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!
π³ Know this before you vote! π
β Quick Reminder: Register to vote by Monday!The deadline to register to vote is THIS Monday, Oct. 19.
Make your plan to vote. Voting is political. Not voting is political. Not voting just lets someone else make the political decisions for you. Is that what you want? You can vote by mail if you think Election Day will be busy or just don't want to deal with the rigamarole of the polling venue. π³ Consider before you vote on the Delco open space referendum π°Did you know there's a Delaware County open-space tax referendum on the ballot this election cycle? I didn't know about it until recently. County taxes have gone up a lot in recent years, so it's easy to think, "no more taxes." But these open space taxes might actually bring more funds back to Chadds Ford than what it costs us to fund the program. They support open space protection, like (maybe) scooping up that land parcel at Ridge Rd and 202 from a certain developer. Anything is possible, right? In all seriousness, I'd encourage you to read more about how county open space funding can benefit us (and ultimately save us money). In the last tranche of county open space funding, Chadds Ford got far more back (4x) than we paid in. Just something to consider before you make a final decision on your ballot.
π Enough is enoughThree children and a teacher were shot by a teen in an elementary school in Bend, Oregon (not far from where my sister lives). It could have been Unionville-Chadds Ford. In recent years, our kids have missed school and been in lockdown situations due to threats of violence in our school buildings. There are so many tenets to the school shooting problem that need attention, but politicians absolutely have the agency to pass common-sense gun reform as part of the solution. 88% of Americans (88% of Republicans, 89% of Democrats) support common-sense gun laws related to mental health risks, according to research from the non-partisan Pew Research Center. We can take steps to mitigate risk that have broad support. Our current representative, Craig Williams, has refused to do this. Last year, when he had the opportunity to be the deciding vote on two common-sense gun regulations in Harrisburg, he voted against both. He voted against red flag laws and ghost gun regulations. Guns don't kill people on their own, but easy access to guns certainly makes impulsive decisions (including during mental health episodes) much more devastating. In his October 3, 2025, newsletter, Williams tried to rationalize his votes. He said:
His entire plan is to use gun laws to prosecute people who are already criminals. What about the people who use guns to commit their first crime? Every criminal was a law-abiding citizen until they weren't. π§ What about teens with no criminal record who are showing up to school with assault weapons? His approach ignores preventive measures and offers no solutions that address typical school shooting scenarios. Moreover, if he wants to use gun laws to prosecute criminals, then why did he vote against the ghost gun law? It seems reasonable that we don't want people building ghost guns with the 3-D printers at the Kennett Library. If you prosecute criminals using gun laws, ghost gun limitations seem like another reasonable tool to use to prosecute criminals. In all of his comments above, he entirely misses the point of prevention. He is making a strawman argument, ignoring the real issue and answering it with something else entirely. Parents and families want preventive laws to help ensure kids don't get killed in school by teens and young adults who almost never have prior criminal records. His approach waits until a crime has been committed before seeking resolution. These options are not mutually exclusive. Williams is up for reelection this November 3. His competitor, Elizabeth Moro, is strongly committed to passing common-sense gun regulations in Pennsylvania. If you want a leader who's as interested in preventing school shootings as they are in putting convicted criminals behind bars, Moro might be your candidate. We can do better. π β»οΈ Magic money in tidying up!Want to help Chadds Ford Elementary get paid for your old garbage? Have I got a deal for you! If you have clothes, towels, sheets, or shoes ready to hit the road and not in good enough condition to pass along in the Buy Nothing group or sell at a consignment shop, this textile waste bin is your friend. Chadds Ford Elementary hosts this textile recycling bin in the parking lot. (Itβs bright green and on the left when you drive into the parking lot; you canβt miss it.) With each donation, Chadds Ford Elementary receives a small donation to support programs and grants for the cuties in our community who attend Chadds Ford Elementary. Before you trash it, consider donating it and dropping it in the big green bin! Tidy up the things with plugs! πGot an old television, dehumidifier, or small appliance that can't go in the trash (and definitely doesn't belong in that ππ» textile recycling bin)? Don't forget about Chadds Ford Recycling Day. On October 24 from 9 a.m. to 12 pm, you can drop off electronics for recycling, including "almost anything with a plug" at the township building (10 Ring Rd, Chadds Ford). You can also donate clothing and household items to the Salvation Army and shred confidential documents, if needed. You can even pick up one free native tree, courtesy of the Open Space Committee, if you're interested. π± ποΈ Same time, same place, same commitment to responsible resource managementJoin the Chadds Ford Community Association for their fall Roadside Cleanup Event on October 24. Starting at 8 a.m., stop by the Township Building for coffee, doughnuts, and roadside cleanup supplies. They provide gloves, vests, trash bags, grabbers, and water. Help keep Chadds Ford clean and beautiful! They've asked neighbors to use this SignUpGenius link to sign up to clean specific roads in the Township. π Is it great to be a giant pumpkin this weekend?I'm not sure I can answer on behalf of the pumpkins being carved. πͺ But the annual Great Pumpkin Carve is happening now. Carvers got to work yesterday, and their carved pumpkins, serious works of art (!!), are on display through tomorrow. Traffic is a bit of a doozy in the area, so if you're not headed to the event and there's an alternative, consider taking a different route. π« The Chadds Ford Historical Society hosts the event. Head to their site for more information on times, ticket prices, raffle, vendors, and more! It's fun to visit anytime, but it's especially cool at night when the carved pumpkins are lit up. π Painter's Folly Auction this week!Painter's Folly heads to the auction block this coming week, October 22 at 11:00 am. The auction is a live, on-site event. Conservation and faΓ§ade easements are final and on the public record. The easements are held by North American Land Trust (NALT), which is headquartered in Chadds Ford. For a full update on the property, check out the October 2026 update from the Painter's Folly Preservation Alliance. Madeleine Wright, a CBS Philadelphia reporter, toured the home and shared a look inside (including some of the historic artifacts still in the home). See her story and get a glimpse inside the historic home here. REMINDER!! π Trunk-or-Treat free marketing πβChadds Ford Community Association Trunk-or-Treat returns to the parking lot. The fun event takes place Sunday, October 25, from 4:30-6:00 pm at Chadds Ford Elementary. It's a great time for the kids... AND... it's a fantastic business promotion opportunity! π There's no cost to attend or host a trunk, and last year there were hundreds of kids (and their parents) who strolled through the event.
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 I haven't shared much about what I've been reading lately. Many of the books are pretty niche and nerdy. But here's a quick list if you're curious. Feel free to ask more questions about any of them.
π₯ After I published the article about fire department funding, I've received so many comments, questions, and emails. It definitely warrants some follow-up pieces. So tell me what questions you have about our fire department. I'll answer them in future articles. Just reply to this email, and I'll jot them down. π€ Next week, I'll be interviewing Elizabeth Moro, candidate for House Representative for our district (PA 160). I plan to ask her questions about her campaign and her policy positions. What do you want to know to make a more informed decision at the ballot box? Email me (reply to this newsletter), and I'll consider any questions you send. π«Άπ» What if political discourse sounded like this again? βοΈ Best postcards ever? π¦ Not everything is about you. π Did you know batteries are now cheaper than natural gas turbines used at many data centers? π¨ What if the Kennedy Center is a foreshadowing of self-destruction? π€Έπ» I love this way to think about the architecture of childhood, and how we're asking kids to build houses without foundations. The chart is from this article. I encourage you to read the whole thing. 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 CalendarsAdd a few more exciting and important events to your calendar now so you donβt miss them!
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 *Commissionable link |
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!