Training dates remain for DCIU guest teacher program
COMMUNITY BRIEFS
MORTON » To continue addressing the teacher shortage crisis affecting local school districts, as well as those across the country, Delaware County Intermediate Unit continues its guest teacher service that began with the 2016-17 school year to help participating school districts in Delaware County with obtaining substitute teachers. The program is now expanding and additional guest teachers are being accepted for the 2017-18 school year. New guest teacher trainings are scheduled for Sept. 21 from 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. and Sept. 22 from 8:30 a.m.– 3 p.m.
The Guest Teacher Program is designed to provide individuals with a bachelor’s degree with the necessary training required to become day-to-day substitutes. Any individual with a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university is eligible to apply to the program. Upon completing the program, they receive an emergency permit used by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) that enables them to substitute in any participating district and career and technical school on a day-to-day basis.
Participating school districts include: Chichester, Marple Newtown, Radnor Township, Rose Tree Media, Southeast Delco, Springfield, Upper Darby, Wallingford-Swarthmore and DCIU.
For information and registration, contact Jean McCullough at 610-938-9000, ext. 2017 or jmccullough@ dciu.org
Give blood in Essington Aug. 28
TINICUM » St. John the Evangelist Church, Third Street and Wanamaker Avenue (Route 420), Essington, hosts an American Red Cross blood drive from 2-7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 28. To schedule an appointment, call 1-800-733-2767 or visit www.redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code “Essington Community.” For information, contact John Elliott at 610-800-2545 or john.elliott1209@comcast.net
Visit West Philly for concert
PHILADELPHIA » Community Unity Music Festival returns to Clark Park, 4398 Baltimore Ave., from 1-8 p.m. Aug. 5. The concert brings together Philadelphia’s finest musicians to say “Put down the guns and pick up an instrument.” The annual free concert features fun, games, food, drinks, vendors, information booths, DJ Chris, face painting, and live performances from local and national performers. This year’s line up include Breakwater Band, Block Worship, Nazir Ebo & Friends, Jack Kelberman Band, Jazmynne Sierra and more.
The Community Unity Music Festival was founded in 2014 by Carol Mitchell Faulkner and her son Justin Faulkner, an internationally acclaimed musician and drummer affected by the violence in the city of Philadelphia and its surrounding areas. This festival showcases area talent of all ages and promotes giving back to the community they live in.
With the assistance of community businesses, sponsors and politicians who believe in the mission of “Put Down The Guns and Pick Up an Instrument,” festival proceeds have provided instruments and lessons to children in the Philadelphia area.
For information, visit www.facebook.com/communitymusicfestival
Aqua announce UD work
UPPER DARBY » Aqua Pennsylvania announces it is replacing 3,883 feet of aging 6-inch cast iron water main with new ductile iron main on the following streets: Woodland Avenue between Burmont Road and School Lane; Drexel and Childs avenues between Burmont and State roads.
This $876,000 project, which is a part of Aqua’s continuous investment in renewing and improving infrastructure, will increase service reliability, reduce the potential for discolored water and improve firefighting capabilities in the area. It is expected to be completed, including final road restoration, in the spring of 2018.
For information, visit www.aquaamerica.com or follow Aqua on Facebook at www.facebook.com/myaquaamerica and on Twitter at @MyAquaAmerica
Easton studio visits Lansdowne
LANSDOWNE » Mercantile Home, a creative studio from Easton, Pa., is taking its community-based creative studio/shop concept on the road to Main Streets across the country with a current stop in Lansdowne through Aug. 6. Mercantile Home owners/artists Ken Jones, Jr. and Ron Morris are traveling to new communities across the country and opening a temporary outpost version (“pop-up shop”) of their studio/shop in surprise locations for one week at a time. Often the location is a vacant building, and the Lansdowne is held in the vacant former Noel Schmidt Furniture Store at 32 E. Baltimore Ave.
Along with making new creations inspired by their stay in Lansdowne, Jones and Morris are looking forward to meeting as many local community members as possible. There is a a free “Repair and Share” event on Thursday, Aug. 3, and several ongoing community art projects at their outpost through the week. No previous creative skills are necessary to participate in any Mercantile Home project and all levels of experience are encouraged to participate.
The shop is open to the public from 10 a.m.-8 p.m, through Sunday. Ron and Ken create unique handmade creations in the space, coordinating community art projects for all, and host a free “Repair and Share” on Thursday evening from 6-8 p.m. The “Repair and Share” event is on repairing tears and replacing missing buttons on favorite things. This is a free event and open to the public.
The Lansdowne Economic Development Corporation is helping facilitate The Mobile Mercantile PopUp Shop and is partnering with building owners Mark and Virginia Gavin who will be renovating the former Noel Schmidt furniture store. The LEDC plans to move into 32 E. Baltimore Ave. after renovations are completed and open a creative co-working building.
For information on the Mobile Mercantile event, visit www.mercantilehome. com. For information on the LEDC, visit www.lansdownesfuture.org