WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2017
CHESTER COUNTY PRESS
7A
Chester County Press
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Opinion
Editorial
Letter to the Editor
County continues to make progress
Sen. Toomey is failing to be an independent voice
Later this month, the Chester County Press will be publishing Progress, our annual business & industry review. One of the stories in Progress will look at the economic outlook for Chester County and—no surprise here—that outlook is bright. At a time when Pennsylvania’s economy could generously be called sluggish, with only modest gains in economic growth and job creation, Chester County continues to gain momentum. The county’s unemployment rate stands at 4.1 percent, which is considerably better than the national average of 5.1 percent. The median household income in the county is $85,373. The county has a triple A bond rating, one of just 50 counties in the country to achieve that, and that means that money is available for necessary projects and services. Chester County is the wealthiest county in the state, and ranks twelfth overall in wealth in the entire U.S. It is also the tenth-most innovative digital county in the nation. From vibrant and charming downtowns to bustling business parks filled with larger companies to a still-rural countryside that offers a high quality of life, the signs of Chester County’s smart growth are obvious wherever you look. One reason for the county’s prosperity is its diverse industry base. Agriculture, including the mushroom industry here in southern Chester County, continues to be enormously important to the county’s economic well-being overall. But Chester County’s broad economy is growing in a number of different sectors, including financial services, health care, and education. There are no fewer than 100 colleges and universities that are located within 50 miles, which not only offers good jobs for county residents, it also means that career training is available for residents close to home. A well-educated workforce is always a major advantage for a community looking to attract new businesses. With a diverse industry base and a highly educated population, Chester County makes an enormous contribution to the region’s overall economic environment today, and it is well-positioned for the future. It’s easy to understand why, in 2016, Chester County ranked fourth in the entire country in a ranking of the happiest counties by SmartAsset. The formula in the survey took into account positive factors like marriage rate, income ratio, life expectancy, and the rate of physical activity. The negative factors included poverty rate, unemployment rate, divorce rate, and personal bankruptcy rates. In other surveys, Chester County has ranked as the healthiest county in the state. Chester County has succeeded in providing a high quality of life to its residents by balancing economic development with preservation efforts. The schools are good, making the area attractive to young families. Officials in local municipalities have been careful to promote smart growth and to invest in parks and recreation. There have been significant efforts to revitalize downtowns like Kennett Square and Oxford. Chester County’s success at a time when the state as a whole is making only modest economic progress, suggests that there might be some initiatives and practices here that might be helpful to communities across Pennsylvania.
Chester County Press Publisher - Randall S. Lieberman
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Letter to the Editor: During his campaign, Senator Toomey repeatedly promised us that he would be an independent voice for Pennsylvania. So far, there is no evidence of that. He has fallen in line with all the other Republicans, no matter how horrible the idea is. We cannot afford to build
a wall, and the fact is, it will not help stop illegal immigration. Most are hidden in vehicles or come through a tunnel. Toomey has said nothing. We cannot afford to make cuts to Medicare and Medicaid and put our seniors and the disabled, our most vulnerable citizens, at risk. Toomey has said nothing.
President Trump repeatedly tells lies. Even today he stated that crime and murders in Philadelphia are rising at a terrible rate. The fact is, the murder rate has consistently declined for ten years. Senator Toomey will not even speak up and defend his own state. Despite increasing evidence of Russian interference with our election,
President Trump instead decides to investigate Americans, of which there is almost no evidence. Again...our “independent voice” remains silent. It’s time to demand better of Senator Toomey, and it’s time for him to step up and speak up. Lisa Lightner Avondale
Changes to health care system are needed Letter to the Editor: Regarding health care coverage, it’s time for a whole lot of people to stop being delusional. We all have our own thoughts, biases, personal experiences, and opinions, but guess what? It doesn’t matter. One thing is for certain and what does matter is that all able-bodied Americans who have blinders on or their heads in the sand need a wake-
up call. That wake-up call is to start taking responsibility for your health. We have become a nation of slobs, and we expect to be taken care of when we do nothing to take care of ourselves. The health care system cannot sustain the burden much longer no matter what, whether it’s private insurance, Obama Care, Medicare, Medicaid, welfare, singlepayer, socialized, it does not matter. Cuts, lots of cuts are
going to be made. Get over it. We got ourselves into this mess and are a major causative factor of it. There is also a lot of “fluff” added over the last several decades that can easily be eliminated. And, yes, eliminating something that you once received tends to pissoff most people. Again, get over it. Chances are, these eliminations are not going to cause you to suffer a sudden or sooner demise.
In any event, the one thing that must occur in order to help make a positive impact on the future of health care delivery is for us users and abusers to start taking better care of ourselves and stop blaming everybody but ourselves for the debacle it has become. Guess what? I really don’t foresee that happening. Janine MaichleMergenthaler Lincoln University, PA
Commentary
We need investment in high-quality pre-K educational programs By State Rep. Carolyn Comitta Our children are one of our most precious resources, and should be afforded all of the educational, emotional, social, physical and intellectual growth offered via pre-K and head start programs. As a former educator in the Octorara Area School District, I believe that children in our commonwealth should have the best start in life and the same learning
opportunities, regardless of their ZIP code. The advantages of early childhood education include the opportunities to engage socially, increase vocabulary and learn classroom skills, with the key to success starting with early learning and engagement. In other words, children learn and develop skill sets that they carry into adulthood. And, who can argue that young minds aren’t impressionable? In the coming weeks, Gov.
Wolf will be unveiling his 2017-18 budget proposal, in which there is an overwhelming opportunity to provide 10,000 eligible middle-class children access to quality pre-K educational programs. This is a call to action that can’t be ignored, as investments in highquality pre-K have been proven to have the highest return on investment of any social program, leading to savings in K-12 resulting from reductions in the need
for special education and grade repetition, as well as incarceration and criminal conduct. I am in support of providing adequate funding to all of the pre-K programs currently available and respectfully call on Gov. Wolf to consider ways to address the growing middle-class pre-K and head start concerns across the commonwealth, as our most precious resources are counting on us to be their voice and advocate.
County holds first-ever K-9 patrol and narcotics training course A graduation held special significance last month for the Chester County Sheriff’s Office. For starters, the ceremony heralded the graduates of the county’s first-ever K-9 patrol and narcotics training course. Previously, K-9 teams traveled to Ohio to receive certification. Additionally, the ceremony included three SEPTA K-9 teams, marking the start of a welcome partnership that’s likely to continue. “This is a very special day for everyone here,” said Chester County Sheriff Carolyn “Bunny” Welsh during the ceremony, which was held at the Chester County Justice Center. Welsh noted that the teams had worked diligently since September to complete the rigorous course. The graduates included Chester County Deputy Sheriff Mike Sarro and his partner, Dexter; Chester County Deputy Sheriff Mike Carlson and his partner, Luke; SEPTA Officer Jason Walters and his partner, Jase; SEPTA Officer Richard Donaldson and his partner, Quest; and SEPTA Officer Derrick Gordon and his partner, Lars. Welsh said the initiative was made possible through the efforts of Chester County Deputy Sheriff Paul Bryant, a Level III trainer for the U.S.
Courtesy Photo
Chester County Deputy Sheriff Paul Bryant, Chester County Sheriff Carolyn “Bunny” Welsh, Chester County Lt. Harry McKinney, and Chester County Deputy Sheriff Brian Bolt assemble for the graduation ceremony of Class 001 Patrol and Narcotics that includes SEPTA Officer Jason Walters and his partner, Jase; SEPTA Officer Richard Donaldson and his partner, Quest; and SEPTA Officer Derrick Gordon and his partner, Lars.
Police Canine Association; Chester County Lt. Harry McKinney, a master trainer for the National Association of Professional Canine Handlers; and Chester County Deputy Sheriff Brian Bolt, a training assistant. Bryant, who joined the Chester County Sheriff’s Office after spending nearly three decades with the Philadelphia Police Department as a K-9 instructor, said the impetus for the program started after he began receiving calls from other agencies that wanted to know if Bryant was still available for training programs – inquiries that he forwarded to McKinney. Recognizing the economic sense of using in-house resources for the new K-9 teams, McKinney said a county training program would also help to strengthen the skills of the existing teams, and Welsh readily
agreed. “Working with the other agencies is also very exciting,” Welsh said. “It not only provides our teams with additional training, but it also reinforces our relationships with those surrounding agencies.” Bryant explained that the program gets altered “to meet the needs of the participants.” For example, part of the SEPTA training took place in transit. “We went into Philly for several days and spent time riding trains,” Bryant said. “The teams benefit from training in the environment where they will be working.” The county K-9 teams did some of their work at area parks, such as Wolf Hollow, he said. Bryant credited Welsh with not only promoting an atmosphere that encourages K-9 teams in her office, but also with providing the
law-enforcement community with a valuable training option. “The more opportunities that these officers have to receive certification, the better it is for them and for the public they serve,” Bryant said. Welsh said that the office’s 10 dogs respond to several calls each week. The most frequent involve searches of vehicles or buildings by teams trained to detect narcotics or explosives. Equally in demand is Melody, the office’s comfort dog, who often calms children who have to testify at trial or eases stress for all in custody disputes. McKinney said the next class, which will include teams from Ridley Township, would be held in March. “There are a lot of benefits to doing this,” Welsh said of the training course. “It really is a win-win.”