Hello Neighbor!
Nice to meet you. What a time to jump into editing my first newsletter for an events-based publication. I pride myself on my creativity, but come on! At least I’m not alone in my frustration. We’re all being forced to find creative ways to communicate, to learn, to fill our time, to avoid strangling the people we live with…
My dear friend and former [actual] neighbor, Jessica, is as creative as they come. While designing a virtual art class for her high school students, she thought others in self-quarantine might want something fun and artistic to do. Her class is low-key and free, and I invite all of you to join me (Click Here - code: 24up2ty).
I’m always looking for ways to bring together people who like to write, but I never thought about organizing a virtual writing class until I saw Jess’s. That’s how my free class, “Creative Writing While Quarantined,” was born—in the spirit of establishing a writing community during the most isolating of times (Click Here - code: j7va67f ).
This is a place for writers of all ages (well, I’d say middle school and up) and experience levels to find inspiration from prompts, reading recommendations, feedback from me, and hopefully through sharing your triumphs, challenges, and anything else related to writing. There are no rules or expectations, other than you be kind and generous in your discussions.
Do it! Write with me! Or just visit to pick up some reading recommendations. No rules, remember?
And if you’re teaching a virtual class or holding a virtual event, send us an email. We'd love to share!
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| AND A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR
LOCAL ADVERTISERS!
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| BUILD A VIRTUAL
CREATIVE COMMUNITY
Creative Writing While Quarantined
My writing class
Go to “Google Classroom,” click “+” then “join class,” and enter this class code: j7va67f
(If you get stuck, send us an email.)
Co-Art-19
Jessica’s art class
Go to “Google Classroom,” click “+” then “join class,” and enter this class code: 24up2ty
(If you get stuck, send us an email.)
Coursera
Offering a host of free online courses
Details
If you’re not up for a class, you can be creative and build community just by taking a walk and…
• Leaving drawings and uplifting messages for your neighbors with sidewalk chalk. (Some communities are referring to this as “Chalking the Walk.”)
• Painting small rocks and leaving trails for neighbors to find
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| ARE YOU A LOCAL SMALL BUSINESS OR RESTAURANT?
Do you have virtual services? New delivery options? An online class? A deal on giftcards?
As small business owners, we know how hard it is to run and sustain a small, local business. So we want to help you spread the word about your business during this uncertain time.
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THIS WEEK'S LOCAL LOVE
Spread The News!
Creativity Time with The Handwork Studio
Every day at 10:00 AM, tune in live on Facebook.
The Handwork studio is sharing their favorite projects made with items from around the house. Sign up to receive your daily supply list and reminder.
facebook.com/TheHandworkStudio
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| SNAP Custom Pizzas
Place an order on our website to ***FEED THE FRONT LINES***
You buy 3 pies and
we’ll kick in 2 more.
Those 5 pizzas will be delivered where they are needed. Just select your location, and the hospital associated with that store. We can do more if we work together.
For you and your crew that are staying home, we have a “Grab a healthy family meal deal” – Pick 3 of your favorite signature pizzas or salads for one low price of $22.99, or you can order one of our PIZZA SURVIVAL KITS! Each kit has everything you need to make 2 fresh-baked pizzas in your own oven.
No pizza stone needed.
Order online.
House Cup Coffee Roasters, Havertown
We continue to roast the finest quality, organic, fresh coffees for our community during this challenging time. Orders may be placed online and coffee may be delivered for free to Haverford Township and surrounding communities - and shipping available anywhere. Curbside pickup may also be arranged at the roasthouse in Havertown. Two other ways Main Line residents can help - purchase a gift card online for a health care worker, first responder or teacher to show their support. Or participate in our Suspended Coffee program where at 1/2 price, individuals may purchase a bag (or more) that is donated to a local food bank or hospital department. Recently, House Cup donated bags of Kcups to the Lankenau Hospital Respiratory Department when they mentioned online they were out of coffee one night. Residents rallied around this and helped us put together coffee packages for them, foodbanks and a firehouse, to keep them caffeinated. "Coffee isn't essential. But they are." housecupcoffee.com
YMCA
The Y is providing emergency childcare to first-responders and healthcare workers at two of the YGBW branches and in Greater Philadelphia.
Details
Critical Point Test Prep
A Free 10-week Online SAT Prep Class for Main Line Students and Beyond
For students who were affected by the COVID-19 March SAT cancellation, we are offering a 10-week long bridge class to keep them on track and get their highest scores yet. In these difficult times, we know not every family has the resources to pay for test prep tutoring—especially if they prepped for the March SAT already. This is our way of giving back to the community that has supported us for all these years.
Details Here!
New Horizons for Active Adults
Hosting Several Remote Programs including:
- FREE Computer Tech Support with Gerry Hebert, phone sessions by appointment
- Ellensue Spicer-Jacobson hosts 1-on-1 FREE Consulting Sessions to help with writing projects, phone sessions are available, by appointment.
- Stanley Fink hosts 1-on-1 FREE Sessions on Poetry Writing, Call to schedule an appointment
Please call 610 664-2366, or click here for more details and to sign up!
Nolan Painting
At Nolan Painting, we have developed a new online estimating tool called our Nolan Painting Estimating Wizard. With this unique tool, our customers, from the comfort of their home or smartphone device, can price out an interior or exterior painting project with a few simple pushes of a button. This is the perfect tool for someone who wants an idea of price points on painting before scheduling an in-person estimate with our sales team.
Nolan Painting Estimating Wizard
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| Meals on Wheels
The COVD-19 virus has turned everyone’s world upside down, but especially the elderly and homebound. Please consider donating to Main Line Meals on Wheels!
mainlinemealsonwheels.org/donate
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| PRESS PAUSE ON
YOUR ANXIOUS MIND
The constant influx of bad news has taken a toll on many of us. You might find comfort in some of these resources.
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Main Line PA list of support groups
Details
The chronic pain app Curable
Focuses on the mind- body connection element and chronic pain, is offering free resources, including meditations, visualizations, and education about chronic pain.
Details
Support Group Central
Free or low-cost virtual support groups
Details
Psych Central
Features online resources, quizzes, news, an “Ask the Therapist” function, and support communities
Details
The American Psychological Association’s “Road to Resilience”
A step-by-step guide that helps you develop a personal strategy for enhancing your resilience
Details
Mental Health America has all the tools you could ever want!
Details
I also love this article, which helped me give myself permission to feel ...well, everything.
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| EXPLORE GARDENS
ACROSS THE WORLD
The flowers are blooming but you’re stuck walking around your block! Thankfully, some of the world’s most breathtaking gardens have opened their virtual gates.
United States Botanical Garden
Washington, D.C.
Visit
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| The New York Botanical Garden orchid show!
Visit
Claude Monet’s Garden
Giverney, France
Visit
Oxford Botanic Garden
Oxford, England
Visit
Volunteer Park Conservatory
Seattle, Washington
Visit
Keukenhof
Amsterdam, Holland
Visit
Chicago Botanic Garden
Chicago, IL
Visit
Here’s more and you can find even more on YouTube!
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| COOKING WHILE QUARANTINED
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We're all cooking more than ever these days, and getting bored with our regular recipe rotation.
Here are a few links to spice things up:
• 24 one-pan dishes from the New York Times. I often steer clear of NYT recipes (too fussy and time consuming) but these are ON POINT.
Side note: The Creamy Mac and Cheese is everything.
• Jenny Rosenstrach of Dinner: A Love Story just launched a new series called Project, Pantry, Purpose where she shares (among other things) simple, delicious meals that you can make from ingredients found in your pantry. Nothing too complicated here, which I find an ideal antidote to all the chaos outside.
• bon appetit 89 Recipes, each with 5 ingredients or less. You’re welcome.
• I’m also a big fan of sheet pan dinners, especially lately when the dishes seem to pile up by the second. This and this are household favorites.
Enjoy!
Kate, MLN editor
PS: Do YOU have any great recipes you would like to share with our neighbors?! Post a comment here - we'd love to hear from you!
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The Baldwin School develops bright, talented girls into confident, accomplished women with vision, global understanding and the determination to make enduring contributions to the world.
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Please support Ardmore Farmers Market tenants and Suburban Square restaurants serving our community.
suburbansquare.com
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Campers explore, fish, swim, boat, and play. Camp traditions include GaGa Ball, arts & crafts, cooking, zip lining and so much more.
camp@vfes.net
vfes.net/campkweebec
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Due to COVID 19,
Relay For Life of Penn State has moved its annual 5K to a
Virtual Event!
All money raised during the 5K will go directly towards supporting our Virtual Relay For Life’s goal to raise $80,000 for the American Cancer Society by April 25, 2020.
Join us in our fight against cancer (and get some fresh air!) by registering to participate in the Virtual 5K for only $10. Medals will be awarded to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place based on submitted times, and all participants who complete the 5K on April 4 will receive a participation certificate and chance to win raffle prizes!
Details
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Main Line Health has received a tremendous outpouring of support from the community wanting to help the teams on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As there is a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) across the country, we would greatly appreciate any donations of the following:
Gowns • Masks • N95 masks • Goggles • Face shields
Tyvek coveralls • Surgical gowns • Isolation gowns
and Gloves
If you have any of these items to donate, please email
covidsupplydonations@mlhs.org
and a member of the team will respond.
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Red Cross Montgomery County
Urgent need for Blood
Transport Drivers
Volunteer drivers needed to pick-up life-saving blood from blood drives near you and deliver to the Red Cross Donation Center (700 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA) and/or from the Donation Center to area hospitals.
Schedule your own pick-up days and routes; typical drive about 2-4 hours round trip; most volunteers drive twice a month using your own car. Free training.
Apply online:
redcross.org/volunteer
Contact: Ned Bloom, Volunteer Services Senior Specialist
ned.bloom@redcross.org
or 1-484-403-4721
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VOTE! YOU CAN MAIL IT IN
State’s primary election postponed from April 28 until June 2.
Recent voting reforms established a new convenient way for Pennsylvanians to vote: mail-in ballots. Similar to an absentee ballot, you may apply to receive a mail-in ballot in the mail to complete, and return to your county election office. However, unlike an absentee ballot, you may simply request a mail-in ballot without providing a reason.
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Right now, Einstein Healthcare Network health care physicians, nurses, and staff are preparing to care for patients with
COVID-19.
They are asking for
donations of:
N95 Respirator Masks
Face masks (with ties or elastic)
Disposable gowns
Protective glasses /goggles
Gloves l Hand sanitizer
Regular face shields
Bleach or disinfecting wipes
Non-contact thermometers
einstein.edu/PPE
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NEED A LITTLE HELP?
The constant influx of bad news has taken a toll on many of us.
You might find comfort in some of these resources.
• National Alliance on Mental Illness, Main Line list of support groups
• The chronic pain app Curable, which focuses on the mind- body connection and chronic pain, is offering free resources, including meditations, visualizations, and education about chronic pain.
• Support Group Central has free or low-cost virtual support groups
• Psych Central features online resources, quizzes, news, an “ask the therapist” function, and support communities
• The American Psychological Association’s “Road to Resilience” is a step-by-step guide that helps you develop a strategy for enhancing your resilience
• Mental Health America has all the tools you could ever want
I also love this article, which helped me give myself permission to feel, well, everything, and offered a name for those feelings.
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