Welcome Back, Great Valley!

Transcription

An IN COMMUNITY Magazine
Great Valley
Welcome Back,
Great Valley!
Great Valley schools welcome
students, staff, and the community
for the 2015-2016 school year
School District
School
District News
News
Page
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Township News
Township
News
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24
FALL 2015
in-philly.com
Special
S
pecial Section:
Section:
Trends
Education
T
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nE
ducation
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Join Us!
The Great Valley Regional
Chamber of Commerce
GREAT OPPORTUNITES.
GREAT CONNECTIONS.
GREAT VALLEY.
The area’s leading business association
for innovative enterprise and an issue
driven organization that represents the
needs and concerns of its business
community. We support and promote
business and economic development
in Great Valley making this region
an ideal area to live, work and
invest.
Why Join?
• Networking Events to expand your business and
build strong business relationships
• Educational Seminars for you and your employees
• Business Assistance and Resources to grow your business
• Annual Events, Golf Outing and other Social Opportunities
• Sponsorship Opportunities for Increased Visibility
• Individual and Group Health (on or off healthcare.gov),
Life and Business Insurance offered through USI Affinity
• Cost Effective Marketing of your Business through email
and www.greatvalleyonline.com
• Member to Member Discounts
• And an opportunity to support and become a part of
YOUR business community
For membership information
please call 610-889-2069
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.greatvalleyonline.com
CONTENTS
fall
•
2015
features
42 Happy Trails
Chester Valley Trail offers history, sights and safety.
44 Making Music Pop
Maestro Joe Gehring leads the Chester County Pops into the
future.
47 Special Section: Trends in Education
Education techniques such as e-learning are changing the
typical approach to teaching.
53 Special Section: Seniors
For seniors, autumn is a time to get busy, get active and
make a difference not only for those around you but for
yourself.
on the cover
L to R: General Wayne Elementary students Raina Stroman, Grace Thomas
and Ava Halfacre. Photo by Jennifer Blake.
departments
2 From the Publisher
26 East Whiteland Township News
4 IN the Loop: What’s news in Great 24 Community News
Valley
6 IN Events: 2015 Kimberton Fair
8 IN Person: Logan Cohen
9 Great Valley School District News
32 Malvern Borough News
38 Willistown Township News
56 IN the Know: Historic Sugartown
42
sponsored content
Business Spotlights
6 Women for Women
Industry Insights
30
41
46
52
Pet Care: Affinity Veterinary Center of Malvern
Your Child’s Eye Care: Valley Forge Eye Care
Education: Villa Maria Academy
Senior Care: SarahCare of Malvern
IN Community is a publication dedicated to representing, encouraging and promoting the Great Valley area and its comprising municipalities by focusing on the talents and
gifts of the people who live and work here. Our goal is to provide readers with the most informative and professional regional publication in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Great Valley | Fall 2015 | in-philly.com 1
FROM
THE
PUBLISHER
CEO & PUBLISHER
Wayne Dollard
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Julie Talerico
[email protected]
W
EDITOR
Bob Byrne
[email protected]
elcome to the fall issue of IN Great
Valley magazine!
As summer comes to a close and the kids
head back to school and college, we hope
you take a few minutes to read this issue.
Not only do we have the latest news and
information from your school and township,
we work hard to find top-quality stories
about your community and its residents as
well as provide the latest news, events and
local history.
OFFICE MANAGER
Leo Vighetti
[email protected]
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Jim Paladino
[email protected]
DESIGNER
Harvey Walls
[email protected]
In addition, our magazine offers in-depth
information about quality services provided
by our advertisers. See our Insights and
Spotlights listed under Sponsored Content on the Table of Contents.
If you know someone who is making a difference in your community or if you
have a story idea you’d like us to consider, we’d love to hear from you. Please email
our editor, Bob Byrne, at [email protected].
Finally, if you are a local business and would like to reach your audience in a
community-oriented, family-friendly publication, please contact me directly
about advertising at [email protected].
Wishing you a fabulous fall.
VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES
Tamara Myers
[email protected]
SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Tiffany Marcovsky
[email protected]
Eileen Amoroso
[email protected]
ADVERTISING COORDINATORS
Debbie Mountain
[email protected]
Susan Freuchtel
[email protected]
©2015 by IN Community Magazines.
All rights reserved. Reproduction or reuse of any
part of this publication is prohibited without
the written permission of the publisher.
Direct all inquiries, letters to the editor and press releases to:
IN Community Magazines
11 Mayview Road
Canonsburg, PA 15317
800.558.0940 ext. 202
Wayne Dollard / CEO
IN Community Magazines
610.924.7322
[email protected]
IN Community Magazines is the largest magazine publishing company in Pennsylvania.
We are pleased to be partnered with the Great Valley communities.
Send Us Your Story Ideas!
We’d love to hear from you if you know someone in
your community who is making a difference or has
done something extraordinary. We’re also looking
for interesting story ideas (little-known facts, history
or other news) within your community.
If you have suggestions, email us at
[email protected].
2 1.800.558.0940, ext. 202 TO ADVERTISE | Great Valley
To Advertise
To advertise, contact
Wayne Dollard at
610.924.7322
Please recycle this magazine when you are
through enjoying it.
Experience Counts!
Fall Is Fantastic
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in
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GREAT VALLEY
BY BOB BYRNE
FALL FESTIVITIES AT SUGARTOWN
STRAWBERRIES FARM
Hay, Hay, Hay! It’s time for some fall fun
and what better way to enjoy the sights, smells
and tastes of autumn than on a hayride?
Sugartown Strawberries is a great place to get
into all that fall has to offer in the Great Valley.
Hayrides run continuously on October
weekends from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. so everyone
gets a chance to ride. The farm’s pumpkin
patch is brimming with every size, shape and
color of pumpkins, plus there are all your
favorite gourds, Indian corn, corn stalks, and
straw bales for decorating. You and your kids
will love the challenging hay bale maze.
Remember to bring your camera to capture
dozens of precious moments!
For a special evening, call to arrange a
campfire after your hayride, and perhaps
invite your guests to cook their own hotdogs
and marshmallows. (Food and cooking sticks
are not included, so you plan your own event
at the farm’s bonfire.)
Full details can be found at
sugartownstrawberries.com.
HARVESTING HEALTH
AND HAPPINESS
Student-run garden promotes growth
and success
As the result of collaboration throughout
Valley Forge Educational Services (VFES),
the organization has made great strides in
affording opportunities for children and
young adults, 2–21 years of age, with special
needs to engage in healthy lifestyles. This
mission is evident in looking at what is aptly
named the VanGarden, which not only
furthers students’ academic and daily living
skills but also extends their ability to
contribute to society.
Since June 2014, students have been
reaping and enjoying the benefits of having
their very own garden on campus, with this
past spring of 2015 marking the beginning of
VFES sharing the bounty with others in the
community. Through a partnership with
Triskeles and by way of the organization’s
community-based Food For All program,
VFES is now donating at least 50% of the
produce grown to a local food bank.
Plans to actualize the vision began far
earlier, in December 2013, when VFES
received its first grant from the Subaru of
America Foundation. Students in the
Industrial Arts program prepped the site
where the garden resides today, removing
shrubbery, building six raised beds and
installing fencing. Indoors, younger students
germinated seeds, cultivating young sprouts
that were transferred to their outdoor home in
the garden beds in May 2014. The garden has
since received support from the Whole Kids
Foundation and the Land O’Lakes
Foundation.
From tomatoes and cucumbers to eggplant
and squash, fruits and vegetables have been
plentiful. Students harvest garden-grown food
as part of math class or speech-language
therapy, with the Culinary Arts and Food
Service students regularly creating exciting
new dishes. Being involved in the seed-to-fork
process has encouraged even the pickiest of
eaters to try something different. Yet the true
benefit of this sustainable, engaging initiative,
can be seen in the students’ faces—for the
smiles are evidence of how empowered they
feel to participate in something so meaningful.
FREE SHREDDING EVENT
FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS
You can help guard against identity theft
and help the environment by bringing your
sensitive paper records to a free Community
Shredding Day event on Saturday, October 3,
from 8 a.m. to noon at the TCHS Pickering
campus at 1580 Charlestown Road,
Phoenixville.
The event is presented by Borough of
Phoenixville, Charlestown Township, East
Pikeland Township and Schuylkill Township
and is open to residents of those
communities. There is a limit of five boxes of
paper per vehicle.
These items will be accepted: copy paper,
pamphlets, brochures, envelopes, ledgers,
letters, medical records, tax forms, bank
statements.
Please do not bring electronics, food/candy
wrappers, carbon paper, waxed paper,
napkins, cups, three-ring binders, restroom
paper, or plastic materials to this event.
ANNUAL OCTOFAIR AT
WHITE HORSE VILLAGE
This 96-acre retirement community in
Edgmont Township celebrates fall with an
annual festival that is free and open to the
public. The residents of White Horse Village
sell needlepoint and knit items, handmade
gifts from the woodshop, holiday crafts, a
variety of original paintings, artwork and
baked goods. There are raffles, which include
a handmade quilt, designer scarves and
dining-around-town gift certificates from
area restaurants. The festival also includes
a fashion corner with gently used clothing,
a new/used/rare book sale and huge silent
auction featuring antiques, furniture, jewelry
and china. The Stall, a resale shop with attic
treasures, and the Gift Corral will be open.
Food can be purchased in the Paddock Grille
for breakfast and lunch.
The festival will be Saturday, October
10, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; 610.558.5000. The
community is adjacent to Ridley Creek State
Park at 535 Gradyville Road, Edgmont. Visit
www.whitehorsevillage.org.
encourage economic growth and reduce the
burdensome red tape that is hurting our small
businesses.”
“NRF’s Heroes of Main Street have shown
through their voting records that they care
about retailers, big and small, and value the
role these businesses play in communities
around the country,” NRF President and CEO
Matthew Shay said. “By backing our policy
priorities, they show their commitment to a
prosperous Main Street and to the long-term
growth of retail, our nation’s largest privatesector employer.”
The NRF is the world’s largest retail trade
association, representing discount and
department stores, home goods and specialty
stores, Main Street merchants, grocers,
wholesalers, chain restaurants and Internet
retailers.
CHARLESTOWN DAY 2015
Charlestown Day is set for Saturday,
October 3, at Charlestown Township Park,
100 Academic Way in Phoenixville. The day
will kick off with a 5K run through beautiful
Charlestown Township. The run is geared to
runners of all ages and will go through the
beautiful rural countryside of Charlestown
Township. There will also be a 1-mile Fun
Run/Walk which will go through the
township park. A Kids’ Dash will take place
after the 5K. Charlestown Day 2015 activities will be
held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Charlestown
Township Park where the community will
enjoy many vendors selling their wares, local
nonprofit organizations, music, food and Kid
Zone activities and performances. There will
be lots of fun events including bouncy houses
and much more! Proceeds benefit the Great
Valley Nature Center. Get the full schedule
and details at charlestownday.org. 
COURTESY OFFICE OF CONGRESSMAN RYAN
COSTELLO
COSTELLO HONORED AS A
“HERO OF MAIN STREET”
Freshman Congressman Ryan Costello has
been honored with a “Hero of Main Street”
award by the National Retail Federation
(NRF).
“Small businesses and local merchants are
the backbone of the economy in the Sixth
District and across the county,” said
Congressman Costello. “I am committed to
helping my district’s ‘Main Streets’ thrive by
supporting commonsense policies that
INEVENTS
The 2015 Kimberton Fair
Fun for a Good Cause
Story and Photos by Bob Byrne
Thousands of families flocked to the Kimberton Fair to enjoy rides,
contests, and food for a good cause. The Kimberton Community Fair
dates back to 1929 when the Kimberton Fire Company was chartered. It’s the fire company’s biggest fundraiser each year and features
country fair favorites including rides, games, food and agriculture
competitions as well as a baby contest in several age groups. The fair
also offers a scholarship contest for high school girls who compete by
writing an essay and giving a speech about what the fair means to
them.
The 2015 Kimberton Fair Queen is Samantha Gable, who was
joined by Fair Ambassador Lea Breden and Fair Princess Rachel
Kelly.
The fair has been held every year, except one during World War
II. The all-volunteer Kimberton Fire Department serves East
Pikeland, West Pikeland, Charlestown, East Vincent and West
Vincent townships.
INPERSON
Logan Cohen:
Great Valley grad helps students cash in on good grades.
Story by Bob Byrne.
When Logan Cohen, 25, graduated from Great Valley High School
in 2008, she didn’t know she would be the co-founder of a company
dedicated to rewarding middle school, high school and college
students for working hard. After earning a degree in finance and
international business at Florida International University, she is now
at the helm of KÜDZOO, the company she created with business
partner Trevor Wilkins.
KÜDZOO is a free student benefit program that grants students
access to deals, giveaways, scholarship opportunities, concert tickets
and once-in-a-lifetime experiences based on a student’s grades and
achievements. Küdzooapp.com is a student rewards app that works
together with schools and businesses to improve student engagement
by allowing them to get paid for grades, all while bringing
communities together with an educational focus.
It’s not just free stuff at restaurants and stores. KÜDZOO also
rewards students with real-world opportunities to shadow successful
people in business, professional sports, education and many other
fields.
When it comes to finding mentors, Cohen says the idea of
KÜDZOO sells itself. “I wish we could take credit for this, but it’s
simple: KÜDZOO is not a tough sell. Students are working hard for
their academic achievements. We contact industry leaders, celebrities,
athletes and even college admissions officers with a simple ask: Will
you take some time out to recognize a deserving student? The
Logan Cohen and Trevor Wilkins are the co-founders of küdzooapp.com.
PHOTOS COURTESY LOGAN COHEN
mentors have gone above and beyond in providing some great
KÜDZOO experiences for students. We have found these mentors
through personal connections, connections through our investors
and even through Twitter.”
Cohen has built the business with Trevor Wilkins, the man whose
idea was the spark for the company which is now in full operation
after some testing and tweaking. “I’m extremely grateful to say that I
could not ask for a better business partner. Trevor and I actually met
at a Phillies game during summer break from college. We stayed in
touch years later when Trevor told me about his idea to reward
students based on their grades. I then had the idea to bring the
program onto a mobile application. From there, KÜDZOO was
born.”
Bringing KÜDZOO to market took a lot of brainstorming, trial
and error, and constant conversations with future users (students).
Explains Cohen, “When we had an MVP (Minimal Viable Product),
we pushed it to market with a controlled population (around 200
students). We called it ‘launching to learn’ in July 2014. By July of
2015, 200 students grew to 5,000 students by word of mouth. Here
we are in September 2015 and have grown to over 130,000 student
users and are nationwide. The smartest thing we did was build a
solid foundation for our technology.”
She says this is only the beginning. “On average, a student checks
his/her phone more than 200 times a day. KÜDZOO is a proactive
form of social media to engage students in their
education in a new, rewarding way. In the next decade
we aim to be a tool of opportunity for students
everywhere.”
What advice would this 2008 GVHS graduate have
for current students? “Make the most out of your time at
GVHS. There aren’t many places in the world quite like
it. Speak to a classmate you haven’t talked to. I wish I had
networked more in high school. Last, but not least,
thank a teacher. I had several educators at GVHS who
helped me become the woman I am today.”
For more information about Logan Cohen, her
company and how students can start earning rewards for
academic performance, visit kudzooapp.com. 
GREAT
VALLEY
School District News
10 Superintendent Letter
17 Student News
11 Back to School
18 Foundation News
12 Great Valley School District Incorporates STEAM
19 SAVE THE DATE!
13 District Sets Goals for 2015-2016 School Year
20 In Support of Innovation in Our Schools
14 Go Patriots!
21 The Foundation of Great Valley News
16 Staff News
22 Annual Campaign in Support of GV Public Schools
A Message From The Superintendent Of Schools:
Dear Great Valley Community Members,
Welcome to the 2015-2016 school year! I am honored
and humbled to serve as the Superintendent of
Schools in Great Valley. Having joined the District this
past July, I am grateful for the warm reception I have
received. There is a great pride here that certainly
permeates every area of the community – both within
and outside our schools!
Inside this issue, you will read about many of the
things that make our school district an exemplary
place for students and their families and that add value
to our community. I am pleased to share that as a
District, we have adopted goals for the 2015-2016
school year (See page 13) that will push us to grow our
excellence even further. I welcome your input and
participation as we implement strategies to achieve our
goals.
At the heart of our goals this year are three guiding principles. They are:
• Great Valley School District will be an exemplary school of choice with opportunities
to maximize potential in multiple areas for all children;
• All school district stakeholders will have the opportunity to communicate reciprocally
with a shared vision of excellence and equity; and
reat Valley
GRE AT VAL LE Y S CH OO L DI ST RI C T NE WS
• Financial and operational procedures will maximize the fiscal health of the school
district with clear planning into the future.
I believe strongly in the positive power of communication, teamwork, and collaboration.
We are already doing amazing things in Great Valley, but there is even more to do! I know
that the “Patriot Family” will work together to accomplish wonderful things for our
students.
I look forward to seeing you at the many school events this year that will highlight the good
work of our students and our school community. In addition, I will be hosting a series of
“Superintendent Gatherings” and informal opportunities to interact with you throughout
the year. I always welcome your feedback, and I look forward to partnering with you for the
benefit of our students and our community.
Enthusiastically,
Regina C. Speaker Palubinsky, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
10 Great Valley
GRE AT VAL L E Y SC HOOL DI STRI C T N E WS
Great Valley School District welcomed students back to school on Monday, August 31. Nearly 4,000
students in grades K-12 came back from summer vacation excited for the 2015-2016 school year!
Great Valley
Back to School!
reat Valley
Full STEAM Ahead
in the Great Valley
School District
The Great Valley School District is working to deepen and
enhance learning for students in grades K-12 in the 2015-2016
school year by integrating concepts associated with Science,
Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) in
its curriculum. This emphasis on STEAM reflects the priorities
of the District’s new Comprehensive Plan, a document that
will drive District decision-making over the next three years
and beyond.
“The District’s Comprehensive Plan was developed over the
course of last school year and involved representatives from
across the district and community,” said Director of Teaching
and Learning Tricia Beck, who co-chaired the committee. “The
plan sets a vision for at least the next three years. It is a robust
and innovative plan that includes work across all facets of the
organization and has great magnitude and scope. One area of
concentration is STEAM.”
While many may be familiar with the concept of STEM,
Great Valley’s efforts are incorporating an additional
component – the Arts. “The integration of the Arts really
means that we’ll be encouraging students to think about
design and application in all areas of the curriculum, and how
those things impact functionality,” said Stephen O’Toole, the
District’s Director of Technology, Accountability, and
Enrichment Programs. “We believe that the creative elements
often thought of in the Arts are really found in all STEMrelated fields. By including the Arts, we are ensuring that the
creative and critical thinking skills associated with design are
represented.”
As a first step in the STEAM implementation process, the
District has already formed a STEAM Vision Team made up of
teachers, administrators, and a school board member.
Additionally, three employees from the locally-based
headquarters of Saint-Gobain and its subsidiary, CertainTeed
Corporation, are members of the team as part of a developing
partnership with the District. The 15-member team met over
the summer to develop a larger vision for what STEAM
implementation looks like in the K-12 curriculum.
“STEAM isn’t intended to be an add-on to the curriculum,”
said Beck. “Instead, our goal is to have teachers implement
ideas and thinking into the existing curriculum as a way of
deepening understanding and enhancing learning. The Vision
Team will help us to identify opportunities in our curriculum
for that to happen.”
Once the STEAM Vision Team completes its work, members
will work with building level implementation teams to bring
STEAM alive in classrooms district-wide. “Our work with
STEAM is designed to ensure that students have the skills and
competencies they need to access, process, communicate,
and create using a wide range of resources and technologies,”
said O’Toole. “These competencies will enable students to
succeed and lead in the local and global community.”
12 Great Valley
 Members of the STEAM Vision Team broke into small groups to complete
a makerspace project in which they had to design and build a structure
out of index cards that would eventually hold/support a stuffed animal.
A makerspace is a space where people can gather to create, invent,
and learn. The Great Valley STEAM integration will provide students with
similar opportunities for creation and invention in all areas of the K-12
curriculum.
2015-2016 GVSD Goals:
1. Curriculum, Instruction, and Student Achievement
All students will be provided highly effective instruction aligned to a clearly articulated, rigorous, district-wide curriculum
yielding student achievement.
2. Communication and Culture
Collaboration and effective communication with the public and school community is critical to the success of the District,
and relationships with stakeholders will be fostered at a high level through engagement.
3. Policies and Governance
The School District is governed by the Great Valley School District Board Policies. The application and implementation of
these policies is the basis of District processes and procedures.
4. Finance and Operations
The Board has the fiduciary obligation to maximize District resources while providing the best educational opportunities to
all students in a fiscally-responsible manner.
Each of these goals includes a list of strategies that will be used to meet the goal. See www.gvsd.org/goals for more
information.
The Great Valley Board of School Directors approved goals for the 2015-2016 school
year in August that focus on four categories: curriculum, instruction, and student
achievement; communication and culture; policies and governance; and finance and
operations. Under each category are designated strategies that will be used to reach
the goal. In order to develop and agree on goals, Superintendent Regina Speaker
Palubinsky worked with the Board on guiding principles that serve as the rationale for
each goal area.
“We know that we want Great Valley School District to continue to be an exemplary
school district,” said Speaker Palubinsky. “To that end, we welcome opportunities to
communicate reciprocally with our stakeholders, and we strive to implement policies
and procedures that keep us fiscally healthy both now and into the future.”
In the area of curriculum, instruction, and student achievement, the District set a
goal to provide all students with highly effective instruction aligned to a clearly articulated, rigorous, district-wide curriculum.
That curriculum will yield student achievement. “We want to see every student achieve,” said Speaker Palubinsky. “Our curriculum
and instruction must be solid for that to happen.” The District will also implement protocols for students who are transitioning
from one level to another so that expectations are clear for both students and parents. And, it plans to utilize a new resource for
the recruitment, hiring, and retention of highly qualified teachers.
“We are also very focused on collaboration and effective communication as a way
to build relationships with our stakeholders,” said Speaker Palubinsky. “We want to see
Mission Statement
high levels of engagement as we believe that is critical to the success of the District.”
The Mission of the Great Valley School
To that end, the District plans to utilize performance feedback from stakeholders that
District is to ensure that every student is
is gathered through surveys of students, parents, and staff. “The Student Gallup Poll
inspired and prepared to be a passionate
measures students’ perceptions in the areas of engagement, hope, and belonging
lifelong learner and a productive invested
and can provide us with baseline data in this first year,” said Speaker Palubinsky. “We
participant in the local and global
plan to repeat the survey yearly to determine growth using both local and national
community.
norms.”
The goal related to communication and culture also focuses on customer service
throughout the district, with a plan to develop protocols and expectations related to
responsiveness. Speaker Palubinsky referenced use of the student information system
for parent communication, web sites, email and phone correspondence as areas that will be included in this goal work.
The last two goal areas around policy and governance and finance and operations focus the district on its procedural and
financial obligations. “It is important to have these areas included in our goals,” said Speaker Palubinsky. “The work that happens
in the background of education is of utmost importance and essentially ensures that we are moving forward in a positive
direction, best prepared to address the needs of students and their families. We need to continue to strengthen and improve our
infrastructures because a solid foundation is critical to building the success of the district.”
Great Valley
District Sets Goals for
2015-2016 School Year
Athletics
A preview of what’s
ahead this fall from the
GV coaching team
are some newcomers and some runners who were JV in 2014; all
who have been working hard and have the ability to challenge for
Girls’ tennis lost its number one player when Brinley Bartlett
graduated. However, returning players like senior co-captain Torey a varsity spot in 2015.
Powers are experienced. The team is looking for contributions from The Great Valley boys’ cross country team has had a winning
season every year since 1988. There are over 40 boys who will be a
returning varsity juniors Dena Swope, Michele Oh, Vernika Saini
part of the 2015 cross country team and they plan on continuing to
and Sravya Alla, as well as sophomores Adira Nair and Sadie
Buzan. Beyond that, there are several players who will compete for build on the winning tradition that has been a part of Great Valley
spots in the starting lineup. The team should challenge for a Ches- cross country.
Mont championship and is looking to improve on last year’s second
GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL
round performance at the district level.
The Great Valley Lady Patriots finished last season 13-7 and lost
in the first round of the District Playoffs to C.B. East. While the team
GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRY
The girls’ cross country team graduated five of the top 10 runners lost one senior, it will be returning many key players, including
from a team that finished with eight wins and one loss, was third in Aimee Christen, Mackenzie Farrelly and Bella Virgilio. Great Valley
District 1, and qualified for States in 2014. More than 30 girls will be will look to win the American Division of the Ches-Mont and make
a push for its first playoff win. part of a 2015 squad with high goals for the season. Key returning
runners are Anna Willig (a three-time all league runner and threetime state qualifier), Kayla Beck, Emily Meehan, Brenna Ruhnke and BOYS’ SOCCER
The GV boys’ soccer team returns four starters from last year’s
Eryn Casey. Captains for the 2015 team are Anna Willig and Olivia
Doran. The team also has some newcomers who have the ability to squad that reached the PIAA State Championship and District 1
Championship games. As they prepare for the 2015 season, the
challenge for a varsity spot.
team will look to continue its success by following the leadership
The Great Valley girls’ cross country team is a successful team
and experience of senior defender Jameson Sarr, senior midfielders
with more wins than losses in all but two seasons since 1984. The
Colin Deitch and Austin Wilk, senior forward Nick Chawaga, and
2015 team plans to continue to build on that winning tradition.
junior midfielder Jack Feeney. Other returning varsity team
members expected to make major contributions are senior
BOYS’ CROSS COUNTRY
forward Harry Agnew, senior midfielders Ian Gober and Paul
The boys’ cross country team graduated five of the top 10 runners
Blackburn, junior midfielder Liam McLees and junior defender
from a team that finished with an overall record of six wins and
Tommy Lock.
three losses in 2014. The boys have high goals for 2015 and will be
Coach Dave Moffett, who is entering his 19th season as Great
led by captains Tyler Pascocello and Robbie Wismer. Expecting
Valley’s head coach, had this to say about this year’s team: “This is a
another winning season are the following returning runners with
very committed and competitive group that is up for the
varsity experience: Brett Zatlin, Scott Peduto and Eric Wang. There
reat Valley
GIRLS’ TENNIS
14 Great Valley
Great Valley
The Great Valley School District looks forward to
welcoming the community at its 2015-2016 sporting
events! For complete middle school and high school
sports schedules, please visit www.digitalsports.com.
challenges they will face this season. They understand the level of
excellence that has been established in by previous GV soccer
teams and they look to continue that legacy.”
GIRLS’ SOCCER
The GV girls’ soccer team comes off an 11-5-2 season that saw the
Lady Patriots win two playoff games against Garnet Valley and
Central Bucks South before eventually losing to Springfield. After
graduating nine seniors, the Patriots will be looking for returning
varsity players and new faces to fill big shoes and to carry the
momentum from last year into 2015. Captains Christina Porreca and
Sarah Schulz will anchor the center of the field, along with
sophomore Cali Capetola and juniors Courtney Stevens and Maddie
Wolfe. Junior Alexis Bloedel will be returning from a season ending
ACL injury and will play a critical role shutting down the opponent.
The speed and quickness of seniors Kristen Knaff, Hannah Cheslock,
and Devon DeHaven will be crucial in attacking the flanks and
playing dangerous balls into the box.
• WR – Ryan Hubley (Jr, 5’7”, 155 lbs), Andrew Wineinger (Sr, 5’10”,
180 lbs) are both returning players who played consistently and
will add a good amount of athleticism on the edge.
• OL – Xander Utecht (Soph, 5’10”, 205 lbs) is a returning starter who
will help lead a young group of OL’s early in the season. We have
very good, young talent and will look to gel early in the season.
• DL – Nick Ryan (Jr, 6’, 210 lbs) is an explosive player who tries to be
a strength and anchor up front.
• LB – A young and inexperienced group with great potential
includes Noah Johnson, Scott McAneney (Sr, 5-10, 170 lbs) and
Zach Tillet.
• DB – Andrew Wineinger, Mark Derobertis, and Ryan Hubley look
to lead a strong group of returning players. They are an
experienced and strong position group.
• K – Pat Sauer (Jr, 6’2”, 165 lbs). Pat started through the second half
of the season and will continue to grow as he dedicates himself to
football this offseason. He will be a key asset this season.
FIELD HOCKEY
FOOTBALL
While 29 seniors graduated from a District title team, a good
number of athletes from our skill positions return. This group will
need to carry us early in the season so our young and talented
players up front can learn and grow as varsity players.
• QB - Robert Geiss (Jr, 6’, 170 lbs) and Nick Cionci (Sr, 5-10, 170 lbs)
will compete. Neither has played significant time and will compete
throughout the summer and camp to win the job.
• RB – Mark Derobertis (Jr, 5’10”, 180 lbs), Zach Tillet (Sr, 5’10”, 180
lbs), and Noah Johnson (Soph, 5’9”, 175 lbs) will seek to earn
playing time and carries. Each has played sparing time and are
collectively a great mix of speed and power.
The GV field hockey team is striving to make great improvements.
The team has a goal to make post season play. The ladies are working
on developing both technical and tactical skills, as well as focusing
on their individual levels of fitness and conditioning.
The team has three responsible captains leading the way. Seniors
Amanda Boclair, Maura Durkan, and Morgan Johnson are setting the
standards high. Seniors Meaghan D’Ginto, Nicole DiGiallorenzo,
Jenna Li, Ciara Middleton, and Bridget O’Hara will help guide the
team in the right direction to a successful final season.
Rising players to watch are juniors Nicole Allen, Jessica Bullen,
Emma Iacobucci, Meaghan Loftus, Olivia Muscella, Kate Rosecky,
Megan Wellener, and Goal Keeper Erin Kratzer.
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The Great Valley School District welcomed new administrators this
past summer to help in areas where student or system needs to
continue to grow. Megan McGee-Heim joins the special education
department as a supervisor at the elementary level. Jason Rasmussen
comes onboard as the supervisor of instructional technology. Eric
Bowers, who previously served as the District’s instructional/educational
network engineer moved into a supervisor’s role for informational
technology.
“As we continue to address the needs of our students and our systems, these
administrators will help improve our efficiency and our ability to respond to the
needs of our students, their families, and our teachers,” said Superintendent Regina
Speaker Palubinsky. “We are thrilled to welcome these experienced and
knowledgeable leaders to Great Valley.”
McGee-Heim comes to Great Valley from the Centennial School District where she
worked as an elementary autistic support teacher. She holds certificates in special
education supervision, instructional elementary teaching, instructional special
education teaching, middle level English, and autism endorsement. She is a
graduate of Holy Family University where she also earned her master’s degree in
special education. Along with current supervisor Carolyn Shoemaker, she will
supervise elementary level special education in Great Valley.
Rasmussen’s appointment allows technology department supervision to split
into two specialized but collaborating areas: instructional technology and
information technology. Bowers, who holds a masters in education from
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, will oversee information
technology, including network operating systems, equipment and
software, and processes related to the integration of technology districtwide. Rasmussen, who was a technology teacher and technology
coordinator in Nazareth Area School District, will work with the
department and with teachers to integrate technology in schools and
the curriculum that is focused on student learning. Rasmussen is a
graduate of Brigham Young University and holds dual master’s degrees in
instructional technology (East Stroudsburg University) and educational
leadership (Wilkes University).
reat Valley
ee
Me
District Welcomes
New Administrators
ga
Staff News
Er
ic
 New Teachers Join GV.
Great Valley School District
welcomed staff in August
for new teacher induction.
As part of the experience,
teachers learned about
policies and procedures,
met administrators, and
participated in professional
development.
16 Great Valley
Great Valley
Student News
Great Valley student Prithvi Parthasarathy participated in the Mid-Atlantic Region’s EnergyPath Science Fair
2015 competition. His project, entitled “Production of Solid Biofuel from Banana Peels,” was a previous winner
at the Chester County Science Fair and earned first place in the middle school category at the EnergyPath
competition. Parthasarathy entered Great Valley Middle School this fall.
2015-2016 School Board Meeting Schedule
The Great Valley Board of School Directors holds regular meetings throughout
the year. The community is welcome to attend these meetings. Time for public
comment is available at each session. The community may also watch meeting
broadcasts on GVTV (Comcast Channel 14 or Verizon Channel 36) or online at
www.gvsd.org.
Work sessions of the School Board are non-voting meetings where topics on
the next regular business meeting agenda are considered and discussed. The
School Board votes on agenda items at its regular business meetings. A schedule
for both meetings throughout the 2015-2016 school year is included. All meetings
begin at 7:30 p.m., unless otherwise noted, and are held in the Board Room at the
District Office, 47 Church Road, Malvern.
Members of the community may view the agenda for each meeting online
at www.gvsd.org. The agenda for an upcoming meeting is available online
beginning at 12:00 a.m. the previous Friday.
WORK SESSIONS
September 15
October 12
November 9
January 11, 2016
February 8
March 7
April 11
May 9
June 6
REGULAR BUSINESS MEETINGS
September 21
October 19
November 16
December 7 - Organization Meeting
January 19, 2016 (Tuesday)
February 16 (Tuesday)
March 14
April 18
May 16
June 6 (Budget adoption)
June 13
Foundation News
Annual Event Sells Out
in Support of Schools
On the golf course and tennis court, the
community comes out in support of public
schools.
reat Valley
Golfers and tennis enthusiasts came out swinging in June to support
Great Valley’s public schools. The Foundation at Great Valley’s annual “Take a
Swing for Students” golf and tennis event was held at Chester Valley Golf
Club and offered a challenging day on a championship course, a rigorous
tennis camp, and an evening of delicious food, raffles, an auction, and
camaraderie. The sold-out event supported The Foundation’s mission to
help sustain Great Valley School District’s tradition of excellence in
education and promote innovative and inspiring opportunities for students.
“We continue to be a partner with our community in ensuring that
students in the Great Valley School District enjoy an educational experience
that engages and inspires them,” said Foundation President Elizabeth
McGarrigle. “Great Valley’s commitment to excellence in education is not
only a long-standing tradition, it is our identity. We are grateful for the many
businesses, corporate partners, and community members who supported
the ‘Take a Swing for Students’ event and other fundraising events
throughout the year.”
As an education foundation, The Foundation at Great Valley is organized
and governed by a dedicated group of volunteer community and business
leaders, retired corporate executives and educators. The Foundation at
Great Valley employs community resources to enhance and enrich the
learning opportunities of the approximately 4,000 students enrolled within
the district. By securing funds, resources, and knowledge from the private
sector, The Foundation provides educational, cultural, athletic and wellness
initiatives that may not normally be supported by the school district’s
budget. The “Take a Swing for Students” golf and tennis outing is an annual
fundraiser, held in June.
For more information about The Foundation at Great Valley, please visit
www.thefoundationatgreatvalley.org.
18 Great Valley
Great Valley
SAVE THE DATE
The Foundation at Great Valley
2016 “Take a Swing for Students”
A combined golf and tennis event
to benefit Great Valley public schools.
Monday, June 20, 2016
Chester Valley Golf Club
Malvern, PA
Mark your calendar now and plan to attend The Foundation
at Great Valley’s 2016 “Take a Swing for Students” event.
Watch www.thefoundationatgreatvalley.orgfor more
information. Sponsorships available.
Mark your calendar now for Great
Valley School District’s annual
Patriots Day and Homecoming!
Saturday, October 17, 2015
Special events are planned for Great Valley alumni.
To make your return to Great Valley special, we are
planning a number of events to bring alumni together:
Tours of Great Valley High School
An Alumni Reception Tent with food and beverages
A chance to walk in the Homecoming Parade
Free admission to the football game
And more!
More information will be available on the Great Valley
School District web site in mid-September. Alumni will be
asked to register their attendance in advance.
Please check online at
www.gvsd.org for more information.
We look forward to seeing you.
Foundation News
In Support of
Innovation in
Our Schools
reat Valley
The Foundation at Great Valley makes $94,000
contribution to GVSD
In partnership with the Great Valley School District, The Foundation
at Great Valley works to bring innovation to all areas of the K-12
curriculum. In the 2015-2016 school year, The Foundation will donate
$94,000 to Great Valley public schools. This donation supports The
Foundation’s mission to uphold educational excellence and promote
innovate opportunities that inspire students.
“The generous support of our donors allows us to support students,
their teachers, and our schools in an impactful way,” said Foundation
Board President Elizabeth McGarrigle. “Our support happens at both
the classroom level and broader district-level. In that way, we are
ensuring that every student feels the benefits of our work.”
Approximately $30,000 of The FoundaƟon’s 2015-2016 contribuƟon
to Great Valley School District will support Venture Grants (see sidebar).
These are teacher-iniƟated requests for the funding of new ideas not
currently covered by the school district’s budget. Each spring, teachers
submit their applicaƟons for grant funds. Those applicaƟons are
reviewed by a Grant SelecƟon CommiƩee comprised of parents and
business and community representatives. This year’s grant recipients
proposed initiatives related to robotics and engineering, science
education, ELLs (English Language Learners), and students with
learning disabilities. Additionally, the Foundation will fund five grant
requests from its one-year “Angel Fund,” established in memory of
Great Valley parent Jennifer Stagnaro. Grants supported by the Angel
Fund focus on the athletic development of students, are leadershipfocused, or help to create nurturing and safe school environments.
“Venture Grants enhance the educational experience of our Great
Valley students,” said Grant Selection Committee Chair Tamara
Hoffritz. “The Great Valley staff continues to think innovatively about
instruction and their work with students. The Foundation – through
the community’s support - is honored to provide funds to support
such ingenuity.”
In addition to grant allocations, The Foundation will also donate
$50,000 to the Great Valley School District in support of key initiatives
identified in the district’s Comprehensive Plan. Funding will help with
the integration of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts,
Math) in the K-12 curriculum and will support math instruction.
“This additional funding source helps our school district
to address the ever-evolving needs of our students through
systemic programming that affects all students,” said McGarrigle.
“The Great Valley community has really responded to the call to
keep innovation alive in our schools – and our collective efforts have
translated to real, quantifiable benefits that truly affect the every day
lives of our students and their overall educational experience.”
Since it was established in 2006, The Foundation has donated
nearly $500,000 in support of innovation in our schools. Want to learn
more? Visit www.thefoundationatgreatvalley.org to learn more about
our grant recipients and to watch short videos of the good work
happening in classrooms district-wide.
20 Great Valley
2015-2016 Venture Grants
Awarded to Teacher-Driven Ideas
Anchors Aweigh: In partnership with People’s Light and
Theater, this program at General Wayne Elementary School
provides an opportunity for students to see and perform
theater in an inclusive environment. Fall sessions will use
People’s Light “Three Musketeers” as the anchor text for the
collaboration. During the spring sessions, professionals from
People’s Light and students from General Wayne will write
and perform a new play. This program builds critical social
and learning skills for students with and without disabilities
to improve identified needs in an inclusive setting.
Challenge to Change and Achieve (Angel Fund grant
recipient): This Sugartown Elementary School-based project
is designed to create strong bodies, minds, and leaders
through teambuilding, problem solving, and trust activities.
Team-building games, props, and simulations can be tailored
to energize and re-focus any classroom team to sustain a
strong collegial environment.
Challenge Day (Angel Fund grant recipient): Funding
supports Challenge Day at Great Valley High School. The
vision of Challenge Day is that every child lives in a world
where they feel, safe, loved and celebrated. The intention
is to create positive change in schools…to create a school
of connection and possibility, where cliques, bullying, hurt,
oppression, and violence are a thing of the past. Students
and staff engage in a professionally facilitated program
where they learn to recognize stereotypes and labels, make
amends for any hurts they may have caused to others, and
make a commitment to creating change in their school.
Finch Robots: During their computer application course,
students in grades 6 through 8 will learn to write programs
for the Finch Robot. Skills associated with programming,
including language structure, problem solving, teamwork
and collaboration, communication, perseverance, creativity,
understanding of cause/effect, analysis, and evaluation will
benefit students in all content areas.
Fitness Club (Angel Fund grant recipient): The General
Wayne Fitness Club gives students the opportunity
to improve their mind and body both physically and
emotionally. Each meeting entails 25-30 minutes of
vigorous movement followed by 10-15 minutes of reflection
and nutritional education. The program also has a writing
component using journals for written reflection. Students
meet 3x/ week before school
Robotics Club support: Funding will provide additional
supplies, equipment, tools, and storage units for the
Robotics Club at Great Valley Middle School.
ESL Stream Notebooks: A set of computers will support
a growing population of English Language Learners (ELLs)
at Great Valley High School. Students will have computers
available to them as they work on their English reading and
writing skills, but also during other parts of the day when
they can choose to complete other class assignments.
OLWEUS Library Carts (Angel Fund grant recipient):
Funding will allow for the creation of three grade- level
The Pennsylvania Educational
Improvement Tax Credit
Program was established by
the Department of Community
and Economic Development
(DCED) to provide incentives
to businesses that support
educational improvement
organizations like The
Foundation at Great Valley.
Businesses See Tax Benefit
By Supporting Education Through
the EITC Program
What if your organization could receive tax credit and help educate a child in need? If your
company currently pays corporate taxes in Pennsylvania, you may be eligible to participate in the
Education Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) plan. Here’s how it works: you give a gift to The Foundation
at Great Valley, and by doing so, receive a tax credit equal to as much as 90% of the contribution!
The Foundation at Great Valley is now approved to direct funds to Great Valley School District
(GVSD) for the following initiatives:
• STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) curriculum development;
• Advanced Placement curriculum and programs;
• “Artist in Residence” art programs.
Pennsylvania’s EITC program, run through the PA Department of Community and Economic
Development, allows approved businesses to direct a portion of tax dollars to approved non-profit
organizations. These funds must be used for pre-approved initiatives. In order to participate in the
EITC program, companies must apply to the Department of Community and Economic Development
(see sidebar).
“The EITC program provides a compelling reason for local businesses to invest in The Foundation at
Great Valley and our Great Valley public schools,” said Foundation President Elizabeth McGarrigle. “The
initiatives approved through the EITC program not only represent those that are important to GVSD,
but also represent initiatives that the greater community, including local businesses, want to support.”
For more information, please visit www.thefoundationatgreatvalley.org, or email info@
thefoundationatgreatvalley.org.
If your business is subject to
one or more of the following
taxes, you are eligible to apply
to the PA Dept. of Community
and Economic Development as
a donor with the EITC program:
Corporate Net Income Tax;
Capital Stock Franchise Tax,
Bank and Trust Company
Shares Tax; Title Insurance
Companies Shares Tax;
Insurance Premiums Tax; or
Mutual Thrift Institution Tax
and the personal income tax
of principals of a “pass
through entity.”
If you are currently not
enrolled as an approved
company, you can get
more information at
www.newpa.com.
If you are approved, we
encourage you to select The
Foundation at Great Valley as the recipient of your
educational donations.
Students will see and share with their classmates the images of
specimens on slides or living organisms.
STEM Milling Machine: Students in Engineering and Design
classes at Great Valley High School will have a complete STEM
(Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) experience by creating
a design, developing a program, and finally delivering a product.
Students will engage in creative, problem-solving approaches and
will experience a complete laboratory experience.
Technology Awareness/Safety Presentation (Angel
Fund grant recipient): All high school students will attend a
presentation by Richard Guerry called “Public and Permanent”
where they will explore how the content posted online via social
media and other venues becomes a permanent part of a person’s
online record. Online safety, cyber bullying, sexting, and an array of
other online behaviors will be explored.
Great Valley
appropriate mobile libraries of high quality children’s
literature for Sugartown Elementary School teachers to use
when presenting OLWEUS lessons, classroom community
norming practices, or read-aloud experiences in the
classroom.
Mobi Classroom: A Mobi is a portable Smartboard that
interfaces wirelessly with a laptop/desktop computer. It
allows teachers to provide instruction from anywhere in the
room and to solicit immediate feedback from students via
classroom clickers. Funding will provide this technology to
chemistry classrooms at Great Valley High School.
Science Smartphone Adapters: Adapters designed
for a smartphone will allow students to use their personal
technology to take pictures and video of images they could
only previously see individually through a microscope.
Foundation News
Annual Campaign
in Support of GV
Public Schools
reat Valley
The Foundation at Great Valley
aims to raise $150,000 by October 30.
In Great Valley, our highly qualified teachers, strong
curriculum and broad array of courses all make our
schools highly desirable. In recent years, however,
changes in tax structures and a competing demand for
resources mean that school districts across the country
must now look beyond tax dollars for funding. The
Foundation at Great Valley bridges private funding and
resources from our community to our Great Valley public
schools for the benefit of our students.
Great Valley is not the first school district to raise
private funds in support of tax-funded public schools.
Thousands of education foundations have cropped up
around the country, including nearby organizations like
the Phoenixville Community Education Foundation and
The Radnor Educational Foundation.
Since 2009, The Foundation at Great Valley has
donated nearly $500,000 to GV schools – impacting
every grade level and a wide variety of curricula
including math, science, computer applications,
language arts, music, art and athletics. In June of each
year, the Foundation allocates funds to the Great Valley
School District for use in the following year. The
Foundation allocates funds are distributed in the
following ways:
• Venture Grants – The Foundation supports the
great ideas of our GVSD teachers and staff through
our grants program. Venture grants range in size
from hundreds of dollars to tens of thousands of
dollars.
• Key Initiative Funding – The Foundation annually
supports the GVSD Comprehensive Plan through a
planned donation of approximately $50,000. This
investment in our school district supports areas of
focus that have been identified by our community
as important for our students. A wide range of
student-focused offerings, including curriculumbased programs and new technologies, are
supported by this funding.
Many in the community may be familiar with The
Foundation’s Annual Campaign as a spring endeavor.
This year, however, the campaign moves to the fall. This
shift from spring to fall allows The Foundation to work
more collaboratively with the school district as both
organizations plan their budgets for the year. The annual
campaign runs from September 1 through October 30.
22 Great Valley
SPONSORED CONTENT
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
SPONSORED CONTENT
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The providers at Women for Women are all female
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For the convenience of our patients we offer weekly early
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The goal at Women for Women is to treat, educate
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Great Valley News
COM MU N IT Y NE WS
Communityy News
Maintaining
Your Streamside
Property
Residents in our region enjoy the natural beauty of the
landscape around them. For many of you, that includes the
streams and tributaries that run through your properties. Caring
for these streams is not only good for your property, but also for
your downstream neighbors, your community, and our region.
The Chester County Water Resources Authority has compiled a
number of resources to help educate the public on best practices
for management of stormwater and other important water
issues, like these tips for caring for a streamside property from
the Lehigh County Conservation District:
Taking good care of a stream involves taking care of the land
around it. A streamside buffer (also called a riparian buffer) is a
planted area along the edge of the stream.
A well-planted streamside buffer…
• absorbs nutrients and pollutants.
• stabilizes the bank and prevents erosion.
• reduces floodwater damage.
• filters out sediments.
• helps control the temperature of the stream.
Creating a Streamside Buffer
Begin with a “no mow” or “no graze zone” along your stream
banks. A buffer of any width is more beneficial than grass. Make
yours as wide as possible.
Plant trees and shrubs in your buffer area. They provide many
long-lasting benefits and can be quite inexpensive to establish
and maintain.
Using shrubs will give your buffer a quick start; many reach full
size in just a few years.
Where you do have lawn, set your mower blades at least three
inches high. Taller grass slows runoff, resists drought and needs
less fertilizer.
Stabilizing Your Streambank
It is best to work with professionals when looking for causes
of and solutions to erosion problems. Where buffers alone
aren’t enough, there are many new and innovative techniques
to help solve the problem. Contact your regional office of the
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
before making plans to alter a streambank. Permits are likely to
be required.
Reduce Pollution
Most stream pollution comes from manure, fertilizers, road
salts, oil and other chemicals. Called non-point source pollution,
these come from the entire watershed rather than from any
one point. Together, these pollutants add up in the streams and
become a big problem. Other accumulated pollution includes
trash and yard debris that washes into the streams.
24 Great Valley
To protect a stream from pollution:
• don’t overuse fertilizers – more is not better – and don’t use
fertilizers near streams.
• limit your overall use of pesticides and herbicides, and use
extreme caution when using them near streams.
• compost, don’t bag, yard waste. Leave lawn trimmings in
place for effective recycling of nutrients.
• don’t burn near streambanks.
• don’t store or dump manure, garden waste, or grass
clippings near streams.
• store firewood, trash, and other materials away from
streams.
• never dump trash or chemicals into streams, storm drains or
sewers.
• keep farm animals out of and away from the stream. Contact
the county conservation office to find out about farm
fencing programs.
Prevent Excess Sediment
Every stream carries with it fine particles of soil. But too much
soil can clog the streambed, covering rocks and gravel where fish
lay their eggs. Excess sediment can choke out the life of a stream.
A major source of silt and sediment is construction or any project
that disturbs the soil. Farming activities can also cause soil runoff.
To protect the stream from silt:
• use hay bales or a special silt fence to prevent soil from
washing off a work site.
• never store loose piles of soil near a stream.
• cover piles of soil with tarps to protect them from rain.
• use good farming practices like no-till cropping and planting
winter cover crops to conserve soil.
• contact your local county conservation office if you see soil
runoff from a construction site.
For more information about streamside buffers, including a
list of recommended native plants to include in your buffer, visit
www.chesco.org/water to view and download this and other
publications.
01
We are looking for some tech savvy volunteers to help us conduct several “Bring your
device to the library” events. Our goal is to set a time for volunteers to be available to
help folks new to electronic devices figure out how to navigate apps, ebooks, etc. If you are
interested in sharing your tech knowledge, please contact Rosalie Dietz (610-644-7559 or
[email protected]). Hopefully we’ll have information about the sessions in the next issue!
02
If you live in East Whiteland Township or Malvern Borough, our Board of Trustees is
looking for new representatives from those areas. It’s a great opportunity to learn about
an important community resource, serve your community and meet interesting and involved
people. The Board meets monthly on the 4th Monday, participates in several community
events and conducts our annual Phonathon fundraiser. If you would like more information
about Board membership, contact the library.
03
Planning a trip to a foreign country? Or maybe just hoping to brush up on a language
you learned in school? Well, Chester County Library System has a great resource for you! Go
to the homepage (www.ccls.org), click on database menu, and search for Mango Languages.
Mango Languages’ PhD-created and linguist-approved software teaches real conversations
in over 60 languages and makes it fun. Mango utilizes easy, intuitive interactive tools to
deliver practical conversational skills and valuable cultural insight for new languages.
Lessons include strategically placed memory-building exercises to help users remember
what they are learning in addition to critical thinking exercises, which help them to
intuitively understand the language and adapt it to similar conversations. You learn at your
own pace and on your own device. Just sign in using your library card and away you go!
1 E. 1st Avenue, Malvern, PA 19355 | 610-644-7259
Mon & Tues: 9 am to 8 pm | Wed & Thurs: 9 am to 6:30 pm | Friday: 9 am to 5 pm | Saturday: 9 am to 4 pm | Sunday: Closed
Prepare for Emergencies with ReadyChesCo
September is National Preparedness Month. Are you and your family ready for emergencies? Take action today!
One way you can get prepared is by signing up for emergency and crisis alerts through
ReadyChesCo. This county-wide system is used to notify you during a major crisis or emergency.
ReadyChesCo delivers important emergency alerts; such as weather, road closures, health, or
community alerts. You can choose to sign up by county, municipality, or by topic.
Register any or all of your devices for these important notifications and updates:
 email account (work, home, other)
 cell phone (via SMS)
 pager
Best of all, this service is free and it takes just a few minutes to sign up. Register today at:
www.readychesco.org
Please note, your wireless carrier may charge you to get messages on your device, so check your plan to
see what is covered. You can choose to stop getting ReadyChesCo messages at any time.
COMMU N I T Y N E WS
What’s Happening at
the Malvern Library
Community News
East Whiteland Twp • Malvern Borough • Willistown
East Whiteland Township
Comprehensive Plan Workshop Set For October 8th
E AST WHI TE LA N D TO WNSH I P NE WS
East Whiteland
Work continues on the East Whiteland Township
Comprehensive Plan Update.
Thank you to the nearly 400 community members
who participated in our online survey! We heard your
comments on what the Township is doing right, where we
can improve, and what you would like to see happen in
the future. A summary of the results can be found on the
Township’s website. As an example, one question asked
“What would you change about East Whiteland Township.”
The following summarizes the “top 4” most popular
answers (in no specific order):
• Traffic flow and road conditions need to be improved;
• Preserving open space is very important, and worthy
of more Township resources.
• The sidewalk and trail network should be enhanced
so that children can safely get to school, neighbors
can access the Chester Valley Trail, and some daily
activities can be performed without having to get in
your car.
• The appearance, function, and commercial viability of
Route 30 need to be addressed.
All four of these ideas can possibly become a reality,
if existing funds are available or future funding can be
generated. Such poignant feedback will help to frame
26 Great Valley
the Township’s Comprehensive Plan Update and is
welcomed throughout the planning process. To facilitate
your input, the Township is hosting a Community
Workshop on October 8 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the
Township Building.
The Township’s planners will present key background
information (including a survey summary), the
proposed direction of the Comprehensive Plan, and
ask for community input on recommended goals and
strategies. Please mark your calendar and try to join the
discussion.
The Comprehensive Plan is a policy document that
guides the Township’s decisions on resource allocation
(time, staff, and money) for the next ten years or more.
Development of the East Whiteland Township
Comprehensive Plan is guided by a 14-member
Task Force comprised of members from the Board of
Supervisors, Planning Commission, Environmental
Advisory Committee, Historic Commission, Parks and
Recreation Board, and facilitated by the Township
Planning Consultant, Thomas Comitta Associates,
Inc. Town Planners & Landscape Architects from West
Chester, PA. The cost of the Plan is supported in part by
the Chester County Planning Commission.
East Whiteland Township is a very active and progressive community that
maintains a small town, personal touch with the services it provides to its
residents, businesses, and visitors. It is this approach that helps to make the
Department of Codes and Life Safety effective in its response to the needs of
the community.
The department , under the direction of the Director of Codes and Life Safety,
is made up of an administrative section that includes a Permit Technician who
maintains scheduling and processes a wide variety of permit applications and
related requests, a Zoning and Code Enforcement Officer who oversees the land
development process and handles township code enforcement inquires, and
three Assistant Fire Marshals who conduct building inspections, examine plans,
deliver fire prevention programs, act as operational fire officers when needed,
and handle many other day to day inquiries.
The department also provides fire suppression and emergency medical
services with a staff of career firefighter/EMTs, three shift captains, and a career
deputy fire chief. Our operational personnel are on duty 24 hours a day, seven
days a week to support and work alongside the dedicated volunteers of the East
Whiteland Township Volunteer Fire Association.
The Department of Codes and Life Safety is comprised of a talented and
professional group that takes great pride in handling all of your building, code,
land development and emergency services needs efficiently and effectively.
From initial land development to routine code enforcement, building
inspections, community risk reduction programs and emergency response, staff
are cross-trained and professionally credentialed to handle it all. The result is a
personal level of attention and follow through from beginning to end and
attention to detail you won't find in larger communities.
Supervisors
Bill Holmes, Chairman
John Mott, Vice Chairman
Bill Wrabley
Township Manager
John Nagel
Finance Director
Cathy Palmer
Chief of Police
Gene Dooley
Director of Codes and Life Safety
Ken Battin
Public Works Director
Bill Steele
Township Secretary
Maureen Perri
Earned Income Tax Collector
Keystone Tax Service
1-866-539-1100
www.KeystoneCollects.com
Elected Real Estate Tax Collector
Betsey Blackburn-Goslin
610-308-5299
Municipal Government Meetings
Board of Supervisors Work Session
after 6 p.m.
Board of Supervisors Business Meeting
2nd Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Environmental Advisory Council
1st Thursday at 7 p.m.
Historical Commission
1st Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
Park & Recreation Commission
3rd Wednesday, every other month,
7 p.m.
Planning Commission Work Session
at 7 p.m.
Planning Commission Business Meeting
4th Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
Zoning Hearing Board
4th Monday at 7:15 p.m.
Please check the Township website
prior to the meeting to confirm the date
and time.
E AST WHI TE L AN D TOW N SHI P N E WS
Department of Codes
and Life Safety Offers
Personal Service
East Whiteland
209 Conestoga Road, Frazer, PA 19355
Business Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Phone: 610-648-0600 • Fax: 610-644-0388
www.eastwhiteland.org • [email protected]
E AST WHI TE LA N D TO WNSH I P NE WS
East Whiteland
The East Whiteland Fire Company Needs Your Help
Through August of this year, the men and women of the East Whiteland Fire
Company have responded to more than 1,000 calls for help. Those same men and
women are hoping that you will be there for the fire company just as they are there
for the residents and businesses of the township.
The Fire Company will officially move into its new home on October 17. The
centrally-located station improves response time to East Whiteland and
Charlestown. It is also equipped with the latest technology and meets LEED
(Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) and Energy Star guidelines to save
energy and reduce operating costs.
Just because the company is now operating from the station doesn’t mean that
there aren’t bills that are left to be paid. The fire company needs your help to pay
down nearly $4 million in debt for the project. Only about 10 percent of the
residents in East Whiteland and Charlestown have contributed to the fire company.
This is your chance to change that. No amount is too small and donating is easy.
You can contribute online at www.sta5tion.org or send a check payable to
FEWFA to PO Box 2146, Frazer, PA 19355. The Friends of the East Whiteland
Volunteer Fire Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and your
contribution is tax deductible.
Thank you for your support.
East Whiteland Fire Station
Housing Ceremony Oct. 17
Please come out on October 17 to celebrate
the new home of the East Whiteland Fire
Company. A traditional housing ceremony will be
held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The ceremony marks
the official move into the new, state-of-the-art
station.
It’s a great opportunity to be part of a special
day for the entire community. We hope you can
come out to support the fire company and all
those who helped make the new home possible.
Saturday, October 17
1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
205 Conestoga Road
Hear the Beep During
Fire Prevention Week
The National Fire Prevention
Association’s Fire Prevention week this
year is October 4-10, and this year’s
theme is “Every Bedroom needs a
Working Smoke Alarm”. While most Fire
Prevention professionals believe that
every week is fire prevention week, we use this week to make an extra emphasis on fire prevention.
Did you know that almost half of the home fire deaths happen between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.? When a first starts, smoke
spreads rapidly. Having a smoke detector gives you an early warning to the presence of smoke and extra time to evacuate.
It is a proven fact that WORKING smoke detectors saves lives by giving residents time to evacuate a building. In fact, having a working
smoke detector cuts the chances of dying in a fire in half. Make sure you have working smoke detectors in your home!
28 Great Valley
Do you know what causes Carbon Monoxide (CO)? Do you know what the symptoms
are for Carbon Monoxide poisoning? What appliances in your home could cause carbon
monoxide and how could Carbon monoxide get into your home? Here are the answers
to these and many more questions
Carbon Monoxide is a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas produced by appliances that
are used for heating and cooking that burn a fuel. You cannot see or taste Carbon
Monoxide. Some of the most common devices in the home are Gas ranges, Gas water
heaters, Gas dryers, wood burning fireplaces and stoves, Automobiles and candles.
CO alarms should be installed outside each sleeping area. Install alarms on every level
of the home. It is best to use interconnected alarms. When one sounds, all CO alarms in
the home sound.
Follow the instructions on the package to properly install the CO alarm.
 Test CO alarms at least once a month.
Replace CO alarms according to the instructions on the package.
 Know the sounds the CO alarm makes. It will sound if CO is detected. It will make a different sound if the battery is low
or if it is time to get a new CO alarm.
 If the battery is low, replace it.
If the CO alarm sounds, you must get fresh air. Move outdoors, by an open window or near an open door. Make sure
everyone in the home gets to fresh air. Call the fire department from a fresh air location. Stay there until help arrives.
Here are some tips on preventing Carbon Monoxide poisoning.
When warming a vehicle, move it out of the garage. Do not run a fueled engine indoors, even if garage doors are
open. Make sure the exhaust pipe of a running vehicle is not blocked.
Clear snow away.
During and after a snowstorm, make sure vents for the dryer, furnace, stove and fireplace are clear of snow build-up.
Clear all debris from dryer, furnace, stove, and fireplace vents.
A generator should be used outdoors. Use in a well-ventilated location away from windows, doors, and vent openings.
Gas or charcoal grills can produce CO. Only use them outside.
Have heating equipment and chimneys inspected by a professional every year before cold weather sets in.
Open the damper when using a fireplace for adequate ventilation.
Never use your oven or stove to heat your home.
Subscribe to East
Whiteland’s Email
Newsletter
The Township has a new method of
communication.
In August, East Whiteland launched an email
newsletter that will provide a meeting calendar,
information on township events, traffic updates
and police and fire news.
If you haven’t already, you must subscribe to
receive the newsletter. Please visit the Township’s
website at www.EastWhiteland.org to register.
E AST WHI TE L AN D TOW N SHI P N E WS
Protect Yourself From
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
INDUSTRY INSIGHT
PET CARE
SPONSORED CONTENT
Get proactive
about your pet’s health!
Caring for your pet, looking out for you
Did you know that ensuring a healthy future for your pet
means making the right care decisions today? At Affinity
Veterinary Center of Malvern, veterinarians Christine Meredith,
VMD, and Karen Goss, DVM, focus on the long-term health of
every patient examined. They work together with pet owners to
create diagnostic testing and treatment plans that help detect
the onset of disease as early as possible.
A better chance at a healthy future
The Affinity staff not only concentrates on a detailed patient
history and physical exam, but they also educate their clients
regarding the importance of wellness diagnostic tests. In
addition to revealing information that might be hard to detect
on routine physicals, these tests provide insight and help Dr.
Meredith and Dr. Goss establish a normal baseline for your
pet’s health.
Early detection leads to early action
As your pet matures, it is important to continue a routine of
preventive testing. This regimen allows for earlier intervention
when a health issue begins to manifest. Detecting small
changes in your pet’s blood work can signal the onset of
conditions like liver disease, kidney insufficiency, thyroid
disorders, or diabetes. The sooner Affinity spots these
fluctuations in your pet’s baseline health, the sooner you and
Affinity’s veterinarians can take action.
Senior pets need preventive testing to stay healthy
Wellness care is vitally important for older pets. For this
reason, Dr. Meredith and Dr. Goss have worked with Idexx,
a leading veterinary diagnostic lab, to offer their clients with
senior pets discounted blood and urine tests. On-site x-rays
with reports from a local board-certified radiologist are also
part of this screening. This provides Affinity with more
opportunities to detect serious issues that could threaten your
pet’s well-being. With the right testing at the right time, you
and Affinity can take action to help keep your pet healthy.
Intervention in the community
After working for several years in Phoenixville, Dr. Meredith
wanted to provide her special brand of veterinary care to the
people and pets she befriended. Affinity’s location in Malvern is
close to Phoenixville and helps Dr. Meredith maintain and
foster those relationships.
Affinity is a sponsor for the Malvern Harvest Festival and the
Bark in the Park celebration. This event showcases local rescue
groups and pet boutique products. This year, Affinity has
designed an exclusive festival T-shirt to be sold at the event,
with proceeds benefiting participating rescue organizations.
Come out Sunday, September 13th,
10 – 4 at Burke Park in Malvern.
The Affinity difference
Affinity’s focus on preparation and prevention provides comfort
to their community, patients, and clients alike. Their emphasis
on wellness offers peace of mind to pet owners and a healthier
future for pets. To take advantage of the Affinity experience,
visit the hospital at 330 Conestoga Road in Malvern, call
610-644-6405, or schedule an appointment online at
affinityvetmalvern.com.
Malvern Borough
Mayor
David Burton
Borough Council
David Bramwell, President
Catherine Raymond, Vice-President
Todd Lexer, Member
John Meisel, Member
Scott Oswald, Member
Matthew Radano, Member
Woody Van Sciver, Member
Borough Manager
Sandra Kelley
[email protected]
Assistant Manager
Neil Lovekin
[email protected]
Chief of Police
Louis Marcelli
[email protected]
Supt. of Public Works
Ira Dutter
[email protected]
Codes / Zoning Officer
William Wilfong
[email protected]
Malvern
MA LVE RN BO RO U GH NE WS
Treasurer
MaryLou Whitcomb
[email protected]
Earned Income Tax Collector/
LST Taxes
Keystone TaxService
610.269.4402 or 888.519.3903
www.KeystoneCollects.com
Real Estate Taxes
Borough of Malvern
1 E. First Avenue, Suite 3
Malvern, PA 19355
Per Capital Taxes
Berkheimer, HAB-PC
P O Box 25144,
Lehigh Valley, PA 18002
610.363.7214, www.hab-inc.com
32 Great Valley
A Message
From the Manager
Greetings Fellow Residents,
With this edition of IN Great Valley Magazine, we will have hit our one year anniversary. As
we have no way of knowing whether or not the information provided in the magazine is of
interest to you, we would love to hear from you. It takes a lot of time to put the information
together, so we’d like to know if the information you are receiving is timely, interesting and of
benefit to you. Please share your thoughts by emailing me at [email protected]. Also, if
there is other information that you’d like to learn about, but that is not being included, please
let us know. The magazine is being published to benefit you, our residents!
In the last issue, I said that Summer is finally here! Who knew that it would fly by so fast!
Vacations are over, the kids are back in school, the sweaters are coming out and before we can
blink, the leaves on the trees will be turning yellow, red and orange and then…… No, I can’t
even think about it!!
In the last issue, we reported that all the paving on Monument Avenue would be completed
before school started and the buses were back on the road, but, regretfully, that didn’t happen.
Some of the things we wanted to complete, such as a raised intersection at Malvern Avenue (to
safely cross to the ballfields or park), were unable to be completed because of various issues
having to do with stormwater, slope of road, puddling and freezing, cost, etc., so the design
had to be re-engineered and it’s just taken a little longer than anticipated. Okay, I admit it, a lot
longer than anticipated. But, we should be ready to get started soon. The traffic signal
replacement project and pedestrian improvements along No. Warren Avenue were delayed by
PennDOT. It was very disappointing as we were really looking forward to having that project
completed this summer. We’ve been waiting over three years to replace those old traffic signals
to bring them into the 21st Century and to meet PennDOT standards. Right now, it looks like
this project will be completed in the Spring/Summer of 2016.
Council adopted a Parking Management Program whereby residents who have parking
issues on their street can petition Borough Council for relief. The Program can be found on
our website, along with the required Application and signature pages (66% of the residents on
the street must be in agreement for relief before Council will consider the Application). This
should provide relief to those streets that need it the most. The next Program to be considered
will be the Traffic Management Program. I’ve been lobbying for toll booths at our entrances
into town for a long time but I think that Council may have better ideas…lol! But, I’d bet that
it would seriously cut down on the pass-through traffic if there was a toll booth to have to pass
through twice a day (of course, it would be free to all residents—they would have their own
“E-Z Malvern Pass”).
New businesses continue to open at Eastside Flats and we are very excited to welcome the
Malvern Buttery as the latest addition to open their doors. The Buttery opens early for
breakfast (the cinnamon buns are amazing), and serves lunch and much more! They also have
homemade breads and baked goods that can be taken home to enjoy later. Stop by to check
them out!
Malvern continues to grow and the Borough continues to reflect our dedication to the
community. If you see anything in the Borough that requires our attention, please don’t
hesitate to e-mail me directly at [email protected]. Extra eyes are always welcome!
Sandra Kelley
Borough Manager
Autumn at the
Malvern Farmers Market
Welcome to autumn at the Malvern Farmers Market! As
the seasons change, so do the offerings available from our
farmers. Keep your child’s school lunches healthy with great
choices from the market. The cooler months of autumn usher in apples and pears,
cruciferous veggies such as broccoli, cauliflower and cabbages, potatoes, winter squash
and nutrient rich greens. It’s important to offer fruits and veggies to your kids in their
school lunch. Raw veggies with healthy dips is a great addition. Or try a chopped salad just dice up a variety of seasonal veggies, maybe a little apple for sweetness, and dress
with their favorite dressing. Our farmers offer an extensive selection of meats and poultry, including farm fresh
eggs, and cheese. For sandwiches, try our wholegrain breads or our gluten free options in
your child’s lunchbox. When it’s time for special treats, the market has plenty of options to keep even the
pickiest eater happy - cookies, and other baked goods, Belgium waffles, chocolate and
more. And, please, bring your child shopping at the farmers market. Introduce them to our
farmers, let them ask our farmers questions so they understand where their food comes
from. Want to visit one of our farms? Just ask the farmers for an invitation. The Malvern Farmers Market is every Saturday from 9AM - 1PM in Burke Park through
December 5th. Our winter market will start indoors on December 19th. For more
information on the Malvern Farmers Market, please visit our website at http://growingrootspartners.com/malvern-farmers-market/. Questions about the market
- please email us at [email protected].
The Malvern Buttery is a
European-style bakery cafe where
you can have breakfast, lunch or
afternoon goodies, meet with
friends, work (we have free Wi-Fi),
and spend as much time relaxing as
you’d like. We source local and
seasonal food, much of it organic,
but with no set menu. Each day our
food is prepared from scratch and
placed on our long serving table
where you are welcomed to help
yourself to whatever looks good to
you.
Our baristas are busy at our coffee
bar creating drinks ranging from
espressos and cappuccinos to iced
tea and lemonade, all made fresh
in-house with grass-fed and organic
dairy or fresh fruit juice and looseleaf teas.
The Buttery is a community space
with delicious, fresh, sustainablysourced food and drink. We look
forward to serving you soon!
MALVE RN BOROU GH N E WS
Malvern Borough
Welcomes the
Malvern
1 E. First Avenue, Suite 3 • Malvern, PA 19355 • Phone: 610.644.2602 • Fax: 610.644.4504
Business Hours: 9:00 a.m. –12:00 noon • 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
www.malvern.org • Like us on Facebook: Borough of Malvern
Join our e-mail list at: www.malvern.org (powered through Constant Contact)
Malvern
The Campaign Continues!
The Royal British Empire didn’t know it, but in 1775, they
entered into the world’s first major example of an insurgency. The
rebel colonies in America didn’t follow European rules of combat.
On the “Continent” with its many small kingdoms, inter-related
monarchies, and shifting alliances a military consensus had
developed: if one country wins a major battle or occupies the
opposing country’s capital, then negotiations commence to bring
the war to a close.
The upstart Americans started to develop what became a
national trait. They didn’t give up when both logic and sacrifice
said they should. Over the next eight years this trait, combined
with the vastness of the North American colonies and long
transatlantic supply lines, ground down both the English forces
and the English will.
Americans learned from their mistakes, another developing
national trait. People were allowed to innovate, to adapt to
changing situations and to be self-reliant. The British were
hampered by their central control, increasing costs and everpresent threats from other competing European powers. Despite
sending over the largest British contingent in history until WW II,
the British were never able to entrap or destroy Washington’s
Continental Army which would attack and withdraw. A war of
attrition was ultimately on the side of those who fought on their
own land. The insurgency won.
Local son of Chester County, General Anthony Wayne, learned
this lesson early in his career. The Battle of Paoli, in 1777, was one
of the hard lessons he learned. Midnight raids, using the stealthy
but terrifying blades of bayonets and broadswords, were common
in Europe. Some Americans had bayonets but lacked the training
to use them effectively against the British experts. While
American’s became skilled in ambushes, they had little experience
in large raids. In the midnight darkness, charging through
unfamiliar surroundings, guided mainly by the sounds of troop
movements and the muzzle flashes of the Americans, no British
34 Great Valley
Light Infantryman would spare an enemy who might return to
stab him in the back. No quarter was given and in the heat of
bloody battle, atrocities were committed. To American’s it was a
massacre. To the British it was a necessary tactic to open the way
to Philadelphia.
Wayne made sure in the following months, especially under the
tutelage of General Von Steuben at Valley Forge, that his troops
were well disciplined and skilled with the bayonet. Wayne forces
usually led the American troops into battle and the 6th
Pennsylvania Regiment, which was not at Paoli, led the charge,
using bayonets, at Germantown several weeks later, and routed
some of the Light Infantry units who had fought at Paoli. In 1779,
Wayne led his own Light Infantry in a mid-night raid, bayonets
only, to capture the well-defended Stony Point fort atop the
Hudson River Palisades, with no atrocities committed. A lesson
thoroughly learned and improved upon.
We submitted our initial application to be considered as a
National Historic Landmark in March and last month the National
Park Service’s National Historic Landmark department assigned a
reviewer to assist us in the project. They needed to have more
specific information on its national impact than what was
contained on the initial application that put the site on the
National Register of Historic Places in 1996. It turns out that this
document, whose main purpose was to get the property quickly
listed so that funds could be raised to preserve the land, focused
only on the actual battle as having local significance.
In later years we continued to develop historical and
archaeological documentation supporting a higher significance
and continued to fight for its recognition. But relied on larger
grant projects to update the National Register and that was our
mistake. Consultation with our National Historic Landmark
reviewer has shown us that we might be able to pursue the NHL
and amend the National Register listing simultaneously. This
involves working with the PA Historical & Museum Council’s
2. October 12, 2015 – Brandywine: A
Military History of the Battle that Lost
Philadelphia but Saved American,
presented by Michael Harris
3. November 9, 2015 – Charles Thomson
(Secretary to the Continental Congress)
– The Man America Forgot, presented by
Bruce Gill
4. January 11, 2016 – Rebellion in the
Ranks: Mutinies of the American
Revolution, presented by John Nagy
You can learn more about the above events,
the battle and how to help and support our
efforts by going to www.RememberPaoli.org.
In 2013, Carrie Kingsbury of Promiseland Murals completed the work that
now adorns the Malvern Pizza building at 19 East King Street in Malvern.
The buildings picked for the mural were chosen for their historical
significance in the 19th century; Malvern was incorporated into a Borough in
August 1889, 126 years ago. The descriptions below are compliments of the
late Nancy B. Schmitt, author of three books on Malvern history and founding
member of the Malvern Historical Commission.
On the far left is the original Malvern Fire Company building, erected in
1898-1899. The Malvern Fire Company was founded in 1888. The original
Church Street firehouse had a tower which was used to dry the wet hoses after
a fire, and to hold the fire bell which summoned the volunteers when needed.
The white house in the foreground belonged to one of Malvern’s major
developers, David Evans, and was built in 1872. David Evans and his family
lived in this house from 1872 to shortly after his death in 1898. It was located
at the southwest corner of Channing Avenue and Roberts Lane. Behind it is
the existing Baptist Church, built in 1876. This portion of the mural was based
on a sketch David Evans commissioned for $75, to be printed in an 1880 book
by Futhey and Cope about Chester County. West Chester Intersection became
the Borough of Malvern on August 13, 1889. After St. Patrick Parish bought
property in 1915 for a Catholic Church in Malvern, Evans’ house served as the
church rectory for decades. It was demolished when the church building was
expanded in the early 2000s.
Next, the National Bank of Malvern, founded in 1884, opened at today’s
location in 1887. Always part of Malvern’s business and civic activities, the
bank has a branch office on Route 30 in Frazer. The first cashier of the bank was
Charles C. Highley, of Norristown. His descendants are still active in the bank’s
management.
The present Malvern Train Station was built in 1893, after a fire destroyed
the previous one. SEPTA and Amtrak trains take people here on the western
Main Line east and west for work, business, shopping, and travel. The recent
SEPTA upgrade of the parking lots and access to the station is a welcome
improvement. The need for a passenger tunnel in Malvern was first mentioned
in Malvern in 1915, a task which was completed in autumn 2011.
People of all ages and creeds have always been welcomed in Malvern.
African-Americans, Irish, English, Germans, Italians, area Native Americans,
Quakers, Baptists, African Methodist Episcopalians, Methodists, and Roman
Catholics were entrepreneurs, laborers, servants, professionals, craftsmen,
housewives, and educators. Most citizens had families who participated in
Malvern churches and civic organizations. The gentleman driving the horse
down Channing Avenue is representative of the well-respected AfricanAmerican Amos Trowery, a resident, business owner, and employee of David
Evans.
The Malvern Historical Commission would like to thank Kristin Thomas of
the Malvern Community Arts Project for bringing to life this mural and several
more planned or already completed in the Borough.
~ Kelly Maude Schmitt, Malvern Historical Commission
~ Bruce Knapp
1. September 21, 2015 – The 1st Rhode
Island Regiment presented by Joe Becton
Malvern
National Register staff. We have learned from
our mistake and are modeling these two
national traits.
The NPS staffs have been very helpful and
have provided a great deal of advice to help
us hone our documentation and explore new
avenues to show the cultural significance of
the Battle including continued references to it
throughout the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.
Our team is developing a detailed study
that will provide both the reasons that the
battle and the site has remained in our
national consciousness throughout the past
200 years. It will be thoroughly documented
by our certified military historians and will be
submitted by the end of September. This will
maintain our current project time-line and
ensure that the campaign to become a
National Historic Landmark continues!
In the coming months, we will be providing
interesting examples of how the Battle of
Paoli, the battle cry Remember Paoli and the
unique veteran involvement in this site in
Malvern, PA makes it such as special place for
all Americans.
Our current Summer Field Archeology at
Paoli Battlefield led by Archaeologist Matt
Kalos has ended successfully, updates will be
placed on our website.
Thursday, October 8, 2015 2nd Annual
Fundraising Dinner at the Desmond Hotel
supporting both the Paoli Battlefield Historical
Park and the Paoli Memorial Association at 6
pm, featuring Cecily Tynan of Channel 6 News,
author Bruce Mowday, Silent Auction &
informative displays.
A Revolutionary Lecture Series at the
General Warren Inne, Malvern, PA, on:
Community
America, September 11, 1777 by Michael
Harris.
Nov. 19 (Thursday) – 7:30pm – Planning
Commission Meeting
Oct. 15 (Thursday) – 7:30pm – Planning
Commission Meeting
Nov. 21 (Saturday) – 9:00am-1:00pm – Farmer’s
Market in Burke Park
Oct. 17 (Saturday) – 9:00am –1:00pm –
Farmer’s Market in Burke Park
Nov. 23 (Monday) – 7:30pm – Historical
Commission Meeting
Oct. 20 (Tuesday) – 7:30pm – Borough
Council Meeting
Nov. 26 (Thursday) – HAPPY THANKSGIVING
Sept. 23 (Wednesday) – FIRST DAY OF FALL
Oct. 24 (Saturday) – 9:00am-1:00pm –
Nov. 28 (Saturday) – 9:00am-1:00pm – Farmer’s
Sept. 26 (Saturday) – 9:00 am -1:00 pm –
Oct. 26 (Monday) – 7:30pm – Historical
Commission Meeting
Sept. 28 (Monday) – 7:30 pm – Historical
Commission Meeting
Oct. 31 (Saturday) – 9:00am-1:00pm –
September 2015
Sept. 19 (Saturday) – 11:00am – 5:00pm – 3rd
Annual Paoli Battlefield Heritage Day – visit
rememberpaoli.org for details
Sept. 19 (Saturday) – 9:00am – 12:00noon – 5th
Annual Fall Yard Sale in Burke Park
Sept. 19 (Saturday) – 9:00am–1:00pm –
October 2015
Oct. 31 (Saturday) – 6:00pm - 8:00pm –
HAPPY HALLOWEEN – Trick or Treat for children
ages 12 and under
Oct. 1 (Thursday) – 7:30 pm – Planning
Commission Meeting
Oct. 3 (Saturday) – 9:00am – 1:00pm – Farmer’s
Nov. 1 (Sunday) – DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME
ENDS – Turn your clocks back on Saturday
night.
Oct. 8 (Thursday) – 6:00pm – 9:00 pm – 2nd
Annual Fundraising Dinner and Auction for the
Paoli Battlefield Preservation Fund and Paoli
Memorial Association. To register online, go to
www.rememberpaoli.org/dinner.
Nov. 3 (Tuesday) – ELECTION DAY – Polls
open at 7:00am and close at 8:00pm – Polling
in Malvern Borough takes place at the First
Baptist Church on Channing Avenue
Oct. 10 (Saturday) – 9:00am – 3:00pm
SHARP! – Household Hazardous Waste Event
– Government Services Center, 601 Westtown
Road, West Chester – Residential Event Only.
Businesses and Contractors will be turned away.
– No Electronics will be Accepted (including TV’s).
No Freon Appliances.
Oct. 11 (Sunday) – 4:00pm – 7:00pm –
12th Annual Fall Fest – Pizza and musical
entertainment by the Highballs in Burke Park
– Sponsored by Malvern Parks & Recreation
Committee
November 2015
Oct. 6 (Tuesday) – 7:30 pm – Borough Council
Meeting
Oct. 10 (Saturday) – 9:00am – 1:00pm –
Malvern
Events
Oct. 12 (Monday)** – 5:45 pm – Paoli Battlefield
Preservation Fund Lecture Series – General
Warren Inne – Brandywine: A Military History
of the Battle that Lost Philadelphia but Saved
Nov. 3 (Tuesday) – 7:30pm – Borough Council
Meeting
Nov. 5 (Thursday) – 7:30pm – Planning
Commission meeting
Nov. 7 (Saturday) – 9:00am-1:00pm –
Nov. 9 (Monday)** – 5:45 pm - Paoli
Battlefield Preservation Fund Lecture Series –
General Warren Inne – Charles Thomson (the
Secretary of the Continental Congress) the
Man America Forgot – By Bruce Gill
Nov. 11 (Wednesday) – VETERAN’S DAY –
Thank you to all who served and fought for our
freedoms
Nov. 14 (Saturday) – 9:00am-1:00pm –
Nov. 17 (Tuesday) – 7:30pm – Borough
Council Meeting
Nov. 27 (Friday) – Borough Offices Closed
December 2015
Dec. 1 (Tuesday) – 7:30pm – Borough Council
Meeting
Dec. 3 (Thursday) – 7:30pm – Planning
Commission Meeting
Dec. 4 (Friday) – 6:00pm – Malvern Victorian
Christmas and Christmas Tree Lighting in Burke
Park
Dec. 5 (Saturday) – Malvern Victorian
Christmas celebrations along King Street
– visit www.malvern.org for times and events
occurring that day
Dec. 5 (Saturday) – 9:00am-1:00pm – Farmer’s
Dec. 6 (Sunday) – HANUKKAH BEGINS AT
SUNDOWN
Dec. 15 (Tuesday) – 7:30pm – Borough Council
Meeting
Dec. 17 (Thursday) – 7:30pm – Planning
Commission Meeting
Dec. 19 (Saturday) –Winter Farmer’s
Market moves indoors. Visit http://
growingrootspartners.com/malvern-farmersmarket/ for location and times.
Dec. 21 (Monday) – WINTER BEGINS - Brrrr!
Dec. 25 (Friday) – MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Dec. 26 (Saturday) – KWANZAA BEGINS
Dec. 31 (Thursday) – NEW YEAR’S EVE – Drink
responsibly and have a designated driver if
celebrating outside your home.
** Admission price is $49 which includes the 18th century
American Fare Buffet, all soft beverages, family style
sweets, all taxes and gratuities, and a donation to the Paoli
Battlefield Preservation Fund. Book your reservation at
http://pbpfinc.org/lecture-series/
All Borough meetings are held in the Malvern Borough
Administration Building, McGuigan Hall, 1 E. First Avenue,
Suite 3, Malvern, PA 19355. For copies of Agendas for
Borough Council or Planning Commission meetings, please
visit our website at www.malvern.org.
Any person with a disability who requires an auxiliary
aid, service or other accommodation to participate in the
proceedings should contact the Borough at 610-644-2602.
In the event of inclement weather, please visit our website
at www.malvern.org for cancelation information.
36 Great Valley
SELF-GUIDED ART TOUR
To get started, exit the train and head east on King Street or park in
the municipal lot next to Malvern Pizza.
1. Malvern Pizza and Beer - Check out Malvern Community Arts
Project’s first project, the large and colorful mural of Victorian Era
Malvern, painted by Carrie Kingsbury. If you know your Malvern
history, you will recognize some of the structures.
4. Borough Hall/Malvern Public Library - Explore the halls to view the
library’s latest local artist on display.
5. Borough of Malvern/Malvern Public Library lobby - Check out the
new large canvas paintings of King Street and other local spots
as part of Malvern’s 125th anniversary project, painted by
Randall Graham.
6. Cross back over King Street at Bridge Street (by The Flying Pig Saloon)
to see the street art of the “Ants go marching one by one” on the
bridge of Bridge Street and check out the new panel murals of
“Malvern Today” by Great Valley High School students.
7. Make your way east down King Street and stop into some of the
many shops of the Malvern Stroll that feature artisans of all
kinds, including the JAM gallery.
8. Finish your trek at Christopher’s a Neighborhood Place:
Malvern where local art work is always on display.
“Displays of public art are a distinguishing characteristic in a
community. Outdoor murals can often become landmarks and
attract visitors. An investment in pubic art is good for all of the
businesses in town. Projects like this are important in that they
bring art into the public sphere. They can have a dramatic impact
whether consciously or subconsciously on the attitudes of passers
by, when they are added to areas where people live and work,” says
Kristin Thomas, Founder of Malvern Community Arts Project. “Large,
public murals can add aesthetic improvement to the daily lives of
residents. Many towns have begun using murals to create tourist
attractions in order to boost economic income.”
For more information about Malvern Community Arts Project
please visit and follow visit: www.facebook.com/
MalvernMuralProject
To request additional information, please contact Kristin Thomas
at [email protected]
2. The backside of Gallagher’s Auto Service by the Train Station and Caffe
Craze - Take in the huge patriotic mural representing Paoli
Battlefield Historic Park and the Malvern Memorial
Parade, painted by Dennis Goldsborough.
3. Borough Hall/Malvern Public Library - Visit the kid’s room to see the
360-degree enchanted forest murals by Borough artist Teri Flint.
More about Malvern
Exciting things are happening in the Malvern area. The new train station is complete, the Turnpike has a new slip ramp, the Worthington
development is gaining momentum, biking path connections from Willistown Township and Malvern Borough to the Chester Valley Trail
are in the works, and Eastside Flats on King Street is attracting attention as a new dining and shopping destination. Malvern Borough, a
small town with big charm, is located off the beaten path of Route 30, which makes it unique compared to other towns on the Main Line.
This former industrial railroad town feels like a small village and is a great place to live, work, and visit.
About Malvern Community Arts Project. Founded in December 2012, Malvern Community Arts Project’s goal is to bring art to Malvern that the entire community can enjoy.
Honoring our past, showing pride in Malvern today, and adding beauty to our town. Projects are 100% community-funded.
The organization’s public art projects complement the exciting changes taking place in the Borough of Malvern, the redevelopment and beautification of the community.
To help attract visitors and consumers to Malvern, Malvern
Community Arts Project has created a self-guided public art tour of
Malvern Borough.
Malvern Community Arts Project released its self-guided public art
tour of Malvern, based on projects completed by the organization as
well as other art displays available for public view. Malvern Community
Arts Project, a volunteer organization operating under the town’s
Business & Professional Association, recently completed its fifth
community-funded public art project, a series of murals on Bridge
Street created by Great Valley High School art students. The group also
received Borough Council’s approval for a sixth endeavor on the side of
the Malvern Saddlery building facing Warren Avenue. If you are
interested in donating or supporting this new project please visit their
facebook page at www.facebook.com/MalvernMuralProject.
The Malvern community has shown great support for the public art
initiatives. “We were able to raise the money needed for the first mural
before we even presented a sketch to the public,” said Kristin Thomas,
founder of Malvern Community Arts Project. “People donated to the
idea. Our residents and business owners are passionate about our town
and want to see it succeed. Adding public art to Malvern’s landscape
was an idea that was very quickly embraced.”
“Malvern is a very walkable town and also accessible from the train
for visitors,” said Fran Givnish, President of Malvern Business and
Professional Association. “We now have so much to offer that you can
spend a day here and not see everything.”
Thomas recommends taking the 10-block art tour during one of the
town’s Third Thursday Malvern Strolls. Participants can stop along the
way for music, food, and beverages. (Malvern Stroll details can be
found on malvernbusiness.com)
Malvern
Walking Tour of Malvern Art Scene
Willistown Township
Manager’s Message
Police Department
688 Sugartown Road
Malvern, PA 19355
610-251-0222
Board of Supervisors
William R. Shoemaker
George J. McHugh IV
Robert T. Lange
WI LL I STOWN TOWN SH I P N E WS
Willistown News
Bartram Bridge
Commission
Eric Gerst
Judy Radano
Elected Auditors
of Willistown
Anthony Buonanno
John Greim
Steven Sansone
Historical Commission
Penny Goulding
Brad Billet
Joseph Kerecman
Terry Kile
Jeanette Lindvig
Marie Quinn
Land Conservancy
Authority Board
Robert Lange
Ted Leisenring
George McHugh IV
Mary McLoughlin
William Shoemaker
Open Space Review Board
Ted Leisenring
Jeanette Lindvig
Nancy Moyer
Brookings Gardner
Robert Kacergis
Jeffrey Vincent
Michael Devine
38 Great Valley
Parks & Recreation Board
Andrew Vaskas
Kenneth Lehr
Steven Eill
Robert Kacergis
Richard McDonnell
George McHugh IV
Tracey Ramondo
Mary McLoughlin
Planning Commission
Rita Reves
William Bowers III
Gerald Bucaccio
Frank Houder
Arthur Newbold
William Shoemaker
David Watt
Recycling Commission
Jim Tate
Mark Bem
Kenneth Lehr
Karl Malessa
Brian St. Clair
UCC Board of Appeals
John Blackburn III
Gerald Bucaccio
Frank Houder
Denny Howell
Jerome Keough
Ann Ledger
Mario Quattrochi
Zoning Hearing Board
Donald Mancini
Robert DeLuca
Thomas Flynn III
Hello, Willistown residents! The last few months have been
busy ones for Willistown. GO WilMa! and our summer Parks
programs wrapped up in August with the annual Willistown
Country Fair. Meanwhile, renovations to the future Willistown Administration Building at the Coxe Memorial Campus
on Sugartown Road are coming to an exciting close. Of
course, activity in building, planning and zoning has kept
Township staff busy all year long.
Back in March, the Board of Supervisors approved the
Conditional Use application of Grays Investment Properties,
L.P. for a multi-family townhouse development along West
Central Avenue, just west of North Cedar Hollow Road. In
late July, the Board granted final land development approval
for the construction of 55 single family homes on Lot 1 of the
Daylesford Abbey property on Devon Road at South Valley
Road. Currently in its earliest stages is an application from
1720 West Chester Pike, L.P. seeking Conditional Use
approval for a multi-family townhouse development on West
Chester Pike, just west of Street Road.
These are just a few of the projects in Willistown. While
change is always difficult, I remain confident in the ability
and commitment of our staff to be responsive to our existing
and future residents. In an effort to keep Township residents
and the general public informed about planning and zoning
projects taking place in Willistown, we have added information about active subdivision, land development, zoning, and
conditional use applications to our website. Visit the
Planning & Zoning page at
www.willistown.pa.us and click the links on the left of the
page to view the application information.
While on the website, you can also click the “Notify Me”
button to sign up for email alerts and text messages about a
variety of subjects. Of course, please feel free to contact me
directly at [email protected] if you have any specific
questions or concerns.
– David Burman, Township Manager
September 14, 7:00 PM – Board of Supervisors Meeting
September 16, 7:30 PM – Planning Commission Meeting
September 17, 7:00 PM – Parks & Recreation Board Meeting
September 26, 9:00 AM – Okehocking Birding and Hawk Watch Festival – Okehocking Preserve
September 27, 9:00 AM – Okehocking Bird Walk – Okehocking Preserve
September 28, 5:30 PM – Open Space Review Board Meeting
September 28, 7:00 PM – Board of Supervisors Meeting
October 6, 7:00 PM – Historical Commission Meeting
October 7, 7:30 PM – Planning Commission Meeting
October 10 – Chester Co. Household Hazardous Waste Collection
Gov’t Services Ctr., 601 Westtown Rd., West Chester
October 12 – Columbus Day – Administrative Offices Closed
October 13, 7:00 PM – Board of Supervisors Meeting
October 15, 7:00 PM – Parks & Recreation Board Meeting
October 20, 7:00 PM– Recycling Commission Meeting
October 21, 7:30 PM – Planning Commission Meeting
October 26, 5:30 PM – Open Space Review Board Meeting
October 26, 7:00 PM – Board of Supervisors Meeting
November 3, 7:00 PM – Historical Commission Meeting
November 4, 7:30 PM – Planning Commission Meeting
November 9, 7:00 PM – Board of Supervisors Meeting
November 10, 7:00 PM – Recycling Commission Meeting
November 11 – Veterans Day – Administrative Offices Closed
November 18, 7:30 PM – Planning Commission Meeting
November 19, 7:00 PM – Parks & Recreation Board Meeting
November 23, 5:30 PM – Open Space Review Board Meeting
November 23, 7:00 PM – Board of Supervisors Meeting
November 26-27 – Thanksgiving Holiday – Administrative Offices Closed
November 27 – Black Friday Turns Green @ Okehocking – Okehocking Preserve
December 1, 7:00 PM – Historical Commission Meeting
December 2, 7:30 PM – Planning Commission Meeting
December 8, 7:00 PM – Recycling Commission Meeting
December 16, 7:30 PM – Planning Commission Meeting
December 17, 7:00 PM – Parks & Recreation Board Meeting
December 21, 7:00 PM – Board of Supervisors Meeting
December 24-25 – Christmas Holiday – Administrative Offices Closed
December 28, 5:30 PM – Open Space Review Board Meeting
W I L L I STOWN TOW N SHI P N E WS
Willistown Township Meetings
and Community Events
Willistown News
www.willistown.pa.us
Administrative Offices: 40 Lloyd Ave, Suite 204/206, Malvern, PA 19355 • 610.647.5300
Business Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM
WI LL I STOWN TOWN SH I P N E WS
Willistown News
Renovations to Township
Offices Near Completion
Residents and Township staff alike eagerly await the Township administrative
staff ’s return to 688 Sugartown Road. Renovations to the building – formerly home
to the Willistown Township Police Department – are nearing completion. By early
autumn, the administrative staff expects to make the move from the rented space
in the Greentree Office Plaza, which will consolidate all Township operations to the
Charles E. Coxe Memorial Campus.
The structure sits on the site of the original Willistown Township Building,
which was constructed around the turn of the century. In 1909, Township Justice
of the Peace Charles E. Coxe, the namesake of our municipal campus, donated
the property and building to Willistown Township. The original building was
demolished in 1991, and a new one was constructed in its place to house the
police department. It was designed to replicate the original Coxe building; the
original columns were even restored and installed! The Willistown Township Police
Department operated out of that building until just last year, when the current
police facility on Sugartown Road opened.
Renovations currently underway include an interior office space restructuring,
installation of a new roof, electrical and plumbing upgrades, improvements to
entrances, and, of course, a fresh coat of paint. When completed, the renovated
space will include office space for administrative personnel and a fully accessible
meeting space. We look forward to seeing you and serving you there!
40 Great Valley
The original Township Building,
constructed around the turn of the
century, located on Sugartown Road in
Willistown was replaced by the building
currently undergoing renovation.
YOUR CHILD’S EYE CARE
How Old
Should a
Child Be
for the First
Eye Exam?
There really isn’t a “perfect age” for a child’s first eye exam. Most
children have their first eye exam when they start school, usually as
a result of the visual screening done by the school. But any child can
have an eye exam, including infants.
A good age for a child’s first eye exam is between the ages of three
and five. This ensures that any problems are caught early—before
the child’s visual system is completely developed, which typically
happens around age nine.
What should my child expect at an eye exam,
or how can I prepare my child for the first eye exam?
An eye exam is fairly simple. It involves having your child read an
eye chart to check his/her visual acuity, checking how the eyes move
and if they are properly aligned, performing a refraction to see if the
child needs glasses, and dilating the eyes using eye drops.
The best way to prepare your child for an exam is to answer his/her
questions honestly and to the best of your ability. Reassure your child
that the exam is not painful, but there may be some discomfort when
the eye drops are instilled because they sting for just a few seconds.
You should also explain that when the eyes are dilated, everything
will be very bright, reading up close may be difficult, and dilation can
last up to six hours before the eyes are back to normal.
What are some signs that my child may need glasses?
Squinting is one of the most obvious signs that your child may need
glasses. Other signs include:
1. Sitting close to the TV
2. Holding books or other reading material within inches of the
face
3. Frequent blinking
4. An eye that looks as if it is turning in or out, or tilting the head
regularly
5. Closing or covering one eye while reading or watching TV
6. Rubbing the eyes
7. Frequent complaints of headaches
If you notice any of the above symptoms, you should schedule an
appointment right away.
My pediatrician or school does a vision screening.
Isn’t that good enough?
While a visual screening can help find problems early, it typically
only checks the child’s vision. If a problem is found, the screening
won’t be able to tell you what is causing the problem or how to treat it.
Having a complete eye exam will ensure that any problems are found
early and the proper treatment is prescribed.
Can too much screen time hurt my child’s eyes?
The short answer is no. However, while spending time on the
computer or playing video games may not cause physical damage to
the eyes, it can cause eyestrain, which can cause headaches, blurry or
double vision, and red, irritated eyes.
What’s the best way to protect my child’s eyes during sports?
The best way to protect your child’s eyes during sports and other
outside activities is by wearing safety glasses, which can be made with
your child’s current glasses prescription. It is also important for children
to wear sunglasses any time they are outside to prevent damage from
the UV rays of the sun.
HAPPY TRAILS
Chester Valley Trail offers a great autumn adventure right here.
By Bob Byrne
Autumn’s cooler temperatures and beautiful colors beckon hikers,
bikers and outdoor lovers of all ages to get outside, hit the trail and
enjoy all that Chester County and the Great Valley have to offer. One
of the best ways to “get out there” for a short walk or a day trip is to
check out The Chester Valley Trail. You may have crossed the trail in
your car and peeked down the path but fall is a great time to park at
one of the trail heads and take a hike or ride a bike down all, or even
part, of the trail.
The Chester Valley Trail project dates back to 1991 when representatives of Chester County, Montgomery County and PennDOT
envisioned a soon-to-be-abandoned rail line as a major trail. In August
1996, Chester County acquired a section beginning at Route 29 and
ending west of the Exton Bypass. In June 2009 PennDOT agreed to
transfer ownership of eight miles of the rail corridor to the County. A few years later the Great Valley and more recently the Tredyffrin
Township sections of the trail are open to enjoy.
The ongoing trail development is a partnership that involves
cooperation on many levels including local, state and federal governments, area businesses and local residents, all committed to seeing it
through to completion. The trail, in its multiple phases, affects the
municipalities of East Caln, East and West Whiteland and Tredyffrin
Townships and Downingtown Borough in Chester County, as well as
Upper Merion Township and Bridgeport and Norristown Boroughs in
Montgomery County.
The trail runs parallel to U.S. 202 through Tredyffrin Township. The
completed and open section of the trail runs from just west of Exton to
just west of the King of Prussia Mall at I-76 in Montgomery County.
Thirteen miles of the trail are currently open and available to enjoy
by foot or bike. More than half of the trail (7.5 miles) falls within the
jurisdiction of the Tredyffrin Township Police Department. To help
provide trail users with information and an added measure of security,
the Tredyffrin Trail Watch program has been up and running since the
beginning of spring this year. The program was formed to get the
community involved and to be extra eyes and ears for the Tredyffrin
Township Police Department.
Tredyffrin Director of Community Policing, Officer Rhonda Carroll
says, “The Trail Watch program works with the Tredyffrin Police
Department and reports suspicious activity, maintenance issues, assists
users of the trail with questions they may have about parking or rest
stops, as well assisting first responders with location assistance in the
COURTESY: RHONDA CARROLL,
TREDYFFRIN TWP. POLICE
PHOTOS BY BOB BYRNE
Chester Valley Trail volunteers
The CVT stretches 7.5 miles through Tredyffrin Township.
Parking at 1000 Westlakes Drive, Berwyn
case of an emergency. Members are very
noticeable on the trail. They wear a neon green
vest and have an ID card with them at all times.
The members of the group are on foot and
different types of bicycles so if you see a
member, say hello!”
The tale of the trail is still being written.
There are plans to develop it further to the
west from Exton into Downingtown (currently
in the design phase) and further to the east
from King of Prussia to the Schuylkill River in
Bridgeport (the start of construction is
planned for 2016). Looking further into the
future, open space plans in Downingtown
Borough, Tredyffrin, East and West Whiteland
and Upper Merion Townships have suggested
creating links to the Chester Valley Trail. Presently, there are nine municipal parks adjacent
to the proposed trail and the connections
envisioned to link it to other trails.
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+/-
1
Where to Start
Parking for the Chester Valley Trail is
available at Exton Park on Church Farm Lane
in Exton. Farther east, you can park at Battle of
the Clouds Park on Phoenixville Pike in East
Whiteland Township. Additional parking is
available at East Whiteland Township’s municipal building on State Route 401 (Conestoga
Road), south of US 202. Designated parking
spaces are located adjacent to the trail (to the
left and rear of the building). Parking with
access to the trail is available in the center of
the Tredyffrin stretch at Westlakes Drive in
Berwyn.
For more information about the trail visit
pa-chestercounty.civicplus.com.
!"#!#$ %%%!
&!'
Get your business
noticed in all the
best locations.
How to Help
The Friends of the Chester Valley Trail is a
group of volunteers dedicated to helping fund
future development and the ongoing maintenance and beautification efforts along the trail.
The Chester Valley Trail Funding Project
(CVTFP) is a “vibrant and innovative
private-public partnership with the Friends of
the Chester Valley Trail, the Government of
Chester County, PA, and The Natural Lands
Trust. Its goal is to seek private support for the
Chester Valley Trail so that the Trail can
provide county residents with miles of safe
walking and biking opportunities, attract
tourists and become an alternative method of
transportation for commuters.”
We can guarantee you
the best placement
available – right in your
customer’s home.
Find out how our
direct-mailed,
community-sponsored
quarterly magazine can
help grow your business.
For more information about the Friends of the
Chester Valley Trail, visit chestervalleytrail.org.
For more information about visiting the trail,
the history and future development plans, visit
pa-chestercounty.civicplus.com. 
To Advertise,
Contact Wayne Dollard
at 610.924.7322
Conductor Joe Gehring leads
the Chester County Pops.
Making Music Pop
He majored in tuba and piano at West Chester University. Guess
which one he played in the marching band?
OK, it IS a trick question. Maestro Joseph Gehring played tuba on
the football field and piano in the concert hall but his musical versatility doesn’t make the question all that absurd. His is a musical background as diverse as the music he now selects as musical director of the
Chester County Pops Orchestra. Gehring is on a musical mission to
change the way many people think of orchestral music and orchestra
concerts.
“As a pops orchestra we really can show the fun side of music and get
the chance to introduce younger audiences to maybe the kind of music
they haven’t heard before,” Gehring says of his efforts to get more
people into the music that they already know and love. “It’s kind of
funny that some of the young people aren’t familiar with the ‘Star Wars’
movies but they’ve heard the music before and to hear it in a setting
like this is great.”
Gehring spoke with IN Great Valley after conducting a two-hour
“Tenth Anniversary of the Pops” concert in his hometown of Phoenixville that included a medley of musical hits from the “Star Wars”
movies.
The Pops Orchestra tours around the county and performs concert
programs at rotating locations. “We usually do three concerts in a
series and we try to hit three different places in Chester County. So we
might be in Phoenixville and then West Chester and then somewhere
down in the southern part of the county.”
Maestro Joe Gehring leads the Chester County Pops
into the future.
Story and Photos | Bob Byrne
Gehring doesn’t really have any time to sit back and savor the
applause. He has a lot more music to prepare and perform, or teach.
In addition to conducting the Pops, Gehring is in high demand as a
conductor, pianist, and educator.
He teaches at Immaculata University in Malvern and conducts
the Immaculata Symphony and the university’s Concert Band.
Gehring conducts the West Chester Community Band and also
directs the entire instrumental program at the Renaissance
Academy in Phoenixville, where he conducts the elementary,
middle and high school ensembles. Gehring is a frequent guest
conductor for honor and festival bands and orchestras throughout
Chester County, and he is the director of music ministries for a
church in Exton, plus he accompanies the Brandywine Singers. At
his piano studio, he teaches students from beginning to advanced
levels.
“I’m very busy. I’m involved with a lot of groups in the area but I
love music and I love bringing music to a lot of different people in a
lot of different ways, whether it’s orchestra like a pops orchestra,
symphony orchestra or band music there’s a lot to enjoy.”
The Pops Orchestra will be back on stage in late October for its
Halloween concert.
If you’ve never been to a pops orchestra concert, or if you have
children who would normally turn up their noses at the idea, this
will be a great concert to attend. Says Gehring, “In October we’ll
have our Halloween concert that will be filled with some spooky
Chester County Pops musicians take a bow.
Maestro Joe Gehring
greets the audience.
If You Go:
The Chester County Pops is
celebrating its 10th anniversary.
music, fun games, magic for the children and even a costume
parade. They can come dressed up and be on stage.”
Gehring launched the Pops’ new Halloween tradition last fall
in his first year as music director.
Now in his second year, he conducts the concerts and selects
the music. “I’ve been with the Pops since it started. I was the
assistant conductor under the original music director. When he
retired there was actually an audition process to select the new
music director. I went through the process just like everybody
else and fortunately was selected through audience votes and
musician votes. It’s been a pleasure to continue working with this
group.”
The Chester County Pops is made up mostly of professional
musicians who have “day jobs.”
“The musicians are paid,” Gehring explains. “We only rehearse
three times and then perform three concerts. The process is
The Chester County Pops Halloween Pops! Schedule:
HALLOWEEN POPS!
Unionville High School: Sat. 10/24/15 @ 7 p.m.
Phoenixville Middle School: Sun. 10/25/15 @ 3 p.m.
Stetson Middle School: Tues. 10/27/15 @ 7 p.m.
Tickets can be ordered online at Chescopops.org.
much more intense than what a standard community orchestra
or band would be. These are all high-level musicians; a large
number of them are music educators all over Chester County.”
When it comes to conducting other music educators, Gehring
says “it’s great. We have a lot of fun working together and I
think the audience has fun at our concerts and it shows in their
responses to our performances.”
Your support can help keep the music playing for audiences
around the county. “Contributions to the Chesco Pops are a
major source of the funding that makes it possible for us to
continue performing for your pleasure and entertainment, and
your support is greatly appreciated,” say the Pops musicians and
board members. If you own a business there are also opportunities to advertise in the concert programs.
For more information about concert schedules or sponsorship opportunities visit the Pops website at chescopops.org. 
EDUCATION
The Many Benefits of an All-Girls High School Education
Thinking about an all-girls school for your daughter? Maybe you
went to an all-girls school and want the same experience for her – or
maybe you didn’t and want an entirely different experience. Visiting
an all-girls school will give you a good impression of what daily
student life will be like. Talk to other girls who have attended singlegender schools. As you gather information, you will discover the
numerous benefits of an all-girls high school education.
At an all-girls school, the girls are motivated in both academics and
extracurricular activities. They push each other in a positive way to do
well and get involved. Almost every girl is in a club or a sport, which is
not necessarily the case at a co-ed school. Taking boys out of the
equation may make girls feel less self-conscious, more likely to raise
their hands, and offer their opinions—even if those opinions differ
from others in the class. Girls are encouraged to participate, not to
VILLA MARIA ACADEMY
EMPOWER ING YOUNG WOMEN SINCE 1872
shrink from their abilities. The best student at math is a girl; the most
interesting project is done by a group of girls. Girls flourish on their
own terms, in their own ways. Collaboration is not only encouraged, it
is expected.
In an all-girls environment, it is impossible for any student to “hide”
or “fall through the cracks.” Girls occupy every role: every position on
student council, every position of leadership, every position on every
team. Not only does every girl have multiple opportunities for selfexploration and development, she also has a strong group of peer role
models. Without the distraction of boys, it is much easier for girls to
focus on their work. Each girl is free to experiment and explore, trying
out new things and trying on new roles. She can follow her ambitions
and adjust her goals. Ultimately, she can come to a greater
understanding of her capabilities and value in ways that have nothing
to do with how she looks or whom she dates.
In the 1990s, a national study of secondary schools and colleges,
“The Case for Single-Sex Schools,” showed that all-girls schools provide
greater opportunity for educational achievement, leadership ability,
number of years of formal education, and occupational success. Dr.
Robin Robertson, professor at Louisiana State University, summed it up
best: “As a college professor I could identify the students from girls’
schools with a 90 percent accuracy rate on the first day of class. They
were the young women whose hands shot up in the air, who were not
afraid to defend their positions, and who assumed that I would be
interested in their perspective.”
EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE!
Open House
October 18
Entrance/Scholarship Exam
November 7 and 14
Visit Villa Days
October 22 and 23
November 3 and 4
December 3 and 4
Register online at www.vmahs.org
370 Central Avenue, Malvern, PA 19355 610-644-2551 www.vmahs.org
Villa Maria Academy, an all-girls Catholic college-preparatory school
located in Malvern, offers a nurturing environment where girls are
challenged to think globally, serve selflessly, and lead confidently. Each
student flourishes and reaches her full potential in a well-rounded
curriculum. Villa Maria Academy provides numerous opportunities for
prospective students and their parents to experience the value of a
Villa Maria education. Families are invited to attend an Open House on
Sunday, October 18, 2015, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. At this time,
prospective parents and students have the opportunity to learn more
about Villa Maria’s faculty, curriculum, activities, fine arts and athletic
programs. The Entrance/Scholarship Exam is scheduled for Saturday,
November 7, and Saturday, November 14, 2015, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30
p.m. There are a number of Visit Villa Days scheduled for October,
November, and December. This day provides the student a chance to
experience “Villa in action.” The visitor spends an entire school day
shadowing a current freshman or sophomore. To register for any of
these events or request more information, visit Villa Maria Academy’s
website at www.vmahs.org. You can also contact the Admissions Office
at 610.644.2551 extension 1020.
Trends in
Education
(from Preschool to College)
Education techniques such as e-learning, m-Learning and
gamification are changing the typical approach to teaching
by replacing white boards and textbooks.
SPECIAL SECTION: Trends in Education
Traditionally, students go to school and sit
in a classroom with their peers while being
instructed by a teacher. Following an
in-classroom lesson, students are assigned
homework to do on their own time after
school or on the weekends to reinforce the
lesson taught in class. Many of us would say,
“Of course that is how to learn; that’s how I
was taught.” However, Bill Gates explains why
it is important to embrace changes in
education, “Our current expectations for what
our students should learn in school were set
50 years ago to meet the needs of an economy
based on manufacturing and agriculture. We
now have an economy based on knowledge
and technology.”
Education technology, or ed tech, is the
front runner of growing trends in the field of
education. As an increase in investment is
going toward technology, educators are
looking to incorporate changes in the
classroom. Technology is incorporating rich
media — including video, audio and simulation — providing students with a new
experience in learning. Education techniques
such as e-learning, m-Learning and gamification are changing the typical approach to
teaching by replacing white boards and
textbooks.
E-learning uses electronic technologies,
such as the internet, to access educational
curriculum outside of a traditional classroom
setting. Although e-learning began some years
ago when computers were starting to access
the internet, the technology is advancing,
allowing students to access classes and
training through their smartphones and
tablets. E-learning is 24/7 education,
providing students with the ability to learn at
the library, at home, from a coffee shop, or
even on vacation. With the access that
e-learning gives to students, m-Learning, or
mobile learning, is quickly becoming more
popular in higher education markets. As a
cost-effective alternative to traditional forms
of education, institutions are expanding their
geographical reach with this technology.
Gamification is making its way into the
classroom by embracing the immersive nature
of online games. According to U.S. News and
World Report, teachers are using popular
games such as Angry Birds in physics lessons
and SimCity to demonstrate how systems
interact with one another, giving students a
new way to understand classroom lessons and
teachers an opportunity to embrace students
in ways other than traditional teaching
methods.
While technology takes a front seat in
education, it is increasingly important for
children to have the opportunity to start
learning early. Far too many children enter
school unprepared cognitively, socially and
emotionally, causing them to begin school
behind other children. The long-term effects
could be devastating to a child’s future in
society, which is why the focus on providing
high-quality early education at an affordable
cost to parents is a trend in education.
Trends in Early Education
Early childhood education has been a
buzzword across the nation as both sides of
the political spectrum look to enhance
funding to provide all children with access to
high-quality preschool. With benefits ranging
from improved academic and behavioral
outcomes to enhanced social skills, preschool
seems to have favorable outcomes for the
children who participate. Yet, in the most
recent 2014 study by the National Institute
for Early Education Research, only 5 percent
of 3-year-olds and 12 percent of 4-year-olds in
the state of Pennsylvania were enrolled in
preschool.
A rise in state and government-funded
programs aims to increase the number of
children enrolled in early education, especially those whose parents may not otherwise
have the means. Earlier this year, Gov. Tom
Wolf spoke in Harrisburg about his plan to
spend an additional $120 million on preschool education, adding 11,600 children to
the PreK-Counts program and 2,400
low-income children to the federal Head Start
program, as part of a larger $33.8 billion
budget in which he plans to spend heavily on
education. Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, a
nonprofit organization, reported that national
studies concluded that children enrolled in
government-sanctioned preschool programs are more likely to be
successful in school, both academically and behaviorally. With reports
showing that preschool makes a significant difference in the lives of
children, some parents may want to take a different approach with their
children by instead providing an environment that is both educational
and social within their own means.
Many families have to make a financial decision when looking at
high-quality early education programs due to the cost of care exceeding
the amount of one parent’s take-home income. In these cases, and in
those where parents have the option to stay at home with their children,
there are many options for providing preschool-aged children with
valuable learning experiences. Local libraries have play rooms and book
clubs for kids to play, learn and socialize with their peers. YMCA has an
entire program dedicated to youth development, from educational
events to physical activities.
As the push for affordable, high-quality preschool funding increases,
the more important trend in early education is getting children involved
at a young age. Whether in a childcare facility, or with a caregiver,
providing early education and socialization opportunities to a child is
crucial to future development.
K-12 Learning
Strengthening STEM Education
A strong emphasis is being put on science, technology, engineering
and math (STEM) in the classroom, a continuing trend within the past
decade. As more stringent benchmarks are being developed at the local,
state and federal levels, teachers are turning to technology to assist with
advancing in-classroom lessons. Schools across the globe have their eyes
on STEM education, giving the U.S. an even tougher fight for students
to be prepared at graduation. In the early part of 2015, President Obama
budgeted $3 billion (an increase of 3.6 percent) to improve and expand
STEM learning in 2016.
A push for students in middle school to engage in STEM is important, as these are the years when they start to engage in possible career
options. In the past, STEM classes were thought to hold little appeal to
students at this age, with teachers limiting learning to textbook research.
As digital learning takes over, STEM has an easy advantage over other
subject matter. Paul Buchheit, Google’s 23rd employee, stated, “We’re in
the early days of the Internet. Every other industry will be eaten by
tech.” Economists agree with Buchheit and believe that, soon, every
American is going to need knowledge of STEM subjects in their career.
With learning expanding beyond the classroom, technology is making
STEM more appealing to our youth.
Customized Learning Experiences
Each student has a unique way of learning, making customized
learning another growing trend. Utilizing a variety of resources
including textbooks, virtual learning and gamification, teachers now
have the ability to provide students with options in the learning process.
Customized learning replaces the failed one-size-fits-all approach to
learning, with new ways to engage students utilizing text, videos, sounds
and stimulation to enhance lessons. Additional learning experiences like
flipped learning and outdoor learning are also used to augment
traditional classroom settings.
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Flipped vs. Traditional Learning
We can only hope our children are so excited about learning that they
are doing flips, but “Flipped Learning” requires no physical flipping.
Flipped learning is an approach that simply means doing schoolwork at
home and homework at school. Defined by the Flipped Learning
Network, it is “a pedagogical approach in which direct instruction
Please contact our VP of Sales, Tamara Myers, at
[email protected] for more information.
continued on next page >
SPECIAL SECTION: Trends in Education
moves from the group learning space to the individual learning space,
and the resulting group space is transformed into a dynamic, interactive learning environment where the educator guides students as they
apply concepts and engage creatively in the subject matter.” The
increase in ed-tech affords flipped learning the opportunity to grow in
the K-12 space as a new type of education style, again providing
students with an opportunity for a unique learning environment.
Outdoor Learning
Many parents identify and agree with the importance of children
having adequate time learning and playing outdoors. Teachers are also
harnessing the power of environmental learning by getting their
students outside for field teaching. As in-classroom technology
increases, parents welcome this trend with open arms. Huffington Post
states that research has found that outdoor learning environments
improve student attitudes, attendance and
overall health. This hands-on approach to
learning provides students with sensory
experiences they cannot get in the classroom or
with technology, allowing it to be the perfect
supplement to the school day.
College Trends
Much to your surprise, I’m sure, technology
isn’t stopping at K-12 education. It is, in fact,
plowing its way onto college campuses. Some
professors feel that the prevalence of information
available at a student’s fingertips has negated the
inclination to learn it, while others are working
to embrace the inevitable spin that technology
You don’t have to wait any longer.
Join the fun today at girlscouts.org/join.
will have on the future of higher education. The future holds opportunities for students to follow the trends of their K-12 counterparts in
shaping the curriculum of their learning. Utilizing “smart” classrooms,
colleges and universities are driving opportunities for international
learning — interacting with peers in other countries in real time.
Technology, both inside and outside the classroom, is causing a shift in
the way higher education is designed.
With the importance of education starting at a very early age,
government officials are looking for ways to ensure that all children
have access to high-quality early education, paving the way for students
to engage in advanced learning early in their schooling. STEM is
providing students with the opportunity to learn the future of America,
with technology leading the way and our students right behind it in
careers that continue to advance knowledge. The future of education is
looking bright, as bright as the screen on your smartphone. 
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SENIOR CARE
SarahCare of Malvern
DAYTIME ADULT SERVICES
AND ACTIVITIES
P
ennsylvania has the fourth highest
percentage of elderly in the nation with over 2.7
million residents over 60, and more than 300,000 o
ver the age
over
Social Security
of 85. We often read about concerns about funding of Social
and Medicare for this aging population, but the real crisis of the
growing numbers of frail elderly or cognitively impaired seniors is a
crisis of caregiving.
How can older spouses or adult children with jobs and children
of their own manage the daily care of an older adult with physical
or cognitive impairments? Families committed to keeping their
loved ones at home look for affordable alternatives to long-term care
placement. Many turn to non-medical home care agencies to provide
personal care and companionship in the family home but there is
another more affordable option available – adult day services.
Adult Day Centers (also called Daytime Senior Care) are licensed
and provide not only health related services – including personal
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For the cost of 3 hours of home care, you
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care,
bathing, nutritious
meals nursing care and medication
meals,
management – but also allow seniors to get out in the community
and interact socially with their peers while giving their families a
break from managing care at home.
Adult Day Centers differ from senior centers by offering
extra personal support and a directed day that is supervised by
professional staff. Clients are guided to enjoyable activities and
programs that use their strengths to enhance both their physical and
mental well-being. With caregiving coordinated by a professional
staff, an adult day center is uniquely designed to give families
the support they need while allowing older adults the security of
knowing they will be going home each night. Many families are not
aware that this attractive option is often covered by long-term care
insurance, county waiver programs or Veteran’s benefits.
SarahCare of Malvern’s Adult Day Center provides a bright and
cheerful community of staff and clients who become part of our
family. Our program director, a therapeutic recreation major, and
our registered nurse, a certified dementia practitioner and geriatric
resource nurse, use family input and professional assessments to plan
programming based on each participant’s strengths and interests.
Our activity assistants are trained about each client’s interests
and preferences. We encourage clients to engage with peers of
similar strengths and interests, creating a sense of community at
our center. SarahCare of Malvern also helps our participants stay
connected to their local community with weekly entertainers, artists,
intergenerational programming, service projects and seasonal events
and outings.
Families have true peace of mind knowing that their loved one
is in a safe and secure environment, cared for by a team of specially
trained and compassionate full-time staff. We care for people with
a wide range of conditions including diabetes, advanced arthritis,
Parkinson’s disease, COPD, Alzheimer’s and related dementias, and
those recovering from stroke or surgery.
Enhanced caregiver and family support is offered via monthly
meetings and free workshops featuring expert presenters.
This Industry Insight was written by Carolyn Brandow, RN.
Owners Roman and Francina Ustayev (pictured with their
baby, Valentina) bring their dedication to family closeness
into every aspect of this family-owned business.
FOR A FREE TRIAL DAY, CALL ROMAN AT
610.251.0801
425 Technology Drive, Malvern, PA 19355
SPECIAL SECTION: Seniors
Get Into the Act
Fall is a great time to get back into
the swing, whether it’s schoolage kids or families going back
to work, and for seniors who
are pondering the autumn of
life, it’s a time to get busy, get
active and make a difference
not only for those around them
but for themselves as well.
>>
SPECIAL SECTION: Seniors
The director of the Chester County
Department of Aging Services says regardless
of what seniors do, the key to healthy aging is
to “do.”
Sandy Murphy offered the following advice
to seniors to reflect the “Get Into the Act”
theme of Older Americans Month.
According to Murphy, “healthy aging means
doing what you can to prevent disease and to
stay fit in both mind and body.” She has a few
tips that can help:
• Exercise helps control body weight, lower
your blood pressure and strengthen your
muscles, which helps you avoid injuries by
making you less likely to fall. Milder
activities such as walking, gardening or
anything to keep moving are sufficient.
• Daily stretching is important. Your muscles
tend to shorten and stiffen when you aren’t
active, but stretching activities such as yoga will
improve your flexibility.
• Studies show that sticking to a healthy weight by
exercising and eating right has multiple benefits.
• If you can keep your weight down, you’ll
decrease your risk of diabetes, which affects
about 23.3 million Americans, as well as certain
types of arthritis, which hinders activity for
about 19 million Americans, according to the
CDC.
• Be positive! Having a generally sunny outlook
on life has been linked to longer, healthier lives.
• Volunteer to help others
By some accounts, 10,000 Americans currently
turn 65 every day in the United States. A new
movie on the subject of getting older in America
today debuts in late September. “The Intern,”
starring Robert DeNiro and Anne Hathaway,
focuses on the experience of a retired 70-year-old
ADULT DAY CARE CENTERS
For families who have older relatives living at home,
adult day care centers may offer an option for care
when you have to go to work or need help providing
care around the clock.
There are several adult day care centers in Chester
County. You can find a full list online at the chesco.org
website. Generally speaking, adult day care centers in
Chester County operate under these basic structures:
SERVICES OFFERED: Adult day care centers
offer a variety of medical services as well as
social and recreational programs. Medical
services may range from a registered nurse
administering medicines to a facility providing
skilled nursing care and a full range of therapy
services. Centers may be privately owned; part
of a nursing home; sponsored by religious,
fraternal, or neighborhood organizations; or run
by a local hospital or government agency.
ABILITIES REQUIRED: A wide range is accepted.
Depending on the medical services available, the
required abilities could range from a person who
is independent, mobile, and perhaps in the very
early stages of Alzheimer’s disease to a person
who requires 24-hour skilled nursing care.
ACCREDITATION/LICENSURE: In Pennsylvania,
a license is required by the state’s Department
of Aging and/or Department of Human Services.
METHODS OF PAYMENT: Private pay; long-term
care insurance; short-term veterans benefits
possible. If funding is needed, contact the
Chester County Department of Aging Information and Referral Unit (610-344-6350) for income
and eligibility cost-sharing guidelines.
QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN
CONSIDERING A FACILITY:
1. How long has the center been operating and who
owns it? Is the facility licensed by the state? What
are the days and hours of operation?
2. Is there a rate schedule for services? Or a flat,
hourly fee?
3. What services are available? Therapies?
4. Are “drop-ins” accepted? How much notice must be
given?
5. What does a sample menu look like for a week?
What if a person has special dietary requirements
– how is this handled?
6. What kinds of activities and/or programming does
the center offer?
7. Who is on staff (aides, registered nurses)? What
type of training has the staff received?
8. What is the center’s emergency procedure? Who is
called? What hospital is used?
9. Does the center have a list of references that can bee
contacted?
executive and his desire to be active and relevant. In the film, DeNiro’s
character describes retirement as an “ongoing relentless effort in
creativity.”
There are countless ways to get active and creative in Chester
County. Join a senior center, take or teach a class at an art center,
mentor a businessperson with SCORE or volunteer to tutor a student
at a local school. If you need ideas the Chester County Department of
Aging may be a place to start. The department’s website at chesco.org
offers ideas, links and resources to help you get started.
Help for Families of Aging Relatives
For families and residents of long-term health care facilities there are
always concerns about all aspects of care. The Chester County
Department of Aging offers the following guidance in answer to a
critical question.
Who is advocating for residents living in Personal Care Homes,
Assisted Living, Nursing Homes, Domiciliary Care Homes and in
Adult Day Care programs?
Your Long-Term Care Ombudsman. Now you ask, what is an
ombudsman?
Most people are unfamiliar with the term. The ombudsman role was
created out of the Older Americans Act and is a Swedish term which
means “citizen representative”. Every county and state in this country
has one.
What does an ombudsman do? An ombudsman advocates for
resident/consumer rights. This is done through education, consultation
and visibility in the community and homes. Ombudsmen will also
respond to complaints related to rights within a program. Ombudsman
services are confidential and free.
What does this mean for Chester and neighboring Delaware
County? Your Chester County ombudsman visits approximately 81
facilities in the area. An annual visit is required,
however visibility is one of the key ways to
reach out to the residents in these programs.
No one person can do all of this.
Volunteer ombudsmen assist the ombudsman in working with residents and to increase
visibility. Volunteers are screened and
interviewed. Once accepted into the program,
they participate in a statewide standardized
training, and receive additional training and
support from their local ombudsman. The
Chester County Ombudsman Program is
currently looking to recruit volunteers who
have experience giving presentations and/or
public speaking, and would be willing to
incorporate this into their list of activities
within the program.
For more information, questions or
additional resources, please contact your local
Department
ombudsman, Chester County Depart
tme
ment
ntt ooff
Aging, 610.344.5004, press 1. 
Rehabilitation Services designed
to get patients back to living.
We offer:
• Complex medical care
• Intensive rehabilitation
• Skilled nursing
For additional information or tour,
contact:
Devon Manor
King of Prussia
Pottstown
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Wallingford
1.800.320.5276
INTHE KNOW
Historic Sugartown
A sweet trip to the 1800s is just minutes away.
Story and Photos by Bob Byrne
It’s a step back in time — a short drive away from downtown
Malvern or from anywhere else in the Great Valley.
Sugartown was a thriving little community in the 19th century.
Historic Sugartown was founded in 1983 to restore the Village located
at Sugartown and Boot Roads in Willistown.
From the first indoor toilets to the realities of running a country
general store in a farming area, Historic Sugartown offers a glimpse
into the lives of a country village, which at the time was a world away
from Philadelphia. Before the Main Line was the Main Line, before
supermarkets were the place to buy groceries, Sugartown was a center
of commerce for farmers and families in this part of Chester County.
Now it’s been preserved and serves as an educational center for a way
of life that dates back to what really amounts to just a few generations.
According to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, “Historic
Sugartown is ‘dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of a
19th-century village, to provide an authentic experience of culture
and architecture; and to enhance the understanding of our American
heritage.’ The organization stewards nine buildings, a large object
collection, and around six linear feet of archival holdings dating
from the 1790s to 1980s. The archives document the Worrall and
John family, early Sugartown residents who operated a general store
and post office, through family papers and business records; as well
as various other residents, businesses, organizations, and buildings
through scrapbooks, photographs, correspondence, deeds, and other
materials.”
The General Store
According to Historic Sugartown, the store building was first
constructed in about 1805 by Joseph Waterman when he built his
home and Saddle Shop next door. It wasn’t until John Moore rented
the building in 1822 that it was first advertised as a store establishment
Top Left: The General Store was the center of commerce and community in
Sugartown.
Top Right: The Sharpless Worrall House was passed down through several
family generations and includes original features, including bathroom
plumbing from the 19th century.
at Sugartown, with an inventory of dry goods, groceries, liquors, glass,
china and Liverpool ware, oils, paints, drugs, etc. “In 1835, Isaac Powell
ran the store, and was appointed as the first Post Master of Sugartown.
The store continued to change hands until it was finally purchased by
Sharpless Worrall in 1847. Worrall reopened the store and was named
Post Master. In 1874, Sharpless’ daughter Hannah married Hillery
John, and together they took over proprietorship of the General Store.
The John family operated the store well into the 1910s. It later became
part of John’s Antique Shop.”
The Sharpless Worrall House
The house, at the corner of Sugartown and Boot Roads, is at the
crossroads of the tiny town and the center of the historic site.
According to the official history, “Sharpless and his wife Abigail
constructed their grand Italianate home in 1860. The house featured
elaborate trellises and a hipped roof crowned by a belvedere, providing
a spectacular view of the surrounding countryside. They made their
home here for the rest of their days. In 1885, Hannah and Hillery John
moved into the house presumably to take care of Hannah’s elderly
parents. A few years after the Johns moved in, they constructed an
addition that connected the General Store and the home, and that
featured a kitchen and bathroom. The Victorian-era toilet, sink and
bathtub are preserved intact on the second floor.”
Beatrice Huber was a direct descendant of Sharpless and Abigail
Worrall who inherited the house and store buildings. She sold the
complex to the newly formed Historic Sugartown, Inc. in December
1982.
To learn more Historic Sugartown and for details about hours,
admission and special events visit historicsugartown.org. 
Homelessness isn’t
always visible but
it is all around us…
...it could be your
child’s teaching
assistant
Help us end homelessness
in our community…
Homelessness isn’t
always visible but
it is all around us...
...it could be the
nurse taking care
of your mother
www.HomeoftheSparrow.org
Home of the Sparrow appreciates community support from
The Main Line Living Group
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PERMIT NO. 887
11 Mayview Road, Canonsburg, PA 15317
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