PECO Energy kept a promise to Chadds Ford resident Bruce
Prabel. It was a promise he didn’t want kept. PECO promised to cut down the
trees he loved, and it did.

Two years ago, on his birthday, Prabel learned that PECO
wanted to cut down more than 300 trees on his and his neighbors’ properties,
properties on which PECO has easements. As reported at the time, PECO wanted to
make sure the trees didn’t grown tall enough to interfere with electrical
transmission along the high-tension wires.

Prabel, his neighbor Avis Spees and Chadds Ford Township
tried to prevent the clear-cutting, but even court action couldn’t stop the action,
he said.

“Our struggle all along has been to have a much more
selective job done, said Prabel.

Prabel and Spees wanted PECO to simply remove fewer trees,
then trim the others as it had been doing for decades, but that wasn’t to be.
Three weeks ago, the workers came to take down the woodland.

“It’s a tragedy, isn’t it,” Prabel said.

More than 300 trees were taken, he said, but the
re-vegetation agreement will only replace about 200.

“These are all small, slow growing trees and the size of the
trees going in are two to three feet tall. It will take a number of years for
those to grow up to where they’re showing some level of vegetation.” Prabel
said. He added that some of the tees that came out were in excess of 100 feet
tall.

He said the property value has
dropped substantially.

“I had a formal appraisal done
that between myself and my neighbor’s it’s about a third of a $1,000,000 worth
of damage if no re-vegetation took place. With the re-vegetation, we’re hoping
that the property values will come back somewhat from that. It can’t be
restored because they basically removed the entire woodlands and opened up the
visible pollution of the towers.

Prable said his wife left for
North Carolina the day before the cutting started because she didn’t want to
watch her woodland be destroyed.

“I think we’ve come
to the conclusion that we’ve probably arrived at the best we’re going to arrive
at without trying to take court action,” he said. “It probably would have
dragged on for three or four more years.”

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.

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Chadds Ford Township residents should see their township
property taxes hold steady for 2010.

Supervisors voted at their Nov. 4 meeting to authorize for
public inspection the 2010 budget. They will vote on the budget following a hearing
on the spending bill at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 2.

Supervisor Garry Paul said that while revenue declined
during 2009, the township was able to reduce spending, resulting in a balanced
budget for next year with no township property tax increase. He added that the
2010 budget includes more money for roadwork–$120,000 as opposed to the $60,000
that was budgeted for 2009– and an additional $5,000 for the Brandywine
Battlefield Park.

Other business

The township is accepting applications from people wishing
to serve as committee volunteers for 2010. A total of six positions are open,
including three openings on the Open Space Committee and one position each on
the Planning Commission, Sewer Authority and HARB.

• Supervisor voted to approve the massage therapy business
application for Don Lim. Lim went through a conditional use hearing in
September. Investigation into his claims from his previous business in New York
revealed no adverse information.

Lim testified that he has been licensed as a massage
therapist in New York for nine years and will move into the community here if
the board approves his application.

The board granted conditional use approval, but that will be
revoked if a current Pennsylvania State Police investigation reveals anything
negative.

• Township resident Kristopher Walls was honored for
achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. Supervisors’ Vice Chairman Deborah Love
presented the Unionville High School senior a proclamation of achievement.

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.

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Walk into the new Sinful Snacks restaurant and find a statue
of Betty Boop in a roller skating waitress’s uniform holding a tray of cookie
pieces. Try some. They’re on the house.

The Boop statue is part of the retro atmosphere, along with
a functional juke box (set on free play) and some 45 rpm vinyl records on the
wall.

Sinful Snacks, taking off on the phrase “sinfully delicious”
is the dream child of Dave Sigman and his brother Eric, of New Jersey.

Dave Sigman sold mattresses for a while, being the national
franchise director for 1-800 Mattress, but said his dream, even as a kid was to
bake.

“I love to bake. That’s been my passion since I was a little
kid. I used to bake with my grandmother. I always loved doing it,” he said.

About 18 moths ago he got the opportunity to bake in a
market, The Grand Market Place in Willingboro, NJ. He said he had success in
the market and decided it was time to expand.  And while his baking experience dates back two generations,
his search for a place of his own was strictly 21^st century. He
found his current location–next to Brandywine River Antiques at Route 1 and
Hickory Hill Road, just south of the Pennsbury Township building and across the
street from the Pennsbury Inn–through Craig’s List on the Internet.

During his research, Dave Sigman said, he fell in love with
the area, with its history and people.

 “The people
here are tremendous, very friendly and 90 percent of the people who have walked
in here have said they hope we succeed,” he said.

Sigman specializes in red velvet cake, cookies, different
types of brownies and treats.

The shop opened Oct. 31, operating seven day per week, 7
a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the weekends.

Breakfast possibilities include pancakes, Belgium waffles
and a variety of biscuits and muffins along with bagels. The lunch menu
consists of hot dogs–foot-long Hebrew national kosher dogs–paninis, pizza, and
salads.

For dessert there are the homemade cookies, brownies,
cupcakes, a giant cupcake and a chocolate pizza. Sigman said his next step
would be to expand the menu and possibly open the shop for private parties.

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.

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A new, all-access playground is under construction in
Concord Township due to the efforts of the Concordville-Chadds Ford Rotary.

“The playground is meant to service children, including
those who need wheelchair access,” said Hank Fischer, who helped spearhead the
project for the Rotary. “We thought it as necessary because there are very few
facilities like that in the area.”

Fischer was one of a handful of Rotarians out at the
site–located next to the new Concord Township building, the former Dante
Orphanage, at Route 1 and Thornton Road–to celebrate a groundbreaking.

Fischer said the playground should be ready by Thanksgiving,
though it was originally planned to be ready by August or September. He
explained that rainy weather delayed the grading of the site. That, in turn,
delayed construction.

While the playground is for all kids in the area, Fischer
said it’s primarily aimed for youngsters between the ages of 3 and 12 years old.

The first phase of the playground, under construction now,
includes five slides, two climbers, a tree house, a climbing wall and a number
of different play panels for younger children, Fischer said.

The second phase will include a swing set, but Fischer said
that might take about two years. He said phase two will cost about
$25,000-$30,000. Construction on that will be based on how soon funds can be
raised. He added that the Rotary is looking for some financial grants.

Lisa Dort, president of the Concordville-Chadds Ford Rotary
chapter, said the group has been saving since 2002 for the project that is
costing the Rotary $75,000. Concord Township is also funding the project.

For more information on the Rotary and its projects, call
Dort at 484-574-4118.

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.

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Close to
two dozen veterans were honored during a Veteran’s Day ceremony at Hillendale
Elementary Nov. 11. The vets, from the Gulf to WWII heard words of thanks from
school Principal Steve Dissinger, were given American flags by the students and
heard a play from 5^th-graders about what it means to be a veteran.

Dissinger
said the ceremony was designed to show gratitude and appreciation for the
veterans who are part of the Hillendale community.

“We
wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for our soldiers,” Dissinger said.

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.

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