It All Started with a Storm

Lightning strikes Sharon Hill tree

A little more than a year ago Sharon Hill Borough was preparing to host its annual 4th of July celebration when a severe thunderstorm hit the area on July 3rd. It took all of two minutes for the storm of heavy rain and wind to pass over a small street, but this was more than enough time for a bolt of lightning to strike and bring down an old maple tree that once adorned the home on the corner of Ridley Avenue and Coates Street.

No pedestrians were hurt and no property was damaged. Sharon Hill residents and Borough Council members pitched in to clean up, working until shortly after midnight to be sure that the street was cleared up in time for the festivities scheduled to begin at 8 a.m.

The tree fallen tree had landed right in my front yard, and I ran right out with my camera. This was my first published story for Spirit Media Group. My story and photo submission appeared on the front page of the July 9 - 15, 2014 edition of The Chester/Community Spirit.

Colingdale Mayor Frank C. Kelly

On October 19, 2014 Frank C. Kelly celebrated his 80th birthday; 50 years of service with the borough of Collingdale; and 44 years as its mayor. Kelly was sworn into office in 1970 and has since been recognized as the longest consecutive serving mayor in Pennsylvania's history.

My life as a newspaper reporter

There was a period of time, three months to be exact, when I reported the news for a Delaware County based publication. The Spirit newspaper, at the time of my hiring, was based in Chester, Pa., and later moved to Collingdale, Pa., where it still operates under the leadership of Paul A. Bennett. During my tenure I covered events and news stories in Philadelphia, Chester, Sharon Hill, Collingdale, Darby, Yeadon and Lansdowne.

The newspaper credited me for 35 of my 39 published stories including:

• The 11th Annual Healthy Hoops at St. Joseph's University
• Senior Prom for Darby Mayor, Helen R. Thomas
• The Sharon Hill Ramblers baseball team historic win
• Delaware County's 225th Anniversary Celebration
• Playground Build at Evans Elementary School
• Breaking the Chains of Violence Community Peace Gathering
• Chester's 10th Annual Riverfront Ramble
• Power 99FM's Peace on the Streets Concert
• 80th Birthday Celebration of Pennsylvania's Longest Running Mayor
• The Ruth L. Bennett Home and The Nia Center Historic Properties Reopened
• Delaware County Ebola and Infectious Disease Task Force
• Darby Borough 2nd Annual Police Academy
• Attorney General Kathleen Kane addresses internet predators and cyberbullying

Although my time at The Spirit was short, it was rewarding, eventful and educational. I met a lot of interesting people, learned more about where I live, and about how the newspaper business works. I have to give credit to my former employer for doing what he has done for more than forty years.