A few fantastic freebies coming up soon!

Free tour of Scott Arboretum
 Explore the Scott Arboretum's plant collections with Arboretum staff in a free “Highlights of the Arboretum” tour 11:30 am Sat. (July 26). Tour departs from the Scott Arboretum offices and is open to the public. . This tour is designed for gardeners from beginners to experts. 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 Mondaythrough Friday, 8:30 am to noon and 1 to 4:30 pm. For more information, call the Arboretum Offices at 610-328-8025. Visit us at www.scottarboretum.org.

Free Programs for Kids and Teens at Library
   Melted Crayon Art: Kid and teens, ages 11-18 are invited to visit the Media-Upper Providence Library 3p.m., Thursday (Aug. 7) to create unique art projects by melting crayons and explore science at the library this summer
Stars on the Move: Area kids can explore the night sky in an inflatable planetarium at the Media-Upper Providence Library with a Stars on the Move visit 3p.m., Tuesday (Aug.  5). This program will be held at the Community Center, 301 N. Jackson St., Media.
Registration is required for both programs; call 610-566-1918 or email mecsd@delcolibraries.org to sign up.

Health and Job Fair in Marcus Hook Saturday
  A Health and Beauty Expo and Job Fair will be held 10a.m. to 2p.m., Saturday (July 26) from 10am to 2pm. at Cokesbury, United Methodist Church, 307 Market St., Marcus Hook.
This is a free admission community event featuring various vendors in the health and beauty industry, in addition to a job fair. Vendors will bring recruitment information.
This event is also a fundraiser for the Cokesbury UMC Summer Reading and Lunch Program. The school district cancelled the summer lunch program and Cokesbury UMC is stepping up to provide free lunches and reading.
The vendor fee is whatever the vendor wants to donate to the church and a bag of food for the Angel Food Pantry.Raffle baskets will be chanced off and healthy food will be served in the youth group kitchen.
For vendor information, call Michele at 484-832-1443.

Delco Toastmasters invite public to check out meeting
Delaware County Toastmasters (Club 3204) invites the public to stop by one of its meetings to see how the organization can help people to become a better public speakers, develop their leadership skills, and communicate more effectively in their public and personal life.  Toastmasters helps to build the confidence people need to succeed.
  The next meeting is 7 pm Wed. (August 6) at the Swarthmore Meeting House on the Swarthmore College Campus, 12 Whittier Place. campus.  The group meets every other Wednesday.

Free Western Dancing Lessons at Swarthmore’s First Friday
   Club Sashay will sponsor an Introduction to Square Dancing 5 to 7p.m., Friday (Aug. 1) in the parking lot of the Swarthmore Borough Hall, 121 Park Ave.
Club Sashay, the oldest square dance club in Delaware County, will be part of Swarthmore First Friday activities.
Clay Goss will be the caller. He is a skilled instructor who will provide a free, fun-filled session for singles, couples and families.
Call Susan or Jeff at 610 446-2794 for more information or e-mail ClubSashay@gmail.com.
Gateway Church Plans Bible School

Gateway offers free Vacation Bible School for kids
Gateway Community Church will host “Wilderness Escape” Vacation Bible School 6 to 8p.m., Monday through Friday, Aug. 4 through 8. Children will hear the story of how Moses led his people through the wilderness and how God provided for them.
There will be snacks, crafts, games and songs for the children to learn. Parents will want to attend the closing celebration 7p.m., Aug. 8 for a pageant and refreshments.
The church is at 708 S. Old Middletown Road. For more information and to register, call Mary Campbell at 610-566-0131 or 610-202-4562 or via email at mrosecampbell@yahoo.com. Gateway Community Church web site is www.visitgateway.org.

Talk on Oscar Hammerstein at Pendle Hill
 Musician and educator Karl Middleman will speak on “Oscar Hammerstein II: Poet, Patriot, and Progressive,” 7:30 to 9p.m., Monday (Aug. 4) in the Barn at Pendle Hill, 338 Plush Mill Road, Wallingford. The program is part of Pendle Hill's First Monday Series of free lectures, films, and events; no reservations are required.
Oscar Hammerstein, lyricist of some of the 20th century’s most enduring American musicals, is known for sentimental songs such as “Getting to Know You” and “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”
Yet, as a descendant of German Jewish immigrants, he raised his voice against atomic bomb proliferation, racism, Nazism, and censorship, and was cited by the FBI for association with 19 radical organizations.
Using historic recordings and videos, Middleman will explore the music and politics of Oscar Hammerstein.
Middleman founded and directs the Philadelphia Classical Symphony, teaches on the faculty of Temple University, and serves as a Commonwealth Speaker for the Pennsylvania Council on the Humanities.
For more information on his presentation, visit Pendle Hill’s website, www.pendlehill.org, or call 610-566-4507, ext. 129.
Located on 23 acres in Wallingford, PA, Pendle Hill is a Quaker study, retreat, and conference center offering programs for people of all faiths.

Free admission to PA Veterans Museum
 The Pennsylvania Veterans Museum is a non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve, protect and promote the legacy of Pennsylvania’s military veterans through education. The PVM is particularly focused on educating youth about the sacrifices made in times of war for our freedom.
The Museum features personal memorabilia and video kiosks that tell the history of World War I to Vietnam through the eyes and experiences of Pennsylvania men and women who served in the military.
The Museum is at 12 E. State Street, Media and is open Thursday through Sunday, noon to 5p.m.  Admission is free.

Puppet Show at Aston Library
 Mr. Don from Classroom Adventures will entertain the kids with a puppet show 1p.m., Wednesday (Aug. 6) in the gym at Aston Library, 320 Concord Road.
Mr. Don will use his original, highly interactive, personalized story to teach important life lessons.
The event is part of the county “Fizz Boom Read” programs this summer for children. There is a free program 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/AstonSRP14. For more information go to  www.astonlibrary.org.

‘Divergent’ celebration planned at Middletown Library
    To help celebrate the release of “Divergent” on DVD, the Middletown Free Library is inviting all "Tweens and Teens” for a night of “Divergent” activities and fun, 6 p.m., Aug. 12.  Pizza will be served; feel free to bring snacks and a pillow and dress in your favorite faction.  Registration is required; e-mail Eventkeeper@ www.middletownfreelibrary.orgor call the library at 610-566-7828.