OCC_120419

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IN THIS ISSUE: GRANGE TO HOST “JINGLE MINGLE” page 2

Octorara DECEMBER 4, 2019

SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954

VOL XXIX • NO 45

Look for the

Christmas in intercourse

2019

expanded section inside

United Way Receives Donation pg 2

Railway Society Plans Open Houses pg 10

Coatesville Christmas Parade Set pg 4

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Visit

townlively.com for information about upcoming events and happenings in your community and throughout the region!

Chester and Berks counties •Holiday Lights at Gring’s Mill, Reading - Thursdays through Sundays through Dec. 29 •Christmas at Langoma, St. Mary of Providence, Elverson Dec. 14 Dauphin and Lebanon counties •“The Homecoming” at Hershey Area Playhouse - select dates from Dec. 5 to 15 •Wreaths Across America ceremony at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery - Dec. 14

•Gifts That Give Hope Lancaster Alternative Gift Fair, The Junction Center, Manheim Dec. 7 •The Train Guys’ holiday train display at Elizabethtown Public Library - select dates in December York County •Christmas Magic - A Festival of Lights, Rocky Ridge County Park, York - through Dec. 31 •Winter walks at Gifford Pinchot State Park, Lewisberry select dates starting Dec. 20

The Rotary Club of West Chester recently awarded grants totaling $36,000 to local charities during a lunch meeting held at the West Chester Golf and Country Club. The grant money was raised from proceeds of the Rotary Club’s annual chili cook-off, which is held each fall in West Chester. On hand to accept the donations were the following representatives of area charities: Beverly Raspanti, Chester County Children Inc.; Victoria Dow, West Chester Public Library; Capt. Jesus Corraliza and Capt. Maria Corraliza, the Salvation Army; Judy Jeffords-Homitz, Safe Harbor of Chester County; Dolly Wideman-Scott, Domestic Violence Center of Chester County (DVCCC); Kathleen Sanger, Home of the Sparrow; Kathy Sullivan, West Chester Area Senior Center; Robin Meixner, Friends Association for the Care and Protection of Children; See Grants pg 8

Chili Cook-Off Benefits Local Charities By Francine Fulton

The Rotary Club of West Chester presented grants totaling $36,000 to representatives of area charities. Participants in the presentation ceremony included (back, from left) co-chair of the Rotary Community Philanthropic Committee (CPC) Rob Malone, Beverly Raspanti, Victoria Dow, Capt. Jesus Corraliza, Judy Jeffords-Homitz, Rotary president Matt Holliday, Dolly Wideman-Scott, Kathleen Sanger, Kathy Sullivan, Robin Meixner, Jeanne Meikrantz, Rotary CPC co-chair Laura Aloisio, (front) Jaime Atkins, Hallie Romanowski, Denise Antonelli, Capt. Maria Corraliza, Carolyn “Bunny” Welsh, Maryann Schwab and Glenda Brion.

Each year, a chili cook-off is sponsored by the Rotary Club of West Chester to benefit local charities as well as Rotary causes. This year, the 17th annual event took place on Oct. 13 in downtown West Chester. “The chili cook-off was started 17 years ago and is the major fundraiser for the Rotary Club of West Chester,” explained Rotary member Cathy Palmquist, who was named the West Chester club’s Rotarian of the Year for 2019. She noted that the club raises about $50,000 at the event after expenses. “We provide cook-off participants with tents, chairs, ladles, thermometers, trash bags, little sample cups, spoons, See Chili Cook-Off pg 2

HiSet Testing Center Opens At CareerLink Community Choir Prepares For “Messiah” By Francine Fulton

People without a high school diploma pursuing their High School Equivalency credential now have two testing options to choose from. Students may take the General Educational Development (GED) exam or the High School Equivalency Test (HiSet). Locally, both exams are offered by the Chester County Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC) at the OIC testing center located in the CareerLink building, 479 Thomas Jones Way, Suite 500, Exton. HiSet testing hours are on Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and GED testing hours are on Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 pm. “The HiSet is another test that individuals can use to obtain their high school equivalency diploma. It is another option in addition to the GED test that most people are familiar with,” explained Maryann Stravous, director of workforce

education for the Chester County OIC. “The GED is only able to be taken as a computer-based test. The HiSet can be done on paper or the computer.” According to www.hiset.ets.org, the test was developed in 2014. “It came about a few years ago. It has taken a while to become known,” said Stravous. She compared the two tests to the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and the ACT. “SAT was the only thing you could take. Now, ACT is accepted as well, so there are two tests that colleges accept. This is a similar situation,” she said. Stravous explained that there are some slight differences between the GED and the HiSet. “In the GED test there are four sections - reading and language arts, which we call RLA; social studies; science; and math,” she noted. “HiSet has five sections because it breaks out the RLA to reading and writing separately. You do an essay on both tests. (The essay) is included in See HiSet Testing Center pg 3

By Dayna M. Reidenouer

“They get started before I get to go in, and it sounds so good,” Merleen Troutman commented as she prepared to check in singers who were arriving at Memorial United Methodist Church (UMC) for a rehearsal of the Christmas portion of Handel’s “Messiah.” “I’m very excited (about the production). To me, it’s grand and big for the community. People traveling to come sing for us - I’m just really amazed at it,” she said. Led by Tom Berdos and accompanied on organ by his wife, Deborah Berdos, the rehearsals on Wednesday nights have been a positive experience for See Choir pg 2

Tom Berdos (far right) and a group of community members are rehearsing for a performance of the Christmas portion of Handel’s “Messiah,” which will take place at Memorial UMC in Quarryville on Dec. 15. Attendance will be limited to 300 people, and tickets are available now.

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OCC

Lancaster County

Rotary Club Awards Grants


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