PHILADELPHIA — On Aug. 24, 1991, Ukraine declared its independence following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Ukraine’s declaration stated, “The territory of Ukraine is indivisible and inviolable. From this day forward, only the Constitution and laws of Ukraine are valid on the territory of Ukraine.”
An image of the Ukrainian declaration is featured in the Museum of the American Revolution’s newest exhibition, “The Declaration’s Journey,” which explores the historical and global impact of The Declaration of Independence from 1776 to today. The exhibit runs through Jan. 3.
To celebrate the new exhibition, in partnership with Adrenaline Films and Philadelphia Ballet, the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia will host “AmRev Presents: Ukrainian Independence on Stage and Screen,” on Friday Nov. 7 from 5:15 to 8:30 p.m.
The event will include the Philadelphia premiere of the new documentary, “The Sky Was on Fire: Ballet and War in Ukraine,” in the Museum’s Lenfest Myer Theater.
The night will kick off with a complimentary reception and access to view “The Declaration’s Journey” exhibit.
At 6 p.m., Museum President and CEO Dr. R. Scott Stephenson will welcome Alfred “Fred” Hagen, executive producer of “The Sky Was on Fire,” who will introduce the film.
Hagen is a native of Delaware County, who was born and raised in Norwood. He is a graduate of Interboro High School, Class of 1977.
The presentation on Nov. 7 was the brainchild of Hagen, who sponsored and produced the programming for the event with his latest Adrenaline Films documentary and a second specialty short film about Ukrainian ballet dancers, directors, choreographers and crew fighting for their freedom, both on stage or on the front lines of the conflict.
Hagen and his crew shot the documentary material in 2023-24. The shoots coincided with several of his six humanitarian missions to the Ukraine war zone.
Within weeks of the outbreak of the Ukraine War in February 2022, Hagen organized, funded and participated in humanitarian missions delivering medical equipment to Ukrainian pediatric hospitals. He helped to fund and deliver 50 ambulances from the Normandy Beaches at the 80th anniversary of D-Day to Kyiv at the height of the fighting.
After graduating from Interboro, Hagen passed up a Villanova University scholarship in order to pursue an opportunity to travel to Alaska to help with building the pipeline. To this day, Hagen maintains a strong connection to his Interboro High School track teammates, hosting and attending an annual reunion.
Hagen was one of the student athletes at Interboro who was inspired by his coach Vince Papale, who played for the Philadelphia Eagles for four seasons as a wide receiver. Papale, who made the team at age 30, became the oldest rookie in the history of the NFL, a record that still holds today.
“Fred was on the team coached by Vince Papale,” said his friend George Polgar. “That team pretty much witnessed Papale’s sudden rise to sports stardom. They have all remained friends through the years and Vince is the guest of honor at the track reunion Fred hosts each year.”
After returning to the Philadelphia area in 1979, following his work on the pipeline, Hagen founded and grew Hagen Construction, eventually becoming one of the nation’s most successful corporate master builders, with a client list of sprawling sophisticated residential developments, corporate HQs, hospitals, industrial facilities, airports and museums from here to Alaska.
For over 35 years, Hagen has had a permanent construction office at University of Pennsylvania.
“Fred is one of the most interesting men who ever came out of Delco,” Polgar said. “His thirst for knowledge and adventure has taken him to the ocean floor resting place of the wreck of Titanic — twice aboard the ill-fated Titan submersible — to leading an expedition in Papua, New Guinea, to find a WWII aircraft lost over 70 years. He has slogged to the North Pole and led archaeology missions to salvage the contents of ancient Roman ships in the Adriatic.”
Hagen is also an air warfare historian. He was recognized by the Smithsonian for his search and successful recovery of a legendary lost WWII B-17 bomber in the New Guinea expedition.
After monumental and costly setbacks, the plane was recovered submerged in a primordial swamp, and is now reconstructed and on display at the Pearl Harbor Museum. Hagen also arranged for the recovery and return of the remains of over 15 American airmen for burial with full military honors.
Most recently, he and his associates from Adrenaline Films created the powerful “The Sky Was on Fire” documentary that is being featured at this AmRev event, a haunting portrait of Ukraine’s war as seen through the eyes of Ukrainian ballet dancers.
“In his heart and soul, Fred Hagen is a historian,” Polgar said. “He sees world events and his own life in a historical context and part of a continuum.”
As a historian, he is a passionate collector.
Hagen has enough artwork and noteworthy historical craft artifacts to fill a museum. In fact, his Chelwood Manor & Gardens home in Bucks County, a historic estate on the Delaware River in Bensalem, next to the Andalusia Historic House, where he now resides, could be one of the most interesting museums in the nation.
Hagen also has the largest and most exhaustive collection of presidential memorabilia, that includes presidents’ possessions and handwritten notes, documents and proclamations by almost every president.
In addition to all of these things, Hagen is a celebrated documentary filmmaker.
“The Sky Was on Fire” follows National Ballet of Ukraine stage director Oleh Tokar and other ballet artists who had to make a difficult decision after the Russian invasion of Ukraine: to flee or to stay and fight, and also to perform. Tokar, one of many Ukrainian ballet artists who have taken up arms in the fight against Russia, continues to work for the National Ballet of Ukraine by day.
Tickets for the event at the Museum of the American Revolution are $35 for general admission and $30 for museum members and Philadelphia Ballet subscribers. This is a 21-and-over event.
For information about the special event on Nov. 7, or about the exhibit “The Declaration’s Journey”: www.AmRevMuseum.org.
Located just steps away from Independence Hall, the Museum Of the American Revolution, 101 S. Third St., Philadelphia, serves as a portal to the region’s many Revolutionary sites, sparking interest, providing context and encouraging exploration.
The museum, which opened on April 19, 2017, is an independent, nonprofit, and nonpartisan organization. For more information, call 877-740-1776.
Haverford food drive supports residents during SNAP suspension
Haverford Township will host a food collection through Friday, Nov. 7 to help those who might be losing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits during the federal government shutdown.
Neighbors are encouraged to drop off nonperishable food items at either of the following locations during regular business hours:
• Haverford Township Administration Building, 1014 Darby Road.
• Haverford Community Recreation and Environmental Center, 9000 Parkview Drive.
All donations will directly benefit local food pantries serving residents of Haverford Township. Nonperishables, sliced bread, and toiletries are welcome.
“At the local government level, we want to do what we can to help our community during this time of need,” said Township Manager Dave Burman. “While we can’t control what happens in Harrisburg or Washington, we can step up locally to support one another.”
For more information about the food drive and the items being collected, contact the township office at 610-446-1000 or visit www.havtwp.org.
St. Herman’s announces annual food festival
St. Herman Orthodox Church, 1845 Middletown Road, Glen Mills, will hold its annual food festival from Friday Nov. 7 through Sunday Nov. 9.
The hours are Friday, noon to 8 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 7 p.m.; and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m.
The festival will offer a dine-in or takeout option and has an expanded menu and bar this year.
The menu will feature Stuffed Cabbage, Blini, Cevapcici, Kielbasa Sandwiches, Corned Beef Reubens, Hot Pastrami Melt, Halushki, Deep Fried Pierogi and more. For dessert, a variety of Eastern European pastries and other gourmet sweets will be available.
For more information: www.StHermansOCA.org.
Havertown Choristers to hold winter concert this month
The Havertown Choristers, directed by Jennifer Cox, will present a winter concert at 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 24 in the Haverford High School auditorium, 200 Mill Road, Havertown.
The Choristers will present a varied program including “The Shepherds’ Story“ by Dickinson, “Holy Art Thou” by Handel, “The Little Drummer Boy” by Simeone/Davis/Onorati, and “Caroling, Caroling” by Burt/Gilpin.
In addition, the audience will be invited to join in singing the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s “Messiah” as well as a group of Christmas carols.
The choristers is affiliated with the Haverford Township Adult School. The concert is free but donations are appreciated. For information, call 610-446-1595.
Authors to speak about ‘AARP Caregiver Answer Book’
November is National Family Caregivers Month.
To mark that occasion, clinical psychologists and former family caregivers, Barry Jacobs and Julia Mayer, will talk about the challenges and joys of family caregiving, as well as their new self-help book, “The AARP Caregiver Answer Book,” at two upcoming author events.
Jacobs and Mayer, residents of Swarthmore, will discuss their book:
• Monday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. at Celia Bookshop, 102 Park Ave., Swarthmore
• Saturday, Nov. 15 at 11 a.m. at Barnes and Noble Bookstore, 1991 Sproul Road, Broomall.
At both events, the authors will answer questions about aspects of caregiving — including family dynamics, finances and finding a personal care aide — in what will be highly interactive and informative conversations.
For more information, call Barnes and Noble at 610-353-3255 or Celia Bookshop at 610-680-2061.
Volunteers, food items needed for Media’s Community Thanksgiving
The Media Fellowship House, along with Cedar Creek Catering, Media Food Bank and First Church Media, is preparing to serve over 600 neighbors during the seventh annual Community Thanksgiving Event.
It takes place on Saturday, Nov. 22 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Cedar Creek, 117 S. Lemon St., Media.
Chef CJ Deery moves some of the food from the kitchen to the serving areas on Nov. 18, 2023, during the Community Thanksgiving in Media. Another community dinner is coming up and organizers need your help. (KATHLEEN E CAREY – DAILY TIMES)
More than 600 hot and traditional Thanksgiving meals will be served at no charge. The event is truly meant to be a community gathering and all are welcome: those in need of a meal, the senior community, and friends and family who want to gather together.
Volunteers and food donations are needed to help ensure every plate is full.
The most needed food donations include canned cranberry sauce, five-pound bags of russet and sweet potatoes, stuffing cubes, 2-pound boxes of brown sugar, pumpkin and apple pies, and cases of Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and water.
All food items should be dropped off by Sunday, Nov. 16 at:
• Media Fellowship House at 302 S. Jackson St., Media (610-565-0434)
• Cedar Creek Catering at 117 S. Lemon St., Media (267-581-7533)
• First Church of Media, 350 W. State St., Media (484-352-2802).
PA Special Olympics and Villanova to host 37th annual fall festival
Special Olympics Pennsylvania’s Fall Festival, presented by CSL Behring, will take place at Villanova University for the 37th year from Friday to Sunday, Nov. 7-9.
This year, the event will welcome more than 1,700 coaches, athletes and Unified Partners representing county programs from around the state. Participants will compete in bocce, long distance running/walking, powerlifting, soccer, volleyball and flag football.
More than 3,500 volunteers from the Villanova student body and the surrounding community are expected to participate in the event this year, serving in numerous capacities, including as officials, athlete escorts and award presenters.
This year’s competition will also serve as a tune up for more than 40 Special Olympics Pennsylvania athletes and coaches who will be representing Pennsylvania at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in Minnesota. Special Olympics Pennsylvania will be represented by 91 athletes and Unified partners and 25 coaches in 11 sports at the national games.
The 2025 Fall Festival major event sponsors include CSL Behring, Wells Fargo, PHLY Insurance, Post Acute Medical, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Aramark, Wawa, Abound Health, Dicks Sporting Goods, Knights of Columbus, PA Able, Law Enforcement Torch Run and more.
“CSL is honored to take on the role of Presenting Sponsor for the 2025 Special Olympics Fall Festival,” shared Jeffrey Ball, senior vice president at CSL. “With a commitment to prioritizing our patients and their families, we are thrilled to participate in this incredible Special Olympics event that not only highlights the importance of healthy athletes but values its families and fully embraces the concept of community.”
Special Olympics Pennsylvania provides year-round training and competition in 21 Olympic-type sports to more than 15,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities or closely related developmental disabilities.
For more information about how to join “The Inclusion Revolution,” visit www.specialolympicspa.org.
Readers can send community news and photos to Peg DeGrassa at pdegrassa@21st-centurymedia.com.