public Naturalization Ceremony will take place in the Center’s F.M. Kirby Auditorium, during which immigrants from across the globe will take the Oath of Citizenship to officially become citizens of the United States. Opening remarks will be made by naturalized citizen Louis Thompson, Esquire, Assistant Dean for Graduate & International Programs at Temple University Beasley School of Law. The Honorable Mary A. McLaughlin, federal judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, will preside. This moving ceremony is a meaningful welcome to our newest citizens, providing an opportunity to honor the talents, skills, and cultural heritages they bring to our nation.
    Since May 25 – the day the Constitutional Convention began in Philadelphia – the Center has been reenacting the events of the Convention on Twitter (at www.twitter.com/SecretDelegate) through the perspective of a secret delegate intent on giving the public a glimpse into the private proceedings. Visitors will have the opportunity to join Benjamin Franklin in Signers’ Hall at noon, as the Twitter Convention concludes with the reveal of the secret delegate. National Constitution Center President and CEO David Eisner and Beneficial Bank President Gerry Cuddy will participate in the announcement.
   Following the reveal in Signers’ Hall, visitors are invited to a Constitution Birthday Party at
  12:15 p.m. on the Grand Hall Overlook, complete with cake! To commemorate the Constitution’s 223rd year, local teenage blind jazz singer Rocco Fiorentino will lead guests in singing “Happy Birthday” and “The Star-Spangled Banner.” An award-winning humanitarian, Fiorentino has made a tremendous impact on the lives of other children who are blind and visually impaired, enacting his constitutional rights by impacting legislators and affecting the vote to increase Braille services in the State of New Jersey.
  At 12:45 p.m., the winners of the “We the People 9*17” contest, hosted by Constituting America, a non-profit organization dedicated to education about the U.S. Constitution, will be honored in a ceremony in the F.M. Kirby Auditorium. Actress Janine Turner and Cathy Gillespie, co-chairs of Constituting America, will award scholarships and prizes to twelve students from across the country who submitted essays, short films, public service announcements, and original songs on the U.S. Constitution. Throughout the day, the Center will feature the winning entries in the Grand Hall Lobby and the Grand Hall Overlook.
   Students who cannot visit the Center on Constitution Day can still participate in the celebration with the Center’s distance learning program, Constitution Hall Pass. Classrooms around the country can join the Center via webcast on www.constitutioncenter.org/constitutionday throughout the day for a special demonstration in Signers’ Hall. During Constitution Hall Pass, Sandra Day O’Connor will introduce the session with a message to student viewers about the creation of the Constitution and its relevance today. Then, the Center’s education staff will bring the Constitution to life for students by detailing the stories of the Founding Fathers and explaining the controversies and compromises that resulted in our nation’s founding document. Beginning at 9:00 a.m. EST, a member of the Center’s staff will be available live online throughout the day to provide additional content and answer students’ questions. On Constitution Day, Channel One News will provide a 15-minute version of the virtual tour, featuring the introduction by Sandra Day O’Connor, for classroom use via Channel One Connection, a commercial-free educational programming resource available to member schools, and will also feature a segment on Constitution Hall Pass during its daily broadcast.. Additionally, information about Constitution Hall Pass, along with supplementary educational resources focused on Constitution Day, will be available on Channel One’s award-winning website at www.ChannelOne.com.
   The Center continues to serve as the nation’s central resource for education on the Constitution through its Constitution Day website at www.constitutioncenter.org/constitutionday. This interactive site provides a variety of resources to help educators, students, community leaders, and government officials fulfill the national mandate sponsored by the late Senator Robert Byrd, requiring all schools receiving federal funding and all federal agencies to provide constitutional education on or around September 17. The website includes educational resources and lesson plans, online versions of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ naturalization test, video clips of Constitution Day events at the Center, and the “Which Founder Are You?” quiz, which allows users to compare his or her personality traits with the men who wrote the Constitution.
    The National Constitution Center, located at 525 Arch St. on Philadelphia’s Independence Mall, is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing public understanding of the U.S. Constitution and the ideas and values it represents. The Center serves as a museum, an education center, and a forum for debate on constitutional issues. The museum dramatically tells the story of the Constitution from Revolutionary times to the present through more than 100 interactive, multimedia exhibits, film, photographs, text, sculpture and artifacts, and features a powerful, award-winning theatrical performance, “Freedom Rising.” The Center also houses the Annenberg Center for Education and Outreach, which serves as the hub for national constitutional education. Also, as a nonpartisan forum for constitutional discourse, the Center presents – without endorsement – programs that contain diverse viewpoints on a broad range of issues. For more information, call 215.409.6700 or visit www.constitutioncenter.org.