When folks think of Italian restaurants in Chester County, Pa, Limoncello pops to the top of the list for many locals. We caught up with Dina Mingrino Barbone to learn about running the two restaurants that she owns with her two brothers, Paul and Frank. Dina talks about growing up in the restaurant that her mother started, the community that has embraced the restaurant, and what it is like running two highly acclaimed and commercially successful restaurants.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

Limoncello

• Restaurant website: limoncellorestaurant.com
• Careers with Limoncello: limoncellorestaurant.com/careers
• Instagram: @ristorantelimoncello
• West Chester Facebook: facebook.com/LimoncelloWC
• Chester Springs Facebook: facebook.com/LimoncelloWC

Additional Links

• Toys for Tots
• Jean-Gorges Philadelphia

NOTE: The episode artwork is the Mingrino Family, from left to right: Frank, Giuseppe, Maria, Paul, and Dino Mingrino

TRANSCRIPT

The episode transcript will be posted on our website as soon as it is available.

We spend time in conversation with Bob Beggs, Executive Director of Good Works, Inc. Good Works is a Christian nonprofit organization working to transform lives by repairing homes for low-income families and sharing the hope that Bob, his colleagues, and teams of volunteers have found in Jesus Christ. We talk about the housing challenges that low-income families face in Chester County – and how Good Works aims to address those challenges by interweaving care for homes with care for people.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

Good Works, Inc.

• goodworksinc.org
• Volunteer for Good Works: goodworksinc.org/volunteer

Additional Links

• Good Neighbors Home Repair
• Habitat for Humanity of Chester County
• American Helicopter Museum
• Freya Systems
• Open Hearth
• Phoenixville Community Health Foundation
• ALICE Report from the United Way of Chester County
• Episode 41: Connecting People that Can Help with People that Need Help with Chris Saello
• When Helping Hurts: : How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor . . . and Yourself by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert

NOTE: The Help Book mentioned in this episode is no longer being produced.

Transcript

The episode transcript will be posted on our website as soon as it is available.

We step into the podcast studio with Bill Ronayne, the founder and owner of Brandywine Valley Heating & Air Conditioning. Founded in 1993, BVHVAC has grown to more than 60 employees, serving both residential and commercial customers from its base in West Chester, Pennsylvania. We speak with Bill about running and growing his community-focused business for more than thirty years.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

Brandywine Valley Heating and Air Conditioning

• Website: bvhvac.com
• Careers with BVHVAC: bvhvac.com/employment
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/brandywine-valley-heating-&-ac
• Facebook: facebook.com/BVHVAC
• Community involvement: bvhvac.com/community-involvement

Other Links

• Michael Gidlewski + Achievement Unlimited: achievable.com
• BDR (Business Development Resources): bdrco.com

Volunteer Organizations

• Chester County History Center
• Kennett Symphony
• West Chester Fire Department
• Good Neighbor Day in Downingtown

Educational Institutions

• Thaddeus Stevens College
• Chester County Intermediate Unit

Transcript

The episode transcript will be posted on our website as soon as it is available.

We sit down in the podcast studio with Christine Zaccarelli, Chief Executive Officer of The Crime Victims’ Center of Chester County to talk about how victims of sexual violence and others crimes can access the support they need. Chris walks us through the work that she and her colleagues at CVC are doing in the areas of victim advocacy, counseling, and prevention education.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

The Crime Victims’ Center of Chester County

• Website: cvcofcc.org
• Instagram: instagram.com/crime_victims_center
• Facebook: facebook.com/cvcofcc
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/the-crime-victims’-center-of-chester-county-inc-/
• Volunteer opportunities: cvcofcc.org/get-involved
• On LinkedIn: A Day in the Life of An Advocate

Sexual Assault Awareness Month Events

For more details about any of these launch events or the walk, please visit CVC’s Facebook page.

• April 01: West Chester
• April 02: Kennett Square 
• April 02: Phoenixville
• April 03: Coatesville
• April 13: Walk a Mile in Her Shoes in Phoenixville

Additional Resources

• Victims of Crime Act (VOCA)
• Pennsylvania Coalition to Advance Respect (PCAR)
• Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD)
• Telemedicine platform: doxy.me

Other Organizations

• Chester County Food Bank
• Home of the Sparrow
• Open Hearth
• United Way of Southern Chester County
• Fund for Women and Girls
• Phoenixville Community Health Foundation
• The Alliance for Health Equity

Transcript

The episode transcript will be posted on our website as soon as it is available.

The focus on STEM education and STEM careers in recent decades has us meeting with Richard Roberts, III, to talk about supporting economically disadvantaged and historically underrepresented youth to become the next generation of leaders. Rick is the founder and President of Young Men and Women in Charge, headquartered in West Chester, Pa. In a well-rounded conversation, we talk about how a village of support enables local young people to excel.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

Young Men and Women in Charge Foundation

• Website: ymwicfoundation.org
• Facebook: facebook.com/YMICFoundationInc
• Instagram: instagram.com/ymwicscholars
• Twitter: twitter.com/ymwicfoundation
• Vimeo

Additional Links

• Building Teams in Manufacturing and Engineering with Doug Thompson
• Trellis: trellis4tomorrow.org
• Chester County Community Foundation: chescocf.org
• Chester County Workforce Development Board
• Chester County Economic Development Council: ccedcapa.com

With a growing local population and much upheaval in recent years in how and when people commute to and from work, the transportation needs and goals of Chester County are an important topic for discussion. We meet with Tim Phelps, Executive Director of the Transportation Management Association of Chester County (TMACC), to talk about advocating and collaborating for sustainable transportation practices. We discuss the many travel planning initiatives happening across the region, and explore how locals can get involved with travel programs and initiatives in their specific regions.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

TMACC

• Website: tmacc.org
• Community magazine: tmacc.org/chesgo
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/1524399
• Facebook: facebook.com/ChesCoTMA

Transportation Organizations and Sites

• Chester County Planning: chescoplanning.org
• Chester County Parks: chesco.org/4520/Parks-Trails
• DVRPC: https://dvrpc.org/
• PennDOT D6: penndot.pa.gov/RegionalOffices/district-6/Pages/default.aspx
• D6 Traffic Bulletin: penndot.pa.gov/RegionalOffices/district-6/Pages/Philly-Regional-Traffic-Bulletin.aspx
• Bonus: 511pa.com

Additional Links

• Chester County Food Bank: chestercountyfoodbank.org
• LHC (formerly La Communidad): lchcommunityhealth.org

Transcript

The transcript for this episode will be posted as it becomes available.

With so much happening in the local residential property market in recent years, we meet with David Graham and Bela Vora to discuss the topic. Based in Kennett Square, David Graham is a mortgage specialist with Rapid Mortgage. Bela Vora is a realtor in Exton, with Coldwell Banker Realty. We cover what steps to take before applying for a mortgage, how to to prepare for buying a first home or buying a home for the first time in a long time, and trends in the Chester County property market – and more.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

Links for David Graham

• Facebook: facebook.com/DavidGrahamMortgageSpecialist
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/davidgrahammortgagespecialist/
• Instagram: @davidrgrahammortgagespecialist
• Website: rapidmortgage.com/kennettsquarebranch/loan-officers/david-graham/

Links for Bela Vora

• Website belavorahomes.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/belavora/
• Youtube: youtube.com/channel/UCZZp377QGuzUNnl1OK2tYgQ
• Facebook: facebook.com/PhillySuburbsRealtor
• Instagram: instagram.com/philly_suburbs_realtor/
• Contact Bela: belavorahomes.com/contact-me

Additional Links

• Safe Harbor of Chester County
• Habitat for Humanity of Chester County
• Chester County Food Bank
• Addressing food insecurity in Chester County: Start Local Podcast episode with Andi Youndt, CEO, Chester County Food Bank
• Commercial real estate market in Chester County: Start Local Podcast episode with Eric Kuhn, Pillar Real Estate Advisors

We jump into the local manufacturing sector with Doug Thompson, Manager of Manufacturing at R-V Industries, Inc.. We learn about how R-V Industries, celebrating fifty years in business this year, has grown and expanded to include facilities and operations in multiple sites in Pennsylvania, and in New Jersey and Illinois. Doug talks about building and supporting manufacturing and engineering teams and more at R-V Industries, while highlighting the opportunity for young people to build a career in manufacturing. This is a great exploration of local manufacturing in Chester County.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

R-V Industries

• Website: www.rvii.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/r-vindustries
• Facebook: facebook.com/RVIndustriesInc
• Careers with R-V: www.rvii.com/careers/

Additional Links

• Universal Technical Institute (UTI)
• Thaddeus Stephens College
• Pennsylvania College of Technology
• Manufacturing Alliance of Chester County and Delaware County (MACCDC)
• CMMC Demystified (by our friends at Pegasus Technologies): pegasustechnologies.com/cmmc-demystified

Local Food Pantries

• Honey Brook Food Pantry
• Twin Valley Food Pantry

We spend time with Chris Saello, President & CEO of the United Way of Chester County. We explore how the United Way operates and how it supports our local community generally. Chris then walks us through the many exciting and impact-focused programs that the United Way is delivering to address a range of significant local needs. We also focus on the ALICE community and the work being done to support those in need there ... and more.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

United Way of Chester County

• Chris Saello on LinkedIn
• What does United Way do?
• Next Generation United Way
• Social Innovation Lab
• ALICE
• Mobile Home Tax Reassessment Program
• Ways to Get Involved
• Facebook: UWChesterCounty
• Instagram: UWChesterCounty
• Twitter: @UWChesterCounty

Additional Links

• Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC)
• i2N (a CCEDC Initiative)
• Great Valley Launchbox
• CareerLink of Chester County
• Chester County Workforce Development Board

Chester County Non-Profits

• Crime Victim’s Center of Chester County
• Aiden’s Heart
• Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania
• Grandfamilies
• Housing Partnership of Chester County
• Youth Mentoring Partnership
• Chester County Partnership to End Homelessness

Related Start Local Episodes

• Investing in Your Local Community with Susan Springsteen of nth Solutions
• Fighting Food Insecurity Locally with Andrea Youndt of the Chester County Foodbank
• Advocating for Local Businesses and Organizations with Laura Manion of the Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry
• Running a Data Analytics and Software Development Company with Chris MacNeel

We enjoy a wonderful conversation with Sue Miller, a local farmer and cheese maker. Together with her husband and their two sons, Sue owns and runs Birchrun Hills Farm in Chester Springs, Pennsylvania. We dive into cheese making and running a dairy farm where the cows produce milk that goes into the cheese. 

Links

Birchrun Hills Farm

• Website: birchrunhillsfarm.com
• Facebook: facebook.com/BirchrunHillsFarm
• Instagram: instagram.com/birchrunhills
• 2023 Chester County Farmers of the Year

Additional Links

• Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA): pasafarming.org
• Peter Dixon: dairyfoodsconsulting.com
• Le Garage Winery
• White Dog Café
• Valley Milk House
• The Collective Creamery – a cheese Community Supported Agriculture shares
• Amazing Acres Goat Dairy
• PA Right to Farm Act (from Penn State Law)
• Pennsylvania Agricultural Security Areas