By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com F ormer CIA operative Valerie Plame Wilson and her husband, former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Joseph Wilson, Monday afternoon, captivated a standing room only audience at Widener University. The pair gained notoriety after Plame’s name was made public through a leak to the media and the couple accused the administration of President [...]
Local Scouts collect canned goods Boy Scout Troop 225, along with Cub Scout Pack 225 from St. Joseph Church in Aston, collected more than 3,450 canned goods for the Sisters of Charity in Chester. Scout Pack 77 and Troop 292 of Mount Hope United Methodist Church also collected another 3,500 canned goods for [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com J im and Kate Pierson and their five-year-old daughter, Brittany, waited patiently on the corner of 5th and Market sts. on Saturday night for the annual Marcus Hook Holiday Parade to begin. It has been a yearly tradition for the family since little Brittany was two years-old and, “was able to enjoy [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com F or the second consecutive month, Aston Township’s new leaf collection system came under fire. In an effort to save an estimated $40,000 annually, commissioners decided to forego using the leaf collection vacuum machine and instead require residents to place leaves in biodegradable bags at curbside. “This is a safety issue,” said [...]
By BriannaLopez Special to the Spirit C hester talent was on display recently at the fifth annual Talent Show hosted by Widener University radio personality Walter “Master Blaster” Jordan a/k/a Walter Jay and the station, WDNR 89.5 FM, at Widener’s Alumni Auditorium. Presenting awards and showcasing acts ranging in age and genre, Chester proved to [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com T he “We Are the 99%” sign Ieasa Nichols was wearing when she addressed Chester City Council last week might have given the impression that she was part of the “occupy” movement – but that was [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com B rookhaven Borough officials and residents honored local veterans during a Veterans Day observance recently at Memorial Island. Brookhaven Councilwoman Denise Leslie welcomed more than 100 attendees, followed by an invocation presented by Pastor Lawrence Weed of the Full Gospel Assembly, who also offered the program’s benediction. Master of Ceremonies Harry Seth [...]
By KevinKaneshiki kkaneshiki@chesterspirit.com Y ou can’t say enough about Vince Papale,” said Barbara Zippi, president of the Press Club Serving the Philadelphia Suburbs. Papale, who was born in Chester, played for the Philadelphia Eagles for three years and was the subject in the 2006 movie, Invincible. After football he became a successful motivational speaker working [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com M arcus Hook Borough officials are trying their best to keep taxes down, but with the potential closing of the ConocoPhillips and Sunoco oil refineries looming large, borough residents could be facing a 1.5 mill increase in their 2012 real estate taxes. Even though Borough Manager Bruce Dorbian reiterated several times during [...]
By KevinKaneshiki kkaneshiki@chesterspirit.com A t the Delaware County Thanksgiving food drive on Friday, Family and Community Services Executive Director Alan Edelstein said the need for food “is just as important as breathing.” Such was the underlying thinking among food drive volunteers who unloaded vehicles of canned goods and other items at the Mount Zion [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com A ston commissioners last week unanimously approved a 2012 preliminary operating budget totaling $10.85 million. If adopted, millage will be set at 4.18 mills, reflecting an increase of .18 mills over the 2011 budget. A homeowner with a property assessed at $175,000 will pay $731.50 in real estate taxes in 2012; an [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com L ast week’s Chester-Upland School Board meeting started in business-like fashion, but three-fourths of the way through the final public comment section, pandemonium broke out and the meeting was abruptly adjourned. For the second time in as many weeks, several residents publicly called for the immediate resignations of board President Wanda Mann [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com B rookhaven Council Vice President Janice Sawicki, during last week’s Council meeting, presented the first reading of the borough’s 2012 preliminary general operating budget that totals $4.49 million, reflecting a zero tax increase for residents. The proposed millage would remain at 4.35 mills, meaning a homeowner with property assessed at $150,000 will [...]
By LeslieKrowchenko Special to the Spirit T he Thanksgiving hymn “Come, Ye Thankful People, Come” includes the line, “God our Maker doth provide for our wants to be supplied.” CityTeam Ministries and its partners did their part to insure the turkey, side dishes and dessert for the holiday are supplied. More than 80 businesses, schools, [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com Saturday’s annual Brookhaven Holiday Parade was billed as the biggest and best ever! Hundreds of residents lined borough streets to see more than 50 participating groups, which included marching bands, cartoon characters, sports mascots, antique cars, veterans, karate and dance clubs, Boy and Girl Scouts, drum corps, church organizations, five Mummers groups, [...]
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economics and Statistics Administration (ESA) and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) have released a report, “Exploring the Digital Nation,” that analyzes broadband Internet adoption in the United States. Overall, approximately seven of 10 U.S. households subscribe to broadband service, yet a strong correlation exists between broadband adoption and [...]
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) awarded a $1 million grant to Philabundance, the largest hunger relief organization in the Delaware Valley to support and improve the hunger relief system. The majority of the grant will be applied to the proposed new community food center the organization hopes to open in Chester. The center, proposed [...]
L ung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are two of the deadliest diseases in the country, yet remain largely unnoticed, so throughout November the American Lung Association (ALA) is spotlighting these overlooked lung diseases to increase public understanding and encourage action to help prevent and treat them. “Lung cancer and COPD are two [...]
The Caesars Foundation will present the Chester Education Foundation (CEF) a $120,000 grant at CEF’s Communities That Care (CTC) meeting. The donation supports Project Transition, a program established to increase the number of Chester High School students who are academically prepared for successful transition into post-secondary education. Harrah’s Chester Casino and Racetrack Senior Vice President [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com Dressed in red, white and blue, elementary students attending The Christian Academy (TCA) in Brookhaven recently honored their grandparents with a variety of singing and dancing recently at the school’s annual Grandparent’s Day. This year, the event took on a patriotic theme with songs such as Yankee Doodle Boy, This Land is [...]
Six local congregations of diverse denominations will unite Sunday, Nov. 20th at 7 P.M. at Aston Presbyterian Church (APC), 2401 Concord Rd., for a community Thanksgiving service to worship and give thanks to God in prayer and song. “All members of the community are welcome, no matter what denomination,” said Rev. Jane Ritterson, pastor of [...]
Parkside, Brookhaven lag in support for facility they use, too By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com Aston Public Library Board of Trustees President Robert Hoyt, accompanied by several members of the board, attended a recent meeting of the Aston Board of Commissioners to request additional funds to help offset state budget cuts. Hoyt said the library has lost [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com Several residents attending last Thursday’s Chester Upland School Board study session held hand-made signs calling for the resignations of Board President Wanda Mann and Solicitor Leo Hackett. “We want to call attention to what has not been done,” said Hilda Campbell. “These people are wasting money and our children are not getting [...]
By KevinKaneshiki kkaneshiki@chesterspirit.com C ommunity Action Agency of Delaware County Inc. (CAADC) hosted its 32nd Annual Meeting Luncheon and Awards last week at the Springfield Country Club to recognize volunteers, clients, and companies for their community service. State Sen. Edwin “Ted” Erickson (R-26), who represents Delaware and Chester counties, and John A. Dowd, director of [...]
Seniors entertained by popular gospel group The Gospel Disciples recently performed at the Edgmont Senior Apartments as part of a variety of recreational and entertaining programs for seniors in the facility. The group, together since 1980, was founded originally by five members from Chester’s Shiloh Baptist Church Male Chorus. Since then, and added additional members, [...]
CEF to get $120,000 from gaming foundation for Chester students The Caesars Foundation will present the Chester Education Foundation (CEF) a $120,000 grant at CEF’s Communities That Care (CTC) meeting. The donation supports Project Transition, a program established to increase the number of Chester High School students who are academically prepared for successful transition into [...]
By JohnLolley and KevinKaneshiki SPIRIT staff writers Ever since the 2009 general election, when John A. Linder and Portia West became the first Democrats elected to Chester City Council since 1992, Chester Democrats have had nothing but momentum. On Tuesday, voters decided they wanted a fresh face to lead city government and Chester Democratic candidates swept [...]
By KevinKaneshiki kkaneshiki@chesterspirit.com C hester’s Department of Parks and Recreation hosted the Kings Mentoring Kings workshop last Saturday at the City Hall Community Room. It aimed to educate young men about the value of self-sufficiency and raise awareness about the need for positive male role models in face fatherlessness in many households. The workshop, the [...]
By BriannaLopez Special to the Spirit F or the past few months the political war in the small town of Colwyn waged heavily but, as of press time, it appeared Democrats had captured all four Borough Council seats. Even until the night before Election Day, residents received papers and flyers anonymously delivered in an effort [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com D emocrats have been the majority on Brookhaven Council since 1992, but Tuesday’s election gave the leadership, and the majority, to Republicans. Incumbent Republican Daniel McCray and Republican newcomers Donna Fooks and Susan Rendler-Truesdale defeated longtime Democratic Councilwoman Janice Sawicki and Democrats Michael Ruggieri and James LaPera. McCray, a lifelong borough resident, [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com W orkers from the ConocoPhillips and Sunoco oil refineries were joined last Saturday by family, neighbors, friends, a host of politicians, and their brothers and sisters from the Teamsters, AFL-CIO, United Steelworkers of America and others on a march and rally hoping to persuade a buyer to step up, purchase the facilities [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com People attending Thursday night’s Chester-Upland School Board candidates’ “debate” did not get what was advertised because not all of the candidates seeking five seats on the nine-member school board were there. But they were surprised with a visit from the man recently hired to temporarily lead the district. Instead of a real [...]
The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Region III office has announced that on Wednesday, Nov. 9th at 2 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, the federal government will conduct the first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS). The test will last approximately 30 seconds, during which, regularly scheduled television, radio, cable, and satellite shows will be [...]
There have been many positive changes in the City of Chester since the start of the 21st century. Most of these have occurred during the tenure of Mayor Wendell N. Butler, Jr. with the support of City Council, other leaders and public/private partnership investments. Recreation and Youth Activity 1. The George Carter Center (Boys & [...]
Editorial We can’t sugar-coat this. There’s simply no other way to say it: leadership of the Chester-Upland School District must change! The current school board president, Wanda Mann, appears to be very popular in the community. She won her ballot spots in both the Republican and Democratic primaries so, in theory, she’s a shoe-in for [...]
Editorial T o be sure, the City of Chester is known for many things, most prominent among them is basketball and politics. From this current issue, you can see the level of political interest and debate is high. That’s good. Self-determination and public discourse are the underpinnings of democracy. But cutting through the emotion and [...]
For seats at the county level, we urge your support for: For Judge of Common Pleas Court: Nathaniel Nichols G. Michael Green Christine Fizzano Cannon Spiros Angelos John Capuzzi, Sr. For Delaware County District Attorney: John “Jack” Whelan For County Council: Thomas McGarrigle Jayne Young Colleen Morrone For Chester City government: Mayor: Wendell N. Butler, [...]
By KevinKaneshiki The Mayor’s Cup “You Read, I Read” basketball game was held last weekend at Chester High School that pitted Chester talent against counterparts from Philadelphia in a city-to-city rivalry. The Philly kids won the game, but Chester children are the real winners as more than 900 books were collected that will be donated [...]
SPIRITstaff report newsdesk@chesterspirit.com The Penn-Delco School Board, in a 7-0 vote, appointed Aston resident James Porter, II to a seat on the board. Porter is filling the unexpired term of Brian Walker, who resigned last month. Porter, a Republican, is a candidate for school board in the Nov. 8th election. Porter, who was… For the [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com After six years of intense preparation, the Empowerment Resurrection Center (ERC) opened its doors in Chester last week. Located at 1350 Edgmont Ave. at University Technology Park II on the campus of Widener University, the ERC is a drug rehabilitation provider offering tailored programs for people suffering from substance dependence. “This is [...]
SPIRITstaff report newsdesk@chesterspirit.com The candidates for Chester mayor and City Council squared off in a debate last Thursday. The debate was formatted by the League of Women Voters (LWV) but actually organized from start to finish by a group of four young men, all professionals, whose only motivation was to allow people to [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com Brookhaven voters on Nov. 8th will choose three people from among six candidates to serve on Borough Council for a four-year term. Incumbent Democrat Janice Sawicki, former Councilman Michael Ruggieri and newcomer James LaPera, Jr. are running against Republican incumbent Daniel McCray, and newcomers Donna Fooks and Susan Rendler-Truesdale. Sawicki, 60, a [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com Blackthorn Lane residents Kathy and Jeff Resnick are known for the elaborate Christmas display they have been creating for the past several years. But the surprise and historically record-setting snowfall that hit the area on Saturday gave the Resnick family the opportunity to take their creativity to a whole new level. Heads [...]
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