Fifty-seven centenarians from Delaware County were honored at Delaware County’s 21st annual Centenarian Birthday Celebration hosted by the Delaware County Office of Services for the Aging (COSA) on May 22 at the Drexelbrook Event Center in Drexel Hill. 

Many of the centenarians were born or were babies in 1923—the same year that the original Yankee Stadium opened its doors in the Bronx, brothers Roy and Walt Disney founded “The Walt Disney Company,” the first issue of TIME magazine was published, a new home cost an average of $6,300, and a gallon of gas cost just 22 cents!

Barbara Nicolardi, Director of COSA, was joined by Delaware County Council Chair Dr. Monica Taylor, Council Vice Chair Elaine Paul Schaefer, Councilman Kevin Madden, Councilwoman Christine Reuther, Councilman Richard Womack, District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer, and Sheriff Jerry Sanders in congratulating the attendees and presenting each of the residents with a ceremonial proclamation of exemplary citizenship. Cake, a fresh flower corsage, and souvenir photos were provided, with live music adding to the festive atmosphere.

“Older adults play vital, positive roles in Delaware County — as family members, friends, mentors, volunteers, civic leaders, members of the workforce, and more,” said Barbara Nicolardi “Ensuring that older adults remain involved and included in our communities for as long as possible benefits us all.”

The luncheon, held annually each May, is part of COSA’s Older Americans Month. The theme for this year’s Older Americans Month and Centenarian Luncheon is “Aging Unbound.” Delaware County is home to over 200 residents who are 100 years of age or turning 100 in 2023. 

The eldest celebrant, Herman Whilby, born on April 22, 1918 in Jamaica, is 105 years old. Mr. Whilby came to America with his mother in the early 1920s, worked many jobs over his lifetime and retired from the machine shop of James Peters and Son. His secret to longevity, he says, is that he doesn’t drink alcohol or smoke and lives a “normal life.” He also offered some words of wisdom: “Treat everybody good and, as you go along in life, do the best you can.”

The eldest female celebrant, Sarah Narvell, born in Chester on February 9, 1920, is 103 years old. As a teen, Ms. Narvell attended school in West Chester where she learned to ride horses. An avid reader, she enjoyed travel and camping, and enjoys her summer house in Maryland. She attributes her longevity to good living and takes a lot of vitamins and supplements to keep her healthy. 

Six U.S. Veterans were in attendance as well. Donald Harrison, 100, of Springfield; Aaron Lipson, 100, of Drexel Hill; Henry Marini, 101, of Glen Mills; Newton Meade, 99, of Thornton; Ralph Perkner, 102, of Broomall; and Elizabeth Zwijsen, 101, of Glen Mills.

Centenarians who were unable to attend will be visited by COSA staff and presented with a proclamation.

Delaware County Council congratulates the County’s centenarians on their milestone birthday and wishes them continued good health and prosperity. 

Scenes from the May 22 Centenarian Birthday Celebration at the Drexelbrook Event Center in Drexel Hill

The 45th annual Delaware County Hero Bowl will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 1, at Cardinal O’Hara High School and features 100 All-Star football players, coaches, and cheerleaders from across the county. The All-Star football players were selected by the Delaware County Football Coaches Association and trained by teachers and coaches of outstanding record.

The annual Hero Bowl raises money to support the Hero Scholarship Fund of Delaware County, Inc. The Delaware County Hero Scholarship Committee was established in 1977 by County Council to provide education scholarships for the children of police, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel who were killed in the line of duty.

To date, 37 children of Police Officers and Fire Fighters have received educational benefits from the Hero Scholarship Fund.

Council commends the players, coaches and organizers, the Delaware County Hero Scholarship Committee and the hundreds of people who participate, cheer on the teams, or sponsor the game.

Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. More details about the Hero Scholarship Fund of Delaware County, Inc. and the annual Hero Bowl can be found on the Delco Hero Bowl website.

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 Street in Media.

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.

The Delaware County Reentry Coalition held a resource fair on May 20 at the Keystone First Wellness and Opportunity Center in Chester.

The Delaware County Reentry Coalition consists of over 30 non-profit organizations, government agencies, businesses, and community partners with a shared goal of supporting the transition of formerly incarcerated individuals back into the community. The Coalition works to address the issues of education, employment, treatment, mental health, mentorship, and housing for formerly incarcerated people.

The Coalition held the kick-off event for members of the community to talk, listen, and connect regarding services available for reentrants. The event included guest speakers, free health screenings, and a variety of resource tables featuring local organizations. Speakers included Jack Stollsteimer, Delaware County District Attorney; Jonathan King (CEO of Safe Corridors); Richard Mosley (Reentrant and Community Mentor); Dr. Monica Taylor (Delaware County Council Chair); the Honorable John P. Capuzzi, and others.

It is a priority of Delaware County Council and the County team to prepare incarcerated people to be released back into the community and give them the tools they need to be healthy and contributing members of society. Preparing for reentry into the community after incarceration is vital to ensuring the success of formally incarcerated people, reducing recidivism and it improves the health, safety, and well-being of our communities.

Once released, formerly incarcerated people face a myriad of barriers to successfully re-enter society. It’s vital that we give them the tools they need to find a job, have access to education, have safe and affordable housing, and access to health care. Access to mental health resources and drug and alcohol treatment and support is also needed for some people. Research shows that good physical and mental health, housing, skill development, mentorship, social networks, and the collaborative efforts of public and private organizations collectively improve the re-entry experience.

Residents who would like more information about the Delaware County Reentry Coalition can email the Reentry Coalition team at DelcoReentry@co.delaware.pa.us.

Delaware County Council Vice Chair Elaine Paul Schaefer was honored to join leaders from the County’s Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Equity (DEI), Planning Department, Health Department, Human Services, and Executive Office on May 24 for a tour of the Philip Jaisohn Memorial House in Media, PA, in recognition of Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The tour was also part of the County’s ongoing efforts to embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion through expanded engagement with diverse community groups and organizations.

During the visit, members of the County team learned about the life and work of Dr. Philip Jaisohn, a Korean political refugee who became a titanic figure in the early 20th century Korean Independence Movement and who drew inspiration in his efforts to establish a free and democratic Korea from America’s own struggle for independence. In 1890, Dr. Jaisohn was the first Korean American to earn US citizenship, and two years later became the first Korean to receive an American medical degree. 

The visit was scheduled to coincide with Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. 

Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, also known as Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI) is an annual celebration in May that recognizes the contributions and influence of Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander descent recognized in the United States. The AAPI umbrella term includes cultures from the entire Asian continent—including East, Southeast, and South Asia—and the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. 

Asian American and Pacific Islanders make up about 7% of the population in the United States. AAPI cultures have been contributing and helping to shape the United Sates. From science to psychology, medicine to technology, and even YouTube, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have truly made a very large impact on the basic things we use today.

About the Philip Jaisohn Memorial House

The Philip Jaisohn Memorial House, located on East Lincoln Street in Media, was home to Dr. Philip Jaisohn and his family for twenty-five years. From the home Dr. Jaisohn led his life as a father, husband, physician and neighbor, and as a proud, grateful, engaged American citizen. 

Built in a stately Federalist style in red brick, the Philip Jaisohn Memorial House is modest in scale, and sits on a small hill that overlooks a nature sanctuary which Muriel, his daughter, bequeathed to the borough of Media upon her death. Opened to the public in 1990, today, the Philip Jaisohn Memorial House displays many historic photos, records and relics and is free to the public. The Foundation welcomes visitors interested in viewing the exhibit inside the house as well as strolling the surrounding garden.

For more information about the Dr. Philip Jaisohn Memorial House, the Jaisohn Center, and the Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation, please visit their website at https://jaisohn.org.

Delaware County residents ages 50+ have until May 31 to register to compete

The 2023 Delaware County Senior Games, the popular Olympic-style competition that allows senior athletes and active older residents (anyone age 50 and over) a chance to showcase their athletic skills and compete for medals in a variety of sporting events, is rapidly approaching.

The games, sponsored by Delaware County Council and hosted by the Delaware County Office of Services for the Aging (COSA) and the Delaware County Parks and Recreation Department, run from Monday, June 12 through Friday, June 23. 

Game schedules and general information on the games are available at the Parks and Recreation Office in Rose Tree Park, at local libraries, senior centers and online (linked below).

To compete, residents must register by Wednesday, May 31 — payment and the registration form must be received by May 31!

Registration for the games is $15 and is open to all Delaware County residents 50 and older ($20 for non-residents). Mail completed registration forms to the following address:

Delaware County Senior Games

c/o Parks and Recreation Department

201 W. Front Street, Media, PA 19063

About the Senior Games

Hundreds of Delaware County senior athletes, hailing from many of the County’s 49 municipalities and representing a wide range of skill levels and competitiveness, will compete in a variety of sporting events that include track & field, swimming, golf, bowling, table tennis, bocce, corn hole, horseshoes, and pickleball (a complete schedule is available via the registration link below).

The games encourage older residents to stay socially and physically active throughout the year and achieve their personal best, and also foster friendships among the athletes. 

Gold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded in every age category and all participating seniors and volunteers receive a free Senior Games t-shirt.

The 2023 Senior Games will kick off with Pickleball at the Brandywine Youth Club in Concord and with Bocce at Rose Tree Park on June 12, followed by various events Monday through Friday for the next 10 days. Residents of every skill level are encouraged to participate.

“Delaware County Council is excited to kick off the Senior Games in just a few weeks,” said Delaware County Council Vice Chair Elaine Paul Schaefer. “I’m always struck by the healthy competitiveness of the games, with a mix of athletes at all skill levels and an emphasis on fun and friendship.”

A Winner’s Circle Luncheon celebration will be held at the Drexelbrook Event Center on Monday, July 10, 2023.

Residents can also call the Parks and Recreation Department at (610) 891-4663 or COSA at (610) 490-1300 to register or get more information.

The Delaware County Workforce Development Board, a business-led board that works in partnership with County Council and is comprised of volunteer leaders from private business, organized labor, education, economic development, human services and community-based organizations, is seeking five new Board members.

The Workforce Development Board’s mission is to make sure that Delaware County has a dynamic and high-quality workforce.

The Board, established through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, is authorized to establish goals for workforce programs in the community, and has set standards to improve the quality of job seeker and employer services throughout Delaware County and Southeastern Pennsylvania. 

The Board also provides leadership on critical workforce issues identified in the Local Strategic Plan and engages the community to deliberate on key workforce and economic development issues. In addition, it oversees programs and services to ensure high quality performance.

Interested residents should email their resume and letter of interest to the County Clerk of Delaware County at DelcoBoards@co.delaware.pa.us.

Additional Vacancies

As a reminder, Delaware County has a number of vacancies for multiple boards, committees, and commissions, including the Children & Youth Services Citizens Advisory Committee, the Delaware County Chester Waterfront Industrial Development Authority, the Delaware County Redevelopment Authority, the Delaware County Women’s Commission, the Mental Health/Intellectual and Development Disabilities Advisory Board, and the SEPTA Citizens Advisory Committee.

Delaware County encourages interested residents who can contribute their time, energy, and passion, to complete the brief online application. Applicants must provide their name, address, contact information, current employer/occupation, a brief explanation as to why they are interested in serving on a particular Board, and attach an up-to-date resume.

For a complete list of vacancies and application information, please visit the Delaware County Board Vacancies web page, linked below.

The Delaware County Redevelopment Authority (DCRDA) Board is pleased to announce that it will receive an award of $1 million in Brownfields funds from the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grant Program.  

The Environmental Protection Agency’s RLF Grants provide funding for loans or sub-grants for community stakeholders to carry out cleanup and other activities at brownfields sites. A brownfield is a property for which expansion, redevelopment, or use may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.  

DCRDA received the maximum possible award to launch the County’s Revolving Loan Fund. Funds loaned from the program can be used to cleanup brownfields sites, install site security, analyze cleanup alternatives, engage the community, and establish administrative records. As loaned funds are repaid following the completion of projects, those funds are made available to other borrowers, providing a sustained source of capital for redevelopment. These funds provide a flexible, low or no interest financing tool for organizations interested in developing or redeveloping a variety of properties across the County. 

“The receipt of this grant will allow the Redevelopment Authority to offer an attractive financing source to further incentivize the remediation and productive reuse of brownfield sites in Delaware County,” said DCRDA Chair Matthew Sullivan. “The Redevelopment Authority is eager to put this funding to work to generate economic growth and improve public health.”  

More information about the EPA’s Revolving Loan Fund grant program can be found on the EPA website, linked below.

Delaware County Govt Official 2023 Calendar

Meet your Delaware County Council members

The Delaware County Health Department website