SWARTHMORE — Families are invited to take a ride on the musical train through a joyous festival of songs for the season with children’s singer-entertainer Allison DeSalvo and friends at the 17th World of Song Children’s Benefit Concert on Saturday Nov. 19 from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Park Avenue Community Center, 129 Park Ave., Swarthmore.
Children are invited to sing and dance for this year’s charity, Gratitude 4 Grandparents, in recognition of grandparents and the vital role they play.
Accompanied by guitarist Derek Chafin, percussionist John Patriarca and singer Christa Basilevsky, DeSalvo will perform a lively and interactive mix of traditional and original melodies ranging from folk to Americana celebrating family, the wonders of fall, the pleasure of animals, a pop-up turkey and more. She will be joined by other special guests, two young violinist sisters and an aspiring local children’s author sharing her inspirational story, “Love Is Everywhere”.
All proceeds go to Gratitude 4 Grandparents, a non-profit organization serving “grandfamilies” in Delaware County and beyond by providing for their immediate needs by providing essential supplies, food, gifts during vacations, financial, legal and emotional support to raise their grandchildren.
To learn more, visit http://www.gratitude4grandparents.com. The concert and program, aimed at children ages 2 to 10, also includes face painting, arts and crafts, food and refreshments.
Advance tickets, valid for one adult and one child, are sold online for a base price of $20 and each additional person is $5. Babies are free. On the day of the concert, the base price is $25. For reservations and ticket information, log on to http://www.worldofsong.com.
The Church of the Sacred Heart organizes a sale of pierogi
The Church of the Sacred Heart in Clifton Heights will hold its pierogi sale from November 7-18. Pierogi will be made and picked up at St. Stephen’s Parish Hall, 199 W. Baltimore Ave., Clifton Heights. The cost is $8 per dozen.
To order, call Joanne Bidoli at 610-574-7077 or the presbytery at 610-623-0409.
Guest speaker at Springfield Lions reunion talks about Our Closet program
The Springfield Lions Club recently hosted Lisa Ney, program officer for the Jewish Family and Children’s Service, as a speaker at the last Lions meeting.
Ney spoke about Our Closet in Your Neighborhood, a free mobile program that provides needy people in the Philadelphia area with the basic necessities of food, clothing, and access to services and benefits.
For more information, visit http://jfcsphilly.org/our-closet-in-your-neighborhood or email [email protected]/.
For more information about the Lions, contact Larry Healy at 610-716-7076 or visit http://www.springfieldlionsclub.org.
The PLO organizes a Christmas bazaar
Our Lady of Peace Parish will be hosting a Christmas Bazaar, 6-9pm Friday November 18 and 9am-3pm Saturday November 19, at Nelson Hall, behind Notre Dame deLourdes School, Fairview Road , Swarthmore. The bazaar will include basket raffles, a toy wheel, television odds, Shark Vacuum, Basket of Cheer, Deacon’s Attic and vendors.
Breakfast with Santa is $8 per adult and $5 per child. The kitchen will be open during the bazaar. For more information, contact Rosie Moran at 610-256-9127 or [email protected]
O’Hara Hosts Fall Craft Fair
Cardinal O’Hara High School’s Band and Guard Fall Craft Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, November 19 and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, November 20 at the O’ Cafeteria. Hara, 1701 Sproul Road, Springfield.
Everyone is invited to come and buy gifts and unique handmade items, made by more than 80 local artisans.
The event benefits the O’Hara Music Program.
Springfield Alumni Art Exhibit
The Springfield Area Educational Foundation and the Springfield School District have announced plans to hold a juried alumni art exhibit on Friday, November 11 and Saturday, November 12 in the new high school lobby. The exhibition is open to everyone.
The foundation’s Art Weekend seeks to represent the legacy of Springfield’s art design programs by featuring many works for sale by the school’s alumni. SAEF’s goal is to celebrate Springfield’s visual arts history through the works of artistic alumni while raising funds for the school’s scholarship programs.
“We are pleased to announce that the inaugural exhibit will be dedicated to our beloved Springfield art teacher, Beth Fellona,” said Chris Belton, Arts Educator and Co-Chair of the Events Committee. “Art is a powerful educational tool. In addition to creativity and self-expression, the arts teach problem-solving, critical thinking, innovation, and collaboration. By showcasing the work of our alumni, Springfield seeks to highlight the importance of arts education and honor the accomplishments of our graduates. We hope to attract a wide variety of alumni artists and designers from all mediums, professional and amateur. All entries were evaluated for exhibition by a jury comprising current art teachers, art students, community members, and SAEF/SHS board members.
For more information, contact Belton at [email protected] To become a sponsor, contact www.saef.net or call Jan Greisemer at 610-938-6034.
Plans include an artists’ reception open to the public on Nov. 11 from 5-9 p.m. Exhibition hours are November 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The foundation is committed to meeting the educational needs and success of every student. The foundation’s goal is to help provide rigorous and rewarding educational opportunities for every student, from kindergarten through high school. In partnership with the district, the foundation raises and manages donor funds that provide the school district with the energy needed for strategic investments in programs so that every student has the opportunity to succeed. For more information, visit http://www.saef.net.
$750,000 in funding helps create a homeless resource center in Upper Darby
Philadelphia’s Student Run Emergency Housing Unit received $750,000 in Redevelopment Assistance Program funds for its Breaking Bread Community project in the 164th Legislative District.
The Breaking Bread Community Project will be a resource center for ending homelessness, located in the Township of Upper Darby, providing services and housing assistance to anyone in need. It will also include overnight shelter for at least 30 people.
The project site is a three storey building and will require full refurbishment to provide a day use community area and offices on the first floor; sleeping areas on the second and third floors; new heating, air conditioning, electricity and fire alarm infrastructure; new interiors and finishes; new bathrooms on each floor; and improvements to the existing elevator.
“This funding will help us provide needed resources to the food and housing insecure community,” said Stephanie Sena, Founder of the Housing Unit. “We will provide 24-hour refuge from the elements and, most importantly, relationship, love and community.”
The Breaking Bread community will also provide legal aid, health care, workshops, gardening, meals and community services.
The RACP grant is administered by the Office of the Budget whose grants are intended to support community development and economic activity.
Readers can send community news and photos to Peg DeGrassa at [email protected]/.