Chester Green

State Representative Thaddeus Kirkland's poor reaction to youth...

2012-01-18T11:16:00.001-08:00

High School Students throughout Chester marched to Chester City Hall but found it closed so they go over to State Representative Thaddeus Kirkland's office to demand his help to get funding for their school district. Watch his response...

Action United - Take Back the Capitol - Jobs Rally

2011-12-13T11:44:00.001-08:00

Action United members along with other community groups from Pennsylvania head to the House of Congress to apply some needed pressure on PA politicians to protect and support the working and middle

class.

March on to K Street where we confront corporate lobbyist who buy off our congressmen. First stop GE Electric.

[ ACTION ] Protest Until Something Happens...PUSH!

2011-12-09T06:48:00.001-08:00

Well where can I began? We must have done something powerful in DC at the Jobs rally because I am so tired. You know that feeling you get when you've done some good work and resting is easy because you are very satisfied with the progress so far? Yeah. I have that feeling. From Tuesday - Thursday this week Action United for Chester participated in the DC Jobs Rally! We were pushing for jobs to be created, unemployment benefits to be extended and for the 1% to pay their DARN TAXES just like the rest of us!

Here are some quick snap shops below... the video clips will come later on Saturday :)

Along with many other PA residents we waited patiently outside of Pat Meehan's Congressional Office for about two hours. Of course he never showed up to talk with us after he was on the House floor but we were cool because we had some other actions up our sleeves.

Angel pushes the door on Meehan's office trying desperately to get inside.

Neither Congressman Pat Meehan or Tom Marino would talk with us but we PUSH on.

The next day we marched onto K Street where the corporate lobbyist get their swag on and buy off our congressmen to vote against the will of the people they represent. Proudly enough we would shut K Street down for a few hours until a select few were arrested.

There were two teams of Marchers and we converged onto the intersection of 15th and K Street. We shut it down! Despite the rain the chants and energy were awesome and inspiring.

The work was not done. The next day we all marched onto the Capitol and blocked an exit for about an hour. We sang songs, we chanted and we sat in peacefully of course.

Some of the DC natives were not having it :) And they had a way of saying so.

Gunmen with AKs stood at the top of the steps and police stood at the base, ready to pop us off if we did anything too crazy. They watched us stoically as we threw flowers at their feet. The flowers represented the unemployed around the country. Watch out for them flowers they are dangerous. :)

After a long need break on the last day we went to a Smithsonian and looked at some historic antiques and finally got some lunch... then all of a sudden Jesse Jackson shows up.

Jesse mobbed by crowd.

And despite how terribly tired we were we had to go see this beautiful memorial dedicated to MLK. It was breathtaking...

MLK Memorial in DC

[ STUDENT UNION ] State budget cuts have hurt the Chester school district ...

2011-11-16T06:28:00.001-08:00

State budget cuts have hurt the Chester school district in many ways: Class sizes have grown beyond capacity, two high schools merged into one overcrowded building, some elementary school grades have been combined due to lack of staff. In this report, Chester students, parents and community members speak out about how the massive cuts to state education spending are affecting them. This piece was produced by Keith Lomax.

Chester Green Youth Collective: Chester's Green Thumb

2011-11-08T18:13:00.001-08:00

by Angel Pabon aka ActivistKid20

Chester Green attendees focused on Non-Violent
Direct Action training given by Heather Milton.

On October 28th-30th, the Chester Green Youth Collective had launched its first ever Environmental Youth Engagement in Chester City. It was facilitated by 4 youth organizers in Chester; Mark Matthews, Chris Shavers, Ciara Williams and Angel Pabon. The event had free food, plenty of Environmental Justice/Awareness workshops, and a toxic tour that gave visitors an experience of the polluting facilities on the Chester Water Front. There were plenty of challenges to hop over when this particular event was still being discussed over an excessive amount of conference calls, and personal meetings with Community Organizers. But nevertheless, triumph had arose before many of the organizers and volunteers that refused top let this summit CRASH. Chester Green definitely had a huge turn out, and more collectives like this is to be expected from those who attended. There was a lot of stuff looked over about what we can do to get the community engaged, and how. Much of those concerns were explained through a Non-violent Protest workshop developed by "The Ruckus Society."

This event was an enriched and recreational experience, considering that there were a nice amount of Chester Youth and people from some parts of the U.S. (Texas, Mississippi, North Dakota, Louisiana). The exercises and activities had created a sense of positive fulfillment and hope for youth and the city of Chester. After that collective, Chester Green is slowly becoming a process for the Chester Youth Organizers to engage young people in a creative and innovative method.

There will be more to come from that collective in the future, most likely soon.

Grace Community Resource and Empowerment Center, Inc. TOWN HALL MEETING Tues. Oct. 18

2011-10-18T09:25:00.000-07:00

Grace Community Resource and Empowerment Center, Inc.
In Collaboration with the White House Office of Faith Based

and Neighborhood Partnerships
Presents

TOWN HALL MEETING

Prevention and the Faith Base Connection”
Schneeberg, Director
Neighborhood Partnerships
Tuesday October 18, 2011 at 7:00 P.M.

Alumni Auditorium, Widener University Campus – One University Place. Chester, PA

Chester, PA - Grace Community Resource and Empowerment Center, Inc. (GCREC) will
present in collaboration with the White House Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood
Partnerships its 2nd Town Hall Meeting - “LET’S TALK: Violence Prevention and the Faith Base
Connection”. The meeting will feature Eugene Schneeberg, Director - Center for Faith-Based
and Neighborhood Partnerships (CFBNP) as the Keynote Speaker. Mr. Schneeberg will join a
professional panel for a public discussion about Violence: Causes, Reduction, Prevention and
Resources. This very important Town Hall Meeting will take place Tuesday October 18, 2011
at 7:00 P.M. Alumni Auditorium, Widener University Campus – One University Place. Chester,
PA.

Attending the meeting with Mr. Schneeberg will be Mark Roscoe, a Senior Policy Advisor
with the CFBNP. Confirmed panelist are Calvin Hodnett, U.S. Justice Dept. & representative
of President Obama's SC2 Initiative; Chester City Councilman John Lender, Dept. of
Public Safety; Rev. Bayard Taylor, Chester Police Chaplain and Pastor at Calvary Baptist
Church; Fatima Hafiz PhD, professor in teacher education at Temple University and Senior
Facilitator for the T.E.A. Group (Transformative Education Associates, LLP); Nicole Cogdell,
Chester Resident, Parent &; Senior Advocate, Technical Advisor for Brothers of Concern. **We
just received notice that, former Deputy Director of CFBNP, Ben O’Dell (Now an official w/
HUD) will join the panel for discussion.

“LET’S TALK: Violence
Keynote Speaker: Eugene
Center for Faith-Based and

Chester and surrounding communities are invited to come out and take advantage of the
information shared by Mr. Schneeberg from CFBNP on the role of the Faith Based community
and community partners, and what resources are available to combat the issue of violence. This
is a great opportunity for the Chester community to witness and participate in sharing ideas,
opinions, and initiatives to help uplift our city.

GCREC is grateful and appreciates the efforts and collaboration of Director Eugene Schneeberg
and the White House Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships to help make this
Town Talk Meet a reality.

“Stand Up Chester and Get Involved”.

Master Blaster's 5th Annual TALENT SHOW! Nov 11th

2011-10-18T09:12:00.000-07:00

CALLING ALL SINGERS,RAPPERS,DANCERS,MUSICIANS,POETS,COMEDIANS AND MORE!!!!!COME SHOWCASE YOUR TALENT IN FRONT OF ENTERTAINMENT REPS. IN THE INDUSTRY:RECORD COMPANIES,STUDIO MUSICIANS,PERFORMING ARTS COMPANIES AND MORE!!!IF YOU KNOW SOME-ONE WITH TALENT....

PLEASE CONTACT MASTER BLASTER(WALTER JAY)@215-971-7739

LOOKING FOR AGES:5YRS TO 20YRS....PROCEEDS TO HELP FEED THE NEEDY,HOMELESS OR LESS FORTUNATE,PLEASE SUPPORT THIS EVENT AND WORTHY CAUSE!!!!!!!

[ ACTION UNITED ] How do we stop the gun violence NOW! Oct 25th 6pm @ YWCA

2011-10-15T06:03:00.000-07:00

A big community meeting will be taking place at the YWCA on the 25th of this month, the last Tuesday of October @ 6pm. The goal is to bring as many concerned residents together as possible and to create a plan of action to stop the violence in Chester City. Especially, before the summer months arrive. There will be a moment of discussing the top issues and concerns with community members and then there will be a panel of community leaders to help direct the community on what the next steps should be collectively in order to STOP THE VIOLENCE! Guest panelist will be City Anti-Violence Initiative Dir. Cory Long, Chester Anti-Violence Activist Nicole Cogdell, Dir. of the Human Rights Coalition Richard "Tut" Carter, Pastor Lenny Bryant and Dir. of the Christian Coalition Against Violence Pastor Ted Reed. The meeting has been organized by a group of concerned residents called Action United. If you would like more information please contact Desire Grover: desiregrover@gmail.com Thanks so much! There is POWER in NUMBERS! Join us!

Chester Re-Entry Resource Center...

2011-10-11T19:20:00.000-07:00

(Left) Rev.Dalton & (Right) Richard "Tut" Carter

For the first time in the history of Chester city a Prison Re-Entry Call Center has been opened. The center will provide transitional support, civic resources and advocacy for the Re-Entry Community of Ex-offenders in Chester city and throughout Delaware County. Richard "Tut" Carter and Rev. Dalton, in collaboration with the Mayor's anti-violence task force, worked together to create the Chester Re-Entry Resource Center of Delaware County.

First time in the history of Chester a Prison
Re-Entry Call Center has been opened.

In good faith the Mayor has committed to paying for a full year of the call center's utilities. The goal of the call center is to help recently released ex-offenders transition back into society in a healthy and productive way. Chester Re-Entry Resource Center of Delaware County strongly believes that to provide these resources to these men will help end violence, reduce recidivism and end the hopelessness in the hearts of their families.

Chester Green Youth Collective October 27th-30th

2011-10-04T19:07:00.000-07:00

CLICK TO ENLARGE REGISTRATION FORM

4th Annual Symposium on Equality & Thaddeus Stevens Awards Dinner

2011-10-01T17:48:00.000-07:00

Chester Children's Choir Fall Schedule...

2011-10-01T17:46:00.001-07:00

Keith Collins Candidate for County Council

2011-10-01T17:44:00.000-07:00

[ CBS NY ] Occupy Wall Street’ Plans To March To One Police Plaza...

2011-09-30T10:57:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Protesters plan to march to One Police Plaza in the middle of the Friday afternoon rush in what could turn out to be another confrontation with the NYPD.

The group “Occupy Wall Street,” has been camped out at Zuccotti Park and marching around the Financial District for two weeks, speaking out against what they say is corporate greed.

Friday at 5:30 p.m., however, the group says it will march to One Police Plaza in Lower Manhattan against “police brutality and harassment,” specifically an incident last Saturday in which a deputy police inspector used pepper spray against some protesters.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg also added his voice to the protest discussion Friday.

“People have a right to protest, but we also have to make sure that people who don’t want to protest can go down the streets unmolested. We have to make sure that while you have a right to say what you want to say, people who want to say something very different have a right to say that as well,” Bloomberg said.

Earlier in the week, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly declined to say whether he believed the conduct was justified, but called the protesters ... [ READ MORE ]

[ Activist Report ] Dear Chester...It's NOT for the Children...

2011-09-22T10:41:00.000-07:00

Many of us at some point have used these words..."We are doing this for the children." But what if this phrase were not true? What if we adults were to be completely honest about why we do what we do in the community? I believe that we would find that very little of what we do is REALLY for the children.

[ Flying Kite ] Fixing Fresh Food: Greater Philly's Co-Ops Find Their Way

2011-09-22T10:35:00.000-07:00

For some, the concept of food co-ops may conjure up images of leafy greens, and granola, with members sharing the work. Although this model still works in some areas, the co-op of today is just as likely to be a modern storefront offering a full range of groceries, with an emphasis on the healthful, locally grown, organic, economically conscious, and/or fair trade.

It's clear that the co-op model is still an attractive one, as evidenced by seven new start-ups in Eastern Pennsylvania, from Chester to Doylestown and an eighth in Scranton, in addition to the six established ones in the Philadelphia Metro area. From Virginia to New York, 31 co-ops have organized into the Mid-Atlantic Food Co-op Alliance.

"People are becoming savvier about food," says Glenn Bergman, general manager of the Weavers Way Co-ops. "They like to know where their food is coming from and where their money is going. By shopping at a co-op, they know they are keeping their money local and reinvesting in their own community."

The current burst in co-op development is only a small part of a larger dynamic -- the same dynamic that brought First Lady Michelle Obama to Philadelphia as part of her "Let's Move" program, stating, "we want to replicate your success here in Pennsylvania all across America."

After having had the second-lowest number of supermarkets per capita of major cities in the United States a decade ago, Philadelphia has... [ READ MORE ]

Between a COP and a THUG place!

2011-08-25T14:35:00.000-07:00

Many of us in Chester City are talking about it. We’re talking about the shootings, the unsolved murders, the gun violence and the cop violence. We’re talking about the ever growing number of young black males losing their lives to THE GUN. Losing their lives on both ends of the conflict. One life buried under the ground while the other life is buried under the prison system or buried under a life of secrecy if they are never prosecuted for the murder. In the midst of this violent chaos the natural response by a community is to call for a stronger police presence in our neighborhoods. But since the homicide of Daniel Francis Simms I have been reminded of how increasing the presence of the police is NOT a REAL solution to the problem. I say this based on a series of bad experiences I have had with the police in my own neighborhood.

I have been a resident of Chester since I was 15 years old. Now 17 years later I can say that I have learned so much about life and the challenges that come with living in such an oppressed area. When the violence began 5 years ago on our street my family thought we simply needed an increase in police presence. We believed that somehow the cops would deter the violence. But what we quickly realized was that we had made a sour trade off. Yes the presence of the police decreased the likely hood of gun violence by local bullies but what we got in return were bitter cops who decided to treat our street as if it were a prison cellblock. I have a litany of embarrassing scenarios to share. Stories that involve cops having inappropriate conversations with young girls, verbally abusing young people during a search, falsifying witness accounts in reports and intentionally disclosing the names of residents to trouble makers in the neighborhood because they felt like these residents “Called on them too much.” Yes I could share all of these stories with a feverish rage but I am not trying to write a salacious book about the Chester Police Department. I know that not every cop is as foolish as the ones I have experienced. Instead I am hoping to illustrate a serious point. The point being that everyday residents of Chester…the law abiding residents of Chester are unfortunately caught between a cop and a thug place. If it is not the thugs who are intimidating the community it is the cops. In order to gain a safer community this vicious cycle needs to stop. If I cannot trust the presence of our “supposed” heroes in blue then who can I trust to protect our community? If I can’t rely on my Mayor to hold the police accountable for poor choices that harm the community then why should the Mayor be in office? And the same goes to those who would like to take the place of the current Mayor. It makes no difference to me if the leadership is red or blue. If they are yellow on issues of solving murder cases and police accountability then I want nothing to do with them.

We need leaders. Better yet… Chester, we need STRONG leaders. Leaders with COURAGE and a willingness to lose the very political seat they won in the name of doing what is right for righteousness sake. Enough with lifetime politicians that produce NOTHING. We can’t afford it. If you think we are struggling now as a city you have seen nothing yet. Because there is worst to come after the next economic Tsunami hits our country. Chester we are not an island. Our need for COURAGEOUS leadership is tremendous and anything less than courageous leadership is suicidal. Do not sleep Chester. The economy, the system and time is not on your side. Especially, when you are a community that is caught between a cop and a thug place.

By Desire Grover
Chester Community Organizer
desiregrover@gmail.com

[ DELCO TIMES ] Chester Co-op is helping solve city’s woes...

2011-07-16T13:02:00.000-07:00

Friday, July 15, 2011
By TINA JOHNSON
Times Guest Columnist
On Aug. 29, 2005, almost 1,300 miles away from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, I recall sitting in my apartment and watching the suffering of people I had never met in a place that I had only visited once. And I wept.

My heart ached for those who had lost their lives, but my tears were for the helpless and desperate that had survived — those without the resources or ability to leave. And the fact that the many faces staring back at me through the television were brown and were poor made a powerful impact upon me.

Katrina in her wake left me in a state of greater awareness. It made me think about Chester — the place where I was born and currently live. No natural disaster had hit the first city in Pennsylvania and yet there still existed a shell-shocked community, as if the levees in Louisiana broke and reached up to the Delaware River, swallowed up the city and its promise for better days made to the people decades before. Just like the survivors in New Orleans, the survivors in Chester are waiting for someone to save them.

My awakening inspired me to do something that motivated the community to do something for themselves, to rely upon the ability and talents of like-minded people who may not have access to millions of dollars, but who had a desire to share skills, to learn new skills and who had a drive to create a sustainable community-owned and operated business that would benefit the community and impact people for generations.

In essence, I hoped they would learn to save themselves and begin the journey toward creating prosperity. Being able to provide one of the most basic, yet essential, needs of the human body — food — became more important.

The Chester Co-op is a business working toward providing access to food that is affordable and high in quality. More importantly, it is a business co-owned by the people who choose to work, invest and shop at the co-op.

The overall goal of our community-owned grocery is to have access to foods that are fresh, healthy and affordable. Our members are shareholders in the business and with ownership comes responsibility.

Just like any market, people have to buy the food on the shelves in order for it to be viable. The major difference is that we exist solely for... [ READ MORE ]

[ marchonblairmountain.org ] March on Blair Mountain Updates

2011-06-07T17:51:00.000-07:00

The March began with a 9 am press conference that helped kick off a great day of marching. Marchers then headed down MacCorkle Avenue towards 94 with banners carrying reading “Save Blair Mountain” “Appalachia Deserves a Clean Local Economy” and more. Marchers then moved onto the side of the road down 94 to the base of Lens Creek Mountain.

Marchers heading out of Marmet, WV - Photo by Cheshire Tongkat

At Lens Creek Mountain, we were shuttled to the top for lunch. Lunch was yummy and consisted of chicken salad and hummus. The top of this mountain where 94 crosses it is the Boone County Line. We descended the mountain by foot around 4:45, moving towards Racine. We marched through Racine, turning on to [ READ MORE ]

[PHILLY.COM] Chester Co-op is where fresh food - and a community - finds a home

2011-05-28T09:53:00.000-07:00

May 26, 2011

By BETH D'ADDONO, For the Daily News

THE GREATEST symbol of hope for the beleaguered downtown business district in Chester isn't the fancy new soccer stadium or the new casino along the riverfront.
For people like LarRaine Branch, who's lived here for 46 years, or octogenarian Thelma K. Haskins, in residence since 1953, hope blooms in the shape of a beautiful bunch of fresh collards or a tray of what Haskins calls "chicken hips," all-natural Bell & Evans chicken legs and thighs. Those are just a few of the items on the shelves at the Chester Co-op, a community-owned grocery store that brings healthy and fresh food and staples into the heart of town.

What does this place mean to me?" said Branch. "It means everything to me. To see the co-op grow and come to life helped me regain my faith in what could be. People like me who knew Chester when it was a great city still see a place worth saving, a place that is worth something. And why shouldn't we be able to shop in our own community?"

Why, indeed.
The last supermarket in Chester closed 17 years ago, leaving only neighborhood bodegas in its place. Chester's economic woes, kick-started back in the '50s and '60s with the loss of shipping and manufacturing jobs, are written in the vacant storefronts and shuttered businesses in the once bustling downtown. The city's crime rate is worrisome; about half its young people never finish high school. This was the scene that greeted Tina Johnson when she returned to her hometown in 2005 after living and working in Mexico and India for more than a decade.
"I came back to be with family, my mom lives here, my father's family lives here," said Johnson. "But there was no place to buy fresh food. I could get grapes and bananas in the Himalayas, but not in Chester? That seemed crazy."
The idea for the co-op came up at a... [ READ MORE ]

A Unique Block Party...

2011-05-04T18:35:00.000-07:00

Chester Community Garden Expands With Help from Amish Horse and Plow Team

CHESTER, PA -- On Saturday, May 7, a team of Amish horses from Lancaster County will be working in a public housing development in Chester, helping residents of the Ruth L. Bennett Homes plow a new field for their community garden.

A block party is planned for the day, with gardening, art activities, and a DJ from 11 AM to 2 PM. A barbecue lunch will be served at 1 PM by the Amish Farmer’s Market. Local children will unveil a mural they have painted for the garden. All are welcome.

The Ruth L. Bennett Homes Community Garden is a collaboration between the Ruth L. Bennett Resident Council, the Chester Housing Authority, and students from Swarthmore College. The event kicks off a major expansion for the garden, including a new cultivation area, an outdoor kitchen and classroom space, and a market stand.

The garden is an initiative of the Cooperative Projects, an innovative model of community development bringing together community organizations, the Chester Housing Authority, and institutions providing education and other services. A large-scale urban agriculture program is planned on Housing Authority property, with the cultivation of fresh produce viewed as an opportunity for education, improved food access, and business development.

WHO:
Chester Public Housing Residents, Amish horse and plow team, and Swarthmore Students

WHAT:
A garden expansion and block party with garden activities, art projects, and BBQ

WHEN:
Saturday, May 7, 11 AM - 2 PM

WHERE:
The Ruth L Bennett Homes Community Garden
Carlas Lane, Chester, PA
(20 minutes south of Philadelphia. Directions attached)

VISUALS:
Children with Amish horses and plows in public housing development. Mural painted by community members. Excellent photo and video opportunities.

SEE ATTACHED FOR DIRECTIONS
DIRECTIONS:

Ruth L. Bennett Homes Community Garden

Chester, PA 19013
From I-95 South (Philadelphia and points north)
Exit 3B, Highland Ave
Right on Highland Ave
Left on W 9th St
Left on Carlas Lane (Norris Drive on GoogleMaps)
From I-95 North (Delaware and points south)
Exit 5 Towards Kerlin St
Right on Kerlin St
Right on W 9th St
Right on Carlas Lane (Norris Drive on GoogleMaps)
The Ruth L Bennett Homes Community Garden
is located at the end of the Carlas Lane loop, by the basketball courts.

[ DELCO TIMES ] Chester Upland, NAACP wrangle over ‘protocol’

2011-04-27T18:24:00.000-07:00

By JOHN KOPP
jkopp@delcotimes.com

CHESTER — Delores Shelton sat behind a table at Chester High School April 15, helping eligible students register to vote.

A member of the Chester NAACP, Shelton said it’s a routine the organization has conducted there for more than 20 years.

She and her husband, John Shelton Sr., the branch’s former president, were just about to pack up when Principal Dr. Darla Hammond told them they had to “cease and desist,” she said.

“We packed up our things and she literally showed us to the door,” said Shelton, noting Hammond indicated the orders had come from higher-ranking administrators. “A child was trying to get her attention, (but) she had to make sure that we left the building. The only thing we were doing was letting the children practice their civil rights — and this is the right of all citizens who will be 18 by election day.”

Shelton said she was shocked and expressed her frustrations at the Chester Upland School Board meeting Thursday. There, board President Wanda Mann read a statement informing Shelton and the NAACP that outside organizations must gain permission from district administrators before hosting events on school premises.

“Unfortunately, no one from the NAACP asked the leadership of Chester Upland for permission to enter one of our schools for voter registration purposes,” Mann said. “Had they notified us of their desire to conduct such an event, we would have tried our best to accommodate them.

“We cannot run a district where organizations, no matter how well-intentioned they may be, have unrestricted access to our schools throughout the course of the school day.”

Shelton said the NAACP set up its voter registration session by contacting Hammond. She said the NAACP has held about two such sessions each year ever since her husband began the events more than 20 years ago. Shelton said the NAACP had never run into problems, noting the organization has also held voter education classes.

Despite the district’s familiarity with the NAACP, Mann said it must follow the district’s procedures.

“The NAACP is an important organization and we value the work that they do,” Mann said in her statement Thursday. “As a professional organization, I am sure the NAACP can understand the significance of protocol and proper procedure, especially where... [ READ MORE ]

Community Arts Center - Wallingford - Friday Night Live

2011-04-25T20:44:00.000-07:00

Greetings Friends,
As many of you know, I've been hosting a new monthly art and music event called Friday Night Live at the Community Arts Center (where I work). The first two months have been great. We've had great bands, great artists and great audiences. This month is particularly special for me, as I'll be performing with my band, Live Remedy. The band plays primarily reggae, with our take on some jazz tunes thrown in for fun. This band brings together musicians who I've played with in various groups over the years, including my musical mentor, Paul Brion. This will be our first performance featuring dancers. My wife, Andrea, and two other dancers will be performing with us for a number of the tunes. I'm thrilled to present the show, which has been in the works for some time. I'd love to see you there. Particulars are listed below.

Peace and Blessings

Paul

What: Friday Night Live

When: This Friday, April 29th, 7-10pm

Who:
Band: Live Remedy
Featured Artist: Willis "Nomo" Humphrey (painting sold by silent auction throughout the night)
Digital drawings by: Drew Arata (drawings projected for real-time viewing)

Where: Community Arts Center, 414 Plush Mill Road, Wallingford, PA 19086

Other Info:
BYOB. 17 and over to enter, 21 and over to bring or consume alcohol.
Light refreshments served. Bring your dinner if you like.
$10 at door or in advance.
Tickets available at: http://www.communityartscenter.org/2011-friday-night-live
or 610.566.1713

NOI Training Phase 1 & 2 : GREEN ORGANIZING TRAINING

2011-04-23T10:46:00.000-07:00

So what the heck is NOI training you ask? Good question. LOL Nah all jokes aside. NOI (New Organization Institute) is the organization that trains organizers to be more organized. At least in theory :) So...four brave young men and myself took the training in preparation for one of the largest green conferences in our nation called POWER SHIFT! Here are some photos we took while attending the training in DC from April 2-4. Hope ya diggs 'em.

Angel Pabon listens closely during a workshop break out session. We spent our time in this one room from 9:00AM-9:30PM on the first day. YIKES!

From left to right you see Seth, Matt,Sean,Chris,Angel and Connor. Together they form SUPER GROUP! YA HYPE!

SUPER GROUP pretending to be focused. LOL

Hey is that a foot soldier from the dark side sitting in on our training?

Oh my bad. It's just David!

Andrew Munn takes notes like a studious facilitator should :) Andrew organizes against Mountain Top removal down in West Virginia.

We met a lot of cool people and hung out with some of them like Ryan.

Organizers all over the country were training simultaneously with us in the mid Atlantic Region.

From left to right Ryan,Angel,Matt,David,Sarah,Chris and myself (Desire) behind the camera. There are tons of more pictures I could share on this trip but it would take forever.

Angel in the shade. On our last day after two days of 12 hour training we chilled at the Smithsonian and drank overpriced water and coffee.

The art museums were spectacular. Too many pictures to share for this one as well.

And now we are prepared to fight the GREEN fight of faith back home. GO GO POWER GREEN-ers!

Mayor Wendell N. Butler's Anti-Violence Initiative...

2011-03-23T20:04:00.000-07:00

As Part of Mayor Wendell N. Butler's
Anti-Violence Initiative,
The H.O.P.E. Commission is hosting

The Chester Re-Entry Community Forum
For the 1st time in the City of Chester, Organizations, Business Owners, Ex-0ffenders , Faith-based Community and local Government come together to offer solutions to job training & placement, Entrepreneurship , Family support & more!

For Ex-Offenders looking for H.O.P.E
Saturday, March 26, 2011 -10:00 am
Held every fourth Saturday of the Month
Chester City Hall
1 Fourth Street, Chester PA

H.O.P.E. stands for Helping Ourselves & Others Productively Excel

Forums are free and open to individuals and families who seek support through
Chester's Re-Entry Community
For more information
Call the City of Chester at 610-447-7700

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE CAUCUS APRIL 3rd 6-9pm

2011-03-23T08:55:00.000-07:00

DELCO TIMES: Chester students leave YouthBuild

2011-03-12T19:57:00.000-08:00

By JOHN KOPP
jkopp@delcotimes.com

CHESTER — They picketed in their school parking lot and voiced their concerns to City Council.

When the students of Chester YouthBuild, an alternative education program, learned they were being transferred to another program, they refused to sulk. Instead, they sought a solution — anything — that could prevent their program from closing.

That is a testament to the effectiveness of the program, said Donna Northern, YouthBuild director.

“You had a group of people advocating for their education,” Northern said. “These were the ones people thought didn’t care and even themselves probably talked about (how) it wasn’t that important to go to school. They didn’t see education as being paramount in their life, but now they’re out here saying, ‘We’re holding signs because this means something to us.’”

Chester Upland School District had little wiggle room in the situation. The state ordered the district to remove its 47 students from YouthBuild because the program was not on the state-approved list of Supplemental Educational Service providers. Thus, Chester Upland placed the students in its Ombudsman Program, an affiliated alternative education program on that list.

Friday was the students’ final day at YouthBuild, which mixes classroom learning with construction and job-skills training. For many, it came three months too soon.

“YouthBuild helped me stay motivated,” said Cierra Alston, a senior in her second year at Youthbuild. “They pushed me to be excellent. They make sure when you leave here all the work you do won’t be in vain.”

Alston, who earned CPR and first-aid certifications there, said she wishes the district would have notified students sooner. That way, Alston said, they could have played a greater role in the solution. Alston was among several students who voiced their concerns before council Wednesday. Their appearance sparked a discussion among council and Chester Upland School Board President Wanda Mann, who said she’d meet with Acting Superintendent Dr. Joyce Wells to see whether any other solution might be viable.

Chester Upland spokesman Joel Avery said Friday that the district determined it had taken its best option.

“At this time YouthBuild is still off of the state-approved list, which means the district unfortunately is unable to utilize their services,” Avery said. “When YouthBuild returns to the list, the district will be very happy to work with them again. The district cares a lot about its students and their feelings and just wishes to emphasize to everyone that this is just a matter of ... [ READ MORE ]

Making A Difference & Celebration APRIL 8th 7:30pm

2011-03-10T17:53:00.000-08:00

Chester's Coop Grand Opening March 12-13

2011-03-08T20:06:00.000-08:00

BOKAMOSA Youth Theater is BACK!

2011-01-20T11:20:00.000-08:00

DON'T MISS IT! This Friday Jan 21 @ 7pm and Saturday Jan 22 @ 3:30pm . Click picture for details :)

Delco Alliance for Environmental Justice NEWS & Updates

2011-01-10T13:08:00.000-08:00

THE NEXT MEETING:

DelCo Alliance for Environmental Justice
MARCH 21st MONDAY

TIME: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

LOCATION: Swarthmore Lang Center
[ ALL ARE INVITED ]

The Delco Alliance for Environmental Justice presents...

VIRTUAL TOXIC TOUR!
The virtual toxic tour of Chester's water front has officially started. The art & graphics are currently being designed. The tour is being produced by the Energy Justice Network. Desire Grover is directing the art of the project. Mike Ewall and Traci Confer are handling the details and information provided in the tour. BUT WE CAN STILL USE YOUR INVOLVEMENT! If you would like to participate just contact us: info@ghettoprint.com

Also if you would like for us to give you a walking tour of the waterfront just contact us here: catalyst@actionpa.org

GASLAND IN CHESTER!

Yes Chester. Gas drilling throughout PA and near the Delaware River Basin matters to us. You need to come on down to J. Lewis Crozer Library on Jan 22nd in order to learn more about why. The largest domestic natural gas drilling boom in history has swept across the United States. But is the drilling technology, hydraulic fracturing, safe? A MUST SEE FILM! This film will be presented by Clean Water Action at the J. Lewis Crozer Library on Jan 22nd at 1 pm - 3:30 pm

HANGIN' WITH DICKINSON

On November 19th I spent time with the students of Dickinson College during their annual Diversty Week. It was a blast and very encouraging to see so many active students in the Environmental Justice Movement. Many of the students who attended had projects they were engaged with in the US and all over the world. We discussed Chester's environmental challenges and triumphs and we explored what it would take to get the kind of change that we want to see. Thanks so much for inviting me out to speak with you guys. It was heartwarming and a blast. To learn more about Dickinson College please visit this site: http://www.dickinson.edu/admissions/explore/Discovering-Diversity-in-How-We-Grow/

SAY NO TO FLUORIDE! ( WE NEED YOUR HELP TO CONTINUE!)

The Alliance is also working hard to spread the truth about Fluoride! We may come knocking at your door so be friendly and listen up. If you have young children who have experienced lead poisoning or if you know someone with kidney problems, understand, that they SHOULD NOT be drinking our City's Fluoridated drinking water. Yes Chester's water is fluoridated! You can learn more here at our website: http://www.actionpa.org/fluoride/

Also if you would like to participate in saying no to fluoride just contact me: info@ghettoprint.com

THE NEXT MEETING:

DelCo Alliance for Environmental Justice
MARCH 21st MONDAY

TIME: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

LOCATION: Swarthmore Lang Center
[ ALL ARE INVITED ]

*Swarthmore College, Lang Center Directions
http://www.swarthmore.edu/visitordash/visitors_content_directions.php
Clarification: if you are coming from Chester on Route 320, make a left turn onto Elm (one block after the light at College Avenue). After making a turn onto Elm and after one stop sign, you'll come to a driveway flanked by stone pillars on your left.Turn there onto Whittier Place and follow it to Dupont parking lot. 5 Whittier Place, adjacent to the DuPont parking lot, and across from the Friends Meeting House, is the Lang Center for Social Responsibility. Park in the DuPont lot and walk back.

Soulfege in Chester and Swarthmore

2010-11-11T10:23:00.000-08:00

FRIDAY, November 12th @ Swarthmore College Center for Performing Arts

1:30pm, lunch with Soulfege and students from Swarthmore and Chester

8:00pm, Soulfege concert (free, like everything else!) at the Swarthmore College Lang Performing Arts Center

PROMOTIONAL STUFF

You can read more about the performers themselves at www.soulfege.com , and about Derrick Ashong (the lead singer) at
http://www.derrickashong.com/about-me/

Soulfege music video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1j8_kOtfd8

There's a Facebook event page that you can access and use to invite other people, if you like.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/event.php?eid=136319179752517

City Council Cap - Beefin' with Widener...

2010-11-10T09:08:00.000-08:00

I've been going to meetings all morning. First I hit the Solid Waste Authority meeting at the Hunt's Club in Rose Tree and then I attended the Chester City Council Meeting. For the last two consecutive meetings everyone and their momma has been present at City Council, which is new to me. But then again I haven't attended the council meetings much this year. I remember the days when only three or four other residents were in the room but for the last two meetings, Rep.Kirkland, David Sciocchetti, Rev.Strand,Wanda Mann, Cory Long, Cops, Crozer, YouthBuild and many others have showed up to these meetings. LOL It may just be that the presence of two Dems on the council has peaked everyone's curiosity or it's probably just coincidence. Yeah it's probably just coincidence so we'll see what happens on the third meeting I attend.

There was a lot going on today so here's a quick cap...

BIDDERS FROM EVERYWHERE

There were a ton of bids read to the council. Bids for bulk waste, tree removal, street salting etc. Bidders as far out as Massachusetts wanted in on the Chester City contracts. I wish I could give you a list of which bidders won contracts but it wasn't clear. Then again I may have missed that part because it was honestly very boring to listen to.

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS

Special Events Coordinator (<<< talk about job creation) Donna Davis, reported to the city that their Breast Cancer fundraiser was a success. They were able to raise $1,589 for the Dept. of Cancer Center out of Crozer Hospital. Nurse Mary Ronni and Dr. Mary Lou Patton received the money on behalf of the hospital.

RESIDENTS SPEAK

-WHERE'S THE COMPASSION-

During the public speaking segment of the meeting two residents shook up the place...

Ms.Johnson gave the council an emotional tongue lashing. Asking them where their compassion was for families who had lost a loved one to gun violence. She charged that she has been a law abiding citizen and has worked for the housing authority for an X amount of years. Therefore, she expected better treatment from the Police Dept. But she still has yet to hear from the Police Dept. about the details surrounding the homicide of her nephew, who was shot to death last night on Highland Ave. She made it clear to the council that she would not allow them or the police department to get away with mistreating her family. Apparently, her family has only learned details about the murder thru the local newspaper.

-BEEFIN' WITH WIDENER-

Mr.Brown gave the council a piece of his mind about the parking troubles that residents are having near Widener University. In a very colorful and entertaining way he demanded that the council do more to stop the unruly behavior of students and new residents. He accused some of these people of pissing in public, littering and leaving used condoms around his property. He acknowledged that when he was young he did foolish things like this but with more tack and reservation. He also acknowledged that the council had helped int the past but he said, quote..."I'm not hear to talk about what you have done. I'm hear to talk about what needs to be done." He also mentioned that the students and new residents do not own property in the area therefore this is one reason why they mistreat the neighborhood.

The Mayor tried to respond positively but with little success. Mr.Brown stated that he had heard it all before and needed them to act. Before seating Mr.Brown pointed out that the Widener parking space next to his home is never in use during the evening yet he has to drive about six blocks down from his home in order to find a parking space. He demanded that the Mayor pressure the University to open the parking lot to residents, during the evening. Yet he also noted his doubt that the council would do what he demanded because they didn't have the will to pressure Widener to do anything for the residents.
http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2010/11/10/news/doc4cda1796013d4571710962.txt

Revival Stream Ministries Int’l - Tuesday, November 09, 2010

2010-11-08T05:21:00.000-08:00

P. O. Box 1329
Brookhaven, PA 19015
610-653-3775
revivalstream@aol.com
Pastor Jo V Hood

Dear Pastor, Minister, Intercessor, Leader, Friend:

Greetings in the matchless name of our risen and resurrected savior, the Lord Jesus Christ!

We are the host for the next meeting of the Delaware Valley Pastors Fellowship (DVPF). You’re invited to Chester, PA, ‘Revival Central.’
            Date: Tuesday, November 09, 2010
            Time: 8:30 AM
            Place: St. Luke CC Church
                320 Tilghman Street
                Chester, PA 19013
                Rev. George W. Anderson, Pastor

We are excited and look forward to seeing you. Please join us for this special time of refreshment with Jesus. You will be among fellow pastors and leaders from Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties as well as from Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey. We desire a mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit as we humble ourselves and pray, seek His face, and cry out for the Fire of God to rain on our cities to heal the land and save His people. ‘Lord, we need your Glory!’

Breakfast will be served at 8:30 AM. Praise and worship will start about 9:30 AM. The rest is up to the Holy Ghost. Come join us as we “endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Come be encouraged as thirsty leaders unite under the blood stained banner of the Lord Jesus Christ. Come let your passion for revival be reignited. The Lord is at hand. ‘Lord, show us your glory!’

“Peace be to you and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

To God Be All The Glory!
Pastor Jo V Hood

Declare:   JESUS CHRIST IS LORD! JESUS CHRIST IS LORD! Over Chester, Amen.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
(Matthew 3:11) “He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit & with Fire”

The New Jersey Healthy Homes and Schools Conference

2010-11-08T05:12:00.000-08:00

Conference to Focus on Environments of Children in Homes and Schools:

The November 13, 2010 Healthy Homes and Schools Conference and Health Fair is important for several reasons: (a) neither federal or state laws and school regulations are adequate in protecting the health of children in schools; (b) exposures to environmental chemicals have contributed to increased childhood diseases, like lead poisoning and asthma; (c) violent and hyperactive/aggressive behavior among children and the inability to maintain attention can be associated with poor environmental conditions in homes and schools, and (d) an epidemic of developmental, learning, and behavior disorders have become evident among school-age children in the nation and certainly here in New Jersey and the Delaware Valley area.
Event is free for all Chester residents who attend.

Where:
Rutgers Uniiv. Campus Center-4^th Penn St

Camden, NJ

When: Saturday, November 13, 2010

Time: Conference from 8:30 am to 2:00 pm

Bringing Green Energy Home

2010-11-08T05:04:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday, November 9, 2010 the City is partnering with Delaware County Conservation District to host a "Bringing Green Energy Home" workshop from 7:00-8:30 pm at Chester City Hall in the community room, located at 1 Fourth Street, Chester PA. The workshop aims to educate homeowners and renters on alternative energy technologies, which include compact fluorescent light bulbs, solar-powered water heaters, hybrid vehicles and more.

During the program, the Pennsylvania Resource Council's trained environmental educators will present 90-minute multimedia and interactive presentations discussing all aspects of energy use in the home. Both traditional and non-traditional household energy conservation methods will be discussed. This workshop will benefit homeowners as well as business owners and landlords. Residents can learn about Energy Star appliances, insulation, low-e windows, and computerized regulation of thermostats and lighting. Environmental educators will be available to answer questions after every workshop.

Up to 80 participants per workshop will return home with a complimentary compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL,) and course materials to help establish energy conservation efforts. One lucky participant per workshop will also win a home energy audit worth $250.

For more information about the “Bringing Green Energy Home” workshop, visit delcocd.org or call the Delaware County Conservation District at 610-892-9484.

Make Jobs Not Wars Townhall Meeting

2010-10-25T09:59:00.000-07:00

Widener University to Host Hall Meetings for 159th District Candidates

2010-10-25T09:57:00.000-07:00

Chester, Pa.—The Rev. William Rocky Brown III (R) and State Representative Thaddeus Kirkland (D), who will square off in the Nov. 2 election for State Representative of the 159^th District, will talk to voters at two town hall style meetings on Oct. 27th and 28th at Widener University’s Lathem Hall, 13^th and Potter Streets in Chester.

Rev. Brown will address voters’ questions on Wednesday, Oct. 27th at 7 p.m., and State Representative Kirkland will address voters’ questions on Thursday, Oct. 28th at 7 p.m. Candidates will make brief introductory statements and will then take questions from the audience. Both events are free and open to the public. The events are sponsored by the Widener NAACP College Chapter, the Widener Political Engagement Committee, the Young Democrats of Widener, and the College Republicans of Widener.

Pennsylvania’s 159^th district covers the city of Chester, Chester Township, Eddystone, Marcus Hook, Trainer, Upland, Lower Chichester Township, Parkside and parts of Upper Chichester Township and Ridley Township.

Rev. Brown is president and CEO of Brown and Associates, LTD, a comprehensive government and public relations firm. He is also a state certified drug, alcohol and gambling addiction counselor and was recently voted by his peers and colleagues as employee of the year at Crozer-Keystone Health System’s Community Hospital.

A preacher by calling, Brown is an ordained Baptist minister of 31 years. He spent six of those years as the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Bernardtown in South Coatesville, Pa. He is presently pastor of youth and community at the Bethany Baptist Church in Chester.

Rev. Brown graduated from Cheyney University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor’s degree in political science. He also holds a master’s degree in religion from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary and a doctorate of divinity degree from Jameson Christian College.

Representative Kirkland has served the 159^th legislative district since being elected in 1992, on his first attempt for public office. He currently serves as chairman of the House Tourism and Recreational Development Committee and is a member of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, the Health & Human Services Committee, Intergovernmental Affairs Committee, Policy Committee, and Urban Affairs Committee. He is also second vice chairman of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators.

Kirkland is the pastor of Community Baptist Church. Prior to his election to the General Assembly, Kirkland was a community service coordinator at Crozer Chester Medical Center, where he conducted outreach and educational programs for teenagers.

A 1973 graduate of Chester High School, Kirkland holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Cheyney University of Pennsylvania. He also attended classes at Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Widener University is a private, metropolitan university that connects curricula to social issues through civic engagement. Dynamic teaching, active scholarship, personal attention, and experiential learning are key components of the Widener experience. A comprehensive doctorate-granting university, Widener comprises eight schools and colleges that offer liberal arts and sciences, professional and pre-professional curricula leading to associate’s, baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degrees. The university’s campuses in Chester, Exton, and Harrisburg, Pa., and Wilmington, Del., serve some 6,700 students. Visit the university website, www.widener.edu.

Delco Alliance for Evironmental Justice NEWS & UPDATES

2010-10-25T09:47:00.000-07:00

THE NEXT MEETING:

DelCo Alliance for Environmental Justice
NOVEMBER 15th MONDAY

TIME: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

LOCATION: Swarthmore Lang Center (Directions Below)
[ ALL ARE INVITED ]

The Delco Alliance for Environmental Justice has had its second monthly meeting since last Monday Oct 18th. The meeting took place at the YWCA in Chester. Here is a brief on what was discussed...

CHESTER'S CORE DIET!
The issue of how Chester eats is currently being explored by some Alliance members. If you would like to participate just contact Tom Liu: tomliu.swat@gmail.com This project would be ideal for any high school seniors who need a Senior Project subject.

SAY NO TO FLUORIDE!
The Alliance is also working hard to spread the truth about Fluoride! We may come knocking at your door so be friendly and listen up. If you have young children who have experienced lead poisoning or if you know someone with kidney problems, understand, that they SHOULD NOT be drinking our City's Fluoridated drinking water. Yes Chester's water is fluoridated! You can learn more here at our website: http://www.actionpa.org/fluoride/

Also if you would like to participate in saying no to fluoride just contact me: info@ghettoprint.com

VIRTUAL TOXIC TOUR!
You've lived in Chester and Delaware County all your life and never bothered to find out what was all around you. You may need to know because it matters to your health and the quality of your life. The Alliance is working on giving you a virtual tour. This is another great SENIOR PROJECT for the students of Chester High School. If you would like to WOW your teachers by participating in this project then just contact me: info@ghettoprint.com

*Swarthmore College, Lang Center Directions
http://www.swarthmore.edu/visitordash/visitors_content_directions.php
Clarification: if you are coming from Chester on Route 320, make a left turn onto Elm (one block after the light at College Avenue). After making a turn onto Elm and after one stop sign, you'll come to a driveway flanked by stone pillars on your left.Turn there onto Whittier Place and follow it to Dupont parking lot. 5 Whittier Place, adjacent to the DuPont parking lot, and across from the Friends Meeting House, is the Lang Center for Social Responsibility. Park in the DuPont lot and walk back.

Delco Alliance for Environmental Justice NEWS & UPDATES

2010-10-06T11:13:00.000-07:00

THE NEXT MEETING:

DelCo Alliance for Environmental Justice
OCTOBER 18th MONDAY

TIME: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

LOCATION: 4 E 7th St. Chester, PA 19013-4212
[ ALL ARE INVITED ]

The Delco Alliance for Environmental Justice has started its monthly meetings this past Monday. Everyone is back from school and vacation and all are ready to work. Although I personally didn't have much of a vacation LOL But here is the roundup on what green work is going on in Chester City thru the Alliance.

GREEN THUMBS IN THE BENNETT!
The Swarthmore Earthlust group is continuing their awesome gardening project at the Bennet Homes. To learn more about the project and how to get involved visit their site here: http://chestergardenproject.wordpress.com/

CHESTER'S CORE DIET!
The issue of how Chester eats is currently being explored by some Alliance members but this project is just starting so come back for details about what the deal is and how you can participate. I believe this will be a great Senior Project for some Chester High Students.

SAY NO TO FLUORIDE!
The Alliance is also working hard to spread the truth about Fluoride! We may come knocking at your door so be friendly and listen up. If you have young children who have experienced lead poisoning or if you know someone with kidney problems, understand, that they SHOULD NOT be drinking our City's Fluoridated drinking water. Yes Chester's water is fluoridated! You can learn more here at our website: http://www.actionpa.org/fluoride/

Also if you would like to participate in saying no to fluoride just contact me: info@ghettoprint.com

VIRTUAL TOXIC TOUR!
You've lived in Chester and Delaware County all your life and never bothered to find out what was all around you. You may need to know because it matters to your health and the quality of your life. The Alliance is working on giving you a virtual tour. This is another great SENIOR PROJECT for the students of Chester High School. If you would like to WOW your teachers by participating in this project then just contact me: info@ghettoprint.com

THE NEXT MEETING:

DelCo Alliance for Environmental Justice
OCTOBER 18th MONDAY

TIME: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

LOCATION: 4 E 7th St. Chester, PA 19013-4212
[ ALL ARE INVITED ]

Director of the Y is saying goodbye...

2010-10-06T08:00:00.000-07:00

Read Tara Jones' farewell letter below:

Greetings all,

I am writing to inform you that I will no longer be the Executive Director of the YWCA Chester effective October 31, 2010. I have carried the baton, and it is now time to pass it. I am proud to have been able to serve the YWCA and the people of Chester in this capacity. I am a true believer in the City of Chester and the organization that we have all come to know and love, but then forgot!

When I heard that the YWCA was getting close to closing its doors three years ago, I made it up in my mind that I would do what I could to help keep the organization alive. When I found the shape that it was in, I knew it would take sleepless nights, a whole lot of prayer and a few years to pass. Needless to say it has been quite a task.

In the past few years, I have served as executive director, bookkeeper, custodian, carpenter, designer, supervisor, program/volunteer coordinator and fundraiser, among other titles. I would not have traded it for anything. I have been on a quest to find women that have the same passion for Chester and the mission of the organization, and it has been an arduous task. Through the years, not everyone agreed with my tactics, but I know that not everyone has Chester and the YW’s best interest at heart, and I have tried to protect it as much as I could.

The YW is still not out of the woods and will not be for another year or so, but we have a found a group of women that have the same passion, determination and business sense to move the organization forward.

The YWCA Chester launches its living well center.

If you are not aware, the YW has a new Live Well Center which will be the only one of its kind in the City of Chester focusing on diabetes, cancer, hunger, obesity and other health issues which plague our community. The YW’s Live Well Center will offer as aerobics, karate, yoga, pilates, cooking classes, life skills workshops, as well as, educational and leadership opportunities.

It is my hope for you to join us on October 30, 2010 at our Harlem Renaissance fundraiser as I say my final farewells to this portion of my journey. As requested by the Board of Directors, I will continue to support the YW in many ways to help ensure the continued growth of the organization. I hope you find it in your hearts to do the same.

MotivationalSpeaker
PA Licensed Real Estate Agent
Tara Jones

[ NJ Spotlight ] Covanta Agrees to Clean up its Act

2010-10-06T07:11:00.000-07:00

- Covanta Energy pledges to deploy new air pollution gear to limit emissions of nitrogen oxide, a cause of smog in summer -

By Tom Johnson, October 4 in Energy & Environment

The owner of the Essex County garbage incinerator has settled a court case brought by community organizations that alleged the facility had committed hundreds of violations of the federal Clean Air Act.

In the settlement, Covanta Energy has agreed to install new air pollution control equipment to limit nitrogen oxide emissions from the plant, a type of pollution that contributes to the formation of smog during summer months. New Jersey has never complied with the federal air quality standard for ground-level ozone or smog.

The agreement tarnishes somewhat the reputation of Covanta at a time when it is trying to convince the Christie administration its energy-from-waste plants, which convert trash into electricity, should play a bigger role in New Jersey's energy future.

Covanta, based in Fairfield, is one of the largest operators of garbage incinerators, owning more than 40 energy-from-waste plants, as the company prefers to have them called worldwide. Besides operating the Newark facility, the largest in the state, it owns trash-burning plants in Union and Warren counties.

Covanta has argued its facilities are much more technologically advanced than the garbage incinerators built more than two decades ago.

According to its website, Covanta's plants generate the equivalent of enough electricity to meet the power needs of the state of Delaware. They also prevent more than 15 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions. Covanta chose not to comment for this article.

The lawsuit against the Newark facility was brought back in February 2009 by the Eastern Environmental Law Center on behalf of the Ironbound Community Corp., a nonprofit public interest corporation, and Greenfaith, an interfaith environmental coalition.

The law center argued Covanta had violated federal clean air standards dealing with sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide and fine particulate matter on hundreds of occasions. The incinerator, approved despite intense local opposition in the Ironbound section of Newark, has the capacity to burn up to 2,800 tons of municipal waste each day. It accepts garbage from most of Essex County and much of Manhattan.

According to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the incinerator emits more mercury, a potent neurotoxin, than any other facility burning trash in the state.

Under terms of the settlement, besides installing new pollution controls, Covanta has agreed to commission a study to examine waste deliveries at the incinerator and to recommend improvements to the existing inspection program to keep dangerous and inappropriate waste out of the incinerator.

It also has agreed to fund ... [ READ MORE ]

October Viewing Party!

2010-09-28T17:56:00.000-07:00

WHEN: Friday, October 1 (5:30pm-7:30pm)
WHERE: PhillyCAM Studio, 232 Vine Street, Phila.

An evening showcasing Sustainability hosted by social commentator Desire Grover, producer of Ghetto Print and Community Organizer for the Energy Justice Network.

To coincide with First Friday in Old City and at the Painted Bride Arts Center, PhillyCAM presents a special two hour program of Community produced programming on the theme of sustainability on Friday, October 1st from 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm. Philadelphia Community Access Media cablecasts on Comcast 66/966 and Verizon FIOS 29/30. Watch the show on TV or get out and about and see it live and meet producers in person at the PhillyCAM studio 232 Vine Street.

Highlights include: Short videos by local independent filmmakers Rob Stuart of Evolve Strategies and Ed Golden, selections from PhillyCAM's recurring series Ghetto Print, Big Tea Party, Scribe Video Center and Newly Greens.

GhettoPrint (3 segments, 14 min)
By Desire Grover
A GRASSROOTS journal & network.  A Chester stationed video blog for ALL to enjoy.
www.ghettoprint.com

Stepping Into It! Chester’s Co-op Addresses Community Food Access Dilemma
By Chester’s Community Grocery Co-op (15 min)
Members of the Co-op address food access issues in Chester, a city with no supermarket
Scribe Video Center Community Visions
www.scribe.org

Green Tea Party “It’s Elemental” (30 min)
By Big Tea Party
This video introduces concepts that lead to living a more environmentally friendly or ‘green’ life
www.bigteaparty.com
Re-Cycle (9 min)
By Ed Golden
The Pedal Co-op uses bikes to collect recyclables and compost throughout Philadelphia.
Free the River Park (15 min)
by Rob Stuart
The Story of Citizen’s fight to save the Schuylkill River Park
www.evolvestrategies.net

Newly Greens (10 min segment)
By Kaizen Productions
Series focused on healthy, sensible living
www.newlygreens.com

The Story of Stuff Project
By Annie Leonard
Animated humorous discourse on environmental concerns toward a more sustainable, just world.
www.storyofstuff.org

DEP to Host Environmental Justice Informational Meeting on Proposed Metal Shredder

2010-09-23T12:42:00.000-07:00

NORRISTOWN -- The Department of Environmental Protection is providing the public an opportunity to learn about Eastern Metal Recycling Terminal LLC’s plans to build and operate a metal shredding and processing facility at the former Foamex site in Eddystone Borough, Delaware County, by holding a public meeting from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 27, at Lighthouse Hall, 1401 East 9th St., Eddystone.

Eastern Metal Recycling Terminal, a subsidiary of Camden Iron & Metal, Inc., has proposed relocating its Philadelphia car-crushing operation to Eddystone Borough, an environmental justice community.

DEP requires permit applicants in environmental justice communities to provide residents with opportunities to hear about and to comment on the project. An environmental justice community is one in which 30 percent of residents are members of racial and ethnic minorities or 20 percent live in poverty.

DEP representatives from air, waste management, water quality and watershed management programs will answer questions about the permit application review process and listen to public comment on the company’s applications.

Moreover, DEP has requested company representatives to attend and present its proposal to the community.

EMR has submitted four applications to DEP for permits that are required for it to construct and operate the proposed facility, including:

• An air quality plan approval to operate a shredder, conveyors and stockpiles;
• An individual National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit for stormwater discharge associated with construction activities;
• An individual NPDES permit for discharging stormwater from industrial activities; and
• A water obstruction and encroachment general permit (GP-4) for building an outfall along the Delaware River.

All permit applications are currently under review.

Grand Jury... a Grand Surprise...

2010-09-19T20:03:00.000-07:00

*UPDATE-09.19.10- It appears that the "Delaware County law enforcement officials" were not "compelled" to form a grand jury until the Chester Spirit Newspaper began distributing papers,in Media, with the Chester 12 and the Chester's Most Wanted featured each week. Chester Spirit has TWO newspaper honor boxes outside of the courthouse and government center and circulates 200 papers each week INSIDE the courthouse and government center.

::::

If you haven't seen the front page of the DelcoTimes yet it means that you should, especially if you are a resident of Chester City and a mother of a gun homicide victim. Despite the front page cover and heart wrenching photo of a homicide memorial in Chester the typically belligerent and racist comments did not flood the DelcoTimes board(at least not when I last checked). Maybe because for the first time in a very very long time the article was not about JUST ANOTHER BLACK KILLING in Chester but rather the article asked the most obvious question: Who Killed Them? And I would add some other questions which are not so obvious: Why are so many of these cases UNSOLVED? And is it even legal for the county to have so many unsolved cases on their books, concentrated in such a small city,predominantly poor and black? Why can't the County effectively process evidence? And lastly, why does it take a Grand Jury to effectively tackle these mounting unsolved homicides? There is more to this for sure so be on the lookout...

Read DelcoTimes Article: [ Full Article ]

MEDIA COURTHOUSE — A shocking number of Chester street killings that remain unsolved, ranging from the death of a 2-year-old boy gunned down in June to a 54-year-old paralegal fatally shot in 2004, have compelled Delaware County law enforcement officials to empanel a grand jury in hopes of finding the killers.

The Delaware County District Attorney’s office in a petition filed Thursday authorizes a grand jury, which will sit for 18 months, to probe the unsolved Chester killings that include...[ READ MORE ]

Delco schools... requirements... BASED on testing RACE?

2010-09-15T04:43:00.000-07:00

"The designations are based on performances on Pennsylvania System of School Assessment standardized tests.

“Just because a district fails to make AYP (adequate yearly progress) does not mean that all schools and students are not performing,” said Leah Harris, a spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania Department of Education. “If you are in an urban school with 30 subgroups — white, black, Hispanic, Native American, (Individualized Education Program) — and one of those subgroups fails to hit the target, then the whole school misses.”"- DailyTimes

Now I'm trying to wrap my brain around what I have just read. According to an article published by the DailyTimes Chester Upland falls at the bottom of the pile and fails to make AYP. Not a surprise but what did come as a surprise is how Leah Harris, a spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania Dept of Edu. pretty much blamed it on the testing of racial "subgroups" like White, Black, Hispanic, Native American and so on. Maybe I'm misunderstanding this or maybe we are still in the days of Jim Crow. Basing our testing on race as opposed to economic class is astonishing to me. Are we still that clueless? Do we still believe that skin color decides I.Q? When will we realize that this has more to do with Economic Class "subgroups" and nothing to do with Skin Color "subgroups"? Better access to resources equals better education, hands down. So the question becomes... why don't these children have access to a decent education and what is happening in the community they live in that they are not learning?

Racial Subgroups...that's just freakin' ridiculous.

Chester GREEN - Women of Strength - Dr.Bias

2010-09-12T19:17:00.000-07:00

Event: Women of Strength's Family Night Out
Place: Bethany Baptist
When: Aug. 28, 2010

Chester GREEN - A Day to Remember - Book Signing

2010-09-12T19:14:00.000-07:00

Ieasa Nichols, one of Chester's very own has published a book about her life. Rising from the lowest depths to the highest levels of achievement in life. - Aug. 15, 2010

Her book is titled A Day to Remember, A lifetime to Heal. Ieasa signs her book as eager family and friends wait in line to get their own copy. - Aug. 15, 2010

Chester GREEN - Gasland and America's drinking water supply...

2010-09-12T18:55:00.000-07:00

Weed and Seed, The Delco Alliance for Environmental Justice and The Delaware River Keepers facilitated the movie screening of an award winning documentary called GASLAND. Faith Zerbe shares the latest on the issue of Gas Drilling proposed for the Delaware River Basin.- Sept. 10, 2010

The documentary Gasland explores the question: Will the boom in natural gas drilling contaminate America's water supply? - Sept. 10, 2010

Chester GREEN: Weed & Seed learn CPR

2010-09-12T18:37:00.000-07:00

Weed and Seed students learn how to save a life at Chester Community Hospital. "Check.Call.Care" are the short memory words they are taught by their trainer Bryan Payne, American Red Cross Program Coordinator. - Sept. 09, 2010

The students pull out their very own dummies, in order to practice the breathing techniques. They must get it right before learning the next phase. - Sept. 09, 2010

Chester GREEN - Peace Leadership and the Arts Camp

2010-09-12T18:14:00.000-07:00

EVENT: Peace Leadership and the Arts Camp
PLACE: Chester Eastside Ministries
Date: 08.27.10

Outdoor Movie Night at the Farm! Come watch the movie "Fresh" and help our friends at The Achievement Project (TAP)

2010-09-08T08:02:00.000-07:00

$15 each
Register online before September 17th
net proceeds benefit TAP

Fresh

the movie

Saturday, September 18, 2010
8:00 pm Rushton Farm

Delchester Road at Goshen Road, Newtown Square, PA

TAP students look for Baltimore Orioles with Willistown Conservation Trust's Lisa Kiziuk and explore the farm's symbiotic relationship with the surrounding natural resources.

About TAP

TAP is a nonprofit organization that helps young people in Chester, Pennsylvania to succeed in high school; to apply to and be admitted to college; and to arrive at college having acquired the capacity to succeed there.

TAP students visit Rushton Farm monthly and work with Willistown Conservation Trust staff members following a curriculum that includes forest and farm ecology, biodiversity and the importance of sustainable agriculture.

To learn more about TAP, click here.

$15 each
Purchase tickets online before September 17th
net proceeds benefit TAP

This is an outdoor event, so dress warmly
and bring your own chair and blanket.

if weather looks questionable

please check our web site after 3 pm

More information about FRESH the movie.

This movie is not recommended for children under age 14.

Chester's BIG BOOM and America's BIGGER BUST

2010-09-06T11:00:00.000-07:00

I want you to ponder this fact for a minute or two and then continue on reading this post. Chester is not unique.

If anything Chester is a perfect example of what is going to happen, and currently is happening, to the nation at large. And let's get another thing straight... when it comes to our nation's economy, we are not in a "recession", a "down turn" or a "slow down." No. We are unequivocally in a DEPRESSION. And to make matters worse we may be on the brink of something worse than a DEPRESSION. We may end up in a MAD HOUSE of a nation if our political leaders continue to play with the nation's purse strings recklessly bringing the country down to a point of no return. But it is WE the people who allow them to do so. Some of us benefiting from it all more than others, depending on the networks we have.

Chester is a prime example of how our country thrived off of exploiting our land's natural resources, dumping toxins in our drinking water until we could not drink it. Filling up the air with pollution until we needed to start asthma programs. Contaminating our soil until we needed Lead Programs and Remediation Programs. We dumped so much junk on our waterfront until a place of lush green life became a desolate waste land. The waterfront reflects not only the poor choices of Chester City and Delaware County but also the choices of a Nation. We continue to disrespect the land as if some how it will forever suffer us. We talk about Chester as if it is not paying for the sins it has committed against the land. Chester has been paying for it long before the economic crash of 2008. Now don't frown on Chester so readily becuase Chester is only a reflection of decisions made by Delaware County. Actually, I would argue that 85% of what has been happening to Chester's waterfront is due to the hands of the County. Our County and State has put us all in debt. And I do mean all. They issue a bond here and there. They gamble on potential tax money that hasn't come through (debt for the future unborn generations) so that they can make believe that there is progress in the building of a building.

Chester has long since been in a depression, although we haven't officially called it that in the public forum. It is our reluctance to see our true economic form that has kept us from making reasonable and productive choices. Choices that would prove to be a benefit to the city for the long-term. You would think that we have learned from the past... that booming prosperity goes just as fast as it comes. Especially, if the prosperity is heavily dependent on a war economy and wage labor. But unfortunately the boom of yesterday has not taught us any lessons. Instead we choose to be nostalgic about it as if somehow it is something we must return to. Ignoring the reality that it is the boom that caused the bust. And as bust usually do.. they linger much longer than it takes to create them.

I'm watching my community leaders in Chester City and Delaware County continue to make economic choices based on the ill mindset of the booming past. They make plans based on the moment and for the profitable gains of a select few. And the people who are closest to politicians, lawyers and money-handlers usually make out big while the majority of us pay the tab. And paying the tab comes in many forms...whether it be through taxes, sham wars, unemployment, degenerate health, poor education and more.

Now the lack of political will to be fiscally responsible is not entirely the fault of politicians. We the people are very much the makers of our own demise. You see our politicians... reflect US. They reflect our selfish desires. Yes they do. They reflect our twisted thinking that BIGGER is ALWAYS better and TECHNOLOGY is NEVER EVER wrong. We are the fools that have created the perfect cultural environment for these political parasites to grow. They feed off of our ignorance and tax dollars. Yet while we are angered by the audacious behavior of the CEO's on Wall Street, corrupt leadership of the Federal Reserve and cowardice leadership of the politicians we do not hold them fully accountable because to do so would mean that we would have to reject some aspect of the American Dream. The dream that one day we too, the working class hero, can become an audacious CEO, a corrupt leader of the Reserve and a cowardly politician. It is they who get over and live comfortably. And it is we who applaud them when times are "good". We are a "...people gettin' rob and (we) celebrate it."-K'naan It is the American Dream!

In the process of trying to awaken myself from this American Nightmare. I've given up on the idea that we must some how CHANGE GOVERNMENT because GOVERNMENT is only a reflection of WE THE PEOPLE. Politicians are living out OUR twisted dreams of getting more more and more at the expense of others. And until we address this dark truth we will continue to play ourselves for fools. And YES we are fools. And as fools we are not unique.

Chester EVENTS Update!

2010-09-03T10:50:00.000-07:00

September 13th - September 23rd

Chester, PA — J. Lewis Crozer Library offers free
educational and entertaining programs for the whole family to enjoy.
All programs are free; registration at (610) 494-3454.

Crozer Library is forming an Indoor Walking Club for adults of all
ages! Don’t worry about the weather—we’ll complete walking fitness
videos on our big screen TV! Beginning Monday, September 13th, join us
each week on either or both days: Mondays at 1:00p.m. and Wednesdays
at 11:00a.m. Workouts will last 45 minutes to one hour. Please wear
sneakers and loose clothing and check with your doctor before
beginning any exercise program.

Join us on Tuesday, September 14th at 6:00p.m. for a Money Management
Workshop that will teach you how to live on your income and achieve
your financial goals. Learn about budgeting tools, spending plans, and
how to manage unexpected expenses. Generously provided by the Consumer
Credit Counseling Service of Delaware Valley.

On Tuesday, September 21st at 6:30p.m., a representative from PECO
Energy will educate us about upcoming pricing changes. Also find out
how to lower your electricity bill by being more energy efficient.
Provided by PECO: An Exelon Company.

Celebrate literacy and education on Thursday, September 23rd from
6:00-7:30p.m. during Back to School Night. A presentation on “Internet
Predators and Cyberbullying” will be held for parents and educators.
Back to School Night will also feature the unveiling of the library's
new children’s listening center for reluctant readers. There will be
free giveaways, library tours, and fun and games for the entire
family.

Learn about the candidates at a Voter Information Session on Tuesday,
September 28th at 6:30p.m. Receive unbiased information about the
candidates in this year’s election, including the governor’s race.
Participants will be able to register to vote at this session.
Generously provided by the League of Women Voters of Delaware County.

Crozer Library is located at 620 Engle Street in Chester. Registration
is required at (610) 494-3454.

# # #

Contact information:
Kim Braun
Head of Reference & Adult Services
J. Lewis Crozer Library
620 Engle Street
Chester, PA 19013
(610) 494-3454, x204
(610) 494-8954 fax
Email: crreference@delcolibraries.org
www.crozerlibrary.org

:::::::::::::::::::

September 17th

The City of Chester Department of Recreation is looking for After School part time instructors for Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Self Defense, Jump Rope, Chess/ Checkers, and Debate. Submit your proposal to the Department of Recreation C/O Brian Warren. In your proposal you should have your Executive Summary, Program Overview, Mission & Goals, Activities, Schedule and your Budget. All proposals are due by September 17^thfor our programs to start on October 11^th. Thank you.

Thank You,

Brian J. Warren

Deputy Director Of Chester Recreation

Executive Director of Chester PAL

1 W. 4th St. City Hall

Chester, Pa 19013

610 447-7784 (Office)

610 447-7731 (Fax)

Together Everyone Achieves More

Ubuntu-A person is a person through other persons

Yes We Can

Making Chester Brighter and Prettier...

2010-09-02T14:38:00.000-07:00

You may have noticed that over the past few years beautiful murals have seemed to simply manifest overnight. No this is not the work of elves but rather the work of an exceptional painter that has dedicated his creative energy to training youth in Chester how to use painting as a way to express one's inner self constructively. He has done work throughout the city, such as, Chester High School, Crozer library and more. His latest project is called "Chester Sign Up".

"This is part of our new initiative, Chester Sign Up, where we're working with teens to create hand painted signs for businesses and organizations. This was a collaboration with Will Condry, Luv 1, Delve, Desiree Bender, 20 teenagers, and myself. Painted in 2 and a half weeks." says Paul.

The painting he is refering to is located just down the street from the high school. Check out their video to learn more.

View images of Paul Downie's studio work and murals at:

www.eyeineye.com

Chester Events Update!

2010-09-02T14:21:00.000-07:00

(Between August 23^rd and September 10th )

Intramural Soccer Registration

Child’s Last Name:________________________________________ First:____________________________________________ MI:______

Address:______________________________________________________ City/State/Zip:_________________________________________

Daytime Phone:_________________________________________________ Sex:__________ DOB:__________________________________

Parent/Guardian1:_____________________________________________________ Phone:________________________________________

Parent/Guardian2:____________________________________________________ Phone:_________________________________________

Emergency Contact:___________________________________________________ Phone:_________________________________________

Participation Waiver/Release

In consideration of the acceptance of my application of the above activity, I hereby waive, release and discharge any and all claims for damages for death, personal injury or property which I may have, or which may hereafter accrue to me, as a result in participation in said event. This release is intended to discharge, in advance, Chester City United and its entities (City of Chester, Chamber’s Foundation, WTYDF, and the Boys & Girls Club), and Widener University staff, or agents from liability, even though that liability may arise out of negligence or carelessness on the person or entities mentioned above. It is understood that some recreational activities involve an element of risk or danger of accidents, and knowing those risks, I hereby assume those risks. It is further agreed and understood that this waiver, release and assumption of risk it to be binding on heirs and assigns.

Parental Consent

I give consent for my son/daughter ____________________________________ (child’s name) to participate in the above activity, and I execute the above liability release on his/her behalf.

Consent to Treat

I Hereby give my consent to the above applicant to be treated by a physician or surgeon in the event of sudden illness or injury while participating in the above event.

It is understood that Chester City United provides no medical insurance for such treatment, and that the cost thereof will be at my expense. If a personal physician is listed below, every effort will be made to contact such physician. However, the location of activity or nature of illness or injury may require the use of emergency personell.

Physician:__________________________________________________________ Phone:_____________________________________________

_______ I do not give consent to treat and request that medical service be withheld.

Read Before Signing

I have read and understood the foregoing registration form, liability release form, parental consent, and agree to al other terms and conditions.

Print Name:__________________________ Signature:__________________________________ Date:__________________

Please return form to Chester City Hall Recreation Department 1 Fourth St Chester Pa or Bige Chambers at Lil’ Kutz in the Woodlyn Shopping Center between August 23^rd and September 10^th.

Any questions please call Recreation Department 610-447-7784 or Bige Chambers at

610-787-2037

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( Monday, September 20, 2010 )

A Call to Repentance: Reclaim the Prophetic Altar! Jesus Christ Is Lord Over Chester!

It’s Time to Fast & Pray: Tell Everyone

Joel 1:14; 2:15-19 declares, “Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly. Gather all the people together to seek the face and mercy of God.”

HELP LORD, we are in trouble. For this cause we sound the alarm and issue the call to Fast and Pray from September 1^st - 20^th, 2010. This fast will lead up to gatherings (solemn assemblies) of all the people beginning:

When: Monday, September 20, 2010

Time: 7PM

Where: TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Eighth & Butler Streets

Chester, PA 19013

Reverend Hilda Campbell, Pastor

Who: The Saints of God – Pastors, Leaders, Intercessors, Prayer Warriors, men, women, children (up to 12 noon) and pets, etc.

CRY OUT Until THE LORD moves in our dear city and reveals His heart for what we are to do.

Fast as you feel led by the Spirit of God (i.e., the Daniel fast, fruit, water, liquid, one meal a day, one day a week fast). Sacrifice something.

However, PRESS IN the last 7 days (the 13^th-the 20th) before we gather on the 20^th. Let us fast and pray through to victory so that God will bless us and heal the land (2 Ch 7:14).

We cling to God’s covenant promise to heal: Exodus 15:6,

“If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.”

To God Be All The Glory!

Pastor Jo V Hood

Revival Stream

610-653-3775 (Call or write)

revivalstream@aol.com

Jesus Christ Is Lord! Jesus Christ Is Lord! Jesus Christ Is Lord!

::::::::::::::::::::::::::

( October 2nd 2010 )

Fitch Rates Chester Community Charter School (PA) Revenue Bonds 'BBB'; Outlook Stable

2010-09-02T13:54:00.000-07:00

Fitch Ratings assigns a 'BBB' rating to the following charter school revenue bond series issued by the Delaware County Industrial Development Authority on behalf of the Chester Community Charter School (CCCS, or

the school):

--$31,875,000 Charter School Revenue Bonds (Chester Community Charter

School Project) series 2010A;

--$25,000,000 Charter School Revenue Bonds (Chester Community Charter

School Project) series 2010B;

--$600,000 Charter School Revenue Bonds (Chester Community Charter

School Project) taxable series 2010C.

The bonds are expected to be sold via negotiated sale on or about Sept. 16, 2010. Bond proceeds will be used to acquire the land and existing instructional facilities currently being used by the school, fund a debt service reserve fund and pay the costs of issuance related to the bond sale.

The Rating Outlook is Stable.

RATING RATIONALE:

--The 'BBB' rating reflects Chester Community Charter School's strong

market-share and demand within the...Chester Community Charter School was formed in 1998 to serve the city of Chester, PA and the Chester Upland School District. CCCS has experienced significant growth since its first operational year in 1998, in terms of students served, grades offered and facilities available. In its first year, Chester served 97 students in grades K-4 in rented hotel conference room space. In 2009, the school served over ... [ READ MORE ]

GASLAND in Chester City

2010-09-02T10:40:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

The Delco Alliance for Environmental Justice would like to invite you to see a very powerful and dynamic film called GASLAND ( http://gaslandthemovie.com/ ). An award winning documentary that explores the question: Will the boom in natural gas drilling contaminate America's water supply? Find out why this issue matters to you and your community.

Peace,

Desire Grover

desiregrover@gmail.com

www.ejnet.org/chester

How Chester Upland Spends Its Money...

2010-09-01T20:03:00.000-07:00

How Chester Upland spends the money has been the center of the district's troubles. It has been the core reason for why the district was brought under receivership. But now the elected school board is in charge again and the big question is...will mismanagement happen again? It's a good question but the only way to answer it is to follow the one thing that counts. As they say... "Follow the money...".

Now the chart you see above was quickly created by myself using the latest budget agenda handed out by the school board this past meeting on August 19th. All of the checks paid that were under $1000 dollars were not detailed by category or listed by name. Only the top five recipients of checks paid out in the largest categories have been detailed. In doing this I was thinking that sometimes it helps to see things visually as a graph as opposed to a bunch of words. This was inspired by one of my favorite charts online called Death and Taxes: http://www.deathandtaxesposter.com/

Chester EVENTS Update!

2010-08-30T11:35:00.000-07:00

AUGUST 31st - 2010

-----------------------------------

SEPTEMBER 10th &11th

-----------------------------------

MORE EVENTS

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September is Family Literacy Month at Crozer Library

Chester, PA — Crozer Library will be celebrating Family Literacy Month this September. Studies have shown that reading with your children is an ideal way to encourage early literacy and makes a real difference in your child's success in school and in life. Getting the best for your family doesn't have to cost a lot of money: it can be as simple as spending some quality time at your local library! The J. Lewis Crozer Library in Chester is where learning starts with a variety of free programs and services to encourage literacy.

Special programs during September include a Pajama Storytime for children ages 3-6 on Monday evening, September 20th at 6:30p.m. Children ages 7-12 can participate in Storytelling on Wednesday, September 22nd from 1:00-2:00p.m. where they can create "round robin" stories and write, share, and act out their very own stories. Teens ages 13-17 will get their chance to shine at Storytelling II on Wednesday, September 22nd from 3:00 – 4:00p.m., where teens can share short stories and poems written by their favorite author – or themselves!

During the month of September, Crozer Library offers free library card applications for first-time patrons and free library card replacements. The library will also unveil its new children's listening center, which helps to make reading more attractive for reluctant readers, inspiring a love of reading at an early age.

To encourage increased family literacy, Crozer Library will award incentives to the family who reads the most books during family Literacy Month. All participants will be responsible for filling out log sheets available at the library to document how many books are read. The winner(s) will be announced on Friday, October 1st.

For more information about Family Literacy Month, please contact Ms. LaKesha Logan at (610) 494-3454, x203.

# # #

LaKesha Logan

Head of Youth Services

J. Lewis Crozer Library

620 Engle Street

Chester, PA 19013

(610) 494-3454, x203

(610) 494-8954 fax

Email: crcsd@delcolibraries.org

www.crozerlibrary.org

------------
FREE TUITION SCHOLARSHIP

Greetings All,

Enrollment is now open for the new school year beginning in a few short weeks - September 9th and 10th.

Remember - there is a FREE TUITION SCHOLARSHIP for all Pastors, Overseers, and Bishops!

The first night of class (enrollment / registration / orientation) will be as follows:

Philadelphia Campus: Thursday 9/9/10 @ 7pm
Wilmington Campus: Friday 9/10/10 @ 7pm

We also have some good news!

We are now able to accept credit card paymentsonline.

You can go to our website and click on the right hand side menu item “Payments”

Or click here: http://www.fgbbi.org/store.asp

This will allow you to select the type of payment you would like to make.
The choices are:

1) A 50% tuition payment of $50 (plus a $2 processing fee)
2) A 100% tuition payment of $100 (plus a $4 processing fee)
3) A textbook payment of $16 (includes a $1 processing fee)

You will need to enter your contact information (referred to as “Billing” or “Shipping” information)
After you checkout, our website will connect you to our PayPalsite where payment can be made.

Thank You,

Pastor Cohen
215-847-3979

Rev. J.T. Cohen, Th.M.
President, FGBBI
P.O. Box 307
Upper Darby, PA 19082
(800) 787-5309

Chester GREEN - Rev Hilda Campbell - Youth Violence and Materialism

2010-08-30T11:21:00.000-07:00

The hard truth isn't easy for anyone to stomach. The collective responsibility of the community is at an all time low throughout the Nation. Chester City seems to be the product of our American culture. A culture of false wealth, false progress and false equality. Both the rich and poor are plagued with delusional thinking. We seem to believe that all things can be bought and should be bought with the all mighty dollar. And to make it scarier we also believe that all social problems should be fixed by money and can only be fixed by money. This is why I believe that the solution to social issues are often times measured by money rather than by effective involvement of the people to change it.

Chester and ME: Heavenly Politics

2010-08-29T15:34:00.000-07:00

ARTIST'S NOTE:

I'm very much aware that my expectations of politicians and politics are very high. Maybe my standards are sitting somewhere high up on a cloud playing a harp before the throne of God. :) And it is due to this that I have not been able to stomach political back pedaling on doing what is right for the community. But I also have come to realize that good leaders need good followers and even the best leaders cannot lead a bunch of DO NOTHING followers. Unfortunately, Chester leaders are not in sync with each other. Over the years I get the sense that everyone who has leadership potential is guarded and protective of their social capital in the city. Each one wants his/her recognition or perceived power to be realized continuously. But the community is at fault as well. Completely in la la land is where they want to stay until the worst of the worst happens. I've come to respect this reality even though I do not like it.

I have watched people try to push their way into power/politics and I have not at all been impressed. The potential authority that comes with being a politician seems to get the best of their wisdom. In other words, as the lure of POWER draws closer they lose themselves to the game. And a game it is people. Politics is a game. A corruptive one at best.

Now of course this is not true of everyone who pursues this route. There are some exceptions, but these exceptions are very very very few. And can we blame them for being so faulty? Because in many ways, their limitations are a reflection of our shortcomings as a society. We permit their shady practices because one day we too want to take advantage of being the one on top. To become the politician holding the purse strings. To be the Fortune 500 Wall Street money handler raping the working/middle class. So we don't push for TRUE reform. Instead we settle for reform that is SYMBOLIC as opposed to effective. We like reform that is well written on the books but despised in the court room. We are just as dirty as the dust we have come from it seems.

Actually after that last line I realize just how depressing my tone sounds so I better stop here and go get some ice cream :)

ABOUT GHETTOPRINT...

2010-08-27T13:05:00.000-07:00

HELLO MY name is Desire Grover and I am a frustrated resident of Chester, PA. Frustrated because the place has a lot of potential but always finds a way to shoot itself in the foot. And that illustration can be taken literally if you consider the blasted level of gun violence that currently plagues the city.

THIS BLOG is an absolute product of my frustration with Chester. I've been frustrated for about five years now. Before then I was too ignorant about the doings in the city or county to know that I SHOULD be frustrated. But now I am out of the woods. In my pursuit of understanding Chester I've become way too aware of what is WRONG with Chester.

YES I SHOULD move out and find another place to worry about but I don't have the funds and honestly even if I did I would only be able to remove myself physically but not so much spiritually. I have come to care about what happens in the city because Chester is a microcosm of what is happening to "poor and undereducated" people all over the world. Chester is everywhere. You can even find Chester in Brookhaven, Parkside, Media, Eddystone and maybe even North Korea (Although I've never been there no matter what Glenn Beck tells you.) In short we are all Chester folk. None of us are able to prove ourselves better than anyone in Chester becuase we would first have to walk completely in their shoes and I doubt that any of us have that much life to live without approval from the "Almighty One". <--Meaning "God" for anyone who is confused.

IN THIS BLOG I'm sharing snap shots of events in the city from here on without much commentary on camera. I just don't have the financial time to give. And when I did have the time it never paid off really because I found that most humans in America don't really care what the issues are until it hits them square in the eyes personally. It is a sad condition to be in but we are in it none the less. Therefore, I'm not so much interested in sharing some really in depth opinion about how things are in the city/county these days.

AFTER YEARS of following what's going on and being engaged in some fruitful way you learn that the players in the great scheme of things have always been playing and they will continue to play so why waste your time talking logic when you can just be plain cynical all the time :) It's much more fun. And besides there are enough voices out there and advocates in the city to say what needs to be said and do what needs to be done. But not many of them get to write a cheeky comic strip and update the community about real events rather than spread dingbat RUMORS. So enjoy as I share snap shots of events and conversations I have collected over my "citizen journalism" years in Chester City, PA 19013. - Desire G

Chester GREEN - Chester Native and Activist Richard Carter

2010-08-26T11:47:00.000-07:00

VENDOR# cg-ss-082310d

Richard Carter is a longtime activist who works hard at finding "at risk" youth jobs between Chester and Philadelphia. He is also the founder of the Human Rights Coalition...an organization that pushes for prison reform.

CHESTER FACTS:
Chester is home to the SCI-Chester Prison. It was opened in April 1998 as the state's first facility designed to treat inmates with substance abuse problems. It is also the state's first tobacco-free facility. It holds about 1,000 men.

SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2Kjq_qtRTE

RELATED NEWS:
Chester Gun Ordinance

Snap Shots of Chester Education : Young Voices

2010-08-25T12:40:00.000-07:00

VENDOR# cg-ss-082010d

A young man by the name of Alonzo emailed me one day explaining that he was a soon to be college grad and had come across GhettoPRINT and wanted to know if he could participate in capturing some of the voices of Chester residents on the blog. So he and I went about interviewing locals that he had talked into being documented. It was fun and fast. Unfortunately, the summer ended quickly and he had to go back to school.

One of the conversations that I found to be the most raw and true was the one you see above. Shake is his name and he is a local rap artist who independently produced and sold his music at the time. He also worked in a shoe store "overtown". (He might still be there. I'm not sure.) His take on Chester and the schooling he received while growing up was unpolished and refreshing to say the least. I have to give Alonzo credit in that his presence as an interviewer seemed to allow people to be relaxed and very unguarded from the start.

VENDOR# cg-ss-082410d

Vaniah was a friend of Alonzo's and she had come back to town while off from school. She had the experience of living between social worlds when it came to growing up in Chester City.

I have often wondered about how most Chester folks would feel about their school system if they had another standard of schooling to compare it to. I don't think it would make most of us feel to good. Not at all with the way things are going.

Chester GREEN Snap Shots: Education : Dr.Gregory Thornton

2010-08-23T11:26:00.000-07:00

VENDOR#CG-SS-082010c

Well being that the school year is starting very soon I thought it would be appropriate to upload some past clips that deal with the state of Chester's Education system. Myself and some young people I was training to do citizen journalism got a chance to talk with the previous superintendent about some of the fiscal challenges that the school district had to confront. At the time Dr.Thornton was in the process of cleaning house when it came to vendors that he felt were exploiting the school district financially. It appears this is still a problem.

But since then Dr.Thornton has moved on to Milwaukee where he is now a Superintendent in in one of their districts. Now as the acting superintendent is Dr.Joyce Wells, a longtime Chester native, and she is rather happy about her newly found position.

LAST WEEK'S CHESTER GREEN QUIZ

Which of these environmental disasters happened in Chester City and changed the way we regulate contaminated sites forever?

A.)The Erye Park Flood of 1971

B.)An underground gas fire in 1978 called "The Gas Fire"

C.)A chemical fire in 1978 called "The Wade Fire"

ANSWER: C

Back in 1978 Chester Fire Fighters and other first responders hurried to the Commodore Barry Bridge in order to put out an enormous fire underneath it. Firemen thought they were heading to a rubber reclamation plant but no one told them that they would be running into one of the worst chemical fires in the nation at an illegal chemical dump called The Wade Dump. Out of 45 of the fire fighters who responded 28 of them died soon after the fire due to serious illnesses such as cancer,neuromuscular disorders,kidney failure and vascular disorders. It was this fire that was one of the key catalyst to the "Superfund" process that we use today in order to block off and clean contaminated sites that can harm the communities that they are in.

In order to learn more visit this site: www.thetoxicfireof1978.com

Chester, PA: Strip 002

2010-08-22T15:46:00.000-07:00

Chester GREEN Snap Shots: Education

2010-08-20T14:01:00.000-07:00

VENDOR# CG-SS-082010a

This is a forum that was put together by Nicola T. Jefferson. She is the Director of a College Ready program called TAP. A very successful program that has gotten at least 95% of their students into college. Well the point of this forum was to bring a number of local educators,community leaders and students together to brainstorm about what needs to happen to improve the school system called Chester Upland. The honorable guest was Alberto Retana who is a US State Dept. of Education Rep. Meaning that he is mighty important.

VENDOR# CG-SS-082010b

Okay... this interaction, I must admit, was much more fruitless than I anticipated. I was hoping for a less cookie cut response.

Yes, poverty is not an excuse for why one does not do well in school but it is a very formidable reason. And then when one talks about poverty I often wonder what side of poverty they are referring to.

It is one thing to say that just because you are FINANCIALLY impoverished you should not allow yourself to be hindered in school because education is a way out of poverty (theoretically). But it is another thing to say "poverty is not an excuse" without considering the more destructive side of poverty, which is "social poverty". When you are not rich in "safe spaces".

My family was very very poor growing up but I always came home to a safe place to live. Working with young people I've found that, most of the time, money is not the big problem for at risk youth. Usually, what is lacking is their need for a safe place to live. You can have all the money in the world but if you come home to drunkenness, sexual abuse, verbal abuse, depression and out right gun violence your chances of rising above it all becomes slimmer and slimmer. And not at any fault of your own. The saddest stories to me is when a good child comes from a bad home only to have their lives snuffed out by gun violence, rape or drug use. So when we talk about poverty let's consider which side of poverty we are referring to or at least try to make a distinction.

ABOUT THE BLOG UPDATES:

Now here's the news. I'm sharing snap shots of events in the city from here on without much commentary on camera. I just don't have the financial time to give. And when I did have the time it never paid off really because I found that most humans in America don't really care what the issues are until it hits them square in the eyes personally. It is a sad condition to be in but we are in it none the less. Therefore, I'm not so much interested in sharing some really in depth opinion about how things are in the city/county these days.

After years of following what's going on and being engaged in some fruitful way you learn that the players in the great scheme of things have always been playing and they will continue to play so why waste your time talking logic when you can just be plain cynical all the time :) It's much more fun. And besides there are enough voices out there and advocates in the city to say what needs to be said and do what needs to be done. But not many of them get to write a cheeky comic strip and update the community about real events rather than spread dingbat RUMORS. So enjoy as I share snap shots of events and conversations I have collected over my "citizen journalism" years in Chester City, PA 19013. - Desire G

Chester GREEN- Environmental Disasters

2010-08-18T12:56:00.000-07:00

CHESTER, PA COMIC
Suggest a comic strip topic!

CHESTER GREEN QUIZ

Which of these environmental disasters happened in Chester City and changed the way we regulate contaminated sites forever?

A.)The Erye Park Flood of 1971

B.)An underground gas fire in 1978 called "The Gas Fire"

C.)A chemical fire in 1978 called "The Wade Fire"

DROP IN NEXT WEEK FOR THE ANSWER!

LAST WEEK'S CHESTER GREEN QUIZ & ANSWER:

From which body of water does Chester City get its drinking water from?

A.)Delaware River

B.)Octoraro Creek

C.)Susquehanna River

Answer: B

Before 1951 Chester City previously got its drinking water from the Delaware River but due to illegal dumping and heavy industrial use, the Delaware river became to contaminated for drinking and had become harder and harder to clean. At this point it was clear that there was need for a new water source. In the process of looking for a clean water source Octoraro Creek was found to be the most suitable. A dam and a Filtration Plant was then built to clean and pump the water along a 40 mile pipe line that was contruscted to carry the water all the way from the Oxford Summit to Chester City. By 1951 on Thanksgiving Day Chester began to get its drinking water from the Octoraro Creek in Pine Grove.

Unfortunately, the Delaware River has been slated as this year's most endangered rivers in America. Although it has taken many years to bring life back to the Delaware River it is being threatened yet again by Natural Gas Companies that would like to extract natural gas out of the ground using hundreds of toxic chemicals that could potentially seep into the Delaware River. Currently, the Delaware River Basin Commission is reviewing the process in hopes of not repeating the mistakes that were made in the Northeastern part of Pennsylvania, where natural gas drilling has been found to have contaminated a major source of drinking water in the rural town called Dimock PA. The story about of this town can be seen in a documentary called Gasland.

In order to learn more visit these sites: www.chesterwater.com , www.americanrivers.org & gaslandthemovie.com

Chester GREEN - Environmental Justice for Chester

2010-08-02T11:35:00.000-07:00

On July 27th & 28th Chester hosted its first ever Environmental Conference at Widener University. Also up in Canton NY medical professionals continue to organize against the fluoridation of public drinking water.

Environmental Justice Resource Sites:

http://www.fluoridealert.org/
http://www.actionpa.org/fluoride/
http://www.ejnet.org/chester/
http://www.americanrivers.org/
http://www.chesterwater.com/
www.gaslandthemovie.com

Chester GREEN - Eddystone Blues, Hurting Mothers & Stupid Gas Drilling

2010-07-15T18:33:00.000-07:00

Eddystone residents fighting to protect their health, Chester mothers pleading for homicide cases to be solved and greedy business men want to rob PA of its drinking water for a piece of paper money. What the FRAC is going on AMERICA!

Resourceful Links:

SHOUT OUT TO:

www.eddystoner.com

GAS DRILLING:

http://www.delawareonline.com/print/article/20100715/BUSINESS/7150352/Delaware-River-Basin-Commission-sets-more-hearings-on-gas-drilling

http://geology.com/articles/marcellus-shale.shtml

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZe1AeH0Qz8

DELCORA FRACK ATTACK:

http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2009/12/04/news/doc4b187b4b7de54730991465.txt

http://youngphillypolitics.com/toxic_tour_delaware_county

NPR WITH Wendell N Butler MAYOR of Chester:

http://whyy.org/cms/radiotimes/2010/07/13/chester-murders-vs-redevelopment/

Chester GREEN - Stopping Violence and Trash Talk

2010-07-07T14:05:00.000-07:00

I discuss how the Green Movement is a core part of stopping gun violence in Chester City and why the Green Movement is a core part of improving education in our cities. I lastly give an up date as to what is going on between Ocean City Maryland and their trash dumping on Chester.

SHOUT OUT TO: http://checktheweather.net/

FORUM DETAILS:

Agenda & Dates: https://docs.google.com/document/edit?id=1guyLd0GTg6nraeHhksIN6r3pj60Xkyn60plHIBRAZa4&hl=en#

Registration Form: https://docs.google.com/document/edit?id=1lx0FPXXuXLYRRjYCBbQJEs1jNFbxA6k6VtCj1s4wbvY&hl=en#

Forum GOALS: https://docs.google.com/document/edit?id=1rhRFLxo9rZ27Ej_jqG_txojAJww1ZtbAawYbQZRXMbk&hl=en#

Green Video Archive

2010-07-06T16:24:00.000-07:00

Chester GREEN: A State of Emergency for Chester's Future...

2010-06-28T09:54:00.000-07:00

The Philadelphia Union Team and PPL Park Soccer Stadium is all the rage. Everyone is on the bandwagon while things APPEAR to be all good. The soccer stadium even ignited a flame in the Chester City Mayor's belly to make sure that the visitors to the stadium were safe. So he put the entire city on lock down by declaring a "State of Emergency". All is good...yep...until something goes wrong. And if history has a way of repeating itself, Chester will experience yet again a big boom that leads to a big bust for its residents.

BLOG: http://www.ghettoprint.com
RESOURCE SITE: http://www.ejnet.org/chester

RELATED ARTICLES:

NY TIMES: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/28/us/28chester.html
DELCO TIMES: http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2010/06/28/news/doc4c281eefa1c29065391420.txt

Chester Green: No More Trash on Chester!

2010-06-20T21:48:00.000-07:00

Chester PA has a right to clean air. Ocean City Maryland needs to reinstate their recycling program instead of dumping more trash to be burned in a city that has an overwhelming number of incinerators already. We have a right to clean air just like Ocean City. Sign the petition and say NO to trashing dumping on Chester!

PETITION: http://environment.change.org/petitio...

Research: http://www.ejnet.org/chester