HAVERFORD — Following a sold-out start to its 51st season, Upper Darby Summer Stage invites audiences into a world of pure imagination with Roald Dahl’s “Charlie & The Chocolate Factory Jr.,” through July 23 at Haverford High School.
Based on Roald Dahl’s beloved classic, Charlie & The Chocolate Factory Jr. follows young Charlie Bucket as he embarks on the adventure of a lifetime after winning the chance to tour the mysterious chocolate factory of the eccentric Willy Wonka.
Featuring an energetic new score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, the Tony Award-winning songwriting team behind Broadway’s “Hairspray,” the musical combines beloved favorites with brand-new songs written especially for the stage.
The production features a cast of more than 80 young performers representing over a dozen schools from communities across the Delaware Valley. The production continues Summer Stage’s 51st season and welcomes audiences to the organization’s home for Summer 2026, Haverford High School.
“Our season theme this year is Courage, and Charlie Bucket may be one of its greatest examples,” said Chris Luner, artistic & managing director of Upper Darby Summer Stage. “The Golden Ticket isn’t what makes Charlie extraordinary. It’s who he is before he ever finds it. In a world filled with temptation, he chooses kindness over greed, integrity over shortcuts, and hope over doubt. That’s the kind of courage we’re celebrating this summer, and it’s a reminder that our character will always take us further than good fortune ever could.”
Performances will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 21; Wednesday, July 22; and Thursday, July 23. Evening performances will be held Wednesday and Thursday at 7 p.m.
The magic begins long before the show begins.
Audience members are invited to arrive one hour before each performance to enjoy Summer Stage’s interactive pre-show experience, featuring family-friendly crafts, hands-on activities, and more.
Following every performance, audiences are encouraged to meet the cast, collect autographs, and snap photos with their favorite characters.
Tickets are available through Summer Stage’s 24/7 online box office or by calling 610-814-7270 during business hours.
For more information and tickets, visit www.udsummerstage.org.
Brookhaven firefighters who recently received their Firefighter I Pro Board Certification are, left to right, Marquise Waller, Robert Westergaard, Steve Davish Sr., James McGowan, and Nate Ziemer, with Brookhaven council member Mary Ziemer and Brookhaven Fire Company Chief Rob Montella. (COURTESY OF DAVE SCHLOTT)
Brookhaven firefighters receive certification
Brookhaven Fire Company recently announced the names of the new Firefighter I Pro Board graduates who successfully completed and passed their Firefighter I Pro Board Certification.
Graduates include James McGowan, Stephen Davish Sr., Nate Ziemer, Marquise Waller, Chase Jackson and Robert Westergaard.
According to Brookhaven Fire Company life member Dave Schlott: “Achieving Firefighter I Pro Board certification is no small accomplishment. It requires months of dedication, classroom instruction, hands-on practical training, physical endurance, and successfully passing both written and practical examinations. We are incredibly proud of their hard work, determination, and commitment to the fire service. We thank them for their dedication to Brookhaven Fire Company and to the residents and visitors of Brookhaven Borough.”
For more information, go to http://brookhavenfireco.com.
Visitors at Delaware County Community College’s Art Gallery in Marple Township are enjoying the Senior Community Services’ exhibition featuring works by local seniors who belong to the SCS Delaware County senior centers. The show continues until Friday, July 31. (COURTESY OF SCS)
Art Gallery at DCCC hosts Senior Community Services’ art show
The Art Gallery at Delaware County Community College is presenting “Senior Visions: An Artist Exhibition,” on view through Thursday, July 30.
This annual, free-to-the-public exhibition features the work of artists from the Senior Community Services classes offered to seniors through the Center Without Walls program at their four centers: Schoolhouse, Chester Senior Center, Good Neighbor and Friendship Circle.
The gallery is in Room 2305 in the Academic Building on the college’s Marple Campus, 901 S. Media Line Road, Marple Township. The exhibition will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
Senior Community Services is a community-based organization that offers an abundance of programs directly serving the aging population in the service area of Delaware County. Founded in 1977, SCS is the largest provider of services to Delaware County’s older residents and their families and operates four nationally accredited senior centers in the area.
Find out more about art exhibitions at DCCC at http://dccc.edu/the-arts/art-gallery.
Harry’s Hands to Help and Heal to feature free produce at Christmas in July event
Harry’s Hands to Help and Heal will host Christmas in July, a big parking lot sale on Saturday, July 25 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 2 S. Chester Pike, Glenolden.
The event will feature many different vendors, a farmers market distributing free fruits and vegetables, free gifts for all children in attendance, raffles and more. Everyone is welcome.
For more information, email HarrysHands2020@gmail.com.
Prospect Park to screen ‘National Treasure’ outdoors
Prospect Park Recreation Board will host Movies in the Park featuring Disney’s “National Treasure,” at 8 p.m. Thursday, July 23 in Park Square, 952 East Park Square, Prospect Park.
The event is free. All children must be accompanied by an adult. People can bring chairs or blankets for seating and their favorite snacks and drinks. Everyone is welcome.
In this year’s Independence Day Parade on July 11, Collingdale Mayor Donna Matteo-Spadea walks beside a float holding, left to right, council members Shannon Murphy, Felecia Coffee, Fareeda Mabry and Dwight Green, as well as Murphy’s son, Sean Murphy. (COURTESY OF JOY WINNER)
Collingdale’s postponed July 4th activities go off successfully
The Collingdale 4th of July Association held its annual parade and community picnic at Collingdale Park on Saturday, July 11.
The celebration was postponed from July 4 because of extreme heat. Festivities began Friday night, July 10, with a fireworks show at Collingdale Park.
The 4th of July Committee worked all year to raise funds through bingo events, beef-and-beer fundraisers, door-to-door outreach, and donations from local businesses. Collingdale Borough Council also contributed to the celebration.
The parade began with a wake-up motorcycle roll and featured honor guards Navy veterans Stynor Carter and Dave Peterson, and Bill Jackson. District Judge Lee Grimes served as grand marshal.
The parade included patriotic floats, Collingdale Borough Council float, The South Philadelphia String Band Club, a Drill Team group, decorated bicycles, local clubs & organizations, churches, Veterans, singers, Ghostbusters, police, fire trucks, ambulances, and more.
The parade concluded at Collingdale Park on Jackson Avenue, where attendees enjoyed flag raising, games, a moon bounce, waterslide, crafts, souvenir photos, music, dancing, hula hoop contests, races, free food, snacks and drinks, and meet-and-greets with action figures, princesses and the Ghostbusters.
Planning meetings for next year’s parade, picnic and fireworks will begin soon. Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Mary Ann Bradford at 610-416-7715 or manadabrad@hotmail.com
Child Guidance Resource Centers celebrates 70 years at special event
Child Guidance Resource Centers will celebrate its anniversary on Thursday, Sept. 10 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., exactly 70 years to the day of its founding, with A Celebration of Healing & Hope.
The event will take place at The Ivy at Ellis Preserve in Newtown Square, and will reflect on the lives touched over the past seven decades while looking ahead to the future of mental health and community wellness.
The celebration will recognize the thousands of children, families, and adults whose lives have been strengthened through compassionate, high-quality care, while honoring the dedicated staff, community partners, advocates and supporters who have helped make the centers’ mission possible.
A special highlight of the evening will be the presentation of the Community Impact and Advocacy Award to Brian Dawkins and the Brian Dawkins Impact Foundation, in recognition of their unwavering commitment to promoting cerebral wellness and empowering individuals through life-changing enrichment programs.
Their dedication to improving mental and emotional well-being reflects the very heart of CGRC’s mission.
Silver Sponsors of the event are Creative Benefits Inc., and villaNOVA Insurance Partners.
Guests will experience powerful stories of resilience, healing, and hope from individuals and families whose lives have been transformed through the centers’ services, as well as community leaders who continue to champion mental health and inspire positive changes throughout the region. More than a celebration of the past, this anniversary is an invitation to build the future together.
For 70 years, the centers have been a source of healing, hope, and support for children, families and vulnerable adults facing mental and behavioral health challenges. It has remained steadfast in its mission to ensure that quality behavioral health care is accessible to everyone who needs it.
As the need for accessible mental health services continues to grow, the centers remains committed to expanding its impact and ensuring that every child, family and vulnerable adult can thrive. Community members, partners, advocates and supporters are invited to join the evening of celebration and inspiration.
Tickets, sponsorship opportunities, and more details about the anniversary celebration are available at www.cgrc.org/70years.
Main Line Health nationally recognized for commitment to cardiac and stroke care
Main Line Health’s four acute care hospitals earned national recognition again from the American Heart Association, underscoring the system’s continued leadership in cardiovascular and stroke care across the Philadelphia suburbs.
Lankenau Medical Center, Bryn Mawr Hospital, Paoli Hospital and Riddle Hospital each received the association’s Get With The Guidelines awards for demonstrating a sustained commitment to improving the quality of care for heart disease and stroke, helping save lives, support recovery and reduce hospital readmissions.
The awards recognize the dedication of cardiac and stroke teams across the system to delivering timely, evidence-based care when every minute counts.
“This recognition reflects the consistent efforts of our entire medical staff in applying nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, including the timely administration of IV anti-clotting drugs, prescribing stroke-prevention medications at discharge and other measures,” said Dr. William Gray, co-director of Lankenau Heart Institute.
The stroke honors include:
• Lankenau Medical Center and Riddle Hospital: Get with the Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus with Target Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus and Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
• Bryn Mawr Hospital and Paoli Hospital: Get with the Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus with Target Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus Advanced Therapy and Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
The four acute care hospitals also received;
• Lankenau Medical Center: Get with the Guidelines-Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Receiving Bronze
• Bryn Mawr Hospital: Get with the Guidelines-Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Receiving Gold
• Paoli Hospital and Riddle Hospital: Get with the Guidelines-Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Receiving Gold with Target: Type 2 Diabetes
Main Line Health is a not-for-profit health system serving the greater Philadelphia region. The System is five hospitals, seven health centers, more than 150 outpatient and physician practice locations, over 14,000 employees and more than 2,100 employed and independent physicians and advanced practice providers.
For more information, go to http://mainlinehealth.org.
Readers can send community news and photos to Peg DeGrassa at pdegrassa@21st-centurymedia.com.