HTA Insurance Services announces acquisition of The DiMatteo Agency, Inc.

Tracy Keesey with Al and Rochelle DiMatteo HTA, owned and operated by Tracy Keesey, has been serving the Medicare industry for over 25 years and is now excited to expand its reach of services adding Property and Casualty to its offerings by acquiring The DiMatteo Agency, Inc. The two companies have been instrumental in providing education and guidance to their clients when navigating the complex...

Jefferson named to board of Crime Victims Center

Robert C. Jefferson, IV WEST CHESTER — Robert C. Jefferson, IV, an attorney with the law firm Gawthrop Greenwood, PC, has been named to the board of directors of The Crime Victims’ Center of Chester County, Inc. (CVC). CVC is a community-based non-profit that is celebrating 45 years of providing free, immediate and confidential crisis response and compassionate support to children and adults...

Coatesville resident addresses state lawmakers

Debbie Willett (second from left) is joined in Harrisburg by Karen Brenneman (from left), former director of the Family Outreach Program at Child and Family Focus, Inc., a nonprofit advocacy agency; Rep. Tim Hennessey, who invited Willett to speak; and Deb McKinley, a grandparent from the support group. Debbie Willett, who runs a GrandFamilies support group in Chester County, spoke in Harrisburg...

State announces environmental education grants

Recipients include the Land Conservancy for Southern Chester County HARRISBURG – Gov. Tom Corbett announced on Tuesday, April 22, that he is awarding $309,626 in environmental education grants to 111 schools, universities, nonprofit organizations, and conservation districts across Pennsylvania, including seven grants totaling more than $18,000 in Chester County. “Each year, these grants...

Loved ones lost to violence not forgotten

Candlelight Vigil pays tribute to homicide victims, fallen law enforcement An annual remembrance of Chester County homicide victims and law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty will be held Thursday, April 10, in Downingtown. Sponsored by the Crime Victims’ Center of Chester County, Inc., the 2014 Candlelight Vigil and Memorial Service will be begin at 6:30 p.m. at Central Presbyterian...

First Niagara supports Chester County Food Bank

Financial group delivers $10,000 to assist with feeding hungry First Niagara’s Allan Burkley (from left) poses with Robert MacNeil, board chairman of the Chester County Food Bank; Larry Welsch, its executive director; and Bob Kane, First Niagara’s eastern Pennsylvania regional president. First Niagara Financial Group, Inc. announced in a news release that it recently gave a $10,000 grant...

Progress seen in plan to end homelessness

County officials applaud collaborative Decades to Doorways initiative By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times Chester County Commissioner Terence Farrell (right) discusses the Decades to Doorways initiative, with its administrator, Michael Hackman. For nearly 10 years, 77-year-old Pedro lived in the Kennett Square shadows: hidden in a ramshackle, makeshift structure he called home....

9/11 remembrance requires heavy lifting

Convoy of county first responders travels to Pentagon for building mementos By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times County first-responders Joe Behm (bottom row, from left), Jack Law, Howard Holland, John DiBuonaventuro, Neil Vaughn and Ryan Corcoran (top row, from left) Joel Gramling, Adam Weaver, Shane Clark, and Beau Crowding pose with the Pentagon 9/11 artifacts. The predawn convoy...

Hundreds of homeless in county spur changes

New toll-free number proves popular addition to proactive approach  By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times This makeshift housing typifies what volunteers saw during the “point-in-time” count in January that revealed 625 Chester County citizens without a permanent residence. Wielding flashlights and cartons of supplies – clothes, food and blankets – a team of volunteers...

Support offered to families with loved ones in system

New group aims to provide empathy, resources A new support group aims to help families who have a loved one in the juvenile, county, state or federal justice systems. If you have a loved in the juvenile, county, state, or federal justice system, you are not alone, and a new support group wants to ensure that you  have access to needed resources. A collaboration of the Coatesville Youth Initiative,...