Western Chester County Life Spring/Summer 2021

Western Chester County Life

Western Chester County Life connects the business community of Western Chester County Chamber of Commerce into a cohesive, reader friendly magazine. Western Chester County Life not only serves as a business marketing tool for all Chamber members but also as a regional guide for all those living in or visiting the Western Chester County region.

By serving as the official magazine of the region, Western Chester County Life highlights the lifestyle, community, culture and commerce of this dynamic area.

Letter from the 2021 Board President

On behalf of the Western Chester County Chamber of Commerce’s (WCCCC) Board of Directors, I would like to thank our business community for persevering and supporting our Chamber through a very difficult year. As our nation continues to labor in halting the spread of the Coronavirus, the WCCCC stands ready to support all businesses with the many programs and events that we offer. Throughout the pandemic, our Chamber of Commerce has made a positive impact through virtual programming to support our members’ businesses. Our organization plays a vital part in the ongoing growth and long-awaited redevelopment now taking place in our region along with the improving business environment.

As a longtime business owner in Western Chester County, I am so excited to see the redevelopment in the City of Coatesville happening now. In our Chamber, we have taken a regional position serving 23 municipalities and the City of Coatesville and have provided unprecedented opportunities to connect with prospective clients and business peers. As a longawaited sense of normalcy will return this coming year, I encourage everyone to support the local economy by shopping local and, of course, patronizing your fellow Chamber businesses.

I am a second-generation electrical contractor with deep roots in the Coatesville area. I am excited that the Chamber, in addition to all of its other programs, now offers a trade scholarship along with hosting the “Time for Trades” program where many of our talented trade advisors and craftsmen speak about careers in the building trades. Vocational and Trade Schools prepare students for the trades placing them on a fast track to a rewarding skilled profession; I am delighted the Chamber supports this cause.

With many of our in-person events cancelled or postponed last year, the Chamber enlisted the help of Justin Chan from Valley Creek Productions to produce a new video series to keep everyone engaged, Western

Chester County Checks In. You can watch these bi-weekly episodes at westernchestercounty.com; the episodes highlight local business and community news. I am committed to continuing the growth of the Chamber’s long history and am proud to be associated with this great organization. We welcome you to explore all we have to offer. As I always say, please help spread the news: The Western Chester County Chamber of Commerce is the place to be.

Yours Truly, Greg Vietri

G.A. Vietri, Inc.

Greg Vietri

Western Chester County Chamber Events

*Please note our events are subject to change due to the current environment Visit our event calendar at westernchestercounty.com for more information and registration.

March 23, 2021

Member Extravaganza

Victory Brewing Company, Parkesburg

5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

June 17, 2021

Gala on the Greene

5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

August 23, 2021

Annual Chamber Golf Outing

Applecross Country Club

11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Western Chester County Life|

Farm & Garden Flowers

“I love planting, I really do,” says Madeline Frankel, owner of Farm and Garden Flowers flower farm in East Fallowfield. “There’s such a feeling of optimism when you are readying the beds for the beauty to come.”

Her husband Jay Pressman likes harvesting best: “It’s such a good feeling to see the fruits of your labor when you are filling up the truck with buckets of flowers.”

Flower farming is a second career for both Frankel, a former project manager for a medical software company and

Pressman, a retired attorney. It’s also a “second career” for their 18-acre farm, which used to be home to a small dairy operation. Frankel and Pressman now grow flowers at the top of the hill where the cows used to graze.

“I try to grow varieties of flowers that are a little out of the ordinary,” says Frankel. “I like flowers that are more interesting than the usual varieties, blooms with multiple colors, ruffled edges, or those with especially vibrant colors and fragrances.”

After taking horticultural and design classes at Longwood Gardens, Frankel originally set out to be a florist, not a farmer. However meeting (now-retired) flower farmer Kate Sparks from Laughing Lady Flower Farm in Berks County changed her mind--and her career path.

“I found her work so interesting and inspiring; talking to her made me believe that I could do I too,” recalls Frankel. In 2013, she and Pressman took the plunge and tore up the backyard of their former home in East Goshen. From those first planted rows, they gained an enthusiastic following selling their mixed flower bouquets at area farmers markets.

Three years later when the right property became available and they were confident in their cus tomer base, the couple took an even greater leap and purchased their current farm.

Frankel and Pressman, along with help from their grown son and a team of seasonal staff, have since shifted away from selling at farmers markets to supplying floral materials and bouquets to several retailers including Carlino’s Market in West Chester, half a dozen florists, as well as private clients hosting casual events.

flowers are at their peak at the time of their event, but I can usually work with a client who wants a particular color or shade.”

“Unfortunately I won’t promise a specific variety of flower, but if you want a burgundy dahlia, I should be able to do that,” she adds.

For larger weddings, Frankel is happy to refer couples to one of the florists she works with.

“We make sure new flowers are blooming in the fields each week from late March until the first week of October,” says Frankel. “In early April, we have hellebores and daffodils, followed by lots of tulips and peonies in spring. Summer brings lilies, larkspur, snapdragons, zinnias and sunflowers. Our season ends with dahlias until the frost.”

The farm also has many established shrubs like azaleas and viburnums and evergreens, which Frankel uses for cut foliage to sell to florists as well as in her own designs.

“Most of the weddings that I provide flowers for involve brides who want to do some of their own design work,” says Frankel. “I am happy to work with brides who may not have a huge floral budget, but still want locally grown, fresh flowers for a small wedding or backyard event.”

“I love it most when brides say they want to use whatever

“Sometimes I’ll have a consultation with a gal and they will have these great ideas about what they want to do, and then as we get closer to the big date, they realize they need a little help. It’s easy to underestimate how much work is involved for even a small backyard celebration.”

Farm and Garden Flowers’ diverse client base has served them well during the twists and turns of the pandemic. Their business was largely immune to the upheaval experienced by many of their agricultural colleagues and fellow florists, especially those who specialize in events.

At the start of the pandemic, they had to cancel a couple small classes that were initially slated to be held onsite, and they grew nervous when many of the stores they worked with had to close their doors temporarily. Weddings were postponed, if not canceled.

Midway through the growing season, however, Frankel starting getting calls again from stores asking for even more

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Farm & Garden Flowers

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bouquets than they would have typically ordered in a normal year and weddings that had been put off were once again on the schedule, although guest lists were greatly downsized. With this reversal of fortune, the farmers were able to escape composting their flowers as they initially feared might have to occur.

“Our business is small, but we’ve been consistently busy,” says Frankel. “Maybe people need something like fresh flower bouquets to cheer themselves up more than ever during these hard times.”

Going into their eighth season, they’ve learned more about patience and resolve than they could have ever anticipated.

“I’ve learned to stop crying over lost flowers,” advises Frankel. “It’s either the weather, the deer, fungus or bugs or a particularly lovely flower you were counting that doesn’t grow. You have to move on; every year we try to get a little smarter.”

Throughout last year’s challenges, she and Pressman are especially grateful they were able to keep their four parttime employees throughout the growing season. The team was able to work socially distanced outside in the fields

without interruption.

“I really like working with our team,” says Frankel. “We’ve gotten lucky with many returning employees, including several wonderful teachers and school staff who are available to work in the summer and don’t mind getting their hands dirty.”

Ever the champion of locally grown flowers, Frankel is quick to recognize that imported flowers have their place in a florist’s palette, especially during the colder months when local flowers aren’t possible or when a client who wants a flower that doesn’t grow well here.

“I don’t trash imported flowers; I’ll even order them sometimes if there is a specific need,” says Frankel. “Some things are just so much nicer when they are fresh from the farm though.”

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Farm & Garden Flowers

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Out of the wide range of flowers they grow, Frankel is especially proud of their dahlias. These hit their peak in September and October just in time for fall wedding season.

“I had a York County florist contact me once at the last minute because the dahlias they imported were terrible,” recalls Frankel. “They drove all the way to East Fallowfield to get our fresh ones just in time for the wedding planned for that weekend.”

At the end of the day, Frankel knows her locally grown flowers have a competitive advantage with area florists and flower lovers alike: “When I drop off buckets of flowers to florists, they know they can use every stem in that bucket. Mine are picked that morning so my customers can be

confident they are receiving the freshest flowers available.”

Another major benefit of locally grown flowers is the fragrance. Often, flowers hybridized by floral wholesalers to be hardy enough to survive a long shipping process lose their scent in the process.

“Farm grown flowers have a lovely fragrance, fresh and sweet,” says Frankel. “A bouquet from the Acme may have no scent at all by the time you get it home.”

Despite their many successes, the couple aren’t looking to expand into cut-your-own flowers or hosting large events on their property.

“Since my husband and I are “retired,” we are happy to just keep growing the things that our customers want from us that grow well here,” says Frankel. “We want to keep it relatively manageable going forward.”

Despite her claim to want to keep it simple, Frankel is still considering branching out into dried flowers and possibly providing restaurant florals in response to customer inquiries she’s received and industry trends she’s been following with her professional florist colleagues.

“I have a barn that isn’t currently being used for anything…” she muses.

Farm and Garden Flowers

1215 South Caln Road Coatesville, PA 19320 www.farmandgardenflowers.com

The passing of a Parkesburg legend

TBy Josh Mellinger

here was a chilling breeze lightly blowing across the cemetery on that December afternoon. Nearby were gathered members of the Keystone Valley Fire Department, a silhouette of Ol’ Glory shadowing the small country road as members of the community stood at attention, to honor the life of a man loved and revered by all around the community in Parkesburg and surrounding boroughs. There were tear-stained faces of family and close friends looking to remember and honor the beloved Bud Wilde, whose life was dedicated to the service of others.

When commemorating the life of Bud Wilde, a few words come to mind. Words such as “Legacy,” “Pillar,” and “Servant,” could resonate from the conversations of any who had the honor of knowing Bud over the years. Bud Wilde took on the longtime legacy of the Wilde’s Funeral home after graduating mortuary college in 1953, and helped grow it into a community setting that we know of today. It was not uncommon for Bud and his brother Jim to make one feel like family anytime you walked into the funeral home. Whether it would be the stories Bud told, or the jokes he made, or even the occasional tease he would throw your way, somehow Bud always had a way of making even the hardest of times better. His uncanny hospitality, when you would walk into the funeral home would match the same love and care that he showed his own loved ones and family.

Beyond his own business, Bud many times could be seen investing into other businesses in the community, whether by frequenting them or by giving his

much-desired advice and wisdom. It was not uncommon to see Bud walking the borough tossing out hellos to those passing by and occasional waves as people traveled back and forth. He worked hard at everything he did and even later in his life he wouldn’t let his age or health get in the way of doing even the smallest of tasks throughout the town. Many business owners, even to this day try to adopt his peerless mentality of community first, throughout Parkesburg and surrounding areas.

Bud served the community in so many ways beyond the funeral business too. Whether being involved in his church at Parkesburg Presbyterian and then Parkesburg Methodist serving as a deacon, elder, and trustee, to serving as a Brandywine Goddard Mason for over 60 years, to serving on Chester County Blind Association, and Parkesburg Lions Club to just name a few… Bud tirelessly gave of himself to better those around him.

The mentality of serving others even started at an early age when at the age of 14 Bud joined what was then the Parkesburg Fire Company as a Junior Firefighter, in which later he would become Fire Chief, and served many years faithfully in the community protecting the borough.

The list could go on of the other many committees and groups Bud served on, or his many achievements, but no matter how long the list was or how busy he was, or how many awards he received, Bud always loved and took time for his family whom he viewed as his greatest reward. He was committed to taking care of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and wanted to be that example of a man who dedicated his life to the service of God, family, and community.

Bud Wilde

Bud will be missed by so many, but his example of love and grace that is in our hearts as we remember him, can be shared for years to come. His hard work and selfless dedication to the business community and surrounding community may go unsurpassed. The many life lessons he taught so many of us over the years will pave the busy streets of the community. His charitable spirit will be stamped upon all of minds and hearts. Each day, we choose to live the legacy that we want to leave. For Bud, he lived each day to it fullest inspiring change and growth in the community. Influencers refuse to leave the world the way they found it, and Bud certainly was an influencer. What we need now more than ever is a community of great people who live to positively impact others and build enduring legacies. Thank you, Bud, for your example of servitude and for being a pillar in our community, and for building an enduring legacy.

Brandywine Health Foundation’s Reflections of 2020

Being philanthropically responsive

The coronavirus pandemic has been one of the worst health crises America has faced. In early 2020, Vanessa Briggs, president and CEO of the Brandywine Health Foundation (BHF), knew two things. First, the virus would disparately impact communities that lack health and economic resources and opportunities. This unfortunately meant the already-distressed greater Coatesville area, served by the Foundation, would be impacted. Secondly, the response of the Foundation would have to be swift, bold, and impactful. Not straying away from its recently developed Strategic Plan, the BHF team began huddling both internally and externally to develop their response that would be fast and far-reaching to meet urgent and basic needs of the community. The focus was two-fold: (1) supporting rental and utility assistance, food, tele-health services, access to PPE supplies and other basic needs and (2) supporting the nonprofit sector to ensure continuity in service and program delivery. As lives were literally at

stake, it was necessary to take decisive action. “At Brandywine Health Foundation, we believe that by uplifting our grant partners and helping them build organizational resiliency, we will emerge from this unprecedented time less impacted by the pandemic and able to focus fully on resolving the root causes of inequity in our community.” stated Briggs.

Meeting the communities’ basic needs

Reflecting upon the cascade of events, by March 13, 2020 the BHF cancelled its highly acclaimed annual Garden Party and shortly thereafter, on March 16, 2020, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania cancelled all public events until further notice. This mandate was crippling for area non-profits which had come to rely on income from special events. Being a responsive philanthropic organization, BHF launched its Healthcare & Economic Relief Fund in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The BHF’s grantmaking committee and team understood the need and led

a response which incorporated a few trust-based philanthropy approaches. Just as it reads, trust-based philanthropy streamlines the grant application process, provides more unrestricted grants, and trusts that nonprofits know best how to address community need. In this case introducing trust-based philanthropy into its grant-making process seemed like the best approach to address the most pressing and urgent needs of the community due to the pandemic. One-by-one, the BHF’s grant-making team met with local non-profits and listened to what was needed to serve their clients during the crisis. In response to these meaningful conversations, BHF granted over $500,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations. This strategy ensured the continuity in much needed community programs and services.

Targeting grants to address food insecurity

With other funding opportunities available to support the non-profit community, the BHF turned its focus to food insecurity. Healthy eating is important to a person’s physical and mental wellbeing. As a registered dietician, Briggs knows that healthy eating is also important for the management of pre-existing chronic conditions and one’s immune system. Yet before and even more so, during the coronavirus pandemic, many residents in the Coatesville area lacked access to healthy foods. Knowing that the city of Coatesville is deemed as a food desert, with no local grocery store,

BHF’s next response to the pandemic was to find a way to address the growing food insecurity needs. For this, the BHF would turn to a community-based grant partner, the Melton Center in West Chester to launch the Coatesville Food Truck Project. Commenced in the fall of 2020, with a $20,000 grant from BHF, the project served over 10,000 fresh and healthy prepared meals to residents and families in the city of Coatesville. What was uniquely different in this project is that the burden and cost of meal preparation was removed and, more importantly, prepared fresh and healthy meals were distributed, specifically targeted to a community with the highest rates of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and other pre-existing conditions all which more likely predispose Coatesville’s residents in contracting the coronavirus.

As 2021 began with the pandemic as present as ever, the Coatesville Food Truck Project has expanded its goal for 2021. BHF has leveraged its initial grant with an additional $30,000 in support from the BB&T Bank with a focus on being socially responsible and giving back to the community and Health Partners Foundation – a nonprofit that strives

Brandywine Health Foundation

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to make a difference by supporting education, mentoring, and other programs to improve the lives of underserved residents in the Philadelphia region. This increased project funding will allow more families struggling with health and food insecurities to receive access to healthy food at a pivotal time.

Thanking Our Contributors for Responding to COVID-19

More than 125 individuals, corporations, foundations, and non-profit organizations joined BHF in supporting the Healthcare & Economic Relief Fund; and BHF continues to raise funds in support of the emerging needs of the community. One can only surmise what the next urgent need will be due to the pandemic, but the BHF team is ready to respond.

Keeping healthcare accessible

As BHF has a very strong public health orientation, ChesPenn Family Health Center at Coatesville (ChesPenn) is a long-term grant partner of the Foundation. ChesPenn plays the important role of providing cost-effective healthcare services for residents and families. Operating as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), ChesPenn offers comprehensive primary and preventative healthcare services to approximately 3,200 underserved adults and children. With a unique focus, part of the mission of ChesPenn is to provide services to “medically underserved families and individuals regardless of their ability to pay.” ChesPenn remains an essential part of the Coatesville community and continues to serve residents throughout the pandemic.

Listening to the community

We all witnessed a national outcry to the death of George Floyd. The Foundation’s Community Voice strategy was already a new direction established and the clear message sent across the nation was

that people wanted to be heard and justice made with respect to the long-standing systemic racism. The timing could not have been better for the Foundation to give voice and decision-making to community so they can influence the very systems and policies that

are barriers to their self-sufficiency. It is BHF’s goal to empower the residents of Coatesville to advocate for a positive change in their community.

Preparing to celebrate our 20th anniversary

Despite the challenges of 2020 the Foundation is excited to begin celebrating its 20th anniversary this spring. All of the Foundation’s partners and the broader community will have the opportunity throughout the year to join them in celebrating its philanthropic endeavors. Over the years the Foundation supported programs and initiatives that provided a significant and tangible benefit to underserved communities in the Greater Coatesville area. None of this critical work could have taken place without the remarkable support of the Foundation’s donors. In times of crisis, stability, and growth, the BHF has been a reliable community partner. It is almost unfathomable that the Foundation is approaching its 20th year of existence responding to the nation’s first public health crisis. However, it should be no surprise, that when there is a health and economic calamity impacting the very community that the Foundation serves, they were ready and willing to make life a just little easier for those most in need. It is the BHF’s mission to advance a more equitable, resilient, and healthy Greater Coatesville community. As they reflect on 2020, they demonstrated their dedication to making a difference.

Link to Impact Report: https://brandywinefoundation.org/impact/ Donate Now: https://brandywinefoundation.org/

For more information, please contact: Dana Heiman, Chief Impact Officer at dheiman@brandywinefoundation.org Sophia Hanson, Senior Program Officer shanson@brandywinefoundation.org

MEET our MEMBER

Celebrating 34 years in Coatesville Triple Fresh Market: The hometown market for the home and the town

When Jim Petro, Jr. purchased Triple Fresh Market from Lloyd Webster in 1987, he knew that he had just inherited a piece of history.

Ask any one of the thousands of customers, families and friends who have come to know the store like a second home and the market’s staff like next of kin and they will tell you that the Petros have made their own history over the last 34 years.

Standing at the confluence of Doe Run and Buck Run roads at the outskirts of Coatesville, the original building was constructed by Gideon Pierce in 1818, to serve the needs of the growing village of Ercildoun. Pierce’s store not only became the town’s foremost supplier of food, goods and supplies, it was also its post office.

During the Civil War, the Webster family

moved to Ercildoun from Lancaster County, and purchased not only the building but a nearby farm. For the next three generations, the Websters expanded the store to meet the needs of the growing area – providing everything from groceries to schoolbooks, clothing, gasoline and parts that were used for the Model Ts that began driving by the store.

While the original building has been modernized over the past 34 years, Triple Fresh Market has kept the same, 200-year-old mission of the store completely alive: To provide wholesome, fresh food and superior products to their neighbors – as a cornerstone where history, progress, great service and friendship all meet hand-in-hand.

“We have been in business for over 30 years.” “We appreciate each and every one of you that shop, support, get to know us, smile, understand and value our service. We love the conversations we have with you, when you call us by name, when we smile and joke with one another and we strive to know what you will be ordering when you walk up to our counters.”

From the moment Gideon Pierce first opened his shop more than two centuries ago – and through three generations of Websters – the business is consistently

evolving to meet customers’ needs. Triple Fresh Market has become not just a corner grocery store, but one of the premier providers of chef-prepared specialty dinners, fresh produce and dairy, butcher-cut meats, hand-carved sandwiches, organic groceries, gourmet delights and catering services in Chester County, in partnership with several area growers and vendors.

Throughout 2020 and in 2021, Triple Fresh Market continues to make life easier for area residents navigating through the COVID-19 pandemic, by providing store-tohome delivery, take-out and curbside pick-up, all of which are a convenient phone call or website visit away.

The store’s spirit of giving back to the people and communities it serves doesn’t end there.

Its Triple Fresh Neighbors organization, established in 2018, supports local charities and non-profit organizations, and is “dedicated to improving the lives of others by acting like a small town neighbor and helping in any way we can.” Triple Fresh Market & Catering

Photo by Rachel Cathell

Chester County Economic Development Council looks forward to exciting opportunities to help businesses

During the past year, the Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC) team has managed to help businesses with immediate needs related to COVID-19 and is looking forward to exciting opportunities and recovery efforts that will be rolling out in 2021.

The CCEDC kicked off 2021 with the “all-hands on deck” effort of processing the second round of Chester County Main Street Grants. Last spring, the team administered more than $5 million in Main Street grant funding for area small businesses. The second round of funding, authorized by the Chester County Commissioners, awarded more than $10 million to companies affected by COVID-19.

Another highlight for early 2021 was the establishment of 190 W. Lincoln Highway in Coatesville as a Keystone Innovation Zone (KIZ). Through its Ideas x Innovation Network (i2n) initiative, the CCEDC submitted the application to the Commonwealth and received approval in three weeks. The KIZ designation offers technology businesses in operation fewer than eight years the opportunity to qualify for tax credits based on increased year-over-year revenue. The site, which has been named nth Innovation Center, is also the first Qualified Opportunity Zone (QOZ) real estate project in Chester County.

The new KIZ, the first in Coatesville, joins a myriad of other KIZ Zones throughout Chester and Delaware Counties overseen by i2n which is charged with advancing innovation and tech-based entrepreneurship in Chester and Delaware counties. CCEDC’s VP of Innovation & Emerging Technologies, Patrick Hayakawa noted that, “We have been working with the City of Coatesville and its businesses for many years, from financing to site selection to workforce training, and we are delighted to now see innovation and entrepreneurship become other aspects of that partnership.”

Partnership is a key ingredient in CCEDC’s success achieving its mission to promote business and community prosperity in Chester County. Looking forward into 2021, CCEDC will once again work with the newly inducted class of VISTA Millennial

Superstars on the ConNEXT initiative. This group meets regularly to identify and address issues impacting the quality of life of residents and businesses in Chester County. The Vista Millennial Superstars are identified by VISTA.Today and their team of partner organizations, of which CCEDC is one. In fact, the collaboration with VISTA.Today was born out of VISTA2025, the 10-year economic development strategy for Chester County.

Like so many other organizations, CCEDC is looking forward to emerging from COVID-19 and supporting area companies through its key services of financing solutions, location services, workforce development, and innovation culture. One exciting financial solution is changes to the SBA 504 and 7a programs as a result of the Economic Aid Act. Stay tuned as more details will be shared as they become available.

All of CCEDC’s efforts are underscored by a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. In September, CCEDC engaged members of the team, board, and key stakeholders to help lead the development of a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan. The plan will ensure the organization’s culture and service delivery consistently develops, implements and evaluates its programs and initiatives with a true understanding of the strengths of diversity and the positive impact it brings to our communities.

The Big Pivot: A photography studio becomes an ultra cool, urban chic wedding venue in Coatesville

OBy Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

f all of the countries in all the world, wedding photographers Grace and Matt Rauppius of Coatesville found themselves stranded in Casablanca, Morocco, and unable to get back home.

They were on vacation with friends last March, in full sight of sand dunes at the border of Morocco and Algeria while camping in the Sahara Desert, at the exact moment they were told that the arrival of COVID-19 had necessitated the emergency need to shut down borders. They were told that the world was about to go into lockdown and they had 24 hours to leave the country.

This was no black-and-white remake of the famous film of the same name. Neither Humphrey Bogart nor Ingrid Bergman was going to make an entrance, and no piano player named Sam was going to serenade the couple in their time of need. Indeed, a true vacation nightmare had just come true and they were living in it.

As they began to strategize how they were going to get back stateside, Matt and Grace got themselves to the Casablanca Airport and searched around for flights that would take them out of the country as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, their cell phones buzzed with texts from their clients back in the U.S., and the news was not good.

“We began to get to hear from the couples with whom we had booked our wedding photography – all of them in the coming months in venues around Center City Philadelphia -- saying that they couldn’t go forward with their weddings,” Grace said. “Email after email came in, and we began to see the first six months of our 2020 income suddenly begin to vanish.”

An hour later, the Rauppius’ were on the first plane they could book a flight on, which turned out to be the last flight out of the country. They found themselves headed to the Doha International Airport in Qatar on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, and during their eight-hours in the air, they began to strategize a business plan out of pure imagination and dire necessity.

Just a month prior to COVID-19’s arrival, Matt and Grace had signed a rental agreement for what would become their 400-square foot photography studio on the fourth floor of the Midway Arts Building on East Chestnut Street in Coatesville -- the site of a former meatpacking factory. The space was perfect for the business – Right Start Photography -- they began in 2012 that was now regularly booking as many as 60 weddings a year in Center City Philadelphia.

During the flight, the Big Pivot was born. Matt and Grace decided that they would expand their 20-foot by 20-foot studio to more than 1,600 feet and repurpose the space to become a wedding and special event venue, capable of hosting intimate gatherings for couples and families who were looking for a

All photos by Right Start Photography

welcome change from the excess of the event-factory commercialism.

Perfect name, perfect time

From Qatar, they found a flight that landed them in Atlanta, Ga., and connected on a flight to JFK Airport in New York, where they had embarked from the U.S. just two weeks before. Nearly three days after they were first informed that the world had begun to shut its doors to a worldwide pandemic, Matt and Grace Rauppius arrived back in Coatesville with a brilliant new business idea. Immediately, they gave their new wedding venue the perfect name. Casablanca: A Right Start Venue.

“We had a lot of couples come to us and say that we really wanted to get married on their original date, and would ask us if we knew of any area venues that would be perfect for a gathering of between 25 and 30 people,” Grace said.

Casablanca hosted its first wedding ceremony and reception in October. As 2020 became 2021, every weekend in January had filled up with COVID-19 compliant wedding receptions, engagement parties and baby showers, and as winter becomes spring, the cool venue with the awesome name in the heart of a reborn city is showing no signs of slowing down.

“We immediately began to see a market for couples to share their most important day with just their most important friends and family, and continue to be married in the same year they had planned to.

“Even before COVID-19 hit, we began to see a real trend beginning. Couples are realizing that they don’t need as large a wedding as they once thought they would. They realize that they don’t have to pay $250 a plate for someone they wouldn’t recognize in the background of their photos.

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WE’RE INVESTED IN CHESTER COUNTY

Contributing to the communities we serve is integral to our business. Whether it be investing millions in our infrastructure; protecting our watersheds; assisting customers in need with their water bill; or supporting community initiatives, we seek to improve the quality of life of those we touch. Learn more at pennsylvaniaamwater.com.

The Big Pivot

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People are finding their true social bubbles.”

To enter Casablanca: A Right Start venue is to suddenly and deliberately remove the usual overindulgence of what a wedding ceremony or special occasion looks like: a wallto-wall brigade of humanity wedged into the organized chaos of seating arrangements, MCs with microphones and sit-down dinners for 250 guests. In contrast, everything about the boutique event space speaks of intimacy, where a new bride and groom can have the freedom to engage in conversation with everyone assembled.

‘Like coming to Mom’s for dinner’

Its vibe is both industrial and rustic with a soft statement of urban chic, and every event is accented with soft lighting, country furniture and floral arrangements that more resemble a Chester County field of wildflowers than an ornate explosion of colors. In an industry that too often feels obligated to creating spectacle, Casablanca: A Right Start Venue is like being in a warm home with the most important people in one’s life.

“Our experience in Morocco reminded us of the wonder

of romance and the exotic nature of a land that is vastly different than ours, one that conveys a feeling of complete comfort,” Matt said. “The measure of our experiences in our travels always comes down to how we are treated by other people. They make or break a memory, and they have the ability to create a memory that is long lasting.

“We wanted to translate that into a venue, and we wanted couples to come here and feel like this is easy, like renting Grandpa’s barn or coming over to Mom’s for dinner,” Grace added. “There is a whole lot more need for that in the venue industry.”

Casablanca: A Right Start Venue is not only an understated in its functionality, it’s also convenient and cost effective. It offers a variety of packages tailored to satisfy anyone’s needs and budget, with costs that range from $1,500 for a simple one-hour ceremony to the full all-inclusive experience that features aesthetic backdrops, chairs, a champagne toast, cake, floral arrangements, bartender service, a professional photographer and a sit-down dinner for just $7,700.

Casablanca also works with local businesses, including Silver Sound Entertainment, florist Stem’s End and Doe Run Catering, and each event is coordinated under the vision and direction of Bre Cura and Julia Kennedy.

As the venue enters into what is anticipated to be a challenging yet successful year, Matt and Grace are already beginning to plan for the new venue’s future – in addition to

continuing Right Start Photography. Plans are now in place to expand the size of the venue from its current 1,600 square feet to more than 2,500 square feet – all on the same floor.

“My vision to create more space allows our clients the ability to stretch out, and give them more choices for the design of their event,” Matt said. “It will allow them to maximize their dreams, and also make it more efficient for our staff.

“I believe that the wedding industry has changed forever. COVID-19 has ingrained in us habits and ideas that are going to be deep seated in our minds for years. I see the way things are as the new permanent norm, and one of the ways it will be different going forward is the idea that you are doing more with less. This industry is alive and there are people hungry for the business to challenge itself to explore new opportunities.”

Telling more stories

In a foreshadowing for what would become the heart and the definition of Casablanca five years later, Grace and Matt abandoned the high-priced excess of a traditional wedding when they married in 2015, choosing to wed in Utah’s Zion National Park before a small group of close friends and family. It was a three-day celebration. They rented a house, with rooms for guests. They went hiking. They went to dinner with everyone every night. They looked around and saw the faces of those they loved the most and realized that this was all they needed.

For them, their wedding was their very own story that they themselves told.

“As photographers, Matt and I have concluded that by and large, most weddings look the same,” Grace said. “We attend the getting-ready time. We go to the service. We go to a cocktail hour and then we attend a reception. It can be so quick to burn out from that routine, but the only thing that separates these weddings is found in each couple’s individual story.

“Hearing those stories – especially in the case of the couples who have really had to struggle to be where they are that day -- there is a beautiful sense that this moment is an earned one,” Grace added. “We want this to be a white empty box for couples to come in and create what they want, whether they want draping from the ceiling or a midnight garden. We want to create bespoke, custom events that allow each of these couples to tell their own story.”

Casablanca: A Right Start Venue is located at 139 East Chestnut Street, Coatesville, Pa. 19320. To learn more, visit www.rightstartcasablanca.com. To learn more about Right Start Photography, visit www.rightstartphotography.com.

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.

ENGINEERING

MUNICIPAL ENGINEERING MUNICIPAL ENGINEERING

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING

TRAFFIC & TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING TRAFFIC & TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING

CIVIL ENGINEERING CIVIL ENGINEERING ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

The little bus that could, and did,

do it better!

Most people take for granted getting from here, to there, in their own vehicle: to work, medical appointments, shopping, and entertainment. Public transportation plays an important daily role for many who may not have access to a car. TMACC provides a vital lifeline for residents who live in areas with limited public transportation options. The LINK provides bus service along the Lincoln Highway corridor, with stops at the Brandywine Hospital, Veterans Administration Medical Center, and the Walmart Super Center/West Sadsbury Commons and Parkesburg.

“LINK is truly an essential lifeline, one that many Coatesville area residents cannot do without,” according to John Meisel, TMACC’s Manager of Transportation Operations and Planning.

TMACC continues to be hard at work, looking for ways we can continue to improve this bus service, and we have found it!

TMACC recently made some changes to the LINK bus route and scheduled stops, to better align with the needs of the community, in areas where there are few public transit options. This means that our buses cover many areas of Chester County where SEPTA buses do not. The LINK provides a vital lifeline for these residents. If you need to go farther? The LINK connects you to Krapf’s “A” bus line, the Parkesburg Amtrak station, and the Coatesville Amtrak station, giving its riders even more transportation options.

These changes mean that there will be plenty of opportunities for riders to board the bright green bus, and connect to shopping, entertainment, medical appointments, school, and other community resources. But wait, there’s more...the cost is affordable: a one-way ticket is only $2.75!

“PennDOT, the Chester County Commissioners, as well as a few municipalities, provide operating funds so that the service remains affordable to all. Public transportation is an important investment in the residents of a community, for the community,” stated TMACC’s Executive Director Tim Phelps.

Not only did January ring in a new year, but also, beginning Jan. 4, the LINK hours will extend into the evening. If your work hours extend beyond 5 o’clock, you have an evening medical or other appointment, or you just want to do some shopping, we have you covered. Evening buses will run between West Sadsbury Commons (Walmart), to Strode and Madison in Coatesville. Riders can pick up the LINK Eastbound to Coatesville and Brandywine Hospital at 7:40 PM, 8:40 PM, or 9:35 PM. Westbound, the buses will stop at 7:18 PM, 8:15 PM, or 9:10 PM.

The LINK bus service travels from Brandywine Hospital through Coatesville, and on to Parkesburg, Monday through Saturday, with a total of 13 eastbound weekday runs, and 12 westbound weekday runs. Saturdays, there will be a total of 9 eastbound, and 9 westbound runs.

“Since I’ve been on this route, I have heard many of the passengers tell me they are so grateful to have this. They wouldn’t know how else to get around to do their errands,” said driver Kelly Williams. “The Coatesville Link, affectionately known as “the little bus that could,” is an economic powerhouse for Chester County...dozens of people from diverse backgrounds rely on this important service to connect them with medical appointments, social

services and essential shopping. This bus route allows for greater economic opportunity; it helps people access employment centers as well as commercial business districts in Coatesville and Parkesburg. It provides a crucial connection so that people in rural and suburban communities along the bus route are able to connect to destinations such as Philadelphia, Lancaster, New York City and the Main Line.

The Coatesville Link also helps the clients of HandiCrafters access much needed services to help them develop and refine employment and social skills, so that differentlyabled people are able to live more independent lives...the Coatesville LINK is not just a bus route, it’s a way of life!” stated driver Marcus McKnight.

The bus route also provides Americans with Disabilities (ADA) complementary service along its route. Eligible riders can be picked up or dropped off at locations within ¾ mile of the regular bus route. For more information, visit TMACC’s website https://www.tmacc.org/chescobus, and visit the ADA website https://www.ada.gov/ for more information on the Americans with Disabilities Act.

But wait! Before you turn the page, there are two more upcoming opportunities that support the transportation needs of the Coatesville area.

TMACC has established a partnership with the mobile app company Moovit. Moovit, an Intel company, is a leading

Mobility as a Service (MaaS) solutions provider, and creator of the number one urban mobility app. Using your smartphone, you will be able to download the app, and access the location of a bus stop near you. When you are traveling throughout the region, you can see when the next bus will be arriving, including SEPTA service.

On Feb. 8, TMACC in partnership with PennDOT and URBN, will launch The Outfitter bus route. The route will have several stops through the City of Coatesville, and will connect to the URBN warehouse facility in Gap, PA. The bus schedule will reflect the needs of the warehouse shifts; if you want to work the second shift, you can take the bus. This will be an open door public service, but URBN employees will ride free when showing their badge. Could this be your next job opportunity? For more information check out www.tmacc.org.

The LINK service is a bus route operated by Krapf’s, and managed by TMACC. Funding for the LINK is provided by through PennDOT’s 1513 Grant program with match funding contributed by the Chester County Commissioners and municipalities.

For more information on these route and schedule changes, visit the TMACC website: https://www. tmacc.org/chescobus.

Local Machine Shop Crafts A Clear Vision for the Future

By Rachel Cathell

In the last year, ACR Machine, Inc. has enlisted laser focus and smart infrastructure investment, to expand upon the business’s long list of capabilities. The shop manufactures parts for aerospace, military, commercial, medical, automotive, agriculture and even electronic OEM’s; all inside their 25,000 square foot manufacturing facility on North 10th street in the City of Coatesville.

Owners, Steve Tury and Tony Wilson have partnered up to grow the machine shop to new heights. Tony said, “When I first came on board I met with Steve and we sat down and accessed our goals. Turns out we’re perfectly aligned on what we’d like to achieve - and that’s growth.” Although currently considered a smaller machine shop, ACR Machine carries a customer’s part from design to prototype, through inspection and to final completion. Steve explains, “As a small sized machine shop, we have more certifications than most large-sized shops”.

The business is adamant on staying in front of advancements in modern manufacturing. This year they replaced aged machines with new ones and reworked production processes. “We needed infrastructure set in place to support our growth” explains Tony. Inside the shop, a vibrating hum of machinists are at work. They’re using horizontal and vertical machines, lathes and routers to craft a precise part; whether it be a cover plate for an airplane or an intricate piece that fits inside an engine. Tony explained, “We have a large diversity of machining capabilities; ranging across different sizes and complexities,” Steve adds, “…from the size of a thumbnail all the way to the size of a pick-up truck”.

Adaptability is an important piece of the work at ACR Machine. The shop stays on the forefront of certifications to ensure they maintain high efficiency and versatility to craft a wide range of parts. “We’re always

making something different, everything you see being made in our shop today, will be entirely different 2 months from now” said Steve. And Steve isn’t kidding, the shop’s highly accurate machining projects shift from parts for aerospace to the Department of Defense, transportation, pharmaceuticals, the chemical industry, and medical equipment, just to name a few.

In 2020, a heightened flow of projects influenced ACR Machine to increase their number of employees from 15 to 35 and the addition of a second shift. The shop’s programmers who create the blueprints for product creation, grew from 2 to 6 employees. Currently, the business is working on Increasing their sales team to branch into new markets such as the mid-west. Steve adds, “All of our employees are Chester county residents, our business is here, we get our workforce here. I believe in this company and see so much potential for expansion”

Steve and Tony whole heartedly believe that their employees make up the framework of success. The business cross trains their machinists to ensure they’re well trained on multiple machines. Steve said, “We want our employees to stay, we rotate them between machines to find their best fit for their skills and career interests.” As they have maneuvered expansion, Steve and Tony sat down with their employees to analyze what was most important at the shop. Teamwork, job security and business success were the top three goal posts; ACR, Inc. is set on making it through those goal posts, consistently, and right here in Coatesville.

ACR Machine Co. 21 North 10th St., Coatesville, PA 19320

610-383-6150 acrmachine.com

Photo by Rachel Cathell

It’s all about the canines at Dawg Day Afternoon

West Brandywine location offers doggy daycare, recreation & more

By Natalie Smith

As hard as the pandemic isolation has been on people, it’s been a boon to their dogs. Having pet parents and siblings around on a daily basis must seem like a pupper’s dream come true. In dozens of cute ways, they will plead with their housebound family: “Play with me, cuddle me, give me snacks … PAY ATTENTION to me! Woof!”

While those interactions can be wonderful, there are times when people’s lives can’t revolve around their doggos, despite working or schooling from home. And there are also times when it would be fun for Bailey or Bella to spend the day running, hanging out with their furry friends and playing until they’re pooped, all in a safe and supervised environment.

Dawg Day Afternoon has been offering a daytime care and recreation venue for canines for more than a decade. Highly visible on Horseshoe Pike/Route 322, the convenience of this West Brandywine location is just one of the elements owner Barbara D’Angelo considered when she opened the doggy daycare business in 2009.

“I’ve always had dogs,” D’Angelo said, her enthusiasm underscored by the caresses she gave the friendly golden retriever Oliver – one of six of her own – at her knee. It was her love of canines and noticing the lack of a nearby place to leave them during the day, as well as to get them training, that spurred her to start the venture.

Like many, D’Angelo was a commuter. She had worked at the Environmental Protection Agency in Philadelphia for

30 years until retiring in 2006, and it was during one of her countless trips between her Wallace Township home and the train station that she noticed a building for rent.

D’Angelo did her due diligence before opening the business. She talked to many doggy day care providers and toured their facilities, noting what she did and didn’t like. She consulted with many folks, even planting trees after the township manager suggested a buffer. D’Angelo also got the input of her veterinarian of more than 20 years, Dr. Gregory Tremoglie, whose practice, the Glenmoore Veterinary Hospital, was on the property next to her desired location. The doc gave her the thumbs up.

D’Angelo has seven employees, including five-year manager Kathy Kriebel. “Our best ratio is 10 dogs per one person,” she said.

The business name is indeed a play on the title of the 1975 film “Dog Day Afternoon” although with a spelling twist. D’Angelo has never seen the movie, which starred Al Pacino, but it was suggested to her and it seemed the perfect fit.

Walking through the front door of Dawg Day Afternoon, the most noticeable feature is its lay-out. The big dogs’ play area is clearly visible, as are the office and the Dutch door to the little dog area.

“I wanted something that was open,” D’Angelo emphatically said of her business’s design. “I need everybody to be able to see that. There’s nothing hidden. Customers can come in and their dogs are not taken away to someplace where they can’t see them.”

All photos by Natalie Smith Dawg Day Afternoon owner Barbara D’Angelo with two of her six golden retrievers, Oliver, left, and Stella. The animal lover opened her doggy day care more than 10 years ago.

The dogs are divided by size. Most of the “big” dogs, such as Labradors, German shepherds, terriers and their mixes – are in one area. Littler dogs the size of corgis, Australian shepherds and shih tzus have their own room.

But energy level and temperament are also factors in deciding where the dog would do best. D’Angelo explained the evaluation process, which begins with contacting Dawg Day Afternoon via email at info@DawgDay. com or by phone at 610-942-4451.

“If your dog is a puppy, definitely under six months, generally 99 percent of the time they don’t need an evaluation because puppies are puppies. If older than that, they need an evaluation.”

After the client brings their dog in, the dog is taken outside while the owner waits. “One at a time, we will introduce the client’s dog to another dog with low energy, to one with medium energy and to one with high energy and see how it reacts,” she said. “While size does play into it, if I put a Great Dane [in the big dog room] and all of a sudden it was just staying in the corner, I would move it [to the

little dog room] to get it a little more accustomed to less dogs.”

The canine charges also spend time outside. Why? “Because there are lots of places where all they can do is stay inside or have to stay outside all the time. Neither of those is good,” D’Angelo said, in explaining about the flexibility that Dawg Day Afternoon offers.

For more play and to relieve themselves, there is 50-by-50-foot fenced

Continued on Page 34

Canines in the big dog room socialize with one another inside as Dawg Day Afternoon employee Alicia Rohr stands by. Both the big and little dog rooms also have access to their own fenced play yard.

Dawg Day Afternoon

Continued from Page 33

yard for the big dogs and a 50-by-20-foot yard for their smaller counterparts. But hard experience taught D’Angelo the best way to set up the fenced-in grounds.

“We have artificial turf. That was something that I went through, because in the very beginning it was all grass. Well, apparently dogs ruin grass in two minutes flat. So then if you re-sod they’ll ruin sod in two-seconds flat. Then if you put hay down, it just becomes mud and dirt.

“So what you do is, you get a loan and you buy artificial turf that’s just for dogs,” D’Angelo said with a laugh.

In addition to a place to run, the yards offer equipment on which the dogs can play. Also, when cleaning up after each pup, the dog-care professionals who work at the facility can keep an eye on the health of the animals and will report anything unusual back to the owner. “Or if the dog is not behaving the way they normally behave, the owner gets told to watch this or do that. Just as an FYI.”

Dawg Day Afternoon also offers grooming services and dog training. Posh Pets is owned by talented groomer Amber Baldwin, who occupies her own salon within the day care.

Dog trainer Ashley Farren of Ashley’s Animal Academy comes in several times a week and presents doggy classes including Canine Good Citizen. “I take my own dogs to her. I think she’s marvelous.”

Daycare hours are 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Mondaythrough-Friday. Prices range from $20 for a morning half-day to $390 for a 20-day package. Multi-dog

Robert Ward, CIC, CPIA, CWCA

Whitford Insurance Network, Inc

Partner

(610) 524-7860 Work (484) 905-2322 Mobile (610) 383-5571 Home

rward@whitfordinsurance.com

503 Gordon Drive Exton, PA 19341

Brian Ward, CIC, CWCA

Whitford Insurance Network

Sales Executive (610) 524-7860 x124 Work (484) 639-2923 Mobile

bward@whitfordinsurance.com

503 Gordon Drive Exton, PA 19341 www.whitfordinsurance.com

Groomer Amber Baldwin tends to Bailey, shih tzu-bichon frise mix called a shih-chon, while sister and assistant Carrie takes a phone call. Baldwin’s grooming salon, Posh Pets, is located inside Dawg Day Afternoon.

In the little dog room, the smaller canines hang out with each other. However, such as the case with the two standard poodles, larger dogs who might be overwhelmed in the big dog room spend the day with the smaller pups.

family rates are available. In addition to the entrance evaluation, there are a number of health and license requirements a dog must have before becoming a guest. More information is available at DawgDay. com and on the business’s Facebook page.

And what’s the best way to explain to the uninitiated about doggy day care?

“Someone I used to work with, who didn’t have a dog, came in and said it looked exactly like a child’s

The 50-by-50-foot play yard for the bigger dogs. Little dogs frolic in their own 50-by-20-foot space. Each is covered with artificial turf, which Dawg Day Afternoon owner Barbara D’Angelo realized holds up best under doggy wear and tear and is easily hosed down.

day care, the way the dogs are interacting and what they do. You can see the same thing. If you go to a day-care facility, they play a lot and one of them starts to just annoy another one. Then they all want to see who just came in. Then all of a sudden, it’s like everyone gets tired and they all go to sleep. And then somebody wakes up and they all wake up. And then they all go outside to run around, and there are toys like ramps and bridges for them to play on,” D’Angelo said, smiling. “Just like little kids.”

Natalie Smith may be contacted at natalie@DoubleSMedia.com

Adapting amidst a global pandemic

By Brian O’Leary Executive Director, Chester County Planning Commission

While 2020 was no easy year to say the least, our western Chester County communities didn’t let a global pandemic stop them from pushing forward and continuing to implement Landscapes3, the county’s comprehensive plan. In fact, many of the county’s western communities were able to adapt to the challenges of the pandemic and figure out ways to keep moving onward and upward!

When COVID-19 became a reality back in March of 2020, Chester County officials leaped into action by preparing a series of “Town Hall” phone calls, public webinars, and other resources for residents and businesses. One of these resources, RestoreChesterCounty.org, was a robust website which includes regularly updated information for the county’s 21 various industry sectors.

Chester County Commissioner Marian Moskowitz commented recently on the newest updates, which provide action steps and guidance for local businesses, “In the early months of this pandemic, we brought together Chester County business, economic, education and government leaders to form a business task force that focused on how we start the recovery process resulting from COVID-19. The creation of Restore Chester County was one of the key decisions made by the group. Since that time, we have conducted research into best practices for recovery, completed a Restore Chester County survey and interviewed local business stakeholders, which has resulted in the updates now included on the website.”

County partners such as the Western Chester County Chamber of Commerce jumped right on board with these

efforts, making sure to do as much as they could for their local businesses and residents. They quickly created a “Business Resource Guide” focusing on relevant information about COVID-19 funding opportunities and other useful information. They also featured engaging programs like their “WCCC Checks In” videos, community vlog updates, and a “rally for restaurants” initiative.

As strange times continued throughout the summer and fall months, many of our western Chester County communities found ways to get even more creative with their virtual events and happenings. Some held hybrid events which provided the opportunity for those who preferred to attend in person (following safety precautions, of course), and others to join in virtually. In many instances, this increased event attendance by making it more convenient for people to join from the comfort of their own home.

While some community projects had to be put on hold due to COVID-19 restrictions, many were able to continue moving forward. In the Borough of Modena, revitalization efforts are starting to move forward as they recently finished their South Brandywine Avenue Bridge project, and have plans to renovate the historic “Mode House” and turn it into a new Borough Hall and community center some time this year. They’re also celebrating their 100th anniversary in 2021, and will begin the process of updating their comprehensive plan in 2022.

Revitalization efforts continue in the City of Coatesville despite the ongoing pandemic as well. In 2020, several streetscape projects were completed within the city’s business district in order to improve infrastructure, safety, and walkability. They’ve also continued to work on their train station to increase public transportation options, and have welcomed new private investment at the nth Innovation

Left: There were 35 new subdivision and land development proposals in the county’s western region in 2020, which indicates that development continues to expand throughout many of Chester County’s western municipalities.

Below: Redevelopment is taking place in Parkesburg.

Center and at the Midway Arts building.

Other achievements that took place amidst the ongoing pandemic include newly adopted comprehensive plans in the Borough of Parkesburg and Valley Township, the approval of the Beaver Creek Trail Feasibility Study in Caln Township, and various new housing developments.

There were 35 new subdivision and land development proposals in the county’s western region in 2020, which indicates that development continues to expand throughout many of Chester County’s western municipalities.

This includes two proposals in the Borough of Avondale, six in Caln, one in East Caln, five in Honey Brook, two in Sadsbury, three in Valley, two in Wallace, one in West Bradford, two in West Brandywine, one in West Caln, three in West Fallowfield, one in West Nantmeal, and five in West Sadsbury townships, as well as one in the City of Coatesville. Overall, the development proposals in western Chester County accounted for 1,318 acres out of a total 5,475 (or 163 proposals in 2020).

Some major proposals that fall into this list include the redevelopment of the Chester County Sports Arena in Caln Township, a new Dunkin’ Donuts located in Caln Plaza, development of the nth Innovation Center in the City of Coatesville, and the next phase of the Sadsbury Park development in Sadsbury Township, among other things.

Also coming down the road, the Borough of Parkesburg will be celebrating their 150th anniversary in 2022, so stay tuned for some exciting activities and event announcements throughout the year!

While we look forward to a COVID-free future soon, we commend our western Chester County communities for their ability to adapt and remain resilient throughout these difficult times.

The Chester County Planning Commission can be reached by phone at 610-344-6285, by email at ccplanning@chesco.org, or by mail at 601 Westtown Road, West Chester, PA 19380. Get all the latest updates online at www.chescoplanning.org, and be sure to subscribe to our eNewsletter!

Western Chester County

Chester County’s Warwick Park

Walking or cycling through Warwick Park brings together a blend of the past and the present in a beautiful bucolic environment. One of Chester County Government’s seven parks, Warwick boasts 535 acres of stunning hardwood forests, meadows and wetlands, and is home to a portion of the meandering French Creek. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Warwick’s woodlands provided much of the raw timber used to make charcoal for the region’s iron furnaces and forges, and the remains of these charcoal hearths are found along old cart paths throughout the park.

As with all Chester County-owned parks, Warwick Park offers something for everyone year-round – from fishing, birding & wildlife, and hiking trails, to picnic areas, pavilions, playgrounds and education programs.

Park History

Sitting along the eastern corner of Warwick Park stands a monument commemorating the old Coventry Forge, the first iron forge built in Chester County over 300 years ago. Rebecca Grace (1718-1800) was an iron making pioneer, patriot and Methodist. Born Rebecca Savage, she was the granddaughter of Thomas Rutter, a friend of William Penn

and Pennsylvania’s first iron master. At age 16, Rebecca married Samuel Nutt Jr. After Samuel died in 1739, Rebecca was left with an infant daughter and a sizable estate, which included Coventry Forge, the first iron forge in Chester County; Warwick Furnace, located a few miles to the west; and the vast woodlands in the area that were used to make charcoal to power the these iron making facilities.

In 1741, Rebecca married again to Robert Grace. An upstanding citizen, he was a good friend of Ben Franklin and a founding member of the Library Company of Philadelphia. Robert Grace became the general manager of both Coventry Forge and Warwick Furnace. During this period, Ben Franklin would visit his friend regularly and gave him the plans for his “Pennsylvania Fireplace”, the first enclosed stove. Tradition has it that the stove was tested in the southwest parlor of the Grace home, the Coventry House.

During the American Revolution, Warwick Furnace made munitions for the Continental Army. General George Washington led his troops to the Warwick area after the battle of Brandywine to protect the local forges and furnaces, before the encampment at Valley Forge.

After Robert Grace’s death in 1766, and the death of

Benjamin Franklin’s wife Deborah in 1774, Franklin proposed marriage to Rebecca, but Rebecca’s Methodist inclinations predominated and Franklin was rejected for being “too worldly.” Their friendship continued, and when Franklin realized he was close to death, he asked to see Rebecca one last time. In March of 1790, at age 82, Rebecca made the trip from Coventryville to Philadelphia to be one of the last people to see Mr. Franklin alive.

On December 3, 1800, Lady Grace passed, having left a legacy that continues today.

Coventry Forge, located within Warwick County Park, was established in 1717, the second in the state. Thanks to the actions of Rebecca’s grandfather, Thomas Rutter, Chester County can celebrate more than 300 years of iron making. Today, part of Warwick Park’s woodland, and the charcoal hearths dating back to that period, can be seen along the seven hiking trails that snake throughout the park.

Warwick Park today

Warwick Park, Chester County’s northern-most park, is located south of Route 23 in the Village of Knauertown.

When it was purchased by Chester County Government in November 1967, Warwick Park was spread across 233 acres. The acquisition of Warwick Park marked another step forward in establishing county parks that were located across Chester County, geographically situated so that residents in all parts of the county could have easy access to a county park.

Today, beyond the remnants of the Warwick furnace, sits an area of parkland spanning over 530 acres for folks of all ages to enjoy.

Warwick Park trails

The legacy of Warwick’s early industrial pioneers is traced in Warwick Park’s Iron Heritage Loop Trail entitled “A Road to the Furnace.” A system of interpretive panels provides a self-guided walk through a portion of the woodlands, helping visitors to imagine what these woods once looked like when the production of charcoal helped to fuel the birth of our nation.

Interesting fact: The team that worked in the production of

Stoltzfus Feed and Supply

By Marcella Peyre-Ferry Contributing Writer

Stoltzfus Feed and Supply, located at 80 Route 41 in Gap, was founded in 1987 by Leon Stoltzfus on the family property. His son Dean joined the business in 1990 and the current store was constructed in 1992. Since Leon’s retirement, Dean and his wife Teri, along with their children – Elli, Wade and Cole - have kept it a family business with a continuing commitment to customers.

“The focus is on offering our customers the knowledge and service to take care of their animals, their lawn and garden,” said marketing and retail manager Wendy Martin. “We want to provide our customers with quality products at a good value and build relationships with them where we are trusted to help them make the best decisions for their animals.”

Stoltzfus Feed is able to provide consistent quality and quantity to large farms, racetracks, and agricultural operations as well as small farms and the family with a backyard pony. They also have everything for pet owners, and work with pet rescues.

“We serve the person with one dog just as well as we take care of our large farms,” Martin said.

For owners of horses, livestock and poultry, Stoltzfus Feed carries multiple brands such as Buckeye and Cargill, but they also offer their own private label feed. This spring, the store brand is being relaunched with some

additions to the lineup and reformulated to follow the latest science.

For the pet owner, there is a very wide selection of pet foods, including non-GMO, grain free and foods for specialty diets. “They want quality ingredients. We have something to fit everyone,” Martin said.

Along with pet foods, there are also a full line of pet accessories, from crates and collars to treats, toys and dishes, but it is the service and expert staff that make Stoltzfus Feed special.

“Our staff is really well-trained. Animals are our passion—that’s why we’re in this field,” Martin said. “We never stop learning. We always try to stay on top of our training.”

In addition to providing the best nutrition for your animals, Stoltzfus also has all the supplies you need for your lawn and garden with an expanded selection this year. They are also carrying an expanded line for patio gardens and fountains, including all the plants and pond fish for water gardens.

In the shop, you can browse for gifts or treat yourself to something fun and functional. That might include candles, vintage tinware, wild bird items, pocket tools, utility tools and much more.

Starting this spring, Stoltzfus Feed is converting to an e-commerce website that will enable customers to shop online for pick up or delivery. For more information, visit the website at www.stoltzfusfeedandsupply.com.

Stoltzfus Feed & Supply

80 PA-41, Gap, PA 17527 717-442-8280

stoltzfusfeedandsupply.com

Courtesy photo

Stoltzfus Feed and Supply, located at 80 Route 41 in Gap, was founded in 1987.

Warwick Park

Continued from Page 39

the charcoal, would carry out the wood and deliver it to its desired location. This process, and the men who oversaw the process, would later come to be known as “teamsters.”

Warwick Park’s 3-mile portion of the 137-mile-long Horse Shoe Trail winds its way through the park, passing east to west from Conventryville Road to Hill Road. Beginning at Valley Forge National Historic Park, the Horse Shoe Trail continues westward towards its junction with the Appalachian Trail on the crest of Stony Mountain in Hershey. Warwick’s section of the Horse Shoe Trail is suitable for hiking and horseback riding and was used for the transportation of charcoal during the height of the Iron industry.

The Nature Trail in Warwick Park runs along a native meadow northwest of the day use area, offering an opportunity to learn about the park’s flora and fauna. It runs beside two vernal pools, a bat box, bird nest boxes, and across a wetland boardwalk where an interpretive sign is located.

The Red Cliff trail extends from the French Creek through Red Cliff Field, a wet meadow, to a scenic area on Red Cliff’s south side. Set in a meadow and riparian environment, this easy trail offers elegant views of the flora and

fauna. The portion of the French Creek adjacent to the trail is known for outstanding trout fishing.

The North Loop Trail extends along Warwick Park’s northern area. It begins at Mt. Pleasant Road on the bed of the former Sow Belly Rail Line, which ran from Street Peters to Kimberton in the 19th century. Breaking away from the rail line, it continues through the forest and meadows, and onto the scenic overlook on the French Creek’s north side. This restful trail offers views of the flora and fauna of the French Creek Valley.

Developed by an Eagle Scout to provide an interpretive tree identification (dendrology) trail, the Adirondack Tree ID Trail passes through the hardwood forest east of the day use area.

The 1.36-mile Charcoal Trail meanders below the Warwick Park’s southern ridgeline. It links several of the park’s charcoal hearths - a large level circle about 30’ in diameter. The hearths were used to make charcoal that fueled the region’s iron furnaces during the 18th and 19th centuries. Sections of this trail include steep slopes and rocky surfaces.

French Creek and Fink Truss Bridge

A section of the French Creek that runs through Warwick Park adds significantly to the park’s attraction to visitors. Continued on Page 43

The Matt Gorham Team

By Marcella Peyre-Ferry Contributing Writer

The Matt Gorham Team is based in Exton, but covers a far wider range that includes all of Chester County and beyond.

The eleven-member team includes agents living in Delaware, Berks and Lancaster counties that can provide knowledgeable help for sales in those areas.

“That’s a place where realtors make a mistake—they step into neighborhoods they don’t know,” said Matt Gorham, CEO and lead listing agent for the Matt Gorham Team.

The Matt Gorham Team can take on any type of real estate transaction for buyers or sellers, but they primarily work with residential properties. They also help with rental properties, and by the end of the year expect to have a fully running property management company.

“We see a gap there and we’re looking to fill that gap,” Gorham said.

Beyond their role as realtors, the Matt Gorham Team puts an emphasis on intentional philanthropy with each sale. This year, their goal is to designate $100 per sale toward contributing $25,000 directly to the community for hunger issues. Beneficiaries may include the Honey Brook Food Pantry and Lords Pantry and others.

Part of the belief is that hunger leads to greater problems in the community. “It’s not just going to feed their belly, it is going to give them hope. When people are hungry, they don’t have hope. When you have no hope,

you’re probably doing things you shouldn’t,” Gorham said. “$25,000 is a big pledge for us, but we’re going to do it. We do it to improve our neighborhoods and bless our clients.”

The Matt Gorham Team had their best year ever in 2020, selling 202 homes, and has been the number-one sales team in the Coatesville School District for over ten years. They do it by knowing their market, promoting homes, and working hard for their clients – both buyers and sellers. “We’re problem-solvers. We know we can get results,” Gorham said.

Experience, professionalism and specialization has helped the Matt Gorham Team succeed for their clients in a market with very limited inventory available. Some agents in the office deal only with sellers while others specialize in working with buyers.

“They don’t have a conflict of interest,” Gorham said. “Specialists out-perform generalists. Everybody has their own strengths—we put it all together. We spend our time trying to make buyer and seller expectations meet.”

Gorham explained that there is a human side to his business that needs to be considered. Unfortunately, the reason for a sale may be tragic, such as death, default or divorce. “You need compassion and you need to love those people. We really act like a family. We don’t talk about it, we do it,” he said.

The Matt Gorham Team - Keller Williams 100 Campbell Blvd #106, Exton, PA 19341 (610) 363-4300

https://www.mattgorhamteam.com

Continued from Page 41

The French Creek has been rated an “exceptional value” waterway by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, which is the highest rating of water quality. Visitors to the Warwick Park can enjoy fishing along this pristine waterway. Classified as a cold water fishery, the French Creek hosts both cold water and warm water species including trout.

A high spot of Warwick Park – literally – is the “bridge to nowhere.” Located just south of the day use area, this is Pennsylvania’s only surviving Fink truss bridge, patented by Albert Fink in 1854. In 1870, the Chester County Commissioners contracted with the Phoenix Iron Works to make a pedestrian footbridge across the French Creek. However, due to the fear that it was being built in a 100-year flood plain, the bridge was moved to higher ground. Now in its current location, the restored Fink Truss is used as an overlook in the park, offering fantastic views for park-goers. In addition to walking in historical footsteps, Warwick Park is also known for diverse flora and fauna. And staff at Warwick Park offer a variety of programs throughout the year for the young and not-so-young – including tapping for maple syrup and day-time and night-time hikes.

Warwick Park is located at 191 County Park Road in Pottstown. As with all Chester County Parks, it is open daily from 8 a.m. to sunset. For more information all Chester County parks and trails, and the year-round programs on offer, go to www.chesco. org/parks.

KEEPING YOUR FAMILY COMFORTABLE ALL YEAR LONG

No matter the time of the year, when you choose Rhoads Energy as your HVAC and energy partner, you’ll be comfortable all year long!

Homeowners and businesses have relied on us for delivering heating oil and propane for many years. We can also service and install oil, propane and natural gas heating systems, central and ductless air conditioners and heat pumps too! Plus, we service and install water heaters, indoor air quality products and a variety of thermostats.

Honey Brook Community Partnership

Just like the rest of the world this past year, the Honey Brook Community Partnership (HBCP) had to pivot from our lofty plans for local events in 2020. We focused on our core mission to facilitate communication, share resources, and work together to enhance our community within the borough and township of Honey Brook. There were big, make that HUGE, plans for the 2020 Harmony Day Country Health Fair and Carnival in September. This is a historically popular event that brings Honey Brook residents together in a celebration of community and harmony. Unfortunately, those plans had to be postponed this past year. But that allowed a greater focus on some of the core programs to be focused on as the resilient HBCP team continued to remain involved with more personable and socially distant themes. Each year the HBCP is involved with several community programs that align to the group’s mission. These events occur all throughout the year and demonstrate the outreach

and support to the local community. To kick off the year, in the spring, the HBCP awards local non-profit groups grants to assist with their operations. This year the Honey Brook Food Pantry, Honey Brook Community Library and Hearts in Hands were awarded grants by the HBCP. Hearts in Hands is a faith-based, non-denominational association which provides education, physical and spiritual support for those in need along the 322 corridor in the Honey Brook area. In June, a high school scholarship for students from Twin Valley School District is awarded. This year, two Twin Valley seniors were awarded $500 each to assist in their next level educational needs in college, business, trade, or technical school. In September, the Harmony Day Health Fair and Carnival usually takes place along with a few other smaller events to involve the community in the theme of community harmony. Later in the fall, the HBCP participates in National Make A Difference Day which is

an annual community service event in October. The focus of National Make A Difference Day in Honey Brook is to collect items for infants and toddlers in partnership with the Honey Brook Food Pantry. Finally, to round out the year, HBCP sponsors Deck the Brook which is a fun holiday decorating contest for residences and businesses within Honey Brook Borough.

In addition to the HBCP-sponsored events, the Partnership also supports local organizations such as the Honey Brook Fire Company # 1, Honey Brook Food Pantry, Honey Brook Police Department Toy Drive, Honey Brook Lions Club, Honey Brook Library with their fundraising efforts.

The future in 2021 looks bright for the HBCP. As we continue to meet monthly via video conferencing, we are continuing to plan our annual programs that have been established and we are also working on some new programs to keep things fun and fresh for the community. One program in particular is called “Name the Brook”. This is being led by a committee of the HBCP with representatives from both Honey Brook Township and Honey Brook Borough. This will be a contest to officially name a stream that is currently known as “Unnamed Tributary #4 to an Unnamed Tributary of the Western Branch of the Brandywine.” This particular stream runs through both the Borough and Township of Honey Brook. This effort seeks to engage the community in civic pride in a new and different way.

We hope to return to some of the popular community events that have been sponsored by the HBCP in the past, especially the events in the fall where there is an incredible amount of community engagement. But we also are looking to bring something new to the community and local businesses each year in terms of enhancing our local community.

If you happen to be traveling through Honey Brook Township or Honey Brook Borough, please take a stop and enjoy one of our local businesses. There is a little something for everyone in the approximately 25-square-mile area on and around Route 322 and Route 10.

Also, feel free to keep tabs on our events through our Facebook page (facebook.com/hbpartnership.org) and through our website (hbpartnership.org) for events in 2021. We would love to share our community with friendly visitors.

If you are a Honey Brook area business owner or resident, we would love to have you attend one of our monthly meetings to see what we’re all about too. We meet the second Tuesday each month. Details are on social media and on our website.

Founded in 2008, the Honey Brook Community Partnership is an energetic mix of former and current public officials, local business owners, members of service organizations and community residents striving to enhance our community.

Western Chester County Life|

A Coatesville First: Animated Brewing Company

Interviewed by Nina Malone, Arbonne

What do you do when your dream to open your own business comes true a week after a global pandemic shuts down the world? You move forward with the same tenacity it took to get that dream from concept to reality.

Such is the story of Steve Orsborn and Jared Castaldi, long-time friends and now co-owners of Coatesville’s first brewery, Animated Brewing Co., on Mt. Airy Road in Valley Township. And although it isn’t the first year that these craft been enthusiasts expected, they did survive and thrive. We caught up with Orsborn and Castaldi to find out about the year that was and what’s brewing in 2021 and beyond.

Quite a year to open! How did you do it?

We had “great timing” with our grand opening! After years of planning and build out, we were slated to open the week after everything shut down in March 2020. We had beer in the tanks ready to go for the opening so we had to shift our entire business plan from in house sales to takeout and delivery literally overnight. And, we did, thanks to a very interested and thirsty public.

Had you planned to do online takeout, or was that pandemic-induced? Will you keep it in “after times’?

Online takeout definitely wasn’t in our plans. We were originally solely focused on in-house pint sales — we have 12 taps and a great tasting room. But with the shut down, we had to make a shift so none of the beer we’d brewed for the opening would go to waste. We plan on keeping that option available after things open up again. And of course, as state guidelines allow, we’re excited to welcome people inside and for outdoor seating, weather permitting.

Had you planned to bottle and can, or did the need to do all takeout for a lot of the year expedite that decision?

We weren’t planning on canning until sometime in 2021 but like everything else, 2020 forced us to start canning because of the shutdown. Canning our

beers allowed us to move cases to distributors which has helped get our name out to the immediate area — a positive! We also have crowlers for takeout.

What are your core beers and signature styles?

We lean pretty heavy on the IPAs but we love our lagers and pilsners. When we expand with more tank space we’ll bring back our lagers immediately. Our core beers at the moment are probably our double IPA Liquid America and our west coast IPA Beer #2.5. We brew on a Stout 7 barrel brew house. We have 4 fermenters at the moment but we plan on adding two more in first quarter 2021. You decided to open the kitchen in the midst of all this, after using food trucks. Was that also a pivot?

We weren’t actually renting our kitchen space for the first few months. We had a right of first refusal on the space and we were notified that we would lose the kitchen if we didn’t rent it. So we were kinda forced to get the kitchen going long before we were planning to or ready to build it out. But now that we’re up and running, we’re pretty excited that we

Continued on Page 49

Photo by Virginia Lindak for Media News Group

Delaware Valley Concrete

By Marcella Peyre-Ferry Contributing Writer

Delaware Valley Concrete Co. Inc. has a team of dedicated professionals that bring confidence to their customers through predictable quality and service.

Charles W. Diliberto and his wife, Frances, founded the company in 1955 in Hatboro, Pa. Since then, the company has expanded into a modern facility that serves commercial and residential clients. After Charles W. Diliberto’s retirement, his son Mario Diliberto became company president.

As time has passed the company has expanded and now has 9 operating concrete plants including sites in New Britain, Conshohocken, Kennett Square, Coatesville and Malvern.

Delaware Valley Concrete provides a wide variety of products for a broad range of uses. For the commercial client, concrete is available to meet exacting specifications.

The company provides shotcrete for vertical surface, pool concrete, aggregate, block, sand and flowable fill – a substitute for compacted gravel.

One of the company’s latest products is pervious concrete, designed to address important environmental issues and help fulfill requirements in the LEED Building Rating Program. By capturing stormwater and allowing it to seep directly into the ground, pervious concrete helps recharge groundwater and reduce stormwater runoff.

Using pervious concrete can reduce labor, construction, and maintenance costs by eliminating the need for retention ponds, skimmers, pumps, drainage pipes, and other costly stormwater management systems. Delaware Valley Concrete has made a commitment to train the industry on the installation of pervious concrete by conducting a contractor certification course.

Residential clients will also be impressed with the options available in stained and stamped concrete as well as decorative stone. Delaware Valle Concrete also produces all-

purpose interlocking concrete blocks. Two tons in size, the blocks are perfect for retention walls and security walls.

“Since succeeding my father as president of Delaware Valley Concrete Co., Inc. in 1970, I have been determined to honor his standard of excellence by supplying only the highest quality product and service to our customers. In attaining this goal, I have never lost sight of the fact that this task is best accomplished through an experienced, well trained and talented staff,” company president Mario DiLiberto said.

“As we move forward, we will continue to attain the level of excellence to which our customers have become accustomed,” he added. “In our plans toward future growth, I vow to maintain the high level of integrity upon which this company was built. The Delaware Valley Concrete family is eager to assist you in all your concrete needs from standard products to special mix designs. We look forward to many more decades of mutually beneficial relationships with all our current and prospective clients in the construction industry.”

Delaware Valley Concrete

5898 Old Lincoln Hwy, Gap, PA 17527

(215) 675-8900

delawarevalleyconcrete.com

Animated Brewing Company

Continued from Page 47

can offer a menu to our customers. Our customers seem happy about it, too!

The menu looks like a solid mix of pub fare. Any plans to expand it?

We just wanted our menu to be delicious and original. We never wanted to go fancy with the food — just simple but high quality fare here. We’ll slowly expand the menu as our capacity is opened up in the future.

We all love the “old friends make good” story! Tell us about your friendship.

We’ve known each other for more than 20 years. We met through the local music scene back in the ’90s. We were even in a band together for a short time! Then we found we both loved craft beer. The rest is history!

How long were you homebrewing before you decided to take the plunge?

We started home brewing about 10 years ago. Our first batch was one gallon that we made on my stove at my house in Philly. It was horrible and it took 9 hours to make. Obviously things have gotten better since then! About 4 years ago, Steve just randomly texted asking if we should start a brewery. So we decided to give it a go and here we are.

Why did you choose Coatesville?

We both grew up in the area. I went to high school in Coatesville and Steve went to Downingtown. We have tons of family and friends in the area and their support has been priceless the whole time we were getting ready to open. We also realized we’d be only the third brewery in the area — in addition to Victory Brewing Company and East Branch Brewing Company — and the only one near our locations, so we felt we could do well in this underserved area.

Why did you join the Western Chester County Chamber? We wanted to be involved with the local community as much as possible, so when we were approached to join, it was a no-brainer. We love having that local support from the chamber and its members to help get our name out there.

TRACTION: A progress report on the revitalization of the City of Coatesville

2021 promises to be an exciting year for the City of Coatesville. New streetscapes, real estate development projects, neighborhood enhancements, and economic investment opportunities abound, and the Coatesville 2nd Century Alliance, is a vital partner in helping to advance these important initiatives.

Drive through the City and you’ll see quite a bit of activity. Here are just a few updates on projects currently underway or in the pipeline for this year:

One of the City’s most exciting projects is the redevelopment of 190 West Lincoln Highway. One can’t miss the new 20,000-square-foot building at the corner of West Lincoln Highway and Church Street, constructed as a result of the federal Qualified Opportunity Zone program. Developer David Wilson purchased the former administrative offices of GO Carlson from the City’s Redevelopment Authority in late 2019 and began rehabilitation of the historic building and construction of new commercial space in 2020. The site will be the new home of Nth Solutions, a product development and manufacturing company currently based in Exton and will include incubator and innovation space. In January, the Commonwealth designated the site a Keystone Innovation Zone (KIZ), a PA program that leverages tax credits to encourage young, innovative companies to locate there.

Diagonally across the intersection from 190 is the former St. Stanislaus parish. Purchased in early 2020 by Activated New Heritage, the formally vacant church, school, and rectory is being transformed into an event venue and blackbox theater. The former school building is now home to Revival Productions, a live entertainment and fine arts education company. Plans for the church building include special event space, while the Rectory is conceptualized as a boutique hotel with tavern. Developers are excited at

the prospect of making these spaces available again to host weddings, birthdays, concerts, and a wide array of community events.

The intersection at First Avenue and Lincoln Highway has had its share of challenges and delays but reports state that construction on the realignment will resume once the winter weather breaks and the project should be completed by the end of summer this year. The modifications to this major roadway will result in safer traffic flow through and around the intersection and create a more pedestrian friendly environment.

Downtown streetscape improvements began late last year on the south side of East Lincoln Highway as part of the Gateway redevelopment project. These improvements will continue this year as new curbs, sidewalks, and lighting will extend on both sides of the street to Third Avenue. The enhancements are currently in the design phase with the City’s engineer and will be consistent with the improvements made to Third and Fourth Avenues.

Additionally in downtown Coatesville, the 2nd Century Alliance received funds through the PA Department of Community and Economic Development Neighborhood Partnership Program (NPP). These funds allowed the organization to provide much needed support to small, downtown businesses last year. It also provided for three façade grants to property owners leveraging $21,000 in grants into more than $60,000 in building upgrades. The NPP is a tax credit program whereby donors contribute to a not-for-profit organization in exchange for state corporate tax credits. Donors to 2nd Century Alliance; Knox Equipment Rental and Hickory Bark LLC, recognize the importance of efforts to revitalize Coatesville’s commercial corridor. Both companies have committed to support the initiative again in 2021 resulting in three more grants for

façade and building improvements this year.

The long-anticipated construction of the new Coatesville Train Station located at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Fleetwood Street is expected to be put out to bid by the end of March 2021. This PennDot/Amtrak project has been nearly a decade in the making and the community is excited that construction should begin this year.

As a compliment to the new station, the City’s Redevelopment Authority (RDA) is working to raise the capital to construct a parking garage on Fleetwood Street to accommodate commuters and future private development near the new station. The garage has received financial support from the County Commissioners in the form of a $1million Community Revitalization Program grant, and more recently $1million in Revitalization Assistance Capital Program funding from the PA Department of Community and Economic Development.

Last but not least of the exciting projects planned for the City is the Flats. This 20-plus acre parcel located at the northwest corner of First Avenue and Lincoln Highway, owned by the RDA, has sat fallow for more than a decade. Attempts to bring high impact development to the site by the City and the RDA were unsuccessful until late 2019 when three developers presented concepts for the redevelopment of the site: a minor league baseball stadium, a multi-use sports facility, and a sports/event

center with velodrome cycle track and hotel.

Keenly aware of the potential for the site’s economic impact on the City and the region, the RDA contracted with an economic development consultant to help weigh each project’s benefits. In November of 2020, after more than six months of deliberation, the RDA voted to award the project to National Sports and Event Center. The Developer will require twelve months to perform due diligence activities on the property and anticipates construction sometime in 2022.

For more information on these and other initiatives in the City of Coatesville, please call 484-786-8896 or visit www.2ndCenturyAlliance.org.

The 2nd Century Alliance was formed in 2015 when the City of Coatesville celebrated its 100th anniversary as a Pennsylvania City of the Third Class. At that time, community stakeholders came together with a mission to ensure that Coatesville’s “second century” be economically prosperous for all its residents and businesses.

At the same time, the County Commissioners were accelerating their plans to aid in Coatesville’s revitalization. Coming together, the County and Coatesville stakeholders created a public private partnership –Coatesville 2nd Century Alliance - to ensure a successful and sustainable economic recovery for the City of Coatesville.

Western Chester County Life|

The curtain opens

By: Rachel Cathell

Heather Grayberg has always known theatre. She grew up in a family that was very musical and at just five years old, her theatrical spark ignited when Heather’s brothers were in a high school production of Oklahoma. She remembers, “I became completely obsessed… One day my dad and I arrived at their rehearsal a few minutes early, we were watching the end of the rehearsal when the title song, “Oklahoma” came on. My oldest brother told me to go up onstage and join them. I ran right up and started singing and dancing alongside the high school kids, choreography and all. Lucky for me, my dad couldn’t catch me in time.”

In West Chester) came to Heather and said, “Yeah....we need to get you your own venue.” Heather enlisted Richard’s help in the search for a new home for Revival, which ultimately led to the introduction to the real estate company, Activated New Heritage in Coatesville.

And good thing her Dad didn’t catch her because Heather has performed and worked in the arts ever since that profound moment. “She pursued her bachelor of music degree in musical theatre-vocal performance from Westminster College of the Arts at Rider University, worked as a creator or administrator in the arts, and is currently working on her Master of Arts in Arts Management and Executive Leadership. This shift led Heather to open Revival Productions, a performing arts production company bringing professional theatre, music and dance to the City of Coatesville.

THE BEGINNING OF A REVIVAL

Revival Production’s first act started at Gordon Early Literacy Center’s auditorium in 2018. Heather explained that her team soon recognized that their rapid growth was going to need a bigger space. The search for a new home really came to fruition at the intermission of Revival’s summer camp production of Disney’s Frozen Junior, where Richard May of West Chester LLC (one of the founders of Uptown!

In February of 2020, the trio toured the St. Stanislaus Kostka campus on North Church Street and Heather knew this was it. “I walked into the former school and the entire building came to life. I could see dance studios, private lesson rooms, a Blackbox theater, and a lot of amazing opportunities.” That first initial vision took shape into what Revival Productions is today; just one year later the property has transformed into a lively performing arts campus. Revival Productions currently has four main operations; professional productions, special performances, summer camps and all-youth performances and year-round lessons and classes. The company employs hundreds of actors and musicians throughout the year, flowing in through auditions and filling diverse and vibrant roles. Heather serves as the Executive Artistic Producer and handles all the administrative operations of the organization and the artistic content, “The vision and mission keeper, if you will,” she says. The educational arm of Revival Productions is called REVPAC, short for Revival Performing Arts Conservatory. Heather reflects, “we always knew that we wanted to have a vast education department, honestly, we didn’t anticipate it happening so soon.” But it did and now working alongside Heather is her Production Coordinator Katherine Snyder and her husband, Daniel, who is the Resident Music Director and coordinates the educational programming. REVPAC offers year-round instrumental, voice, piano, and percussion private lessons. They also offer instruction in

Photo by Kyle Head

opens in Coatesville

acting, dance, fitness and other drop-in classes for all ages. In a few short months, they’ll host summer camp for dance, dj’ing, productions, tech camp and more.

A COMMUNITY ASSET

The theatre on 17 North Church Street is a space where performers can try new things and build their talent. But the purpose of Revival Productions doesn’t stop there. “The vision for us is to be a creative placemaking organization” says Heather. Being a creative placemaking organization means Revival harnesses the power of arts, culture and creativity to build relationships, connect residents and contribute to building a healthy community. “From the perspective of the performing arts, we are charged with being storytellers and doing so with the highest quality possible. We create memories, allow for discussion and ultimately enhance the human experience.”

Cities all around the country tap into similar art-based strategies like Revival’s to strengthen economic, community and social development. It’s a tried-and-true concept that can increase attraction of diverse talent, boost tourism and build neighborhood vitality. Heather says, “the by-product of our existence is that communities with a strong sense of arts and culture ultimately have a better quality of life and businesses flourish where arts and culture abound. This is simply the socio-economic effect.”

In addition to serving as a creative placemaking organization, Heather explains that a big reward of working at Revival is seeing an audience be moved by a story. She says theatre has the ability to cross divides by communicating through the arts. That communication is also found in REVPAC’s educational programming where Heather said she finds great fulfillment experiencing the personal successes of students.

Continued on Page 54

Heather Grayberg

Revival Productions

There are many ways to become involved with Revival Productions; either as a performer, volunteer or audience. The company has membership and sponsorship packages that offer perks like tickets, discounts on classes, advertising, special events, VIP opportunities and much more. The campus is home to three large dance studios, three lesson studios and the Blackbox theater, all available for rent. Heather welcomes everyone to experience Revival, “We see our venue as a place for the entire community.”

Upcoming Productions: Revival-productions.com

April 2021- Godspell

May 2021- Terms of Endearment- Dinner Theatre

May 2021- Ruby, The Ruby Bridges Story

June 2021- Dreamgirls

Upcoming Performance: Chichester Psalms & the Music of Leonard Bernstein- March 2021 Community Choir & Live Orchestra

LESSONS, CLASSES and CAMPS: Revpac.org

CHAMBER MEMBER DIRECTORY

Accounting Service

Albert Abdala Tax & Insurance Center

Albert Abdala (610) 384-6425

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CBIZ Inc. Payroll & HCM

Donna McCorkle (484) 667-6652

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Ginas InterNet Advising

Gina Rodkey (484) 712-5959

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Office Elf Bookkeeping

Donna Hosler (610)-467-1353 (1ELF)

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Paisley Solutions

Paula Paisley (610) 444-2597

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Quinn, M Cynthia, CPA

Cynthia Quinn (610) 444-1040

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See ad pg. 54

The Small Business Accounting Solution Inc

Nicole Odeh (484) 845-3800

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See ad pg. 33

Administrative Services

Brandywine Business Systems

Sam Slokom (610) 563-1487

Agriculture

Cairns Family Farm

Don Cairns (610) 636-8107

Chester County Agricultural Development Council

Hillary Krummrich (610) 344-6285

https://chescofarming.org/

Chester/Delaware County Farm Bureau

Dan Miller (717) 529-2508 http://www.cdcfb.com

Highspire Hills Farm, LLC

Deborah Ellis (610) 942-9634

http://www.localharvest.org/highspirehills-farm-llc-M6683

Penn State Extension

Logan Hall (610) 696-3500

http://extennsion.psu.edu/chester

Romano 4-H Center

Ken Walker (610) 942-0220

facebook.com/TheRomano4HCenterofChesterCounty

Stoltzfus Feed and Supply

Dean Stoltzfus (717) 442-8280

https://www.stoltzfusfeedandsupply. com/

Windy Hill Farm

Anna Larsen (848) 218-2949

http://www.windyhillfarmpa.com

Apartments

Fairways Apartments & Townhomes

Kristin Undercuffler (610) 383-0690

http://www.fmgnj.com

Millview Apartment Homes

Melissa Gatto (610) 466-7800

http://www.millviewapts.com

Architecture

Studio Mork LLC

Brian Mork (630) 207-1071

http://studiomork.com

Attorneys

Carosella & Associates, PC

Vincent Carosella,Esq. (610) 431-3300

http://www.carosella.com

Keen, Keen & Good

William Keen, Esq. (610) 383-7810

http://www.KKGLawFirm.com

Lamb McErlane PC

Helen Esbenshade, Esq. (610) 430-8000

http://www.lambmcerlane.com

Law Firm of Barry S. Rabin

Barry S. Rabin, Esq. (610) 873-1600

http://www.BarryRabinLaw.com

Law Office of Jayne Garver

Jayne Garver, Esq. (484) 784-5372

http://www.jgarverlaw.com

Law Office of Robin J. Gray

Robin Gray, Esq. (484) 769-5855

http://www.robinjgraylaw.com

Law Offices of August J. Ober, IV A.J. Ober, Esq. (215) 779-3433

http://www.OberLegal.com

Miller Law Offices

Tracey Norcini Polito (610) 840-8400

http://WWW.millerlawpa.com

Powell Law Associates, LLC

Marvin J Powell Esq. (610) 489-1714

http://www.powellpatentlaw.com

Siana Law

Chris Gerber, Esq. (610) 321-5500

http://www.sianalaw.com

Skinner Law Firm LLC

Michael Skinner Esq. (610) 436-1410

https://www.skinnerlawfirm.net

Unruh, Turner, Burke & Frees, P.C. Theo Claypoole, Esq. (610) 692-1371

http://www.utbf.com

Automotive Sales & Service

Brian Hoskins Ford Ed Kovatch (610) 384-4242

http://www.brianhoskinsford.com

Extra Mile Auto Service

George Devine (610) 384-2864

http://www.extramileauto.com

Fling’s Towing, Inc.

Daryl Fling (610) 383-6362

http://www.flingstowing.com

K’s Kollision

Bruce Kuryloski (610) 384-3337

http://www.kskollision.com

RS-Werks Automotive Shop LLC

Michael Meldrum (484) 712-5044

http://rswerks.com

Salvo Brothers Motorcars

Ari Salvo (610) 384-1352

http://www.salvobrothersauto.com

Banks

BB&T Now Truist| Parkesburg

Patrick Hart (610) 857-9667

http://www.bbt.com

BB&T Now Truist| Honey Brook

Stephanie Rich Bailey (610) 273-2992

http://www.bbt.com

First Resource Bank

Glenn Marshall (610) 363-9400

http://www.firstresourcebank.com See ad pg. 66

Fulton Bank |Parkesburg

Michelle Cooper (610) 857-5005

http://www.fultonbank.com

Fulton Bank |Guthriesville Michelle Cooper (610) 873-4740

http://www.fultonbank.com

Fulton Bank | West Chester Mike Reese (610) 918-8814

http://www.fultonbank.com

M&T Bank | Honey Brook

Jennifer Simmet (610) 273-7022

http://www.mtb.com

Meridian Bank Geoffrey Sheehan (484) 568-5026

http://www.meridianbanker.com

Mid Penn Bank

Mike Guyer (717) 690-3985

http://www.midpennbank.com

See ad pg. 25

Phoenixville Federal Bank & Trust

Steve Pratt (610) 933-1000

http://www.phoenixfed.com

PNC Bank | Christiana Susan Kuryloski (610) 593-2121 http://www.pnc.com

Prosper Bank Doug Byers (610) 384-8282

http://www.coatesvillesavings.com See ad pg. 11

S & T Bank - Downingtown Richard Sware, Jr. (484) 359-3301

https://www.stbank.com/ S & T Bank - Thorndale Jennifer Randisi (610) 383-7562 http://stbank.com

Breweries | Beverage

Animated Brewing Company

Jared Castaldi (610) 448-9914

http://animatedbrewing.com

Lamb Beverage Inc.

Michael McGinley (610) 384-1470

http://www.lambbeverage.com

Sly Tom’s Take Out

John Sly http://www.slytoms.com

Continued on next page

Directory

Continued from previous page

Suburban Brewing Company

Corey Ross (610) 273-3106

http://www.suburbanbrewingco.com

Victory Brewing Company

Samantha Dardine (484) 718-5080 victorybeer.com

Building Contractors

Provident Homes Corporation

Matt Bedwell (610) 692-7697

http://www.providenthomes.com

Rittenhouse Builders

George Metzler (610) 380-9570

http://www.rittenhousebuilders.com

Simmers Builders Inc

Lloyd Simmers (610) 383-5562

http://www.simmersbuilders.com

White Horse Construction, Inc.

Lydia (610) 593-5559

http://www.whitehorseconstructionpa. com

See ad pg. 39

Building Supplies

Compass Hardwoods

Greg Pilotti

https://www.instagram.com/compasshardwoods/ Graber Supply, LLC

David Blank (610) 593-3500

http://www.polebarn.com

Hatt’s

Industrial Supplies & True Value

Chip Clavier (610) 384-1954

http://www.hatts.com

See ad pg. 19

Business Consulting

SCORE

Vic Goldberg (610) 344-6910

http://www.chestercounty.score.org

Transfers of Learning

Tasha Delaney (610) 466-7521 transfersoflearning.com

Caterers

Doe Run Catering

Sarah Petro (610) 384-0477

http://DoeRunCatering.com

Harry’s Neighborhood Place / Sadsburyville Hotel Inc.

John H. Lymberis (610) 857-2331

http://www.HarrysHotdogs.com

John Serock Catering

John Serock (610) 640-2836

http://www.serockcatering.com

Victory Brewing Company

Samantha Dardine (484) 718-5080

http://www.victorybeer.com

Chamber of Commerce

PA Chamber of Business & Industry

Alex Halper (717) 720-5471

http://www.pachamber.org

Western Chester County Chamber

Donna Steltz (610) 384-9550

http://www.WesternChesterCounty.com

Chiropractor

Agape Institute of Functional Healthcare

Michelle Conicello (484) 593-0882

https://agapefhc.com/

Chamberlain Chiropractic

Dr. Jeffrey Chamberlain (610) 429-4920

http://www.chamberlainchiropractic. com

Churches

CityWell Church

DJ Grick (610) 590-8550

https://CityWell.Church

Cleaning Services

Clarel Janitorial/Maintenance Services Corp.

Claudia Muntean (484) 378-0827

http://clarelmaintenance.com/

Commercial Flooring

Precision Flooring Enterprises LLC

Marilyn Costalas (610) 857-3519

http://www.precisionflooringllc.com

Communication Services

Verizon Wireless

Alex Danz (484) 378-7979

http://www.facebook.com/pages/ category/Mobile-Phone-Shop/MBAWireless-Verizon-Authorized-Ret

Community Services

Boy Scouts of America

Chester County Council

Matt Groseclose (610) 696-2900

http://www.cccbsa.org

Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art

Sheila Fleming (610) 388-8389

http://www.brandywine.org/conservancy

Brandywine Health Foundation

Vanessa Briggs (610) 380-9080

http://www.brandywinefoundation.org

See ad pg. 51

Brandywine Regeneration Project

Bob Holliday (610) 717-2265

Bridge Academy and Community Center

Jordan Crans (610) 466-9505

http://www.thebridgeacademy.org

Caln Athletic Association

Steve Santillo (484) 378-0470

http://www.calnaa.com

Chester County

Community Foundation

Stephenie Stevens (610) 696-8211

http://www.chescocf.org

Chester County Futures

Maria McDonald (610) 241-6624 http://ccfutures.org

Chester County OIC

Joyce Chester (610) 235-4716

http://ccoic.org

Coatesville 2nd Century Alliance

Sonia Huntzinger (484) 786-8896

http://www.2ndCenturyAlliance.org

Crime Victims Center of Chester County

Christine Zaccarelli (610) 692-1926

http://www.cvcofcc.org

Good Samaritan Services

Nate Hoffer (610) 380-1360

http://www.goodsamservices.org

Good Works, Inc.

Robert Beggs (610) 383-6311

http://www.goodworksinc.org

Greater Deliverance Development Outreach

Stephanie Duncan (484) 886-6413

greaterdeliverancechurch.org

Habitat For Humanity of Chester County

Chris Wiseman (610) 384-7993

http://www.hfhcc.org

Honey Brook Area Community Partnership

Corey Ross http://www.hbpartnership.org

Honey Brook Food Pantry

Ken Ross (610) 291-0067

https://www.honeybrookfoodpantry. org/

Life Transforming Ministries

Bill Shaw (610) 384-5393

http://www.quietrevolution.org

Minding Manners with Ms. B Bongai Mhloyi (484) 356-8935

mindingmannerswithmsb.com

PABA Parkesburg Business Association

Gina Rodkey (484) 354-9701

http://www.paba-pa.org

Parkesburg Action Committee

Jenny Alexander (610) 425-1148

http://facebook.com/PAC19365/ Rotary Club of Coatesville

Dave Seegers (610) 952-0756

https://www.facebook.com/rotaryclubofcoatesville/ Star Superior Home Foundation

Stefanie Tarloski (610) 331-2624

starsuperiorhomefoundation.org

Salvation Army - Service Extension Cindy Yearsley (610) 383-0868

https://easternusa.salvationarmy.org/ Stewart Huston Charitable Trust

Scott Huston (610) 384-2666

http://www.stewarthuston.org

The Huston Foundation

Charles Lukens Huston III (610) 832-4955

http://www.hustonfoundation.org

The Parkesburg POINT

Debbie Shupp (610) 857-3393 http://www.parkesburgpoint.com

United Way of Chester County

Chris Saello (610) 429-9400

http://www.unitedwaychestercounty. org

Construction

Bore It, Inc.

Rick Barbato (610) 496-2946 http://Boreitinc.com

See ad pg. 20 City Construction Co., Inc. Dennis Fallon (610) 269-9530

http://cityconstructionco.com

D. Howe & Sons, Inc. Douglas Howe (610) 942-4249

http://www.dhoweandsons.com

David P. Kristman Excavating, Inc. David Kristman (610) 273-9388 dpkristmanexcinc.com

Delaware Valley Concrete Co Inc.

Lisa Diliberto (215) 675-8900

http://delawarevalleyconcrete.com

See ad pg. 17

Directional Drilling, Inc.

Curt Eldredge (610) 873-1099

http://directionaldrillinginc.com

Fidelity Contracting

Richard Burkholder (610) 816-0704

fidelitycontracting.com

See ad pg. 49

Five Point Renovation & Remodel

Rob Wishneski (610) 857-2856

fivepointconstruction.com

G Force Engineering & Construction

David Steltz (610) 233-9925 fbsginc.com

JGM Fabricators & Constructors, LLC.

Joseph Messner (610) 873-0081

http://www.jgmusa.com

Veteran Construction and Utility Services, Inc

Sue Durborow (610) 384-8235

http://www.veterancus.com

White Horse Construction, Inc.

Lydia (610) 593-5559

http://www.whitehorseconstructionpa. com

See ad pg. 39

Willard Construction

Keith Willard (484) 645-4508

Credit Unions

Citadel | South Coatesville

Anthony Williams (610) 380-6003

http://www.citadelbanking.com

See ad pg. 14

Citadel | Eagleview Corporate Office

Doug Thompson (610) 466-6412

http://www.citadelbanking.com

See ad pg. 14

Citadel | Parkesburg

Kim Jarvis (610) 466-6634

http://www.citadelbanking.com

See ad pg. 14

Citadel | Thorndale Gwen Smoker (610) 466-6649

http://www.citadelbanking.com

See ad pg. 14

Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union

Joe Pomorski (484) 883-3973

https://www.fmfcu.org/

Dentists

Hughes & Hughes Family Dentistry

Cheryl Gaudi (610) 942-3321

https://hughesdentistry.com/

See ad pg. 3

Marrano Dental Arts

Daniel Marrano (610) 563-4253

https://www.marranodentalarts.com/

Developer

First Eastern Development Company, LLC

John Newton (610) 842-8224

http://www.firsteasterndc.com

Legend Properties

David DePetris (610) 941-4034

http://www.lpre.com

Mark Lane Properties

Lane Udis (215) 510-6399

https://www.marklaneproperties.com/

New Heritage Properties, LLC

Crosby Wood (610) 383-9800

http://www.newheritageproperties.com

Dry Cleaning

Zekes, Inc.

Joseph DiSciullo (610) 384-5119

http://www.zekesincpa.com

Economic Development Organization

Chester County Economic Development Council

Mike Grigalonis (610) 321-8227

http://www.ccedcpa.com

Coatesville 2nd Century Alliance

Sonia Huntzinger (484) 786-8896

http://www.2ndCenturyAlliance.org

Education

Chester County 2020

William Stevens (484) 680-5570

http://www.CC2020.org

Chester County Futures

Maria McDonald (610) 241-6624

http://ccfutures.org

Chester County Intermediate Unit

Kristina Goodwin (484) 237-5153

http://cciu.org/

Chester County Technical College

High School

Beth Myers (484) 593-5100

http://www.tchsbrandywine.org

Coatesville Area School District

Thomas Hanna (610) 466-2400

http://casd.schoolwires.net/Domain/4

Delaware County Community College

Doug Ferguson (610) 359-5131

http://www.dccc.edu

Harcum College Coatesville Evelyn Santana (610) 525-4100

http://www.harcum.edu

Octorara Area School District

Lisa McNamara (610) 593-8238

http://www.octorara.k12.pa.us/

See ad pg. 65

Pope John Paul II Regional Catholic

Elementary School

Maria Samson (610) 384-5961

http://www.popejohnpaul2sch.org

Electrical Contractors

Bill Mullen Electric LLC

Bill Mullen (484) 716-1177

http://Billmullenelectric.net

Denmans Electrical Services, Inc.

Jeffrey Denman (484) 228-8111

http://www.denmanselectric.com

See ad pg. 34

Electrical Plus

Jeremy Mueller (484) 459-4940

http://www.electricalplus.net

G. A. Vietri, Inc.

Greg Vietri (610) 857-1110

http://www.gavietri.com

See ad pg. 21

Rumsey Electric

Patrick Melvin (610) 832-9000

http://www.rumsey.com

William S. Malany & Sons, Inc.

Chad Lease (610) 436-4023

http://www.malanyelectric.com

Emergency Services

Chester County Department of Emergency Services

George (Beau) Crowding (610) 344-5000 chesco.org/217/Emergency-Services

Keystone Valley Fire Department

Krystine Sipple (610) 857-3232

http://www.kvfd8.com

Keystone Valley Regional Fire District

Raymond Stackhouse (484) 571-9686

http://www.kvfd8.com

West End Fire Company #3

Gina Langan (610) 384- 9798

coatesvillefire.org/content/wfofficers

Energy Management Service

Electric Advisors Consulting, LLC

Frank Lacey (610) 793-2809

http://www.electricadvisorsconsulting. com

Kauffman Gas Inc.

Ken Kauffman (610) 593-5063

http://www.kauffmangas.com

Rhoads Energy Family of Companies

Michael DeBerdine (610) 857-1650

http://www.rhoadsenergy.com

See ad pg. 43

Tobelmann Energy Brokers, Inc.

John Tobelmann (610) 639-1406

http://www.tobelmann.net

Engineer Consultants

Econ Partners, Inc. Coleen Terry (610) 400-8024

http://www.econpartnersinc.com/

Edward B. Walsh & Associates, Inc.

Theodore Gacomis (610) 903-0060

http://www.ebwalshinc.com

See ad pg. 44

Hydraterra Professionals

Joe Boldaz (610) 942-3000

http://www.hydraterrapro.com

McMahon Associates, Inc

Natasha Manbeck (610) 594-9995

http://www.mcmahonassociates.com

Padula Engineering Company

Mark Padula (610) 696-9900

http://padulaengineering.com

See ad pg. 41

Traffic Planning and Design, Inc

Randy Waltermyer (610) 326-3100

http://www.trafficpd.com

Entertainment

Air Ventures Balloon Flights

Deb Harding (484) 753-2598

air-ventures.com

Philadelphia Rock Gym Coatesville

Derek Transue (877) 822-7673 ext. 1

http://www.philarockgym.com

Revival Productions, INC

Heather Grayberg (484) 378-0047

http://www.revival-productions.com

Continued on next page

Continued from previous page

The Golf Zone

George McNamara (610) 942-9494

http://golfzoneproshop.com

The Lukens Band

Mike Givler (610) 383-4197

http://www.lukensband.org

Environmental Consultants

Coventry Environmental, Inc.

Steven Ohrwaschel (484) 639-4578 http://covenv.com/ Envera

Michael Matheny (484) 593-4002 http://www.envera.com

Sovereign Environmental Group

Larry Johnson (610) 383-9919

http://www.sovereignenvironmental. com

Excavating Contractors

Bore It, Inc.

Rick Barbato (610) 496-2946

http://Boreitinc.com

See ad pg. 20

David P. Kristman Excavating, Inc.

David Kristman (610) 273-9388 dpkristmanexcinc.com

Fidelity Contracting

Richard Burkholder (610) 816-0704

fidelitycontracting.com

See ad pg. 49

Exterminators

Moyer Indoor / Outdoor

William McHugh (215) 896-6009 http://www.moyerpest.com

Financial Services

Beacon Financial Group, LLC

Cathy Jackson (484) 844-7824

http://www.CAJ-BeaconFinancial.com

MassMutual Eastern PA easternpa.massmutual.com/about-us/ our-horsham-team

Penn Rise Advisors

Karl Klingmann II (610) 269-8363

http://www.pennriseadvisors.com

See ad pg. 26

Fire, Water, Damage Clean-Up

SERVPRO of Central Chester County

Dave Lyman (610) 524-0211

http://www.servprocentralchestercounty.com

SERVPRO of Kennett Square/Oxford

Cliff Masscotte (610) 268-8620

http://Servprokennettsquareoxford.com

See ad pg. 44

Fitness Training and Sports Centers

Philadelphia Rock Gym Coatesville

Derek Transue (877) 822-7673 ext. 1 http://www.philarockgym.com

YMCA of Greater Brandywine, Brandywine Branch (610) 380-9622

http://www.ymcagbw.org

Florists

Blue Moon Florist

Ami Trost (610) 873-7900

http://www.bluemoonflorist.com

Coatesville Flower Shop

Greg DePedro (610) 384-2677

http://www.coatesvilleflowershop.net

Funeral Services

Harris Mountain Funeral Home & Cremation Service

Kevin Mountain (610) 384-1091

http://www.harrismountain.com

James J. Terry Funeral Home

Greg Froio (484) 378-7210

http://www.jamesterryfuneralhome. com

Wentz Funeral Home

Kirstin Wentz McElroy (610) 384-0318

http://www.wentzfuneralhome.com

Furniture

Greg Pilotti Furniture Makers

Greg Pilotti (484) 764-6956

http://www.gpfurnituremakers.com

Golf Courses

Applecross Country Club

John Harte (484) 692-1010 x102 applecrosscc.com

Coatesville Country Club

Tom Riesenberg (610) 384-3200

http://www.coatesvillecountryclub.com

French Creek Golf Club

Thad Fortin (610) 913-6330

http://www.frenchcreekgolf.com

Honeybrook Golf Club

Donna Horvath (610) 273-0207

http://www.honeybrookgolf.com

Ingleside Golf Club

Chris Ward (610) 384-9128

http://www.golfingleside.com/ Moccasin Run Golf Club

Curtis King (610) 593-2600

http://www.moccasinrun.com

Government County

Chester County Commissioners

Becky Brain (610) 344-6100

http://www.chesco.org

Chester County Department of Community Development

Pat Bokovitz (610) 344-6900

http://www.chesco.org

Chester County DES - Public Safety Training Campus

John Gillespie (610) 344-4100

http://www.chesco.org/des

Chester County Planning Commission

Brian O’Leary (610) 344-6285

http://www.chesco.org

Chester County Recorder of Deeds

Chris Pielli (610) 344-6330

http://www.chesco.org/Recorder

Government Municipal

Atglen Borough

Caren Andrews (610) 593-6854

http://www.atglen.org

Borough of South Coatesville

Allen Smith (610) 384-1700

http://www.south-coatesville.org

Caln Township

Kristen Denne (610) 384-0600

http://www.calntownship.org

Christiana Borough

Carol Pringle (610) 593-5199

http://www.christianaboro.com

City of Coatesville

James Logan (610) 384-0300

http://www.coatesville.org

East Brandywine Township (610) 269-8230

http://www.ebrandywine.org

East Fallowfield Township

Scott Swichar (610) 384-7144

http://www.eastfallowfield.org

East Nantmeal

Kathy Brumfield (610) 458-5780

http://www.eastnantmeal.org

Elverson Borough

Lori Kolb (610) 286-6420

http://www.elversonboro.org

Highland Township

Barbara Davis (610) 857-1791

http://www.highlandtwp1853.org

Honey Brook Borough

Janis Rambo (610) 273-2020

http://www.honeybrookborough.net

Honey Brook Township

Kristy Deischer-Eddy (610) 273-3970

http://www.honeybrooktwp.com

Modena Borough

Jennifer Daywalt (610) 384-6777

https://boroughofmodenapa.org/

Parkesburg Borough

Wendy Keegan (610) 857-2616

http://www.parkesburg.org

Sadsbury Township

Tammy Russell (610) 857-9503

http://www.sadsburytwp.org

Valley Township

Kathy O’Doherty (610) 384-5751

http://www.valleytownship.org

Wallace Township

Barbara D’Angelo (610) 942-2880 wallacetwp.org

West Bradford Township

Justin Yaich (610) 269-4174

http://www.westbradford.org

West Brandywine Township

Dale Barnett (610) 380-8200

http://www.wbrandywine.org

West Caln Township

Thomas Siedenbuehl (610) 384-5643

http://www.westcaln.org

West Fallowfield Township

Gina Wheeler (610) 593-5916

http://www.westfallowfieldtownship.org

West Nantmeal Township

Deborah Kolpak (610) 286-9722

http://westnantmeal.com

West Sadsbury Township

Patti Piersol (610) 857-5969

http://www.westsadsburytwp.org

Western Chester County Council Of Governments

Jennifer Daywalt (610) 384-9550 http://www.wcccog.com

Government Elected Officials

Chester County Commissioner Josh Maxwell (610) 344-6000 chesco.org

Chester County Commissioner Marian Moskowitz (610) 344-6000 chesco.org

Chester County Commissioner Michelle Kichline (610) 344-6000 chesco.org

Senator Carolyn Comitta (610) 692-2112

https://www.pasenatorcomitta.com/

State Representative Christina Sappey 158th District (717)772-9973 repsappey.com

State Representative Dan Williams 74th District (484) 200-8256 repwilliams.com

State Representative Danielle Otten 155th District (717)783-5009 repotten.com

State Representative John Lawrence 13th District (610) 869-1602 replawrence.com

State Representative Tim Hennessey 26th District (610) 326-2626 rephennessey.com

State Senator Katie J. Muth 44th District (717)787-1398 senatormuth.com

U.S. Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan 6th District (202) 225-4315 houlahan.house.gov

U.S. Senator Bob Casey, Jr. (215) 405-9660 casey.senate.gov

U.S. Senator Patrick Toomey (215) 241-1090 toomey.senate.gov

Graphic Design & Marketing

Blue Dog Printing & Design

Debi Friedmann (610) 430-7992 getbluedog.com

Link Promos

Megan Lamkin (717) 543-3767

linkpromos.com

Surefire Graphics

Vincent Zambuto (484) 378-4033

SurefireGraphics.com

Grocery Stores

Crop’s

Fresh Marketplace

Chad Cropper (484) 593-2665

http://www.cropsmarketplace.com

See ad inside back cover

Kimberton Whole Foods

Becca Settle (610) 590-5011 kimbertonwholefoods.com

Triple Fresh

Jim Petro (610) 384-5037 triplefresh.net

Hardware Stores Hatt’s

Industrial Supplies & True Value

Chip Clavier (610) 384-1954

hatts.com

See ad pg. 19

Healthcare Providers

Brandywine Hospital Tower Health

Claire Mooney (610) 383-8000

towerhealth.org

See ad pg. 49

ChesPenn Health Services, Inc.

Michael Lucas (610) 383-3888 chespenn.org

Lancaster General Health

Debra Wertz (610) 857-6639

LancasterGeneralHealth.org

See ad inside front cover

Levin Luminais Chronister Eye Assoc

Paul Fernandes (610) 384-9100 lleaeyes.com

Health and Wellness

Agape Institute of Functional Healthcare

Michelle Conicello (484) 593-0882

https://agapefhc.com/

Arbonne International

Nina Malone (610) 331-8285

ninamalone.arbonne.com

Compassionate Care

Dr. Gary Levin (484)-905-1050

Heating and Air Conditioning

Darryl N. Barber Plumbing & Heating Inc.

Darryl Barber (610) 273-2369

darrylbarberandsons.com

Joe Ward Plumbing & Heating, Inc.

Joe Ward (610) 593-6474

Rhoads Energy Family of Companies

Amy Stackhouse (610)857-1650 rhoadsenergy.com

See ad pg. 43

Summers & Zims

Joseph Zimmerman (610) 593-5129 sumzim.com

Historical Society

Graystone Society | National Iron and Steel Heritage Museum

Jim Ziegler (610) 384-9282 steelmuseum.org

Home Improvements

Budget Blinds of Coatesville Germaine Schumann (610) 643-4929

budgetblinds.com/Coatesville/ Cellarium Wine Cellars

Don Cochran (610) 721-9698 Cellarium.com

Certapro Painters of Western Chester County

John Fecile (484) 283-5003 western-chester-county.certapro.com/

Chester County Fencing

Chris Kaminski (610) 273-3300

http://www.chestercountyfencing.com

See ad pg. 45

Chester County Tile and Design

Jason Phillips (610) 380-5040 chestercountytile.com

Christiana Cabinetry

Rich Dempsey (610) 593-7500

http://www.christianacabinetry.com

Five Point Renovation & Remodel

Rob Wishneski (484) 888-8276 fivepointconstruction.com

Good Works Inc.

Robert Beggs (610) 383-6311 goodworksinc.org

Milanese Remodeling

Mark Milanese (610) 384-5820 milaneseremodeling.com

Morinelli Powerwashing

Joseph Morinelli (610) 316-6422

https://www.morinellipowerwashing. com/

Precision Flooring Enterprises LLC

Marilyn Costalas (610) 857-3519 precisionflooringllc.com

Tony Buck Home Improvement

Tony Buck (610) 384-7863 tonybuck.com

Home Inspections

Ground Up Home Inspections

Kevin Kerr (610) 324-3064

http://www.grounduphomeinspections. com

Hotels

Home 2 Suites by Hilton Downingown

Patti Shores (610) 873-1200

downingtownroute30.home2suitesbyhilton.com

Stottsville Inn

Michael Quinn (484) 718-5121 stottsvilleinn.com/

Human Resource Consultant CBIZ, Inc.

Donna McCorkle (484) 667-6652 cbiz.com

Human Services

Crime Victims’ Center of Chester County, Inc.

Christine Zaccarelli (610) 388-1218 x212 cvcofcc.org

Greater Deliverance Development Outreach

Stephanie Duncan (484) 886-6413 greaterdeliverancechurch.org

Industrial Engineered Graphic System

Uticom Systems, Inc.

Paul Keeler (610) 857-2655 uticom.net

Industrial Equipment

Ballymore

Stephanie Brown (610) 593-5062

http://www.ballymore.com

Northwestern Chester County Rentals

Kathy Duca (610) 857-1110 http://nccrllc.com

Continued from previous page

Insurance

Albert Abdulla Tax and Insurance Center

Albert Abdala (610) 384-6425

http://www.apatax.com

Beaver Insurance Agency

Larry Beaver (484) 356-6455

http://www.allstate.com/larrybeaver

Breuninger Insurance

Chip Breuninger (610) 384-1980

http://www.binsured.com

See ad pg. 12

C. Kenneth Grant Insurance & Real Estate

Barry Norton (610) 384-6260

http://www.grantinsuranceandrealestate.com

Chester & Associates, LLC

Penny Reeder (610) 383-3884

http://www.rswinsurance.com

DiMatteo Insurance

Al DiMatteo (610) 383-1114

http://www.dimatteoinsuranceinc.com

EMB Specialty, LLC

Erik Brecht (610) 857-4759

http://www.embspecialty.com

Farmers Insurance

Denise James (484) 544-4000

http://www.farmersagent.com

Keystone HMO Children’s Health Insurance Program

Gregory Gutierrez (215) 241-9706

http://www.ibx.com/CHIP

Knies Insurance Group

Greg Knies (610) 273-3756

http://www.kniesinsurance.com

See ad pg. 37

The Wright Agency

Jonathan Wright (610) 269-6115

http://www.wrightagencyinsurance. com

See ad pg. 29

US Health Advisors

Harry Lilley (484) 554-4989

http://www.ushagent.com/HARRYLILLEY

VanDyne Insurance Agency

Donna VanDyne (717) 430-2798

http://www.vandyneinsurance.com

Whitford Insurance Network, Inc.

Bob Ward (610) 524-7860

http://whitfordinsurance.com

See ad pg. 34

IT Services

CompNet, Inc.

Mark Davis (610) 380-1314 compnetinc.com

Origami Technology Group, Inc.

William Gayle (484) 639-0004 origamitg.com

Landscaping / Hardscaping

Bonner Landscape Contractors

Ryan Bonner (484) 886-2925

http://BonnerLC.com

Matthew Forrest Hardscape & Landscape

Matthew Siter (484) 753-4434

http://www.forresthardscape.com

The Tree Connection

Ryan Sipple (484) 888-5360

https://www.treeconnection.us/

Libraries

Atglen Public Library

Robbyn Kehoe (610) 593-6848

ccls.org/158/Atglen-Public-Library

Coatesville Area Public Library

Penny Williams (610) 384-4115

coatesvilleareapubliclibrary.org

Honey Brook Community Library

Jennifer Spade (610) 273-3303

ccls.org/171/Honey-Brook-Community-Library

Parkesburg Library

Kathleen Hood (610) 857-5165 parkesburglibrary.org/

Management Consultants

Transfers of Learning, LLC

Tasha Delaney (610) 466-7521 transfersoflearning.com

Manufacturing

ACR Machine Inc.

Steve Tury (610) 383-6150

ACRMachine.com

See ad pg. 55

Aerzen USA Corporation

Cheri Hager (610) 380-0244 aerzen.com/en-us.html

American Roll Suppliers, Inc.

Karen Neuhauser (610) 857-2988

Armstrong Engineering Associates, Inc.

Robin Austin (610) 436-6080 armstrong-chemtec.com

Brandywine Valley Fabricators

Josh Crane (610) 384-7440 brandywinevalleyfab.com

See ad pg. 5

Cigas Machine Shop, Inc.

Craig Cigas (610) 384-5239 cigasmachine.com

Cleveland Cliffs Coatesville

Albert Fuller (610) 383-2000 http://www.arcelormittal.com

H2O Connected

Susan Springsteen (610) 594-2191 leakalertor.com

JGM Fabricators & Constructors LLC

Joseph Messner (610) 873-0081 jgmusa.com

John Rock Inc.

Bill MacCauley (610) 857-8080 johnrock.com

Keystone Turbine Services, LLC

Patrice Beail (610) 268-6200 kts-aero.com nth Solutions, LLC

Susan Springsteen (610) 594-2191 http://www.nth-solutions.com

Pacer Industries, Inc.

Joseph Moran (610) 383-4200 pacergrindingwheels.com

Paulsonbilt

Pamela Barranco (610) 384-6112 paulsonbilt.com

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation

Chuck DiLabbio (610) 644-4430 lockheedmartin.com/us/what-we-do/ aerospace-defense/sikorsky.html

See ad pg. 37

Marketing and Publications

Communication Works Now

Judith Lee (610) 368-2058 http://www.communicationworksnow. com

Media and Publishing

Chester County Press

Randall Lieberman (610) 869-5553 http://www.chestercounty.com Vista.Today

Ken Knickerbocker (610) 256-9571 vista.today

Memorial and Monuments

White Willows Memorial Design

Fay Monte (717) 442-9001

http://www.whitewillowsmemorials. com

Metal Fabrication

American Roll Suppliers, Inc.

Karen Neuhauser (610) 857-2988

Brandywine Valley Fabricators

Josh Crane (610) 384-7440 brandywinevalleyfab.com See ad pg. 5

JGM Fabricators & Constructors LLC

Joseph Messner (610) 873-0081 jgmusa.com

Mortgage

Guaranteed Rate

Jason Ashe (610) 864-6357

http://www.rate.com/jasonashe

Museums

Brandywine Conservancy and Museum of Art

Sheila Fleming (610) 388-8389

brandywine.org/conservancy

National Iron & Steel Heritage Museum/Graystone Society

Jim Ziegler (610) 384-9282 http://www.steelmuseum.org

Music

The Lukens Band

Mike Givler (610) 383-4197 lukensband.org

Networking Groups

Women’s Business Connection of Chester County Bette Cowles-Friedlander (484) 823-0110 wbcchesco.com

Ophthalmologists

Levin Luminais Chronister Eye Assoc

Paul Fernandes (610) 384-9100

http://www.lleaeyes.com

Parks and Recreation

Chester County Parks

Lori Caldwell (610) 932-2589

http://www.chesco.org

Payroll Services

CBIZ, Inc.

Donna McCorkle (484) 667-6652

http://www.cbiz.com

The Small Business Accounting Solution Inc

Nicole Odeh (484) 845-3800

http://www.TSBAS.com

See ad pg. 33

Pet Services

Stoltzfus Feed and Supply

Dean Stoltzfus (717) 442-8280

https://www.stoltzfusfeedandsupply. com/

Pharmacies

Honey Brook Pharmacy

Tony Scalies (610) 273-7300 http://www.honeybrookpharmacy.com

Hopewell Road Pharmacy

Tony Scalies (610) 269-0002 http://www.hopewellroadpharmacy. com

Quik-Stop Pharmacy

Alissa Steele-Griffith (610) 384-6100 http://www.qstoppharmacy.com

Photography

Aleesha

Nicole Photography

Aleesha Howe (484) 824-1897 http://aleeshanicolephotos.com

Right Start Photography

Grace Rauppius (484) 459-3351 https://rightstartphotography.com/

Plumbing

CMC, Inc.

Chris Horst (717) 442-9890 http://www.cmcinc.com

Darryl N. Barber Plumbing & Heating Inc.

Darryl Barber (610) 273-2369 darrylbarberandsons.com

J-S All Things Plumbing

Bob Sparr (610) 500-4373 bobsparr.wix.com/allthingsplumbing

Joe Ward Plumbing & Heating, Inc.

Joe Ward (610) 593-6474

Summers & Zims

Joseph Zimmerman (610) 593-5129 sumzim.com

Tri-County Water Services Inc.

Brent D. Hershey (610) 857-1740 http://www.tricowater.com

Printing & Promotional Products

Blue Dog Printing & Design

Debi Friedmann (610) 430-7992 getbluedog.com

FASTSIGNS EXTON

Carrie Mengel (610) 280-6100

FASTSIGNS.COM/368

Image Ink

Janet Petsko (610) 518-5181

image-ink.biz

Link Promos

Megan Lamkin (717) 543-3767

linkpromos.com

Metro Printing & Promotions

Veronica Hall (484) 883-1243

metroprintingusa.com

Paragon Business Gifts, Inc.

Greg Krajewski (610) 857-5506

paragonbusinessgifts.com

Shirts N More LLC

Joseph Early (610) 873-6075

shirtsnmorepa.com

Surefire Graphics & Marketing

Vincent Zambuto (484) 378-4033

SurefireGraphics.com

Tam Arte Design Studio

Rick Milne (610) 269-7518

tamartedesign.com

The UPS Store Print ShopDowningtown

Bruce Cobb (610) 518-5010 theupsstore.com

See ad pg. 19

Zakback Inc.

Bruce Korn (610) 407-0285 zakback.com

Property Management

BLUE

CORD Property Care

Bradley Fink (484) 796-1586

https://bluecordpropertycare.com

Brite Realty Services

Thomas Taylor (610) 524-8285

http://www.briterealty.com

Clarel Janitorial/Maintenance Services Corp.

Claudia Muntean (484) 378-0827

clarelmaintenance.com

Huston Properties

Sharon Tandarich (610) 384-2666

http://www.hustonproperties.org

Wills Property Maintenance

Richard Wills (610) 384-1624

willspropertymaintenance.com

Zeke’s Inc.

Joseph DiSciullo (610) 384-5119 zekesincpa.com

Real Estate

All County Partnership

Jim Reading (610) 608-0282

Brite Realty Services

Thomas Taylor (610) 524-8285 briterealty.com

C. Kenneth Grant Insurance & Real Estate

Barry Norton (610) 384-6260 grantinsuranceandrealestate.com

High Associates, LTD

Brian Davison (610) 380-8437 highlandscenter.com

Keller Williams

Jennifer Randell (610) 650-0800 battykolo.com

Keller Williams

Matt Gorham (610) 363-4340

mattgorhamgroup.com

Lieberman Earley & Co

Phil Earley (610) 225-0900

http://liebermanearley.com

Mark Lane Properties

Mark Sherman (215) 510-6399

www.marklaneproperties.com

Re/Max Professional Realty -

Laurie Keen

Laurie Keen (610) 363-8444 teammatrixhomes.com

See ad pg. 54

Star Superior LLC Real Estate Services/Star Superior Home Foundation 501c3

Stefanie Tarloski (610)331-2624 starsuperior.com

Recycling and Collections Services

A.J. Blosenski, Inc.

Anthony Blosenski (610) 942-2707

http://www.ajblosenski.com

Chester County Solid Waste Authority

Bob Watts (610) 273-3771

http://www.chestercswa.org

Mahoney Environmental Services

Brenda McNeil (610) 425-1289

http://Www.mahoneyes.com

Reliable Industries

Michael Carlini (717) 626-2181

http://www.relbox.com

Rentals

American Tent Rental

Jay Riley (484) 340-7450

Northwestern Chester County Rentals

Kathy Duca (610) 857-1110

http://nccrllc.com

Residential Exterior Remodeling

Milanese Remodeling

Mark Milanese (610) 384-5820

http://www.milaneseremodeling.com

Restaurants

Animated Brewing Company

Jared Castaldi (610) 448-9914

http://animatedbrewing.com

Beaver Creek Tavern

Stuart Deets (484) 593-0481

http://www.beavercreek-tavern.com

Christiana Beer & Beverage

Mike Peace (610) 593-5887

http://www.christianabeer.com

Glenmoore Deli

Christie Keith (610) 942-4321

https://www.facebook.com/

Glenmoore-Deli-Country-Market-997885856960616/ Greenside Grill

Donna Horvath ( 610) 273.0207

https://www.greensidegrill.com/

Harry’s Neighborhood Place / Sadsburyville Hotel Inc.

John H. Lymberis (610) 857-2331

http://www.HarrysHotdogs.com

Little Chef Family Restaurant

Nick Lymberis (610) 384-3221

http://www.thelittlecheffamilyrestaurant.com

Mr. E’s Tavern & Fine Food

Beth Perdue (610) 384-4356

http://www.mrestavern.biz

Rocco and Anna’s Ristorante Italiano Rocco Pirozzi Jr. (610) 857-1111

http://www.roccoandanna.com/ Shotgun Pub & Grille at Moccasin Run Golf Course

Curtis King (610) 593-2600

https://www.moccasinrun.com/pub/ shotguns

Continued on next page

Directory

Continued from previous page

Stottsville Inn

Michael Quinn (484) 718-5121

http://stottsvilleinn.com

Suburban Brewing Company

Corey Ross (610) 273-3106

http://www.suburbanbrewingco.com

The Attic Lounge at Harry’s

John H. Lymberis (610) 857-0202

http://www.TheAtticLoungeAtHarrys. com

Victory Brewing Company Parkesburg

Samantha Dardine (484) 718-5080

http://www.victorybeer.com

ZING Sushi

John H. Lymberis (610) 857-0001

http://www.ZingSushi.com

Retail

Reecies Soaps & Natural Products

Reece Turner (215) 847-4365

http://ReeciesSoaps.com

Retirement Life Care Communities

Freedom Village at Brandywine

Nicole Rosella (610) 383-5100

http://fvbrandywine.com

See ad pg. 56

Harrison House of Chester County

Jean Bryan (610) 384-6310

harrisonseniorliving.com

Harrison Senior Living of Christiana Sherri Stolzfus (610) 593-6901

http://www.harrisonseniorliving.com

Heatherwood Retirement Community

Beth Warren (610) 273-9301

http://www.heatherwoodretire.com

Tel Hai Retirement Community

David Shenk (610) 273-9333

http://www.telhai.org

Safety Systems and Services

Signal 88 Security of Octorara

Pete Mango (302) 298-3307

http://www.signal88.com

The Protection Bureau

Christine Pezzi (610) 903-4900

http://www.protectionbureau.com

VPP Security LLC

Michael Amersek (267) 977-8706

http://www.securityvpp.com

See ad back cover

Witmer Public Safety Group, Inc.

James Witmer (484) 288-6405

http://www.wpsginc.com/

Self Storage

Global Self Storage

Jonathan Arasin (610) 857-0777

http://www.globalselfstorage.us

Hidden Valley Self Storage

Denyce Tober (610) 857-1778

http://www.hiddenvalleystorageparkesburg.com

Senior Services

Brandywine Valley Active Aging

Bill Pierce (610) 383-6900

https://bvactiveaging.org/

Skincare and Cosmetics

Arbonne International

Nina Malone (610) 331-8285

ninamalone.arbonne.com

Telecommunications & Networking

Comcast

Jessica Sibley (610) 241-6617

CTDI

Keith Montone (610) 793-8103

ctdi.com

See ad pg. 15

FBSG, Inc.

David Steltz (610) 233 9925

fbsginc.com

H&R Telephones

Jonathan Godley (215) 499-9847

http://www.hrtelephones.com

Verizon Wireless

Alex Danz (484) 378-7979

http://www.facebook.com/pages/ category/Mobile-Phone-Shop/MBAWireless-Verizon-Authorized-Ret

Transportation

Chester County Area Airport Authority

Gary Hudson (610) 383-6057

chestercountyairport.com

See ad pg. 31

Chester County Aviation

Ethan Crane (610) 384-9005

http://www.chestercountyaviation.com

See ad pg. 31

Signature Flight Support

Blaze Sharkley (610) 384-9000

signatureflight.com

See ad pg. 31

TMACC-Transportation Management

Assoc. Chester County

P. Timothy Phelps (610) 993-0911 tmacc.org

Travel and Toursim

ChescoWest

Rachel Cathell (610) 384-9550 www.chescowest.com

Chester County Conference and Visitor’s Bureau

Susan Hamley (610) 719-1730 brandywinevalley.com

Tree Care

The Tree Connection

Ryan Sipple (484) 888-5360 treeconnection.us

Wills Property Maintenance, LLC

Richard Wills (610) 384-1624

willspropertymaintenance.com

Trucking Companies

Independence Transport & Logistics LLC

Ed Simpson (610) 255-2118

Utilities

Chester County Solid Waste Authority

Bob Watts (610) 273-3771

http://www.chestercswa.org

PECO Energy Company

Scott Neumann (610) 725-7189

http://www.exeloncorp.com

PECO Energy Company

Edward Piscopo (215) 841-5411

http://www.peco.com

Pennsylvania American Water Company

Justin Brame (610) 384-1776

http://www.amwater.com

See ad pg. 25

Pennsylvania American Water Company

Terry Maenza (610) 670-7789

http://www.amwater.com

See ad pg. 25

Venue

Casablanca - A Right Start Venue

Grace Rauppius (484) 459-3351

https://rightstartcasablanca.com

Huston Properties

Sharon Tandarich (610) 384-2666

http://www.hustonproperties.org

The Barn at Stoneybrooke

Jenn Engle (717) 723-5183

www.thebarnatstoneybrooke.com

Video Productions

Valley Creek Productions

Justin Chan (215) 525-9904

valleycreekproductions.com

See ad pg. 4

Water Services

Roberts Filter Group

Matthew Roberts (610) 583-3131

http://robertsfilter.com

H2O Connected

Susan Springsteen (610) 246-9328

http://www.leakalertor.com

Tri-County Water Services Inc.

Brent D. Hershey (610) 857-1740 tricowater.com

Website Design CompNet, Inc.

Mark Davis (610) 380-1314

compnetinc.com

Link Promos

Megan Lamkin (717) 543-3767

linkpromos.com

Mercurygraphix

Brandon McLean (610) 639-4723

http://www.mercurygraphix.com

RUBI Digital LLC.

Dwayne Hallager (484) 908-0253

https://www.digitalrubi.com

Youth Services

Bridge Academy and Community Center

Jordan Crans (610) 466-9505

thebridgeacademy.org

Caln Athletic Association

Steve Santillo (484) 378-0470 calnaa.com

Chester County Council, BSA

Matt Groseclose (610) 696-2900 cccbsa.org

Chester County Futures

Maria McDonald (610) 241-6624 http://ccfutures.org

Minding Manners With Ms B Bongai Mhloyi (484) 356-8935

mindingmannerswithmsb.com

The Parkesburg Point

Debbie Shupp (610) 857-3393 parkesburgpoint.com

Octorara Area Career & Technical Education Programs: Where Futures Begin!

The Octorara Area School District is unique to other districts in Chester County in that the Junior-Senior High School includes a ‘school within a school model’ that offers eleven career and technical education programs. Known as OACTEP, Octorara’s career and technical education programs combine college preparation with real-world workforce skills development so students are ready to pursue their goals upon graduation from high school. Today, students need a rigorous academic education along with 21st century skills to ensure success in the workplace. Fortunately, students no longer need to choose between the academic courses needed for college and a vocational or technical training program. The STEM related career and technical education (CTE) courses offered by OACTEP allow students to customize their education in wide range of high priority occupational areas, including business, woodworking, engineering, childhood education, graphic design & illustration, culinary, law enforcement, reghting, emergency medical services, computer technology, animal science and plant science, agriculture, engine repair, welding, and much more. Students are well prepared for continuing education at entry-level positions or for additional training at technical schools and colleges. All of Octorara’s career and technical education programs are aligned to the Pennsylvania state standards for workforce development and offer relevant national industry certications.

Octorara continues to add courses in elds that appeal to students and have practical application after graduation. For example, within the Animal and Plant Science program, students may participate in the Octorara Equine Sports Team. Working with nationally known local professionals, students are exposed to different riding disciplines and prepared for a wide range of career opportunities in the equestrian industry. According to OACTEP Director Lisa McNamara, “The Animal and Plant Science Program is open to any school district that has a student interested in the equine industry. It’s an opportunity of a lifetime and Octorara students love it!”

Another example of practical application includes the OACTEP partnership with Dutchland, Inc. to offer a Pennsylvania approved apprenticeship program. This apprenticeship partnership provides a high-quality career pathway for Octorara students and helps Dutchland develop and prepare their future workforce. Octorara graduates obtain paid work experience, classroom instruction, and maintain employment within a successful company with a successful career. “Placing students directly with experienced professionals serves as a recruitment tool for potential employers,” McNa-

mara notes. “We have begun to see a growing gap that separates education from the practical and technical skill sets that employers want to see, and our programs ll that gap.” McNamara further emphasizes that “educational systems have to reach out to industries and ask what they need and what they want.” According to McNamara, “Employers are telling us, we need trained and focused skills in our industry.”

OACTEP is also excited to announce the addition of solar energy to the school district campus. Through a grant from the Dockstader Foundation and OLLO Energy, OACTEP will be installing 24 solar panels. As a result of this project, students will study solar energy as part of a larger overview of renewable energy sources. Students will learn about output per panel, how to measure energy use, and how to monitor the module on a computer to see the input of energy the panels produce.

OACTEP continues to extend opportunities for all students in Chester County to participate in the Octorara Homeland Security & Protective Services Academy. This program is for any student interested in a career in reghting, law enforcement, pre-hospital emergency medical care, EMT, emergency management, and the military. Students receive rst-hand experience in reghting, emergency medical services, vehicle and water rescue, and law enforcement from professional reghters and emergency rst responders. They climb into EMS and reghting vehicles and participate in real-life situations. In partnership with the Chester County Public Safety Training Campus, the Academy prepares students to apply technical knowledge and skills required to perform entry-level duties in law enforcement, reghting, emergency medical services, and other safety services. “It’s an unbelievable career development opportunity for our students also known as academy cadets,” notes Lisa McNamara. Students enrolled in the Academy give back to their community, immediately. They have access to every industry that visits the public safety training campus: reghters, canine units, EMTs, FBI, police officers, and many more. The daily exposure to life mentors offered through the program ensure student success. Students graduate from the program with over 64 industry credentials, and if they choose to go to a two-year or four-year college, the credentials may convert to college credits, and qualify them for free college housing and tuition.

To learn more about all eleven Octorara Area Career & Technical Education Program opportunities, visit www.octorara.k12.pa.us, or contact Lisa McNamara at 610-593-8238.

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