Take advantage of local free events!

 Free Senior Health and Wellness Fair
The Delaware County Institute of Science, 11 Veterans Square, Media, will host a free lecture,7:30-8:45 p.m., Monday, May 9. Artists Andrew Arata and Robert Deane will present “Repurposing the Appalachians into Pottery.” This presentation will describe digging and processing Southeastern Pennsylvania clay to create sculptures, and discuss the science and mythology behind their creations. The lecture will be preceded by two short presentations by the top winners of the Delaware County Science Fair.

Senior Community Services will sponsor a free Senior Health and Wellness Fair at the Brookhaven Municipal Building on Thursday, May 12 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.  This Health Fair will provide important health and wellness information for seniors and their families. Health providers from various organizations such as Crozer Keystone Health System Community Health Education, Riddle Hospital Stroke Program (providing blood pressure screening, stroke risk assessment, and information on early heart attack care), and many more will be in attendance. Energy saving light bulbs will be distributed by PECO. APPRISE counselors will also be present to offer free Medicare 101 information.

For more information, contact Senior Community Services 484-496-2143. The Brookhaven Municipal Building is located at 2 Cambridge Road in Brookhaven.

Free Document Shred Day

   McCausland, Garrity and Marchesani Funeral Home & Crematory, 343 S. Chester Pike, Glenolden, will hold their 8^th annual Shredding Day 1-4 pm Sunday, May 1. Everyone is welcome to bring their documents and other papers for shredding. The event is free, but people are asked to bring a canned good for the local food bank. For information, call 610-583-0148.

World Laughter Day

The Philadelphia Area World Laughter Day 2016 Celebration will be 2-3 p.m., Sunday, May 1, at the Rose Tree Park Outdoor Amphitheater, 1671 N. Providence Road, Media. The event is free and open to the community. World Laughter Day was created in 1998 by Dr. Madan Kataria, founder of the world wide Laughter Yoga movement. The celebration of World Laughter Day is a positive manifestation for world peace and is intended to build up a global consciousness of brotherhood and friendship through laughter.

Media resident Alexa Drubay of www.laughteryogawithalexa.com and Ernie Oktay of http://www.laughteryogafriends.com/ will be leading fun, easy-to-follow laughter exercises combined with deep yogic breathing. Participants will leave feeling uplifted and re-energized.

These exercises can be done standing or seated. No experience is necessary. People should bring a water bottle, blanket, sun hat and a folding chair.

Contact Alexa Drubay at 215-478-5669 or alexa@laughteryogawithalexa.com with questions. RSVP/Rain date information at http://www.meetup.com/Laughter-Yoga-Club-Delaware-County-PA/events/229606605/.

Living History in Aston May 12

  Aston Township Historical Society (ATHS) will be joined by Clarence Hickey at its quarterly meeting on May 12 at 7 p.m. There is a change in venue to the Aston Township Community Center, 3720 Concord Road. The event is free.

  Hickey, formerly of Fisher’s Corner, Aston, gives a presentation on “The Life and Times a Country Doctor in the 1800s.” This first person portrayal reflects the life and historic times of country doctor Edward Stonestreet and his colleagues when Stonestreet practiced medicine in Rockville, Md., from 1852-1903. It is based on the speaker’s 2009 biography, “Send for the Doctor.” The book chronicles Doctor Stonestreet’s life, family, medical education and his brief service as a surgeon with U.S. Army during the Civil War. It also highlights his 51 year medical practice of house calls and office visits as a local physician and surgeon. Plus, the biography includes the doctor responding to accidents and injuries while serving as a family physician in Rockville and the surrounding county.

  Hickey dresses in period attire and brings a 1885 medical bag with 19th century medical instruments and medicinals to share and discuss.

  The newly updated ATHS history museum and research center is open prior to the meeting from 6:30-7. Bring old pictures for ATHS to scan for its archives.  Everyone is welcome to this free event.

Free Talk on Gardening

On May 10 from 6:30-7:30pm, Media-Upper Providence Free Library presents a free talk by Penn State's Master Gardener Joe Daniels. He will describe the recommended ways to grow herbs, preferred growing conditions and how to incorporate them into your garden. Joe will describe herb varieties and which types to plant together. Small herb plants will be available for purchase after the program.  To register, visit mediauplibrary.org or call 610-566-1918.

Free Genealogy presentation

Join the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania at the Rachel Kohl Library for “Researching Your Irish Ancestors” on Wednesday, May 4^th at 6:30pm. This lecture gives hints and suggestions on finding both Catholic and Protestant Irish ancestors from the 17^th century through the Potato Famine and into the early 1900s. Registration is requested for this event. Call the library at 610-358-3445, ext. 4.

Learn How To De-Clutter in Free Session

The Rachel Kohl Library welcomes professional organizer Karen Jessee for “De-Stress and De-Clutter” on Tuesday, May 10^th at 6:30pm. See  the before and after, hear the stories and learn the strategies of living a life that is easier, healthier and more efficient through getting organized and staying organized.

Free Community Dinner 

Collenbrook United Church will host a FREE monthly Community Dinner to help feed local families in need Thursday, April 28. The Dinner will take place on the last Thursday of each month. Everyone is welcome to the dinner at Collenbrook United Church, 5290 Township Line Rd. in Drexel Hill, in their Fellowship Hall between  5 and 7 pm. Attendees can enter the lot from either State or Township Line Roads. Please use the entrance near the playground to enter the Fellowship Hall, and there is handicapped access through the Sanctuary doors. Collenbrook is across from the Drexel Line Shopping Center. For questions,  call: 610-789-9590.

Free Block Party Offered

The Aston Public Library will have a family "Block Party" 5 pm Tuesday, May 3.   A Block Party is a 45 minute to an hour long free play session with a set of universal blocks, people, vehicles, animals, scarves and other materials where families with young children have the freedom to build and play as they wish.

With the materials provided to Aston Library by a grant through the Pennsylvania State Library, families with young children will build and experiment, manipulate objects, work with others, count and measure, and build vocabulary.  This program is open to anyone who wishes to attend. There are 2 rules---no throwing blocks and no knocking down anyone else's structure. No registration is required. 

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

Free Iris Show

The Delaware Valley Iris Society will hold an iris show on Sunday, May 15 at the Jenkins Arboretum and Gardens. The arboretum is at 631 Berwyn-Baptist Rd. Devon. The show features Bearded, Siberian and Louisiana irises. There will also be an Artistic Division. The show is open for viewing by the public from 12-4 pm. There is no admission fee. A coupon will be available to all show attendees for a free iris at the iris sale in July.

Free Session With a Hand Specialist

Dr. Blane Sessions, a hand surgeon with the Crozer Keystone Health System, will discuss common conditions that cause hand and wrist pain, how to relieve pain with over-the-counter medications and conservative therapies, in a free presentation 2 pm Thursday, May 19.  This presentation will also discuss when to see a doctor as well as how to determine whether you may be a good candidate for surgery.

The presentation will be at the Brookhaven Municipal Building at 2 Cambridge Road in Brookhaven.

If you have any questions or would like 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.

Calling all seniors to come out for the gold!

     All residents age 50 and older are invited to compete in golf, basketball, swimming, bowling, track & field, table tennis, billiards and shuffleboard during the Delaware County Senior Games, June 8-19. New this year is a bocce exhibition.  Come out and cheer, volunteer or compete. The event is sponsored by County Council, the Parks Department and COSA. To register, visit www.delcoseniorgames.org

Free lecture at Institute of Science 

The Delaware County Institute of Science, 11 Veterans Square, Media, will host a free lecture,7:30-8:45 p.m., Monday, May 9. Artists Andrew Arata and Robert Deane will present “Repurposing the Appalachians into Pottery.” This presentation will describe digging and processing Southeastern Pennsylvania clay to create sculptures, and discuss the science and mythology behind their creations. The lecture will be preceded by two short presentations by the top winners of the Delaware County Science Fair.

Free tips on starting a business

Media-Upper Providence Free Library will present a seminar on how to start and operate a business, in partnership with Chester & Delaware County SCORE, 7-9 pm May 17. The presenter, Frank Farmer, founder of the Small Business Assistance Center, will provide an overview on start-up questions including business structure, financing, hiring agreements, accounting systems and tax liability. Register online at the SCORE page on mediauplibrary.org.

Marchers needed! There’s no cost to being patriotic!

The American Legion Post 227 is sponsoring the Springfield Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 30th at 10 am. The Legion is asking all Veterans, Reserve, National Guard and Active Duty Military, who may be home on leave, to march in the Parade. In addition the Post welcomes any uniform member in the following groups: Police, Fire Company, Ambulance Corps, other First Responders, ROTC units, Lions and all Scout members, to come to Veterans Memorial Park at 9:30 am. If one can not march, they can ride in one of the many vehicles in the Parade.

 For more information, call Legion Post Commander Rocco Polidoro at 610-544-8900.   

Play pool for free and for fun!

The POCKETS PIRATES, a pool team at the Folsom School House Senior Center, Folsom, is looking for a few pool players, new or experienced. The  pool team competes against other senior centers from Phila. to Glen Mills. Players range in age from 60-87 and they play for fun. The senior center has two pool tables and they play about 4 tournaments a month, some home and others away. They win some and also lose some ,but the players say they always have a good time.  For more information, contact Harry Mirra at 610-543-2082.

Middletown Community Day

The 22nd annual Middletown Township Community Day will be held 11 am to 3 pm  Saturday, May 14  at Penn State Brandywine Campus, rain or shine.  There will be lots of free local entertainment for all ages to enjoy. The outdoor event has fun activities planned for the whole family and everyone is  welcome.

Local business tables will be available with information about their services.  A variety of animal rescue groups will also have exhibits, including the Delaware County SPCA, Red Paws and the Animal Rescue of Southeast Pennsylvania.  Other information booths will include the Colonial Plantation and Middletown Township Historical Society.

Community Day has many free features,  including a variety of children activities, including face painting, pony rides, and moon bounces.  Mr. Jason of Middletown Free Library will be on hand to get wet from the “Big Splash.”

The Parks and Recreation Booth will have information about Middletown’s Summer Camp Program, their day and overnight trips and many more activities.  Local residents can also learn more about Middletown’s 911 Center and Delaware County Canine Unit.

The musical acts for Community Day will start off with the Mummers Overbrook String Band at 11:30am,  followed by Makin’ Music.  The Rockdale Music bands will start playing at 2 p.m. There will be sack races for both adults and children.  Once again this year, the day will feature the Giant Donut eating contest and the very popular “Wing Bowl” featuring competitors from Williamson College of The Trades and the volunteers from Middletown Fire Company #1. 

Middletown Community Day will also have clowns, balloon art, face painters, hay rides, fire engine rides, photo booth and many fun activities for young and old alike.  Wolff’s Apple House is once again donating flowers for the young ones to plant.  There will be free water ice from Rita’s thanks to the generous donation from Weather’s  Motors.  Plus many, many more activities and surprises. Attendees are encouraged to stop by the food court to purchase  lunch and snacks and  lemonade at Alex’s Lemonade stand.

For more information, contact Middletown Township at 610-565-2700 or visit www.middletowncommunityday.com.

The Middletown Township Parks and Recreation building is at 27 North Pennell Road in Lima. Penn State Brandywine Campus is at 25 Yearsley Mill Road and Route 352 in Middletown Township.

Free presentation on nursing homes and finances

Is it true you will lose everything you own if you need nursing home care or other long-term care? Robert and Dana Breslin, Esq., will present information and answer questions and clarify information surrounding the topic of nursing home care and long-term care. The  free presentation will be held on Thursday, May 5 at 1 p.m. at the Brookhaven Municipal Building located at 2 Cambridge Road in Brookhaven.

 Robert and Dana Breslin, Esq. will discuss what happens if you or your spouse suddenly needs  24-hour care. They will also discuss the pros and cons of transferring your home to your children. Participants will also learn about the existing programs that can help protect their income.  

To register for this free presentation ,  contact Lori at 484-496-2138, but do not contact the municipality directly, as workers may not be familiar with the program.

APPRISE Offers Free Talk on Medicare Supplemental Plans

This free presentation will cover basic information related to Medicare Supplemental Plans as well as terminology, selection of plans, costs, and how the APPRISE Program can assist Medicare beneficiaries. Delaware County APPRISE Program Manager Glenda Radical will present on Tuesday, May 3 at 2 p.m. at the Springfield Township Building located at 50 Powell Road in Springfield.

If you have any questions or would like to register for the course, contact Lori at 484-496-2138. Pre-registration is required, but  do not contact the municipality directly, as workers may not be familiar with the program.

Free concert is free for seniors

Lion's M.A.N.E. invites senior citizens living in the Rose Tree Media School District to a free Jazz Band Concert in the auditorium of Springton Lake Middle School on Thursday, May 26.  The concert starts at 12:30 p.m.  There are no steps to navigate to enter the auditorium or reach seating. Senior citizens living in the district can reserve tickets by calling the Lion's M.A.N.E. voice  mailbox by Tuesday, May 24, 2016. The voice mailbox number is 610-627-6263. Callers should leave their names, phone number, and the number of tickets requested. Seats are general seating only. The entire event is approximately an hour in length and will feature a variety of great jazz band charts including Pennsylvania 6-5000 by Glenn Miller and Do It Again by George Gershwin. Following the performance, attendees will have the opportunity to share light snacks and meet the student performers in the auditorium lobby. Lion's M.A.N.E. is the senior citizen outreach program of the Rose Tree Media School District. Senior citizens  are invited to have membership in Lion's M.A.N.E. to gain access to free and discounted tickets for district luncheons and school events. To join the group, senior citizens, age 65 and older living in the district, can go to the district Education Center at 308 North Olive Street,  Media, and show a driver's license or other verification of age and address. A Gold Card will be issued at that time for life membership in Lions M.A.N.E., valid as long as the person remains a resident of the district. Questions? Call Meg at 610-627-6263 and leave a message in the  Lion's M.A.N.E. voice mailbox.  Calls will be returned promptly.

Widener University to Offer Free Education Course to Help Graduating and Rising High School Seniors Test the Waters of the Field 

Widener University will offer a free introductory course in education to help all interested rising and graduating high school seniors test the waters of the teaching profession. The ED 101 course begins July 5 and runs every Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. through Aug. 11. The class gives participants the opportunity to experience a college class with full-time Widener faculty, as well as to meet other education students.

As an introductory course, learning experiences will focus on the art and science of teaching and the practical applications and responsibilities of the teaching profession today. The course includes a field experience where students will have an opportunity to observe teachers in classrooms.

Tuition is free for all students. All students are responsible for the textbook along with portfolio software, if applicable. Students who complete the course will receive three undergraduate credits that can be used at Widener or transferred to other universities depending on the institution.

As part of the class requirements, students must complete 15 hours of field experience and five hours of off-campus activities. Therefore, all students must apply for PA Criminal Record Clearances, PA Child Abuse Clearances and FBI Fingerprinting prior to class.

Students who want to participate in the course or have additional questions should contact Director of Certification & Student Teaching Marcia M. Bolton at 610-499-4630 or mvbolton@mail.widener.edu.

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