🎙️ MLK Day 2024: March, Luncheon, and Community Service Unite the Community

In Today’s Issue of Downingtown Local Pulse…

🌤️ Downingtown PA Weather

🎙️ MLK Day in Coatesville: March, Luncheon, and Community Service Unite the Community

⛑️ Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Downingtown: Learn CPR and Explore Community Resources

🏛️ Chester County Historic Courthouse Lights Up Blue for Human Trafficking Awareness Month

🎨 Exploring Creativity and Entrepreneurship: Business Showcase & Art Expo in Coatesville

📚 Chester County Library System Marks Milestone with 1.1 Million Digital Book Borrowings

🍽️ The Giant Co. Extends Feeding School Kids Initiative, Pledges $100,000

🚦 West Chester University Boosts Pedestrian Safety with New Traffic Signal at Key Intersection

🎖️ Chester County’s Cochran Family's 300-Year-Old Farm Commended by Agriculture Secretary

📆 Upcoming Local Events

MLK Day in Coatesville: March, Luncheon, and Community Service Unite the Community

Coatesville’s commemoration of MLK Day 2024 comprises a morning assembly at 1st & Lincoln Highway, leading to a significant march at 9:30 am with police escort. The march concludes at New Life In Christ Fellowship, featuring insights from Movement Leaders and a rendition of MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech.

Participants can then choose between community service opportunities or shuttle services back to Gateway Park. The CYWA hosts a luncheon at 11:30 am, including meals, additional Movement Leader overviews, and a screening of the new Bayard Rustin Movie.

The W.C. Atkinson Center extends community service projects from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, providing opportunities such as assembling care packages and property renovation. Shuttle transportation, facilitated by Coatesville churches, ensures flexibility throughout the day.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Downingtown: Learn Hands Only CPR/AED and Explore Community Resources

In Downingtown, PA, the Marsh Creek Sixth Grade Center hosts a Martin Luther King Jr. Day event on January 15, 2024, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. The event offers Hands Only CPR/AED training and features a Community Resource Fair, showcasing local organizations and services supporting the community.

Chester County Historic Courthouse Lights Up Blue for Human Trafficking Awareness Month

To mark Human Trafficking Awareness & Prevention Month, the Chester County Historic Courthouse is illuminated in blue. At a recent public meeting, the Commissioners issued a proclamation acknowledging organizations dedicated to preventing human trafficking. Carol Metzger, an advocate for survivors, Reverend Sherry Deets of Thistle Hills, and Jan Michener of AHHAH Arts Holding Hands and Hearts, Inc., accepted the proclamation.

Exploring Creativity and Entrepreneurship: Business Showcase & Art Expo in Coatesville

The Business Showcase & Art Expo, located at 228 Lincoln Hwy E, is set to unfold as a celebration of Black history, combining art, culture, and entrepreneurship. Scheduled for Saturday, February 17, 2024, the event emphasizes the profound impact of Black history on the arts and business landscape, promoting cultural heritage preservation. Attendees can expect a day of celebration, education, and empowerment.

Chester County Library System Marks Milestone with 1.1 Million Digital Book Borrowings

The Chester County Library System achieves a milestone with patrons borrowing 1.1 million digital books in 2023. Ranked at No. 136 globally, the library emphasizes its dedication to innovation and accessibility through a diverse digital collection, including eBooks and eAudiobooks. Executive Director Joseph Sherwood expresses delight in the service's growth, anticipating continued expansion in 2024.

The Giant Co. Extends Feeding School Kids Initiative, Pledges $100,000 in Ongoing Fight Against Childhood Hunger

The Giant Co. renews its Feeding School Kids initiative, extending it to three months and committing $100,000 to combat childhood hunger. Customers can participate by rounding up purchases or converting CHOICE points. Over $6 million has been raised in the past three years, aiding public school districts in enhancing meal programs and addressing food insecurity. Examples include the Norristown School District's summer meal distribution and the York Suburban School District doubling its pantry service.

West Chester University Boosts Pedestrian Safety with New Traffic Signal at Key Intersection

West Chester University invests $420,000 to enhance pedestrian safety at the Church Street and Rosedale Avenue intersection by installing a new traffic signal. The university's commitment includes critical safety features like pedestrian crossing lights and signage. The collaborative effort aims to create a safer environment for students, faculty, staff, and the broader community. The new traffic signal is currently in a flashing yellow state and will be fully operational within a week.

Preserving Heritage: Chester County’s Cochran Family's 300-Year-Old Farm Commended by Agriculture Secretary

Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding honors six families, including the Cochran family of Chester County, at the 2024 PA Farm Show for maintaining farms over a century old. The Cochran farm, established in 1724, stands as the state's second Tricentennial Farm, preserving 120 acres to uphold its agricultural legacy amidst changing times.

Upcoming Local Events…

• MLK Day of Service - Coatesville - Jan 15th, 8:30am

• MLK Day Winter Walk - Jan 15th, 10am

• Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service Community Resource Fair - Jan 15th, 9am-12pm

• 2024 OIC Opportunity Fair - Jan 23rd, 11am-2:30pm

• Downingtown WINTER farmers market - Jan 13th, 27th 10am-12pm

• RWCC Ringing’-In Mingle @ Downingtown Country Club - Jan 13th 8:45am

• Business Showcase and Art Expo - Feb 17th, 11:30am-4pm