It's almost March 1 so march these FREEBIES right onto your calendars!

FREE Digital Marketing Seminar At Springfield Country Club
    The Greater Springfield Business Association is hosting an informative seminar on digital marketing for small business, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 6, at the Springfield Country Club.
  Seating is limited and a complimentary lite breakfast will be served. Email reservations to Bernie Sweeney at bsweeney @oliverhvac.com.
   The seminar will guide you through the digital landscape and provide you with the tools to understand where to start. The session will touch on where to prioritize your budget, how to measure success across multiple digital marketing disciplines, including Google search, mobile, social media and email marketing.
  Tatiana Burdiak regional director of digital for Digital First Media will be the presenter. Digital First Media is the parent company of Delco News Network and Delco Daily Times.

**************

FREE 'Life of Pi' FIlm and Book Discussion At Marple Twp. Library

  Everyone in the communityis invited to the Marple Public Library library on Saturday March 16 from 1-4pm for a discussion of the book Life of Pi by Yann Martel. Afterward, those in attendance can  view the Oscar award-winning film starring Irrfan Khan and directed by Ang Lee. Please register for the FREE program in the library or contact Bridgette at 610-356-1510.
**************

FREE LEGAL ADVICE OFFERED BY PHILADELPHIA BAR ASSOCIATION MARCH 20

 

  The Philadelphia Bar Association will offer free legal advice to residents of Philadelphia and the surrounding counties on Wednesday, March 20, between 5 and 8 p.m.  Members of the public can access the service by calling the Association’s LegalLine P.M. hotline at (215) 238-6333.

Area residents seeking confidential legal advice will be able to speak for free with a volunteer attorney from the Philadelphia Bar Association.  Attorneys are available to offer information about any aspect of the law including family law, landlord-tenant, workers’ compensation and employment law, among other topics.

LegalLine P.M. is a public service sponsored by the Young Lawyers Division of the Philadelphia Bar Association, providing residents with free, quick and accurate legal advice during convenient evening hours.  LegalLine P.M. is offered on the third Wednesday of every month from 5 to 8 p.m.  The program has existed for nearly 20 years, allowing volunteer attorneys to help thousands of callers through direct service or by referring them to an appropriate source.

In addition, during regular work hours, the Philadelphia Bar Association offers another program -- the Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS) -- which provides lawyer referrals to area residents.  Staff attorneys take calls from the general public and refer callers to attorneys in private practice for a 30-minute consultation, for which the attorney agrees to charge a drastically reduced fee of $30.

If callers do not need an attorney or cannot afford one, they will be directed to a legal service organization, agency or other resource for assistance.  LRIS is available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., by calling (215) 238-6333.

**************

Addiction Help Offered

    Family  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 Tuesday evenings, from 7 to 9p.m. at Holcomb Behavioral Health Services in Media. The next session if March 5, 12 and 19.
   Sessions are free and confidential, using first names only. Pre-registration is required. To register, call 800-221-6333, weekdays 9a.m. through 5p.m., or visit www.proact.org and click the Family Addiction Education Program link.

**************

Book Club Meets at Aston Community Center
 Senior Community Services' Center for Life Long Learning will offer a Book Club discussion group with Facilitator, Dianne Caggiano, at the Aston Community Center, 3270 Concord Road, Aston, 11:30 am to 1:30 pm Wednesdays, March 13-May 15.  Everyone is invited to join the book discussion group, enjoy a delightful conversation and make new friends in a relaxing atmosphere.
   "The Art of Hearing Heartbeats" by Jan Philipp Sendker" is the first book to be discussed. People are asked to read the book before the class. There’s no charge to be in the group, but registration is required.  (no registrations by phone).
  To receive a registration form or brochure, call Lori at 484-496-2138

**************

‘Women In The Military’ At Maris Grove
 To celebrate "Women in the Military" month, the Philadelphia Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) will have their chapter luncheon meeting 11:30a.m., Saturday (March 9), at Maris Grove Retirement Community in Glen Mills.
   Guest speaker Petty Officer 1st Class Gladys Martin will talk about her service during World War II.
   All service personnel and members of the community are welcome to the FREE presentation. Call Ann Froelich at 610-728-5412 for reservations.

**************
Class Offered On How To Operate Today’s Gadgets 
  If you find yourself getting frustrated with electronic gadgets like cell phones, smart phones and cannot even imagine how to use an mp3 player, nook or tablet, then grab your gadget and bring it to Schoolhouse on March 6 from 1:30-4 pm.  Staff from the Cellular Connection will be there to work with people in a group and individually on how to work the gadgets.  This class is FREE and open to the community, but registration is required.
   For information, ontact  Schoolhouse Center, 600 Swarthmore Ave., Folsom   at  (610) 237-8100 or make reservations at the center.

**************
Free Soup At St. James   St. James Episcopal Church, 11th and Lincoln Aves., Prospect Park holds  'Soup'er Lunch at 11 am Tuesdays (except Christmas and New Year's Day). The  lunch is free of charge (donations are gratefully accepted).Everyone in the community is welcome.

**************

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 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.

**************
Nar-Anon Meetings Held In Delco
  Nar-Anon meetings are held 7-8:30 pm Thursdays at the Norwood United Methodist Church, 315 Chester Pike, Norwood.
  Everyone is welcome and should enter by the side door.
  Other Nar-Anon local meetings are 10 am Wednesdays at St. Rose of Lima Church, 1901 Chester Pike, Eddystone; 7 pm Tuesdays at St. Timothy Lutheran Church, 535 Lamp Post Lane, Aston; 7 pm Sundays, St. Gabriel Church, 233 Mohawk Ave., Norwood; 7:30 pm Fridays, Grace Bible Fellowship Church, 723 S. Providence Rd., Wallingford; and Bethany Collegiate Presbyterian Church, 5 N. Concord Ave., Havertown. There is never a cost to attend.

**************
Free Presentation On Gardening Available
  On March 19 at 2:30 pm, Senior Community Services’ Center for Life Long Learning will offer a free presentation on Gardening to learn simple steps to take in designing a crop plan for your garden.  The  program by Greener Partners at Hillside Farm will provide monthly healthy eating classes at the Brookhaven Municipal Building, 2 Cambridge Road. 
   The Greener Partners educate people of all ages about the origin of food, nutrition, and gardening, and empower them to create healthy communities. Future schedules will be provided.   For registration form, call Lori at (484) 496-2138.

**************

Woodlyn Baptist Chruch To Host Free Kid’s Breakfast
  Woodlyn Baptist Church,  1125 MacDade Blvd.,  Woodlyn, will host a free  Kid's Pancake Breakfast for children 4 years old through 5th grade 9-11 am Sat. (March 9). Breakfast will be served at 9 a.m., followed by a fun craft and then a special visit from Brett Myers, Christian Illusionist.
   To register a child, call 610-833-5577 or email woodlyn@rcn.com.

**************
Swarthmore Library To Hold Memory Loss Program
  David Friedman, a speaker with the Alzheimer's Association, will present an educational program on Memory Loss, Dementia and Alzheimer's 10:30 am Thurs. (March 7) at the Swarthmore Public Library.  The program will provide information on detection, causes and risk factors, stages of the disease, treatment and much more. 
  The program is free and open to the public.  People can register at the library, call 610-543-0436 or email swarthmore@delcolibraries.org Swarthmore Public Library is at  121 Park Avenue, Swarthmore.
**************
  Mass For Persons With Disabilities Set For March 23
  The 19th Annual Mass for Persons with Disabilities and The Deaf Community  will be celebrated 10:30 am Sat. (March 23) at Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, 18th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia by Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M Cap.
   The Mass will be followed by a reception in the auditorium of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center. The Cardinal Krol Center’s “Wise Guys” will perform at the reception.
  For more information, visit www.archphila.org.

**************
Travel Through Time in the Kimmel Center Plaza During Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts with the PIFA 2013 Time Machine and FREE Entertainment, March 28-April 27
   PIFA Brings Free Live Entertainment back to Philadelphia Round the Clock at the Kimmel Center with Something for Everyone to Enjoy!
Time Machine Exhibit and Nightly Performances are Generously Sponsored by The Dow Chemical Company
   Tick, tick, tick. The countdown continues as the Kimmel Center gears up for the return of Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts 2013. From March 28 to April 27, The Kimmel Center becomes a destination extraordinaire of cultural engagement, activating its plaza space with a feast of FREE activities, including live performances on the TD Bank Plaza Stage, a FREE time machine interactive exhibit, and nightly FREE “Flash of Time” theatrical show celebrating the theme, “If You Had a Time Machine…,” sponsored by The  Dow Chemical Company, and many more family friendly FREE performances and ticketed events with the return of the city-wide festival. Additionally, the Kimmel Center’s Education Department will present some of its programming in the Commonwealth Plaza including Sharon Katz and the Peace Train, sponsored by ACE Group. PIFA 2013 has audiences travel through time visiting the fourth dimension with an innovative time machine exhibit centrally located in the Kimmel Center’s Plaza, serving as the festival’s hub. Designed by a team of artists—including Robert Pyzocha, production designer, Jorge Cousineau, video and production designer, Joshua Schulman, lighting designer, and Nick Courtides, sound designer—the time machine is a dynamic sculptural light, sound, and video installation made for interactivity for PIFA 2013, similar to the Eiffel Tower installation in PIFA 2011, which awed Philadelphians with its sheer scale and audacity.
  The Time Machine is a calendar which tracks time by the century and captures information about all the people who have ever lived. This timeless version of Facebook shows how we are all linked together in the wormholes of time. Taking its shape from DNA, tornadoes, the Hadron Collider, sound waves, and an EKG, a giant spiral swirls across the plaza. Impressively large at 100 feet long and 16 feet in diameter, beginning at the Broad Street entrance doors of the Kimmel Center.  PIFA’s 2013 time machine has five large arched curves serving as “bays” of interactive activity that explore the relationship between time and space.  Each bay creates an experience and explores the interconnectivity of humanity.
  The time machine begins as an individual journey with audiences entering an enormous double helix, experiencing the gears of time churning, turning mechanical movements into data, translating numbers into DNA and forming a beautiful visual landscape through projections.  The journey through time and space continues with interpretations of the age of starlight, exploring the relationship of constellations and light years. In another section of the spiral timelines are explored, enabling audiences to reach out and control their own relationship to the past. Visitors will also interact by actually connecting the dots of humanity onto a clear touchscreen surface, and then seeing their connections projected in an ever growing spiral drawing on a visual screen. There is a mosaic of faces through history that react to the visitor’s proximity; and even a section on the pulse of humanity using the heartbeats of people to power the machine with a light installation of 600 heartbeat crystals, activated through sensory hand monitors that trigger the lights. The journey concludes with a video comparing the history of the Earth to a 24 hour period with humanity only appearing on the planet for the last 30 seconds.
  Every Tuesday – Sunday night, the time machine comes to life with the lively upbeat Flash of Time, a FREE new musical show written for PIFA by Kait Kerrigan and Brian Lowdermilk, to be presented twice at 7 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. with 16 performers representing different characters in time, both the past and the future, with dancing, puppetry, and special effects.
 In addition, the Plaza will have FREE Wi-Fi connection throughout the festival with FREE Friday Noon Concerts, Family Fun Activities, Saturday Night Theme Night Parties, Decades Mixers, Philly Nights, Late Night Jazz, and A Cappella performances, all to take place on the TD Bank Plaza Stage.  Iron Chef Jose Garces, one of Philadelphia's most beloved chefs and restaurateurs, provides his own journey through time with pre- and post-show bites, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.  Specialty Happy Hour cocktails begin at 5:30pm by the PECO Plaza Bar and upper-level Tier Bars, prior to Flash of Time daily musical performances.
  “I am absolutely thrilled to begin the countdown to PIFA 2013.  In addition to dozens of fun-filled activities and incredible performances by our PIFA Partners, we are building Time Machine—an artful, interactive, time-travelling spiral.  Hundreds of thousands were in awe when they saw our 81-foot Eiffel Tower in 2011.  This year, hundreds of thousands will see Time Machine.  One has to experience it to truly understand what I mean. I promise you, it will be an experience of a lifetime. Visit The Kimmel Center, a canvas for interaction, entertainment, community, and artistic exploration,” said Anne Ewers, president and CEO of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. “
  “Engaging community, future scientists and artists alike is key to collaboration and innovation for the solutions of tomorrow,” said Paul Oakley, Public Affairs Director at The Dow Chemical Company.  “As a leading corporate citizen in the Delaware Valley for more than 120 years, Dow is proud to partner on an effort of such value to our neighbors and the region’s economy.”
  “We are incredibly thrilled to partner with PIFA this year to bring the story of Icarus to life,” said Dennis M. Wint, President and CEO of The Franklin Institute, which organizes the Philadelphia Science Festival. “Philadelphia is a city rich in history, art and science, and this remarkable collaborative effort intersects and shines a spotlight on those elements, while wonderfully reflecting the goals of both Festivals.”
  Below is a complete list of FREE entertainment and family friendly ticketed events taking place at the Kimmel Center’s Commonwealth Plaza throughout PIFA 2013:
 FREE FAMILY FUN TIME
FREE family programming and activities taking place Saturdays and Sundays from 11am-1pm (* Times may vary based on the activity). Bring out the little ones for some weekend family-friendly fun including crafts and live performances – programmed especially for out little arts lovers!
 Time Machine Kiosk at Commonwealth Plaza
  For those who seek an even more interactive adventure, you are encouraged to register at a kiosk and enter your birth date and place of birth to create your own personal timeline.
**************
Lansdowne Library Offers FREE Money Managment Program For Women
   The Lansdowne Public Library and the Library Foundation of Delaware County have announced that the Lansdowne Public Library will offer free, woman-oriented money management lessons through a four-week program that empowers women to identify the personal motivations and beliefs that influence how they manage their finances. This program was developed by and will be presented by CLARIFI formerly CCCS of Delaware Valley.
    FinanciallyHers will cover “Unlocking the Mystery; the Why behind the Buy” (March 7) which will help each woman understand what drives her money decisions so she can put together a spending plan to meet her financial goals; “How to Run Your Household like a Business” (March 13)which will teach  different strategies for managing  expenses and meeting financial goals; “Give Yourself (Good) Credit” (March 20)which will teach how to obtain and understand a credit report to improve credit; and “Investigate Investing: Learn how to Save”(March 27) in which women will learn the basics of investing in the stock market, bonds and mutual funds and will examine how risk tolerance affects how people handle money.
   All programs will be held at the Lansdowne Public Library at 55 S. Lansdowne Ave., Lansdowne.  The programs will be each Wednesday in March at 7 p.m. Registration is required.  Women may register online at www.delcolibraries.org under library events, by calling the Lansdowne Public Library or Susan Purcell @ 610-891-8622.

**************

‘Restoring Habitat, Landscape Structure:’ CRC Offers Free Lecture
 Chester-Ridley-Crum Watersheds Association, Penn State Brandywine and a consortium of Delaware and Chester county municipalities will jointly host a free lecture, “Restoring Habitat, Landscape Structure, and Health in Our Watersheds,” 2 to 3:30p.m., Sunday (March 10).
   The featured speaker will be Tom Brightman, Land Steward for Longwood Gardens. He is responsible for the care of over 700 acres of wetlands, meadows, forest, and agricultural lands at Longwood. He is a frequent lecturer at Longwood, the Copeland Native Plant Seminar, and landscape symposiums.
   The talk will be held in the Tomezsko Building at Penn State Brandywine, 25 Yearsley Mill Road, Media.
   Topics to be covered in the talk include the following:
   --Understanding the basics of biodiversity and habitat structure and integrating them into a developed landscape;
   --Creating a woodland garden on private property;
   --Functions and care of meadows of all sizes;
   --How to best use storm water on a property, including restoration of traditional storm water basins for improved function and habitat;
   How to better choose plants for a property.
   The lecture is free and open to the public but pre-registration is required due to limited seating. To register, contact the Chester-Ridley-Crum Watersheds Association at 610-359-1440 or by email crc@nni.com. For more information, visit www.crcwatersheds.org.

**************
Knights To Distribute FREE Wheelchairs
  The Knights of Columbus Mater Dei Council, Newtown Square, will distribute free wheelchair this fall, on a first come, first served basis. The group has a limited number of wheelchairs in good working condition that will be given to those who need them, including children nuns, seniors and veterans. The program is part of the Knights humanitarian projects for which they fundraise all year.
  Those interested in receiving a wheelchair may write to Whee4lchair Project Chairman Jata Ghosh, Knights of Columbus, 2213 Windsor Circle, Broomall, PA 19008 (610-353-0353).
  Also, anyone with a wheelchair in good condition that is not being used is asked to consider donating it.

**************

FREE Job Search Handbook Available
  The Delaware County Workforce Investment Board is making available the popular handbook, "Organize Your Job Search and Market Your Assets,” at the new Workforce Investment Board website.
  To download a free copy visit www.delcoworks.org. Those without computer access may call 610-447-1432 to receive a free copy.

**************

Bereavement Support Group Meets
  Life Changes is a bereavement support group available to any grieving person suffering from the loss of a loved one.
  Life Changes’ mission is to help the bereaved better understand and cope with their loss. The loss can be current or from years ago.
  The group is FREE and meets every Tuesday from 7 to 8p.m. at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 927 S. Providence Road, Wallingford (just south of Routes 252 and 320) in the Main Office.  For more information or directions, call the facilitator, Pollie Lang at 610-876-1599.

**************

Art Exhibit Open To Public
Curator Ron Rumford selected and invited eight artists to display their work in the exhibition “Paper Space,” Works on Paper, opening March 8 at Community Arts Center, 414 Plush Mill Road in Wallingford.  The public is invited to meet the artists at the FREE opening reception from 6-8 p.m. in the Duke Gallery.  At the opening, guests are welcome to enjoy wine and refreshments, discuss the work of each artist, enjoy live music with a mix of jazz and other instrumentals on solo piano by local musician Dean Sophocles, and to tour all of the Arts Center’s galleries.
“Paper Space” features works created on or of paper by artists Amze Emmons, Steven Ford, Christopher Hartshorne, Richard Hricko, Ryan Parker, Serena Perrone, Bill Scott and Evan Summer.   The exhibition is a collection of work created using various kinds of printmaking representing each artist’s unique style and use of materials.
Other exhibits opening on March 8 include “Spring Semester Featured Teachers” with oil paintings by Matiko Mamaladze and ceramics by Cathy Larkin in the Lounge Gallery, the students of Barbara Hanselman, “Tricks of the Trade,” in the Library Gallery and Photography, “Color Close-Up,” by Stephanie Shea on the BEAdazzle Gallery Wall.  Most works from the exhibits are available for sale.
“Paper Space” runs through April 26.  Gallery hours are from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays 9 a.m. - 7:30 p.m., from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Fridays and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.  For more information or driving directions, contact Community Arts Center at 610-566-1713, online at www.communityartscenter.org or follow them on Facebook.

**************

Vet Hospital Invites Public To FREE Event to Honor Heroic Dogs
  Stoney Creek Veterinary Hospital, 701 Kedron Ave. in Morton, will celebrate K9 Veterans Day on Sunday, March 10 by honoring local “hero dogs.”
Handlers can enter their heroic dog, either living or posthumously, to recieve a Pennsylvania senate citation. To enter a dog, owners can give dog’s name and a brief description of the animal’s honorable service in 25 words or less.
Include owner or handler’s name, address and phone number and please e-mail Kathy McCarry at  kathrynmccarry@gmail.com. Dogs can also be nominated by calling Stoney Creek Veterinary Hospital   at 610-3283600 and asking for Kate Mackey, Operations Manager, or by writing to Stoney Creek Veterinary 701 Kedron Ave.   Morton, Pa. 19070, Attention:    K9 Veterans Day Kate Mackey or Kathy McCarry.

**************

Free CNA Training  Fair Acres, Delaware County’s senior care facility in Middletown, is offering a free training program for individuals to become Certified Nurse Aides. Nurse Aides perform such tasks as checking vital signs, bathing, grooming and feeding patients, and providing social and emotional support to patients.
   The training program is sponsored by Fair Acres for the preparation and training of potential employees interested in becoming CNAs.
   Individuals interested in the training program must complete an application process, which includes a written application, a test of reading rate and comprehension, safety and practical thinking questions, state and federal police clearances, a physical exam, and Tuberculosis testing. Candidates must have a high school diploma or equivalent.   
   Classes are 7a.m. to 3p.m., Monday through Friday on the Fair Acres campus. Daily attendance and punctuality are mandatory. Completion of the program does not guarantee employment at Fair Acres, but once completed, a student may be offered employment.
   For information about the program, call the Fair Acres personnel department at 610-891-5709.   

**************