Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors
Rafferty Subaru has partnered with Providence Animal Center and found homes for over 250 pets with in-store adoption events and the Rafferty Rescue of the Week! We ser ve as a community resource that inspires others to embrace the human-animal bond, all supported entirely by private donations.
Rafferty Subaru has partnered with Partners in Outreach, an all-volunteer group dedicated to improving the lives of children residing in Chester County.
Dear Friends & Neighbors,
PUBLICATION TEAM
PUBLISHER: Bob Blaisse
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER: Lisa Jeffries
CONTENT COORDINATOR: Sheila Turner-Hilliard
DESIGNER: Kim Cesati
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER: Crissy Everhart Photography, CrissyEverhart.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Bob Blaisse, Sheila TurnerHilliard, Holly Stupak, Lisa Jeffries, Doug Humes, Kaitlin Battiste, Scott Magness, Deborah M. Truscello, Lou Matteo, Rick Bondurant, Jeffrey Stein
ADVERTISING
Contact Publisher: Bob Blaisse, 610 453 5536
Email: BBlaisse@BestVersionMedia.com
COMMUNITY SUBMISSIONS
Have feedback or questions about how to submit events, updates, ideas for articles, high resolution photos, etc.? We will do our best to include as much community information as space permits. Please contact our Content Coordinator Sheila Turner-Hilliard at STurnerHilliard@BestVersionMedia.com.
CONTENT SUBMISSION DEADLINES
Content Due the 5th of every month. Any content, resident submissions, guest columns, advertisements and advertorials are not necessarily endorsed by or represent the views of Best Version Media (BVM) or any municipality, homeowners associations, businesses or organizations that this publication serves. BVM is not responsible for the reliability, suitability or timeliness of any content submitted, inclusive of materials generated or composed through artificial intelligence (AI). All content submitted is done so at the sole discretion of the submitting party. © 2024 Best Version Media. All rights reserved.
Newtown quare
Friends & Neighbors
Here comes October with its comfortable weather and weekends filled with local events. This wonderful month offers many choices to get out of the house. (Start with your review of our Calendar of Local Events on page 14.) I’m pinning my October hopes on attending a Phillies game on the way to the World Series, lots of fun fall weather and a month of the trees changing color, I know will jumpstart my thoughts of holidays on the way.
October is more than just one month among twelve. It’s an annual experience, perhaps best described by that anonymous quote: “My favorite color is October.” Or better still, as Anne Shirley, the character in the book Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery admirably declares: “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”
I am glad my Octobers are spent in my community where I’m privileged to serve as Publisher of the hometown magazine. And this October we celebrate a special 75th issue of Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors by showcasing all past 75 covers on the cover of this issue. How many past covers do you recall? How many of the several hundred people on this month’s cover do you know?
While Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors (NewtownSquareMag.com) celebrates its 75th issue, so too is its sister publication: Marple Friends & Neighbors. Visit MarpleMag.com to see how many others you recognize on the past 75 covers of that nearby magazine. And check out the youngest sibling: Newtown Edgmont Friends & Neighbors at TheNEMag.com, which is also celebrating with a 2nd Year Anniversary cover similarly showcasing all past 24 covers. Combined, all three magazines have now published 174 issues with unique covers, are mailed monthly to over 12,000 homes in Marple, Newtown, Edgmont and Willistown townships, published online, and read monthly by tens of thousands of fans of hometown pride.
Longtime readers know our advertising Sponsors make it all possible – business owners who know a hometown magazine is important to the community that is important to the success of their business. Yes, it’s business, but they chose us. And their loyalty to us makes our hometown magazine possible.
As you enjoy this 75th issue, consider returning the loyalty of our advertising Sponsors when possible, by choosing to do business with them first for Bringing People Together with every new issue of Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors.
Bob Blaisse Publisher
Dear Residents,
October, with its rich colors, crisp days and cool nights, is a time to savor the beauty of fall. Before the holiday season whirls us into its frenzy, let’s pause to celebrate a significant milestone-75 Issues of Bringing People Together in Newtown Square!
This festive fall issue is filled with great stories and community news. First, join us as we look back at the past 75 issues of Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors. We have grown so much and look forward to many more years of sharing meaningful stories. Our Business Profile features many of our valued Sponsors, who are here to share their thoughts on our hometown magazine and wish us a happy anniversary! Our calendar of events is full of fun, including a Trick or Treat Community night at the Newtown Square Fire Company.
We are always looking for more Newtown Square families, individuals and organizations to feature in our magazine. If you’d like to nominate someone, please email me at STurnerHilliard@BestVersionMedia.com.
Sheila Turner-Hilliard Content Coordinator
Accounting & Tax Preparation
Jack Del Pizzo, CPA
Del Pizzo & Associates
2098 W Chester Pike #101, Broomall
610 - 356 - 2590 • JRD@DelPizzo.com DelPizzo.com
Automotive Repairs & Service
Lou Matteo
Edgemont Automotive
5040 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square
610 - 353- 9868 • EdgemontAuto@verizon.net EdgemontAutomotive.com
Car, Truck & Motorcycle Detailing
Jose Colmenares
Nicecars Detail, LLC
Newtown Square
484-841-3978 • NiceCarsDetail@gmail.com NiceCarsDetail.com
Carpeting & Floor Covering
Eric Fante
Fante Flooring
39 South Newtown Street Rd, Newtown Square 610-232-708 • Info@FanteFloors.com FanteFloors.com
Dance Instruction
Kaitlin Battiste
From the Top Dance
3603 Chapel Road, Newtown Square 610 - 353- 2623 • Info@FromTheTopDance.com FromTheTopDance.com
Electric Service, Commercial & Residential
Andrew Martella, Sr.
Martella Electric Company 484 - 498 - 2965 • MartellaElectric@rcn.com
MartellaElectric.com
Fireplace Products
Scott Magness
Scott’s Fireplace Products 3137 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square 484 - 422- 8334 • SFP@ScottsFireplaceProducts.com ScottsFireplaceProducts.com
Funeral Home
Robert L. D’Anjolell, Jr., F.D. DANJOLELL Memorial Homes 2811 West Chester Pike, Broomall
610 - 356 - 4200 • RobJr@DANJOLELL .com DANJOLELL .com
Landscape Design & Landscaping
TJ Warner
JHL Landscaping
610 - 356 - 4104 • TJ@JHLLlandscaping.com JHLLandscaping.com
Law, Family & Trial Attorney
Deborah M. Truscello, Esq.
Law Office of Deborah M. Truscello
610 - 892- 4940 • DmtofLaw@gmail.com TruscelloLaw.com
Painting, Exterior & Interior
Rick Thompson
Thompson Custom Painting 610 - 359 - 8500 • Office@ThompsonPainting.net
ThompsonPainting.net
Plumbing Service, Residential / Commercial
Rick Bondurant
R.F. Bondurant Plumbing 610 - 566 - 0288 • RFBPlumbing@comcast.net RFBondurant.com
Private Investigation & Security Services
Jeffrey Stein
ELPS Private Detective Agency
882 South Matlack Street, Suite 206, West Chester 610 - 696 - 7799 • JStein@elpspda.com ELPSpda.com
Real Estate Sales
Sarah Forti, Realtor Forti Homes with Keller Williams Realty Office: 610 - 647- 8300 • Direct: 610 - 986 - 7170 Sarah@FortiHomes.com FortiHomes.com
Retirement & Financial Planning
Charles Welde, CPA, CFP® The CP Welde Group 610-388-7705 • Charles@CPWeldeGroup.com CPWeldeGroup.com
–
–
– Ask
Roofing, Siding & Carpentry
Kevin O’Donnell O’Donnell Roofing Co. 610 - 624 - 8112
CustomerService@ODonnellRoofingCo.com ODonnellRoofingCo.com
Trash Removal, Commercial & Residential
John Blosinski J & K Trash Removal, Inc. Gradyville, PA 610-497-3800 • CustomerService@JandKTrash.com JandKTrash.com
EXPERT WANTED EXPERT WANTED
Expert Contributors needed! Dental, Education, Home Health Care, Jewelry, Medical, Pet Services, Physical Therapy, HVAC, Vacations, etc. Contact: Bob Blaisse: 610-453-5536, or BBlaisse@BestVersionMedia.com
If you connect me with a new sponsor, of our community, I’ll ask you to suggest a Newtown Square resident or family to be featured in an upcoming issue as our Resident Feature cover story. Text or call me with your Expert Contributor nominations. Bob Blaisse, Publisher – 610-453-5536
by Sheila Turner-Hilliard
Celebrating Our 75th Issue!
This month, Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors proudly presents its 75th issue! It’s more than just a number—it’s a celebration of Bringing People Together. From our inaugural issue in 2018 as a Best Version Media publication, to becoming a cherished hometown publication, we've inspired hometown pride and become a vital monthly source of valuable information for our thousands of readers.
Thanks to our dedicated Publisher, Bob Blaisse, we’ve brought you stories that we hope to inform, inspire and connect you to the Newtown Square community. To celebrate this milestone issue, we’re reflecting on what it’s been like to fulfill our mission.
The Friends & Neighbors team consists of many driven professionals who take pride in creating something special for our local community. Our Publisher, Bob Blaisse, has a powerful vision and mission of Bringing People Together. He works tirelessly to ensure that our monthly magazine is top-notch and is the only one our community turns to for quality content and expert advice.
Bob’s dedication to this mission was recognized in 2020 when he was named Best Version Media’s #1 Publisher among publishers of more than 1,200 hometown magazines across North America. “Our hometown magazine and our sister publication, Marple Friends & Neighbors, combined for a remarkable top honor among all of Best Version Media magazines,” Bob said proudly. “That honor brings me to the how all our magazines came to be: It’s our advertising Sponsors who make this magazine possible.” Bob explained that our advertising Sponsors willingly choose to use their limited marketing budgets to show how much Newtown Square means to their business and how much we mean to them. “Their advertising in our magazine is not only how we pay the expense of mailing your hometown magazine to you for free every month; it also pays for our writers, designers, graphics, ink and paper, which you know from the quality of our magazine, is not inexpensive, nor is also publishing our magazines online.”
We thank our loyal Sponsors and look forward to hearing from them in our A Word From Our Sponsors feature on page 25.
As your Content Coordinator, I’m excited to be a part of an award-winning team and reflect on some of the residents featured on our covers who make a difference in our community. We’ll also hear from our readers about what makes Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors
Newtown Square
Friends & Neighbors
so special and why they look forward to getting the monthly magazine delivered to their mailboxes.
Hometown pride is important to me as the Content Coordinator for Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors. Although I have been writing for the magazine for four years now, I am a lifelong Newtown Square resident, a Newtown Square business owner for the past 21 years and serve as President of the Newtown Square Business Association. I take great pride in our community and enjoy sharing exciting news and highlighting people who make a difference in our neighborhood.
We take great pride in spotlighting local families, individuals, entrepreneurs, authors and volunteers. We love to hear from you about how much you enjoy our cover stories and features. We enjoy sharing them with you as much as you love reading them. Every month, you’ll also find local events and the latest news on what’s happening around Newtown Square.
In November 2018, we featured The Avellino Family: Scott, Mimi, Scott Jr., Maggie and Sarah. Since their family was featured, their son Scott has graduated from Scranton University, Maggie is a Junior at Catholic University and Sarah began her Sophomore year at Villa Maria Academy. This family’s feature article made clear that home is where love is, and almost six years later, they still hold tight to the community they know and love.
If you know the Avellinos, you know that love and laughter go hand in hand. “We really didn’t tell anyone about being interviewed for the magazine beforehand, so we got lots of calls from family and friends who were surprised when they saw us on the
Publisher, Bob Blaisse
Content Coordinator, Sheila Turner-Hilliard
cover,” recalled Mimi. The Avellinos also love to be surprised to see who makes the cover each month. This 75th issue is a little extra special because Sarah has earned herself a feature story of her own on page 32!
Speaking of earning a spot in the books, one of our standout Newtown Edgmont Little League (NELL) players has been busy making major-league moves since he was featured in our September 2021 issue. At the time, Chris Newell was setting records as a standout baseball player at the University of Virginia, whose team made it to the College World Series in Omaha, NE.
When we asked Chris to give some advice to the younger generation of ballplayers who dream of making it to the big leagues, he said, “Growing up, I wasn’t the best player on my team, but I worked hard to become one. Study the game, listen to your coaches and stay hungry.” Chris’ feature article in our magazine was the talk of the town, and we received many messages from the
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parents of young players telling us that Chris’ story was a source of inspiration for their children. Chris’ advice proves that childhood dreams can come true if you put in the work because, in 2022, Chris was drafted by the L.A. Dodgers organization. He headed to Arizona to play Low A for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. His success on the field continued, and after just a short time, he was brought up to Hi A, where he played for the Great Lakes Loons. His impressive performance at that level earned him another promotion to Double-A, where Chris plays for the Tulsa Drillers. There is no doubt that Chris has a bright future because luck didn’t get him to where he is today – hard work did.
Continued on page 8
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You may recall The McCalla Family, who was featured in our May 2023 issue. Mike, Laura, Michael, Kathryn and Mary Jane said there’s No Place Like HOME when it comes to Newtown Square. Their photo shoot took place at NELL, where Mike serves as President of the Board. “So many people commented on how appropriate it was that we got our family pictures taken at NELL since that is where we spend most of our time,” Laura said. “It’s a special place that has really helped us become friends with so many community members.” She added that they all had an awesome experience being featured and that the kids thought they were bonafide celebrities!
Mike and Laura have been big fans of the magazine since its first issue. “We look forward to getting it in the mail each month,” Laura said. “Mike and I love to read about the young families raising their kids here now as well as the older generations and how their kids have flourished in Newtown Square and what they are currently pursuing.”
It’s been a busy year for the McCalla family. Michael, Kathryn and Mary Jane are all back to school after a fun-filled summer. This fall, they are enjoying watching Michael play baseball for Philadelphia Baseball Training (PBT) and soccer for Devon. Kathryn is busy with NSPL Rebels Softball and St. Annie’s Field Hockey. Mary Jane is living her best life dancing at From the Top and playing Fall Ball at NELL. They are busy but still find time to relax on the porch and watch the Phillies and Eagles games together. Since the very first issue was mailed to homes, we’ve consistently highlighted the unsung heroes of the community—those who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make our town a better place to live. From educators to first responders, these families and individuals remind us of the importance of community and shared responsibility.
One of the greatest rewards of seeing these stories about our neighbors in print and online at NewtownSquareMag.com is the feedback we get from our readers. Whether it’s a social media comment or an in-person compliment, these interactions remind us that our work has an impact.
Each monthly issue is the product of careful planning and collaboration, ensuring high-quality content is consistently delivered to readers. As we celebrate our 75th issue, we want to acknowledge our publication team, who build our magazines each month. Together with Bob, we all care deeply about creating beautiful magazines filled with local content and inspiring stories.
The success of our hometown magazines takes a team of dedicated individuals who all share the same mission. Executive Assistant to the Publisher Lisa Jeffries joined the team three years ago. “Bob felt I’d make a good addition to the team. That was one of the best days of my life,” she said. “I love working with this incredible team of talented and dedicated professionals. I also really enjoy working with our Sponsors and Expert Contributors and learning about their amazing stories and wonderful contributions to our community.”
Holly Stupak, the Content Coordinator for our sister publication, Marple Friends & Neighbors, shared her thoughts. Holly said, “I’ve lived in Broomall for over 20 years. What I love most about my role as Content Coordinator is that it has made me feel more connected to this community and the people around me. Interviewing people here with such diverse backgrounds has been a huge perk.”
Not only do our readers enjoy a variety of feature stories and valuable content from our Experts, but they always have wonderful things to say about the look of our magazines. That is thanks to our Contributing Photographer, Crissy Everhart and our Designer, Kim Cesati. Kim said, “Working with this team over the past 75
to the Publisher
Content Coordinator MF&N Magazine, Holly Stupak
issues has been won derful. They make my job easy and enjoyable.” Kim added that after she is done designing the magazines, she enjoys sitting down to read the articles. Her favorite is Doug Humes’ monthly History Spotlight feature.
Speaking of our favorite Expert Historian, I asked Doug to share a few words about his experience writing for the magazines. “I recently came across my New Year's Resolutions from 1995, and one of them was to look for ways to find outlets for my writing,” Doug recalled. “Be careful what you wish for! Since 2018, I have been writing first two, and now three, local history articles a month for the Friends and Neighbors magazines. It’s a labor of love, and I am so thankful that I connected with Bob Blaisse and his staff to make this particular dream of mine come true.”
Our team not only works well together but also takes time to enjoy each other’s company outside of the “office.” We attend local shows and events together, gather to celebrate holidays and special milestones and host parties for our Sponsors to say thank you
for your loyalty. Working together has undoubtedly been a rewarding experience, and I am excited to see what the future holds for our hometown magazine.
What makes the 75th issue par ticularly special is not just the number but the ongoing rele vance it maintains in a digital age. Our Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors magazine combines the best elements of social media and print by sharing positive, family-friendly stories, Bringing People Together through hometown pride. Visit NewtownSquareMag.com to join us as we look back at the past 75 issues.
Do you know a Newtown Square family, individual or nonprofit group who should become known by our community? Make your nominations for upcoming feature articles by emailing your ideas to Sheila Turner-Hilliard at STurnerHilliard@BestVersionMedia.com. N S
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Photographer Crissy Everhart
by Kaitlin Battiste From the Top Dance
Back to School, Back to Dance Transferable Skills From the Studio to the Classroom
As the 2024-2025 school year begins, students are shifting from a relaxing summer break into the structured rhythm of school and extracurricular activities. For many, this transition includes returning to the classroom as well as heading back to their dance studios for a new season. Although adjusting to a busier schedule can be challenging, the skills gained through dance education—such as discipline, concentration, creativity and emotional resilience— can ease this transition and enhance academic performance.
Discipline and Commitment
Dance education instills a sense of discipline and commitment. The practice, precision and attention to detail required in dance teach students to focus on long-term goals, meet deadlines and persist through challenges. This translates directly into the classroom, where the ability to stay organized and adhere to academic requirements is important. As the late Martha Graham, a renowned modern dancer and choreographer, once said: “I believe that we learn by practice. Whether it means to learn to dance by practicing or to learn to live by practicing living, the principles are the same.” This quote underscores how the discipline cultivated in dance can lead to a structured and successful approach to life since life always consists of practicing to progress. We are always learning, growing and evolving.
Concentration and Cognitive Function
Dance also enhances concentration and cognitive function. Mastering choreography and refining techniques requires intense
focus, which improves students’ ability to engage with their academic work. This enhanced concentration helps students pay better attention to details, retain information more effectively and perform better in their studies. The mental agility developed through dance supports students in navigating academic tasks and absorbing new material.
Creativity and Stress Management
The creative aspect of dance fosters flexible thinking and problemsolving skills. Students learn to think outside the box and apply creative solutions in various contexts, including their academic work. Additionally, dance serves as a valuable outlet for managing stress. The physical activity and self-expression involved in dance help students regulate emotions and offer a respite from academic pressures. This ability to manage stress effectively contributes to emotional resilience, helping students handle the pressures of both school and extracurricular commitments with greater ease. The skills developed through dance education offer significant benefits that extend beyond the studio. As students adjust to the demands of the new school year, the discipline, focus, creativity and emotional resilience gained through dance can enrich their academic experience, and facilitate a smoother transition. By applying these transferable skills, students can approach their studies with increased confidence and balance, achieving a more harmonious and successful year ahead. N S
Fall Enrollm E nt F Now
p E n !
Student of the Month
by Lisa Jeffries
Emily Kwon
OCTOBER STUDENT OF THE MONTH
The October Casey’s Student of the Month is Emily Kwon, a Junior at Marple Newtown High School (MNHS). Emily has been honored with a Certificate of Achievement and a Gift Card from Casey’s Public House, the Sponsor of this award.
As a child, Emily was quite shy and struggled with making new friends. However, as she settled into school and developed a passion for learning, she grew more confident and outgoing.
FallinLove
Emily holds several leadership roles: she is the President and Student Advisory Member of the Best Buddies Club, a Junior Representative on the Student Council Executive Board and a member of the Mini-Thon Decoration Committee. Additionally, she is a member of the National Honor Society, a Tiger Guide and an Executive Member of the Marple Civic Youth Organization.
With a love for history, Emily enjoys exploring the events that have shaped our world. She has played in the Percussion section of the school band for three years and is eager to join the school’s BOCCE team this year, drawn by its connection to the Special Olympics.
This past summer, Emily, who teaches Korean School at her church, traveled to Korea. There, she worked with children, learning about traditional Korean music and customs. She also volunteers at the Marple Library, assisting with kids’ craft activities.
Looking ahead, Emily aspires to be a positive and caring influence in the lives of others. Her goal is to become a speech pathologist, focusing on helping students with intellectual disabilities. What a wonderful testament you are Emily, to young people doing amazing things for the good of others! N S
Know a terrific teen who should be our next Student of the Month?
Here’s what we look for - Students from grades 7 to 12 who demonstrate excellence in service to school, friendship, community or area groups, and reside within the geographical borders of the Marple, Newtown Square or Edgmont (no matter what school they attend, or if they are homeschooled). Submit your nomination, highlighting what makes them so amazing, to LJeffries@ BestVersionMedia.com. Academic or athletic excellence is not required.
Emily with Casey’s Manager Steve Jordan
Photo courtesy of Anna Park
Expert Contributor
by Lou Matteo Edgemont Automotive
The Pros of Winter Tires
Winter tires, also known as snow tires, are specialized tires designed to provide superior traction in cold weather conditions, typically below 45°F. These tires are made from a tread compound that remains flexible in low temperatures, enhancing grip on icy and snowy roads. They feature deeper grooves and sharper, more irregular edges compared to all-season tires, which help improve performance on snow, slush, ice and wet, cold surfaces.
Many drivers switch to winter tires to better prepare for winter weather conditions. The decision to switch often depends on the expected weather and the type of driving a person will do,
whether in rural areas or urban settings. Personal risk tolerance and budget are also significant factors in this decision. It’s time to install winter tires when temperatures consistently drop below 45°F. In areas like ours, many drivers install winter tires by late October and switch back to all-season tires by late March.
To evaluate the cost, some drivers compare the expense of winter tires with their insurance deductible. If an accident occurs that could have been avoided with winter tires, the additional expense may be justified. Additionally, having a separate set of winter tires can extend the lifespan of all-season tires by reducing the mileage they endure and preventing premature wear from unsuitable conditions.
The cost of winter tires can range from a couple of hundred dollars to more, depending on the brand and model. Investing in both winter tires and wheels can be a cost-effective option. While this requires a higher initial investment, over the lifespan of the tires — typically 5 -10 years — this approach can be less expensive than the recurring costs of mounting and dismounting winter tires each season.
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) vehicles distribute power to all four wheels, with 80 -100% going to either the front or rear axle under normal conditions. In slippery conditions, AWD systems direct power to the wheels with the best traction. Winter tires offer 25 - 50% more traction than all-season tires, making them a valuable addition even for AWD vehicles. N S
by Deborah M. Truscello, Esq. Law Office of Deborah M. Truscello
Phone to Document and Save Crucial Evidence
In today’s digital age, our phones are brimming with photos and videos. Many of us rely on them as virtual notebooks for jotting down ideas and observations. We also rely on them to do our work. Have you considered how beneficial this ‘virtual history’ could be in a legal context or when you need to provide evidence in court?
It’s crucial to remember to document events as they happen, whether they are positive or negative. Just like keeping a traditional journal or diary, capturing evidence in real time can be invaluable in legal situations. Photographs, videos, emails, text messages and notes taken at the moment can serve as compelling evidence in court, often more persuasive than recollections made long after the fact.
Legal issues often arise from situations that have been developing over time before you even consult an attorney or take formal legal action. Attorneys greatly appreciate when clients provide clear, time-stamped proof, such as photos or videos, that directly relate to the case.
Such immediate evidence can be crucial in proving your case. That’s why insurance companies and lawyers search the venue of an event for surveillance footage from security cameras.
Social media presents a double-edged sword. On one hand, it can serve as a valuable tool for gathering evidence; on the other, it can be detrimental if not used carefully. Social media posts can be used as evidence by both sides of a case or scammers, so it’s essential to exercise caution when sharing information online.
If you encounter any relevant information related to your case on social media or other online platforms, take a screenshot and send
it to your attorney via text or email. These digital records also can be powerful pieces of evidence in court. Attorneys advise their clients about it and have successfully used social media screenshots and printouts of text messages to support their clients’ cases.
Our phones and computers have the capability to document and timestamp events, capturing statements and activities as they occur. To safeguard your position, it’s always wise to take a photo, screenshot, video or notes when in doubt, and then send it to someone for safekeeping. Missing the opportunity to record potential evidence can result in losing crucial support for your case. By keeping thorough and accurate records, you can ensure that you have the necessary evidence if and when legal issues arise. N
October 2024 Calendar of Events
Saturdays in October
Art at The Square Tavern
@Goshen & Newtown Street Roads
A variety of rotating art displays by local artists, exhibitions and activities.
Time: 11am–5pm
Cost: FREE (donations accepted!) NSHistory.org
Saturdays in October Paper Mill House & Museum
@3 Paper Mill Rd, Newtown Square
Visit this museum of local history, a place filled with the ghosts and footprints of the millworkers who once lived there.
Time: 1–4 pm
Cost: FREE (donations accepted!) NSHistory.org
Tues. October 1 – Tues. November 5
Pumpkinland and Farm Market
@Linvilla Orchards
137 W Knowlton Rd, Media
Larger-than-life figures and scarecrows illustrate the legends and lore of the harvest season. Choose from piles of pumpkins in all colors, shapes and sizes — over 100 tons on display! Find a huge selection of straw bales, corn shocks, toys and fall decorations of all kinds. Tickets required for daytime activities as well as the evening Autumn Moon, Harvest, and Witch's Hayrides to help better accommodate the number of visitors throughout the day. Tickets are required for ages 1 and older.
Time: Sun. – Thurs. 8am–8pm; Fri. – Sat. 8am–9pm
Cost: See website for info on prices for activities. Linvilla.com/family-fun/pumpkinland
Fri. October 4 – Sun. October 6
Friends of the Newtown Public Library Book Sale
@Newtown Public Library
201 Bishop Hollow Rd, Newtown Square
Join the Friends of Newtown Public Library as they host their Annual Book Sale. Stop by to check out a wide variety of non-fiction and fiction books for all ages with science fiction to poetry, biographies to cookbooks, romance to thrillers, DVDs, CDs and more. The event will be held in the Community Room at the Newtown Township building, right across from the library.
Time: Fri. and Sat. 10am–5pm; Sun. 1–4pm NewtownLibrary.org
Sat. October 5
Newtown Railroad Museum
@Drexel Lodge
4140 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square
Full-size train engines, rolling stock and a museum full of artifacts from the trains and trolleys that once served Newtown Square. Great for children!
Time: 1–4 pm
Cost: FREE (donations accepted!) NSHistory.org
Sat. October 5
Marple Township Ambulance Corp (MTAC) Drive Thru Flu Vaccine Clinic
@MTAC
8 N Malin Rd, Broomall Flu and Covid vaccines will be available.
Bring your insurance card.
Time:10am-12pm
Sat. October 5
Bandarama
@Marple Newtown High School
120 Media Line Rd, Newtown Square
Come support Marple Newtown and a dozen local high school bands as they compete in an energetic display of music and marching ability.
Food and drinks will be available for purchase.
Time: First Performance 6:00 pm; MN performance around 9:00pm
Cost: $15 Adults / $10 Students & Seniors
Tickets available at the door
Sat. October 5
Run-A-Muck
@On Point Farm 6114 Goshen Rd, Newtown Square
Run the 5K or muck (walk) the cross-country trail over Crum Creek and through the woods. Enjoy food, beer, wine, bonfire and live music. Leashed dogs welcome! T-shirts, lawn games, mechanical bull rides, face painting, prizes and more. Proceeds support the preservation of the Willistown countryside.
Time: 2:30–8pm
Cost: 5K $50 for ages 16+; $25 for ages 6–15; FREE for ages 5 and under WCTrust.org/run-a-muck
Sun. October 6
(Rain Date: Sun. October 13)
Media Fall Festival
@State Street
The Media Business Authority (MBA) is happy to announce that it will be hosting a Fall Festival. State Street in downtown Media will be alive with a mix of food, music, artists, crafters, nonprofits and family fun.
Time: 11am–5pm VisitMediaPA.com
Fri. October 11
Newtown Square Food and Makers Market
@St. Alban’s Episcopal Church
3625 Chapel Rd, Newtown Square
Newtown Square Food and Makers Market will feature local growers, producers and artisans. Fresh produce will be for sale as well as artisan breads, coffee, pickles, flowers, plants and candles.
Time: 4–7pm
Sat. October 12 – Sun. October 13
St. John Neumann Garage Sale
@St. John Neumann
380 Highland Ln, Bryn Mawr
The annual gigantic St. John Neumann Garage Sale is here! You will find wonderful treasures at bargain prices, all donated by parishioners. There are housewares, lamps, small kitchen appliances, clothing, furniture, area rugs, outdoor items, art, books and more!
Time: Sat. 9am–3pm; Sun. 8:30am–1:30pm
Cost: FREE 610-353-1875
Wed. October 16
Marple Library’s
Teen Advisory Board (TAB)
@Marple Library
Sproul Rd, Broomall Teens (ages 13 to 18) can join Marple Library’s Teen Volunteer Board (TAB). Earn volunteer time, help with projects, learn of future opportunities, and share ideas of how to make our library even better. Email mateen@delcolibraries.org for more information and to be signed up for future volunteer opportunities.
Time: 7:00–7:45pm
Cost: FREE
Sat. October 19
Harvest Festival
@Garrett Williamson
395 Bishop Hollow Rd, Newtown Square
Fun for the whole family! Enjoy hayrides, pumpkin decorating, barn tours, children's activities, garden tours, nature hikes and select seasonal vendors.
Time: 11am–3pm
Cost: $15 per person that includes a hayride. Food/drinks and the cost of a pumpkin for decorating are an additional cost. 610-353-7690 GarrettWilliamson.org
Sat. October 19
Octofair Fall Extravaganza
@White Horse Village
535 Gradyville Rd, Newtown Square
The active residents at White Horse Village will host the 33rd annual Octofair. This free event brings together community and creativity for a day of fun festivities for the entire family. All proceeds benefit the Residents Association, a nonprofit organization that supports programs to enhance the living experience for residents.
Time: 9:00am–2:30pm
Cost: FREE admission
WhiteHorseVillage.org/octofair
Sat. October 26
Monster Dash 5K
@Arasapha Farms
1835 Middletown Rd, Glen Mills
Join the family-friendly Monster Dash 5K at The Bates Motel. New to 2024, they are offering a 5K Run/Walk, a 1-Mile Run/Walk and Lil’ Monster Dashes! Come dressed in your Halloween Costume for an extra dash of holiday spirit! Runners of all ages are welcome, but please bring all-terrain strollers. All proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit the Edgmont Township Fire Company No. 1.
Time: 8:30am
Cost: 5K Run/Walk $35; 1-Mile Run/Walk $35; Lil’ Monsters 75-yard dash (ages 4-5) $20; Lil’ Monsters 50-yard dash (ages 2-3) $20 RunSignUp.com/monsterdash5kbatesmotel
Sat. October 26
Bark in the Park 5k and Fall Festival
@Rose Tree Park 1671 N Providence Rd, Media
Walk or run in this unique dog-friendly 5K with your four-legged best friend or a shelter dog. Dogs are welcome but not required. Proceeds support Providence Animal Center. After the walk, enjoy a Fall Festival that includes a vaccine & microchipping clinic, dog contests, food trucks, pet portraits, local business vendors, raffle baskets, music and more!
Time: 5K at 10am; registration at 9am.
1-mile walk at 11am; registration at 10am
Cost: Walker $25; Walker with dog $30; Runner $35; Runner with dog $40 610-566-4575 ProvidenceAC.org
Sat. October 26
Pumpkin Festival
@Culbertson Elementary School
3530 Goshen Rd, Newtown Square
A fun day for the whole family! Games, food trucks, inflatables and a 50/50 raffle in store for Culbertson’s biggest fundraiser of the year.
Time: 11am–3pm
Cost: Wristbands $30 each; Pre-K and under $10 each
Sat. October 26
(Rain date Sun. October 27)
Marple Township
Community Days Fall Festival
@Veterans Memorial Park
Lawrence Rd, Broomall
Shop local retail and food vendors. There will also be plenty of activities for the kids.
Time: 11am–4pm
MarpleTwp.com
Sat. October 26
Trick or Treat with the Newtown Square Fire Company
@Newtown Square Fire Company
2 Charles Ellis Dr, Newtown Square
Join us for an evening full of trick-or-treating, fire prevention demonstrations, food trucks, family and fun! Local businesses will be giving out candy and non-candy goodies.
There will also be a quiet sensory area.
Time: 4–7pm
Cost: FREE to attend (food purchased separately)
NSFC.org
Sat. October 26
Marple Township Trunk or Treat
@Marple Township Building
227 S. Sproul Road, Broomall
Join Marple Township for its 3rd Annual Trunk or Treat. Registration is ONLY required for residents who will be handing out candy. Individuals or businesses who would like to set up a car to distribute candy can email Maria Tucker at Tuckerm218@gmail.com.
Time: 5:30–7pm (Set up at 4:30 for trunkers)
Cost: FREE
Firearm Education, Sales & Service
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BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER
by Bob Blaisse, Founding Publisher of Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors
You Know Who To Thank for Our Hometown Magazine (I call them
Hometown Heroes)
In my Dear Freinds & Neighbors Letter on page 3, I mentioned that this issue of Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors is our 75th issue. It’s also our 75th effort to deliever hometown pride. And our 75th mission to be Bringing People Together through our brand of social-media-inprint (also online at NewtownSquareMag.com.) My hometown pride has me sharing it again, with this same necessary qualifier: This free monthly hometown pride magazine would never have been able to continue going so strong now for 75 issues without the support of business leaders who value the residents of Newtown Square as being vital to the success of their business.
Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors
Broomall Eye Care
Casey’s Public House
Countywide Generators LLC
Crissy Everhart Photography
D&K Appliances
DANJOLELL Memorial Homes
Del Pizzo & Associates
Eddie's A Little Off The Top
Edgemont Automotive
ELPS Private Detective Agency
ES Excavation
Fante Flooring
Forti Homes with Keller Williams Realty
Bringing People Together ~ HONOR ROLL ~
From the Top Dance
J & K Trash Removal Inc
JHL Landscaping
Law Office of Deborah M. Truscello
Luigi & Giovanni Specialty Foods
Martella Electric
After 75 issues, your hometown magazine is proof of social-media-in-print. We’re all here at The Party (as I like to call it), that has been a monthly pening now for six years, and the party theme is Hometown Pride. And the proof is how we are rewarding our hometown Sponsors who make it all possible. Of course we are because they deserve the reward of our loyalty returned to these hometown heroes for the investment they make in our community every month that makes every new issue of our hometown magazine possibe. They deserve our choosing them first when choosing who to give our business to because they chose us first. And these business owners choose us every month by choosing to use a portion of their limited marketing budgets to advertise in our hometown magazine. That tells us we are important to them. And their monthly investment in us funds the pro duction costs our monthly (free) hometown magazine in print and online. You see the ads of our Sponsors on these pages every month. Are you sur prised I call these business owners “Hometown Heroes.” Yes, they are business owners, advertising their business with hopes of gain. But there is valor here too, for investing in a community without an absolute guarantee of gaining new business. So this month, while we celebrate our 75th issue of our home town magazine, may I ask you to review the names of the businesses on the Honor Roll of our magazine Sponsors to the right. Some are well-known to you. Some less so. But you can learn more about all of them from their ad on the pages of this issue. And you can trust them with your business. N S
Bob Blaisse
Publisher Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors
Mostardi Nursery
Nicecars Detail LLC
Niemeyers
O’Donnell Roofing Co.
Philadelphia Baseball Training LLC
R.F. Bondurant Plumbing
Rafferty Subaru
Rey Azteca
RPC Services LLC
S. Pancoast Topsoil & Mulches
Scott’s Fireplace Products
Stars & Stripes Tactical
The CP Welde Group
Thompson Custom Painting
Weinrich’s Bakery
Weinstein Bath & Kitchen Showroom
by Rick Bondurant R.F. Bondurant Plumbing
Prepare Outdoor Faucets For Freezing Temps Now
As cooler weather approaches, leaves begin to fall and temperatures start to drop. One often overlooked task is preparing outdoor faucets for winter. When water freezes, it expands and can burst pipes, leading to significant damage such as water-soaked walls, ceilings and floors. Taking steps now to prevent such issues can save you from costly repairs.
Although some outdoor faucets are marketed as “freeze-proof,” there’s no guarantee they will withstand the coldest temperatures without freezing. While these faucets are among the best available, it’s still crucial to prepare them for winter.
Regardless of the type of outdoor faucet you have—freeze-proof or otherwise—it’s essential to remove any hoses, splitters or other attachments before winter sets in. Failing to do so increases the likelihood of the faucet freezing. Timing is critical; disconnecting hoses before freezing weather arrives is much better than waiting until it’s already cold. Even one night of freezing temperatures can cause significant damage if the faucet is not properly prepared.
Next, you should shut off the upstream water supply valve inside your home and open the outdoor faucet to drain any remaining water. Keep the faucet open until the water stops flowing completely. If the faucet continues to drip, this could indicate a faulty shut-off valve inside the house that needs replacement.
To provide extra protection, consider using an outdoor faucet protector, which is a foam cover available at most hardware and home improvement stores. Additionally, you can buy foam insulation to wrap any exposed pipes connected to the outdoor faucet for added security.
Following these simple steps can prevent headaches when temperatures plunge below freezing and make it easier to turn your outdoor faucets back on come spring. Taking the time to prepare now can save you from costly repairs and ensure a smooth transition when the weather warms up. N S
Our Community
by Sheila Turner-Hilliard
Fall is full of fun, festive events that bring our community together. If you’re looking for some fresh air and family fun, lace up your sneakers and make your way to Arasapha Farm on October 26th for the 2nd annual Monster Dash 5K!
Last year’s inaugural event brought hundreds of runners, walkers and spectators together to race their way through the picturesque course and to raise money for the Edgmont Fire Company
No.1. “Our incredible community came together to raise over $20,000 in sponsorships in 2023,” explained Tamara Conan, Race Director. “This event is a wonderful way to unite everyone for an important cause while making a meaningful impact. We’re excited to continue expanding the event and support the local fire company.”
The success of Monster Dash 2023 led event organizers to add more opportunities for everyone to participate. This year, they are introducing three exciting races: a 5K run/walk, a 1-mile run/walk and Lil’ Monster Dashes for the younger pumpkins. Participants are also encouraged to dress up in their most spooktacular Halloween costumes because prizes will be awarded at all age levels. “We’re really looking forward to seeing everyone in their costumes, but we do have a few important guidelines,” explained Conan. “To ensure everyone’s safety, please avoid wearing masks and refrain from carrying any swords or weapons. Runners should wear closed-toed shoes, and please ensure that costumes are of a manageable length to avoid any tripping hazards while running; this is a multi-surface course.”
The 5K run/walk features a multi-surface cross-country course that rolls through the beautiful Arasapha Farms and The Bates Motel Haunted Hayride. Registration includes a chipped bib for
Photos courtesy of Tamara Conan
Prizes awarded for best costumes
race results timing and a commemorative t-shirt. Awards will be given to the top 1st, 2nd and 3rd place overall, male and female. Divisional Medals will also be awarded to each 1st, 2nd and 3rd place male and female.
The one-mile course will run through The Bates Motel Haunted Hayride path and loop around the top of the farm. Registration includes a chipped bib for race results timing and a commemorative t-shirt.
“We were thrilled to introduce a new running opportunity for our young participants this year,” Conan said. “We’ve added a 50-yard dash for 2- and 3-year-olds and a 75-yard dash for 4- and 5-yearolds. The Lil' Monster Dashes are designed to give our younger runners a chance to experience the joy of running, just like their parents, while having a fantastic time. Registration includes a commemorative t-shirt, an unchipped race bib and a miniature pumpkin at the finish line.
One boy and one girl in each dash division will win prizes for the best-dressed Halloween costume contest! The Big Monster costume contest prize (ages 6-99) will be awarded to one male, one female and one themed group.
Registration for the Monster Dash is now open, and packet pick-up will be on Thursday, October 24th, from 4:00-6:30pm at Edgmont Fire Company, 1010 Gradyville Rd, Gradyville. The event is rain or shine, so plan accordingly. Arasahpa Farm is located at 1835 Middletown Rd, Glen Mills. For more information and to register, visit RunSignUp.com/monsterdash5kbatesmotel.
Come dressed to impress!
by Scott Magness
Get Your Gas Fireplace Ready for Winter Now
As the colder months and winter season approach, it’s essential to start preparing your gas fireplace. For many homeowners, it’s all too easy to neglect their fireplaces until the weather turns frigid and the need for warmth becomes urgent. Although gas fireplaces offer a delightful ambiance and serve as excellent supplementary heat sources during power outages, they have a tendency to fail precisely when they are most needed, leaving you in an uncomfortable situation.
When issues arise, the typical response is to contact the service provider for your gas fireplace. Unfortunately, this often results in discovering a lengthy wait time for appointments, as most homeowners only think about maintenance when their fireplace stops working. This problem frequently surfaces right in the middle of winter if the fireplace has not been adequately maintained, potentially leaving you without a reliable source of heat.
Preventive maintenance is crucial in avoiding such scenarios. To ensure you’re not left in the cold with a malfunctioning fireplace,
it’s wise to schedule a cleaning and service appointment in the fall. A qualified technician will conduct a thorough cleaning of your gas fireplace, checking all components for wear and tear and ensuring that everything is functioning properly. They will also inspect and adjust the alignment of the logs and make any necessary repairs to optimize performance. The recommended frequency for service can vary depending on factors such as the manufacturer, model and type of fireplace, so consulting your user manual or a professional for specific guidelines is advisable. While the warm weather and sunny days come to a close, don’t let your gas fireplace slip your mind entirely. Planning ahead by arranging a service appointment before the late fall and winter months will help you avoid the inconvenience of a malfunctioning fireplace and the stress of extended wait times for repairs. By taking these proactive steps, you can ensure that your fireplace will be in top condition, ready to provide comfort and warmth throughout the cold season, and you’ll be able to enjoy your winter months without any added stress. N S
by Jeffrey Stein ELPS Private Detective Agency
Protecting Yourself from Phishing and Online Email Scams
Safeguarding your personal and financial information is a top priority. As cyber threats continue to evolve, phishing scams and other online email frauds have become increasingly sophisticated, posing significant risks to individuals and organizations alike. Understanding how these scams work, recognizing the warning signs and knowing how to protect yourself are essential steps in staying safe online.
Understanding Phishing Scams
Phishing scams are a type of online fraud where scammers impersonate legitimate entities — such as banks, government agencies or well-known companies — to trick you into providing sensitive information, such as passwords, credit card numbers or Social Security numbers. These scams typically arrive via email but can also occur through text messages (smishing) or phone calls (vishing).
Common Phishing Scams
Phishing scams can take many forms, but here are some of the most prevalent:
• Financial Institution Scams: Scammers pose as your bank or credit card company, claiming there’s an issue with your account and urging you to click a link to “resolve” it. The link leads to a fake website designed to steal your login credentials.
• Tech Support Scams: You receive an unsolicited email or pop-up warning that your computer is infected with a virus. The scammer poses as a tech support representative and asks you to provide remote access to your computer or pay for unnecessary software.
• Lottery or Sweepstakes Scams: An email informs you that you’ve won a large sum of money or a prize, but to claim it, you need to provide personal information or pay a fee upfront.
• Family Emergency Scams: You receive an urgent email claiming that a family member is in trouble and needs money immediately. The scammer may even pose as the family member.
• Government/IRS Scams: Scammers impersonate government agencies, such as the IRS, threatening legal action unless you provide personal information or make an immediate payment.
Recognizing the Warning Signs
Phishing scams are designed to look convincing, but there are several red flags to watch for:
• Urgency and Threats: Scammers often create a sense of urgency or use threatening language to pressure you into acting quickly without thinking.
• Spoofed Communication: The email may appear to come from a legitimate source but contains slight variations in the sender’s email address, such as misspellings or unfamiliar domains.
• Unsolicited Requests: Be wary of any unsolicited requests for sensitive information, especially if they come from someone claiming to represent a trusted entity.
• Too Good to Be True Offers: If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. Scammers use enticing offers to lure you into providing information.
• Pressure to Act Quickly: Scammers often push for immediate action, hoping you’ll comply before you have time to think or verify the legitimacy of the request.
Protect yourself by staying informed about the latest phishing tactics. Trust your instincts, if something feels off, it probably is. And always verify by contacting the entity directly, like going to their official website or calling their customer service number to verify the legitimacy of any suspicious email or request. N S
Our Community
by Sheila Turner-Hilliard
Did you know that October is National Fire Prevention Month?
That means it's time for us all to take the precautionary steps to prevent dangerous and life-threatening fires in our homes, our businesses and our community.
This month-long observance stems from when the National Fire Protection Association founded National Fire Prevention Week in 1922. Its origin commemorates the dates surrounding the Great Chicago Fire in 1871 that killed close to 300 people, destroyed roughly 3.3 square miles of the city, including over 17,000 structures and left more than 100,000 residents homeless.
The fire is believed to have started the evening of October 8th in a small barn belonging to the O'Leary family. The shed next to the barn was the first building to be consumed by the fire, and the rapid spread of the fire was due to a few factors - a prolonged drought that summer, strong winds from the southwest and the failure of the water pumping system.
The fire's spread was aided by the city’s predominant building material, wood, in a style called balloon frame. More than twothirds of Chicago's structures at the time of the fire were made entirely of wood, with most of the houses and buildings having highly combustible tar or shingle roofs. In addition, all of the city’s sidewalks and many roads were also made of wood.
Shortly following the fire, the city began to rewrite its fire standards, and business owners and land speculators quickly set out
to rebuild the city. The first load of materials for rebuilding was delivered the day the last burning building was extinguished. In 1956, the remaining structures on the original O’Leary property were used for the construction of the Chicago Fire Academy, a training facility for Chicago firefighters known as the Quinn Fire Academy or Chicago Fire Department Training Facility.
Today, we celebrate Fire Prevention Week and Month by spreading fire-safety awareness and educating families, students and communities across the United States with help from our Sponsor, Scott’s Fireplace Products, and our Newtown Square Fire Company.
Cooler weather calls for comfort, and there is no better place to be on a chilly night than snuggled up in your favorite chair, basking in the warmth of a cozy fireplace. However, according to the National Fire Prevention Association, the upcoming winter months will see an increase in home fires, deaths and injuries. While we need to keep our homes warm, there are steps we should take to prevent a fire.
Make sure your heating source is well maintained. Whether it’s a fireplace, wood stove, furnace or electric heat, check the equipment before using it and have it serviced by a licensed company. Our Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors Experts are Scott and Ray Magness with Scott’s Fireplace Products. They have been our trusted source for installing, evaluating and servicing of gas fireplaces for over 35 years. When asked what advice he has for us as we head into winter, Ray said, “Always treat gas and wood-burning fireplaces and even fire pits with the respect they deserve while keeping them properly maintained.”
It’s best to do a quick check of your heater and fireplaces now before the temperatures begin to drop. A few items to note are that you should not store items near your heating source, including boxes, clothes and fuels that may ignite if they are too close. Also, ensure that draperies, furniture and other combustible items are kept far away from these heating sources.
October is also the perfect time to check that your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working. Test them once per month and replace the batteries annually. It is also recommended that you get a fire extinguisher; if you already have one, check its expiration date. Place one on each floor of the house and in the
Photos courtesy of Newtown Square Fire Company
garage, too. Knowing how to use a fire extinguisher is important, so read the instructions before you may ever need to use one.
The National Safety Council recommends committing the PASS acronym to memory:
Pull the pin.
Aim low at the base of the fire.
Squeeze the handle slowly.
Sweep the nozzle side to side.
Prevention is critical, but planning is imperative for your safety and that of your loved ones. Have an escape plan for your home. Practice fire drills with your family and make sure everyone knows where to go depending on where the fire is in the home. Have at least two ways to get out of the house and set a meeting place for everyone. Everyone in your family needs to know that in the event of a house fire, they should not try to salvage items before leaving the house. Personal items can be replaced, but lives cannot. Instead, keep valuable documents in a fireproof box for recovery later.
Let’s take a minute to recognize common causes of house fires:
Kitchen—It’s important not to leave burners or grills unattended. Dish towels, clothing and other items should be kept away from heating elements and open flames.
Candles—Never leave a burning candle unattended. As an alternative, use battery-operated candles for ambiance or electric wax melt warmers for fragrance.
Smoking—Unattended cigarettes or overly full ashtrays start fires. Curious children might play with matches or lighters. Keep them well out of reach.
Other common causes of fires are the result of faulty or worn electrical wiring, overloaded electrical outlets, space heaters too close to flammable materials and Christmas trees that are too close to a heat source such as a fireplace, space heater or heating vent. Christmas tree fires can also occur when the tree has not been watered and becomes dry. The heat caused by the lights and a possible short in the bulb or wires could spark and ignite the tree within seconds.
We are very fortunate to have a strong community partner in our Newtown Square Fire Company (NSFC). Our residents know that when there is a call for help, they can always rely on NSFC’s highly trained team of firefighters and fire police to respond quickly. They provide fire rescue services to Newtown Township and a select part of Willistown Township. NSFC also provides and receives mutual aid from our surrounding departments in Marple and Edgmont Townships.
In addition to serving our community in an emergency, the fire company is dedicated to educating residents about fire prevention and planning. “We are excited to host a fun community event on Saturday, October 26th that will welcome our friends and neighbors to the firehouse for Halloween fun and fire prevention tips and demonstrations,” explained NSFC’s 1st Vice President Heather Robinson. “We have invited some of our local businesses to distribute Halloween goodies and food trucks to serve delicious food for all.”
The event will be held at the firehouse, 2 Charles Ellis Drive, in Newtown Square, from 4 to 7pm. Trick-or-treating and fire
prevention demonstrations are free to attend, and everyone is welcome! There will also be a quiet sensory area for children that will offer non-candy goodies.
If you are interested in getting involved with the fire company, there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer. All of the members of the NSFC agree that no matter your skill set, there is a place for you to join their family and volunteer with the Newtown Square Fire Company. “There are so many ways to get involved,” explained NSFC’s President, Christina Heffernan. “Even if you have just a small amount of time, we will find a place for you.” In addition to training to become a firefighter, volunteers are needed to cook, clean and stock the firehouse, work on fundraising campaigns like their semi-annual Flea Market Fundraisers and Fund Drive processing, and help with computer and website maintenance, accounting and member recruitment.
Joining the Newtown Square Fire Company Auxiliary involves promoting the interests of the fire company through fundraising. Some activities include hosting two annual Flea Markets, a Mother’s Day weekend Plant Sale and a Holiday Wreath Fundraising Event in November. The Auxiliary also provides meals for firefighters after emergency calls, at their monthly meetings and on the nights Santa Claus tours with the fire company.
In honor of National Fire Prevention Month, we take this opportunity to thank our first responders, elected officers and all the volunteers who help keep our homes, businesses and community safe all year long. Your service is appreciated. If you want to volunteer with the Newtown Square Fire Company, please complete the online application at NSFC.org/content/membership or call 610-356-9590 and select Option 2. N S
Our Community
by Sheila Turner-Hilliard
Photo courtesy of Newtown Township
Newtown Square in Bloom Receives “Healing the Planet” Grant
Since its inception in 2015, Newtown Square in Bloom (NSiB) has strengthened our community through volunteer participation in beautification, historical awareness and civic pride. NSiB raises funds and secures grant money for a number of planting projects, such as the floral hanging baskets on our town center streets, the Newtown Township welcome signs, and St. Albans Circle.
Volunteers from many of the Township’s organizations and businesses join in to help plant flowers and trees, develop our trail network, clean up parks and streams on Arbor Day, weed and maintain the Drexel Lodge Park Butterfly Garden and help enhance the significance of our historic buildings.
Most recently, NSiB announced it is the recipient of a 2024 “Healing the Planet” $4,000 grant from The GIANT Company and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. The 2024 Healing the Planet Grant Program, funded by The GIANT Company, aims to invest in tree plantings across The GIANT Company’s operating areas in Pennsylvania. Trees provide numerous benefits to the environment, such as water and air quality, health benefits and an enhanced overall quality of life for all Pennsylvanians.
Create Some Fall Magic
The grant money received will go toward replacing native trees along the Goshen Trail
Newtown Square in Bloom will use the grant money to replant 33 native trees and 30 native evergreens on the one-mile-long tree corridor between the Goshen Walking Trail and Goshen Road, where many of the ash trees had to be removed recently due to the Emerald Ash Borer, a green jewel beetle native to north-eastern Asia that feeds on the ash species. The female beetles lay eggs in bark crevices on ash trees, and their larvae feed underneath the bark to emerge as adults in one to two years. In its native area, it does not cause significant damage to trees. But outside its native range, it is an invasive species and highly destructive to European and North American ash trees. Before it was found in North America, very little was known about the Emerald Ash Borer.
Work on this Newtown Square in Bloom project will be done with assistance from Newtown Township Public Works, Newtown Township Environmental Advisory Council, Newtown Township Parks and Recreation, and Shade Tree Commission and will be completed by the end of November of this year.
“This grant will help provide better air quality, filter stormwater runoff, prevent water puddling on the walkway and create an automobile noise buffer,” said Paul Seligson, Chairperson of Newtown Square in Bloom. “A total of 76 applications were received, making this a very competitive process. We are extremely grateful to PA Representative, District 168th, Lisa Borowski, for helping our township secure this grant.”
This project was funded by The GIANT Company and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s “Healing the Planet” grant program. The GIANT Company and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful awarded a total of $108,243 in support of 32 projects focused on tree planting projects. Funding for the grants was provided by customers at GIANT supermarkets, Martin’s and GIANT Heirloom Market stores, who agreed to round up their grocery purchases to the nearest dollar from March through May.
To learn more about getting involved and volunteering, visit the Newtown Square in Bloom Facebook page and visit their website:
by Sheila Turner-Hilliard
As a Charter Sponsor of Friends & Neighbors magazines, our business has deep roots in this community; that’s why we support the hometown magazine as a sponsor.
Scott Magness
…AND NOW a WORD from OUR SPONSORS!
Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors is always proud to support and recognize our loyal Sponsors, especially when they continuously strive to provide meaningful community connections that promote our magazine’s mission of Bringing People Together. This month, to celebrate our 75th issue, we are pleased to share special words from our hometown Sponsors.
Congratulations on the milestone! We are delighted to be a part of such a wonderful community. Not only are we proud to be a part of the magazine, but we look forward to reading it and connecting deeper with our neighbors!
Cynthia Weinrich
Our business gets great satisfaction from being part of the local community, and your magazine effectively communicates our local values.
Steve Mostardi
Sponsors Scott and Ray Magness of Scott’s Fireplace Products understand the importance of our mission. “As a Charter Sponsor of Friends & Neighbors magazines, our business has deep roots in this community; that’s why we support the hometown magazine as a sponsor.” Cynthia Weinrich from Weinrich’s Bakery shares the same sentiment. She said, “Congratulations on the milestone! We are delighted to be a part of such a wonderful community. Not only are we proud to be a part of the magazine, but we look forward to reading it and connecting deeper with our neighbors!”
Steve Mostardi of Mostardi Nursery is also a long-time Sponsor and Newtown Square resident. He said that he enjoys reading our Friends & Neighbors magazine. “Our business gets great satisfaction from being part of the local community, and your magazine effectively communicates our local values.” Fellow community member and Sponsor Rick Bondurant of R.F. Bondurant Plumbing said, “I read the magazine every month. There is nothing else like it, and we hear from our customers that they really enjoy reading every issue.” Rick Thompson with Thompson Custom Painting remarked, “75 issues already! That proves the magazine is important to the community which is important to our business.”
John Blosinski III from J&K Trash Removal is another Sponsor who appreciates the opportunity to connect with our community. John said, “J&K Trash Removal & Secure Shredding is proud of being a part of the community. We have deep roots here, so we support the hometown magazine as a Sponsor. Cheers to 75 great issues!” Another community partner and Sponsor of our magazine is Jeffrey Stein with ELPS Private Detective Agency, who congratulated us on reaching another remarkable milestone. “We’re proud to be a part of these hometown magazines and the community they represent. Here’s to many more years of success!”
Our Expert Contributor articles offer valuable insight and advice on a wide range of topics. Our Expert in financial planning, Charles Welde, CPA, CFA of The CP Welde
Continued on page 26
I read the magazine every month. There is nothing else like it, and we hear from our customers that they really enjoy reading every issue.
Rick Bondurant
75 issues already! That proves the magazine is important to the community which is important to our business.
Rick Thompson
J&K Trash Removal & Secure Shredding is proud of being a part of the community. We have deep roots here, so we support the hometown magazine as a Sponsor. Cheers to 75 great issues!
~ John Blosinski III
Weinrich’sBAKERY Old-fashioned German baking since 1961
We’re
Jeffrey Stein
We usually don’t advertise, but Friends and Neighbors is a unique magazine. When asked to write expert features, we are happy to contribute to the community.
Charles Welde
Congrats on 75 issues! We appreciate your efforts in bringing the community together.
Kevin O’Donnell
Group, said, “We usually don’t advertise, but Friends and Neighbors is a unique magazine. When asked to write expert features, we are happy to contribute to the community.”
Kevin O’Donnell with O’Donnell Roofing Co. appreciates the opportunity to lend his expertise. “Congrats on 75 issues! We appreciate your efforts in bringing the community together.” Jack Del Pizzo of Del Pizzo & Associates said, “Congratulations on publishing 75 issues! We look forward to serving and educating the Friends and Neighbors community on all their accounting and tax issues into the future.”
Sarah Forti of Forti Homes with Keller Williams Realty always enjoys sharing information on how to buy and sell homes in our area. Still, she also appreciates offering her expertise as a way of giving back. “The magazine is a way for us to stay connected and give back to the community in which we both live and serve. Newtown Square is a very special town, and we love being a part of it. Cheers to 75 issues and counting!” The team at From the Top Dance Studio has been a loyal Sponsor of our hometown magazine for the past five years. Kaitlin Battiste said, “There is inherent value to the magazine, and our readers enjoy and appreciate the information we have to share.”
Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors’ newest Sponsor is Jose Colmenares, who owns Nicecars Detail, LLC. Jose is proud to live and work in our town. “Our business has deep roots in this community, which is why we proudly support our hometown magazine as a Sponsor.” Likewise, long-time Sponsor Lou Matteo with Edgemont Automotive said, “Hometown pride is as important to us as it is in this magazine! We’re thrilled to be part of it! Congratulations on 75 issues!” Mackenzie Farrelly from D&K Appliances said they value and appreciate our mission. “The community is what‘s important to us, and we know your magazine shares those same values. Congrats!”
Hometown pride is as important it is in this magazine! We’re thrilled part of it! Congratulations on ~Lou Matteo
Sarah Forti We’re thrilled to be a part of this community magazine, congratulations on reaching 75 fantastic issues!
Andrew Martella
Our free monthly publication is made possible only by the funding from our advertising Sponsors, whose decision to advertise in our hometown magazine reveals just how vital Newtown Square residents are to the success of that business. We rightfully show our gratitude to our Sponsors by showing our loyalty to them and choosing to do business with them first.
Sponsors like Andrew Martella of Martella Electric. “We’re thrilled to be a part of this community magazine,” he said. “Congratulations on reaching 75 fantastic issues!” Rob Coughlan with RPC Services, Inc. sent his congratulations message and said, “RPC Services is proud to sponsor such an outstanding local publication in the wonderful communities we serve. Thank you!” And Seth Pancoast with S. Pancoast Topsoil & Mulches agreed. “We love being a part of the community, and we love your magazines. Congratulations on creating 75 amazing issues.”
Casey’s Public House has served our community since 1976 and owner Pete Crisanti knows how it feels to be doing business in our neighborhood. “Casey’s is happy to be part of such an outstanding publication that serves our wonderful community.” And Deborah Truscello from the Law Office of Deborah M. Truscello knows that there is no other magazine out there quite like ours. “Congratulations on 75 great issues. The magazine is great. There is nothing else like it, and our customers really enjoy reading every issue.”
Looking back at the past 75 issues of Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors has been an enjoyable trip down memory lane. It has also been a rewarding experience to see just how much we have grown, not just in page count but in business owners who value our work and our mission. Cheers to 75 issues of Bringing People Together! N S
S. PANCOAST
Topsoil & Mulches
We love being a part of the community, and we love your magazines. Congratulations on creating 75 amazing issues.
Seth Pancoast
There is inherent value to the magazine, and our readers enjoy and appreciate the information we have to share.
Kaitlin Battiste
Congratulations on 75 great issues. The magazine is great. There is nothing else like it, and our customers really enjoy reading every issue.
~ Deborah M. Truscello
Casey’s is happy to be part of such an outstanding publication that serves our wonderful community.
Pete Crisanti
RPC Services is proud to sponsor such an outstanding local publication in the wonderful communities we serve. Thank you!
Rob Coughlin
Our business has deep roots in this community, which is why we proudly support our hometown magazine as a Sponsor.
~Jose Colmenares & Israel Dona
The community is what‘s important to us, and we know your magazine shares those same values. Congrats!
Mackenzie Farrelly
People In Places
by Sheila Turner-Hilliard
Photos courtesy of LENZ, LLC
Success On and Off the Field
Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors’ mission is Bringing People Together, and we are pleased to introduce you this month to two hometown entrepreneurs who are hitting it out of the park on and off the baseball field.
Matt Wray and Mike Palumbo are the founders of LENZ, LLC. From events to merchandise to marketing, LENZ covers every step of the travel baseball sports experience. The company's success, the story of how LENZ came to be, and its current position speak volumes about persistent hard work, positive influences and the power of connections.
Matt and Mike both went to St. Anastasia for grade school. Matt played baseball for Newtown Edgmont Little League (NELL), while Mike played for Marple Township Little League (MTLL). After grade school, they continued to play ball - Matt at Malvern Prep and Mike at Archbishop Carroll. “Mike was a few years older than me, so we didn’t actually cross paths until a few years after we graduated from college,” Matt said.
Matt and Mike separately began their careers in sports over ten years ago, working up from the ground level. Starting as an amateur scout and on-field coordinator at the Baseball Factory in an internship role, Mike saw firsthand the relationship between business and amateur sports. Mike entered the coaching world as an assistant coach for the freshman team at his alma mater, Archbishop Carroll High School.
Turning his passion into his career, Mike spent the next five years working for the then-startup Philadelphia Baseball Training (PBT). He was PBT’s first full-time employee, working in all areas of the business, which included training, teams and eventually managing tournaments. Mike was on the front lines through PBT's growth, which included hiring four new full-time employees and over 50 contracted employees and recognizing a sizeable increase in total business.
As the business grew, so did Mike’s coaching career. He signed on as the pitching coach at The Haverford School, where in his first year, the Fords lowered their team ERA from 5.11 to 3.50, then
Co-founder and COO Matt Wray
Co-founder and CEO Mike Palumbo
lowered it again to 3.21 in his third season and once more to 3.20 in his fourth season. In his time at Haverford, Mike had 12 of his pitchers commit to playing baseball in college, including East Carolina, Harvard, Pitt, Rider, Dickinson, Rhode Island, Army, Norwich, La Salle and Brandeis University. Mike’s success at The Haverford School led him to recently accept the Head Varsity Baseball Coach position at Devon Prep.
Matt’s career in baseball began as an Events Director at NXTLevel Events in 2014. He was exposed to every level of travel sports and managed events and teams there. For three years, Matt and his colleagues ran events with over 70 travel teams per weekend in baseball and softball tournaments, managing a team of 15 employees.
However, as much as Matt traveled for his job, he remained committed to spending his free time helping out at NELL. “One day, I was cleaning up the fields to prepare for an incoming tournament when I met Mike,” Matt recalled. “He was there with PBT to evaluate the grounds.” They both laughed when they described the interaction as a little bit of a power play to figure out if either was a threat. “That didn’t last long,” Matt said. “After a short conversation, we hit it off and have been great friends ever since.”
In 2017, Matt joined Mike at PBT, where he was hired full-time as the Director of Special Events. “I managed the events division from top to bottom, including sales, operations and customer service, and managed a staff of over 20 employees,” he explained. “The events division grew substantially in time with the company, and I was instrumental in the formation of strategic partnerships with companies such as Dicks Sporting Goods, The Hamels Foundation and Hitrax.” Matt also created PBT’s media division, where he was the host of the podcast Beyond the Bell, interviewing professional athletes, sports media personalities and college athletes.
Offering expert service and guidance for athletes, teams and organizations
unique event experiences while also keeping family convenience at the top of mind. “Our team operates tournaments focused on single-site locations, free attendance and parking, clean facilities and effective communication,” Matt explained.
This summer was a busy one for these co-founders. “LENZ officially partnered with Newtown Edgmont (NE) to host tournaments this fall,” Mike said. “The partnership is especially meaningful because many of our LENZ team members have a great history and fond memories with NE.” Matt added, “We can all agree that there are very few complexes in the country that have the environment that NE has.”
Matt and Mike’s combined experience on and off the field and their shared desire to become entrepreneurs led them to start on a journey to improve the travel baseball experience. They co-founded LENZ in 2021. The company began as an online platform that allowed parents to rate their experience with their travel sports teams and events they played in. LENZ grew quickly in local and regional markets, with over 4,000 site users across multiple sports. Matt and Mike were soon recognized as “Philadelphia’s Top Innovators Under 25” by the Philadelphia Business Journal. Today, LENZ has evolved and grown to offer expert service and guidance for athletes, teams and organizations. Mike, Matt, and their growing team of professionals now operate divisions for merchandising and branding, athlete sponsorship, consulting for organizations and coaches and partnering with leagues to host baseball tournaments.
Events are the cornerstone of player and fan engagement within youth travel sports. LENZ Events is at the forefront of creating
The two baseball tournaments for ages 8U to 13U offer a fun, affordable, local event, drawing teams from PA, NJ, DE and MD. The first event ran September 20th-22nd and was an incredible success, with over 45 teams participating in an impressive 160-game tournament. The next one will take place at NE from October 11th through the 13th.
Matt and Mike credit much of the success of LENZ to the community surrounding them. “Mike and I work very well together, each of us having strengths that complement each other,” Matt said. “But our company is what it is today because of the amazing people in our lives who have supported us every step of the way.” Mike said he and Matt are very grateful to the people who will go out of their way to help make connections and offer valuable advice while never expecting anything in return. “Matt and I do not have all the answers, but we have built a team around us that is destined for success,” he said. “We are beyond grateful to have them in our corner and in our neighborhood.” For more information about LENZ, visit their website LenzSportsGroup.com. N S
Matt and Mike mentoring seniors at Malvern Prep
That’s So Delco!
by Doug Humes
Photos courtesy of the Newtown Square Historical Society
Growing up in the 1960s, you did not refer to Delaware County as “Delco.” It was an abbreviation, useful for newspaper headlines and occasionally in the name of local sports teams and businesses. But in the last 20 years, the term has gained acceptance as a shorthand for the region, just like Philadelphia is now “Philly.”
This increase was perhaps fueled by social media, and pop culture references, particularly the TV series ‘Mare of Easttown,’ where “Delco” became synonymous with the county’s unique accent, culture and identity as a series of tight-knit communities with working-class roots. It’s a term now used with pride, and occasionally with back-handed disdain: “That’s so Delco!”
What is Delco today? It is not the Delco of ‘Mare of Easttown’ –differing from Radnor in the north, to Marcus Hook in the south, Upper Darby and the river towns to the east and Chadds Ford to the west.
The Townships of Delaware County as they existed when the county was created in 1789
In the beginning, Delaware County did not exist. It was created in 1789 when the easternmost townships of Chester County divorced the western townships, and created a new county, with the City of Chester as its county seat. Chester was too far away from so many places in the original Chester County, and also too far to travel for county business in the 19th century, and so in 1850 a new county seat was chosen: Media.
Today, Delaware County has 49 separate “municipalities” consisting of one city (Chester), 21 townships, and 27 boroughs, along
DANJOLELL
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with 11 census-designated places (as designated by the U.S. Census Bureau) and 12 unincorporated communities. The county contains 191 square miles, the third smallest county in the state by area. The population of the county in the first census taken in 1790 was 9,469. One hundred years later in 1890, it was 74,683. It continued its double-digit growth rate, with the largest jump occurring between 1920 and 1930, when the population increased by 61.9%. In 2020, the population was 576,830, making it the 5th most populous among the 67 Pennsylvania counties.
Most of the townships were created when William Penn was planning his colony. Today, the largest township is Upper Darby, with 85,681 people in 2020. The smallest is Lower Chichester, with just 3,425 people. Newtown comes in 11th of the 21 townships with 15,002 residents.
I am hard-pressed to identify a unifying theme in such disparate communities, other than today we are all “Delco.”
For more history on Newtown Square, Delaware County, and membership information, please visit: NSHistory.org. N S
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The Chester Courthouse, built in 1724, was the Chester County courthouse from 1724 to 1789, the Delaware County courthouse from 1789 to 1850. Now the oldest public building still standing in the United States
The original courthouse for Delaware County, opened in 1851. Note the clock tower, later removed when the courthouse was renovated in 1913
The Classical Revival style Courthouse today, renovated in 1913
Our Community
by Sheila Turner-Hilliard
Photos courtesy of Mimi Avellino
Sarah Avellino: Our Very Own Junior Miss Ocean City
Our hometown magazine takes great pride in featuring people in our community who set goals, work hard and make their dreams come true. For Newtown Square resident Sarah Avellino, this past year has been “the best of my life!”
It all began last August when Sarah competed and won the Junior Miss Ocean City, NJ title. Wearing the crown and representing her beloved home away from home every summer was an accomplishment years in the making and one that Sarah and her family are very proud of. “From the time I was a little girl, I knew I wanted to compete in pageants,” Sarah said. “I began competing when I was eight years old and have loved every minute of it.”
Sarah said she first learned about the Ocean City pageants when she and her mom were trying to plan out her summer camp activities. “We were looking through the camp and activities brochure and saw a workshop and pageant for Little Miss Ocean City,” she recalled. “I read the description and asked my mom to sign me up!” Sarah added that she even convinced a few of her friends to do it with her.
Night In Venice (L to R): Little
Miss Ocean City
Stella Fleming; Miss Ocean City
For three years, she competed in the Little Miss pageant for girls ages 8 -11. In 2018, Sarah was second runner-up, and in 2019 she was awarded third runner-up. Not to be deterred, she set her sights on winning and remained determined to keep working hard. “My family helped me so much by boosting my confidence and having faith in me,” Sarah explained. “My parents, brother and sister encouraged me to keep improving my singing and dancing technique and would even practice interview questions with me.”
Sarah was ready to compete again in 2023, but this time, it was for the Junior Miss Ocean City title. She was 14 years old when she took to the stage at Ocean City’s iconic Music Pier to earn the judges’ votes—the evening consisted of an
interview portion, a talent show and an evening gown competition. Dressed in a gorgeous white sequin gown, Sarah sang a rendition of The Climb by Miley Cyrus that left the audience awestruck. In addition to her outstanding vocal performance, Sarah won the special award for Poise and Composure and the Miss Congeniality Award, chosen by her fellow contestants.
Lola DeMarco and Junior Miss Ocean City Sarah Avellino
The anticipation mounted as the time had come to announce the winner. “When they called my name, I was in complete shock. I was speechless,” Sarah said. “I was just so proud I got up on that stage again whether I won or not.” Sarah’s parents, Scott and Mimi, and her siblings, Maggie, 21, and Scott, 23, hugged and congratulated her. “We are so proud of her,” Mimi said. “She has worked so hard.”
While there was much to celebrate that night, Mimi said that Sarah had dedicated the pageant to her late brother, Andrew, and late sister, Carly. Andrew passed away in an accident in 2009 at just 17 months old, and Carly died shortly after being born in 2014. “Sarah wore her special bracelet with orange and purple gemstones in memory of her brother and sister,” Mimi said. “And she had Andrew and Carly’s names engraved in her interview jacket.”
Sarah’s win that night was truly special for many reasons, and she said that this past year serving as Junior Miss Ocean City has been incredibly rewarding. Sarah enjoyed attending special events, participating in parades and meeting all the parents and kids who approached her to say hello and get photos. “My favorite was Night in Venice. We had so much fun on the boat and seeing all the houses and decorations,” she said. “We sang and danced all night.”
Sarah said that she truly appreciated the support she received from her family, whether it was at parades or events such as Wacky Wednesdays on Asbury Avenue. “They’re always there,” she said of her mom and dad. “And my Nannie and Poppie got to drive me through the parade routes in a convertible while my parents took pictures and my extended family cheered me on.” It was a total family affair, and Sarah is very grateful for them and all they have done for her this year.
“Overall, the part I enjoyed the most was getting to know the winners of Little Miss Ocean City, Stella Fleming and Miss Ocean City, Lola DeMarco,” Sarah remarked. “Lola is like a big sister to me now, and Stella is like a little sister.” Sarah added that getting to know them and the great people that they are, made this year even more amazing.
and just started rehearsals for Villa Maria’s musical production of Chicago: Teen Edition.” Sarah also spends her summers performing for the Ocean City Theater Company and working at Uncle Bill’s Pancake House.
“Spending this past year as Miss Junior Ocean City has been such a great experience that I would love to do it again, maybe in a few years, to compete for the title of Miss Ocean City,” Sarah said.
Sarah, we are very proud of you and the work you have done to realize your dream. Keep shooting for the stars! We will be here to cheer you on all the way!
Sarah’s reign as Junior Miss Ocean City concluded on Saturday, August 17th, when she crowned her successor, Sarah Smith.
“Although I am sad that it’s over, I am happy for Sarah,” she said. “I have known her since our Little Miss Ocean City days, and we have become very good friends over the years.”
So what’s next for our hometown queen? “I’m really busy with school and my extracurricular activities at Villa Maria,” she explained. “I sing in the church choir and school choir, am on the cheerleading team, serve as an ambassador for new students
Special memories made as Sarah’s Nannie and Poppie served as her official parade drivers
From pageants to pancakes, Sarah does it all!
Master Barber, Heriberto Soto
Our Community
by Sheila Turner-Hilliard
It’s Pumpkin Season!
If you’re a frequent reader of our Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors magazine, you know we love a good party! From our magazine’s 75th Issue to National Golf Month to Grandparents’ Day, we’re your source for finding an excuse to celebrate every month of the year!
October means the leaves are falling, our nights are longer and the air is filled with the spicy-sweet scent of pumpkin. In fact, no food symbolizes the fall season quite like the pumpkin. And although October 26th is the only day officially dedicated to National Pumpkin Day, we give you permission to celebrate all month long.
Many of you have already started the pumpkin party. After all, the grocery stores are jam-packed with “limited edition” pumpkin-infused cereals, ice cream, coffee and cookies. And the past few years have introduced some questionable pumpkin-spiced items like ramen noodles, hummus, potato chips and even pumpkin spice SPAM!
So, what is so special about these plentiful, plump members of the gourd family? Pumpkins, it turns out, are very symbolic
Fall forMexican Flavor!
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in American culture.
Harvested in October, this nutritious and versatile fruit features edible seeds and flesh that are rich in vitamins. Pumpkins were one of the first crops planted by colonists, and to this day, they hold a nostalgic place in our hearts, on our tables and on our doorsteps.
Pumpkins are not only delicious, they’re also an amazingly versatile fruit that can be used in sweet and salty recipes. You can bake, boil, steam, puree and even fry them. With so many ways to serve pumpkin, and so many flavors you can add, there’s sure to be a way to please even the pickiest in your pumpkin patch.
It’s easy to find recipes galore online, but if you would rather leave the pumpkin preparation to the professionals, visit our Sponsor, Weinrich’s Bakery, for delicious baked goods. Cynthia Weinrich said that from October through Thanksgiving, their shelves are stocked with festive treats. “We make everything from pumpkin bread to pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. Some of our customers’ favorites are pumpkin donuts, cream cheese-filled pumpkin rolls, pumpkin muffins and pumpkin-shaped decorated cookies.”
Aside from praising the pumpkin for its prowess in the kitchen, pumpkins of all shapes and sizes make fantastic seasonal decorations for our homes. We’re not just talking about your typical kid-carved jack-o’-lanterns. Grab some gourds and paint them your favorite seasonal colors or stencil on your family monogram. Place pumpkins along your walkway or decorate your entryway with a display of pumpkins, mums and bales of hay.
For more creative ideas, pay a visit to our Sponsor, Mostardi Nursery, where pumpkins, mums and seasonal decor are plentiful. A clever idea is to top some mini pumpkins with succulents, colorful flowers and berries. To assemble, just glue the succulents to some moss and secure on top of the pumpkin. Do not cut the pumpkin. Spritz with some water once a week. The best part about this project is when the season is over, simply peel the arrangement from the top of the pumpkin and place it in a saucer containing about an inch of soil. The succulents will continue to grow and can be used for your next holiday project.
Summer may be long gone, and cold winter days are on the horizon, but for now, let’s just stop to smell the pumpkins! N S
Homemade pumpkin bread
Photo courtesy of Weinrich’s Bakery
Festive pumpkin succulents
Photo courtesy of Mostardi Nursery
Recent Newtown Township Home Sales
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