Olympic sport of curling sweeps into Aston

County Council recognizes IceWorks for hosting on-ice athletes of all types

            One week after the sport of curling captured the world’s attention at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Delaware County Councilman John McBlain took to the ice to try his hand at curling a stone at IceWorks in Aston on Feb. 22.

            While missing his mark, Councilman McBlain gamely participated in a library-sponsored curling event that kicks off the week-long USA Curling Nationals that brings top men’s and women’s curling teams from across the country to Delaware County to compete at IceWorks March 1-8.

            The Feb. 22 reading event, hosted by Aston Township Library and the Delaware County Library System, featured the book, “The Adventures of Trefor the Curling Rock,” written by Kim Perkins of Calgary, Canada. The author tells the tale of a young curling rock named Trefor who sets out on an adventure to find out who he really is.

            The reading featured many guests including Councilman McBlain, USA National Curling Team member Courtney Slata of Aston, State Rep. Joe Hackett, Delaware County Library System Director David Belanger and Brandywine Conference and Visitors Bureau Director Tore Fiore.

“It was great to see all of the children who had fun at the story time and learned about curling,” said Councilman McBlain. “I like to see them them get involved, especially when this sport is hosting the national championships right here in Delaware County.”

IceWorks will host 110 athletes in the 2014 USA Curling Nationals, including 15 Olympians, six of them just back from Sochi, and a local team of curling sisters from Marple Newtown. IceWorks won a bid to host the 2014 Curling Nationals against cities in Minnesota, Iowa and Michigan. It is estimated that the March Curling Nationals will have a $2 million economic impact on the county.

At the Feb. 26 Delaware County Council meeting, Council Chairman Tom McGarrigle presented a resolution to IceWorks owners and staff members recognizing them for their contribution not only to on-ice sports, but to the community and local economy.

Since opening its doors in 1997, the IceWorks Skating Complex in Aston Township has provided rink time for public skating, figure skating training, ice hockey action, ice dancing and now curling. This is the only public rink in the United State or Canada that has a professional coaching staff that includes legendary icemen such as Jim Watson, the Flyers veteran of two Stanley Cup championship teams, who leads the hockey staff, and Uschi Keszler, coach of Olympic skater Elvis Stojko, who leads the 18-member figure skating staff.

IceWorks is a strong contributor to the local economy, drawing thousands of visitors to Delaware County hotels, restaurants and other businesses each year. The staff said 4.5 million people visit IceWorks each year, and they host youth, collegiate and professional tournaments, plus birthday parties, banquets and other unique recreational events.

IceWorks is a member of the Aston Business Authority. Staff members also take educational programs to local schools and senior centers. This month, they’ve been busy presenting curling demonstrations, and teaching members of the public to curl.

The excitement continues to build in Delaware County with the 2014 National Curling Championships starting March 1. Curling has gained popularity since it became an Olympic sport in 1998.

Comprised of two teams of four players each, curling features players (curlers) sliding stones called rocks across a sheet of ice toward a target area. As part of the strategy, the path of the rock is influenced by two sweepers with brooms who accompany it as it slides down the sheet.

             

Delaware County Councilman John McBlain joins Canadian author Kim Perkins in a story time at IceWorks in Aston featuring Perkins’ book, “The Adventures of Trefor the Curling Rock.” The Feb. 22 event, hosted by the Aston Township Library and the Delaware County Library System, was the kickoff to the USA Curling Nationals that runs March 1-8 at IceWorks. 

Delaware County Councilman John McBlain presents Kristen Marvel, 9, of Malvern, with two all-day passes to the USA Curling Nationals at IceWorks, taking place March 1-8. Kristen assisted Councilman McBlain during a story time featuring the book, “The Adventures of Trefor the Curling Rock,” written by Kim Perkins of Calgary, Canada. 

Delaware County Councilman John McBlain tries his hand at curling at IceWorks in Aston prior to the USA Curling Nationals set for March 1-8 at IceWorks. McBlain is joined on the ice by, from left, IceWorks manager Lisa Shaw, Brandywine Conference and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Tore Fiore, and Maryanne Bullen, Delaware County Library System board member and director of the Aston Business Association.

IceWorks is economic ‘hat trick’ for Delco

Delaware County Council recognizes the owners and staff from IceWorks Skating Complex in Aston Township for IceWorks’ success as a sports venue that benefits on-ice athletes in addition to the economy of the area. Shown at the Feb. 26 County Council meeting are, front from left, General Manager Stephane Charbonneau, Manager Lisa Shaw, Councilman Dave White, Council Vice Chair Mario J. Civera with a curling broom, Chairman Tom McGarrigle, holding a curling stone, and IceWorks owners George Scherback and Jim Watson. IceWorks hosts the 2014 Curling Nationals March 1-8. 

Air Force Major Presents American flag, flown in Afghanistan, to County Council

 

 

An American flag flown on a C-17 Globemaster II aircraft over Afghanistan was presented to Delaware County Council and the “citizens of Delaware County” by United States Air Force Major Louis E. Bellace at the February 19 Delaware County Council meeting.

Major Bellace, a Ridley native, presented a display of the flag, folded an framed with patches from the Air Mobility Command and the 10th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Flight, and a certificate from the U.S. Air Force that depicts the major’s aircraft and a map of Afghanistan.

“Flying this flag on our aircraft is our way of thanking the Delaware County residents,” said Major Bellace. “Without their support, we couldn’t do what we do overseas. It means a lot when people send us letters and care packages when we are overseas.”

The framed flag and certificate will be displayed in the lobby of the Delaware County Government Center, near the Armed Services Tribute Board that displays photos of Delaware County servicemen and women, including a photo of Major Bellace.

Delaware County Council Vice Chairman Mario J. Civera Jr., an Air Force veteran, was joined by his fellow council members in accepting the commemorative flag and certificate from Major Bellace, whose photo was added to the Armed Services Tribute Board on Nov. 27, 2013, by his wife Cindy and two sons, Christian and Justin, when he departed for his third deployment to Afghanistan.      

Once again on American soil, Major Bellace brought the framed flag and certificate to the Government Center where he was welcomed with a standing ovation.

Major Bellace is a graduate of Ridley High School and joined the U.S. Air Force on September 10, 2001, the day before the nation was attacked. During his latest deployment, he served as a Flight Nurse based at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, where he cared for wounded warriors who were transported to Landstuhl Military Hospital in Germany. 

His home squadron is the 514th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron located at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey. When not on active duty, Major Bellace is a clinical manager on the Critical Care Transport Team at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and serves part-time on the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania’s PennSTAR helicopter team. He had also served as a past president of the Media Fire Company and Hook and Ladder Company No. 1, where he has been a member for over 25 years.

On January 25, Major Bellace was given a surprise hero’s welcome by the Warriors' Watch Riders at his favorite restaurant as well as a much deserved welcome home escort back to Media.

 

Council calls for awareness of hunger and food insecurity

 

Community organizations to host Conference on Hunger March 7

 

Recognizing the urgent need for food assistance, Delaware County Council will pass a Hunger Awareness and Prevention resolution and recognize various county agencies that are convening a countywide Conference on Hunger on March 7. The theme for this year’s conference is “The New Face of Hunger,” recognizing that all ages, from children to senior citizens, face hunger issues.

At the Feb. 19 meeting, Council will call for awareness of hunger, and support of anti-hunger organizations such as the Delco Interfaith Food Assistance Network (DIFAN), a Family and Community Service agency that has 12 member food centers.

“Hunger and food insecurity is an unfortunate reality for some of our residents and we want to do everything we can to prevent any individual or family from wondering where their next meal is coming from,” said Councilman Dave White, Council’s liaison to the County Department of Human Services.

Councilman White said that several county agencies, including the Office of Behavioral Health and the Department of Intercommunity Health, are partnering with community groups to hold the sixth annual Delaware County Conference on Hunger, 8:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, March 7, at Widener University. Delaware County Senior Medical Advisor Dr. George Avetian is one of the participants.

Conference organizer Fran Alloway, the nutrition and food safety educator for the Penn State Cooperative Extension, said the mission of the conference is to “make people aware of food resources in the community and to give people the skills to advoc
ate for these resources.”

Conference topics include finding hunger resources, eating healthy on a budget, understanding the SNAP program, new food stores in Delaware County, health literacy and growing your own food.
Ms. Alloway said that the conference is open to the public, but there is a special student registration and professional credits will be given to social workers, dieticians and nurses.

For information or to register for the Hunger Conference call 610-690-2655 or visit http://delaware.extension.psu.edu


Photo caption: Shown at the Feb. 19 Council meeting are Hunger Conference planners, front from left, Dr. George Avetian, Delaware County Senior Medical Advisor; Helen McGoohan, assistant director of Intercommunity Health; Chuck Kiefer, pastor of the Foundry Church and Giving Garden; Ruby Benson, director of the Ralph Moses House, Family and Community Service; Fran Alloway, conference organizer and nutrition and food safety educator for the Penn State Extension; Chairman Tom McGarrigle; Jean Falk, nutrition services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia; Jackie Reardon, Delaware County Intermediate Unit Head Start, Amanda Aucoin, Aetna Better Health consultant, and Jessica Fink, county homeless services coordinator; and back row, Council members John McBlain, Dave White, Vice Chairman Mario J. Civera Jr. and Colleen Morrone.