NETHER PROVIDENCE — The Penn State Master Gardeners of Delaware County are recruiting a new class of people who are interested in learning scientifically based horticulture practices and sharing their knowledge with the community.
Information sessions about the training program will take place in-person Tuesday, May 12, at the Environmental Center at Smedley Park in Springfield and virtually on Wednesday, May 13 and Thursday, May 21, via Zoom.
Those interested in becoming a Master Gardener must attend one of these sessions as part of the application process.
Over a five-month period, Master Gardener trainees receive 40 hours of instruction across a wide variety of topics, including plant botany, native plants, soil science, and integrated pest management.
In addition, prospective Master Gardeners visit local public gardens and attend several Saturday workshops. Coursework is followed by 50 hours of community volunteer work with other Master Gardeners.
“First and foremost, Master Gardeners are educators,” explained Sam Barnett, co-chair of this year’s recruitment committee. “There’s a time commitment to get up to speed. Yet, the rewards are many. Trainees gain knowledge and expertise, and it is a great way to give back to the community.”
Master Gardener and recruitment co-chair Cindy Kravatz says the information sessions are designed to clarify what a Master Gardener is and what it is not.
“For example, we have all sorts of gardeners: flower gardeners, vegetable gardeners, people with container gardens,” she said. “Being a Master Gardener is about constantly learning because best practices can change over time. The beauty of our program is that everyone can develop their own expertise or special niche.”
For more information and to register for one of the three information sessions, contact Holly Thorpe at hat5041@psu.edu or 610-690-7669.
Scott Arboretum offers free tour of flowering cherries
Scott Arboretum, 500 College Ave., Swarthmore will hold an in-person Cherry Tree Highlights Tour on Wednesday, April 1, from noon to 1 p.m.
Everyone is invited to explore flowering cherries at Scott Arboretum and Gardens with new Associate Director of Horticulture Tony Aiello. The tour guide is a renowned plant expert with a special interest in flowering cherries. Gardeners and plant enthusiasts of all levels are welcome to this free event.
Tour will begin at the Scott Arboretum offices. The tour will be canceled for inclement weather.
Anyone who wishes to register, review the program or has accessibility needs, can call 610-328-8025. Guests are encouraged to register to receive updates.
Ridley Township to host Delco Memory Café
Ridley Township Public Library, 100 E. MacDade Blvd., Folsom, will host Delco Memory Café at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, April 4.
The café is free to attend. The Upper Darby High School Honors Music students will provide a performance during cafe hours.
The café is a local social group for people living with memory loss. It meets on the first Saturday of the month at 1:30 p.m. All participants must attend with a care partner. Refreshments will be served.
For more information or to register, email info@delcomemorycafe.org or call 610-729-4393 or go to: www.delcomemorycafe.org.
Sharon Hill’s Easter Celebration is Saturday
Sharon Hill Borough Councilman Rodney Hill and the Sharon Hill Recreation Board will present the annual Easter Celebration, featuring games and prizes, live music, and an Easter basket giveaway.
It’ll run 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, April 4 at Fanta Bility Memorial Park, 1201 Chester Pike, Sharon Hill.
The celebration will also feature family photos with the Easter bunny. The event is open to all residents of Sharon Hill.
St. Francis Players honor their beloved Director Ed Grafstrom with Hats on for Ed. Every year on the last Sunday of March, the Players wear their baseball hats to honor former director Ed Grafstrom who passed in March 2020. (COURTESY OF MOLLY KEARNEY)
Tickets go on sale for St. Francis Players’ ‘Little Mermaid’
Tickets went on sale this week for the St. Francis Players 2026 production of “Disney’s The Little Mermaid,” to be held in April at Leonard Hall, St. Francis of Assisi Church, 136 Saxer Ave., Springfield.
Evening performances will be held at 7 p.m. on April 17, 18 and 24 and 25. Matinee performances will be at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 19 and Sunday, April 26. Doors will open a half-hour prior to curtain.
Reserved tickets are $18.75 with general admission at the door for $12.75. To purchase tickets all performances, visit www.stfrancisplayers.org or call 610-505-8874.
Members of The Garden Club of Springfield, with the floral arrangements that they delivered to Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia are, from left, Lois Sellers of Springfield; Karen Giacomucci of Prospect Park; Cheryl Forte of Collingdale; Lillian Amadio and Jan Coppola, both of Springfield; and Mary Ellen Mulhern of Media. Other members who were part of the effort were Karen Smith of Secane and Anne Elliott of Media. (COURTESY OF SPRINGFIELD GARDEN CLUB)
Garden Club of Springfield brings spring flowers to Ronald McDonald House
Eight members of the Garden Club of Springfield recently created spring floral arrangements and four members delivered them to the Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia. The floral designs, intended to lift spirits induce tranquility, included daffodils, daisy pompoms, mini carnations, a variety of colorful lilies, tulips, ornamental cabbage, tea roses, hypericum, ranunculus and varied floral greens.
The Garden Club members were met by Jordan Hanchulak, the annual Ronald McDonald House giving manager, who led them on a mini tour of the facility, and told its history. A new addition allows the house to serve 120 families who call the Ronald McDonald House their home while their children are undergoing treatment for serious illnesses.
The club’s arrangements are currently being displayed in common areas and cafeteria tables to bring a true sense of spring and a feeling of tranquility to the families.
The Garden Club of Springfield will hold its next meeting on Wednesday, April 22, at the Penn State Environmental Center in Smedley Park, Springfield. A business meeting will begin at 10 a.m., followed by a Mini Flower Show and Program at 11 a.m.
The show is entitled “Edible Gardens” and will be presented by Terry Miller, president of Uwchlan Garden Club.
The Garden Club of Springfield is a member of District I GCFP and National Garden Clubs Inc. Anyone who is interested in attending a meeting or becoming a member, can email GCSmembership1@gmail.com. People do not have to reside in Springfield to become a member.
Garden Club of Springfield will hold its annual plant and bake sale on Saturday, May 2 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Old Central School, Saxer Avenue and Powell Road, Springfield. The event will be held rain or shine.
Media Rotary kicks off whiskey raffle
The Rotary Foundation of Media is officially kicking off sales for chances in its Whiskey Raffle. The raffle consists of seven prizes of outstanding and hard to get whiskies with Pappy Van Winkle 15-year-old bourbon as the Grand Prize.
Tickets are $50 or three for $125. People do not need to be present to win and everyone is encouraged to purchase chances to support the Rotary. The other whiskies are Lagavulin 16 year old scotch; Blanton’s Single Barrel bourbon; Dettling 1876 bourbon; Michter’s 10 year old rye; 2022 Blood Oath Pact 8 bourbon; and Glendronach 18 year old scotch.
The drawing will be held at Margaret Kuo’s Kitchen in Granite Run on Thursday, May 21, with dinner at 5:30 p.m. and the drawing, both live and on Facebook Live at 7 p.m. There will also be door prizes only for those who have purchased at least one raffle chance and are attending the live event which is $60 per person, including dinner.
All proceeds from the raffle will be used for local and international community projects. This past year the Foundation has provided funds for the Media Food Bank; the Media Arts Council; museum passes for the Media-Upper Providence Free Library and others. Internationally, it matched funds from the club and individual members to contribute to Shelter Box for Gaza refugees and computers for a school in Uganda.
To purchase raffle chances or dinner tickets, go to www.mediarotary.org. To learn how to become a member of the Rotary Club of Media, contact Janice Miller-Lion at millerlion66@comcast.net/.
Nonprofits can apply for Springfield Lions Club’s grants
The Springfield Lion’s Club sponsors a Community Grants Program and welcomes requests for funding that can address specific needs with defined goals and measurable results that will improve the lives of citizens in the community. Any non-profit organization in Delaware County is eligible to apply, but preference will be given to projects helping youth in the Springfield and/or Morton communities.
All requests are reviewed by the Club’s Board and based on merit. Grants will be awarded between $250-1,000.All applications will be due on April 20. Late applications will not be accepted. Grantees will be announced on May 12 and are asked to attend the Lion’s dinner meeting on May 26 to receive their checks.
The Springfield Lions Club is a service club, with the goal of assisting the community and the less fortunate, primarily the hearing and sight impaired. The Club’s motto is “We Serve.”
The Lions Club began with 36 charter members in 1948 and celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2024. Lions International is the largest service club in the world, having 1.4 million members in almost every country in the world.
Recent projects, sponsored by the Lion’s Club of Springfield, include: Collecting used eyeglasses, transporting visually impaired individuals to Beacon Lodge-a summer camp for the visually impaired, recognition and scholarships for outstanding Springfield students, providing eye examinations and eyewear for uninsured or underinsured individuals, and assisting with eye testing at the local Special Olympic events.
For questions about the Springfield Lions Club, or its Grants Program, email Sarah Gibbons at Sarahl1108@yahoo.com.
Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home makes its Media Theatre debut
The Media Theatre, 104 E. State St., Media, continues its 2025-26 Broadway Series Season with Alison Bechdel’s “Fun Home.”
The five-time Tony Award-winning musical based on the acclaimed graphic novel has made its debut on The Media Theatre stage. After its opening weekend, the production has been Barrymore Recommended. Fun Home runs until Sunday, April 5 and is directed by the theater’s executive artistic director, Christian Ryan.
“When I first saw the show, I fell in love with it,” Ryan said. “I think it is a wonderful piece and a great representation of Alison’s story. I’ve been a fan of her comic, the original source material, for so long. I loved seeing it translate really well to the stage.”
“Fun Home,” which won the 2015 Tony for Best Musical and Best Original Score captivates the audience with its strikingly beautiful score that seamlessly weaves together memory, emotion, trauma and self-discovery.
The “Fun Home” cast is packed with local talent. Barrymore award-winning Jennie Eisenhower returns to The Media Theatre as Adult Alison. Broadway veteran and Drama Desk nominee Jenny Lee Stern plays Helen and Michael Jansen takes on the complex role of Bruce, Alison’s father.
Tickets are $45. To purchase, go to www.mediatheatre.org/shows-tickets.
Readers can send community news and photos to Peg DeGrassa at pdegrassa@21st-centurymedia.com.
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