Thursday, July 19, 2018
Public invited to view Mars at Widener Observatory
The Red Planet will be at its closest point to Earth
in nearly 15 years
Chester,
Pa. – Stargazers are in for a treat this month as Mars makes its closest
approach to Earth in nearly 15 years. The planet will appear brilliant and
red/orange in the night sky, outshining Jupiter and most stars.
To
see the Red Planet’s surface up close, the Widener University Observatory
invites the public to use its 16-inch computerized reflecting telescope.
Visitors may attend free 30-minute public viewings on Friday, July 27
at 9:30, 10 or 10:30
p.m., as well as on Monday, July 30 at 9:15, 9:45 or 10:15 p.m.
The
close approach can be attributed to what astronomers call an opposition point,
which occurs when Mars stands on the exact opposite side of the Earth from the
Sun. Hence, Mars rises at sunset and sets at sunrise. Mars will be closest to
the Earth on July 31
– four days after the opposition.
“To
the unaided eye, Mars will appear brilliant in the sky, but a telescope will
reveal features, such as polar caps, deserts and dark markings, as long as dust
storms don’t obscure surface views,” said Professor Harry Augensen, director of
the Widener Observatory. “I encourage everyone to take advantage of this
opportunity to view Mars up close.”
Even
at its closest point, Mars will be 36 million miles from Earth, or roughly 150
times farther away than the moon. The distance is just shy of the 35 million
miles that was noted on Aug. 29, 2003 as the closest viewing position in
recorded history. The next opposition won’t occur until Oct. 13, 2020, when Mars will be a bit
farther away at 39 million miles.
The
Widener University Observatory is located on the 4th floor of
Kirkbride Hall on 17th and Walnut Streets in Chester, Pennsylvania.
Because space is limited, participants are encouraged to make a reservation.
Visit www.widener.edu/stargazing,
then select Friday
or Monday
sessions to fill out the online form, or call 610-499-4003.
Thursday, July 5, 2018
Chester Community Coalition Awarded $431,531 in Grants to Provide Trauma-Informed Support Services in Chester, PA
Press Release from Chester
Community Coalition Newsletter- Summer 2018
By Alexia Clarke
The Chester Community
Coalition has received a $421,731 grant from Catholic Health Initiatives’
Mission and Ministry Fund through the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia to
provide trauma-informed support services to survivors of gun violence and
$9,800 from Congregation Ohev Shalom’s Outreach Grant to provide art therapy for young
children from families bereaved by violence in Chester, PA.
The goal of the Coalition is to deliver programs to heal the psychological and emotional impact of homicides and reduce trauma-related reactive violence in the City of Chester. Homicide bereavement in disadvantaged communities of color takes a heavy toll: depression and PTSD that extend many years after the loss.[i] Families exhaust their savings and borrow to cover funeral costs[ii]. Mothers who have lost sons to gun violence feel stigmatized and isolated.[iii] Children suffer intrusive re-imaginings and angry outbursts.[iv]
Money will be allocated to provide group therapy for families who have lost someone to homicide or experienced injury by gun violence, and coordinate peer-based violence education and volunteer trauma response teams. The programs will be led by the coordinating committee of Fran Stier, Sister Jean Rupertus, Sister Virginia Spiegel and Alexia Clarke.
The Chester Community Coalition sincerely thanks Catholic Health Initiatives, Congregation Ohev Shalom and the Sisters of St. Francis for their support.
As has been shown in other settings, we anticipate that these early interventions will reduce reactive violence, empower the community dealing with toxic stress and build a safer city in which to live.
Our programs can only be accomplished in partnership with City of Chester residents, social and business organizations and political entities. Over the 2017-2018 planning year, the Chester Community Coalition (CCC) has developed a board reflecting Chester’s diversity. The Coalition has also actively participated in community meetings, events and outreach. Transparency, respect, commitment and service are the fundamental values from which we have begun this work and with which we will continue.
For more information, please contact Alexia Clarke at alexia.clarke@chestercommunitycoalition.org, 610-368-0714. Also visit us at www.chestercommunitycoalition.org, www.twitter.com/chesterPAHeals, or www.facebook.com/chestercommunitycoalition
The goal of the Coalition is to deliver programs to heal the psychological and emotional impact of homicides and reduce trauma-related reactive violence in the City of Chester. Homicide bereavement in disadvantaged communities of color takes a heavy toll: depression and PTSD that extend many years after the loss.[i] Families exhaust their savings and borrow to cover funeral costs[ii]. Mothers who have lost sons to gun violence feel stigmatized and isolated.[iii] Children suffer intrusive re-imaginings and angry outbursts.[iv]
Money will be allocated to provide group therapy for families who have lost someone to homicide or experienced injury by gun violence, and coordinate peer-based violence education and volunteer trauma response teams. The programs will be led by the coordinating committee of Fran Stier, Sister Jean Rupertus, Sister Virginia Spiegel and Alexia Clarke.
The Chester Community Coalition sincerely thanks Catholic Health Initiatives, Congregation Ohev Shalom and the Sisters of St. Francis for their support.
As has been shown in other settings, we anticipate that these early interventions will reduce reactive violence, empower the community dealing with toxic stress and build a safer city in which to live.
Our programs can only be accomplished in partnership with City of Chester residents, social and business organizations and political entities. Over the 2017-2018 planning year, the Chester Community Coalition (CCC) has developed a board reflecting Chester’s diversity. The Coalition has also actively participated in community meetings, events and outreach. Transparency, respect, commitment and service are the fundamental values from which we have begun this work and with which we will continue.
For more information, please contact Alexia Clarke at alexia.clarke@chestercommunitycoalition.org, 610-368-0714. Also visit us at www.chestercommunitycoalition.org, www.twitter.com/chesterPAHeals, or www.facebook.com/chestercommunitycoalition
[i] McDevitt-Murphy, et al. “The Toll of Traumatic Loss in
African Americans Bereaved by Homicide”. Psychological Trauma:
Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy 4(3) pp 303-311. 2012
[ii] http://www.philly.com/philly/news/racial-bias-victim-compensation-20171016.html
[iii] Hannays-King, C et al “Social support and Black mothers’ bereavement experience of losing a child to gun homicide”. Bereavement Care 34(1) 10-16. 2015.
[iv] Mannarino, A, and Cohen, J. “Traumatic Loss in Children and Adolescents”. Trauma 4(1) pp 22-33. 2011.
[ii] http://www.philly.com/philly/news/racial-bias-victim-compensation-20171016.html
[iii] Hannays-King, C et al “Social support and Black mothers’ bereavement experience of losing a child to gun homicide”. Bereavement Care 34(1) 10-16. 2015.
[iv] Mannarino, A, and Cohen, J. “Traumatic Loss in Children and Adolescents”. Trauma 4(1) pp 22-33. 2011.
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