My kids have been so great through this difficult time. Both are home from college taking online classes, making the best of the situation. No complaining. No arguing. No whining. It’s like they know when we, the parents, are right on the edge and they rise to the occasion.
I feel particularly sad for my daughter, finishing her senior year. She’s not spending her last semester with her best friends. She won't be walking to accept her well-earned diploma. And she has no idea what the job market will look like after May. She’s been upbeat and positive since this all went down… until the other night.
We were having a Zoom Happy Hour with friends, all commenting about how much it sucks that she’s not able to experience her last semester and walk for graduation. She escaped into her room and started to cry. It was the first time. It hit her. I knew it would.
But for the first time in her life I really didn't have a good "answer". There was no making this better. I didn't have any words of wisdom. No lesson to learn.
All I could muster was “This just sucks. And I’m so, so sorry.” I couldn’t say things like “Well, we’re all healthy.” or “We’ll have a big celebration.” or “You’ll learn from this experience.” All true but not at all helpful in the moment. She needed to grieve and I needed to just listen.
Of course there are much worse things people are enduring now, I know. But when you work hard for four years and there’s no commemoration of this monumental moment it feels unfinished. It hurts. There's a real loss. She’s not going to get this major life moment back. It's sad. It sucks.
Graduation is a joyful time, a time to celebrate. And we will. But this milestone will just look and feel a little different.
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SUPPORT OUR LOCAL ADVERTISERS!
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Going Once… Going Twice… SOLD!
That's the traditional auctioneer's chant (in a very distilled way!). And while the current situation doesn't allow for a live auction with people competing in the same room for great merchandise, you can still participate!
Whether you're an auction "newbie" or a seasoned pro, join Briggs Auction on Friday, April 24th for a great online auction experience, featuring a curated selection of Estate antiques; name-brand reproduction furnishings; American & other period decorative arts; name-brand midcentury modern and modern design furnishings; fine art of all styles; Estate carpets; Asian export porcelains and furnishings; other fine porcelains and glass; silver; books; antique ephemera, documents and correspondence, and more. This exciting collection is offered from selected Main Line, Pennsylvania and Delaware County Estates, Homes, and Collections.
The full catalog is available now to view and to bid. On 4/24, the auction will go "live" with real-time, online bidding commencing at 11AM, through two bidding platforms: Briggs Auction's "Bid At Briggs" and Live Auctioneers. There will be no in-person merchandise preview, but if you see anything that interests you, please contact Briggs Auction if you need additional details, condition information, and/or photos. They're happy to help.
Complete auction details and the catalog are available on the Briggs Auction website.
Contact Briggs Auction: info@briggsauction.com or 610.566.3138.
Good luck and raise your paddle high! Together we can get through this!
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| THIS WEEK'S LOCAL LOVE
Shop Small & Support Local
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| Are you a local business? Email us your announcements! We'll post them on our Local Love Blog and here!
Women’s Resource Center
The Women’s Resource Center, based in Wayne and serving the five counties of southeastern Pennsylvania, has an active Helpline to obtain local resources for help in difficult circumstances. We are also safely continuing our low cost Family Law legal consultation program by phone. Please visit our website or email info@womensrc.org to learn more. Stay well and safe!
113 West Wayne Avenue, Wayne – 610-687-6391
womensresourcecenter.net
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| Village Wellness
Berwyn
Their doors have been closed since 3/13 – so its been a financial challenge for the vw team. They are
hopeful and have worked really hard on getting their online services up and running.
You can check out online services here:
• Live Online Classes
• Tele-medicine & online services
In general to support our community at this time:
• We have significantly reduced the rate of many of our services
• All of our online classes are on a sliding/pay what you can scale starting at $1
• We are offering a FREE online weekly meditation circle
6 Waterloo Avenue, Berwyn
(610) 203-3747
villagewellness.net
Snap Kitchen
Villanova
OPEN & STOCKED for business to meet the needs of our community during these trying times
We are a fresh meal business. We prepare and cook our menu every day from our kitchen (following the best in food safety standards) in Philadelphia. Our meals are fully gluten-free; we offer breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks & drinks. We also have options that are keto-friendly, Whole30, paleo, pescetarian, vegetarian, vegan, and milk free. All of our meals come in microwave-safe, BPA free plastic containers that are heated in less than two and a half minutes. Meals can also be placed in oven-safe containers and heated in the oven.
For anyone who has never tried Snap Kitchen, they can use promo code “CHRIS” at checkout to save $15 on their first order to try us out. The same code also gives $45 off a customer’s first weekly meal plan.
snapkitchen.com
Main Line Meals on Wheels Needs Refueling
Now more than ever Main Line Meals on Wheels needs your support during these times of uncertainty. The COVD-19 virus has turned everyone’s world upside down, but especially the elderly and homebound patrons receiving meals from Main Line Meals on Wheels.
It is hard to believe that in our area there are hundreds of people who depend on Main Line Meals on Wheels, but that is reality. Please consider donating — any amount is appreciated and helps put meals on someone’s table. $8.50 a day feeds a patron a hot and cold meal. Donations can be taken over our Main Line Meals on Wheels website or mailed directly to: Main Line Meals on Wheels, PO Box 801, Devon PA 19333.
Wolf Performing Arts Center is offering virtual Private Lessons for your performer! Hone your skills in singing, acting, dance, or beginner piano with one-on-one coaching with a theatre professional. Together, they will identify goals and work together to create theatre and music and enjoy the arts right from your own home. Wolf Performing Arts Center is proud to launch Wolf Bytes Follow us on Youtube, Facebook or Instagram to enjoy short videos created by theatre professionals exploring different areas of theatre. Act, sing, and dance with Wolf PAC in your own home!
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Benjamin Franklin said, “An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.” Right now all we have is time on our hands so maybe invest it in an online class.
Main Line School Night
Try a Poetry Workshop or Improve Your Memory. There are lots of virtual classes and more are being added every day.
More Classes
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| Something For Everyone
Coursera has almost 4,000 courses from major universities covering nearly every subject. Try one of many classes like Yale’s The Science of Well-Being or a 10-hour class on dog emotion and cognition from Duke. There’s something for everyone!
Like Coursera, edX offers classes from universities across all subjects for free. Kadenze focuses on creative fields with courses that feature art, design and technology.
Learn a Language
Rosetta Stone is offering three months free for students during the coronavirus pandemic to learn a language of their choice.
Have You Always Wanted to Learn the Guitar?
Fender is offering new users a free three-month subscription to Fender Play, their online learning app for guitar, bass and ukulele.
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| ALL I WANNA DO IS
ZOOMA ZOOM ZOOM
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| Seems like everyone is using Zoom these days. So here are a few things you should know.
You Can Add a Background to Zoom
There’s no denying the app’s virtual background option adds a little fun, whether it’s a work call or an virtual birthday celebration or Happy Hour! Try it next time you Zoom! And if you don't know how to use Zoom see below for a free class!
How to!
There's a Beauty Filter ;)
The filter aims to smooth over your appearance, making you look dewy and well-rested. If you've ever used beauty mode on your phone's selfie camera, you know what you're getting. Zoom’s Touch Up My Appearance helps to smooth out your skin, remove the dark bags under your eyes, and help you look your best. To turn it on, click the up arrow next to Start Video. Click Video Settings, and under My Video, check the box for Touch Up My Appearance.
New to Zoom? There's a free class for you!
How to Use Zoom
Join Karen Strauss, MLSN Technology Instructor on
April 22 from 1 pm to 2 pm, for a free class on using Zoom to connect with family and friends. From our neighbors at Main Line School Night.
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Fauci Bobblehead
Purchase a Dr. Fauci bobblehead, shipping in July from the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame. $5 of every purchase will be donated to the American Hospital Association’s Protect the Heroes Campaign to support the 100 Million Mask Challenge.
Details
Make a Time Capsule
We are all living through history and here is a good way to have a written memory of this moment in time.
Details
Watch all of the Academy Award winning movies
Running out of ideas on what to stream? This list includes all of the winners.
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| IN NEED... We're all in this together!
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Chester County Food Bank
Food and monetary donations are critically needed. Consider becoming a Beyond Hunger 365 donor.
Covid
Donate
Wayne Food Pantry
210 South Wayne Avenue, Wayne
Drop off bin located inside front door.
Donations: bread, pasta, peanut butter, jelly, spaghetti sauce, toiletries
Wayne Food Pantry
Upper Merion Community Cupboard
191 Town Center Road, King of Prussia
Thursdays, 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM
Tuesdays, 9:00 AM drop-off - fruits, vegetables, milk only
Donation pick-up or drop-off: Contact@UMACC.org
Non-perishable food donations drop offs and donation bins:
- Outside UMACC doors – 191 Town Center Road; entrance off Independence Road
- UM Community Center – 431 W. Valley Forge Road
- UM Township Building – 175 W. Valley Forge Road
- Rep. Tim Briggs’ office – 580 Shoemaker Road
UMACC
Foundation for Delaware County
Delaware County
Donors to the Delaware County COVID-19 Response Fund: “Gift Designation".
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| MENTAL HEALTH DURING COVID
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We're all doing our best...
We're all doing our best during this time – teachers, parents, and kids. It's a time of immense uncertainity, stress and sadness for many.
Read More here.
During this time remember that you never know what someone is going through. It's a great time to suspend all judgements.
Advice and Guidance
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Your source forelegant, funky, and chic furnishings, home décor, fine art, niche collectibles,fine jewelry, and beyond.
Online Fine Estate Auction, Friday, April 24 at 11AM.
Lots open for bidding now!
Featuring a fine selection of Antiques; Decorative Items; Americana; Silver; Carpets; Modern Design Furnishings, and more, from selected Main Line and other Delaware Valley Estates, Homes, and Collections.
Download our bidding app from the App Store or Google Play, and see our website for auction details, full catalog with hundreds of photos, and bidding information.
610.566.3138 info@briggsauction.com
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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.
baldwinschool.org
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From Ebeneezer Scrooge and Sherlock Holmes to your neighbors in Kennett Square, the people, places, and stories that connect us take center stage in our 2020/2021 Season.
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Send your student to a school with a proven track record of success. Woodlynde School’s academic curriculum, programs, and activities prepare students for college.
610-293-6548
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Malvern Prep is an independent Augustinian school for young men in grades 6 through 12, defined by the Augustinian values of
Truth, Unity, and Love.
malvernprep.org/admissions
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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!
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Discover Virtual Friends' Central!
This past month, Friends' Central, like other schools, has shifted to online learning, but despite its challenges, one thing that hasn't changed is the outstanding academic program being offered to students. Discover how Friends' Central has seamlessly transitioned to Virtual FCS, while also getting the chance to talk to administrators and Admissions counselors, at our All-School Virtual Open House on Tuesday, April 21 at 9 am.
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REGISTER TODAY!
The next primary election is on June 2, 2020.
With Pennsylvania's new vote-by-mail rules, you have plenty of time to arrange to cast your 2020 primary and general election votes from home.
Apply now to receive your mail-in ballot for the primary and opt-in to also receive a mail-in ballot for the general election in November.
You may still apply for an absentee ballot if you will be out of town or have an illness or physical disability. But any voter can apply for a mail-in ballot with no excuse required.
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