VISTA Today Daily News Business Briefs are concise stories that bring you up to date with what’s going on around Chester County

Pope Scheduled to Visit Wynnewood

While the Pope may not actually set foot in Chester County this visit, he will not be far away. As part of his tour for the World Meeting of Families, he is holding a meeting with bishops at Wynnewood on September 27, at 9:15am.

This will make him the fifth Pope to visit the Main Line. According to the seminary, which is the oldest Catholic organization of higher learning in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Popes Pius XII,Paul VI, John Paul II, and Benedict XVI have also paid visits.

As a part of his whirlwind U.S. visit, the Pope is going to hold two masses, one at the Cathedral of Sts Peter and Paul in Center City on September 26, at 4:45pm, and on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on September 27, at 4pm.

Milltown Dam Under Review

The Milltown dam has been given two options by the Pennsylvania Department of Environment, either invest in strengthening it, or remove it altogether.

The issue is whether the dam is strong enough to withstand a 100-year storm. The Great Flood of 1889 came from this kind of storm, after the catastrophic failure of the South Fork Dam on the Little Conemaugh River flooded Johnstone and killed over 2,000 people.

If the dam were to burst, then 39 homes and 5 businesses are at risk. For nearby residents, the removal of the dam could significantly impact their property value making it a contentious issue.

“It’s been a hot topic,” said Martin Shane, chairman of the East Goshen Township Board of Supervisors. “In the course of 30 years, either one of these decisions about the dam will be the hardest I’ve ever made. I’m empathetic to people on both sides of the issue.”

Boscov’s and Sears Holding on at Granite Run Mall.

With the common areas of the Granite Run Mall in Middletown now closed, its two anchor stores, Boscov’s and Sears, continue to be open for business, with access directly from the parking lot.

The mall has been a focal point for the community for most of its 41 year history. Also planning to remain on the site for now,are the stand-alone Kohl’s, Acme and Sears Automotive facilities, as well as the PennDOT center.

The new owners, BET Investments, bought the property in 2014 for over $24 million and are looking to redevlop the site with a $20 million investment. The plan would transform the property into a walkable outdoor mall with stores, restaurants and entertaiment options.

“I remember when Granite Run first opened. It was a destination. It’s sad to see it close,” said Marianne Kirby Rhodes of Springfield, “Now there’s nowhere to go but up.”

Lamb McErlane Partner Receives Community Award

Guy Donatelli has been awarded the Lionville Community YMCA’s Volunteer of the Year for Social Responsibility.

A partner in the litigation department of Lamb McErlane law firm, Guy also currently serves as the Lionville Community YMCA’s Branch Board President.

“We congratulate Guy on this well-deserved award,” commented Lamb McErlane PC’s managing partner, “This award speaks to the dedication that Guy exemplifies in the community.”

Sunoco Addresses Local Concerns on the Pipeline

Sunoco Logistics held an open house meeting for local residents last Wednesday which was attended by a packed house of over 100 people in Delaware County. The open house Q&A followed a short presentation from Sunoco, not unlike the meeting at West Chester University the Monday before.

The Mariner East 2 pipeline project has been acquiring property rights throughout the pipeline’s corridor. The meeting was intended to clearly address the concerns of property owners, public officials and other interested parties.

As with most major projects, there are people on both sides of the topic. “I’m very optimistic about everything that’s going on here,” said Bill Adams, IBEW 654 president. “It’s a shining example of putting local labor to work.”

Maya van Rossum, a nearby resident said “They don’t want to recognize that when a pipeline cuts through a community, it cuts through a whole community,” Sunoco is looking at several ways to ease the project into the area including landscaping work to make it less intrusive.

Frontline Technologies has the best K-12 Enterprise Solution

Malvern based Frontline Technologies, has won the SIIA CODiE Award for the best K-12 enterprise solution.

The human resources software provider won the award for its MyLearningPlan program, that streamlines management of needs assessments, PD planning and registration, team-based and individual professional learning.

“We are honored that the MyLearningPlan tools were chosen for a CODiE award,” said Chief Strategy Officer Elizabeth Combs. “Our team has worked hard to build solutions that are flexible, easy to use and meet the needs of our customers, so we are thrilled and grateful to receive this recognition from our own industry peers.”