Southeastern Pennsylvania is the cradle of rotary wing aviation in the US. Located in West Chester, Pa., the American Helicopter Museum and Education Center is dedicated to preserving helicopter and rotary wing history. With dozens of aircraft in its collection, the museum is the leading educational center for helicopter history. We chat with the museum's Paul Kahan, Executive Director, and David Vanderhoof, Visitor Operations Manager, to learn about the its collection of historic and model helicopters. Paul and David talk us through the educational programs and shed light on how the museum works to stay relevant, focused on the future while preserving the past.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

American Helicopter Museum and Education Center

• Website: helicoptermuseum.org
• Instagram: instagram.com/amerhelimuseum
• Facebook: facebook.com/americanhelicoptermuseum
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/american-helicopter-museum-and-education-center
• YouTube
• Aircraft on display at the museum

Local Business Spotlight

• Roots Cafe
• American Red Cross – West Chester
• MGC Utilities

Kidney Donation

• kidney.org
• kidneyregistry.com
• Information about organ donation in Pennsylvania

David Vanderhoof

• AirplaneGeeks.com
• aviationnewstalknetwork.com/show/uav-news-talk/
• David on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/davidvanderhoof
• David on Instagram: @What_Just_Flew_By_Photo
• Email: david@helicoptermuseum.org

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• Repairing Homes and Rebuilding Lives with Bob Beggs

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Students from under-resourced communities face hurdles that can block or limit their educational opportunities. We speak with Katie Duffus, Executive Director, Chester County Futures, to learn how she and her colleagues support students, connecting them to resources and networks, to enable those young people to flourish in school and life. As Chester County Futures celebrates its 30th anniversary, Katie explains how her team walks with students from middle school through college graduation and beyond. She spells out their programs and explains how students can engage with this program across Chester County. Katie also shares her insight as a nonprofit leader, including skills garnered as a two-sport college athlete.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

Chester County Futures

• Website: ccfutures.org
• Instagram: instagram.com/chestercountyfutures
• Facebook: facebook.com/chestercountyfutures
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/chester-county-futures

Local Organization Spotlight

• First Resource Bank
• Coatesville Area School District

Additional Links

• Smedley County Park

Related Episodes

• Fighting Food Insecurity Locally with Andrea Youndt
• Steering a Large Local Nonprofit with Bertram L. Lawson II

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Finding quality mental health and well-being support can make the difference between struggling and flourishing. We sit down with Katie Bowman, Executive Director with New London Counseling Center, about how her team of therapists works to meet the needs of communities in southern Chester County. Katie explains how as a nonprofit, the organization provides counseling, group education, and workshops for local adults and young people. She guides us through the different avenues that her therapists work with and support their neighbors. Katie helps us understand how they partner with schools and other nonprofits to support young people. Importantly, Katie also dispels some myths around people seeking help - making it clear that seeking help is a sign of strength.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

New London Counseling Center

• Website: newlondoncounselingcenter.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/newlondoncounselingcenter/
• Facebook: facebook.com/NewLondonCounselingCenter/
• YouTube: youtube.com/@newlondoncounselingcenter3362
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/new-london-counseling-center-pa/
• Katie Bowman on LinkedIn

Local Business Spotlight

• Lola’s
• Jackson & Haines (on Instagram)
• Brookside Greenhouse (on Facebook)
• Maple Shade Greenhouse

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Long abandoned by the music industry, vinyl records have made a strong return to the marketplace in recent years, as music lovers of all generations embrace this historically significant medium. We speak at length with rock music legend Phil Nicolo and his daughter-in-law, Ashley Nicolo, about running Studio4Vinyl, a world-class record pressing plant in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. As owner, Phil, and Chief Operating Officer, Ashley, walk us around their factory floor, they teach us about the complex and unpredictable process of pressing vinyl records. We learn about industry trends and hear about Studio4Vinyl’s cutting edge process for producing the best sounding records. Of course, we throw in a question or two about Phil’s storied career in music production, mixing, and mastering.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

Studio 4 Vinyl

• Website: studio4vinyl.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/studio4vinyl
• Twitch: twitch.tv/studio4vinyl
• New promotional video from Studio4Vinyl
• Studio4 Recording Studio (on Facebook)

Musicians/Artists

• Saturation by Urge Overkill
• $uicideboy$
• Ice-T
• Taj Mahal – Like Never Before (1991 album)
• Urge Overkill – Saturation (1994 album)
• Todd Rundgren – Something/Anything? (1972 album)
• Couldn’t I Just Tell You by Todd Rundgren
• Turnstile

Local Business Spotlight

• Jack’s Pizza and Pasta
• Double D Diner

Additional Links

• Women in Vinyl
• Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC)
• Seedcopa
• Third Man Pressing
• RIAA Curve (Wikipedia entry)
• Memory Music Studios

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Children in the midst of proceedings in Dependency Court face countless questions, fears, and uncertainties. To understand more, we speak with Leigh Anne McKelvey, Executive Director of CASA Youth Advocates, which serves Delaware and Chester Counties as part of a national nonprofit network. A social worker first, Leigh Anne guides us through the challenges confronting children who have experienced abuse and neglect – and explains how CASA’s staff and volunteers advocate for those children. She unpacks how CASA’s volunteers are screened and trained to support children navigating instability in many areas of their lives. Leigh Anne also shares her passion for teaching graduate-level social work students and reveals how she likes to unwind amidst the pressures of leading CASA, teaching courses, and raising a young family.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

CASA Youth Advocates Serving Delaware and Chester Counties

• Website: chescocasa.org
• Instagram: instagram.com/casayouthadvocates
• Facebook: facebook.com/CASAYouthAdvocates
• CASA on YouTube
• Careers with CASA: delcocasa.org/jobs-casa
• Leigh Anne McKelvey on LinkedIn

Local Business Spotlight

• TLC Rescue (To Love a Canine)

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For many people, few culinary pleasures compare with fine Swiss chocolate. Indulging our own dreams, we joined Albert Lauber, Owner and Chocolatier at Neuchatel Chocolates, on his factory floor in Oxford, Pennsylvania. Surrounded by the irresistible sights and aromas of chocolate being made, we spoke with Albert about the craft and business behind it all. He explained how he transforms Swiss chocolate into delicious truffles – and how he makes his own chocolate from Philippine cocoa beans. We also explored industry trends, the challenges of managing a factory, and his approach to sourcing ingredients from local farmers and producers. If you have even a hint of a sweet tooth, this delicious episode is not to be missed.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

Neuchatel Chocolates

• neuchatelchocolates.com
• swisschips.com
• Facebook: facebook.com/NeuchatelChocolates
• Instagram: instagram.com/neuchatel_swiss_chocolates

ChocoEve

• Website: chocoeve.com

Local Business Spotlight

• SILO

Additional Links

• Extract and Box
• Maplehofe Diary
• The Market at Liberty Place

Related Episodes

• Buying, Renovating, and Renting Properties with Geoff Bosley

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Cats, cats – here, there and everywhere! Surrounded by felines, we meet with Kristine Baney, Executive Director at Treetops Kitty Cafe. More of a lounge than a cafe, Treetops Kitty Cafe is a cat rescue located in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. At Treetops, the cats play, nap, and cause chaos wherever they want as they roam freely throughout the entire facility. Kristine walks us through the running of the rescue shelter, its adoption service, and caring for the cats that call the cafe home, even if only for a short while. We talk about board recruitment and strategies for raising awareness about the nonprofit, ensuring that a growing number of local residents know about and support the cafe.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

Treetops Kitty Cafe

• Website: treetopskittycafe.com
• Facebook: facebook.com/TreetopsKittyCafeRescue
• Instagram: instagram.com/treetopskittycafe
• TikTok: tiktok.com/@treetopskittycafe
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/treetops-kitty-cafe-animal-rescue
• Kristine Baney on LinkedIn
• Board involvement note on the Treetops Kitty Cafe website
• Volunteer with Treetops Kitty Cafe

Additional Links

• ACCT Philly
• Pocopson Veterinary Station
• Cherry Blossom Vacations
• Forage Books
• The Mushroom Festival
• Longwood Gardens

TRANSCRIPT

Learning to read at a young age can prove so critical to how well a child flourishes as they grow. We meet with Jan Michener, Founder and Executive Director of Arts Holding Hands & Hearts (AHHAH). Based in Kennett Square, AHHAH supports young people in under resourced communities across Chester County. The organizations runs a range of arts and literacy programs in communities, schools, and the youth detention center – all focused on enabling those young people to thrive, rather than merely service. With deep commitment to helping children read at grade level from an early age, Jan walks us through several of AHHAH’s program and initiatives.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

Arts Holding Hands and Hearts (AHHAH)

• Website: ahhah.org
• Instagram: instagram.com/artsholdinghandsandhearts
• Facebook: facebook.com/ArtsHoldingHandsAndHeartsInc
• Jan Michener on LinkedIn

Additional Links

• Chester County Futures
• Kennett Ability Network (KAN)
• Good Works
• Camp Dreamcatcher
• Kennett Library
• Justamere Foundation
• Chester County Intermediate Unit
• Chester County Youth Center
• Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
• The Alliance for Health Equity
• Chester County Opportunities Industrialization Center (CCOIC)

Other Interviews with Jan Michener

• Jan Michener on Great Dames
• Jan Michener on The Art of Volunteering Podcast

Related Episodes

• Repairing Homes and Building Relationships with Bob Beggs
• Nurturing Belonging and Celebrating Community with Children Impacted by HIV/AIDS with Patty Hillkirk
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TRANSCRIPT

The full transcript for this episode will be published on our website as soon as it is available.