IN THIS ISSUE: FIRE, RESCUE, EMS GRANTS AVAILABLE page 5
Octorara
Shop local! Find open businesses near you at
townlively.com /townlively
JULY 29, 2020
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL XXX • NO 24
Congregation Members Keeping Busy By Francine Fulton
Trying out a new recipe, cleaning out drawers and closets, taking up an old hobby and trying their hands at arts and crafts are just some of the activities that congregation members at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Compass, spent time on during the stay-at-home order. Among those who took the time for a cleanout project was the Rev. Dr. Nina George-Hacker, rector of St. John’s. “My husband (Rick) and I moved into our apartment four years ago and were so busy working we never had time to deal with our basement storage unit, which was a mess,” she said. “One day, during our enforced stay-at-home, we spent 10 hours cleaning out and reorganizing the space. Now we know what is and isn’t in there and where to find it.”
Frances Gilfillan, a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Compass, and a resident of the Tel Hai Retirement Community, created 25 pillows from her late husband’s clothing to distribute to his family members.
In addition to the basement, GeorgeHacker also cleaned out and reorganized her desk drawers and dresser drawers, the home’s hall closet and linen closet, three floor-to-ceiling shelves of CDs, two four-drawer file cabinets and one kitchen cabinet. “When I wasn’t cleaning out and reorganizing spaces, I did a lot more cooking - trying out new recipes and reviving old favorites,” she reported, noting that one of her most successful meals consisted of panko-encrusted fish with asparagus, zucchini with cheese and quinoa and vegetables. As a tribute to her late husband, Richard Gilfillan, lifelong congregation
member Frances Gilfillan, who resides in the Tel Hai Retirement Community in Honey Brook, created 25 pillows from her late husband’s shirts, pants and jeans. See St. John’s Compass pg 2
Pat Owens, a former member of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Compass, painted ceramics during the stay-at-home order. Although she no longer resides in the area, she stays connected to St. John’s by watching services online.
/open
Community Invited To Virtual Town Tours By Francine Fulton
Each summer, local residents and visitors to the area enjoy taking part in the Chester County Planning Commission’s Town Tours and Village Walks program, which provides guided tours of local points of interest in the county. For 2020, the program, now in its 26th year, has been transitioned to a completely virtual experience due to COVID-19. The new virtual summer series is designed to highlight Chester County’s cultural heritage, while keeping health and safety issues in mind. The virtual program began on July 16 with a talk on the art and architecture in Phoenixville. The remaining “Live at Five” programs will begin at 5 p.m. on Thursdays throughout July and August. See Town Tours pg 6
YMCA To Offer Prekindergarten Program Libraries Reopen In Christiana, Atglen Pennsylvania Department of Education, PA Pre-K Counts is designed for children who are ages 3 and Youngsters who are preparing to attend kinder- 4 and live in families earning up to 300% of the garten this fall are invited to take part in poverty level. prekindergarten programs being offered by the The deadline to apply is Friday, Aug. 21. The YMCA of Greater Brandywine (YGBW). program will follow the Octorara Area School DisEnrollment is now open for all YGBW’s early trict schedule and begin on Tuesday, Sept. 8. learning programs, including Pennsylvania’s Pre-K Aaron Karpas, executive director of the JenCounts program at the Octorara Program Center, nersville branch, who also oversees child care pro104 Highland Road, Atglen. Established by the grams at Octorara, explained that this is the second year that Pre-K Counts has been offered at the location. “Pre-K Counts is a state-licensed program,” he said. “They follow a creative curriculum and they work on kindergarten readiness following the Pennsylvania standards for pre-K.” PA Pre-K Counts is free to families and will run from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Lunch is provided. Wraparound care is provided for an additional charge with financial Children taking part in Pennsylvania’s Pre-K Counts at the See YMCA pg 5 Octorara Program Center enjoyed making a snack last fall.
Not just in your mailbox...
PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. Postage Paid Engle Printing Co
By Marcella Peyre-Ferry
Moores Memorial Library in Christiana and Atglen Public Library have both reopened to patrons with some changes to adapt to COVID-19 restrictions. Moores Memorial Library, 9 W. Slokom Ave., Christiana, is now open with shortened hours Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m.
to 2 p.m.; Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 to 6 p.m.; and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon. The children’s play area is not available at this time. Masks and social distancing are required, and the number of people allowed in the building is limited to no more than 15 at any one time. The Read Moore Book Store is open by request. Pickup service is still available for those who do not wish to come in the building; to utilize the service, readers may call the See Libraries pg 4
Moores Memorial Library in Christiana (left photo) and Atglen Public Library (right photo) are both open to the public with limited hours. Both are also offering online programming and virtual Summer Reading Programs.
now the is online! Read all of our papers at:
townlively.com/read POSTMASTER: PLEASE DELIVER JULY 29, 2020
Postal Patron
OCC
By Francine Fulton
Engle Printing & Publishing Co., Inc. publications
F061699