Delaware
More than 1200 students graduate from Delaware County Community College
MARPLE — On a day that emphasized the power of education to change life trajectories, more than 1,200 students graduated from Delaware County Community College with associate degrees and/or certificates.
On Thursday, May 16, the college held two separate commencement ceremonies.
The morning ceremony was for graduates of the Allied Health and Nursing, STEM, and Workforce and Economic Development divisions, and the afternoon ceremony for graduates of the Business, Computing & Social Science, as well as the Communications, Arts & Humanities divisions.
Both ceremonies were held at West Chester University’s Hollinger Field House.
“While many diverse backgrounds are represented here today, we are united here for one purpose: education. We share the same goal of pursuing better opportunities through education at a more affordable cost,” said Edison Hong of Upper Darby, the student commencement speaker, who is the son of Chinese immigrants. “From my father’s escape during the Vietnam War to my mother’s pursuit of the American dream, their story intertwines with mine, wanting a better life. Their sacrifices resonate within me, and I use that every day to guide me as a first-generation college student.”
Hong, a graduate of Upper Darby High School, earned college credits as a high school student through DCCC’s High School Dual Enrollment Program. He earned his associate degree from DCCC in the fall of 2023 with majors in computer science and business administration and now attends Georgia Institute of Technology, where he is majoring in computer science.
Hong is one of 15 students nationwide to receive the 2024 Hites Transfer Scholarship from Phi Theta Kappa, an international honor society for two-year colleges.
He served as president and founder of DCCC’s Computer Science Club, president of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society, president of the Business Society, and vice president of the Science Club and the Engineering Club.
“Your ability to overcome life while maintaining high academic standards is remarkable. Community college is and always has been the real standard of success,” said alumnus commencement speaker Frederick Shegog, class of 2020, of Drexel Hill.
Shegog battled homelessness and substance abuse prior to becoming an honors graduate of DCCC and a summa cum laude — highest honors — graduate of West Chester University, where he recently earned a master’s degree in public administration. His stepdaughter Megan Riley is a member of the DCCC Class of 2024.
Presiding over Thursday’s ceremonies was Marta Yera Cronin, the college’s president. A first-generation college student born of immigrant parents, she emphasized the generational impact that education can have on the children, grandchildren and other relatives of graduates.
“Your family members see the effort,” she said. “They see the tenacity it takes to study, often while working a part-time or full-time job to sustain a family, and you become their role model.”
Added DCCC Board of Trustees Chair Kevin Scott, “We commend your perseverance, long hours and nights of study and the sacrifices you have made to pursue your goal of attaining a better life for you and your family.”
Reservations being taken for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame bus trip to honor Charlie Gracie
In honor of his late father, the great rock ‘n’ roller Charlie Gracie and the release of the updated public television documentary, “Fabulous Forever!,” Charlie Gracie Jr., in partnership with his mom, Joan Gracie, will host a bus trip to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland from Friday, June 28 to Saturday, June 29.
Bus passengers will include DJs Lou Costello, Steve Kurtz, Johnny Midnight of Cruisin’ 92.1 WVLT and other notables.
The late Charlie Gracie, a native of South Philadelphia and a longtime resident of Drexel Hill, was an American rock ‘n’ roll and rhythm and blues singer and guitarist who topped the charts with his hits, “Butterfly” and “Fabulous.” Gracie was a role model who was emulated by many rock ‘n’ roll legends, including Paul McCartney and Graham Nash, among others.
The bus will leave at 8 a.m. Friday from Springfield Country Club on Sproul Road, where permission was given to leave cars, and return there Saturday night, around midnight.
The trip will include seeing the museum’s Charlie Gracie exhibit, with plenty of time allotted to tour the museum, as well as watching the debut screening of the newly updated Character Driven Productions documentary about Charlie Gracie, “Fabulous Forever!” in the museum’s theatre.
Bus fee will run between $75 and $85, depending on number of participants, and the Holiday Inn Express rate for the overnight stay is roughly $160.
For full details or to book a seat, call 610-724-7319.
No Name Pops offer two free concerts this month
The No Name Pops (NNP) will present two free performances in Philadelphia at the end of May. On Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend, May 25, The NNP’s Big Band will perform at 9th and Montrose, in the heart of the Italian Market, starting at 11 a.m. On May 30, The NNP Jazz Quintet will perform with guest vocalist Paula Holloway in Dilworth Park, 1 S 15th Street, from 6 to 7 p.m.
During the Memorial Day Weekend concert, planned in collaboration with Di Bruno Bros., guests will be able to enjoy their Italian Market purchases while seated at tables listening to the music of Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and more. At Dilworth Park, guests can enjoy the golden era of American music, featuring the timeless hits of George Gershwin and Cole Porter.
“We are thrilled that we have been invited by Center City District and Di Bruno Bros to provide free music to our community, our mission statement in action,” said Matt Koveal, the NNP’s Executive Director.
Founded in 2023, The No Name Pops is a versatile ensemble composed of the former musicians of The Philly Pops with a mission to deliver authentic, exceptional musical experiences in the Philadelphia region. Drawing from Philly’s rich symphonic pops legacy, the NNP melds tradition with an innovative approach unbound by musical genre for concert experiences that will entertain and empower the entire community.
The No Name Pops respects the rich legacy of the music of Peter Nero, Grammy Award-winning pianist and conductor who launched Pops music in Philadelphia for over three decades. Led by accomplished conductors and featuring world-class soloists, The No Name Pops continues to captivate audiences with its vibrant and diverse repertoire. For more information, or a list of upcoming performances, visit http://www.nonamepops.org.
Bonner-Prendie Classes of ’69 and ’74 hold reunions
Monsignor Bonner-Archbishop Prendergast High School, Class of 1974 is planning a 50th reunion at Paxon Hollow Country Club, Broomall.
It is set for Friday, Sept. 27 from 6 to 10 p.m.
The reunion committee is searching for current email addresses to send out notices with the details. Class members are asked to send name and email address to: Bonnerprendie50threunion@gmail.com.
Bonner-Prendie Class of 1969 will hold its 55th reunion also at Paxon Hollow Country Club.
It is set for Sunday Sept. 29 from 3 to 7 p.m.
The ticket price is $69, which includes food and an open bar. There is a limit of 250 tickets to be sold and no tickets will be sold at the door.
Checks can be made out to MBAP Class of ’69 and mailed to 403 N. Lansdowne Ave. Drexel Hill, PA 19026.
Springfield Township Library offers programs on houseplants, Civil War medicine
Springfield Township Library will present an in-person houseplant workshop, “Leafy Characters,” at 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 11.
“Leafy Characters” will help anyone who doubts their green thumb.
Amanda, from a local nursery will teach participants some house plant basics, plant propagating, different house plants and their needs and more. Participants will leave the program with more knowledge.
Space is limited and registration is required at www.springfieldtwplib.com.events.
The library will also present a program on “Civil War Medicine with the Mutter Museum,” at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 18.
Everyone is welcome to learn from an educator at the Mutter Museum in Philadelphia about the role and practice of medicine in the Civil War. A description of the impact this era plays on modern medicine will also be discussed. Some examples of Civil War medical inventions include ambulances and specialty medicines.
This event is via Zoom only. Registration at www.springfieldtwplib.com/events is required to obtain the Zoom link.
Readers can send typed community news press releases and photos to Peg DeGrassa at pdegrassa@21st-centurymedia.com.
Delmarva Power objects to applying legislation to interim rate
The debate among commissioners over the breadth of their oversight on utility rates comes as the company has pushed back on the group, limiting its interim rate increase to half of its total request, even while it faced criticism from commissioners that it is “cruel” and “tone deaf” for continuing to press for rate hikes.
Delmarva Power, an investor-owned utility, serves 344,000 residential and nonresidential customers in the state. Its parent company, Exelon Corporation, is the nation’s largest regulated electric and gas utility.
Its customers pay a supply and a delivery charge for gas and electricity. The supply of energy comes from PJM Interconnection, a regional grid serving Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and several other states. Delmarva Power profits through the distribution fee.
Delmarva Power Region President Marcus Beal said they need to file rate hike requests to recoup money it spends on improving and maintaining the infrastructure.
“Our equipment is extremely expensive, the items that we buy, the transformers, they’re very large, complex things to build,” Beal said. “Even something as simple as a treated pole of a certain size can be very pricey, so we spend a lot of money on the grid itself.”
Under Delaware law, interim rates can be approved seven months after a rate case is filed, while the full petition is being considered by the commission. Prior to the legislation, 100% of the rate request could be implemented. The bill caps interim rates at 50% and allows 75% of the ask to go into effect after 12 months. The bill also puts limits on Delmarva Power’s infrastructure spending.
Delmarva Power spokesperson Matt Ford said the commission overstepped its authority to cut the interim rate as much as they did and the company has argued in its PSC submissions that SB 326 did not apply to the rate increase request filed in December because it had yet to be signed into law. Meyer said he signed the bill Monday.
“Delmarva Power further reserves its objections to the applicability of the legislation, should it become effective, including its impermissible retroactive application,” the utility company said in comments filed Monday afternoon with the commission.
In addition, Delmarva Power has objected to halving $23.2 million in distribution system improvement charges as part of the interim rate commissioners approved. The fee allows utility companies to recover project costs and depreciation between full rate case proceedings.
“My suggestion is, if you don’t like it, appeal it,” Iorii said.
It’s unclear whether the utility plans to appeal the order. Ford said they were reviewing it and its implications.
Tweedie said he hopes they decide not to appeal.
“If they appeal this, what they are essentially saying is, ‘We want to extract more money from our customers than the commission intended to allow,’” he said.
Delaware State Police have identified the man who was struck and killed by a vehicle while lying on the roadway in Harrington, Delaware.
On Monday, July 13, 2026, Jimmy Burgess, 62, was struck by a Chevrolet Silverado driving westbound near the 1500 block of Whiteleysburg Road.
According to police, the Silverado, which was operated by a 17-year-old boy from Milton, Delaware, was unable to stop once he saw Burgess on the road, striking him. The driver of the Silverado was not injured during the crash.
Burgess was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead, said police.
The roadway was closed for approximately three hours while the scene was investigated and cleared.
The Delaware State Police Troop 3 Collison Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate this crash.
Troopers ask anyone with information about the crash contact Sergeant M. Long at (302) 698-8518.
Information can also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police, or by contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-(800) 847-3333
Where the music grew
Soon playing the restaurant piano became part of Leonard’s regular routine.
In early 2024, a friend encouraged him to record himself playing the old instrument and post the videos online.
The series, “Putting the Chinese restaurant on to jams,” featured Leonard performing R&B, funk and soul covers in the restaurant and interacting with customers. Before long, the videos found an audience online.
Leonard made one thing clear: It was never about building a following; it was about having peace.
As more videos were posted, he invited his friend to join him. In every live stream, viewers suggested adding more instruments and upgrading the sound system, which he initially thought was ridiculous.
“We started bringing speakers. We started to make music. We started to remix music,” he said. “We pretty much treated it as a public studio at that point.”
Word continued to spread of Leonard’s music and the Chinese restaurant where he played. Drummers, bass players, saxophonists and singers began making their way to the restaurant, transforming an ordinary neighborhood takeout spot into an open jam session where no two performances were ever the same.
“Everything is bliss. So it’s not planned. We just show up,” he said. “I may start a groove — and usually it’s like R&B, gospel, funk, soul, somewhere in that vein — and then it takes off, because the drummer may have a way that he wants to add to the groove. We all just feed off of each other, and then we create something. It’s almost like magic.”
Audiences became part of the performance. Some sang along. Others danced. Many pulled out their phones to capture the moment. Customers who stopped in for dinner often stayed long after their food was ready.
“You’ll have some people come in, maybe to order food, and then they’ll forget that they’re in a restaurant because of everything that is happening,” he said. “They may order food and then stick around for maybe 10 to 15 minutes and then leave.”
For Leonard, the biggest change wasn’t the growing audience or the recognition. It was rediscovering the confidence he thought he had lost.
“When I picked up the … DoorDash at the Chinese restaurant, that piano was my reminder of leaning more towards my creative side and not really pushing it all the way to the side,” he said.
“Me being able to bring things to life in a Chinese restaurant with a piano, able to reach a lot of people from across the globe, it definitely built my spirit back up.”
An imperfect piano; a perfect community
As the jam sessions grew, Leonard realized they were becoming something larger than just music.
“The piano being out of tune and not really in good shape … I actually thought it… would actually push more people away from it,” he said.
Instead, the opposite happened.
Leonard said he believes the piano’s imperfections are what made the phenomenon possible. Because the instrument is out of tune, musicians have to adapt to it and to one another, creating a sense of collaboration and shared purpose.
“We can still make it adhesive if we all agree to be in tune with the piano,” he said.
He hopes people leave the restaurant with more than a memorable performance.
“I hope they feel recharged,” he said. “They leave that restaurant feeling great, and they feel like they can do whatever they want to do. No matter what goes on in the world.”
The jam sessions have also introduced Leonard to opportunities he never imagined, connecting him with other artists and collaborators. He has even produced a couple of songs with British singer-songwriter, rapper and producer KWN.
“Honestly, I just hope it grows in a direction where it needs to,” Leonard said. “I’m just following God at this point, because I mean, to me, a year ago, I didn’t really see this happening. But it just happened.”
Leonard said he hopes to continue creating music similar to his jam sessions, curating spaces where strangers become collaborators and where art feels accessible to anyone.
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