Marple Friends & Neighbors magazine, April 2020

Marple

The Homel Family

2020 April

FRIENDS & NEIGHBORS

Faith in Our One Big Community

Cover photo by: Sierra Clark Photography www.SierraClarkPhoto.com

Bringing People Together

Marple’s Expert Contributors Automotive Repairs & Service Bill Fritsch Fritsch’s Liberty Auto Service 2109 South Sproul Road, Broomall 610-356-1845 www.FritschsLibertyBroomall.com

Hair Salon Mary Rosato, Owner Salon Bella 590 Reed Road, Suite 5, Broomall 610-353-9133 SalonBella1@verizon.net www.SalonBellaBroomall.com

Carpeting & Floor Covering Jim Casar Carpet Warehouse 620 Parkway Dr, Broomall 610-353-1312 CarpetWarehouseOutlet@gmail.com www.CarpetWarehouseCo.com

Heating & Air Conditioning Len Sciulli Len Sciulli & Sons Heating & Air Conditioning 500 Abbott Drive, Broomall 610-328-4341 SciulliAndSons@hotmail.com www.LenAndSons.com

Electric Service, Residential/Commercial Andrew Martella, Sr. Martella Electric Company 484-997-3097 MartellaElectric@rcn.com www.MartellaElectric.com

Painting & General Contracting Services Tom Rafferty Rafferty Painting & General Contracting 610-626-9141 Info@RaffertyPainting.com www.RaffertyPainting.com

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Family & Cosmetic Dentistry Dr. Georges P. Martin, D.M.D. Marple Dental 2004 Sproul Road, Suite 304, Broomall 610-359-8181 Office@MarpleDental.com www.MarpleDental.com

Roofing, Siding & Carpentry Kevin O’Donnell O’Donnell Roofing Co. Havertown 610-449-8188 Office@ODonnellRoofingCo.com www.ODonnellRoofingCo.com

Financial Planning Michael S. Brady, MBA LPL Financial 780 Parkway Drive, Broomall 484-472-7704 Michael.Brady@LPL.com www.MikeBradylpl.com

Senior Living & Housing Lindsey Poeth, CSA Oasis Senior Advisors – Main Line Malvern 484-947-4266 LPoeth@YourOasisAdvisor.com www.OasisSeniorAdvisors.com/Mainline

Fireplace Products Scott Magness Scott's Fireplace Products 3137 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square 484-422-8334 SFP@ScottsFireplaceProducts.com www.ScottsFireplaceProducts.com

Veterinary Medical & Surgical Care Dr. Sarah Alexander, DVM The Spayed Club Veterinary Clinic 800 Chester Pike, Sharon Hill 484-540-8436 Info@TheSpayedClubClinic.org www.TheSpayedClubClinic.org

Funeral Home Robert L. D’Anjolell, Jr. DANJOLELL Memorial Homes 2811 West Chester Pike, Broomall 610-356-4200 RobJr@DANJOLELL.com www.DANJOLELL.com

Waterproofing & Weatherization David Linn Cook Weatherproofing Plus, Inc. Marple Newtown 610-325-0596 Info@Weatherproofing-Plus.com www.Weatherproofing-Plus.com

Expert Contributors needed!

Medical, Catering, Real Estate, Fitness, Law, Public Adjuster, Education, Vacations, Landscaping, Home Health Care, Taxes, Mortgages, etc. Professionals may contact: Bob Blaisse: 610-453-5536 or BBlaisse@BestVersionMedia.com.

Glass & Mirror Services David Gura & Lew Gura Bryn Mawr Glass 729 West Chester Pike, Havertown 610-853-2990 BrynMawrGlass@yahoo.com www.BrynMawrGlass.com

Marple Friends & Neighbors / Bringing People Together

Dear Friends & Neighbors,

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pring has sprung and so much is different. Prom and graduation parties are being planned, and home repairs and landscaping are now a concern. These are different times than we’ve seen.

PUBLICATION TEAM

PUBLISHER: Bob Blaisse EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER and CONTENT COORDINATOR: Liz Burnett DESIGNER: Kim Cesati

We’re fortunate to have Police, Fire, Doctors, Nurses, EMTs, Clergy and yes, friends and neighbors who all live in our community. And to have elected officials whose leadership has made our community stronger. Marple surely is a community of friends and neighbors.

COVER PHOTO STYLISTS: Mary Rosato, Salon Bella

We’re coming back from some strange times. Marple Friends & Neighbors has been fortunate to be Bringing People Together even during these times, through our social network in print (and online at www.MarpleMag.com), made possible by our advertising Sponsors.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Bob Blaisse, Liz Burnett, Doug Humes, Chris Stack, Jim Casar, Len Sciulli, Scott Magness, David Linn Cook, Bill Fritsch, Mike Brady, Kelly DeLong

You know I’m always impressed by our business leaders, but now even more by our advertising Sponsors in these times of late. Times when friends and neighbors come to help.

ADVERTISING

Our advertising Sponsors should hear from us in these times. Please, show your own kind of hometown leadership as a Marple Friends & Neighbors Reader, and stand by these our hometown heroes too, our advertising Sponsors whose investment in Broomall residents makes our hometown magazine possible. Find out how on page 16.

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER: Sierra Clark, Sierra Clark Photography, www.SierraClarkPhoto.com

Contact Publisher: Bob Blaisse Email: BBlaisse@BestVersionMedia.com Phone: 610-453-5536 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 Liz Burnett at LBurnett@BestVersionMedia.com.

This month, we welcome a new hometown hero who has been making Broomall residents well again for years: Broomall’s favorite Chiropractor, Dr. Marc Belitsky, Director of Broomall Total Health Group, and a 31-year Broomall resident! We all know Dr. Marc as “The Spine Doctor,” but you may not know our hometown Chiropractor is also the Chiropractor for the U.S. Open Golf Tournament each year. You’ll recognize Dr. Marc from his photo on page 25.

CONTENT SUBMISSION DEADLINES Content due the 5th of every month.

Everyone, please welcome Dr. Marc Belitsky to the party that is Marple Friends & Neighbors, and please reach out to a Sponsor as you enjoy reading our April issue.

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, ratepayers or homeowners associations, businesses or organizations that this publication serves. BVM is not responsible for the reliability, suitability or timeliness of any content submitted. All content submitted is done so at the sole discretion of the submitting party. © 2020 Best Version Media. All rights reserved.

ON THE COVER The Homel Family at their home in Broomall

Marple

The Homel Family

2020 April

FRIENDS & NEIGHBORS

Faith in Our One Big Community

Bob Blaisse Publisher

We’re Online! www.MarpleMag.com

Dear Residents, Spring: the end of hibernating, the return of mild weather, and more daylight for outdoor enjoyment. But this Spring’s global health “event” has upended plans, expectations and priorities in our local and global communities. May this crisis soon pass and leave us with greater awareness and appreciation of humanity’s resourcefulness and resilience.

This issue features The Homel Family. You’ll read about how these Broomall neighbors generously contribute their time, energy, and skills to enrich and support the many community neighbors with whom they work, learn, worship, play and volunteer. This issue also includes timely and informative articles from 6 of our Expert Contributors. And this month’s Business Profile is about Seth Pancoast, Jr., Owner of S. Pancoast Topsoil & Mulches. This feature takes you back to 1894, when Seth’s grandfather purchased the land where Seth’s business is located today (behind the new firehouse and Broomall Ave.). Seth’s land has deep roots, having been in his family since his ancestors helped settle William Penn’s Philadelphia colony.

Our April Calendar of Events on pages 20 - 21 includes many interesting community events and the dates when Christians will observe Holy Week and Easter and when Jews will observe Passover. Until we meet again here next month, may you all stay healthy, happy and blessed!

Clark Photography Cover photo by: Sierra www.SierraClarkPhoto.com

Bringing People Together

Liz Burnett

Content Coordinator

April 2020

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Expert Contributor Written by Bill Fritsch Fritsch’s Liberty Auto Service

A

Why Keeping Up with Oil Changes is So Important

s a car owner, it’s important to provide your car with numerous types of auto maintenance so that you don’t end up spending a lot on auto repairs. Just like all forms of car maintenance, oil changes are necessary to keep your engine healthy and can add years to the life of your vehicle.

Even if your car is running great, neglecting oil changes can cause your vehicle’s condition to quickly deteriorate. Here are five reasons why oil changes are crucial.

Auto Service The longest family owned and operated business.

Serving Marple Township residents since 1950.

Proudly offering exceptional service at a fair price, plus: Tire installation, Repair and Wheel alignment Brake repair and rotors Oil changes Shocks, struts and suspension PA State Inspection and PA Emission Testing Towing service provided with our own tow truck Propane sales and exchange A/C repair and recharge

• • • • • • • •

1. Oil Changes Provide Engine Lubrication Corrosion is one of the main reasons you need to have your oil changed regularly. Fresh oil ensures that there is proper lubrication for the engine’s many moving parts such as the crankshaft and the connecting rods. When oil ages, it loses its lubricating capabilities and friction among the moving engine parts will cause them to wear down. This can lead to decreased performance and ultimately an engine that won’t work at all.

2. Oil Changes Remove Engine Contaminants When oil goes through the motor, it collects dust, dirt, metal shavings and several other contaminants that can affect the engine’s performance. If you don’t change your oil regularly, sludge will build up in the engine. Oil sludge can lead to engine problems and, in some cases, the engine could need to be replaced.

3. Oil Helps Regulate Engine Temperature Fresh oil is engineered to absorb heat, keeping everything inside cool. If you don’t change your oil consistently, you increase your engine’s chance of overheating.

4. Changing Your Oil Helps You Get Better Gas Mileage When your engine has clean oil in it, friction is reduced, allowing your engine to run more smoothly. Regular oil changes can improve fuel efficiency and even reduce fuel consumption in general. Because your engine uses fuel more efficiently when it’s running well, it leads to better gas mileage for your vehicle and saves you money.

5. Regular Oil Changes Help Your Vehicle Pass Inspections and Emissions Testing To stay on the road, your vehicle needs to pass an emissions test each year. Engines running on clean oil produce less exhaust emissions. With regular oil changes, you’ll not only pass the emissions test, you’re doing your part to help the environment.

We’ve Repaired Cars For Your Friends & Neighbors, Let Us Help You! www.FritschsLibertyBroomall.com I 610-356-1845 2109 S. Sproul Road, Broomall, PA 19008 4

Marple Friends & Neighbors / Bringing People Together

Getting your oil changed on a regular basis is one of the most important of all routine vehicle maintenance. Be sure to read over your vehicle’s owner’s manual and get your oil changed at the intervals recommended by your manufacturer. If your vehicle is due for an oil change, don’t put it off! M

s n o i t a l u C ongrat April Sproul Lanes Student of the Month Sproul Lanes Assistant

Manager Sheila Biddle presents Certificate of Achievement to Joe McGinnis Photo courtesy of Sproul Lanes

Student of the Month Written by Liz Burnett

Joe McGinnis!

Nominate the Next Student of the Month!

Any student in grades 7 -12 in any school within the borders of the Marple Newtown School District can be nominated by a parent, teacher or themself. Send a 200-word essay to SOTM@SproulLanes.com explaining why the student excels in Service to friendship, school or other local communities. Academic or athletic excellence may be considered but is not required. The Winner will be featured in next month’s magazine and will also receive a Sproul Lanes Pizza Bowl Gift Certificate good for 2 hours of bowling for up to 10 people plus pizza, sodas, snacks and free shoe rental. M

We’re pleased to announce that the April Sproul Lanes Student of the Month is St. Joe’s Prep Sophomore Joe McGinnis! To celebrate this recognition, Joe received a Certificate of Achievement and a gift certificate for a “Pizza Bowl” party from Sproul Lanes, our Sponsor of this award program.

The same day Joe learned he was selected as this month’s winner, he also learned he had made his school’s Varsity Baseball team!

Joe started playing baseball at age 6, with Marple Township Little League (MTLL). He plays outfield and he loves team sports. Joe also enjoys playing basketball and volleyball with St. Anastasia’s CYO recreation sports program. His teammates there also happen to be a great group of local friends with whom Joe maintains strong ties.

Five years ago, Joe learned to play the guitar. Since then, he’s written quite a few songs, which he and another good friend have performed (along with some cover songs) for some enthusiastic local audiences. The musical duo also recently played in support of the JDRF One Walk Philly event, to entertain the dedicated walkers, volunteers and sponsors who were raising money to help make living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) safer and healthier.

Joe is also involved in several school-sponsored Girard Avenue neighborhood service projects. He also frequently and eagerly offers to help his own local neighbors, many of whom are senior citizens, with snow removal and other labor-related activities.

This fine young man is also an honor student who consistently demonstrates academic excellence. Joe hasn’t yet decided what he may study after high school, but he sees himself at a large university like Penn State or the University of Maryland.

Congratulations again, Joe, and much success and enjoyment in all your future endeavors!

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Escape Rooms are not just the latest trend, but can help improve cognitive functioning as well as teamwork and communication skills.

Book online TODAY! www.EscapeSproul.com Questions? Call us: 610-544-4524, ext. 2 April 2020

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Expert Contributor Written by Mike Brady, MBA LPL Financial

Should I Stay OR Should I Go?

I

f you are preparing to change jobs, do you know what your choices are for managing the money in your current employer’s retirement plan? Although many people choose to take a cash distribution, there are other options that may benefit you more.

Uncle Sam Loves Cash Distributions Taking a lump-sum cash distribution may trigger an immediate 20% federal withholding tax. In addition, a 10% additional tax may apply if you are younger than age 59½.* Taking your

TRUST MATTERS.

Depending on your circumstances, you may have several options that will allow you to maintain the tax-deferred status of your retirement plan assets: Leave the money in your former employer’s plan. Your former employer must allow you to leave the money where it is as long as the balance exceeds $5,000. You’ll no longer be able to contribute to the account, but you’ll still decide how the existing assets are invested.

Roll over the money to your new employer’s plan. By “rolling” the money directly to your new plan, you may avoid the taxes that could eat away at a cash distribution. You’ll also have only one set of investments to monitor. Even if you’re not immediately eligible to contribute to the plan at your new job, you may still be able to roll over the money right away.

ESPECIALLY WHEN IT’S YOUR MONEY. Have you ever wondered who your financial advisor really works for? I work strictly for you. I work hard to build a relationship of trust by providing thoughtful, unbiased guidance and placing your interests first.

Roll over the money to an IRA. If your new employer doesn’t offer a retirement plan or you aren’t yet eligible to participate, you might roll over the money directly to a traditional IRA. Again, you might avoid taxes that you’d incur if you took a cash distribution and still enjoy the potential benefits of tax deferral. Experts advise against commingling your retirement plan assets with other IRAs you may have set up. Instead, consider opening a separate IRA account, known as a “conduit IRA,” which may allow you to move the funds to a new employer’s retirement plan at a later date.

Invest with a knowledgeable financial advisor who’s on your side; someone who truly cares whether your investments are right for you.

Call today for more information or to schedule a consultation.

Research Your Options If you plan to change jobs, don’t just take the money and run.

Since rules vary from company to company, find the time to explore your alternatives. If you have specific questions about your retirement plan distribution options, contact your employer’s benefits coordinator or a qualified financial consultant.

Michael Brady, MBA 780 Parkway Blvd.

Broomall, PA 19008 (484)472-7704 (484)472-7388 michael.brady@lpl.com Independence Powered By LPL Financial.

Member FINRA/SIPC MKT-06061-0410 Tracking #641747

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money as a cash withdrawal also means that you’ll no longer enjoy the potential benefits of tax deferral that a qualified retirement plan offers.

Marple Friends & Neighbors / Bringing People Together

*If you’re age 55 or older and separate from service, the 10% additional tax might not apply for certain periodic withdrawals taken from an employersponsored retirement plan. Keep in mind that the 10% additional tax may be incurred on distributions taken from an IRA prior to age 59½. M

Real Estate

Homes Recently Sold In Marple Township Address

Sold Price

Beds

Baths

Sq. Ft.

Acres

929 Hunt Road . . . . . . . . $680,000 . . . .4 . . . . 3 . . . 3,440 . . . 1.02 317 Yale Avenue . . . . . . . $265,000 . . . .3 . . . . 1.5 . . . 1,234 . . . 0.29 2 E Garden Road . . . . . . $285,000 . . . .2 . . . . 1 . . . 1,085 . . . 0.17 98 Academy Lane . . . . . . $492,500 . . . .4 . . . . 2.5 . . . 2,068 . . . 0.29 319 Columbia Place . . . . . $330,000 . . . .4 . . . 1.5+ . . . 1,725 . . . 0.26 207 Bourne Drive . . . . . . . $420,000 . . . .3 . . . . 2 . . . 2,400 . . . 0.19 37 Crespy Lane . . . . . . . $420,250 . . . .4 . . . . 2.5 . . . 2,128 . . . 0.30 529 S Central Boulevard . . $385,000 . . . .3 . . . . 2.5 . . . 1,593 . . . 0.18 218 Canterbury Drive . . . . $340,500 . . . .3 . . . . 1.5 . . . 1,520 . . . 0.19 321 Harvard Avenue . . . . $386,500 . . . .3 . . . . 1.5 . . . 1,434 . . . 0.31 64 Lindbergh Avenue . . . . $360,000 . . . .4 . . . . 3 . . . 2,226 . . . 0.24 106 Beechtree Drive . . . . . $399,900 . . . .3 . . . . 2 . . . 1,877 . . . 0.31 2404 W Chester Pike . . . . . $289,750 . . . .4 . . . . 2 . . . 1,816 . . . 0.19 2 Hawthorne Road . . . . . $300,000 . . . .4 . . . . 2 . . . 1,208 . . . 0.19 363 Swanage Drive . . . . . $415,000 . . . .3 . . . . 2 . . . 1,720 . . . 0.31 2026 Maclarie Lane . . . . . $505,000 . . . .3 . . . . 2 . . . 1,979 . . . 0.36 Best Version Media does not guarantee the accuracy of the statistical data on this page. The data does not represent the listings of any one agent or agency but represents the activity of the real estate community in the area. Any real estate agent’s ad appearing in the magazine is separate from the statistical data provided which is in no way a part of their advertisement.

Interested in becoming the Real Estate Sponsor of this page?

Contact the Publisher of this magazine for more information.

April 2020

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Resident Feature The Homel Family (L-R): Derek, Stewart, Lauren and Elliot

The Homel Family:

Faith in Our One Big Community Written by Liz Burnett, Photos courtesy of Sierra Clark Photography www.SierraClarkPhoto.com

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eet The Homel Family: Stewart and Lauren and their two sons, Derek and Elliot, Broomall neighbors whose lives are full of community involvement and service that springs from their belief that we are all one big community.

married at Valley Forge Military Academy. Their honeymoon — “the trip of a lifetime!” according to Lauren — was to South Africa, and included touring Cape Town followed by some exciting safari drives in Botswana!

Stewart grew up in Montgomery County. He attended Drexel University, and earned a bachelor’s degree in Commerce and Engineering Sciences, a unique degree Drexel offered for people like Stewart who wanted a business degree that would prepare him to work in a technical environment. He then continued on at Drexel, to earn his MBA in Finance.

In 2004, Stewart started working at SAP’s Newtown Square headquarters in Finance before recently moving to Sales Operations Support. He finds his work very interesting and satisfying.

He enjoys working collaboratively with various teams to help achieve their goals and results. He also is glad to be part of SAP, a global software company committed to diversity, wellness, environmental issues and overall customer and employee success.

Lauren grew up in Ocean County, NJ. She attended Penn State in University Park, and earned a B.S. in Quantitative Business Analysis with a minor in Business Logistics. During college, Lauren was very involved in her sorority, and still keeps in touch with many of her sorority sisters. After graduation, she started working in Chester County for North Carolina-based SAS, an enterprise software company that specializes in data analysis, statistics, and business solutions. She also studied part-time at Villanova University and earned her MBA in Marketing.

Stewart and Lauren met in 2001, on a blind date set up for them by two acquaintances who happened to know each other and thought that Lauren and Stewart might “hit it off.” They did! After dating for a year, they got engaged. In 2003, they got 8

Marple Friends & Neighbors / Bringing People Together

During Lauren’s 20+ years with SAS, her roles have included serving as a technical pre-sales consultant and also doing some marketing. In her current role as a Customer Success Manager, Lauren enjoys working closely with some large, key customers, to ensure they’re getting value from SAS software after they license it. Since 2007, Lauren has worked for SAS from her home office. “This work environment took some time getting used to and it can be isolating at times,” she said, “but the flexibility it affords is priceless.”

Stewart and Lauren’s older son, Derek, is a 7th-grader at Paxon Hollow Middle School. He played fall and winter Marple Sports Arena (MSA) flag football, and winter MNBA basketball.

Derek has also played baseball in the Marple Township Little League (MTLL) since he was 5. He looks forward to his first year playing in the Babe Ruth Broomall Newtown Baseball League. Derek’s sporty self is also a good student who likes to draw and enjoys music. He will turn 13 this month, and is preparing for his bar mitzvah in May. At this milestone ceremony, Derek will assume all the responsibilities of a Jewish adult, participating in synagogue services and taking his place in the Jewish community. For his bar mitzvah community service project, Derek is collecting gently used baseball and softball equipment for Pitch in for Baseball and Softball, a nonprofit that provides much-needed equipment to under-served leagues, schools and organizations worldwide. The response from the local leagues Derek contacted about donations has been amazing: He has collected almost a truckload of donated equipment! In the future, Derek hopes he’ll be in one of the first crews to land on Mars in 2030.

Lauren and Stewart’s younger son, Elliot, age 11, is a self-confident, funny and easy-going 5th-grader at Worrall Elementary. He has also played MTLL baseball since age 5. Elliot likes pitching (because of all the action!) and playing in the outfield. He also played fall and winter MSA flag football, and loved playing quarterback and the fact that all his friends were on his team, which his dad coached. At school, Elliot was selected to serve on the Safety Patrol. He monitors the area by the upstairs doors, to make sure the kids are safe as they walk downstairs. Elliot is also on Worrall’s Reading Olympics team, which

Lauren and Stewart Homel

just participated in the annual competition at Marple Newtown High School. Reading is one of Elliot’s favorite hobbies, and he may hold the world record for having read all 7 Harry Potter books in only 3 weeks! He thinks he may study to be an Engineer when he grows up.

In 2005, the Homel Family moved from Chester County to their current home in Broomall. “Our neighbors and everyone in the community have been very welcoming, right from the continued on page 10

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April 2020

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Resident Feature The Homels are all very involved in the services and programs at their synagogue in Broomall, Congregation Beth El - Ner Tamid (CBENT). Stewart is part of the Men’s Club, and plays on the CBENT softball team. Lauren serves on CBENT’s religious school Board, and helps organize many activities for the students. “One of our favorite traditions,” said Lauren, “is our interfaith Passover and Hanukkah holiday celebrations with students from St. Mary Magdalen Catholic School in Media.

It’s such a nice way to bring all the kids and their families together and learn about each other’s religion, culture, and traditions, and to reinforce the idea that we are all one big community and should be accepting of everyone’s backgrounds and beliefs.” CBENT’s religious school places great emphasis on giving back or doing what you can to help make the world a better place. Derek’s bar mitzvah service project is an excellent example of how to put that intention into action that gets heartwarming results.

Elliot and Derek Homel

beginning,” said Stewart, “and we have created lasting friendships.” He has enjoyed giving back to the community by serving as Manager/Coach for his sons’ MTLL baseball teams and also for their MSA flag football teams.

Lauren’s community involvement is extensive and inspiring. For 20+ years, she has been an active member of the Junior League of Philadelphia. She has served that organization in many different capacities, both on the Board of Directors and in various support roles, and has also chaired many community projects.

Lauren also served on the Organizing Committee that planned and ran the first TEDxRoseTree event held at the Media Theatre in November. Besides coaching a speaker and helping to keep the website up to date, she efficiently handled many of the required logistics to make that complex event so successful and enlightening. She plans to serve again on that committee, which is already planning TEDxRoseTree 2020.

Lauren and Elliot also volunteer at Kids Against Hunger Philadelphia, a nonprofit that provides specially formulated nutritious food to “impoverished children and families around the world... and around the corner.” Elliot and Lauren join other local volunteers in Broomall, under the direction of local KAH Director Heather LaPierre, to scoop, fill or weigh bags of food that get distributed to kids who are missing meals all over Philadelphia, the U.S. and the world. Elliot likes combining helping with talking and getting to know other volunteers there. Lauren is thrilled that KAH is a fun and kid-friendly way to do some good. They both hope this article will help bring KAH more volunteers and some donations.

For holidays and vacations, the Homel Family enjoys visiting relatives and friends in PA and neighboring states. But on a daily basis, they all enjoy their local extended family: the Broomall community and their synagogue congregation. The Homels are doing their part to show their belief that we can be one big happy family.

Do you know a family that readers of our magazine might like to meet in an upcoming issue? Nominate them by email to Liz Burnett at LBurnett@BestVersionMedia.com. M

Broomall 's Destination Salon for Prom Season

ir & Formal Ha Makeup

Formal Styling Creative Cuts Hair Coloring Smoothing Treatments Hair Extensions Perms and Relaxers Waxing Services Sunless Tanning Eyelash Extensions Make Up Services

610-353-9133

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www.SalonBellaBroomall.com 10 Marple Friends & Neighbors

Expert Contributor Written by Jim Casar Carpet Warehouse

s i e m i t g n Spri

Carpet Time!

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f your carpets are looking dingy and spotted, don’t blame the kids or dogs who enjoyed playing in the snow this winter. There’s a reason why we call it “Spring Cleaning”: Spring’s the time to rid your carpets of all the salts, cinders and mud that got tracked into your house after the winter fun of snowman-building and snowball fights.

Sure, regular (weekly or more frequent) vacuuming of your carpets helps keep them looking good (or at least decent). And it’s one of the most important things you can do all year long.

Vacuuming keeps the carpet pile raised. It also keeps dirt from breaking down the fibers and making your carpets look dull and flat. But vacuuming just can’t get all the dirt out of your carpets.

The second most important way to care for your carpets is to get them CLEANED. Carpet shampooers and steam-cleaning machines that are affordable for consumers do an OK job. But they’re not designed to literally get to “the bottom of things.”

They don’t have the power to remove all dirt and restore your carpets to like-new condition. To protect your investment and help your carpeting look better longer, cleaning by a trained professional is not only recommended, it’s necessary.

When dirt remains in carpets, it prematurely destroys the fibers and backing. Professional-grade carpet cleaning machinery is required to loosen and completely extract all the dirt, all the way down to the carpet backing.

Most carpeting comes with a manufacturer’s warranty. The warranty will not be honored if you can’t prove you’ve followed all the requirements, which are typically that every 12 to 18 months, you’ve had the carpeting professionally cleaned by a certified specialist and that you have the receipts to prove such regular deep cleaning was done.

The other more immediate and pleasing benefit of having your carpets professionally cleaned is that they’ll look brighter and feel and smell cleaner. Everything looks and feels new in Springtime. While you’re freshening up the rest of your house inside and out and letting spring breezes in your open windows, remember to fully remove winter dirt from your carpets so they can look refreshed and beautiful for another year. M

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Marple Newtown’s Carpeting and Floor Covering Expert April 2020

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Business Profile Written by Doug Humes

S. PANCOAST Topsoil & Mulches

For the Deepest Roots in Marple!

Photos courtesy of Doug Humes and Seth Pancoast, Jr.

S

eth Pancoast, Jr., has been selling topsoil, mulch and mushroom soil to generations of local residents from his yard at 2635 West Chester Pike since 1975. But his family has been operating various businesses at that site since 1894! And if you think that is a long time, that tradition goes back to the first Seth Pancoast who arrived in Marple Township in the early 1700s, and made fine furnishings for local residents, including a highboy that has found a permanent home at Winterthur! Their story is also the story of Marple Township.

In 1894, our Seth’s grandfather, Samuel Levis Pancoast, bought the property where the business now operates, between the new firehouse and Broomall Avenue. Samuel was a blacksmith, and in the era before cars and hardware stores, he kept busy making horseshoes, shoeing horses, and making tools and hardware for businesses and households. He was also a wheelwright, and made and repaired the metal reinforcement that was used for wagon wheels and carriages. And he was able to change with the times. When the Bergdoll brothers needed repairs to their various race cars, they brought them to Samuel – a metal craftsman who could re-create the parts they needed to keep their cars racing on local roads and annoying local residents and the police.

Samuel died in 1935, and his oldest son, Samuel Franklin Pancoast, took over the property, but did not continue the business of blacksmithing, by then a dying trade in a modern community. However, he kept the connection to local horses,

Seth Pancoast, Jr., Owner of S. Pancoast Topsoil & Mulches

as he opened up the Samuel Pancoast Riding Academy on that property along West Chester Pike. He offered instruction in riding, and his students came not just from local residents but as far away as Philadelphia – because they could commute out on the West Chester trolley line, which dropped them off just steps away from the property. A show ring was built to accommodate horse shows, and for several years Samuel hosted the annual Broomall Horse Show, with more than 100 horses and riders competing.

The property changed hands again in 1953, when it was subdivided into 4 separate parcels. Samuel’s brother, Seth Ellsworth Pancoast, Sr. (our Seth’s father), bought the parcel with an existing house and the old blacksmith shop. He opened up a garden center, Pancoast Gardens, which operated from 1959 through 1975. The center sold flowers and gardening supplies, as well as seasonal specialties like Christmas trees, pumpkins and Easter flowers.

S. PANCOAST Topsoil & Mulches Serving Homeowners & Commercial Businesses In Broomall and Newtown Square Since 1959

We Only Sell The Highest Quality Screened Topsoil/Mushroom Soil Bark & Root Mulches

“Spectacular products and an extremely knowledgeable man running the business!” www.TopsoilBroomall.com 610-356-1090 /610-356-1818

Samuel Levis Pancoast Seth Ellsworth Pancoast, Sr.

2635 West Chester Pike (Rear), Broomall, PA

SHOP LOCAL - PICKUP OR DELIVERY 12 Marple Friends & Neighbors / Bringing People Together

Seth Jr. was running his own dry-cleaning business in Broomall, and then would help out his father with the garden center at night. He later sold the dry-cleaning business, and when the garden center closed, Seth Jr. began his current topsoil and mulch business. He buys his inventory from a variety of local sources – and uses only top-quality products. Selling top-quality products at fair prices is how you stay in business for 45 years.

Seth does not sell artificially dyed products. He uses his own formula to mix his mulches, combining bark and root based on a lifetime experience and a keen eye.

www.ThePorchPA.com 865 W. Springfield Road, Springfield, PA

Make Your Reservation Now for Our Grand Easter Sunday Buffet!

With front-end loaders, he can load up what you need and deliver it to your location in his trucks. Just try to give him some advance notice at busy times during the year. Seth is still essentially a one-man show – with help from his son, Seth E. Pancoast III, for nights and weekends. And for those who can’t wait, you can take advantage of the best deal in town, and come to his yard and buy by the bushel and haul it home with your own buckets, pickup trucks or other containers or vehicles. He will help fill you up and send you off without a delivery charge.

As I sat with Seth on the porch of his daughter's house, enjoying the late afternoon sun, I asked what keeps him going with age 80 in the rearview mirror. “I feel very connected to my Pancoast family members who have operated from this same site,” Seth said. Then he added:

“

I’ve always loved working outdoors. I’ve always been my own boss, and for most of my career, my business has had just one employee to worry about: Seth Pancoast, Jr., and IT’S BEEN FUN!

SINCE 1976

3529 W. Chester Pike, Newtown Square 543 Lancaster Avenue, Berwyn www.CaseysNS.com // www.CaseysBerwyn.com

.50 cent wings: bone-in & boneless Wednesday 3:30 - 10pm and all day Sunday

”

For the finest topsoils, mulches and mushroom soil, visit S. Pancoast Topsoil & Mulches, 2635 West Chester Pike, Broomall, PA. Phone 610-356-1090. For hours, location, product descriptions and inquiries, visit www.TopsoilBroomall.com. M

April 2020

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www.MarpleMag.com 13

Expert Contributor Written by David Linn Cook Weatherproofing Plus, Inc.

The Importance of

A Quiet Space

T

his basement waterproofing “case study,” “The Lesson of the Forgotten Home Office,” tells how a large, damp, musty and unused basement was quickly transformed into a new moisture- and mold-controlled quiet home office.

Twenty years ago, a homeowner built a 6,000-square-foot raised ranch home with many amenities on 5+ acres. The homeowner, a Senior Sales Executive, stayed home two days each week, to make sales calls by phone. But he was frustrated because nowhere in that massive house was there a quiet and private room with no distractions.

For five years, he had been sneaking down to work in his home’s empty 2,000-square-foot (!) basement. There was nothing down there except for a small area rug, a folding card table

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www.WeatherProofing-Plus.com 14 Marple Friends & Neighbors / Bringing People Together

with a desk lamp on it, a desk phone, a milk crate for his files, and one very old leather chair. That was all he needed for a busy day's work.

The basement makeover project was simple: Give this man a dry and sanitary space where he wouldn’t be distracted from the weekly lawn crew, pool cleaners, two overly friendly Golden Retrievers who loved to run around the house, college sons home for the summers, and his wife’s friends who frequently came over for coffee and conversation. Amazingly, when he was at his card table/desk, quietly working in his basement “retreat,” everyone assumed he wasn't home or that he was busy somewhere in the house. No disturbances meant he could get his work done early and then have time with his family.

The basement had damp walls, a musty smell and a noisy dehumidifier. The proposed and accepted solution was twofold. On the house exterior, surface drains were added, the foundation was regraded, and rain gutters were cleaned and adjusted for proper and easy maintenance. On the inside, the basement walls and floor were washed down into the existing sump pump. Mold treatment and waterproof coatings were applied to the walls; the floor was covered with high-gloss paint; and some new window vents were installed. This makeover took less than two weeks. The basement was now just as empty as before, but it was well lit and naturally ventilated. No more musty smell, and no need for a dehumidifier.

Many homeowners are pleasantly surprised to learn that interior french drains are not required to turn their damp, musty unfinished basement into dry storage space or a place to exercise, listen to music, watch a movie, work on some home projects, or, as in this case study, have a simple and quiet home office whose only distraction is perhaps a little tweeting by the birds outside.

Publisher’s Note: We’re fortunate to have David Linn Cook, a longtime Broomall resident, as our Sponsor, particularly as I’ve come to learn that Dave is often the expert whom other experts call for their hard-to-solve waterproofing and weatherization issues. M

Where Are We?

Can You Spot It From the Air? Hint: This location, in either

Marple or Newtown Township, finds hundreds of people coming seasonally but is seen by thousands daily. Do you know the location?

Can you name it?

The answer can be found on Page 23.

Photo Courtesy of FAA-Certified Drone Pilot Chris Stack (NewPigeonImaging@gmail.com)

Honoring The Life of a Loved One

DANJOLELL

MEMORIAL HOMES

AND CREMATORY

Butterfly Releases • Memory Tables • Bookmarks with Seeds • Flower Selection • Dove Release Picture Boards • Remembrance Jewelry • Online Remembrance • Candlelight Ceremony • And more Visit www.DANJOLELL.com to learn how we honor the life of a loved one.

DANJOLELL Memorial Home of Broomall 2811 West Chester Pike Broomall, PA 19008 610-356-4200 Robert L. D’Anjolell, Jr. F.D.

DANJOLELL Stigale DANJOLELL Memorial Home & Cremation Memorial Home & Crematory Services, Inc. of Aston of Malvern-Frazer 3260 Concord Road 392 Lancaster Avenue Aston, PA 19014 Frazer, PA 19355 610-497-5505 610-296-9555 James Stigale, Supervisor James W. D’Anjolell, Supervisor April 2020

DANJOLELL Barone Memorial Home of Wallingford 908 S. Providence Road Wallingford, PA 19086 610-874-7700 Edward S. Barone, Supervisor

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www.MarpleMag.com 15

Bringing People Together Written by Bob Blaisse, Publisher

Bringing People Together Marple Friends & Neighbors

Calling All Reader Leaders: Let’s Pay It Forward!

T

wo years ago this month, I quietly visited local business leaders I recognized as Marple Township’s Godmothers and Godfathers. You know them: the respected deans of commerce and total goodwill for all things Marple. In those meetings, I asked business leaders to come together in support of a shared vision to be Bringing People Together through a new monthly magazine just for Marple residents. You know the result. You’re holding it, thanks to our hometown Godmothers and Godfathers.

Marple Friends & Neighbors coming in the mail every month, and online at www.MarpleMag.com, has changed our community. It seems everyone knows and loves receiving and reading “the magazine with a family on the cover,” which our hometown advertising Sponsors make possible.

It’s time to pay it forward. For that to happen, I’m calling on Reader Leaders to come forward, to reward our Sponsors for their investment in Broomall’s social network hosted by the people, for the people, and about the people of Marple Township. It’s time to show our Sponsors who have invested in Marple Friends & Neighbors that our social network in print can create a return on that investment with impact created by Reader Leaders.

Any reader can be a Reader Leader by simply calling any advertising Sponsor and thanking them for their investment in our hometown. Let them know you’ll choose to do business with them first because they chose to Sponsor Marple Friends & Neighbors.

Reader Leadership grows our magazine because our Sponsors hear you and come to know how you value them and their investment that brings our magazine to your door every month.

Think about any businesses you know and trust. Shouldn’t they benefit by being “at the party” of Marple Friends & Neighbors?

Invite them. If your Reader Leadership brings in a new Sponsor, I’ll be asking to share your name with readers, and for you to select a Broomall family to be our cover Resident Feature for an upcoming edition.

Please, consider extending your personal invitation to any business owner you know, to come join the party that’s Bringing People Together in our hometown. (Read below to learn how.) M

Bob Blaisse

Publisher, Marple Friends & Neighbors

Three easy steps to becoming a Reader Leader…

1

Send an email to any business owner, reccommending Marple Friends & Neighbors magazine as the best way that business can become known and rewarded by Marple Township residents for Sponsoring your hometown magazine.

2 3

Use your email to introduce the business owner to Bob Blaisse, Publisher of Marple Friends & Neighbors magazine, by also copying Bob (BBlaisse@BestVersionMedia.com).

Just let your magazine Publisher and your business contact do the rest.

If the business owner you connect with Marple Friends & Neighbors magazine becomes an advertising sponsor of our community, you’ll be named a Marple Friends & Neighbors magazine “Reader Leader.”

Reader Leaders helping to grow Marple’s monthly magazine will be featured in an upcoming edition, for their reader leadership, and asked to nominate a Marple Township resident family to appear on the cover of any upcoming edition of Marple Friends & Neighbors magazine.

Help grow your town’s monthly magazine for the benefit of all readers…

Become a Reader Leader of Marple Friends & Neighbors Magazine!

16 Marple Friends & Neighbors / Bringing People Together

A MAG ZINE RS

Then name a Marple Township resident to appear on the cover of an upcoming edition.

& NEIGH BO DS EN

MARPLE FR I

Reader Leaders: Be Featured in an Upcoming Edition for Growing Your Magazine!

Expert Contributor Written by Scott Magness Scott’s Fireplace Products

Preventative Maintenance for Gas Fireplaces

A

tenance until their gas fireplace is not functioning properly. If a gas fireplace isn’t properly maintained, malfunctions often seem to happen in the middle of winter.

Gas fireplaces add wonderful ambiance to any room and can be great heat supplements (especially if an unfortunate power outage occurs). But they have a nasty habit of not working when homeowners need them most. The next step is to call the establishment the gas fireplace came from and request a service appointment, only to find there’s already an extreme backlog for service. This is because many homeowners don’t think about service or main-

So, enjoy the warm weather and sunny days ahead, but don’t completely forget about your gas fireplace. Getting it serviced prior to the fall and winter months will help you avoid a potential operation lapse or a long and frustrating wait for service. M

s we part ways with the cold weather from the winter season and look forward to the sunny days to come as spring arrives and the flowers begin to bloom, we tend to forget about our gas fireplaces. For the vast majority of homeowners, it’s easy to put gas fireplaces on the back burner with all the outdoor activities lined up: the smell of fresh grass as baseball’s opening day gets underway and the barbecue cookouts there for the taking. While landscaping and gardening around the house comes to the forefront and vacations are being planned, we forget about our gas fireplaces until it gets cold again.

Preventative maintenance is the best type of maintenance, and homeowners with gas fireplaces can avoid waiting several weeks for service during winter months by being proactive and having their fireplace cleaned and serviced in the spring or summer. A specialist will thoroughly clean the gas fireplace and return the logs to their optimal positions and alignment, to ensure the gas fireplace operates as effectively as it should. How often a gas fireplace should be serviced depends on the manufacturer and model, as well as the type of gas fireplace.

Value, at the end of the day, is what bridges the gap between low price desires and the premium products we offer at Scott’s Fireplace Products.

484- 422- 8334

Direct Vent Inserts & Fireplaces Contemporary & Electric Fireplaces Glass Doors, Grates and Log Rings Vented & Vent-Free Gas Logs Gas Stoves & Accessories Outdoor Living Fire Pits

www.ScottsFireplaceProducts.com

3137 West Chester Pike Newtown Square, PA April 2020

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www.MarpleMag.com 17

Our Community Written by Liz Burnett Photos by Annie Whittington Photography www.AnnieWhittington.com

SPLASH is Making Waves!

See WHAT’S NEW for 2020

T

he Splash Club is ready to make bigger waves in 2020!

Let’s admit, Splash is changing the way we think about our local swim clubs. Splash opened the club last May and quickly became the talk of the town. Last year, Splash wowed members and guests with amazing amenities ranging from an air-conditioned restaurant to TV lounging areas, a frozen drink bar, daily and seasonal cabana rentals, weekly live entertainment, an ice-cream truck, a kids’ game room and much, much more. The owners’ goal from day one was to always continue to improve their members' experience.

Owners John McKenzie and Nick Reynolds spent the off season thinking about how to make Splash even better. With the ever-growing list of community members submitting applications, Splash had to come up with ways to increase parking, seating, bathrooms and add more areas for people to gather and enjoy the club. It seemed most important for John and Nick to continue to enhance the club and give their members the extra value that they have come to expect from Splash.

Lucky for Splash it has been a mild winter and they were able to get back to work early. They started with removing trees that

Limited Memberships Remaining,

RESERVE YOURS TODAY!

You’ll Love What’s Coming in 2020!

• • • • • • • •

New entertainment & special events Additional parking & poolside chairs New sliding board, diving board & cabanas Zero entry coming to the baby pool New changing room with shower stalls New BB ½ court with Pro Gorilla Backboard New lower level turf grass for yard games New pergola areas, fire pits & putting green

– JOIN NOW –

www.Splash-Club.com 2705 Sunset Blvd, Broomall, PA 18

•

610- 601-4868

Marple Friends & Neighbors / Bringing People Together

will enable them to accommodate 50+ new parking spots. Taking a look around the lower level next to the pavilion, they have already started pouring concrete and building cinder block walls for the large new bathrooms. Splash owners tell us that in that new lower area, they will also be building a 35-foot pergola lounge that will have comfortable seating and fire pits for members to sit back and enjoy.

Personalized Swim Lessons in Your Pool or Ours!

When asked what all the rolls of synthetic turf were for, the owners were excited to describe even more of the new features that were going into the lower level. They said that the lower lounge area will now have a 10,000-sq. ft. synthetic turf area for members to relax, hang out and enjoy the new lawn games. Even the new children’s play yard will have turf. They did not stop there: the wiffle ball field will be upgraded with the synthetic turf!

And now, let’s talk about the pool area: Splash has already installed a new slide, zero-entry baby pool and even a large in-ground hot tub so the adult members can relax even more.

So, by now you might be wondering how you and your family can become members at Splash. Splash is currently accepting new members; however, membership is limited. As General Manager Jill DeMarco stated, “Splash has affordable pricing with NO BONDS and NO FEES.” After taking a walk around Splash, I can’t help but be excited for the Summer. I’m already imagining myself lazing under a cabana, sipping on a cool lemonade, and feeling VERY glad that my family and I signed up for Splash Club's Anna Cabana membership when we did. Splash is WAY more than a swim club. It’s our favorite staycation! M

“As a mother of four young children, I know the importance of swim safety, and how challenging it can be to find a good swim school that fits lessons into busy schedules so children learn to love swimming.” ~ Emily Speer, Owner, Broomall Resident and 25-year Swim Instructor

Safety swimming skills taught first, then swimming technique.

All instructors highly trained in the Speer Swim School method.

Reasonable rates based on 7-lesson swim sessions over 2 weeks.

Contact Emily Speer TODAY for a FREE evaluation & to Learn how Speer Swim School Fits Your Needs!

www.SpeerSwimSchool.com/GetStarted EmilySpeer@SpeerSwimSchool.com

Visit our State-of-the-art Bath & Kitchen Showroom • Experience

the latest products & technologies from leading manufacturers

Be Inspired

• No

appointment required but recommended for a personalized consultation

• Serving

homeowners, “do-it-yourselfers,” and trade professionals of all sizes

• Showroom Hours: Mon. - Fri. 8am-4pm, Sat. 9am -1pm

www.WeinsteinBath-Kitchen.com • 484- 471-3822 • 650 Abbott Drive, Broomall (Lawrence Park Industrial Park) April 2020

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www.MarpleMag.com 19

April 2020 Calendar of Events Holy Week

Easter

Palm Sunday Holy Thursday Good Friday Sunday

Sat. April 11

Easter Egg Roll @field behind the new Broomall Fire Company 1 N Malin Rd, Broomall Kids and their families will enjoy this fun candy-filled Easter Sunday celebration hosted by Marple American Legion Post 805.

Time: 12noon. Don’t be late!

Cost: FREE

April 5 April 9 April 10 April 12

Passover Begins Wednesday Evening April 8 Ends Thursday Evening April 16

Sat. April 18

Sun. April 26

Roots Ramble Music Festival

Living History Sundays at Massey House

@Downtown Media, State Street

@469 Lawrence Rd, Broomall

18th Annual Americana Roots Ramble, part of Media’s American Music Festival Series. Enjoy a great festival that celebrates American music in all its forms – blues, soul, zydeco, country and more.

Featuring world-renowned musicians and the Philadelphia region’s most talented acts – in 20 indoor restaurants and coffeehouses, in and around State Street in Downtown Media. With a single wristband/ ticket, you can visit the venues of your choice and hear the artists you want. Most acts will perform two or three sets.

Time: 6 - 11:55pm Cost: Music is FREE

Come enjoy Colonial crafts, demonstrations, activities and tours of the 300-year-old Thomas Massey House.

Time: 12 - 4pm Cost: FREE (Donations gladly accepted!)

www.MarpleHistoricalSociety.org

610-566-5039 www.StateStreetBlues.com

484-424-7804 www.LegionPost805.org

Affordable, High Quality Veterinary Care

Veterinary Examination for Dog or Cat – $40

See our website for a list of services and transparent pricing.

www.TheSpayedClubClinic.org

484-540-8436 800 Chester Pike, Sharon Hill, PA 19079 Conveniently located 9 short miles from Marple!

The Mission of The Spayed Club Clinic Eliminate unnecessary dog & cat euthanasia through affordable veterinary care and spay/neuter surgeries.

The Spayed Club is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit charity organization.

20 Marple Friends & Neighbors / Bringing People Together

Martella Electric Company is a team of courteous, professional, and highly trained electricians. Our priority is to deliver superior customer service backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

• Electrical Service Upgrades • Landscape Lighting • Circuit Breaker Panels • Fireguard Circuit Breakers • Security Lighting • Recessed Lighting • Electric Vehicle Charging • LED Under-Cabinet Lighting • Lighting Controls • Exhaust Fans

484 - 997- 3097 www.MartellaElectric.com

“Don’t be shocked when we show up on time!”

Fri. May 1 & Sat. May 2

Wednesdays May 6 through Sept 30

Thurs. May 7

Providence Garden Club’s Annual Plant Sale

Dining Under The Stars

69th Annual National Day of Prayer

@Williamson College of the Trades 106 S New Middletown Rd, Media

@Downtown Media, State Street

@Rose Tree Park, 1670 N Providence Rd, Media

Media’s main street closes down for traffic and opens up for al fresco dining from Jackson to Orange Sts. Great for groups, great for families with kids. There’s live music all along State Street, and over a dozen different restaurants participating in the seasonal event. Reservations are not required, and with so many places to choose from, walk-ins are definitely welcome.

Time: 5 - 11pm Cost: Varies

This annual event is an opportunity for all Americans to pray together for our country. This year’s theme is “Pray God’s Glory Across the Earth.” Together we will pray for our government, our military, our police and first responders, our churches and clergy, families, our schools and teachers, our businesses, the media, and for Peace. Bring blankets, chairs, food and friends!

Time: 11:30am Worship & Praise

5:30pm Concert & Crusade Cost: FREE

A wealth of beautiful perennials, shrubs, annuals, containers, hanging baskets and more to adorn your yard at reasonable prices. Proceeds from this annual plant sale are donated to area nonprofits.

Time: 8am - 12pm Cost: Varies

Sun. May 3

World Laughter Day Celebration @Rose Tree Park Amphitheater 1670 N Providence Rd, Media

610-566-5039 www.VisitMediaPA.com

www.NationalDayOfPrayerDELCO.com

World Laughter Day was created by the founder of Laughter Yoga, Dr. Madan Kataria, to bring together people of all cultures and backgrounds, to foster world peace through laughter. Laughter Yoga is laughter exercise based on everyday situations, rather than on jokes, comedy or humor. It fosters social connection, teamwork, personal joy, good health and offers many benefits to body, mind and spirit.

Laughter Yoga is non-religious and non-political. This fun family-friendly event is for all ages. No experience necessary. No yoga poses.

Time: 11:30am - 1:30pm Cost: FREE

Sat. May 16

MNHS Concert in the Park

Before attending any event listed here, we recommend checking to see if it has been postponed or cancelled.

@Marple Newtown High School Gymnasium 120 Media Line Rd, Newtown Square Music! Raffles! Food! Fun! Enjoy performances by Marple Newtown High School and Paxon Hollow Middle School Concert Band, String Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Bands and Elementary Instrumental ensembles.

Time: 5pm Cost: FREE

610-359-4218

215-478-5669

You Know Marple’s Expert Roofer Let Us Get To Know Your Roof.

Solar Installation Senior Citizen Discount 4 Generation Owned & Operated th

Residential & Commercial Roofing Windows / Skylights / Siding / Gutters Historic Restoration & Metal Roof Specialist

610-449-8188 • www.ODonnellRoofingCo.com

We’ll Turn Your Dream Kitchen into a Reality! ouse...

H r u o Y e v o L Even More!

PAINTING & GENERAL CONTRACTING

• Interior/Exterior Residential & Commercial Painting • General Contracting Services • Top-Quality Work and Beautiful Craftsmanship • Residential & Commercial Powerwash and Soft Washing Services

www.RaffertyPainting.com

•

610 - 626 - 9141

•

info@RaffertyPainting.com April 2020

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www.MarpleMag.com 21

Our Community Written by Liz Burnett

Marple Newtown Amateur Radio Club Annual Field Days June 27 & 28 World Amateur Radio Day is April 18, so this month, we’re celebrating the purpose and activities of the Marple Newtown Amateur Radio Club (MNARC). Their Field Day event at Drexel Park Lodge (June 27 & 28) is an annual emergency preparedness exercise for U.S. and Canadian Amateur Radio enthusiasts whose goal during the event is to improve on how quickly they can set up a reliable radio station in improvised conditions, without electricity or buildings, so they’re ready to serve in an emergency.

In the United States, the FCC allocates and monitors use of all radio airwaves. Since 1940, the FCC has considered Amateur Radio (also known as ham radio) a valuable noncommercial volunteer emergency communications service and public resource.

Ham radio station operators may use FCC-approved Amateur Radio frequencies for personal education, enjoyment and satisfaction, emergency preparedness drills, and to improve electronics and communication techniques.

In the early ’90s, a group of local ham radio hobbyists formed MNARC. The club has 80 members, and the club’s ham radio station call letters are K3MN. Meetings are open to the public, and are held at 7pm on the first Thursday of each month (except July and August) at the Newtown Township Library on Bishop Hollow Rd. MNARC connects people of all ages who are interested in staying current regarding what’s new in the science and art of Amateur Radio. Use of the Amateur Radio airwaves

The first thing We provide gentle, state-of-the-art dental care for the whole family.

OUR SERVICES: CLEANINGS SMILE WHITENING COSMETIC DENTISTRY IMPLANTS DENTURE CARE TOOTH REPLACEMENT AND MORE

requires a license granted by the FCC, and the club’s classes help folks learn what they need to know to earn an entry-level license or a more privileged advanced-level license.

At MNARC meetings, hobbyists or industry professionals give presentations on topics such as electronic tinkering, equipment designs to improve transmitters and receivers, and how to troubleshoot and resolve radio signal interference problems.

Some meetings offer experiential presentations by members who share what they did and learned when they took their radio equipment to a remote location. Between meetings, optional time-limited contests and personal achievement awards are offered, such as connecting with a certain number of ham radio stations in 1 state, all 50 U.S. states or in 100 or more countries globally. Some members focus on educating youth or the local community about ham radio as a hobby.

MNARC (www.MNARC.org) is affiliated with the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the national association for Amateur Radio in the U.S. Founded in 1914, its original purpose was to link ham radio station operators who could transmit Morse code messages between stations too far apart to directly connect with each other. The ARRL has 160,000+ members, and its mission is to support the awareness and growth of Amateur Radio in the U.S. and worldwide. The ARRL also advocates for meaningful ongoing access to government resources and Amateur Radio spectrum airwaves.

we noticed was her smile.

Your child’s job is to play. When it’s time to tidy up, we’re happy to help. Why not schedule a cleaning today?

610-359-8181 Kristen@MarpleDental.com

Dr. Georges P. Martin, D.M.D.

VISIT US ONLINE:

22

www.MarpleDental.com

Marple Friends & Neighbors / Bringing People Together

2004 Sproul Road, Suite 304, Broomall

Remodel Reward Receive up to a $2000 rebate* with the purchase of select Café Appliances.

January 1- June 30, 2020

While some ham radio enthusiasts continue to keep the Morse code tradition alive, today’s hams are more likely to use digital signal processing (DSP) and hybrid technologies to transmit voice and data messages digitally over the airwaves and also over land networks such as the Internet.

April 18 is annual World Amateur Radio Day to commemorate when the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) was founded in 1925.

Each century and decade has its visionaries and inventors. Serving the community while also mastering this fascinating technology is a uniquely valuable combination. Perhaps Marple Newtown’s Amateur Radio Club is incubating the scientists and engineers who will make the next great leaps in communications, in radio-controlled vehicles, or in interstellar exploration! M

Modern Glass Collection *See a sales associate for details.

D & K Appliances, Inc. 3510 West Chester Pike Newtown Square 610-356-2424 Store Hours Mon, Tues, Wed, Thur: 9am - 8pm Fri: 9am - 7pm Sat: 10am - 6pm & Sun: 11am - 5pm www.dkappliances.com

Time to Replace Your Shower or Tub Enclosure?

Let the experts at Bryn Mawr Glass help guide you through the process, while staying within your budget!

From the Air Answer (pg. 15): The soccer field in Newtown Township, seen by thousands driving by daily, is the Peter Krasas Memorial Field on S. Newtown Street Rd. (Rt. 252), just north of Gradyville Rd., named in memory of Peter Krasas, a longtime Newtown Township resident, township engineer and volunteer.

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Ask us about OUR NEW SERVICE! Cleaning & Surface Protection for your Existing Shower Enclosure.

Come See

Finest Quality Glass & Mirror Materials:

Bringing Spring Into Focus!

Optician on staff Diagnosing/treating eye conditions • Eye exams (glasses & contacts) • Fashion eyewear • Lab on site • •

• Tempered & Laminated (safety) glass • Acrylic & Polycarbonate • Insulated Glass • Antique Mirror • Heavy Glass Table Tops • And much more!

Dr. Michael Allodoli, OD

www.BroomallEyeCare.com

•

610 -325-7688

Lawrence Park Business Center, 580 Reed Road, Ste A5-6 Broomall (Behind the Lawrence Park Shopping Center)

610-853-2990 • www.BrynMawrGlass.com April 2020

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Our Community Written by Kelly DeLong, NSPL Board Member Photos from the collection of Kelly DeLong

Happy 50th Anniversary, Newtown Square Petticoat League!

I

n 1970, when Newtown Township Police Sgt. Stanly Short and Officer Steve Copeland were having lunch with friend Milt Finkle at a local deli, they got talking about the lack of recreational programs and facilities for young girls in the community. That conversation led those dads to take action and form the Newtown Square Petticoat League (NSPL; Newtown Square Police www.NSPLSoftball.com), a softball orgaSgt. Stanly Short, nization for girls ages 4-18. This year marks founding member of NSPL’s 50th Anniversary! Starting with the Newtown Square Petticoat League, in 1970 180 girls in 1970 to 478 girls today, NSPL continues to thrive with the help of volunteer Board Members and Coaches and ongoing community support.

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Sgt. Short’s daughter Jody (now Jody Short McQuaid) and her two sisters played in NSPL in the mid-’70s. “My father, Stan Short, and all the coaches taught us how to play as a team, built our confidence and most importantly always told us to go out and enjoy ourselves,” she recalled fondly. “I wasn’t the best player. My sisters Debby and Karen were good. Most times, I would sit on the bench with our dad and help him with the scorebook. He always made me feel like I was just as important to the team as the girls out on the field.”

On NSPL’s Troop Field, which was originally a cow pasture on Bishop Hollow Road, championships were won, lifelong friendships made, and careers began. Wendy Smith, NSPL player A look at NSPL’s Troop Field (circa 1983) 1970 - 1979, Coach, and NSPL Board President 1985-1991, also has fond memories that include working together by hand, to make the fields playable. “When I think about the moments and the time that I spent at NSPL, Opening Day was always the most special,” Wendy recalled. “We would wait all year to get back on the field.” When NSPL first started, many of the coaches were the players’ mothers. The league provided Wendy an opportunity to experience sports with her mom, and also helped pave her way for a career as a Coach and Educator.

1998 - 2003 NSPL player Julie Sebastian has made a career of teaching and inspiring young girls in her local softball and fitness instruction business (www.JulieSebastianPitching.com).

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NSPL Midget Travelers go undefeated to win the 1988 Championship

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2001 Peewee Major Champions for Wozniak Landscaping

When asked how NSPL impacted her life, Julie said, “I’ve always hoped to be a positive influence on young girls who are learning to play softball, like so many NSPL coaches were for me. I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to fulfill that dream and pass along the knowledge I learned at NSPL.” Julie’s most memorable NSPL moment was when, at age 11, she pitched in the 2001 Championship game with her team, Wozniak Landscaping.

They came together and won despite a nail-biting last inning!

There’s more than one reason that game is such a cherished memory for Julie: Her dad was the team Coach.

1979 - 1991 NSPL player and current Board Member Heather Dwyer vividly remembers how her coaches volunteered their time to teach the girls how to play. They taught not only softball rules and mechanics; they also taught sportsmanship and a positive work ethic, which helped Heather on her high school and college softball teams, and as a private-lessons teacher.

Heather shared her sweet memory of winning a championship game and then riding in the bed of a pickup truck to the Dairy Queen, to celebrate with her teammates.

In the early ’80s, Al Bramley and some other Board Members started NSPL’s snack bar. Today, Al’s daughter, Nadine (Bramley) Scali, who played for NSPL for 12 years, helps run the snack bar while watching her own two daughters enjoy NSPL. Nadine remembers teams using trees as backstops and sitting on green wooden benches because there were no dugouts. But Nadine’s most cherished memories are the many hours she and her dad spent together, talking about softball.

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(L to R) T-Ball Player Melody DeLong and Micro T-Ball Player Alexis DeFruscio throw out the first pitch at 2019 Opening Day Ceremonies

Join us on Saturday April 18th as we celebrate NSPL Opening Day 2020 at Troop Field. And don’t miss Saturday May 2nd Family Fun Day, which includes the Alumnae Game at 5:30pm.

For more information, visit www.NSPLSoftball.com.

Where do we see NSPL 50 years from now? Exactly what Sgt. Stanly Short and many coaches set out to do in 1970: Continue to provide a safe and fun place where girls can play softball, learn the value of teamwork, and make lifelong memories. M

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Expert Contributor Written by Len Sciulli Len Sciulli & Sons Heating & Air Conditioning

How to Beat Allergies

with Your HVAC System!

M

ost of us welcome springtime with melting snow and the promise of summer. But for people with allergies, rising outdoor temperatures mean stuffiness, headaches, watery eyes and all-over misery.

You can’t change the weather or the outdoor allergens. Fortunately, you can minimize the effects of allergens inside your home with these HVAC tips.

Ensure you have proper ventilation Despite the outdoor triggers for your symptoms, the answer is not to keep stale air in your home. Indoor allergens can build up and make you just as sick, or worse. Fresh air is critical for allergy sufferers and the right ventilation system will keep the allergens to a minimum.

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26 Marple Friends & Neighbors / Bringing People Together

Upgrade your filter to HEPA HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air and it works by forcing air through a mesh that traps allergens like dust, pollen and pet dander. Keep in mind that HEPA filters have larger pressure drops and can adversely affect airflow through the furnace, reducing its heating and cooling performance. Talk to a professional before replacing your regular filter.

Use a room or whole-house air purifier Air purifiers can be portable units placed in various rooms in your home, or they can be integrated into your HVAC distribution system. Besides filters, you can choose from ionizers, UV Light purifiers or adsorbents like activated charcoal. Ionizers charge dust and other particles so that they either stick to charged plates in the ionizer or bond with other particles and become too heavy to remain airborne. UV light neutralizes and kills microorganisms. Adsorbent materials, like charcoal, trap particles on its surface and in its pores.

Add humidifiers or dehumidifiers You need the right humidity levels in your home to fight allergy symptoms. Too much moisture causes mold that worsens symptoms and too little can dry out mucus membranes, giving easy entry to allergens and germs. Installing a humidifier or dehumidifier (depending on the climate where you live) will work to keep moisture levels at the ideal 30-50% levels to help you fight allergies and symptoms.

If you have issues with the air quality in your home and want to find ways to reduce your allergy symptoms this spring, call an Indoor Air Quality Expert, who can help you make the right changes to your home’s HVAC systems. M

History Spotlight Written by Doug Humes Photos courtesy of the Marple Historical Society

The Rhoads Tannery,

The Oldest Business in the U.S. Original Rhoads tannery buildings

Location of Rhoads tannery (1848 Ash Map)

The 1702 Rhoads family home (right) and tannery buildings (left)

M

arple Township is the birthplace of what was one of the longest continuously operated businesses in our country’s history. In 1702, Joseph Rhoads, son of one of the first Marple settlers, started a tannery business on his farm, turning cow, deer, sheep and hog hides into leather for buggy whips, shoes, boots, harnesses, saddles and aprons. His tannery, next to his farmhouse at the corner of what is now Reed and Sproul Roads, evolved from a sideline to a profitable business at that location, handed down for 166 years from generation to generation.

By 1800, the 4th Rhoads tanner, Joseph II, had a 550-acre farm, tanyard, and a scythe stone quarry along Darby Creek. With the Industrial Revolution, the firm began specializing in industrial belts to turn the moving parts of the machines in the new factories. A 1910 news article noted that a Rhoads belt had run without repair in a flour mill for 28 years, and another belt had lasted in a textile mill for 25 years, a much longer life than that of the skin’s original occupant!

A 1976 National Park Service report notes that “The tannery, before 1840, consisted of 16 handlers, 5 leaches, and over 40 vats, most of which were underlaid by wooden pipes or ‘trunks.’

A horse-powered pump facilitated the flow of liquids between vats through these pipes. …A brook running through the property was diverted into a ditch, to furnish the tanyard with water.”

The family adhered to its Quaker non-violence principles, and during various wars, it would not sell its products to the military, believing “war destroyed the inner light of Christ-like perfection in individuals.” The Rhoads family believed that their labor should be of practical use to mankind, and they lived by and sacrificed for those principles.

In 1868, the company bought a large tanning facility in Wilmington, and left Marple for those larger facilities. In 1977, they moved again, to New Castle, Delaware. In 1993, the Rhoads family sold their interests in the company, after eight generations of family ownership and management. And in 2009, the oldest continually operated business in America closed its doors.

The Rhoads house and tannery buildings in Marple Township were demolished in 1965. Those properties had been occupied by tenants since 1868, but the Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia, which had bought the property in 1914, no longer wished to maintain it.

What mysteries of history still lie undisturbed below the surface of the old Rhoads tannery?

For more on the history of Marple, visit the Marple Historical Society website and Facebook page, and join the Society to keep up to date on coming events: www.MarpleHistoricalSociety.org. M

Special Moments Captured Sierra Clark Photography

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