Delaware County Councilman David J. White (second from right) recently presented a resolution recognizing February as Black History Month to honor the contributions and achievements of African-Americans. He presented the document to Delaware County Common Pleas Judge Nathaniel C. Nichols (second from left), who was accompanied by attorney Jacquie Jones (right). Nichols, elected to the bench in November, is the third African-American in county history to be elected judge.

                William H. Ridley was the then 30-member Delaware County Bar Association’s first African-American member when he was admitted in March, 1891 at age 24, and remained the bar’s only Black member until his death in 1945.

Only one Black attorney, William Bird, of Wilmington, was listed on the Bar Association’s roster in 1951 when the bar admitted Robert A. Wright, of Chester, who became the third Black bar member and the county’s first Black judge.

 In 1992, he swore-in his son, Robert C. Wright, and for a time, they had the historic privilege of being the first father and son to serve together on the county Common Pleas Court. Robert, the son, stepped down in 2008 with health issues and his father died at age 90 in February 2010.

Joining in the presentation were Councilman John P. McBlain (left) and (rear, from left) Council Chairman Thomas J. McGarrigle, Councilwoman Colleen P. Morrone and Vice Chairman Mario J. Civera, Jr.

By LorettaRodgers

 lrodgers@chesterspirit.com

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 meets,” said Trainer business owner Felicia Kendus. “He really loved this town.”

Council President Jon Mathews announced Steppke’s death prior to starting the meeting and asked those attending to observe a moment of silence.

“Jerry and I became good friends over the years and we attended many dinners and other functions together,” said Mathews. “He was a good-hearted man and he will be dearly missed. He really cared and did a lot of good for this borough.”

Steppke served on Council for about six years and was the liaison to the Police Committee and Code Enforcement office. He served on the Chester police force for many years as a patrol officer and detective.

Steppke was honored ….

To read more of this story please see the Feb. 15-21 edition of the SPIRIT

If his early career as the county’s first African-American lawyer involved a confrontation and exchange of gunfire with Chester ruffians, then it only proved that Ridley knew more ways than one to command respect.

He was honored in June 1991, 46 years after his death at age 78 at his gravesite in Eden Cemetery in Collingdale at an invitation-only affair co-sponsored by his descendants and the Bar Association. A headstone was placed on his then-unmarked grave and people gathered in Springfield for a reception.

Ridley made local history when he was admitted to the county bar on March 23, 1891 at age 24, and remained the bar’s only Black member until his death in 1945.

Some old-timers may remember the few episodes in his life that made headlines, such as the Chester shooting and a short-lived attempt at political office, but he’s mostly thought of as a gentleman.

Delaware County Senior Judge John V. Diggins, who died in 1993 at age 96, met Ridley in 1927 when Diggins was admitted to the bar. In a 1991 interview, he recalled Ridley as a man of extraordinary manner and politeness toward others, particularly fellow members of the bar.

“It was his demeanor which stood him out from the rest,” reflected Diggins, then-94. “Bill Ridley was a gentleman from the old school; gentle, dignified and meticulous in his appearance.”

There were 30 members of the county bar when Ridley won the approval of the County Board of Law Examiners in 1891. Diggins said there was three times that number when he was……

For more on this story see the Feb 15-21 edition of the SPIRIT>

sbenesby@chesterspirit.com

fficials from the Chester Upland School District (CUSD) and Chester Community Charter School (CCCS) have developed a joint proposal they want the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) to consider in resolving their mutual financial problems at least through June. They presented the proposal prior to their meeting with PDE Secretary Ronald J. Tomalis last week and he only agreed to consider it.

The proposal marks a divergence from the bitter infighting that was going on between the city’s two charter schools and the school district in federal courtrooms over how, and if, emergency funds allocated to CUSD, such as the $3.2 million advanced in January, were to be passed along to the charter schools.

“Those families, those students, are not our enemies. They are our neighbors,” said Dr. David Clark, CEO of CCCS, of parents of kids in CUSD schools. A rally last Wednesday was attended by more than 200 parents and students. “We also will no longer allow the governor, the Department of Education, any elected officials or any other organization to try to pit us against each other.”

The joint proposal requests $21.5 million in funds for the continued operation of all Chester’s public and charter schools through the rest of the year. In return, the schools will make a commitment to trim a total of $8.3 million from their expenses and bring spending more in line proportionately with their respective student populations. CUSD would cut around $4 million; CCCS would cut $3.3 million; and Widener Partnership Charter School, the city’s only other charter school, would reduce expenses by approximately $400,000.

Additionally, they are asking for PDE to restructure or forgive an $8.7 million loan it had extended to CUSD earlier this year, but had recouped, and to infuse the district with $4.5 million in cash from the agency’s empowerment fund and other sources.

“Make no mistake,” said Clark. “We do want (CCCS) to receive the funds it deserves. But we also want (CUSD) to provide good education for its students and to receive its own funding.”

CCCS receives 83 percent of its entire operating budget from CUSD, as stipulated by the Pennsylvania Charter School Law. The remainder of its budget comes from other school districts whose students attend the downtown Chester-based school and federal funding. However, due to the budgetary crisis the CUSD now faces, the district has defaulted on the last 11 monthly payments.

The charter school is currently owed over $9.8 million dollars by CUSD.

The CCCS rally was in response to concerns over remarks by Amy Foerster, legal counselor for Gov. Tom Corbett and PDE, earlier this month before a district judge that many at the school believe implied the charter school would not receive any funding and be forced to close.

Foerster’s comments came during a hearing that pitted CCCS against CUSD for continually failing to make the required monthly payments to the charter school, including monies from the $3.2 million given to CUSD last month so it could remain open through February. Foerster made the comments in response to the presiding district judge, who suggested Corbett and Tomalis planned to make provisions to keep both institutions open.

“More specifically, the governor and the secretary will do what it takes to make sure the schools in (Chester Upland) remain open,” Foerster is quoted as saying in a transcription, correcting the judge. “I don’t remember reading the words ‘charter school’ anywhere and I don’t think that’s what the quotes were.”

She then went on to say the charter school should be “front and center” in further litigations concerning the allocation of finances.

sbenesby@chesterspirit.com

hester City Controller Edith Blackwell was shot along with one other victim at the A-Plus gas station on Ninth and Kerlin sts., the same place whose owner was shot and killed in December. Police had no immediate motive nor did they know whether the shootings were related.

The shooting happened around 3 P.M. by an unknown assailant who fired four or five rounds, according the gas station’s clerk.

Blackwell was hit in the lower back and the male victim was shot in the leg. Both are in stable condition and Blackwell was able to talk to Police Commissioner Joseph Bail, Jr. not long before he fielded questions for the press in front of Crozer-Chester Medical Center.

“It’s a tragic state of affairs that in broad daylight anybody in the City of Chester has to suffer this problem,” said Bail. “The community needs to come out. Someone knows who the shooter is and they need to give the detective bureau a call and anonymously and give the guys a lead.”

Blackwell was by the store while the male victim was pumping gas when the shooting occurred. While it’s clear that Blackwell was an innocent bystander, investigators are unsure as to whether the second victim was the intended target of the shooting.

City Communications Director Summer Freeman, on the scene to give an official response from the city, said, “The shooting is being handled vigorously by Commissioner Bail and his personnel. We intend to fully exercise our resources and place more emphasis on those we already have out on the street to secure our city because disrespect in our city will not be tolerated.”

The suspect was described as a Black male who fled in a light-colored vehicle with no hub caps, according to Bail.

Police are currently reviewing footage obtained from the gas station’s surveillance cameras.

Blackwell, a freshman city official, was elected last November and took office Jan. 3^rd.

The A-Plus market and gas station at Ninth and Kerlin sts. was the scene of violent crime for the second time in about three months. In December, the store’s owner was killed.

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 past decade, features four members to a team, each contributing directly to every shot. The game is made up of 10 ends (like innings). Each team member shoots two rocks, or stones, alternately with the opponent’s player at the same position. When all 16 rocks have been delivered, the score is determined.
A 12 foot circle (the house) is the scoring area. For each stone closer to the center of the circles, a point is scored.
Ice Works, opened in 1997, has been host to various high caliber sporting events and was one of six facilities to bid for the 2012 national curling event.
“We were approached by the Philadelphia Sports Congress about a year ago and they asked if Ice Works would be interested in hosting this event,” said facility spokesperson Lisa Shaw. “We never did curling here before but we worked on a bid for one month and after a site survey, we were awarded the tournament.”
New Jersey resident Dean Gemmell, a member of Team McCormick, one of 11 teams that qualified for the tournament, said he was delighted that location was selected because of the close proximity to his home base, but especially because

For more on this story see see the 2/8/2012 edition of the SPIRIT.

sbenesby@chesterspirit.com

The Delaware County Historical Society’s (DCHS) Chester Museum and Library has again become a  victim of theft and vandalism when scrappers last week destroyed the facility’s air conditioning units for the third time since 2005.

The latest criminal attack marked the sixth time since 2002, when it opened its downtown facility at 400     Avenue of the States, that vandalism and theft has occurred and the third time the museum will be forced to raise necessary funds to reinstall new air conditioning units.

Walter Garrison, chair of DCHS’ Facilities Committee, has been working closely with police to get to the bottom of the crimes and try to prevent future incidents.

“It’s a very unfortunate thing because it’s just taking away from what is a very good addition to the city,” said     Garrison. “We’re a very tiny non-profit and it affects the whole community when these things happen.”

The first time the units were destroyed seven years ago, DCHS installed newer ground level units with protective frames on the Courthouse Patio, but

For more of this story see the Feb. 8 -14, 2012 edition of the SPIRIT.

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eaders of the city’s Muslim community say if businesses would practice the Islam they profess, drugs and violence may be significantly reduced because drug and alcohol-related products would not be so readily available.

In a letter to 16 Muslim business owners, the city’s five Islamic leaders have asked retail storekeepers not to sell alcohol, tobacco, drug paraphernalia or pork products. Their efforts have spearheaded a growing movement called the United Muslim Coalition for Chester Citizens Against Violence and Crime.

The letter, signed by Imams Farid Rasool, Haneef Mahdi, Abdul Rahman Afrikee, Yahya Al-Adam and Keith Muhammad appeals to the Muslim storeowners’ faith convictions and points out the mandates and responsibilities of Muslims to uplift other members of the community.

“(Chester) has been plagued by the menace of self-destruction…through the use of intoxicants, dietary ignorance, gambling and other prohibitions found in the scriptures of Muslims, Christians and Jews,” they wrote, “Allah commands us…that we are prohibited from destroying ourselves or contribute to the destruction of other human beings.”

“If you refuse to hear our pleas as one Muslim to another,” they wrote, “we will be forced to ask the public not to support you because you represent a threat to our families and community-at-large, something that Muslims are not to partake of in any way. As (Muslim business owners) we (ask you) to respect the Declaration of Prohibitions that are harmful to sell or distribute to our people.”

Most Muslim store owners in Chester and other communities, said, Lamount Muhammad, of the Nation of Islam’s Ministry of Justice, are foreign-born and in this country primarily to make money. “Nobody has really challenged them and they have strayed from the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon Him.”

By Loretta

 lrodgers@chesterspirit.com

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 in Washington, DC.

“It is a night I will never forget,” said Schiliro. “I am so grateful to (Meehan) for extending the invitation for what I know is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. What was most special was having my parents there in Washington seeing the sights with me.”

The mayor’s parents, Sis and Charles, were thrilled to ride the train to the nation’s capitol with their son. Although they were not physically at the State of the Union address, they were given a personal tour of the U.S. Capitol, Ford’s Theatre and several other historical landmarks.

Schiliro said he received a phone call from a staffer in Meehan’s office four days before the Constitutionally-mandated State of the Union address, and was told the congressman wanted him to attend as his guest.

Meehan has been working closely with Schiliro since the announcement was made that the Sunoco and ConocoPhillips refineries were planning to close. They have been in “constant contact,” have attended numerous meetings together and have forged a good working relationship and friendship.

“I have great respect for Congressman Meehan and can honestly say he has done so much for our community,” said Schiliro. “He really has gone the extra mile for workers at the plants and has included local government leaders every step along the way.”

Donna Davis ousted Special events coordinator

By LorettaRodgers

 lrodgers@chesterspirit.com

riday the 13^th lived up to its fabled reputation as an unlucky day for at least 16 Chester City employees who received their walking papers from the city’s new Democratic administration. Multiple sources claim longtime employees were dismissed in a crude and impersonal manner.

“The way it was handled was totally unprofessional and unnecessary,” said one source. “The cops were all over the building and they were escorting people out of City Hall. People were crying and hysterical. It was a crazy situation.”

One city employee, tasked with calling colleagues to their dismissal meetings, was reportedly so distraught that she was taken by ambulance to Crozer-Chester Medical Center complaining of chest pain that was later reported as a mild heart attack.

According to multiple sources, the first indication that changes were in the works occurred the morning of Jan. 13^th when select employees could no longer access their email accounts.

“People were locked out of their email, couldn’t log in, and started calling to see if there was a problem with the computer system,” said one source. “Then it became clear what was happening and that everybody’s computers were not affected, just the accounts of certain people.”

Soon afterward, according to witnesses, affected employees were called to a conference room where Mayor John Linder’s Chief-of Staff Ronald Starr and newly-elected councilmembers who serve also as directors of individual departments delivered the news that no longer worked for city government.

Ousted in what could be called the “Friday the 13^th City Hall Shakeup” was Health Department employees Shonda DeShields, Thomas Groch, Sr., Doreen Brown and Ronald Wallace.

Several high profile employees also were booted. They included Monir Ahmed, a popular former city councilman and deputy director of the Streets Department; Brian Warren, deputy director of Recreation and executive director of the Police Activities League who was widely credited and praised for creating diverse programs and activities for young people and adults for the past several years; Wanda Mann, a Recreation Department coordinator who continues to serve as the non-paid president of the Chester-Upland School Board; and Parks and Public Property Department employees James Womack, a familiar face at virtually every special event; Willie Price, Brian Rothwell and Lakisha Blackwell, also a school board member. The school board is independent from city government.

Special Events coordinator Donna Davis, also credited for executing several headline-generating events for the city, was axed along with Teshania Blackwell, director of the city’s Weed and Seed program. Davis and Blackwell were in the Public Affairs Department run directly by the mayor. Davis is a current school board member.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS STORY SEE THE CURRENT ISSUE (FEBRUARY 1-7, 2012)