The Delaware County Park Police are holding their fifth annual “Blue Christmas” Toy Drive. New, unwrapped toys will be collected from Dec. 8-21 at various locations across the county for children in need this holiday season.
Now through next Wednesday.
Residents and County employees are asked to donate new, unwrapped gifts for children ages 2-16. The gifts will be donated to Delaware County’s Children and Youth Services, Healing Hats and Toys, and to local families in need.
“All children deserve to feel joy on Christmas morning,” said Delaware County Park Police Chief Scott Mahoney. “For children in foster care, those battling cancer, and other illnesses and those experiencing hard situations, Christmas can be a difficult time. We hope the small gesture of giving them a gift to open on Christmas morning brings them some happiness.”
Donations are being accepted Dec. 8-21 at the following locations:
Delaware County Government Center (201 W. Front St., Media/ground floor lobby),
• Delaware County Park Police/69th St. location (20 S. 69th St., Upper Darby/ 3rd floor),
• Chester District Court (160 E. 7th St., Chester /desk at the main lobby),
• Sharon Hill Probation Office (1600 Calcon Hook Rd., Sharon Hill),
• Delaware County Bureau of Elections at the Wharf Building (2501 Seaport Dr., Chester,
• The Fronefield Building (201 W. Front St., Media).
William C. Rigby III (Bill) of Concordville died Sunday, Dec. 6
Bill was a graduate of Media High School and Lafayette College where he played basketball and went through the ROTC program. After graduating from Lafayette, he went into the army as a 2nd lieutenant. He served in Panama in the Panama Canal Zone from 1962 to 1966. He was honorably discharged with the rank of captain.
William C. Rigby III
After serving in the Army, Bill took a job as a history teacher in the Ridley School District. After a few years, he left teaching and went into the family business (J. Nelson Rigby Funeral Home) with his father and brother as a fourth-generation funeral director. In the 1970s he opened his own funeral home in Chadds Ford (Rigby of Chadds Ford) while continuing to work at J. Nelson Rigby Funeral Home.
After Bill retired, The Chadds Ford Funeral Home property was eventually sold, and that business was moved to Media to the original funeral home and is continued to be run by his son, Bill, who also works at the J. Nelson Rigby Funeral Home with his cousin Jim who are the fifth generation in the family business.
Bill and Charlotte were lifetime members of Elam United Methodist Church and were heavily involved in the church until they physically were not able anymore. Bill, the lay leader of the church for many years and the lay leader emeritus attended almost every meeting. He is known as saying, “If the light is on in the church, I’ll be there.” Charlotte was an integral part of The United Methodist Women where she helped raise money through The Franklin Mint Doll Project. Both Bill and Charlotte were an integral part of Elam’s history. The annual Roast Beef dinners would always find Bill and Charlotte in the kitchen. Bill manning the slicer!
One of Bill’s favorite things to do was spend time at the Ocean View campground on Route 9 outside of Sea Isle City. They not only enjoyed time alone but also with their grandchildren at the campground. The highlight of the grandchildren’s time there was going to the lake to swim and riding the train around the campground at night.
Bill and Charlotte were a very important part of helping Janine to raise Zachary, their grandson in his first 8 years of life. Bill was known to (before the age of cell phones) spontaneously drive all the way out to Landenberg, where three of his grandchildren lived to check in on them and within minutes turn around and drive home.
Bill loved being a part of the Concordville community, serving on various committees and fundraisers. He also enjoyed going on Star Tours bus trips with his wife, participating in the Concordville Rotary Club, hosting foreign exchange students, and attending his children and his grandchildren’s sporting events. Bill enjoyed meeting his buddies at Dunkin’ Donuts at 6 am on a daily basis.
Predeceased by his wife Charlotte (nee Pruitt) Rigby parents J. Nelson Rigby and Margaret (nee Barkalow) Rigby, and Grandson Cameron Smith.
Survived by his children William R. Rigby (Nina), Kaylyn A. Smith, Janine R. Phillips (George), and Kenneth R. Rigby (Anne). Grandchildren Zachary, Samantha, Ryan and Caitlin Rigby, Jeffrey and Dana Smith. Great-Grandchildren Dominic Rigby, Mia Olivares, Harley, and Haylee Allen. Siblings J. Nelson Rigby Jr. ( Barbara) and Lois Earnest. Nephews James N. Rigby III (Michele), Stephen Rigby, Stephanie Vlaminck (Brian), John Earnest (Jennifer Pearce), and Suzanne Earnest.
Due to Covid Restrictions Service will be private, however, it will be live-streamed.
Friends and relatives are invited to attend the committal service at Elam Cemetery, 1073 Smithbridge Road, Glen Mills Pa. 19342 at approximately 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 10, when the family arrives.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Bill’s memory can be made to Elam United Methodist Church.
Birmingham Township supervisors Monday night voted to approve two ordinances that update township code to accommodate new wireless services. They also approved an amendment to the zoning code dealing with setbacks and solar energy.
Kristin Camp, the township solicitor, said that amending the code for telecommunications provides new regulation, adding definitions, new terms, and timelines to approve applications for new facilities.
“This change has been in the works for quite some time as a result of some changes in state and federal law,” she said, adding that the township and county planning commissions recommended adopting the amendment to comply with the new definitions and timeframes contained in those new laws.
Camp also said the amendment peels out a section on small wireless facilities into a separate ordinance to comply with the new federal definitions and to streamline the review process for such facilities.
“If those facilities are 45 feet or shorter, they would be permitted in the right of way by conditional use,” she said.
Supervisors’ Chairman Scott Boorse said it’s his understanding that the change deals with the 5G potential of having wireless antennas installed on telephone poles, street lights, buildings, and existing cell phone towers.
“It gives the township the ability to negotiate with installers of these facilities, or at least have some input,” Boorse said.
Those 5G facilities would be allowed along Routes 202 and 926 and on Creek Road, but they can’t be located within the historic district or on lands that are part of the Brandywine Battlefield, Camp added.
The other amendment to the zoning code adds a definition for lot line and how setbacks are to be measured for accessory structures. The amendment also removes a provision that said solar facilities should not be visible from the road.
Other business
Supervisors approved the 2021 budget with no tax increase. Township millage remains at 1.6 mils for next year.
Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.
Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.
