The Delaware County Weekly

Bringing Delco news and information directly to our residents!

—— October 20, 2023 (91st edition) ——

The deadline to request a mail/absentee ballot is Tues., Oct 31

Delaware County Elections announced that all Delaware County Ballot Drop Boxes* are now open, providing voters with more than three dozen locations to return their completed mail/absentee ballots for the upcoming Nov. 7 Municipal Election.

Voters can visit the Delco Votes! website at DelcoPA.gov/DropBox for a complete list of drop box locations, including hours of operation. While most sites are 24/7, voters are asked to check the complete list of sites on the website to confirm addresses and times of operation. The Delco Votes! website also provides the location in map format and as a downloadable single-page PDF.

Delaware County voters may use ANY of the more than three dozen Delaware County Ballot Drop Boxes. Voters also may return completed mail/absentee ballots through the U.S. postal service (no postage required). All ballots must be received by 8:00 p.m. on Tues., Nov. 7.

As of October 20, the Delaware County Bureau of Elections has processed more than 40,000 mail/absentee applications and, through Fri., Oct. 20, has received 10,700 returned mail/absentee ballots. 

Delaware County Elections reminds voters to properly mark, seal, and return their mail/absentee ballot to ensure that the ballot can be counted. Voters must follow these steps:

1. Place the marked ballot in the white ‘Secrecy Envelope’ provided with the ballot (this envelope, per State Law, is marked “Official Ballot Envelope”).
2. Seal the Secrecy Envelope.
3. Place the sealed Secrecy Envelope into the Ballot Return Envelope.
4. Seal the Ballot Return Envelope.
5. Sign the declaration (on the back of the Ballot Return Envelope).
6. Enter today’s date where indicated (on the back of the Ballot Return Envelope).
7. Return the sealed Ballot Return Envelope through the US Postal Service (no postage needed), or at any Delaware County Ballot Drop Box. 

If a mistake is made in completing and sealing the ballot, voters can call the Delaware County Election Hotline at (610) 891-VOTE (8683) for guidance. Voters also may visit the Delaware County Voter Service Center in Media to receive a replacement ballot or envelope. 

As a reminder, mail/absentee ballots are sent only to voters who have completed an application for a mail ballot in 2023, which must include valid ID. Applications are available on the Delco Votes! website. Voters may verify the status of their ballot on the PA Department of State website at Vote.PA.Gov/MailBallotStatus.

The deadline for Pennsylvania residents to request a mail/absentee ballot is Tues, Oct. 31. Applications can be completed online (DelcoPA.Gov/VBM) or in-person at the Delaware County Voter Service Center in Media. Delaware County registered voters who apply for a mail/absentee ballot but do not receive their ballot within 5 business days need to call (610) 891-VOTE (8683) or visit the Voter Service Center.

Voters are reminded that they may return only their own ballot. An exception is allowed only to assist a disabled voter or an emergency absentee voter and requires a declaration form signed by the voter and by the person retuning the ballot. This form is available on the Delco Votes! website at DelcoPA.Gov/Dropbox.

Delaware County residents may visit the Delco Votes! website at DelcoPA.Gov/Vote for additional election news, information, and reminders. Individuals can register to vote for the Nov. 7, 2023 General Election until Mon., Oct. 23.

Voters with questions may call our Election Hotline at (610) 891-VOTE or visit the Voter Service Center at the Government Center in Media. The Voter Service Center is open:

• Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Wednesdays, from 8:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Saturdays, from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon

* The Upper Chichester Drop Box is not yet open due to the need to replace camera equipment. Voters in that area may use the nearby Post Office in Boothwyn or any other County Drop Box, the nearest being in Lower Chichester and Concord Township.

Delaware County is partnering with Bucks, Chester, and Montgomery Counties to take a wholesale market approach to purchasing electricity for County operations. The partnership is a major step toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions and lowering electricity costs for County operations.

During the October 18 public meeting, Delaware County Council approved the memorandum of understanding to create and participate in this effort. 

The four counties will work together with the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) to access low and stable energy prices, access renewable energy in the future, and use resources more efficiently.

The Sustainable Energy Partnership of Southeast Pennsylvania is composed of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties. The counties have been working together with DVRPC since September 2020 to explore pathways to purchase renewable energy to power County operations. DVRPC will serve as coordinator of the Energy Board.

"This partnership is an example of neighboring counties working together to ensure a more sustainable future for our entire region," said Delaware County Council Vice Chair Elaine Paul Schaefer. "This initiative aligns with the County's sustainability goals identified in our Sustainability Plan–which focuses on six areas, including climate resiliency and energy efficiencies."

A dedicated wholesale account is a unique electricity procurement mechanism currently utilized by other large local governments. It will allow the counties to access low, transparent, and stable electricity prices. It will also help the counties meet renewable energy targets through access to large-scale renewables (< 10MWs), and add additional parties, such as municipalities, authorities, and schools, in the future. 

The Partnership will receive ongoing energy market intelligence, guidance, and direction from a consultant, Enel X, who also works as the advisor to wholesale accounts led by the City of Philadelphia, among others. The Partnership will contract with a supplier to build a portfolio of electricity procurements over time, purchased according to the Partnership-approved cost-management strategy that outlines objectives for electricity and renewable energy. 

“The Sustainable Energy Partnership of Southeast PA is possible because of the leadership and commitment from the four counties towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions, realizing their renewable energy targets, and addressing the climate crisis,” said DVRPC Executive Director Ariella Maron. “This partnership is evident of the strength of regional partnerships to tackle large challenges, while creating operational efficiency.”

The Partnership’s Energy Board will meet quarterly with Enel X to evaluate market conditions, approve future procurements, and develop strategies for renewable energy procurement and onboarding new members. The first meeting of the board will be convened in November 2023.

More information can be found on the DVRPC website, linked below.

The Delaware County Health Department (DCHD) has launched a new "Respiratory Illnesses" web page on the DCHD website, serving as a central hub for health information about contagious respiratory illnesses affecting Delaware County residents.

This new web page is designed to provide residents with news, information, and guidance related to various seasonal and non-seasonal respiratory illnesses, including Influenza (flu), COVID-19, and RSV.

Visitors to the web page will find information to help them identify common symptoms of different respiratory illnesses and receive guidance on taking actions to safeguard their health and prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses to their loved ones, co-workers, and the community.

“Everyone is susceptible to be infected by respiratory illnesses, but our younger and older residents are especially vulnerable,” said Delaware County Health Department Director Melissa Lyon. “It’s crucial for the health of our county to take them seriously by protecting each other.”

DCHD encourages everyone to take steps year-round to help reduce the spread of respiratory viruses and limit their impact on our families and community. Stay up to date on vaccinations. Practice proper handwashing. Stay home if you are sick. Get tested. Be mindful of not exposing vulnerable friends and family. Consider wearing a mask in appropriate settings. Seek medical advice and care if you have severe symptoms.

An example of the type of information available on the Respiratory Illnesses page is this helpful "Know the Signs" graphic, providing quick reference for common symptoms experienced by residents who may have contracted COVID-19, RSV, or the flu.

New! The DCHD Community Calendar

The Respiratory Illnesses web page also features the DCHD's new Community Calendar, providing information on the times and locations of all DCHD clinics and other public events where DCHD may be participating.

Upcoming events listed on the calendar include a Nemours Children's Community Health Fair, STD/HIV clinics, a Trunk or Treat event at Yeadon, a DCHD Health Info Outreach at the Springfield YMCA, a Mental Health Expo in Eddystone, a Child Care Professionals Network Annual Conference in Aston, and more!

The Delaware County Health Department (DCHD) encourages Delaware County residents ages 3 and up to protect themselves against influenza (flu) this year by taking advantage of a free and convenient drive-thru flu vaccination clinic outside the DCHD Wellness Center in Yeadon this Sunday. 

No appointments or insurance are necessary. 

“We understand it can be difficult to schedule family vaccinations,” said Delaware County Health Department Director Melissa Lyon.” We hope these drive-thru events make it easier to bring the whole family, especially for those with younger children and seniors who are at higher risk for serious infection.” 

Residents are asked to wear short sleeves to ensure that flu shots can be administered easily. In the event of inclement weather, please be aware that drive-thru flu clinics may be canceled.

Please note: DCHD will only be offering the Fluarix Quad 2023 influenza vaccine in our flu clinics; high dose flu vaccines for residents 65 years of age and older will not be available. 

Free Drive Thru Flu Vaccination Clinic

DCHD Wellness Center at Yeadon

125 Chester Avenue, Yeadon, PA 19050

Sunday, October 22, 12:00 Noon - 4:00 p.m.

For more information or questions regarding any DCHD clinic, please contact the Delaware County Health Department Wellness Line, available Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., by phone at (484) 276-2100 or by email at DelcoWellness@co.delaware.pa.us. 

Quick and easy vaccinations this past week at Broomall. Thank you to Broomall Fire Company #53, the staff of the Delaware County Department of Emergency Services, and the volunteers of the Citizen Corps of Delaware County

Delaware County Health Department Director Melissa C. Lyon, MPH, CPH, was honored to serve as the Keynote Speaker at Drexel University’s Dornsife School of Public Health’s Pinning Ceremony. 

First instituted at the School by the founding Dean and humanitarian, Dr. Jonathan Mann nearly a quarter century ago, the ceremony has long served as a positive milestone event fostering a sense of shared dedication to improving the health and well-being of communities and an important first step to formally welcome new students into the field of public health. At the conclusion of the ceremony, all incoming students, faculty, and staff receive a distinguished School of Public Health pin.

Director Lyon took the opportunity as Keynote speaker to share her experiences in the Peace Corps, noting the importance of robust public health resources and the significance of establishing trust in the realm of public health — a topic of paramount importance in the post-COVID-19 era. 

Speaking to the nearly 200 students, 10 faculty members, and several professional staff assembled to start the new academic year, Director Lyon emphasized the importance of building trust and transparency during the COVID-19 pandemic and how this experience underscored the power of democratizing public health data to ensure community members had the information necessary to inform public decision-making processes related to health and wellness.

“We are “people serving people,” said Director Lyon. “To me, this means that public health meets people where they are literally: In their neighborhoods, their places of worship, their workplace, homes, and their community spaces, to learn about the issues that are important to them. We learn what they would like to change about their communities to make them healthier.”

During the ceremony held at Drexel’s Stein Auditorium, new members of the community were each presented with the Health and Human Rights pin by a faculty member representing each department — Community Health and Prevention, Environmental and Occupational Health, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and Health Management and Policy. Attendees then stood together to recite the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights pledge. 

The declaration calls for dignity, freedom, and justice for all.

“There is rarely a well-defined pathway in public health,” continued Director Lyon. “It is a destination, a vision that requires you to embark upon a journey filled with uncertainty, ambiguity, and sometimes discomfort. But the reward is knowing that you are saving the lives of people every day.”

Pictured, left to right: Dr. Gina Lovasi, Interim Dean; Melissa Lyon, MPH, CPH, Delaware County Health Department Director; and Dr. Melissa Kaufman, Interim Associate Dean of Education

Newly 'pinned' students from Drexel University’s Dornsife School of Public Health

Delaware County Council recently appointed Dr. Albert Chu to serve as the County’s Chief Medical Examiner. 

The mission of the Medical Examiner is to conduct expert medicolegal investigations into deaths that occur under statutorily prescribed circumstances. The findings of these investigations are then independently shared with members of the public and relevant agencies to improve public safety and health. Dr. Chu will lead the Medical Examiner’s office and its departments including Administration, Autopsy, Evidence, Forensic Investigation, and Morgue Operations. 

Dr. Chu completed undergraduate and graduate studies at the Johns Hopkins University and received his medical degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He then completed a residency in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and a fellowship in Forensic Pathology at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the State of Maryland. Prior to becoming Chief Medical Examiner, he served as an Assistant Medical Examiner at the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences in Houston, Texas, and as Deputy Chief Medical Examiner for the City of Philadelphia.  

“The ultimate goal is to create a Medical Examiner’s office that optimally serves our stakeholders – including family members, funeral homes, organ procurement organizations, law enforcement, attorneys, courts, hospitals, educational institutions, and public health agencies – by means of employing best practices and utilizing up-to-date technology, “said Dr. Chu. 

 Steps to fulfill this goal include addressing staffing issues, training new and current employees, and developing policies and procedures that will allow the Medical Examiner’s office to standardize and optimize best work practices. Future plans include the design and construction of a new, state of the art facility that will replace the County’s current aging building. Relocation into this facility will then allow the office to apply for accreditation by the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME). 

“Accreditation by NAME would be tangible recognition that we are successfully providing the highest quality of medicolegal death investigation for the County,” said Dr. Chu.

More information regarding the Office of the Medial Examiner can be found  on the Delaware County website at delcopa.gov/meo/index.html.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 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. To address this significant health risk, the Delaware County Office of Services for the Aging (COSA), in collaboration with Crozer Health, are again teaming up to offer the evidence-based Healthy Steps program for Delaware County residents ages 60 and older.

This 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. Research has found that adults who completed the Healthy Steps workshop lower their risk of a fall by 15%.

This November, COSA and Crozer Health will offer the free two-session program at two locations: The Senior Community Services’ Friendship Circle Senior Center, in Darby, and at the Marple Public Library in Marple Township. 

All program costs, including the Healthy Steps workbook, are covered by COSA, so the program is FREE, however class size is limited, and registration is required. Both two-session programs are preceded by a separate in-person Physical Skills Assessment session that will be scheduled as part of the registration process.

Senior Community Services’ Friendship Circle Senior Center

1515 Lansdowne Ave, Darby, PA, 19023

• Friday, November 3 (physical skills assessment)
• Friday, November 10
• Friday, November 17

To register for the Friendship Circle Senior Center program, contact Roberta Muche, Program Coordinator at Friendship Circle Senior Center, by phone at (484) 534-2033 or by email at rmuche@scs-delco.org.  

Marple Public Library

2599 Sproul Rd., Broomall, PA 19008

• Thursday, November 9 (physical skills assessment)
• Wednesday, November 15
• Thursday, November 16

To register for the Marple Public Library session, contact Bridgette Crockett by phone at (610) 356-1510, or register online at delcopa.gov/steps.

Delaware County is excited to host its second fall Career Fair to fill a variety of full-time and part-time positions. The career fair will be held at the Delaware County Emergency Services facility located at 360 N. Middletown Road, in Media, on Tuesday, October 24, from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. 

Multiple County departments are looking to hire, including:

• The Delaware County Department of Human Services
• George W. Hill Correctional Facility
• Fair Acres Geriatric Center
• Park Police
• Bureau of Elections
• Information Technology (IT)
• Human Resources
• Delaware County Health Department

Positions offer competitive employee benefits as well as opportunities for advancement. Interested applicants are advised to bring copies of their resume and will have the opportunity to apply in person during the fair. On-site interviews may be held for qualified attendees. 

Open positions include: Classification Coordinator, Domestic Relations Officer, Court Information Officer, Correctional Officers, Administrative Assistant, Deed Clerk, Environmental Health Specialist, Juvenile Probation Officer, Office Manager, A/V Technician, Telecom Technician, SAP Basis Admin, IT Records Clerk, Network Lead, Poll Workers, Risk Manager, Senior Project Manager, Budget Analyst, HR Advisor, HR Manager, HR Generalist, HR Recruiter, Labor Relations Generalist, Healthcare Recruiter, Program Coordinator, RN’s, LPN’s, NP/PA’s and MHP’s, Dietician, Food Service Worker, Judicial Support Technician, Program Coordinator/Grant Management (Population Health), and more. 

For a complete list of open positions, visit Delaware County website at delcopa.gov/jobs.

Walk-ins are welcome, though interested individuals are asked to pre-register at delcopa.gov/job-fair.

Attendees will have an opportunity to meet the Recruitment Team to discuss open positions to gain a better understanding of the job duties and the benefits offered, and have the team review their resume and skill set to determine if they are a candidate for that position (or a different position that might be a better match). 

Delaware County job fairs are a great opportunity for individuals to meet with the recruitment team and discuss positions; however, qualified individuals who are interested in open positions are urged to apply online immediately if they are interested in a position. Applications and resumes can be submitted online today.

All Delaware County residents invited to name new park at site of the former Don Guanella School

Just over one week remains for Delaware County residents to submit their idea for the name of the new 213-acre park being planned for the former Don Guanella School site in Marple Township.

The “Name Our Park” contest, launched in September, has received hundreds of suggestions and is set to close at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 31

Delaware County Council is looking for a name that embodies the theme of “Community, in Nature” and resonates with the spirit of our community, fosters a sense of belonging, and creates an inspiring identity for the park for generations to come.

The resident who submits the winning name will receive $250 and be celebrated at a future unveiling, showcasing the name on the official park signage and materials. 

How to Enter the Contest 

To submit a name for consideration, go to DelcoPA.gov/NameOurPark, and complete the short entry form. The entry process takes less than five minutes! Just provide your park name, an explanation for your choice, and your contact information. 

The contest is open to Delaware County residents of all ages. All submissions must be submitted online. Entries should reflect the values of our community, celebrate our County's rich heritage, culture, and natural resources, and inspire a sense of inclusivity and togetherness. Please note that only one submission per resident will be accepted. You can find the complete contest rules online at DelcoPA.gov/ContestRules.

We look forward to hearing from you. Best of luck!

Delaware County Govt Official 2023 Calendar

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