Newtown Township pledges to use more native plants, hosts pop-up garden
NEWTOWN » Newtown Township has set a goal to use at least 80 percent native plants in new plantings on properties it owns or controls, and to move as quickly as possible to achieve that goal. In a resolution passed on March 9, the Board of Supervisors noted that native plants provide many critical benefits, as they protect water quality, contribute to climate-resiliency and restore the ecological balance and biodiversity. Native plants are localized and welladapted to the local soils and climate.
In addition, the Newtown Township Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) will educate and empower residents to transition at least half of township private properties to at least 20 percent native plants, which tend to be more insect and disease resistant, and require less watering and fertilizing than non-native plants.
The EAC invites the public to learn more about native plants a free Native Plant Pop-Up Garden located at the Newtown Township Administration Building, 209 Bishop Hollow Road, from April 21 through May 6. Visitors can gather information and ideas on how to turn a sterile lawn of turf grass into an oasis that sustains wildlife. Open from dawn to dusk, the garden will feature a wide assortment of native perennials, grasses, shrubs and trees. Garden design is courtesy of the Tyler Arboretum and Mostardi Nursery is providing the plants.
Residents are also invited to a free “Waterways, Walkways and Wildlife” workshop on April 21 from 6-8 p.m. Speakers Valley Forge Audubon
Society President Vince Smith and Penn State Master Watershed Steward Cindy Mehallow will explain the role of native plants in nurturing wildlife and maintaining clean water for people, birds and other wildlife. Come early at 5:30 to tour the garden.
Finally, the public is invited to a free “Birds, Books, Bites” reception on May 6 to tour the Pop-Up Garden, enjoy refreshments, and win a chance to take home a beautiful native plant. Participants can network with special guests from the Sustainable Business Network of Philadelphia and view native plant books curated by the Newtown Public Library.
The Pop-Up Garden and both events are presented by the Newtown Township Environmental Advisory Council and funded by grants from the Valley Forge Audubon Society and Audubon PA.
Neumann cuts tuition on summer undergraduate courses by 30 percent
Neumann University has lowered tuition for the majority of its 2020 summer courses. The reduced tuition applies to most of the university’s summer schedule — courses that will be switched from inclass to online instruction in order to maintain social distancing guidelines and slow the spread of coronavirus. Neumann’s summer term begins on May 18.
Tuition for classes traditionally delivered online and those already offered at a reduced rate will remain the same.
Under this temporary pricing structure, Neumann’s tuition for traditional undergraduate courses drops from $715/credit to $500/credit. The per-credit tuition falls to $570 for master’s degree programs, usually costing
$660 to $770 and to $750 for doctoral programs, usually
$900 to $990.
“Many undergraduate students take courses in the summer, either to accelerate their path to a degree or to focus on a particularly rigorous class when their course load is lighter,” explained Lawrence DiPaolo, vice president for academic affairs. “At a time of financial uncertainty for so many families, Neumann University is reducing summer tuition to help undergraduates from any college continue their plans to earn a degree.”
In addition, many adults in Neumann post-graduate degree programs either begin study or increase the number of credits they earn during summer term. According to Francesca Reed, Neumann’s vice president for enrollment management and marketing, “We’re offering reduced tuition as an incentive for graduate students to start or continue progressing toward their higher education goals.” Neumann University offers seven master’s degrees and three doctoral programs.
Registration for summer courses is now open. A complete listing of courses and fees is available at www.neumann.edu/tuition.
Attorneys discuss new law affecting IRAs and other retirement plans via teleconference
President Trump signed a new law dramatically changing the rules regarding 401Ks, IRAs and other pension savings on Dec. 20, 2019. Some of the changes are helpful, but some people feel that others are a tax - trap especially for beneficiaries. Learn what these new rules are, and what, if anything people can do to minimize the impact.
Robert and Dana Breslin, Esq. will host a teleconference call to discuss the new law at 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 22. This Senior Community Services presentation, which was originally scheduled to be at the Aston Community Center, is free of charge. Preregistration is required. To register, call Eileen Haupt at 484-496-2137 and provide name and email address. For information about other online education and exercise programs for older adults, visit SCS on Facebook and look up “events.”
Hosts for Hospitals puts out urgent plea for local lodging for out-of-area families
At this time of the coronavirus, patients with critical medical situations still must travel to Greater Philadelphia for non-elective, out-patient care: families with sick children; adult and pediatric oncology patients; pregnant moms with medical complications are among those who do not have a lodging option. Hosts for Hospitals has put out a plea for anyone with a private, furnished lodging setting to contact them to potentially help patient-families in need: AirBnBs, in-law suites, cottage houses, currently vacant homes/apartments, or extra rooms.
D.W. is a 29 year-old woman from upstate NY due to give birth at CHOP midMay to a baby diagnosed with spina bifida. She, her husband, 5-year-old son and mother need lodging starting April 26 to about June
3. The baby is expected to be in the hospital two weeks post delivery. They have a car so a home within about
45 minutes of CHOP works, and they are fine with pets and stairs.
T.B. is a 36 year-old woman from western PA who delivered a baby boy last week at CHOP. The baby is expected to be in the hospital for about three months. T.B., her husband, 4 year old daughter and her mother need lodging starting May 5 for about
2-3 months. They have a car so a home within about 45 minutes of CHOP works, and they are fine with pets and stairs.
Anyone with such lodging space for these two families or to inquire about others in need of lodging, should contact executive director,Mike Aichenbaum at 484-3802999, or lodging@hostsforhospitals.org. For more information about the Hosts for Hospitals organization, visit HostsforHospitals.org/.