Garden Club of Springfield holds ‘welcome back tea’
SPRINGFIELD >> The Garden Club of Springfield welcomed the 2018-2019 season with a “Tea” held at the Penn State Environmental Center and hosted by members Vicki Thompson, chairperson, of Drexel Hill, Diane Savage of Media, and Lillian Amadio and club president Maryann DeSanto, both of Springfield. Kate Sevensky of Broomall guided members in making a Christmas ornament as a jumpstart to the upcoming season.
Club members congratulated DeSanto on her recent appointment as assistant director for Pennsylvania District I, Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania. In addition to her duties as Springfield Garden Club President she will be responsible for scheduling PA District I meetings and substituting for the District I Director, Sharon Richardson when necessary and will attend PA State Board meetings and both State and National Conventions. The next meeting of the Garden Club will be 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24 at the Penn State Environmental Center, Smedley Park.
The meeting will feature a mini flower show, followed by a program presented by Julia Lo Ehrhardt. The public is invited to attend. For more information, call Sue Simpson, 610 328-9111. The Garden Club of Springfield is a member of District I GCFP and National Garden Clubs, Inc.
St. Mary Magdalen named Blue Ribbon School of Excellence
The U.S. Department of Education recently announced that eight Catholic elementary schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia were named 2018 National Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence. The schools are among only 49 private or religious schools and 349 total schools chosen nationally to receive this honor. Among the eight honorees is St. Mary Magdalen (SMM) School, 2400 Providence Rd. SMM educates children in grade Pre-K through 8 and is marking its 53rd year as a parish elementary school during the 2018-2019 academic year.
SMM is committed to cultivating and encouraging the development of its students within the context of faith and love, and to affording students every opportunity to succeed at a variety of levels. SMM takes pride in its tailored academic offerings to school families. Also, the school community focuses on stewardship and all students are encouraged to share their time and talents with others.
The student council, teachers, Home and School Association, and CYO volunteers sponsor various events to support causes that students can participate in to benefit others in their local, national, and global communities.
The school’s official National Blue Ribbon celebration will take place on Friday, Oct. 5, at 8:30 a.m. with a Mass of Thanksgiving at the parish church celebrated by Monsignor Ralph Chieffo, SMM pastor, and feature participation by students, faculty, and staff. Immediately following Mass a school-wide pep rally will take place. All in attendance will wear special blue ribbon shirts to celebrate the occasion. Weather permitting, an outdoor photo shoot with students forming the shape of a blue ribbon will kick-off the pep rally. During the ensuing celebration in the gymnasium a 2,000 blue balloon drop ceiling drop is planned as well as a DJ dance party and blue water ice for students. Other schools receiving the prestigious Blue Ribbon designation include Our Lady of Mount Carmel, St. Jude, St. Joseph-St. Robert, St. Katherine Drexel Schools, all in Bucks County; Ss. Peter and Paul School in Chester County; and Our Lady of Mercy Regional and Mater Dei Regional Catholic Schools in Montgomery County.
For information about Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, visit www.aopcatholicschools.org. For a complete list of 2018 National Blue Ribbon Schools, visit https://nationalblueribbonschools.ed.gov/.
Holy Spirit collecting clothes, shoes and more for fall clothing drive
Holy Spirit Lutheran Church, 2545 Franklin Ave., Secane will hold a clothes collection drive 2-8 p.m., Oct. 13-26. The church will collect men’s, women’s and children’s gently used clothing, shoes, belts, backpacks & handbags, stuffed animals and gently used linens, bedding, curtains, tablecloths, pillows and towels. Donations of tall kitchen bags are also needed.
All donations that are in wearable/usable condition will get packaged into containers that are shipped to countries such as Ghana, Conakry, Guinea, Honduras, Haiti, Ecuador, Belize, Mexico, Chile, within the US, and also parts of Eastern Europe. Stuffed animals that are in good condition are donated to local children charities that are in need.
For more information, contact Holy Spirit Lutheran Church at 610-544-2707 or holyspiritsecane@verizon.net/.
Free paper shredding event
Rep. Chris Quinn (R-Delaware) is inviting the citizens of the 168th Legislative District to bring their unwanted documents for safe disposal at his free paper shredding event 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 6 at Penn State’s Brandywine campus, 25 Yearsley Mill Rd., Middletown Township. The event will be held rain or shine and will end at 1 p.m. or until the truck is full. There is a two-box limit on documents to ensure as many citizens as possible have the opportunity to participate.
In addition, Quinn said citizens are urged to bring their unwanted, unused or expired medications to the event for collection by the Delaware County District Attorney’s Heroin Task Force. The task force will have its drug takeback van and mobile drop off boxes available at the site of the shredding event. The 168th Legislative District includes Media and Chester Heights boroughs as well as Middletown, Edgmont, Newtown, Upper Providence and Thornbury townships, and part of Marple Township.
Out of the Darkness Walk to benefit suicide prevention foundation
The Out of the Darkness Walk will take place 7:30-11 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 7 on the Parkway in Philadelphia. Registration begins 6:30 a.m. at the Art Museum of Philadelphia. Registration for the three mile walk is being accepted online until 12 noon Friday, Oct. 6, at https://dfm-apps.newscyclecloud.com/vpn/index.html/. Walkers can also register inperson from 6:30-7:30 a.m. Registration is free and open to the public.
Walk donations will be accepted until Dec. 31. Everyone is invited to join the effort with hundreds of thousands of people nationwide to raise awareness and funds that allow the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) to invest in new research, create educational programs, advocate for public policy, and support survivors of suicide loss.
Tickets on sale for senior masquerade ball at Harrah’s
Health Partners and Chester Senior Center will host the 2018 Senior Masquerade Ball in the casino ballroom at Harrah’s Philadelphia 7-11 p.m. Friday, Oct.
19. Older adults can enjoy a red carpet entrance, photographs, sit down dinner, live entertainment, dancing, and door prizes, all in ultimate elegance. Formal attire is required. Masks will be provided for those without them. Tickets are
$30. For further information or to purchase tickets, call Chester Senior Center at
610- 497-3550, Helen Whittington, 484-483-9871, or Lee Williams at 267- 7130897.
Trinity Church holds pasta dinner fundraiser
Trinity Church, 301 N. Chester Rd., Swarthmore, will hold its annual fundraising Pasta Dinner 5-7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14. Everyone is welcome. Presented by the Men’s Breakfast Group and the Youth Group, the dinner costs $8, adults and $5, children. Proceeds will go towards travel expenses for the youth mission trip to Ireland in 2019.
The Trinity pilgrims will travel to Corrymeela, a spiritual center for reconciliation and peace studies on the northern coast of Ireland, where they will learn about respectful dialogue across difference, worship with the Corrymeela community, meet other pilgrims from around the world, and enjoy the sights. Trinity’s Thrift Shop will be open during dinner.
Readers can send community news and photos to Peg DeGrassa at
pdegrassa@21st-centurymedia.com.