Chester Idol Auditions

Dental clinic opens Friday on west side

There’s a reason to smile in Chester these days. And the smiles will be brighter and healthier than ever before.

That’s because there’s a new facility in Chester that local residents can go to in order to receive quality dental care for minimal cost. 

Located at the World Impact building at 700 Central Avenue, the Grace Dental Clinic will serve the needs of Chester residents that require dental care but cannot afford it on their own. 

Thanks to a generous donation by godly saints and supporters, Lynne and Foster Friess, this clinic has been equipped with state of the art dental equipment, x-ray machines, and two dental chairs. Dental services will be provided by volunteer dentists and hygienists, who have agreed to work at the Grace Dental clinic every Friday free of charge.

Scholarship Luncheon

 

Click to Enlarge

Trayvon Martin rally in Chester planned

The National Congress of Black Women Delco Chapter will spearhead, along with the NAACP, Brothers of Concern, Inc, members of the Clergy, others organizations, the Trayvon Martin Rally in the City of Chester, on Thursday, April 5, 2012 at 6pm.  

The Martin Rally will take place at Memorial Park located at 7th and Engle Sts, Chester, Pa.  

Come and Stand with us as we demand Justice to be Served in this case and also, we'll address the Violence issue in our own City.  

Let's Stand together to stop the Violence and Educate rather than Commit Senseless Crimes.  

We must believe that Change and Justice can be served across this Nation and in our local community when we Pray and Stand UNITED!!!

Dear Chester Upland Basketball Booster

The future of Chester Basketball, that future is very bright.

This year, the under-14, 8th grade boys and girls teams both won their respective championships in Delaware County, and many of these young athletes will be moving on to Chester High School and bringing more titles to an already stuffed trophy case.

Our upcoming 7th grade teams also showed great promise by finishing 2nd for the girls and 3rd for the 7th grade boys.

These young men and women would never have played had they not been scholars first. We have many of our student/athletes receiving honors and distinguished honors for their academic work as well.

Widener SBDC Offers Three FREE Small Business Seminars in April

The Widener University Small Business Development Center will offer three free seminars during the month of April.

All seminars take place at the Widener SBDC located at 1350 Edgmont Ave., Suite 1300, Chester, Pa. Interested participants should call 610-619-8490 to reserve a space or visit www.widenersbdc.org.

Widener University Promotes Awareness of Domestic Violence

The Widener Center for Violence Prevention is proud to host, Take Back the Night, a day of events to promote awareness of sexual assault and domestic violence.

The events will begin at noon on Wednesday, April 4 in University Center (14th Street between Melrose Avenue and Walnut Street) with the Clothesline Project, a display of T-shirts created by survivors of abuse and those who have lost loved ones to violence. Guests will also have the opportunity to create their own T-shirts in dedication to victims.

Several workshops will also be held throughout the day in University Center, starting at noon with a self-defense workshop presented by the Chester Police Department. Following that there will be a presentation by the Kappa Sigma Fraternity on the role of men and how they can help.

At 6 p.m. in the Atrium of University Center there will be guest speakers from Domestic Abuse Project Women Against Rape and an “Open Mic Speak-Out,” the evening will conclude with a candlelight march through the campus to demonstrate a unified stance against all acts of violence and abuse.

Each session is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Trisha Kozlowski at 610-499-1247 or trisha.kozlowski@gmail.com/.

Linder joins Widener's President for the Day

Hon. Mayor John Linder, is set to enjoy an afternoon of exchanging ideas with Widener University’s annually appointed ‘President for a Day’, Anna Miller. Anna is a senior Chemistry major who will be replacing Pres. James T. Harris III for a full day presiding over the Widener University students, faculty, and University operations. 

As part of her presidency, Anna will be privileged to converse with elected officials regarding her extenuating intentions for the student body and its consequential role in the surrounding community. 

Ms. Miller has had the opportunity to work with non-profit organizations in Chester City, and feels as though the engagement is an invaluable experience not known by enough of her fellow students. She intends to educate them in their importance to the citizens and collaborate with Mayor Linder’s initiatives towards a progressive “entrepreneurial community.”

Mayor Linder and Anna Miller will lunch in the President’s Dining Area at Widener University at 12:30pm March 30th. 

“When you volunteer in Chester it’s a worthwhile investment in the human capital essential to our intellectual, economic, and spiritual growth.”     

City honors State Champs at PPL Park Saturday

Hon. Mayor John Linder, will return to PPL Park this weekend where the Philadelphia Union will face off against the Vancouver Whitecaps. 

This Saturday’s scrimmage will pay homage to the Championship Men’s Basketball Team of Chester High School. In addition to the Mayor and Council, team members’ families, The Chester Youth Council, and the DelVal Chester/Upland Youth Champions have also been specially invited to enjoy a free night of fun and celebration sponsored by PPL Park.

Kickoff is at 4pm on Saturday March 31st. 

Warren Moore in Vegas

Warren Moore was captured performing in Las Vegas on a cellphone video singing lead with The Next Movement at Orleans Hotel.

Chester High Basketball Parade

Poison Prevention Workshop Thursday

The Bureau of Health, IVPP

Injury Violence & Prevention Services present

Poison Prevention Awareness Workshop for Children (6-mo to 6-yrs.)                                                                

A hands-on community forum for understanding the mysteries beyond what we see.                         

Thursday 29 March 2012 -Community Room at Chester City Hall  4:30 P.M. – 7:30 P.M.

Join your neighbors and the Chester City Community in our Public forum for an exciting fun filled evening of exploring the misconceptions of unintentional poisoning.

Travel through and learn with character’s Zipper & Nelly.

Presentations By: Childhood Lead Poison Prevention Program and the City of Chester Fire Department.

There will be activities to thrill and challenges all ages so don’t miss out! Refreshments will be served.

For a complete schedule, of our public services please visit our website at:

 www.chestercity.com

Ieasa Nichols, MHS 

Public Health Commissioner

Councilman William Al, Jacobs, esq.

Director of Public Safety

Linder delivers State of the City

Hon. Mayor John Linder, accompanied by Council, staff, and The First Lady, delivered his first annual State of The City Address inside the church at Latham Hall on the Chester Campus of Widener University this morning. 

Is Chester High School Basketball better now or then?

There’s nothing more exciting than having your home town team win a state championship in anything, especially basketball. 

It’s impossible to compare teams from different eras, but it’s always fun to imagine. 

Despite the 2010-2012 Chester High School basketball team’s record breaking performances these past couple years, are they truly the best team Chester has ever put on the floor?

"Murder rates are more difficult to control than education rates?"

Here’s another Linder-ism that caught my eye. I was wondering what you thought about his quote printed in today’s Daily Times. 

Which do you think is more difficult to control, crime or test scores?

I think crime is easier to control than education. 

$75 Computer still available

I just bought one for a friend. It must be the 5th one I've purchased from Team Children. 

Teamchildren sells low cost high quality refurbished computers. Below is our application please feel free to help us pass the word..

We have recently created a partnership with www.brillkids.com an incredible early learning program we are installing their Little Reader and Little Math on every computer.

We can also arrange the installation of the programs on other computers for an administrative fee of $75 where we will give the user and introductory course on how to maximize the value of the software. 

We also have a partnership with www.AWElearning.net to put their safe web browser the ELF that allows kids to go to 125 incredible learning websites.

We also put a link to www.Kahnacademy.org

This bundle of software will allow any body from a baby to a senior citizen to become one of the brighter people on the planet.

Feel free to call me with questions

Robert Toporek

484-744-1868 

Here's a video of TeamChildren from September 2010. Not much has changed.

Drivers Needed

Help promote positive aging and independent living by providing "door through door" transportation for low-income seniors who are over 60 and live in Delaware County.

Drive them to medical appointments, the grocery store or other necessary errands. Or, offer to go grocery "list shopping" for a homebound senior neighbor.

Make a difference and a new friend! We need you!

Surrey Services for Seniors (Chore Connection) located in Havertown Pa. a not for profit organization.

We are in desperate need of drivers particularly in the Chester Pa. area.

Lena McWilliams

Program Assistant

Chore Connection

Surrey Services for Seniors

1105 Earlington Rd

Havertown Pa. 19083

610-446-2070

No one wants Black Enterprise magazines

There were NO winners in the Black Enterprise 3 year Subscription essay contest. 

Why?

Because NO ONE SUBMITTED AN ESSAY!

Why were there no entries?

1. No one knows a 10th grader.
2. 10th graders don’t read magazines.
3. 10th graders don’t read.
4. 10th graders don’t write essays.
5. Black businesses are not important.
6. Nobody cares.
7. Organizations supporting literacy and small business weren't involved. 

Can you think of more reasons why no one applied?

I guess our benefactor will find 5 future business leaders somewhere else. 

Black Women offered $80 to watch TV

MEE Productions will be conducting a series of focus groups with African American females to discuss television viewing experiences and a new television show.  All information provided in the groups will be confidential and used for research purposes only.

MEE is recruiting participants from the following categories:

• African American Females (ages 25-39 years old) 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
• African American Females (ages 40-54 years old) 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM

Chester Re-Entry Orientation April 5

Click to Enlarge

SURVEY RESULTS: Chester vs Lower Merion should play...

39 votes

at Wells Fargo 61%

at Villanova 15%

at The Palestra 12%

at Hershey 7%

at Penn State 2%

A lot of folks around the state, particularly in the eastern part, complain that Penn State is not a good place for the high school basketball championships because very few of us easterners will travel that far. 

Pennsylvania is a big state so there is no way to locate a championship game that will satisfy everyone if all the championship games must be played in the same gym.

Obviously, a Lower Merion vs Chester game should have been played around here where the fans, families, and rivalry lives, not in an empty Penn State gym.

If the game was played here, you overwhelmingly voted in favor of having it at Wells Fargo Center, the home of the Philadelphia 76ers.

Allow me to put my spin on the Survey Results:

Chester vs Lower Merion by the numbers

Chester defense make the difference

I didn’t see the game but I occasionally followed it on the Delcotimes.com chat. 

If all I had was a stat sheet to go by, here’s what I would conclude in Chester’s 59-33 victory over Lower Merion in the state finals game. 

Who Understands the Price of Gas?

14 cent difference in gas prices doesn't
stop Chester folks from buying Sunoco

Chester’s 9th & Kerlin is the hot spot for low price gasoline. Three gas stations share that busy intersection and normally the prices are very close to one another.

The two most popular stations, Gulf and Sunoco post their prices on big signs. The no-name station doesn’t have a sign. (Why does anyone buy their gas there?)

We’ve all seen folks seek the station with the lowest prices, even if it’s by a few pennies, but here in Chester, a 14 cent difference doesn’t keep folks from buying Sunoco over Gulf. 

State Finals - Chester vs Lower Merion tonight

Last year's State Championship Team with a lot of familiar faces

Chester will take their 57 game win streak to the Bryce Jordan Center on the campus of Penn State University for a rematch of this year's District-1 Championship when they take on the Lower Merion Aces for the AAAA State Championship. 


Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. and the game will be televised on PCN-TV.


Any busses going up?

Are HOODIES frightening?

I own a few hooded sweatshirts. When my head gets cold, I put on the hood.

I’ll never understand why folks where hoods inside a building or on a 80 degree day. Yet, I’m slowly realizing that people wear hoods like it’s a cap. I guess they just need something covering their heads.

As a result of the Trayvon Martin murder, hoodies are back in the news. In fact, people are holding protest marches around the country wearing their hoods.

Back on February 6, 2009, I wrote a piece in the Chester Spotlight criticizing Furillo’s No Hoodie Policy.  Nobody cared.

Y’all still don’t care?


Click HERE for more

Caption from Chester Spotlight: 
Why would Furillo’s put such a sign on their front door? Are they really enforcing a dress code to buy a turkey hoagie and a bag of chips? Are cheese steak customers with button down shirts more desirable than those who are trying to keep their head warm in sub freezing weather?  Maybe their sign should read… Please Remove Hoodie Before Entering Store.

I hope that’s what they are really trying to suggest.

Widener receives $200K for Chester-Upland Soccer

Chester, Pa.—The U.S. Soccer Foundation selected Widener University to receive a $200,000 grant over two years to operate Soccer for Success, the Foundation’s after-school youth development program that uses soccer as a tool to combat childhood obesity and promote healthy lifestyles, for low-income students in the Chester Upland School District. 

Widener was one of 13 organizations nationwide that was awarded Social Innovation Fund Sub-Grants totaling $3.6 million to support the implementation of Soccer for Success. This year, the Soccer for Success program is expanding to serve 13 cities and more than 12,000 children as a result of the award the Foundation received from the Social Innovation Fund.

TAKE ACTION: Seniors MUST apply for FREE food

DELAWARE COUNTY SENIORS MUST APPLY OR THE FOOD PROGRAM WILL MOVE ELSEWHERE

Vulnerable Seniors Have an Opportunity to Receive Monthly Food Aid

Philabundance needs seniors in Delaware County to apply for CSFP/senior food boxes to ensure food stays in the county

PHILADELPHIA –March 20, 2012 – Philabundance, the Delaware Valley’s largest hunger relief organization, is looking for eligible seniors, especially in Delaware County, to inquire about the USDA funded Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), monthly food boxes that provide seniors with 30 pounds of shelf-stable food. 

A CSFP/senior box provides vital nutrition to the vulnerable senior population who are on fixed incomes and often struggling to get food staples. 

Philabundance needs eligible seniors to apply to ensure that the food stays in Delaware County.

There are more than 144,000 seniors at risk of hunger in the Delaware Valley that may qualify for the CSFP/senior boxes. 


Boxes contain canned and boxed food including vegetables, fruit, juice, pasta, milk, cereal, canned meat and a non-meat protein. Each box is also accompanied by fresh cheese. 

SURVEY RESULTS: Will you shop at the Whole Foods in Glen Mills

Oops. I accidentally deleted the poll one day before it was to end.

The votes were rather close with most people saying they would 'occasionally' shop there. 

Just as many people said they 'would' shop there as said they would 'never' shop there.

I’m curious to hear from the Nevers. Why wouldn’t you shop there?

SURVEY RESULTS: Should Harrah’s bring more R&B acts to the casino?

77 votes

YES 88%

NO 11%

Brian McKnight performed at Harrah’s Chester a couple weeks ago. Correct me if I’m wrong, but McKnight was the first current and contemporary R&B star that does not rap to perform in Chester since...who knows when? (Should Johnny Gill count?)

By the results, most of you would like to see more R&B acts come to town. 

Harrah’s has been here for 5 years before they brought us McKnight. Will it take another 5 years for the next big R&B performance?

Chester Idol Auditions March 31

Contestants will compete for the following prizes:

• Studio time with Grammy Nominated Producer: 
• Ivan "Orthodox" Barias
• Featured Performance at Philly Live Pod (courtesy of John Barber)
• Professional Photo shoot (courtesy of Shark Images Photography)
• Vocal Training (courtesy of the Chester Fine Arts Center)
• Cash prizes for 1^st and 2^nd Place winners

Judges will include Grammy Nominated Producer: Ivan "Orthodox" Barias who has worked with artists including: Chris Brown, Mario, Justin Timberlake, Jill Scott, Jahiem, and Philadelphia's own Musiq Soulchild.

For more information, email: chesteridol@gmail.com

New Dental Program for Chester Residents

Keystone Mercy Health Plan Sponsors Mobile Dental Program for Chester Residents

Philadelphia, Pa. — Keystone Mercy Health Plan and Dentex Dental Group are teaming up to bring a new mobile dental health program called “Chester Smiles” to the residents of Chester, Pennsylvania.

New 42-foot mobile vans staffed with experienced dental professionals and outfitted with a comprehensive range of state-of-the-art dental equipment will soon be traveling throughout the City of Chester to provide quality dental care to the 34,000 residents who live in the area.  

The vans will be parked at primary care physician offices, community housing locations and government facilities beginning March 26, 2012. Appointments will be accepted, as well as walk-ins.  Many types of insurance will be accepted, and those who are unable to pay can work out payment arrangements.

Chester Basketball. Total Domination.

Watching Chester beat Coatsville on Saturday was almost ugly. Our guys dominated their guys in every aspect of the game.

Sitting behind the Coatsville bench watching their coach try anything to keep the game respectable made me feel sorry for him because he was totally powerless. At one point, I saw him call time-out, walk out on the court, silently count to 10, walk back to the huddle, and yell and scream the darndest things to his team.

They went back on the court and got trampled some more.

Chester Community Charter School update

The charter school, it seems, is an island of order in a sea of troubles, surrounded by the struggling Chester Upland School District, which remains on life support through June.

Click HERE for more

Linder meets Obama

Mayors Bing, Coleman, Landrieu, Linder, Swearengin and Wharton in Washington to Discuss Strong Cities, Strong Communities

WASHINGTON, DC – Thursday at 4:40PM, following a meeting at the White House on Strong Cities, Strong Communities (SC2), Mayors Bing(Detroit MI), Coleman(St. Paul MN), Landrieu(New Orleans LA), Linder(Chester PA), Swearengin(Fresno CA) and Wharton(Memphis TN) held a media stakeout outside the West Wing.  Earlier, the President signed an Executive Order establishing the White House Council on SC2.  The Mayors discussed the importance of the SC2 program in the progress of economic development and community revitalization in their cities. The Panel, held at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building inside The White House grounds, premiered the first modern era visit from a Chester Mayor. 

Ex-cons may receive financial aid

Being a member of the reentry community does not prohibit you from attending college.

Fact #1 – You can receive financial aid however there are exceptions, see below:

The Higher Education Act of 1965 as amended (HEA) suspends aid eligibility for students who have been convicted under federal or state law of the sale or possession of drugs, if the offense occurred during a period of enrollment for which the student was receiving federal student aid (grants, loans, and/or work-study). 

If you have a conviction(s) for these offenses, call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) or go the http:studentaid.ed.gov to complete the "Student Aid Eligibility Worksheet" to find out how this law applies to you.

Chester's 5 Game Changers

John Pickett, Director of Delaware County Planning Department, was the guest speaker at the Chester Business Association meeting this morning.

He shared what he determines as Chester’s 5 Game Changers that will have the biggest effect on the city’s renaissance. 


The Rt. 291 Project

Despite much resistance to the project, and more disagreement on what type of road to build, it was finally agreed that expanding 2nd Street into a highway was the best method to ensure riverfront development.

Reconstruction of I-95

Plans are in place to make changes on I-95. Some of those changes look to make Chester more accessible to the highway. 

Avenue of the States / Edgmont Avenue Project

The new city administration is focused on revitalizing downtown Chester and creating a more attractive gateway into the city. 

Incorporate Chester into regional rail solutions

Chester is well positioned to serve airport rail transportation and to reintroduce Amtrak stops at our station. A multi-level parking garage would be required. Highland Ave train stop is reaching its usual life and may be moved closer to the soccer stadium (Engle Street was the last proposal I heard). 

Refinery land reuse

With well over 500 acres of riverfront property practically up for grabs, there is no other area this huge on the east coast on a waterfront. 

What do you consider a game changer?

Delco Social Action Forum March 25 at Media Church

How to take action on social-justice issues is the theme of a public forum at 1 p.m. March 25 at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County in Media.

Two leaders in community organizing will conduct the interactive session as part of the church’s Homer Jack Speaker Series: The Rev. David Eckert, pastor of the Drexel Hill Methodist Church, and Isaac Dotson, ex-president of the Yeadon Borough Council, are experienced in actions that have addressed both local and regional issues relating to education funding and housing. 

Both are board members of the Southeastern Pennsylvania First Suburbs Project, a regional coalition working to stabilize and revitalize older, developed areas.

“What kind of school district is this?”

I know. I’m the last to know. Well, me and Bo Sanders were both last.

We were both chatting after the Chester Business Association meeting when Doreen Storey  came up to us to talk about ‘The Fight’.

Being hoop fans, Bo and I were watching basketball last night when the story hit the TV. I didn’t see a paper before heading to the meeting, so we were both in shock when we got the news.

The school board president and a teacher were fighting in the high school!

And they both justified their actions by calling it self defense.

WOW.

What do you think should be done?

Click HERE to read more.


Click HERE for a video.

Crozer Library gets check from Chester

‘ Fiscal austerity’ needed in CUSD

It’s not the best news, but it’s the best news story written on the crisis in the Chester-Upland School District.

If you read this blog, you’re probably like me and read a lot of stuff. Rarely does an article have me hanging on every word like this one.

Since this time last year, the Chester-Upland School District financial problems have played out like a made for TV docu-drama. This article serves as the season finale where all the loose ends are finally tied together in a concluding episode.

Quotes like these spice up the action...

Friday Concert at Andre Cafe Acoustique

Saxophonist William Thorpe with Paul Fejko (Piano), Tony "Stickman" Wyatt (Drums) and others!

See a videoclip of a past performance at André Café Acoustique HERE


Friday March 16 at 8pm

Run Like a Fool on April 1

Run Like a Fool to Support the Chester Community Physical Therapy Clinic
--April 1 Race at Widener to Raise Money for Clinic--

The Institute for Physical Therapy Education at Widener University will host a 5K race on April 1 to benefit the student-run Chester Community Physical Therapy Clinic. 

The nonprofit clinic provides physical therapy care to the uninsured and underinsured residents of Chester, Pa., and surrounding communities. 

Physical therapy students, under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist, provide services for community members who are unable to obtain services from local physical therapy clinics due to the their uninsured status or exhausted insurance benefits.

Race participants can either walk or run the course, which weaves through Widener’s Main Campus in Chester. 

Dr. C. Delores Tucker at St. Lukes Saturday

National Congress of Black Women

Delco Chapter

Presents

Dr. C. Delores Tucker Honorary Brunch

Special Recognition- Sojourner Truth Award

Honorees:

Pastor George Anderson

William Reed

Dennis Jackson

Nancy Rhoads-Koon, Esq.

Honorable Margo Davidson

Honorable Faith Price-Thomas

Pastor Joyce Scott

Where: St. Luke Christian Community Church

320 Tilghman Street, Chester, PA 19013

Date: Saturday, March 17, 2012- 11 AM

Cost: $25 

To purchase tickets, contact: Annette Owens-Johnson

                                             (610) 637-4087

Rosetta Carter, NCBW Delco Chair

Maxine Singletary, Brunch Chair

Karen Walker, Brunch Co-Chair