By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com T he auditorium at Lathem Hall on Widener University’s campus was filled to its 250-person capacity Thursday night for the only scheduled debate between Chester City mayoral candidates, Republican incumbent Mayor Wendell N. Butler, Jr. and Democratic City Councilman John A. Linder. People attending were, in large part, split along party lines [...]
By KevinKaneshiki Special to the Spirit Plastered on a wall on 5th St. is a billboard ad that reads, “Obama picks Butler.” Underneath the caption is the remainder of the phrase, ”and so should you.” Above the quote is President Barack Obama’s face next to Chester Mayor Wendell Butler’s. The Chester Democratic Party, and by extension, the [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com A decision by the Aston Board of Commissioners to forego using the township’s leaf collection vacuum machine and instead require residents to place leaves in biodegradable bags has angered some residents, especially senior citizens. At last week’s commissioners meeting, senior citizen John Ford said it was much easier to put leaves at [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com F or his courage, professionalism and leadership, Aston Police Sergeant Jeffrey Brown, during last week’s Board of Commissioners meeting, was awarded the police department’s Medal of Valor, it’s highest honor. Police Chief Dan Ruggieri, who presented the medal, said Brown’s “courage and devotion to duty was extraordinary.” On July 4th, the Central [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com S unny skies provided a perfect backdrop for Sunday’s official dedication of the 9/11 Memorial at the Rocco Gaspari, Sr. Park in Lower Chichester Township. Surrounded by a hand built stone wall and flags representing the United States, firefighters and police, the centerpiece of the memorial, a four-foot, 800 pound beam, which [...]
By DesireGrover Special to the Spirit D uring the summer months Chester is notoriously in the news for the wrong reasons. It is during the summer that many negative things are said about youth and the city overall. It sometimes gets to the point where one might ask, “Can anything good come out of Chester?” [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com A neighborhood reunion of Chester’s Second Ward was recently held at the Ballrooms at Boothwyn in Upper Chichester. Organized by Joan McCracken Bonaquisti, Bob Crowley and Chas McLaughlin, more than 80 former residents of the area surrounding the former St. Robert’s Church and School, Goodwill Fire Company, and the Bus Barn, [...]
By BriannaLopez Special to the Spirit E nvironmental stress has been one of the leading causes of health concerns for long-time Chester residents who believe air quality and pollution are the reasons. To explore the topic, the Chester Environmental Partnership (CEP) held a public meeting last Thursday at Faith Temple Holy Church, 1005 West 7th [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com The Chester–Upland School Board, Thursday night, in a 7-0 vote, appointed Dr. Levi Wingard as acting superintendent. Board members Joseph Hollman and Iaesa Nichols were not present at the meeting. Wingard will be paid $850 per day plus transportation costs, which raised the ire of some [...]
By BriannaLopez Special to the SPIRIT Scattered conversations whisper through the Alumni Auditorium at Widener University as about 50 community people prepare for a highly anticipated panel discussion about collective efforts to find solutions to reduce youth violence in Chester. Then it began. “There are people in this city that are very committed to this [...]
SPIRITstaff report newsdesk@chesterspirit.com C andidates running for mayor and City Council in Chester will square off in the only public debate scheduled in the election season on Thursday, Oct. 27th at Widener University’s Lathem Hall. The debate will pit incumbent Republican Mayor Wendell N. Butler, Jr. against freshman Councilman John Linder, the Democratic candidate. Last [...]
O ctober is American Pharmacists Month and the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) says people should consider partnering with their pharmacists to help combat and control diabetes. According to a 2011 report from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), almost 25.8 million people, or 8.3 percent of the U.S. population, have diabetes. Last year [...]
By Eric Berman, DO, MS People with diabetes have too much sugar in their blood or not enough insulin to change that sugar into energy. There are 23.6 million people in the United States who have diabetes. More than five million people don’t even know they have diabetes. There is no cure for [...]
Editorial I n what can only be described as “sinister and unfair,” the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed, and Gov. Tom Corbett signed into law, a piece of legislation known simply as, “Act 24.” From what we can tell, Act 24 requires all current school employees with certain criminal records to formally identify themselves, even though [...]
Editorial S o the community will finally get an opportunity to hear, side-by-side, the thoughts, ideas, emotions and philosophies of the men and women running for mayor and seats on Chester’s City Council. The debate next week is being coordinated by the League of Women Voters and sponsored by a host of politically-savvy youth and [...]
Chester, PA…October 19, 2011…The Chester Upland School District board of directors announced today that its search for a new acting superintendent has come to an end. The school board is scheduled to appoint Dr. Levi Wingard, a 36-year Pennsylvania public school administrator and classroom teacher, to the position at tomorrow’s board meeting effective immediately. Wingard [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com D ressed in poodle skirts and pony tails, members and volunteers of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of Delaware County celebrated its 39th year of providing volunteer services last week with a 50’s theme luncheon at the Lazaretto Ballroom in Essington. In addition to lunch, the afternoon’s activities included a [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com T rainer Borough Councilman Greg Miley, at the conclusion of last week’s Council meeting, read a statement on behalf of his employer to quell a rumor that has been circulating for several weeks. “There is no basis to the rumors or innuendos that the Congoleum Corporation is shutting down its operations in [...]
M eghan Kok, a 16 year-old member of Aston Presbyterian Church (APC), along with the pastor, Rev. Jane Ritterson, and members of Compassion Corps leave Nov. 5th for a two-week special mission to Uganda. “I first heard of Compassion Corps when Jan Bean and Beth McMillen came to our church for a special mission luncheon. [...]
Aston delegation going to Uganda To make a financial contribution or find out more about Compassion Corps, visit http://www.compassion-corps.com/donate/. On the website you can make a general donation; in the comments section, identify Aston Presbyterian Church as the recipient of your gift. A list of supplies can also be found on the Compassion Corps [...]
Some 3,561 new registrants signed up to receive emergency text messages from Delco Alert in the days before and during recent severe weather. New registrations have brought the total to well over 9,500 people who will be notified through text messaging and other wireless devices in the event of any emergency in the county, County [...]
By LincolnRigg With high unemployment numbers and jobs scarce, college enrollment is the highest it has been in recent years. Unable to find work, recent high school graduates are furthering their education in hopes of finding better paying jobs when they graduate. Recently laid off workers are learning new skills to advance in their former [...]
By AntoinetteS.Maciolek D elaware County Community College is celebrating its 45th year. Founded in 1967, the college has grown to serve more than 28,000 students each year in Delaware and Chester counties and offers quality educational programs and services that are student-focused, accessible, comprehensive and flexible to meet the educational needs of our diverse [...]
Art sparks downtown renaissance Many people believe Chester’s downtown business district can be vibrant again with arts and entertainment venues as a foundation. Chester Business Association President Linda Braceland, also a founding member of Art on the Avenue, hopes to jumpstart that renaissance by creating an artist colony where artists can work and a gallery to exhibit and [...]
By JeanneBennett jbennett@chesterspirit.com A 1990 book by author Annie Louise Potter, A Living Mystery, the International Art & History of Crochet, explained the word “crochet” comes from the Middle French words “croc” or “croche,” meaning “hook.” Crochet is the art of creating fabric by pulling loops of yarn or thread through other loops with the [...]
Hundreds enjoy annual Kids Fun Fair More than 500 people attended the eighth annual Kids Fun Fair sponsored by Sen. Dominic Pileggi (R-9) at Sun Valley High School in Aston last Saturday. “This fair is a fun way for the senator to provide his constituents state-related information,” said Michelle Lewis, event organizer. The fair featured [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com P enn-Delco School District Director of Facilities Tom Calvecchio died Friday evening at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. Calvecchio, 53, was born in Philadelphia, raised in Lansdowne and was a 1976 graduate of Lansdowne-Aldan High School. Calvecchio moved to Aston Township in 1999 and has been employed by the Penn-Delco School [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com A dministrators, teachers, students and parishioners gathered last week to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the opening of St. Joseph School in Aston. Following mass, the congregation made its way to the school next door where St. Joseph pastor, Rev. Robert Vogan, presided over the school’s rededication. “May this school continue to [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com I t was a walk down memory lane for Chester natives as current and former residents gathered for the OldChesterPA Reunion last Saturday afternoon on the outside deck at Harrah’s Casino and Racetrack. Hosted by the Chester Historical Preservation Committee, the reunion featured informational tables by the J. Lewis Crozer Library, Chester [...]
SPIRIT staff report News from the War on Crime and Drugs has been bittersweet this week in the office of Delaware County District Attorney G. Michael Green. On Tuesday, Green announced that equipment used in an illegal marijuana [...]
SPIRITstaff report newsdesk@chesterspirit.com The Chester Prison Re-entry Collaborative is preparing to make history when it opens the first one-stop prison re-entry center in Delaware County to help people coming out of prison re-engage with the general population. Located in the Crozer Building, 419 Avenue of the States, Suite 407, in Chester, city, state and county [...]
Starting this week, low-income, working families in Pennsylvania will have to dig a little deeper and pay more for child care out-of-pocket as the state Department of Public Welfare (DPW) increases the cost of co-payments for families receiving child care subsidy. Scheduled to go into effect this Monday, the General Assembly mandated the hike, [...]
Chester police vehicles, including a patrol car, a three-wheel vehicle, and the oldest motorcycle still in active service in the United States, swept the 11th annual Police Cruiser Night sponsored annually by Faulkner GMC in West Chester to benefit the Chester County Fraternal Order of Police. The event was held early last month. Chester city [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com More than 3,000 residents attended Aston Township’s 10th annual Community Day last Saturday on the grounds of the Community Center. Sponsored by the Aston Business Association, the day’s events included a parade, business expo, book sale, and countless activities for children including several moon bounces, big slide, face painting and a bike [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com A bi-partisan political effort is underway to save at least 1,000 direct jobs and potentially hundreds of others that would be affected in four southeastern Delaware County communities if the Sunoco Marcus Hook and ConocoPhillips refineries close unless a buyer is found. Last week’s news that both facilities would be shuttered has [...]
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