COUNTY OF DELAWARE GOVERNMENT CENTER BUILDING 201 W. FRONT STREET MEDIA, PENNSYLVANIA COUNCIL ____________ 610-891-4931 Thomas J. McGarrigle FAX NUMBER 610-891-8055 Department of Public Relations Chairman E-MAIL: delcopr@co.delaware.pa.us Trish Cofiell Communications Officer Mario J. Civera, Jr. Vice Chairman [...]
Harrisburg – The Pennsylvania Department of Health is reminding parents and caregivers of the upcoming final deadline for students to comply with new school immunization requirements. When the school year began, families were given eight months to bring students up-to-date with their vaccinations. On April 27, the department announced a two-week grace period. [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com S t Timothy Lutheran Church in Aston will end its year-long celebration of its 50th anniversary with a dinner at 6 P.M., Saturday, May 19th at Hennessey’s restaurant and a special visit from the Rev. Claire Burkat, bishop of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. Guest [...]
Local students recognized for poetic abilities By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com S tudents from across the county gathered last week at the Redwood Playhouse in Upland to be recognized as winners of the 2012 Young Poets of Delaware County Poetry Contest. Sponsored by the Delaware County Library System, Mad Poets Society, the Delaware County Reading Council and [...]
The United Way of Southeast Delaware County (UWSEDC) announced on Monday that, effective July 1st, it will join a group of seven United Ways throughout the region, merging to form United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. It will be one organization committed to improving lives and creating lasting community-level change, according to [...]
Sun Valley High School recently participated in the seventh annual Greater Philadelphia Sea Perch Challenge at Drexel University against 28 other high schools from the tri-state area. The challenge is open to middle and high schools in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware and its goal is to increase student interest in robotics, science, mathematics, engineering [...]
lrodgers@chesterspirit.com M itt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor and two-time presidential candidate, was expected to win yesterday’s primary election, especially since former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum dropped out weeks before the race for the White House rolled into his home state. But on Monday, Romney, the [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com I n addition to traditional opening day ceremonies, the Aston Valley Baseball League on Saturday celebrated the 50th anniversary of its founding by inducting several people into the newly-created Hall of Fame. “This is a special day in the history of our league and [...]
Who’s doing what about the refineries? Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-9) introduced a bill to strengthen Pennsylvania’s Keystone Opportunity Zone (KOZ) program (SB 1237). It was….. Bob Brady remains a favorite legislator. U.S. Rep. Bob Brady (PA-1) was recently named a Defender of Children by the First Focus Campaign for Children (FFCC), a Washington, [...]
By RyanSmith rsmith@chesterspirit.com F or residents of Darby Township, there are three ways to get from Hook Road to the other side of Sharon Hill along Chester Pike. You can take the roundabout ways of going down Calcon Hook Road before Hook Road turns into 84th St. or down Primos Ave. before it turns into [...]
H onors biology students at Sun Valley High School added a new experiment to their curriculum this year. Under the guidance of Chris Sikich, Jeff Deckman, Kathleen Emhof and Cheryl Wiest, the group participated in the Delaware Valley Science Fair (DVSF) for the first time. The DVSF is a vehicle for stimulating interest [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com A ston commissioners last week, citing pressure from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and a recent ruling by the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court, unanimously but reluctantly repealed the township’s sexual predator ordinance that set restrictions as to where registered sex offenders could reside. Solicitor Elizabeth Naughton-Beck read a statement explaining the [...]
D isplaced ConocoPhillips refinery workers Ralph Griffith and Fred Chazin are spending many hours these days learning computer skills free of charge, compliments of Delaware County Community College (DCCC), PA CareerLink®, and the Delaware County Workforce Investment Board (DCWIB). “This has been absolutely great,” said Chazin, 59, vice president of the United Steelworkers Union (USU) [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com L ocated at the current site of St. Joseph School in Aston, Holy Family Regional Catholic School will open in the fall and welcome students from St. Joseph Parish, Immaculate Conception Parish in Marcus Hook; Holy Saviour-St. John Fisher Parish in Linwood and Upper Chichester, respectively; and Our Lady of Charity Parish [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com T rainer Council, last week, appointed Sgt. Francis Priscopo as the borough’s new chief of police. He succeeds former Chief James Magaw, who retired last Dec. 31st. Priscopo, who lives in the borough, is a graduate of Cardinal O’Hara High School; attended St. Francis College, and graduated from the Delaware County Community [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com P arkside Councilman Douglas Bull presented a resolution to Dr. Debra Stein naming the 21-year resident as an as an outstanding citizen of the borough. Bull described Stein as a parent, friend and good neighbor and expressed appreciation for her contributions in the areas of music and dance in the community. [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com T he Trainer Borough community is mourning the death of Councilman Gerald P. Steppke who died last Thursday at Taylor Hospice, within minutes of the 7 P.M. start of the regular monthly Council meeting. He was 65. “It seems fitting that Jerry should pass away the same night that Borough Council [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com The Aston Township community is gearing up to welcome more than 100 athletes, coaches and thousands of curing fans to the 2012 Unites States National Curling Championships starting Saturday through next Saturday (Feb. 11-18) at Ice Works skating complex on Dutton’s Mill Road. The sport, which has become increasingly popular over the [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com M arcus Hook Mayor James “Jay” Schiliro can check one thing off his bucket list of things he hopes to accomplish during his lifetime. Last week, the second-term Republican mayor was the guest of U.S. Congressman Pat Meehan (R-7) at the annual State of the Union address delivered by President Barack Obama [...]
By LeslieKrowchenko Special to the Spirit Upland Borough Council voted 8-1 recently to adopt an ordinance regulating sanitary sewer lateral connections. The action was a response to requirements imposed by Delcora. A study completed by the county authority indicated excessive flow into sanitary sewer systems typically results from infiltration and inflow (I&I) into main pipelines [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com Southwest Delaware County Municipal Authority (SWDCMA) Board of Directors Chairman Nelson Shaffer, during last week’s meeting of the Aston Township Board of Commissioners, said to date, $700,000 of more than $2 million in delinquent sewer bills has been collected. “We have been aggressively, but fairly, trying to bring everyone into compliance,” said [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com W ith the exception of Chester City, reorganization meetings of local government leaders in the surrounding area remained relatively routine, except in Brookhaven Borough. The city’s power shifted from Republican to Democrat and the majority swing in Brookhaven was seismic from Democrat to Republican. Brookhaven’s changes affected the positions of Council president, [...]
By KevinKaneshiki kkaneshiki@chesterspirit.com T o honor the late union leader who institutionalized Chester’s celebration of Kwanzaa six years ago, the annual holiday event hosted by International Laborer’s Union Local 413 was renamed the James Nicholas Harper, Jr. Memorial Kwanzaa Celebration. Held last Thursday (the fourth day of the seven-day holiday) at the Union Hall, 222 [...]
By LorettaRodgers lrodgers@chesterspirit.com T he new Aston Township website will be fully operational by the middle of January. Third Ward Commissioner Mark Osborn, at a recent meeting of the board, said the site is 90 percent complete and is in the testing phase. He said the site will be fully administered in the township building, [...]
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 [...]
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 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 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 [...]
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 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 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 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 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, [...]
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 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 [...]
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 [...]
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