VISTA Today

Update: September 2026 – Michael Bertrando doubled for Mark Ruffalo on HBO’s Task. Now he is doubling as a public official. In January, Kennett Square Borough Council appointed the actor and Sam’s Sub Shop owner to a vacant seat, choosing him from a field of eight candidates. He serves through December 2027. Bertrando has kept the cameras rolling, too. He wrote, directed, and stars in Italian Special, a short comedy shot inside the sandwich shop his grandfather opened in 1946.

Pennsylvania is paying people in wildflowers to stop mowing their lawns. The state’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) is distributing free Pocket Meadow Kits to residents across the Commonwealth as part of its Lawn to Habitat Program, which aims to turn ordinary turf into thriving native ecosystems, writes Allaire Conte for Realtor.com. The initiative reflects a growing push to reimagine what a “yard” can look like and do.

A Downingtown home combines dramatic interior spaces with a backyard designed to feel more like a private resort than a typical suburban property. Located at 1473 W. Stonington Drive, the five-bedroom, 4.5-bath residence spans more than 5,300 square feet and sits on 0.43 acres. Built in 2006, the home also includes a four-car garage and an expansive layout geared toward both everyday living and entertaining.

Hiring is only half the battle. Keeping good people, training them and building a pipeline of future workers can matter just as much, and for many Chester County businesses those are the problems that never quite get solved. An upcoming Coatesville event is built around exactly those questions, and employers who want a seat should register now. On Thursday, Sept.

A $50 million financing deal for a 29-story office tower in Center City has set a new record for Citadel Credit Union — and demonstrated just how much its commercial-lending capabilities have grown. Citadel’s $50 million commercial real estate loan for 2000 Market Street in Philadelphia is the largest commercial loan in Citadel’s history and represents a significant milestone in the continued expansion of its commercial-lending operation.

Have a “Honey, Do” list? Wish you had basic plumbing and electrical knowledge for simpler fixes that could save money by handling it yourself? Ever dreamed of enhancing your culinary skills in a “Master Chef”-type kitchen? This fall, community members can take classes in the state-of-the-art commercial-grade workshops and culinary kitchens at Delaware County Community College’s Southeast Center, 409 N. Landsdowne Avenue, Drexel Hill.

Ursinus will launch its first-ever graduate program, opening a new chapter in graduate studies at the college. The Department of Health Sciences will offer a graduate program in exercise and sport science, beginning in May 2027. The 15-month, 30-credit online program is designed to prepare students for advanced professional practice and research in exercise physiology, sport science, and health-related fields.

Blackbird Health is extending its reach across Pennsylvania, building on its presence in the Philadelphia region with a new Pittsburgh-area location designed to connect more families with a broader network of pediatric mental health specialists. Blackbird began serving families both virtually and in-person at its new Bethel Park clinic on Aug. 31. The expansion marks another step in Blackbird’s commitment to improving access to pediatric mental health care for families across Pennsylvania.

Aqua Pennsylvania has work underway to replace dozens of lead and galvanized customer-owned water service lines in several Delaware County communities. Customer-owned service lines are the pipes running from typically the curb line to homes and businesses. While Aqua treats drinking water to prevent leaching lead into the water, replacing these aging pipes is an extra step in reducing the risk for customers.

The price tag on Northeast Philadelphia’s planned waterfront playground has doubled, and so has developers’ patience with getting it right, writes Emma Dooling for the Philadelphia Business Journal. One River Marina, envisioned for a six-acre stretch of Delaware River frontage at 5190 Princeton Ave. near the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge, now carries a projected cost approaching $80 million, up from the $40 million estimate developers floated when the project was expected to open by spring 2026.