Connect Chadds Ford is a civic-minded community newsletter, focused on Chadds Ford and the Brandywine Valley. Through values of transparency, accountability, connection, and delight, Connect Chadds Ford is about building the community we hope to share with our children and neighbors. Drop your email below to subscribe to the weekly newsletter!
Coalition building and rallying for Ridge Road π
Thanks to our neighbors for showing up!First and foremost, thanks to the neighbors who showed up at the corner of Ridge Rd and Route 202 this morning to showcase their support for Save Ridge. A small (and growing) but mighty group has persevered in working together and building a coalition of neighbors who share a similar goal. As you can see from the signs, neighbors have come to support Save Ridge for different reasons. It's a great example of building relationships and connections over issues that impact our everyday lives. I'll be coming back to this with more information in the future. For now, I wanted to celebrate a group of neighbors working together effectively and peacefully over a shared interest. π«±π»βπ«²π» You can learn more about Save Ridge and the latest updates on their site. Photo courtesy of Ellen Spoehr. π All the indie bookseller detailsI got so many questions about this (which tells me people are super interested in a local bookshop)! My little manifestation is a cute pop-up bookseller coming to the Barn Shops for Second Saturday. So, not a full shop... yet... but baby steps. If the community is enthused about it, maybe we can inspire more indie pop-ups in town (or even a permanent indie bookshop eventually). Check out the full post for all the details!β
π¦ Don't miss the duckies at Newlin Grist Mill!Rubber ducks, that is. π Have you been to Newlin Grist Mill? It's a local spot with so much to offer! I recently interviewed their new Executive Director to learn more about the wide range of programs and events they run. The annual Race for the Watershed is coming up on Saturday, June 13. It's a great event and an important fundraiser. Mark your calendars and stop by to check it out.
Got blood? π©ΈHelp a neighbor in need.The American Red Cross could use a pint. Neighbor Amanda Kelly is hosting a community blood drive on Saturday, June 6, 2026, from 9 am - 2 pm at Chadds Ford Elementary. You can schedule an appointment here or call 1-800-RED-CROSS. Contact Amanda with any questions. (akellyfish@gmail.com)
Get that blood flowing π£The next Walking Club meet-up is on June 3 at 9:30 am at Concord Township Park. Details here. Put it on your calendar so you don't forget. Note the new time: 9:30 am, as the weather gets warmer. Eventually, we'll move to 7:30 am over the summer (before my kids are busy and need rides everywhere - it will also be blazing hot). βοΈ We'll take a break during late July and August when the heat peaks and vacations are aplenty. Then we'll put our walking shoes back on after Labor Day.
πΆ Into local music?Check out this local newsletter about events in the Brandywine Valley called Along the Arc. It's pretty new and focuses on live music events. Subscribe to get the updates in your inbox if local music events are your jam. Community Barbeque πIs it summer without a barbeque? The Chadds Ford Township Residents Association is hosting its first annual neighborhood barbeque for the community. π Ponder ThisIn this section, I share book recommendations, articles, podcasts, and other links I think Chadds Ford neighbors might find interesting. Let me know what you think. π Just finished reading Yesteryear. It's all the rage among book clubs and book nerds. Have you read it? What did you think? π€ I've long said that nerds run the world. I'm sticking to my guns on that. But now, it's mostly nerds who only care about billions of profit running the world, while the nerds who just love nerding out and don't mind doing it on government salaries are quitting. More on the nerd purge... what a bummer. πΈ Calling all photographers! Check out this photo contest from the Pennsylvania Resources Council. β Signed up for Delco Alert? If not, check it out. It's well worth the five minutes. π± Enter the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Delaware County Garden Contest. All the details here. ποΈ "Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter." - Thomas Jefferson β¨ Loving Connect Chadds Ford β¨While I donβt have any secrets behind paywalls, did you know you can choose to become a paid subscriber if you value Connect Chadds Ford and itβs within your budget? No pressure, but if you feel compelled to upgrade to a paid subscription, I wonβt be mad. And if youβre already a paid subscriber, thank you so much! I really appreciate it.
Looking aheadHere are a few events you might want to add to your calendar. Several require registration in advance. Double-check dates and times in case theyβve changed since I shared. Weekend Plans
Mark Your CalendarsA few more exciting and important events to put on your calendar now so you donβt miss this!
Other events to add?Feel free to share any other events happening in and around Chadds Ford (just reply to this email) that you think our neighbors will enjoy! Got a question or a comment? Hit reply to this email. It comes right back to my inbox. ππ» Did you get this from a friend and want to sign up yourself? If so, you can get more information and sign up here! From your Chadds Ford Neighbor, Jen |
Jen Panaro | Connect Chadds Ford
Connect Chadds Ford is a civic-minded community newsletter, focused on Chadds Ford and the Brandywine Valley. Through values of transparency, accountability, connection, and delight, Connect Chadds Ford is about building the community we hope to share with our children and neighbors. Drop your email below to subscribe to the weekly newsletter!