Morgantown/Honey Brook townlively.com
MAY 17, 2023
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL XXXI • NO 15
Scouts BSA offers activities for youths BY FRANCINE FULTON
Among the local Scouts BSA troops seeking new members is Troop 543G, which is open to girls in sixth grade through age 17. This summer, troop members will work on merit badges, attend summer camp and take part in a five-day horseback trek.
The group will hold its last official troop meeting of the year on Sunday, May 21, from 3:45 to 5:30 p.m. at Robeson Evangelical Lutheran Church, 3520 Plow Road, Mohnton. “We are wrapping up meetings for the year, but the girls’ activities will continue throughout the summer,” said troop leader Ginny Thorpe. “It’s a year-round program.” See Scouts BSA pg 6
Once renovated, Joey’s Barn (main photo) will be named in memory of Joey Bilder (inset photo).
Benefit golf outing set in Honey Brook BY FRANCINE FULTON
o honor the memory of their son and to support those struggling with addiction, members of the Bilder family will hold a golf outing at Honeybrook Golf Club, 1422 Cambridge Road, on Monday, May 22. The event will begin with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. Individual golfers and groups of four are welcome to participate. Proceeds from the event will be used to renovate a barn at BridgeWay House, an addiction treatment center in Coatesville. Once completed, the building will be named Joey’s Barn in memory of Joey Bilder. According to his mom, Jacqueline Bilder, Joey struggled with addiction for eight years before he died in 2022 at the age of 27. “He fought the fight and was doing well until he relapsed and died of a fentanyl overdose,” she said. Despite their grief and loss, the
impressed by its services and founder, Mark Harlan. “Mark has such a unique program. A lot of people come into a recovery house, and they have no money because they are homeless or coming out of jail or coming straight from rehab,” Jacqueline said. She added the BridgeWay provides residents with transportation to and from work, doctor visits and court dates; supplies interviewappropriate clothing; and helps participants obtain a driver’s license. The family believes that Joey’s Barn will be a way to keep his memory alive. “It will be his barn - his legacy,” Jacqueline said. “We had some tough years with Joey in and out of rehab and recovery. He got himself into a recovery house and an apartment, and we feel blessed because we had two really good years, and we repaired our relationship and talked openly and honestly about addiction. I truly believe he is in a better place.”
Members of Troop 543G built a swingset using branches and rope.
OIC holds appreciation dinner, seeks volunteer tutors BY FRANCINE FULTON
The Chester County Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC) Adult Tutoring Program, which provides free one-on-one tutoring for adults from other countries who are looking to improve their English language skills, hosted its Volunteer Tutor Appreciation Dinner on April 26 at the Chester County Library in Exton. Because of the pandemic, this is the first time the dinner was held in person since 2019. In attendance at the event were the program’s volunteer tutors, students and OIC staff, including
Joyce Chester, OIC president and CEO. “We had about 40 people, including tutors and some students, in attendance. It was a lovely event,” said Robin Chiavetta, assistant program coordinator. “Several tutor and student pairs who have been working together long term spoke at the event.” Chester County OIC provides free adult basic literacy education and life skills programs that are designed to prepare individuals for employment and economic self-sufficiency. Students come from countries such as Ukraine, Venezuela and Pakistan.
See Golf outing pg 2
See OIC pg 2
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family members want to help others by raising funds through the golf outing. “We are looking to have 96 golfers,” noted Jacqueline. “People are really struggling, and this is a really good recovery house and (Joey’s Barn) will serve a lot of people.” Joey’s Barn will be a gathering place for residents of BridgeWay House, as well as a place to host support group meetings. “It’s an empty building, but it’s got good bones,” Jacqueline stated. “We have to do plumbing and electrical (work) and convert it into an indoor space so the residents can meet year-round. There is no place for (the residents) to all come together. They bus them to AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) meetings and NA (Narcotics Anonymous) meetings, which are critical to those in recovery. They could do meetings on-site or family therapy.” Although Joey was unable to take advantage of the programs offered at BridgeWay House, the family was