Octorara townlively.com
MAY 10, 2023
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL XXXIII • NO 10
Expo to showcase the best of Octorara BY FRANCINE FULTON
lans are currently underway for the annual Octorara Agriculture, Business, Environmental Science & Technology (OABEST) Expo that will take place on Saturday, May 20, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Octorara Junior-Senior High School, 228 Highland Road, Atglen. Among the planned festivities are a student art show, a petting zoo, a craft show, children’s activities, a mobile video game truck, a tractor show and displays by student and community organizations. Students from the Octorara Area Career and Technical Education Programs (OACTEP) are helping to organize the event along with Lisa McNamara, director of career and technical education for the Octorara Area School District. “Planning (for OABEST) starts in October. We have about 2,000 people attend this event,” said McNamara, noting that students in each of the OACTEP areas of study are
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planning certain aspects of the day. New attractions this year will include a community job fair and a community yard sale. Students in the Business, Marketing and Entrepreneurship program will help with the job fair during which participants will be able to speak with representatives from local companies that are hiring. “We are doing mock job interviews,” noted student Denise Washington. “We will ask people interview questions and (discuss) what the company looks for in an employee to help them be prepared for their on-site interviews they will be doing at the job fair.” For the yard sale, residents of the Octorara Area School District are invited to set up a table in a 10-by-10-foot space and sell their gently used items. There is no fee to participate. Also new this year is a cornhole tournament fundraiser for Kacie’s Cause. For more information, contact Kristen Brown at kristen.kaciescause@gmail.com. See OABEST Expo pg 6
OIC holds appreciation dinner, seeks volunteer tutors 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 OIC pg 3
Library Friends set plant sale, chicken barbecue BY FRANCINE FULTON
Organizers include (from left) library director Trish Vandenbosch and Friends members Karen Woods, Kate Valentino and Joan Esworthy.
The Friends of the Moores Memorial Library will hold their annual Mother’s Day plant sale and chicken barbecue on Saturday, May 13, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lions Community Park, 325 N. Bridge St., Christiana. The plant sale will feature a large assortment of hanging baskets, premade planters and geraniums. All plants will be on display in the pavilion at the park. In the case of rain, plants will be available in the Lions Community Building at the park. No bedding plants or herbs will be sold. See Library Friends pg 9
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BY FRANCINE FULTON
Lisa McNamara (front, far right) and students from the Octorara Area Career and Technical Education Programs are planning the event.