Delaware County News in Brief

The Friends of the Delaware County Women's Commission has named a racetrack and casino manager, a school board vice president and the owner of a trucking business as recipients of 2008 Spirit Awards.

Anne Allman, vice president of operations and assistant general manager of Harrah's Chester Casino and Racetrack, and Beverly H. Kapanjie, vice president of Ridley School District's board of directors, will receive the Individual Spirit Awards.

Stephanie Fleetman, owner of Mustang Expediting Inc. in Chester Township, will receive the Employer Spirit Award.

At Harrah's, Allman oversees slot operations, customer service administration, food-and-beverage operations, environmental services, facilities, valet parking and racing operations.

Kapanjie is also president of a family-owned business, Hoffman's Candle Corner II in Morton, and is a private piano instructor.

Fleetman started her business 26 years ago with one truck and a few employees. She now has more than 26 power units, 36 trailers and more than 45 employees.

The Friends of the Delaware County Women's Commission's Spirit Award Dinner will be held on June 26 at 6 p.m. in the Drexelbrook Corporate Events Center.

Sandi Vito, acting secretary of Pennsylvania's Department of Labor and Industry, will be the keynote speaker.

For more information, contact Carol Dougherty at 610-558-5537.

Operation First Response will host Pennsylvania's first Walk for the Wounded fund-raiser on June 15, at Rose Tree Park in Delaware County.

The two-mile walk will honor and raise funds for soldiers. Nick Constantino, a Broomall resident and Pennsylvania representative for the national nonprofit, said the goal of the walk is to draw attention to the more than 25,000 returning soldiers who have been wounded in military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Walkers who register online at

» READ MORE: www.operationfirstresponse.org

as well as unregistered walkers must sign in at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday.

The walk will begin at 2 p.m. and the route will be lined by representatives from local military color guards and military vehicles, including a helicopter donated by the American Helicopter Museum and Education Center in West Chester.

Ceremonies featuring U.S. military representatives, soldiers who fought in Iraq and musical guest Lauren Hart will take place after the walk. A free concert by the Fabulous Greaseband will take place at 5:30 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public, but donations are encouraged. The park is on Route 252 in Upper Providence.

Robin Dole, associate dean and program director of the Institute for Physical Therapy at Widener University in Chester, has been appointed to the leadership council of the Pennsylvania Center for Health Careers. The center aims to develop strategies that will address challenges and shortages in the state's health-care workforce.

Dole, of Mount Royal, N.J., provides physical therapy services and consultation as co-owner of Dynamic Therapy Associates, PC and Dynamical Learning Concepts, Inc., in Fort Washington, Montgomery County. She also works at Springfield Hospital's Healthplex.

Peter's Place, a center for grieving children and families in Radnor, will host the Bowling Ball at Lucky Strike Lanes, 1336 Chestnut St. in Philadelphia on June 21 from 7 to 11 p.m.

The first annual gala benefit will include bowling, billiards, food and drinks.

Founded in 2001, the nonprofit provides free peer support groups for children and teens following the death of a significant person in their lives. The nonprofit also provides grief training and education for schools, organizations, and health professionals; and internship opportunities for students interested in grief counseling work.

More than 300 families were served in the past year at Peter's Place.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit petersplaceonline.org or call 610-687-5150. Tickets cost $200 apiece.

Nemours, one of the nation's largest pediatric health systems, and the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children recently opened an 8,000-square-foot, $1.2 million pediatric clinic in Newtown Square.

Nemours Children's Clinic Newtown Square is at 3855 West Chester Pike, within the Bryn Mawr Hospital Health Center.

The new facility offers more than 20 Nemours specialists, and medical and surgical services. It has two fully equipped vital-sign rooms, 13 exam rooms, two fully equipped audiology booths, and EKG and echocardiography services.

Laboratory, imaging and pediatric rehabilitation services are also offered on-site through the Bryn Mawr Hospital Health Center.

Clinic hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 800-416-4441 or visit

» READ MORE: www.nemours.org

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- Ed Mahon