Newtown Twp. recognizes 2 special men in uniform
NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP >> The Board of Supervisors of Newtown Township honored Newtown Township residents Eugene Vickers, 104, and James Blaisse, 18, by passing resolutions in recognition of their service to their community at the Township meeting Nov. 25.
Henry Eugene Vickers, Newtown Township’s oldest World War II veteran, celebrated his 104th birthday Nov. 11 by traveling to Washington D.C. in a bus filled with his extended family to cheer him as the guest of honor at the Navy Museum, where he also laid the Veteran’s Day wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Sailor.
Vickers was born Nov. 11,
1915 (Armistice Day then; Veterans Day now), in his family’s farmhouse in Oakmont, the youngest of seven children born to Harry and Laura Vickers. Eugene graduated from Haverford High School in 1933, Wheaton College in 1938, and then attended Philadelphia School of the Bible, where he also became employed as an administrator. Eugene met his wife Betty Dunn when they were both children and attended Grace Chapel of Havertown, where they were married in
1941, just before the U.S. entered WWII. After enlisting in the Navy, commissioned as a Lieutenant, Eugene was sent to Harvard for training to serve as a Communications Officer. He also served as Chaplain when he arrived on the USS Ganymede AK104, a troop ship in General MacArthur’s fleet.
After World War II, Vickers returned home to Oakmont and then later moved to Newtown Square, raised four daughters and was one of the founders of the Delaware County Christian School, Newtown Square in 1950.
At the Newtown Township meeting, Supervisor John Nawn read aloud the resolution honoring the local centenarian for a lifetime of accomplishments.
In full uniform, with a sash filled with Merit Badges and medals on his chest, James Blaisse was also recognized by township officials for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout and his service to the community.
Blaisse is a senior attending Archbishop Carroll High School, where he is a member of the National Honor Society and plays varsity golf, baseball and ice hockey. He hopes to attend DeSales University next September to pursue Medical Studies for a career as a Physician’s Assistant.
As the third son of Bob and Jean Blaisse, parents of two other adult sons, John and Joseph, also Eagle Scouts, and 15-year old Jerry, a Star Scout, James Blaisse recently achieved his rank of Eagle Scout from Boy Scout of Troop 315, chartered by St. Anastasia Church in Newtown Square.
Over his six years as a Boy Scout, James participated in Troop 315 service projects while being elected by his peers to all leadership positions, including: Assistant Patrol Leader, Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Senior Patrol Leader and Junior Assistant Scoutmaster. In 2019, Blaisse launched his Eagle Scout Service Project he called: “Be Prepared To Grow,” in service to the mentally and physically challenged residents of Divine Providence Village. Jim led youth and adults in constructing and installing wheel chair accessible, raised flower beds, for residents to use.
Ridley MS Color Guard collects gently used stuffed animals
The Ridley Middle School Color Guard’s gently used stuffed animal drive is underway from now until Dec. 17 in the lobby of Ridley Middle School. Donations of gently used stuffed animals will be collected for the St. Vinent dePaul Philadelphia Society who will deliver them to shelters within the Delaware County area for the holiday season. For more information, contact Kelly Goldstein at kgoldstein@ridleysd.org/.
Delco Republican Women hold Holiday Princess Tea
Delaware County Republican Women’s Committee (DCRWC) will host their second annual Holiday Princess Tea 1-3 p.m. Dec. 29 at Springfield Country Club, 400 W. Sproul Rd., Springfield. Last year tickets sold out quickly so grab a ballgown and tiara, and get ready for a fun afternoon. Princes are welcome too.
Tickets are $45 for adults and $30 for children 10 and under, and can be purchased by mailing a check to:Princess Tea, DelCo Republican Women’s Committee,323 W. Front Street, Media, PA 19063. Check should be made out to DCRWC and contact information should be included on the check so tickets can be mailed back. Everyone is welcome.
Foundation for Delaware County offers 2020 census grant opportunities
The Foundation for Delaware County has announced the creation of, The Delco Counts 2020 Action Fund, a partnership between Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia and the Delaware County Complete Count Committee to support organizations promoting a complete and accurate census count for Delaware County. The fund will provide grants up to
$5,000, and in certain circumstances above $5,000, to nonprofit communitybased organizations with
501(c)(3) tax exempt status that are advancing the work of the 2020 Census in neighborhoods that are identified to be at risk of being undercounted. A request for proposals is available on the foundation’s website and includes a description of the types of grants available for the census and instructions for applying.
The stakes in the 2020 Census are high for Pennsylvania, which has been identified as the number two state at risk of an under-count. Delaware County is one of
24 counties in Pennsylvania at high risk. An analysis by Keystone Counts identified 6 percent of Delaware County households (69,462) specifically at risk for an under-count.
“The 2020 Census is critical for Delaware County, which has been identified as a county at high risk for being undercounted. This support will help ensure that everyone is counted,” said Frances Sheehan, President of The Foundation for Delaware County. “A complete and accurate 2020 Census count is crucial to securing federal funding for our county. Funding for resources such as education, health care, housing, veterans, seniors and roads is distributed to local communities based on census data.”
The Delco Counts 2020 Action Fund grant opportunity will consider proposals that meet the following criteria:
Proposals should promote census awareness and completion in a “hard to count” community within Delaware County. Examples include: Alleviating language barriers in promoting census awareness and completion; Building trust in communities regarding protected census data; Unique marketing campaigns designed to encourage census participation; and Building organizational capacity through technology and training.
Typical grant requests will be between $500 and
$5,000. Higher grant requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Applicants will be notified within three weeks of a completed application. Applications may be submitted by 5 p.m. on the following dates in
2020: Jan. 6; March 4; and April 29.
For further details about the foundation’s 2020 Census grant opportunities, and how to apply, go to: https:// delcofoundation.org/applyfor-a-grant/
The Foundation for Delaware County is a public charity founded in 2016, The Foundation for Delaware County is the largest philanthropy serving Delaware County. One of 780 community foundations across the U.S., the foundation focuses on encouraging philanthropy, convening across sectors to address difficult community issues, and makes grants to strengthen Delaware County’s nonprofit community. With headquarters in Media and with services sites in Chester, Upper Darby and Springfield, last year, the foundation made nearly $1.5 million in grants to improve the health and quality of life for the diverse residents in this thriving county. Learn more here: https://delcofoundation.
org/the-foundation-for-delaware-county-awards-over1-1-million-to-local-nonprofits/