Delaware County offers lots of freebies this month!

Redwood Playhouse Hosts ‘Luau’ Dance Party

 Area residents age 50 and older can hit the dance floor at the Redwood Playhouse Community Center for a FREE “ Luau Dance Party” 7 to 9:30p.m., Thursday (Aug. 15), with the Peter Thomas Band performing and Sal April will instruct  line dancing.

  Redwood also offers fitness programs Wednesdays and Fridays, ballroom dancing with live bands every Tuesday, line dancing every Monday and Friday afternoons and Country Line dancing Wednesday evenings.

  All events at the Redwood Playhouse are free to Delaware County residents and are sponsored by Delaware County Council and the Parks and Recreation Department.

  The Redwood Playhouse Community Center is in Upland Park on 6th St. in Upland. For more information, call 610-891-6061 or visit the county web site for monthly schedule at www.co.delaware.pa.us and click on Park and Recreation, Upland Park.

Library Friends to Host Book Sale at Mall

The Friends of the Middletown Free Library will host their giant Summer Used Book Sale at Granite Run Mall's Center Court Saturday and Sunday (Aug. 10 and 11) beginning at 11a.m. Admission is FREE. Thousands of books will be offered at prices, with hardback books selling for $1 and paperbacks, 50 cents.  There will also be specialty books, DVDs, VHS tapes and more. proceeds will benefit the library. The community is welcome to browse books by categories that include Popular Authors, Mysteries, Cookbooks, Biographies, Children's Books and more. Those who can't make it to sale can still help the library by throwing spare change into the Mall's fountain during August; funds will go to the library. The Friends are also participating in Ruby Tuesday's Community GiveBack program that weekend; get a special flyer at the library that will tell the restaurant to give a percentage of your meal tab to the library.

FREE Intro to Square Dancing Offered

  Club Sashay will sponsor “An Introduction to Square Dancing,” 1 to 2:30p.m., Saturday (Aug. 17) at the Wallingford Presbyterian Church, 110 East Brookhaven Road.

  Clay Goss will be the caller. He is a skilled instructor who will provide a fun-filled session for singles, couples and families.

  Refreshments will be provided; dress casually.

  For more information, call 610-446-2794. 

Free Computer Workshop for Job-Seekers Aug. 20

  A free three-day Personal Computing Workshop for job-seekers will be held at the Delaware County CareerLink at Delaware County Community College starting Aug. 20.  The class will introduce attendees to the basics of personal computers, email, basic file management and how to navigate the Internet to access job resources such as the PA CareerLink's JobGateway system.

  The workshop is sponsored by the Delaware County Workforce Investment Board and will be held at the Delaware County Community College, 901 South Media Line Road, Media. Call the CareerLink office at 610-723-1220 Monday-Friday 8:30a.m. to 4:30p.m. to reserve a spot.

Free Job-Seekers Workshops Set

  CareerLink will offer two upcoming free workshops for job-seekers.

  Those interested in pursuing a career in the healthcare industry can get information at a free workshop on Aug. 15, sponsored by your Delaware County Workforce Investment Board. The workshop will be held from 9:30 to 11a.m. at the PA CareerLink office, 701 Crosby Street, Suite B, Chester. Seating is limited; call 610-447-3350 for an appointment.

  A Civil Service Workshop is set for 9:30 to 11:30a.m., Aug. 13 at the same location.

The workshop will include reviewing open test announcements, the application process, how to schedule a test, types of tests, what happens after testing and test-taking advice.

  Call the above number to reserve a seat.

  Chester CareerLink is open 8 to 4, weekdays.

Building Trades Training Program for Youth Accepting Applications

  Edward Coleman, Chief Executive Officer, announced that the Community Action Agency of Delaware County, Inc.’s (CAADC) Building Trades Training Program is accepting applications from eligible youth.

  The FREE Building Trades Training Program is designed to help out-of-school youth gain the skills for a rewarding career. Free training is provided in plumbing basics, construction and drywall, and electrical maintenance.

  Participants receive industry recognized certifications in OSHA Construction, Lead Safety and forklift training. Participants are paid during field training.

  There are only ten available slots, and applicants must meet the following requirements: be between the ages of 17 and 21; currently reside in Delaware County; and not enrolled in high school.

  Income eligibility guidelines apply.

  Interested youth may call today to see if they are eligible.  Contact Carla Gordy at CAADC’s Employment and Training Department at 610-874-8451 x 1037 or 610-872-2611.

FREE Admission at PA Veterans Museum

    The Pennsylvania Veterans Museum is open noon to 5 p.m., Thursday through Sunday. Admission is free. Private and school tours are also available; call for details. PA Veterans Museum is in the Media Armory, 12 East State Street, Media. For more information, call  610-566-0788.

 Free Soup At St. James

  St. James Episcopal Church, 11th and Lincoln Aves., Prospect Park will resume its FREE 'Soup'er Lunch Program September 10. The lunches will be offered at 11a.m., every Tuesday. The  lunch is free, although donations are gratefully accepted). Everyone is welcome.

 Sports Museum at Mall

  The Mickey Vernon Sports History at Granite Run Mall is open during mall hours and is free of charge.

  The museum is a volunteer, not-profit, organization. Anyone with an interest in getting involved in the project should contact Jim Vankoski at 610-909-4919 or vankoski21@comcast.net

 Free classes offered in fall at Friendship Circle

  Summer is ending and Friendship Circle Senior Center in Darby (across from Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital) will offer its fall semester of classes in Center for Life Long Learning.  Classes available are:

Medicare Basics, Wednesday, September 25^th at 1pm.  A basic overview of what Medicare is and what is covers.  Prescription plans will also be discussed.  FREE

Aromatherapy (1^st in a 3 part series on self healing), Monday, September 23^rd at 1pm.  FREE

PennDOT “Yellow Dot” Program (the yellow dot alerts first responders to check the glove compartment for vital information), Monday, September 9^th, 1pm.  FREE

When registering for the programs, ask for a complete listing of all classes including exercise, computers and the arts. 

For more information or to register, contact Donna Schumacher, program coordinator, at 484-534-2033 or email dschumacher@scs-delco.org.

Job Skills Workshop- for free- offered

Do you need help identifying and articulating your skills? Come to this workshop to do an in-depth assessment of your transferable skills and identify your preferred skill sets.

The workshop is being sponsored by your Delaware County Workforce Investment Board and will be held from 1:30pm to 3:30pm on August 21st at the CareerLink located at 701 Crosby Street, Suite B, Chester, Pa. For information please call the CareerLink at 610 447-3350 from 8am to 4pm Monday to Friday.

Gateway Community Church offers FREE Vacation Bible School for kids

   Gateway Community Church will feature “Athens: Paul's Dangerous Journey to Share the Truth” at Vacation Bible School Aug. 5 through 9 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Snacks, crafts, games and songs for the children to learn will be featured, will a closing celebration 7 p.m., Aug. 9 when a pageant is planned and there will be refreshments for all.

For more information and to register, contact Mary Campbell at 610-566-0131 or 610-202-4562 or via email at mrosecampbell@yahoo.com or go to the Gateway Community Church web site atwww.visitgateway.org.

 FREE Concerts in the Park

  Delaware County continues to offer free concerts in Rose Tree Park, Upper Providence, Wednesday through Sunday evenings, until Aug. 18. All performances begin at 7:30 p.m.

  Upcoming concerts include  the modern Celtic rock group Blackthorn (Aug. 15); Yellow Brick Road: Tribute to Elton John (Aug. 16); the Gypsy Jazz group Hot Club of Philadelphia (Aug. 11);Native American Music Award nominees Spirit Wing (Aug. 8); Original Orlons (Aug. 17); the U.S. Army Field Band & Soldiers’ Chorus (Aug. 14); and the Charlie Phillips Band playing the music of Eric Clapton August 18. Bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit upon and enjoy a night of FREE music and entertainment!