Free stuff coming up in Delco, Spring 2016

Free Fishing Tournament at Linvilla Orchard’s Lake  on  April 16
 A free fishing tournament will be held for children up to age 12 (no fishing license required), their parents, friends and relatives at Linvilla Orchards 9 am to 3 pm Saturday, April 16, 2016.
Free event with prizes, basic fishing lessons (hourly) ;
Organized and run by the Rose Tree Media Optimist Club with the Penncrest Junior Optimist Club and with assistance from the Linvilla Staff, the tournament will offer prizes and hourly basic fishing lessons.
Participants are asked to park in Main Parking Area. Linvilla Orchards, 137 W. Knowlton Road, Media.

Free iPad workshop

On April 13 from 2-3pm, Media-Upper Providence Free Library staff present a hands-on workshop on how to use the iPad or iPhone camera and photo apps to take, organize and share photos. The Library will provide iPads for use in class, or bring your own. Space is limited and registration is required at mediauplibrary.org or by calling 610-566-1918.

Tour of Crum Woods

The Nether Providence Historical Society presents Mike Rolli, Crum Woods restoration assistant, talking and showing pictures of this area of Swarthmore College. Have you seen the ruins of old steps and a fountain while walking along the Leiper-Smedley Trail? Have you wondered about some of the trees and flowers you have seen from the trails on the campus? Come learn all about them at the Helen Kate Furness Library on rte. 252 in Wallingford on Wednesday, April 13 at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free.

Green Roof Tour

Scott Arboretum Gardens will hold a Green Roof Tour, 1:40-6 p.m., Wednesday, June 1. The event is free and open to the public. Tour leaves from Scott Arboretum offices and is canceled in inclement weather.

Learn about the inner workings, benefits and beauty of green roofs while exploring the three at the Arboretum. Note: the level of difficulty on these tours is higher than others; a brisk walk and several steps are required to reach the final roof.

Children under the age of 12 are not permitted on the roofs. For more information, call the Scott Arboretum offices at 610-328-8025. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m. For more information, call the Arboretum Offices at 610-328-8025. Visit them at www.scottarboretum.org.

Free movie and refreshments

Concord Liberty Church: Concord Liberty Church, 256 Bethel Road, Glen Mills, ConcordLiberty.org, will be showing the movie “War Room,” 6 p.m., Saturday, April 16. Admission is free and refreshments and movie snacks will be served.  This event is open to the community.
“War Room” was originally released in 2015 surpassing box office expectations.  The film was produced and directed by Stephen and Alex Kendrick who also produced “Fireproof” and “Courageous.” War Room shows the story of a seemingly perfect family who find help from an unexpected place to mend their broken relationships.

Free service for pets

Ok, maybe not lions or tigers or bears, but…  On Sunday, April 24^th, at 4:30pm, members of our families that aren’t usually invited to church services now have their chance in the sun. Our family pets (along with their owners) are invited to spend some time on the front lawn of Swarthmore Presbyterian Church for a short service of blessing, music, prayer and scripture. The whole community is invited to join us! This new tradition welcomes the dogs and cats, fish and birds, rabbits and snakes, hamsters, and any other pet that plays well with others, to be blessed as one of God’s creatures.  For those pets that may not enjoy the company of others, a picture will suffice.

Swarthmore Presbyterian Church is located at 727 Harvard Avenue in Swarthmore. For more information on our service or our rain plan, please visit SPC’s website at www.swarthmorepres.org or call the church office at 610-543-4712.

Free recycling event for Concord residents

Recycling day: Concord Township residents are invited to de-clutter their homes of unwanted electronics, clothing, household items and paper courtesy of the Concord Township Board of Supervisors.  A free recycling, shredding and household collection event is scheduled for 8-11 a.m., Saturday, April 16, only at the Public Works Building, 675 Smithbridge Road.  There is a limit of one TV/CRT monitor per Concord Township household. Proof of residency is required.
Prohibited items include smoke detectors, large appliances, projection and wooden console TVs, hazardous waste/liquids, loose batteries and fluorescent bulbs. Accepted items include electronics (anything with a plug), shredding and donations of clothing and household items in good working condition.
Residents will also have the opportunity to register and purchase lawn bags for Lawn Debris Pick-up, scheduled for Wednesday, May 18.
For more information visit www.twp.concord.pa.us.

Free Suicide Prevention Talk
Rev. Wylie Johnson, from Springfield Baptist Church and affiliated with the Delaware County Suicide Prevention and Awareness Task Force, will speak at Prospect United Methodist Church, 800 Lincoln Ave. (PA 420), Prospect Park, 7 p.m., April 17. Rev. Johnson will share his years of experience with this always up front and current issue of suicide – the hows, the whys, the what to look fors and the what we can dos. Anyone who has ever been touched by this issue is encouraged to attend.
For more information, call PUMC at 484-540-8114 or Lee at 484-557-1875. Leave a message and contact number for a return call. The program is sponsored by PRN Stephen Ministry.

Free Programs at Norwood Library

Norwood Public Library will host the following programs in April.

History of Norwood and Delaware County, Thursday, April 14, 7 p.m. Local historian, Keith Lockhart, will explore Delaware County’s early history, with a slide presentation of prominent locations and landmarks in Delaware County. Keith is a lifelong Ridley resident and graduate of Penn State University, has written numerous local history books and wrote a history column for Town Talk newspapers.

Norwood Library also has April fun planned for kids and teens for the month. Pokemon trainers are invited to the Pokemon Card Game Club, which meets at 3:45 p.m., Thursday, April 14, for an hour of playing and trading.

Norwood Library has regularly scheduled weekly programs as well. Lego Club (kindergarten through fifth-grade) meets at 3:45 on Mondays, Preschool Connections (ages 3-5) is 10 a.m. Tuesdays, Afterschool Kids Klub (grades k-5) is 3:45 Tuesdays. Infant Storytime is at 10 a.m. every Wednesday in April and Video Game Day starts at 3:45 on Thursdays.

For more information, contact the library at 610-534-0693 or e-mail nocsd@delcolibraries.org.

Post Open House

AMVETS Post 118 is inviting all veterans to the Post, 211 N. Morton Ave , Morton, from 1-4 p.m., Saturday, April 16. John Morris, chairman, has worked hard in getting this event off the ground in hopes to accomplish the Post mission “Veterans helping Veterans.” John will have a Veterans Administration Representative present to help with many question about veterans benefits: medical, education and others.

Also Congress Pat Meehan and his aid will be on hand for questions. John has been in contact with many other Veterans Groups for professional information on the assistance to Veterans. The Veterans Office, Media, Director, Mr. Lovejoy is willing to help and assist any Veterans who needs help.

The Post expects all members to attend this open/house. The information will be helpful to all.

For more information call John Morris (USMC) at 484-574-5705.

Free trees available

The Norwood Shade Tree Committee is offering a limited amount of free trees to borough residents.  These are bare root trees, which are much lighter than container trees and have fewer problems with roots being tangled.  The trees are in the 6’ to 8’ height range.  The one stipulation is that these trees must be planted either in the curb area or within 10 feet of the sidewalk on private property.

There are a variety of trees available, including crabapple and linden.  Anyone interested or for questions, contact 610-532-1743 or gkrieg@netcarrier.com. 

Advanced Directives

Taylor Hospice will present an interactive in service workshop on Understanding the Importance of Your Advanced Directives at Ridley Township Public Library on Monday evening, April 18, at 6 p.m. The free workshop will run approximately one and a half hours, and will take place in the lower library meeting room. Questions such as: what is an advance directive, how can my doctor help me prepare one, must the advance directive be notarized, who should I name as my health care agent, and many more questions will be reviewed and answered. Taylor Hospice looks forward to joining with its community for this event. Registration is required. Register by calling 610-583-0593, e-mailing reference@ridleylibrary.org, or by visiting the library, 100 E. MacDade Blvd., Folsom.

Free AGA meeting

AGA Delaware County (Alienated Grandparents Anonymous Support Group) will meet 7:15-8:45 pm April 28 in the Community Service Building, 1950 Market St., Linwood. This is an outreach group designed to provide emotional support to alienated grandparents who are being deprived of seeing their grandchildren for various reasons. The group meets on the fourth Thursday of every month.

For more information, call Angela at 610-613-2976.

Music of Frank Sinatra

Dave DeLuca will pay tribute to Frank Sinatra when he sings Sinatra’s tunes at Ridley Township Library, 2 p.m., Sunday, May 1, in Garling Hall.  “Perfectly Frank” celebrates the man and his music as well as the great composers, lyricists and musical arrangers who put their stamp on an incredible period in American musical history.

DeLuca is an accomplished singer, songwriter, musician and recording engineer who has been performing for more than 30 years. Light refreshments will be served at intermission. Register for this free concert by calling 610-583-0593, e-mailing reference@ridleylibrary.org, or by stopping at the library, 100 E. MacDade Blvd., Folsom.

Free Taize Services

n Christ Episcopal Church, 311 S. Orange St., Media will hold a Taize Service, 7:30 p.m., Thursday, April 21.  Come experience the peaceful calm of beautiful music and quiet stillness in God’s presence at the next Taize Service. Participants sit together in the choir area, and accompanied by several musical instruments , sing the Taize chants, hear lessons from Scripture and spend time in silence, letting the Spirit work on us to create a deeper, richer inner life. For additional information, call the church office, 610-566-7525.

n Wallingford Presbyterian Church will hold a Taize service at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 20. The Taizé community, headquartered in France, is an ecumenical monastic order with a strong devotion to peace and justice through prayer and meditation.  Their style of worship has become popular in churches, retreat centers and seminaries throughout the world.

At Wednesday’s candlelit service, the church will follow the ritual of the singing of distinctive and much-repeated chants and songs, prayers and meditation. Attendees should leave feeling very relaxed and at peace.

Display to view

William Lynch, president of the Golden Impulse jewelry store at 25 West State Street in Media, has teamed with former Delco Baseball League president Jim Vankoski to present a window display of Delco League memorabilia, consisting of uniforms, caps, player photos and other artifacts from the league’s unparalleled history. The league, founded in 1908, is the oldest incorporated baseball league in the United States. Its 2016 season, slated to begin May 7, will be its 109th. The display includes a list of its “Teams of the Decades” from 1930 through 2010.

Medicare 101

Medicare 101 will be presented by Apprise and Senior Community Services, 2 p.m., Wednesday, April 13. This presentation explains the basics of Medicare A, B, C and D. In addition, the free presentation explains Medicare terminology such as co-pays, co-insurance, deductibles, enrollment periods, and penalties. Medicare cost saving programs and supplemental plans will also be discussed.

This free presentation will be at the Aston Community Center located at 3270 Concord Road in Aston. This presentation is favorable for consumers who are new to Medicare.

For questions or to register for the course, contact Lori at 484-496-2138. Pre-registration is required. Do not contact the municipality directly, as workers may not be familiar with the program.

Learn about bees

The Middletown Township Land Conservancy invites the community to its 35th Annual Members Meeting, “The Beekeeper’s Year,” 7:30 p.m., Thursday, April 18, at the Middletown Township Building, 27, N. Pennell Road, Lima. The presentation will be by Paul Strommer, Tyler Arboretum’s volunteer beekeeper. No registration required. Refreshments will be served. A brief business meeting will precede the program.

Historical Novelist

On April 19, from 6:30-7:30 p.m., Media-Upper Providence Free Library hosts historical novelist Jeff Heller who will trace the colorful history of the French in America. The author will share slides and commentary to present the fascinating story of how fighting, folkways and even fashion influenced the actions taken by the French in their quest to claim a continent. Come meet the author and enjoy French-inspired refreshments. Space is limited and registration is required at mediauplibrary.org or 610-566-1918.

Estate Planning

Estate Planning for Young Families will be 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 19, at the Helen Kate Furness Free Library. Estate planning is important for young and growing families. Even if you do not think your estate is large enough to require estate planning, every parent should have a will to plan for and protect their family’s future.

Heather D’Onofrio from The D’Onofrio Firm, LLC, will lead this free, informative program in the Chadwick Auditorium on the library’s lower level. The Helen Kate Furness Free Library is at 100 N. Providence Road in Wallingford. Contact Jennifer at 610-566-9331 or e-mail furnesslibrary@delcolibraries.org with any questions.

Adult Coloring

The Aston Library Adult Coloring Group will be 6 p.m., Tuesdays, in April. Bring your friends and family and have a great time relaxing and having fun at this free program. Materials will be provided.

For more information about the Aston Public Library, go to www.astonlibrary.org. The Library is at 3270 Concord Road in Aston.

Swarthmore Public Library's free program

Swarthmore Public Library presents The Traditional Agricultural Year with historian Nancy Webster, 2 p.m., Tuesday, April 26, in the community room at the library, 121 Park Avenue, Swarthmore. Nancy will speak about traditional agricultural practices in America. She will speak about traditional gardens, traditional cooking, traditional medicine and herbs, and other considerations and practices of households in the colonial era and early America.

All programs are free and open to the public. To register, call 610-543-0436 or e-mail swarthmore@delcolibraries.org.

Speaker Series

The Friends of the Marple Public Library will continue the Spring speaker series, 7:15 p.m., Wednesday, April 20, with a colorful PowerPoint presentation on why the region is an international travel destination for those who love beautiful gardens. 

There are more than 30 public gardens in the greater Philadelphia region, making it America’s Garden Capital. Learn what makes each garden amazing and worth a visit. The guest speaker is Becky Robert of Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College who will give an insider’s view of the best days, times and must see locations of the Delaware Valley garden scene.

Robert has been the PR and Volunteer Programs Coordinator at the Scott Arboretum for 10 years.

The program will be in the lower level community room. It will last one hour and is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served and Robert will be available after the presentation for questions. Reservations are requested but not required. Marple Public Library is at 2599 Sproul Road, Broomall, 610-356-1510.

Free program at St. Alban’s

There will be a community form on “Being Mortal: What Matters In The End,” 7 p.m., May 5, at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 3625 Chapel Road (corner of 252 N. and Chapel), Newtown Square. This free forum is made possible by Main Line Health Home Care & Hospice in concert with St. Alban’s Episcopal Church and the Newtown and Marple Public libraries.

St. Alban’s is a member of the Marple/Newtown Clergy Association. The forum will address critical issues raised in “Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End” -- Dr. Atul Gawande’s best seller book -- such as the tension between the desire and expectation of doctors to treat and extend life and the medical profession’s profound spiritual, financial, physical and familial challenges when quality of life is brought into the decision making process.

Increasingly, families, couples and singles are facing the death of their parents and their peers. Life can be extended, but life can also be suddenly ended due to such external forces as drug abuse, suicide, auto accidents, and the many uncertainties in our complex societies.

Uncertainty enters into the medical environment and the patient’s room: Where once there was the supremacy of the doctor, now, patient, family members, and medical professionals are entering into a collaborative decision-making process to enhance how the patient is to live out their life and how they will die. This has potentially profound impacts upon spiritual elements as well as the kind and costs of treatment. The choice may not be another procedure, but the caring hand and presence of a friend, parent, or healthcare professional that listen and understand the voyage that begins when a person is confronting their mortality and deciding how they wish to say goodbye.

Dr. Gawande, a practicing surgeon, author and public health researcher, asks: How can medicine not only improve and extend life, but do so while achieving quality of life for the patient and family members? He maintains that decisions about treatment need to be weighed with the impact on the patient’s quality of life and the involvement of family members with the medical, social and spiritual professionals. A balance is sought among extending life, achieving quality of life, seeking a balance between medical and financial costs and benefits, and accepting one’s mortality.

We have brought together an experienced team that is able to help that present deal with end-of-life issues that have become so prevalent and painful. Terre Mirsch, Director of Main Line Health Homecare and Hospice, will be the moderator and key presenter. Terre will be joined by Dr.Karl Ahlswede, Medical Director, Palliative Care at MLH, Joanne Glusman, Palliative Care Social Worker & Co-Chair, Family Practice Residency Program at Bryn Mawr College, and Dr. Vinton Fisher, Volunteer Chaplain at Nemours Childrens, Talbot Hospice(Md), and two area Continuing Care Retirement Communities.

All have experience in end-of-life care and coping with families, healthcare professionals and patients’ questions. Some topics might include: comfort and pain management, advanced directives, medical orders for life-sustaining treatment, necessary discussions among patients, family, and medical professionals, and how with care to deal with questions of “final arrangements.”

This forum is the first in a series of forums that St. Alban’s is presenting to meet the needs of the Greater Marple Newtown community. A second forum in June is being planned, again in cooperation with Main Line Health.

Desserts will be provided after the forum so that more informal discussion can continue. For registration and information, contact Kelly at St. Alban’s at 610-356-0459, e-mail parish.associate@verizon.net or Newtown Public Library at 610-353-1022, e-mail nedirector@delcolibraries.org.

In order to maximize benefits and participation, attendance will be limited to the first 40 registrants.

Infant Storytime

Welcome Spring and new life by bringing your infant (ages birth to 24 months) to Infant Storytime at Folcroft Public Library, 1725 Delmar Drive, Folcroft.

Children will be introduced to the wonderful world of books, music and puppets, and more. The group meets at 10 a.m. on Mondays April 18 and 25. Registration is appreciated. Phone number is 610-586-1690.