TGIF: Thank God, It's Friday AND Thank God It's FREE!!!

Free Document Shredding Day In Glenolden

      The McCausland GArrity Funeral Home, 202 S. Chester Pike, Glenolden, will host its Fourth Annual Document Shredding Day  12-3 pm Sunday (May 6)  in the funeral home parking lot.
   A canned good donation would be apprciated for  local food banks, but the shredding itself is free to local residents, compliments of the funeral home.  ***********************************************************************************

Free Talk Offer By Top Environmentalist
  Environmentalist Bill McKibben will speak and answer questions on “Building the Movement to Save the Climate,” 7:30 to 9p.m., Tuesday (April 24) at Lang Concert Hall on the Swarthmore College campus.

  The free public event is sponsored by Pendle Hill.

  Called by Time magazine “the planet’s best green journalist,” McKibben is Schumann Distinguished Scholar at Middlebury College and the author of a dozen books about the environment. His 1989 book, The End of Nature, is seen as the first book for a general audience on climate change.

  For more information, go to Pendle Hill’s website at http://www.pendlehill.org/, or call 610-566-4507. Located on 23 acres in Wallingford, Pendle Hill is a Quaker study, retreat, and conference center offering programs for people of all faiths.

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   Meadowbrook Farm Hosts a Carnival-Inspired Open House

 

  ABINGTON TOWNSHIP, PA. – Come one, come all, as a festive carnival theme, radiant orange hues, and an exclusive new line of plants from HGTV are unveiled at the Meadowbrook Farm Spring Open House.

The historic estate and garden center, operated by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, in the Meadowbrook section of Abington Township will be transformed into a jovial spring carnival at the seasonal open house on Saturday, April 28, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Enjoy activities for visitors of all ages, indulge in carnival treats, and view bright seasonal colors – including “Tangerine Tango,” the official shade of 2012 -- while you shop an assortment of original merchandise and blooms.
Transform your home, yard, and garden with gorgeous hanging baskets, cool combination planters, Americana geraniums, heirloom veggie and herb starts, funky terrariums, and Gold Medal plants chosen by PHS experts for their beauty and quality. An assortment of special Mother’s Day gifts, like spring scarves and jewelry, will also be featured.
In addition to the fantastic seasonal merchandise that Meadowbrook Farm will have on display, the unique garden center will present an exclusive new offering to guests on April 28. “Orange Bliss,” a new plant collection by HGTV Home, will be featured for the first time in the region. Comprised of ipomea, petunia, verbena, and euphorbia in mixed planters and hanging baskets, the collection is sure to wow with its color palate of brilliant orange, yellow, deep purple, and black. As a special treat, an HGTV representative will be on-site to talk about the plant program and demo a few plantings with customers.
And the fun isn’t just for adults. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., children are invited for a series of carnival-inspired special activities. Get wild in the moon bounce obstacle course, dance to live music, get your face painted, and partake in imaginative crafts while snacking on hot dogs, popcorn, and water ice!
PHS Members save 10% on plants year-round at Meadowbrook; join onsite when you shop. http://www.meadowbrookfarm.com/

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 FREE Antique Truck Show At Granite Run Mall

 Granite Run Mall in Middletown Township will host an Antique Truck Show 9 am to 3 pm in the parking lot on Baltimore Pike Saturday, April 21. Everyone is welcome to the FREE show!

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  JAZZ ENSEMBLE TO PERFORM AT VISITOR CENTER IN CELEBRATION OF JAZZ APPRECIATION MONTH

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University of Phoenix Philadelphia Campus Hosts RESUME WRITING Workshop

 

FREE  Event Designed to Help Job Seekers Create a Competitive Resume in Today’s Hiring Environment

WHAT:                 According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the current Unemployment Rates in Philadelphia and Bucks County are 10.7 and 7.7 percent respectively.  To help job seekers distinguish themselves among competing applicants and make a great first impression to hiring employers, University of Phoenix Philadelphia Campus welcomes the public to attend a free Resume Writing Workshop. The workshop will provide attendees information on how to create a competitive resume and cover letter by determining what professional skills and experiences are most applicable to hiring managers.

The workshop will be held simultaneously in two locations.

WHEN:                 Wednesday, April 25
                                5:30 – 8:30 p.m.

WHERE:               University of Phoenix Financial District Learning Center
United Plaza Building                                                     
30 S. 17th Street
2nd Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103
http://uopphiladelphia.eventbrite.com/

                             Warrington Learning Center
Valley Square Shops
1565 Main Street
Suite 200
Warrington, PA 18976
       University of Phoenix is constantly innovating to help students balance education and life in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, challenging courses and interactive learning can help students pursue personal and career aspirations without putting their lives on hold. University of Phoenix serves a diverse student population, offering associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs from campuses and learning centers across the U.S. as well as online throughout the world. For more information, visit phoenix.edu. 
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FREE Jazz Showcase

WHAT:         In conjunction with the African American Museum in Philadelphia, the Independence Visitor Center is celebrating Jazz Appreciation Month with a performance by the Clef Club of Jazz. The performance is an effort to showcase the city’s jazz heritage and encourage people to visit the African American Museum in Philadelphia which is offering free museum admission to the public April 21st from 10 a.m-5 p.m. and April 22nd from noon – 7 p.m.
                       
WHO:           Clef Club of Jazz Performance

WHEN:        Sunday, April 22, 2012, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

WHERE:      Independence Visitor Center, 6th and Market Streets, Philadelphia
                        GPS Location: 599 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
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FREE Help Offered For Families Of Addicted
  Each month PRO-ACT (Pennsylvania Recovery Organization–Achieving Community Together) hosts a Family Addiction Education Program to help individuals and family recognize and address an addiction problem in a spouse, parent, child or other loved one.
  Led by trained volunteers who have been in the same situation, the information and support programs begin on the first Tuesday of each month and run for three consecutive Tuesdays, from 7 to 9p.m. at Holcomb Behavioral Health Services in Media. The next sessions are May 1, 8 and 15.
  Sessions are free and confidential – using first names only. Pre-registration is required; to register, call 800-221-6333, weekdays 9 to 5, or visit http://www.proact.org/ and click the Family Addiction Education Program link.
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 Prescription Drugs Misuse Is ‘Epidemic;’  FREE Drug Take-Back Planned
  At the April 12th graduation ceremony for 14 women who successfully completed Delaware County’s Treatment Court program, a Glenolden woman told how she became addicted to the painkiller Vicodin, prescribed by a doctor after she had hand surgery.
  Soon her life spiraled out of control, she said. She lost her house and temporarily lost custody of her three children. She was arrested for “attempted acquisition of a controlled substance by fraud.”
  Fortunately she managed to turn her life around after intensive treatment through Delaware County’s Treatment Court program, an alternative program that involves intense treatment.
  The mother’s story is echoed by thousands of Americans as prescription drug abuse has reached epidemic levels.
  To raise awareness and help combat the abuse of prescription drugs, Delaware County will hold its fourth “Take Back” drug event from 10a.m. to 2p.m., Saturday (April 28) at 16 drop-off locations throughout the county. The program is free and anonymous.
  The county “Take Back” event is organized by the Delaware County District Attorney, County Council and the County Office of Behavioral Health, the County Department of Intercommunity Health, the federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and local police departments.
  Residents are urged to clean out their medicine cabinets and safely dispose of unused or expired medications at the “Take Back” event.
  District Attorney Jack Whelan was joined by Mental Health Treatment Court coordinator Linda Barbera in detailing the devastating impact of prescription drug abuse on county residents.
  “The deadly abuse of painkillers and prescription drugs has reached epidemic levels and a crucial step in tackling this problem is to raise awareness among parents, youth and healthcare providers,” Whelan said. “The ‘Take Back’ event is one way we can alert people about the misuse of prescription drugs they have in their homes, in their medicine cabinets. You don’t want to lock the liquor cabinet but leave the medicine cabinet wide open.”
  Whelan said everyone has a role to play in combating drug misuse including pharmacists, physicians and dentists.
  A 2011 national study states: “Prescription drug abuse is the nation’s fastest-growing drug problem. While there has been a marked decrease in the use of some illegal drugs like cocaine, data…show that nearly one-third of people aged 12 and over who used drugs for the first time in 2009 began by using a prescription drug non-medically.”
  Experts warn that parents may not notice that their teenagers, family members or visitors may be sneaking pills out of outdated prescription bottles.
  In one case, a teenage girl, worried about her weight, started sneaking her brother’s prescription medication, Adderall, prescribed for ADHD, hoping it would suppress her appetite.
  People can reduce the risk by reducing the medicine cabinet to only current, unexpired medications, over-the-counter or otherwise. They can also keep medications in locked containers.
  Whelan said many residents do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away, both potential safety and health hazards. The prescription drugs collected at the event will be burned at an undisclosed location by DEA officials.
  The Delaware County Office of Behavioral Health contracts with Holcomb Behavioral Systems to offer drug prevention and education programs. For information about the “Take Back” prescription drug event on April 28, can call Holcomb at 484-444-0412 or visit the website at http://www.holcombprevention.org/. Residents concerned about a loved one’s misuse of prescription medication or other substance abuse can contact Holcomb.
 “Take Back” sites in Delaware County include the following:
  --Aldan Municipal Building, 1 West Providence Rd., Clifton Heights.
  --Brookhaven Municipal Center, 2 Cambridge Rd., Suite 200.
  --Eddystone Police Department at Lighthouse Hall, 1401 E. 9th St., Crum Lynne.
  --Glenolden Police Department, 38 Boon Ave., Glenolden.
  --Marcus Hook Community Center, 7 West Delaware Ave., Marcus Hook.
  --Marple Township Police Department at the Giant, 2910 Springfield Road, Broomall.
  --Media Police Department, 301 N Jackson St.
  --Middletown Twp., PA State Police Barracks, 1342 W. Baltimore Pike.
  --Nether Providence Police Station, 214 Sykes Lane, Wallingford.
  --Radnor Township Municipal Building, 201 Iven Ave. and Wayne Senior Center, 108 Station Road.
  --Ridley Park Police, 230 W. Chester Pike, Ridley Park.
  --Ridley Township Police, 100 E. MacDade Blvd., Folsom.
  --Sharon Hill Borough Hall, 250 Sharon Ave.
  --Springfield Township Building, 50 Powell Road.
  --Tinicum Township Police Department, 629 North Governor Printz Blvd, Essington.
  --Upper Darby High School, 601 Lansdowne Ave., Drexel Hill.
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Free Fun and fitness at Redwood Playhouse

Delaware County residents 50 and older can dance their way to fitness during free Zumba Gold and Belly Dancing classes being offered at the Redwood Community Playhouse,

280 6^th Street

in Upland.

Those looking to bust a move and break a sweat can do so every other Wednesday with Zumba Gold Classes from 1:30-2:30 p.m. featuring Zumba instructor Mary Ellen. Belly dancing is featured one Wednesday each month from Noon-1:00 p.m. with instructor Deanie.

 Zumba is a Latin-based dance fitness program that provides easy-to-follow aerobic steps and toning designed to burn calories. The fitness-dance class includes meringue, salsa, cha cha and tango dance steps set to high-energy international music.

Belly dancing has emerged as one of the hot new workout trends in recent years. A single belly dance session works hundreds of muscles, burns calories and helps participants to de-stress.

Both dance fitness classes promote a balanced combination of physical fitness and self-confidence.

 “Our mission is to offer the community a program that is fun, different, easy and effective” said Anne Cicala, Redwood Center Events Coordinator.

Zumba and belly dancing classes are just two of the many activities open to residents at the Redwood Community Playhouse, which is a great place for those 50 and older to be active, to socialize and to have fun.

Line dancing and live bands are featured five to six days a week. Line dance instruction is given from 12:30-2:30 p.m. Mondays; live bands from 1-3 p.m. Tuesdays; line dancing with Bootscooter, 12:00-1 p.m. Wednesdays followed by music by Sal Albert 6:30-9:30 p.m.; dances on Thursday evenings and more line dancing on Fridays.

People should check the program schedule with regard to holidays. 

All programs are sponsored by the Delaware County Department of Parks and Recreation. Program schedules are available at the Redwood Playhouse, at the County Parks Office in the Leedom House at Rose Tree Park, and online at http://www.co.delaware.pa.us/. For more information call 610-891-6061.