The Chester County Health Department reminds residents that along with warmer weather comes mosquito season and the threat of West Nile Virus, which is most commonly transmitted to humans by mosquitoes.
The best way to control mosquitoes is to get rid of standing water on your property. The following precautions are strongly recommended to reduce the mosquito population in your yard, which will help reduce the risk of West Nile Virus and help your family remain healthy:
Empty standing water from flowerpots, buckets, wheelbarrows, pet water dishes, and birdbaths on a regular basis.
Drill holes in the bottom of outdoor recycling containers so that water will not collect.
Keep your property clear of old tires.
Clean roof gutters, particularly if leaves from surrounding trees have a tendency to plug drains.
Turn over plastic wading pools when not in use.
Aerate ornamental pools or stock them with fish.
Clean and chlorinate swimming pools when not in use. A swimming pool left untended for an extended period can produce enough mosquitoes to result in neighborhood-wide complaints. Mosquitoes can even breed in the water that collects on top of pool covers.
For stagnant pools of water that cannot be drained, homeowners can purchase Bti products – commonly called mosquito dunks – at lawn and garden and home improvement stores. Bti is naturally occurring bacteria that kills mosquito larvae but is safe for people, pets, aquatic life and plants.
Personal protection is also important during warmer weather. The Chester County Health Department recommends these simple precautions to prevent mosquito bites:
Make sure screens fit tightly over doors and windows to keep mosquitoes out of your home.
Consider wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants and socks when outdoors, particularly when mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk, or in areas known for having large numbers of mosquitoes.
When possible, reduce outdoor exposure at dawn and dusk during the summer months.
Use insect repellants. Effective repellant contains DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Always be sure to follow the manufacturer label directions. Consult with your health care provider if you have questions about the use of repellant on children. Repellant is not recommended for infants under the age of two months.
For more information about the Chester County Health Department’s West Nile Virus program, watch our video, visit www.chesco.org/wnv, or call 610-344-6752.
What a difference nearly two decades can make. Nineteen years ago, two friends who shared a passion for brewing beer debuted the Victory Brewing Company in Downingtown.
Patrons overwhelmed by the vast selection of beers can order a sampler.
The opening followed a struggle so intense that partners Bill Covaleski and Ron Barchet concluded it would be a “victory” if the venture succeeded, inspiring the name.
On Monday, April 20, Victory, now the nation’s 26th largest craft brewery, opened its newest brewpub, Victory at Magnolia, in Kennett Square. Its debut was so anticipated that crowds packed the 8,000-square-foot facility the first night, despite a lack of advertising or publicity.
Covaleski shook his head when asked at a press meet-and-greet on Monday, May 11, to compare the two experiences. He and Barchet both said that the welcoming reception they received in Kennett Square bore no resemblance to their earlier launch and exceeded their expectations. “Overwhelmingly so,” said Barchet. “We’re very grateful.”
Located in Magnolia Place, a residential development taking shape at the corner of West Cypress Street and Mill Road, Victory rents the entire bottom floor of a four-story red brick building that is also home to 33 one- and two-bedroom apartments.
Co-founders of Victory Brewing Company, Bill Covaleski (left) and Ron Barchet , listen to feedback on their new Kennett Square brewpub.
Covaleski said they knew when they teamed up with the Pia family, well-known as the fourth-generation operators of Kaolin Mushroom Farm, that they had found partners who were similarly civic-minded. He said both companies believe strongly in community outreach.
“We want to be a fixture in the community,” Covaleski said. He said the process was a lengthy one in Downingtown, where they started as unknowns and had to navigate some rancorous zoning meetings. Residents raised concerns that ranged from an increase in litter to a spike in teen pregnancy. “It took years to develop a positive relationship” with some, Covaleski said.
By the time Victory was searching for a new brewpub location, it enjoyed a reputation as a successful, eco-friendly company, and Kennett Square was already renowned for its well-attended beer festivals and pro-business climate.
“It was really wonderful to have the community support right away,” Covaleski said.
The brewery is already scheduled to have a presence at Longwood Gardens when “Nightscape,” a light extravaganza, opens in July. The nighttime exhibit will include a Victory beer garden, where visitors will be able to purchase a Longwood signature beer brewed by Victory with ingredients grown in the gardens.
Victory at Magnolia occupies the bottom floor of an apartment building in Magnolia Place, a new development on Cypress Street in Kennett Square.
Covaleski said Victory was also attracted to the fact that the Kennett project would bring new residents into the borough so that it wouldn’t simply be competing with existing businesses for customers.
Although Victory at Magnolia will have beer and menu items exclusive to Kennett Square, the overall philosophy mirrors the Downingtown location, Covaleski said. The menu is dominated by fresh, locally-sourced ingredients; in fact, the kitchen has no freezer. A small unit near the main entrance contains Victory’s ice cream, but the restaurant won’t be serving anything else that’s frozen – an intentional decision, Covaleski said.
In keeping with the company’s recycling initiatives, over 800 reclaimed mushroom boards were used as wainscoting in the building’s industrial-style interior. Reflecting its anti-waste philosophy, spent grain from beer production supplements feed for local farmers, and organic waste is turned into mulch, Covaleski said.
Like Downingtown, Covaleski said Victory plans to give back by supporting nonprofits in the Kennett area. “Our commitment and support of our local economy have created a dedicated following of fans we hope to have for generations to come,” he said.
Although the Kennett Square menu features new offerings, some of the bar fare, such as a hand-tossed pretzel with Dusseldorf mustard and HopDevil cheese, originated at the company’s first location in Downingtown.
Brad Maule, an artist and writer from Philadelphia who attended Monday’s event, learned firsthand recently that Victory’s ecological inclinations dovetailed nicely with his own. The revelation occurred as Maule was about to debut his “One Man’s Trash” project at the Fairmount Water Works this past Earth Day.
Maule said the project came about because he was appalled by the amount of litter he found during hikes in Fairmount Park. He decided to collect it for a year and turn it into an artistic display to raise awareness. Another local brewer had offered its suds for the event. “But I really liked Victory’s beer,” Maule said.
So Maule, founder of PhillySkyline.com, made an overture to Victory, a contact that was well-received by a company committed to creative recycling. As proof of his loyalty, Maule sported a Victory shirt. He predicted that residents of Kennett Square would soon share his view. “It’s a great company,” he said.
It’s not an outcome that its owners could have anticipated when they met in 1973 on the school bus in Collegeville as fifth-graders. They became friends – as did their families – and kept in touch when they went separate ways to college: Barchet to UCLA to pursue a political-science degree and Covaleski to Temple’s Tyler School of Art.
Covaleski said his father piqued his interest in home brewing, and in 1985, he gave Barchet a beer kit for Christmas. Both got hooked, and less than a decade later, were making plans to launch the business.
Alex Waegel (from left) and Cassie Hepler, publisher of Explore-Philly.com, enjoy a beer with Bill Covaleski.
Victory at Magnolia seats up to 220 and will add outdoor dining in late May. Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to midnight, and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The retail store features a bevy of Victory beers for takeout as well as merchandise and beer-infused food products, such as Belgian Brulee Ice Cream.
In addition to the original Downingtown brewery and brewpub, Victory recently opened a second brewery in Parkesburg to expand production, which now includes distribution to 35 states. To learn more about the company, visit www.victorybeer.com.
Are you a Chester County girl who wants to make a difference for other Chester County girls? That is the question the Chester County Fund for Women and Girls has asked of more than 100 high school girls during the past 11 years.
The fund is currently accepting applications for its award-winning Girls Advisory Board (GAB) program. Applications are available online at www.ccwomenandgirls.org/girls-advisory-board/ and will be accepted until Monday, June 1.
The fund is looking for high school girls entering their sophomore or junior year in the fall of 2015. Girls must live in Chester County to be admitted into the program and can participate for up to two years in the GAB program.
One of only a few in the nation, the Girls Advisory Board is a unique girls’ grant-making program in which 20 local girls gain the opportunity to award $25,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations that help other young women in Chester County.
During the past 11 years, GAB has awarded over $200,000 to agencies who through innovative services target the needs of women and girls faced by issues such as poverty, illiteracy, violence, homelessness, mental illness, teen pregnancy and substance abuse.
From September to December 2015, GAB members will learn about and discuss community needs, create their own grant application, review proposals, conduct site visits, and work together as a group to award grants to the organizations they feel best address their identified priorities.
Nearly every public, private and parochial high school in Chester County has been represented on GAB, and they have all helped the Fund for Women and Girls raise awareness of the issues girls and young women face daily in communities across the county. The GAB has received the Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ Greater Philadelphia Chapter, an award that has previously recognized projects such as Alex’s Lemonade Stand and Youthadelphia.
Contact Kate Zielsdorf with any questions about the application process at katherine@ccfwg.org.
The Darlington Arts Center welcomes Homegrown String Band, the “family that plays together,” for an evening of high energy American folk music on Saturday, May 9 at 7:30pm.
The Homegrown String Band will take the stage at the Darlington Arts Center on Saturday, May 9.
The Homegrown String Band acoustic trio, which consists of Rick, Georgianne, and Annalee Jackofsky, will be performing a selection of original and traditional music, as well as a few tunes by American music icons like Jimmie Rodgers, Leadbelly, The Carter Family, and Bob Dylan.
This family band began its musical journey over 20 years ago when they pulled the plug on their TV set. They have performed professionally for the last 18 years, and have traveled extensively and released four CDs during this time. Their fifth CD, “Field Recordings” (a collection of live recordings), will be released this summer.
Inspired by the rural string bands of the early 20th century, this 21st century incarnation of the traditional family band utilizes unique instrumentation to put their own stamp on a repertoire drawn from the classics of rural American music. The tradition of American roots music is a tradition of change and The Homegrown String Band is carrying on that American tradition by using the tools at hand and borrowing from various musical genres to create something new and unique.
Their original music has been lauded as “heartfelt, original, insightful, and impressive” by major music publications Sing Out!, and Dirty Linen, as well as Grammy- nominated author Bill Dahl. Listen to selections from the band’s four albums online at www.homegrownstringband.com.
This event begins with an open mic at 7:30 p.m. followed by Homegrown String Band at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 ($10 for members) and include free coffee, tea, and desserts. BYOB – corkscrew and glasses are provided. Advance purchase is strongly recommended. Tickets can be purchasing by calling 610-358-3632 or visiting www.darlingtonarts.org.
Other upcoming Coffee House Concerts include folk singer/songwriter Casey Alvarez on Saturday, June 13. Shows will resume in the fall after a summer break. The Darlington Arts Center is located at 977 Shavertown Road in Garnet Valley.
