By KevinKaneshiki kkaneshiki@chesterspirit.com Hundreds gathered at St Luke Community Christian Church, 320 Tilghman St., Chester, Wednesday morning to pay their respects to the late business manager of the International Laborer’s Union Local 413, James N. Harper, Sr. Harper, the second generation leader of the union his father founded, died Dec. 19th at age 70 and [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com A blue cloudless sky provided a perfect backdrop for the dedication of the new town clock in Brookhaven that took place two weeks before Christmas at Memorial Island. Following a blessing offered by Our Lady of Charity Pastor Rev. Brian Izzo, opening remarks were presented by Council President John Wilwert, Jr. who [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com C hester City Council and commissioners in Aston and Lower Chichester townships gave residents early Christmas gifts last week by adopting no tax increase budgets. For the 17th consecutive year, taxes will remain steady in the City of Chester. Council, in a 4-0 vote, adopted a 2012 final operating budget totaling $43.32 [...]
By KevinKaneshiki kkaneshiki@chesterspirit.com T he last general meeting of 2011 for the Chester Business Association (CBA) held two weeks ago at City Hall was, according to CBA President Linda Braceland, not just the last meeting of the year but also, “The end of an era.” Braceland was talking about Mayor Wendell N. Butler, Jr.’s [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com T he Pennsylvania Dept. of Education (PDE) last week denied Chester-Upland School District’s (CUSD) request for an $18.7 million advance in state subsidies that were scheduled to be paid the district in June 2012 and teachers have adopted a wait-and-see position moving forward. In a letter sent before Christmas to CUSD President [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com N o regular meeting of the Chester-Upland School Board has taken place for months without questions being raised about Joel Avery, the district’s outside contracted official spokesperson. Avery, who has been in the position for more than a year, was re-appointed at a recent board meeting for another annual term at a [...]
SPIRITstaff report newsdesk@chesterspirit.com Longtime Chester labor leader James Harper, Sr. died suddenly Monday at Crozer-Chester Medical Center. He was 70. Two public viewings will be held before his funeral. The first viewing will be on Tuesday, Dec. 27th from 6-8 P.M. at the Laborers International Union Local 413 hall, 222 Penn St., Chester; the second [...]
At a joint meeting of the Chichester, Glen Mills and Concordville-Chadds Ford Rotary clubs this month, a Philadelphia police officer who represented Rotarians in Thailand earlier this year spoke about his trip and a donation was presented to replace a game board for a military installation in Florida. Police Lt. D.F. Pace, winner of a [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com Trainer Council, last week, accepted the resignation of Council Vice President Richard Cropper, who quit to devote attention to his newly-elected union position at Boeing. Cropper said he was no longer able to dedicate the time needed for [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com The lack of communication by Sunoco and ConocoPhillips officials is causing frustration among federal, state and local officials, and union representatives who all have joined forces to try finding a buyer for the refineries. At a Monday press conference at the Marcus Hook Community Center to update the public following rounds of [...]
By KevinKaneshiki kkaneshiki@chesterspirit.com Every campaign ad in Delaware County’s recent election had one thing in common: None involved an independent party candidate. Bob Small, president of the Delaware County Greens (DCG) and the Pennsylvania Ballot Access Coalition (PBAC), a nonpartisan group in Swarthmore, wants that changed. Speaking by phone prior to Election Day, Small said [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com The wonders of modern technology were displayed last week as students in grades four, five and six at the Widener University Partnership Charter School (WUPCS) participated in a special Sharing the Environment Skype program with a school in Trinidad. WUPCS students were excited as their counterparts from the Atwell/St. Mary’s School in [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com Chester City and Brookhaven Borough can be added to the list of municipalities that gave letters of intent to the Delaware County Animal Control Board, indicating their participation in the county’s proposed animal control/shelter plan. Signed by Chester Councilman John Linder, director of public safety, the letter promises the city will formally [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com The four new Democratic members of the nine-member Chester-Upland School Board blasted their Republican colleagues after the abrupt adjournment of last week’s school board meeting. That was the second time the meeting was adjourned before its planned conclusion since the new members were seated at the beginning of the month. The adjournment [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com Brookhaven Council last week adopted the borough’s 2012 general operating budget totaling $4.5 million, reflecting a zero tax increase for residents. The proposed millage will remain at 4.35 mills; the same as 2011. A homeowner with a property assessed at $150,000 will pay $652.50 in borough real estate tax in 2012. The trash fee will remain at $149, including a $34 fee [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com D istrict Judge David Griffin, last week, presided over swearing-in ceremonies for new Chichester School Board members Frank Sill and Mary Ellen Connolly. Board member John Murdock was appointed by a 5-0 vote in November to fill the unexpired term of Alan Henderson, who resigned for personal reasons. Murdock was administered the [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com B rookhaven Council and Mayor Mike Hess, last week, recognized outgoing Council members Janice Sawicki and Vawn Donaway, who collectively served the borough for 66 years. Sawicki lost the seat she held for 35 years in [...]
By KevinKaneshiki kkaneshiki@chesterspirit.com T he Delaware County Historical Society (DCHS) has opened its Holiday Delights Train and Toy Exhibit at the Society’s museum, 400 Avenue of the States, Chester. The exhibit opened just before Thanksgiving and continues through the holiday season through Sunday, Jan. 8th. On display is a cornucopia of different toys representing past [...]
By KevinKaneshiki kkaneshiki@chesterspirit.com A s the “old” saying goes, “You’re only as young as you feel.” Such was the case last week for those who gathered at the Mayor’s Senior Council 10th annual luncheon at the Ramada Inn, on Rt. 291, Essington. The luncheon drew over 250 people; among them was Eula Danner, who celebrates [...]
By KevinKaneshiki kkaneshiki@chesterspirit.com I n memory and tribute to Muhammed Fareed, a man universally beloved in his community, the A-Plus Sunoco gas station at 9th and Kerlin sts. was closed Saturday, hours after he was gunned down in a robbery and less than 24 hours after people gathered there to stage a candlelight vigil. Over [...]
U nited Way of Southeast Delaware County has announced the Boeing Company’s continued financial support of the Success By 6® early learning program with a recent grant of $30,000 to the Born Learning public awareness and advocacy campaign. With that funding, the program will expand public awareness and advocacy around early childhood education, and improve [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com M embers of the Aston Township Lions Club gathered with family, friends and township officials just before Thanksgiving to dedicate a long-awaited headquarters for their organization. The three-acre lot on Gamble Lane, where the 40×60 foot building is located, was leased to the Lions by the township for a nominal sum. Construction [...]
Frank and Irene Vaul had a wonderful time at the Brookhaven senior’s luncheon. Brookhaven seniors celebrate with holiday luncheon Hundreds of Brookhaven seniors enjoyed a delicious luncheon Sunday afternoon at the Borough Municipal Building. Hosted by Mayor Mike Hess and the Recreation Committee, seniors feasted on chicken, green beans, baked ziti, meatballs and sausage, tossed [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com U pland Borough Council approved a 2012 preliminary operating budget totaling $2.681 million, reflecting a zero tax increase for residents. Millage is set at two mills; the same as 2011. A homeowner with a residence assessed at $75,000 will pay $150 in borough tax next year. The trash service fee will also [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com M ore than 400 Aston residents attended the township’s first-ever Winter Festival last Friday night at the Community Center. In previous years, a tree lighting ceremony was held, but this year, organizers decided to take a new and expanded approach. “This is totally beyond our expectations,” said Committee Co-chairwoman Kit Spayd. “We [...]
Chester championship tradition continues! A celebratory victory parade will be held Saturday (Dec. 10th) for the Chester Panthers football team that clinched the 2011 Delco Youth Football League’s Junior Division Championship last week. The parade starts at 1 P.M. from Memorial Park to Chester City Hall. Congratulations to players Brandon Harper, Kahaliir Barrett, Donte’ Brown, Khaleef [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com F ollowing the swearing-in of new Chester-Upland School Board members, Democrats Charlie L. Warren, II; Anthony Johnson, Bette McClairen and Cephus Richardson, the school board proceeded with its annual reorganization meeting. In what can only be described as highly contentious, Republican Wanda Mann, in a party-line vote of 5-4, was re-elected president [...]
By KevinKaneshiki kkaneshiki@chesterspirit.com T he holiday shopping season has begun and unseasonably warm sunlit skies seem like the perfect backdrop for shoppers to go anywhere. There is merchandise in malls and they are crowded. There is merchandise in Chester but empty streets and closed storefronts show no signs of the healthy foot traffic during the [...]
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