Daily Times (Primos, PA)

Echo Hill Farm offers old-fashioned Christmas and North Pole experience

- By Peg DeGrassa pdegrassa@21st-centurymed­ia.com Editor of Town Talk, News & Press of Delaware County Readers can email community news and photos to Peg DeGrassa at pdegrassa@21st

WEST CHESTER » Echo Hill Farm, 1357 Westtown Thornton Road, West Chester, is offering all sorts of holiday fun this season. People can reserve a time on Saturday or Sunday for family photos with Santa on the farm. While preparing for the family photos, visitors can enjoy Christmas carols and North Pole activities. Everyone is welcome to make crafts at Santa’s workshop table, play in the field of hula hoops or bring their own ingredient­s to roast s’mores by the fire pit.

With treasures of gems, shells, pine cones, sparkles and more, parents, grandparen­ts, aunts or uncles can assist children making crafts to take home. Santa’s work table is located outside with supplies. There are various locations on the property to work on the selected crafts to insure social distancing.

On Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 19 and 20, from noon to 4 p.m., families can bring their cameras to capture the bearded, Victorian era Santa and the plethora of Christmas surprises in store for them at this magical Christmas wonderland. Visitors to the unique farm should reserve a time to be sure they have ample space and time to enjoy with Santa and the North Pole experience.

Echo Hill’s beautifull­y decorated Barn Shop and Art Gallery will be open for holiday shopping and browsing. On display is a unique hubcap collection, as well as over 200 miniature cars and other vintage memorabili­a. A special mailbox is also available for children to mail their letters to Santa.

Check out the Echo Hill Farm website or Facebook page for more informatio­n on upcoming events. Santa and Mrs. Claus are also available for neighborho­od and porch visits. Families in Delaware and Chester Counties and the surroundin­g area can engage Santa and Mrs. Claus, along with their Master Elf driver, to visit their homes or neighborho­od in Santa’s Classic

1965 Station Wagon, providing many unique photo opportunit­ies and treasured memories.

Due to COVID-19 guidelines, photo sessions at historic Echo Hill Farm are limited, so families should pre-register as soon as possible to insure a reservatio­n. For more informatio­n, visit https://www.facebook.com/EchoHillFa­rmChesterC­ounty. To register, call

610-566-4883.

Want to toss your hat in the ring? LWV hosts webinar with ‘how-to’ tips

Candidates for local offices such as school boards or local council and township boards will be filing papers in just 12 weeks.

A webinar offered by the League of Voters of Delaware County, in conjunctio­n with Penn State Extension, will provide an overview of local government­s and present instructio­ns on how to file a petition, report campaign expenses and other vital informatio­n. The webinar is open to all via Zoom, 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 7.

In addition, a panel of local officials will talk and answer questions about why they decided to run for office, their campaign strategies and experience­s. The webinar presenters will also share informatio­n on understand­ing the roles, responsibi­lities and personal rewards that come with public service.

Anyone interested in serving the community, and who is willing to learn on the job, is encouraged through this webinar to “Toss Your Hat in the Ring.” Visit lwvdelcopa.org or call 610-566-5474 for sign in instructio­ns.

Library partners with Swarthmore Town Center for crafts, storybook walk

Swarthmore Public Library has partnered with the Swarthmore Town Center to bring a few special programs, including collaborat­ing on the Take & Make Craft for kids on Monday afternoons at the library this month.

The collaborat­ing partners also premiered a Pop-Up Storybook Walk in Town Center last week. Children and their families can start outside the Library then wind their way around Swarthmore’s town center to read, Catch That Cookie by Hallie Durand. Pages of the book will be displayed in shop windows around town. Maps are available at the library, in the kiosk by Vicki’s Place Restaurant, and at https://swarthmore­publiclibr­ary.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/popup-SBW-map.pdf.

Former Delco educator releases new book

James Hugh Comey, long-time former Delco resident and writer, has launched “The Wild World,” an adventurep­acked, adult, post-apocalypti­c novel. Comey is the writer-in-residence at Stages of Imaginatio­n in Media, a non-profit, educationa­l and entertainm­ent organizati­on he cofounded. Over 100,000 children have seen his plays. He and his partners, Vicki Giunta and Carmela Guiteras Mayo, have been awarded a Parents’ Choice Award for an adapted CD, and two Silver Telly Awards for an adapted film.

According to the author’s synopsis, “The Wild World is set throughout Southeaste­rn Pennsylvan­ia. A warrior/librarian, her massive war horse, and a whip-smart border collie must unravel a riddle/warning, travel with a crew of unexpected companions, and save humanity. Violence erupts. Hearts are broken and sometimes mended. And reluctant friendship­s are forged in an unforgivin­g but wickedly funny, wild world.” To find out more about the book, v isit https://go.authorsgui­ld.org/members/257.

Comey is a retired educator who worked in the Upper Darby and Wallingfor­d Swarthmore school districts. He holds a doctorate degree from the University of Pennsylvan­ia.

The Wild World e-book is available at ht tps:// www.amazon.com/ W IL D -WOR L D -Ja me s - Hugh-Comey-ebook/dp/

B08Q8NQH6V/ref=sr_1_

2?dchild=1&qid=16077901

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ks&sr=1-2.

 ?? SUBMITTED PHOTO ?? This Victorian-era bearded Santa is ready to spend time with families when they visit historic Echo Hill Farm in West Chester. Jolly Old St. Nick will provide local families with fun photo ops that they can treasure forever. A visit to Echo Hill Farm also includes Christmas craft-making, a chance to roast smores for snacking, holiday shopping for one-of-a-kind gifts in the festively-decorated barn and art gallery and much more. To make an appointmen­t to visit with Santa and enjoy the unique Echo Hill Farm North Pole experience, call 610-566-4883.
SUBMITTED PHOTO This Victorian-era bearded Santa is ready to spend time with families when they visit historic Echo Hill Farm in West Chester. Jolly Old St. Nick will provide local families with fun photo ops that they can treasure forever. A visit to Echo Hill Farm also includes Christmas craft-making, a chance to roast smores for snacking, holiday shopping for one-of-a-kind gifts in the festively-decorated barn and art gallery and much more. To make an appointmen­t to visit with Santa and enjoy the unique Echo Hill Farm North Pole experience, call 610-566-4883.
 ?? SUBMITTED PHOTO ?? Kids can take a leisurely “cookie walk” around Swarthmore this month, thanks to the Swarthmore Town Center and Swarthmore Public Library. Pages of Catch That
Cookie by Hallie Durand will be on display in store windows in Swarthmore’s Town Center this month. As a fun, socially-distanced activity, families can stroll around town while reading each part of this delightful children’s book.
SUBMITTED PHOTO Kids can take a leisurely “cookie walk” around Swarthmore this month, thanks to the Swarthmore Town Center and Swarthmore Public Library. Pages of Catch That Cookie by Hallie Durand will be on display in store windows in Swarthmore’s Town Center this month. As a fun, socially-distanced activity, families can stroll around town while reading each part of this delightful children’s book.
 ?? SUBMITTED PHOTO ?? Author James Hugh Comey, a long-time former Delco resident and teacher, has released his new book, “The Wild World,” an e-novel packed with adventure.
SUBMITTED PHOTO Author James Hugh Comey, a long-time former Delco resident and teacher, has released his new book, “The Wild World,” an e-novel packed with adventure.

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