The Delaware County Weekly

Bringing Delco news and information directly to our residents!

—— December 15, 2023 (99th edition) ——

Delaware County’s cherished annual Festival of Lights and the 3rd annual Delco Holiday Village opened on December 1 and thousands of residents have visited Rose Tree Park to stroll through the light displays, shop with local vendors, and enjoy the food and beverage trucks.

The Festival of Lights features more than 100 lit trees and many festive displays that circle around Rose Tree Park- creating a Winter Wonderland in Delco. The festival runs from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. nightly through Sunday, January 1.

The Delco Holiday Village, presented by the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce, will be open for the third and final weekend on Friday, December 15, and Saturday, December 16 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Visitors can visit www.holidayvillagedelco.com for a list of vendors.

Rose Tree Park is located at 1671 N. Providence Road in Media. Parking and admission are free. Handicapped parking is available. Friendly, leashed dogs are welcome. 

For event notifications, such as weather cancellations, text the word DELCOPARKS to 888777 or select 'Parks & Recreation Alerts' in the Delco Alert system (available at DelcoPA.Gov/DelcoAlert), or call (610) 891-4455.

Weather notifications and possible changes in the schedule can also be found online at www.holidayvillagedelco.com.

December 15th Vendors

December 16th Vendors

Delaware County Council, District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer, County Controller Joanne Phillips, and elected officials from the PA State Senate, State House, and Media Borough were honored to join Rabbi Tzvi Altein of the Chabad of Delaware County in celebrating the beginning of Hanukkah at the 9th Annual Grand Menorah Lighting celebration outside of the Delaware County Courthouse in Media on the evening of Sunday December 10. 

Hanukkah began at sunset on Wednesday, December 7, and ends at sunset on Friday, December 15. 

Ben Hover, President of Lansdowne Borough Council, was honored with the lighting of the Shamash candle (used to light the other candles in the Menorah) in recognition of his efforts against antisemitism. 

Prior to the Menorah lighting, Chabad of Delaware County and participating Media businesses created a Hanukkah Village along State Street, with Kenny’s Flower Shoppe, Zen Nails & Spa, Homesewn, Little People Consignment Boutique, Game On State, the Media Free Library, and the Law Office of Deborah Truscello opening their doors for a festive afternoon of family-fun activities, including Hanukkah story time, Hanukkah Face & Nail art, Menorah making, candle making, donut decorating, Lego dreidels, and an olive press workshop.

Thank you to the many residents and volunteers who participated, as well as the Media Fire Hook and Ladder #1 for once again participating in the Gelt Drop!

We hope that Delaware County residents enjoyed a very Happy and Healthy Hanukkah!

Before the lighting of the Shamash candle

Getting into the Hanukkah spirit

The Hanukkah celebration has begun!

Pictured, left to right: Senator Tim Kearney, Delaware County Chair Dr. Monica Taylor, Lansdowne Borough Council President Ben Hover, Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer, Delaware County Vice Chair Elaine Paul Schaefer, Delaware County Controller Joanne Phillips, Rep. Jennifer O'Mara, Rep. Lisa Borowski, Senator John Kane, Rep. Heather Boyd, and Delaware County Member Christine Reuther.

Select images courtesy of Chabad of Delaware County

Delaware County Council unanimously approved the County’s FY 2024 budget at the December 13 public meeting. Next year’s budget represents the County’s investment in the community it serves including investments in services to residents, County infrastructure, public safety, and in the County team who work to serve residents each day. It also reflects the reality of running a County in the wake of spiking inflation, addressing decades of underinvesting and deferred maintenance, and acknowledging the conclusion of access to federal COVID-19 relief funds.

The $358M operating budget increases the County’s current milage rate of 2.999 to 3.149. The increase equates to residents paying $38.19 more per year in County property taxes for a median home valued at $254,683 (for a total County real estate tax bill of $801.98).

The FY 2024 budget once again builds on Council’s commitment to significantly improve how Delaware County government works, how it provides services equitably, and how Council and the County team can work to make Delaware County a place where people want to live, operate a business, and visit.

Among the investments and challenges in the FY 2024 year’s budget are:

• Addressing critical deferred maintenance as determined by the first countywide assessment of the status of County buildings and infrastructure
• Investing in the pay and benefits packages to attract and retain qualified and talented employees in a highly competitive job market 
• Investing in our natural resources, parks, trails, and open space
• Addressing ongoing and rising inflation. The U.S. Department of Labor reported the Consumer Price Index, which measures the cost of basic items, increased 22% since 2014 which was the last County tax increase.

Council also noted that when the current majority was elected in November 2019, its predecessors decreased taxes, leaving the incoming Council with less revenue. The increase in the FY 2024 budget brings the County’s budget back to where it would have been if there had not been a decrease.

The adopted FY 2024 Budget can be found on the Delaware County Budget Management Department website.

The Delaware County Office of Sustainability has completed the process of becoming the newest affiliate of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful: Keep Delco Beautiful!

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful (KPB) has a mission of empowering Pennsylvanians to keep our communities clean and beautiful and now through Keep Delco Beautiful, Delco residents can also support this mission through action.

To formalize the affiliation, the Delaware County Office of Sustainability first formed an advisory committee made up of local non-profits and community leaders passionate about beautifying Delaware County. Next, the newly formed Keep Delco Beautiful team conducted KPB’s Community Assessment, which gathered data about the community in six categories, including:

1. Residents’ attitude about litter and community image
2. Existing litter prevention programs
3. Leaders of community and beautification efforts
4. Existing waste and recycling policies
5. Past and current community revitalization efforts, and
6. Active volunteer groups.

The results of the Community Assessment will now be used to guide the development of a local plan for changing attitudes and behaviors regarding litter, recycling, beautification, and related issues.

“The Delaware County Office of Sustainability is thrilled to join the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful affiliate network,” said Delaware County Sustainability and Resilience Manager, and Keep Delco Beautiful affiliate coordinator, Rebecca Yurkovich. “Forming Keep Delco Beautiful not only provides us access to new tools for achieving the County’s Zero Waste goals, as established in Sustain Delco: A Sustainability Plan for Delaware County, but it also formalizes our commitment to working with our community in pursuit of KPB’s vision of a clean and beautiful Pennsylvania.”

The group’s overall strategic plan for the next three years includes bringing together community groups and partners to address litter abatement, waste reduction, and beautification, while also providing education and spreading awareness about environmental stewardship.

“Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is grateful to the Delaware County Office of Sustainability and the many individuals who believe in our mission and were instrumental in supporting the adoption of a local KPB affiliate,” said Shannon Reiter, President of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. “We hope to complement the existing programs and resources to make it even easier for residents of Delaware County to keep their communities clean and beautiful.”

For additional information about Keep Delco Beautiful, please contact Rebecca Yurkovich at yurkovichr@co.delaware.pa.us.

For more information about KPB’s local affiliates, visit keeppabeautiful.org and choose "Affiliate Network."

Multi-State escort of wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery makes stop in Newtown Square

Delaware County Council Vice Chair Elaine Paul Schaefer was honored to participate in the 10th Annual “Wreaths Across America’s Escort to Arlington” on December 14 at the Delaware County Veterans Memorial in Newtown Square. 

Making its only stop in Pennsylvania, the convoy of over a dozen trucks and more than 50 buses, cars, vans, and motorcycles was greeted by hundreds of people, including Gold Star Families, Blue Star Families, volunteers, and Veterans representing many eras, as well as local Veteran Service Organizations including the VFW, American Legion, VFW Auxiliary, and the American Legion Auxiliary. 

Members of the Patriot Guard Riders and Patriot Riders, and law enforcement from departments across many states along the route, provided escort to ensure a safe transport.

The convoy is scheduled to arrive at Arlington National Cemetery on Saturday, where wreaths will be placed throughout the cemetery, including at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The wreaths’ journey to Arlington has become a tradition, allowing members of the community along the route to share in the emotional and educational experience as the convoy passes through their hometown.

The Wreaths Across America Escort to Arlington convoy includes over a dozen trucks and more than 50 buses, cars, vans, and motorcycles carrying tens of thousands of wreaths!

Teaching the Next Generation

Students from several area schools, including Interboro, Penncrest, and Springfield High Schools and St. Anastasia, Radnor, and Springton Lakes Middle Schools attended the ceremony, many holding hand-made signs thanking Veterans and honoring fallen heroes for their service and their sacrifice.

The organization’s yearlong mission — Remember the fallen, Honor those that serve, Teach the next generation the value of freedom — is carried out, in part, by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies in December at Arlington and at thousands of participating locations across the United States and through a multi-media trailer to educate students and visitors of all ages.

Karen Worcester, the Executive Director of Wreaths Across America and wife of Morrill Worcester, the owner of Worcester Wreath Company who initiated Wreaths Across America in 1992, emphasized the significance of educating younger generations. By engaging youth in this tradition, Wreaths Across America aims to foster a deeper understanding and respect for those who have served our nation, ensuring that their contributions and sacrifices are never forgotten and are carried forward by future generations.

This year alone, Wreaths Across America expects to place over 2 million wreaths on Veteran’s graves throughout the country.

Learn more about Wreaths Across America at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.

Delaware County Department of Emergency Services Director Timothy Boyce, Delaware County Council Vice Chair Elaine Paul Schaefer, Delaware County Military and Veterans Affairs Director COL Arthur L. Jenkins Jr., Springfield Township Chief of Police Joseph Daly, PA Senator Tim Kearney, PA State Rep. Lisa Borowski, PA Senator John Kane, Edgmont Council Supervisor elect Annie Thorne, and Newtown Township Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Christina Roberts Lightcap

Delaware County Libraries is excited to announce the start of its engaging 12 Days of Reading challenge, beginning Saturday, December 16!

So, cozy up with your favorite books and get ready to join in the fun.

During the 12 Days of Reading, participants are encouraged to log their reading every day from December 16 to December 27.

Successfully logging your reading each day earns you unique "logging badges," creatively themed after the classic carol "The 12 Days of Christmas." Interestingly, the "12 Days of Christmas" carol was first published in England in 1780 in a children's book — "Mirth Without Mischief" — and was originally a rhyme or chant without music.

This time of year, taking the time to delve into a book can be challenging, but also incredibly rewarding. Whether it's just a few pages, a chapter, or an entire series, reading offers a peaceful retreat amid the holiday rush. 

Ready to start?

Register at www.delcolibraries.org/Reading-Challenge, click on the "12 Days of Reading Challenge" link, and sign up or log in using the Delaware County Libraries’ free Beanstack App.

This delightful reading adventure is proudly sponsored by the Delaware County Council.

Join us and make your holiday season a story to remember!

What is Beanstack?

The Beanstack app, widely used by libraries and schools, is a platform designed to motivate reading through various activities and challenges. It is considered a leading solution for encouraging reading and is employed by thousands of libraries and schools globally. The app serves as a tool to engage communities in reading, similar to how a Fitbit motivates physical activity. It has been particularly effective in enhancing reading engagement, with data showing that users of the mobile app report an increase in reading activity.

Beanstack is widely considered an innovative and effective tool for promoting reading among diverse communities, particularly in educational and library settings. Its features are designed to make reading a more engaging, trackable, and rewarding experience for individuals of all ages.

We're closing in on the 100th edition of our Delaware County Weekly, our e-Newsletter read by thousands of Delaware County residents each week. Your ideas and input are crucial in helping us ensure that the Delaware County Weekly remains relevant, engaging, and continues to evolve as a vital source of news, information, and community insights.

With 99 editions and nearly 1,000 articles already published, we are committed to maintaining transparency and serving our community. As we gear up for the 100th edition, we want to know what you think! 

• What do you love about the newsletter?
• What topics or features would you like to see more of? Less of?
• How can we improve?

Share your thoughts at AskDelco@co.delaware.pa.us. We are eager to hear from you!

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