The Delaware County Health Department (DCHD) confirmed that a total of nine cases of monkeypox have been identified in Delaware County as of August 4. Cases have also been confirmed in recent weeks in Philadelphia and the neighboring collar counties of Bucks, Chester, and Montgomery.

The nation has recorded more than 6,600 cases as of August 3, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This week, President Biden announced the White House's new national monkeypox Response Coordinator and Deputy Coordinator. Globally, more than 26,000 cases have been reported in 87 counties, 80 of which have not historically reported monkeypox. The World Health Organization declared monkeypox a global health emergency July 23.

“The Delaware County Health Department is aware of the cases and is working with local health officials and health care providers to ensure that Delaware County has the necessary resources, said Delaware County Health Department Director Melissa L. Lyon, adding “The threat of community spread to Delaware County residents from monkeypox remains extremely low.”

Monkeypox, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is an illness that can cause painful rashes and flu-like symptoms—including headaches, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, chills, and exhaustion—that are caused by a virus related to Smallpox but with milder symptoms and is rarely fatal. Monkeypox is not related to chickenpox.

The disease is transmitted through prolonged and close skin-to-skin contact, typically through broken skin, or through the eyes, nose, and mouth. Monkeypox is not a sexually transmitted disease, but it can spread through intimate contact.

CDC officials say within one to three days after the appearance of fever, the person infected will develop a rash, often beginning on the face then spreading to other parts of the body. The rash will eventually dry up and fall off, typically taking 7-14 days from the time of infection for a person to start feeling symptoms of the disease, but the incubation period can also range from 5-21 days.

Despite reports of recent cases across the globe, DCHD officials caution that the disease is less contagious and concerning than COVID-19, since monkeypox does not effectively spread through the air, and vaccines and therapeutics are available to treat the disease after exposure.

DCHD received a small allocation (approximately 300 doses) of the Jynneos vaccine in July and August. The Jynneos vaccine is currently administered to eligible individuals that have been identified, in consultation with the PA Department of Health, as having a high-risk of exposure to monkeypox. DCHD has administered the Jynneos vaccine to all Delaware County residents recommended for Jynneos, based on the evidence-based criteria developed by the PA DOH and CDC.

Individuals with concerns about their exposure are urged to consider the monkeypox information DCHD’s and CDC’s websites and contact their regular healthcare provider if needed. Individuals may also reach out to the DCHD Wellness Line at (484) 276-2100 to discuss whether they may be eligible to receive the Jynneos vaccine. Updated information regarding monkeypox can be found on the Delaware County Health Department website at delcopa.gov/monkeypox and on the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/index.html.

“As the opportunities to expand access to vaccine improves, the Delaware County Health Department will participate in those efforts, in collaboration with the PA Department of Health, to appropriately disseminate additional vaccine to those populations in need,” said Director Lyon.

To reduce the risk of contracting monkeypox, the CDC advises individuals to:

• avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with people who have a rash that looks like monkeypox;
• avoid contact with objects and materials that a person with monkeypox has used; and
• wash hands often with soap and water (or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer), especially before eating or touching their face and after use of the bathroom.

For health professionals, DCHD’s website highlights links for the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Health Alert Network monkeypox advisories. These currently include the "Revised Protocols Regarding the Use of Tecovirimat (TPOXX) for the Treatment of Monkeypox", "The Addition of Commercial Labs for Monkeypox Virus Testing", and "Updated Recommendations for Monkeypox Case Identification and Testing."

Individuals and health providers with health questions may to contact the Delaware County Health Department Wellness Line by phone at (484) 276-2100 or by email at DelcoWellness@co.delaware.pa.us.

Delaware County Council Chair Dr. Monica Taylor, Councilman Richard Womack, Delaware County Executive Director Howard Lazarus, and the County’s Interim Director of Military and Veterans Affairs Sandra Garrison were proud to join Veterans Champlain Rev. Justin Cohen and Coast Guard Academy Senior Caden Mareno in raising the U.S. Coast Guard flag on August 4 outside of the Government Center in Media.

The flag raising was held in honor of the founding of the Coast Guard on August 4, 1790.

The U.S. Coast Guard flag will fly from the flagpole in the courtyard of the Government Center and Courthouse complex throughout the week. Military flags will be raised at appropriate times later this year in observance of the Air Force, on Sep. 18, 1947; the Navy, on Oct. 13, 1775; and the Marine Corps, on Nov. 10, 1775. The Army flag was raised in June to commemorate the anniversary.

Council expresses deep gratitude to those who have served or are serving in the military protecting and defending our country.

Delaware County Council Chair Dr. Monica Taylor and her family participated in the 39th annual National Night Out activities on Tuesday night, with visits to events in Springfield, Upper Darby, Havertown, and Lansdowne.

National Night Out, founded in 1984 by Lower Merion resident and Town Watch volunteer Matt Peskin, is a community-building campaign created to promote police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie, with a goal of building relationships, safer neighborhoods, and a better sense of community among the residents.

Neighborhoods host block parties, festivals, parades, cookouts, and various other community events with safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel, exhibits, and much more.

More than a dozen municipalities in Delaware County—as well as thousands of communities from all 50 States, U.S. territories and many military bases worldwide—came out for an evening of family fun.

First responders, including police officers, firefighters, and ambulance squads participate and often serve as the organizers, though volunteer-led community organizations are also represented. The event is held annually on the first Tuesday in August.

This year, Aston, Haverford, Marcus Hook, Marple, Morton, Ridley, Secane, Sharon Hill, Lansdowne, and East Lansdowne, Springfield, and Upper Darby participated locally. 

Thank you to the organizers, participants, and the community members who attended in support of this community-building event.

The 35th annual Ben to the Shore Bike Tour was held on Sunday, July 24, and (despite the heat!) over 50 riders from Delaware County—including District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer and Emergency Services Director Tim Boyce (both pictured)—braved the ride. 

The 65-mile ride from Philadelphia to Atlantic City raises money to provide financial support for families of fallen or critically injured first responders. The County team, the Delco Pacers, was proud to have raised over $25,000 for this worthwhile cause. 

Sponsors this year included the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 27, Off the Rail, Wolf Disposal, Frank Criniti of Piazza Honda of Springfield, and The Mike Mullholland Team. 

A special shout-out to Deputy District Attorney Laurie Moore, who came in third place among the women!

The District Attorney’s Office, the Department of Emergency Services, and Delaware County Council commend the many sponsors, volunteers and staff of the Families Behind the Badge Children's Foundation who work hard all year to make this event successful!

Delaware County Council Vice Chair Elaine Paul Schaefer and Councilwoman Christine Reuther joined other regional leaders and SEPTA leadership, including SEPTA GM Leslie Richards, and members of the Delaware County Planning Department at a VIP walk-through celebrating the pending opening of SEPTA’s new Wawa Station, the first expansion of Regional Rail service since 1985. 

Wawa Station is set to open Sunday, August 21.

Wawa Station will be the final stop on the expanded and newly named Media/Wawa line (previously named the Media/Elwyn line, a change made to reflect the additional terminus of service. The line, which once went to West Chester, was phased out beyond Elwyn in 1986.

The new Station will extend service an additional 3.5 miles and is estimated by SEPTA to carry an additional 950 riders per day.

“We are thrilled that this expansion, so long in development, is becoming a reality,” said Councilwoman Reuther. “And we want to thank the County’s representatives on the SEPTA Board, Dan Muroff and Mark Dambly, and members of our Delaware County Planning Department, including Tom Shaffer, for their continued support and advocacy for this project.”

Interim Director and Transportation Manager Tom Shaffer and members of the Planning Department played an integral role in restoring rail service to the area. Mr. Shaffer worked with previous Council to lobby SEPTA as far back as 1997, asking for restoration of the then recently discontinued rail service. Their efforts were successful and led to a feasibility study and an advisory committee that paved the way for the new Wawa Station. 

Mr. Shaffer also represented the County during SEPTA’s engineering of the project for the better part of a decade and successfully pushed to ensure that Wawa Station allow for a connection to the future Chester Creek and Octoraro rail trails and has advocated for a direct pedestrian connection between the station and the new Toll Brothers housing development adjacent to the station. 

State Act 89 funding in 2013 provided the funding needed to advance construction. 

The station will be ADA accessible, with a pedestrian underpass, restroom facilities and a 600-space parking garage, and have connections to SEPTA bus routes 111 and 114. 

It is expected that the 600 parking spaces will take some pressure off other stations along the line, including Media Station, that attract end-of-the-line parking by allowing residents in western Delaware County and Chester County to ride the train without driving to stations with limited parking availability.

The Wawa Station’s address is 1490 W. Baltimore Pike, located across from the Wawa Dairy that has served as a milk bottling and distribution center, adjacent to Wawa's corporate headquarters, for over 100 years. The station and the line will bear the Wawa name thanks to a 10-year, $5.4 million naming-rights agreement between SEPTA and Wawa.

Service and schedule details for the new Wawa Station will be announced by SEPTA soon.

The Delaware County Veterans Network is holding a Veterans and Families Outreach Fair on Saturday, August 13, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Delaware County Veterans Memorial located at 4599 West Chester Pike in Newtown Square.

The goal of the event is to support Veterans and their families who may be experiencing a crisis and connecting them to resources available in the community.

Several organizations will be participating and supporting local Veterans, including the Delaware County Veterans Memorial Association, Delaware County’s Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, Disabled American Veterans, Veteran Benefits Association, The American Red Cross, Veterans Multi-Service Center, Delaware County Food Share, and the Veteran Justice Court of Delaware County.

For more information, please contact the Delco Veteran Network Team at (484) 744-3268.

Delaware County’s popular annual summer concert series---sponsored by Delaware County Council and produced by the Parks & Recreation Department--is nearing the end of its 2022 season, so grab your calendars, call your friends, and plan your evening under the stars in Rose Tree Park.  

The program has recently received prestigious recognition, having been awarded Best Annual Festival in Main Line Today’s 2022 Best of the Main Line and Western Suburbs Awards, and put at the top of the list of VisitPa’s 16 Art & Music Festivals to Attend This Summer in PA.

Shows run nightly at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday-Sunday, and admission is free. This year’s nine-week entertainment lineup began on June 15 with classical music from Delaware County Symphony and wraps up on August 14 with the hard rock sound of Land of Ozz: The Ultimate Ozzy Osbourne Experience. 

Performances cover a wide variety of genres, including Classic Rock, Pop, Blues, Jazz, R&B, Country, and more. There’s even a night of Shakespeare performed by Hedgerow Theatre and the DCCC Drama Department.

“It’s extremely gratifying to receive these accolades,” said Marc J. Manfre, Director of the Delaware County Parks & Recreation Department. “The Rose Tree Summer Festival is a popular Delco tradition that we are proud to present every year, and we strive to provide a top-notch experience.”

For those who may be unfamiliar with the amphitheater, there are a few basics to know before you go. The audience should bring blankets and chairs for seating. Picnics are welcome, and Rita’s Italian Ice is for sale in the concessions stand. Leashed, friendly dogs are allowed in the outer viewing areas on the hilltops and must remain outside of “the bowl.” 

Concerts are weather permitting, and there are no rain dates. Admission and parking are free. Handicapped parking is available. Alcohol and smoking are prohibited. For details, please call (610) 891-4455.

Upcoming performers include: 

• The Core: Clapton. All of Clapton’s greatest hit music from his 45-year career in bands and solo. Electric and acoustic sets celebrating the music of the guitar legend known as “Slowhand.” [Friday, 8/5]
• Chameleon Funk featuring Mr. Ben Singleton. An evening full of electrifying music! All your favorite Rock, Pop, R&B, Jazz, Motown, and Top 40 music performed by the hottest party band in the tristate area. [Saturday, 8/6]
• Blackbird Society Orchestra. The Roaring ‘20s Roar Again! Authentic recreations of the Hot Jazz, Blues, and Swing of the legendary Jazz Age. Gems by Ellington, Armstrong, Lang & more. [Sunday, 8/7]
• The Six-String Soldiers. The most followed military music group in the world, this 5-member country music group performs Americana and patriotic music to connect America to its Army. [Wednesday, 8/10]
• Hedgerow Theatre presents: Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. One of his most beloved comedies - Music, mistaken identity, & mayhem against a background of unrequited and unbridled love. “If music be the food of love, play on…" [Thursday, 8/11]

For the complete schedule, visit the Rose Tree Summer Festival website (linked below).

Concerts are weather permitting; there are no rain dates. Admission and parking are free. Handicapped parking is available. For more information, please call (610) 891-4455. 

Delaware County Govt Official 2022 Calendar

Meet your Delaware County Council members

The Delaware County Health Department website