Summer is drawing to a close, school is starting up again for kids and college students, and the leaves are just starting to hint at their autumn colors as we approach Labor Day. This holiday weekend, unofficially the end of summer, is more importantly a time for us to reflect upon and celebrate the achievements and contributions of American workers, over 160 million of us working full- and part-time, stretching from Delco, PA to Dillingham, Alaska!

Did you Know? Labor Day’s Origins

Labor holiday, celebrated on the first Monday of September, has a rich history dating back to the late 19th century. It was first observed in 1882 in New York City as a day to recognize the hardworking labor unions and their members. The labor movement sought better working conditions, fair wages, and reasonable working hours, often in the face of challenging circumstances. Over time, Labor Day gained recognition nationwide and became a federal holiday in 1894.

A Time for Rest and Reflection

Today, Labor Day has evolved into a long weekend filled with outdoor barbecues, parades, and family gatherings. It's also considered the unofficial end of summer. However, it's important to remember the holiday's roots amidst the festivities. Labor Day allows us to pause and acknowledge the dedication and commitment of the American workforce, past and present.

Delaware County Council is committed to serving residents and making our county an exceptional place to work, live, and visit! 

Wishing You a Happy and Safe Labor Day Weekend

As we approach this Labor Day Weekend, Delaware County Council extends its warm wishes for a joyful and safe holiday. Whether you're spending time with loved ones, enjoying outdoor activities, or simply taking a well-deserved break, remember that this holiday honors your hard work and dedication.

Here's to a weekend of relaxation and celebration, surrounded by the company of friends and family. Happy Labor Day, Delaware County!!

The Philadelphia Phillies honored the Media Little League 12U Team at the August 28 Phillies game at Citizens Bank Park. 

The Pennsylvania State and Mid-Atlantic Region Little League Champions were brought onto the field and recognized for their incredible season, which earned them a spot to compete in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. 

Delaware County Council Chair Dr. Monica Taylor and Council Member Christine Reuther joined Visit Delco to give the team a warm Delco applause. 

Each player and coach from the team was announced and followed by roaring cheers and applause from the crowd. 

Way to Go Media Little League. Delco is SO proud of you!

The 2023 Media Little League 12U Team

Delaware County Council joined local leaders, community groups, and dozens of residents to recognize Overdose Awareness Day on August 31 during an Overdose Awareness Vigil. 

The vigil, hosted by Senators John Kane and Tim Kearney, was held in front of the Delaware County Courthouse in honor of International Overdose Awareness Day. 

International Overdose Awareness Day is a global event held each year on August 31 and was created to raise awareness of drug overdoses, reduce stigma, acknowledge the grief felt by family and friends of those who have died, and serves as a day to remember the lives lost to drug overdoses. 

Residents were invited to attend to honor their loved ones affected by overdose and offer support for those affected by overdose. Resources and access to organizations that support those struggling with substance use were also available. 

Tragically, 144 overdose deaths were reported in Delaware County in 2022 and countless lives have been destroyed by substance abuse. The increase in overdose deaths has been exacerbated by the lethal prevalence of fentanyl. 

Data shows that the majority of drug-related deaths involve opioid use and that most of the deaths are preventable. Prevention and education are key in the fight against the opioid epidemic. 

Council is committed to joining local elected local leaders fighting for a change and the grassroots organizations who work each day to raise awareness, prevent drug use, and foster recovery. 

Our thoughts are with those who are mourning loved ones and those struggling with addiction. 

Delaware County will hold a Town Hall 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, September 21, from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at Widener University. 

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. 

To ensure that settlement funds are used to aggressively combat the opioid crisis by funding high-performing health and service-focused organizations experienced with evidence-based treatments of opioid-affected populations, Delaware County formed an interdepartmental and interdisciplinary Task Force last fall to provide recommendations to County Council for short-term remedies, immediate uses, and long-term programming.

The County is also hosting Town Halls to engage community members around the opioid settlement funds. It is 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. 

The County held its first Opioid Settlement Town Hall in June at Delaware County Community College. Future Opioid Settlement Town Halls are also being scheduled to be held at locations across the county.

Opioid Town Hall Details

Thursday, September 21, from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.

Widener University’s Freedom Hall 122

1 University Place, Chester, PA

Freedom Hall is located next to the Academic Center, north of Memorial Field. Ample parking will be available in the CAN/Library Lot and the Kirkbride Lot. Registration is not required.

Extensive public engagement continues to inform design of the as-yet named new park at site of the former Don Guanella School in Marple

Delaware County is launching a new online survey to solicit additional public feedback and community input regarding the new 213-acre park currently being planned for the former Don Guanella School site in Marple Township.

The new survey asks residents to share their thoughts on the park’s master plan and the various park features, amenities, and design considerations that have resulted from a nearly year-long community engagement process 

Over the past year, the experienced award-winning team of Toole Recreation Planning, JMT (Johnson, Mirmiran and Thompson), Natural Lands, and Urban Partners has collaborated closely with the Delaware County Planning Department and an impressive array of landscape architects, engineers, environmental scientists, community, parks, and recreation planners, and other experts from a variety of disciplines to craft a plan that will serve the needs of the community while respecting the need for undeveloped open green space.

To determine these community needs, a series of in-person pop up sessions, a survey, open houses, and other engagement tools were employed to allow the public to inform the team about what the park should be.

Out of this effort, the first iteration of the County’s Park Master Plan emerged and was presented at a public workshop on July 10, 2023. The workshop presented the plan as an as-yet finalized blueprint aimed at conserving a 173-acre wooded expanse (one of the largest undeveloped forests in the region) while revitalizing the former Don Guanella School campus as a central community recreation hub featuring nature-oriented play areas, a state-of-the-art pavilion set amidst a spacious lawn intended for play, relaxation, community events, restrooms, and seating across an aesthetically pleasing landscaping. 

Residents are now urged to complete a second survey. Details about the master plan and the proposed park future, including pictures, maps, and renderings, are included in the survey, so no prior knowledge of the park is necessary. Completion of the park takes an estimated five minutes.

Residents can complete the new survey at delcopa.gov/newparksurvey2. Please note that all residents, including those who completed the first park survey published in the Spring of 2023, are urged to complete the new survey. 

We want to hear from everyone! This survey will help ensure that the community’s vision is reflected in the master plan and ensure that Delaware County creates a destination park that excites residents and visitors alike. 

The County Office of Services for the Aging (COSA), in collaboration with the Rachel Kohl Community Library and the PA Department of Aging, is again offering the acclaimed Chronic Pain Self-Management Program for residents 60 years of age and older who live with chronic pain. 

Developed at Stanford University, the popular evidence-based program provides older adults with tools and strategies to effectively manage chronic pain or chronic disease. 

The program will be held virtually on Mondays, from September 11 through October 16, from 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon. Register today to ensure you get a spot!

Dealing with chronic pain? You’re not alone!

A staggering 1 in 5 people live with chronic pain or chronic disease, which can impact all aspects of a person’s life, causing significant physical, mental, and emotional, distress. 

This program aims to give people control over how they manage their pain. Individuals are the experts with regards to their own bodies and therefore, play the biggest role in managing their pain in partnership with their healthcare providers. 

The program addresses how to deal with frustration, fatigue, isolation, and poor sleep; provide learning exercises to improve strength, flexibility, and endurance; discuss how to use medications effectively; examine the impact of good nutrition; and spotlight new treatments for chronic pain.

The program is free, but space is limited, and registration is required.

Chronic Pain Self-Management Program

Mondays, September 11 – October 16

9:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon

To register, contact Ellen Williams, COSA’s Health and Wellness Program Manager, by email at williamse@co.delaware.pa.us or by phone at (610) 499-1937 and provide your name, address, phone number and email if you have one.

The Delaware County Women’s Commission and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Office have developed a new Women’s Resource Guide to provide Delaware County women, girls, and their families easy access to supportive services, programs, and networks designed to foster empowerment, equality, and inclusivity within our community. 

This comprehensive thirty-page guide provides contact information for a wide variety of organizations and health-related providers across nearly thirty areas of focus including mental health, legal services, counseling, mentoring, housing, education, substance abuse, parenting, and employment. 

It is the goal of the Delaware County Women’s Commission and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Office that this new guide will increase access to vital services for residents. 

An updated Women’s Resource Guide for Delaware County and the community was a priority for both the Women’s Commission and the DEI Office. “This new guide provides women and girls of all ages with a single resource that will connect them with critical resources and experts for dealing with many challenges that we face,” said Lauren Footman, the Delaware County Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Office Principal and former Chair of the Women’s Commission. “In many cases, the listings in this guide will not simply be resources, but instead lifelines.”

The 2023 Delaware County Women’s Resource Guide can be found on the Delaware County DEI Office’s website, linked below. 

More about the Delaware County Women’s Commission

Founded in 1985, the Delaware County Women’s Commission serves as an advisory board to Delaware County Council on issues impacting women and girls in our county. Appointed by County Council, the intent of the fifteen-member commission is to broadly mirror the rich diversity of the county. The Commission studies current issues faced by women and girls and seeks to foster solutions and serve as a catalyst for change. 

More about Delaware County’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Office

Established in 2022, Delaware County’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Office provides leadership to dismantle the historic and contemporary barriers that prevent all members of our community from accessing opportunities and experiencing safe and healthy communities. This work is done through the cultivation of strategic partnerships and the education of internal and external stakeholders.

The 48th annual Rose Tree Summer Festival concluded its 2023 run on August 20 with a sizzling performance by the popular party band Del’s Groove before a festive summer crowd of approximately 1,500 people. 

“We are grateful the season ended on a high note like this, with over 6,000 people coming to the final week of shows” said Delaware County Parks & Recreation Director Marc Manfre, “Overall, approximately 35,000 people attended throughout the summer, which is very satisfying for the entertainers and everyone involved in the production.” 

The outdoor concert series in Rose Tree Park’s scenic amphitheater ran for nine weeks, featuring 47 scheduled shows for the public to enjoy admission-free. Bands and singers reflected an impressive range of genres, from Big Band and Bluegrass to Hard Rock and Reggae. There were four children’s concerts, several community concert bands, and many extraordinary tribute groups, including Gold Dust Woman (Stevie Nicks), Land of Ozz (Ozzy Osbourne), Whole Lotta AC/DC (AC/DC) and Us & Floyd (Pink Floyd).

The Rose Tree Summer Festival was by Delaware County, produced by the Parks & Recreation Department, and supported by PECO, local businesses, and private patrons, whose generous donations helped ensure a strong line-up of performers all summer long. 

“We’re fortunate to live in an area teeming with local talent,” said Manfre, “and we strive to present an impressive array of diverse performances so that people of all ages and musical interests can find shows they will enjoy.”

“We thank Director Manfre, his amazing staff, and all of the supporters and sponsors who helped make this another great year,” said Delaware County Council Member Christine Reuther. “I caught The Beat Tells, the Beatles tribute band, in early August and it was thrilling to feel a little Beatlemania take over Rose Tree for a few hours.”

This year, thousands of residents again flocked to perennial festival favorites such as Chico’s Vibe, The Fabulous Greaseband, Sensational Soul Cruisers, Jimmy & the Parrots, and the talented young performers of the Upper Darby Summer Stage Shooting Stars.  

Three pop tributes appeared for the first time at Rose Tree this season, offering nostalgic nights out for those who remember the originals and exposed younger audiences to tear candy and catchy classics from many past Billboard chart-toppers for the first time. The Beat Tells brought back a sense of Beatlemania; Angry Young Band “kept the faith” covering Billy Joel’s extensive catalog; and AM Radio Tribute Band dazzled in paisley pants, peace signs, and go-go boots.

Many more local performers also made their Rose Tree debuts in 2023, including Three Fourteen (jam band), Los Bomberos de la Calle (Puerto Rican Bomba y Plena), Bailey Run (Americana), and The Open Road Band (Country).  

Be sure to check the Delaware County Parks and Recreation website next spring for the 2024 Rose Tree Summer Festival line-up — next summer will be here before you know it! 

Application period for popular municipal grant program to close September 29

Delaware County has scheduled two virtual Q&A sessions to assist municipalities (and non-profit organizations working with municipalities) that are interested in applying for a grant from Delco Green Ways, the popular municipal grant program designed to support open space, trails, and recreation at the community level. 

The Delco Green Ways Q&A sessions, scheduled for Thursday, September 7, from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. and Tuesday, September 12, from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m., provide applicants an opportunity to ask questions and get critical guidance in navigating the grant application process. Both Q&As will be held via Zoom.

Interested applicants must register to participate in a Q&A session.

To register, complete the brief form available at delcopa.gov/session1 for the September 7 session or delcopa.gov/session2 for the September 12 session. A confirmation email, including the Zoom link, will be emailed after completion of the registration process.

Municipalities are reminded that the Delco Green Ways Program User Guide, available at delcopa.gov/greenways, includes a wealth of information about the program and the application process, and includes an FAQ that has been included to address questions frequently asked during past Q&A sessions.

About the Delco Green Ways Grant Program

In 2022, Delco Green Ways provided almost $5M in grants to 24 projects representing 22 municipalities, ranging from $33,667 for a Community Park Swing Canopy and ADA improvements in Edgmont Township, to $250K for rehabilitation of the Observatory Hill Park in Upper Darby, to $500K grants for trail-related projects in Chester City and Middletown and Haverford Townships.

Now in its fourth year, the Delco Green Ways program began accepting grant applications from municipalities and non-profits working with municipalities on August 31, 2023 and will continue to accept applications through September 29, 2023.

Building upon the success of the previous rounds, this fourth round of the Delco Green Ways Grant Program has been tailored to meet the unique needs of Delaware County communities and improved to make the application process easier for municipalities. 

The program includes four broad funding categories, including: “Conserve” (open space and natural features); “Enhance” (environmental and recreational uses); “Connect (communities, cultural/historic resources, and natural features); and “Planning & Design” (future amenities in a prioritized, strategic fashion).

Eligible municipal or multi-municipal projects may include fee simple acquisition of land, conservation or trail easements on private land, capital improvements to existing public parkland, regreening efforts, construction of trails, and plans such as comprehensive open space plans, feasibility studies, design, and engineering plans. 

A comprehensive list of eligible project types, program guidelines, sample grant applications, and the online application are available on the Delco Green Ways Grant Program website at delcopa.gov/greenways. 

Municipalities are reminded that planning projects will need to have their RFP and Consultant selection approved by the Delco Green Ways program before receiving the first award payment. Additionally, a grant match is not required, but submissions including a match (either cash or in-kind services) receive a scoring bonus.

Grant awards will be announced by Delaware County Council later in the fall.

Delaware County Council is changing the start time for the remainder of its 2023 Preliminary Agenda Meetings. The bi-weekly meetings, typically held on the first and third Tuesdays at 10 a.m., will move to 1:00 p.m. beginning on Tuesday, September 5.  

Council’s Regular Public Meetings, held on the Wednesday immediately following the Tuesday Preliminary Agenda Meetings, will continue to have a 6:00 p.m. start time.

What are “Preliminary Agenda Meetings” and “Regular Public Meetings”?

Council holds Preliminary Agenda Meetings to update themselves, other government representatives in attendance, and the public on matters of discussion pertaining to County Government before Council votes on agenda items at the Regular Public Meeting scheduled for the following evening.

During the Regular Public Meetings, County Council members discuss County activities and important developments, make announcements, issue reports and resolutions, and review and vote upon administrative matters. 

In addition to County Council members, the Chief Administrative Officer, County Controller, County Solicitor, and County Clerk, invited speakers, and members of the public are typically present during these meetings.

County Council meetings are open to the public and Council encourages public participation. Meetings are held in the County Council Meeting room, on the first floor of the Government Center Building at 201 W. Front Street in Media.

Downloadable agendas, including key documents related to items enumerated on the agenda, are available for download from the County website linked below as are full recordings of all County Council meetings. 

Meetings are livestreamed for public viewing and are available shortly after the meeting's completion as a recording. Livestreamed and recorded meetings can be viewed at delcopa.gov/meetings.

Delaware County Govt Official 2023 Calendar

Meet your Delaware County Council members

The Delaware County Health Department website