Miracles, song happen at Indian Lane Elementary
Residents to gather in Springfield police parking lot to honor retiring police chief
The Media Theatre State Street Miracles were joined in song by students at Indian Lane Elementary School in Middletown Township, at a concert on March 20, the eve of World Down Syndrome Day.
In a display of inclusion, The Miracles were hosted by Indian Lane Principal Michelle Britton, whose school in the Rose Tree Media School District has been recognized for promoting diversity, kindness and acceptance.
Directed by Ben Kapilow of the Media Theatre, the Miracles is a performance troupe of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Their mission is to spread the joy of music and dance while increasing awareness of the talents and abilities of people with disabilities.
Miracles member Jake Spencer, 38, was the first individual with Down syndrome to attend Indian Lane Elementary School when he was in third grade. He went on to graduate from Penncrest High in 2006. Two of Jake’s instructors still teach at Indian Lane, which made for a special reunion.
The school now embraces the inclusion of many students with special needs. Indian Lane is the only elementary school in Pennsylvania to be recognized as a National Banner Unified Champion School, an honor the school received in October.
Many students at Indian Lane participate in Special Olympics unified sports, including bocce. The students promote social inclusion through shared sports training and competition. Several of the Miracles also participate in Special Olympics bocce.
At the March 20 concert, the Indian Lane students in kindergarten through fifth grade sang, clapped and cheered along with the State Street Miracles in songs from “Do, Re, Me,” “We Are the World” and “Celebration” to the “Eagles Fight Song” and “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”
The Miracles are now marking their 18th year of performing. The troupe has learned the music, lyrics and choreography for many songs from classic musicals to pop and rock, and they’ve played to audiences from Harrisburg to Washington, D.C.
Members of the State Street Miracles are John Abrams of Swarthmore, Aaron Brooks of Folsom,
Nakisha Edwards and Peter Crumb of Media, Shana Malone of Brookhaven, Kevin Leaming, Erin McGivney and Peter Spofford of Wayne, and Jake Spencer, Kimiko Iizuka and Danielle Kandrak of Middletown.
The State Street Miracles are available to perform for civic and nonprofit groups and at community functions. Donations are always welcome. For information about the State Street Miracles, contact Trish Cofiell at 610-322-6806.
St. Gabe’s holds gift card bingo
St. Gabriel Parish will host a gift card bingo on Saturday, April 6 in the parish hall, 233 Mohawk Ave., Norwood.
Doors will open at 5:45 p.m. and bingo games will start at 7 p.m.
Raffles, 50/50 and more will be offered. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door, if still available. Call 610 586 1225 to reserve tickets. Tables of eight can
be reserved in advance
Show gratitude to retiring Springfield Police Chief on Thursday
To honor Springfield Township Police Chief Joseph Daly and to thank him for his years of selflessly serving the community, area residents are invited to show up in the parking lot of the Springfield Police Station, 50 Powell Road, at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 28 to say good-bye to Daly and show him that the community loves him as much as he loves the community.
Daly will retire on Friday, March 29, after over 57 years in law enforcement, with 15 of them serving as Springfield Township police chief and 39 years with the Lower Merion Police Department.
Daly, a former Marine sergeant and Purple Heart recipient has been an active member of the Delaware County Memorial Association since its founding and currently serves as its president. Through his years serving the community, both professionally and through his volunteerism, Daly has made a positive difference in Delaware and Montgomery counties and beyond.
According to a social media post that is circulating to announce Daly’s retirement Friday, “For those of you that don’t know him, Chief Daly is a true public servant that loves his community more than you can imagine. He has lived his life dedicated to helping others which is a nod to his brothers and sisters that fell beside him during the Vietnam War. Not only has he dedicated his life to helping others, but has given so
much of his free time volunteering for our community and our Veterans. He has always had an open door policy where any of the Springfield residents could sit and talk to him.”
Tea, anyone?
Our Lady of Assumption Parish in Wayne will host Lola’s Spring Afternoon Tea from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 7 at the Wayne Italian American Club, 301 W. Wayne Ave., Wayne. The tea will be catered by Taste of Britain.
Ladies are welcome to attend with their sisters, mothers, aunts, daughters or friends, or meet some new friends, and enjoy a lovely afternoon, fit for a
queen. The traditional English tea will be served with an assortment of tea sandwiches, fruit salad, homemade scone, lemon curd, jams, fancy desserts and some elegant extras.
Ladies are encouraged to wear their “Sunday best,” along with a fancy hat, if desired. A “Best Hat” competition will take place, with a prize awarded. Tables of eight or more may request reserved seating.
Cost is $40 and $35 for children under age 15. Payment can be taken at the door in cash, check or credit.
All proceeds will benefit Our Lady of Assumption Parish. To attend, RSVP by March 30 at http://www. olastrafford.org/tea or call Michelle at 484-620-9971. To register, go to https:// olastrafford.org/tea.
Jeptha Abbott DAR recognizes March into Literacy and Women’s History Month
The Jeptha Abbott Daughters of the American Revolution in Wayne met last week to celebrate March into Literacy Month and Women’s History Month.
During the meeting, Martin McNeil, a volunteer ESL tutor with the Volunteer English Program, West Chester, spoke about “Transforming Lives through Language and Literacy.”
VEP is a program designed to meet students wherever they are on their path to literacy and proficiency. After McNeil shared about his experience volunteering with VEP, he also explained how those struggling to learn a language
can sign up and how critical the need is for more volunteer tutors within the community.
McNeil has been with VEP since 2018 and dedicates much of his time to helping members learn or improve their English proficiency, thus furthering the organization’s mission to empower individuals through language education. After his presentation, McNeil received the DAR’s Literacy Champion Award from Jeptha Abbott DAR Regent Teri Fischer for his dedication to literacy education. To find out more about VEP, go to https:// volunteerenglish.org.
In addition to hearing about this valuable program, Jeptha Abbott DAR members collected items to benefit the women and children of Laurel House. This organization provides
comprehensive domestic violence services and prevention and education services to the broader community.
After the meeting, Joyce Keller, who spearheaded the collection of donations, and is the chapter’s Women’s Issues chair, delivered the items to Emily O’Connell, coordinator of in-kind donations and general inquiries for Laurel House. To learn more about the organization, go to https://laurel-house.org.
Named after Jeptha Abbott, a Revolutionary War soldier, the Jeptha Abbott DAR chapter was founded on Nov. 18, 1929, by Elizabeth Abigail Ransley.
Now, more than 200 Jeptha Abbott members continue the tradition of helping to educate children, preserve the nation’s history, and champion patriotism.
In addition, the Jeptha Abbott chapter has supported many national and local charities, including donating two stained glass windows to the National Patriots Bell Tower at Washington Memorial Chapel in Valley Forge National Historical Park. The Bell Tower, housing one of the largest and finest carillons in the world, was built with funds from the NSDAR. To learn more about the Jeptha Abbott DAR chapter and how to join, visit http://jacdar.org.
To learn more about the work of today’s DAR, visit http://DAR.org or connect with DAR on social media.