Community Briefs: Italian-American Festival brings food, music and family fun to Rose Tree Park Saturday

UPPER PROVIDENCE— Associazione Regionale Abruzzese Delco, in collaboration with its sister organizations in the Philadelphia area, will present the 11th Annual Italian-American Heritage Festival, 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2, at Rose Tree Park, 1671 N. Providence Road, Upper Providence. Since its inception over a decade ago, the local Italian-American Festival brings together a variety of people, from those of Italian descent to those who enjoy all-things Italian. The festival will be held, rain or shine.

This year’s festival will feature a variety of Italian foods and desserts, personalities, an Italian car show, games for children and adults, and professional entertainment for all ages. Entertainment will include the Verdi Band, Moreno Fruzzetti, Tre Belle, Donnah Campbell, Christy Sutton and Dante Fiore, Richard Barnes and more. The national anthems will be sang by Lauren Cifoni. MaryLou Koch and Melissa Cannavo Marino will be Masters of Ceremony. This year’s Festival will include a special salute to First Responders and Fallen Heroes. Advertising, sponsorships, and vendor opportunities are still available.

Monsignor Ralph Chieffo will celebrate Mass at St. Mary Magdalen, 2400 N. Providence Road, Upper Providence, at 9:30 a.m. Saturday morning, prior to the festival, and lead festival attendees in an opening prayer on the festival grounds.

The festival is sponsored by CIAO Delco, a Coalition of Italian American Organizations of Delaware County. CIAO Delco members are Associazione Regionale Delco, president Nicholas Rapagnani; Associazione Regionale Abruzzese Delaware Valley, president Gaetano DiPasquale; Christopher Columbus Memorial Association, president Joseph Stephano; Filitalia Delco, Marguerite Faggioni-Miller; Societa da Vinci, Albert Greto, Esquire; Justinian Society of Delaware County, Albert Greto, Esq.; St. Anthony diPadova Society, SWP, James Stigale; District 5 Grand Lodge of PA Sons and Daughters of Italy and Benvenuto Lodge #2572, president Joseph Finio.

For more information, e-mail CIAOdelco@gmail.com or call Tracy Price at 610-405-0315 or visit www.ciaodelco.org/.

Community Coffeehouse resumes in-person Friday night live music

Our Community Cup Coffeehouse, a venue for adults of all abilities, is resuming its weekly in-person Friday night coffeehouse, with some pandemic changes. At this time, no food will be served, but beverages will be available. Doors will open each week at 6:15 p.m. Weekly activities begin at 6:30 p.m. and live music goes from 7:15-8:15 p.m. Coloring and cards are available each week.

The number attending is limited to 35 people, so pre-registration is strongly encouraged by emailing Kate McShane at treeoflifeddm@gmail.com/. Masks and vaccinations are required. Upcoming entertainment includes Sept. 24, Welcome Back Party, with Silver Winds Open Mic; Oct. 1, bingo with live music by Sara Nicole; Oct. 8, board game night, with music by Flute 66; Oct. 15, Indoor Olympics with Cornhole, Bowling, and more and live music by Rebecca Lang Fiorentino; Oct. 22, Pumpkin Decorating, with music by Christopher Macy; and Saturday, Oct. 30, 1-5 p.m., Share the Love Fest, featuring Julia Levitina, Shakey Lyman, Every Heard and Alyssa Garcia

Our Community Cup’s mission is to provide adults with all abilities a place where they can enjoy a fun-filled night of community, meeting new friends while enjoying food, fun, and live music. The coffeehouse is open to everyone.

The pay-as-you-can coffeehouse is located at Tree of Life Presbyterian Church, 933 Baltimore Pike, Springfield.

For more information, call Kate McShane at treeoflifeddm@gmail.com or Jim Wurster at jim@newfdn.org.

Learn about Osteoarthritis and Osteoporosis at SCS special program

Senior Community Services will present a free community program on Osteoarthritis and Osteoporosis, the Most Common Types of Bone Diseases,” 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 5, at the Brookhaven Municipal Building, 2 Cambridge Road, Brookhaven. Presenter Annemarie Casey-Glatts, R.N., MSN, Community Health Education, Riddle Memorial Hospital, will explain the differences between these conditions, contributing factors, prevention, treatment options, alternative therapies, and how to prevent falls and reduce the risk of breaking a bone.

Pre-registration is required for this presentation by contacting Eileen at 484-496-2137.

Registration begins for final Carol Axelrod Memorial Blood Drive

The family of Carol H. Axelrod will partner with the American Red Cross to host their final blood drive in Axelrod’s memory, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 7, at the Radnor Activity Center, 125 S. Wayne Ave., Wayne.

After hosting 34 large-scale community blood drives, Axelrod’s family members are preparing to explore new opportunities but plan to express their gratitude to supporters who have helped them collect enough blood products to have saved the lives of nearly 16,000 patients over the past 13 years.
Donor appointments are required by visiting www.chablooddrive.org or www.redcrossblood.org and entering sponsor code “CHAMemorial,” or call 1-800-RED-CROSS.

The blood drive honors the memory of Carol H. Axelrod, who became completely dependent on blood products while being treated for multiple myeloma, a blood cancer. Because blood was available every time she needed a transfusion, she was able to celebrate her 60th birthday and see her granddaughter turn three years old before she passed away in July 2008.

In conjunction with the upcoming blood drive, and in recognition of all those who are working tirelessly to fight the disease that has affected so many families, donations will be made to the Cancer Center Program at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for every unit of blood collected. To learn more about the Carol H. Axelrod Memorial Blood Drive, visit http://www.chablooddrive.org.

South Media Fire Co. features food trucks Friday

South Media Fire Co.’s monthly Food Truck Friday will happen 5-8 p.m. Oct. 1, at the firehouse, 535 Washington Ave. Tables will be set up for dining and the following food trucks will be available: Plum Pit, Farmstead and Owls Water Ice and Treats. Proceeds benefit the all-volunteer fire department. Everyone is welcome.

Deadline approaches for entries in PRC ‘Lens on Litter’ photo contest

Pennsylvania Resources Council is offering an opportunity to turn photographic art into environmental action through their annual Gene Capaldi Lens on Litter Photo Contest.

The contest, for amateur photographers only, is designed not to glorify litter, but to call attention to the careless and illegal act of littering, and how it threatens the environment across the Commonwealth.  The deadline for submissions of Sunday, Oct. 31 is fast approaching.

Photos must be taken in Pennsylvania and will be judged on six criteria: anti-litter message, originality, photographic technique, quality of photo, originality of title and severity of the litter. Contestants will be divided into two categories — students, grades k-12 and adults. Three prizes to each group, will be awarded with the first-place winners receiving $500, second-place $250 and third- place $100.  Entrants are also encouraged to safely coordinate a clean-up of the subject area and provide a photo of the results of their efforts.  Extra judging points will be awarded for this added effort.

Entries are limited to five per person, no smaller than 4×6 and no bigger than 8×10, and should be sent to PRC Lens on Litter Contest, 1671 North Providence Road, Media, PA  19063.  High resolution digital submissions may be sent to lensonlitter@prc.org.

Included with all photos must be the entrant’s name, address, telephone number, email address, title given to photo, location of litter site and how they learned of the contest.  Students must also include age, grade and name of school.  Entries submitted without all the requirements will be disqualified. Photos will not be returned and may be used by PRC at their discretion.

Sponsors for the 2021 contest include Wawa, Inc., Carolyn Capaldi, Robert and Mary Capaldi, Sheetz, Inc, Wegmans and the Warren County Visitors Bureau.  Additional information as well as previous winners can be found at https://prc.org/programs/projects/lens-litter/.

Readers can email community news and photos to Peg DeGrassa at pdegrassa@21st-centurymedia.com.