Concord agrees to purchase 17-acre former Hall Christmas tree farm to preserve as open space
CONCORD >> Concord Township Council is moving to acquire another chunk of open space. At a recent meeting, council approved a move to engage in an agreement of sale with members of the Hall family to preserve a 17-acre site, formerly a Christmas tree farm, located at the corner of Featherbed Lane and Bethel Road. The new nature preserve is being planned by the township as passive open space and over 1.5 miles of meadow trails, as well as access to Delaware County’s Clayton Park. Potential future trail expansions are currently being studied by the township.
The $870,000 purchase by the township is being made possible from the money dedicated in 2018 for land purchases, with $3.5 million in the capital reserve fund and another $1 million in the open space fund.
The township will purchase 14.5 acres, and the Hall family will retain 2.5 acres containing the historic house, barn, cottage and spring house. These buildings will be preserved in perpetuity with no further development. The log and stone farm house was built around 1683, though possibly as early as 1660, and has the distinction of being the oldest surviving building in Concord Township. It was expanded in 1936 by prominent Philadelphia architect R. Brognard Ogle, who also designed the small cottage on the property.
The property has been farmed since Colonial times and is a rare surviving example of log construction from the earliest colonial settlement period. The Hall family is currently exploring having the buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The land was originally referred to as Hillsborough in Colonial times, and more recently as Smallbrook Farm.
Concord Township is in the process of updating its Open Space Plan through grant monies received by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Concord Township Council is committed to expanding its current 300 plus acres of Township-owned open space and is currently engaged in preservation discussions with multiple land owners.
For more information on Concord Township’s open space and trail efforts, visit www.townshipofconcord.com/ trails/.
Beacon of Hope Clothes Closet offers $1 sale on shorts, capris and T-shirts
The Beacon of Hope (BOH) Clothes Closet will have a capri, shorts and T-shirt sale 9 a.m. to
12 noon, Saturday, July 13. These items will be $1 each. Located on the top floor of Olivet Presbyterian Church, 1001 Washington Ave, Prospect Park, the BOH offers new and gently used clothing for the entire family.
The next BOH opening will be
9 a.m. to 12 noon Saturday, August 3. Donations of clothing are always gratefully accepted. To drop off donations or for more information, call 610-534-2270.
Chester Senior Center holds ‘Potty Bingo’ July 27 to raise funds for bathroom renovation
Everyone is invited to join in the fun and win prizes all while helping the Chester Senior Center to raise funds to renovate its restrooms at “Potty Bingo” 2-6 p.m. Saturday, July 27. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. at Chester Senior Center, 721 Hayes St. The cost is $30 in advance and $35 at the door and includes eight Bingo cards, playing chips, and a door prize ticket. Players may bring their own Bingo supplies. Special games will be played for an additional fee. Cash prizes will be awarded.
Food and bingo supplies will be available for purchase. Tickets can be purchased at the Chester Senior Center. Proceeds will support the restroom renovation project.
The Chester Senior Center will also host a cruise aboard Carnival Cruise Line’s “Carnival Pride” to the Bahamas and Grand Turk April 1926, 2020. Ship sets sail from Baltimore, MD to the Turks and Caicos, Half Moon Cay and Freeport, Bahamas for eight days. The cost of the trip includes roundtrip transportation to and from Baltimore, MD Pier, all-inclusive cruise, port charges, transfers, taxes and fees. The cost ranges from $986 to $1,170 dependent upon cabin selection. For information, or to sign up, for either Potty Bingo or the cruise to the Bahamas, call 610-497-3550.
Harcum College offers classes in Prospect Park
I-LEAD, Inc. has announced the launch of a new location in Delaware County. Adult students can attend Harcum College classes two nights per week on a full-time basis and earn an accredited Associate Degree in Human Services or Early Childhood Education at Prospect Park United Methodist Church, 800 Lincoln Ave. , Prospect Park.
Designed with the needs of busy working adults in mind, students typically range from ages 20 to 60 plus, and many have been out of the classroom for some time. Students credit their success to the program’s convenience and the strong support received from the staff.
“We are here to support students every step of the way, and the students really help each other,” observes Andrea Mathias, Site Coordinator for the new Prospect Park location. ILEAD, Inc. and Harcum College have collaborated for fifteen years to offer select degree programs through community organizations in the Greater Philadelphia region where Harcum College faculty deliver classes on-site in neighborhoods. Our new Prospect Park location joins the Achieve College Education (ACE) network of thirteen partners with a combined total of over 1,000 graduates, many of whom are accessing new job opportunities, earning higher wages and pursuing bachelor’s degrees.
The program is enrolling now for Fall 2019. For information, contact Mathias at 484-480-8364 or amathias@i-leadusa.org.
Brookhaven presents Shakespeare in the Park
The Brookhaven Recreation Committee will sponsor its annual Theater in the Park 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 16 on the back lawn of the Municipal Center.
The Commonwealth Classic Theatre Company’s 15th production is William Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure, a bawdy and darkly witty drama where questions of mercy and morality, justice and corruption are explored in a thrilling story line seemingly made for today.
Everyone is invited to bring their lawn chairs and blankets and come out to enjoy an evening under the stars with family, friends and neighbors to watch one of the classics. Admission is free. In case of inclement weather or extreme heat, the play will be performed inside the gymnasium.