The Chester County Commissioners and leaders from the Chester County Department of Human Services are hosting a telephone community briefing on Monday, April 20, 2020 at 2:30 p.m.
The briefing will offer guidance for individuals who are experiencing mental health and wellness challenges; for those who are concerned about loved ones of all ages who are experiencing emotional challenges; and for those who are seeking support to meet basic needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Are you looking for support at this time of job loss?
Do you feel angry? Do you feel confused?
Are you asking ‘why me?’
YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
Groups meet virtually on ‘ZOOM’ on the following Mondays between 12:00 pm- 1:00 pm:
April 27th
May 11th
The Chester County WIC Program has an important update about their operations during the COVID-19 crisis:
To help slow the spread of Coronavirus the Chester County WIC Program will be operating on a limited basis until further notice. At this time our Coatesville, Toughkenamon and West Chester WIC clinics will be open on a limited basis as eWIC loading stations ONLY via curbside service. The Oxford, Phoenixville and Spring City satellite clinics have been canceled until further notice. WIC staff are reaching out via telephone to ALL WIC participants with appointments scheduled during this time to discuss their options for receiving benefits. Participants MUST have an appointment to have benefits loaded via curbside service and should not attempt to walk-in to receive benefits. Please note, no participants are allowed inside WIC clinics at this time. eWIC cards and photo ID are required to receive benefits. When contacting a WIC clinic, PLEASE leave a message. Staff are monitoring messages and your call will be returned ASAP.
Thank you for your patience and flexibility. Please know that our top priority is the health and wellbeing of our participants and employees, their families and the larger community.
Please call your WIC clinic if you need to talk to a nutritionist about any breastfeeding or nutrition questions you may have.
Coatesville: (610) 383-3824
Toughkenamon: (610) 268-5153
West Chester: (610) 344-6240
If you need to apply to the WIC program for the first time or need to be re-instated onto the program after a lapse in participation, please contact your closest WIC clinic and leave a voicemail with your contact information. You may also submit a pre-application online. Staff will follow up with all applicants in the order that their information was received to set up phone appointments with a nutritionist. If you are having any problems with using your eWIC card at the stores please consult the Pennsylvania Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) website before contacting your clinic to troubleshoot common problems. The site includes resources such as a WIC store locator, Shopping with eWIC video, and WIC FAQ’s.
WIC operational updates are also shared via the Chester County Health Department Facebook page.
Feeling stressed out? Stuck in a rut? Looking for ways to keep active and get your body moving in the comfort of your home? With a range of videos from guided meditations to advanced yoga sequences, Yoga with Adriene offers something for everyone, regardless of their level of experience! Now is a great time to begin your yoga practice or strengthen the foundation you may have already developed with Adriene’s easy-to-follow video collection. Make time for yourself to practice mindfulness, mental balance, and to get in touch with your body. Check one of these recommended videos to get connected with your mind and body:
Meditation for Mental Balance and Grounding
Also Yoga eBooks on OverDrive.
A bucket list helps you keep track of experiences that you hope to have in your life. It is a fun way to focus on your goals and to acknowledge the steps you take to reach each one.
For inspiration and ideas, click here for “85 Fun Things Every Teenager Should Do”. Are you ready to start creating your own list? Be sure to put this at the top of it – 1. Leave my house!
Join Pennsylvania Ballet daily at 11am on their Instagram Live stream and take part in ballet classes taught by a different company member each day. You can also click on one of the tiles to view video clips of performances!
It may not be the ballet, but click here to read Romeow and Drooliet.
The Youth Services Staff at the Chester County Library and Hankin Branch are presenting Virtual Storytimes beginning April 27th. They will be for three different ages groups — 0 to 2 Year Olds, 3 & 4 Year Olds, and 5 & 6 Year Olds. Registration is required via the Events Calendar at https://chescolibraries.org/. Virtual Storytimes are not registered as multi-week sessions; you will need to register for each storytime individually.
Join U.S. Representative Chrissy Houlahan as she reads Grace Goes to Washington by Kelly DiPucchio for you. In this story, Grace and her classmates learn about the three branches of the federal government, how school government operates, the qualities of effective leadership, and how to be a good citizen while on a field trip to Washington, D.C.
The Youth Services Staff at the Chester County Library and Hankin Branch are presenting Virtual Storytimes beginning April 27th. They will be for three different ages groups — 0 to 2 Year Olds, 3 & 4 Year Olds, and 5 & 6 Year Olds. Registration is required via the Events Calendar at https://chescolibraries.org/. Virtual Storytimes are not registered as multi-week sessions; you will need to register for each storytime individually.
Today is National Orchid Day. In celebration of the day, take a look at these articles and eBooks about orchids, available now in the New York Times and on Flipster & OverDrive.
Sign in to Flipster here to read these magazine articles about orchids:
Organic Gardener – April 2020: “From Donkeys to Flying Ducks” by Helen McKerral – exploring the world of native orchids and how to grow them. There are many articles and references to orchids in back issues of Organic Gardener too. Use Flipster’s Search bar on the upper right of your screen.
Horticulture – May 2020: Visit the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden and the Orchid Conservatory and use the Search bar to visit articles about orchids in back issues.
New York Times – April 18, 2019: “Orchids Bloom in Thousands of Forms. But Why?” by C. Claiborne Ray
To read this article and today’s New York Times, visit our Databases here. Choose New York Times and select Remote Access. Enter your library card number and PIN to create a free account. Type “orchids” in the Search bar on the upper left of your screen.
Maybe you’d like to read a book about orchids. These eBooks are currently available on OverDrive for download to your device.
The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER. A modern classic of personal journalism, The Orchid Thief is Susan Orlean’s wickedly funny, elegant, and captivating tale of an amazing obsession. Determined to clone an e.ndangered flower—the rare ghost orchid Polyrrhiza lindenii—a deeply eccentric and oddly attractive man named John Laroche leads Orlean on an unforgettable tour of America’s strange flower-selling subculture, through Florida’s swamps and beyond, along with the Seminoles who help him and the forces of justice who fight him.
A blistering romantic suspense novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Pursuit. Far from her sensible life as an English teacher in Kansas, Lora looks forward to a relaxing vacation in Cancun. But fate thwarts her careful plans when a darkly handsome American named Max jumps into her car with a loaded gun.
And on the web, visit the official NationalOrchidDay.com site.
We offer a great variety of magazines, newspapers, eBooks and eAudiobooks, available for easy access with your library card. Read magazines on Flipster, access the Philadephia Inquirer and the New York Times through our Databases and download eBooks and eAudiobooks on OverDrive.
Yes? Then here is a book group that is just right for you. Focused specifically on Young Adult books, “Addicted to YA” gives fans an opportunity to participate in group discussions about favorite books and characters. This is a great way to connect with others, especially during this time of self-isolation. Share your thoughts and find out what other readers think. The book group is also a great place to learn about other YA books that may be of interest to you. Click here to learn more!
Join us to play Jackbox Games online this Saturday, April 18th. Registration required. Please provide your valid and accurate email address. We will email you the Zoom link and instructions at least two hours before the games start.
Games Schedule:
Drawful – You think you can draw? Try this game. – 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Fibbage XL – Ready for the hilarious bluffing game? – 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
You Don’t Know Jack 2015 – You are in for some comedy trivia. – 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Word Spud – Time to test your vocabulary. – 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Lie Swatter – True OR False? – 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
We hope to see you there!
Stay Connected with Chescolibraries 