Township Times. Pride in our Community. Aston Township FREE. Volume 14 Issue 1 January 2019

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1 Aston Township Established 1688 Township Times Pride in our Community FREE Volume 14 Issue 1 January 2019 Winter Fun Festival Brings Out the Crowds The annual Winter Fun Festival again brought out record breaking numbers of Aston residents this year. Sponsored by the Parks and Recreation Department, the Fun Festival kicked off with Christmas carols and Santa making his grand entrance on an Aston Township Fire Truck. Again this year, children and parents alike loved Christmas Village, taking many photos. Inside the Community Center gym, there were stations to write letters to Santa, Cards for Veterans, Christmas cookie cutters, kids crafts, a magician and pictures with Santa Claus. Refreshments donated by local businesses included hot cocoa, cookies, pretzels, lemonade and water. Children received a special goody bag filled with treats. There were performances by the Aston and Pennell Elementary School Choruses and Mt. Hope Youth Hand Bells. Public Works also transformed the whole Community Center area into a winter wonderland with lights and decorations all around. Chairperson for Parks and Recreation is Commissioner Carol Graham - Members are Kit Spayd, Chairperson of the Winter Fun Festival, Judy Kirby, Commissioners Fred Prendergast and Nancy Bowden, Bonnie Stufflet, Jim Graham, Melissa Rotay, Jack Vernon and Andrea Griffith. Volunteers included: Gina Ruggieri, Judy Persing, Sandy Greto, Phylis Brady, Nick Spayd, Dave Kelso, Helen Morgan, Evelyn Spayd, MacKenzie Lorenski, Adrianna Campisi, Hailey Robinson, Olivia Spayd,Jacqueline Bradley, Ethan Lash, Jake Persing, Len Balestrieri, John Young, Nicole, Hunter and Hailey Hoffmann, Emily Bromley, Kat Kramer, Madison Oreski, and the Rotay Family. Aston Township Library, Public Works, ATFD, ATPD and our special Guest Santa (Chief, Dan Ruggieri). Thank you to everyone for their generous contributions and participation to make this event such a wonderful success! said Commissioner Graham Holiday Decorating Contest Winners Announced The Aston Township Parks and Recreation Committee and Board of Commissioners has announced the Holiday Decorating Contest winners. First place winners received a $100 gift card to Giant. Honorable mention winners receive a $50 Wawa gift card. See this month s special insert for the business winners. First Ward: First Place, the Lord Family; Honorable Mention, the Nicholson Family Second Ward: First place, the Culp Family; HM, the Engelman Family Third Ward: First Place, the Rotay Family; HM, the Kirk Family Fourth Ward: First Place, the Rhoads Family; HM, the Linowski Family Fifth Ward: First Place, the Morgan Family; HM, Harrison Farra and Jaclyn Getty Sixth Ward: First Place, the Murray Family; HM, the Durbano Family Seventh Ward: First Place, the Tenaro Family; HM, the Greenhalgh Family Thank you to all the judges said Commissioner Carol Graham. People really took the time to make their houses look beautiful, she said. The Administration and Public Works Department will be closed on Monday, January 15, for Martin Luther King Day. All Monday and Tuesday s trash and recycling will be picked up on Tuesday, January 16.

2 Sun Valley Alumni Associate Event January 10 The Sun Valley Alumni Association will host a Social Evening on Monday, January 14 at 7 p.m. in the Conference Room at the Aston Township Community Center. There will be light refreshments and the opportunity to network with other alumni. This event is open to all Sun Valley Graduates If you are interested in attending please visit our FaceBook page, Sun Valley High School Pa Alumni Association and respond to the event. Local Plumbing Students Give Back Commissioner Carol Graham stands with the first year class of Plumbers with a Purpose at the Philadelphia Suburban Association of Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors. These are the first year class of the Philadelphia Suburban Association of Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors (PSA PHCC) Plumbing Apprenticeship Class of The program, Plumbers with a Purpose (PWP), was started by the school in PWP was created to go above and beyond the conventional ideas of a plumber s work with a goal of giving back to the community each year around the holidays leading up to their graduation. Their hopes are to help families in their neighborhoods to have a more comfortable holiday season. They have generously presented several families with gift cards in the spirit of the season Final Budget Approved At the December 19, 2018 Aston Township Commissioner s Meeting the Board approved the 2019 Aston Township Final Budget. The format of the proposed budget is a significant departure from prior years budgets in that it provides the 2019 budget in the framework of a multi-year budget. This multi-year framework provides the Board and the public with information on the future impact of decisions that are proposed to be made in The budget is also structured with a number of different funds to provide the Board and the public with easy to understand information. The 2019 final budget is a balanced budget that covers the existing police contract and the 3% percent increase for the administration and public works staff. This also covers the debt service for a new firehouse, public works facility, the purchase of a sanitation truck and one police vehicle. With the 2015 merger of both Aston Township firehouses, an agreement was put into place to construct a new firehouse. After many meetings and discussions, it was decided that the existing building located at 2900 Dutton Mill Road would be used and expanded upon. In order to fulfill the needs of all of these departments, there will be a millage increase of 1.0 mils and a sanitation fund increase of twenty (20) dollars per household due to the increase of solid waste and recycling disposal. To view the budget in more detail, visit Public Works, Working for You The Aston Public Works Department picked up leaf bags trhought the Township; painted fencing at Weir Park; and rebuilt the inlet near Assissi House on Red Hill Road. Public works also saved the Township more than $3k by completing projects around the Township instead of having contractors complete the work. Aston Senior Citizens Monthly Luncheons The Aston Township Sr. Citizens is open to membership for those residing within a Penn Delco School District Community. (Aston, Brookhaven & Parkside) and are of 55 years of age or older. The cost of membership is $10 per year. If you are interested you may contact our Vice President/Membership Chairperson Anne Sweeny by or by mail at 2119 N Bent Lane in Aston. Our meetings are held on the fourth Thursday of each month January-May, a hot meal is served each month for the cost of $10 with a special luncheon in June. Our meetings start at 10:45 a.m. with a program to follow after which lunch is served Doors open at 10 a.m., check in and purchase of tickets ends at 10:30 a.m. Pothole Patrol Thank you for being a concerned citizen! Help us help you by reporting a roadway maintenance request at The Aston Township Public Works Department is committed to providing a timely response to your request. Our goal is to remedy the situation within 24 to 48 hours then follow up with an when the repair has been completed. Please note that following certain weather events and extended periods of extreme temperature, reporting volume is likely to be very high. Thank you for your patience and understanding. To submit an item to the newsletter, newsletter@astontownship.net. Deadline for next issue is January 21.

3 Please complete the form online and enter as much detail as possible, especially for the location. Just a reminder- PennDot is responsible for state roads including Aston Mills Road, Birney Highway, Bodley Road, Bridgewater Road, Concord Road, Dutton Mill Road, Knowlton Road, Lenni Road and Pennell Road. Staying Safe in Cold Weather No matter when temperatures drop below freezing, or when we get socked by a Nor easter, Delaware County Council wants residents to be prepared. The County Council reminded residents that various County agencies offer additional supports to the homeless, elderly and vulnerable residents when harsh, freezing conditions take place during winter months. When temperatures drop below freezing, and conditions pose a threat to individuals who are homeless, elderly or medically fragile, a network of agencies goes to work to help people obtain shelter, food and assistance. Agencies that assist people year-round and during extreme weather conditions include: The Delaware County Division of Adult and Family Services of the Office of Behavioral Health partners with various agencies to offer additional services through the Homeless Services Coalition of Delaware County. They also provide a winter shelter directory that is distributed to police, municipalities, school districts and other officials. The County Office of Services for the Aging (COSA) extends outreach to senior citizens, including having case managers check on seniors who may be vulnerable. Tips on how to stay warm and safe during winter s cold weather are available on COSA s informational weatherline at (610) The County Department of Intercommunity Health provides information to help people avoid medical emergencies, such as hypothermia and frost bite, during Code Blue conditions. Community Action Agency of Delaware County (CAADC) is the county s anti-poverty agency that can assist economically disadvantaged households. Elderly residents are also vulnerable during winter storms. People who are over age 60 and need assistance can contact the County Office of Services for the Aging (COSA) at COSA Director Denise Stewart said COSA s case managers look in on elderly residents who might be vulnerable during extreme weather conditions. Residents are encouraged to register for the DelcoAlert notification system that sends messages to people s mobile devices to alert them of weather emergencies, road closures and other extreme weather situations. For information or to obtain a copy of the current Emergency Shelter Directory and Survival Guide, contact Adult and Family Services at or Resources include: Salvation Army: 151 W. 15th St., Chester. Call Connect: 7200 Chestnut St., Upper Darby. Call Community Action Agency: Call For information on the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LI- HEAP), call For information on PECO energy assistance programs call Sign up for Delco Alert Whether it s a severe storm, an Amber alert or a threat to your home or business Delaware County residents now have an upgraded notification system where they can receive emergency notices through their phones, and mobile devices. Delaware County Council announces its enhanced emergency notification system still called DelcoAlert -- and urges all residents to register to receive alerts regarding a variety of announcements from severe weather to public health concerns. DelcoAlert continues to be a free service and it s simple to register. To sign up, residents can go the county website at and click on the yellow DelcoAlert icon. They register for the alerts they are interested in, and the devices they want to include in the notification process. January Public Meetings and Special Events Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting 7 p.m. Thursday, January 3 New Construction Committee Meeting 6:30 p.m. Monday, January 7 Ordinance Committee Meeting 2 p.m. Tuesday, January 8 Fire Committee Meeting 6 p.m. Tuesday, January 8 Work Session Meeting 2 p.m. Wednesday, January 9 Board of Commissioners Meeting 7 p.m. Wednesday, January 16 Zoning Hearing Board 7 p.m. Tuesday, January 22 Work Session Meeting 2 p.m. Wednesday, January 23 Planning Commission Meeting 7 p.m. Wednesday, January 23 The enhanced system incorporates greater technological capabilities and flexibility. The new system will allow users to set up a preferred method of receiving alerts in a pre-selected order. The notification will be sent to all devices, from text and voic to , in the order preferred by the user and stop when the user acknowledges receipt. The type of notifications is greatly expanded. Municipalities and school districts can also use the DelcoAlert system. Trainings will be offered through the Department of Emergency Services. To sign up, visit index/ #/signup. To stay informed during emergencies, residents should check cable TV s public access channels for updated postings on Comcast channel 5 and Verizon channel 45, as well as the township website.

4 Free Chair Yoga resumes January 8; Sign up for Free Painting Classes! Monday, January 14 at 6:30 p.m., we will have a Replica Exhibition and Hands- On Workshop for Children on Ancient Egyptian Culture. Sherin Motawea will show the kids replicas of Ancient Egyptian artifacts and teach them the art of mummification. For ages 6 & up. Saturday, January 19 at 11 a.m., meet Christine Burke, author of The Well- Nourished Artist- 8 Ways to Feed Your Creative Soul. Come and participate in a FREE activity from her book that will help you tap into your creativity. Books will be available for purchase and can be signed by the author. Free Chair Yoga classes will be available on Tuesdays at 2 p.m. for six weeks starting January 8. Chair yoga is a gentle form of yoga that is practiced sitting on a chair, or standing using a chair for support. Have you always wanted to be an artist? Get on the list for our free painting classes by ing Debbie at debbie@ astonlibrary.org. Pronunciator is the new language learning system available for free with your library card. Go to and click on Explore e-resources to access the Pronunciator system, which allows you to learn over 80 languages, plus learn English from your native language! Are you looking for a book club? The library book club meets on Thursday, January 10 at 1 p.m. to discuss Saving CeeCee Honeycutt. Stop by and discuss! Join the Library Movie Discussion Group to view and discuss Tully on Monday, January 28 at 11 a.m. Light lunch will be provided. Storytime! Your young child can learn basic literacy skills while having fun. The Aston Public Library offers story times every week, open to everyone. Join Ms. Debbie for toddler time (ages 2-3) on Tuesdays at 10:30, infant time (up to 24 months) on Wednesdays at 10:30, and preschool time (ages 3-5) on Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. Stop by Tuesdays at 11 a.m. to learn the art of crochet with our diverse group with many levels of experience. Stop by Thursdays at 6 p.m. to participate in a wide variety of crafts with an even more diverse group. Need help with an e-book reader, laptop or tablet computer? Stop by for our drop-in help time on Friday mornings- 10 a.m. for e-book readers and 11 a.m. for laptops and tablets. More information and registration for all of our programs is available via the Calendar at Join the Friends of the Library. Go to and click on Join Our Friends to send in your info. The Aston Public Library Board of Trustees will meet Tuesday, January 15 Members of our Kids Can Build club at work Sherin Motawea with some of her Ancient Egypt materials. Sherin will present on Monday, January 14 at the Library. at 7 p.m. at the Library. You can access books for your Kindle, Nook, or other e-book reader with your library card. Go to delcolibraries.org/ to see what is available. Are you on Facebook? Follow the Aston Library there. Go to and like us. ABA Holiday Party Join us on Monday, January 14, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m., at IceWorks Pub and Grill Banquet Room; Includes Dinner & 2 Hour Beer and Wine Bar. $35/person. Please RSVP today by eticket at or mail. Send your check to Aston Business Association for $35 per guest, please include your Business Name, Number of Guests. Mail to: Lisa Shaw IceWorks Skating Complex 3100 Dutton Mill Road Aston, PA 19014

5 Aston Township Established 1688 Township Times Pride in our Community Volume 14 Issue 1 January 2019 Special Insert! 2019 Holiday Decorating Contest a Hit Around Aston! Local Businesses really got into the Christmas Spirit for the Fourth Annual Holiday Decorating Contest. Winners and honorable mention recipients were selected by a committee of impartial judges. A winner and an honorable mention winner were selected from each of the seven wards as well. See below for photos of the business winners and more information about them! Large Business Winner- Barnaby s Aston 5501 Pennell Road Aston, PA Medium Business Winner- Gennaro s Italian Kitchen Gennaro s Italian Kitchen 4600 Pennell Rd. ph: (610)

6 Small Business Winner- Imagination Hair Salon Imagination Hair Salon 3217 Concord Rd. ph: