VISTA Today Business Briefs keep you  up to date with the smaller things happening around Chester County. This Morning:

Main Line Touts 7 Beer Events Not to be Missed

Promising the best season yet for beer-lovers from Conshohocken to Kennett, the Main Line is holding a plethora of fun festivals as a part of its timeless tradition of Oktoberfest.

The season starts on September 27 with the Downingtown FallFest, a street festival showcasing local flavors followed by the King of Prussia Beerfest Royale on October 3. This event will allow visitors to sample incredible beer from local and regional craft and hard-to-find international brands under grand tents, outside the King of Prussia Mall.

For the really thirsty, the Pottstown Brew Fest on October 4 boasts unlimited sampling of over 100 beers and ciders. Following that, the Kennett Brewfest is celebrating 18 years on October 10 joined by the Upper Main Line Rotary’s Oktoberfest on the same date. The season will finish with the Conshohocken Beer Festival on October 17.

BB&T Cuts more Jobs, but not in Chester County

As part of its efforts to integrate the newly acquired Susquehanna Bancshares into its operations, BB&T Corp. has decided to close a loan processing center in Hagerstown, Maryland, cutting 140 more jobs.

According to BB&T spokesman David White the majority of the affected employees, work in an administrative and support capacity and were notified about the cuts last week. These reductions come hot on the heels of the announcement that the bank will cut 89 jobs in Susquehanna’s main office in Lititz, Lancaster County.

Some analysts have predicted that close to 1,000 Susquehanna employees could potentially lose their jobs in the wake of the $2.5 billion merger with more cuts expected once BB&T tries to absorb its additional recently announced $1.8 billion acquisition of National Penn Bancshares.

BB&T has said it still expects to retain all Susquehanna’s “high-performing, direct client-facing associates and revenue producers.”

Philly.com Offers Suggestions on How to Avoid the Papal Visit Madness  

In a feature attempting to help out residents who are dreading the influx of out-of-towners and excessive amounts of porta-potties, Philly.com has compiled a list of six ways to avoid the hectic elements of the weekend.

Besides the obvious option of leaving town for a few days and enjoying locations such as Cape May or scenic Charlottesville, the article also suggests several concert options to “drown out the sound”, and a shopping spree in a nearby outlet mall like Philadelphia Premium Outlets.

Other solutions include staying on the Delaware River waterfront with plenty happening on both sides of the river, and supporting the Flyers as they take on the New York Islanders on Friday, September 25 or to ‘make a run for it,’ literally, as there are a number of runs ranging from 3km to half marathons on Saturday and Sunday.  

Pre-budget Workshop Held by Coatesville City Council

In preparation for the process of adopting the final budget for 2016, Coatesville City Council held a “pre-budget workshop” on September 21.

During the workshop, information on the early steps of the budget process and an idea of what finances for the city will look like next year was presented to the council by Finance Director John Marcarelli.

He warned that Coatesville could be looking at $10.6 million in expenses for 2016, and might face a structural deficit due to expenses being higher than revenue. In the past, money from the City Reserve Trust Fund, which currently has a balance of around $5.5 million, was used and Marcarelli suggested the same be done this time to pay for capital expenses.

“Actually making capital expenditures with that trust fund where you’re buying an asset is a financially legitimate thing to do” he said, “as opposed to using it to pay your operating expenses.”

Brewer Memorial Baptist Church Celebrates 100 years

Established in 1915 by Reverend Edwin D. Brewer, the Brewer Memorial Baptist Church, formally the First Baptist Church of Stottsville is celebrating a 100 years since it was founded.

However, according to an article found in the Archives at the Chester County Historical Society and published in the Coatesville Record Newspaper, it was not until June 7, 1923, that the actual cornerstone of the historic building was laid in front of a large crowd of well-wishers from all races.

The roads were lined thick with automobiles, wrote the Parkesburg correspondent, and the people braved the torrid heat of the afternoon to aid with their presence and financial help. The ‘laying the foundation stone’ ceremony for the new place of worship was performed by Reverend Edwin D. Brewer side by side with other dignitaries from the region.