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Mission Moment: Full House, The Need is Great

American Red Cross Southeastern PA crown jewel of disaster recovery is the Red Cross House, the only one of its kind in America. In recent weeks, Red Cross House has been exceedingly busy, often filled to capacity. In this mission moment, you’ll learn more about what Red Cross House does for disaster survivors and why it’s been full lately.

Glen Foerd is now open for guided tours on the second and fourth Saturdays each month. The next Saturday tour will take place Saturday, March 30th, then again on April 13th. Tours begin at 9:30am and 10:30am and will last about an hour. We will continue to be open to the public on Wednesdays, too, for tours at 11:00am and 12:00pm. Please call first to be sure there is access, but reservations are not required. The mansion does close on occasion for special events.

Evening tours take place on the third Tuesday of the month, the next one is scheduled for Tuesday, 4/16 at 7:00pm.

Guided tours of the mansion are also available by appointment Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, year-round. Please call at least two days ahead to plan your visit. Tours are not conducted on holidays or weekends.

The cost of a tour is $10.00 per person, $9.00 for students and seniors (65 or older).

For more information call the business office at 215 632 5330, or check our website www.glenfoerd.org.

The first-ever Franklin Institute-produced fulldome Planetarium show makes its world premiere debut.

Space exploration, our greatest adventure, is having a big impact on our lives. It is helping us to discover a universe of unimaginable scale and beauty, and it is reaching down into our world and influencing the way in which we live.

Produced by The Franklin Institute, together with Sky-Skan, and narrated by Top Gear’s James May, this brand-new technologically advanced Planetarium show takes audiences on an incredible journey from the far reaches of our known universe to our own planet. It is an extraordinary story of human ingenuity and incredible engineering, describing how the technology that transports us through space is paving the way for the devices and apps we use every day.

To Space & Back is the most visually stunning show ever presented in the Fels Planetarium.

by Jim McGovern

She had a four-wheel walker, and she was moving in super slow motion. ‘It’s a bit chilly, I need my sweater,’ she said sort of to me. But she declined my offer to help. She fussed with it for a while, but she did get it on. My bet is she is over 90. Seems that what she still can do, she wants to be sure she still does.

8:30 AM on a Saturday morn at the St Joseph’s Villa, the home for retired St Joseph nuns and a smattering of other ‘lay’ folk.

I was picking up a nun from my St. Malachy’s parish to take her over to a benefit 5k run at Valley Green not that far away. There was more activity this day as a funeral was on tap. The hearse out front, the serious yet friendly guys with the dark suits from the Funeral parlor. (I’m sure they have a more ‘politically correct’ name for them now, but I’m not sure what it is.) For sure in a retirement community such as this, funeral’s are part of the everyday flow of life and in a lot of cases, it is likely more happy than sad that the end did arrive.

The Villa really is a lot better than most of these places I have been. Cleaner and brighter for sure, but the main difference is in the attitude/behavior of the residents themselves. It would seem that these ladies, who have dedicated their lives towards serving the Lord in whatever capacity, are rewarded with a more positive and peaceful attitude as they head towards that final leg of that race we call a lifetime. Quite literally, God knows they deserve it.

I guess the major difference between these sisters and the heartbreakingly sad and lonely souls I usually see darkening the hallways in a secular rest home, is that sense of purpose and that peace of mind. Frequently ignored by their families, staring at your eyes as you walk by – longing to be noticed, to be looked at, to realize that they do and they did matter…

So, the race was run. Due to the cloudy weather and the even cloudier predictions the attendance was not great. But, everyone there seemed to have a great time. A personal friend of mine won the prize for the age 50-60 bracket. His daughter won the teenage one.

As snow showers came down, they got through the formalities and prize giving with enough dispatch that my ‘passenger’ was going to be able to make it back to the Villa, for the 10:30 funeral mass. I’ve taken her to enough places that we are getting the process down pretty well…although I usually have to wait a spell past the appointed pick-up time. Having had to do that earlier, I was able to see the old gal with the 4-wheeler shuffling back to the lobby as we loaded my sister in the car. Seems she was not going anywhere. Just taking a morning ‘constitutional’, likely to improve her health and mobility. I see very few folk there that seem to be lying around waiting to die. Would seem to me that our real Destiny is about staying alive as long as we can to do as much good as we can. I wonder about the worlds of prayer that get uttered out of that hallowed hall each day. I was not kidding when I asked my passenger for her prayers as I am struggling mightily even keeping my head afloat these days, let alone doing as my Creator wills. I know she’ll make good on her promise to do so.

Alas, this Saturday afternoon winds down. The second load of wash is in the washer and the house is cleaned up a bit. Up at the villa, there was a singing or dancing troupe scheduled this afternoon. They stay real busy up there. I really did try and try again to bring a poetry workshop up there, but the program director was too busy to get back to me. Maybe I’ll try again.

PHILADELPHIA, PA — It has been over a year since 12 members of the Occupy Philadelphia movement were arrested inside a Wells Fargo bank in center city Philadelphia. This week they were put on trial in front of jury facing charges of criminal trespass and conspiracy.

The defendants put on a strong defense based on the 1st Amendment’s right to free assembly, as well as, “justification” due to imminent danger being caused by Wells Fargo. During the trial, character witnesses pointed out the contributions the defendants have been making since their arrests including: forming Inter-occupy, Occupy Sandy and organizing a new community center.

On March 5, 2013 the jury returned the verdict — not guilty of conspiracy and defiant trespass.

VIDEO FOOTAGE OF THE WELLS FARGO PROTEST

Glen Foerd on the Delaware
5001 Grant Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19114
215 632 5330

Ten Week Series Begins Tuesday March 5th

It’s Not Too Late To Sign Up!

Members: $120.00

A series of 10 weekly, one hour classes will be held beginning Tuesday, March 5th at 6:30pm.

This is a continuation of classes intended to build upon each week’s lessons with focus on breathing and relaxation. Some previous experience with Tai Chi is recommended as this class is a continuation of previous sessions. As you progress through the course you will notice improvements in muscle tone, flexibility, coordination and concentration. You should wear comfortable, loose fitting clothing and sneakers.

The instructor, Frank Shiery, has trained extensively for the past 23 years. He is Chief Instructor for the PA Chen Taijiquan Association. Frank was a member of the 1993 Taiji Team that competed at the First World Taiji Invitational Competition in Fuzho, China where he received the “Award of Excellence.” His book, Chen Style Taijiquan: The Small Frame Method, is available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Class size is limited to 15, so send your check now or call the office to pay with a credit card.

Program proceeds support the preservation and educational mission of Glen Foerd.

Non-members: $150.00

Glen Foerd on the Delaware
5001 Grant Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19114
215 632 5330

Hippity hop on over to Glen Foerd on the Delaware on Saturday, March 23rd, 2013 at 11:00 AM when we will once again welcome the Easter Bunny to dine with our guests and help make our Springtime Easter Egg Hunt the best one yet. Be sure to bring your baskets for collecting your Easter Eggs as you hunt for them on the Mansion’s lawn. Don’t leave your camera behind because this event promises to have memorable photo opportunities to share and cherish. Admission is $20.00 for children and adults; a box lunch is included:

adult lunches include chicken salad on croissant, potato salad, grapes, carrot cupcake and water; child’s lunch includes 1/2 of turkey sandwich, 1/2 of cheese sandwich, fruit cup, juice box and cookies.  Methods of payment include cash, check, or credit card. please include your telephone number; the number of adults and children in your party; the age(s) of your child(ren) and any seating  requests. Paid reservations will be confirmed by letter. For more information about this event or to inquire about reservations, contact the business office at 215-632-5330 or email us at info@glenfoerd.org. All reservations must be pre-paid by Monday, March 18th.

(Mansion opens @ 10:45 AM)

This event takes place rain or shine!

Glen Foerd on the Delaware, 5001 Grant Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19114, is a 501 © (3) non-profit organization. All contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. All proceeds from this event will benefit the Glen Foerd Restoration Fund.

Glen Foerd honors the hard work of those noble Irish lads and lassies who worked on the estates of Torresdale.

Join us to enjoy the music of Timlin and Kane, participate in a raffle for baskets of Irish goods, and partake of light refreshment. The Glen Foerd Art Gallery will be open from 1:00 – 3:00.

Tickets are $13 for members, $15 for non-members, children under 10 years of age are $10, and children under 2 years of age are free. Tickets available at the door!

Glen Foerd on the Delaware, 5001 Grant Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19114, is a 501 © (3) non-profit organization. All contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. All proceeds from this event will benefit the Glen Foerd Restoration Fund.

Glen Foerd on the Delaware, 5001 Grant Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19114

Welcome to Glen Foerd!

On behalf of the Glen Foerd Conservation Corporation we are pleased to have you visit with us through our web site and in person. Our organizational mission is to preserve the last surviving riverfront estate in Philadelphia as a historic site and a center for providing historic and cultural experience to the public.

Glen Foerd is now open for guided tours on the second and fourth Saturdays each month. The next Saturday tour will take place this Saturday, February 23rd, then again on March 9th. Tours begin at 9:30am and 10:30am and will last about an hour.

We will continue to be open to the public on Wednesdays, too, for tours at 11:00am and 12:00pm. Please call first to be sure there is access, but reservations are not required. The mansion does close on occasion for special events.

Evening tours usually take place on the third Tuesday of the month, however next month the evening tour will take place Tuesday, 3/12 at 7:00pm.

Guided tours of the mansion are also available by appointment Monday, Tuesday,

Thursday, and Friday, year-round. Please call at least two days ahead to plan your visit. Tours are not conducted on holidays or weekends.

The cost of a tour is $10.00 per person, $9.00 for students and seniors (65 or older).

For more information call the business office at 215 632 5330, or check our

website www.glenfoerd.org.