Social edition: Loretta Swit in Wayne, Jazz for Home of the Sparrow, Appleford Summer Solstice, Natural Lands’ Stardust, DAR, ML School Night & City Year soirées & more

M*A*S*H fans flocked to the Cottage at Valley Forge Flowers to meet Loretta Swit, aka Hot Lips Houlihan.

The star: Actress, artist and animal rights activist, Swit, now 79, came to Wayne June 29 to sign copies of Switheart: The Watercolour Artistry & Animal Activism of Loretta Swit. Fetched from New York by a Valley Forge Flowers staffer, Swit was reportedly “lovely” and raved about the antiques and collectibles at the Cottage.

The book: Features 65 watercolors of animals painted by Swit, plus anecdotes and photos of the actress with various animals. The two-time Emmy-winning actress won her first art award at age 6.

The cause: Proceeds from sales of Switheart and its companion posters and greeting cards are being donated to organizations working to end animal suffering and cruelty. Click here to order a $55 signed copy.

Every little bit helps: Guests were charged $25 for photos with the star – the fee also went to animal causes.

Birds of a feather: VF Flowers owner Barb King serves on the board of Main Line Animal Rescue, so it’s not a huge surprise that Swit’s people would arrange for her to appear at Barb’s store.

Two Swit sayings: “Animals are my friends, not my food.” (She’s a devoted vegan.) “You don’t buy animals; you adopt them.”

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Home of the Sparrow’s Jazz night celebrates sights & sounds of Tuscany

The weather was humid and the jazz smooth as 375 Sparrow supporters gathered at Malvern’s Phelps School June 17 for the 22nd Jazz on the Main Line, “Amore – An Evening in Italy.”

The evening: Sparrow’s signature fundraiser featured a giant silent auction, a spirited live auction, dinner and dancing to City Rhythm, raising $161,000.

Most coveted auction prizes: Stays at a private Tuscan villa and a French Chateau, a trip to Deer Valley and tickets to Hamilton on Broadway. A trip to Iceland was raffled off, too.

Spreading its wings: New CEO Michelle Venema spoke about Home of the Sparrow’s ongoing efforts to expand partnerships with other agencies, businesses and county government.

The cause: Home of the Sparrow partners with Chester County women in crisis to prevent homelessness, find housing and empower brighter futures. The nonprofit provided supportive housing to a record 500 women and children in 2016.

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Appleford friends celebrate Summer Solstice

Friends and neighbors of Appleford gathered on the lush grounds of the Villanova estate for a lovely summer garden party on June 22, one day after the longest day of the year.

The soirée: Each year Appleford’s catering, floral, party rental and valet partners donate their services to the alfresco affair.

The cause: Summer Solstice proceeds support the preservation and care of the historic estate and its 24 acres of grounds and gardens, which include an arboretum and bird sanctuary.

About Appleford: Owned by Lower Merion Township since 1973 and managed by the volunteer Appleford Committee with no government funding, Appleford is a popular wedding and special event venue. The original house – a quintessential Pa. fieldstone country estate – was built in 1728, part of a William Penn land grant. Famed architect R. Brognard Okie restored the home in 1927. The estate’s lush formal gardens and brick walkways were designed by acclaimed landscape architect Thomas Sears.

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Natural Lands ‘Stardust!’ savors stellar open-space win

The conservation group had extra cause for celebration at this year’s star-kissed soirée: 1,500 acres in northern Chester County won’t be carved up by housing developers.

The celebration: A sold-out crowd of 400 nature lovers partied among the wildflowers at Binky Lee Preserve June 9. Moore Brothers poured wine tastings, Jeffrey Miller Catering fired up the paella, and a local hot air balloon pilot (Barry diLibero) floated over the party.

Why so happy: Just days before the gala, Natural Lands acquired Bryn Coed Farms from the Dietrich family, aka the Luden’s cough drop heirs. The nonprofit will create a 500-acre nature preserve on the northern Chesco site and plans to sell Bryn Coed’s remaining acres in large tracts to private owners with conservation easements.

The campaign: Stardust’s $200,000 in proceeds, along with donations from 500 households and a $2 million grant from William Penn Foundation have raised $4.4 million (and counting) for Natural Lands’ Campaign for Bryn Coed.

On the Main Line: The oldest and largest conservation nonprofit in Greater Philly, Natural Lands is currently transforming the 42-acre Haas estate in Villanova into a free public garden. “Stoneleigh: A Natural Garden” is slated to open in spring of 2018.

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DAR’s Jeptha Abbott Chapter rallies round the flag with Betsy Ross

More than 70 local members of Daughters of the American Revolution, spouses and prospective members saluted the Stars and Stripes at a Flag Day luncheon at Philadelphia Country Club June 14.

The colors: Guests donned hats and dressed in red, white and blue for the patriotic festivities.

Blast from the past: Guest speaker Betsy Ross, as portrayed by Kim Hanley, offered an engrossing account of the creation of Old Glory.

Star-spangled facts: The first version of the U.S. flag featured a British flag where stars are today and first flew at The Battle of Boston on New Year’s Day, 1776. The idea of the 13 stars (one for each colony) arranged in a circle came Philadelphia artist Charles Wilson Peale. Congress paid Betsy Ross roughly 12 pounds to create the American flag in 1777.

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Main Line School Night salutes Stephen Sondheim

The popular lifelong learning hub welcomed award-winning theatre director Terry Nolen, founder and artistic director of Philadelphia’s Arden Theatre, for “An Evening of Sondheim” at the Creutzburg Center in Radnor.

Stories of genius: At the June 13 members event, Nolen, a Berwyn resident, enchanted guests with his passion for bringing great stories to life. Accompanied by live performances, he explored the genius of Stephen Sondheim’s lyrical oeuvre including Gypsy, Sunday in the Park with George and West Side Story. Arden actress/singer Alex Keiper was accompanied on the piano by composer/music director Peter Hilliard.

The fun continued: A Broadway revue and reception followed the program. Guests sipped wine and enjoyed lite bites from Cuisine 365 and Broadway tunes by Sondheim and others. Stone Pine Financial of Media underwrote the festivities.

Twin records of success: A nonprofit founded 80 years ago, Main Line School Night offers more than 800 day, evening and weekend classes, trips and events each year at locations up and down the Main Line. The Arden Theatre has been entertaining Philly audiences for 30 years.

A local connection: Sondheim’s mentor was legendary lyricist Oscar Hammerstein who lived in Bucks County.

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Paoli’s Purenergy Studio throws sweaty shindig in Wilson Park

The joint was jumpin’ and downward doggin’ at the kickoff party for Purenergy Studio’s Yoga Bootcamp series in Chesterbrook’s Wilson Farm Park.

The workout: More than 100 fitness buffs and yogis joined Suzanne Olson’s half-hour boot camp and Kate Goodyear’s one-hour yoga class at the Shire Pavilion June 14. Purenergy Studio hosts $10 boot camp/yoga classes in the park every Wednesday night at 6 through the summer – weather permitting.

The party: Toe-tappin’ tunes by the Whiskeyhickon Boys, refreshing libations and snacks, raffles and shopping at the Namaste Bus.

The adorable adoptables: The party’s beneficiary, All 4 Paws, brought along several furry friends. Based in Chester Springs, All 4 Paws is a no-kill animal rescue, rehab and adoption service. In just seven years, the organization has saved 6,500 animals from euthanasia through its network of volunteer foster homes and shelters.

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City Year Philadelphia honors Idealist of the Year Karen Keating Mara

Some 600 corporate partners, community leaders and service champions attended City Year’s annual Idealist Dinner at the Crystal Tea Room May 24, raising nearly $600,000.

The Woman of the Hour: Co-chair of the City Year Philadelphia Advisory Board since 2012, Karen Keating Mara of Berwyn was named Idealist of the Year. The president of Keating Mara & Associates LLC of Wayne, she was introduced by her children, Jack and Caroline.

The cause: More than 200 City Year AmericCorps members spend a year working in 18 high-need Philly high schools as teachers, tutors and role models. The City Year program helps at-risk students stay in school and prepares them for college and career success.

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NoBA Launch Party previews revitalized Bala Village

See ya later, sleepy town center and empty storefronts. Cross Properties plans to rejuvenate Bala Cynwyd’s town center with new retail, restaurant and living spaces.

The pop-up party: Developer Cross Properties treated more than 100 guests to a taste of Small Town USA reimagined at 210 Bala Ave. The June 10 party christened NoBA’s temporary Art Space & Gallery and featured children’s art from Main Line Art Center, ice cream from Sweet Pea, beer samples from LaCabra Brewing, food trucks and music. The gallery offers free WiFi in a café-like setting and rotating art shows and special events.

The revitalization: The developer’s NoBA Rejuvenation plans include the construction of three mixed-use, high-end communities: 10 Union, 1 Cynwyd, and 202 Bala. Near Main Line BMW and a short distance from the Bala movie theater, NoBA plans to breathe new life into this main strip with new shops, restaurants and built in-foot traffic from its condos and apartments. Many stores and restaurants have gone dark in Bala Village in recent decades.

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Scores of artists show their work at Gladwyne Library League’s Arts and Crafts Show

For 63 years, Gladwyne Library has showcased the talents of friends and neighbors.

The preview: More than 75 library friends turned out for the show’s Opening Night Preview Party on May 1, putting the library’s new elevator to good use.

 The contest: Five judges awarded 28 ribbons after sizing up 148 creations from 65 artists, including 12 young people. Children enjoyed an art scavenger hunt created by Eva Kay Noone.

The box office: Guest Book signers for the weeklong show jumped from 150 in 2016 to 236 this year.

The volunteers: Co-Chairs Anne Foote and Blanche Torphy received an able assist from 63 volunteers.

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West Laurel Hill Cemetery stages nifty-50s murder mystery night

Friends of West Laurel Hill and Wayne Art Center gathered for a riotous malt-shop whodunnit June 10 to raise funds for the art center.

by Sharon Kozden

Rock around the clock: Cool-cat revelers enjoyed hors d’oeuvres, specialty cocktails, ’50s tunes, raffles, dinner and a rollicking, interactive show: Murder at the Malt Shop.

The threads: Cocktail attire or 50s looks: guys in bowling shirts, cuffed-jeans and leather jackets and gals in capris and poodle skirts.

Hors d’oeuvres and drinks to-die-for: Malt shop-inspired bites like cheeseburger sliders, franks en croute, cheese toast and French fries in cups washed down with spiked root beer floats and cherry phosphates.

Dinner and a murder in the conservatory: Without a Cue Productions has been performing murder mysteries since 2001. Their motto: “We Kill. You laugh.”

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