Broke, time on your hands? Find free summer events
PARK CONCERTS
To kick off its 2018 Arts in the Park, Friends of Glen Providence Park will present retro-soul and jazz artist Tiffany Jones on the stage down the hill from the park entrance on W. State St., Media, 6-7 p.m., Saturday, June 23. Rain date is 6 p.m., Sunday, June 24, and if weather is questionable, a rain date decision will be posted on Facebook and the website by 1 p.m. Saturday. People should bring a blanket or chair, and relax on the lawn for an evening concert. Admission is free, thanks to the generous support of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Media Recreation Board, and Shere-E-Punjab Indian Restaurant. Upcoming concerts, all free and family-friendly, are Mutlu on July 28, Delco Symphony Brass Quintet on August 25, and Sweetbriar Rose on September 8. For more information, find Friends of Glen Providence Park on Facebook or visit www.glenprovidencepark.org.
SUMMER QUEST
Local children can enjoy eight weeks of fun from June 25-Aug. 10, as part of the Darby Free Library’s Summer Quest. Every morning at 10:30 a.m., children can help with the Victory and Butterfly Garden by feeding and caring for the growing butterflies, then make and take home the craft of the week. On Mondays, children can explore different building materials all day long. On Tuesdays, at 10:30 a.m., and again at 6 p.m., children can find out what it takes to be an astronaut and on Thursdays at 4 p.m., how to be a NASA detective. On Wednesdays, children can get creative with the make-and-take art center. Darby Free Library is hosting “Journey Across Delco on a Library Quest.” Children can pick up their passport at the library and then visit five Delaware County Libraries, anytime before July 27. Those who visit all five of their choice, will be treated to an exclusive party at Rose Tree Park, as well as receive a invitation to attend a special County Council meeting. Children in grades 2-6 can register for GSK Science in the Summer (www. scienceinthesummer.com) July 25 and 26 . For more information, e-mail dadirector@delcolibraries.org or call 610-586-7310. The library is located at 1001 Main St., Darby.
SUMMER CONCERTS
The 44th annual Delaware County Summer Festival concert series in Rose Tree Park kicked off last week and will continue Wednesdays through Sundays until Aug. 12. The Summer Festival is a free, family-friendly outdoor concert series which begins at 7:30 p.m. and runs five times a week for nine weeks. Each evening’s entertainment is different and fans of all styles will find a wide variety of genres throughout the summer, including Big Band, Cajun, jazz, blues, rock, pop, bluegrass, R&B, reggae, rockabilly, and more. Rose Tree Park is at 1671 N. Providence Road, Upper Providence. For a full schedule of 2018 free concerts, visit http://www.co.delaware.pa.us/depts/ parks/summerfestival.html.
FOOD AND CLOTHING
Drexel Hill United Methodist Church, 600 Burmont Road, Drexel Hill, has begun a new outreach program, Project Reach Service, Care. A free, catered community lunch along with a free clothing and hygiene-products cupboard are provided 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. the fourth Saturday of every month, at the church. All are welcome.
NIGHT OF MUSIC
The public is invited on Thursday, June 21, at 6:30 p.m. in the meeting room of Ridley Township Library’s new building, when Vincent James and friends will present a free concert. Vincent is the co-founder of Keep Music Alive, an organization formed to promote the value of music. The theme of the concert is Make Music Day, universally celebrated around the world on June 21 Launched in 1982 in France as the Fête de la Musique, it is now held on the same day in more than 800 cities in 120 countries. Performers at the concert will be Julia Zane, Ray Naylor, Kaleigh Kahan, Grace Otley and Vincent James. People can enjoy guitar, piano, violin and voices performing pop, country, folk, and show tunes. Registration is requested by calling 610583-0593, emailing reference@ridleylibrary.org, or by visiting the library, 100 E. MacDade Blvd., Folsom.
INDEPENDENCE DAY
Media Recreation Board invites the community to the annual Independence Day celebration on Tuesday July 4 from 10 a.m.-noon, with food, fun, and entertainment, including a live performance by Silly Joe. There will be a water slide, and games for the kids, as well as a bike decorating contest for those that wish to participate. For more information, contact the recreation office at 610-566-5210, x255.
COMMUNITY DINNER
Collenbrook United Church, 5290 Township Line Road, Drexel hill, hosts a free monthly Community Dinner to help feed local families in need from 5-7 p.m. on the last Thursday of each month in the fellowship hall. Guests should use the entrance near the playground. There is handicapped access through the sanctuary doors. For information, call 610-789-9590.
FREE CLOTHING
Media Church of Christ, 423 Jackson St., Media, has thousands of clothing items available for free until gone. Hours are 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays, and 7 p.m. Wednesdays. Everyone is welcome.
FREE MEALS
Christ United Methodist Church: 600 E. Dutton Mill Road, Brookhaven, holds free community dinners and opens its food bank on the fourth Wednesday of each month. Dinners are held 5:30-7 p.m. The schedule for 2018 is: June 27, no dinners in July or August, Sept. 26, Oct. 24, no dinners in November or December. Come out for food and fellowship, and bring neighbors. Good food. Come and bring your neighbors. The church’s food bank opens 11 a.m.-noon. For information, call the church at 610-874-1270.
SCIENCETELLERS
The Ridley Park Library will hold its summer kickoff program by Sciencetellers 6:30 p.m. Friday, June 22, at the Ridley Park Borough Hall, 105 E. Ward St. The show, “Wild West: the mystery of the golden piano” is about a legendary bank-robbing outlaw that is back in town. Sciencetellers and the audience volunteers will help put him back behind bars using chemical reactions, acids and bases, combustion, air pressure and more. The program is free and geared to children ages 4 and up. To register, call the Ridley Park Library at 610-583-7207.
FREE CLASSES AND TRIPS
Rose Tree Place, a Watermark Retirement Community located in Media, has released its Watermark University Summer 2018 class offerings. Now through August, the community offers residents and area seniors more than 50 class and program options, some of which involve excursions to area events, museums or beloved tourist destinations. Participants will have opportunities to enhance their minds, bodies and spirits and make meaningful connections with old and new friends. Classes are made available to Rose Tree Place residents and Delaware County seniors because of the Rose Tree Place residents, associates, loved ones and guest experts who share their time and talents as instructors. Rose Tree Place Marketing Director Michael Russemen recently won a national award from Watermark for turning his passion for baseball into the popular Watermark University course, “History of Baseball.” The course runs the third Wednesday of every month through August at 2 p.m., and individuals can join in the fun at any time throughout the semester. Not-to-miss one-time classes this semester include a trip to the Waterford Farm in Lebanon, Pa., on Thursday, June 28, at 10:15 a.m. for an overview of American Saddlebred horses and a taste of “barn life.” View the catalog of classes at Rose Tree Place online at rosetreeplace.watermarkcommunities.com/. Most classes are complimen-
tary and all require an RSVP in advance. To learn more or obtain a copy of the current Watermark University catalog, contact Rose Tree Place Executive Director Cynthia Evans or Community Life Director Karen Holahan at 610-616-5162.
LAUGHTER YOGA
Certified Laughter Yoga teacher Alexa Drubay and Laughter Leader Jaqueline Hines offer free Laughter Yoga twice a week in Media. People can come on Sunday afternoons at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County in Upper Providence, from 2-3 p.m. and on Monday evening at the Media Borough Hall’s Community Center in the Banquet Room from 5:45-6:45 p.m. For more details, visit https://www.meetup.com/ Laughter-Yoga-Club-Delaware-County-PA or call Alexa at 215-478-5669. Laughter is a proven way to boost positivity, get energized, reduce stress, promote heart and brain health, combat loneliness and connect joyfully with others. Participants can experience an uplifting laughter session where they will be guided through a series of laughter exercises and Yogic breathing.
SOUPER LUNCH
Saint James Episcopal Church, 11th and Lincoln avenues, Prospect Park, will host “Souper Lunch” 11 a.m. every Tuesday. The event is free. Everyone is welcome to join others in the community for a hot lunch. For more information, call 610461-6698.
FREE BOOK DROP-OFF
The Norwood Public Library’s mission is to serve all library patrons without exception. The local library is offering a free library materials delivery service for its patrons who reside in the Norwood area and are homebound due to prolonged illness, disability, age or any other reason that prevents them from traveling to the Library. The homebound service involves delivery of library books and/or books on CD. Homebound patrons may request a certain type of reading or listening material, such as romance, mystery or non-fiction, as well as specific titles and authors. For those who do not want to choose the items themselves, staff will be happy to select something for them. Library staff will work with patrons to the best of their ability to meet their reading and informational needs. Patrons must have or be eligible for a Delaware County library card and live within the Norwood area. To request homebound delivery service, patrons can call 610534-0693 or have someone else apply for them by calling the library or completing the application form, which is available at the front desk. The Norwood Public Library is at 513 Welcome Ave., Norwood.
MEDICARE COUNSELING
Apprise will offer free individual Medicare insurance counseling 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, June 27, at the Springfield Township Building, 50 Powel Road, Springfield. Medicare individual counseling sessions are 30 to 60 minutes in length and help Medicare beneficiaries and potential beneficiaries with their questions and concerns related to Medicare. Plan comparisons as well as enrollment into Medicare Advantage Plans, Part D Prescription Plans, Medicare Cost-Saving Programs, and Medigap Plans can also be completed. Registration is required. To schedule an appointment, call Eileen Haupt at 484496-2137.
FREE YOGA
First United Methodist Church, 350 W. State St., Media, offers a free yoga for beginners class 10 a.m. Wednesdays. Donations are welcome. For information, call 610-566-3172 or visit www.mediamethodist.org.
GOSPEL CONCERTS
The Rockdale Boys Bluegrass Gospel Band will perform in the “Concerts in the woods” series at Chester Heights Camp Meeting at 5 p.m. Sunday, June 24. The concert will be full of lively, finger-pickin’ gospel bluegrass music. Their songs are based on Bible Passages, such as Psalm 51 and more, including one by Mark Sutherland called “My Mama Prayed for Me.” Mark, and Bob Alek started the band in Rockdale in “Northern Aston.” The other group members include Robert Sutor on banjo, Debbie Durant on bass and Rick Shryock on fiddle. Their website is rockdaleboys.com. The concert is free but a love offering will be taken. The Camp Meeting is located behind the Brookfield Townhome Development at Smithbridge and Valleybrook roads in Chester Heights. Chester Heights Camp Meeting Association is an evangelical religious organization that works with area churches. It’s located on 11 acres, with 150 year-old trees, hiking trails, children’s playground, Victorian public buildings, such as an original gazebo that seats 120 people, and 39 century-old Victorian summer cottages. It’s listed on the National Registry of Historic Places and “Save Americas Treasures.” Everyone is welcome. Visit www.ch-campmeeting.org or call 610-494-4707 for information.
CLIMATE CHANGE
This summer The Haverford Township Free Library will team up with the Haverford Environmental Advisory Committee to present the program series Do Something About Climate Change. The programs will occur in June and July at the Library. Next in the series on Tuesday, July 10, at 7 p.m., the library will host “Demystifying Buying Cheap Renewable Power,” followed by “Making Your Home More Energy Efficient” on Tuesday, July 17, and “Conquering Your EV/ Plug-In Fears,” on Saturday, July 21. To wrap the series up, HTFL will hold the program The Solar Home Conversion Experience on Tuesday, July 24. All programs are free and open to the public, but registration is required. To register, go to www.haverfordlibrary.org/ events. The Do Something About Climate Change program series is made possible through a partnership between the Library and the Haverford Environmental Advisory Committee. The library is at 1601 Darby Road, Havertown. For more information, contact Mary Bear Shannon at 610-446-3082 ext. 216.