Chester County Commissioners

Favorable market conditions combined with the reaffirmation of three Triple-A bond ratings resulted in approval by the commissioners of an ordinance authorizing a bond issue to refinance debt. Projected savings on the issuance could be $9.5 million, according to Glen Williard, Managing Director of PFM Financial Advisors.

In a presentation to the commissioners, Williard noted that the reaffirmed Triple-A rating status meant that Chester County’s refinancing would be at rates lower than any other municipality in the state.

Chester County is the only county in Pennsylvania – and one of 48 counties nationwide – that can claim the distinction of earning three Triple-A ratings from the leading agencies Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s, and Fitch Ratings. This places Chester County in the top two percent of counties across America that have consistently earned these top ratings.

Chester County Library

The library has been selected as one of 16 public libraries nationwide to receive a $10,000 American Dream Literacy Initiative grant from the American Library Association (ALA) and Dollar General Literacy Foundation. The Chester County Library was selected through a competitive, peer-reviewed application process. Nearly 100 public libraries applied for the 16 available grants, according to the ALA Public Programs Office.

The Chester County Library is a close partner with the Chester County Opportunities Industrialization Center (CC-OIC), a nonprofit dedicated to providing free adult basic literacy education and life skills programs that prepare individuals for employment leading to economic self-sufficiency. The library supports adult literacy through its Adult Graded Reading collection, and by providing office space, computers, supplies, and other amenities for the Program Coordinator of the Adult Tutoring Program.

With this grant funding, the library will expand and update its literacy collection, offer free workbooks to currently enrolled CC-OIC students, establish a dedicated ESL kiosk with interactive learning features, and support English tutoring pairs in the library with new iPads and other technology.

Immaculata University

The university announced that it will begin offering a second-degree Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program. The ABSN is a full-time program designed for students and professionals, who already have a bachelor’s degree in another discipline, to earn a BSN degree in as few as 15 months.

The degree consists of a minimum of 128 credits, of which 55 will be designated for nursing courses offered at the school. The remaining credits may consist of previous coursework completed through an earned bachelor’s degree. Graduates receive a BSN degree and are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses.

Immaculata’s ABSN program is currently accepting applications, and the first class will begin in January 2020. Also, students who need prerequisite courses can take them at Immaculata for the discounted rate of $250 per credit.

National Ag Day

The Chester County Commissioners recently recognized the county’s agricultural economic strength and abundance with a proclamation in support of National Ag Day (March 14).

“Even though we are celebrating a little early, with agriculture’s contribution to our daily lives, I don’t think there is a wrong day to honor our county’s top industry,” said Agricultural Development Council Director Hillary Krummrich.

As part of the commissioners’ recognition of National Ag Day, Krummrich introduced representatives from the agricultural community who won top awards at this year’s Pennsylvania Farm Show. The winners, who represent the quality and diversity of farming in the Chester County, are:

• David and Kaitlin Bell of B&R Angus (beef cattle)
• Kyle MacCauley of MacCauley Suffolks (sheep)
• Richard Hostetter of The Farm at Doe Run (cheese)

Chester County Beekeepers Association

The association will host its 2019 Beekeeping Conference on Saturday, March 9 from 8 AM-5 PM at the Merion Science Center at West Chester University.

Speakers include:

• Margarita M. López-Uribe, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the Department of Entomology at Penn State
• Grant Stiles, the owner-operator of Stiles Honey, a commercial operation of 4,000-plus beehives located in Fords, N.J.
• Samuel Ramsey, Ph.D., Entomologist, USDA-ARS Bee Research Lab in Beltsville, Md.

Listen to and learn from some of the best in the beekeeping world. The event will offer three participation levels so as to best address an attendee’s needs. Click here for more information.

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