Delaware County Council and the entire County team extend their deepest condolences to the loved ones of Park Police Patrolman Joseph Montgomery and the first responder community. 

Patrolman Montgomery, who tragically passed away this past week following more than 30 years of service as a decorated Paramedic with the Riddle Memorial Hospital / Mainline Health System, the Fire Chief of Edgmont Fire Company, and most recently as a member of the Delaware County Park Police, was a very well-respected member of the first responder community and a true hero. 

Funeral arrangements for Patrolman Montgomery:

Public Visitation and Commitment Services

Sat., Oct. 7, 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Nolan Fidale Funeral Home 

5980 Chichester Ave., Aston, PA 

Masonic Service

Sat., Oct. 7, at 10:30 a.m.

Nolan Fidale Funeral Home

5980 Chichester Ave., Aston, PA

Funeral Services

Sat., Oct. 7, at 10:45 a.m.

Nolan Fidale Funeral Home

5980 Chichester Ave., Aston, PA 

Interment to Follow at Glenwood Memorial Gardens

2321 West Chester Pike

Broomall, PA 19008

Delaware County Council joined the Director of the County’s Department of Emergency Services Timothy Boyce, President and Chief Executive Officer of JVC Kenwood Dwayne Anderson, and dozens of members of law enforcement, fire departments, and EMS on October 5 for a groundbreaking ceremony to announce a major public safety radio system upgrade. 

Today marks the next phase of Delaware County’s implementation of a new emergency communications system. The nearly $40M investment is the first major radio upgrade in the county since the 1970s and an integral piece of Council’s commitment to ensuring that First Responders across the county have the tools and the resources, they need to communicate with each other in real-time in order to effectively respond to crises and deploy critically needed emergency services to protect the community. 

The design phase of the project has been completed and the next phase has begun. Microwave paths have been created, transmission radius areas were studied, an infrastructure construction plan was launched, and the construction upgrade of 21 radio towers will now begin. 

The County was able to build upon existing towers in the County, allowing for a more sustainable project. 

The radio system upgrade utilizes the latest technology available. The project includes higher frequency radios, expanded coverage area, and will increase reliability and coordination among First Responders.

“This major investment in our First Responders and public safety is vital and it is long overdue,” said Delaware County Council Vice Chair Elaine Paul Schaefer. “We need to ensure that First Responders across the county have the tools and resources they need to effectively and safely respond to emergency situations. Every second counts and there isn’t room for error or lapses in time.”

The project includes:

• Construction on 21 existing towers
• Upgrading to a 700 MHz radio spectrum to obtain new frequencies and reduce the tropospheric interference “ducting” currently on the 500 MHz radios 
• Issuing every police officer in Delaware County with a portable radio that is interoperable across the county
• Issuing fire departments and EMS agencies with a portable radio to serve their front-line first responders

“Delaware County Council is keeping the promise they made to our First Responders,” said the County’s Department of Emergency Services Director Boyce. “We are excited to announce that the build out of a state-of-the-art, comprehensive emergency communications radio network has begun.”

Council commends the Department of Emergency Services, under the leadership of Director Timothy Boyce, and project consultants ACD Telecom and JVC Kenwood for their diligence in improving service and reliability for First Responders across the county.

Delaware County Council Vice Chair Elaine Paul Schaefer addresses the media

Delaware County Department of Emergency Services Director Timothy Boyce with media members

Delaware County Department of Emergency Services Director Timothy Boyce addresses the media

Active members of the U.S. Navy and Navy Veterans and their families are invited to join County officials in the raising of the U.S. Navy flag on Friday, October 13 at 12:30 p.m. in front of the Courthouse located at 201 W. Front Street in Media.

The flag will be raised to commemorate the anniversary of the U.S. Navy which was established on October 13, 1775. It will fly from the flagpole in the courtyard of the Government Center and Courthouse complex for a week.

Throughout the year, the County raises flags in honor of all branches of the military and invites active members of the military and Veterans to join in the flag raisings. The Army flag was raised in June, the Coast Guard flag was raised in August, and the Air Force flag was raised in September to commemorate the anniversaries. The U.S. Marine Corps flag will be raised in November.

Council expresses deep gratitude to those who have served or are serving in the military protecting and defending our country. 

Delaware County Elections continues preparations for the Nov. 7, 2023 Municipal Election. Final polling site assignments, ballot preparations, and equipment testing are proceeding, and staff and volunteer training activities are well under way in anticipation of increased voter requests for services and information during the final weeks before Election Day.

On Fri., Oct. 6, more than 37,500 requested mail/absentee ballots were delivered to the U.S. Postal Service in Philadelphia. Vote-by-mail ballots should begin arriving at homes by Oct. 11.

Any Delaware County voter who applied by Sept. 26 and who does not receive a mail/absentee ballot by Oct. 11 should call (610) 891-VOTE (8683) for help.

With Delaware County voters expected to receive these ballots soon, the County has opened the ballot drop box in the lobby of the Government Center Building in Media, located at 201 W. Front St. (easily accessible form the Orange Street entrance), and open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Ballot Drop Boxes

By Mon., Oct. 23, the County will open another three-dozen ballot drop boxes in communities across Delaware County to serve voters for the final two weeks prior to the Nov. 7, 2023 Municipal Election.

Information about Delaware County ballot drop boxes, including locations, hours of operation, and guidance on proper returns, can be found online at delcopa.gov/dropbox.

Voters also have the option of returning their vote-by-mail ballots through the U.S postal service. Ballot return envelopes in Delaware County are postage paid. All vote-by-mail ballots must be received by the Delaware County Bureau of Elections by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.

Postmarks cannot be taken into consideration.

Expanded Voter Service Center Hours

Delaware County Elections also will be expanding the hours of the Voter Service Center, located on the first floor of the Government Center Building. Effective Wednesday, October 11, the Voter Service Center will remain open on Wednesday evenings and will also open on Saturday mornings, through Election Day. The expanded hours:

• Mon/Tue/Thurs/Fri: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
• Wednesdays: 8:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
• Saturdays: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon

Among the many services available to voters at the Voter Service Center, including voter registration applications and updates, voters may apply for mail/absentee ballots, receive materials in-person, and have the option to mark and submit their ballot — all during the same visit.

Returning Your Vote-by-Mail Ballot

Delaware County election officials remind voters to carefully review and follow instructions, including with their vote-by-mail ballot materials, on how to properly complete mail-in and absentee ballots to ensure that they are counted and not set aside:

• Once the voter marks the ballot, it should be inserted in the white envelope marked OFFICIAL ELECTION BALLOT, which is called the privacy envelope
• Then the sealed privacy envelope should be inserted in the ballot return envelope, which the voter must seal, sign and date on the back of the envelope under the Voter’s Declaration
• Whether the voter uses a County drop box or the US mail, the envelope must be received by Delaware County Elections by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day in order to be counted.

By law, Pennsylvania voters may return only their own ballots. You may not return someone else’s voted ballot, even if it is for a spouse or a family member.

Important Election Deadlines

Additionally, voters are reminded of the following important deadlines:

• The last day to register to vote for the first time – or to file a name/address change – is Oct. 23.
• The last day to request a mail-in or absentee ballot is Oct. 31.
• Voted ballots must be deposited in a county ballot drop box by 8:00 p.m. on Nov. 7; or, if mailed, received by the Bureau of Elections by 8:00 p.m. on Nov. 7.

For more information on voting in Delaware County, go to delcopa.gov/vote, or call the Voter Hotline at (610) 891-VOTE (8683).

Sample ballots are available now at the Delco Votes! web site at delcopa.gov/sample. If you are not sure of your status, check your registration at delcopa.gov/regstatus.

Delaware County Council Vice Chair Elaine Paul Schaefer joined Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer, Chester City elected officials, and law enforcement officials at the Concord Playground in Chester on October 3, for a press conference held to provide updates about the successful three-year-old Chester Partnership for Safe Neighborhoods (CPSN) program. 

CPSN, the deterrence-based program aimed at reducing gun violence in the City of Chester, was launched in October 2020 by District Attorney Stollsteimer with the support of County Council and a $2 million grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. The program’s goal: to lower gun violence and strengthen the community.

Since the launch of CPSN in 2020, there has been a 68% decrease in gun violence homicides, a 65% decrease in gun violence incidents, and a 64% decrease in non-fatal shootings.

“The statistics announced today are the result of three years of work by my office to support a collaborative approach to reducing gun violence in the City of Chester,” said District Attorney Stollsteimer. “While there is always more work to be done, we are deeply committed to this work and we will continue to work every day to lower gun violence and improve the quality of life for the City and its residents.”

Concord Park was chosen as the site of the press conference to underscore the program's emphasis on non-traditional means of addressing community gun violence and crime through efforts to strengthen and improve the community space. CPSN projects have funded community-building activities such as the Chester Biddy Basketball tournaments, the “cleaning and greening” of vacant and distressed lots in the City, and beautification efforts that have included building renovations and murals in Chester.

“County Council has been very supportive of this program since its inception, and we’re proud to have funded the program’s first Community Outreach Worker in 2021 and provide funding for four additional detectives in 2022,” said Vice Chair Schaefer. “But it is the holistic approach of this program that is compelling, understanding the incredible value of supporting strong communities with good schools, clean parks, and open space, as a means to reduce violent crime, and approach that is truly encouraging for the long-term outlook for Chester.”

District Attorney Stollsteimer announced that $25,000 would be used for a variety of much-needed improvements to Concord Playground, including significant improvements to the drainage to eliminate standing water after heavy rains, painting, mulching, tree trimming, and repairs and replacement of fencing.

New action plan aims to make county streets and roads safe for all residents

Delaware County is working to help build a safer transportation system for our county through the adoption of a bold new strategy called Vision Zero, which aims to eliminate traffic fatalities and severe injuries and ensure safe, healthy, and equitable mobility for all residents.

Vision Zero is a fundamentally different way to approach traffic and embraces what is referred to as a “Safe Systems” approach, based on Safe System Principles. These principles recognize that traffic deaths are preventable, that humans will make mistakes, and that saving lives does not have to be expensive.

While traffic injuries have trended down in recent years, the total number of traffic accidents have trended up. Since 2016, over 24,000 traffic accidents have occurred — with nearly 1,000 accidents involving pedestrians — and with over 67% of all accidents resulting in injury. Vision Zero aims to address these numbers and make our community a safer place to drive, bike, and walk. 

The Delaware County Planning Department is now actively working on an Action Plan to make Delaware County streets and roads safer. To fulfill the goal of Vision Zero, the Action Plan will Identify a High Injury Network (HIN) based on PennDOT crash data to identify the areas with safety concerns. With this data, Planning will help establish an implementation program to help eliminate traffic fatalities in our County and help to educate and guide our municipalities to transition to Vision Zero policies.

Community Engagement: We Want to Hear from You!

Although data-driven, a significant part of the Vision Zero Action Plan is robust community engagement and collaboration with County residents. We invite residents to provide input and explain their priorities to address traffic issues that they are experiencing across our county.

To gather this critical input, the Planning Department will be tabling at multiple community events in the upcoming months. Residents are invited to stop by and share their thoughts at the following locations and dates:

• Chester City Food Truck Festival: Fri., Oct. 6, 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
• Haverford Township Day and Upland Fall Festival: Sun., Oct. 8, 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
• Bike Rodeo at Eyre Park: Sat., Oct. 21, 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Folcroft Community Day: Sat., Oct. 28, 3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Delaware County residents can also share their ideas by participating in the Vision Zero Community Engagement Survey online at DelcoPA.gov/VisionZeroDelco.

The Delaware County Planning Department will be hosting its second of two community listening sessions on Wednesday, October 11, at 6:30 p.m., at the ACCESS Chester Community Center, to engage the residents and help identify ways to develop a safer Route 291.

Route 291 is a regionally significant thoroughfare—located within close proximity of I-95, 322, 476, the Commodore Barry Bridge, and the Philadelphia International Airport—that provides access to residential, commercial, and industrial areas. While the roadway serves as a primary detour for I-95 and provides access to regional destinations such as Harrah’s Philadelphia and Subaru Park, it includes multiple hazards for motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists alike.

The Problem

The most significant problem is that Route 291 is a wide, straight, multilane road with speeding traffic, making it unsafe for residents, pedestrians, and bicyclists and cuts off residents from the waterfront, natural areas, attractions, and job opportunities. Road users must also navigate heavy truck traffic due to the industrial uses dominate this corridor.

Collected data confirms the unfriendly road environment. Crash data indicates between 2015-2019 there were 249 crashes resulting in 9 fatalities. Of the 249 crashes, 8 involved pedestrians, and 3 involved bicyclists. A 2015 study documented high travel speeds that were well over the posted limit of 35mph, even during rush hour.

Understanding that this critical thoroughfare needs to be modernized, the County is committed to make meaningful safety improvements for Route 291 that can also positively impact economic development opportunity.

Additionally, Route 291 had been identified as the preferred route for the East Coast Greenway. The East Coast Greenway (ECG) is a 3,000-mile multiuse trail route that connects Calais, Maine to Key West, Florida. The safety issues associated with Route 291 make it difficult to accommodate the preferred path for this trail.

Complete up-to-date project information is available on the Delaware County Planning Department website at delcopa.gov/SafetyOnRt291.

We Want Your Input!

Delaware County residents are urged to attend our listening session and engage in breakout discussions and other interactive activities. A presentation of proposed alternatives that were shaped by the first listening session held in April of 2023 will occur at 7:00 p.m. 

Future improvements that will be discussed and workshopped include the feasibility of a road diet, traffic calming, and bicycle and pedestrian facilities which may include a center median, bike lanes, and green infrastructure to achieve lower travel speeds and provide a safer environment for motorists and pedestrians. 

Community input on the proposed safety improvements is vital. The County wants to ensure that there is community support for the improvements and that improvements that are advanced make residents feel safer using the Route 291. Dinner and refreshments will be provided to all attendees. 

ACCESS Chester Community Center, 701 Booth Street, Chester, PA 19013

Wednesday, October 11, 2023, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Can’t Attend the Listening Session? Share Your Thoughts Via Our Online Survey!

Residents who are unable to attend the listening session are encouraged to share their feedback through our Route 291 Project Survey at www.surveymonkey.com/r/route291. 

Tell us your thoughts on the proposed alternatives intended to make Route 291 safer!

The Delaware County Health Department (DCHD) and the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital are again partnering to bring Delaware County a ‘Day of Breast Cancer Awareness,’ providing women with free mammogram screenings at the Delaware County Wellness Center in Yeadon, on Monday, October 16, from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

While 1 out of 8 women will get breast cancer in their lifetime, 99 out of 100 people survive breast cancer if tests happen at an early stage when cancer treatment has better results. The older you are, the higher your risk of breast and cervical cancer. 

Breast cancer, like many cancers, often has no warning signs, and early detection is the best protection. Regular screening tests can find cancer early when treatment has better results and can prevent breast cancer from developing.

All women ages 40 and over, with and without insurance, and with no prior diagnosis of breast cancer, are eligible to register. Limited appointments for the mammogram screenings are available, and registration is required. Registrants will also be able to speak with DCHD staff, tour the Wellness Center, and discuss other health services that are offered by DCHD to Delaware County residents.

Registration Required: How To Register

To register for the screening, call the Delaware County Wellness Line at (484) 276-2100, or request an appointment by email at DelcoWellness@co.delaware.pa.us. Registration takes only a few minutes, and all registered individuals will receive a confirmation call back.

The Delaware County Health Department, in partnership with Keystone First, is hosting a Senior Vaccination Clinic on Tuesday, October 10, from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. The clinic will be held at the Keystone First Wellness & Opportunity Center and is specifically designed for seniors aged 60 and above. Vaccinations available during this event include influenza (flu), pneumococcal, and Shingrix. 

These immunizations are crucial in promoting health and well-being among our senior citizens.

Date: Tuesday, October 10, 2023

Time: 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Location: Keystone First Wellness & Opportunity Center, 1929 W 9th St, Chester, PA 19013

Appointments Are Required. No insurance is needed to participate. Seniors interested in receiving these vaccinations are encouraged to call the DCHD Wellness Line at 484-276-2100 to schedule their appointment today.

Public health has no age limit and is crucial to everyone in Delaware County. That is why DCHD and Keystone First are committed to providing our senior community members with easy access to necessary vaccinations, all completely free of charge.

Delaware County, through a partnership between the Delaware County Parks and Recreation Department, the Delaware County Office of Sustainability, and Covanta Environmental Solutions, is holding an e-Waste Collection Event on Tuesday, October 17, from 9:00 a.m. – 1 p.m., at Rose Tree Park located at 1671 N. Providence Road in Media.

Registration is required! Spots are going fast!

Delaware County residents must register at www.prc.org/collectionevents or by calling (610) 353-1555 (extension #3) in order to access the location and dispose of waste. Please note that this event is offered as a community service to the residents of Delaware County and is not open to businesses, institutions, or an industry.

Acceptable waste includes CPUs (towers), laptops, mice and keyboards, desktop copiers and scanners, tablets, routers and modems, home and cell phones, cable boxes and electronic cables, DVD players, VCRs, stereos and video game consoles, and vacuum cleaners.

Additionally, televisions ($30 for flat TVs, $40 for projection/console), computer monitors (flat screen and CRT) ($20), and printers ($5) will be accepted for a fee. All forms of payment will be accepted.

Registrants are reminded to NOT bring Freon-containing devices (e.g., refrigerators and dehumidifiers), large appliances, mixed recyclables (e.g., cans, plastic, glass, cardboard, paper), batteries, lightbulbs, or smoke detectors. 

Upon registration, participants will be given an arrival time. Please arrive at your allotted time. All items should be placed in the car trunk or truck bed. 

For additional information, visit prc.org/DelcoCollections, or contact Carol Butler by email at butler@prc.org or by phone at (610) 353-1555 x3.

Last week, Delaware County Council joined the County’s Department of Parks and Recreation, the County’s Department of Public Works, members of the Parks and Recreation Board, elected officials, and dozens of local football players, cheerleaders, and their families to announce the completion of the $1.7M Capital Improvement project at Upland Park on September 27. 

Council’s appreciation of open space is shown through the dramatic expansion and improvement of the county’s park and greenways in recent years! 

Please check out our short video recording of the ribbon cutting.

Delaware County Upland Park Ribbon Cutting Ceremony | Total Running Time: 4:42

Delaware County Council Chair Dr. Monica Taylor was delighted to be part of the 6th Annual Upper Darby International Festival last Saturday. This annual celebration is a tribute to the remarkable diversity and vibrant culture of Upper Darby, where more than 100 languages are spoken.

The festival was a showcase of performances, artwork, and culinary delights that beautifully highlighted the rich heritage of local residents, perfectly embodying Upper Darby's motto, "The World in One Place."

Delaware County Council thanks the dedicated members of Upper Darby Council, the many community volunteers, and the numerous vendors, artists, and performers who enthusiastically participated in making this day an enjoyable and successful event for residents from Upper Darby and across the entire county. 

Their collective efforts truly made a difference in celebrating the diversity and unity that makes our community so special.

Attendees of the 2023 Upper Darby International Festival

Delaware County Govt Official 2023 Calendar

Meet your Delaware County Council members

The Delaware County Health Department website