Whoever Made Up The Quote "You Get What You Pay For" Apparently Never Read This Blog! Here's Today's Freebies!

Marple Library Friends Offer Classical Music Series on Beethoven, Brahms and Mahler

    The Friends of the Marple Public Library in Broomall are pleased to announce a FREE three part presentation on the life and works of Beethoven, Brahms and Mahler . This non-technical program will begin with an exploration of Ludwig Van Beethoven on Thursday March 8, followed by a discussion of Johannes Brahms on Wednesday March 21 and will conclude with insights and a discussion of Gustaf Mahler on Thursday April 12 .All  three programs will be in the Community Room of the Marple Library at 2599 Sproul Road in Broomall  The program is free and open to the public and will begin promptly at 7:30 pm. Our guest speaker for this series will be Dr. Michael Kelly Professor Emeritus who will share the life and times of each composer and their contribution to classical music.  Reservations are requested but not required. Each presentation will last one hour followed by refreshments and an opportunity to meet and speak with Dr. Kelly. Additional information at 610-623-3607.

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Coloring Contest At Aston Library

  The Aston Library is holding a Coloring Contest for kids of all ages. Entry forms are available at the Library or at www.astonlibrary.org on the web. Entries should be submitted, with the child's information on the back, to the library’s service desk by March 24. Winners will have their entries displayed at the Library.
  The Library is at 3270 Concord Road, Aston.

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Media Plans To Welcome Home Veterans With Parade 

(FREE to area residents!) Mark Your Calendars NOW!

by Susan L. Serbin
Correspondent

  The borough will add to its tradition of honoring veterans with a Welcome Home Parade and Event scheduled for April 28. Media Mayor Bob McMahon said that while much of the planning and details are yet to be worked out, the date is set as is the sincere commitment.
  “This is to be a Philadelphia-area regional event in recognition of all troops who have served since 9/11. If you ask, ‘Why Media?’ it is something we have done for at least 20 years with a big welcome home parade in 1991.And for the past 12 years, we have made a welcome part of our annual parades in the borough,” said McMahon.
  The components of the event will be the acknowledgment of those who have served and a flag passing from older veterans to those just returning. The flag passing was called “a moving symbol of the culture and patriotism of my childhood state of Pennsylvania,” by Vice President Joe Biden at the 2011 Veterans Day parade.
  McMahon said that there is a real importance of the third element, which is outreach to newly retired veterans and their families. In that respect, McMahon is working closely with Ralph Galati, veterans’ liaison at the Delaware County Department of Veterans Affairs.
  Galati, a Vietnam veteran and former prisoner of war, will be instrumental in the cause of steering veterans and families to services.
  The welcome home event builds on the tradition of veteran’s events, which have included such dignitaries as Tuskegee Airmen, World War II Band of Brothers members and Medal of Honor recipients. Details will be forthcoming.
  (To see video clips of prior flag passing ceremonies go to the Veterans National Education Project at www.v-nep.org. For more information on participation in the parade, contact the Veterans Legacy Project at 484-444-0200.)

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Dr. Brown To Host Sleep Presentation At Local Library

  Kelly Brown, M.D., Crozer-Keystone neurologist and physician for the Crozer-Keystone Sleep Center at Taylor Hospital,  will present a free seminar, "Common Causes of Poor Sleep" 1 pm Tues. (March 6) at the Helen Kate Furness Library, 100 N. Providence Rd. Wallingford.
    At this seminar, you will learn about common sleep disorders that cause poor sleep, such as obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movements of sleep, and treatment options for these conditions. Dr. Brown will be available to answer questions after the program.
  To register, please call 1-800-CK-HEALTH (1-800-254-3258).

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 FREE  Financial Aid for College Presentation at Ridley Township Library

Confused about the financial aid process? Ridley Township Library can help!! Join us on Tuesday, March 13th at 6 pm in Garling Hall. Fran Mc Keown, from the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA), will take you through the steps in applying for college financial aid. Fran will also show you how to find out about available scholarships. This helpful workshop will benefit high school students and their parents, and adult students as well. Register for this free seminar by calling 610-583-0593, by emailing reference@ridleylibrary.org, or by visiting the library, located at 100 E. MacDade Blvd., Folsom. Walk-ins are welcome also.

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  Free Gardening Classes At Linvilla Orchards

 Linvilla Orchards will offer free gardening classes this spring.
   On Sat. (March 17) at 10:30 am, Master Gardener Joe Daniels will present “Get Your Garden Going.”  Daniels will explain all the tasks a gardener needs to do in order to wake the ground up and get it ready for planting. The class is geared for the novice gardener.
  Daniels will also present “Vegetable Gardening 101,” another free class to help gardeners design their vegetable gardens, 10:30 am Sat. (March 24). He will discuss everything one has to do for a successful and fruitful garden.
  Participants are encouraged to bring lots of questions.
  “Building Your Home Orchard,” presented by Norm Schultz, Linvilla Farm manager, will be held 10:30 am Sat. (April 14). Participants can learn the ins and outs of creating   and maintaining a home orchard.
  Linvilla Orchards is at 137 W. Knowlton Rd., Media. For more information, call 610-876-7116 or visit www.Linvilla.com.

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  Free Voice Lessons Offered

  The Delaware Valley Show Chorus offers free voice lessons for motivated women who love to sing and perform, 7:30 to 8:15p.m., Wednesdays, beginning Sept. 7 at Swarthmore United Methodist Church, 129 Park Ave.
  Lessons are taught by Master Director Gene Bender who has extensive experience in directing choruses and musical productions throughout the region for over 40 years.
  Bender has been Music director for the Mask and Wig Club of the University of Pennsylvania for 18 seasons and has also served as a faculty member at the Walnut Street Theatre. 
  Those interested may attend any Wednesday night. For more information, call Paula at 610-293-0505 or e-mail DVSCPaula@aol.com.

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FREE  Prom Fashion Show Features 

Affordably Priced Gowans And Accessories

  Nana’s Attic Thrift Store in the Lawrence Park Shopping Center, Marple Twp., will hold its annual Prom Sunday with a prom fashion show from 12-2 March 20. 
  Gowns range in price from $20 to $35 so that everyone can afford a prom gown. Shoes and handbags are $4-$6.
   Nana’s Attic Thrift Store is owned by and benefits the Domestic Abuse Project of Delaware County.
  For more information, call 610-325-0768. Everyone is welcome. 

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 Service Dogs And Handlers To Be Honored
 
  Stoney Creek Veterinary Hospital will host a K-9 Service Dogs Veterans Day observance to recognize service dogs from all organizations in the Philadelphia area, noon to 5p.m., Saturday (March 10) at the hospital, 701 Kedron Ave., Morton. The event is FREE.
  Activities scheduled include the Proclamation of March 13, 2012 as K-9 Dogs Veterans Day in Pennsylvania; dedication of a memorial garden for service animals that have died; Delaware County Sheriff’s Department K-9 Unit demonstration; dog pampering with Laser Therapy, nail trims, special treats and Canine Massages by therapist Kathy McCarry.  (Free services are for service dogs only.)
  All service dogs and their handler are invited, along with area residents. RSVP at info@stoneycreekveterinary.com or call 610-328-3600.

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Free Personal Computing Workshop for Job Seekers

   The Delaware County Workforce Investment Board  will offer a three day, three hour per day workshop designed to introduce job seekers to Personal Computers. become familiar with terminology, input commands. and understand the keyboard and practice using Microsoft Word.

    The workshop will be held at the Delaware County CareerLink, 701 Crosby Street in Chester, and is sponsored by the Delaware County Workforce Investment Board.  For information or to make an appointment call (610) 447-3350.

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FREE Master Class For High School Students

   The Delaware County Symphony with the support from the Musical Fund Society of Philadelphia is sponsoring a Young Composers Master Class with Dr. Benjamin C.S.Boyle. High school students with an interest in musical composition are encouraged to submit their most recent work  to be considered for this hands-on and informative Master Class with a world renowned composer and performer.

To be considered for this opportunity, submit no more than two (2) original scores and a completed application form These scores should be original works (not arrangements or transcriptions), and may be written for any combination of standard orchestral instruments, keyboards, or voice.  Recordings are not required, but may be submitted if available. The scores and application must be submitted by Friday, March 16th 2012. Participants will be notified by email on or before April 2nd, 2012. The master class will take place on Saturday April 21st, 2012 at 3 p.m. on the campus of Neumann University in Aston, PA. Please visit our web site at www.dcsmusic.org for a copy of the application and our letter of invitation.

Dr. Benjamin C.S. Boyle will be our guest clinician .At age 25 he was the youngest person to receive a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania in Composition, after completing a MM from The Peabody Conservatory and a BM from the University of South Florida where he studied piano with Robert Helps. Benjamin Boyle studied composition with Narcis Bonet, David del Tredici, Christopher Theofanidis, Samuel Adler, Lukas Foss, Jay Reise, Hilton Jones, and Nicholas Maw. Dr. Boyle is an Adjunct Associate Professor at Westminster Choir College in Princeton and Faculty in Composition, Keyboard Harmony, Counterpoint, and Analysis at the EAMA Summer Program in Paris.  The Delaware County Orchestra will premiere his work Impromptus and Arabesques on May 6th 2012.