Active members of the United States Army and Army Veterans are invited to join County officials in the raising of the United States Army Flag on June 14 at 1:00 p.m. in front of the Delaware County Courthouse located at 201 West Front Street in Media.

The flag will be raised to commemorate the anniversary of the United States Army, which was established on June 14, 1775. It will fly from the flagpole in front of the Courthouse and the Government Center complex throughout the week.

Throughout the year, the County raises flags in honor of all branches of the military and invites active military and Veterans to join in the flag raisings. Military flags will be raised at appropriate times later this year in observance of the U.S. Coast Guard on August 4, 1790; the Air Force on September 18, 1947; the Navy on October 13, 1775; and the Marine Corps on November 10, 1775. 

Council extends its gratitude to all of those who have served or are serving, protecting our country.

The Delaware County Health Department, in partnership with community-based organizations and government agencies, began its first Community Health Assessment on May 9.

Assessment of a community’s health is a core function of local health departments, and the objective of our Community Health Assessment is to identify key health assets, needs, and disparities in Delaware County through comprehensive data collection, research, and analysis.

County residents are encouraged to participate in this process through June 30, by taking the Delaware County Community Health Survey today.

This survey is for adults 18 and older who live, work, or go to school or college in Delaware County, PA, and is available in several languages. Surveys take about 10 minutes to complete.

Once completed, the Community Health Assessment will serve as the baseline of community health data to be used by local organizations and residents to support decision making, grant proposals, and health improvement programs in Delaware County. A community health improvement plan framework will be developed to address health issues of concern, including health inequities that exist in Delaware County. 

An interactive Community Health Assessment Dashboard is set to launch later in June. This dashboard will provide results and a timeline for expected milestones to be reached along the way.

This framework will be a roadmap for community partners to collaborate on health improvement strategies in identified priority areas.

Results so Far…

Over 1,700 residents and workers in Delaware County have responded to the call and completed the Community Health Assessment Survey since the survey began on May 9. While we have heard from many residents and are thankful for those who have participated, there are still some populations that are underrepresented in our data. 

These populations include men, especially those ages 18-24, both men and women from select municipalities—including Clifton Heights Borough, Collingdale Borough, Colwyn Borough, Darby Borough, Darby Township, East Lansdowne Borough—as well as Asian, Hispanic and Black Americans. 

Your voices matter and we need to hear them!

Delaware County is joining thousands of communities, advocates, organizations, and government agencies across the country to raise awareness about gun violence by participating in National “Wear Orange.”

The origins of Wear Orange go back to January 21, 2013, when 15-year old Illinois resident Hadiya Pendleton marched in President Obama’s second inaugural parade. One week later, Hadiya was shot and killed on a playground in Chicago. Soon after this tragedy, Hadiya’s childhood friends decided to commemorate her life by wearing orange, the color hunters wear in the woods to protect themselves and others.

Wear Orange was first observed on June 2, 2015—what would have been Hadiya’s 18th birthday—and has since expanded to a period of three days each year. This year, Wear Orange will take place June 2-4.

The County is joining this movement as part of our commitment to violence prevention and anti-violence education. We will be lighting up the Courthouse at night for the month of June to recognize June as National Gun Awareness Month and encouraging employees to wear orange on June 2 in recognition of Wear Orange. 

"The County is committed to preventing and ending gun violence in our community," said Councilman Kevin Madden." Our County's leadership, our community partners, and our residents are resilient, determined, and we share a commitment to create lasting change."  

“As we enter Gun Violence Awareness Month, we are reminded of the toll that firearms continue to take on our communities,” said District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer. “There are far too many people grieving due to gun violence, and we have an urgent responsibility to use every tool at our disposal to get guns off our streets. That includes direct investments in neighborhoods, collaboration with community partners and coordination with other members of law enforcement. While I am pleased that this comprehensive approach has had positive results, we have more work to do. I will continue to do everything in my power to address the critical issue of gun violence in our communities.”

Residents can learn more on the Wear Orange website.

A nine-person delegation from Pine Bluff, Arkansas, traveled to Delaware County on Wednesday, May 31, to discuss the successful Chester Partnership for Safe Neighborhoods (CPSN) program started by District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer, which has reduced homicides in the City of Chester by an astonishing 66% and shootings by 55% since its inception in 2020.

Pine Bluff—a city of approximately 40,000 outside of Little Rock, Arkansas—is in the preliminary stages of developing its own gun violence intervention program and was eager to learn from the work that has been done in the City of Chester. 

District Attorney Stollsteimer, First Assistant Tanner Rouse, Criminal Investigation Division Chief Jim Nolan, Deputy District Attorney Matt Krouse, and CPSN Program Coordinator Melissa Muroff were on hand for an all-day session with the delegation from Pine Bluff, which included Pine Bluff’s Mayor, the Sheriff, the Juvenile Court Judge, the Chief Probation Officer, school administrators and a City Council member. 

“We were delighted to welcome the Pine Bluff delegation to Delaware County and to have the opportunity to share what we have learned from our work on CPSN,” said District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer. “Despite the differences between Jefferson County, Arkansas and Delaware County, Pennsylvania, it was clear that the challenges we face are more similar than different. We were all enormously impressed by their dedication to implementing a comprehensive gun violence intervention strategy, and they are to be commended for their willingness to share and to learn.”

Deputy Krouse, who leads the CPSN team, provided the delegation with an outline of how CPSN collaborates with its numerous law enforcement partners, including the Chester Police Department, the Mayor’s office, County Council, as well as with the network of excellent non-profit organizations in Chester.

DA Stollsteimer emphasized that CPSN’s success would not have been possible without the full and enthusiastic contributions of all the County’s partners, as well as the dedication of all of the individual members of the CPSN team. “We know that there is a limit to what law enforcement alone can accomplish. That is why we have emphasized—and will continue to emphasize—that this work is a partnership,” said DA Stollsteimer. 

CPSN is based upon the group violence intervention strategy developed by Swarthmore College alum David Kennedy in the 1990’s. Kennedy, who now heads the John Jay College of Criminal Justice National Network for Safe Communities, has demonstrated in numerous cities across the country that violence can be dramatically reduced by focusing efforts on the individuals in the community most at risk for being targets of violence or of committing violent acts. 

The Pine Bluff delegation traveled to Delaware County as part of Peer Exchange Program initiated by representatives from John Jay College, who facilitated the visit by Pine Bluff officials and were on-hand throughout the day.

CPSN, which received a $2 million grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, works with partners throughout the City of Chester to provide services to high risk individuals, while also working to engage with the community by funding programs such as the Chester Biddy Basketball League.

Due to significant public interest, registration has closed for Delaware County’s 2nd Annual Sustainability Conference, scheduled to be held Thursday, June 8, 2023, at Widener University. 

Individuals interested in participating in the conference can view the livestream, accessible via the County’s YouTube channel, starting at 8 a.m. and running through the conclusion of the conference at 4:30 p.m.

A permanent recording of the conference will be made available on the same channel within a few days of the conference.

About the Sustainability Conference

Hosted by Delaware County’s Office of Sustainability, the conference’s goal is to inspire, inform, and connect participants working towards a more sustainable future in Delaware County and the region.

Attendees include concerned citizens, experts, everyday sustainability heroes, scientists, community members, government officials, advocates, and sustainability practitioners, with the conference itinerary featuring speakers and panelists centered around the County's six sustainability focus areas seen through the lens of Environmental Justice. These include:

• Natural Resources
• Energy and Efficiencies
• Transportation
• Zero Waste
• Climate Resiliency
• Health and Wellness 

Participants at all stages of their sustainability journey can expect to walk away from this event inspired by innovative solutions, educated about emerging sustainability topics and resources, and connected to a network of local sustainability heroes, bringing together 

This year's Keynote Speaker is Justin J. Harris of the National Wildlife Federation, who will kick-off the conference with a presentation about the Climate Equity Collaborative. The Collaborative is an initiative focused on addressing the disproportionate impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities and youth. The initiative harnesses technology, smart resources and digital platforms to address the human-level risk associated with climate change and its intersection with education, children's health, and equity.

Visit the Delaware County Sustainability Conference website for a complete itinerary of speakers and panelists, sponsor information, and the YouTube channel link.

Conference Livestream Available Thursday, June 8, from 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Delaware County is proud to join communities, organizations, and government agencies across the country in recognizing June as National Pride Month.  

Pride Month is dedicated to recognizing the need to achieve equal justice and equal opportunity for LGBTQQIA+ 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.

In recognition and celebration of Pride Month, Delaware County will raise the Progress Pride flag on June 6 at 9:00 a.m. in front of the Courthouse, located at 201 W. Front St., Media, PA.

The flag will be raised in honor of Pride Month, a month dedicated to recognizing the need to achieve equal justice and equal opportunity for LGBTQQIA+ 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.

The flag is a symbol that our County respects, recognizes, and celebrates the lives of our residents and employees in the LGBTQQIA+ community and is reflection of the progress we have made as a nation to cultivate a more accepting and loving society.

The community is invited to join Delaware County Council and various members of the County Team in raising the flag to celebrate the LGBTQQIA+ community and diversity, equity, and inclusion in Delaware County. The Progress Pride Flag will fly outside of the Delaware County Courthouse and the Government Center through the month of June.

For local resources, contacts, and organizations of interest to the LGBTQQIA+ community, Delaware County's Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion offers an online Resource Guide.

Delaware County is proud to recognize June as National Caribbean American Heritage Month, which celebrates the contributions, culture, and history of Caribbean Americans.

The celebration of Caribbean-American Heritage Month began in June 2005 when the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously adopted House Resolution 71, which recognized the significance of Caribbean people and their descendants in the history and culture of the United States.

In February 2006, the resolution passed the senate, with the Proclamation being ultimately issued by President George W. Bush on June 6, 2006. 

Since the declaration, the White House has issued an annual proclamation recognizing June as Caribbean-American Heritage Month. This year marks the eighteenth celebration.

It is estimated that there are approximately 4.4 million people of Caribbean descent working in and contributing to the U.S. economy and culture, and one of the ten largest communities of Caribbean Americans is found in Pennsylvania.

Notable Caribbean Americans include Alexander Hamilton, our first Secretary of the Treasury, Colin Powell, the first person of color appointed as the Secretary of the State, Shirley Chisholm, the first African American Congresswoman and first African American woman candidate for President. Current leaders of Caribbean heritage include Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, and White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. 

There are 13 sovereign Caribbean nations, including Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago, with ninety percent of Caribbean people came from five countries: Cuba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Haiti, Trinidad, and Tobago. In addition, the Caribbean includes a wide variety of territories, special municipalities, and commonwealths such as Aruba, Martinique, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, Saint Martin, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

During National Caribbean American Heritage Month, we are reminded that our nation’s strength is rooted in its diversity, helping to highlight the pivotal role Caribbean immigrants have played, and continue to play, in shaping Delaware County and our nation. 

Council wishes all Delaware County residents of Caribbean descent a happy Caribbean American Heritage Month! 

Delaware County Council Chair Dr. Monica Taylor and Councilman Kevin Madden were proud to recognize Media Theatre Executive Director Emeritus Patrick Ward and Artistic Director Emeritus Jesse Cline on May 31 during the performance of The Millionaire Quartet. The two Media Theatre icons were recognized for their decades of leadership at the Media Theatre and congratulated on their upcoming retirement. 

Since 1994, the Media Theatre has brought the joy of music and performance to countless residents and visitors of all ages. The theatre promotes and nurtures the imagination, diversity, and joy, that is unique to musical theatre and provides a venue to entertain theatre lovers, educate young people, celebrate inclusion, and enhance the arts in our community. 

Much of Media Theatre’s success can be attributed to Patrick Ward and Jesse Cline who have used their experiences from New York to bring Broadway worthy productions to Delaware County. 

Patrick Ward has been involved with The Media Theatre since its renovation in 1994. He directed the highly acclaimed productions of Carnival and Big River as well as the youth productions of The Frog Prince and Aladdin and has contributed to the Theatre’s mission to educate, entertain, and enhance the community. 

Jesse Cline’s work has been seen at The Media Theatre since 1994 when he began staging Broadway musicals in Delaware County as the Artistic Director for Rockwell Productions.

For over 25 years, Patrick Ward and Jesse Cline have worked to provide quality musical theatre entertainment to Delaware County and have been a leader in musical theatre education.

County Council commends Patrick Ward and Jesse Cline on their decades of work providing an artistic venue for the residents of Delaware County and congratulate them on their upcoming retirement. 

Click to watch The Media Theatre Story, by Video Producer and Writer Alec A. Lynch

Although spring is officially with us for another few weeks, the warm weather, the recent flip of the calendar to June, and the end of the Memorial Day weekend festivities and observances has everyone in Delaware County thinking summer! Our friends at Visit Delco, PA have put out their annual list of festivals just in time.

So, mark your calendars, grab your family and friends, and get ready for a fresh festival season full of live music, delicious food, cultural celebrations, outdoor adventure, and more. 

Here is a short sample of the festivals coming up in Delaware County in just the next 10 days - click the headlines for more information.

For the complete list of summer festivals in Delaware County, check out the Visit Delco, PA website.

Delaware County Govt Official 2023 Calendar

Meet your Delaware County Council members

The Delaware County Health Department website