New Emergency Services Director Appointed

Chester County Commissioners Marian Moskowitz, Josh Maxwell, and Michelle Kichline announced the appointment of Warren W. “Bill” Messerschmidt III as the county’s new director of the Department of Emergency Services (DES). Messerschmidt will take the lead at DES on Monday, Feb. 13, following his most recent role as assistant director of emergency management operations (EMO) in Montgomery County. Additionally, Messerschmidt has been a firefighter at Centre Square Fire Company in Blue Bell for 16 years and has served as deputy chief of operations for the past seven. As director of DES, he will oversee the 9-1-1 Center, Emergency the Management and Emergency Operations divisions, and the Public Safety Training

Campus.

Messerschmidt is a graduate of Drexel University, where he co-founded the Drexel Emergency Medical Services. He is pursuing a Master of Public Administration online with the University of New Haven and is scheduled to graduate in the coming months.

Jay’s Handyman Service

Thrift Store frompg 1

Store manager Robin McCormick recently announced that a total of $20,000 was presented to local organizations, the result of store sales and donations in 2022. The recipients included the Octorara Area Food Cupboard, Keystone Valley Fire Department, Parkesburg Free Library, the Parkesburg Borough Police Department, the Atglen Public Library, the Parkesburg POINT youth center and Parkesburg Churches Community Outreach (PCCO).

Other recipients included David’s Drive 831, a charity that serves veterans; Locust Lane Riding Center in Coatesville, which offers equine-assisted therapies; and Everybody Plays! - a community organization that is looking to renovate the playground at Minch Park so that it is accessible to children of all abilities.

“We keep an ear out for areas in need in the community,” said McCormick when explaining how the beneficiaries are chosen.

The all-volunteer-run shop, which opened in 2009, is located at 317 Main St., Parkesburg. In March of 2022, the facility was renovated when a vacant store and a former donation takein area were combined to form a larger retail space, double the size of the original. Along with the expansion, the shop began accept-

WCU And Veterans Center Honored

West Chester University (WCU) and the Greg and Sandra Weisenstein Veterans Center have been honored for exceptional service to veterans. On Dec. 15, Col. Joseph Kirlin, Pennsylvania department commander of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Military Order of World Wars (MOWW), presented the Bronze Patrick Henry Award to Vince DeMarro, the university’s VA school certifying official and a retired U.S. Marine Corps veteran, as well as a WCU alumnus.

The award recognizes ing credit card payments for the first time, in addition to cash.

WCU’s status as a Gold Designated Military Friendly University for 2021-22 as well as for service to veterans. The Veterans Center is committed to facilitating communication among WCU’s campus offices in order to serve student veterans, military service members, reservists, and their families with a coordinated system of service to provide a meaningful transition from the military to WCU.

To learn more about the Veterans Center, visit www.wcupa.edu/veterans center.

The Righteous Clothing

Thrift Store offers pet supplies; sporting goods; accessories, including belts, wallets and purses; baby supplies; puzzles; antiques and collectibles; toys; books; seasonal decor; and clothing for men, women and children.

Volunteers are always needed to help sort and price items and to run the cash register. Volunteers of all ages are welcome, and they do not have to be members of the church.

The store is also seeking donations of new or gently used items in good condition. “Donations should be made during store hours, or people can message us on Facebook to make other arrangements,” McCormick noted.

McCormick has announced that a special event will be held at the store in March. “March 18 is our first anniversary of the opening of the newly renovated store,” she said. “We will have specials and other activities.”

The store’s winter hours of operation are Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursdays from 1 to 5 p.m., Fridays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/right eousclothingthriftstore or https://righteousclothing thriftstore.godaddysites.com.