Western Chester County Life Fall/Winter 2020

Western Chester County Life

Image taken by Rachel Cathell at the Chester County Airport

Letter from the 2020 Board President

The Western Chester County Chamber of Commerce is still here and thriving amidst all of the current uncertainty. I hope this message finds you well and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have worked and sacrificed to help others during this pandemic. I hope that you and your loved ones are safe and healthy.

In January, our year started out with promise, hope and prosperity. We had a wonderful time reacquainting ourselves with old friends and meeting new ones at our Membership Extravaganza at Victory Brewing in Parkesburg. It was a nice evening with a large attendance and great connections were made. In February, we had record attendance for our 4th annual Home Show at the Technical College High School. Tours and refreshments were provided by students and vendors connected with potential clients as we geared up for spring improvements. Also, in February we hosted our Legislative Roundtable at Pope John Paul II Regional Catholic School. Elected officials met with community members to discuss current events taking place in our local government. We celebrated a ribbon cutting at the Midway Arts community workspace on March 12th and reveled in the progress of our region.

Unfortunately, we all know what happened next. Everyone was completely blindsided by a global pandemic. No one could have imagined the scope and effect this virus would have on individuals, businesses, non-profits, students, and the elderly. We all had to reassess our daily activities. Our home and work lives were affected, and we adjusted to what would become the “new normal.”

Although we could not meet in person our Chamber has remained resilient. We gathered to celebrate our ninth annual Corporate Citizenship Event in June at the Graystone Mansion in Coatesville. This event was streamed live and shared on our website and social media. Executive Director Bill Shaw of Life Transforming Ministries was recognized for their contributions to the community. We also presented our Academic Scholarship to Coatesville graduate, Stephanie Gonzales Rojas and our first ever Trades Scholarship to Octorara Highschool and TCHS Pennocks Bridge graduate, Hayley Koller.

During this crisis the Chamber of Commerce joined the Business Task Force started by the Chester County Commissioners whose focus is to provide best practices to safely reopen and restore our quality of life. They created RestoreChesterCounty.com as a toolkit to provide resources to all county sectors. We have participated in a coalition of 80 chambers of commerce in our state to urge

lawmakers to provide safe harbor protections for employers related to COVID-19.

We have enhanced our website to provide guidance and resources. We partnered with the Chester County Department of Emergency Services to distribute Personal Protection Equipment to our members free of charge. Since we have not been able to see each other in person we have created a virtual chamber experience with our Western Chester County Checks In. Thanks to board member Justin Chan and his company Valley Creek Productions we bring the chamber experience to you. It is a wonderful venue to learn about our Chamber Partners, members, nonprofits and to obtain community updates. These videos are available to view on our website, YouTube and social media. Please contact the chamber if you or your business would like to be featured on our program.

In July we participated in an Agricultural Virtual Town Hall with a panel of ag professionals who provided an update on the pulse of the local agricultural community. Please continue to buy local farm products and keep farming first in Chester County. We also gathered in August for a ribbon cutting for long time member Rhoads Energy who opened a facility in Parkesburg. We ended August with our annual Golf Outing at French Creek Golf Club. It was a beautiful day and we had our largest turnout ever.

We cannot wait to see everyone in person soon. Until then, support local businesses, support each other. Stay safe, stay strong and stay healthy.

Warm Regards, Alissa Griffith President, Western Chester County Chamber of Commerce

The Chamber Experience Goes Virtual

Our community has faced a tough time but to no surprise #chescowest businesses have adapted to stay connected. We created Western Chester County Checks In, developed and produced by Justin Chan at Valley Creek Productions. This virtual series highlights our members, news and events and it is live streamed every other Wednesday at 11:30am. Visit WesternChesterCounty.com to watch live or check out past episodes!

Western Chester County Chamber Events

All events are open to the general public. Visit www.WesternChesterCounty.com for more details and to register. Our Networking Events are free and a great way to discover the benefits of WCCCC membership ... helping to grow your business.

October 21, 2020

Chamber Annual Dinner

5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The Barn at Stoneybrooke

October 27, 2020 SCORE of Chester & Delaware Counties

What it Takes to Start and Run a Successful Non-profit 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Virtual

November 20, 2020

Municipal Update Luncheon

11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

G.A. Vietri, Inc.

January 20, 2021 Member Extravaganza

5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Victory Brewing Parkesburg

February 20, 2021

Chester County Home Show

TCHS Brandywine

10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

*vendors can register online

*Know before you go! Visit Westernchestercounty.com for event updates*

Western Chester County Life Business| Sky partners

The Chester County G.O. Carlson Airport in Coatesville is far more than just planes departing and landing. It is in intricate network of businesses and initiatives, working together

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

On a partly cloudy morning this past August, Gary Hudson, the Airport Manager of the Chester County G.O. Carlson Airport in Coatesville, paused for a brief moment 100 yards from the airport’s runway to admire the arrival of a Cessna plane as it prepared to touch down.

Hudson watched the pilot stick the landing, and then returned to the business of running the largest airport in Chester County and the third busiest General Aviation airport in Pennsylvania.

First opened on May 1, 1928 as Coatesville Airport and originally owned and operated by the City of Coatesville, the G.O. Carlson Airport serves as a primary “Reliever” airport that accommodates much of the General Aviation

aircraft that would otherwise be routed to Philadelphia International Airport, 45 miles to the east.

Overseen by the Chester County Area Airport Authority, the 342-acre airport has become a take-off and landing hub for corporate aircraft, charter flights, single- and multi-engine aircraft and helicopters that undertake everything from short to cross-county and overseas flights. Along its 5,400-footlong runway, it averages nearly 150 aircraft operations a day. Like many modern airports, however, the Chester County Airport has also come to be known for far more than arrivals and departures. Working in partnership with its on-site businesses – SureFlight Aircraft Completions, Signature Flight Support and Chester County Aviation – the facility has become a consortium of service, and its definition continues to broaden to meet the distinct and varied needs of modern-day aviation.

“The airport’s partners are like a big puzzle, whose many parts consistently come together,” Hudson said. “When it comes to flight instruction, that’s where Chester County Aviation comes in. If an aircraft needs painting and any kind of avionic service, that’s where SureFlight Exteriors comes in. If a pilot needs a brief respite from flying, whether it be a cup of coffee or the refueling of his or her aircraft, that’s where Signature Flight Support comes in.

“None of us function purely on our own. We’re all partners in aviation.”

SureFlight Aircraft Completions: Artistry in Flight

While paint represents less than one percent of the price of an aircraft, its responsibility for defining the perception of an aircraft is priceless.

Within its state-of-the-art, temperature-controlled hangar at the Chester County Airport, SureFlight Aircraft Completions delivers its clients consistently expert exterior paint work, by using high solid paints and allowing for proper curing and quality of finish.

“Most people don’t realize that paint applied to

an aircraft goes well beyond the aesthetic,” said Owen Watkins, president of SureFlight’s Coatesville operations. “It also serves as a protection for the metal or composite material the airplane is made of. Each different model has its unique characteristics and challenges.”

For the 20 sales staff, technicians and repairmen at SureFlight, an aircraft is not just measured by the look of its exterior but by the comfort of its interior and the overall function of its technology.

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Sky partners

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From premium leather meticulously stitched by highly skilled technicians to the finest inlays to complete the look, SureFlight delivers luxury interiors for helicopters and fixed wing aircraft.

Through its commitment to the science of avionics, SureFlight can help determine the quality and function of an aircraft’s communications and its navigational and management systems, from securing the best searchlight on to a helicopter to installing a tactical system.

“SureFlights’ knowledge of avionics allows us to sit down with the customer and find out what their needs and expectations are, and see how we can meet those needs,” Watkins said. “SureFlight also knows how to integrate existing avionics with new technology so that they lead to better navigation, better flight awareness and better safety.”

Signature Flight Support: Superb service for the demanding traveler

For every passenger, pilot and crew member who steps into the Signature Flight Support lounge area at the Chester County Airport, they know that they will receive the same global etiquette that has become standard at the company’s 200 other locations around the country.

It is seen in a hot cup of coffee, made fresh for a pilot who still has thousands of miles left on a journey. It is seen in the efficiency of transporting freight, luggage, and cargo from one aircraft to another. It is part of a quality of service that has made Signature Flight Support the world’s largest network of Fixed Base Operations, delivering support services for business and private aviation, including refueling, maintenance, repair and overhaul, and a variety of other world-class amenities.

Signature also supports the aviation needs of governments, militaries, and heads of state, and holds U.S. Government Defense Logistics Agency contracts at many airports including the Chester County Airport.

“For everything and everyone that is arriving or departing the Chester County Airport, Signature Flight Support is handling about 90 percent of that flow,” said Blaise Sharkey, station manager. “Our 14-member team handles the aircraft, assists in providing hospitality to those passengers, crew and pilots arriving at the airport. Our service can be as easy as laying out that day’s newspapers in our lounge area, to as detailed as refueling an airplane headed across the country with 1,500 gallons of fuel.”

Chester County Aviation: Opportunity and Convenience

If there is anyone who understands the power of looking up into the sky and imagining someday being able to command an aircraft and fly, it is Ethan Crane, who owns and

operates Chester County Aviation. It’s a dream he has not only fulfilled and passed on to hundreds of others, but one that was passed on to him.

“When he was younger, my father Tim looked up in the sky one day and saw an airplane,” Crane said. “He said to himself, ‘If they can do it, then so can I.’”

In 1980, Tim began his flight training at the Chester County Airport. During his training, he flew an N82720 a Piper Archer and ended up asking his girlfriend to marry him in the aircraft.

In 2009, Ethan began to take flying lessons, and after tracking down the Piper Archer that his father flew in when proposing to Ethan’s mother, he proposed to his wife in the same plane. (For the record, his brother Zac, proposed to his wife in the same family fashion.) In 2016, the Crane family purchased the plane. The next year, Ethan purchased Chester County Aviation.

“It’s come full circle – following in my father’s footsteps, owning the airplane, taking over the company, keeping my father’s motivation going, and giving everyone the opportunity to fly so that they can see God’s creation from a different perspective,” he said.

Recognized as one of the top flight training sights in the Northeast, Chester County Aviation provides its students with the latest state-of-the-art training programs. Through the use of the Cessna Flight Training System, students combine flight training and ground school into an integrated series of paired flight and ground lessons.

Learning to fly at Chester County Aviation doesn’t confine itself to the cockpit.

“The Cessna Flight Course allows you to move through at your own convenience, and it saves the student money because they don’t need an instructor at every stage,” Ethan said. “You can simply sit at home in front of a computer or an I-pad and become self-educated through a series of videos and multiple choice questions.

“By the time you actually get into the airplane with a certified flight instructor, the work you do at home gives you an expectation and set plan for what you need to do in preparation for flying.”

Building a runway toward the future

In August of 2019, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf awarded 29 airports in the commonwealth a huge and collective gift, by announcing the approval of $13.7 million in grant funding to make infrastructure and equipment upgrades at these facilities that will serve as a bridge to expansion and stimulate growth and opportunities.

“Investments in our aviation infrastructure are vital to

the economic vitality of the commonwealth,” he said. “Hundreds of thousands of jobs are supported by aviation in Pennsylvania and the new investments announced today will help airports bolster commerce and attract more customers.”

Of that funding, the Chester County G.O. Carlson Airport received $1.1 million of state funds for expansion of the public-use areas in the terminal building, as well as ground access improvements.

It’s all part of the airport’s 12-year plan for expansion that will include new hangars for corporate jets to be stored, a new apron and the largest plan of all – one that will relocate the existing runway 450 feet to the south of its current location, and expand it from its current 5.400 feet to 6,100 feet.

And relocated and expanded runway – which Hudson said will likely be done in phases over several years – will draw more focus on the airport.

“The misconception is that by lengthening our runway, we’re looking to get bigger aircraft here, but that’s not the case,” Hudson said. “Much of the aircraft that we normally see on a regular basis here embark on cross country and overseas flights, and right now, because of our current runway, they have to take off somewhere else and then arrive at

their final destination. By lengthening our runway, it would prevent that from happening, and subsequently draw more business and revenue.

A relocated and expanded runway, Hudson said, will also create a positive ripple effect on the airport’s partners.

“As the airport grows, so does its effect on Signature, on Chester County Aviation and on SureFlight,” he said. “Although we are four distinct but separate entities, we’re also all part of one big cog wheel that’s constantly moving forward.”

The Chester County G.O. Carlson Airport is located at 1 Earhart Drive, Coatesville Pa. 19320. To learn more, visit www.chestercountyairport.net.

To learn more about SureFlight Aircraft Completions, visit www.sureflight.com.

To learn more about Signature Flight Support, visit www. signatureflight.com.

Do you want to learn how to fly? Call Chester County Aviation at 610-384-9005 for more information or to schedule an appointment or email fly@chestercountyaviation.com

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.

KEEPING YOU WARM IS WHAT WE DO

RS-Werks

By Marcella Peyre-Ferry Contributing Writer

Parkesburg is home to RS-Werks, an independent, fullservice Porsche repair, restoration and customization workshop dedicated to crafting 100 percent custom vintage Porsches and elite high quality builds.

Well known to Porsche owners across the country, RS-Werks specializes in the air-cooled Porsche 911. Porsche changed to water-cooled engines in 1998. RS-Werks is equipped with technicians who are trained and experienced in servicing the air-cooled engine, along with experts in all facets of automobile restoration, such as body work and paint.

Founded in Newark, Del. by Scott McKeown, the company outgrew that location and moved to Parkesburg about two years ago. Services available include custom builds, restoration, parts, general maintenance, paint and body work, parts refurbishment, engine and transmission assessment and rebuild, as well as track day preparations. The high level of workmanship provided at RS-Werks brings clients and their pride-and-joy automobiles to the Parkesburg shop from across the country and around the world.

Cars can be seen in all stages of restoration from engine and transmission rebuilds to all phases of body and metal work such as welding flares onto fenders. The shop is also equipped to fully restore interiors, including leather or fabric upholstery, gauges, and all other interior surfaces. No project is too large—they can take a damaged or rusty car and restore the body all the way back to its former glory and then paint in any conceivable color.

One popular process that the shop frequently undertakes is altering the car’s appearance to a pre-74 911 longhood style.

“Clients want the classic look with more modern or higher-performing engine and transmission,” company COO Nick Dunlap said. “When we talk to potential clients, we

ask what’s the mission for the car. From that answer, we’ll recommend items for their custom build. The beauty of the 911 is there is a vast amount of interchangeability of components and a multitude of suppliers of parts to hone the car to the specific needs of each client. A complete build or restoration means extensive work of the highest quality. We’ll strip the vehicle right down to bare metal and its component parts and rebuild it to the specifications the client wants.”

Dunlap added, “What we’re building is a bespoke 911 that the customer can enjoy as a daily car or a weekend fun drive.”

Client engagement specialist Bob Craig added, “Here at RS-Werks, we perform the vast majority of the work ourselves, which is significantly different from others who subcontract work and just install items. We do virtually everything here so that quality and the end result is down to us.”

On restoration jobs they even produce a photographic book chronicling the car’s experience from start to finish at RS-Werks.

“We have customers all around the states and further afield. Every customer has a photographic folder for their build or activity they can access at anytime,” Craig said.

“We’re trying to show virtually every step of what we’re doing on their car over a period of 1000 hours of labor.”

“For us, it’s a good record,” Dunlap said. “A car comes in, the first thing we do is take photographs of it so we know the state of the car. We usually create a walk around video so everyone’s on the same page.”

“When we paint, we never paint on top of anyone else’s work,” Dunlap said. “If you don’t have a really good base to paint on, you may as well not do the work in the first place. After the paint is stripped, the car will be reviewed to make the decision on what metal work will be required. We make sure the chassis and components are as good as they would have been when they left the factory in Germany before we apply any primer or paint.”

One of the new initiatives at RS-Werks is to recreate the silhouettes and historic paint jobs of all 15 Porsches that raced in the first year of the International Race Of Champions (IROC) racing series.

“The original cars are really important in Porsche history and extremely valuable today. Each identically engineered car was driven by a well known international or national drivers. We are building one ‘replica’ of each of these cars for clients” Dunlap said.

RS-Werks is located at 103 W First Avenue., Parkesburg. For information, call 484-712-5044 or visit the website at www.rswerks.com.

Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/rswerks Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/rswerks/

The Iron and Steel Trail Explore iron country

By Rachel M. Cathell

At the dawn of the 19th century, the steel industry in Pennsylvania barreled forward in creating a modern industrial society that lead many to consider the Keystone state as the “steel capitol of the world”; a title the state would hold for almost a century. It all started in the 1700’s when the state’s natural resources led to the establishment of small iron making sites. The region was home to colonial America’s largest iron empire and companies that went on to forge steel for American transportation, infrastructure and defense.

For generations, the remnants of this history have continued to stand somewhat obscured and dispersed, ultimately influencing the National Iron and Steel Heritage Museum (NISHM) to develop the Iron and Steel Trail map for adventure seekers. The trail creates a unique spin on trail mapping by taking the region’s significant industrial heritage and piecing it together to create a self-guided user experience. The map contains 9 historic sites for users to contemplate and directs them as far south as Coatesville and upward to Pottstown, winding through the rolling rich landscape of Chester County.

Executive Director of NISHM, Jim Zeigler explained, “We found that many of our visitors were also interested in seeing other nearby iron and steel sites, so the trail tour brochure is a piece we can provide for further information about local sites and locations.”

Trail users can start at any point they choose. Zeigler explains, “Each site along the trail is unique in its history of product, people and process. The visitor experience differs at each location.” Every mark on the map offers a great open-air opportunity for a day of socially-distanced adventure.

If users kick off at the National Iron and Steel Heritage Museum, they will find a location central to the Pennsylvania iron and steel story. It was here in 1810 that Isaac Pennock established the Brandywine Iron Works & Nail Factory. In 1825, his daughter, Rebecca Lukens began managing the iron business and later became America’s first female industrialist. The business evolved into Lukens Steel Company and the steel site still operates today under the ownership of ArcelorMittal.

Trail adventurers stopping at the steel museum will find treelined pathways winding around three ironmasters’ homes. In the backdrop of the historic homes are the sprawling steel structures of the mills, including the 120’ Mill Motor House. A camera is a must, as the view intertwines natural landscape with industrial might. The grounds are also home to the Steelworker’s Memorial featuring a colossal steel trident from the World Trade Center Twin Towers. The memorial is neighbored by a submarine sonarsphere and a narrow-gauge steam locomotive.

From the National Iron and Steel Heritage Museum, adventurers can head to the next stop, Hibernia County Park and Iron Ruins. Inside the park, the historic yellow mansion is hard to miss and was once an ironmasters’ home on a 19th century iron plantation sprawling across 900 acres. It’s just a short hike to the ironwork’s ruins on the Forest Hill and Forge Trails. The trails reveal the structures and landscape features remaining of the iron forge built by Samuel Downing at the turn of the 18th century to convert pig iron into bar iron.

Next up nestled in a woodland area wrapped by waterways lies Joanna Furnace; a historic remnant of a thriving early iron industry. The historic site was a cold blast, single stack, charcoal iron furnace that was originally water powered and then steam powered to achieve a tapping of the iron. Adventurers can stand aside the charming engine house and furnace and imagine the sound of iron being tapped

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The Iron and Steel Trail

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over 200 years ago. On site also sits the blacksmith’s house, office store and the charcoal house.

The trail stretches forward to Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site. As if frozen in time, visitors will find a preserved blast furnace, ironmaster’s mansion and auxiliary structures. Hopewell is surrounded by French Creek State Park, which preserves the lands the furnace utilized for its natural resource extraction.

Heading south the trail stops at Warwick County Park. The thick forest and rocky surfaces hold remnants of 18th to 19th century charcoal hearths. Adventurers can take the Charcoal Trail Way on the park’s southern ridgeline to uncover the ruins. Warwick’s wooded landscape provided the raw timber used to make charcoal for the region’s iron furnaces and forges. This point is a good time to stop and reflect on the many processes and supply chains that went into the production of iron and steel.

Emerging from the forest, trail visitors will then switch gears to the top of the hill on King Street in Pottstown to find Potts Grove Manor. This early Georgian ironmasters’ home was built in 1762 for John Potts. Potts built a village around his iron enterprise, which included a forge for refining pig iron. At this stop, adventurers will step back into time to discover how a culture ignited around the early iron operations.

The trail continues on to the Schuylkill River Heritage Center in Phoenixville. Outside the 140-year-old Foundry building, visitors can have an interpretative experience on the former site of the Phoenix Iron and Steel Company. The outdoor steel sculpture garden lends an artistic and modern spin on steel heritage. It contains a Phoenix Column, an important architectural innovation patented on this site in 1862 that went on to provide structural support for bridges all over the country. Take a moment to consider the importance of the river and its contributions to the steel operations.

Adventurers will then head south to Valley Forge Park which many may recognize as the winter encampment of the Continental Army. A lesser known portrayal can be found inside the stables next to the Washington’s Headquarters; visitors will find artifacts about the iron forges that gave name to this national park. The site was a full working ironworks containing a bloomery, chaffery, finer and slitting mill that converted irons, made bars as well as manufactured and finished metal products. The forge quickly became a source of military materials with the arrival of the Revolutionary War, inspiring the British to make a pit stop to torch the forges and buildings to the ground. Along the Struble Trail in Uwchlan Township, the iron and steel trail finishes off at a site that holds the remnants of stone walls that once encompassed the Dowlin Forge. Visitors will find a creek bordering the ruins, once used for powering the operation since 1801. Impure iron was sent from neighboring furnaces and then heated into bars of iron. Long ago, a settlement of houses with their own general store circled the site. However, all that is left is a subtle reminder of the iron heritage and adventure seekers on the steel trail.

Due to COVID-19, these historical sites may have modified visitation procedures. Please visit each site’s individual website for timely changes.

The National Iron and Steel Heritage Museum

50 South 1st Avenue, Coatesville, PA 19320 610-384-9282

www.steelmuseum.org

Hibernia County Park Iron Ruins

1 Park Road Coatesville, PA 19320 610-383-3812

www.chesco.org/ccparks

Joanna Furnace

1250 Furnace Road Geigertown, PA, 19523 610-286-0388 www.haycreek.org

Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site

2 Mark Bird Lane Elverson, PA 19520 610-592-8773

www.nps.gov/hofu

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Warwick County Park & Iron Tour

382 County Park Road Pottstown, PA 19465 610-469-1916

www.chesco.crglccparks

Pottsgrove Manor

100 West King Street Pottstown, PA 19464 610-326-4014

www.historicsites.montcopa.org/historicsites

Schuylkill River Heritage Center

2 North Main Street Phoenixville, PA 19460 610-935-2181

www.phoenixvillefoundry.org

Valley Forge National Historical Park

1400 North Outer Line Drive King of Prussia, PA 19406 610-783-1077

www.nps.gov/vafo

Dowlin (Mary Ann) Forge

Shelmire Road Near its intersection with Welsh Ayres Way Downingtown, PA www.livingplaces.com

www.hrtelephones.com

A rewarding ‘home business’

30-year-old accounting practice allowed Quinn life, family flexibility

By Natalie Smith

For Cynthia Quinn, at least one safeguard required of businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic was easily handled.

“I’ve been working from home for 30 years,” the owner of M. Cynthia Quinn, CPA, in Coatesville and Kennett Square, said with a laugh.

A graduate of West Chester University with a B.A in political science and holding a master’s degree in taxation from Widener University, Quinn’s own business began in 1990 out of her residence at 7 Valley Green Circle, West Caln Township and three years later moved to 7 Red Oak Dr, West Brandywine Township (Coatesville), PA 19320, as a very practical-if challenging-answer to a need.

“I started the practice in response to having four children and wanting a profession,” she said. “I was going to go to law school, but I got married and started a family first. And so I pursued sitting for the CPA exam. I think my whole coursework I was pregnant, nursing, raising children … the whole bit. It gave me more control over my family life and my work life.”

Quinn’s determination paid off. After establishing herself in her Coatesville practice 30 years ago, 14 years later she purchased a small business in Kennett Square. Together her team of three (in two offices) offers myriad services ranging from tax preparation and planning to bookkeeping, trusts and estates. “I do some auditing work and consulting work,” Quinn added. “I’ve also done forensic accounting.”

The CPA’s long experience in the industry and serving her countless small business, not-for-profits, and individual customers has given her particular insight into the Internal Revenue tax code. Always looking out for her clients, Quinn said she believes that despite major changes, the most recent being in 2018, the code falls short in benefitting the average taxpayer.

“I think that it’s still not making enough headway for middle-income wage earners. They’ve not increased the IRA deduction by much. They’ve given this new standard deduction, but you know daycare is still quite costly and there’s not much of a credit for that. There are some people who don’t get to take advantage of the educational credits because their income is too high; it’s somewhat skewed. It’s not a fair code.”

Observing her industry and its transformations over three decades has also given Quinn a unique viewpoint on the tax code. “When I first started out, a lot of [tax preparation] was done mechanically by hand. We didn’t have the computer applications or software. I knew where the numbers were coming from and I still like to figure out how the code is. It’s very circular.

“I really enjoyed figuring out how this number came from this form over to another one. A young accountant today, they’re just inputting the information. They may know the code, but they may not know that full background and how all those numbers are interfacing. I’m lucky to have that perspective.”

Working so closely with her clients has made it clear to Quinn that simply an affinity for working with numbers is not enough to run a successful CPA firm. “What I think

is a critical skill is communication,” she said thoughtfully, “because you can figure out a number for a client, but if you can’t communicate it, what good is it?”

A good CPA also has to be able to interpret what the client is saying or what the legal regulations are. “[The skill is important] because some of that code can be misconstrued quite easily or misinterpreted. If more people understood it, more people would be doing their own taxes and accounting.”

Quinn’s practice has allowed her to become more involved in the community. Among her positions: sitting on the Coatesville Area School Board from 2003 to 2007 and during that time serving as its president, vice president and finance chair. Also, she was treasurer of the Brandywine Branch of the YMCA, served as president of the Western Chester County Chamber and served on the board of the Coatesville Area Partners for Progress.

All four of Quinn’s children are entrepreneurs in their own right. Anna is a public health researcher and yoga teacher; Patrick and wife Jenna own and operate a dog training/ boarding/grooming business in Medford, N.J.; Laura is a

massage therapist; and youngest Jacqueline is a textile designer and a partner in a DIY wedding planning business. When asked for the one tax or financial tip she would advise for the average person, Quinn said she had a few.

“Number one: Have disability insurance. Because the rising cost of health care, if you become disabled and are stuck with high health-care bills, that’s very important. You may have a family that depends on your income.

“Number two: Put away for retirement. Pay yourself first. Because that window closes and it doesn’t open again.

“Maybe the third one is if you have children or grandchildren, set up an education fund. A 529 plan or some other type of education fund -- because those costs are extremely high and if there’s any gift you can give them, it’s education.”

Reflecting on her career, Quinn said, “If I had changed my course, I probably could have been a partner in a big firm. But that wasn’t the reason I went into this. It was to have a profession, serve my clients and be able to raise a family.”

Natalie Smith may be contacted at Natalie@DoubleSMedia. com.

Continuing the Implementation of Landscapes3: Successes in Western Chester County

Submitted by the Chester County Planning Commission

On a hot summer day in August (in the midst of a global pandemic), residents from western Chester County put on their masks and ventured over to a closed block of Chester Street in Atglen Borough to attend a public meeting about the Atglen 4 Parks Study.

The meeting, which followed the CDC’s current safety guidelines, consisted of a “treasure hunt” survey, a gift card raffle to a local restaurant, and various informational boards displaying proposed park renderings, with opportunities for residents to review, discuss, and provide feedback on the Master Park Plan (to be adopted in October).

successful farmland preservation programs.

Many western Chester County municipalities have incorporated their own initiatives for protecting the county’s land as well. One example is Honey Brook Township’s Open Space Program, which has been in place for 14 years and generates nearly $840,000 of funds each year for preservation.

The Atglen 4 Parks Study is just one of many examples of successful Lanscapes3 implementation efforts in Chester County’s western region. In fact, there have been a variety of recent successes and achievements – each of which falls into one of the six main goal areas found within the county’s comprehensive plan.

Atglen’s study was partially funded through the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and serves as a great example of how we preserve Chester County. Another example can be seen through the 210-acre expansion of the Hibernia Park property located in West Caln Township. This expansion, which occurred in 2018, has now been fully incorporated into the park and appears on the county’s map of trails and recreational facilities.

When it comes to protecting the county’s western region, there’s no shortage of effort there! As of 2019, the municipalities served by the WCCCC accounted for nearly 29 percent of the total protected open space in Chester County. In terms of agricultural land protected, there were just over 17,296 acres, or 42 percent of the total agricultural land protected in the county. Five Chester County farms were also recently preserved by the Pennsylvania Agricultural Land Preservation Board, which is one of the nation’s most

“We must work together as a region in order to be successful,” said Honey Brook Township Manager, John McHugh. “Land preservation matters on an industry scale and a watershed scale, rather than within municipal boundaries, so a regional approach to land preservation – whether for conservation purposes, or for agricultural preservation purposes – is optimal.”

Additionally, the Borough of Parkesburg recently received funds from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to update their Comprehensive and Revitalization Plan (to be adopted in October).

Other recent accomplishments in Parkesburg include the adaptive reuse of the old Acme building into a new Planet Fitness, as well as the establishment of their Historical Commission - a great addition to the region’s historic network and an example of the county’s appreciate goal.

Chester County benefits from an abundance of historic structures and features that connect us to our past and provide a sense of place through a variety of unique ways.

In Caln Township, the Historic Hexagonal Schoolhouse and the Spackman Farm Barn both received support from the Historical Commission to replace their deteriorating roofs. The revitalization of the historic Mode House in the Borough of Modena is also in progress, with public and private funds being raised to help restore the property and land.

The City of Coatesville has seen a number of revitalization efforts that support the county’s rich history in the past couple of years. One effort in particular is through the local performing arts company, Revival Productions, who has been working to convert the former Catholic Church

(on Church Street and Lincoln Highway) and the former school building (on Church Street) into a conservatory and professional theatre.

Providing a sense of community is evident throughout many western Chester County municipalities as well. The recent installation of streetscapes along 3rd and 4th Avenues in Coatesville improves ADA accessibility, expands bicycle and pedestrian facilities, improves traffic operations, and enhances aesthetics and safety between the soon-to-be train station and the central business district. This supports the live goal within Landscapes3.

In addition, the county’s Housing Choices Committee reconvened, hosting the “Creating A+ Homes” housing forum in the fall of 2019. This event provided an overview of diverse housing options to support the variety of communities and needs across the county.

Habitat for Humanity has also made significant contributions in this goal area, helping to fulfill their mission of: “A world where everyone has a decent place to live.”

When COVID-19 struck, the western Chester County community wasted no time by preparing a Local Business Resource Guide ((released by WCCCC). Through the use of these resources, local businesses were able to obtain funding and other business-related support, allowing many to keep their doors open and continue to prosper. Being responsive to the changing market is imperative to maintaining a healthy and resilient economy – and western Chester County has exemplified this in a number of ways. The City of Coatesville, the Borough of South Coatesville, and Valley Township recently forged a “micro-regional” alliance to discuss bringing jobs and other economic opportunities to the region.

As we transition to a more digital world, our infrastructure and transportation systems must modernize along with us. An example of this can be seen through the installation of Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) improvements along Route 30 in western Chester County.

Other projects that support the county’s connect goal include funding for the West Bridge Street bridge in Parkesburg, progress on the Route 30 bypass reconstruction design, upgrades to the Amtrak Station in Parkesburg, and an Active Transportation Study in the Borough of Elverson.

To learn more about achievements within the six goals in Landscapes3, visit https://chescoplanning.org/ Landscapes3/6-SuccessStories.cfm.

The Chester County Planning Commission can be reached by phone at 610-344-6285, by email at ccplanning@chesco.org, or by mail at 601 Westtown Road, West Chester, PA 19380. Get all the latest updates online at www.chescoplanning.org.

The Suburban Brewing Story

Area chef, brewer form team to bring quality beverages, food to Honey Brook

By Natalie Smith

Craft beer fans around Western Chester County have been lucky enough to relish the IPAs, ales and porters served up at Suburban Brewing Company in Honey Brook. And soon, they’ll have the opportunity to sample Suburban’s offerings at a more spacious location.

First, the background:

For more than two years, Eric Yost’s small batch brewery and taproom on Conestoga Road off Horseshoe Pike has been a place to socialize, play arcade games, listen to music, grab a tasty bite and quaff the creations of his business partner and brewer Corey Ross. Food, which ranges from wings to wraps to sandwiches, is prepared in an onsite food trailer.

Yost is a chef and restaurateur whose diverse background includes opening three Tommy Bahama restaurants in Florida and Nevada; being a chef/partner in Philadelphia’s storied White Dog Café; and serving as personal chef for filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan. He embraces the farm-totable food philosophy, keeping his ingredients and offerings as local and seasonal as possible.

His popular Exton eatery, Suburban Restaurant & Beer Garden, opened in 2017.

He chose the name Suburban, “Because there are so many urban beer gardens. I wanted to create a suburban beer garden and the name stuck.” Again, he was determined to not only keep the food local, but the beer as well.

“I was going to visit Pennsylvania breweries to find out what I wanted to put on [the restaurant’s] tap list,” he said. “But I wanted to give the little guys a leg up, so I was only going to small breweries. The more I was there and kind of taking notes I thought, you know, maybe I could do this one day.”

Yost said unlike larger craft breweries, which may have the budget to provide things like promotional pint glasses

Cans of beer created and served at Suburban Brewery & Taproom. The Willy Scottish Ale is a customer favorite and is named after the character Groundskeeper Willy on the animated TV show “The Simpsons.” The label designs, and the brewery logo, was created by a local artist.

and signage for the walls, “The little guys can’t do that. I wanted them just to be able to find a place that supports them and sells their beer, but the beer had to be quality. So I made a personal connection with each brewery.

“I went to about 20 breweries. It wasn’t the worst thing ever,” he said, laughing.

But Yost hadn’t given up on the idea of brewing his own. “I thought it was exciting and I wanted to learn about it. At the restaurant we buy hundreds of thousands of dollars in beer. Why not buy it from myself?”

The business partners initially crossed paths in West Chester. Yost grew up there and Ross went to college there. “We had a bunch of mutual friends,” Yost said.

“I hung around there and we liked the same music,” Ross said.

“Eric and I went to the same bars. And I had a home brew shop.”

Besides owning the Fancy Camper home brew supply store in Malvern, Ross had quite a bit of brewing experience under his belt, both home and professionally in Philadelphia, Berwyn and Kansas City, Mo. Owning a home brew shop was the next best thing to opening a brewery, he said.

“Eric came in and bought a piece of equipment and we talked.” That talk eventually led to Ross showing Yost the brewing ropes. That’s when the chef realized making beer wasn’t for him; he needed an expert: Ross.

“Brewing is almost like baking, which isn’t me,” Yost said, shaking his head at the memory. “I’m a chef. It’s a handful of this and a handful of that. Brewing has this precise timing. ‘Set it for 46 minutes ….’ It can’t be 44. My head was spinning.”

Suburban Brewery has about 11 different beers available at one time. Ross describes them fondly.

Most are IPAs, “because they’re the ones that sell,” he said. But Willy Scottish Ale – named after Groundskeeper Willy on The Simpsons – is the first beer he brewed for Suburban. “You don’t see that in every brew pub. People ask about it when it’s not on tap,” he said. “It’s a nice 5.5 percent (alcohol), copper color. It’s not bitter.

“Kölsch, is an easy, golden beer; a saison is more complex. We have a Belgian tripel, stouts, and oatmeal porters. I

envisioned when somebody gets a flight not all the beers look the same.”

Opening a brewery and taproom has allowed Yost to have fresh, local beer for his Exton restaurant, but also build a clientele and brand in Honey Brook.

“I think the name of the game with breweries is diversity and just having something different keeps it fun,” Ross said. “We have such a large local draw, so they want to try something different when they come back. They have their favorites, but at the same time they want something different to try when they come back.”

The partners are excited about the next step in the brewery’s development: moving to a larger location. The new Suburban Brewery and Taproom will be 3.5 miles east of its current location, right on Rt. 322 in Honey Brook Township. The visibility of the new brewery on Horseshoe Pike will be the natural progression after 2½ years of cultivating the brand.

The bigger location will have room for a kitchen, larger taproom and beer garden. The partners have high hopes for its success. Despite a set-back due to the pandemic, Yost expects the brewery to open in October and the taproom in November. Yost said he’d like to keep the original location open, but is still deciding what form it will take.

“We feel like [Honey Brook] is a good location for us, because the response has been great,” said Ross. “We get a lot of people originally from the area and then a lot of transplants. We’re a destination on the weekends. Just being at 322 and Rt. 10 we’re pulling from Berks County, and Lancaster County.”

Natalie Smith may be contacted at Natalie@ DoubleSMedia.com.

Western Chester County Life|

Local Guardian Angels: Cat Angel Network

By Nina Malone Arbonne Independent Consultant

Abandoned cats and kittens throughout Chester County find shelter and tender-loving care through the Cat Angel Network (CAN).CAN operates two no-kill, all-volunteer, non-profit Adoption Centers at the PetSmart stores in Pottstown and Downingtown. The organization’s mission is to prevent the suffering of abandoned cats through rescue, spay/neuter, medical care, shelter, and adoption to approved homes. The volunteers rescue homeless cats struggling to survive outside, abandoned cats that are left behind when their humans move away or die, and cats that would be euthanized by people who no longer want their faithful companions.

“We seek to educate the public about the proper care of cats, the importance of spaying and neutering, and the benefits of adopting shelter cats,” said Henry Grabb, CAN’s recording secretary and director of development. “This organization is important to the community

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Cat Angel Network

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because we place approximately 500 cats and kittens each year into forever homes, and trap/neuter/return countless others. Our goal is to reduce the number of unwanted cats while helping to find homes for as many cats as possible. As an all-volunteer, non-profit organization, 100 percent of all donations go directly to the care and rescue of cats. A lot of our volunteers chip in from their own pockets for certain expenses, too.”

CAN was founded in 1996 and has placed close to 10,000 cats and kittens into forever homes. Like all non-profits, the global pandemic has greatly reduced its ability to place cats into homes and has made it extremely difficult to get cats and kittens vetted. CAN also took a financial hit from losing two fundraisers to COVID-19 restrictions.“

Our main fundraising events are an annual cat concert in the spring and our auction in the fall,” Grabb noted. “Both had to be canceled this year because of the novel coronavirus. Our only other sources of income are adoption fees and donations. Adoption fees are down due for the same reason, so we are relying on generous donors now more than ever.”

The adoption fee is just $95 and helps to defray the costs associated with caring for each cat prior to adoption. Before being made available for adoption, all cats are vaccinated, spayed or neutered, and tested for FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) and FeLV (feline leukemia virus). Some cats may also require additional veterinary care, medications, and/or expensive surgeries.Those interested in adopting must first complete an adoption application at catangel. org. Prior to COVID-19, those who were approved were able to meet eligible cats at PetSmart Adoption Centers and at weekend Adopt-a-thons. These adoption opportunities were temporarily suspended during Pennsylvania’s initial quarantine period, but as of August 2020, CAN has been able to gradually resume these activities.

CAN relies on dedicated volunteers as caregivers, cat socializers, foster moms and dads, adoption helpers, and more. As we all navigate the ups and downs of the pandemic, it’s best to contact CAN to see how you might be able to help with hands-on volunteering, as well as administrative and clerical functions for folks who cannot help with hands-on cat care but would like to participate in other ways.

Grabb has been with CAN for 20 years. It all started when he adopted a 14-year-old cat named Stephanie. “We were so happy that she lived for 10 more years,” he said. “As

a faculty member at the West Chester University Wells School of Music, I wanted to do a benefit concert for an animal rescue group and chose the Cat Angel Network. It became a tradition — this year would have been 21 years! — as well as many years for the auction.

“The dedication of the many long-time volunteers of our organization is incredible. Our volunteers are the lifeblood of our organization, and their love for cats and willingness to do so much are the reasons we have been able to help so many cats and kittens,” he added.Learn more about the Cat Angel Network online at their website, www.catangel.org.

TRACTION: A progress report on the revitalization of the City of Coatesville

There’s much to report this season. Here at the Coatesville 2nd Century Alliance, we’ve been scrambling to keep up! Here’s a quick update on some of the activities:

First and foremost, James Logan was named Coatesville City Manager. James served as Assistant City Manager for two years prior to assuming his new role and brings a wealth of experience in workforce and economic development, and municipal management. James has been an active and engaged board member of the 2nd Century Alliance, serving to deepen the partnership between the City administration and our organization.

As you drive through Coatesville, you may experience some traffic delays in the coming months due to renewed construction at the intersection of First Avenue and Lincoln Highway, East Lincoln Highway utility work, and Diamond Street improvements. The intersection work experienced some delays over the summer due to underground utility and storm-related issues. Crews will be laying conduit on the south side of East Lincoln Highway from First Avenue to Second Avenue in preparation for the new streetscape work planned for early 2021. Lastly, as part of the Gateway development project, work will commence on the restructure of Diamond Street in September.

Navigate the construction on East Lincoln Highway, and you may see some crews working inside the former Record Building at 204-206 East Lincoln. Developer MarkLane Properties LLC has secured an economic development liquor license from the PA Liquor Control Board and is rehabilitating the building to accommodate a new restaurant. This is the second Coatesville project for this developer. MarkLane Properties purchased the former Lipkins warehouse at 139 East Chestnut Street and has filled it with small, independently owned shops and service businesses. The building is open during regular business hours and the public is always welcome.

As part of the new train station development project, Fourth Avenue from East Lincoln to Fleetwood has a new streetscape complete with fresh sidewalks, curbs, lighting, and a bike lane. All this is in preparation for the next phase of the station development. PennDOT plans to put the station construction project out to bid this fall, with

hopes of beginning construction in the Spring of 2021. The Coatesville Redevelopment Authority (RDA) is assembling financing through federal, state, and county grant programs to construct a multi-level parking garage that will serve the station.

Moving to the west, you may have noticed crews working on 190 West Lincoln Highway, the former GO Carlson administration building. Developer Proudfoot Capital is rehabilitating this historic building and adding 20,000 square feet to house Nth Solutions, a product development and manufacturing company. The building will also serve as an incubator and innovation space.

Just across the street from 190, you’ll see work underway

at the former St. Stanislaus church, rectory, and school. Developer Activated New Heritage is rehabilitating this campus as a neighborhood event venue and home to Revival Productions, a performing arts production company bringing professional theatre, music, and dance to the Coatesville, PA area. Classes are already underway, and performances begin in September. Find more detail at www.Revivial-Productions.com.

There is a plot of land that is larger than 20 acres at the northwest corner of First Avenue and Lincoln Highway, just to the west of the Brandywine Creek and Riverwalk, and bisected by the Amtrak Railroad High Bridge. This parcel, known as the Flats, is owned by the City’s Redevelopment Authority and has had numerous prospects for development over the past decade. Currently, the RDA is considering two proposals for this property: both multi-use sports facilities but each featuring different amenities. The five-member RDA Board is carefully considering both projects and anticipates making a recommendation to City Council this fall.

The geographic boundaries of the City of Coatesville span a limited 1.9 square miles. Such small area requires that each available parcel be developed to its highest and best use. The Coatesville 2nd Century Alliance works with the City administration and the Redevelopment Authority to ensure that the right projects for the right locations are being sourced, secured, and advanced. Coatesville’s economic future depends on it.

The mission of the Coatesville 2nd Century Alliance is to develop and execute a strategy to build the City of Coatesville’s capacity to improve current conditions, stabilize the socio-economic stature of the City, to foster economic development, and bring resources and community partners together for these purposes.

As always, you can sign up for more detail on these and other information at our website, www.2ndCenturyAlliance. org. You can also view our community updates on the City’s YouTube channel, where you can also find recordings of City Council and Redevelopment Authority meetings.

Changes at local farms won’t stop fall fun

Always the innovators, farmers across Chester County have adapt- ed their businesses in myriad of ways to accommodate COVID-19 safety regulations; all while creat- ing new opportunities to safely welcome guests to their farms. Whether it’s camping with goats, sampling local wines or picking a pumpkin with your family, there are all kinds of fun adventures waiting for you this fall.

Glen Run Valley View Farm

“It’s been a good year for farms with retail stands,” said Jeff Stoltzfus, a Penn State Extension farmer educator and owner of Glen Run Valley View Farm in Atglen, which he runs with his wife Rhonda.

“People are having to cook at home more often and local produce fits the bill,” said Stoltzfus. “Many feel more comfortable social-distancing at a roadside stand to buy their groceries than going to a crowded Walmart right now.”

At Glen Run Valley View Farm, the Stoltzfus family is looking forward to fall and a robust crop of pumpkins, despite making the difficult decision to cancel their beloved Pumpkin Olympics event out of concern for the hundreds of visitors who typically attend.

The farm is well-suited for small groups of visitors and they anticipate the pick-your-own option to be very popular this year.

“We encourage mask wearing and our fall games for kids will be spread out over a half an acre. Typically, there are

only a few cars in the parking area during the week with as many as ten cars on a weekend,” said Stoltzfus.

“We’ve been pushing hand washing for a long time from a food safety perspective and the pandemic has only helped guests get on board more,” he added.

Despite the many hardships COVID has caused, Stoltzfus has seen one notable benefit: “People are more connected to their food. Fortunately, many Chester County farmers have a short supply chain. We sell to a customer or to someone who will sell it directly to a customer. That’s much different than the international food system where food goes through many hands till it arrives on the shelf.”

Glen Run Valley View Farm, 280 Lenover Rd, Atglen, PA 19310 glenrunvalleyview.farm

To discover more farms and flavors of Chester County, visit the county’s Local Farm Products Guide at www. chesco.org/farmguide

Shellbark Hollow Farm

Pete Demchur and Jeanne LeVasseur, owners of Shellbark Hollow Farm in Honey Brook, moved to their new, visitor-friendly farm location several years ago. Their goal was to encourage customers to come visit the farm and get to see the Nubian goats responsible for their award-winning goat cheese. Little did they realize how much the new location would be an important part of their business model in 2020.

Prior to the pandemic, Demchur and LeVasseur sold a large amount of their cheese to area restaurants. Once the pandemic hit, their thriving restaurant sales largely dropped off.

“We had to put an online store together in just two days,” recalled LeVasseur. “It was tough but was actually helpful because now people can see all the products we have to offer, not just the ones we have on display that day.”

Fortunately, their in-person sales at farmers markets and their on-farm store have grown as customers have turned their attention to the

local food system in ways they hadn’t before.

“Our customer base has actually increased at our farmers markets and on the farm,” said LeVasseur. “Our regular customers stepped up to the plate and increased their orders, and a lot of new customers have found us.”

Local Farms

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So what is bringing the new customers to Shellbark?

“People are looking for fresh food more than ever,” she said.

To complement their goat cheeses, Demchur and LeVasseur have also started raising their own pigs for bacon, and duck and chickens for eggs. The eggs sales especially have been an unexpected boon to the farm as customers discover how delicious fresh eggs can be.

Demchur and LeVasseur have also signed on as a host location with a company called Hip Camp. Hip Camp markets boutique camping experiences to those interesting in escaping the crowds and enjoying life off the grid for a night or two. The farm has proven to be a popular location with its convenient location, pastoral scenery and agricultural extras.

Visiting campers can milk goats, enjoy a cheese tasting or even a cheese making class during their stay.

“We love for people to come out to the farm and enjoy it with us,” said LeVasseur.

Shellbark Hollow Farm, 240 Lippitt Rd, Honey Brook, PA 19344 shellbarkhollow.com

Stargazers Vineyard

Don’t be fooled by the winding roads and seemingly suburban settings. When you see the new purple signs you are nearly at Stargazers Vineyard, a small gem of a vineyard and winery tucked away on a quiet, residential street in Newlin Township.

The signs are just one of the welcoming touches the new owners of Stargazers, Michael Vorauer and Jason Kirkpatrick, have added after having officially taken over the reins from founder John Weygandt in December 2019.

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Although the pandemic has delayed some of their plans, the pair have enjoyed greeting new and familiar faces to the vineyard through hosting regular live music evenings and small-scale special events. There are also plans in the works for an on-farm dinner catered by Doe Run Catering in the fall.

“People just want to get out of their homes, and we are here to welcome them with our wines and beautiful view,” said Kirkpatrick

Though their retail sales at their wine shop in Lititz have slowed due to decreased foot traffic, their on-farm wines sales have increased as people have been looking for fun, local destinations. Their strong wine portfolio doesn’t hurt either.

“We are always about the wine first,” said Kirkpatrick. Stargazer’s specially constructed tasting room has been a draw as well. The building’s garage-style doors on three sides are usually raised to let the breezes in and frame the sweeping views of the grapevines below.

Guests to the winery can take advantage of limited, appropriately spaced seating or they can bring their chairs and blankets. They can also bring their own food or purchase cheese plates from nearby Triple Fresh Market, which the winery has for purchase.

Stargazers isn’t the largest winery in Chester County but its

small size is part of its appeal, especially for those wanting to get away from it all without dealing with crowds.

“People can meet the winemaker when they visit us,” says Kirkpatrick. “He might even be pouring their wine.”

Stargazers Vineyard, 1024 Wheatland Drive, Coatesville, PA 19320 stargazersvineyard.com

Storytelling Through Videography: Valley Creek Productions

By Nina Malone Arbonne Independent Consultant

Members of the Western Chester County Chamber of Commerce are used to seeing Valley Creek Productions’ covering Chamber events, particularly owner Justin Chan. Even during the height of the pandemic Chan, with help from fellow Chamber Board members, kept the western side of the county in the public eye with the Western Chester County Checks In online series highlighting Chamber members.

That same pandemic practically stopped Chan’s business in its tracks as weddings and events became non-existent. “We’re professional videographers specializing in event videography, so when events became impossible to host, we lost a lot of business,” he explained. “But we regrouped to find where we could make an impact and kept the doors open. Thankfully, federal and state programs and loans held us over to the point at which work started to come back.”

At the time of this interview, the last wedding Valley Creek Productions had handled was on March 15. The company had booked a busy May, June and fall wedding season plus the traditional winter bookings for open houses, showers, holiday events and more. As those events cancelled, Chan and his team pivoted to creating social media and other marketing tools using existing content, and then videography for small events as Pennsylvania opened up, such as the Chamber’s citizenship event. Gradually there was advertising work and shoots that could be done in a safe, socially distant way including graduations, outdoor performances and intimate, small weddings.

“The name of the game was postpone and date changes,” Chan said. “As Pennsylvania moved to green we started to see things coming back.”

Chan, who earned a degree in broadcast communications with a business minor from Temple University in Philadelphia, and an MBA from Penn State University, knows about the value of timing. He started Valley Creek Productions in 2005 as he was finishing his MBA and working full-time producing traffic reports for local media. Over time the videography business grew to 15 to 20 events a year, enabling him to hire some part-timers. In 2011 he

saw the opportunity to go all-in when his employer was acquired and he opted out of relocating. At that point, he was doing upward of 30 events each year. Chan pulled together the business side, went full-time in mid-2012 and has never looked back.

“I worked retail sales in college, which gave me my strong customer service background,” Chan noted. “You’ll get reply within 24 hours when you contact us. Service and responsiveness are important to me.”

In a typical year, Valley Creek Productions shoots 80 to 90 jobs, roughly half wedding and social events and the other half branding and promotional videos, and corporate events. He also works with the City of Coatesville, including creating branding videos to attract developers and businesses to move into the city. The company has grown steadily since 2012 taking on more part-time staff which enables Chan to scale up as the pace increases.

Looking to get out of his silo and make community connections, Chan joined the Chamber in 2016 and, based on his generous and consistent contributions, was asked to join the Board in 2019. In addition to Board service, he’s a member of the Communications Committee.

“I wanted to get to know the business community where I live and work,” he explained. “When covering events, I enjoyed getting to know the other professionals there, the photographer, the caterer; I liked learning about what makes

those industries tick. Before the Chamber, I joined industry organizations, and I’m still the director of Marketing and Communications for the National Association of Catering & Events, Philadelphia Chapter, and an immediate past president and member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Philadelphia Videographers Association.

“At the Chamber, I really saw all the connections, all the great people who make the western side of the county thrive,” Chan said. “I was all in; in fact, I recently moved my office to the Lukens Building in Coatesville.”

As Pennsylvania navigates the pandemic and opens up, Chan confirms that the plan is to continue on by constantly reevaluating and retooling.

“Covid has been a difficult ride for all, yet from a business standpoint it’s been particularly painful for the events industry; we exist because people gather and we sincerely love that,” Chan explained. “We love seeing people on their special days and preserving that for the future. That’s what I personally love the most: capturing things that are a moment in time, thing that will bring joy and excitement decades from now.”

Since Valley Creek Productions has been voted Best of the Main Line and Western Suburbs by Main Line Today the past three years, won WeddingWire’s Couples Choice Award six years running and is a The Knot Best of Weddings Winner, it seems pretty certain that the company and it’s affable owner will be delighting couples, families and corporations for decades to come.

Parkesburg Action Committee Modern Baseball League Swings to Revitalize Parkesburg’s Baseball Legacy

By Chad Naggy

The Parkesburg Action Committee works within the local Parkesburg community to foster growth and connection. In this issue, we are pleased to introduce Chad Naggy (author of this article) who is heading up the revitalization of our local baseball field.”

The South Eastern Pennsylvania Travel Baseball Association (SEPTBA) was founded in 2016 by local baseball coach Chad Naggy. With the help of a few friends in the area, they were able to gather about 11 teams to kick off their inaugural season. The idea came about after traveling longer distances, paying for lodging, higher-priced tournaments and teams that were playing with a win at all cost mentality, instead of teaching the game the way it was meant to be played. The league felt it could offer the same experience for less money, and also teach good baseball and character along the way.

Naggy’s motto of “gentlemen first, ball players second,” meant that by playing in the SEPTBA, players and coaches would respect the game and play good competitive baseball by teaching the players sportsmanship along with baseball skills. In 2018, with the league tripling in size, the SEPTBA became a 501c3 non-profit organization in hopes of raising funds to eliminate costs of tournaments to their teams and to provide other opportunities for their players like All-Star games, skills competitions with prizes and much more. The league created a website for sponsors and growth continued.

In the fall of 2020, the league will begin their fifth and largest season to date. With COVID-19 striking out their spring season, SEPTBA went on to a modified summer season instead. Working with Parkesburg Borough, they approached the Borough about taking over the two ball fields at Minch Park. A great relationship was born and the SEPTBA along with their players and coaches began working on both fields. The lower field will be more modern with electronic score board, press box and dugouts which are to be built in late fall of 2020. The upper field however is going to be something very special.

From 1917 to 1921, Horace A. Beale Jr, president of the Parkesburg Iron Company and sports enthusiast, ran a semi pro baseball team called the Parkesburg Ironmen, on that field. They hosted greats like Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth and many others from Major League baseball when their teams would come to Philadelphia to play the Phillies or Athletics. Due to the blue laws, Sunday baseball was not allowed in the city, so teams would take the Pennsylvania Railroad out to Parkesburg and join the Ironmen for an afternoon of baseball. Other leagues such as the Negro and regional Industrial leagues, also visited PICO Field. The field originally had stadium and bleacher seating to accommodate over

1000 guests, dugouts, locker rooms, and a press box.

The goal of the SEPTBA, in cooperation with Parkesburg Borough and private donors, is to rebuild the upper field to some resemblance of the 1917 stadium. This will allow older groups of players, ages 13-19 to have a ballpark to use for many years. The SEPTBA originally catered to 9- to 12-year old players and is now offering other programs to those in high school and beyond. The SEPTBA also offers umpire clinics and classes and uses a number of junior umpires during the season. Beginning in the spring of 2021, SEPTBA will host a MINORS and MAJORS program for players 13-19. With six designated teams in different geographical areas around Chester, Lancaster, and Delaware counties, SEPTBA will continue to provide quality baseball for the region’s youth. Eventually, the MINORS and MAJORS will play their games inside this new replica stadium.

The SEPTBA is looking for private donors to make all of this happen and without their support and local businesses, the Borough, and the countless volunteers, none of this would be possible. Earlier this summer, the SEPTBA opened the lower field to tournaments which brought in nearly 200 people each weekend from outside the Borough. This creates growth and revenue for the Borough through sales of goods and services each weekend. If you would like to get involved or help SEPTBA continue

to provide good quality, competitive travel baseball for the youth of the region, please visit www.septba.com for more information. There you can become an official sponsor of the SEPTBA as well as grab the centennial Parkesburg Ironmen gear.

Honeybrook Golf Club: Everyone is welcome

When Honeybrook opened its fairways to golfers twenty years ago, few people dreamed of the vibrant community hub it would become. The western edge of Chester County was a sleepy, largely agricultural area, while a dozen miles east, Downingtown, Exton and Chester Springs were beginning an explosive growth spurt.

But over the next two decades, Honeybrook Golf Club’s founders, siblings Donna Horvath and Tom and Ted Piersol, lent their personalities to the business, now known as Pennsylvania’s friendliest golf club.

They bucked commonly held beliefs that golf should be a boys’ club, and welcomed women and new golfers. They started youth golf camps and programs that attracted young families (and future golfers) with an affordable alternative to the full-service private country clubs Chester County is famous for.

THE COURSE

During the 1980s and 1990s, the golf industry grew fast, and the trend was bigger, longer, tougher, and more expensive courses. It was a great time for those good enough to conquer those tracks, and wealthy enough to afford $100-plus rounds. But by 2000, construction slowed up and the cost of entry for developers skyrocketed – and the cost for beginner golfers grew, too.

“The industry was ignoring the middle-class golfer,” said Ted Piersol. “We wanted a course that would be tough for the low handicapper, yet accessible to others.”

Along came Bethlehem golf course designer Jim Blaukovitch, who had an offer for the siblings. He liked the lay of the land at Honeybrook, a dairy farm that had been in the family for more than 70 years. He said he could create a layout that uses the natural resources, hills, springs, ponds, and the West Branch of the Brandywine, to produce a beautiful course that would not beat up the average golfer. And, he would do it without changing much of the landscape, without moving a lot of dirt, which translated into reasonable construction costs.

Easter week two years later, Honeybrook Golf Club opened for business as a semiprivate club, accepting just over 100 members, but remaining open to the dailyfee public seven days a week.

Noted Philadelphia golf writer, Joe Logan, was there that week and wrote in the April 23, 2000, Philadelphia Inquirer sports section: “If the crowd there on Thursday— the fourth day of operation—was any indication, the Piersols made a smart move. Honeybrook has real promise.” And the golfers kept coming.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Over the last two decades, Honeybrook has grown beyond simply being a tract of land familiar to golfers, to a community symbol representing fun, family, good food and philanthropy.

The Greenside Grill is a casual fine dining experience open to the public seven days a week. It features a cozy pub on the inside and a porch with one of the greatest dining views in the County. It’s a gathering place for locals looking for good food and conversation, and for golfers ready to enjoy a recap of their day on the greens. Though COVID 19 has changed some of the rules, the Greenside Grill’s reputation stands strong.

A charter member of the Honey Brook Community Partnership, the golf club regularly sponsors events that bring Honey Brook Borough and Honey Brook Township together with things like scholarships for high school graduates and grant programs for worthy local initiatives. Honeybrook Golf Club raises thousands of dollars each year for the Honey Brook Food Pantry. Founded in 2014 by Board Chairman Kenneth Ross, the Pantry provides food security to area residents in need. According to Ross, “Honeybrook Golf Club has been the longest standing supporter of the Honey Brook Food Pantry. From providing a venue for our annual golf outing and Music Fest, to picking up and collecting food and making donations, to offering hours of volunteer service, HBGC truly embodies what support means.”

THE LEGACY

If you spend much time at Honeybrook Golf Club, you’ll walk away with a feeling you’ve experienced something more than a round of golf or a good meal. Most online reviewers point out the friendly staff they encounter, from the bag drop to the restaurant. There are families who have had three or four children work at Honeybrook from first job through college.

And we have members who call Honeybrook home.

Take, for example, 42 year-old Coatesville teacher Jason Castaldi. When his father, Ed, became a charter member of the club in 2000, Jason was away at Penn State. Already a decent player, he refined his game on the fairways at Honeybrook after graduation. And he got better and better.

“Even back then, Honeybrook was a welcoming place,” Castaldi said. “Some courses and clubs are intimidating, but not Honeybrook.”

So, when he started coaching the Coatesville High School golf team 14 years ago, he brought his team to Honeybrook to practice, because “Honeybrook embraces new golfers. Everyone is welcome all the time.”

Jason now has a USGA handicap of 1 and fought his way

to the Club Championship in 2019. And his father, Ed, is still a member and recently won the SuperSenior Net Club Championship.

“I feel comfortable with all the other members at Honeybrook,” Jason said. “I just like being there. It feels like home.”

CCEDC adapts to current conditions to help businesses

Since mid-March, the team at the Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC) has adjusted to working remotely and has become proficient in Zoom meetings and virtual events. We have continued to serve Chester County and the region by partnering with Chester County government and our area Chambers of Commerce to continually assess the needs of companies in the wake of COVID—19 and share information and resources as it became available.

As businesses started to struggle in those early days of the pandemic, the entire CCEDC team was drafted to help process funding

applications from first the Commonwealth and then the County. By the first week of April, CCEDC’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Mike Grigalonis was well aware of what a unique time and situation this was for both his organization and the greater business community. “I’ve been doing this for 20 years and this has been the busiest three weeks of my career,” he said.

Since that time, the CCEDC team has continually pitched in to help process disaster funding applications that have resulted in the following, to date:

98 companies awarded funding through the

Covid-19 Working Capital Access (CWCA) program for awards totaling $7,361,046

248 companies awarded grants through the Chester County Main Street Preservation grant program for awards totaling $5,076,446

Supported our bank partners by helping to process 577 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) awards totaling $58,175,967

While many are still adapting and figuring out a “new normal” for themselves and their organizations, please know that CCEDC remains a key resource to help. Our key focus areas are providing financing

solutions, location services, workforce development, and fostering an innovation culture but we are truly here to serve as a resource for anything needed to help businesses grow and thrive. Learn more at www.ccedcpa.com.

The Witmer Public Safety Group and TheFireStore

Passion. “If you work at what you are passionate about, you will never work a day in your life.” James Witmer fondly recalls his Dad, Jim Sr., teaching him this important lesson at a young age. James proudly carries on this second-generation business serving as chief executive officer. Jim and his brother Greg started Witmer Public Safety Group and TheFireStore through Jim’s passion for the fire service “which is unsurpassed,” according to John Edwards, a past chief of the East Brandywine Fire Company and a close family friend. John continues, “This was not work for him, he loves the fire service.” Jim joined the fire service at age 16 at Rose Tree Fire Company in Media, and after moving to Chester County worked his way up to serve as the chief of the East Brandywine Fire Company in 1994 and from 2003 to 2005. Jim loves every aspect; the operations, the training, answering the calls and he loves the equipment.

Jim started his career in sales for Continental Refrigeration in Exton. In 1985, his brother Greg joined him as they struck out on their own as manufacturer’s representatives, selling restaurant equipment all over eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey. It was during this time that Jim went to a firefighter’s trade show in Harrisburg, Pa. and stumbled upon a competitive brand of wire rack shelving used for walk-in refrigerators that had been reconfigured to help firefighters’ turnout gear air dry after a call. Jim knew his brand of wire rack shelving had a better reputation for durability and got creative in designing a new gear rack that they would call Gearmasters. Jim and his brother Greg invented and manufactured two types of hangers for opening up fire gloves and turnout coats allowing them to dry completely. One of the hazards of not having dry clothing while fighting fires is the potential for steam burns.

Gearmasters was the start of getting into the fire industry and getting out of restaurant equipment sales, which neither brother was particularly passionate about.

Everyone in the fire industry knows that there is a special bond between a firefighter and their helmet. For many, they’d much rather repair it than replace it completely which meant there was a need for replacement parts. Jim

noticed this trend firsthand at East Brandywine Fire Company as the firefighters would often strip parts off new helmets that were in storage to fix their own helmet. As he found out, the fire equipment distributors at the time didn’t prioritize keeping these low-dollar parts in stock and thus were hard to find. The Witmer brothers created the first website for ecommerce in the fire industry in 1996 called helmetpartssource.com and only sold fire helmet parts that they ordered wholesale through other local distributors. With a passionate sales pitch, Jim convinced the largest helmet manufacturer to set his company up directly to buy helmet parts—a relationship that continues to pay dividends to this day. Still small, Jim’s warehouse was an upstairs closet in their office in the Laird Professional Building in East Brandywine, just across the street from the fire house. That closet is where James spent most of his afternoons in high school once the football season ended. Greg was a marketing major from Penn State and was the brains behind the plan to develop an ecommerce website…a true pioneer in the early days of the internet. They promoted this new line of the business using classified ads (all they could afford at the time) in the back of the popular nationally distributed Firehouse Magazine. Business took off and customers began asking for more product to be available through this website, namely gloves, flashlights, and helmets (not just the parts!). The name had to change…and thus began TheFireStore. com.

Gearmasters got the Witmer family into the fire business but TheFireStore.com was the catalyst for what the business has grown into today.

Business grew fast resulting in a move from the East Brandywine office building to their own 5,000-square-foot building in Downingtown on Wallace Avenue in 2000. By 2005, they had built their dream 35,000- squarefoot building in Sadsburyville, and in less than six years added another 30,000 square feet to that. The business wasn’t done there. In 2017, the company acquired the 25,000-square-foot office building adjacent to their operations headquarters.

Today, Witmer Public Safety Group employs 225 full-time staff with more than 45 salespeople on the road from New England to Virginia. Business acquisition was part of the growth starting in 2005, each time the Witmers kept the owners actively engaged as employees, allowing them to get out from behind a desk and get back to what they loved – getting in front of customers and establishing relationships and demonstrating product. Their first acquisition in 2005 was Pennsylvania Police Supply. Next, in 2007, was Mason Dixon Fire Equipment and Moul Enterprises. In 2014, Heroes Apparel in Richmond Virginia came on board.

Relationships have been the secret to success for all the Witmers. As a family-run business, Jim’s wife Ruth has been the ‘glue’ to hold everything together. Ruth, as described by her son James, “is sweet and caring, the one who for over 15 years handed out paychecks with hugs and thanked employees for working with ‘us.’ She truly is the heart of the business.” The family is quick to credit God with their success, and their strong faith has allowed them to be good stewards of the fire service.

Unfortunately, Greg Witmer passed away in 2002 and while he battled cancer, Ruth picked up many of his duties. His passing also drove James to return to the family business where he picked up on the marketing role that Greg had left behind. It wasn’t just James and his parents, but also his three siblings and many of their friends in the early days. Susan worked with the ecommerce website and customer service; Katie worked as a customer service representative and wrote blogs for the company, and Steve worked throughout high school on creative marketing and web design. All have found their calling outside of the business now. James recalls the nature of family business back then with a fun quote, “We thought we’d make for a great reality TV show.” James reflects on his father’s leadership style “He was a visionary and extremely instinctive…he trusted his gut and stated it as fact.”

James prefers to ask questions, gather information and trust the numbers, so clashes weren’t uncommon. Over time, they learned to work well together and, having built an impressive leadership team, the company continued

its path toward excellence. In 2011, the Witmer family was dealt another blow with Jim receiving a diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease. Despite the prognosis, Jim carried on until he and Ruth felt the timing was right and named James the next CEO. James’ leadership style is certainly a little different than his father’s, something he had to come to grips with early on in the role.

James quipped, “My Dad was the right person to get this started, I couldn’t have done what he did, but I feel equipped to keep his vision going and spur the company on to higher heights.” So far, that’s exactly what’s happened. For the Witmer family it’s a core value for them to give back to their community. As the company has grown, it’s been a passion for the family to do more. Many of their philanthropic efforts include Young Life, Chester County Women’s Services, Hope Beyond Borders, Bridge Academy and Community Center, Westside Community Center, The Neema Project, Coatesville Shop with a Cop, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.), the public safety community that they serve and of course the Alzheimer’s Association. James is proud to be carrying forward the legacy of his dad’s original vision of serving our firefighters and all public safety, and he’s grateful that Mom and Dad are still around to keep it fun and keep it family. TheFireStore is located at 104 Independence Way, Coatesville and the company’s motto is “Equipping Heroes.”

Western Chester County Life|

Supporting small business:

It’s personal

By Rachel M. Cathell

Here we are in 2020, a time when we can order our groceries online with a click and have them delivered in an hour.

The convenience of pressing the “check out” button on a big box store’s online platform seems to make our lives easier. However, this quick transaction has an underlying negative, a loss of identity in our hometowns.

If you take a ride through western Chester County, you’ll

pass through the main streets of Coatesville, Parkesburg, Atglen, Honey Brook and many more idyllic small towns; each one toting its own identity. These places are the home to small businesses that create a unique sense of community. Local businesses are the pulse of our neighborhoods and ensure we have a healthy micro economy that recycles continuously through our region.

This year, Nov. 28 is Small Business Saturday. Taking the extra time to shop local rather than with a large chain will ultimately have a lasting impact on where you live by

business: business:

increasing prosperity, entrepreneurism, connectivity and the quality of life in the community. How does shopping small influence all of those positives? Well, it’s personal.

Your local businesses grow and adapt their products and services to meet the communities’ specific needs. This additional attention to detail is not only appealing to residents but also acts as an attraction to outside visitors. A unique small-feel angle can also ignite entrepreneurial competition, inspiring other residents to open businesses that fill cross-selling opportunities. For example, say a retailer has drummed up an increase of foot traffic to the area thanks to their quirky new store. Another resident recognizes that gap and opens an eatery next door. They’re now adding a second stop, another service for the shopper and ultimately extending the commerce in the area.

Investing in our community means engaging in our community. This heightened engagement may take an extra mile down the road, but that extra step provides an experience, an intimate person-to-person contact. Rachel Prescott Roberts of the American Mushroom Institute in Chester County explains, “To buy local you have to plan differently on how you shop. I find that when I don’t plan, it’s easy to default to chains, but we have to make a different plan, we have to commit to buying locally.”

Committing to buying locally is a trend for many businesses in western Chester County. Local businesses often patronize other local businesses, setting a precedent in developing a controlled supply chain. This unity keeps money circulating in our community longer, resulting in more of our neighbors utilizing and benefitting from that same dollar. As an individual resident of the region, it is now our turn to step up and join small businesses in this union.

Eric Yost, owner of Suburban Brewing Company in Honey Brook, takes great pride in sourcing his inventory from other

Small Business Saturday

Continued from Page 49

local businesses. He says it isn’t always easy, but the brewery hosts a farm-to-table menu committed to purchasing its ingredients from local Farms. “If you do it right, it’s full circle. Drink our beer or eat from our menu and you’re supporting not only our business, employees and their families, but also the farmer that grows the grain. Then we’re taking those spent grains and giving them to the pig farmer for his feed.”

This neighborly supply chain is not just in our county’s agriculture sector. Local businesses in our region are balancing their books with a local accountant, printing their ads with a neighborhood printer and insuring their storefronts with the insurance agent around the corner. This recirculation is a force that filtrates through businesses to employees and right into our households.When you shop small your hard-earned dollar passes to the business, to the employees and down through the supply chain but the buck doesn’t stop there. Your purchase ultimately becomes a community contribution. Every time a purchase is made at a local business, that business then pays out their share of taxes to municipal or city funds. These funds determine the health of local programs such as public services,

infrastructure, schools, libraries, beautification efforts and more. An added bonus is that generally small businesses are more likely to donate and sponsor other local community organizations that are active in filling the needs of the neighborhood. These community partners turn around and inject that money back into our locality. Once again,

it’s personal. At this point in the conversation, you may often hear, “But doesn’t the big box retailer bring jobs?”

Perhaps that is true for a time but to what cost? Locally owned businesses are linked to higher income growth and lower levels of poverty; they aren’t as quick to depress wages. These neighborhood enterprises take pride in the people because they are the people. Once a local business becomes successful and starts to grow, they will also bring jobs like a large retailer. Its important to acknowledge that locally owned businesses are held to a higher standard; they hold a share in the community and are tied personally to the civic engagement, social capital and well-being of that community.

How can you love local?

• Rather than going straight to the convenience of that big chain online store, consider what local businesses you can contact for the same products. Then, while you’re there, consider upcoming birthdays and holidays that may also require a purchase. Sometimes the prices are higher in locally owned stores, but acknowledge that those few extra dollars are an investment in your community.

• Go the extra mile then share your experience. A trip to buy produce from the local farmer is not just a purchase of a product but a memory of a moment. Snap a photo of your moment and tag the farm on social media. Take it a step farther by rating and following them as well!

• Contribute to charities and community foundations that support the community. This can be in the form of volunteerism, attending an event, donating or developing a partnership between your business and the organization.

• Foster a climate that encourages small businesses. Your quality time and passing along knowledge and expertise you may have, can build up others.

• Take notice. What gaps of services or products are missing in your community? Why isn’t a local business filling that gap? Encourage your local policymakers to craft laws and procedures that support and inspire local commerce.

• Most Importantly, let us all make a collective effort to shop small, not only on Small Business Saturday, but as much as we can! We’re in this together and we determine what tomorrow will look like in our hometown.

Visit ChescoWest.com to discover local businesses in our region.

Visit chesco.org/1124/Find-Local-Farm-Products for the Ag Development Council Farm Guide.

Honey Brook Community Partnership

By Verna Emery President Honey Brook Community Partnership

Fall is fast approaching and we are looking forward to the cooler weather and the beauty of the autumn colors. It has been a very unusual year for the world and our community because of the Coronavirus pandemic. The Partnership was very sad to announce Harmony Day and our Annual Health Fair would be cancelled, but The Partnership’s mission is to work to support our community and even though these activities had to be cancelled, we were still able to provide scholarships to two Twin Valley Students and provide financial support to two non-profit community organizations through our grant program.

We recently received notice from Tel Hai Retirement Community that The Honey Brook Community Partnership was chosen Charity of Choice. With Tel Hai’s very generous donation, we will be able to continue our mission of supporting our community.

We are still planning our Make A Difference Day collection in October. We will be collecting food and cleaning

supplies that will be given to the Honey Brook Community Food Bank. Collection boxes will be placed at local businesses. Please see the Honey Brook Community Partnership website for collection box locations at https://hbpartnership. org. It is not clear at this time if we will have our Deck The Brook program but we will keep you posted on our website The members of the Partnership send you our best wishes and look forward to next year when we will be able to provide some fun and exciting activities. Becoming a member of the Community Partnership is an excellent way to enhance the visibility of your business or organization in the greater Honey Brook area. As part of our efforts to promote our community, we have a strong Facebook and web presence. Our social media reach falls somewhere between 2500 and 4000 contacts a month. These media channels have been so well received that we want to make these marketing avenues available to our membership. For more information about becoming a member, please contact us through our website: www. hbpartnership.org.

CHAMBER MEMBER DIRECTORY

ACCOUNTING SERVICE

Albert Abdala Tax & Insurance Center

Albert Abdala (610) 384-6425

www.apatax.com

CBIZ Inc. Payroll & HCM

Donna McCorkle (484) 667-6652 www.cbiz.com

Ginas InterNet Advising

Gina Rodkey (484) 712-5959 www.GinasInterNetAdvising.com

Paisley Solutions

Paula Paisley (610) 444-2597 www.paisleysolutions.com

Quinn, M Cynthia, CPA

Cynthia Quinn (610) 380-1040

www.mcq1040.com

See ad on page 37

The Small Business Accounting Solution Inc

Nicole Odeh (484) 845-3800

www.TSBAS.com

See ad on pages 28, 63

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

Brandywine Business Systems

Sam Slokom (610) 563-1487

AGRICULTURE

Cairns Family Farm

Don Cairns (610) 636-8107

Chester County Agricultural Development Council

Hillary Krummrich (610) 344-6285 www.chesco.org/141/ Agricultural-Development-Council

Chester/Delaware County Farm Bureau

Dan Miller 484-880-6431 www.cdcfb.com

Highland Orchards

Marsha Hodge (610) 269-3494

highlandorchards.net

Highspire Hills Farm, LLC

Deborah Ellis (610) 942-9634

www.localharvest.org/highspire-hillsfarm-llc-M6683

Penn State Extension Service

Logan Hall (610) 696-3500 extension.psu.edu/chester

Romano 4-H Center of Chester County

Don Cairns (610) 636-8107 www.facebook.com/TheRomano4HCenterofChesterCounty

Stoltzfus Feed & Supply

Dean Stoltzfus (717) 442-8280

www.stoltzfusfeed.com

See ad on page 39

Windy Hill Farm

Anna Larsen (848) 218-2949

Www.windyhillfarmpa.com

APARTMENTS & TOWNHOMES

Fairways Apartments & Townhomes

Kristin Undercuffler (610) 383-0690 www.fmgnj.com

Millview Apartment Homes

Melissa Gatto (610) 466-7800

www.millviewapts.com

ARCHITECTURE

Art & Architecture

Susan Salvo (484) 880-8023

www.fb.com/susansalvoarchitect

Ronald David Osborne Architect

Ronald Osborne (610) 384-3133

ATTORNEYS

Carosella & Associates, PC

Vincent Carosella, Esq. (610) 431-3300 www.carosella.com

Keen, Keen & Good

William Keen, Esq. (610) 383-7810

www.KKGLawFirm.com

Lamb McErlane PC

Helen Esbenshade, Esq. (610) 430-8000

www.lambmcerlane.com

Law Firm of Barry S. Rabin

Barry S. Rabin, Esq. (610) 873-1600

www.BarryRabinLaw.com

Law Office of Jayne Garver

Jayne Garver, Esq. (484) 784-5372

www.jgarverlaw.com

Law Office of Robin J. Gray

Robin Gray, Esq. (484) 769-5855

www.robinjgraylaw.com

Law Offices of August J. Ober, IV A.J. Ober, Esq. (215) 779-3433

www.OberLegal.com

Miller Law Offices

Tracey Norcini Polito (610) 840-8400

www.millerlawpa.com

See ad on page 13

Powell Law Associates, LLC

Marvin Powell (610) 489-1714

www.powellpatentlaw.com

Siana, Bellwoar & McAndrew LLP

Chris Gerber, Esq. (610) 321-5500

www.sianalaw.com

Skinner Law Firm LLC

Michael Skinner, Esq. (610) 436-1410

www.skinnerlawfirm.net

Unruh, Turner, Burke & Frees, P.C. Theo Claypoole, Esq. (610) 692-1371 www.utbf.com

AUTOMOTIVE SALES AND SERVICE

Brian Hoskins Ford Ed Kovatch (610) 384-4242

www.brianhoskinsford.com

Extra Mile Auto Service George Devine (610) 384-2864 www.extramileauto.com

Fling’s Towing, Inc. Daryl Fling (610) 383-6362 www.flingstowing.com

K’s Kollision Bruce Kuryloski (610) 384-3337 www.kskollision.com

RS-Werks Automotive Shop LLC

Michael Meldrum (484) 712-5044 rswerks.com

Salvo Brothers Motorcars Ari Salvo (610) 384-1352 www.salvobrothersauto.com

BANKS

BB&T | Parkesburg

Patrick McCullough (610) 857-9667 www.bbt.com

BB&T | Honey Brook

Stephanie Rich Bailey (610) 273-2992 www.bbt.com

Bryn Mawr Trust Company

Andrew Stump (610) 430-6158 www.bmtc.com

First Resource Bank

Diana Mattingly (610) 618-0265

www firstresourcebank.com

See ad on page 45

Fulton Bank | Guthriesville Patricia Savino (610) 873-4740 www.fultonbank.com

Fulton Bank | Parkesburg Michelle Cooper (610) 857-5005 www.fultonbank.com

Fulton Bank | West Chester Mike Reese (610) 918-8814 www.fultonbank.com

M&T Bank | Honey Brook

Jennifer Simmet (610) 273-7022 www.mtb.com

Meridian Bank Geoffrey Sheehan (484) 568-5026 www.meridianbanker.com

Mid Penn Bank Mike Guyer (717) 690-3985 www.midpennbank.com See ad on page 52

Phoenixville Federal Bank & Trust Steve Pratt (610) 933-1000 www.PhoenixFed.com

PNC Bank | Christiana Susan Kuryloski (610) 593-2121 www.pnc.com

Prosper Bank Doug Buyers (610) 384-8282 www.prosperbank.com

S&T Bank | Little Washington Richard Sware, Jr. (484) 359-3308 stbank.com

S&T Bank | Caln Kristen Welcome (610) 383-7562 stbank.com

BEVERAGE /Breweries

Animated Brewing Company

Jared Castaldi (610) 448-9914 animatedbrewing.com

Christiana Beer & Beverage Mike Peace (610) 593-5887 www.christianabeer.com

Lamb Beverage, Inc. Michael McGinley (610) 384-1470 www.lambbeverage.com

Sly Tom’s Take Out John Sly www.slytoms.com

Continued on next page

Directory

Continued from previous page

Suburban Brewing Company

Corey Ross (610) 273-3106

www.suburbanbrewingco.com

Victory Brewing Company

Mike Kearnes (484) 718-5080

www.victorybeer.com

BUILDING CONTRACTORS

Provident Homes Corporation

Matt Bedwell (610) 692-7697

www.providenthomes.com

Rittenhouse Builders

George Metzler (610) 380-9570

www.rittenhousebuilders.com

Simmers Builders Inc

Lloyd Simmers (610) 383-5562

www.simmersbuilders.com

White Horse Construction, Inc. Lydia (610) 593-5559

www.whitehorseconstructionpa.com

BUILDING SUPPLIES

Compass Hardwoods

Greg Pilotti 610-857-2600

Graber Supply, LLC

David Blank (610) 593-3500

www.polebarn.com

Hatts Industrial Supplies

Chip Clavier (610) 384-1954 www.hatts.com

See ad on page 26

BUSINESS CONSULTING

SCORE of Chester and Delaware Counties

Vic Goldberg (610) 344-6910

www.chestercounty.score.org

Transfers of Learning, LLC

Tasha Delaney (610) 466-7521

www.transfersoflearning.com

CATERERS

Doe Run Catering

Sarah Petro (610) 384-0477

DoeRunCatering.com

Harry’s Neighborhood Place/ Sadsburyville Hotel Inc.

John H. Lymberis (610) 857-2331

www.HarrysHotdogs.com

John Serock Catering

John Serock (610) 640-2836

www.serockcatering.com

Triple Fresh Catering

Jim Petro (610) 384-5037

www.triplefresh.net

Victory Brewing Company

Mike Kearnes (484) 667-9249

victorybeer.com

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

PA Chamber of Business & Industry

Alex Halper (717) 720-5471

www.pachamber.org

Western Chester County Chamber of Commerce

Donna Steltz (610) 384-9550

www.WesternChesterCounty.com

CHIROPRACTORS

Agape Institute of Functional Healthcare

Michelle Conicello (484) 593-0882 agapefhc.com/

Chamberlain Chiropractic Dr. Jeffrey Chamberlain (610) 429-4920

www.chamberlainchiropractic.com

CHURCHES

CityWell Church

DJ Grick (610) 590-8550

CityWell.Church

CLEANING SERVICES

Clarel Janitorial/Maintenance Services Corp.

Claudia Muntean (484) 378-0827

clarelmaintenance.com/

Morinelli Powerwashing

Joseph Morinelli 610-316-6422

www.morinellipowerwashing.com/

COMMERCIAL FLOORING SALES & INSTALLATION

Precision Flooring Enterprises LLC

Marilyn Costalas (610) 857-3519

www.precisionflooringllc.com

COMMUNCATION SERVICES

HR Telephones | Gator Networking Services, Inc.

Jonathan Godley (215)499-9847

www.hrtelephones.com

See ad on page 21

COMMUNITIY SERVICES

Boy Scouts of America Chester County Council

Jeffrey Spencer (610) 696-2900 www.cccbsa.org

Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art

Sheila Fleming (610) 388-8389

www.brandywine.org/conservancy

Brandywine Health Foundation

Vanessa Briggs (610) 380-9080

www.brandywinefoundation.org

See ad on page 23

Brandywine Regeneration Project

Bob Holliday (610) 717-2265

Bridge Academy and Community Center

Jordan Crans (610) 466-9505

www.thebridgeacademy.org

Caln Athletic Association

Steve Santillo (484) 378-0470

www.calnaa.com

Chester County Community Foundation

Stephenie Stevens (610) 696-8211

www.chescocf.org

Chester County Futures

Maria McDonald (610) 241-6624 ccfutures.org

Chester County OIC

Taj Brown (610) 235-4716

www.ccoic.org

Coatesville 2nd Century Alliance

Sonia Huntzinger (484) 786-8896

www.2ndCenturyAlliance.org

Crime Victims Center of Chester County

Christine Zaccarelli 610)-692-1926 www.cvcofcc.org

Good Samaritan Services

Nate Hoffer (610) 380-1360 www.goodsamservices.org

Good Works, Inc.

Robert Beggs (610) 383-6311 www.goodworksinc.org

Greater Deliverance Development Outreach

Stephanie Duncan (610) 384-4429

greaterdeliverancechurch.org

Habitat For Humanity of Chester County

Chris Wiseman (610) 384-7993

www.hfhcc.org

See ad on page 51

Honey Brook Area Community Partnership

Donna Horvath (610) 990-5670

www.hbpartnership.org

Honey Brook Food Pantry

Ken Ross (610) 291-0067

www.honeybrookfoodpantry.org/

Life Transforming Ministries Bill Shaw (610) 384-5393

www.quietrevolution.org

Minding Manners with Ms. B Bongai Mhloyi (484) 356-8935

www.mindingmannerswithmsb.com

PABA Parkesburg Business Association

Allan Fellman (610) 857-5114 www.paba-pa.org

Parkesburg Action Committee

Jenny Alexander (610) 425-1148

facebook.com/PAC19365/ Rotary Club of Coatesville

Michael Givler (610) 384-9196

www.facebook.com/rotaryclubofcoatesville/

Star Superior Home Foundation

Stefanie Tarloski (610) 331-2624

www.starsuperior.com/www.starsuperiorhomefoundation.org

Stewart Huston Charitable Trust Scott Huston (610) 384-2666

www.stewarthuston.org

The Huston Foundation

Charles Lukens Huston III (610) 832-4955

www.hustonfoundation.org

The Parkesburg POINT

Debbie Shupp (610) 857-3393

www.parkesburgpoint.com

United Way of Chester County Chris Saello (610) 429-9400

www.unitedwaychestercounty.org

See ad on page 50

CONSTRUCTION

City Construction Co., Inc.

Dennis Fallon (610) 269-9530

cityconstructionco.com

D. Howe & Sons, Inc. Douglas Howe (610) 942-4249

www.dhoweandsons.com

David P. Kristman Excavating, Inc. David Kristman (610) 273-9388 dpkristmanexcinc.com

Delaware Valley Concrete Lisa Dilliber to (215) 675-8900

delawarevalleyconcrete.com

See ad on page 28

Directional Drilling, Inc.

Curt Eldredge (610) 873-1099

directionaldrillinginc.com

Fidelity Contracting LLC

Richard Burkholder (610) 816-0704

www fidelitycontracting.com

See ad on page 35

Five Point Renovation & Remodel

Rob Wishneski (484) 888-8276

www.fivepointconstruction.com

G Force Engineering & Construction

David Steltz (610) 233-9925 fbsginc.com

Graber Supply, LLC

David Blank (610) 593-3500 www.polebarn.com

JGM Fabricator and Constructors

Joseph Messner (610) 873-0081 www.jgmusa.com

Provident Homes Corporation

Matt Bedwell (610) 692-7697 www.providenthomes.com

Rittenhouse Builders

George Metzler (610) 380-9570 www.rittenhousebuilders.com

Simmers Builders Inc

Lloyd Simmers (610) 383-5562 www.simmersbuilders.com

Veteran Construction and Utility Services, Inc

Sue Durborow (610) 384-8235 www.veterancus.com

White Horse Construction, Inc.

Chris Stoltzfus (610) 593-5559 www.whitehorseconstructionpa.com

Willard Construction Keith Willard (484) 645-4508 www.facebook.com/willardconstructionpa/

See ad on page 49

Citadel | Eagleview Corporate Office

Doug Thompson (610) 466-6412 www.citadelbanking.com

See ad on page 41

Citadel | Parkesburg

Kim Jar vis (610) 466-6634 www.citadelbanking.com

Citadel | South Coatesville

Anthony Williams (610) 380-6003 www.citadelbanking.com

Citadel | Thorndale

Gwen Smoker (610) 466-6649

www.citadelbanking.com

Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union

Joe Pomorski (484) 593-5045

www.fmfcu.org/ DENTISTS

Hughes & Hughes Family Dentistry

Cheryl Gaudi (610) 942-3321

hughesdentistry.com/ See ad on page 5

Marrano Dental Arts

Daniel Mar rano (610) 563-4253

www.marranodentalarts.com/

Rainbow Valley Dental

Stephanie McGann, DMD (610) 383-4747

www.rainbowvalleydental.com

DEVELOPER

First Eastern Development Company, LLC

John Newton (610) 842-8224

www.firsteasterndc.com

Legend Properties

David DePetris (610) 941-4034

www.lpre.com

Mark Lane Properties

Mark Sherman | Lane Udis (215) 669-6847

www.marklaneproperties.com/

New Heritage Properties, LLC

Crosby Wood (610) 383-9800

www.newheritageproperties.com

DRY CLEANING / Laundromats

Orth Cleaners

Chris Miceli (646) 519-1472

www.orthcleaners.com

Zeke’s Inc.

Joseph DiSciullo (610) 384-5119 www.zekesincpa.com

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS

Chester County Economic Development Council

Gary Smith (610) 321-8227 www.ccedcpa.com

Coatesville 2nd Century Alliance

Sonia Huntzinger (484) 786-8896 www.2ndCenturyAlliance.org

EDUCATION

Chester County 2020

William Stevens (484) 680-5570 www.CC2020.org

Chester County Intermediate Unit

Kristina Goodwin (484) 237-5153

conferencecenter.cciu.org

Chester County Futures

Maria McDonald (610) 241-6624 ccfutures.org

Chester County Technical College

High School

Beth Myers (484) 593-5100 www.tchsbrandywine.org

Coatesville Area School District

Mr. Tomas Hanna (610) 466-2400 www.casdschools.org/

Delaware County Community College

Ruth Bennett (610) 359-5131 www.dccc.edu

Harcum College Coatesville

Evelyn Santana (610) 525-4100 www.harcum.edu

Octorara Area School District

Lisa McNamara (610) 593-8238 www.octorara.k12.pa.us/ See ad on page 61

Pope John Paul II Regional Catholic Elementar y School

Maria Samson (610) 384-5961 www.popejohnpaul2sch.org

ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS

Bill Mullen Electric LLC

Bill Mullen (484) 716-1177

Billmullenelectric.net

Denmans Electrical Services, Inc.

Jeffrey Denman (484) 228-8111 www.denmanselectric.com

G. A. Vietri, Inc.

Greg Vietri (610) 857-1110

www.gavietri.com

See ad on page 43

Rumsey Electric

Patrick Melvin (610) 832-9000 www.rumsey.com

William S. Malany & Sons, Inc.

Chad Lease (610) 436-4023 www.malanyelectric.com

EMERGENCY SERVICES

Chester County Department of Emergency Services

George (Beau) Crowding (610) 344-5000 chesco.org/217/Emergency-Services

Elverson-Honey Brook Area EMS

Steven Jones (610) 286-8925

elversonems.org

Keystone Valley Regional Fire District

Raymond Stackhouse (484) 571-9686

www.kvfd8.com

Keystone Valley Fire Department

Krystine Sipple (610) 857-3232

www.kvfd8.com

West End Fire Company #3

Gina Langan (610) 384-9798

coatesvillefire.org/content/wfofficers

EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES

Chester County OIC

Taj Brown (610) 692-2345 www.ccoic.org

ENERGY MANAGEMENT SERVICE

Electric Advisors Consulting, LLC

Frank Lacey (610) 793-2809

www.electricadvisorsconsulting.com

Kauffman Gas Inc.

Ken Kauffman (610) 593-5063

www.kauffmangas.com

Rhoads Energy Family of Companies

Michael DeBerdine (610) 857-1650

www.rhoadsenergy.com

See ad on page 14

Tobelmann Energy Brokers, Inc. John Tobelmann (610) 639-1406 www.tobelmann.net

ENGINEER CONSULTANTS

Econ Partners, Inc. Coleen Terry (610) 400-8024

www.econpartnersinc.com/index.html

Edward B. Walsh & Associates, Inc. Theodore Gacomis (610) 903-0060 www.ebwalshinc.com

See ad on page 37

Hydraterra Professionals

Joe Boldaz (610) 942-3000 www.hydraterrapro.com

McMahon Associates, Inc

Natasha Manbeck (610) 594-9995

www.mcmahonassociates.com

Padula Engineering Company

Mark Padula (610) 357-2896 padulaengineering.com

Continued on next page

Directory

Continued from previous page

Traf

fic Planning and Design, Inc

Randy Waltermyer (610) 326-3100 www.trafficpd.com

ENTERTAINMENT

& RECREATION

Air Ventures Balloon Flights

Deb Harding (484) 753-2598 air-ventures.com

Philadelphia Rock Gym Coatesville

Derek Transue (877) 822-7673 www.philarockgym.com

Revival Productions

Heather Grayberg (484) 378-0047 www.revival-productions.com

The Golf Zone

George McNamara (610) 942-9494 golfzoneproshop.com

The Lukens Band

Mike Givler (610) 383-4197 www.lukensband.org

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS

Coventry Environmental, Inc.

Steven Ohrwaschel (484) 639-4578 covenv.com/ Envera

Michael Matheny (484) 593-4002 www.envera.com

Sovereign Environmental Group

Larry Johnson (610) 383-9919 www.sovereignenvironmental.com

EXCAVATING CONTRACTORS

Bore It, Inc.

Rick Barbato (610)-496-2946 Boreitinc.com

See ad on page 30

David P. Kristman Excavating, Inc.

David Kristman (610) 273-9388 dpkristmanexcinc.com

Fidelity Contracting

Richard Burkholder (610) 816-0704

www

fidelitycontracting.com

See ad on page 35

EXTERMINATORS

Moyer Indoor / Outdoor

Bill McHugh (215) 896-6009 www.Moyer.com

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Beacon Financial Group, LLC

Cathy Jackson (484) 844-7824

www.CAJ-BeaconFinancial.com

MassMutual

Timothy Mullen (484) 631-5727

easternpa.massmutual.com/about-us/ horsham-financial-service-representatives/timothy-tim-mulle

Penn Rise Advisors

Karl Klingmann II (610) 269-8363

www.pennriseadvisors.com

See ad on page 20

FIRE, WATER AND DAMAGE CLEAN-UP

SERVPRO of Central Chester County

Dave Lyman (610) 524-0211

www.servprocentralchestercounty.com

SERVPRO of Kennett Square/Oxford

Cliff Masscotte (610) 268-8620

Ser vprokennettsquareoxford.com

See ad on page 41

FITNESS TRAINING AND SPORTS CENTERS

Academy Sports Complex

Rob Smith (484) 288-8033

www.academysportspa.com

Philadelphia Rock Gym Coatesville

Derek Transue (877) 822-7673

www.philarockgym.com

YMCA of Greater Brandywine, Brandywine Branch

LaKeisha Harris (610) 380-9622

www.ymcagbw.org

FLORISTS

Blue Moon Florist

Ami Trost (610) 873-7900

www.bluemoonflorist.com

Coatesville Flower Shop

Greg DePedro (610) 384-2677

www.coatesvilleflowershop.net

FUNERAL SERVICES

Harris Mountain Funeral Home & Cremation Service

Kevin Mountain (610) 384-1091

www.harrismountain.com

James J. Terry Funeral Home

Greg Froio (484) 378-7210

www.jamesterryfuneralhome.com

Wentz Funeral Home

M. Joye Wentz (610) 384-0318

www.wentzfuneralhome.com

White Willows Memorial Design

Fay Monte (717) 442-9001

whitewillowsmemorials.com

FURNITURE

Greg Pilotti Furniture Makers

Greg Pilotti (484) 764-6956

www.gpfurnituremakers.com

GIFTS & SPECIALTY SHOPS

Homestead Studios

Tracy McClaskey (484) 712-5087

Www.homestead-studios.com

GOLF COURSES

Applecross Country Club

John Harte (484) 692-1010

www.applecrosscc.com

Coatesville Country Club

Chris Walton (610) 384-3200

www.coatesvillecountryclub.com

French Creek Golf Club

Thad Fortin (610) 913-6330

www.frenchcreekgolf.com

Honeybrook Golf Club

Donna Horvath (610) 273-0207

www.honeybrookgolf.com

Ingleside Golf Club

Chris Ward (610) 384-9128

www.golfingleside.com/ Moccasin Run Golf Club/ Shotgun Pub & Grille

Curtis King (610) 593-2600

www.moccasinrun.com

GOVERNMENT- COUNTY

Chester County Commissioners

Becky Brain (610) 344-6100 www.chesco.org

Chester County Department of Community Development

Pat Bokovitz (610) 344-6900 www.chesco.org

Chester County Department of Emergency Services

George Beau Crowding (610)344-5148 chesco.org/217/Emergency-Services

Chester County DES - Public Safety Training Campus

John Gillespie (610) 344-4100 www.chesco.org/des

Chester County Planning Commission

Brian O’Leary (610) 344-6285

www.chesco.org

Chester County Recorder of Deeds

Chris Pielli, Esq. (610) 344-6330 www.chesco.org

GOVERNMENT- MUNICIPAL

Atglen Borough

Caren Andrews (610) 593-6854

www.atglen.org

Borough of South Coatesville Allen Smith (610) 384-1700

www.south-coatesville.org

Caln Township

Kristen Denne (610) 384-0600

www.calntownship.org

Christiana Borough

Carol Pringle (610) 593-5199

www.christianaboro.com

City of Coatesville

James Logan (610) 384-0300

www.coatesville.org

East Brandywine Township

Scott Piersol (610) 269-8230

www.ebrandywine.org

East Fallowfield Township

Scott Swichar (610) 384-7144

www.eastfallowfield.org

East Nantmeal Township

Kathy Brumfield (610) 458-5780

www.eastnantmeal.org

Elverson Borough Lori Kolb (610) 286-6420

www.elversonboro.org

Highland Township

Barbara Davis (610) 857-1791

www.highlandtwp1853.org

Honey Brook Borough

Janis Rambo (610) 273-2020

www.honeybrookborough.net

Honey Brook Township

Kristy Deischer-Eddy (610) 273-3970

www.honeybrooktwp.com

Modena Borough

Jennifer Daywalt (610) 384-6777

boroughofmodenapa.org/

Parkesburg Borough

Neil Vaughn (610) 857-2616

www.parkesburg.org

Sadsbury Township

Tammy Russell (610) 857-9503

www.sadsburytwp.org

Valley Township

Kathy O’Doherty (610) 384-5751

www.valleytownship.org

Wallace Township

Barbara D’Angelo (610) 942-2880

www.wallacetwp.org

West Bradford Township

Justin Yaich (610) 269-4174

www.westbradford.org

West Brandywine Township

Dale Barnett (610) 380-8200 www.wbrandywine.org

West Caln Township

Thomas Siedenbuehl (610) 384-5643 www.westcaln.org

West Fallowfield Township

Gina Wheeler (610) 593-5916

www.westfallowfieldtownship.org

West Nantmeal Township

Debi Kolpak (610) 286-9722

westnantmeal.com

West Sadsbury Township

Patti Piersol (610) 857-5969

www.westsadsburytwp.org

Western Chester County Council Of Governments

Jennifer Daywalt (610) 384-9550 www.wcccog.com

GOVERNMENT ELECTED OFFICIALS

Chester County Commissioner

Josh Maxwell (610) 344-6000 chesco.org

Chester County Commissioner Marian Moskowitz (610) 344-6000 chesco.org

Chester County Commissioner Michelle Kichline (610) 344-6000 chesco.org

Congressman LLoyd K. Smucker (717) 393-0667 smucker.house.gov/

Senator Andrew E. Dinniman 19th District (610) 692-2112

www.senatordinniman.com

State Senator Katie J. Muth 44th District (717) 576-0376 www.senatormuth.com/

State Representative Christina Sappey 158th District (484) 200-8264 www.pahouse.com/Sappey/

State Representative Dan Williams | District 74 74th District (484) 200-8256

www.pahouse.com/Williams/

State Representative Danielle Otten 155th District (717) 783-5009

www.pahouse.com/FrielOtten/

State Representative John Lawrence 13th District (610) 869-1602

www.replawrence.com

State Representative Tim Hennessey 26th District (610) 326-2626

www.rephennessey.com

U.S. Congressman Chrissy Houllahan 6th District (610) 883-5050 houlahan.house.gov

U.S. Senator Bob Casey, Jr. (215) 405-9660 www.casey.senate.gov

US Senator Patrick Toomey (215) 241-1090 toomey.senate.gov

GRAPHIC DESIGN and Marketing

Blue Dog Printing & Design

Debi Friedmann (610) 430-7992 getbluedog.com

Link Promos

Megan Lamkin (717) 543-3767 linkpromos.com

Surefire Graphics

Vincent Zambuto (484) 378-4033

surefiregraphics.com

GROCERY STORE

Crop’s Fresh Marketplace

Chad Cropper (484) 593-2665

www.cropsmarketplace.com

See ad on page 54

Triple Fresh

Jim Petro (610) 384-5037 triplefresh.net

HARDWARE STORES

Hatt’s Industrial Supplies & True Value

Chip Clavier (610) 384-1954

www.hatts.com

See ad on page 26

HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS

Brandywine Hospital Tower Health

Mark Reyngoudt (610) 383-8000

www.towerhealth.org

See ad on page 49

ChesPenn Health Services, Inc. Michael Lucas (610) 383-3888 www.chespenn.org

Lancaster General Health

Debra Wertz (610) 857-6639

www.LancasterGeneralHealth.org

See ad on page 2

Levin Luminais Chronister Eye Assoc

Paul Fernandes (610) 384-9100 www.lleaeyes.com

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Agape Institude of Functional Healthcare

Michelle Conicello (484) 593-0882 agapefhc.com

Arbonne International

Nina Malone (610) 331-8285

www.ninamalone.arbonne.com

HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING

Darryl N. Barber

Plumbing & Heating Inc.

Darryl Barber (610) 273-2369

www.darrylbarberandsons.com

Joe Ward Plumbing & Heating, Inc.

Joe Ward (610) 593-6474

Rhoads Energy Family of Companies

Michael DeBerdine (610) 857-1650

www.rhoadsenergy.com

See ad on page 14

Summers & Zims

Joseph Zimmer man (610) 593-5129 www.sumzim.com

HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Graystone Society | National Iron and Steel Heritage Museum

Jim Ziegler (610) 384-9282

www.steelmuseum.org/

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

Budget Blinds of Coatesville

Germaine Schumann (610) 643-4929 www.budgetblinds.com/Coatesville/ Cellarium Wine Cellars

Donald Cochran (610) 721-9698 cellarium.com/ CertaPro Painters of Western Chester County

John Fecile (484) 283-5003 western-chester-county.certapro.com/

Chester County Fencing

Chris Kaminski (610) 273-3300

www.chestercountyfencing.com

See ad on page 33

Chester County Tile and Design

Jason Phillips (610) 380-5040

www.chestercountytile.com

Five Point Renovation & Remodel

Rob Wishneski (484) 888-8276

www.fivepointconstruction.com

Good Works Inc.

Robert Beggs (610) 383-6311

www.goodworksinc.org

Milanese Remodeling

Mark Milanese (610) 384-5820

www.milaneseremodeling.com

Morinelli Powerwashing

Joseph Morinelli 610-316-6422

www.morinellipowerwashing.com/

Precision Flooring Enterprises LLC

Marilyn Costalas (610) 857-3519

www.precisionflooringllc.com

Tony Buck Home Improvement

Tony Buck (610) 384-7863

www.tonybuck.com

Willard Construction

Keith Willard (484) 645-4508

www.facebook.com/willardconstructionpa/ See ad on page 49

HOME INSPECTIONS

Ground Up Home Inspections

Kevin Kerr (610) 324-3064

www.grounduphomeinspections.com

See ad on page 35

HOTELS

Stottsville Inn

Michael Quinn (484) 718-5121 stottsvilleinn.com

HUMAN RESOURCE CONSULTANT

CBIZ Inc. Payroll & HCM

Donna McCorkle (484) 667-6652 www.cbiz.com

HUMAN SERVICES

Crime Victims’ Center of Chester County, Inc.

Christine Zaccarelli (610) 388-1218 x212 www.cvcofcc.org

Greater Deliverance Development Outreach

Stephanie Duncan (484) 886-6413

greaterdeliverancechurch.org

INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERED GRAPHIC SYSTEM

Uticom Systems, Inc.

Paul Keeler (610) 857-2655 www.uticom.net

Continued on next page

Continued from previous page

INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT

Ballymore

Stephanie Brown (610) 593-5062

www.ballymore.com

Northwestern Chester County Rentals, LLC

Kathy Duca (844) 571-8997 nccrllc.com

INSURANCE

Albert Abdula Tax & Insurance Cente

Albert Abdala (610) 384-6425 apatax.com

Beaver Insurance Agency

Larry Beaver (484) 356-6455

www.allstate.com/larrybeaver

Breuninger Insurance

Chip Breuninger (610) 384-1980

www.binsured.com

See ad on page 17

C. Kenneth Grant Insurance & R eal Estate

Barry Norton (610) 384-6260

www.grantinsuranceandrealestate.com

Chester & Associates, LLC

Penny Reeder (610) 383-3884

www.rswinsurance.com

DiMatteo Insurance

Al DiMatteo (610) 383-1114

www.dimatteoinsuranceinc.com

EMB Specialty, LLC

Erik Brecht (610) 857-4759

www.embspecialty.com

Independence Blue Cross CHIP

Gregory Gutierrez (215) 241-9706 www.ibx.com/CHIP

Knies Insurance Group

Greg Knies (610) 273-3756

www.keytoinsurance.com

See ad on page 25

The Wright Agency

Jonathan Wright (610) 269-6115

www.wrightagencyinsurance.com

See ad on page 11

VanDyne Insurance Agency

Donna VanDyne (717) 430-2798

www.vandyneinsurance.com

Whitford Insurance Network, Inc.

Bob Ward (610) 524-7860

whitfordinsurance.com

IT Services

CompNet, Inc.

Mark Davis (610) 380-1314

www.compnetinc.com

Fashay Consulting

Diane Fasnacht (610) 331-9246

www.fashay.com

Origami Technology Group, Inc.

William Gayle (484) 639-0004

www.origamitg.com

LANDSCAPING / HARDSCAPING

Bonner Landscape Contractors

Ryan Bonner (484) 886-2925

BonnerLC.com

Matthew Forrest

Hardscape & Landscape

Matthew Siter (484) 753-4434

ForrestHardscape.com

The Tree Connection

Ryan Sipple (484) 888-5360

www.treeconnection.us/

LIBRARIES

Atglen Public Library

Robbyn Kehoe (610) 593-6848

www.ccls.org/158/Atglen-Public-Library

Coatesville Area Public Library

Penny Williams (610) 384-4115

coatesvilleareapubliclibrary.org/

Honey Brook Community Library

Jennifer Spade (610) 273-3303

www.ccls.org/171/Honey-Brook-Community-Library

Parkesburg Library

Kathleen Hood (610) 857-5165 www.parkesburglibrary.org/

MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS

Transfers of Learning, LLC

Tasha Delaney (610) 466-7521

transfersoflearning.com

MANUFACTURING

ACR Machine Inc.

Steve Tury (610) 383-6150 www.ACRMachine.com

Aerzen USA Corporation

Cheri Hager (610) 380-0244 www.aerzen.com/en-us.html

American Roll Suppliers, Inc.

Karen Neuhauser (610) 857-2988

ArcelorMittal

Albert Fuller (610) 383-2000 www.arcelormittal.com

Armstrong

Engineering Associates, Inc.

Robin Austin (610) 436-6080

www.armstrong-chemtec.com

Brandywine Valley Fabricators

Josh Crane (610) 384-7440

brandywinevalleyfab.com

See ad on page 31

Cigas Machine Shop, Inc.

Craig Cigas (610) 384-5239 cigasmachine.com

H20 Connected

Susan Springsteen (610) 594-2192 leakaler tor.com/ JGM Fabricators & Constructors LLC

Joseph Messner (610) 873-0081 jgmusa.com

John Rock Inc.

Bill MacCauley (610) 857-8080 www.johnrock.com

Keystone Turbine Services, LLC

Patrice Beail (610) 268-6200 www.kts-aero.com

Pacer Industries, Inc.

Joseph Moran (610) 383-4200 www.pacergrindingwheels.com

Paulsonbilt

Pamela Barranco (610) 384-6112 www.paulsonbilt.com

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation

Chuck DiLabbio (610) 644-4430 www.lockheedmartin.com/us/what-wedo/aerospace-defense/sikorsky.html

See ad on page 26

MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS

Communication Works Now

Judith Lee (610) 368-2058 www.communicationworksnow.com

MEDIA AND PUBLISHING

Chester County Press

Randall Lieberman (610) 869-5553 www.chestercounty.com

VISTA.TODAY

Ken Knickerbocker (610) 256-9571 vista.today

MEMORIALS AND MONUMENTS

White Willows Memorial Design Fay Monte (717) 442-9001

www.whitewillowsmemorials.com

METAL FABRICATION

American Roll Suppliers, Inc.

Karen Neuhauser (610) 857-2988

Brandywine Valley Fabricators Josh Crane (610) 384-7440

www.brandywinevalleyfab.com

See ad on page 31

JGM Fabricators & Constructors LLC

Joseph Messner (610) 873-0081 www.jgmusa.com MORTGAGE

Guaranteed Rate

Jason Ashe (610) 864-6357 www.rate.com/jasonashe

Brandywine Conservancy and Museum of Art

Sheila Fleming (610) 388-8389

www.brandywine.org/conservancy

National Iron & Steel Heritage Museum/Graystone Society Jim Ziegler (610) 384-9282 www.steelmuseum.org MUSIC

The Lukens Band Mike Givler (610) 383-4197 www.lukensband.org

NETWORKING GROUPS

Women’s Business Connection of Chester County Bette Cowles-Friedlander (484) 823-0110 www.wbcchesco.com

OPHTHALMOLOGISTS

Levin Luminais Chronister Eye Assoc

Paul Fernandes (610) 384-9100 www.lleaeyes.com

PARKS AND RECREATION

Chester County Parks

David Stauffer (610) 932-2589 www.chesco.org

Air Ventures Balloon Flights,Inc

Deb Harding (484) 753-2598 www.air-ventures.com

PAYROLL SERVICES

CBIZ Inc. Payroll & HCM

Donna McCorkle (484) 667-6652 cbiz.com

The Small Business

Accounting Solution

Nicole Odeh (484) 845-3800

www.TSBAS.com

See ad on pages 28, 63

PET SERVICES

Stoltzfus Feed & Supply

Dean Stoltzfus (717) 442-8280

www.stoltzfusfeed.com

See ad on page 39

PHARMACIES

Honey Brook Pharmacy

Tony Scalies (610) 273-7300

www.honeybrookpharmacy.com

Hopewell Road Pharmacy

Tony Scalies (610) 269-0002

Quik-Stop Pharmacy

Alissa Steele-Griffith (610) 384-6100

www.qstoppharmacy.com

www.hopewellroadpharmacy.com

See ad on page 23

PHOTOGRAPHY

Aleesha Nicole Photography

Aleesha Howe (484) 824-1897

aleeshanicolephotos.com

PLUMBING

Darryl N. Barber

Plumbing & Heating Inc.

Darryl Barber (610) 273-2369

www.darrylbarberandsons.com

J-S All Things Plumbing

Bob Spar r (610) 500-4373

bobsparr.wix.com/allthingsplumbing

See ad on back cover

Joe Ward Plumbing & Heating, Inc.

Joe Ward (610) 593-6474

Summers & Zims

Joseph Zimmerman (610) 593-5129

www.sumzim.com

Tri-County Water Services Inc.

Brent D. Hershey (610) 857-1740

www.tricowater.com

PRINTING AND PROMOTIIONAL PRODUCTS

Blue Dog Printing & Design

Debi Friedmann (610) 430-7992

www.getbluedog.com

Denron Sign Company

Robert Sciarra (610) 269-6622

DenronSigns.com

FASTSIGNS EXTON

Carrie Mengel (610) 280-6100

WWW.FASTSIGNS.COM/368

Image Ink

Janet Petsko (610) 518-5181

www.image-ink.biz

Link Promos

Megan Lamkin (717) 543-3767

www.linkpromos.com

Metro Printing & Promotions

Veronica Hall (973) 316-1600

Paragon Business Gifts, Inc.

Greg Krajewski (610) 857-5506

www.paragonbusinessgifts.com

Shirts N More LLC

Joseph Early (610) 873-6075

shirtsnmorepa.com

Surefire Graphics & Marketing

Vincent Zambuto (484) 378-4033

SurefireGraphics.com

Tam Arte Design Studio

Rick Milne (610) 269-7518

www.tamartedesign.com

The UPS Store Print ShopDowningtown

Bruce Cobb (610) 518-5010

www.theupsstore.com

Zakback Inc.

Bruce Korn (610) 407-0285

www.zakback.com

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

BLUE CORD Property Care

Bradley Fink (484) 796-1586

bluecordpropertycare.com

Brite Realty Services

Thomas Taylor (610) 524-8285

www.briterealty.com

Clarel Janitorial / Maintenance

Services

Claudia Muntean (484) 378-0827 clarelmaintenance.com

Huston Properties

Sharon Tandarich (610) 384-2666

www.hustonproperties.org

Wills Property Maintenance

Richard Wills (610) 384-1624

www.willspropertymaintenance.com

Zekes, Inc.

Joseph DiSciullo (610) 384-5119 www.zekesincpa.com

REAL ESTATE

All County Partnership

Jim Reading (610) 608-0282

Brite Realty Services

Thomas Taylor (610) 524-8285 briterealty.com

C. Kenneth Grant Insurance & Real Estate

Barry Norton (610) 384-6260

grantinsuranceandrealestate.com

Help-U-Sell Direct Homes

Matthew Boyle (610) 363-3737

www.helpusell.com

High Associates, LTD

Brian Davison (610) 380-8437

www.highlandscenter.com

Keller Williams

Jennifer Randell (610) 650-0800 battykolo.com

Mark Lane Properties

Mark Sherman (215) 510-6399

www.marklaneproperties.com/

Re/Max Professional RealtyLaurie Keen

Laurie Keen (610) 363-8444

www.teammatrixhomes.com

Star Superior LLC Real Estate Services/Star Superior Home Foundation 501c3 Stefanie Tarloski 1-610-331-2624

www.starsuperior.com/www.starsuperiorhomefoundation.org

The Gorham Group

Matt Gorham (610) 363-4340 www.mattgorhamgroup.com

RECYCLING AND COLLECTION SERVICES

A.J. Blosenski, Inc.

Anthony Blosenski (610) 942-2707 www.ajblosenski.com

Chester County Solid Waster Authority

Bob Watts (610) 273-3771 www.chestercswa.org

Mahoney Environmental Services

Brenda McNeil (610) 425-1289

Www.mahoneyes.com

Reliable Industries

Michael Carlini (717) 626-2181 www.relbox.com

RENTALS

American Tent Rental

Jay Riley (484) 340-7450

Northwestern Chester County Rentals

Kathy Ducca (610) 857-1110

nccrllc.com

RESIDENTIAL EXTERIOR REMODELING

Milanese Remodeling

Mark Milanese (610) 384-5820

www.milaneseremodeling.com

RESTAURANTS

Animated Brewing Company

Jared Castaldi (610) 448-9914 animatedbrewing.com

Beaver Creek Tavern

Stuart Deets (484) 593-0481 www.beavercreek-tavern.com

Bright Spot Cafe

Shannon Maria Brower (610) 458-7000

BrightSpotExton.com

Glenmoore Deli

Christie Keith (610) 942-4321

www.facebook.com/Glenmoore-DeliCountry-Market-997885856960616/

Greenside Grill at Honeybrook Golf Course

Donna Horvath (610) 273-0207

honeybrookgolf.com/greenside

Harry’s Neighborhood Place / Sadsburyville Hotel Inc.

John H. Lymberis (610) 857-2331

www.HarrysHotdogs.com

Little Chef Family Restaurant

Nick Lymberis (610) 384-3221

www.thelittlecheffamilyrestaurant.com

Mr. E’s Tavern & Fine Food

Beth Perdue (610) 384-4356 www.mrestavern.biz

Rocco and Anna’s Ristorante Italiano Rocco Pirozzi Jr. (610) 857-1111 www.roccoandanna.com/

Shotgun Pub & Grill at Moccasin Run Golf Course

Grace King (610) 593-2600

www.moccasinrun.com/pub/shotguns

Stottsville Inn

Michael Quinn (484) 718-5121 stottsvilleinn.com

Continued on next page

Directory

Continued from previous page

Suburban Brewing Company

Corey Ross (610) 273-3106

www.suburbanbrewingco.com

The Attic Lounge at Harry’s

John H. Lymberis (610) 857-0202

www.TheAtticLoungeAtHarrys.com

Victory Brewing Parkesburg

Mike Kearnes (484) 718-5080 www.victorybeer.com

ZING Sushi

John H. Lymberis (610) 857-0001

www.ZingSushi.com

RETIREMENT LIFE CARE COMMUNITIES

Freedom Village At Brandywine

Nicole Rosella (610) 383-5100 fvbrandywine.com

Harrison House of Chester County

Jean Bryan (610) 384-6310

www.harrisonseniorliving.com

Harrison Senior Living of Christiana Sherri Stolzfus (610) 593-6901 www.harrisonseniorliving.com

Heatherwood Retirement Community

Beth Warren (610) 273-9301 www.heatherwoodretire.com

Tel Hai Retirement Community

David Shenk (610) 273-9333 www.telhai.org

SAFETY SYSTEMS AND SERVICES

Signal 88 Security of Octorara

Pete Mango (302) 298-3307 www.signal88.com

The Protection Bureau

Christine Pezzi (610) 903-4900

www.protectionbureau.com

VPP Security LLC

Michael Amersek (267) 977-8706 www.securityvpp.com

Witmer Public Safety Group, Inc.

James Witmer (484) 288-6405 www.wpsginc.com/

SELF STORAGE

Global Self Storage

Jonathan Arasin (610) 857-0777

www.globalselfstorage.us

Hidden Valley Self Storage

Denyce Tober (610) 857-1778

www.hiddenvalleystorageparkesburg. com

SENIOR SERVICES

Coatesville Area Senior Center

Bill Pierce (610) 383-6900

coatesvilleseniorcenter.org

SKINCARE AND COSMETICS

Arbonne International

Nina Malone (610) 331-8285 www.ninamalone.arbonne.com

TELECOMMUNICATIIONS AND NETWORKING

CTDI

Keith Montone (610) 793-8103 www.ctdi.com

FBSG Inc.

Cindy Gallo (610) 633-8824 www.fbsginc.com

HR Telephones | Gator Networking Ser vices

Jonathan Godley (215)-499-9847

www.hrtelephones.com

See ad on page 21

TRANSPORTATON

Chester County Area Airport Authority

Gary Hudson (610) 383-6057

www.chestercountyairport.com

See ad on page 15

Chester County Aviation

Ethan Crane (610) 384-9005

www.chestercountyaviation.com

See ad on page 15

Krapf Group

Gar y Krapf (610) 431-1500 www.krapfbus.com

Signature Flight Support

Blaise Sharkey (610) 384-9000

www.signatureflight.com

See ad on page 15

TMACC-Transportation Management

Assoc. Chester County

P . Timothy Phelps (610) 993-0911

www.tmacc.org

TRAVEL AND TOURISM

ChescoWest

Rachel Cathell (610)384-9550

www.chescowest.com

Chester County

Conference and Visitor’s Bureau

Susan Hamley (610) 719-1730

www.brandywinevalley.com

TREE CARE

The Tree Connection

Ryan Sipple (484) 888-5360

www.treeconnection.us/ Wills Property Maintenance, LLC

Richard Wills (610) 384-1624

www.willspropertymaintenance.com

TRUCKING COMPANIES

Independence Transport & Logisitics

Ed Simpson (610) 255-2118

UTILITIES

Chester County Solid Waster Authority

Bob Watts (610) 273-3771

www.chestercswa.org

PECO Energy Company

Edward Piscopo (215) 841-5411

www.peco.com

PECO Energy Company

Scott Neumann (610) 725-7189

www.peco.com

Pennsylvania American Water Company

Justin Brame (610) 384-1776

www.amwater.com

See ad on page 20

Pennsylvania American Water Company

Terry Maenza (610) 670-7789

www.amwater.com

See ad on page 20

VENUE

Casablanca A Right Start Venue

Grace Rauppius (484) 459-3351 rightstartcasablanca.com/

Huston Properties

Sharon Tandarich (610) 384-2666 www.hustonproperties.org

The Barn at Stoneybrooke

Jenn Engle (717) 723-5183 www.thebarnatstoneybrooke.com

VIDEO PRODUCTION MULTIMEDIA

Valley Creek Productions

Justin Chan (215) 525-9904

valleycreekproductions.com

See ad on page 4

WATER SERVICES

H2O Connected

susan Springsteen (610) 246-9328

www.leakalertor.com

Tri-County Water Services, Inc.

Brent Hershey (610) 857-1740 tricowater.com/

WEBSITE DESIGN

CompNet, Inc.

Mark Davis (610) 380-1314 compnetinc.com

Fashay Consulting

Diane Fasnacht (610) 331-9246 fashay.com

Link Promos

Megan Lamkin (717) 543-3767 linkpromos.com

Mercurygraphix

Brandon McLean (610) 639-4723

www.mercurygraphix.com

YOUTH SERVICES

Bridge Academy & Community Center

Jordan Crans (610) 466-9505

www.thebridgeacademy.org

Caln Athletic Association

Steve Santillo (484) 378-0470 www.calnaa.com

Chester County Council, BSA

Jeffrey Spencer (610) 696-2900 www.cccbsa.org

Chester County Futures

Maria McDonald (610) 241-6624 ccfutures.org

Minding Manners With Ms. B Bongai Mhloyi (484) 356-8935 www.mindingmannerswithmsb.com

The Parkesburg Point

Debbie Shup (610) 857-3393 www.parkesburgpoint.com

Octorara Area Career & Technical Education Programs: Where careers begin

If your idea of a great education extends no further than what is absorbed in a traditional classroom, then spend some time with students enrolled in the Octorara Area Career and Technical Education Program’s Homeland Security & Protective Services

They undergo rigorous training exercises. They receive rst-hand experience in re ghting, emergency medical services, vehicle and water rescue and law enforcement from professional re ghters and emergency rst responders. They climb into EMS and re ghting vehicles and participate in real-life situations.

In partnership with the Chester County Public Safety Training Campus, the Academy prepares students to apply technical knowledge and skills required to perform entry-level duties in law enforcement, re ghting, emergency medical services, and other safety services. “It’s an unbelievable opportunity for our students,” said Lisa McNamara, the Octorara Area Career and Technical Education administrator. “They’re giving back to their community, immediately. They have access to every industry that comes there: Fire ghters, canine units, EMTs, FBI, police o cers, and many more. The daily exposure to life mentors that this program gives students is amazing.

“The key bene t is that they will graduate from the program with over 64 industry credentials, and if they choose to go to a two-year or four-year college, the credentials may convert to college credits, and qualify them for free college housing and tuition.”

The Octorara Homeland Security & Protective Services Academy hired John Narcise, as their new law enforcement instructor.

John Narcise started his law enforcement career in 1984. During John’s career he worked as a patrol o cer and investigator and has served in the Millbourne, SEPTA, West Chester, and Willistown police departments. Throughout the years John was promoted to the rank of Sergeant, to Lieutenant, and then promoted to the rank of Chief of Police for the Willistown police department and has served in that capacity for the past 30 years until his retirement in 2020.

John was a labor negotiator for the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 11 and has served on many hiring, promotion, discipline and policy boards. He also served on the Opioid Drug Task Force and is a member of the International Chief’s of Police. John currently serves as President of Bluebeards for Charity.

John is a graduate of West Chester University with a Master of Science Degree in Administration and also holds an Undergraduate Degree in Criminal Justice and Public Administration. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy #218 and has taken specialized training in Interviewing, Leadership, and Statement Analysis. John is a member of the

International Honor Society in Social Science.

The Homeland Security and Protective Academy now has instructors for re, law, and emergency medical. Students may now choose the discipline they want, however participating in the Academy for all three years would provide students with over 64 industry credentials and prepare them in all rst responder disciplines, and possibly award them up to 50 college credits. The Academy is just one of eleven programs in the Octorara Area Career and Technical Education Program, each designed to provide hands-on experience and develop practical skills that prepare students for careers in animal and plant science, business academy, child care education, computer technology, culinary arts, engineering and drafting technology, homeland security and protective services, graphic design and illustration, mechanical systems technology, woodworking technology and diversi ed occupations. Each program introduces students to representatives from some of the largest industries in Chester County and beyond, which partner with the Octorara Area School District: Dutchland, Inc.; Aerezon, USA; Land O’Lakes, SECCRA, and many other companies. Partnership may include site visits to each program to explore how these companies can help students learn, or support the programs through grant funding. Occasionally, students are hired right out of the Octorara Area Career and Technical Education Programs. While enrolled in these programs, students get to learn from teachers who come to the school with years of professional experience.

Octorara continues to add courses in elds that appeal to students and have practical application after graduation. Within the Animal and Plant Science Technology program, students may participate in the Octorara Equine Sports Team. Working with nationally known local professionals, students are exposed to di erent riding disciplines and prepared for a wide range of career opportunities in the equestrian industry. McNamara stated, “The Animal and Plant Science Technology Program is open to any school district that has a student interested in equine industry. It’s an opportunity of a lifetime and Octorara students love it!”

Placing students directly with experienced professionals serves as a recruitment tool for potential employers, McNamara said. “We have begun to see a growing gap that separates education from the practical and technical skill sets that employers want to see, and our programs ll that gap,” she said. “Educational systems have to reach out to industries and ask them, ‘What do you want and what do you need?’ They’re telling us, ‘We need trained and focused skills in our industry.’”

To learn more about all nine Octorara Area Career & Technical Education Program opportunities, visit www.octorara.k12.pa.us, or contact Lisa McNamara at 610-593-8238.