Delco Steaks names champion in annual cheesesteak eating contest
MARPLE » Delco Steaks of Broomall celebrated National Cheesesteak Day Wednesday with their second annual Cheesesteak Bowl. Dan Kennedy, 38, of West Decatur, Pa., was named the champion cheesesteak eater at the event, held at Broomall’s Splash Club. His master consumption feat won him an allexpenses-paid trip to Cancun, as well as a championship belt.
Kennedy consumed a 2-foot, one-and-a-half pound cheesesteak, known as “The Delco” in one minute, 39 seconds in the qualifying round. He went on to devour a second cheesesteak of the same size in one minute and 34 seconds in the second round, making him the champion.
Over 50 contestants tried to devour “The Delco” faster than their opponents. Delco Steaks donated a portion of the proceeds from National Cheesesteak Day to Coaches vs. Cancer. Former Philadelphia Eagle Brent Celek was the Commissioner.
Delco Steaks features cheesesteaks, hamburgers, hot dogs, French fries, chicken fingers, milkshakes, and a premium menu of butcher shop packaged Pennsylvania farmraised black Angus meat. Delco Steaks is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m.; Friday from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.; Saturday from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m.; and Sunday from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. The steak shop will open a second location, as well as a miniature golf course, in Ridley Township later this spring.
Swim lesson scholarships offered for children in need
Speer Swim School in Broomall recently announced that it has become a Swim School provider of Hope Floats Foundation.
Hope Floats Foundation is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to prevent drownings by providing scholarships for swim lessons. Hope Floats partners with local communities to offer financial need-based scholarships at over 200 swim school locations in 31 states. Speer Swim School is joining forces with Hope Floats to provide scholarships for swim lessons for children in Southeastern PA who otherwise do not have access.
The equivalent of thirteen school buses full of children die each year in the United States due to drowning. Studies at the National Institute of Health show that swim lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by 88%.
“There’s a huge need for swim lessons, and the kids that need them the most – lower socio-economic level kids – are not getting them,” said Cindy Tonnesen, founder of the Hope Floats Foundation. “We are saving kids, but there are more we need to reach, and we have the ability and resources to do it.”
Speer Swim School offers lessons, personalized to push each child to their highest potential while giving them the love and care they need to gain confidence and be successful. Lessons are taught in private backyard pools, or at an outdoor location in Broomall throughout the summer. For more information, visit www.speerswimschool.com. Hope Floats Foundation is a nonprofit founded in 2016 committed to impacting the statistics on worldwide drowning. To learn more, visit www.hopefloats.foundation.
Caregivers invited to participate in six-part Caregiver Academy
Senior Community Services will present its eighth annual Caregivers Academy, a free-of-charge opportunity for caregivers to attend informative and educational programs, geared toward those family members who are fulfilling the caregiver role.
On April 8, the class will be “Keeping Informed Regarding Medicare,” presented by Glenda Radical, MHS, BS. On April 22, the topic is “Planning for the Future,” presented by Dana Breslin, Esq. and on May 6, the subject is “Difficult Conversations Related to Demenia, Medical Appointments, and Managing Finances,” led by Barbara Jones, MSW.
The series continues on May 20 with “Stress Relief for Caregivers,” by Barry Jacobs; “Caregiver DepressionTaking Care of Yourself,” by Sharon White, MSS, LCSW; and June 17, “Juggling Work, Life and Caregiving,” by Trindy Grundy, LMSW.
To register, caregivers can e-mail Diana Twisler at DTwisler@scs-delco. org/. The first 25 caregivers to register will receive a free tool for the classes. All presentations will be held 4-5:30 p.m. on the Zoom platform.
House passes Quinn’s Epilepsy Education Legislation
In advance of World Epilepsy Awareness day this Friday, the House of Representatives this week unanimously approved legislation authored by state Rep. Chris Quinn, R-168 of Middletown, that would promote the training of school personnel in seizure recognition and response. Quinn wrote the legislation after being contacted by a constituent whose grandson, 6-year old Dominic Rosini of West Whiteland, is fighting a rare form of epilepsy.
“Dominic’s world changed overnight” said Quinn. “As a parent, I can’t imagine the fear of your previously healthy child suffering as many as 1,000 seizures a day. Epilepsy is more common than many realize, and it’s important teachers and school personnel have access to information about recognizing seizures and responding to them.”
Quinn’s legislation, House Bill 416 and referred to as the “DOMinate Epilepsy Law” in honor of Dominic, would make the completion of an approved-Pennsylvania Department of Health online course in seizure recognition and first-aid creditable for professional continuing education credit. The state-approved online course would be provided by a national nonprofit foundation with an understanding of epilepsy and seizure disorders. The bill is nearly identical to legislation Quinn introduced last legislative session.
Dominic’s grandmother, Beth Scolis of Edgmont, first contacted Quinn in 2019. A public school teacher, she shared with Quinn her concern with the lack of knowledge school professionals have regarding seizures and the need for education on seizure recognition and first aid.
Dominic suffered his first seizure in August 2017, shortly before his third birthday. Other seizures, of various types, soon followed. Dominic underwent extensive testing and endured numerous hospitalizations.
Only a fraction of the seizures Dominic experienced were grand mal seizures. Also known as tonicclonic seizures, a grand mal seizure is the result of abnormal electrical activity throughout the brain and causes a loss of consciousness and violent muscle contractions. It is the type most commonly associated with a seizure.
“Dominic is a fighter and so incredibly brave,” said his mother, Jessica Rosini, herself a former public school teacher. “There are more children like him battling epilepsy than most people realize. This bill will help keep these children safe by giving school personnel the tools to recognize and respond to a seizure.”
According to the Epilepsy Foundation, the leading national education, support and advocacy organization for those with epilepsy and their families, one in 26 Americans will develop epilepsy at some point in their lifetime. More than one-third of the 150,000 Americans diagnosed with epilepsy every year will live with uncontrollable seizures because existing medications and treatments do not work for them.
“For many, epilepsy is a dominating feature of their lives,” said Quinn. “The DOMinate Epilepsy Law can help mitigate the impact of the condition for those kids who have it. It is an important first step in protecting students with the disorder and educating school personnel about seizure recognition and first aid.