A Visit with the Upper Darby Police

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Upper Darby Police Station

Upper Darby Police Superintendent Mike Chitwood offered to take Ignacio and I on a tour of the Upper Darby Police Station and learn a little about the day to day operations of the police department.  Upper Darby Township is a large, ethnically diverse community where over 70 languages are spoken.  The Township borders on the western part of Philadelphia and encompasses approximately 8 square miles. 

Upper Darby Police Chief Mike Chitwood and Ignacio

While speaking with Mike we learned that the Upper Darby Police Department currently employs 131 officers and  responds to over 70,000 calls for service per year.  UDPD has a Motorcycle Patrol Unit (in which Igancio was particulary interested), a SWAT team, a K9 unit and a Mountain Bike Unit. 

While at the Police Station we met with Sgt. Scott Lewis who explained the steps involved in processing a suspect.  This included a first hand demonstration of the fingerprinting process for Ignacio and a set of souvenir fingerprints!





Another highlight of the day was the ride in the Police car with Capt. Anthony Paparo.  We took a short tour around the neighborhood surrounding the Police Station and talked about the protocol for how the officers respond to calls and how having a visible police presence in the community can help deter criminals.

Thanks Captain Paparo and Sergeant Lewis for taking the time to meet with us for sharing your knowledge and expertise.

A special thanks to Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood for making the day happen!

Phillies versus Atlanta Braves, Sept 20

Baseball at Citizen's Bank Park.  It does not get any more American than this.
Ignacio, Rafa and I cheered the Phillies on to another victory over the Atlanta Braves on Monday, September 20th.
We spent a few hours tailgaiting outside the park with Bill, MJ and Will. 
Hoagies, tomato pie, bean bag toss, music and lots of Phillies fans geting all psyched for the game.

Bicentenial Event, Chilean Independence Day

On Saturday, we loaded up my sister's Honda Pilot and Cody, Ignacio, Chris, Rafa and I drove to Washington, DC for the Chilean Independence Day. September 18th marked the 200th anniversary of Chile's Independence from Spain.  Ignacio's Aunt, Trinidad, met us for Mass and then took the boys for a fun-filled weekend in Washington, DC.  I spent the evening with friends in Virginia and returned to pick the boys up from the Independence Day festival in Silver Spring MD on Sunday. 

The boys visited with Trinidad and her husband, had dinner in Georgetown at the Tombs and stopped by the Potomac River waterfront where they claim there were tons of parties on boats and yachts that I would not have believed.

Georgetown University moved up to top position for a college pick for Cody. 

Here are some pictures of the Independence Day Mass.

Independence Day - September 18th

Chileans celebrate their independence on the 18th of September. Their road to independence from Spain started on that date in 1810. Although they would have to fight for eight more years to earn their total freedom, Chile celebrates the 18th of 1810 with great fanfare. Chile officially proclaimed independence February 12, 1818.
The 18th, or "dieciocho," is celebrated during a week full of fiestas patrias. This includes parades, dances, drinking, eating traditional Chilean food, and music.

And some pictures of the boys in DC

The Prep Mixer

I am waiting for mixer pictures but I heard the boys loved the Prep Mixer and are counting down the days until the next one.
Rumor has it that Cody is ready to try out for Dancing with the Stars!
Pictures to follow....

Welcome Party, Sept 17 St Joe's Prep

The Prep students and teachers welcomed Ignacio and Rafaele after school on Friday, September 17th.
The boys recieved Prep tshirts, sports Jersey's and other memorabilia.
Pictures to follow....

Annual Luau

Saturday, September 11th

We attended the annual Luau at Bill and MJ's house.

The pig roast is always part of the luau and here is a picture of the pig just before it was devoured....

Cody and Ignacio posed for a picture with my brother and with MJ's Uncle Bob, who both also attended the Prep.

Cody, Uncle Bill, Uncle Bob and Ignacio...the 4 Preppers

Here are some other party pictures....

First Week of School

Cody and Ignacio have completed their first week of school.  So far, so good.  Ignacio likes all of his classes and his teachers.  We had a busy week getting all of the school supplies and books together.  Ignacio was particularly amazed by "Book Sox" which are these really cool, easy to use book covers.  We talked about how clever the person is who invented the book sox and how sometimes a simple idea is so brilliant!

Ignacio's classes include BioEthics, English, Government and Drawing to name a few.

The Mac Book arrived yesterday. This was thrilling.  Ignacio and Cody worked on getting everything set up and Ignacio loves it!

The week ended with Cody taking and passing his driver's license test.  Finally!

Labor Day weekend at the shore...the final days of summer vacation

Jerry and Ignacio at the Pudgy Pelican, Avalon NJ

Thursday, August 30th
Hurricaine Earl was moving up the coast as we headed back to the shore for the Labor Day weekend.  The storm was not as bad as the weathermen were predicting for New Jersey but there were sustained winds of 45 mph on Friday night into Saturday.

Cody and Ignacio spent most of the weekend with Cody's dad in Avalon.  Ignacio really liked Avalon. What's not to like...the beach is beautiful, the waves were great this weekend and the boys stayed close to the center of town so they could ride bikes around town and visit with friends.

On Sunday, Ignacio, Jerry, Jerry's parents and I went to Church and then to the Pudgy Pelican for a late breakfast. We got to see Cody at work on a very busy day.

We drove home Monday evening after the final few hours of swimming and skim boarding and a last look at the beach.  Jerry, Ignacio, Christian and Cody all agreed they were not quite ready for summer to be over.

But school starts tomorrow so it seems another summer has come and gone.

St. Joe's Prep Orientation

Wednesday, September 1

Today was oreintation day for Ignacio. Cody was a student leader for the orientation session.
The boys looked very handsome in their navy blue blazers and ties.  We took a picture with Ignacio's camera which he will email me and I will post shortly.

Grandma's Pat Cook's Birthday

Sunday, August 29th

My mom's birthday was on Sunday. The family came over for a birthday lunch and some cake.  My mom turned 77.  We sang and she blew out all the candles!
We also said farewell to Alex, Cody and Trevor's cousin who was flying to Amsterdam Sunday afternoon for a semester abroad.

Uncle Karl, Alex and Ignacio

Debbie, Alex, Grandma and Robert

Trevor's Indoctrination into the Military Regiment SUNY Maritime

We were off to the Bronx again on Saturday for the Indoctrination Graduation at SUNY Maritime College. Trevor completed his two weeks of "boot camp". 
We proudly watched the cadets march in formation and recite the SUNY Maritime Oath. They also sang a fine rendition of "Anchors Away". 
On the car ride home, Trevor told us all the details of being a "MUG" at Maritime.  Cody, Ignacio and I decided the toughest part was sitting indian style, with a straight back for two hours every day with your arm raised at a 90 dgree angle reading a book....we were not ready to sign up! 

Commanders Salute Squad 9, E Company

Trevor's squad, he 3rd on back on left

Taking the Maritime Oath

Ignacio and Trevor and Cody's  Aunt Anne

Trevor and Matt Helms

The driving range and Wednesday Night at the Movies

Wednesday, August 25th
Will, Mark, Cody and Ignacio went to the driving range at Paxon Hollow Golf course today.  $5ucket of gets you a bucket of balls and the boys were able to practice their swing.  Cody said Ignacio definitely got the hang of golf!

The Inception was the Wednesday Night at the Movies choice.  I heard it was good but very hard to follow...we decided it was best that we see it again with Spanish subtitles since it was so complicated and Ignacio found some of the dialogue hard to follow.

The Dale Laners

Ignacio had a chance to meet most of my neighbors on Dale Lane on Tuesday night. Marie and Bob were kind enough to host the group for a barbeque.  It was a chance to meet and mingle with Ignacio and catch up on the Dale Lane news.  The Lucci family could not attend as they were dropping Matt off at Boston College.  Katie is leaving for Lehigh University on Thursday.  The dining room table was filled with lots of stuff for the college dorm.  Hope it all fits in the car!

Thanks again Marie and Bob!
Great to see everyone.

Ignacio, Cody, Katie, Zac and Emily

Jeff, Rita, Marie and Patty

Wildwood, another Jersey Shore town

Monday, August 23rd

Ignacio spent the day with Chris and Rafa, the other exchange student from Chile, in Wildwood. Chris's parents have a condo in Wildwood Crest.

Wildwood is best known for it's extensive boardwalk with rides, a water park, games and more.
Ignacio did not get a chance to see the boardwalk yet...we are planning to do that on Labor Day weekend.
Check out the link to Wildwood.
 Wildwood's website

At the beach in Avalon and a swim in the bay at Pierce's Point

On Saturday, we spent some time swimming in the Atlantic Ocean in Avalon.
Cody worked on perfecting his skimboarding tricks while Ignacio rode the waves.

In Avalon

At Pierce's Point along the Delware Bay

Catching bait fish

Bozzi is swimming too!

Ignacio and Cody with Ian and Dylan

Fishin' Friday

On Friday, Cody had to work so Ignacio and I headed out for "Fishin' Friday".  My friend, Frank Marshall, was our host for the day.  We fished in the back bays of Avalon near the 30th Street bridge.  I caught the first fish which was a very small sand shark along with some sea robbins and sea bass.  None of the fish were keepers.  Ignacio caught sea bass, sea robins and a flounder.  We were hoping the flounder was big enough to keep, cook and eat but it was on the small side. 
Check out these great fish photos:

our bait fish, bunker

Sea Robin

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Flounder

Ignacio on the "Fishin' Frank"