Online Editions Our E-Update, Calendar of Events and E-Update ResourcesTM, along with

supplemental updates of information, during the week now are available at

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PRIMARILY FREE EVENTS AND TRAININGS IMPACTING AREA INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES

Week of June 15, 2014

Helping to Bridge the Gap Between the Wealth of Available Resources

and the Poverty Associated With People Not Knowing About Them ___________________________________________________________________

In an attempt to aid reader searches, new items added each week are highlighting in yellow. As always, we are interested in receiving feedback in regard to how we might improve our publications, content and convenience of use.

E-Update periodically reports ways in which subscribers use our publications to aid their families or organizations. If you have a short description that might be helpful to others and their uses, we would like to hear about them. Please forward two or three sentences that provide specific uses of benefit to bps461@msn.com.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Activities are subject to change without notice; participants are encouraged

to use contact information to confirm times and dates.

To unsubscribe, please send a message to bps461@msn.com with the word Unsubcribe in the Subject line.

©2009-2014 Casey Jones, Transformation Initiative for Building Healthy Communities Through Healthy Families. Permission is granted to reproduce for personal or non-commercial uses only.

Sections Available in the attached Calendar of Events:

• UPDATED THIS WEEK: Special Activities: Upcoming primarily free activities

listed by day over the next several months. • UPDATED LAST WEEK: Special Ongoing Scheduled Activities: Primarily free

activities held regularly each week or month. • Area Ministries for Those Who are Struggling. GriefShare, DivorceCare,

Celebrate Recovery, Mending Hearts. • Day Trip Destination Sites: Free admission sites for individual and family outings. • E-Update ResourcesTM: Accompanying Information About Services, Including

Employment Resources, for Individuals and Families.

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UPDATED THIS WEEK: Calendar of Events - Please Submit Additions Today

Upcoming Activities – The following items are detailed in the accompanying Calendar of Events and are in addition to those described within this E-Update. They will be occurring during the current two-week period or are newly listed as part of the longer term Calendar. These activities are provided for both personal use and printing out and sharing with others

through suggested posting on public and employee bulletin boards, hard copies or e-mail. Updated: This Week’s Calendar of Events Activities (Found in Calendar of Events)

• Science in the Summer for Elementary Students – Area Libraries. • Delaware County Summer Music Festival – Upper Providence. • Student Art Show - Oxford. • Human Trafficking Awareness Exhibit – Chester County Libraries. • Wood Works Exhibit – Malvern. • Look Good Feel Better for Women – Multiple Locations. • Summer Reading and Children Programs – Area Libraries.

• The Road To and Through Impressionism Presentation – Exton. • Meet the Congregations Presentation - Seed of Abraham Messianic Jewish

Congregation – New Holland.

• Weird Pennsylvania Presentation – Phoenixville. • Pardons and Expungements Workshop – Coatesville. • Let’s Go Milma Park Party – Malvern. • First Aid & CPR Training – South Coatesville.

• Bullying Author Discussion – Exton. • Summer Concert on the Square – Exton (Eagleview). • Summer Reading Program Kickoff Parties – Paoli and Strafford. • Women and Money Workshop – Exton.

• East Pikeland Town Tour – Phoenixville (East Pikeland Township). • Agriculture Education Workshop – Atglen. • Summer Concert and Picnic – West Chester.

• Survival! Before the Storm Presentation – Exton. • Opera, Jazz and Hollywood Author Discussion – Phoenixville. • Hazardous Waste Collection – Coatesville. • Summer Reading Kickoff Party – Strafford.

• Family Safety Expo and Movie Night – Chesterbrook. • Summer Arrives – National. • Community Breakfast – Parkesburg. • Learn to Love Your Commute Presentation – Exton. • Rep. Milne’s Kids Fest – Malvern. • Document Translation Service – Coatesville. • Community Day – West Chester (East Goshen Township).

Updated: Next Week’s Calendar of Events Activities (Found in Calendar of Events)

• Science in the Summer for Elementary Students – Area Libraries. • Delaware County Summer Music Festival – Upper Providence. • Human Trafficking Awareness Exhibit – Chester County Libraries. • Wood Works Exhibit – Malvern. • Look Good Feel Better for Women – Multiple Locations.

• Summer Reading and Children Programs – Area Libraries. • Summer Concert Series – Pottstown. • Summer Concert – Exton. • Police Summer Camp for Kids – Chesterbrook.

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• Parkinson’s Resources Presentation – New Holland. • Women’s Self Defense Demonstration – Pottstown.

• Racism Book and Film Author Presentation – Chester Springs (Ludwigs Corner). • Meet the Congregations – St. Benedict’s Roman Catholic Church – Presentation –

New Holland. • Sun Safety and Skin Cancer Presentation – Phoenixville.

• Philadelphia During World War I Author Discussion – Exton. • Community Café Luncheon – West Grove. • Summer Concert on the Square – Exton (Eagleview). • Children Science Series – Berwyn.

• Summer Concert Series – Kennett Square. • Bugs and Butterflies Kids Presentation – Paoli. • Redcoats and Raincoats Town Tour – Chester Springs (Historic Yellow Springs).

• Family Playground – Pottstown. • Women’s Employment Workshop – Exton. • Summer Concert Series – Chesterbrook. • Freckleton Disaster Author Discussion – Berwyn.

• Movies Under the Stars – Limerick. • Great American Backyard Campout – National.

New: Future Weeks Events and Activities (View in Calendar of Events)

• Children Science Series – Berwyn. • Yankee Doodle Dandy Performance – New Holland. • Shakespeare in the Park – Phoenixville, West Chester, Radnor, Lansdale, Chester

Springs, Lansdowne and Other Locations. • Rep. Truitt Free Market and Community Day – West Chester (East Goshen

Township). • Summer Concerts and Picnics – West Chester.

• Iron Hill Twilight Race Series – West Chester. • Willistown Country Fair – Malvern.

Activities Submission - Organizations are encouraged to submit information about ongo-ing services and activities, along with special events, as soon as possible after establishing a date to maximize publicity and to help individuals and other organizations with planning processes for their own events.

Formats for submission should be similar to and include all information as that shown on the current, accompanying Calendar of Events. Further information about submissions appears

at the end of this E-Update and the Calendar. Information should be submitted to bps461@msn.com. Don't let your important activity be left unknown.

NEW THIS WEEK: Chesco Housing Authority Two-Bedroom Waitlist Opened The two-bedroom waitlist of the Housing Authority of Chester County is open online only until the list is replenished.

Successful applicants will receive written notice within two weeks indicating an application has been processed.

Further information is available at http://www.haccnet.org/News/View/bd67bb8f-0d31-41eb-ad16-e7a979238a7e, HACC@haccnet.org or (610) 436-9200.

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NEW THIS WEEK: Summer Food Service Program for Children Starts

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), designed to help

low-income children continue to receive nutritious meals when school is not in session, has started at dozens of sites throughout the area. Free meals that meet Federal nutrition guidelines are provided to all children 18 years of

age and under at approved SFSP sites in areas with significant concentrations of low-income children. Further information, including a database of sites with differing start and ending dates and

hours, is available at www.fns.usda.gov/sfsp/summer-food-service-program-sfsp or (866) 3-HUNGRY or (877)-8-HAMBRE (for Spanish speakers).

NEW THIS WEEK: Free Annual Chesco Local Farm Products Guide Published Chester County Agricultural Development Council has issued A Guide to Local Farm Products for this year.

The 32-page publication, in addition to a directory and map of farmer markets and outlets, retail outlets, Community Support Agriculture (CSA) sites, and specialty products, includes

educational information about dairy products, seasonal eating including a calendar, agriculture-related careers and more. Further information, including an online downloadable guide, is available at

www.chesco.org/index.aspx?NID=1124 or (610) 344-6285. NEW THIS WEEK: Free 2014 Consumer Action Handbook Now Available

Federal Citizen Information Center has published its 2014 Consumer Action Handbook which is available for online viewing or free by mail.

The 152-page guide to being a smart shopper contains tips about preventing identity theft, understanding credit, filing a consumer complaint, and more. The guide is available at www.usa.gov/topics/consumer/consumer-action-handbook.pdf, or

can be ordered in English or Spanish at www.usa.gov/consumer-action-handbook/order-form.shtml.

NEW THIS WEEK: PECO Issues Advisory on Mylar Balloon Releases

PECO energy company has issued an advisory for individuals to keep mylar balloons secure for end-of-school parties and outdoor celebrations due to runaway metallic balloons sticking

to aerial power lines, with potential for causing power outages. Due to the balloon’s metallic properties, they naturally are drawn to overhead power lines, the company said, noting that when they make contact, it causes a surge of electricity on

the line and the line short circuits, leading to possible power outages, fires and injuries. Further information and safety suggestions is available at http://phx.corporate-

ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=124298&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1293263&highlight=.

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UPDATED THIS WEEK: Chesco PA CareerLink and Financial Stability Center

Officially Opens; Public Open House Scheduled – Thursday, June 26

New PA CareerLink-Chester County and Financial Stability Center offices at Exton officially have opened, with the public able to obtain a facilities tour later this month. County, state and federal representatives were on hand at 479 Thomas Jones Way – Suite

500, in the Oaklands Corporate Center off Business Route 30, on June 12 for a ribbon-cutting ceremony that included remarks and tours. The new facilities actually opened for services on May 19.

A public open house will be held from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday, June 26. As we first reported in April, PA CareerLink-Chester County and the United Way Financial

Stability Center will share the office address for the purpose of creating a “one-stop facility” for individuals who are unemployed and underemployed, along with support services for the general public that are in need of assistance in developing and executing a personal or family financial stability plan.

The move of services from Coatesville will result in PA CareerLink offices that had been located at 250 Harmony Street in the City being renovated for use as the Coatesville Area

Senior Center, currently housed at 22 North 5th Avenue. That move is expected by next summer. The Exton facilities will be using a new telephone number of (610) 280-1010.

Further information in regard to the overall move is available at www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=685236668208254&set=a.635705349828053.1073741828.623317604400161&type=1&theater.

Information on the PA CareerLink and additional employment-related services is available at https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=685235264875061&set=a.635705349828053.1

073741828.623317604400161&type=1&theater Information on the Financial Stability Center services is available at www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=685231641542090&set=a.635705349828053.1073741

828.623317604400161&type=1&theater.

UPDATED THIS WEEK: Chester County Loses Public Information Secrecy Claim

Chester County has lost a state Right To Know Law appeal that has blocked access by Casey Jones, publisher of this E-Update, from determining whether the County has a viable plan for alerting the public about potential or occurring disasters and whether it follows any plan.

The state Office of Open Records rejected the County’s claim that specific documents describing how it will notify the public of potential and occurring disasters should be secret. The County had attempted to exercise a personal security exemption under the law as it

relates to homeland security and other public safety activities, but the state found the County’s argument of potential harm from public disclosure to be “speculative at best”.

A state hearing officer had made a similar determination last month but gave the County time to come up with a better argument for exclusion. Although the County provided a subsequent submission, this, too, has been rejected.

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The decision requires the County to turn over the requested documents within 30 days from the June 6 determination.

Jones said his action results from a more than two and a half year struggle with County officials to have them improve the public information systems that alert residents about potential or occurring disasters and provide consistent guidance as to what citizens should

do during disaster response and recovery. In appearances before Chester County commissioners, Jones, a former municipal official who has declared and managed states of emergency in the past, has termed the County’s

public information dissemination practices during recent hurricanes, tropical storms, an ice storm and major snow storm as “erratic, sporadic and unreliable”, with potential for increasing loss of life or property during a disaster.

Further information on the case, including a link to the full decision, is available at www.facebook.com/TransformationIni.

State Agencies Confirm Communications Problems During February Ice Storm The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and the State Public Utility

Commission (PUC) say that communications with the public and among governments and utility companies need extensive improvement in the aftermath of the February ice storm that hit South Central and Southeastern Pennsylvania.

PEMA, in a 19-page After Action Report, found that state, county and municipal governments and utility companies “should look for ways to share data so that all parties have a clear understanding of the status of road closures and power outages. In addition, emergency management officials should work to identify critical needs and coordinate the

response to prioritized areas.” In a 55-page Summary Report of Outage Information, issued the same day, the PUC made

11 recommendations that utility companies will be expected to respond to by a September 17 semi-annual meeting with the Commission’s Bureau of Technical Utility Services. It commended the dedication and service of all utility workers “as they worked under very

difficult circumstances” in the ice storm named Nika that recorded over 950,000 Pennsylvania electric customers without power at some point during the event and reported that “snow, ice and road conditions delayed restoration efforts several hours to days as

utility crews could not work on overhead lines or travel to remote outages safely.” It said that “PECO (the primary area utility provider) offered liaisons to all of the counties before Nika hit the region. Bucks, Delaware, and Montgomery counties accepted.

Philadelphia and York counties declined a liaison, but kept in close communication with PECO. Chester County requested a liaison after the storm impacted the area. “PECO in particular had issues with their processes and coordination with county emergency

operations centers,” the PUC reported. A summary of the findings is provided in our online edition at

www.facebook.com/TransformationIni.

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Further information on the PUC report is available at www.puc.pa.gov/about_puc/press_releases.aspx?ShowPR=3351, with the full report at

www.puc.pa.gov/electric/pdf/Winter_Storm_Nika_Report2014.pdf. Further PEMA information, including its full report, is available at www.pa.gov/Pages/NewsDetails.aspx?agency=PEMA&item=15638#.U4KOtyiGfKc.

NEW LAST WEEK: Pennsylvania Courts Issue Hackers Alert

Pennsylvania courts – like banks, law enforcement agencies, the Internal Revenue Service

(IRS) and more – apparently aren’t immune from hackers trying to take advantage of citizens through official-sounding e-mails.

The Pennsylvania judiciary has issued a public hoax warning about a computer virus that is being delivered via email, falsely claiming to involve a court case. Further information, including recommended protections about the scam, is available at

www.pacourts.us/news-and-statistics/news?Article=376.

NEW LAST WEEK: Supreme Court Tosses “Mental Retardation” Term

The U.S. Supreme Court officially has thrown out from its vocabulary the term “mental retardation” and replaced it with “intellectual disability”.

Replacement of the “R” word, being applauded by advocacy groups, came in a case overturning Florida's procedure for determining whether a death row inmate claiming intellectual disability should be executed.

Writing for the majority, Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy noted that:

Previous opinions of this Court have employed the term “mental

retardation.” This opinion uses the term “intellectual disability” to describe the identical phenomenon.

More about the background and significance of the change is reported by DisabilityScoop at www.disabilityscoop.com/2014/06/03/in-shift-supreme-retardation/19411. The Court’s full opinion in Hall v. Florida is available at www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/13pdf/12-10882_36g4.pdf. NEW LAST WEEK: Hankin Branch Library Opens New Digital Discovery Center

Henrietta Hankin Branch Library at Chester Springs (Ludwigs Corner) has opened a new Digital Discovery Center to enable consumers to try out digital devices or receive instruction about their uses.

The Center, located at 215 Windgate Drive, now has a 23-inch Windows 8 computer with large type keyboard and ergonomic mouse, Microsoft Surface tablet, iPad Air, Samsung Galaxy Note tablet, Kindle Fire HDX and a Nook Simple Touch eReader.

Individuals can try out the devices during weekly drop-in hours or sign up for one-on-one appointments with a staff member during which one can use his or her own device or practice with a library unit.

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Further information and individual appointments are available at

www.chescolibraries.org/digital-discovery-center, hhreference@ccls.org or (610) 321-1710. The library and its parent Chester County Library also have launched a new website at www.chescolibraries.org.

UPDATED LAST WEEK: New Language Access Cultural Competency Initiative

Starting in Phoenixville Area

The Phoenixville Community Health Foundation has unveiled a new cultural competency training initiative for individuals and organizations interested in creating better language access for residents of its service area.

The plan, part of a Foundation focus to help open access to healthcare and human services for all residents of the Greater Phoenixville area, will be coordinated by the Maternal & Child Health Consortium and include training in protocol development, interpreter training, and

strategies for working with interpreters. Purpose of the project is to develop a corps of trained, stipend-paid volunteers who are

certified to do interpretations for non-English-speaking individuals attempting to receive various services in the health, human services, law enforcement, municipal, education, and other fields.

Any bilingual individual, including organization personnel in or serving the Phoenixville community, is eligible to participate. The protocol and strategies workshops will be half day sessions, with interpreter training required for those who are bilingual being three full days.

Further information and required registration are available at www.ccmchc.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MCHC-Phx-Interpreter-Training-flyer.pdf, naravalo@ccmchc.org or (610) 350-7660.

More Individuals to Be Mandated Reporters of Suspected Child Abuse – Effective

Monday, June 16 and Wednesday, December 31

Governor Corbett has signed four laws that expand and further define mandatory reporters of suspected child abuse and the reporting process, increase penalties for those failing to report suspected abuse, and provide protections from employment discrimination for filing a

good faith report of child abuse. Mandatory reporters now will include anyone who comes in contact with a child, or is directly responsible for the care, supervision, guidance, or training of a child.

Several of the new laws follow recommendations from a November 2012 report of the Pennsylvania Task Force on Child Protection.

One of the laws takes effect June 16, with the remainder on December 31. Further information is available at

www.pa.gov/Pages/NewsDetails.aspx?agency=PAGovNews&item=15508#.U026PFdTaO4.

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Chesco Seeks to House Another 50 Homeless Veterans in 100 Days – By Friday,

June 27

Chester County is taking part in a campaign to House 100 Veterans in 100 Days and is seeking an additional 50 homes by June 27 to meet its goal. The campaign started March 17 in response to the federal government’s push to end

veterans’ homelessness by the end of next year, with 50 Chester County veterans having found permanent housing through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Veterans Supportive Housing Vouchers or through temporary financial assistance services.

Chester County-based agencies taking part in the Veterans Housing Campaign include the Chester County Department of Community Development, Decade to Doorways, the Housing Authority of Chester County, Veterans’ Multi-Service Center, the Coatesville Veterans

Administration Medical Center, the Fresh Start Program, Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities Department, Opportunities Industrialization Center, Catholic Human Services, and the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Individuals with available housing units or seeking further information can contact Robin Senss, Chester County’s Housing Locator, at rseness@haccnet.org or (484) 999-6946.

NEW THIS WEEK: Deadline Extended for Senior/Disabled Property Tax/Rent

Rebate Program Application – Wednesday, December 31 Pennsylvania Department of Revenue has extended the deadline from June 30 to

December 31 for eligible Pennsylvania seniors and those with disabilities to apply for up to a $650 rebate for property taxes and rents. Property owners age 65 and above, widows and widowers age 50 and older, and persons

with disabilities age 18 and older, receiving up to $35,000 in 2013 income excluding half of Social Security, or renters receiving up to $15,000 with the partial Social Security exclusion may be eligible for rebates based on a sliding scale.

Some 600,000 individuals are expected to apply for the rebate, although many eligible individuals may not be aware of it, in some cases due to confusion with the homestead or farmstead property tax exclusion.

Information on the rebate extension, which has not been updated yet on some pages of the state website, is available at

www.pa.gov/Pages/NewsDetails.aspx?agency=Revenue&item=15719#.U55udiiGfKc. Further information, forms and assistance for the rebate are available at www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/property_tax_rent_rebate_program/11

410, district Pennsylvania Department of Revenue and state legislator offices, or (888) 222-9190. Further information on the homestead or farmstead exclusion is available at

www.newpa.com/local-government/tax-information/property-tax-relief-through-homestead-exclusion.

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UPDATED THIS WEEK: Community Organization Networking Connection Meetings

(Regular Meeting Dates are Subject to Change)

Coatesville Area Resource Network (CARN) meets from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on the third Wednesday of the month, except August and December, in the fourth floor conference room at Brandywine Health Center at 744 East Lincoln Highway, Coatesville. Representatives of community organizations exchange information about current and upcoming activities and

hear presentations from various services providers. On June 18, Accessing Community Resources, including the Chester County and Coatesville libraries and 2-1-1 will be discussed. Further information is available from Kathryn Spurlock at ccch@comcast.net or at (610) 380-7111 x16.

Lancaster County LINK to Aging and Disability Resources meets from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month at various Lancaster area locations for

services cross-trainings and exchange of information on creating a one-stop, no-wrong-door resource for older adults and adults with disabilities, including consumers, family members and others, seeking information about local resources. On June 19, Zachary Landes and Kevin Murphy of HGSK Law Firm will present Legal Perspectives on Social Security Disability

at Congregation Shaarai Shomayim, 75 East James Street, Lancaster. Further information is available from Brian Long, coordinator, at www.lancastercountylink.org/cross-training-meetings/2014-meetings, LancasterCountyLINK@mail.com or (717) 380-9714.

Phoenixville Area Resource Network (PARN) meets from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on the fourth Tuesday of the month, except December, at the First United Methodist Church (north entrance), 865 South Main Street, Phoenixville. Representatives of community organizations

exchange information about current and upcoming activities and hear presentations from various services providers. On June 24, Tel Hai Retirement Community and Maternal and Child Health Consortium of Chester County will provide information. Additional information about the group is available from Debbie Dundon at Open Hearth, Spring City, at (610) 792-

9282 x201 or at debbie.openhearth@verizon.net.

Kennett Area Each and All Dialogue Group meets from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of the month at the Kennett Area Senior Center, 427 South Walnut Street, Kennett Square, to promote a living philosophy of being and becoming a peaceful, progressive and inclusive community. Further information is available from Joan Holliday at

dochollisv@aol.com or (610) 717-2180. Community Nurse Network meets from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. the first Thursday of

alternating months to exchange information on promotion of holistic health within faith congregations and communities and to develop additional faith community nurses, also known as parish nurses. On July 10, a date change due to the July 4 holiday, the group will meet at Neighborhood Agencies, 795 East Marshall Street, West Chester. Further

information is available from Joan Holliday at dochollisv@aol.com or (610) 717-2180. Kennett Area Bridging the Community meets at 7 p.m. on the second Wednesdays of January, March, May, July, September and November at various community locations with

any interested individual or organization welcome to attend and share information on resources and needs that can build "bridges" toward a more integrated Kennett area community. On July 9, the group will meet at His Mission, 342 Birch Street, Kennett

Square, with the meeting preceded by a community picnic at 6 p.m. with participants bring a dish to share. Additional information is available from Joan Holliday at dochollisv@aol.com or (610) 717-2180. Minutes from prior meetings are available at www.bridgingcommunity.com/bridging.php.

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COSECHA (Harvest) meets from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. the second Wednesday of the

month from September through June at various Southern Chester County locations. Paid and volunteer individuals who work with Chester County children, youth and families share information and build partnerships for after-school, out-of-school and summer programs. Further information is available from Laurie Szoke at las7@psu.edu or (610) 696-3500.

Chester County Family and Community Partnership meets from 10 a.m. to noon on the first Friday of February, April, June, August, October and December at various locations. The group is a diverse partnership of individuals, families, community organizations, service

agencies, businesses and funders committed to empowering individuals and families in living self-sufficient, productive and fulfilling lives. Additional information is available from Kathy Brauner at kbrauner@chesco.org or (610) 344-5262.

Communities That Care (CTC) groups in several Chester County school districts provide networking opportunities for community organizations and individuals that use a planning and mobilization model to promote healthy youth development and prevent and reduce

negative youth health and behavior issues that may include substance abuse, delinquency, teen pregnancy, school drop-out, and violence.

• West Chester CTC meets from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., on the second Thursday of each month of the school year at the West Chester Area School District Spellman Administrative Building, 829 Paoli Pike, West Chester. On June 19, a different date, Justin Pettingell, alcohol education specialist with the Pennsylvania Liquor Control

Board will discuss The Power of Parents. Lunch is provided by reserving at rsvp@wcctc.org or (610) 359-5817.

• Downingtown Area CTC meets from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. the third Tuesday of the

month from September through May at the Lionville Community YMCA, 100 Devon Drive, Exton. On June 17, the Safe Homes Committee will present strategies for its campaign against underage drinking in the staff room at the Downingtown Area

School District administration offices, 540 Trestle Place, Downingtown, a different location. Further information is available at dtownctc@umly.org or (610) 458-9090 x2827.

• Coatesville CTC Community Prevention Board, a body coterminous with the Coatesville Youth Initiative Steering Committee, meets from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. the third Thursday of every other month in the fourth floor meeting room of the

Brandywine Health Foundation, 744 East Lincoln Highway, Coatesville. Further information is available from Jarvis Berry, CTC community mobilizer, at jberry@brandywinefoundation.org or (610) 380-9080 x105.

UPDATED THIS WEEK: Support Groups for Unemployed and Underemployed -

Ongoing

Several networking/support groups (open to everyone) are available at area churches for

persons who are unemployed or unemployed, with each providing its own variety of specific services in support of those who attend:

• Downingtown (Lionville/Exton) -- Barnabas Group, at Calvary Fellowship Church,

95 West Devon Drive (rear entrance) at Route 113 in Exton (Lionville) is named after the Biblical disciple known as the Son of Encouragement. Weekly sessions are part of the church’s Care Monday, that includes a prayer group that meets at the same time in the Prayer Lobby (Portico Entrance), with intercession for those attending the

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Barnabas Group and the church’s other Care Ministries, including DivorceCare for those coping with separation or divorce, even years later; Mending Hearts for those with prodigal children and other family members; and various offerings focused on assistance in healing and coping. Further information for Barnabas Group activities is available at barnabasgroup@cfdownington.com or (610) 363-7171.

• Malvern – Penn State Great Valley’s Alumni Association and MyCareer Transitions (MCT), an all-volunteer job counseling group, meets from 9:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. the second Saturday of the month, except August and December, in 130 Main Building, Penn State Great Valley, 30 East Swedesford Road, Malvern, preceded by a

new member orientation at 8:30 a.m. On July 12, Alex Freund, a career and interviewing coach, will discuss The Interview: You Are Onstage. In August, there is no meeting. Further information and required registration are available at

http://mycareertransitions.com/new/?q=upcoming-meetings.

• Wayne – A one-on-one Employment Guidance Ministry, along with periodic special employment related events to aid jobseekers is available at St. David’s Episcopal

Church, 763 South Valley Forge Road, Malvern. Further information is available from George Vosburgh at gbvosburgh@aol.com or (610) 688-7947.

• West Chester – Unemployment support group meets bi-weekly from 5:45 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 130 West Miner Street, West Chester, to learn tips and techniques related to job searches. Further information is available from Elisabeth Hartwell at ehartwell@firstpreswc.com, at (610) 696-0554.

• West Chester –BarnabasWC group meets from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. Mondays,

except holidays, in the Community Room, Providence Church, 430 Hannum Avenue, West Chester. Further information is available at www.barnabaswc.org or

info@barnabaswc.org.

• Six Area Affiliates of Joseph's People meet during the month:

Downingtown -- 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays, at St. Joseph's Parish, 338 Manor Avenue (Route 322), in the parish meeting room behind the school at the back of the property. Further information about the affiliate is available by leaving a message at (610) 873-7117.

Berwyn/Main Line - 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays at the Hagenbach Room, St. Monica’s Church, 635 First Avenue. On June 19, Lynne Williams will discuss what to do with a LinkedIn profile in the church Education

Center cafeteria. Further information is available from Bob Schubert at bobschubertjr@aim.com or (610) 755-2398. Media -- 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays for GetWorks, at Hassler Chapel, Media Presbyterian Church, 30 East Baltimore Pike, or in the St. Francis

Room at St. Mary Magdalen Church, 2400 North Providence Road. On June 3, Lynne Williams of Around the Clock Executive Helper, will discuss Networking in the Digital Age, Part I at St. Magdalen Church. On June 17, the presenter will discuss Part II at the Presbyterian Church. On July 1, no meeting will be held due to the

holiday weekend. Further information is available at (610) 566-3944. Upper Uwchlan Township – 7 p.m. on the first and third Mondays at the School Education Center, St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church, 100 Fellowship Road, Chester

Springs. Further information is available at (610) 321-1200 or at david.bolz@verizon.net.

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Reading – 7 p.m. to 8:30 pm. on the first and third Wednesdays at St Catharine's of Siena Parish Center. 2427 Perkiomen Avenue, Reading. Further information is

available from John Senick, facilitator, at (610) 779-4005. West Grove – 7 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of the month in the new Parish Life Center, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, 300 State Road, West Grove. On June 25, Harry Bitzberger, State Farm Agent in West Chester and Co-Owner of

Boomer's Family Fun Center in Avondale, will discuss the many aspects of an Unplanned Transition. Further information is available from John Colgan at johnfcolgan@gmail.com. Additional information on all St. Joseph’s People chapters is available at www.josephspeople.org.

UPDATED LAST WEEK: Many New Job Assistance Workshops, Job Fairs and Job

Openings Report –June

Unemployed and underemployed persons seeking education and training in career planning, along with employment assistance for veterans, ex-offenders and persons with disabilities, can take advantage of a broad series of monthly workshops offered by the Pennsylvania

Department of Labor CareerLink at its new Exton offices in Suite 500, 479 Thomas Jones Way in the Oaklands Corporate Center.

These trainings include an orientation presentation as to what PA CareerLink has to offer. A calendar of PA CareerLink-Chester County workshops is available at http://chesco.org/DocumentCenter/View/18493.

Monthly job openings list that lists several pages in the Chester County area is available at www.pacareerlinkchesco.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/CL-June2014-JobOpenings.pdf. Daily position openings updates are available through www.cwds.state.pa.us.

Websites for additional county PA CareerLink offices in the area, at which many services are available to out-of-county residents, include:

Berks: www.co.berks.pa.us/Dept/CareerLink/Pages/default.aspx Delaware: www.delcoworks.org Lancaster: www.jobs4lancaster.com

Montgomery: www.montcopa.org/index.aspx?NID=1024

Free Lead and Healthy Homes Program Starts in Montgomery County Montgomery County Health Department has initiated a Lead and Healthy Homes Program (LHH) to help reduce illness and injury incurred by home health hazards such as lead, asthma triggers, and fire and fall hazards

The Department provides a comprehensive Environmental Home Assessment (EHA) to families with children seven years of age for primary prevention services when the child has asthma or is at-risk of lead poisoning, such as living in a home with chipping or peeling

paint). Further information and request for assistance is available at

www.montcopa.org/index.aspx?nid=1124, wrogers@montcopa.org or (610) 970-5048.

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Earlier this year Chester County announced a lead-based paint mitigation funding program, providing eligible homeowners and landlords at least 90% of the costs for removing lead

hazards in homes with children. Home occupants meeting 80% of federal Area Median Income guidelines (up to $44,150 annually for an individual or $63,050 for a family of four, as examples) may be eligible if a

property is in Chester County, constructed before 1978, and a child under the age of six lives in the home, is expected to live in the home, or visits more than six hours per week. Further information is available at

http://pachestercounty.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/16098 or from Kevin Zeeger, lead hazard control program coordinator, at kzeeger@chesco.org or (610) 344-6725.

Low-Interest Homeowner Repair Program Starts in Pottstown Genesis Housing Corporation has started a low-interest loan program to assist Pottstown residents with general home repairs.

The initiative, which provides a three percent loan of up to $5,000, with up to a five-year repayment schedule, is available for owner-occupied properties, with no income-eligibility or

home equity requirements. Further information is available at www.genesishousing.org/_pdfs/home_improvement_loan_press_release.pdf,

info@genesishousing.org or (610) 275-4357. 511 Mobile Travel Conditions App Now Available

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has established a 511PA mobile phone application that covers all state and Turnpike-operated roadways, with current traffic speeds recorded on about 15,000 of the 40,000 miles of highways.

Further information about the hand-free app, also able to hear information from New Jersey and West Virginia and available for Smartphones and iPhones, is at www.511pa.com/NetworkCoverage/usingApp.aspx.

(800) FIX-ROAD Pothole Reports

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) receives information on needed pothole repair by telephone or e-mail. The service, that also includes reporting of stormwater and drainage concerns and traffic-

related concerns, or property damage incurred by PennDOToperations, is available at (800) FIX-ROAD, (800) 349-7623 or www.dot.state.pa.us/Internet/web.nsf/HomepageWithFooter?OpenFrameSet&Frame=main&Src=%2FInternet%2Fweb.nsf%2FContactUsCCC%3FOpenForm%26AutoFramed.

Municipal road issues should be reported to local governments.

Services Expansion of Free Southern Chester County Ride For Health Initiative

The Transportation Management Association of Chester County (TMACC) and the Phoenixville Community Health Foundation have expanded their Ride for Health Initiative

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(RFHI) in Southern Chester County to include trips for human and social services needs in addition to the earlier healthcare focus.

The service provides taxi or public transit trips for eligible residents of Avon Grove, Kennett, Oxford and Unionville-Chadds Ford school districts to health and human and social services sites, including those in Kennett Square, West Chester and Coatesville.

Scheduled transportation is available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays from Kennett Area Community Service, 136 West Cedar Street, Kennett Square. Earlier information is available at http://origin.library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1102570574404-

1463/FREE+Medical+Transportation.pdf or (610) 925-3556. Information also is available from partner agencies at http://origin.library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1102570574404-

1419/RFHI+Flyer+%28English%29_8+23+13.pdf. Information on a similar Phoenixville area initiative that has been in existence since 2000 is available at http://origin.library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1102570574404-

1464/ride+for+health+brochure.pdf.

Please Note: New and Updated tags refer only to the time of appearance of information in these E-Updates. Some on-going activities may have been in existence for some time and are being listed for aware-ness.

Letting People Know/Making a Difference - Ongoing Feedback indicates that a lack of communications tools is a primary deficiency in bringing community services providers and those needing information together. If you know of an activity designed to have a real impact on families (this includes individuals and youth) that we should be aware of or might be interested in reporting in these periodic e-mail updates, please let me know, either with details or a web site link. In order to maintain its value, this forum currently is a subjective, selective distribution so all information submitted may not be used. Also, if you know someone who might be helped by these periodic updates, please forward all or selected portions as you feel appropriate. If you would like to be added to or removed from this list, please hit reply and advise by typing "Subscribe" or "Unsubscribe" or something similar in the Subject line. Events listed are based on subject matter related to activities impacting families and is based on information reported to us. No endorsement is made or implied. Suggestions for improvements are encouraged. We currently are developing a more advanced electronic communications method for this type of material that will have more expansive yet less obtrusive characteristics. Please stay tuned. To submit materials for publication, please refer to the guidelines that follow.

Blessings Casey

Casey Jones Transformation Initiative Building Healthy Communities Through Healthy Families (610) 707-1494 / bps461@msn.com

General Guidelines for Information Submission: Submission up to two to three months prior to the event is encouraged to increase exposure for new subscribers, persons who don't read the list every week, and for other organizations that want to avoid scheduling opposite an

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event or might want to collaborate with another in the area. For annual events, longer lead times may be appropriate. Our deadline generally is the Friday before the week of publication. A general idea of the information needed (many submit too little for the consumer to understand what actually is occurring and why they might like to attend) can be obtained by perusing the publications or using the following guide:

Please use full names followed, if appropriate, by acronyms in parenthesis.

• Name of Event:

• Date(s) - Include both day(s) of week and actual dates:

• Times (Starting and ending):

• Location (Including any applicable room number, particularly in a large facility, and a Mapquest or Google

Maps searchable address:

• Sponsoring Organization(s), if not part of the location address:

• Participant Eligibility (Ages, gender, etc.):

• Description of Activities and, as applicable, the presenter and the purpose of the event (Two to three descriptive sentences with the most appealing information; please avoid superfluous words such as "wonderful", "great", etc.):

• Any Fees, including free-will offerings:

• Contact name, e-mail, telephone, along with any web page that is focused primarily on the specific

activity:

• Any registration requirements:

We generally use only free activities of a non-commercial nature or those in which a very small materials fee is charged.

• Fund-raising activities generally are not published unless there is a good mixture of free activities also

available, including free admission, and a participant has the choice of purchasing incidental items, such as food or crafts.

• Church events generally are published only if they are separate from normal weekly worship services.

Due to the wide variety of activities available, decisions on publication ultimately are determined on a case-by-case basis in context with focus of the publications.