Experience Darby history Sunday with Meetinghouse and Bartram’s Garden
DARBY » Celebrate a 300 year old friendship with Bartram’s Garden and the Darby Monthly Meeting of Friends on Sunday, Aug. 6. John Bartram spent his childhood in Darby and, as a Quaker, he was an early member of the Quaker Meetinghouse at 1017 Main Street. The Meetinghouse was built in 1805, and has been preserved by its members and volunteers. John Bartram and his family are laid to rest in the burial grounds.
The day begins at 11 a.m. with a traditional Quaker meeting for worship, followed by a catered lunch at noon by Lansdowne’s Avenue Deli and historical confections by The Franklin Fountain, which include Franklinia Iced Tea and Mountain Mint Ice Cream. The tea is made from leaves harvested from a Franklinia tree (Franklinia was discovered by John Bartram and named after his good friend Ben Franklin), and the ice cream is made from freshly picked herbs, both from Bartram’s Garden. Throughout lunch, tours are offered of the historic Meetinghouse and at 1:30 there is a plant walk-and-talk of the burial grounds.
The event is free and guests are welcomed to arrive at any point during the day. Registration is requested; visit http://bit.ly/ darbyday
Live music Thursdays in Swarthmore
SWARTHMORE » The Thursday Night Live concert series at the borough amphitheater, 121 Park Ave., runs now through Sept. 21. The free series runs every other Thursday from 6-9 p.m. Concert attendees are encouraged to pack a picnic dinner or get take-out from one of many restaurants in town. The event is BYOB. The rain site is WaR3house3 in the event of inclement weather. The remaining concerts for the season are:
• July 27: Sonoma Sound, The Young Musicians
• Aug. 10, Last Chance, Jerry Getz
• Aug. 24: Out of Order, Brian Kors • Sept. 7: Don Jones Band • Sept. 21: SwUKEstra, Greg Brady
For information, visit www.swarthmoretowncenter.com/thursday-night-live. html
Two days of bridge at Schoolhouse Center
RIDLEY TOWNSHIP » Senior Community Services’ Schoolhouse Center, 600 Swarthmore Ave., Folsom, holds two bridge parties during August, 12:30 p.m. Aug. 3 and 10. Participants practice in the first week and play in the second. The center invites everyone to join in the fun with finger sandwiches, tea and great camaraderie. For those who bridge skills are rusty, the center’s instructor E.B. (Buck) Clark is on hand to answer questions.
The event is free; registration is requested. For information and registration, call 610-237-8100, ext. 32.
Mosquito spraying continues
The Department of Environmental Protection will apply an Ultra-Low Volume (ULV) mosquito treatment tonight, Thursday, Aug. 3, to portions of Delaware County including Colwyn, Collingdale, Sharon Hill and Darby boroughs. The purpose of these sprayings is to control the population of adult mosquitoes and reduce the risk of spreading Mosquito-Borne Viruses. In the event of rain, the spraying will be rescheduled for Tuesday, Aug, 8.
The treatment is administered with truck-mounted equipment to spray open spaces in residential and recreational areas. The equipment dispenses Deltagard at a rate of 0.66 ounces per acre. This product is designed to provide quick, effective control of adult mosquito populations. The application material has a very low toxicity profile to mammals and is safe for the environment. Certain mosquito species carry the West Nile Virus, which can cause humans to contract West Nile encephalitis, an infection that can result in an inflammation of the brain. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, all residents in areas where virus activity has been identified are at risk of contracting West Nile encephalitis.
Individuals can take measures to help eliminate mosquito-breeding areas, including:
• Dispose of cans, buckets, plastic containers, ceramic pots or similar containers that hold water on your property.
• Properly dispose of discarded tires that can collect water. Stagnant water is where most mosquitoes breed.
• Drill holes in the bottom of outdoor recycling containers.
• Clean clogged roof gutters every year, particularly if the leaves from surrounding trees tend to plug drains.
• Turn over plastic wading pools when not in use.
• Turn over wheelbarrows and don’t let water stagnate in birdbaths.
• Aerate ornamental pools or stock them with fish.
• Clean and chlorinate swimming pools not in use and remove any water that may collect on pool covers.
• For stagnant pools of water, homeowners can buy Bti (Bacillus thuringienses israelensis) known as “mosquito dunks” at home improvement and other stores. Bti is a naturally-occurring soil bacterium that biodegrades quickly and kills mosquito and blackfly larvae, but is safe for people, pets, aquatic life and plants.
Additionally, these precautions can prevent mosquito bites, particularly for those most at risk:
• Make sure screens fit tightly over doors and windows to keep mosquitoes out of homes.
• Consider wearing longsleeved shirts, long pants and socks when outdoors, particularly when mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk, or in areas known for having large numbers of mosquitoes.
• When possible, reduce outdoor exposure at dawn and dusk during peak mosquito periods, usually April through October.
• Use insect repellants according to the manufacturer’s instructions. An effective repellant will contain DEET, picaridin or lemon eucalyptus oil. Consult with a pediatrician or family physician for questions about the use of repellant on children, as repellant is not recommended for children under the age of two months.
For information about West Nile Virus and the state’s surveillance and control program, residents can visit www.westnile.state. pa.us