Downingtown/Exton AUGUST 8, 2018
IN THIS ISSUE: MILL SLATES DEMONSTRATION DAY page 6
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL XXX • NO 26
MISSION FAIR
The Downingtown Area Ministerium will hold a Local Mission Fair at Central Presbyterian Church, 100 W. Uwchlan Ave., Downingtown, on Saturday, Aug. 25, from 9 a.m. to noon. The goal of the event is to provide information about the resources available in the local community so that the groups might work better together. Local nonprofit organizations are invited to set up table displays and provide information. Representatives are also invited to share for 10 to 15 minutes about their organizations’ efforts to serve the community. For more information or to register, contact pastor Tim Black by Monday, Aug. 13, at 610-269-1576 or tblack@cpcdowningtown.org. BLOOD DRIVE
The Borough of Downingtown will host a Red Cross blood drive on Thursday, Aug. 30, at the Downingtown Borough Hall Annex Building, 4 W. Lancaster Ave., Downingtown. Donors will be received from 2 to 7 p.m. Readers may visit www.downingtown.org to sign up. SURVIVAL SKILLS HIKE
Phoenixville Public Library
Digital Technology Efforts Honored pg 4
By Francine Fulton
Thanks to a grant from the KTA Funding Hope Foundation, Trinity Assembly of God (AG) has been given a helping hand with its mission to serve hungry people in the community through its Joseph’s Closet food bank, part of the church’s Trinity Compassion Ministries (TCM) program. Dave Kovach, president of KTA Funding Hope Foundation, recently visited Trinity AG in West Chester to present the church with a check for $14,000. The funds were used to purchase a 2016 Dodge Ram that is helping to transport food that is donated by local restaurants, fast-food establishments, grocery stores and convenience stores. “The whole back of the van is used for storage. We pick up food every single day,” explained Caleb Gudgeon, TCM director. “We distribute 2,500
pounds of food a week. We literally feed thousands of people in the greater Philadelphia area every single week.” Trinity AG and KTA Foundation logos will eventually be added to the van. Gudgeon explained that he filled out a grant application at www.kta fundinghope.org, hoping to receive at least part of the money to finance the cost of the van. “I told them that whatever they could do would be helpful,” he explained. “They got back to me in a couple weeks, and they said that they wanted to pay for it in full to help out our ministry.” Kovach, a managing partner at Kistler-Tiffany Advisors, explained that the foundation has a mission to provide financial support to individuals and charitable organizations in the community, as well as those that help animals. “ We’re a financial planning company, and we created a charitable See Van pg 5
Dave Kovach (left), president of the KTA Funding Hope Foundation, recently visited Trinity Assembly of God in West Chester to present the church with a check for $14,000 that was used to purchase a van to help with picking up food donations. Accepting the check were pastor Jimmy Smuda (center) and Caleb Gudgeon, director of the church’s Trinity Compassion Ministries program.
ChesMont Astronomical Society OIC Seeks Volunteer Tutors By Francine Fulton To Present Annual StarFest
SUMMER GET-TOGETHER
Newcomers and Neighbors of West Chester is a social club organized to develop friendships, social relationships, and community involvement. Members come from West Chester and nearby communities such as Malvern, Downingtown, and Exton. On Tuesday, Aug. 21, Newcomers will hold its annual summer get-together. The group welcomes all residents, especially those new to the area. Readers interested in attending are asked to contact Connie Wall at cwnewcomersmembership@gmail.com. Readers may also visit www.newcomerswc.com.
Fall Session Of GriefShare To Begin pg 7
Grant Provides Van For Food Donation Pickup
Visitors to StarFest 2018 on Aug. 11 at Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site will have a chance to view the night sky through powerful telescopes owned by members of the ChesMont Astronomical Society. A highlight of the event will be 10 Object Row (above), when 10 members’ telescopes will be focused on a different deep sky object. By Francine Fulton
The community is invited to view the night sky through powerful telescopes owned by members of the ChesMont Astronomical Society (CAS) during StarFest 2018, to be held on Saturday,
Aug. 11, at Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, located at 2 Mark Bird Lane, Elverson, off Route 345 and Hopewell Road. The annual event will also feature educational activities for children, along with guest speakers and door See StarFest pg 5
The Chester County Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC) is currently seeking people from the community who would like to make the difference in the lives of adult learners by becoming volunteer tutors. No experience is necessary, but volunteers must have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree. According to Felice Burstein, adult tutoring assistant program coordinator, there is a current waiting list of 38 people located throughout Chester County who are in need of volunteer tutors to help them improve their English language skills. “We currently have students from 30 countries who want to learn English, as well as U.S.born students who want to get their GED,” she said. See Tutors pg 8
Laura Clark (left), a volunteer tutor with the Chester County Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC), leads a tutoring session at a local library with student Darwin Corea Mendez, who is originally from Honduras. The OIC is currently seeking additional tutors for adult learners throughout Chester County.
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will sponsor a Wilderness Survival Skills Hike in Warwick County Park, 191 County Park Road, Pottstown, on Sunday, Aug. 26, at 2 p.m. Park rangers will lead a fun and easy hike while covering essential skills, including navigation, foraging for food and water, scavenging for supplies, and first aid. The event is free and open to the public. Hiking boots and water are recommended. Participants will meet at the park office. Reservations are required on the Adult Events Calendar at www.phoenixvillelibrary.org or by calling 610-933-3013, ext. 132.
Fiddlers’ Picnic Planned pg 4
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