Mayor Linder and Council donate to Crozer Library

Hon. Mayor John Linder and City Council will present a sizeable contribution to the J. Lewis Crozer Library on behalf of the City of Chester, during the March 14^th public City Council Meeting. 

“Literacy is the cornerstone of mental, physical, and social health and wellness of our citizens”, Mayor Linder expressed during a recent statement to advocates for literacy.

Incorporated a little over a century following its inception, J. Lewis Crozer Library is the third oldest in the State of Pennsylvania. 

More Than Money at Stake in Prison Health Care Privatization

Tom Joseph

HARRISBURG, Pa. - As Governor Tom Corbett pushes the idea of privatizing health-care services in Pennsylvania prisons, those who work behind bars say it could compromise security, jeopardize public health, and invite more inmate lawsuits.

Frank Smith, a national expert on for-profit prison privatization, says this situation has already played out in many other states, where a private company promises quality management and big savings, and delivers on neither.

"If I were to describe their business model in one word, I'd say it was larcenous; corporations that hire people at the lowest possible rate, high turnover. They have gotten their business through campaign contributions, through bogus research. It's extremely disturbing."

Chester Health Fair May 5th

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Chester Middle school basketball teams win Del Val

It has been an exceptional season for our Boys, Girls and Cheerleaders. Two of our four teams have won the Del Val Youth Championship for the second year in a row. 

We recently had a pep rally that was a huge success over $1000 dollars was raised during our basket raffle. Winners of the basket raffle were Don 'Not the Boxing promoter' King  1st place and Wendi 'The best school security policewoman' in the world Williams won 2nd place. 

Who saw Al Sharpton?

I wish I knew Al Sharpton was coming to town. I would have certainly attended.


How was he?

Click HERE for more

Brian McKnight in Chester

Click Brian McKnight to see full size pics on Flickr.

Here are some shots from the Brian McKnight show at Harrah's last night.


It was a wonderful show that drew a crowd from around the Philadelphia area. 


Click HERE for a review of the same show he performed at the Keswick back in Dec 2010. No sense repeating myself, huh?

Shred 4 boxes of papers March 31

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Chester City Blog turns 2

This weekend marks the 2 year anniversary of The Chester City Blog.

As we enter into our “Terrible-2s”, we are experiencing a large spike in readership and a huge reduction in submissions.

That means that there are more people checking in and less people providing them with  stuff to read, see, and do.

Don’t fear, I’ll always find something to post. It would be more fun if it came from you.

Here are some of the important stats from the past couple years:

Fela! in Philly

Fela! is coming to Philadelphia. If you only see one play this year, this is the one to see.

Here's an excerpt from my review in the Chester Spotlight in February 2010.

A jazzy Home Show

Spring events for the Chester Pearls Foundation

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PA says bring your ID to vote

The state senate has approved a controversial measure that would require voters to show photo ID at polling places in Pennsylvania.


The relatively close vote in the senate broke down largely along party lines with Republicans like Dominic Pileggi of Chester, the senate majority leader, favoring the voter photo ID requirement.


Click HERE for more

SURVEY RESULTS: What is a nuisance establishment?

47 voters

136 votes (2.89 votes per person)

Violence Outside 89%

Violence Inside 70%

Selling paraphernalia 65%

Open after 2am 42%

All Bars 14%

Youth Friendly Businesses 6%

According to you, the biggest nuisance establishment has violence outside of their business...the parking lot, sidewalk, nearest mailbox, front lawn, back stoop, closest street corner or intersection. I’m not sure how it’s defined.

Second place goes to establishments that have violence inside their business and those that sell drug paraphernalia.

Third place goes to anyone who stays open after 2am.

Based on these votes, bars may be some of the friendliest places to hangout in the city. We should certainly promote our hospitality industry more. 

Hardly anyone considers youth friendly businesses a nuisance, but hardly anyone can name a youth friendly business in Chester. Can you?

Chester Leadership Safety Summit

Churches of Chester

Pep Rally Thursday for Middle School Basketball

Three of the four Chester middle school teams are heading into a championship game this weekend.


Join them at 6pm Thursday night for an old fashion pep rally at Smedley School (recent change).


Come out and show your C-Pride!

Chester vs Lower Merion

Chester vs McCaskey Saturday in Norristown

The Chester-LMerion game made the Pavilion look like the Palestra

The Clippers will begin defense of their State title on Saturday, March 10th against Lancaster's J.P. McCaskey. 


The game is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. at Norristown High School.


Win or go home.

A Weekend for Fathers and Sons

Meeting my son in front of the Garden this weekend

When my son told me he’d be in NYC this weekend, I had to find the time to meet up with him. He lives in Denver so we don’t see each other very often.

On Friday, I drove to Newark, caught the Path to 34th Street, had dinner with my son, and headed back to meet Ike Jones and his sons at the Chester - Lower Merion game at Villanova. I got there right at tip off.

On Saturday, I viewed the dead body of the son of one of my life long friends. 

2 Concerts this weekend

Friday March 2 at 8pm at Andre's
Classical and Jazz Singer IVA (Emily Samson Tepe)Featuring Ross Bellenoit - Guitar and  Sam Nobles - BassSee and Hear her work HERE


Sunday March 4 at 2pmA VERY SPECIAL EVENT in ***The Performance Lab East*** at 1614 McKean Street, Philadelphia, 19145.  Featuring Paul Fejko - Piano, Marion Salaam - Sax and Tony 'Stickman' Wyatt - DrumsMore Information and AdVance (there will be no sales at the door)Ticket Sales can be had here: www.theperformancelabeast.org

You really want to hear the incredible Paul Fejko on Sunday

Day of Giving to Chester schools

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Brotherly Love and SheWho in concert March 10

Brotherly Love and SheWho will join vocal forces at 7:30 p.m. March 10 as part of the Music Out Loud benefit concert series in Media at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County.

Brotherly Love is the select ensemble of the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus. The 18 members’ repertoire includes a broad range of music, from sacred music to folk songs and newly commissioned works. 

SheWho is an a cappella ensemble celebrating women’s voices, promoting social change and justice, and respecting differences and the importance of loving women.

  

Discount tickets, $16 and $8 (students), are available online at: www.brownpapertickets.com/event/222806. They’re also available at church after the 9:15 and 11:15 a.m. Sunday services (cash and checks only). 

At the door, tickets are $20 and $10 for students with ID (cash and checks). Children 12 and younger admitted free.

Joe Chambers joins Chick Corea

Joe Chambers performing at Chester High

If, by chance, you find yourself in the neighborhood of the University of North Carolina on March 30,  Joe Chambers performs with Chick Corea along with bassist Steve Bailey.

Chester’s Joe Chambers has worked with some of the most influential figures on the jazz scene in the last several decades and is also a recognized composer whose works have been performed at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. 

PECO assistance at Crozer Library Saturday

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PA Helps Fill Grocery Store Gaps in Underserved Areas

Tom Joseph

PHILADELPHIA - Rural and urban grocery stores can be hard to find in many parts of the nation, and Pennsylvania isn't immune from the problem. In some areas of the Keystone State, however, an innovative effort is changing the landscape.

A non-profit called The Food Trust is making a difference through its Fresh Food Financing Initiative. Food Trust executive director Yael Lehmann says it offers grants and loans to grocery retailers and allows those operators to decide how and where they spend the money. She says the program has worked well.

Widener professor talks Chester-Upland on Huff-Post

...before the CUSD begins the school reform process, there are a litany of issues and problems that it must deal with. First, it has yet to hire a permanent superintendent and deputy superintendent. In order for the district to move forward, it must fill its leadership vacuum with transcendent leaders who possess the wherewithal to tackle its complex issues. Next, the school board is made up five Republicans/four Democrats and while tensions have been relatively low during the recent budget crisis, the board is still extremely partisan. If the CUSD is going to get back on track, it is going to take a bi-partisan effort.

Click HERE for more

Chester vs Lower Merion is Bonkers

Shanier Cottman is the Clipper's most entertaining dynamo

Besides Neumann-Goretti, the only other team people want Chester High School to play is Lower Merion. Roman Catholic would be a good one, too. 

The Villanova Pavilion is going to be bonkers tonight. 

The night begins with the girls District 1 AAAA championship game between Spring-Ford and North Penn. Following that game, the boys District 1 A championship game between Faith Christian and Church Farm starts at 7pm.

At 9pm, there won’t be an empty seat in the house as Chester takes on Lower Merion. 

If you are planning to go, I recommend leaving very early. Parking is at a premium and the walk is at least 10 minutes. Ticket lines will be around the corner and growing the later you arrive. 

Who want’s to predict a final score with me?

Chester 61 Lower Merion 52

'Ethel' actress speaks up

Terry Burrell plays Ethel Waters thru March 11 at the Walnut St Theater

“I first started doing the research about twenty years ago when I was looking for something to develop. I knew I needed to produce something of my very own,” Burrell explained. “My friends encouraged me to work on this piece because they felt Ethel Waters was in danger of being forgotten.”

Burrell’s research uncovered a woman who was the product of rape, rejected by her mother and raised in poverty by her grandmother. She was a woman who learned to use colorful language, rough men and good old American street skills to work her way into a career that led to hit records, Broadway shows, and even an Academy Award nomination — just the second African-American actress ever nominated.

Click HERE for more

Seeking SC2 Fellowship applicants

Strong Cities, Strong Communities on announcement day in Chester

The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF), in cooperation with Cleveland State University (CSU) and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) is pleased to announce the launch of the Strong Cities, Strong Communities Fellowship Program. 

The fellowship program will provide pilot cities with a class of highly-skilled fellows who are committed to public service, and who will become the next generation of leaders. It will train and place highly motivated, mid-career professionals in local government agencies for a two-year (24 month) fellowship period. 

The fellowship program will provide pilot cities with a class of highly-skilled fellows who are committed to public service, and who will become the next generation of leaders. It will train and place highly motivated, mid-career professionals in local government agencies for a two-year (24 month) fellowship period. 

Heath Fair at City Hall Wednesday

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