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«Άπ» Thank you Mr. Gary π
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This week, as school wraps up and I fall into the throes of "Uber-Mom" driving my kids all around God's creation, I snuck in two heavy hitters for you before summer break. The hold up on Bird Town Chadds Ford is almost laughable if it wasn't real. Closer to your wallet, Unionville-Chadds Ford School District spans two counties, which can lead to volatile tax allocation. But there's a little bit of legislation that could make it better. Some good stuff to read this week, and not one but TWO ways you can have agency making our community better. Let's dive in! Speaking of driving kids aroundIf you live on the south side of Chadds Ford, you might have seen this ππ» on Heyburn Rd this week. Not sure who Mr. Gary is? He's a UCF bus driver for the elementary kiddos, and he's been safely driving our kids to and from school for years. He always has a smile on his face, is kind, knows every child's name, and often knows the parents' names too! He definitely deserved this little dollop of gratitude and joy. Don't forget the power of a little thank you. And thank you to the family(ies) who took the time to do this for him! Tweet real loud about this π¦Been following the Bird Town saga in Chadds Ford? This nonsense is for the birds. π¦ But to keep everyone up to speed, I shared an update and discussed why itβs never too late to make your voice heard. π£ While this issue is partially about Bird Town, itβs really a reflection on how some of our elected officials exhibit a lack of transparency and accountability toward their constituents. I encourage you to check it out. It's a great example of why local leadership and elections really matter!
Take action for tax parity βοΈIf you live in Chadds Ford Township, did you know that your neighbor a few miles away in Pocopson or Pennsbury Townships β same district, same school, same budget β pays school taxes calculated on an entirely different basis than you do? We can't fix the whole tax code overnight, but new legislation sponsored by local Senator John Kane aims to make it a little bit better. It's a step in the right direction. Harrisburg needs to hear from us that this legislation is worth passing. So dive into this (sort of, but not too) technical piece. Then warm up your cursive muscles to sign a couple of advocacy letters to send to your state reps in Harrisburg. I've made it super easy-peasy to complete!
Second SaturdayRemember the Philly author who was coming to Second Saturday at the Barn Shops? She had a family matter come up, so she can't make it this weekend. But hopefully she can come back later this summer or fall! In the meantime, check out Second Saturday if you're around. Lots of cool artisan vendors. Community Barbeque πIt's not too late to sign up! The Chadds Ford Township Residents Association is hosting its first annual neighborhood barbeque for the community. Bring family and friends (even if they aren't from Chadds Ford). The more the merrier. π«Άπ» Meet someone new and hang with old friends. More on the event here. And here's the link to purchase tickets!β P.S. Wondering what to expect? The party is at one of our neighbors' homes, and they're no strangers to hosting large gatherings. They're hoping lots of neighbors - from long-time residents to newbies - stop by to socialize. Bring your own mini party of buddies if that's what suits your fancy. ππΉ Walking into summer π£The next Walking Club meet-up is on June 17 at 7:30 am at Harvey Run Trail. Details here. Put it on your calendar so you don't forget. Note the new time: 7:30 am as the weather warms. Let's walk before it gets too 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.
Should we stick with Daylight Saving Time?U.S. Representative Mary Gay Scanlon wants to know how you feel about Daylight Saving Time. There's some discussion in Washington about eliminating it. Complete this quick survey to let her know what you think! Maybe the quickest way to check off your daily dose of civic engagement. 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 Candy in the fruit aisle? π π Finished reading Empire of AI by Karen Hao this week. Whoa! Sam Altman seems like a sneaky little snake. And if you thought some of our Silicon Valley city slickers want to rule the world, Hao will confirm your suspicions. Despite being more than 400 pages, I flew through it in a few days. Highly recommend it if non-fiction nerd stuff is in your wheelhouse. π Maybe people don't actually hate reading? π¨ Did you know this about solar and wind power? 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!