Kids & Pets: Love All Around

The bones of a well-built 18th-century Georgian farmhouse provided the structure that became Hunting Hill Mansion. It stands today as a testament to careful craftsmanship and attention to detail.
A solid financial foundation is equally important.
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Gary and his team are obsessed with making each client's experience the best that it can be. Your negotiations are personally handled by YOUR realtor, not an assistant. The Scheivert team does things the old-fashioned way with results that prove it works time and time again.
Gary Scheivert knows Media - basketball at Media Youth Center, football at Rose Tree Colts - and even his mom was crowned "Miss Media."
This summer, I tried to take it all in. Every fundraiser, festival, car show, 5 mile race, ribbon cutting, raffle, book sale, summer concert, graduation, dining under the stars, food truck festival, art exhibit, comedy show, play, yard sale and pool opening…I tried it all. (And I still have plenty more to go.) Media offers limitless options to entertain, challenge, educate and fulfill us. So if for some reason you feel like you didn’t do much this summer…let me know, we’ve got plenty of ideas.
Let’s start with Dino Don. Don fits nicely into our kids and pets issue. Don is a kid at heart and his pets are larger than most. I met Don Lessem at his home here in Media and discovered a hidden world of wonder. Sure, I remember Dino Don’s Dinosaurium in the old Granite Run Mall. But what I didn’t know about Don could fill a book (or magazine). Our story proves that dinosaurs are not dead, Don keeps them living on in zoos and museum exhibits as well as the silver screen.
Founded in 1888, Williamson College of the Trades is celebrating its 135th birthday. This school takes young men and provides them a skilled trade in Carpentry, Electrical, Masonry, Landscaping, Machine Tool Technology or Power Plant Technology. Williamson has been a pillar of education to our region with few equals. Read how this campus runs like a well-oiled machine.
More than 50% of U.S. homes (that’s 65.1 million) own one or more dogs. What does that mean? Local pet photographer Ed Ryder is in dog heaven. Every picture Ed takes tells a story of man's best friend. If you’ve ever been on State Street, you’ve probably seen Ed. So now you can go up and say “Hi!”
Geoff Harper, aka the Delco Fish Man, has another type of pet passion, Koi fish. Geoff and his team create blissful backyard oasis focused on water features and fish. Coupled with landscaping and hardscaping, your vacation retreat is now in the backyard.
Lastly, quickly becoming a reader’s favorite is our food & drink section. Editor Karin Davidson has the enviable task of scouring Media for new exciting food and cocktails recipes. This month, Karin delivers a Killer Punch from Ariano's.
As always, if you have an interesting story, please reach out to us. We’d love to hear from you.
See you on State Street!
SCOTT DAVIDSON, PUBLISHER @MEDIACITYLIFESTYLEAugust 2023
PUBLISHER
Scott Davidson | scott.davidson@citylifestyle.com
COPY EDITOR
Kari Tumminia | karitumminia@gmail.com
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR
Karin Davidson | karin.davidson@citylifestyle.com
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS
Ed Ryder | ideamaned@yahoo.com
Jayne Toohey | Jayne@jayne2e.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Lisa Roberts Cadorette, BSN, RN, MSED
Lisa@cadorettecommunications.com
Sharon Blauer, Christina Cheser, Cheyenne Forbes
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Hoi Michael Cheung, Karin Davidson, Scott Davidson
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry
VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES Tiffany Slowinski
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson
DIRECTOR OF FIRST IMPRESSIONS Jennifer Robinson
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Josh Klein
CONTROLLER Gary Johnson
AD DESIGNER Matthew Endersbe
LAYOUT DESIGNER Kelsey Ragain
Want to be seen in the magazine? Tag your Instagram photos with @mediacitylifestyle
Riddle Hospital, part of Main Line Health, celebrated the grand opening of the new five-story, 230,000 square foot Pavilion. The new state-of-the-art Pavilion boasts 76 new private patient rooms, 10 modern surgical suites, new maternity suites and a neonatal intensive care unit. The opening event also showcased a breathtaking atrium housing new shopping and dining options capped off with unveiling of a massive mural comprised of 5,000 individual artworks from the community. mainlinehealth.org
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The Library’s Museum Passes program makes it possible for library cardholder families to visit almost 20 local museums and zoos for free! Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Media, Library cardholders are welcome to borrow a Museum Pass. Passes are available on a first come, first served basis. Visit the Museum of the American Revolution, National Constitution Center, Simeone Automotive Museum, Elmwood Park Zoo, The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Independence Seaport Museum, and many more. mediauplibrary.org
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Family Support Line (FSL) is moving to a new larger location at 53 W. Baltimore Pike in Chester Heights. An advocate for survivors of child sexual abuse in Delaware County, FSL provides services and resources for children and their families to get the help they need to be safe, heal, break the cycle of abuse, and thrive. Their move will ensure there’s capacity to serve children affected by abuse, while also adding co-located services to ensure they receive the best care. FamilySupportLine.org
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Get in touch by heading over to our landing page to connect: CityLifestyle.com/Media
THE PREHISTORY OF ”DINO” DON LESSEM
30 years after the opening of the blockbuster movie Jurassic Park, we met up with one of the film’s advisors, Media’s own “Dino” Don Lessem, to discuss all things dinosaur.
When Don was 5, his aunt brought him to the Museum of Natural History in New York, where he was introduced to the prehistoric mammals. “T-Rex was love at first sight; at least for me,” he reminisced. But his passion for the giant creatures only lasted for a few years. “By eight, I had moved onto baseball and girls…I still like baseball and girls,” he quipped.
Decades passed and Lessem became a journalist for The Boston Globe. One day, he was sent on an assignment for a story about dinosaurs. “I hadn’t thought about dinosaurs in 25 years. The trip was so fascinating and so exotic,” remembered Don. He came back home with a renewed passion. Lessen explained, “I had a mid-career fellowship at MIT; I could pretty much do what I wanted and still get paid. It was a great luxury. So I decided I was going to go to every dinosaur dig in the world. And the rest is pre-history!”
Lessem’s first book on the subject was aimed at a mature audience. “I wrote a book for grownups on
Don interviewed Michael Crighton, who had written a bestselling book called Jurassic Park. Don picked Crighton’s brain about ways to raise money for dinosaur excavation projects. Crighton thought it best to introduce him to Steven Spielberg, who was in the process of making a screen adaptation of the novel. Besides becoming an advisor to Spielberg for the film, Spielberg ended up assisting Don’s charity through connecting him with Universal Studios.
dinosaurs that nobody really read,” joked Don. Then he moved to a different demographic. He added, “I really felt that all the current science that was really exciting wasn’t getting through to kids. There should be more [science] books for children… [That’s when] I realized I should be doing this for kids!”
He has since written 52 books on the subject and hosted Discovery Channel and NOVA documentaries on dinosaurs. Don is also a frequent television and radio commentator on the subject of paleontology and he philanthropically supports expansion in the field.
Years after subsidizing his first excavation, Don interviewed Michael Crighton, who had written a bestselling book called Jurassic Park. Don picked Crighton’s brain about ways to raise money for dinosaur excavation projects. Crighton thought it best to introduce him to Steven Spielberg, who was in the process of making a screen adaptation of the novel.
Besides becoming an advisor to Spielberg for the film, Spielberg ended up assisting Don’s charity. In a win-win situation, Don was given props and other paraphernalia from the movie for an exhibition in exchange for royalties that went back to Universal Studios. They, in turn, donated the proceeds to Lessem’s charity for a tax write-off. His charity went on to raise 3 million dollars and sponsor excavation projects all over the world.
30 years later, things are looking up for prehistory: “This is the golden age of dinosaurs. Right now, there’s one found every week,” Lessem explained with a smile.
“When I was 65, I went to see this dinosaur quarry in China; it’s in Szechuan [and it’s] the best in the world,” he answered. While there, Don went to tour a local factory that created animatronic dinosaurs, and quickly saw its potential for exhibitions.
“That’s how I got into robots. I went to the Bronx Zoo and told them I was going to make better robots. I just lucked out because they were looking for a new source. And then I invited all the different zoos to come to the Bronx Zoo to see them,” described Lessem.
“It’s almost like building a living thing. You have a skeleton— In this case, it’s an armature, welded together on a platform. Over that, you put motors and hinges so that you can make it move and they have bellows so that they can breathe in and out. [Then, you] carve foam in the shape of dinosaurs [and] cover it over with a stretchy latex material and paint it with silicone paint,” explained Don.
These days, Lessem is working on his latest project with the help of an old acquaintance, who recruited him as an advisor on
his latest film. Don is excited to be able to be a part of this story from the beginning. Although Don worked on the set of Jurassic Park, he didn’t have much opportunity to change factually inaccurate content about prehistoric animals, as the storyline had already been put together. Don shared that this latest project will reflect what dinosaurs really looked like, “They had feathers, they were colorful.” And, without revealing too much, he shared that it is written in the style of The Jungle Book. “I love the story,” he beamed.
For now, you can catch Dino Don’s exhibit at the Philadelphia Zoo from now until October 29th.
Don shared that this latest project will reflect what dinosaurs really looked like, “They had feathers, they were colorful.”
Giganotosaurus
Visit Williamson College of the Trades and watch intently as the students interact with teachers, staff, and each other. There’s a keen sense of brotherhood and respect, and you’ll undoubtedly come to an impressive realization – this institution does much more than simply prepare students for a career in the trades. The education that Williamson provides builds character, fosters integrity, and instills confidence. It prepares deserving young men to not only become adept in their chosen field, but to become respected leaders who give back to their community. Remarkably, Williamson accomplishes all of this while offering free room, board, and tuition for every student. In return, students agree to adhere to Williamson’s values-based curriculum and to participate in the maintenance and daily operations of the campus.
The school was founded in 1888 with an endowment from Philadelphia merchant and philanthropist Isaiah Vansant Williamson. Williamson envisioned a free boarding school that provided disadvantaged young men with technical skills, life skills, and opportunities for exercise and recreation. He believed that the core values of faith, integrity, diligence, excellence, and service should be at the forefront; those values are painted prominently in the college’s chapel. Additionally, students must participate in at least one activity per year to foster teamwork and fellowship, choosing from a variety of opportunities such as athletics, student government, yearbook staff, etc. “We need schools like this all over the country. The more Williamson men we can put out in the community, the better for the community,” Micheal Rounds, President.
The 1,000-Day Journey - Learning a Trade Fueled by Faith, Integrity, Diligence, Excellence, and Service
For 135 years, Isaiah Williamson’s vision has certainly held true. The College seeks young men with high character, distinct motivation, and a demonstrated financial need. Applicants are interviewed so they have a clear understanding of the rules and expectations, and each candidate must pass academic screening. Williamson does not have the capacity to accept all qualified candidates; of the more than 390 qualified applicants this year, the college accepted its largest class to date of 124 young men with an eye toward those with the most significant financial need. The students may select from six technical trades, specifically, Carpentry, Masonry, Electrical, Landscape Construction & Management, Machine Tool Technology, or Power Plant Technology. The young men study their selected trade as well as general academic courses, and they progress together as a cohort, thus reinforcing the concept of relying on each other and pushing forward together. After three years of study, they graduate with an associate degree.
The journey involves total immersion within the Williamson culture of structure, discipline, and high expectations. The young men must live on campus and follow a daily schedule beginning with lineup and inspection at 7:15 a.m. followed by mandatory chapel service that emphasizes moral and spiritual values. The students then participate in a full day of academic classwork and trade-related instruction, and at night, they must be in their dorm rooms by 10:00 p.m. A strict dress code is enforced as a sport coat, dress slacks, dress shirt, tie, and polished dress shoes are required to attend chapel, academic classes, and meals. To assist with this requirement, Williamson makes donated clothing available through their Student Clothes Closet, providing coats, suits, slacks, ties, etc., as needed.
The endowment provided by Isaiah Williamson has certainly grown over the years, it covers 70% of overall costs, so the College must fundraise to cover the gap. One successful revenue-stream is the Career Fair that occurs every fall and spring, where companies pay a fee to attend. Senior students have the chance to schedule interviews with potential employers, and underclassmen look for summer internships. This year, the Career Fairs hosted 235 companies from 21 states and generated over $138,000 in revenue for education! Williamson remains dedicated to raising even more resources so that they may expand enrollment, add more programs, and present a greater number of skilled and respected graduates into the community.
Anyone who loves nature, beauty, and the comfort of their own home would be thrilled to have a koi pond in their backyard. “It’s like an oasis, really,” says Geoff. “It’s like going on vacation without going on vacation. The sound of running water is therapeutic, and the fish are easier to care for [than] you might think.” Anyone, from any age, can find peace and enjoyment from having a koi pond.
“Interesting fact about Koi; they don’t have stomachs!” Geoff Harper enthusiastically states during an interview about his special expertise in raising these exotic fish. “They never know when they’re full. People go ‘Oh! They’re so hungry! I’m feeding them six times a day!’ No! They’ll be floating soon,” he laughs.
Geoff is the owner of Delco Fishman (sister company to Harper Properties Maintenance) specializing in hardscaping and water features. Geoff has been passionate about fishing and the outdoors since he was a child. His 40 years of knowledge about Koi fish comes from his own research about the subject.
“YouTube taught me a lot,” says Geoff. “That’s how I learned to build my first pond.”
In Geoff’s personal home pond, he tends to approximately 20 Koi fish, ranging in value from a few hundred to thousands of dollars. “When originally purchased, my Koi were only a few inches in size, now some reach over 24” long,” Geoff shares with pride.
Geoff also provides general maintenance and upkeep for ponds. He changes filters, cleans debris and leaves, and checks water quality. His services are available in Media, West Chester, Havertown, Drexel Hill, and beyond. He and his team also build different types of ponds, including duck and fishing ponds, and even help children set up their own tanks and aquariums.
In the winter, Geoff recommends keeping an aerator and heater at the top of ponds so that they do not freeze over. In the event that the pond does freeze, Geoff advises against smashing the ice at the surface to free the fish. “A lot of the leaves and stuff at the bottom of the pond have poisonous toxins, so if you try to break the ice it releases the gas too fast and kills the fish.” Instead, letting an area in the pond thaw is the safest way to help in these scenarios.
Other common mistakes Geoff sees with Koi ponds are overfeeding and overcrowding. This can impact pond maintenance as overfeeding causes algae bloom, which produces toxins that can kill fish, while overcrowding can cause a buildup in fish waste. If you avoid these, a pond, according to Geoff, is easy to clean and extremely relaxing.
If you’re interested in a custom Koi pond, soothing water feature, or just need to service what you have… Geoff says give him a call at 610-505-9824. He loves talking fish!
6 large tanks for his collection of exotic fish.
In addition to his backyard Koi pond, Geoff Harper's garage houses
I bought my first professional grade camera in 2016. Since then I’ve bought 2 more full-frame cameras, upgrading to the latest technology, plus I purchased a bunch of top-ofthe-line lenses and other photography accessories.
I didn’t imagine spending this much on camera equipment when I started out, but I really enjoy taking photos, and I’m very fussy about the quality of the shots. It’s been a long journey of self-education with learning how to use the cameras and most especially how to use Photoshop for editing, which is crucial.
In 2019, The Franklin Mint Credit Union held a free “dog photography with Santa” event at their Media location. I decided to photograph the action, as an experiment. The turnout was huge! And photographing the dogs was fun.
This led to me doing volunteer dog photography for Rags 2 Riches Animal Rescue. I enjoyed that as well.
Then the pandemic struck while I was on vacation in Florida. I decided to just stay there while everything was closed down.
I returned to Media 3 months later and ended up visiting area dog parks and having photography fun there. I transitioned to just walking around Media looking for dogs to photograph. At some point, somebody suggested that I start my own Facebook group. Today, my “Dogs Of Media” Facebook group has over 800 members.
Important tools of the trade are squeaky toys! I have 3 of them attached to my camera strap. I often get a very good reaction when I make a squeaky noise, then I snap the shot! I’m having a ball when I’m doing this. It’s exciting. And going through the imagery at home and seeing that I nailed the shot is also great fun. I really love dogs.
Grace Winery – August Dinner Series
THE INN AT GRACE WINERY, 50 SWEETWATER RD., GLEN MILLS, PA 19342
Explore a three-course seasonally inspired meal created by acclaimed Chef Dan Wood. Available Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings in the Manor House Dining Room. Seatings at 6pm and 8pm each night. Reservations required. gracewinery.com
Delaware Valley Art League Juried Show
MAC ARTS CENTER, 11 E. STATE ST., MEDIA, PA 19063
Founded in 1947, Delaware Valley Art League promotes interest in the fine arts within the community. Opening reception is hosted by MAC on August 4th from 5pm to 7pm. The show will be at MAC through August 27th. mediaartscouncil.org
Colonial Plantation – Farm to Table
THE COLONIAL PLANTATION, 3900 N. SANDY FLASH DR., NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA 19073
Enjoy a unique colonial outdoor dining experience at the farm. Cooking is an essential part of everyday life on the farm. Experience how 18th century families prepared food right from the plantation’s garden or attend any of the wide variety of workshops offered. colonialplantation.org
Arts in the Park 2023 – Gong with the Didge-Sacred Sounds
GLEN PROVIDENCE PARK, 500 W. STATE ST. MEDIA, PA 19063 | 5:00 PM
Enjoy this free and family friendly concert by “Gong with the Didge”. Harold Smith, Didgeridoo master, and Randy Sutin, percussionist and vibraphone player, bring a different flavor to the park stage. Some people call this music healing meditation, some are inclined towards movement or yoga. Bring your blanket or lawn chair to enjoy this outdoor event. glenprovidencepark.org
+ Years E perience ith San Diego S mphon , Philadelphia Orchestra, and S mphon Orchestra of T rin, Ital . Professor of Tr mpet at UCLA. Soloist for co ntless Mo on Pict re and Tele ision Sho s. Performed ith Barbra Streisand, Doc Se erinsen, Celine Dion, Linda Ronstadt, The Backstreet Bo s, Pa aro , and Bocelli.
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HOMESEWN, 21 E. STATE ST., MEDIA, PA 19063
Homesewn Summer Camp welcomes campers to create and sew stuffed animals in an interactive and exciting week long morning program. Sewing machines will be provided - no sewing experience necessary, but helpful. This camp is for ages 8-12 only. shophomesewn.com
THE MEDIA THEATRE, 104 E. STATE ST., MEDIA, PA 19063
SEASONAL KILLER PUNCH AT ARIANO'S MAKES AN ANYTIME HAPPY HOUR
Four servings (6oz coupe glass recommended)
• 5oz Ron del Barilito puerto rican rum (Any casked rum)
• 5oz JM Rhum Agricole (Any white agricole rum)
• 4oz Giffard pineapple Liqueur (Any pineapple liquor or substitute pineapple juice, will be slightly weaker)
• 1.5oz Fresh orange juice
• 1oz Fresh lime juice
• 3oz Turbinado simple syrup
• 4oz Coconut water
• 2oz Cream of coconut
tools:
• Shaker
• Strainer
• Jigger (Measuring tool)
• Citrus Juicer
• Grater (for nutmeg)
directions:
1. Make a turbinado simple syrup 1 cup of sugar to 1 cup water. Bring to boil and chill.
2. Squeeze 1.5oz fresh orange juice and 1oz fresh lime juice
3. I recommend batching all ingredients as this cocktail is intended to be a punch. Bottle in some sort of glass carafe that has a closing top so you can shake if need be.
Karin Davidson began bartending at 21 years old. She elevates taste buds to sample fresh ingredients and different flavors in her cocktails. Her specialty is asking a few questions and making up a specialized cocktail.
4. Once batched, pour 4.5oz of liquid into your shaker with ice. Make sure you give your punch a shake because of the coconut cream might want to settle to the bottom.
5. Once all shaken, pour into coupe glass and garnish with fresh nutmeg. arianomedia.com
With new experiences and worry-free living, moving to Riddle Village is just the beginning of an amazing future.
With amenities and services that include weekly housekeeping, home maintenance, a dining plan that gives you access to four restaurants and a full-service bar, state-of-the-art fitness center, transportation, our Lifecare contract and so much more; the lifestyle at Riddle Village opens up your world so you can focus your energy on doing what you love.
Reach out today to learn more about our apartment renovation program and how we can have you living your best life in just 60 days.