Morgantown/Honey Brook townlively.com
JANUARY 31, 2024
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL XXXI • NO 52
Birdsboro library welcomes new youth program coordinator BY FRANCINE FULTON
The goal of the Twin Valley High School Mini-THON Club, led by teacher Lance Chappelle (far left), is to raise money for Four Diamonds.
TVHS Mini-THON Club to offer Babysitting Night
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arents looking for a night out to celebrate Valentine’s Day are invited to drop their children off at Twin Valley High School (TVHS) for a Babysitting Night being presented by the Twin Valley Mini-THON Club. The event will be held on Friday, Feb. 16, from 5 to 8 p.m. During the evening, children will be able to enjoy crafts, games and a movie. A pizza dinner will be provided. “We prefer that people register, but walk-ins will be welcome,” said TVHS senior Chelsea Hurley, who is co-overall of Twin Valley Mini-T HON along with junior Ashley Siv. “(Babysitting Night) is open to any age (child) that parents feel
comfortable dropping off.” Chelsea said that the games and Valentine’s Day-themed craft will be age appropriate. “We will have crafts for older kids and toddler age,” she noted. “There will be a lot of variation so kids can pick what they want to do.” An age-appropriate movie will end the evening. A fee will be charged for babysitting. There will be separate prices for one child, two children and three or more children. Both cash and checks will be accepted for payment. “We are hoping to welcome as many kids as possible,” Chelsea said. “We will have about 20 students (volunteering), including the (club’s) 11 officers. We will get more (volunteers) if needed.”
In addition to students, Lance Chappelle, the club’s adviser, will also be on hand to provide supervision. The babysitting event is just one fundraiser of Twin Valley Mini-THON. The club raises money for Four Diamonds, a nonprofit organization that has a mission to conquer childhood cancer. The main fundraiser of the student-run club is its Mini-THON, which is a dance marathon modeled after the Penn State THON that raises money for families with children being treated for cancer at Penn State Children’s Hospital. “We did Breakfast with Santa and a Craft Fair, and we did kids’ crafts at that as well,” noted Chelsea. Club members also held a Letters from Santa program,
See Library pg 2
Becoming a Master Watershed Steward BY FRANCINE FULTON
Teaching adults and children about the environment, monitoring water quality and participating in stream cleanups are just some of the activities of the Master Watershed Stewards (MWS), a volunteer program of Penn State Extension. Applications are currently being accepted for the spring 2024 MWS training classes, which will run from March to June, with separate dates for Berks, Lancaster and Chester counties.
See Babysitting pg 2
According to Erin Frederick, statewide MWS coordinator, training topics will include flooding, drinking water, wastewater treatment, plastic pollution, water chemistry, restoration projects, native plants and the implications of land uses on the watershed. “We cover a lot,” she said, noting that optional field trips are also offered. In exchange for 40 hours of instruction, candidates must agree to contribute 20 hours of volunteer service their first year, followed by 20 hours of volunteer See Watershed Steward pg 5
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BY FRANCINE FULTON
Amber Hamel grew up in Birdsboro, graduated from Daniel Boone Area High School and volunteered at the Boone Area Library throughout her life. Now, Hamel has been named the library’s new youth program coordinator. She succeeds Sarah Terry, who left the library to take on a new position. Hamel applied for Amber Hamel (left) leads the story time the job in late Decem- program on Mondays and Wednesdays. ber and was interviewed by a “I grew up in Birdsboro and in the library board member and library library’s youth program. I started director Mirielle Vasselli. “My in second grade and volunteered mom comes to the library - she up until I graduated high school lives in Birdsboro - and saw the job in 2012.” posted and I applied,” said Hamel. During the job search, story