Concise reports on what’s happening around Chester County.

First Report Issued by Lyme Disease Task force

On Thursday, State Senator Andy Dinniman, and Pennsylvania Physician General, Dr. Rachel Levine, together with local health officials and Lyme disease advocates participated in a panel discussion on the Lyme Disease Task Force Report issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

Over 50 residents attended the event held at the Township Building of New Garden, where much of the discussion focused on the need for more research, better testing and increased access to treatment.

The report, released in October, is the first comprehensive report on this vicious disease in Pennsylvania.

“A significant amount of time, energy and research went into this report and we are committed to ensuring that this report does not collect dust on a shelf in Harrisburg,” stated Dinniman, who co-sponsored Act 83 and serves on the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee.  “This discussion is one of the initial steps in that ongoing effort.”

Urban Centers Forum Reaffirms Growth Philosophies for Chesco

VISTA 2025 and Landscapes 2, two key philosophies which are guiding the future of Chester County came together during an Urban Centers Forum at the Chester County Historical Society in West Chester.

Both visions see the County’s urban centers as key in the development and growth over the next decade, especially in attracting the next generation of workers and relieving part of the pressure to keep developing on currently open spaces.

In order to help achieve this, representatives of all 15 Chester County boroughs and the City of Coatesville came together during the Forum to exchange experiences and learn from each other.

Two experts on urban area development also offered their opinions, with Todd Poole of 4ward Planning saying that national trends are moving in the same direction, while Rick Ferrell of Retail Answers, talked about “growth by choice, not by chance.”

Chelsea Maselli Opens Main Line Gymnastics

Award winning gymnast and WCU alumni, Chelsea Maselli, has decided to turn her lifelong passion into a new business by opening the new Main Line Gymnastics studio in the 500 block of East Union Street in West Chester.

While Maselli is in charge of the teaching and coaching, her life and business partner Nick DiBerardinis takes care of the business side which includes billing, taxes, and bookkeeping.

In addition to recreational gymnastics, tumbling and free play classes for boys and girls of all ages, the new studio also offers special events such as birthday parties, open play, and field trips, as well as competitive team coaching.

“I knew I wanted to be a certain kind of coach, so I had to open my own place,” said Maselli. “I used every school project to explore the idea and developed my business plan that way.”

Paul Varki Hired as Senior Vice President and General Counsel at Egalet

Egalet Corporation has appointed Paul C. Varki, J.D., M.P.H, as Senior Vice President and General Counsel, where he will be reporting directly to Bob Radie, the President, and Chief Executive Officer.

Varki joined the specialty pharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing innovative treatments for pain and other conditions from GlaxoSmithKline, where he worked as Assistant General Counsel, providing legal support for research and development. His previous experience also includes positions as Senior Counsel for the vaccines business, Counsel for Marketed Products, and Regulatory Counsel for the FDA.

“We are excited to have Paul join our leadership team,” said Bob Radie, President, and CEO of Egalet. “His relevant legal, commercial, and regulatory experience will be invaluable as we continue to develop our Guardian Technology pipeline, commercialize our products and grow our business.”

Construction on Sewer Line Tunnel Starts in Coatesville

Pennsylvania American Water started boring a tunnel on Monday, as part of the project that is installing a new sewer main along and underneath Valley Road.

The crew is using a Microtunnel boring machine to create a 60-inch diameter hole at depths of up to 42 feet to make room for the installation of a casing pipe. When complete, it will house the new sanitary sewer pipe.

The beginning of the tunnel is at a shaft near 400 block of Valley Road, the tunneling will then progress around 1,000 feet westward to another shaft near the back entrance to ArcelorMittal, commented Todd Brown, a project manager with Bradshaw Construction Corporation, the contractors on the project.

The process will take around six weeks, and aims to be completed by Christmas. “It will go as fast as the rock will let us,” added Brown.