Delaware County Council proudly joins the nation, and much of the world, in honoring and celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on January 16, 2023.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was established in 1983 as a federal holiday and is observed in over 100 countries as a day to honor Dr. King’s legacy. Many communities, organizations, groups, and residents honor Dr. King’s legacy by participating in acts of service.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. serves as a relentless testament to the human spirit's unceasing desire for freedom and equality and as a worldwide inspiration for change and acceptance. In the face of hatred and violence, Dr. King preached a doctrine of nonviolence and believed that people have the moral capacity and duty to care for others.

Dr. King said, “Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” 

Those words are incredibly impactful and ring true decades after they were spoken. As we fight against racism and injustice, we must remember that love is more powerful than hate. Let us remember to lead with love.

In recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Delaware County Council will join the Philadelphia Union, the City of Chester, Widener University, the CAAT Center, and the Making A Change Group to host an MLK Day of Service on Monday, January 16.

Various events and projects will be held across the city of Chester to celebrate the legacy of Dr. King. The day will begin at Calvary Baptist Church with a breakfast and information session. Volunteers are then invited to participate in a Peace March to MLK/Memorial Park, followed by a community clean up. Clean-up groups will be assigned areas of the park and surrounding streets. After the cleanup, volunteers are invited to the CAAT Center where community-building activities will be held in honor of the legacy and spirit of the great Dr. King.

Delaware County residents are invited to participate. Registration is preferred. Register at delcopa.gov/MLK. When registering, please make sure to select the events you plan to attend. 

Breakfast at Calvary Baptist

1616 W. 2nd St., Chester

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

(50 spots)

Peace March to MLK Park

Engle St., Chester

11:00 a.m. – 11:20 a.m.

(200 spots)

Clean-up Acts of Service

Begins at Engle St., Chester

11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

(100 spots)

Community Building / CAAT Center

2300 W. 4th St., A211, Chester

1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

(50 spots)

Delaware County Council invites families and children from across the county to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Rose Tree Park. The park and Delaware County Libraries are featuring a book dedicated to Dr. King as part of its StoryWalk® experience. 

Located in the upper field behind the amphitheater stage at Rose Tree Park, StoryWalk® is a children's story book exhibit that is spread out page by page across 18 reading stations along an approximately quarter mile trail in Rose Tree Park, located at 1671 N. Providence Road in Media.

In honor of Martin Luther King Day, the exhibit is featuring Above the Rim: How Elgin Baylor Changed Basketball by Jen Bryant, illustrated by Frank Morrison. This captivating children’s book, written by a local author, chronicles Baylor's rise to basketball stardom in spite of the obstacles he faced in the segregated cities of his childhood and throughout his career.

StoryWalk® was created to promote health and literacy in children and engage young readers and their parents. The exhibits are free and open during park hours. The StoryWalk® book selection will be at Rose Tree Park through February to also celebrate Black History Month. Residents are encouraged to visit StoryWalk® and celebrate the legacy of Dr. King and Black History Month with their children.

Dozens of Delaware County employees lined Front Street in Media to pay tribute to Captain Glenn A. Bixby, Jr., who was laid to rest on January 11.

The tribute was held during Captain Bixby’s funeral procession and included a radio transmission for Captain Bixby’s final call and the playing of traditional bagpipes.

Captain Bixby began his career serving Delaware County in May of 1970, working in the District Attorney’s Office radio room at the young age of 19.

In March of 1974, he transferred to the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office under Sheriff John Taylor. He rose through the ranks to Sergeant (1983), Lieutenant (early 2006), and Captain (2006) until his retirement in June of 2014. Captain Bixby’s retirement did not last long. He became the Sherriff’s Real Estate consultant from July 2014 until final retirement in March of 2021. He was known for his knowledge of every street in Delaware County.

Captain Bixby served the residents of Delaware County with honor and distinction for 51 years, serving under eight different Sheriffs. His love of the Sheriff’s Office was surpassed only by his love for his family; his wife, Maureen of 41 years, his son, Glenn Bixby, III (Michelle) and his three grandchildren. He was born and raised in Morton; serving as a part-time police officer, various positions with the Morton (Morton-Rutledge) Firehouse, and other notable political positions. Captain Bixby is now at peace with his lifelong partner and friend, Sgt. Wilbur Smith, and his parents, perhaps sharing memories of the Mummers and doing the Mummers strut.

Rest in Peace Officer Bixby.

This week, the Delaware County Office of the Medical Examiner hosted students from the Delaware County Technical School (DCTS) as part of the Office’s plan to begin providing educational opportunities for local technical schools, nursing schools, colleges and universities.

Office of Medical Examiner Administrator Jeffrey Lange, Autopsy Technicians Greg Riegel and Jenny Gilliard, Evidence Technician Moira Guilin and Forensic Investigator Julia Barrera-Alvizuri welcomed a dozen DCTS students enrolled in the School of Health and Biosciences’ Medical Careers program, providing students several intense hours to observe standard autopsy procedures, engage in discussions, and earn invaluable hands-on training and experience.

The visit was one of many such visits that the students take during their studies. The DCTS Medical Careers program curriculum—which includes anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, medical terminology, safety, infection control and medical law and ethics—provides students with exposure to career-based presentations from an array of healthcare professionals, including nurses, physicians, physician assistants, physical therapists, medical technologists and pharmacists. 

The Office of the Medical Examiner, whose mission is to provide accurate, timely, dignified, compassionate and professional forensic investigative services for the families of decedents who die in Delaware County, will host students from Pennsylvania Institute of Technology (PIT) and anticipates an expanded role in providing critical instructional opportunities going forward.

Thank you to Jeffrey Lange and his team for providing a memorable experience for these young students.

More about DCTS

Guided by industry professionals, Delaware County Technical High Schools prepare today’s students for tomorrow’s opportunities by providing innovative, meaningful technical training, a foundation for life-long learning and marketable credentials for high-wage, high-demand careers. DCTS has two main campuses in Aston, PA and Folcroft, PA. Students from the 15 area school districts have the opportunity to enhance their educational program with career and technical experiences that are directly connected to the real world. DCTS enrolls over 1200 students in one of the highest performing Career and Technical Centers in the state. 

Students graduate from the program with a solid understanding of the integral relations of the hospital team and a vision of their potential role in the healthcare industry. They earn OSHA-10, HIPAA, HA- BLS Provider, and AHA Heart saver First Aid (CPR/AED) certifications. 

Visit the Delaware County Technical High Schools web page for more information, course descriptions, and the application process.

The Office of the Medical Examiner Staff

Pictured, left to tight: Shon Jeffery (Executive Assistant), Greg Riegel (Autopsy Tech), Julia Barrera-Alvizuri (Forensic Investigator), Moira Guilin (Evidence Tech) Jeffrey Lange (Administrator), Jenny Gilliard (Autopsy Tech), Gion Mallory (Bereavement Coordinator), Destiny Bledsoe (Receptionist), Justyna Rymarz (Forensic Investigator).

Not pictured: Wesley Garrett (Chief of Forensic Investigations), Carlita Ferguson, Agnes Conners, Jessica Godoy, and Justin Arnold (Forensic Investigators), Riccardo Goodlet (Office Coordinator)

Final reminder! Delaware County Council, the County’s Planning Department, the County’s Office of Sustainability, and the County’s Parks and Recreation Department will hold a public Open House on January 14 to hear ideas and gather feedback from the community about the Master Plan for the new 213-acre County park in Marple Township—the site is one of Delco’s largest forests.

The creation of a park on the Don Guanella tract is a once in a lifetime opportunity to create an open and accessible public space that will provide immediate and ongoing economic, environmental, and quality of life benefits to the Delaware County community.

Residents will be able to view displays about the park, ask the Delaware County Planning Department questions, and provide ideas, concerns, and suggestions. A children’s table will also be set up to hear what the youngest Delco residents would like to have in a new park.

Public Open House for Delco’s New Park Master Plan

Saturday January 14

9:00 a.m. – 12 noon

Cardinal O’Hara High School Gym

1701 S. Sproul Road, Springfield, PA

For questions or more information on the Open House, please contact the Delaware County Planning Department by email at DelcoNewParkPlan@co.delaware.pa.us or by phone at (610) 891-5200.

The Delaware County Office of Services for the Aging (COSA), in collaboration with Crozer Health, is offering the evidence-based Healthy Steps program virtually for those 60 and older living in Delaware County.

The Healthy Steps program helps reduce fall risk by helping participants address fears while educating and equipping them with the right tools to make a difference in their lives.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that every 20 minutes an older adult in the U.S. dies from a fall, and that falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injury. Research has found that adults who completed the Healthy Steps program lowered their risk of a fall significantly.

The 2-session Healthy Steps program will be held virtually on Zoom, on Tue., Jan. 31, and Wed., Feb. 1. from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

All program costs, including the Healthy Steps workbook, are covered by COSA in collaboration with the PA Department of Aging, so the program is FREE!

Please note that registration is required, and class size is limited.

To register, contact Ellen Williams by email at williamse@co.delaware.pa.us or by phone at (610) 499-1937. Registrants are asked to provide their name, address, phone number and email address.

Beginning in January, the County Office of Services for the Aging (COSA) is offering several free programs that provide adults, aged 60 and over, with tools and strategies to effectively deal with chronic pain, chronic disease, and the challenges of maintaining a healthy diet.

All programs are free, but space is limited, and registration is required for each.

Final Reminder! Healthy Habits for the New Year (Zoom)

Final Reminder! Power Over Pain Chronic Pain Self-Management program (Zoom)

Final Reminder! Steps to Healthy Living: Chronic Disease Self-Management program (Telephone-based)

To register for any of these COSA-sponsored programs, please contact Ellen Williams by email at williamse@co.delaware.pa.us or by phone at (610) 499-1937.

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 each preceded by a “Preliminary Agenda Meeting” that is held at 10:00 a.m. 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 that may be undertaken by Council during Wednesday’s Regular Public Meeting.

Downloadable agendas, including key documents related to items enumerated on the agenda, are available for download from the County website linked below.

County Council meetings are open to the public and Council encourages public participation. Members of the public may discuss any matter listed the agenda at the beginning of the meeting, and any matter of interest to the attendee near a second public comment period held near the end of the meeting.

The next scheduled meetings:

• Preliminary Agenda Meeting: Tuesday, January 17, 10 a.m.
• Regular Public Meeting: Wednesday, January 18, 6 p.m. 

In addition to County Council members, the Executive Director, County Controller, County Solicitor and County Clerk are typically present during these meetings.

Meetings are livestreamed for public viewing, and available shortly after the meeting's completion as a recording. Livestreamed and recorded meetings are available at delcopa.gov/meetings.

Council meetings typically conclude by approximately 8 p.m.

Delaware County Govt Official 2023 Calendar

Meet your Delaware County Council members

The Delaware County Health Department website