Restaurant opens at converted William Penn Homes community center
CHESTER >> Red Brick Café held its grand opening Monday night, with over 100 people in attendance. Chester’s newest restaurant is located in the converted community center of Chester Housing Authority’s William Penn Homes.
Pam and Darren Dickerson, who have operated Amir’s Catering in Chester since 1996, are including their catering business as part of the Red Brick Café. The restaurant prepares kosher or halal foods to accommodate Chester’s large Muslim population. That means no pork, all halal meat and chicken.
Pam, a native of Virginia, is the chef and offers southern-style cooking. The restaurant has a take-out window, but customers can also dine in. It will be open three days a week to start, Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. and Saturday 128.p.m. If things go well, they said that they will expand the days of operation.
Darren, a 16-year military veteran and former William Penn resident, builds the structures, fixes appliances and helps in any way he can. Darren says he suggested the restaurant be named Red Brick Café because when he grew up at William Penn, the folks in the community called the site “the red brick,” because all the buildings were red brick.
The couple said they hope to hire employees from inside the community, and they are prepared to train them. Aside from having an independent business directly in the midst of a CHA development, Steven Fischer, CHA executive director, says, the training opportunity was a compelling reason for him to encourage this venture. Residents will be able to earn the industry standard ServeSafe certificates, gain training and jump start their careers in culinary arts.
Earlier this year CHA launched its Resident Training Academy for jobs in the healthcare industry. The agency will use its experience from that program in structuring this new culinary component. For more information about CHA, visit www.chesterha.org.
The Community Foundation accepting scholarship applications
The Community Foundation is currently accepting applications to become a TCF Scholar. Applicants must live in one of the communities listed below and must plan to pursue an undergraduate degree in the allied health professions. The scholarships provide up to $7,000 total for undergraduate coursework. Applications must be received by Friday, Nov. 9. Funding will begin with the
2019/2020 academic year. The communities served by the TCF Scholarship Program include: Collingdale, Darby Township, Eddystone, Folcroft, Glenolden, Morton, Nether Providence, Norwood, Prospect Park, Ridley Township, Ridley Park, Rose Valley, Rutledge, Sharon Hill, Springfield Township, Swarthmore, and Tinicum Township.
Students who live in the above communities may obtain an application online at www.TCFhelps.org or by contacting the TCF at 610461-6571.
Local children invited to pick up free Halloween bags
The Nationwide Polidoro agency is giving away free Halloween safety bags. Families can stop by at 18 E. Springfield Road in Springfield across from Sleepy Hollow Deli any time between
9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The bags are headlight reflective and have safety messages on them. For more information, contact the Polidoro agency at
610-544-8900.
Rep. Charlton plans free Vets Appreciation Breakfast
State Rep. Alex Charlton, R-165 of Springfield, will host a free Veterans Appreciation Breakfast to honor local veterans 8-9:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 12, at the Paxon Hollow Country Club, 850 Paxon Hollow Road, Marple. In addition to breakfast there will be several guest speakers who will address issues of importance to veterans.
Seating is limited. Vets should register early for this event by contacting the district office at 610-544-9878 or emailing fpanico@pahousegop.com to RSVP.
St. George to present Hollywood vs. Faith’ program
St. George Parish, 22 E. Cooke Road, Glenolden will present “Salt and Light,” a comedy for kids by television star Frank Runyeon at 4:45 p.m. Monday, Oct. 22. Runyeon, an Emmy award winning actor of TV and film will also present a one-man performance of “Hollywood vs. Faith,” at 6:45 p.m. Oct. 22 at St. George. The show is an entertaining look behind the curtain at the world of American entertainment that will change the way the audience looks at the media forever. For more information, visit www. frankruneyon.com or contact St. George Rectory at 610-2371633 or st.georgesec@rcn. com.
Delco Literacy Council to honor Champions of Adult Literacy at Harrah’s Quizzo event
Dyana Williams, longtime Philadelphia radio personality and current co-host with Derrick Sampson of WRNB’s “Soulful Sunday” on 100.3 FM, is one of three champions to be honored at Champions of Adult Literacy — Quizzo for a Good Cause 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24, in the Block Entertainment Center at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
Collaborating with Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Kenny Gamble, Williams helped to establish June as African-American Music Appreciation Month and was recognized for her music activism in the White House by presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. As a coproducer of the Marian Anderson Award, she has orchestrated tributes to Berry Gordy, Jon Bon Jovi, Wynton Marsalis, Patti LaBelle, and Gamble and Huff. Through her own business, Williams has engineered media strategies for a wide array of celebrities, executives, actors, and athletes.
The Oct. 24 evening will feature a friendly game of Quizzo team trivia, pub food from Harrah’s tasting menu, and the celebration of champions Dyana Williams, Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union, and Literacy Council Student Kim Robinson. Visit www.delcoliteracy.org for tickets and information.
Roberto Clemente’s Championship Silver Bat coming to Delco
The Sports Legends of Delaware County museum will display the exquisite National League Championship Silver Bat that was presented to Roberto Clemente in 1967 for being the NL batting champion that year. The iconic piece from one of the greatest players in Major League baseball history will be on display one day only, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Dec.
8. During his 18-year career, Clemente captured the National League batting title four times. He posted a lifetime batting average of .317, with 3,000 hits and over 1,300 RBIs.
The 1967 season saw Clemente’s career-high batting average of .357. With the exception of the Most Valuable Player award, the Silver Bat is regarded as the most coveted of all personal player awards. The museum is at 301 Iven Ave., Wayne. The museum is open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.sportslegendsofdelawarecounty.com or call Jim Vankoski at 610909-4919.
Readers can e-mail community news and photos to Peg DeGrassa at pdegrassa@21stcenturymedia.com/.