Events and are in addition to those described within this E-Update.

They will be
occurringduring the current two-week period or are newly listed as part of the longer term
Calendar.
These activities are provided for both personal use and printing out and sharing with others
through suggested posting on public and employee bulletin boards, hard copies or e-mail.

Updated: This Weeks Calendar of Events Activities (Found in Calendar of Events)

FARM Regional Market Pottstown.

Preschool Story Time West Chester (East Goshen Township).

Bird Walks Audubon.

Quilt Exhibit Pottstown.

Gospel Roller Coaster Upper Darby.

Personal Finance Classes Pottstown and Norristown.

American Revolution History Events King of Prussia (Valley Forge).

PA CareerLink and Job Search Services Area Counties.

Fall Reading and Children Programs Area Libraries.

Look Good, Feel Better for Women Various Locations.

Power of Kids Play Presentation West Chester.

Pleasure Unwoven Addictions Film Screening Exton/Lionville.

Writers Open Mike Phoenixville.

General Election Registration Deadline Online and County Voter Registration
Offices.

Financial Planning for Individuals with Special Needs Forum Downingtown.

State Rep. Lewis Senior Expo Downingtown.

Community Services Expo Phoenixville.

Parent Cafe Pottstown.

Medicare Update Workshop Boyertown.

World War II Homefront Presentation Chester Springs (Ludwigs Corner).

State Rep. Lewis Job Fair Coatesville.

Flu Vaccine Clinics Gilbertsville and Blue Bell.

We Need to Talk About Injustice Race Forum Kennett Square.

Murder Mystery Party Exton.

Fire Prevention Night West Chester.

Mental Health First Aid Training South Coatesville.

Pumpkin Festival West Chester.

Sensory Play Day Glenmoore.

Vietnam Memorial Re-Dedication Chadds Ford.
Updated: Next Weeks Calendar of Events Activities (Found in Calendar of Events)

Preschool Story Time West Chester (East Goshen Township).

Bird Walks Audubon.

Quilt Exhibit Pottstown.

Gospel Roller Coaster Upper Darby.

Personal Finance Classes Pottstown and Norristown.

American Revolution History Events King of Prussia (Valley Forge).

PA CareerLink and Job Search Services Area Counties.

Fall Reading and Children Programs Area Libraries.

Look Good, Feel Better for Women Various Locations.

Fire Prevention Open House Kennett Square.

Fall Harvest Villanova.

Substance Abuse Prevention Summit Drexel Hill.

Mobile Job Lab Boyertown.

























New:

Flu Immunization Clinic King of Prussia (Upper Marion Township).

Pardons and Expungements Workshop Coatesville.
Artist N.C. Wyeth Insights Presentation Oxford.
Supporting Families and Trauma Forum Pottstown.
Work and Social Security Disabilities Chat-n-Chew West Chester.
Social Security Strategy Presentation Chester Sprints (Ludwigs Corner).
Birth Certificate Clinic Coatesville.
Small Business Expo Pottstown.
From Doodles to Drawings for Preschoolers West Chester.
Autumn Fest Wayne.
Prescription Drug Take Back Day Many Area Locations.
Observatory Dedication Holtwood Rescheduled Event.
Future Weeks Events and Activities (View in Calendar of Events)
Halloween Murder Mystery Party Chester Springs (Ludwigs Corner).
Bridges Out of Poverty Orientation Pottstown.
Eyewitness to Pearl Harbor Videoconference Chester Springs (Ludwigs Corner).
Frida Kahlo Art History Presentation Chester Springs (Ludwigs Corner).
Presidential Greatness Presentation Phoenixville.
Veterans Day Parade West Chester.
Vietnam Memorial Collection Presentation Chester Springs (Ludwigs Corner).
PA CareerLink Job and Career Fair Exton.

Activities Submission - Organizations are encouraged to submit information about ongoing services and activities, along with special events, as soon as possible after establishing a
date to maximize publicity and to help individuals and other organizations with planning
processes for their own events.
Formats for submission should be similar to and include all information as that shown on the
current, accompanying Calendar of Events. Further information about submissions appears
at the end of this E-Update and the Calendar. Information should be submitted to
bps461@msn.com. Don't let your important activity be left unknown.

Receive Early Alerts During the Week on Many of These and Other Stories

Our E-Update, Calendar of Events and E-Update ResourcesTM, along with many
supplemental updates, are available at www.facebook.com/TransformationIni.
Like the page; otherwise, Facebook picks and chooses what information you
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NEW THIS WEEK: CARN Adopts System of Care Approach for Education
Coatesville Area Resource Network (CARN) of services providers and interested persons is
joining a System of Care approach to education this month based on four life stages:
senior, adult, youth and children, with monthly topics rotating through these stages.
Important Changes in Health Care Coverages will be the topic for the Wednesday,
October 19, meeting from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the 4th Floor Conference Room,
Brandywine Center, 744 East Lincoln Highway, Coatesville.

Antoinette Kraus, director of the Pennsylvania Health Access Network, will discuss the latest
developments in regard to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Health Insurance Marketplace,
changing coverages and providers, rates, free consumer ACA counseling assistance and
more.
Ted Pawlik from Chester County's APPRISE volunteer Medicare counseling also will provide
information on primary component changes of that program and the group's free senior
counseling services.
Medicare open enrollment runs from Saturday, October 15, through Wednesday,
December 7, with ACA enrollment from Tuesday, November 1, through Tuesday,
January 31.
The new format is similar to that developed by the Chester County Faith Community Health
Ministry Network that alternates monthly meetings between West Chester and Kennett
Square and work over the past several months by the Inter Gen Coalition in Kennett
Square.
Each group will be exploring different topics within the four life stages, providing even
broader opportunities for development of community-wide, community-based,
intergenerational and multicultural person-centered Systems of Care.
CARN meetings also include a Problem Corner at which provider representatives can bring
unresolved issues they may need assistance in finding answers to, and a Community
Happenings component that includes announcements and distribution of fliers and other
materials about current or upcoming activities.
Further information about the free session, which includes light refreshments, is available
from Kathryn Spurlock, a group facilitator, at ccch@comcast.net or (610) 380-7111 x16.

NEW THIS WEEK: Pennsylvania Government Needs a Green Christmas

Pennsylvania government will be looking for a green Christmas this year. Otherwise, it may
need to cut back on spending after the first of the year to overcome revenues that continue
to come in below original estimate levels.
State Revenue Department says it has received $218.5 million less than anticipated during
the 2016-2017 fiscal year, with most revenue sources being below projections.
The Pennsylvania General Assembly approved a $31.5 billion budget before the start of the
July fiscal year, with a $1.3 billion revenue gap. Gov. Tom Wolf let it become law without
his signature, with the legislature then putting together enough revenues to supposedly
balance the package.
The report on September state revenues is at www.media.pa.gov/Pages/RevenueDetails.aspx?newsid=178, with a report on state officials' comments in regard to the
numbers at www.cpbj.com/article/20161005/CPBJ01/161009915/pa-revenue-shortfallcontinues?utm_source=CPBJ+Morning+Roundup&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=http%3A
%2F%2Fwww.cpbj.com%2Farticle%2F20161005%2FCPBJ01%2F161009915%2Fparevenue-shortfall-continues&utm_campaign=Mixeduse+development+moves+ahead+in+Susquehanna+Township.

A prior report on formulation of this year's revenue projections is at

www.pennlive.com/news/2016/07/pa_budget_revenues_13b.html#0.

NEW THIS WEEK: State Lowers Time Element for Divorces Based on Separations
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf has approved legislation, to take effect in December, to
lower the length of time for a no fault divorce based on separation from two years to one
years.
Details of the legislation are at www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?
syear=2015&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=380, with information on eight other new laws
at www.governor.pa.gov/governor-wolf-signs-eight-bills-into-law.

NEW LAST WEEK: Nickel Mines School House Shooting 10 Years Later
Foregiveness frees us to move forward, but it doesn't take away all the pain resonates
throughout a LancasterOnline series that commemorates the 10th anniversary of the Nickel
Mines School House shootings in Bart, Eastern Lancaster County.
Reflections, including video interviews, of the impact on the children, survivors now being
teenagers and young adults, their families, the shooter's wife and mother, first responders,
the Amish community and more are available at
http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/years-after-nickel-mines-forgiveness-frees-us-tomove-forward/article_7e896608-873d-11e6-9ff3cfbfbcc825b6.html#utm_source=lancasteronline.com&utm_campaign=%2Fnewsletters
%2Fnews%2F&utm_medium=email&utm_content=headline.

NEW LAST WEEK: Pennsylvania Nursing Home Use Above National Average
Older Pennsylvanians are using nursing home and residential care, at both 65 years and
85 years and above, at a significantly higher rates than the national average.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has provided the information in a new
report, Providers and Users of Long-Term Care Services in Pennsylvania, by Sector and
Selected Characteristics, 2013 2014.
It is available at www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nsltcp/2014_nsltcp_state_tables.pdf, with graphics
starting at Page 4 and data on at Page 187.

NEW LAST WEEK: Phoenxville Area Health Philanthropy Strategies Described

Insights into Phoenixville area community-focused health philanthropy strategies has been
described in a new article for grant makers.
Louis J. Beccaria, Ph.D., president of the Phoenixville Community Health Foundation, writing
in Grant Makers Health, says that "(c)ommunity-focused health philanthropy is a
philanthropic style that enables you to tackle important local health issues, has a sense of
mission and urgency about it, has some reasonable prospect of making a difference, and
creates a practical effect on a defined geographical area."
The foundation leader describes the organization's focuses and results, including a goal of
future development of a Phoenixville Multi-Service Center, a place for co-located health and
human services that will promote inter-agency cooperation and is walkable and close to

public transportation for low-income people who need services and lack their own private
transportation, at www.gih.org/Publications/ViewsDetail.cfm?itemnumber=8259.

NEW LAST WEEK: Some Pennsylvania School Test Scores Are Better; Others Need
Improvement
School-level results of the 2016 Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) and the
Keystone Exams have been released by the state education department.
The 2016 PSSA data indicates that more students are scoring proficient or advanced than in
2015 in nearly all categories of English language arts and math, according to the
department but "statewide results also show there is more work to do to help the students
scoring in the basic or below basic levels."
PSSA is administered in grades three through eight in English language arts (ELA) and
mathematics. The spring administration of the assessment was the second year that the
test was aligned to the more rigorous Pennsylvania Core Standards. The PSSA science
assessments administered in grades four and eight were unchanged.
Downloadable results for school districts are available at
www.education.pa.gov/Pages/PSSA-Information.aspx#tab-1, with state comments at
www.media.pa.gov/Pages/education-Details.aspx?newsid=256.

NEW LAST WEEK: Lancaster Churches Collaboration Celebrates 10 Years of Free

Before-School Childcare
A Mornings On Orange Street collaboration of two Lancaster churches is being celebrated
after nearly 10 years of providing free before-school childcare.
Covenant United Methodist Church and Community Mennonite Church of Lancaster started
the ministry after being approached by a neighborhood school administrator concerned
about parents who needed to get to work dropping of children at the school in all types of
weather well before the start of classes.
A report on the initiative from LancasterOnline is available at
www.lancasteronline.com/features/together/free-before-school-childcare-provided-bylancaster-city-churches-helps/article_d9930086-8116-11e6-b518-6ff2302e5002.html.

Two Eastern Lancaster County Faith-Based Agencies to Merge

Two nonprofit ministries in Eastern Lancaster County will merge in January to help avoid
duplication, eliminate confusion, streamline operations, increase impact and "serve the
community in a greater capacity.
LancasterOnline reports that Elanco Social Services Network and Cross Connection Ministries
(CCM) of New Holland will become CrossNet Ministries in an effort to provide a more
streamlined approach to serving economically challenged individuals.
Bryan Naranjo, chairman of the CCM board of directors is quoted as saying the merger
means two healthy organizations, (that) are already complementing each other in many
ways, now get the opportunity to serve the community in a greater capacity."

Further information on the organizations, which already provide extensive services to

individuals and families, is available at
www.lancasteronline.com/features/faith_values/elanco-social-services-network-and-crossconnection-ministries-to-become/article_9386ef1e-8100-11e6-9679-930db070e030.html.

Annual Fall Foliage Tracking Report Now Available - Weekly

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) has published
its first weekly Fall Foliage Map and Report, along with other fall color information, with
updates available weekly at www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/stateforests/fallfoliage.

UPDATED THIS WEEK: New Observatory in Holtwood Saturday, October 22

A new $250,000 observatory will be dedicated from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. October 22, at Muddy
Run Park, said to be "one of the darkest night skies in Lancaster County". The event has
been re-rescheduled from October 8 due to weather, with an inclement weather date now
also set for Saturday, October 29.
The 172 Bethesda Church Road West location in Holtwood will be open to the public only on
certain days, with the next opportunity just before Christmas.
Further information is available at www.lancasteronline.com/insider/truly-dark-skies-exelonbuilding-new-observatory-at-muddy-run/article_342c249a-7aba-11e6-b1e3c36a2577b1fd.html, www.rittenhouseastronomicalsociety.org or (610) 715-6853.

New Federal Overtime Rules to Hit Businesses Effective Thursday, December 1

Some 150 Lancaster area employers have been given a preview of new federal overtime
rules that were described as having varied impact on employers, from minimal to major, but
at least some impact for most.
The free session fby the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce & Industry for area businesses
and nonprofit representatives delved into December 1 compliance for new federal Labor
Department regulations that more than doubles, to $47,475 a year, the salary threshold in
order to exempt white collar workers from receiving overtime, provides automatic updates
to that wage every three years, and more.
Attendees were advised that the federal department now initiates over 40 percent of its
increasing number of investigations into minimum wage violations and finds violations
nearly 80 percent of the time, resulting in fines, penalties and back wages levies, with
telecommuting now becoming an increasing area of concern.
Tom Baldrige, president and CEO of the Lancaster chamber, told the Central Penn Business
Journal as saying the business community seems to be breaking into two camps owners
'who are aware and concerned, and those who are unaware and potentially at risk for not
adjusting to what this requires of them.
'This is a critical business-operations issue,' Baldrige is quoted as saying.
The business journal report is available at
www.cpbj.com/article/20160829/CPBJ01/160829822/lancaster-chamber-seminar-teachesovertime-101-to-business-leaders?
utm_source=CPBJ+Morning+Roundup&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=http%3a%2f

%2fwww.cpbj.com%2farticle%2f20160829%2fCPBJ01%2f160829822%2flancasterchamber-seminar-teaches-overtime-101-to-businessleaders&utm_campaign=Lancaster+chamber+seminar+teaches+
%27Overtime+101%27+to+business+leaders.
Frequently asked questions about the new rules, the first changes to the white collar
exemptions since 2004, are available at www.dol.gov/whd/overtime/final2016/faq.htm.
Pennsylvania laws and rules, that also apply, are available at
www.dli.pa.gov/Individuals/Labor-Management-Relations/llc/minimumwage/Pages/default.aspx.

UPDATED THIS WEEK: Community Organization Networking Connection Meetings

(Regular Meeting Dates are Subject to Change)
Chester County Faith Community Health Ministry Network meets from 11:30 a.m. to
12:45 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month with a bring-your-own-lunch format, a new
time and day, from September through June, alternating between Kennett Square and West
Chester. Pastors, ministry leaders and other interested individuals learn about various
health issues and exchange information on promotion of holistic health within faith
congregations and communities and development of additional faith community nurses, also
known as parish nurses, along with intergenerational and multicultural care for four life
stages: children, teens, adults and seniors. On October 4, Debbie Thompson from the
Chester County Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) will discuss Mental
Health Awareness and a System of Care Approach to Care. Further information is available
from Joan Holliday at dochollisv@aol.com or (610) 717-2180.
Chester County Family and Community Partnership meets from 10 a.m. to noon on
the first Friday of February, April, June, August, October and December at the Government
Services Center, 601 Westtown Road, West Chester. The group is a diverse partnership of
individuals, families, community organizations, service agencies, businesses and funders
committed to empowering individuals and families in living self-sufficient, productive and
fulfilling lives. Additional information is available from Kathy Brauner at
kbrauner@chesco.org or (610) 344-5262.
Coatesville Area Resource Network (CARN) meets from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on the third
Wednesday of the month, except August and December, in the fourth floor conference room
at Brandywine Health Center at 744 East Lincoln Highway, Coatesville. Representatives of
community organizations hear presentations from various services providers, discuss ways
to develop effective systems of care, help identify solutions to specific issues, and exchange
information about current and upcoming activities. Further information is available from
Kathryn Spurlock at ccch@comcast.net or at (610) 380-7111 x16.
Berks-Lancaster-Lebanon Counties LINK to Aging and Disability Resources meets
from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month at various Lancaster area
locations, and from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on the third Tuesdays of the month at various
locations in Berks County for services cross-trainings and exchange of information on
creating a one-stop, no-wrong-door resources for older adults and adults with disabilities,
including consumers, family members and others, seeking information about local
resources. Further information is available at http://berkslancasterlebanonlink.org, or from
Brian Long, coordinator, at blllink@mail.com or (717) 380-9714.

On October 18, the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) will discuss its home
financing opportunities at a meeting at Penns Crossing, 1400 West Wyomissing Boulevard
(Route 724), West Lawn.
On October 20, Landis Communities and Conflict Resolution Services will present in the
Harvest View Building, Landis Communities, 1001 East Oregon Road, Lititz.
Bucks-Chester-Montgomery Counties LINK to Aging and Disability Resources
meets at 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at various dates and locations in the three counties. Further
information and suggested registration is available at
www.buckschestermontgomerylink.weebly.com, buckschestermontgomerylink@aim.com or
(484) 364-6981.
Phoenixville Area Resource Network (PARN) meets from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on the
fourth Tuesday of the month, except December, at the First United Methodist Church (north
entrance), 865 South Main Street, Phoenixville. Representatives of community organizations
exchange information about current and upcoming activities and hProear presentations from
various services providers. Additional information about the group is available from Debbie
Dundon at Open Hearth, Spring City, at debbie.openhearth@verizon.net or (610) 792-9282
x201.
Kennett Area Bridging the Community meets at 7 p.m. on the second Wednesdays of
January, March, May, July, September and November at various community locations with
any interested individual or organization welcome to attend and share information on
resources and needs that can build "bridges" toward a more integrated Kennett area
community. Additional information is available from Joan Holliday at dochollisv@aol.com or
(610) 717-2180. Minutes from prior meetings are available at
www.bridgingcommunity.com/bridging.php.
Communities That Care (CTC) groups in several Chester County school districts provide
networking opportunities for community organizations and individuals that use a planning
and mobilization model to promote healthy youth development and prevent and reduce
negative youth health and behavior issues that may include substance abuse, delinquency,
teen pregnancy, school drop-out, and violence.

West Chester CTC meets from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., on the second Thursday of
each month of the school year at the West Chester Area School District Spellman
Administrative Building, 829 Paoli Pike, West Chester. Lunch is provided by
reserving at rsvp@wcctc.org or (610) 359-5817.

Downingtown Area CTC meets from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. the third Tuesday of
the month from September through May. Further information and registration are
available at dtownctc@umly.org or (610) 458-9090 x2827.

Coatesville CTC Community Prevention Board, a body coterminous with the

Coatesville Youth Initiative Steering Committee, meets periodically in the fourth floor
Community Room, Brandywine Health Foundation, 744 East Lincoln Highway,
Coatesville. Further information and requested lunch reservations are available from
Jarvis Berry, CTC community mobilizer, at Jarvis@coatesvilleyouthinitiative.org or
(610) 380-0200.

UPDATED THIS WEEK: Support Groups for Unemployed and Underemployed Ongoing
Several networking/support groups (open to everyone) are available at area churches for
persons who are unemployed or unemployed, with each providing its own variety of specific
services in support of those who attend:

Downingtown (Lionville/Exton) Job-Seeker Group at Calvary Fellowship Church,

95 West Devon Drive (rear entrance) at Route 113 in Exton (Lionville) holds weekly
sessions as part of the churchs Care Mondays of supports. Further information is
available at www.cfdowningtown.com/caremondays or
barnabasgroup@cfdownington.com or (610) 363-7171.

Malvern Penn State Great Valleys Alumni Association and My Career Transitions
(MCT), an all-volunteer job counseling group, meets from 9:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
the second Saturday of the month, except August and December, in 130 Main
Building, Penn State Great Valley, 30 East Swedesford Road, Malvern, preceded by a
new member orientation at 8:30 a.m. On October 8, Lynne Williams will present
Strategic Research-based Approaches for LinkedIn. Further information and required
registration are available at http://mycareertransitions.com/new/?q=upcomingmeetings.

Wayne A one-on-one Employment Guidance Ministry, along with periodic special

employment related events to aid jobseekers is available at St. Davids Episcopal
Church, 763 South Valley Forge Road, Malvern. Further information is available from
George Vosburgh at gbvosburgh@aol.com or (610) 688-7947.

West Chester Unemployment support group meets bi-weekly from 5:45 p.m. to
7:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 130 West Miner Street, West Chester, to
learn tips and techniques related to job searches. Further information is available
from Elisabeth Hartwell at ehartwell@firstpreswc.com, at (610) 696-0554.

West Chester BarnabasWC group meets from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. Mondays,
except holidays, in the Community Room, Providence Church, 430 Hannum Avenue,
West Chester. Further information is available at www.barnabaswc.org or
info@barnabaswc.org.
Six Area Affiliates of Joseph's People meet during the month:
Berwyn/Main Line - 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays at the
Hagenbach Room, St. Monicas Church, 635 First Avenue. Further information is
available from Bob Schubert at bobschubertjr@aim.com or (610) 755-2398.
Central Delco Groups at three locations in Central Delaware County now
coordinate meetings in Media and Upper Darby at 7 p.m. on the first three Tuesdays
of the month. First Tuesday: St. Francis Room at St. Mary Magdalen Church,
2400 North Providence Road, Media, with further information at
smmemploy@gmail.com or (610) 873-7117. Second Tuesday: St. Laurence
Church Parish Hall - Rear Entrance, 8245 West Chester Pike, Upper Darby. On
October 22, Ernie Russom, executive director of executive search and staffing firm
The Westview Associates, will share Prepare for Effective Networking tips. Third
Tuesday: Hassler Chapel, Media Presbyterian Church, 30 East Baltimore Pike,
Media, with further information at robinst37@gmail.com.

Downingtown -- 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays, in the
Parish Meeting Room Rear of the School Property, St. Joseph's Parish, 338 Manor
Avenue (Route 322). Information about the affiliate is available by leaving a
message at (610) 873-7117. On October 25, the group will have a Share & Prayer
Night. Further information and required registration for limited seating are available
at www.josephspeople.org/retreat.
Upper Uwchlan Township 7 p.m. on the first and third Mondays at the School
Education Center, St. Elizabeths Catholic Church, 100 Fellowship Road, Chester
Springs. Further information is available at (610) 321-1200 or at
david.bolz@verizon.net.
Reading 7 p.m. to 8:30 pm. on the first and third Wednesdays at St Catharine's of
Siena Parish Center. 2427 Perkiomen Avenue, Reading. Further information is
available from John Senick, facilitator, at (610) 779-4005.
West Grove 6:45 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of the month from September to
June in the new Parish Life Center, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church,
300 State Road, West Grove. On October 26, Lou Pappa will provide A Message of
Hope & Inspiration, including how to overcome fear and anxiety during a job search.
Further information is available from John Colgan at johnfcolgan@gmail.com.
Additional information on all St. Josephs People chapters is available at
www.josephspeople.org.

UPDATED THIS WEEK: Free Job Assistance Workshops - October

Unemployed and underemployed persons seeking education and training in career planning,
along with employment assistance for veterans, ex-offenders and persons with disabilities,
can take advantage of a broad series of services and monthly workshops offered by the
Pennsylvania Department of Labor CareerLink at its Exton offices in Suite 500, 479 Thomas
Jones Way in the Oaklands Corporate Center.
These trainings include an orientation presentation as to services offered by the office.
A calendar of PA CareerLink-Chester County workshops for the current month is available at
www.chesco.org/DocumentCenter/View/35154.
A Job Openings Report for Chester County is available at
www.chesco.org/DocumentCenter/View/35159, with daily updates available through
www.cwds.state.pa.us.
Websites for additional county PA CareerLink offices in the area, at which many services are
available to out-of-county residents, include:
Berks: www.co.berks.pa.us/Dept/CareerLink/Pages/default.aspx
Delaware: www.delcoworks.org
Lancaster: www.jobs4lancaster.com
Montgomery: www.montcopa.org/index.aspx?NID=1024

Opioid Crisis Hitting White, Middle-Class in Non-Urban Settings, with Health Care
Costs Skyrocketing
The epidemic of opioid abuse, including prescription pain relievers and heroin is
disproportionately affecting white, middle-class individuals in non-urban settings, with
charges for opioid-related diagnoses and allowed amounts for such diagnoses jumping over
1,000 percent in four years.
FAIR Health, a national, independent, nonprofit organization focused on transparency in
healthcare costs and health insurance information has issued two reports as to impacts of
addictions on individuals and insurance providers.
In its latest analysis for the four-year period through last year, the organization also says
that private payor average costs for a patient diagnosed with opioid abuse or dependence
were more than 550 percent higher, nearly $16,000 more per patient, than the per-patient
average cost of all patient claims in 2015.
In an earlier report, the organization found that although opioid dependence appears more
common in men, although the gap narrows in the 46-55 age group, the less severe
condition of opioid abuse was diagnosed more often in women than men in 2014.
Further information is available at www.fairhealth.org/servlet/servlet.FileDownload?
file=01532000001g4i3 and www.fairhealth.org/servlet/servlet.FileDownload?
file=01532000001nwD2.

Lancaster County Seeing Significant Rise in Opioid-Addicted Newborns;

Terrifying Number of Drug Overdoses Deaths
Lancaster Count hospitals are grappling with care for babies who are being born addicted to
drugs and a high number of drug overdose deaths are being recorded in the county.
LancasterOnline reports that Wellspan Ephrata Community Hospital has seen the number
more than double since 2014, now representing nearly one of every 10 newborns treated in
the neonatal intensive care unit, with those at Lancaster General Hospital tripling during the
past five years
In a separate report, it says that a high number of deaths, close to one a day, have been
recorded since late last month in the county.
The reports are at www.lancasteronline.com/insider/born-addicted-lancaster-countyhospitals-grapple-with-caring-for-opioid/article_904db39c-76d2-11e6-8ab72b5d8ace8b8e.html and and www.lancasteronline.com/insider/terrifying-number-of-fataloverdoses-in-lancaster-county-now-cases/article_2d4c272a-79ec-11e6-845e339a611104e0.html.

Berks, Chester and Delaware Counties Still Under Drought Watch

A Drough Watch declaration has been issued for Chester and Delaware counties, with the
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) calling for a five percent
reduction in non-essential water use.
The counties join Berks in our area, along with 35 others throughout the state, due to low
stream flows, declining groundwater levels and lack of precipitation, according to the
Commonwealths Drought Task Force.

One county, Potter, remains in a drought warning, with residents of that county being
encouraged to voluntarily reduce water use by 10 to 15 percent.
Further information, including water conservation suggestions, is available at
www.ahs.dep.pa.gov/NewsRoomPublic/articleviewer.aspx?id=21058&typeid=1.

Free Worksite Wellness Offered by Chester County Health

Chester County Health Department is offering to guide county businesses in development
and implementation of effective employee wellness programs.
Funded through a Pennsylvania Department of Health Preventive Health and Health Services
Block Grant, the free service can assist in creation of a wellness action plan specific to a
businesss employee profile; coordinate elements of a wellness program including biometric
screenings, massage therapy, on-site healthy cooking demonstrations, raised garden beds
and education on health topics such as cholesterol management and sleep hygiene; lend
technical assistance to implement wellness programs; and assess the extent to which a
businesss current wellness program has implemented evidence-based health promotion
strategies, officials said.
They added that such effort is one of the most effective ways a business can help
employees adopt healthier lifestyles while decreasing health care costs, rates of
absenteeism and worksite stress.
Further information is available from Elizabeth Herzberger, county public health educator at
eherzberger@chesco.org or (610) 344-5205.

Pennsylvania Says It Doesn't Track Dozens of Zika Cases by County

Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) says it doesn't track the 74 cases of confirmed
infections or the 97 that are pending test results by county, although the state Department
of Environmental Protection (DEP) says there has been two imported cases since early this
month in Chester County, in addition to at least one other reported by the county in June.
We do not have Zika cases by county, according to the department's Assistant Press
Secretary Wes Culp, in response to an E-Update query about two news releases issued by
the DEP that noted the Chester County cases. There was no reply as to the reason for such
lack of information by press time.
The Department of Health takes Zika virus cases very seriously and we are working with
the CDC (federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) to monitor this situation,
Culp said. Keeping the residents of the commonwealth safe and healthy is our top
priority, adding there have been no local transmissions of Zika in Pennsylvania to date.
The DEP reported that 26 Pennsylvania counties, primarily in southern and eastern regions,
have active surveillance sites for albopictus mosquitoes, commonly known as Asian Tiger
mosquitoes, with collections in Lancaster, Montgomery and Delaware counties having more
than two dozen female Aedes albopictus per trapping event, recognized as pest levels, in a
single week in July.
However, no specimens of Aedes aegypti, the primary carrier of Zika in South America,
were discovered, according to DEP.

The department release for Southeastern Pennsylvania counties is available at

www.ahs.dep.pa.gov/NewsRoomPublic/articleviewer.aspx?id=21038&typeid=1, with the
South Central Pennsylvania report at
www.ahs.dep.pa.gov/NewsRoomPublic/articleviewer.aspx?id=21038&typeid=1. Chester
County's June news release is at www.chesco.org/DocumentCenter/View/34192 and the
state's current status report, as of Monday, August 15, is at www.health.pa.gov/My
%20Health/Diseases%20and%20Conditions/UZ/Zikavirus/Pages/ZikaVirusHomePage.aspx#.V7SG361Yzv_.

Zika Virus Now Draws Travel Advisory in U.S.; Free Zika Virus Prevention Kits
Being Distributed in Area
The Zika virus, that can result in birth deformities, has now drawn nine travel, testing and
other recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for
both men and women who traveled to or lived in parts of the Miami area since June 15.
The alert currently centers on a Miami neighborhood where several Zika infections were
recently confirmed, the first identified from mosquitoes in the United States. Previous U.S.
cases were identified as emanating from virus contacts outside the country.
Further information is available at www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2016/p0801-zika-travelguidance.html.
As previously reported, Zika Prevention Kits for pregnant women are being distributed by
the Pennsylvania Department Health through 10 locations in our reporting area, included in
the region of the state identified as the most susceptible for transmissions of the virus.
In announcing the initiative, state Health Secretary Dr. Karen Murphy said that while Zika
is spread primarily by mosquitoes that are infected with the virus, it also can spread
through sexual contact with individuals who have the disease.
Because Zika poses serious health risks for babies born to women who contracted the virus
during pregnancy, the kits include health education materials and prevention tools to avoid
mosquito bites and sexual transmission of the disease to pregnant women. Using the
products in the Zika Prevention Kit can help protect you and your loved ones from the
virus," she said.
Additional information is available at
www.ahs.dep.pa.gov/NewsRoomPublic/articleviewer.aspx?id=21007&typeid=1, with a list of
distribution centers at www.health.pa.gov/My%20Health/Diseases%20and
%20Conditions/U-Z/Zikavirus/Pages/ZikaPreventionKits.aspx#.V4fq-6JYxLM.
An earlier report from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that
shows counties in Pennsylvania that are most susceptible to having mosquitoes carrying the
disease, along with other Zika information, is available at
www.cdc.gov/chikungunya/resources/vector-control.html., with Pennsylvania's response
plan to the virus iat www.media.pa.gov/Pages/Health-Details.aspx?newsid=307.

State Establishes New Online Information Site

Pennsylvania is making information available online to help measure government
performance, engage citizens, create economic opportunities, and develop innovative policy
solutions through a new Open Data Pennsylvania website.
Gov. Tom Wolf has announced that Schools That Teach, Jobs That Pay and Government
That Works are the first components of the new website, with a dozen new data sets being
provided.
Discussion is underway with additional entities such as the Office of Open Records, colleges
and universities, and cities to identify future datasets for publication.
The new site is at https://data.pa.gov.

IRS Establishes Veterans Information Site

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has launched a new site, Information for Veterans, that is
designed to provide federal tax-related information to veterans about free tax preparation,
tax credits and benefits, financial education and asset-building opportunities and more.
Further information is available at www.irs.gov/individuals/information-for-veterans.

Please Note: New and Updated tags refer only to the time of appearance of information in these E-Updates.
Some on-going activities may have been in existence for some time and are being listed for awareness.
Letting People Know/Making a Difference - Ongoing
Feedback indicates that a lack of communications tools is a primary deficiency in bringing community services
providers and those needing information together.
If you know of an activity designed to have a real impact on families (this includes individuals and youth) that we
should be aware of or might be interested in reporting in these periodic e-mail updates, please let me know, either
with details or a web site link. In order to maintain its value, this forum currently is a subjective, selective
distribution so all information submitted may not be used.
Also, if you know someone who might be helped by these periodic updates, please forward all or selected portions
as you feel appropriate. If you would like to be added to or removed from this list, please hit reply and advise by
typing "Subscribe" or "Unsubscribe" or something similar in the Subject line.
Events listed are based on subject matter related to activities impacting families and is based on information
reported to us. No endorsement is made or implied.
Suggestions for improvements are encouraged. We currently are developing a more advanced electronic
communications method for this type of material that will have more expansive yet less obtrusive characteristics.
Please stay tuned.
To submit materials for publication, please refer to the guidelines that follow.

Blessings
Casey
Casey Jones
Transformation Initiative
Building Healthy Communities Through Healthy Families
(610) 707-1494 / bps461@msn.com
2009-2016 Casey Jones, Transformation Initiative for Building Healthy Communities Through Healthy Families.
Permission is granted to reproduce for personal or non-commercial uses only.

Information provided is designed to highlight activities within the broader community that can help

enhance Christian principles relative to development of healthy children, individual and family
relationships.
Recipients are encouraged to print and post this Calendar to employee and public bulletin boards
for benefit of others.
Activities included in this publication are gathered from various submissions and other sources. No
representation is made as to their accuracy or value.
Persons wishing to be included in future e-mailings of updates, should request inclusion by sending
an e-mail with Subscribe in the Subject line, along with your name, organization, community and
where you heard about the publications to bps461@msn.com.
General Guidelines for Information Submission:
Submission up to two to three months prior to the event is encouraged to increase exposure to new
subscribers, individuals who only may read the list periodically, and for other organizations that want
to avoid scheduling opposite an event or may want to collaborate with others in the area. For annual
events, even longer lead times may be appropriate. Our deadline generally is the Friday before the
week of publication.
A general idea of the information needed (many submit too little for the consumer to understand what
actually is occurring and why they should consider attending) can be obtained by perusing the
publications or using the following guide:
Please use full names followed, if appropriate, by acronyms in parenthesis.

Name of Event:

Date(s) - Include both day(s) of week and actual dates:

Times (Starting and ending):

Location (Including any applicable room number, particularly in a large facility, and a
MapQuest or Google Maps searchable address:

Sponsoring Organization(s), if not part of the location address:

Participant Eligibility (Ages, gender, etc.):

Description of Activities and, as applicable, the presenter and the purpose of the event (Two to
three descriptive sentences with the most appealing information; please avoid superfluous
words such as "wonderful", "great", etc.):

Any Fees, including free-will offerings:

Contact name, e-mail, telephone, along with any web page that is focused primarily on the
specific activity:

Any registration requirements.
We generally use only free activities of a non-commercial nature or those in which a very small,
optional materials fee is charged.

Fund-raising activities generally are not published unless there is a good mixture of free
activities also available, including free admission, with a participant having the choice of
purchasing incidental items such as food or crafts.

Church events generally are published only if they are separate from normal weekly worship
services.
Due to the wide variety of activities available, decisions on publication ultimately are determined on a
case-by-case basis in context with focus of the publications.