Bentley Systems

The Exton-based software company has signed an agreement to acquire a water modeling software business in Portugal called ACTION Modulers. The research and development team at ACTION Modulers – founded in 2004 with strong connections to the University of Lisbon’s School of Engineering – has built a strong reputation for expertise in applying numerical modeling tools to complex water situations.

These include:

• flooding from overflowing drainage systems
• environmental impacts of pollutants distributed by waterflow, tides, and winds
• operational flood early warning systems for valuable resources

The team members of ACTION Modulers are regular participants in European Union-funded research projects.

Benchmark Federal Credit Union

Benchmark’s float at the West Chester Christmas Parade earlier this month was full of sparkle, as well as the spirit of giving.

About 40,000 people enjoyed the parade in the borough, where Benchmark sponsored the Toyland Division and piled more than $1,000 worth of toys on its float, themed “Santa’s Workshop.”

Last week, Benchmark donated the gifts to the Giving Tree, which serves communities in need and is run by Residence Life staffers and students at West Chester University.

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YMCA of Greater Brandywine

The season of giving started early for 650 local children.

Through its partnership with the Delaware Valley Children’s Charity and Gaudenzia, the West Chester Area YMCA was able to collect presents for 650 children in need. More than 20 volunteers recently loaded the presents into moving trucks to ensure a speedy delivery.

The event was made possible thanks to several local partnerships.

Family Promise of Southern Chester County

Pets with a Promise – a program launched with the help of a grant from PetSmart Charities, the leading funder of animal welfare in North America – will disburse $2,500 to FPSCC, a Kennett Square-based nonprofit that helps families experiencing homelessness.

The funds will allow families to keep their pets while working toward independence in the program. They will allow FPSCC to offer direct services to families with pets, including boarding, vaccinations, veterinary care, pet supplies, and transportation related to boarding or fostering.

This program continues a five-year effort to address the heartbreaking choice that families often face when losing their homes: to seek shelter or to keep their beloved pet.

“Just because children and their families lose their homes, they should not have to lose their pets,” said Family Promise President Claas Ehlers. “PetSmart Charities recognizes that its resources can prevent that additional trauma for families and keep the whole family – including its four-legged members – together.”

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Octorara Homeland Security and Protective Services Academy

Josh Ruger, a student from the academy, has successfully completed the psychomotor and academic requirements to earn his NREMT-Basic. (The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians is a certification agency covering pre-hospital medical providers.) Along with his national credentials, he has been assigned his Pennsylvania-specific license.

Ruger is the first cadet from the academy to accomplish this task. NREMT was established in 1970 in response to a recommendation from President Lyndon Johnson’s Committee on Highway Traffic Safety that a national certifying agency for EMTs be created in order to establish and standardize training requirements.

NREMT recognizes four levels of EMT: EMR, Basic, Intermediate, and Paramedic.

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