Delaware County will hold a Town Hall on June 15 to discuss strategies to best utilize funding that the County will receive in a multi-state opioid settlement.

The Town Hall will be held on Thursday, June 15, from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., in the Large Auditorium at Delaware County Community College, located at 901 S. Media Line Road, in Media, PA.

The County will receive funds as part of a $26 billion multi-state opioid settlement with Johnson & Johnson, AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health, and McKesson. Delaware County will receive $63 million in 18 annual payments. The funding will be used to tackle the devastating opioid epidemic affecting Delaware County residents, their loved ones, and the community. 

The Town Hall, hosted by Delaware County Council, is being held to engage community members around the opioid settlement funds that the County will receive and gather information about how to best utilize the funds. Registration is not required. 

It’s critical that Delaware County move quickly to put the new funding into use, because every day is another day that someone struggles with addiction and its devastating impact on their lives, the lives of their loved ones, and the community. 

Future Opioid Settlement Town Halls are also being scheduled to be held at locations across the county.

The Delaware County Department of Parks & Recreation has released the much-anticipated schedule for the Rose Tree Summer Festival, its award-winning outdoor concert series in Rose Tree Park.  

“The concert series is one of Delco’s finest traditions, and residents really look forward to it,” said Parks and Recreation Director Marc Manfre. “We’re very pleased to present it the public each year.” 

Free concerts in Rose Tree Park’s outdoor amphitheater began over four decades ago as part of the nation’s Bicentennial celebration and have been a popular local attraction ever since. Last year, the Rose Tree Summer Festival was awarded “Best Annual Festival” by Main Line Today and was featured at the top of the “Arts & Music Festivals to Attend” list presented by Visit PA, the official state tourism guide.  

The 2023 concert series runs June 21-August 20 on Wednesday through Sunday evenings. Show time is 7:30 PM, plus three special morning concerts for children at 10:00 a.m. (6/28, 7/6, 7/20). Each evening features different entertainment, and concert goers will find a wide variety of genres throughout the summer, including Rock, Pop, Blues, Jazz, R&B, Reggae, Big Band, Brazilian Bossa Nova, and more.

Manfre highlighted that Delaware County is thrilled to have the privilege of presenting the U.S. Army Field Band & Soldiers’ Chorus on Thursday, June 29 for the first time since 2018. This longtime mainstay of the concert series will be reaching a milestone, making its 30th Summer Festival appearance. “This must-see show features the finest professional musical talent in the nation. It’s superb,” said Manfre.

Perennial favorites such as The Fabulous Greaseband, Chico’s Vibe, and Jimmy & the Parrots will be returning this season, and several exciting new acts have been added to the mix, including these local performers: the jam band Three Fourteen, the Americana/folk group Bailey Run, and Los Bomberos de la Calle, a group of musicians and dancers presenting authentic Puerto Rican Bomba y Plena. 

From orchestras such as the Delaware County Symphony to rock tributes like Whole Lotta AC/DC, the Festival features a wide variety of styles. Eclectic music lovers may enjoy Opera Under the Stars one night, a Beatles tribute on another, and irresistible Yacht Rock on yet another.

“We’re thrilled to kick off the summer season with the opening of our Summer Concert Series in beautiful Rose Tree Park,” said Delaware County Council Vice Chair Elaine Paul Schaefer. “We are so proud to have an excellent parks system where our residents can enjoy outdoor recreation, sports, festivals, charity events, and family outings. Thank you to Parks and Recreation Director Marc Manfre, Beth Chapman and the entire Park and Recreation Team for the extraordinary work and effort they put into planning and hosting this festival each year. These free concerts feature some incredible acts in an absolutely beautiful setting, and I encourage residents to enjoy some of them this summer.”

Printed schedules are available in Rose Tree Park, the Government Center in Media, and the Delaware County Libraries.

The schedule is available on the Rose Tree Summer Festival website at www.delcopa.gov/departments/parks/summerfestival.html.

Audiences should bring blankets and chairs for seating and may bring their own picnic provisions. Alcohol and smoking are prohibited. Leashed dogs are allowed in the outer viewing areas on the hilltops and must remain outside of “the bowl.”

The Rose Tree Summer Festival concerts are weather permitting; there are no rain dates. Admission and parking are free. Handicapped parking is available. For more info, please visit the Parks and Recreation website, linked above and below, or call (610) 891-4455.

Hope to see you out there!

Delaware County Council was proud to join dozens of County employees and members of the LGBTQQIA+ community including Vice President of U.D.T.J. and the Logistics Coordinator of the Upper Darby Pride Festival Kyle T. McIntyre to raise the Progress Pride Flag outside of the Courthouse on June 6. 

The flag was 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.

Last June, for the first time in the County’s history, the Pride flag was raised at the Courthouse.

“We are very proud to once again be raising the Progress Pride flag in recognition of Pride Month,” said Delaware County Council Vice Chair Elaine Paul Schaefer. “The flag raising is extremely symbolic and a testament that our County respects, recognizes, and celebrates the lives of our residents and employees in the LGBTQQIA+ community. It’s also a reflection and reminder of the need to create and cultivate a more accepting and loving society.”

Vice Chair Schaefer noted that our world is a different place than it was just 15 years ago. 

• In 2015- The Supreme Court declared same-sex marriage legal in all 50 states. 
• In 2010- The U.S. Senate voted to repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, allowing gay people to serve openly in the U.S. Military.
• In these past 15 years, companies have changed their policies for health benefits to be inclusive for employees in the LGBTQQIA+ community. 
• Restroom signage has changed to include gender-neutral people. 
• TV shows, movies, and advertisements include members of the LGBTQQIA+ community.
• People in the LGBTQQIA+ community and allies have begun to display pronouns to help one another know how to refer to a person with respect.

The world is drastically different than it was almost 100 years ago when the first milestone in the American Gay Rights Movement was documented. In 1924, The Society for Human Rights was founded by Henry Gerber in Chicago. The Society is the first Gay Rights Organization as well as the oldest documented in America. After receiving a charter from the state of Illinois, the society published the first American publication for homosexuals called “Friendship and Freedom.” Soon after its founding, the society sadly disbanded due to political pressure.

The ceremony included remarks from the County’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer Lauren Footman, County Team Member Tony Oriente who delivered an impactful and personal story about living as a member of the LGBTQQIA+ community, and Vice President of U.D.T.J. Kyle T. McIntyre, who highlighted various LGBTQQIA+ events in the county including the June 10 Pride Festival being held in Upper Darby.

In addition to the dozens of County leaders and employees who participated, various organizations including “Free Mom Hugs” and residents of the community gathered to celebrate the raising of the Pride flag.

The Progress Pride Flag will fly outside of the Delaware County Courthouse and the Government Center through the month of June.

The Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (PACDL) recently honored Delaware County Public Defender Christopher Welsh and First Assistant Lee Awbrey with the prestigious 2023 Alan Jay Josel Advocacy Award, in recognition of reforms implemented in the Delaware County Office of the Public Defender under their leadership.

PACDL is the premier network of leading defense attorneys in Pennsylvania dedicated to ensuring that equal justice under the law is the guiding principle of our criminal legal system. 

The Alan Jay Josel Advocacy Award is presented in recognition of extraordinary advocacy in one or more cases, causes or issues during the previous year, and is named for Alan Josel, the highly respected Montgomery County Chief Public Defender for most of the 1980s and 1990s who was a fierce advocate for equal justice and championed the expansion of resources for individuals accused of a crime. Josel tragically died from a heart attack during a cross-country bicycle ride in 1999 at the age of 53. 

“Alan would have been extremely proud of the extraordinary work done by Chris and Lee in Delaware County,” said Arthur T. Donato, the PACDL’s first President and a longtime colleague of Josel. “They have really professionalized the office and brought a renewed commitment to the mission of defending the accused and ensuring that the District Attorney’s Office and the Public Defender’s Office are on more equal footing.” 

Since 2020, the Office of the Public Defender has worked with a firm commitment to equal justice to improve representation of indigent people accused of crimes, restructuring the Office, and improving coordination with system stakeholders and community partners. In addition, the Office has brought on additional personnel, including research personnel, investigators, and administrative staff to ensure the defendants have appropriate resources to provide for a robust defense.

The Office has worked with a broad coalition of groups to reform the juvenile justice system in Pennsylvania, implemented training programs for new attorneys and public defenders throughout the Commonwealth. They brought in Partners for Justice Advocates to assist attorneys break cycles of poverty and criminalization, worked to expand successful re-entry programs into Delaware County, and helped significantly decrease the number of cases held for trial at the magisterial district level by eliminating the prior practice of waiving preliminary hearings (a drop of 7.6% in cases transferred to the Court of Common Pleas since 2021).

In addition, the Office of the Public Defender and the District Attorney’s Office started an early bail review process that helped lower the incarceration rate at the George W. Hill Correctional Facility and decreased the average stay of incarcerated individuals. Many of the accomplishments are the direct result of not only a change of culture since 2020, but due to the addition of experienced attorneys, at both the trial and managerial levels, who are committed to ensuring zealous advocacy of public defender clients.

“Lee and I are proud to receive this award, but the recognition really belongs to our lawyers, social service advocates and staff who work tirelessly to serve people living on the margins in Delaware County every day,” said Welsh, referring to changes that have seen an expanded staff, improved social services, and a commitment to their clients that doesn’t end when a case closes.

“We still have a lot of work ahead of us to achieve the improved outcomes that we know are possible. This thoughtful recognition from our colleagues at PACDL offers a source of encouragement when the going gets rough, which, for public defenders, is just about every day,” added First Assistant Awbrey. “We would also like to express our appreciation for County Council, who has been incredibly supportive of strengthening this office and ensuring that Delaware County defendants receive an able defense—we wouldn’t have our incredible team of talented advocates without the backing of Council. 

Past recipients of PACDL awards are among the most distinguished criminal defense attorneys and public defenders in Pennsylvania. This is the first time a member of the Delaware County Office of the Public Defender received an award from PACDL.  

Delaware County Councilman Richard Womack was proud to recognize June 4 as Italian American Day in Delaware County at the 13th annual Italian American Heritage Festival held on Sunday in Rose Tree Park. 

Delaware County is fortunate to have a diverse and vibrant community and Italian Americans have contributed to the rich heritage of the county.

The day was a celebration of Italian music, food, history, and heritage, with plenty of fun for both children (bouncy castles, carnival games, balloon animals) and adults (an Italian car exhibit, a bocce tournament, food and drinks). Divertimento Per Tutta La Famiglia—truly fun for the whole family!

Councilman Womack presented a resolution to the Coalition of Italian American Organizations of Delaware County in recognition of their passion and dedication towards promoting Italian American heritage and culture throughout the region, including supporting a variety of scholarships and memorial programs. 

CIAO Delco—the Coalition of Italian American Organizations of Delaware County—is contributing all proceeds from the Festival to the Communities of Don Guanella and Divine Providence, HEADstrong Foundation, Cooley’s Anemia, and Italian studies and nursing programs at local universities. Proceeds also benefit the Delaware County Law Enforcement Memorial and the Delaware County Fallen Firefighter & EMS Memorial, both situated in the historic Rose Tree Park.

Thank you to the CIAODelco and the many local businesses and performers who participated in this year’s festival.

Recruitment Team to hold three Career Fairs to fill over 60 open positions

Delaware County is excited to host three Career Fairs this summer for a large number of open full-time positions. The three career fairs will be held from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Monday, June 26, Wednesday, July 5, and Wednesday, August 30. Each of the fairs will be held at the Delaware County Intermediate Unit, located at 200 Yale Avenue, in Morton, PA 19070 (Rooms 150-151). 

Multiple departments are looking to hire, including the Department of Human Services, the George W. Hill Correctional Facility, Fair Acres, Park Police, the Bureau of Elections, IT, the Health Department (June & August Career Fairs only), and Personnel. 

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. 

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). 

Full-time positions include: Accountant, Administrative Assistants, Assistant Solicitor, Audio/Visual Technician, Campaign Finance Supervisor, Case Managers, Caseworkers, Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Chief Medical Examiner, Classification Coordinator, clerical positions, Compensation Analyst, Correctional Officer, Correctional Sergeant, Deputy Sheriff, Deputy Warden of Security, Environmental Health Supervisor, Full and Part time RNs, LPNs, NP/PAs and MHPs, Internal Auditor, Laundry Coordinator, Lieutenant, Logistics/Warehouse Coordinator, Paralegals, Patrol Officer, Sanitation Crewman, SAP Basis Administrator, Web Developer, and Recruiter, and many more. 

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

These 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.

On Thursday, June 1, the Delaware County Board of Elections certified the results of the May 16, 2023 Primary and Special Elections. After public comment and updates from Director of Elections James P. Allen, the Board voted unanimously to certify the results. 

During the election, 99,382 Delaware County-registered voters participated across all 49 municipalities. 73,140 ballots were cast in-person on Election Day, while 25,911 vote-by-mail-in ballots (either delivered by USPS or cast at one of the County’s three dozen ballot drop boxes), and 331 provisional* ballots. The participation rate of 24.64%, while relatively low, is consistent with recent odd-year elections, which do not feature Presidential or federal or state contests in all areas.

The Board of Elections certification meeting, held at the Government Center Building in Media, was preceded by the review of ballots from the Return Board, a bipartisan body comprised of Delaware County voters representing both major political parties charged with providing a review of all of the returns from all 428 Delaware County precincts. The Return Board also completed a hand recount of more than 2,000 Election Day ballots (~2%) from seven randomly selected precincts, chosen by the Return Board, to check against the counts from the precinct scanners, and found the results to be accurate.

The Return Board process involves a thorough examination of actual ballots cast, the unused/spoiled ballots that were returned, the tabulation equipment, the poll book with voters’ signatures and the numbered list of voters and determined that there were no indications of fraud or errors in any of the 428 precincts. Affirmation of the results provides a significant and critical double-check on the reported vote totals.

The Primary had one tie and three close contests, none of which resulted in a call for a recount. The Democratic nominations for Darby Borough Council 2nd Ward (vote for two) featured a win by Janice Davis, but a tie between two other candidates. Per the Election Code, a drawing of lots determined that Edna Stockley would be the second candidate. Meantime, two other contests were each decided by just three votes: The Democratic nominations for Chichester School District Region 2 and the Republican nominations for Marcus Hook Council.

Results are still technically considered “unofficial” until the Pennsylvania Department of State certifies the state-wide results, which is expected to occur later in June. Unofficial totals can be found on the Delco Votes! website at delcopa.gov/results. 

* Provisional ballots are most commonly cast when an individual cannot be located in either the poll books or the supplemental poll book pages that contain the voter registration information for all eligible voters in a precinct. An individual might also be required to vote using a provisional ballot if the voter applied for, but did not return, a vote-by-mail ballot.

Welcoming a New Wawa to Darby Township!

Delaware County Councilman Richard Womack was honored to attend a ribbon cutting for a new Wawa in Darby Township.

Wawa celebrated the opening of its new store on Calcon Hook Road with free coffee and free t-shirts for the first 100 customers. 

Wawa has been a pillar of Delaware County for decades and we are proud that they are headquartered right here in Delco—on Route 1 in Wawa, Pennsylvania. As many residents may know, their very first store was located on MacDade Boulevard in Ridley Township. 

Wawa has been serving the community for over a century and has adapted to the community’s needs throughout the years. Their evolution through the years has led to their immense success.

In 1902, George Wood opened a small milk plant in Wawa, PA. In the 1960’s, George Wood’s grandson, recognized the changing trends in the marketplace. Textile manufacturing was moving out of the area, and the need for the home delivery of milk had declined dramatically. He was determined to embrace change and meet the evolving needs of the community. In 1964, the first Wawa Food Market opened in Ridley Township. Throughout Wawa’s evolution, the core values of the company have remained the same and we are proud to call them a hometown Delco company.

Congratulations on your new store!

Delaware County Govt Official 2023 Calendar

Meet your Delaware County Council members

The Delaware County Health Department website