Downingtown/Exton JANUARY 22, 2020
IN THIS ISSUE: CHURCH POSTPONES MISSION TRIP page 4
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL XXXI • NO 49
PROGRAM ON BLOGGING
Phoenixville Public Library, 183 Second Ave., Phoenixville, will present a program about online blogging on Saturday, Feb. 1, from 10 a.m. to noon. Social media expert Christine Tarlecki will present the program. Attendees will learn about topics, tricks and photo and digital content tips. Attendees should bring their own electronic devices. The event is free and open to the public. Space is limited. Reservations are required on the Adult Events Calendar at www.phoenixvillelibrary.org. COMMUNITY LUNCHEON
Central Presbyterian Church, 100 W. Uwchlan Ave., Downingtown, will hold its monthly community luncheon on Thursday, Feb. 6, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The meal will include chili and chicken corn noodle, beef vegetable, and cream of potato soups, along with sandwiches, salad platters, homemade desserts and beverages. There is a fee for the food. Takeouts may be requested by calling 610-2691576 and asking for the kitchen. MEMBER SOCIAL
Members of the MOMS Club of Pickering Valley welcomes all mothers and their children who reside within the boundaries of West Vincent, Pickering Valley and Shamona Creek elementary schools to join. The group will hold its next member social on Monday, Feb. 3, at 9:45 a.m. The group offers play dates, moms’ nights out and various community service projects. For more details, including the meeting location, readers may email momsclubpv@yahoo.com or visit www.momsclubpv.weebly.com.
County Wins Leadership Award pg 3
By Francine Fulton
will kick off the school’s celebration of Catholic Schools Week (CSW), which will be observed this year from Sunday, Jan. 26, through Friday, Jan. 31. The theme of this year’s observance is “Catholic Schools: Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed.” The open house at PJP II, located at 2875 Manor Road (Route 82), Coatesville, will take place on Jan. 26 from noon to 2 p.m. During the event, visitors will be able to tour the school, which serves students from prekindergarten to eighth grade. PJP II is also home to Little Saints Academy, which serves infants and toddlers from 3 to 36 months of age. “It’s an open house for both current and prospective families,” said Maria See PJP II pg 2
By Francine Fulton
Pope John Paul II Regional Catholic Elementary School eighth-graders (from left) Riley Kinzeler, Evy Winter, Addison Egan and Camryn Foster work on their project for the STREAM (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Arts and Math) Expo, which will be held during a community open house on Jan. 26. The open house will kick off the Catholic Schools Week celebration at the school.
When Pope John Paul II Regional Catholic Elementary School (PJP II) holds its community open house on Sunday, Jan. 26, visitors will be able to view a STREAM (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Arts and Math) Expo in the school gymnasium. STREAM is unique to Catholic school because the “R” aspect has been added to incorporate faith-based learning in the curriculum. At PJP II, fifth- through eighthgraders have completed projects for the expo in collaboration with ProjectEngin, a program that has students using STREAM to tackle real-world issues based on the United See STREAM Expo pg 2
Therapy Dog Provides Hope And Comfort Local Graduate Forms Landscaping Company By Francine Fulton
The Chester County Board of Commissioners,
Freddie, accompanied by his owners, Lara and Tom Dushkewich, recently made his 200th visit as a therapy dog to the Domestic Violence Center of Chester County.
When Lara Dushkewich and her husband, Tom, rescued Freddie, a boxer/beagle mix, from a North Carolina shelter, she never expected that Freddie would become a therapy dog bringing hope and comfort to senior citizens and to victims of domestic violence. Lara learned about Freddie’s natural calming tendencies while visiting her grandmother in a nursing home. “The first week I had him when he was about a year old, I brought him to see my grandmother, who was recovering from an illness at the nursing home,” Lara recalled. “He walked right in and had an instant connection with my grandmother. My grandmother went through the various stages of ability - (using a) cane, a walker, a wheelchair and then (becoming) bedridden. Through all of that, he was gentle and he didn’t need treats to get him to sit and stay. He learned through his engagement with my grandmother. He was not adopted to be a therapy dog, but he became one.” Freddie, now 11, who was certified in 2014 through Therapy Dogs International, regularly visits the Domestic Violence Center of Chester County (DVCCC), where Lara is a board member and an See Therapy Dog pg 4
By Francine Fulton
Even though he is only 18 years old, Chase Gallagher is already a successful entrepreneur and business owner. Chase, a graduate of Downingtown High School East (DHSE), is the owner of a local landscaping company called Buzz Cut Lawn Care and Landscaping, a full-service lawn care, landscaping and snow removal company based in Chester Springs. Chase, who has a severe kidney disease known as membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN), donates a portion of his business profits to NephCure Kidney International, a nonprofit organization that researches MPGN and other kidney diseases.
Chase Gallagher, 18, is the owner of a local landscaping company. Since he has a kidney disease, he donates a portion of his business profits to NephCure Kidney International. Chase was diagnosed with MPGN as a second-grader and undergone various treatments. Today, he is able to manage See Entrepreneur pg 2
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Commissioners Take Official Oath Of Office pg 4
PJP II To Celebrate Catholic Schools Week STREAM Expo Set A community open house at Pope John Paul II Regional Catholic ElemenFor Jan. 26 tary School (PJP II) in West Brandywine
COMPOSTING CLASSES
through the Chester County Solid Waste Authority, will offer free certified master composting classes. Classes will take place at Exton Library, 450 Exton Square Parkway, Exton, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursdays, March 5, 12, and 26, on the second floor in the Struble Room. Trainees will learn how to compost, how to construct various compost bins, how to grasscycle, and how to reduce food waste by vermicomposting. The authority will provide training, materials, volunteer opportunities, and support. Participants are required to attend all three classes and complete six hours of volunteer service to be certified. Preregistration is required. To register call 484-796-4041.
Church To Host Night To Shine pg 3