Blood of ALL Types Needed

The American Red Cross continues to report dangerously low supplies of blood this summer and is in need of all blood types.
Donate Thursday, September 23,7100 a.m.-7:00 p.m.
Held at Holy Redeemer Hospital, 1648 Huntingdon Pike, First Floor Atrium, Meadowbrook.
To schedule an appointment call Mary Conaway at 215-938-3692 or mconaway@holyredeemer.com

Household Hazardous Waste & Electronics Collections

This program is for residents. It is NOT for businesses, industry, or institutions
Held 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
August 21 - Spring-Ford Flex School, 333 S. Lewis Road, Royersford
October 23 - Lower Merion Township Public Works, 1300 N. Woodbine Avenue, Penn Valley
Information: Montgomery County Hotline 610-278-3618 or www.montgomerycountyrecycles.org

What Can Your Library Card Do for You?

Learn about the Abington Free Library’s online resources and how best to search the online catalog.
Thursday,September 23, 11:00 a.m. -12:00 noon or Thursday, Nobember 4, 7:00-8:00 p.m.
Held at the Abington Free Library Community Room, 1030 Old York Road, Abington
Mimi Satterthwaite will present information about the library's online databases - what is available and how to access information from home or within the library.

• See a demonstration of how to access your personal library account to reserve and renew books. 
• Learn how to access newspaper and magazine articles, encyclopedias, car repair manuals, medical information, and much more.
• Learn how to download audio books to your computer and portable listening device (mp3).  

If you have a laptop with wireless internet capability, bring it and follow along. If you don't have a laptop, come anyway.  There will be helpful handouts.
Cost:  Free

Abington Township Excess Trash Clean-up Week: Coming in October 12-15, 2010

Coming October 12-15 based on your trash day
Each resident can put out excess trash placed next to automated trash can. This surplus trash must be in plastic garbage bags and cannot weigh more than 30 lbs. per bag.
Any trash weighing more than 30 lbs. will be left curbside.
Also included in this collection are irregularly shaped items that do not fit into your trash cart. It is not necessary that they fit into a plastic garbage bag. Each item can weigh no more than 30 lbs.

On clean-out days the following materials will not be accepted:
1. No Large Items – examples: sofas, chairs, cabinets, table and chair sets, mattresses, shelves, exercise equipment, stoves, refrigerators, microwaves, washers, hot water heaters, large metal items, TVs, grills, windows, a/c units, tires, and wheelchairs. Abington Township has a large item pick-up service. Arrangements can be made at the
Abington Township Building, Ardsley Community Center, Alverthorpe Manor and the Township Highway Yard.
2. No E-Waste and Hazardous Waste – examples: circuit cards, cabling, computer monitors, computers, printers,
computer peripherals, copiers, fax machines, DVD players, radios, stereos and any other electronic device; paint,
toxic chemicals/materials or unsafe-to-handle items. Please call Montgomery County Hazardous Waste at
610-278-3618 to dispose of these items.
3. No Construction Material – examples: wood from removing decks and fencing; materials from renovations,
remodeling or reconstruction (drywall and similar materials), shingles, ceiling tiles, floor tiles, wall tiles, siding,
dirt/sod, sand, stones, rocks, bricks, concrete, asphalt, and railroad ties. You must contact your own contractor to dispose of these materials.

Blue Bags (with the Abington Township logo) can be purchased
for 50¢ per bag at all Township facilities and at locations now selling Abington Township leaf bags.

Information: 267-536-1038 or 1037 f or visit www.abington.org/refuse/largeitem_pickup.htm.

For children, teens, and adults
Mondays & Wednesdays, 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Held at Won Community Service Center, 423 Abington Avenue, Glenside
Cost: Free
Information: 215-884-8443 or www.woncommunity.org

In response to the pressing economic needs which are deeply affecting many families in the Jewish community, JFCS (Jewish Family and Children's Service) would like to help. Experienced counselors can help with financial assistance; emotional support and counseling; budgeting assistance; advocacy and chaplaincy services.
If you need help or know someone who does, call 1.866.JFCS.NOW. All inquiries are confidential.

#1-#7 plastics can be dropped off at Whole Foods Market, Jenkintown
Second Thursday of each month: March 11, April 8, May 13, June 10
9:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
Information: 215-481-0800

Local Government Channels 24, 34, and 43

Are you interested in how your local government works?
Tune into Comcast Channel 43, Abington's municipal channel or Verizon channels 24 and 34
View monthly Abington Board of Commissioner's meetings as well as the major committee meetings - Public Safety, Public Works, Public Affairs, and Code Enforcement.
Meetings televised for one week at 9:00 a.m., 3:00 p.m., and 9:00 p.m. beginning the Monday immediately following each meeting.
Consult meeting schedule on township calendar.

Channel 66 Now On Channel 190

Abington "News & Views" seen regularly on channel 66 will now be aired by Comcast on Channel 190 Some viewers may need a digital converter to access this channel. Call 1-800-COMCAST to request a FREE digital converter.

Channel 968 for Abington School District

Cable station, Abington Media Productions AMP-968 on air
Abington School district videos from all of the schools, along with District-wide and community events.
Available to Comcast Cable subscribers who have digital cable.
Abington Township Channel 43 will continue to air Abington School District programs for one half hour of every hour and from approximately 6:00-9:00 p.m. daily, with the start time being determined by the completion of Township meeting broadcasts.
School Board Meeting broadcasts also on this site
The current schedule is available at http://www.abington.k12.pa.us/850

Science Online Database & Internet Resource Training

Saturdays, February 10 & 17, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 noon
Held at Staff Lounge of Abington Library, 1030 Old York Road, Abington    
Bring your laptop with wireless if possible and your Library card 
Information & Registration: 215-885-5180 ext. 13

Children’s Health Center for Uninsured, Underinsured, & Medical Assistance

Provides primary health care to children from birth through age 21 who are uninsured, underinsured, or on Medical Assistance.
Health Center staff takes time to listen and understand issues facing children and works with parents or caregivers to provide necessary follow-up care.
Services include: physical exams, care for sick children, sports physicals, immunizations, school physicals, vision and hearing screening, parenting education and support, home visits, 24-hour on-call
Location: Visiting Nurse Association—Community Services, 1421 Highland Avenue, Abington, Monday through Friday
To schedule an appointment: 215-572-7880

Low-Cost Prescriptions?

Do you need help obtaining low-cost prescription medications due to high costs? Are you not insured or under insured?
For assistance call the Rx Support Program of Visiting Nurse Association—Community Services toll-free at 1-877-747-7257

Montgomery Child Advocacy Project

Committed to providing g counsel to children who are victims of and witnesses to abuse or need other legal representation.
MCAP assigns a lawyer with the appropriate legal skills needed by the child or youth and then petitions the court to appoint the lawyer as the child’s advocate in proceedings.
The agency makes referrals and provides direction to those seeking advice
The Project is an independent, nonprofit organization
Information; 409 Cherry Street, Norristown 610-279-1219

Aldersgate Foster Care

Make a difference in the life of a child.
Open your heart and your home by becoming a foster parent.
Non-traditional families welcome.
Aldersgate Youth Service Bureau is located at 42 N. York Road, Willow Grove.
Information: 215-657-4545 or www.aldersgateysb.com

Participate in “Cartridges for Kids”

The Abington School District participates in this recycling program.
Abington schools receive money for each empty cartridge and cell phone plus even more for new cartridges, never used, from equipment you may have discarded. These funds will be used for special programs that benefit the children,
Tell friends, neighbors, and local businesses to save their cartridges and cell phones.
There is a cartridge recycling container in every school building
Questions: 215-881-2570 or Terry Montanaro at 215-663-0430.

Police Tip on Cell Phone/Identity Theft Scams

The Abington Township Police Department advises citizens of the newest scam to emerge: identity theft using camera-equipped cell phones.

The scam works in the following way:

When a person uses a credit card, a cell phone scanner takes a picture of the card, showing its name and number. It takes less than a minute to take the picture and transmit the account information locally and sometimes overseas. Some camera-equipped cell phones have been used at ATM locations, enabling the scanner to take a picture of the ATM card as well as the victim’s PIN number as it is entered.

To protect yourself and others from this scam, do not let your credit card or ATM card out of your sight, and keep it covered as much as possible when using it in public places. For instance, do not allow a sales person to lay your card on a counter, no matter how briefly. When punching in your PIN number at an ATM or using your credit card, cover them with your hand.

Direct questions or additional information about crime to Crime Prevention Officer Joe Conover at 267-536-1075.

Help with Homework at Abington Free Library

Are you a high school or middle school student who needs help with science fair projects or science research?

Check out the Abington Free Library's Science Fair Links page - http://abg.mclinc.org/LinksScienceFair.htm for information on ideas, research, judges, and more. Abington Free Library, 1030 Old York Road Abington 215-885-5180, ext. 15 Karen Burnham.

Science Fair Links

It's Science Fair Projects Time!
For your Science Fair Projects - check out the Abington Free Library's Science Fair Links page - http://abg.mclinc.org/links/LinksScienceFair.htm for information on ideas, research, judges, and more. Abington Free Library, 1030 Old York Road Abington 215-885-5180, ext. 15 Karen Burnham.

In Time of War

During this time when our country is engaged in war, adults might find the following web sites helpful as they dialog with children of various ages.

Coping in Unsettling Times
http://www.nasponline.org/NEAT/unsettlingtimes.html

War: The Five Best/Worst Things You Can Say To Your Children
Chick Moorman, Author of Parent Talk
http://www.crosswalk.com/family/1187496.html.

The Road to Resilience Brochure
The American Psychological Association currently offers a brochure that builds resilience in a time of war for adults and children. This brochure can either be ordered by calling toll-free 1-800-964-2000 or it can be downloaded at http://www.helping.apa.org

Abington Junior High School students visit with students from Aix-en-Provence, France.