MEDIA —With Civil War monuments in the news recently, particularly those situated in the South, it is interesting to reflect on local monuments in our area. One of these, Delaware County’s Memorial to the Civil War, known as the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument, features a Union soldier leaning on his rifle atop a 30-foot column and is located on the east side of the Delaware County Courthouse facing Olive Street. The story of its creation is of particular interest during these times.
MEDIA — Delaware County's most senior medical official issued recommendations pertaining to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV), which has killed more than 100 people and sickened thousands in China.
NORRISTOWN — More than 30 superintendents from districts in five counties across the greater Philadelphia area announced their intentions to tackle charter school reform during a press conference Monday at the start of National School Choice Week.
A jackpot-winning Pennsylvania Lottery Cash 5 ticket sold for the Jan. 24 drawing matched all five balls drawn, 21-25-35-41-43, to win $200,000, less withholding. Lima Beverage, 14 S. Pennell Road, Media, earns a $500 bonus for selling the winning ticket.
By Neil A. Sheehan
MEDIA — Changes keep a'coming to Delaware County as county council hired a human resources specialist to revamp hiring practices and as it prepares to host an ethics reform hearing next month.
MEDIA — Despite the cold temperatures, Girl Scouts were spotted, bundled up, with cookies in hand across the area last weekend.
NETHER PROVIDENCE — No one is too young to participate in a day of service.
MEDIA COURTHOUSE — Two Wallingford residents living right behind King Field at Strath Haven Middle School have filed a petition for a temporary and permanent injunction against the Wallingford Swarthmore School District, citing “extreme sound and light pollution,” according to Media attorney Gerard Schrom.
MIDDLETOWN — Wind-whipped flames destroyed a historic barn on the 400 block of Darlington Road Thursday evening .
MARPLE — A bump in state support will help Delaware County Community College prepare its students for the local workforce.
ASTON — Much to the the dissatisfaction of the majority of residents who showed up to oppose it, commissioners Wednesday night voted 5-1-1 to approve the conditional use request of Springbrooke LLC for the development of a 36.5 acre parcel located at Pennell Road and Springbrooke Boulevard,
Members of Delaware County Council plan to meet with state officials in Harrisburg next week to discuss the process of establishing a health department.
By Susan L. Serbin
UPPER DARBY — Monica Taylor’s election to Delaware County Council has left a vacancy in the Upper Darby School Board.
MEDIA COURTHOUSE — One of two defendants arrested during an eviction earlier this year has been found guilty of risking a catastrophe for powering their Upper Darby home with a generator and series of batteries.
MIDDLETOWN — For the second straight day, fire roared through a Delaware County home, chasing residents and leaving the house a charred mess.
ASTON — A meeting planned to discuss a conditional-use application submitted by Springbrooke Industrial LLC for the proposed Springbrooke Trade Center at Pennell Road and Springbrooke Boulevard was abruptly canceled, sparking questions from local residents.
MEDIA — The solid Democratic Delaware County Council met for more than two hours Wednesday and already began making changes by scheduling nightly meetings, live streaming meetings and setting hours during the week to make themselves available to the public and to county employees.
CHADDS FORD — State Sen. Tom Killion, whose district has been held by Republicans since the 1800s, has announced his re-election bid for the seat he has held since 2016, and which straddles the boundaries of two suburban Philadelphia counties that have recently seen Democratic victories at the polls.
MEDIA COURTHOUSE — Democrats officially took control of county government Monday morning with the swearing in of Dr. Monica Taylor, Christine Reuther and Elaine Paul Schaefer, who joined incumbent Democrats Kevin Madden and Brian Zidek on the five-member county council.
NETHER PROVIDENCE – In fiscal year 2018, 22,491 refugees were admitted to the United States, a 58-percent drop from the 53,716 in 2017, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). Of that number, approximately 6 percent were from Eritrea.
Brace yourself, Delaware County. Something will happen Monday that has never happened before.
MEDIA COURTHOUSE — It was standing room only Friday morning in the John V. Diggins Ceremonial Courtroom, where four new faces joined the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas in a historic swearing-in ceremony often fraught with emotion and never lacking for applause.
By Neil A. Sheehan
Army Veteran Ed Fullmer was the 76th combat veteran honored at Veterans Night at Media Theatre prior to the production of Elf the Musical.
MEDIA — “Actress, musician, humanitarian, champion of the lost and friend to all,” was the opening of the program card for Celebrating the Life of Ann Crumb. The title says it all, according to Ruth Crumb, Ann’s aunt who developed the program.
MEDIA — Delaware County Council unanimously approved hiring McGrath Human Resources Group for $102,452 to perform a compensation study of county and court employees with a goal to begin implementing parts of that study by the end of 2020.
MEDIA — The Delaware County Bar Association may have received a $35,000 grant from Delaware County Council but Democratic members were vocal about their opposition to "subsidizing" lawyers.
By Neil A. Sheehan
SWARTHMORE — Council approved the 2020 budget by a 6-0 vote. Councilwoman Betsy Larsen was excused. At just under $5.4 million, the overall budget was 3.5 percent higher than 2019. Property tax rate remains at 5.673 mills. Each $100,000 of assessed value calls for $567.30 in taxes.
By Susan L. Serbin
MEDIA — The house at 430 N. Monroe St. is arguably one of the best-known homes in the borough. For the hundreds (or thousands) of people who pass it daily, the stately gray stone structure makes one think, “I wonder what it’s like inside?”
For more than a century, Republicans have ruled Delaware County and overseen the operations and functions throughout every corner of the county.
By Loretta Rodgers
By Susan L. Serbin
Wawa is taking a proactive approach to help customers who may have been affected by a months-long data breach this year that may have compromised credit card information used at any of the convenience store chain’s 850 locations up and down the East Coast.
MIDDLETOWN — Amanda Zavodnick of Wynnewood and her dog Bauer helped Providence Animal Center secure a $25,000 grant on Wednesday.
ASTON — The excitement was palpable on Monday morning as children, some in wheelchairs and using crutches, waited patiently for township officials and representatives from Energy Transfer to cut the ceremonial ribbon, marking the official opening of “Smiles in the Playground,” a special-needs accessible playground located on the grounds of the township community center.The playground is the long-awaited dream of resident Kit Spayd and her mother, Aston 2nd Ward Commissioner Carol Graham.“Today has been 12 years in the making and it just all seems surreal,” Spayd said. “Look at the faces of these children; they are so happy. This is what it's all about. Now, children with special needs have a safe place to play.”Energy Transfer donated $305,000 for the all-inclusive playground that features swings, slides, a large climbing area, see-saw, merry-go-round, and other activities that allow children of all skill sets to play freely.“It is great to be here for the long-awaited opening of this playground,” said Hank Alexander, Energy Transfer vice president of business development. “We are honored to be part of this dream and bringing an idea to reality. We know this playground will bring smiles and inspire children ... Great things happen when we all remain committed to a goal. Energy Transfer is committed to giving back to the community. As they play here, we hope the children will develop friendships, make memories, and have many happy moments.”Spayd and her husband Nick are the parents of two daughters, one of whom has special needs. Spayd said when her daughter was younger she hoped for a special swing to be placed in a township playground for Olivia and other children in need.“Never in my wildest dreams could I ever have imagined this,” she said. “It's just beautiful.”Ashlyn Marabella, multiple disabilities support teacher at Sun Valley High School, was on-hand for the ribbon cutting with her students, who seemed more than anxious to christen the new playground.“This is really incredible,” Marabella said. “It is an amazing experience for all these students to be included by the community. I know they appreciate it very much.”And Aston Commissioners President Jim Stigale, in his remarks, summed up the day nicely.“The children in our community will be able to play with no limitations to their imagination. The smiles that will be seen at this playground will be priceless.”
MEDIA — Last week, Delaware County Council managed to pass a $358 million budget.
PHILADELPHIA — Media resident Cynthia MacLeod, superintendent of Independence National Historical Park, recently received Global Philadelphia Association’s Globy Award for Heritag during the organization’s 2019 Globy Awards held at The Westin in Philadelphia.
MEDIA — Sometimes, final moments can cut right to the heart of things.
Delaware County officials are looking to employ some new tools in tracking a mysterious petroleum smell that keeps popping up along the Delaware River and other potential hazards, Emergency Services Director Tim Boyce said Tuesday.
NETHER PROVIDENCE — Another case of whopping cough has been confirmed in the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District.
It’s a battle that has been fought many, many times before.
MEDIA — Almost as soon as the last turkey leftover was eaten, Delaware County’s very-first pop-up Christmas bar opened in Media and it has been "jingle all the way" ever since.
MIDDLETOWN — In an annual tradition, the Chester Ridley Crum Watersheds Association (CRC) recently presented awards for environmental stewardship at the Barn at Tyler Arboretum in Media. This year, Scott Arboretum at Swarthmore College received the Organizational Stewardship Award; Apple Leisure Group of Newtown Square received the Corporate Stewardship Award; Tracy Bouvette of Swarthmore received the Environmental Leadership Award; and Kurt Leininger of Malvern as Volunteer Stewardship Award. The annual event is hosted by CRC to recognize extraordinary contributions by individuals and organizations for work and dedication to our watersheds.
MEDIA — It has no proposed tax increase - for now - and only one member of the public voiced concerns with the $358 million county budget being presented. But some county council members found issues of perceptual concern.
MEDIA COURTHOUSE — Delaware County District Attorney-Elect Jack Stollsteimer has reportedly fired 11 current prosecutors within the last two days, amounting to about 23 percent of the present staff of 47.
By Loretta Rodgers
MEDIA — Along party lines, Delaware County Council approved DELCORA’s establishment of a Rate Stabilization Trust stemming from their asset sale to Aqua Pennsylvania Wastewater. Republicans approved the measure and Democrats opposed it.
