The Delco Press Club is saluting veterans and active military at the group’s Nov. 15 luncheon.
The luncheon is at the Media VFW Post 3460, 11 Hilltop Road, Media, from noon to 1 p.m.
The guest speaker is George Roach, photojournalist with Fox 29 News and a master sergeant in the Pennsylvania Air National Guard. Roach’s many areas of expertise in photojournalism include HD digital camera operation, nonlinear editing, and meeting the tough deadlines and quick turnarounds.
Roach, who has served a long time with the Guard, has been a combat broadcast journalist all over the world, documenting operations, including the Guard response to hurricane relief and global terrorism.
He has been stationed in Southwest Asia in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and in Afghanistan on an Armed Forces Entertainment tour. He is a certified weapons system video trainer and has volunteered his time as a video producer for the Philadelphia Chapter USO.
Club members and guests are invited to bring personal mementoes of themselves or family members who are military veterans to share in a display. Attendees are also requested to bring toiletries and other essential personal care items for donation to the Coatesville Veterans Hospital.
Check-in and networking begin at 11:30 a.m. Cedar Creek Catering will be serving the food.
Tickets for the hot buffet lunch are $30 for members and $35 for nonmembers and walk-ins.
Join the America250PADelco Community Read
Delaware County residents are invited to join the 2023 America250PADelco Community Read with “Frontier Rebels: The Fight for Independence in the American West, 1765-1776” by Patrick Spero.
According to a press release:
America250PADelco is a nonpartisan project to promote history, boost civic engagement, and bring together special 250th anniversary festivities leading up to the semiquincentennial on July 4, 2026. The America250PADelco project is managed by the Delaware County Economic Development Oversight Board in partnership with Visit Delco and with fiscal sponsorship provided by The Foundation for Delaware County. America250PADelco is presented in partnership with Widener University and Delaware County Libraries.
“Frontier Rebels” tells the story of the American “west” in Pennsylvania. The story recounts the drama and intrigue of how Pennsylvania frontier settlers attempted to stop the largest peace offering ever assembled before it could be delivered.
The daring journey is led by British commander-in-chief George Croghan, a wily trader-turned-diplomat with close ties to Native Americans. The outcome of these interwoven struggles between the British, Native Americans, and colonial settlers determined whose independence would prevail on the American frontier— who would define their freedom?
“The humanities present an opportunity to reflect on our past and consider lessons learned for our present and future,” said Andrea Silva, Director of the America250PADelco Committee. “The 250th commemoration aims to amplify lost and under-represented stories the American people. This book features lesser-known stories of Native Americans and people living on the frontier of the American West during the early history of our country. It was a tumultuous time.”
The book is available on the Libby App from Delco Libraries or Main Point Books in Wayne. The Revolutionary Reads Community Read from America250PADelco is presented in partnership with Widener University and Delaware County Libraries.
Spero, is former executive director of the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia and the current director of the George Washington Library at Mount Vernon. He is returning to greater Philadelphia from Washington, D.C. to an author visit and reception on Nov. 12 at Widener University. That event is free and all are welcome.
Revolutionary Reads will also include Book Club in a Bag totes for checkout at Delaware County libraries locations, book clubs hosted at libraries and other organizations across Delaware County, and there are two events planned for the public to participate in conversations about this story:
Strut Your Mutt today at Widener
Widener University students are hosting a Strut Your Mutt dog costume contest on Friday, Oct. 27 to raise money for the Providence Animal Center and gain first-hand experience in event planning.
The dog costume contest is being organized by the university chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America. The event, open to the greater Widener community, is an opportunity for students to plan an awareness campaign and community outing that is both fun and raises money for a worthy cause.
Participants will pay a small entry fee that will go directly to Providence Animal Center. An online photo contest in which participants may also pay to enter and submit a photo of their pet in costume will take place simultaneously and raise additional funds. The photo contest is open to all kinds of pets, not just dogs.
Media who wish to attend should contact assistant director of communications Nicole Carrera at 610-314-8567. She can assist with parking.
Parade and judging will be at 4 p.m., with results announced shortly thereafter. The event is at Academic Quad, near Alumni Auditorium.
Rose Tree Place marks Oktoberfest
Rose Tree Place, a Watermark retirement community, celebrated Oktoberfest on Thursday, Oct. 19 with a dinner, show, and costumes that brought the sights, sounds, and tastes of Germany to the senior living community in Media.
Residents were treated to a tasty dinner of bratwurst & sauerkraut, braised rack of lamb served with mint jelly sauce, or lemon dill garlic tilapia served with buttered parsley Yukon potatoes and seasoned baby carrots. Afterwards they enjoyed a decadent German chocolate cake for dessert.
After dinner, the residents and associates donned celebratory Oktoberfest garb, from decorated glasses to full lederhosen outfits. Then they were treated to a six-person Oompah band, called the Good Times Live Band. The band played traditional tunes and made sure that every resident felt like they were at an Oktoberfest festival.
The German food didn’t stop after dinner either. While the band performed, traditional pretzels, pigs-in-a-blanket, beer and root beer made their way around. Residents even got the chance to learn about German, Austrian, and Bavarian culture, like the roots of the toast “Prost” when drinking and celebrating.
“It was a blast to finish out the Oktoberfest season with such a great meal and performance,” said Rose Tree Place Community Life Director Karen Holahan. “Not only did our amazing Chef Jimmy put his heart and soul into the menu, but our seniors got the full Oktoberfest experience: a night of good food, friends, and amazing music.”
Juried art exhibition at Springfield High lobby
The Springfield Area Educational Foundation and the Springfield School District will hold the second annual SHS Alumni Juried Art Exhibition Nov. 10 to 12 in the high school lobby area.
The foundation’s open to the public artful weekend seeks to represent the legacy of Springfield’s art and design programs by showcasing many works for sale by the school’s talented alumni. The foundation’s goal and objective is to celebrate Springfield High School’s visual arts history through the illustration practices of the artistic alumni while fundraising for the school’s renowned art educational programs, according to a press release.
“We are happy to bring back this traditional and beloved art exhibition,” said Doug Lisk, Class of 1967 and chair of the exhibition. “By showcasing our alumni artwork for sale, we seek to highlight the importance of an arts education and honor the accomplishments of our SHS graduates. This year’s exhibition and fundraiser will kick off Springfield’s Weekend of the Arts including a ‘Comedy Night’ performance spotlighting Philly personality Joe Conklin (Nov. 11) and the annual holiday concert featuring the Philadelphia Boys Choir (Nov. 12) Our art exhibition will also feature a performance by the Springfield High School String Quartet on Friday evening (Nov. 10) and introduce the new Action Painting area for young student artists on Saturday (Nov. 11),” he added.
The 2023 exhibition and fundraiser is dedicated to Barbara Wilson, art educator from the years 1982 to 1995. Wilson, an award-winning artist and practicing landscape painter, has inspired thousands of young artists and was instrumental in establishing the Celebration of the Arts program in 1983.
The SHS Alumni Juried Art Exhibition is hoping to attract alumni artists and designers from all mediums, professional and amateur.
All entries will be evaluated for exhibition by a jury panel of current art educators, art students and community members.
For further details regarding the arts weekend or juried arts exhibition, contact Lisa Smith, director of development at the foundation’s development office at Lisa.smith@saef.net or Lisk at douglaslisk@aol.com.
The free art exhibition plans include a reception, and exhibition hours are Nov. 10, 5 to 9 p.m.; and Nov. 11 and 12, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
All interested alumni are requested to provide slides of their work via email to the foundation immediately for consideration.
All artwork accepted for the Exhibition should be submitted via mail to the foundation by Nov. 3, or delivered in person to the high school. Contact Lisk at the above email or 610-675-4135 for details.
Guideline/Entry Forms for exhibition submission are announced on https//www.saef.net.
For event sponsorship opportunities: www.SAEF.net, Lisa.smith@saef.net or Lisk.
St. Joseph Christmas Bazaar
The Church of St. Joseph, 3255 Concord Road, Aston, will hold its annual Christmas Bazaar on Nov 18 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in both Degnan and Donnelly halls.
The bazaar features Kids Korner, Trinkets & Treasures, Christmas, jewelry, books, religious, handbags, new gifts, Kringle’s Kitchen and baked goods tables — and of course, pictures with Santa from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Always a huge attraction, the gift baskets will feature 90-plus this year.
Oct. 30 is Weatherization Day
The Community Action Agency of Delaware County Inc. reminds all that October is National Energy Awareness Month and includes National Weatherization Day on Oct. 30.
Weatherization provides a cost-effective permanent solution for reducing the heavy energy burden on low-income Americans. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, these families pay 14% or more of their annual incomes for energy compared to 3% for others.
However, weatherization can help low-income families save an average of $283 per year in energy costs. The weatherization program is available to help make low-income households more energy efficient.
The program provides quality energy education and home conservation modifications.
Edward T. Coleman, agency CEO, says “This program can make a real tangible difference immediately to those already on a strained budget and continue to help them in the future. This is an excellent time to call and get fast service before winter arrives and the program gets very busy.”
Funding for this program is provided by the Pa. Department of Community and Economic Development. Income guidelines do apply. To apply for the weatherization program or for additional information, residents can contact CAADC at (610) 521-8770 or www.caadc.org/services/energy.
Flag retirement at Brandywine Battlefield
The Brandywine Battlefield Park Associates will host a Harvest Fest/Flag Retirement at the battlefield park on Saturday, Nov. 11 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Vendors and Colonial-era reenactor tradesmen will be demonstrating blacksmithing, cloth dyeing, carpentry, bobbin lace, cooking and flax-to-linen processing.
Children can try out sack races, Colonial nine pins, hobby horses and see a cider press demonstration. The Meat House Market food truck will also be there.
Check out Colonial-themed tee-shirts and signs from Philp Marc Sons of Liberty signs and T-shirts.
The flag retirement ceremony with the Chadds Ford Township Residents Association, along with members of the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps will take place outside, weather permitting, at 3 p.m. with the rain location in the Visitor Center. Bring your worn flags.
Tours of the Ring House (Washington’s Headquarters) are at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., and tours of the Gilpin House are at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Admission is $8 for adults; $7 for seniors, with AAA, AARP; and $5 for youth ages 3 to 11.
The park is a National Historical Landmark on 52 acres in Chadds Ford. It is part of the site of the Battle of Brandywine fought on Sept. 11, 1777.
The site is administered by the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission with the active support of the Brandywine Battlefield Park Associates.
For more information, visit www.brandywinebattlefield.org or follow on Facebook and Instagram.
Send items of community interest to editor@delcotimes.com.