Did someone say freeeeeee???

 Registration underway for Olivet Presbyterian VBS (and it's free!)
 Olivet Presbyterian Church, 1001 Washington Ave., Prospect Park, will hold a Vacation Bible School 6:15-8:30 pm Mon. (June 23) to Thurs. (June 26) for children 4 years old to sixth grade. The closing program will be 7 pm Fri., June 27. The theme will be “Jungle Safari.”
  Activities will include songs, games, crafts, help with a mission project and snacks.  There is no cost, but a free will offering will be accepted each night, with Wednesday’s donation donated to the community garden, the Backpack program and Loaves and Fishes.
  To register children, call 610-534-2270.

Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital to Host Free Stroke Support Education Night
    Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital (MFH) will host a free Stroke Support Education Night on Tuesday, June 10 beginning at 5:30 p.m. Stroke survivors, their caregivers, family members and the community are invited and encouraged to attend. Topics will include diet; nutrition; medications; physical, occupational and speech therapy, as well as an Ask the Doc session.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and is a major cause of adult disability. About 800,000 people in the United States have a stroke each year. On average, one American dies from a stroke every four minutes.
  Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital is a recipient of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award. The award recognizes Mercy Fitzgerald’s commitment and success in implementing excellent care for stroke patients, according to evidence-based guidelines. The hospital has also earned the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval™ for advanced recertification as a Primary Stroke Center.
The Stroke Support Education Night will be held at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital, in Room A located on the Lobby floor of the Medical Science Building
To register for free or to learn more about Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital’s stroke program, please call 1.877.GO MERCY (1.877.466.3729).Wallingford Presbyterian Offers Two Unique Free Programs

Board game night at Folcroft Library
    Children, in 6th grade or older, are invited to attend a Board Game Night at the Folcroft Public Library 6:30 pm Thurs. (June 12).
  To attend, sign up in person or by calling 610-586-1690.

Two free events planned at Wallingford Presbyterian
   Wallingford Presbyterian Church has planned two special events.
On Sunday, June 8 from 4 to 5:30p.m., Buthaina Neveln will give a talk, “Christ, May God's peace and blessing be upon him, in Islam,” in the Reception Room of Wallingford Presbyterian Church, 110 E Brookhaven Rd.
Neveln will talk about the beliefs of the Muslim faith, contrast them with what we read about Fundamentalist Islam, and then talk about how Muslims view Jesus.
Neveln was born in Kut in southern Iraq. She graduated from the University of Baghdad with a bachelor’s degree in English Literature and worked as a journalist and newscaster in the English program of one of the Iraqi TV channels. After the US- led aggression in 2003, she left Iraq for Jordon and married there in 2004 to an American professor and peace activist.  They moved to the U.S. in 2004.
Refreshments will be served and there will be time for personal conversation with Neveln.
Then, on Tuesday, June 10 at noon, the Wallingford Presbyterian will continue its Prime Time brown bag luncheon series.
The topic will be “American Truths and Legends,” by Kim Jovinelli, a Museum and Library Technician with the Delaware County Historical Society. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Archaeology, with a minor in history, from Millersville University, and a Masters in Communication with a concentration on collections from the University of the Arts.
Her talk will provide the unknown history behind the symbolism and legends of the U.S. For instance, we were all taught that Columbus sailed to the U.S. in an effort to prove that the world was not flat. Not true according to Kim, who invites the community to come on June 10 and find out the answer.
The presentation is free and open to the public. Attendees should bring a lunch; beverages and dessert will be provided.  For more information, call Walt Kaminski at 610-334-2025.

Free lecture on WWI
 In honor of the 100th anniversary of WWI, the Marple Public Library will host a two-part lecture exploring the factors that led to the first global conflict. Historian Roger Arthur will present "The Cause of the Great War" on Wednesday, June 11 and Wednesday, June 18 starting at 7 p.m.        Register by calling the library at 610-356-1510. The library is at 2599 Sproul Road, Broomall. For more information, visit www.marplelibrary.org.

FREE night at the movies
  Peace Center of Delaware County First-Friday Free Large Screen Film Series, 1001 Old Sproul Road, Springfield, will screen the 2012 film “The Gatekeepers” on Friday, June 6 at 7p.m. The 95 minute film has a PG-13 rating. This 2013 Oscar 'Best documentary feature' nominee was shot in Israel, France, Belgium and Germany. It is in Hebrew with English subtitles.
Charged with overseeing Israel's war on terror — both Palestinian and Jewish — the head of the Shin Bet, Israel's secret service, has been at the helm of every decision of state, from the June 1967 Six-Day War to the present.
For the very first time, six former heads of the secret agency reflect openly on their actions and the historic background of their decisions.
Through these in-depth interviews, archival footage, and computer animation, the film is a serious reconsideration of Israel's hard-line positions and an argument for a more conciliatory approach based on a two-state solution.
“The Gatekeepers” raises vital questions for everyone about the morality of state-sanctioned violence in the name of internal security.
Doors open at 6:30p.m. for light refreshments.  Stay for an after-film discussion. For more information and directions, visit www.delcopeacecenter.org or call 610-544-1818.

Free ice hockey clinics available
  Ridley Ice Hockey will be holding two  free  Learn to Play Hockey Clinics for new and returning players in grades 1 through 8 at IceWorks in Aston,
  A clinic will be held 5:45-6:45 pm July 13 on Rink 4 and  6:45- 7:45 June 15 on Rink 3. All players are required to wear a hockey helmet.
 For more information go to www.ridleyhockey.com or contact rihwebmaster@icloud.com

Summer reading program at Folcroft Library open to kids of all ages
 The Folcroft Public Library will present many special guests this summer during its “Fizz, Boom, Read” summer program 10 am Thursdays, June 26, July 3, 10 and 17.
 The kick off program will be 7 pm June 19 and feature Ran’D Shine, master musician. Other visitors will be from Heinz Refuge Center and Winterthur Museum.
  The reading program, open to all  children from the time they can read until 12th grade, will run all summer from June 19 until August 31. For every three books read, participants will receive a special coupon. For those reading six or more books, a certificate will be sent to their school.
  Registration is required. For information, call 610-586-1690.

 Free Kid's Day at Prospect Park Library
   All ages are welcomed to join Prospect Park Library on Saturday, June 21 for “Kid’s Fun Day!”  The day will begin at 9 am with the staff hosting their “Fifth Annual Children’s Book Fair.”  Inexpensive children’s books, magazines, DVDs, craft “finds” and snacks will be available for sale.  All proceeds will directly benefit the library.  The book sale runs until 2pm.
  At 11am, “Turtle Dance Music" will entertain. This in a live, humorous, interactive musical performance that is sure to help children, teens and adults come out of their shells!
  Prospect Park Library is at 720 Maryland Avenue (across from the train station.) For more information, call 610.532.4643, email prospectpark@delcolibraries.org or visit www.prospectparklibrary.org.


NOPE Task Force Hosts Free Presentation on Drugs
  In 2012, there were over 60 drug overdose deaths in Delaware County, and one in five teens has abused prescription drugs, according to Holcomb Behavioral Health System.
NOPE (Narcotics Overdose Prevention and Education) Task Force of Delaware County will provide an educational presentation on the dangers of substance abuse for parents and community members 6:30p.m., Thursday (June 5) at Springfield High School auditorium, 49 W. Leamy Ave. All are welcome to attend the free presentation. Family members and experts will explain the facts regarding the issues youth are facing each day, including prescription drug abuse, drug interaction, signs of substance use, addiction, parenting strategies, and where to get help.
The cornerstone of NOPE’s mission is the personal, high impact presentation delivered to middle and high school students throughout the school year.  The message is delivered graphically and emotionally from several perspectives. The presentation is meant to evoke emotion, and demand the attention of the students. Throughout the presentation, real local stories of students who have lost their lives to drugs and alcohol are shared to illustrate the education points and show the reality of the consequences that drug and alcohol abuse can cause. Following virtually every presentation, a number of students seek help, either for themselves, or someone they know, according to Holcomb.
NOPE Task Force is a non-profit organization whose mission is to diminish the frequency and impact of overdose death through community education, family support and purposeful advocacy. For more information about NOPE or to schedule a presentation in a school, contact Beth Mingey at 484-444-0412 or by email at: beth.mingey@holcombbhs.org or visit www.nopetaskforce.org.