Volunteers invited to change lives by becoming tutors
pdegrassa@21st-centurymedia.com
Editor of Town Talk, News & Press of Delaware County
CHESTER» Local residents are invited to kick off 2021 with an uplifting and meaningful resolution by volunteering their time, knowledge, and energy to help an adult improve his or her basic skills. The Delaware County Literacy Council is seeking volunteers to provide one-on-one literacy tutoring to adults in either Adult Basic Education or English as a Second Language.
Due to COVID-19 precautions, training for new volunteer tutors will be held virtually. Training and tutoring materials are provided. Training for new ABE volunteer tutors will be held Saturdays, Jan. 16 and Feb. 6. Trainees must attend both sessions.
Training for new ESL volunteer tutors will be held Saturdays, Jan. 9 and Jan. 30 These trainees must also attend both sessions. To complete an application and learn more, visit https://delcoliteracy.org/volunteer.
According to the Delco Literacy Council, volunteering as a literacy tutor not only results in gratifying personal rewards, but it also helps strengthen the entire community. Volunteer tutors are currently meeting their adult students via online platforms. When deemed safe again, in-person tutoring will take place in a public setting, such as a public library, that is convenient to the tutor and person that is being tutored. Those who have patience, compassion for others, and a lifelong love of learning, should consider sharing their talents by becoming a volunteer tutor in the coming year.
The Delaware County Literacy Council helps adults develop reading, writing, math, and English language skills so that these adults can thrive in the workplace and community. To learn more or to get involved, visit www.delcoliteracy.org.
Delco Community College holds virtual registration dates
With the spring 15-week and 7-week sessions beginning on Thursday, Jan. 21, Delaware County Community College has announced the January Virtual Registration dates to assist students in registering for classes.
Virtual registration opportunities will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 6, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, Jan.
9, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Monday-Thursday, Jan. 11-14, from
9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Friday, Jan. 15, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Virtual Registration Days enable prospective students to apply, take a placement test, participate in an online mandatory New Student Orientation, register and meet with an advisor, all in a single online or phone visit. Prospective students are encouraged to apply online and complete an online orientation prior to calling in for Virtual Registration because they need to have completed New Student Orientation before their advising session.
To participate in a Virtual Registration Day, call 610-723
2000 or email registernow@ dccc.edu. Current students can also meet with an advisor on Virtual Registration Days or by making an appointment with the Career and Counseling Center.
For more information, call 610-723-2000 or visit dccc.edu/ virtual-registration.
Kearney announces $7.5 million in local grants
State Sen. Tim Kearney,
D-26 of Swarthmore, recently announced $7.5 million in state grants will go to projects across Delaware County.
The funding comes from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, a state grant program administered by the Office of the Budget for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement projects.
Projects approved for funding include:
• $2 million to develop additional aircraft parking at the Philadelphia International Airport in Tinicum: This project entails construction of an apron constructed of concrete pavement. The apron will be lighted by six high-mast light poles, and electrical infrastructure will be installed to accommodate the needs of aircrafts. Security cameras will also be installed at various locations around the apron. Stormwater management will be installed through storm pipes, managed-released basins, and oilwater separators.
• $1.5 million for Delaware County 911 Communications: This project will assist first responders in Delaware County by providing a secure, reliable, FCC compliant public safety communication system. This includes 24 tower upgrades to provide county-wide communication coverage, shelter structures, ice bridge, grounding, electric, HVAC, core work additions, and 911 center equipment to communicate effectively in emergency situations.
• $1.5 million for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia expansion in Millbourne. This project will develop a 175,000 sq. ft. two-story facility to support the entire CHOP hospital system, enabling multiple departments to share resources, increase efficiency, and improve services. The project includes extensive site work, construction of a new signalized intersection, parking areas, and truck bays so that CHOP can efficiently move supplies to their many facilities.
• $1 million for the Upper Darby Community Center. Consistent with its 2018 Comprehensive Plan, Upper Darby is looking to transform its property in the Stonehurst neighborhood into a newly repurposed Community Center. The project includes construction, stormwater management, and more.
• $500,000 for Delaware County Community College’s new Southeast Campus in Upper Darby: The College is undertaking a major facility purchase and expansion. The Early Childhood Education Center will be a separate building that houses two faculty offices and a dedicated classroom for Early Childhood Education courses. The Center will also include 8 toddler/children areas that will be operated by the YMCA of Eastern Delaware County.
• $500,000 for Delaware County Memorial Hospital’s Adult Behavioral Health Unit. This project will convert the current 23-bed Rehabilitation Unit at Delaware County Memorial Hospital into a 9,600 sq. ft. Adult Behavioral Health Unit. The new psychiatric inpatient unit will be comprised of 22 bedrooms, quiet room, nurse station, equipment stor
age, staff lounge, visitor room, and more.
• $500,000 for Springfield Hospital’s Center for Family Health: This project will renovate 13,500 sq. ft. of existing space on Springfield Hospital’s main floor to become the new home of the Center for Family Health. The space will include 15 examination rooms, two counseling offices, nurse station, staff lounge, and dedicated rooms for psychology, procedures, and other patient services.
Sun East appoints new board members, recognizes retiring members
Sun East Federal Credit Union in Aston announced the retirement of two longterm, volunteer Board members, George King, and John Rim. King has served as a member of the supervisory committee since 1989 and a board member since 1993, while Rim served as a member of the supervisory committee since 1995 and a board member since 2000.
King’s and Rim’s retirement will be filled by Eugene Roelofs and Richard Lauria. Both new board members previ
ously served on Sun East’s supervisory committee, and have experience with how to govern and support member-focused culture while being flexible enough to respect varying viewpoints from their colleagues.
This change was effective immediately following the announcement.
Rounding out the Sun East Board of Directors is Chairman Thomas Crawford; Vice Chairman Michael Davey; Treasurer Diana Robinson; Secretary Ken Murphy; and directors Donna Weidel; Jack Crawford; and Torpey White.
Sun East Federal Credit Union, founded in 1949, is a full-service, not-for-profit financial institution serving the savings, borrowing, and virtual banking needs of nearly 52,000 members, 1,250 employers, and multiple other organizations in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and New Jersey. For more information, call 877- 5-SUNEAST or visit www.suneast.org.