This Wednesday May 20 // 6pm “Freedom Underground” is thrilled to announce Rev. Dr. Robert Turner @revdrrobertturner will be speaking. He was the former Pastor of Historic Vernon AME Church in Tulsa, OK. He’s author of the book, “Creating a Culture of Repair: Taking Action on the Road to Reparations.” He was instrumental in helping with the fight to seek reparations from the city of Tulsa over the 1921 massacre. From that he founded “40 Miles for 40 Acres” a walk for reparations. He’s now Pastor at Empowerment Temple AME Church in Baltimore. He’s done several walks from Baltimore to Washington D.C. Last week he did a walk from Columbia, PA to the State Capital Harrisburg in honor of the MOVE anniversary and the history of the Columbia Underground Railroad network. He’s been featured on 60 Minutes, CNN and CBS. Rev. Dr. Turner will have copies of his book for sale.
“Freedom Underground” is a kind of Salon. Its an evening of speakers, historic and dramatic narrative, poetry, song. The event will take place in the historic Lincoln building where Abolitionist Joseph J. Lewis (Westtown School Alumni) published Lincoln’s Biography which helped propel him to the Presidency.
FREE EVENT but registration requested link: Registration link: /erp/donate/list/event?event_date_id=4828
This Wednesday 6pm (meet and greet)
6:45pm Introduction and music
7pm Rev. Dr. Turner talk.
Special thank you to our Friends at @chescocommunityfoundation for hosting in the Historic Lincoln Building
Update regarding @saveforsythefarm - our work continues. This historic property is part of a broader history of Abolition, Underground Railroad history, education history the establishment of the @westtownschool and @wcuofpa and the extraordinary history of the cooperation between the Quakers and the AME Church. The property faces a potential demolition if we don’t act quickly. Please join our efforts: email us at [email protected] and follow us on Instagram and Facebook
📣📣SHOW ALERT: I’m thrilled to be sharing an incredible line up this Saturday May 16 hosted by the wonderful people at @locali_westchester This full day of music is inspired by South x Southwest music festival and friends the locally sourced wine and food is absolutely amazing. We are grateful for locali’s presence in West Chester and the incredible talents of our local community!
Thank you @thegracious and @locali_westchester for making this event happen!
Line up:
@christinekinslowmusic@geronhoy@niski22@imbriaelena@namefullname_@connor_kaufman_
#westchesterpa #chestercountypa #livemusic #restaurant #winebar
The Grief, it is beyond my hearts ability to comprehend. My Parents and I shared a very deep, spiritual bond. The first photo here is so providential to me. Photo from Mom and Dad’s honeymoon. Here Mom is looking out across the water. She would have several miscarriages and then a “missed abortion” in which the child died in the womb. She had to carry her for 3 months. Then my Brother who was born of a rare brain aneurysm, diagnosed at the age of two leaving him completely paralyzed. She would lovingly spend hours with him curled up on the couch. He was unable to speak, would projectile vomit when she tried to feed him. Sometimes all he could do was make soft noises or just wrap his hand around her finger. It was everything. She just prayed she’d be healthy enough to take care of him.
He died three weeks before I was born. She was carrying me as she walked up the hill at Calvary cemetery. He died in the same room she took care of my Grandmother (who also had a stroke which left her paralyzed) and the same room my Dad died. I took care of Mom and she died in the same room. When you care for someone that is when you truly see the face of God.
I wrote about my cover of “Bridge Over Troubled Water” dedicated to my Brother and parents here: /bridge-over-troubled-water
As Mom was leaving I sang to her:“Sail on silver girl… all your dreams are on their way” that she was going home to Dad and “Little Joe”
This is my First Mothers Day without her. I know someday we’ll be together again in heaven but for now the grief is too deep
The Queen of May
There are azalea blossoms, kisses of God’s splendor adorning your head,
A new crown, illuminating the darkness of this world, reminding us the greatest force in the universe is love that it is found in the quiet, gentle things of Springtime
A little boy’s vulnerable hands clutching his Mothers finger,
The tenderness of butter cups, dogwood blossoms and peonies…
You are my Queen of May
In Aries season you were born and left us with a tenderness of Spring’s hopeful promise
You are my Universe
My hope
My protection,
My joy,
My Love,
You are my everything,
My Queen of May
Written for my beloved Mother, Eileen M. Lyons at the foot of her bed the Morning after passing in the same room she cared for my beloved Brother, Little Joe, my Father and Grandmother. May 2, 2026
On April 2, one day before my Mom‘s 85th birthday Mom and I took a trip to the ER. She had been dealing with nausea. She was throwing up every night. We thought it was food poisoning. One week later the hospital said they didn’t know what was causing an obstruction in her upper intestine. They had her transferred to the Hospital of University of Pennsylvania. After extensive testing a decision was made to operate, there was something causing her pancreas to press on her upper intestine. Further testing indicated her cancer had returned, colon cancer. We had hoped the bypass surgery would give us time to deal with the cancer separately as her intestines healed. Then her kidney and liver started to fail. They did another surgery installing stents to help the fluid build up in her kidneys. The progression of the cancer was swift. We couldn’t keep ahead. Mom made the decision to return home for hospice and on May 1 about 10pm my beloved Mom, my hero, my Saint, my best friend went home to Heaven to Dad and my Brother, “Little Joe”.
The past month was a blurr. My Mom had been the caregiver in our family taking care of my Brother who was paralyzed from a rare brain aneurysm, my Grandmother who suffered a massive stroke leaving her paralyzed, then Dad who had dementia. I never left her side except to stop home. Three weeks. Overnights because no one could take care of her like I would. Her power and love and strength was astonishing. Even with the surgery she was able to get up and we walked the halls. Unfortunately the cancer became too much. There was no greater honor in my life in caring for her and Dad. We went through a lot that past month.
The enormity of this loss doesn’t feel real. I walk in a foreign yet familiar landscape without Mom. My Parents and I shared “Soul Bonds”.
📣🇺🇸 This is some wonderful news, “Dare To Declare” Film has just been nominated to another film Festival, the 2026 Neumann Inspires Film Festival (Best Documentary), in addition to our inclusion in the @wcfilmfestival West Chester Film Festival @uptownwc ❤️(Best Pennsylvania Filmmaker). This is not about standing on the sidelines, this initiative sponsored by @chescocommunityfoundation and Taylor Made Media is meant to inspire communities and organizations throughout our County to host their own “Dare to Declare” events in creative and unique ways to celebrate America250! Well done @simk608 and team!!
Tickets for the 2026 Neumann screening:
Free Tickets: /.../neumann-inspires-film...
More info: https://www.neumann.edu/filmfest
Tickets and information to the West Chester Film Festival:
/2026fest
#filmfestival🎬 #westchesterpa #actor #history #america250
The superbly written and shot horror film "The Devil You Don't" has been submitted to the Tribeca Film Festival!
#Horrorfilm #Periodhorror #Periodhorrorfilm
Forsythe Run - as I walked the neighborhood where I grew up I stumbled upon ancient history. Deep history… as I was grieving the devastating loss of my Dad to dementia at the height of lockdown. The images and peace of this beautiful place was a way of connecting to something very deep. The deep Quaker Spirit here. Nature. Stillness. The shot of the moon over Forsythe Farm. We need places of healing.
Lyrics:
There’s Fire on the water
Bringing me closer to where I’m home
There’s lightning racing through your eyes
Bringing me closer to where I belong
Bring me your storm and light
The silence where you are
Bring me your storm and light
The silence where you are
#chestercountypa #westgoshenpa #saveforsythefarm #healing #grief
