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!
π₯ How about we stop burning up the Earth for data centers?
πΏA charming night at OsoSweetHave you heard of Brandywine Cool Girls? It's a cool group for girls (women, but c'mon... it was too easy). Owner Sarah James hosts a variety of fitness and community-building events for women to get out and get together around the Brandywine Valley. πͺπ» Her next event is Thursday, August 20 at OsoSweet Bakery Cafe. She's hosting a Charm Bar night! Your ticket gets you all the materials for a customized charm keychain and a fun complimentary drink from OsoSweet. Grab a friend and get one of the last few tickets before they sell out! π Save the date and bring a date (or several dates!)Speaking of getting out with friends, it's that time again! The annual Rachel Kohl Community Library fundraising dinner is scheduled for Tuesday, September 15 at 5:30 pm at La Fava in Glen Mills. Catch all the details and grab your tickets here before they sell out! It's a fun way to support the local library with friends and enjoy a night out. π½οΈ π₯ How about we stop burning up the Earth for data centers?That ππ» might be a controversial opinion, but I'm going with it. Pennsylvania state leaders are all in on data centers, and they're showing up in our state with abandon. Hopefully without getting burned at the stake, I've got another controversial opinion. Maybe data centers aren't all bad... (have you grabbed the pitchforks yet?) π¬ Data centers can be really bad for our communities, and we're all sick of billionaires bossing us around for their financial benefit. I get it! If done thoughtfully and responsibly, however, with plenty of guardrails and oversight, data centers could really help lower our electricity costs and usher in a whole new paradigm shift toward clean energy. Seriously! The AI hyperscalers have more money than God π° (or it feels that way to me; I guess I don't know how much money God has). But we can make them pay for the clean energy transition and all the new energy we need!! But...and it's a big but π, many of our state leaders, including Craig Williams, seem intent on holding us back. Williams has proposed legislation that he's been shouting about from the rooftops, and he keeps telling us that he's going to make data centers pay! Yeah, man! Make 'em pay. I agree. Unfortunately for our wallets and our lungs, Williams wants them to pay for fossil fuel gas, but not renewable energy, batteries, or any of the many (many!) other innovative and less expensive solutions that will carry the world forward into the next chapter of our energy future. The short version of his legislation is "forget free markets and innovation, we're doing fracked gas from Western PA." The long version of my critique is here. It's a doozy, but I dropped in a quick summary at the beginning so you can get the gist in the first few paragraphs. Then you can choose to take the deep dive into energy nerdfest if the battery on your phone is charged enough to last to the end. π If you want clean energy and lower PECO bills, Williams' bill is definitely not it (despite what he says). Like... first one to touch your nose on the playground "not it." If your friends want clean energy and lower PECO bills, pass this message on. Let 'em know what's up. And let me know what you think. I'm super curious to hear your perspective.
πͺ PA 160 update: Knocking, not blockingIn other PA 160 news.... Recently, Elizabeth Moro, state House of Representatives candidate for district PA160 (that's us!), knocked her 20,000th door in our district. That's nifty. π Meanwhile, Craig Williams, the PA160 incumbent, blocked me from tagging him on social media. Moro is opening doors to communication with constituents; Williams is closing them. Knocking > Blocking π«Άπ» If you're curious why he blocked me (I can only guess), I assume it's because I publicly criticized his legislative actions and how he represents himself to us, his constituents. It was before I even said all that ππ» about his proposed legislation. He's "the energy guy," and I think his energy policy stinks. π© I also think he woefully misleads us about his energy priorities. Everything I've posted about his policy positions and public statements is posted on my site and shared in the Energy Highlight on my Instagram account. You be the judge. π«ΆπΌ Why do I share this in a community newsletter? Because building a strong community that serves us well demands local representatives who listen to constituents, work together across divides, and advocate for what is best for us (not just what's best for the source of the lobbying dollars in campaign bank accounts or something). Whether it's his crummy energy policy or his apparent disinterest in critique from constituents, neither serves our community. You ought to know. Local Concord Farmers' Market reminderI'll be at the market on Sunday representing the library! Will I see you there? Leaving this here as a reminder to support our local food folks this summer. π In its second year, the Concord Farmers' Market continues to grow. They have several food and produce vendors, as well as flowers, honey, candles, coffee, baked goods, fresh bread, fun drinks, and more. The market runs every Sunday from 10 am - 1 pm at Concord Township Park through August 30. BYO Bag (if you want, not required) and meet your neighbors. π Ponder ThisIn this section, I share book recommendations, articles, podcasts, quotes, and other links I think Chadds Ford neighbors might find interesting. Let me know what you think. π Stories about regular people and the basics of living a good life are always interesting to me. π³οΈ Our neighbor, Delaware, is leading the way with a bipartisan state's Voting Rights Act bill that recently passed and earned unanimous support in the state senate. Cheers to making it ever easier for every eligible voter to cast their ballot! π This week I read The Future is Peace: A Shared Journey Across the Holy Land by Aziz Abu Sarah and Maoz Inon, a Palestinian and an Israeli Jew working together as peacebuilders. What a beautiful and profound book. I highly encourage you to read it. It's not long, and I checked it out from the library. I could have excerpted so many quotes from the book, but I'll leave these: "We must stop seeing Jerusalem as a prize to be claimed and begin to see it as a sacred trust to be shared. ... A peaceful Jerusalem would not belong exclusively to one people or one faith - it would belong to the world, a living symbol that peace is not just possible, it is inevitable."
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"We know that our vision might sound impossible, but we invite you to reflect on these words, attributed to Franz Kafka: "By believing passionately in something that still does not exist, we create it. The non-existent is whatever we have not sufficiently desired.""
π¬ The role of science has been foundational to the strength of America. How sad it's made me feel to watch it dragged through the mud in so many ways and anticipate what it will cost us as a country long-term. π§ This is what making America great again actually looks like. 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!
I didn't include everything here, but the library currently has a ton of programs for kids on the calendar. From reading and LEGO programs to AI Cybersecurity for Kids, art classes, kids' concerts, and more. Check the library's program calendar for ideas! 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!