The Delaware County Weekly
Bringing Delco news and information directly to our residents!
—— April 14, 2023 (64th edition) ——
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Delaware County Elections’ May 16, 2023 Primary Election Kickoff | |
What voters need to know with one month until Election Day | |
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Delaware County Elections continues preparations for the May 16, 2023 Primary Election. Final polling site assignments, ballot mailings, and equipment testing are proceeding, and staff and volunteer training activities are well under way in anticipation of increased voter requests for services and information during the final weeks before Election Day.
The deadline to register to vote — for first-time voters and those who need to update addresses, names, or party affiliations — is Monday, May 1.
The deadline for voters to apply for a Vote-by-Mail ballot is Tuesday, May 9.
Election Day is Tuesday, May 16, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. (which is also the cut-off for the County to receive civilian mail-in ballots).
Primaries: Who Can Vote?
In most areas, only voters registered with the Democratic or Republican parties will be eligible to vote in the Primary Election. Independent and third-party voters will be able to participate only in the two areas with Special Elections: the 163rd State Representative District and Radnor Township Ward 4. In all other parts of Delaware County, only voters registered with the Democratic or Republican parties will be able to cast ballots in the Primary Election.
Two Special Elections Where All Eligible Voters May Participate
Pennsylvania holds special elections when there is a vacancy in an office and the law requires an election to fill the post for the remainder of that term.
Due to vacancies in office, voters in the 163rd State Representative District will be electing a new House Representative, and voters in Radnor Township’s 4th Ward (Precincts 1 and 2), will be electing a new Township Commissioner. In both special elections, voters should be aware that the winning candidates will take office shortly after the election.
This is unlike the primary contests, where candidates are seeking the nomination to represent a party on the November ballots. The Special Election for each of these offices will be at the end of the Republican and Democratic Primary ballots and will be the only item on “third-party” Special Election ballots for third-party/non-affiliated voters registered in the 163rd District and Radnor Ward 4.
More information about Special Elections is available at delcopa.gov/special.
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Sample Ballots, Candidates, Polling Places
Sample ballots, a candidate list and other resources are available at the Delco Votes! website at delcopa.gov/sample. Easy-to-use polling place resources, including an interactive map, downloadable list, and a lookup tool, will be finalized soon at delcopa.gov/polls.
Voter Registration
To vote in Delaware County, an individual must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years of age and have been a resident of the precinct at least 30 days before Election Day. Qualified voters can register online at delcopa.gov/register2vote, by mail (forms are at delcopa.gov/registerbymail), or in-person in Voter Registration at the Government Center Building at 201 W. Front Street in Media.
In-person registrations are due by 4:30 p.m. on May 1, and on-line registrations must be completed and submitted by 11:59 p.m. on May 1. Voters can verify their registration status at the Department of State’s Votes PA website at delcopa.gov/regstatus.
Vote-by-Mail Ballots
The bulk of Delaware County vote-by-mail ballots requested so far will be mailed on or before April 21. Vote-by-Mail ballots are sent only to those voters who have completed and signed an application to vote by mail in 2023, which must include valid ID.
Voters who can apply to vote by mail by 5 p.m. on Tues., May 9. Vote-by-Mail applications can be submitted on the Votes PA website accessible at delcopa.gov/vbm-app.
Secure Ballot Drop Boxes
Delaware County Elections maintains more than three dozen secure ballot drop boxes with video security. Drop boxes are located across the county, and Delaware County voters can use any drop box in the county.
The Government Center drop box (inside the Orange Street entrance) will open April 20, 2023. All other County ballot drop boxes will open May 1. Most drop boxes are open 24/7; however, two indoor sites have limited hours. A complete list of sites and hours is at the Delco Votes! website at delcopa.gov/dropbox.
Additional Resources: The Election Hotline, Voter Service Center and the Delco Votes! website
Delaware County voters have several resources available to help simplify the voting process. The Delaware County Election Hotline (610-891-VOTE) is available Mon. through Fri., 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
The Delaware County Voter Service Center will open Thurs., April 20 and provide a variety of in-person voter services weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Starting April 26, hours will be extended on Wednesday evenings through 8 p.m., and Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. to noon. On Election Day only, the Voter Service Center will open at 7 a.m. and remain open through the close of polls at 8 p.m.
The Delaware County’s election website — Delco Votes! — provides news, sample ballots, ballot drop box locations, polling location information, access to downloadable and online forms, livestreams and recordings of Board of Elections meetings, and more at delcopa.gov/vote.
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Calling all Centenarians: You’re Invited to a Celebration on May 22! | |
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Delaware County is searching for centenarians to be honored at its annual Centenarian Luncheon being held on Monday, May 22, 2023.
Residents turning 100 or older in 2023 are welcome to attend the Centenarian Luncheon at the Drexelbrook Banquet Center in Drexel Hill. In 2022, 40 centenarians attended the luncheon and staff of the Delaware County Office of Services for the Aging (COSA) visited 6 centenarians in the community and mailed an additional 5 proclamations to centenarians.
"The County is proud to celebrate our centenarians at the annual luncheon and hear their fascinating and remarkable stories," said Delaware County Council Chair Dr. Monica Taylor. “The Centenarian Luncheon is a highlight of our year, and we are honored to celebrate 100 years of life with our residents."
Centenarians and one guest are admitted for free. Additional guests may purchase tickets for $25.00 each. Guests also receive a commemorative photo from the day along with a special proclamation from Delaware County Council.
The organization or facility that brings the most centenarians to the luncheon will receive a cash prize. For more information or to register to attend the luncheon, please contact Debbie Hedgepeth at (610) 872-1406.
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Delaware County Council and the Department of Emergency Services Recognize Contributions of Volunteers During National Volunteer Appreciation Month | |
Volunteer Potluck for Citizen Corps Volunteers to be held April 21 | |
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April is National Volunteer Appreciation Month, and Delaware County Council and the Delaware County Department of Emergency Services (DES) extend their thanks to the thousands of registered volunteers with the Citizens Corps of Delaware County (CCDC) for their time, expertise, and energy provided to the County of Delaware.
With nearly 2,500 registered volunteers, CCDC supports and augments the County’s first responders and emergency management staff during times of a major emergency or disaster. Over the past calendar year, CCDC volunteers — including the specialized volunteer units such as the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), the Delaware County Animal Response Team (DelCART), the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), and the Emergency Behavioral Health Team (formally DCORT) — have engaged in 68 missions, training, and events. Since the start of this year alone, over 900 volunteer hours have been logged!
“Our volunteers exemplify what makes Delco great; they give not only their time and talents, but their heart and soul to helping others,” said Delaware County's Department of Emergency Services Director Timothy Boyce. “Every mission they accomplish, no matter how big or small, makes our community a better place — a community of generosity, of inclusion and a community of hope.”
“The Citizen Corps of Delaware County and its volunteers are emblematic of the incredible spirit of collaboration within the Delco community,” said Delaware County Vice Chair Elaine Paul Schaefer. “The response of volunteers during the pandemic was truly heroic, and volunteers tirelessly continue to step forward when needed and help us prepare for future emergencies.”
As a thank you to the hard-working volunteers who continue to provide critical help to our county, the CCDC Leadership team will be hosting a Volunteer Appreciation Potluck & Recognition Event on April 21, from 6 p.m. – 10 p.m., at the Radnorshire Room, located on the Radnor Township grounds at 301 Iven Avenue in Radnor (follow the signs once you reach the Township grounds entrance).
All CCDC, MRC, DelCART, ARES, and EBHT (formerly DCORT) volunteers (and a guest) are invited to stop by for food and conversation. In addition, Pandemic Challenge Coins and CCDC swag will be provided to volunteers who assisted during the pandemic with advanced registration.
CCDC volunteers interested in attending must register through their Galaxy Digital Account Events Calendar. In-person and virtual options exist for this event. Volunteers should contact Danielle Koerner, Deputy Chief of Special Operations, at koernerd@co.delaware.pa.us, if assistance is needed with their Galaxy Account.
Delaware County Council also extends its thanks to the many selfless volunteers who give their time to Delaware County residents through the opportunities presented by Delaware County Government departments, local non-profits and other civic, scholastic, health- and faith-based organizations. Your contributions and efforts to aid our community are appreciated. Thank you!
Those interested in becoming a Citizen Corps volunteer can visit the Citizen Corps website at delcocitizencorps.org for details.
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More about Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) | | |
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The goal of the Delaware County Medical Reserve Corps is to allow local volunteer medical and health professionals to contribute their skills and expertise throughout the year as well as during times of community need.
Our Medical Reserve Corps unit is made up of medical and support volunteers who can assist our community during an emergency, such as an earthquake, hurricane, ice storm, an influenza epidemic, a chemical spill or an act of terrorism.
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More about the Delaware County Animal Response Team (DelCART) | | |
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The Delaware County Animal Response Team (DelCART) responds to disasters affecting household pets and livestock.
We plan, set up, and run temporary evacuation shelters for animals and assist displaced pets and their people until safe to return home. We also promote pet emergency preparedness through community outreach.
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More about the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) | | |
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The Delaware County Amateur Radio Emergency Service is an organized unit of trained, FCC-licensed volunteer Amateur Radio operators dedicated to providing back-up, auxiliary emergency communication support to the Delaware County Department of Emergency Services (DES). Support is provided to local, county and state agencies including PEMA and federal agencies including FEMA during disasters and other emergencies. The unit provides communication support for public service events, widespread health emergencies and critical exercises and drills. | |
More about the Emergency Behavioral Health Team (formally DCORT) | |
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The Delaware County Emergency Behavioral Health Team is comprised of behavioral health care professionals who dedicate their time to support community members during times of disaster. These volunteers are cross trained with Psychological First Aid and various other specialized training to equip volunteers to safely serve the community.
To learn more about this team and to volunteer, contact Laura Kuebler at Kuebler@delcohsa.org.
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Happy Vaisakhi to the Sikh Community! | |
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Delaware County Council wishes the Sikh community a Happy Vaisakhi!
This Friday, April 14, marks the holy day of Vaisakhi, one of the most significant and widely observed annual celebrations for Sikhs, who make up the fifth-largest religion in the world.
Vaisakhi (which can also be spelled Baisakhi) has long been celebrated as a spring-time harvest festival across South Asia and especially to the people and farmers of the Punjab region of India, where it is also observed by Hindus. Vaisakhi marks the beginning of their solar year and is a time to celebrate a good agricultural year and pray for abundant crop for the next.
The festival is celebrated in schools, colleges, gurudwaras (places of worship), fields and homes. People wear vibrant traditional clothes, dance to celebrate prosperity, and prepare locally-grown foods such as makke di roti (a flat unleavened bread made from corn meal), sarson ka saag (a dish of mustard greens cooked with spices), chhole (a flavorful chickpea curry), aloo poori (a bread made by mixing boiled potatoes with flour and spice), gajar ka halwa (a carrot-based sweet dessert pudding), and lassi (a creamy drink with mango, yogurt, milk, sugar, and a sprinkling of cardamom).
Sikhs often celebrate Vaisakhi by visiting their local gurdwara to worship, meditate, and partake in langar, a free community meal prepared and served at all gurdwaras by volunteers.
For Sikhs, the day also holds importance as it honors a pivotal moment in the evolution of the religion more than 300 years ago when the tenth in a line of Gurus — or spiritual leaders — unified Sikhs and formalized many aspects of the faith.
Today, there are over 25 million Sikhs in India, and over 500,000 Sikhs residing here in the United States.
To all the celebrants of Vaisakhi: “Happy Vaisakhi,” or "Vaisakhi Diyan Vadhaiyan," which means ‘Best wishes for Vaisakhi.’
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Delaware County Libraries Offers Pronunciator - A Free Language Learning Tool | |
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Delaware County Libraries offers a wealth of written, visual, and audio materials available to our residents, including Pronunciator — a free web-based language learning tool that allows residents to learn over 150 different languages from around the world.
All that is needed is a library card!
Whether preparing to travel abroad, learning a language for your job, or just want to try something new, Pronunciator will build a personalized learning course with videos, audio lessons, music, and more.
Patrons of Delaware County Libraries simply go online, create a free account (or select Instant Access to bypass the registration process and jump right into it), select the language of interest, then choose how to start building language skills with customizable courses.
Courses feature a wide variety of activities to keep you engaged; video clips and human voices to keep it real; and progress tracking to keep you motivated. Users can select from short Daily Lessons, deeper Main Courses (including drills, quizzes, audio lessons, and more), or even select Structured 8-week courses, city tours, and detailed interactive grammar lessons.
Learning courses are available for those who are complete beginners, intermediate speakers, and advanced, and offerings in many languages are geared for those as young as three years old!
No limited language choices here – there are a total of 164 languages to choose from. Options range from heavily spoken languages such as Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Punjabi, and Arabic to languages such as Icelandic, Kurdish, Welsh, Sanskrit and Swahili — and virtually everything in between.
Audio instructions feature the recorded voices of native speakers of each language. Some languages have videos with subtitles which let learners loop any phrase in the video, and some languages have audio downloads of songs, with lyrics, called ProRadio (music is a proven method for learning quickly). There are even comprehensive lessons offered to prepare for the U.S. citizenship exam!
“A library card opens up a world of opportunity,” said Catherine Bittle, Director of Delaware County Libraries. “In this case, our patrons who take advantage of Pronunciator will truly get to explore a bit of the world.”
Pronunciator has been reviewed by the prestigious Library Journal, founded in 1876 for librarians, received a "Highly recommended" rating by Choice, the publishing arm of the Association of College and Research Libraries, and is used to teach undergraduates at many major universities!
To get started, library card holders can access the Pronunciator tool (see button below).
Don’t have a library card? Get one online through the Delaware County Libraries website, linked below.
Library cards can also be obtained in-person at any of Delaware County Libraries’ 28 locations. Click the button below to find a library near you.
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The Delaware County Health Department: We're Here For You! | |
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The Delaware County Health Department (DCHD) recently celebrated it's One Year Anniversary.
As part of DCHD’s science-based duty to prevent injuries, illnesses, premature deaths, and the spread of disease across the county, DCHD wants to ensure residents are aware of the important health services currently available through its Wellness Centers in Yeadon and Chester.
Some of the free-of-charge services include vaccine immunization for children and adults, drive-thru testing for flu, RSV, and COVID-19, sexually transmitted disease/infection testing & treatment, free condom distribution, tuberculous testing & treatment, as well confident pregnancy testing for women of all ages. These services are in support of DCHD’s stated duty to ensure the health and wellbeing of the Delaware County community.
DCHD has created this short video, titled We're Here For You!, as part of an ongoing effort to inform, educate, and connect residents. Please consider sharing with your friends and family!
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Black Maternal Health Crisis Takes Spotlight During Aftershock Film Screening & Conversation at Delaware County Community College | |
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In recognition of Black Maternal Health Week, the Delaware County Health Department, Delaware County Council, The Foundation for Delaware County, and the Maternity Care Coalition sponsored a documentary film screening and community conversation about the Black maternal health crisis on Wed., April 12, at Delaware County Community College.
Attendees viewed the film “Aftershock” which explores the systemic reasons why Black and Brown women in the United States are more than three times more likely to die during childbirth compared to White women.
Through the lens of two families continuing to be ravaged by the aftershock of pain and loss of these preventable maternal deaths, the film highlights the history of neglect and abuse towards women of color in America due to structural racism.
Following the film, Simuelle Myers, MA, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer for Delaware County Community College moderated a panel discussion including Shanna M. Williams, LCSW, MEd., S.W. Doula, LLC, Founder, Stephanie Reese, MBA, BSN, RN, Administrator for Division of Personal Health, Delaware County Health Department, and Carolina Alshon, MSW, LCSW, Social Services Coordinator at The Foundation for Delaware County.
The panel discussion powerfully highlighted how this crisis intimately impacts families in Delaware County today, and the critical need to continue to improve maternal care in our communities.
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Aftershock Documentary Screening Re-Cap
Total Running Time: 10:45
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Delaware County Council to Hold its Regular Public Meeting on Wednesday, April 19 | |
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Delaware County Council holds a “Regular Public Meeting” at 6 p.m. on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month to publicly discuss topics of interest to the County and address a variety of County matters. County Council members and other attendees may make announcements, issue reports, discuss important developments, and review and vote upon administrative matters such as County contracts, purchases, agreements, ordinances and amendments.
These bi-weekly Regular Public Meetings are always preceded by a “Preliminary Agenda Meeting” held at 12 noon on the prior Tuesday. These meetings serve to familiarize County Council, other government representatives in attendance, and the public on matters before votes and other decisions may be undertaken by Council during Wednesday’s Regular Public Meeting.
The next scheduled meetings:
- Preliminary Agenda Meeting: Tuesday, April 18, 12 noon
- Regular Public Meeting: Wednesday, April 19, 6 p.m.
Downloadable agendas, including key documents related to items enumerated on the agenda, are available for download from the County website linked below. We hope to see you there!
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