In an effort to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 testing amid a recent surge in positive cases, the Delaware County Health Department has partnered with Personic Health Care, a local Springfield-based health provider, to open a new testing site at the Delaware County Wellness Center at Yeadon. 

This partnership demonstrates the Delaware County Health Department’s commitment to improving public health access and equity. The County opened the Delaware County Wellness Center at Yeadon, in Yeadon, PA in January 2021, converting a shuttered supermarket into a center offering a variety of public health services. The building is now one of several locations that are home to the new Delaware County Health Department, established on April 2, 2022. 

The new COVID-19 testing site, located in the parking lot of the Delaware County Wellness Center at Yeadon, 125 Chester Ave., Yeadon, PA 19050 will provide free walk-up and drive-through COVID-19 rapid testing to hundreds of Delaware County residents to address the urgent need for testing to slow the virus’ spread amid the current BA.2 surge. The hours of operation will be Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. COVID-19 testing will not be available on Thursdays or Sundays.

COVID-19 vaccinations are also available to Delaware County residents at the Wellness Center. Please visit delcopa.gov/vax for up-to-date vaccine clinic schedule information.

“Unfortunately, our community has seen a surge in COVID-19 cases over the past month and the need for testing has once again increased,” said Delaware County Council Chair Dr. Monica Taylor. "Testing and vaccines are the most important tools we have to slow the spread of COVID-19 and keep our loved ones and the community safe and this new site, opened in partnership with Personic Health Care, will help provide equitable access to COVID-19 testing for our residents.” 

The new testing site, which will be operated at no cost to the County, is part of a broader effort by the County to address the health disparities exacerbated by the pandemic by providing convenient and free testing to communities of color and working families that are more likely to contract COVID-19, more likely to suffer from chronic illnesses that can be compounded by COVID-19, and who have less access to testing and other health services.

“We are proud to partner with the Delaware County Health Department to provide quality, convenient care for Delaware County residents,” said Dr. Azmat Husain of Personic Health Care. “Since the beginning of the pandemic, we’ve served thousands of patients in Delaware County and across our region. This new partnership fits squarely within our mission of expanding access to care in underserved communities and will enable residents from Yeadon and across the county to receive the testing services that are essential to curbing the spread of the virus while keeping their families safe.”

The new testing site at the Delaware County Wellness Center at Yeadon will provide access to both the rapid on-site Antigen testing, with results available in as little as 15 minutes, as well as RT-PCR testing, the gold standard in COVID testing. Because Personic operates its own lab, PCR results will be available via email in under 24 hours.

This is the second partnership between Personic and Delaware County. Personic operated a drive-through testing site at a County-owned facility in Sharon Hill at the height of the pandemic earlier in the year. And it is part of a broader effort by Personic to expand access to care in underserved communities.

In addition to this new site, Personic provides free testing services in North Philadelphia as part of a partnership with Saint Christopher’s Hospital for Children.

Appointments for COVID-19 testing at the Delaware County Wellness Center at Yeadon are not required but are strongly suggested. Individuals can schedule a test through the Personic website linked below.

The Delaware County Park Police has launched a new five-member bike patrol unit that will be responsible for patrolling the Delaware County Courthouse Complex in Media, as well as the Delaware County parks and trail system.

The new bike patrol unit, launched on June 8, is comprised of officers from the current ranks of the Delaware County Park Police, each of whom completed a 40-hour bike certification process sponsored by the Upper Darby Police Department. 

Delaware County Interim Park Police Chief John S. Deihl noted that bike patrols provide a number of benefits over traditional squad car-based patrols. “Officers on bikes will be better able to access wooded areas and trails that officers on foot can’t cover as quickly,” said Chief Deihl. “We’re excited to have our officers out in the community and helping to ensure that our residents feels safe when visiting county facilities, parks, and trails.”

In addition to patrolling the grounds in Media, the bike patrol unit will cover the County’s 14 parks, including the Rose Tree, Smedley, Glenn Providence, Upland, and Clayton parks, as well as the County’s trail systems, including the Chester Creek Trail and Darby Creek Trail. Patrols will occur on weekdays and weekends, both day and evening.

“Bike patrols have proven to be an effective method of policing and this is a great enhancement for our County’s Park Police,” said Delaware County Councilman Kevin Madden. “Council has been very supportive of this new unit and believe that improved community relations, faster officer response times, cost savings, and the environmental advantages are all a benefit to our community.”

In addition to the Courthouse Complex and parks, the bike patrol unit will provide security at County events, such as the Italian American Heritage Festival, the Juneteenth Celebration, and the Summer Concert Series. 

The Delaware County Department of Parks & Recreation has released the 2022 schedule for its annual Rose Tree Park Summer Festival concert series.  

Free concerts in Rose Tree Park’s outdoor amphitheater began over four decades ago as part of the nation’s Bicentennial celebration and have been a popular local tradition for residents of all ages ever since.

This year’s nine-week entertainment season opens on Wednesday, June 15, featuring the Delaware County Symphony, a large community orchestra performing classics under renowned Music Director Sebastian Grand.

“The unofficial start to summer may be Memorial Day for many- but for Delco it’s the Summer Concert Series in Rose Tree Park and we are thrilled to be kicking off this year’s concert series next week,” said Delaware County Council Vice Chair Elaine Schaefer. “We are proud to have an excellent parks system where our residents can enjoy outdoor recreation, sports, festivals, charity events, and family outings. Thank you to Parks and Recreation Director Marc Manfre and his team for the extraordinary work and effort they put into planning and hosting this festival each year. These free concerts feature some incredible acts in an absolutely beautiful setting, and I encourage residents to enjoy them this summer.”

Each evening features different entertainment, and residents will find a wide variety of genres throughout the summer, including Rock, Pop, Blues, Jazz, R&B, Reggae, Big Band, and more. 

Concerts take place on Wednesday through Sunday evenings at 7:30 p.m., except on three special occasions. Two of the children’s concerts take place at 10:00 a.m.: Steve Pullara & His Cool Beans Band on July 22 and Sing-Along with Peter Moses on June 30. Delaware County’s Juneteenth Celebration on June 19 is an afternoon event in the park from, featuring musical guests Children of Adam Band performing at 3:00 p.m. and Dell-P at 4:00 p.m..

Printed schedules are available in Rose Tree Park, the Government Center in Media, and the Delaware County Libraries. The schedule is also available as a downloadable PDF, linked above, and on the Rose Tree Summer Festival web page.

The concert schedule includes favorites such as The Fabulous Greaseband (June 16), Chico’s Vibe (June 26), and Jimmy & the Parrots (June 23) plus a fun mix of styles such as authentic Brazilian Bossa Nova (July 1), Reggae (July 27) and Louisiana Zydeco (Aug. 4).

“The Rose Tree Summer Festival is a popular Delco tradition that we are proud to present every year,” said Marc Manfre, Director of the Delaware County Parks and Recreation Department. “We know from community feedback that people enjoy coming here and appreciate the program, and we strive to provide a top-notch experience.” 

Manfre noted that several highly anticipated performances are generating a lot of buzz, including the rock/pop tribute acts Gold Dust Woman (July 3), Jersey Beach Boys (July 17) and Radio Petty (July 31). Also new this year are two nights of theatrical presentations from Hedgerow Theatre - a musical on July 20 called “The World According to Snoopy,” and the Shakespearean comedy “Twelfth Night” on August 11.

Delaware County Parks & Recreation has also been working in conjunction with Pennsylvania Resources Council to bring a new recycling program to the amphitheater, which will coincide with the start of the concerts. There will be new collection receptacles, explanatory signage about what can be recycled, and volunteers on hand to help usher in the changes seamlessly.

Residents can bring blankets and chairs for seating and may bring food. Alcohol and smoking are prohibited. Leashed dogs are allowed in the outer viewing areas on the hilltops and must remain outside of “the bowl.”

The Rose Tree Summer Festival runs from June 15 – August 14. 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. 

The school year is winding down and that means it’s time for Summer Quest 2022!

Summer Quest is a celebration of reading and learning that takes place in Delaware County libraries during the summer months. This year’s Summer Quest theme is Oceans of Possibilities, and many of the County libraries’ programs and activities will dive into the world of oceans and explore their history, sea-life, conservation and more. 

This year’s countywide Summer Quest programming will include special kick-off events at each library. Residents are invited to Pirates Lost at Sea, a thrilling action-packed adventure about a crew of pirates marooned on a desert island. Or they can explore the life of the ancient seas in Dinosaur Dig: An Ancient Undersea Reptile Show. Maybe an outdoor movie night is more your style? There’s something for everyone to enjoy!

The program begins June 6 and libraries invite students to stop in, complete a short activity, and earn a “brag tag.” Students can visit all 27 participating locations to complete a game sheet and be entered into a grand prize raffle. 

Wildlife Education programs from the Center for Aquatic Sciences and Two of a Kind will also be taking place in libraries this summer. The programs are funded by a grant from The Community’s Foundation. 

Summer Quest 2022 also includes online reading challenges in the Beanstack app. There is something for all ages, from newborns to adults. Log books, complete activities, and write book reviews to earn raffle tickets and enter to win prizes, all while learning about oceans!

“Summer Quest helps to decrease the summer slide and increase children’s enjoyment of reading, reading skills, and reading by choice,” said Cheri Crow, Youth Services Coordinator. “We also hope it will help them discover the wonder of the public library and all it has to offer.” 

For more information about Summer Quest and details for all of the programs listed above, visit http://www.delcolibraries.org/summer-quest. We hope to see you this summer! 

Delaware County Council joined County employees, members of the LGBTQI+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex, asexual and more) community, and Vice President of U.D.T.J. and the Logistics Coordinator of the Upper Darby Pride Festival Kyle T. McIntyre to raise the Progress Pride Flag outside of the Courthouse on June 8. 

The flag was raised in honor of Pride Month, a month dedicated to recognizing the need to achieve equal justice and equal opportunity for LGBTQIA+ Americans. Pride Month was established in honor of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan which was considered the tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States.

“Today is an exciting day for Delaware County! For the first time in the County’s history- we are raising the Progress Pride flag in recognition of Pride Month,” said Delaware County Council Chair Dr. Monica Taylor. “Today’s flag raising is extremely symbolic. It’s a symbol that our County respects, recognizes, and celebrates the lives of our residents and employees in the LGBTQI+ community. And it’s a reflection of the progress we have made as a nation to cultivate a more accepting and loving society.”

Dr. Taylor noted that our world is a different place than it was just 15 years ago. 

• In 2015, the Supreme Court declared same-sex marriage legal in all 50 states. 
• In 2010, the U.S. Senate voted to repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, allowing gay people to serve openly in the U.S. Military.
• In these past 15 years, companies have changed their policies for health benefits to be inclusive for employees in the LGBTQI+ community. 
• Restroom signage has changed to include gender-neutral people. 
• TV shows, movies, and advertisements include members of the LGBTQI+ community.
• People in the LGBTQI+ community and allies have begun to display pronouns to help one another know how to refer to a person with respect. 

And the world is drastically different than it was almost 100 years ago when the first milestone in the American Gay Rights Movement was documented. In 1924, The Society for Human Rights was founded by Henry Gerber in Chicago. The Society is the first Gay Rights Organization as well as the oldest documented in America. After receiving a charter from the state of Illinois, the society published the first American publication for homosexuals called “Friendship and Freedom.” Soon after its founding, the society sadly disbanded due to political pressure.

Delaware County is doing its part to expand and continue to make progress. Earlier this year, the County added a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer to the County team. The creation of a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer has been a priority of the current Council. The newly created position will have a broad mandate to review current government operations, including the operations of the County’s new health department, guidance to the County’s Human Resources Department and the Purchasing Office, support for Parks and Recreation, and support to criminal justice.

“As the County continues to make progress- we know there is much more work that needs to be done to foster a community where we not only tolerate diversity—but we celebrate it,” said Taylor. “Everyone deserves to live a life where we feel respected, valued, and safe.”

The Progress Pride Flag will fly outside of the Delaware County Courthouse and the Government Center through the month of June.  

Watch the Delaware County Progress Pride Flag Raising Ceremony

Delaware County Councilwoman Christine Reuther was proud to recognize June 5 as Italian American Day in Delaware County at the 12th annual Italian American Heritage Festival in Rose Tree Park. The day was a celebration of Italian music, food, history, and heritage.

Councilwoman Reuther presented a resolution to the Coalition of Italian American Organizations of Delaware County in recognition of their passion and dedication towards promoting Italian American heritage and culture throughout the region, including supporting a variety of scholarships and memorial programs. 

Delaware County is fortunate to have a diverse and vibrant community and Italian Americans have contributed to the rich heritage of the county. Thank you to the Coalition of Italian American Organizations of Delaware County and the businesses and performers who participated in the festival. 

Delaware County Council is calling on community members to support the award of a federal Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant to fund the creation of a comprehensive transportation plan for the city of Chester. The new study, Reimagining Chester, will unify decades of isolated planning efforts, break down silos, and result in a community-based action plan and the designation of priority projects. The County has committed $50,000 toward the $6.5 million cost of the project, with the remainder to be funded through the federal RAISE grant. Supporters are being encouraged to contact Senator Robert P. Casey's office to express their support for the grant through the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT).

"For decades, community leaders and elected and government officials have proposed numerous plans to help restore Chester to what it once was -- a prosperous, thriving community full of jobs and a destination to visit. But too often, government and government entities did not work in coordination, include the community, or think through how transportation impacts development," said Delaware County Council Vice Chair Elaine Schaefer. “The Reimagining Chester Study represents a pivotal opportunity in the city to consider holistically the various factors that impact Chester -- everything from the transportation system to how downtown and waterfront redevelopment will shift land uses and zoning in the city. We hope that as many people as possible contact Senator Casey's office to express their support for the RAISE grant needed to fund this important step forward for Chester."

Since the early 1990s, more than 40 plans and studies have evaluated conditions and proposed visions for Chester, a city that is under state receivership and designated as both an Area of Persistent Poverty and a Historically Disadvantaged Community. Previous plans never coordinated efforts among local and regional stakeholders, which include the City of Chester, PennDOT, SEPTA, and the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, among others. Barriers to implementation of these past studies include lack of funding, no plan for implementation, lack of innovation to solve complex transportation issues, and plans completed in agency “silos”.

The new Reimagining Chester plan, to be run with the Chester Economic Development Authority (CEDA) will: 

• Empower residents to establish a vision for their city
• Document existing conditions and evaluate scenarios to advance a connected mobility network
• Develop an action plan that identifies priority projects and outlines an implementation strategy
• Deliver projects that will lead directly to implementation

The RAISE grants were originally created under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as TIGER grants and can be used for a wide variety of projects. $1.5 billion is being made available for funding in 2022.

Delaware County Council is committed to the Reimagining Chester initiative and has allocated $50,000 and significant staff and planning resources toward the development of this RAISE application. Partnerships are in place with the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to effectively manage and complete all four phases of Reimagining Chester. Key stakeholders include the City of Chester, PennDOT, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency, Pennsylvania Environmental Council, Pennsylvania Clean Air Council, Delaware County Industrial Development Authority, SEPTA, and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources.

Members of the public are encouraged to contact Senator Casey’s Office to express their support at (202) 224-6324 (DC) or (215) 405-9660 (Philadelphia) or online (see button below).

If you see a homeless person on the street in your community, consider contacting the Horizon House, Inc.’s homeless outreach team, accessible 24/7, at (267) 671-4357. They will attempt to engage the person to ensure that they have access to services and care. 

Homeless individuals are often dealing with issues such as mental illness, substance abuse, and/or alcohol abuse. Over the course of time, the Horizon House outreach team will establish a relationship and build rapport with someone who is homeless and encourage them to accept help and support. Once an individual accepts support, the team facilitates access to emergency housing, treatment options, benefits, physical and behavioral health care, and housing.

For more information about homeless services in Delaware County, visit the Homeless Services Coalition of Delaware County website.

The Delaware County Board of Election successfully completed the recount ordered by the Department of State in the Republican contest for U.S. Senate.

In all 67 counties in the Commonwealth, the recount confirmed the initial results. The Delaware County Board of Elections has certified both the initial count and the recount results to the Department of State.

Official results can be viewed on Election Results page on the Delco Votes! website.

Delaware County Govt Official 2022 Calendar

Meet your Delaware County Council members

The Delaware County Health Department website