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health

JANUARY 17, 2024

SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954

VOL XXXIII • NO 46

wellness

Service dog etiquette Never engage an animal at work BY FRANCINE FULTON

When a youngster or even an adult sees a dog in a retail store or other public location, his or her first instinct is usually to approach the animal and pet it. However, that dog may be a working service animal, so people should not touch it or talk to it. “A general rule of thumb is not

to engage with a service animal,” said Christina Billy, director of client services for Canine Partners for Life (CPL), a nonprofit organization that provides service dogs for individuals who have physical and cognitive disabilities. “Some people don’t mind having a conversation with people about their animal, but it is important to address See Service dog pg 5

Chester County 4-H members and leaders along with ASG members display the pillowcases they created.

Chester County 4-H members take part in Day of Sewing BY FRANCINE FULTON

A CPL service dog wears a vest and harness (left photo) and some dogs help clients with mobility issues (right photo).

Support group to help those dealing with grief BY FRANCINE FULTON

Chester County 4-Her Megan Johnson (front) learns to sew a pillowcase from ASG member Barb Leech.

complete community ser vice projects. “There is a Philadelphia (ASG) chapter, and within the chapter we have different neighborhood groups. The neighborhood group that is here today is Material Girls,” Leech explained. Joann Johnson from the West Chester 4-H Sewing Club was on

For those struggling with the death of a loved one, GriefShare can help. GriefShare is a free in-person support group program for anyone who is grieving the loss of a spouse, parent, child of any age, friend, sibling, co-worker or relative. Locally, the program is offered on Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. at Gateway Church, 160 Cowan Road, Parkesburg, and it is facilitated by

Paul and Twila Ranck. Meetings began on Jan. 16 and will run through April 9. People can attend GriefShare at any time because each meeting is self-contained. At each of the GriefShare sessions, which are designed for people age 15 and older, attendees watch a 30-minute video on a grief-related topic that features real-life stories of people who have experienced loss. “ We watch the video, and each video is on a certain topic, but they are all related to grief See GriefShare pg 2

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See Day of Sewing pg 5

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embers of Chester County 4-H recently joined the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Sewing Guild (ASG) for a Community Service Day of Sewing, during which participants made pillowcases for hospitalized children. The Day of Sewing was held simultaneously at three locations, including in west Philadelphia and at St. James Lutheran Church in Pottstown. The local event took place at the Chester County 4-H Penn State Extension office, located in the Chester County Government Services Center in West Chester. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Jan. 6, 4-H members and club leaders were invited to join guild members in making pillowcases, which will be distributed through the Ryan’s Case For Smiles organization. “The group finished 85 pillowcases on (Jan. 6) and will have over 100 total completed by the end of the week,” reported Toni Stuetz,

Extension educator. To prepare for the Day of Sewing, ASG club members created precut pieces of fabric. During the event, attendees had to form pillowcase cuffs and then sew the pieces together. “ You want it to be sturdy, so we finish the seams on the side and the bottom, so they don’t fray,” explained ASG member Barb Leech, adding that the pillowcases were created in fun fabrics designed for children and donated by club members. Those interested in making pillowcases for the charity may visit www.caseforsmiles.org for instructions. “The charity (formerly known as ConKerr Cancer) was started by a woman whose son passed away from cancer. It has gone through several name changes, but they are still doing the same thing,” Leech explained. The ASG is a national nonprofit organization that has a mission to “advance sewing as an art and a life skill.” Group members also use their sewing skills to


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