By AML Publisher
Photos courtesy of Kate’s Lens Photography

The Westtown School Garden Tour
Historic Hunter's Hill

Chester County’s Westtown School is launching its inaugural Garden Tour, featuring an evening reception and preview garden Party on Saturday, May 22nd. In addition, a self-guided tour of seven beautiful private gardens will follow on Sunday, May 23rd. Carol Trask, Westtown’s Special Events & Volunteer Manager, has the task of creating events that appeal to the Westtown community as well as the general public. “There is a beautiful variety of gardens on the tour, including a native meadow that was recently reestablished. We are really excited to offer this to the public as a wonderful weekend experience-and support our efforts at Westtown,” said Trask.

The evening reception on May 22nd will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at a historic 18th century farm and home, Hunter’s Hill. Westtown alum Charles Brock II offered his property as the backdrop to kickoff the tour-a 162-acre farm in Newtown Square that was part of an original grant by William Penn. “It’s only been owned by three families since the land was cleared in the early eighteenth century, which is pretty remarkable,” enthused Trask. On the property is the beautiful main stone house-one portion which was built in 1726. In 1758, the home was expanded and four years ago the Brock’s added on. Only on Saturday evening, with the preview party, will the public be able to participate in a guided tour of the Brock home with its fine art and antiques-while being entertained with historical information about the home and the area.
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By AML Publisher
Photos courtesy of Jubilee Photography

The Camphill ProAm Tennis Ball is the kick-off party for the school’s Sharing Life and Learning: A Campaign for Camphill Special School’s Transition Program.

Main Line tennis enthusiasts can look forward to a competitive spring ProAm for a great cause. Camphill Special School and Tennis Addiction Sports Club will host the Camphill ProAm Tennis Ball and Tennis Tournament on May 7th and 8th , respectively, benefiting students with intellectual and developmental disabilities at Camphill Special School. Camphill Special School is a community and school for children and youth ages four to twenty-one with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The Tennis Ball will take place on Friday, May 7th at the historic Sunnybrook Ballroom in Pottstown. Greg Ambrose, along with his wife Annie of Warwick Township, is one of the event chairs and a recent addition to the school’s board of directors. The Ambrose’s son Joey is a current Camphill student. “The live auction the night before is really fun because we actually auction off eight tennis teams, paired with a great trip as a prize. The ProAm is a great way to gain awareness for our important Transition Program because it fills a gap in students’ education. It was developed to be a bridge for students from that high school age-18 to 21-through to adult placement. So, the goal is to continue to teach life skills and have these children be as independent as possible, get them acquainted to community living on the farm. It’s been a very positive and successful part of Camphill,” explained Ambrose.
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By AML Publisher
Photos courtesy of the Chester County Historical Society

The 28th Annual Chester County Antiques Show features 18th and 19th Century American and Continental furniture, rugs, paintings, porcelain, glass, silver, jewelry, needlework and other decorative arts.

The 28th annual Chester County Antiques Show, benefiting the Chester County Historical Society (CCHS), is returning for its second year to the historic Westtown School near West Chester, PA the weekend of March 19 to 21, 2010. This year’s Honorary Show Chairs are Leonard A. King, President of the Devon Horse Show and his wife, Pat. In support of the Equestrian Traditions of Chester County theme, rarely seen trophies from the Devon Horse Show, including the Wanamaker trophy, will be showcased. Memorabilia from private collections in the Chester County equestrian community will complete this remarkable History of Champions loan exhibit. Kristine C. Lisi, one of the co-chairs of this year’s show and chair for the dealer’s luncheon, has been involved in the Chester County Antiques Show for three years. Lisi said that CCHS is excited to be partnering with the Devon Horse Show. “I think it’s a great marriage. And, anyone who is in the horse world knows and appreciate that Chester County is at the center of that culture. It’s a perfect fit.”

Described by Maine Antiques Digest as ‘the best venue for an antiques show in the Delaware Valley,’ Westtown School’s spacious new field house allows ample room for 59 dealers from eleven states to display their beautiful collections of antiques for purchase. With the winning combination of PECO as the renewed Presenting Sponsor, the 2010 Antiques Show is sure to be another winner. There is a Preview Party on Friday, March 19, to get an early viewing of this special loan exhibit and the wonderful array of beautiful antiques, as well as meeting the honorary show chairs, CCHS Board of Trustees, and fellow supporters.
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By AML Publisher
Photos Courtesy of Jubilee Photography

The Camphill Special School nurtures the minds, bodies and spirits of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities through education and therapy in an extended family living environment.

Driving down an excluded remote road in picturesque Chester County horse country, you may pass by the small, garnet sign with gold lettering without much pause. It is the entrance to the Camphill Special School. The nondescript wooded drive that leads to the school’s campus wouldn’t necessarily catch your eye. But, the incredible work and environment of this community of children and on campus caretakers and professionals is most noteworthy. Camphill is reshaping the lives of families across the Delaware Valley, and the country, who have challenged children.

Dr. Karl Koenig, an Austrian pediatrician who fled the Nazis and settled in Scotland in 1939, founded what is known across the world today as the “Camphill Movement.” Camphill is based on the principles of anthroposophy, the philosophy of Rudolf Steiner that seeks to integrate spirit, body, and soul. Steiner formulated the concept of curative education, which includes the arts as healing and educational forces, and his influence is felt in Camphill Special School’s adapted Waldorf curriculum.
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