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° Whoβs backing our local state candidates this election?
π° Whoβs backing our local state candidates this election?We all know there's big money in elections, but do you know who the big spenders are? This week, I dove into the campaign finance reports for our local state Rep race (PA House District 160: Craig Williams vs. Elizabeth Moro) to see who's really behind each candidate. Before you vote on November 3 (and I hope you do), you deserve to know this stuff. Grab a cup of coffee or a cookie, and learn more about who's influencing who you might vote for this election season. Read it here!β π§ Where is the Unionville High School class of 1957?I found them at Hank's this week! I had the best lunch with almost a dozen of the graduates who still get together every month around town. Read about our lunch, how I scored an invite, and a very magical book that landed on the lunch table!β β¨ Finding like-minded neighbors and moving forward together. β‘Last Sunday, I hosted an Open House (you can see a little video here) for neighbors to stop by and learn more about rooftop solar, EVs, heat pumps, induction stoves, time-of-use energy rates, and more. I know. I know. I've been telling you about it for a few weeks, and Chadds Friends, it was amazing! If you're thinking about hosting an event to hang with your neighbors, DO IT! You won't regret it (even if your pajamas are looking really comfy). I was really nervous there wouldn't be enough people. But it was just the right size because everyone came with a ton of questions, and we had time to answer them all. Some left with plans for their next clean energy home investment. Others were happy to meet a reputable rooftop solar installer. We all loved finding like-minded neighbors looking to move forward into a clean energy future. I got SO many questions about what I call the Magical Electrification Trifecta: EV + rooftop solar + time-of-use energy rates. I'll totally nerd out about it if you ask me. π€ If you couldn't make it but wanted to come, let me know. I don't know that I'll host another event that's so publicized. But if enough people are interested, I can definitely bring the crew back together for an encore. I've had a handful of people interested in a follow-up so far. A huge majority of Americans know climate change is real and are especially concerned when they're asked about its local impacts. Yet several of our local elected officials don't believe in climate change (or pretend not to believe to appease their fossil fuel buddies π). We've got local electeds putting wrenches in everything from community solar programs to Bird Town (because the organization that sponsors it believes climate change is contributing to bird loss). We can't make this stuff up. It is SO PATHETIC. π¦ We can move forward despite these albatross elected officials. We can't override all of their dumb decisions, but we definitely have agency to make progress until they see the electrified light. π‘There's power in neighbors! π¨ Bring out the big, old gunsThis Saturday, Sept. 19, Chadds Ford Historical Society hosts the annual Chadds Ford Days and Battle of Brandywine reenactment. βοΈ Daytime events run from 10 am - 5 pm and highlights include:
π Evening Program: Tavern Night in the Grove Stay for the nightcap from 6:00-10:00 pm for music and storytelling, tavern-style food and beverages, and colonial-themed entertainment and dancing. π Location & Admission Chadds Ford Historical Society β Barn Visitors Center, 1736 Creek Road, Chadds Ford, PA Admission (at the gate):
Parking is available in designated event areas. Visitors are asked not to park along Route 1, Creek Road, or in nearby private lots. π Newlin Grist Mill Fall FestivalThe popular Fall Festival is back at Newlin Grist Mill this weekend! They host a ton of cool activities, featuring historic skills and trade demonstrations, archaeological excavations and activities, lots of activities for kids, and a bunch of cool local vendors. The weather looks perfect! All the details here. π₯Ύ Decluttering this fall?Did you know Trail Creek Outfitters in Glen Eagle Shopping Center consigns outdoor gear in good condition from reputable brands? Don't toss what you no longer need or what the kids have outgrown. Makeβ an appointment through this link. Nothing to consign? Shop secondhand and save a bunch of loot! π£ Move those feet!Next Chadds Ford Walking Club event is on Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 9:30 am at Brinton Run Preserve. All the details here! 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. "Being an adult is weird. It turns out that happiness is still asking your friends if they can come play outside." π³οΈ Did you know PA has the lowest rate of voter registration among 18-year-olds? Got a young adult in your life? Encourage them to register! Even if they think government is bonkers backward and not worth voting for, remind them they can be right, or they can be effective (and they need to vote to be effective). Or maybe send them this. βοΈ We all interpret the world through our own eyes, in the context of our experiences and the state of the world. Imagine if you asked someone two thousand years ago to tell you the difference between a butt dial and a booty call. Sounds the same, right? Definitely not. πCulture matters. Also, why I think this discussion about why no one "simply reads the Bible" is fascinating. β The coolest thing to do with Grandma's china! π So clean energy + utility-scale batteries can reduce our energy costs when we clean up our messy permitting rules in PA? Can someone please pass this along to our local elected officials? I'm sure they're sick of hearing from me. π΄ Who deserves paid leave when recovering from major medical experiences? And who gets to decide that they deserve it but others don't? πͺ Guess who donated $600,000 to a local Philly school for some A/C up in this piece? π Goody! More pollution! Plus an attempt to make sure future leaders can't protect us either. Does anyone in Washington besides Thomas Massie (and maybe Ro Khanna) have a heart? I'm sure someone does, but pickins' are getting slim. If anyone isn't sure what it's like to have a bunch of industrial plants without pollution limits, recall China in the early 2000s. It sucked, so they turned it around. We can't even learn from recent history?! Sigh... π₯ Have you heard about Abby's Pocket Thrift at OsoSweet? Now you have! 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 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 |
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!