Ring in Fourth of July with FREEDOM FREEBIES!!

FREE Independence Day Fun in Collingdale

  The Collingdale 4^th of July Association will provide the community with a fun-filled day.  It all starts off 8:45am with the Motorcycle Roll followed by our Grand Parade at 9am.  We will be having our annual flag-raising ceremony immediately after the conclusion of the Grand Parade at Collingdale Park.  Then the games begin, plus  waterslides, moon bounces, rock wall climbing, horseshoe tournament, and a trackless train.  Field events and art fair will round out the day-time activities.   A children’s parade for those 6 and under will take place at noon.  A concert by the McChords and music by DJ Joe will keep the air filled with delightful sounds. 

    The celebration of our nation’s birth will end with a spectacular fireworks display at the community center at 9 pm.  Admission to the fireworks is $1 with a sponsoring resident’s coupon, $5 without a coupon.  For more information,visit http://home.comcast.net/~4thofjuly/site, email: 4thofjuly@comcast.net or call 610-532-5028.  

Free Movie Night in Media July 13

     The Media Recreation Board will host a free Family Movie Night 8p.m., Saturday (July 13), featuring “Madagascar 3,” which  will be projected on a giant movie screen in Barrall Community Park, State and Edgmont Sts.

  The audience is encouraged to bring blankets or low back beach chairs to sit on. 

  Media’s Family Movie Night recalls the age of the drive-in theater and is a safe, fun, community event for all ages.

  For further information, call the Media Recreation Dept. at 610 566 5210, ext. 255.

Free Guided Tour at the Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College

Date & Time:                   Saturday, July 13, 3 to 4:30 pm

Cost:                                 Free & open to the public

Location:                          Departs from the Scott Arboretum Offices

Special Notes:                  Tour is canceled in inclement weather

Explore the Scott Arboretum's plant collections with Arboretum staff. This tour is designed for gardeners from beginners to experts. The tour will begin at the Scott Arboretum offices and is free and open to the public. In case of inclement weather, the tour will be canceled. For more information, please call the Scott Arboretum offices at 610-328-8025.

The Scott Arboretum is an educational garden of ideas and suggestions. Covering more than 300 acres of the Swarthmore College Campus and exhibiting over 4,000 different kinds of plants, the Arboretum displays some of the best trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals for use in the Delaware Valley. Established in 1929 as a living memorial to Arthur Hoyt Scott, the Arboretum is open to the public year-round free of charge, from dawn to dusk. Adam Levine of Garden Design magazine described the Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College as "the most beautiful campus in America." Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to noon and 1 to 4:30 pm. For more information, please call the Arboretum Offices at 610-328-8025. Visit us at www.scottarboretum.org.

Caregivers invited to FREE senior victim services presentation

   Heron Companions, 607 Morgan Avenue, Drexel Hill, will host the Director of Senior Victim Services Diane L. Peter for a free informational session for family caregivers 10 am Wed. (July 10).

    Senior Victim Services, Inc., a private non-profit organization, serves victims of crime in Delaware County age 55 years and older.  The organization provides advocacy, assistance and safety within the criminal justice system and with social service agencies and community organizations, in order to restore older person’s lives and prevent further victimization.

   The event is free of charge and all are welcome. Parking is available on Morgan Avenue or across the street at Heron Home Health Care’s parking lot. If you have any questions contact Angelique M. Demetris, Marketing and Business Development Manager, at 610-259-9701.

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Fourth of July Bike Parade in Drexel Hill

The Pilgrim Gardens Civic and Aronimink Business Associations will sponsor the third annual 4^th of July bike parade at Aronimink Elementary School.  Prizes will be awarded for best decorated bikes, wagons and strollers in each age group.  Registration will be at 9:30 a.m. and the parade is at 10 a.m.  There will not be a rain date.  There is no contest entry fee for PGA members, but non-members will be $3.  There will be complimentary refreshments for all.  For more information please contact Gina Flatley at gina.flatley@verizon.net or 610-331-2879.

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 FREE Summer Fun at Ridley Twp. Library

 Families are invited to join the 2013 Summer Reading Club at Ridley Township Public Library.  The library is also looking for responsible volunteers to assist with summer programs.

   “Dig into Reading” is designed to encourage students to continue reading during vacation, so that valuable reading skills won’t be lost.  The library is also offering a variety of activities for children, teens, and their families, throughout the summer, including story times, crafts, movies, worm races, and tie-dying.  Ridley Library will also be hosting special visits from field paleontologists, Tyler Arboretum, Garrison Carida 501st Legion (Star Wars), and the Delaware County Paranormal Investigators. 

  All families are invited to attend the free Fun Friday performances, held every Friday at 10:30am, from now until- August 9.

They are currently seeking volunteers (ages 13-17) to help with its popular Science in the Summer program, which will run July 15-18; various children’s programs; and assisting at our Summer Reading Program table.

  Visit Ridley Township Public Library, located at 100 E. MacDade Blvd., Folsom.For more information on our library programs, visit www.ridleylibrary.org or call 610-583-0593.

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 CELEBRATE AMERICA’S BIRTHDAY IN THE BIRTHPLACE OF INDEPENDENCE

   The Independence Visitor Center Corporation (IVCC) and Independence National Historical Park (INHP) are excited to host a diverse selection of programs during INHP’s Freedom Week (June 29-July 8) celebrating the Fourth of July.

Independence Hall and Liberty Bell Center (Open daily, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.)

Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell Center will be open normal operating hours from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Timed-tickets are required to tour Independence Hall every day except July 4. Timed-tickets can be picked up at the Independence Visitor Center or reserved online at www.nps.gov/inde. No tickets are needed to visit Independence Hall on July 4. Tickets are never required for the Liberty Bell Center.

Extended Hours at the Independence Visitor Center (July 3-6, 8:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.)

The Independence Visitor Center is gearing up to welcome those celebrating Independence Day in Philadelphia’s Historic District. Located at 6^th and Market Streets, the Visitor Center will be open from 8:30 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. from July 3-6. Normal summer hours of operation resume on July 7 and are from 8:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. daily through Labor Day.

Celebrate America’s Birthday with Termini Bros. Bakery (July 4, 1:00 p.m.)

The Independence Visitor Center is excited to host Termini Brothers Bakery for the second year in a row as we celebrate America’s Birthday on July 4 at 1:00 p.m. Termini Bros., a third generation family run business, was founded by Gaetano and Giuseppe Termini who came to Philadelphia from Enna, Sicily in 1921. The Termini Family is excited to share their story of American freedom and celebrate Independence Day at the Visitor Center. As if you were at Termini’s main location in South Philadelphia, they will bring the same exceptional customer service and signature Termini Bros. experience to the historic district. In addition to a custom designed five-tier cake, Termini Bros. will give-away 2,500 cupcakes for all visitors to enjoy!

For more information about the event, visit PHLvisitorcenter.com.

Additional Visitor Center and INHP activities include:

The Second Bank of the U.S. will host two interpretive programs the weekend leading up to Independence Day. What Does it Mean? The Declaration of Independence as Political Rhetoric invites visitors to learn the historical background of the Declaration of Independence and will take place on June 29 from 3:00 – 3:30 p.m. How We Celebrate, a program presenting the history of the Independence Day celebrations, will take place on June 30 from 3:00 – 3:30 p.m.

Join Peter Nero and the Philly POPS! as they celebrate America’s birthday in front of Independence Hall with a free, patriotic concert that will entertain the whole family. Pops! On Independence will take place on July 3 at 8:00 p.m.

Celebration of Freedom, a patriotic ceremony full of music, speeches and readings of excerpts from the Declaration of Independence will take place on July 4 from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. just steps from Independence Hall. Immediately following the ceremony, experience the Philadelphia Independence Day Parade which kicks off at 11:00 a.m.

A Colonial reenactment of the reading of the Declaration of Independence will take place on July 4 at 9:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Independence Mall next to the Visitor Center. The reading will be performed by costumed performers and re-enactors with a fife and drum accompaniment.

Let Freedom Ring, a ceremony of inspiring music and patriotic presentations on Independence Square is on July 4 and begins following the parade at 1:00 p.m. The ceremony will conclude with a symbolic tapping of the Liberty Bell at 2:00 p.m. The ceremony begins on Independence Square (outside secure area between Walnut and Chestnut Streets and 5^th and 6^th Streets) at 1:00 p.m. and continues inside the Liberty Bell Center at 1:45 p.m. for the Liberty Bell tapping. This program is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Society Sons of the Revolution and the Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence.

Extended Hours at Crosswalk Café (July 3-6, 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.)

Located across the lawn from the Visitor Center, Crosswalk Café offers light bites and refreshments. The café will be open 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. from July 3-6. On July 7, Crosswalk Café will resume normal summer operating hours, 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. daily through Labor Day.

More Fourth of July Events

Wawa Welcome America! is also hosting events on Independence Mall throughout the week and on July 4:

·         Go 4^th and Learn History (July 2)

·         Wawa Hoagie Day (July 2)

Visit http://www.welcomeamerica.com/ for more information.

The celebration continues in Independence National Historical Park after July 4:

A re-enactment of the First Public Reading of the Declaration of Independence on Independence Square will take place on July 8 from 11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Join the crowd to hear a costumed Park Ranger portraying Colonel John Nixon (who read the Declaration of Independence to the public for the first time on July 8, 1776). Free copies of the Declaration of Independence will be given out so that you can follow along and cheer or jeer!

There’s Magic at Aston Library

  As part of its “Dig Into Reading” programs this summer for kids this summer. Aston Library will host free programs each Wednesday at 1p.m. Children will also be awarded a prize each week if they read something and record their reading on the program web site at http://tinyurl.com/AstonSRP13. Ed Schmitt will entertain children with his magic show in the gym July 24. The programs are free at the library, 3270 Concord Road (www.astonlibrary.org).

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 Fireworks and July Fourth Fun in Norwood…all FREE!

 The Norwood Citizens’ Fourth of July Association will hold their annual Independence Day celebration, beginning with a fireworks display Wed. (July 3) in the lower park’s baseball fields. The fun will begin with a dance party for everyone at 7 pm and continue until the fireworks, also accompanied by music, begin around 9:30 pm. The Norwood Library will sell glow necklaces and the Norwood Athletic Club will sell refreshments and kalidescope glasses.

  The Fourth of July activities will begin Thursday at 8:30 am, with the flag raising at the Norwood Arch. The parade will begin there and continue to the west side where groups will join the parade. The parade will continue down Trites to Ridley to Sylvan Aves. And then back to Welcome where the children will join in and then all will go to Kugler Park.

  All parade winners will be announced after the Baby Parade, which begins at the completion of the big parade.

  Moonbounces, leg races and train rides will be available for the kids, as well as free ice cream for those 12 and under. Refreshments for sale will include hotdogs, hamburgers, pretzels, soda, water, snow cones and funnel cakes. 

  Everyone is welcome to bring a chair and spend the day at the park. The Fourth of July Association is always looking for new members. If interested in joining, visit the Archives Table at this year’s event for more information.

  The Association is also holding a Fourth of July House Decorating Contest for Norwood residents. All houses must be pre-registered by July 2 by calling 610-586-4029 or 619-586-2623. Prizes will be awarded to the top three winners.

FREE Presentation for Local Caregivers

    On Wednesday, July 10th at 10:00am, Heron Companions, 607 Morgan Avenue, Drexel Hill, will host the Director of Senior Victim Services Diane L. Peter for a free informational session for family caregivers.

Senior Victim Services, Inc., a private non-profit organization, serves victims of crime in Delaware County age 55 years and older.  The organization provides advocacy, assistance and safety within the criminal justice system and with social service agencies and community organizations, in order to restore older person’s lives and prevent further victimization.

The vision of Senior Victim Services is to be a visible organization advocating for the rights and services for older victims of crime in Delaware County, providing comprehensive and coordinated services, both on the individual and systemic levels, maximizing community resources through collaborative relationships to support and promote opportunities for justice, rebuild lives, and ensure that older victims of crime are treated with dignity and respect.

The event is free of charge and all are welcome. Parking is available on Morgan Avenue or across the street at Heron Home Health Care’s parking lot. If you have any questions contact Angelique M. Demetris, Marketing and Business Development Manager, at 610-259-9701.

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 FREE Independence Day Fun in Media

   Media Recreation Board will host its annual Independence Day Celebration 10a.m. to noon, Wednesday (July 4) at Barrall Field, State and Edgmont Sts., and will include food, fun, and entertainment, including a live performance by popular kids' entertainer Silly Joe.

  There will also be a water slide, crafts and games for kids.

  For more information, call the recreation office at 610-566-5210, ext. 255.

July 4th decorating in Prospect Park

 

FREE fun and more at the Marple Newtown Parade

  The Annual Marple Newtown Independence Day Parade will kick off 10a.m., Thursday, July 4 from St. Alban's Circle in Newtown Square, travel along West Chester Pike, and end at the Broomall Fire House on Malin Road in Marple. Floats, costumed marchers, antique cars, bands, kids on decorated trikes, bikes, and in wagons and more will be featured in the huge parade. (To register to participate, call M-N Leisure Services at 610-353-2326.) Rain date is Saturday, July 6.

THE NATIONAL CONSTITUTION CENTER CELEBRATES10TH ANNIVERSARY WITH AN ALL-AMERICAN CELEBRATION 

ON THE MALL

FREE ADMISSION TO THE CENTER ON JULY 2 COURTESY OF WAWA,

PART OF WAWA WELCOME AMERICA!

Philadelphia, PA (June 24, 2013) – Join the National Constitution Center as we celebrate our milestone 10th anniversary as the museum of “We the People” with an All-American Celebration on the Mall on Tuesday, July 2, 2013. The big day will be jam-packed with patriotic activities including: discussions led by scholars at different locations throughout Historic Philadelphia, revolutionary war reenactors, a social media scavenger hunt, and other fascinating programs for all ages and interests. Plus, museum admission (which includes the Center’s just-opened 1968 Exhibit) is FREE courtesy of Wawa as the city celebrates Wawa Hoagie Day, part of Wawa Welcome America! As part of Wawa Hoagie Day, the Constitution Center will host an exhibit featuring Wawa’s 200 year-plus history, a special program on the history of Wawa, as well as an interactive quiz show about the history of the hoagie! NOTE: The National Constitution Center will have extended hours on Tuesday, July 2, until 8 p.m.

Visitors to Independence Mall on July 2 can take part in a special program titled Finding the Founders, in partnership with neighboring sites throughout Historic Philadelphia. Finding the Founders features free fascinating conversations with top scholars, who will share their insights on equality and freedom through the lens of the American Revolution. The program will provide an expanded understanding of Independence Day—one that sees the holiday as both a celebration and an acknowledgment of America’s ongoing struggle to achieve the ideals expressed in the nation’s founding documents.

Participating partner organizations include Elfreth’s Alley, Independence National Historical Park, and Historic Philadelphia, Inc., whose sites include the Betsy Ross House and Once Upon a Nation Storytelling Benches. Participating scholars include: Dr. Richard Beeman, John Welsh Centennial Professor of History at the University of Pennsylvania; Dr. George Boudreau, Associate Professor of History and Humanities at Pennsylvania State University–Harrisburg; Dr. Judith Giesberg, Associate Professor of History at Villanova University; historian Sandra Lloyd; Dr. Matthew Pinsker, Associate Professor of History and Brian Pohanka Chair of Civil War History at Dickinson College; and Dr. Ralph Young, Professor of History at Temple University.

For more information and the full line-up of conversations, visit constitutioncenter.org/calendar/finding-the-founders. Admission for the Finding the Founders discussions is FREE and no tickets are needed—just visit one of the stops to join in! Finding the Founders has been supported in part by the Pennsylvania Humanities Council, the Federal-State Partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The Center also is hosting a fun, large-scale, social media scavenger hunt in connection with the Finding the Founders program that hits all of the most important landmarks within Independence National Historical Park essential to the story of our nation’s founding. Participants will follow clues in order to find special life-size cardboard cutouts of some of America’s most notorious founding fathers (and mothers) hidden in “secret” locations throughout Historic Philadelphia. They will then be instructed to follow the National Constitution Center on Twitter or Instagram (@ConstitutionCtr), snap a picture of themselves with the cutout, and tag the photo using #PhillyFounders. Participants who share at least one photo are automatically entered into a raffle to win a great prize, including hotel stays and tickets to some of Philadelphia’s most popular tourist attractions!

Throughout Independence Week (July 3 – 7), visitors celebrate America’s birthday with an array of fun, family-friendly activities, including Colonial-era demonstrations, interactive educational programs, and patriotic craft stations. The Center also will have extended hours on July 3 until 8 p.m. Independence Week programs include:

The 1776 Experience

(July 2 – 4)
At our re-created Revolutionary War encampment, right on the Center’s front lawn, practice mustering with the troops, stop by the medical tent, visit the blacksmith, or try your hand at carpentry or leatherwork. 

Fourth of July Show
10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. (plus 6 p.m. on July 2 and 3)
From parades to protests, cannons to flag waving, explosive words to fiery demonstrations, this show takes an in-depth look at this exciting celebration of freedom from the early days of American independence to the present day.
Flag Etiquette Workshop
10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. (plus 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on July 2 and 3)
In this workshop, visitors will discover the history and symbolism of the American flag and learn about the proper way to treat it.
The Star-Spangled Banner: A History
11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. (plus 5:30 p.m. on July 2 and 3)
Learn the story of Francis Scott Key, the Battle of Fort McHenry, and the flag that inspired our national anthem.
Arts and Crafts
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
At our patriotic craft stations, you can make Uncle Sam, Lady Liberty, and George Washington hats; star wands and wreaths; and crepe paper flags. Silhouette artists and face painters will also be on hand.

Colonial Demonstrations
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Experience what life was like before modern technology with hands-on, Colonial-era demonstrations, including paper-making, candle-making, a printing press, and lawn games.

About the National Constitution Center

The National Constitution Center is an interactive museum, national town hall, and civic education headquarters celebrating the United States Constitution and the story of “We the People.” Located on Independence Mall in Historic Philadelphia, the Center illuminates constitutional ideals and inspires active citizenship through a state-of-the-art museum experience, including hundreds of interactive exhibits, films, and rare artifacts; must-see feature exhibitions; the internationally acclaimed, 360-degree theatrical performance Freedom Rising;  and the iconic Signers' Hall, where visitors can sign the Constitution alongside 42 life-size, bronze statues of the Founding Fathers. As America's town hall, the Center engages diverse, distinguished leaders of government, public policy, journalism and scholarship in timely public discussions and debates. The Center also houses the Annenberg Center for Education and Outreach, the national hub for constitutional education, which offers cutting-edge civic learning

resources both onsite and online. Join us at the museum of “We the People” as we celebrate our 10-year anniversary in 2013. For more information, call 215.409.6700 or visit constitutioncenter.org. 

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 Vacation Bible School at Ridley Park United Methodist Church

   Ridley Park United Methodist Church, Swarthmore and Dupont Sts., Ridley Park, will host a Vacation Bible School for children ages 4-14 from 6:30-8:30 pm July 8-12. The “Eve.rywhere Fun Fair” will take children to a global celebration with the look and feel of a world’s fair. Children can make friends with neighbors around the world and discover that God’s love can be found everywhere, including their own neighborhood. Everyone is welcome. The Vacation Bible School is FREE OF CHARGE and everyone is welcome.

  For more information or to register, call 610-534-1081 or register at the door.