April 17, 2009

Pennsbury residents should get the chance to vote on an open space measure come November, something supervisors voted to do last year but failed to act in time.

Supervisors voted during their April 15 meeting to authorize advertising for an ordinance that would put a referendum on the ballot this November.

The question would ask whether voters want to increase property taxes by 0.34 mills to bring the open space component of property tax to 0.79 mills of the total 1.49 mill total township property tax. A mill is a tax of $1 for every $1,000 in assessed property value.

Supervisors’ Chairman Charles “Scotty” Scottoline said such a hike would increase his property taxes by about $100 per year.

The increase would bring in about $250,000 per year, Scottoline said. While the property tax would go up, he said, the earned income tax for open space — 0.188 percent — would go away if there was no other general fund need.

Solicitor Tom Oeste will advertise the ordinance and supervisors are to vote on the measure during their May meeting.

The open space taxes voted on by supervisors in 2003 had a sunset clause. They were to have ended at the end of 2008 unless renewed or otherwise changed. The board last year wanted to have a referendum on the ballot in November, but did not get the question to Voter Services in time. Supervisors then voted to extend the property and earned income tax for open space preservation in the same manner as the original ordinance.

Other business

The zoning hearing on the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District request for a sign variance will be May 5 at the township building. The sign, noting that Chadds Ford Elementary School was named a Blue Ribbon School in 2008, was forced down because it violated the township zoning code.

Supervisors voted to send a letter to the zoning board saying they recommend approval for the variance.

About Rich Schwartzman

Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.

• Mail
|
• More Posts(3373)

The Brandywine Valley Bed & Breakfast Association and the Brandywine Conference and Visitors Bureau have launched a drive to keep the Brandywine Battlefield Park in Chadds Ford up and running.

It’s called Reservations for Preservation. For every reservation made at participating bed & breakfast facilities, the inns will donate $1. That donation will in turn be matched by the visitors’ bureau.

Both groups are responding to the reports that the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission is considering turning the 52-acre park over to some other entity for administration in the face of state budget cuts. PHMC members are scheduled to vote on the matter in mid June.

“One of the major attractions in our area, the Brandywine Battlefield, is in danger of closing due to a cut back in funding from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission,” said Glenn Mon, vice president of the Brandywine Valley Bed & Breakfast Association. “This site is one of the most significant attractions in the Brandywine Valley, not only from a historical perspective, but from a visitor perspective as well.”

He said the idea was a joint idea coming from several member inns.

With the matching funds from the visitors’ bureau, the total contribution would come to $10,000.

Mon admitted that the $10,000 is far less than what’s needed, but said it’s a solid start and that guests staying at the various inns will have the opportunity to also match the $1 donation, bringing the contribution to a possible $15,000.

He admits that, too, is far short, but adds maybe others businesses and individuals will also help save the park.

“Of course, that’s not going to match the $250,000 to $300,000 funding that the battlefield currently receives from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission,” Mon said, “but it is a way to contribute some money to the effort and we’re optimistic that other members of the Brandywine valley community will step up and come up with similar programs so that this attraction remains a viable attraction.”

Of the 15 inns in the Brandywine Valley Bed & Breakfast Association, 13 are participating in the program. One of the participating facilities is the Pennsbury Inn owned and operated by Cheryl Grono.

She said that only about 25 percent of her guests visit or ask about the park, but that it’s still important to her to help keep the park open to the public.

“I think the battlefield is very important for the area,” Grono said when asked why she decided to take part. “It [was] the largest battle in the Revolution and it frustrates me to know that Valley Forge gets so much attention and so much funding and all they were was a place where the soldiers took a break.”

Tore Fiore, executive director of the Brandywine Conference and Visitors Bureau, said in a press release, “The Brandywine Battlefield is one of the premier attractions in Delaware County and Brandywine Country. The Brandywine Conference and Visitors Bureau will work hand in hand with the Battlefield and the Bed & Breakfast Association and reach out to our local and state elected officials for assistance and support in this endeavor to save the battlefield.” 

The association has a page on its Web site regarding the program. Visit http://bvbb.com/reservations4preservation.htm.

In addition to the Pennsbury Inn, other participating inns are the 1732 Folke Stone B&B, 1800 Tory Inne, Bancroft Manor, B&B at Walnut Hill, Fairville Inn, Faunbrook B&B, Hamanassett B&B, Harlan Log House, Kennett House, Longwood B&B Inn, Snug Hollow B&B and Sweetwater Farm.

Not participating are Cornerstone and Stebbins-Swain inns.

About Rich Schwartzman

Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.

• Mail
|
• More Posts(3373)

From Concordville to Oxford and points in between they came to Kennett Square to protest what they called a wasteful and elitist government.

At least 50 people waved flags and signs from the rain soaked center of the borough -– filling all four corners of the State and Union Street intersection. And passers by heading home during the evening rush hour were honking in support of the tax day tea party, one of many held throughout the country on April 15.

Joe Marek of Concordville said he came out in the sloppy weather to defend his rights, his country and his freedom.

“It’s totally irresponsible, all this money they’re throwing out. There are so many zeros you can’t comprehend the amount the money that they’re wasting. Who’s going to pay for this,” Marek said talking about the stimulus package and the General Motors bailout.

Marek is frustrated and angry over government elitism.

“They should realize they’re supposed to be working for us, not against us. And if you go back to the Constitution, originally representatives … almost it was a no pay job… Now we’ve created politics as a permanent job. These guys give themselves raises and give themselves [cost of living increases.] The other thing I’d like to see is our politicians have to be on the same Medicare system that the rest of us are on. And I’d like to work one term for four years and get full retirement benefits. It’s irresponsible it’s unreasonable. The politicians have created their own elite, regal society. And the rest of us are just peons at their beck and call so they can live good.”

Charlie Werner from East Marlborough said he came out because he believes in the Constitution and thinks today’s politicians don’t. It’s been getting worse with politicians from both the Republican and Democratic parties since Ronald Regan left office, Werner said.

London Grove resident Bill Shaw calls the out of control spending “un-American.”

“We need to change the way we do things,” Shaw said. “We need to do things the way the Constitution says.”

He added that the country needs, “a coalition of Republicans, Democrats and the Ron Paul people to elect good representatives to Congress.”

Brian Wadiak of Exton said he came out to support the tea party because of the problems with “big government, big spending and government waste.”

Ross Causey, a Kennett Square landscaper was the organizer of the event.

“There are no politicians here. We didn’t invite any and we don’t want them here. They’re the cause of the problems,” Causey said.

But while he and others were expressing frustration over the bailouts and the stimulus package, Causey was pleased with the turnout.

“I’m thrilled to death to have all these fellow patriots out here. It’s beyond words,” he said.

Causey said he hopes the Kennett protest along with all the others would “wake up the hibernating Republican Party and perhaps it will enlighten our Democrat friends also.”

He said, “Politicians are asleep and under cover right now. What we the people need to do is get out here and voice our opposition to the current events that are happening.”

He wants to see more events such as the tea party.

About Rich Schwartzman

Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.

• Mail
|
• More Posts(3373)

Students from Unionville Elementary School toured the Pennsbury hydroelectric mill Thursday, marking the third consecutive year for the tours.

The tours are part of the fourth-grade science curriculum in the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District.

Teacher Jenny Dickinson said the field trip is a great thing for the students.

“It’s great. It’s very interactive. It’s a great thing for them to see. I think the [four stations] are great so the students can go around in small groups and understand everything,” she said.

The four stations were areas where the students could learn about energy in general, different types of motors, how water powers the mill and, of course, seeing the actual operation of the mill as it generates electricity.

Those stations were manned by township volunteers, plus people from Exelon and students and staff from the Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades of Media.

In addition to electricity, Dickinson said her students are just beginning to learn about motion and design, land and water and renewable resources.

Most students said simply that the mill was “cool.” But others called it “energy efficient and it doesn’t hurt the environment.”

The mill was opened to fourth-grade tours two tears ago after several years of renovation. Pennsbury Historical Preservation Inc., a nonprofit organization, spent more than $100,00 to restore the property and get the mill working and producing energy, after the Dawson family deeded the site on Fairville Road to the township.

It was built in 1919 but obsolete by 1930.

Karen Wood, township supervisors and president of the Pennsbury Historical Preservation Inc., a nonprofit organization, said she’d like to see more volunteers come out and help with tours.

About Rich Schwartzman

Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.

• Mail
|
• More Posts(3373)