Delaware County Council was excited to once again join Delaware County Libraries to celebrate Women’s History Month and hold a virtual reading to share with children and families across the county. This year’s book, Bring Me Some Apples and I’ll Make you a Pie by Robbin Gourley, is a story about Edna Lewis, a descendant of slaves who grew up to be a famous chef. 

Council is proud to recognize March as Women’s History Month, a month designated to commemorate and encourage the study, observance, and celebration of the vital role of women in American history.

Women’s History Month began as a local celebration in Santa Rosa, California in 1978 and the movement spread across the country as other communities initiated their own Women’s History celebrations, which then grew into a month-long celebration and tribute. Each year, a different theme is named for the celebration that is chosen by the National Women's History Alliance. The theme for this year is “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories,” which is a tribute to women who have worked to share collective histories and positive portrayals of fellow females. 

You can watch the virtual reading on the Delaware County Libraries YouTube channel.

This week, Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer and his office welcomed the first class of interns to the DA’s Academy, the new fast-paced week-long immersive program designed to provide law students an invaluable opportunity to experience life in a District Attorney’s office.

“The impetus for this innovative program was the recognition that it is often difficult, if not impossible, for law students to spend their summer in our office in an unpaid internship,” explained District Attorney Stollsteimer. “As a result, we decided to create a shorter, more concentrated program that utilized the students’ spring break, which we hoped would be more accessible to more students.”

During the inaugural week, academy interns attended sessions that focused on various facets of work in the DA’s office: the district court system, trial preparations, organized crime, diversion programs, the use of force, working with victims, witnesses, and police, as well as court observation and the interview process. Deputies from every unit made presentations, as did many of the detectives in the Criminal Investigation Division.

Students from Temple University, Villanova University, and Widener University attended this week, with students from Drexel University participating next week.

Although designed primarily for first year law students, the DA’s Academy is also open to students going into their second or third year of law school. 

Deputy DA Laurie Moore, with assistance from Secretary Theresa Nguyen managed the new program, coordinating with schools and students. 

“I am enormously proud of the team that put together this week’s inaugural class of the DA’s Academy,” added DA Stollsteimer. “Special thanks to Deputy District Attorney Laurie Moore, and her assistant Theresa Nguyen, for the amazing job they did in getting this program on its feet.” 

The District Attorney’s Office thanks the students and schools that helped make the first year a success. Individuals who might be interested in the next session of the program, which will be held in the spring of 2024, are advised to check the District Attorney’s Office website at www.delcoda.com for information about the application process.

Questions? Contact Theresa Nguyen at nguyent@co.delaware.pa.us.

Attendees to learn of low-fi solution for preserving archival materials

The Delaware County Heritage Commission will hold a specialized preservation workshop on Saturday, March 25 at 10 a.m. at the Redwood Community Center in Upland County Park.

The workshop will educate attendees regarding a novel solution for proper document preservation, focusing on what is termed a “Four-Flap Enclosure,” a simple low-fi solution that provides professional preservation-quality housing that safely encases archival material, provides rigid support, and prevents mishandling. 

Simple to make, the four-flap enclosure is customizable to a variety of sizes and thicknesses, can be labeled and, most importantly, makes a significant impact on collections care.

Participants will learn to fold, cut, and assemble a custom four-flap enclosure and be taught the appropriate materials, tools, and techniques required. Templates and additional resources will be available to ensure participants will be prepared to adapt skills learned in the workshop to the particular conservation priorities of artifacts in their own collections.

The workshop will be led by Heritage Commission member Stephenie Bailey, who has held museum curatorial positions at the National Gallery of Art and the Revs Institute for Automotive Research and Historical Study of Stanford University, served as the Education Program Manager & Preservation Consultant at the Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts, and is currently on the Board of the Nether Providence Historical Society and Delaware County Heritage Commission.

Note: The two-hour workshop has been designed to appeal to institutional staff members and volunteers responsible for the preservation, housing, and storage of paper artifacts and archival material at Delaware County historic sites, museums, historical societies, and libraries. However, the workshop is open to the general public and anyone with an interest in learning something new is invited to attend and rub elbows with the local preservationist community.  

$10 covers materials and tools which participants can keep for use at their institutions.

Space is limited. If required, a second session will be at 1 p.m.

Please email delawarecountyheritage@co.delaware.pa.us to register. Payment can be cash or check, payable at the workshop.

For more information, including a slate of upcoming Heritage Commission events, visit the Heritage Commission of Delaware County website.

All Delaware County students invited to submit artwork

As part of the 2nd Annual Juneteenth Celebration scheduled for Monday, June 19, at Rose Tree Park, the County is calling on students to participate in our Juneteenth Logo Contest. 

All Delaware County students from any school or home-school program, kindergarten through 12th grade, are invited to participate. The winning artwork will be featured on the official 2023 Delaware County Juneteenth flyer and other possible promotional items for the June celebration featuring live music, activities for kids and families, food, resources for the community, talented local vendors, and much more.

Artwork Requirements: 

• Artwork must be original.
• Artwork can be created digitally or with any type of art supplies (paint, markers, pencils, crayons.)
• Artwork must include the words “Delaware County’s 2023 Juneteenth Celebration”
• Please include your name, school, age, and a contact phone number on each submission.
• One submission per person.

Artwork will not be returned.

Submissions can be mailed or emailed through Friday, March 24. Digital submissions can be emailed to Juneteenth@co.delaware.pa.us. Physical artwork can be mailed to:

Juneteenth Logo

ICO/ Adrienne Marofsky, Public Relations Director

201 West Front Street

Media, PA 19063

More details about the 2023 Juneteenth Celebration will be released in late spring.

Several Delaware County female leaders will participate in an online presentation and discussion in honor of Women’s History Month on March 30 from 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

The Women in Government Forum, presented by the Connections and Advocate for Social Justice Committee and hosted by the Tau Delta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., offers the community an opportunity to meet their local female government leaders and learn how their roles in government affect the lives of the community. 

The discussion will feature:

• Dr. Monica Taylor, Chair of Delaware County Council
• Lisa Jackson Q.P.A., Director of Central Purchasing
• Lauren Footman, Delaware County’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer
• Judge Nusrat J. Love, Delaware County Court of Common Pleas
• Laura Williams, Warden of the George W. Hill Correctional Facility

Residents can register for the event through Eventbrite, linked below.

The Delaware County Office of Services for the Aging (COSA) and Senior Community Services, in partnership and collaboration with the PA Department of Aging, is sponsoring the nationally-recognized Arthritis Foundation Walk with Ease Program for those 60 years of age and older who need relief from arthritis pain or just want to remain active.

The six-week program will be held at the Brookhaven Municipal Building Gymnasium, located at 2 Cambridge Road in Brookhaven. Program participants will meet each Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., from March 17 to April 21, with the exception of April 7, when the program will be moved to Thursday, April 6 in observance of Good Friday.

Walk with Ease is an evidence-based program and is proven to reduce the pain of arthritis; increase balance, strength and walking pace; build confidence in one’s ability to be physically active; and improve overall health.

Program participants will receive the Arthritis Foundation’s Walk with Ease Guide Book and will walk once a week as a group and at least twice a week on their own. Participants will share and receive support from a trained leader and other walkers at weekly group meetings as well as receive support, information, and direction through weekly e-mails.

Program costs are covered by COSA, so the program is FREE, however class size is limited.

To register, contact Allison Alfieri at aalfieri@scs.org or by phone at (484) 496-2143. Registrants will be asked to provide their name, address, phone number and email address.

During AmeriCorps Week, held March 12-18, Delaware County Council joins the Delaware County Office of Services for the Aging (COSA) in recognizing the dedication and commitment of the many Delaware County residents who have chosen to serve their country through AmeriCorps and the many older residents who have served in AmeriCorps Seniors and their community partners. 

AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors programs provide opportunities for thousands of Americans to serve their country through service at nonprofits, schools, public agencies, and community and faith-based groups, bringing people together across race, age, and zip code to address critical issues facing the country, cultivating mutual respect, and helping build resilient and thriving communities.

Thank you to AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors, and the countless volunteers, including Shelley Tribbitt, Faye Lombardo, and Lorraine Robinson—the newest graduating class of the AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program. 

As new members of the Foster Grandparent Program, Shelley, Faye, and Lorraine will soon be placed at volunteer sites throughout the community, mentoring and tutoring children in Head Start centers, childcare centers and schools. Good luck!

About the AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program

The program, sponsored nationally by AmeriCorps Seniors and locally by COSA (Delaware County Office of Services for the Aging), was established for individuals 55 and older who have a desire to help children achieve their full potential. 

Foster Grandparents can help guide students to higher academic achievement, care for premature infants or children with disabilities, mentor troubled teenagers and young mothers, and serve as role models for those with exceptional needs.

AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers, who serve within the Foster Grandparent program, provide the kind of comfort and love that sets a child on a path to a successful future. AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers themselves report better health and longevity having served their community, and enjoy new relationships with people in their community, while making a significant difference in the lives of others.

Foster Grandparents experience the joy of knowing they are making a real difference in the life of a child. 

Interested in being a Foster Grandparent to a child in need?

If you would like more information about the Foster Grandparent Program or would like to be in the next graduating class—the next class starts in February— please contact Alisha Freeman by phone (610) 490-1498 or by email at freemanas@co.delaware.pa.us.

AmeriCorps Seniors service provides tangible benefits for volunteers. The Foster Grandparent program offers modest tax-free stipends to eligible volunteers—up to $500 a month—to help offset the costs of volunteering, transportation assistance, and STO – stipend paid off and holidays. 

Other benefits include training, accident, personal liability, and excess automobile liability insurance as well as community recognition. 

Participants must be available at least 15 hours per week.

For more information, visit the AmeriCorps website.

Contest open to all Delaware County students!

For the 34th year, the Mad Poets Society and Delaware County Libraries present the Delaware County Young Poets Competition. All Delaware County students, grades 1–12, are invited to submit one original poem for consideration! 

Three winning poems will be selected from each grade, and all 36 poems winning poems will be published in the library’s annual poetry anthology and posted on Delaware County Libraries’ website, as well as the Mad Poets Society website. 

The Young Poets Competition will culminate with a special awards ceremony and reading in May. All winners and their families will be invited to attend. 

How to Participate

Poems can be submitted online or in person at any of the 28 Delaware County Library locations. All original poems dropped off at a library must be typed on an 8 ½” by 11” paper, and all poems submitted online must be written in MS Word format.

Submissions must include the student’s name, grade, phone number, address, the parent’s email (no school email addresses please), and the school's name on the top right (front) of the poem. If the information is not listed, the entry will be disqualified. 

Submissions will be accepted through March 31, 2023. 

Contact information is for notification purposes only and will not be shared. 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners in each grade level will be contacted by e-mail by May 15th.

Young poets should keep a copy of their poem; submissions will not be returned.

For more information on this contest, contact Cheri Crow, Coordinator of Youth Services for Delaware County Libraries, at ccrow@delcolibraries.org or email info@madpoetssociety.com.

Note: Online submissions require a Google account.

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 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, March 14, 12 noon
• Regular Public Meeting: Wednesday, March 15, 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.

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. Council meetings typically conclude by approximately 8 p.m.

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

Delaware County Govt Official 2023 Calendar

Meet your Delaware County Council members

The Delaware County Health Department website