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!
βοΈ So much good stuff this week!
π³οΈ Want to be in the know on Nov. 3?I created a voter guide to help you learn more about the two candidates running for PA State House in our district (PA-160). Head on over and check it out! If you have a friend who wants to learn more about their ballot, be sure to share it. βοΈ Here comes the sun at the high school!UCFSD went solar, and the system is expected to save taxpayers over $1,000,000 over the life of the panels. All the details, including a look at the rooftop system, are in this piece about the ribbon-cutting ceremony. π Painter's Folly found a new family?Painter's Folly hit the auction block today and sold for a cool $300,000. But the winning bid still requires township approval. All the details on the potential sale here! The house is gorgeous! The windows, natural light, and high ceilings are to die for. You should check out the photos if nothing else. β¨ Presented in partnership with the Pennsylvania Resource Council πΎ Fun Glass Fact: Recycling glass bottles greatly reduces raw material extraction and saves energy. We save more than one ton of natural resources for each ton of glass recycled. Plus, manufacturing with recycled glass uses 30% less energy than using virgin materials. I know you don't want to waste any drops at the bottom of the wine bottle or forgo the last few sips of Yeungling. But don't waste the bottle either! Make sure it gets recycled so the next bottle of your favorite beverage is a little lighter on Mother Nature as it circles from table to bottle manufacturer and back to your table. β»οΈ The Pennsylvania Resource Council (PRC) has coordinated with Concord Township to host a Glass Collection Bin at the township public works building, 675 Smithbridge Rd in Glen Mills (across Bob Mench Rd from the Rachel Kohl Community Library). The collection bin is available through December 31, 2026. Read my full write-up onβ the partnership and an interview with the PRC Executive Director! π That text will have to waitThis week, the Pennsylvania General Assembly (House + Senate) passed a law to prohibit cell phones in schools (K-12) starting in the 2027-2028 school year. The Governor hasn't signed it yet, but has publicly supported it. The law includes a few exceptions for medical or IEP purposes, as well as language allowing one-off use in certain approved circumstances. It's Senate Bill 1014 if you want to read the language yourself (it's pretty straightforward, not too much legalese). Here's the legislative information and the bill itself. For the Unionville Chadds-Ford School District, not much will change for elementary and middle school. District policy already meets the law's guidelines at these levels. High school policy will become more restrictive and will require changes to school practices. For example, most students communicate with parents through smartphones and watches during the school day, if needed, and will need to rely on school devices or messaging going forward. I'm sure there will be a transition period, but personally, I think this will ultimately be a refreshing change for students and the school community! πͺπ» Hey Ladies! Take a pause for this workshop series πLocal physical therapy company, Action Potential, is hosting a Not Your Mother's Menopause series in Kennett. Four sessions take place over the next four months at Episcopal Church of the Advent KSQ. See the flyer for more details, and sign up here if you're interested! 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 Did you know most historians credit the Quakers with the rise of fixed prices, and John Wanamaker as the first to use price tags at his department store in Philadelphia in the 1870s? Fun local fact, right? They both believed straightforward pricing was more ethical and fair than haggling. Today, we're moving away from public pricing, especially online, and toward dynamic pricing tailored to each of us based on an elaborate analysis of demographic, behavioral, and financial data. Yeah... Hard pass for me. (This is from a new book I'm just diving into called Gouged: The End of a Fair Price--and What That Means for Your Wallet by Lindsay Owens)* π One of the best things I've read all week on showing up even when it's hard. π AI trying to solve mysteries? Welcome to the future???? "We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." - Elie Wiesel... So... go vote! π You might have to pick a side; choose the best one. 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!