The Delaware County Weekly

Bringing Delco news and information directly to our residents!

—— February 9, 2024 (107th edition) ——

In recognition of Black History Month, each Thursday this month, the Delaware County Health Department (DCHD) will detail the careers and accomplishments of selected Delaware County Black community members making a difference in public health. DCHD is shining a light on pioneers from Delaware County who support public health by promoting healthy habits and community well-being. 

Coach Hunter also organized a cohort of students from Penn Wood to visit Penn State's main campus and tour the food science lab while learning about its agriculture department. As a testament to exposing his students to new concepts, his Penn Wood cohort learned how to create geographic data maps at Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland. His students learned about Washington College’s Geographic Information System (GIS) program and collected water samples for analysis. 

Today and every day, we honor Elmore Roy Hunter's legacy and thank him for all he has done for our community!

Book Recommendations from County Council 

Throughout February, Delaware County Council is partnering with Delaware County Libraries to share some of their favorite books featuring historical figures and events in Black History. 

Book recommendations will be shared throughout the month and on the Delaware County Libraries website. 

To start Black History Month, last week Delaware County Council Chair Dr. Monica Taylor recommended Shirley Chisholm is a Verb by Veronica Chambers.

This week, Delaware County Council Member Elaine Paul Schaefer’s recommendation is the 2024 Coretta Scott King Book Award winner Nigeria Jones by Ibi Zoboi.

Additional recommendations by Delaware County Council Members to follow next week!

Celebrating Black History Month: Dr. Monica Taylor Visits the Children's Ark at St. George's

As part of the County’s continuing celebration of Black History Month, Delaware County Chair Dr. Monica Taylor visited the Children's Ark at St. George's early education center in Ardmore, a visit that marks the beginning of a series of book readings by Council Members throughout the month, showcasing the County's dedication to education and cultural awareness. 

During her visit, Dr. Taylor shared the remarkable story of Kamala Harris with eager preschoolers, highlighting the journey of the first woman, first Black person, and first South Asian American elected as Vice President of the USA.

The book, Kamala Harris by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara and illustrated by Lauren Semmer, tells the tale of a young Kamala, who from an early age was involved in civil rights marches and harbored dreams of becoming a lawyer to aid those in need. Her story of perseverance and breaking barriers resonates with the message that one can achieve anything they set their mind to, embodying the essence of Black History Month.

Dr. Taylor's visit was not just a reading session but a celebration of diversity, dreams, and determination. Meeting the bright, young students, teachers, and staff at The Children's Ark at St. George's was a pleasure, underscoring the importance of educating our youth about influential figures who have shaped our history and continue to inspire future generations.

Echoing Kamala Harris's own words upon her historic election—she may be the first, but she won’t be the last—Dr. Taylor's storytelling echoes this sentiment, encouraging children to dream big and work hard, reminding them that they, too, can be pioneers in their own right.

It was a pleasure meeting all of the bright, young students, teachers, and staff at the Children's Ark at St. George's!

Thanks to the preschool children in Ms. Dean and Ms. Letitia’s class, the pre-K students in Mr. Manny, Ms. Lynn, Ms. Sarah, and Ms. Rachael’s classes, and the Kindergarten Enrichment children with Ms. Rachel and Ms. Shobha for their enthusiastic participation!

Delaware County joins the nation in recognizing February as National American Heart Month.

During the February 7 Public Council Meeting, Council Member Christine Reuther read a resolution into record recognizing February as American Heart Month in Delaware County.

Heart disease has been called the Silent Killer because it often strikes without noticeable symptoms. It is more deadly than all forms of cancer combined, sadly claiming the lives of nearly 700,000 Americans each year and is the leading cause of death in our country.

This month, we shine a spotlight on the importance of heart health- including a healthy lifestyle, prevention, and learning lifesaving CPR. 

With the adoption of a healthy lifestyle and access to good health care, heart conditions can often be prevented, and lives can be saved. There are effective solutions to prevent cardiac arrest including awareness and education, having a cardiac emergency response plan in place, CPR education, and automated external defibrillator (AED) training and accessibility.

The American Heart Association has been leading the fight against heart disease through education, awareness, and medical research and began the first American Heart Month in 1964. They recently set a goal of doubling the survival rate from cardiac arrest by 2030 by turning bystanders into lifesavers, so that everyone, everywhere is prepared and empowered to become a vital link in the chain of survival and provide CPR in response to a cardiac emergency.

Delaware County Council and the Delaware County Health Department Team encourage all residents to prevent and fight heart disease by addressing their risk factors, learning the symptoms of heart disease, seeking treatment if needed, and learning more about lifesaving CPR. 

For more information on how to keep your heart healthy visit the American Heart Association's website at https://www.heart.org/en.

Delaware County Elections Director James P. Allen and Campaign Finance Supervisor Lisa Jackson

More About the Portal: Convenience at Your Fingertips

The Easy Campaign Finance Portal offers significant convenience for candidates and their teams. Here’s how:

• Ease of Access: Say goodbye to unnecessary trips to the Elections office. Campaigns and committees that are required to file in Delaware County may submit their campaign finance documents from anywhere and at any time. 
• Time-Saving: The portal simplifies the filing process, allowing campaigns to complete submissions much more quickly and efficiently.

Cost-Savings for Campaign Finance Filers

The portal is not only convenient but also cost-effective:

• Reduced Travel Expenses: Eliminate the need for travel, saving on gas and parking costs.
• Avoid Late Filing Fees: Timely online submissions mean fewer chances of incurring late fees, which can be substantial.
• Less Paper, More Savings: Decrease your campaign’s paper and printing costs – a relief for anyone familiar with the expense of printer cartridges.
• Administrative Efficiency: The County benefits too, with reduced paper usage and hundreds of hours saved in administrative tasks each election cycle.

Enhanced Transparency for a Trustworthy Process

Transparency is key in campaign finance, and this portal delivers:

• Public Access: All filings are easily accessible by the public, media, and officials.
• Detailed Insight: Users can view detailed reports of a candidate’s financial contributions and expenditures.
• Contributor Verification: Donors can confirm that their contributions are filed correctly and used appropriately for campaign purposes.

Currently, only the most recent filings are available through the portal. In the coming year, Delaware County Elections staff will work to add past filings from 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019.

While this new portal revolutionizes Delaware County-level filing, it's important to note that it is designed exclusively for County filings only. Campaigns are reminded that state-level electronic filings are still necessary.

For questions and for more info about the Easy Campaign Finance Portal, contact the Delaware County Election Campaign Finance Department by phone at (610) 891-5450 or by email at campaignfinance@co.delaware.pa.us.

Delaware County Council Chair Dr. Monica Taylor and members of the Delaware County Heritage Commission were honored to join Concord Township officials and members of the community on Saturday, February 3 for a ribbon cutting held to celebrate the restoration and reopening of the historic Spring Valley African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. 

The AME church, a cornerstone of the Black community in Concord Township since it opened its doors in 1880, had been closed for over forty years due to dwindling membership and damage from a fire. Recognizing its significant historical value, Concord Township, through the guidance of the Concord Township Historical Commission and the Township’s Historical Society, acquired the property in 2014 with the aim of restoring it.

The restoration, a project valued at half a million dollars, received funding from Concord Township, a $220K Delaware County Community Development Block Grant through the County’s Office of Housing and Community Development, and the generous support of local community members, including local artist Jamie Wyeth who contributed artwork. The project not only revived the building, with new windows, pews, refurbished hardwood floors, and a new roof, but also added a monument to honor individuals interred in the adjacent cemetery.

Delaware County officials were given a brief tour of the church from John Gillespie, Vice President of the Concord Township Council. 

“Council is glad that the County’s block grants could support the restoration work spearheaded by Concord Township,” said Dr. Taylor. “This church serves as a bridge to our past, and embodies the resilience, hope, and community spirit that has sustained generations striving for a brighter future.”

Echoing the sentiment of community and historical preservation, John Gillespie, Vice President of the Concord Township Council, said, 'It's bringing back the cultural history, the early days of Concord Township. That's what it means to all of us."

While there are no immediate plans for the church to resume regular services, it will serve as a venue for community events. These include a time capsule burial ceremony scheduled for this summer to commemorate the church's history, and the distribution of free African American literature donated by a local library to the residents. The church will also be open to the public through the Concord Township Historical Society beginning in April.

Linn Architects, a leading commercial, corporate, and municipal architecture firm located in Media designed the restoration work, with L.J. Paolella Construction, based in Brookhaven completing much of the on-site work.

More information about the Spring Valley AME Church can be found on the Concord Township Historical Society’s website at https://concordhist.org/a-ame-church.

Delaware County is seeking new board members for the Community Action Agency (one vacancy) and the Delaware County Drug & Alcohol Planning Council (three vacancies: an individual with a Criminal Justice background, a recovering person, and a student under 25).

Although the responsibilities and goals differ from one board to another, board members play a critical role in establishing oversight, defining the Board’s mission and vision, improving the Board’s focus and effectiveness, shaping the County’s culture, serving stakeholders, establishing and updating policies, setting goals, and measuring the Board’s performance based on those goals.

Delaware County encourages interested residents who can contribute their time, energy, and passion, to complete the brief online application. 

About the Community Action Agency Board

The Community Action Agency (CAADC) mission is to assist residents to move toward economic self-sufficiency and to strengthen the community through innovative approaches to programs including housing, workforce development, energy conservation, social services and community and economic development. 

CAADC is a private non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation managed by a 15-member Board of Directors that equally represent the public, private, and client sectors.

About the Delaware County Drug & Alcohol Planning Council Board

Delaware County, as part of its participation in the Pennsylvania statewide prevention, intervention, and treatment program, is responsible for planning and evaluation of community drug and alcohol prevention, intervention, and treatment services. The purpose of the Drug & Alcohol Planning Council is to advise, review, evaluate, recommend, and advocate actions related to the delivery of alcohol and other drug prevention, intervention, and treatment services. 

The Planning Council reviews and sanction an annual comprehensive alcohol and other drug prevention, intervention, and treatment plans to be submitted to Delaware County Council and Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs for approval. 

The Planning Council has an odd number of members, between 11 and 15, approved by County Council for a three-year term. Each member must reside in Delaware County.

Application Deadline and Details

Interested individuals can visit DelcoPA.Gov/Board-Vacancies for more information and for an online application. Applications for both Boards will be accepted through 4:00 p.m. on Friday, February 16, 2024.

Open positions include recently updated pay rates

The Delaware County-operated Fair Acres Geriatric Center, recently ranked 25th in the United States and among the top four percent of nursing homes in the United States by Newsweek magazine and the largest skilled nursing facility in Delaware County, is hosting a job fair on Wednesday, February 21, from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., on their Lima campus. 

Job seekers are encouraged to come out and meet with hiring managers and recruiters to learn about the many opportunities available and are asked to bring their resume; on-the-spot interviews will be offered.

Fair Acres offers residents long term care, short term rehabilitation, respite care and hospice services on a beautiful 210-acre campus, and provides staff with competitive compensation (with recently updated pay rates), great benefits including a pension, a pleasant working environment, and the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others!

Positions include:

• RNs & LPNs (Full-time and per diem. New grads welcome!)
• Nursing Supervisors (Full-time and per diem, 4:00 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.)
• Unit Managers
• MDS Coordinator / RNAC Supervisor
• CNAs (Full-time, 3:00 p.m. – 11 p.m., and other shifts (rates starting at $21.05/hour)
• Food Service Workers (Part-time)
• Food Service Supervisor (Full-time)
• Housekeepers

Fair Acres offers:

• Competitive compensation
• Full benefits for full-time employees
• Paid vacation (2 weeks to start)
• 16 paid holidays
• Pension plans
• Tuition reimbursement

The Fair Acres Job Fair will be held at the Fair Acres Campus Building 1, 340 N. Middletown Road, in Lima, PA. Parking is free.

For more information, visit www.fairacres.org or call (610) 891-8039.

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