House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi announced recently the re-election  of Congressman Bob Brady as ranking member (Democratic chair) of the Committee on House Administration in the 113th Congress.

Brady was nominated by Pelosi and elected unanimously by the House Democratic Caucus. He was first elected chairman of the Committee on House Administration in May of 2007 and served until the end of the 111th Congress in December 2010. He was elected ranking member during the 112th Congress, which ends on Jan. 1, 2013.  

“Middle-class families across the country will benefit from the wealth of knowledge Congressman Brady brings to this committee,” Pelosi said. “Congressman Brady is a leader who is committed to working with his Republican chairman to make progress for the American people.

Brady said, “I am honored by Leader Pelosi’s nomination to remain ranking member … and humbled by the trust placed in me by Democratic colleagues.”

Brady is the first Philadelphian to chair a full committee since 1988 and he is also the fourth most senior Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee.

Brady said, “I’ve been a leader in the House’s effort to fight voter suppression, improve access to polls, and stop the flow of unlimited, unregulated money into our political system and through my leadership, we have made a positive impact in protecting free and fair elections and the right to vote in them. In the 113th Congress, I will continue to use my position as ranking member to protect every American’s right to vote.”  

In the 112th Congress, Brady worked with other Democratic leaders to introduce the first comprehensive piece of voting legislation in a generation, the Voter Empowerment Act.

This bill would modernize voter registration, ensure equal access to the ballot box for all Americans, and prohibit deceptive practices and voter fraud that keep people from exercising their constitutional right to vote. 

In addition to legislation, the committee fought on numerous fronts to protect the constitutionally guaranteed right to vote.

Brady explained, “Where we saw eligible voters purged from the rolls, we engaged the Justice Department and the attorney general to prevent widespread disenfranchisement. As ranking member, I pushed for hearings and consideration of the bill. Despite widespread public support, Republican leadership refused to listen. In the next Congress, I will continue to push Republicans to listen to their constituents, and address the mess made by unlimited, secret campaign spending.”

Delaware County veterans can now obtain a free veterans’ photo identification card at the Government Center in Media, enabling them to access discounts offered to veterans by various businesses, restaurants and services.

The new Veterans’ ID program was launched last Wednesday by Delaware County Council, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the recorder of deeds in a program also attended by several veterans.

The veterans’ ID card will be issued at no charge to all honorably discharged veterans from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday at the recorder of deeds office, located in Room 108 at the Government Center.

The program enables veterans to register their DD-214 or equivalent military discharge document at the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, thereby providing a safe backup copy of this important document.

The veterans’ ID card will certify that veterans have provided the necessary documentation to support their military service. The ID card then enables veterans to access discounts offered by local businesses as a way of showing their appreciation to veterans for their service to the country.

However, to receive a photo ID card, the veteran must present a DD-214 or equivalent military discharge issued under honorable conditions and a current photo ID card such as a driver’s license.

“This is just one way that we can show our appreciation to veterans of all ages who bravely served our country in all branches of the military,” said County Council Vice Chairman Mario J. Civera Jr., a U.S. Air Force veteran.

“We have heard from our veterans that a photo ID card would be helpful to them, and we

recognized that this was a service we could provide at the county level,” Civera said.

At the same time, the county is conducting outreach to businesses who offer veterans discounts in order to list them on the county website for Veterans Affairs.

Businesses interested in participating in the veterans discount program can contact the County Veterans Affairs office at (610) 891-4539.

The discounts are at the discretion of the business and will be posted on the Veterans Affairs website for an initial time period of one year. The site will be updated on a regular basis, so new businesses can be added at any time.

Each business will also receive a certificate of participation to display at their location.

“This is a great example of how county government can partner with members of our business community to provide a benefit for our veterans, and it gives businesses another way to advertise and reach customers,” Civera said. “Whether they served in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, other deployments or here in the United States, we owe a debt of gratitude to our veterans, and this is one way of showing our appreciation.”

Civera was the first veteran to be issued a Veterans ID card at the county office. He also listed his business, Civera’s Deli in Upper Darby, on the discount site.

He explained that veterans who cannot locate their DD-214 or military discharge documents can apply for a copy through the Veterans Affairs office, located on the ground floor of the Government Center. This process can take several weeks.

For more information about the Delaware County Veterans ID Program, or any other veteran’s services, contact the Department of Veterans Affairs at 610-891-4645 or visit the website at www.co.delaware.pa.us.

Revel in the spirit of the season at historic Pottsgrove Manor with the annual “Pottsgrove Manor by Candlelight” open-house on Sunday, Dec. 9 from 2 to 8 p.m. 

The public is invited to take a self-guided tour of the 1752 manor house, where costumed interpreters will portray the colonial residents of Pottsgrove Manor.

As visitors make their way through the house, they will hear the strains of music played on historical instruments, see English country dancing, catch a whiff of the delicious smells in the kitchen as historical cook Deborah Peterson prepares a colonial feast, play traditional tavern games, and enjoy the beauty of the mansion lit by candlelight and bedecked with greenery.

After touring the house, guests will want to visit Pottsgrove Manor’s museum shop for unique, historically-oriented gifts like locally-made redware pottery and ornaments, reproduction glassware, handcrafted candles and soaps, books, toys and games.

Next door to the mansion in the Miller’s House, young visitors can make free Colonial crafts to take home, and complimentary seasonal refreshments of hot spiced cider and cookies will be served. Outside in the manor’s courtyard, visitors will be able to warm themselves by a bonfire (weather permitting) and enjoy historic carols sung by the Colonial Revelers singing group between 2 to 4 p.m.

A donation of $2 per person is suggested for this event. Visitors are asked to park at the Carousel at Pottstown building, 30 W. King St.; a shuttle will transport visitors to and from Pottsgrove Manor throughout the event. Handicapped parking is available in the museum’s parking lot.

Can’t make it to the open house? Visitors can enjoy the spirit of the season at Pottsgrove Manor now through Jan. 6 with a guided tour of the mansion, decorated for the holidays.

Tours are offered during regular museum hours, and the museum shop will also be open for holiday shopping. Regular museum hours are: Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m. Tours are given on the hour. The last tour of the day begins as 3 p.m. Groups of 10 or more should pre-register by calling (610) 326-4014. The museum is closed Mondays, as well as Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Pottsgrove Manor, home of John Potts, colonial ironmaster and founder of Pottstown, is located at 100 West King Street near the intersection of King Street and Route 100, just off Route 422, in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Pottsgrove Manor is operated by Montgomery County under the direction of the Parks and Heritage Services Division of the Assets and Infrastructure Department.

Seasonal influenza immunization is an important aspect of preventive medicine, appropriate for people 6 months of age and older.

Despite the availability of safe and effective influenza vaccines, cases of vaccine-preventable disease continue to occur in Pennsylvania annually. 

The Montgomery County Health Department is joining with the Pennsylvania Department of Health in observing National Influenza Vaccination Week now until Saturday.

This year’s campaign reminds everyone living in Pennsylvania about the importance of influenza immunization.

All Montgomery County residents are reminded to spread the word about the importance of getting the seasonal influenza vaccination.

It is not too late to get a seasonal influenza vaccination, and it is better to start the New Year in good health than with the flu. The rate of seasonal influenza activity peaks between January and March, so vaccination efforts should continue through February. It takes about one to two weeks to build immunity after receiving the seasonal influenza vaccine.  

Every year, an estimated 36,000 individuals die from influenza-related illnesses, and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized nationwide. Rates of serious illness and death are highest among persons older than 65 years of age and persons of any age who have medical conditions that place them at increased risk for complications from seasonal influenza.

Montgomery County residents can receive a free influenza immunization at any of county health department’s three health centers.  See the schedule below for dates, times and locations. For more information on immunization, contact the Montgomery County Health Department at (610) 278-5117.

Norristown Health Center
1430 DeKalb St., Norristown, (610) 278-5145 on Mondays — children under 19 years old by appointment only (times vary); call for an appointment

Tuesdays and Thursdays— all ages on a walk-in basis from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Pottstown Health Center364 King St., Pottstown, (610) 970-5040
Mondays— all ages on a walk-in basis from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesdays—children under 19 years old by appointment only (times vary), call for an appointment.

Willow Grove Eastern Courthouse Annex 102 York Road, Suite 401, Willow Grove, (215) 784-5415.

Thursdays— all ages by appointment only (times vary), please call for an appointment.

Dorothy Miller-Clemmons was employed by the School District of Philadelphia for 19 years.

Miller-Clemmons died Nov. 26, 2012. She was 55.

She was born Sept. 4, 1957 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

She graduated from Chris Jan Botha High School in Johannesburg. She attended the University of Western Cape for one year before attending the University of Witwatersrand, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1981.

In 1980, after being involved in anti-apartheid activities, she was assaulted by the security police. She then traveled to Gaborone, Botswana to transport banned literature back into South Africa. It was there she met Michael Clemmons, whom she married in 1982.

She obtained her master’s degree in education from the University of Pennsylvania and received a United Nations scholarship in 1986. In 1992, she obtained an elementary education certificate from the University of Pennsylvania and was a Marcus Foster fellow. She received a principal’s certificate from Cheyney University in 2000. She was pursuing a certificate in early childhood education at Arcadia University at the time of her death.

Miller-Clemmons held various positions in the Philadelphia School District, including assistant director of Head Start, early childhood field coordinator, early childhood coach and kindergarten teacher.

She was a member of Mother Bethel AME Church and the Omega Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

In addition to her husband, Miller-Clemmons is survived by her children, Zinzi and Mark; sisters Avril and Veronica; brothers, Keith and Maxi; father, Louis; and other relatives and friends.

A memorial service will be held Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. at Mother Bethel AME Church, 419 S. Sixth St.

Slater Funeral Home handed the arrangements.