Natural Lands Trust (NLT) announced a small but significant parcel of land that will be transferred to French Creek State Park.
The 2.3-acre tract will link two sections of French Creek State Park, providing a key trail connector.
The acquisition, finalized late last month, of 2.3 acres of woodlands is a critical link needed to connect the soon-to-be-completed two-mile section of the Big Woods Trail running through French Creek State Park to the Thun Trail (pronounced “tune”) section of the Schuylkill River Trail, a NLT press release said.
“This key purchase proves that even two acres of forest can make a big difference,” Molly Morrison, Natural Lands Trust’s president, said in the release. “This land is an important link in the Schuylkill River Trail System, which has the potential to connect communities from Philadelphia through Pottsville.”
The 2.3-acre property lies within a region known as the Hopewell Big Woods – the largest block of contiguous forest between New York and Washington, D.C.– which has been a focus of conservation efforts by Natural Lands Trust and more than 50 private and public partners over the past decade.
The tract is also a part of the Schuylkill Highlands Conservation Landscape, an area at the intersection of the Pennsylvania Highlands and the Schuylkill River Watershed that has been designated by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) as a priority for conservation, recreational access, and compatible economic development. Seventy-one percent of Pennsylvania’s forests are privately owned, which puts them at risk for development, the release said.
“This property is the critical link needed for DCNR to connect French Creek, a very popular state park with almost a million visitors annually, to the Schuylkill River Trail,” Pennsylvania DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said in the release. “The trail link will expand outdoor recreation opportunities at the park and provide an alternate transportation route for visitor access.”
This land purchase marks the eighth that Natural Lands Trust has facilitated for French Creek State Park; to date, the organization has worked with DCNR to add 386 acres to the park. On June 30, 2015, Natural Lands Trust purchased and transferred a 54-acre parcel of land to the park, allowing officials to reroute a portion of the 140-mile Horseshoe Trail from land owned by the South Birdsboro Gun Club to land owned by the park, the release said.
Support for this conservation success was provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Virginia Cretella Mars Foundation.
Natural Lands Trust is the region’s largest land conservation organization and is dedicated to protecting the forests, fields, streams, and wetlands that are essential to the sustainability of life in eastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey. Since its founding in 1953, Natural Lands Trust has preserved more than 100,000 acres, including 42 nature preserves totaling nearly 22,000 acres. For more information, visit www.natlands.org.
My 7th, and most recent trip to India was another great success. I wanted to bring so many friends and supporters my summary of my time at PPES with 4 fantastic US volunteers. I had another successful venture, with so many unexpected twists and turns, and memories of making a difference in the lives of our girls and villagers in rural India.
Laurisa Schutt, and her daughters, Ryann and Tatum, and Debbie Wilson, all from Wilmington had life changing experiences during their time in rural India. Once again, the team stayed healthy and safe, changed forever by the experience of being at Pardada Pardadi.
Besides having no internet(imagine that!) for the first week, due to it being knocked out by a storm that hit the area before we arrived, and brown shower water in our hotel in Agra during our visit to the Taj, we survived quite well. As the saying goes, “what doesn’t kill you will make you stronger”……I am pretty strong by now, and know the volunteers that came along with me are stronger as well.
It is overwhelming to think about how far we have come, and how much has changed, since our initial trip in 2010. I dreamed of a Health Center at the school, which became a reality. The next dream was to build a Medical Center that would provide quality health care to the families of our girls, as well as the villagers.
Thanks to my friends and supporters, groundbreaking for the Medical Center took place during my November trip. Just 4 short months later, it is open and operating under the direction of Elsa, our nurse and 2 doctors who work there 4 days a week. 2 students, who want to be nurses, are being trained by Elsa.
It is amazing how receptive Sam Singh, our school founder, is to making changes to improve the lives of the people, and how fast change happens, in comparison to how long it can take here. The new medical center is beautiful.
The separate building with toilets is the best bathroom in town! We now have a computerized medical program, instead of records written in notebooks. This innovation was the result of a suggestion from volunteers that came with me in 2014.
While at the school I came across a little girl lying on the floor of a class, being cared for by her friends. Another was out in the field, getting sick, with 2 friends rubbing her back. Our girls are so familiar with taking care of one another, and do it so well. We want them to bring their friends to Elsa. I accompanied two students to the local government hospital, one to be tested for malaria, the other for rabies shots, as she was bitten by a dog.
The conditions of the hospital are filthy and deplorable, people dying unattended. There was little concern from anyone other than me when I learned that the hospital was out of rabies shots. I was told there is a shortage in India, despite rabies being rampant, due to animals not being vaccinated. Fortunately, our doctor was able to locate shots and brought them to the school 2 days later. I continue to encounter so many issues in the village that we never have to think about in the US.
Our Class 12 girls have now graduated, having completed their Board exams. Many of the girls who want to go on for higher education may not be able to do so, because the concept of taking out loans(provided through the school) is new and not understood by parents. Until two years ago, when the school was young and graduates few, PPES was able to provide scholarships for higher education through donor support.
Now that the number of girls graduating has grown, and funding is not available, girls need to take loans that they, not their parents, sign for. Because they are girls, parents don’t want the risk of the loan. For boys, it would be no problem. Though parents are not responsible for the loans, many parents want their daughters married, don’t want them to leave the village, etc. Centuries of not educating girls is in the process of being changed at Pardada Pardadi. The school is now educating parents about the value of higher education for their daughters, in hopes that before long, graduates will all go on for higher education.
I have watched one of my favorite students, Anjali, grow up and now graduate. Upon learning that her absent, abusive, alcoholic father told her she couldn’t go on for higher education, I went to their home, with two translators, to speak to the mother. She explained that though the father hasn’t been seen for 4 months, he won’t allow her to go. The next day we brought the mother to the school to talk with Sam. As mom began to understand more about the benefits of Anjali continuing her education, she began to soften. The next day, we met with Anjali and her older sister, Aarti, who graduated last year. Both have agreed to go to Bangalore to a Yoga training institute in July. This was a great victory, yet I know there are many other girls, just like Anjali, who don’t have an advocate. I wish I could do it for each and every one of them. Today, still 85% of the village girls have never been to school.
There is always lots of activity at the school-
~ State Board Exams were being given while we were there. Our students always score much higher in exams than other regional schools, so exams are important at PPES, spread out over two weeks.
~We accompanied a group of girls who sang at a political meeting, and were made us the honored guests at the rally!
~Our girls made beautiful bird nests from grasses and flowers. They didn’t go out to buy the materials at A.C. Moore, which our students might well do. They picked everything-grasses, twigs and flowers, from the school grounds.
~A group of girls made beautiful rangoli to welcome visitors. Rangolis are made from dry powdered colors, shaped by hand. Our students excel at rangoli, an Indian art.
~Before leaving on this trip, I spoke with a Rotary group in Tuckhannock, PA. They have given money to purchase 50 new bikes for our girls who ride bikes to school. Our girls have to pay a percentage of the bikes, allowing them to have ownership and care for them.
~This trip also included distributing donations from the US. Pencils were given to all, after a volunteer saw what I call “the pencil of an India school child”. Students with attendance of over 85% got new pencil boxes. Undies, toothbrushes, soap, hair accessories, puzzles, art supplies, candy, brushes and combs were handed out. All of the girls received sweets for Holi.
~ The school canteen received a fresh coat of paint, thanks to the suggestion of Laurisa. Tatum sketched out a design that was painted by Class 11. What fun the girls had and what difference paint makes!
~Our team donated new flags to fly in front of the school. The sun, heat and rain are harsh on the flags, so new ones will make a difference.
~Volunteers taught classes and played with the girls. Building relationships with the girls is invaluable. Our girls love having visitors and teaching them, as well as learning from them. Preschool girls had a great time learning to fly kites.
The women’s soap making business is up and running, with details now perfected. The team brought back 800 bars of soap, which are for sale. These women are so happy making soap and earning income so they can feed their families. This project was made possible through 2 US soap makers, who travel the world to teach women this trade. They have sourced out top quality, all natural ingredients, having created a great bar of soap. The soap is beautifully packaged in bags made by our textile women. If you would like to purchase soap at $6/bar, email me and I will send it to you. Please consider supporting these women who are so happy to be a part of this project. If you know of retail opportunities where soap can be sold, I’d be happy to make the connection as well.
PPES welcomes volunteers. We need medical volunteers, volunteers who can teach English, as well as contribute their time and talents. If you know anyone who would like to volunteer, please send them my way. Please consider donating to the medical center, sponsoring a girl, supporting the nutritional enhancement program. You can go to education4change.org to provide support.
The PPES Annual Event will be held in Fairfax, VA on June 25th. Please come if you can. I can provide you with details. The 2nd PPES Gala for the Girls will be held in Fairfax, VA on October 22nd. Details also available. Both are great events and an opportunity to meet with others who love PPES and the difference it is making in the lives of our girls and women.
Trash-picking as an educational resource will be the focus of the next Tavern Talks, a monthly series sponsored by the Chadds Ford Historical Society (CFHS).
The Chadds Ford Historical Society will host its second Tavern Talks on Thursday, May 12.
On Thursday, May 12, from 7 to 9 p.m., attendees will learn about what you can discover about how someone lived, ate, and worked simply by digging through their garbage. The CFHS has unearthed many interesting artifacts in its historic buildings’ trash pits that have provided insight into the people that lived there.
During the presentation, participants will meet real archaeologists and learn more about their field. They will also be able to view select artifacts from the both the Chadds Ford Historical Society and Newlin Grist Mill’s archaeology collection, according to a CFHS press release.
In addition, the program will include fun, hands-on activities that will enable participants to play archaeologist, beverages to sample that were inspired by ancient recipes, and education about “food archaeology” from a local food historian, the release said.
Tavern Talks is aimed exclusively for adults 21 and older and focuses on unexplored aspects of early American history and culture. The program takes place at the Chadds Ford Historical Society’s Barns Brinton House, a 1714 tavern, located at 630 Baltimore Pike.
Admission is $15 for non-members and $10 for members. Tickets must be purchased in advance over the phone, in person, or online as space is limited. For more information on the CFHS or to purchase tickets, call 610-388-7376, email us at info@chaddsfordhistory.org, or visit www.chaddsfordhistory.org.
Upcoming programs include Herbs and Potions on June 9, LiberTEA! EqualiTEA! on July 14, Creating the Perfect (Colonial) Selfie on Sept. 15, Very Superstitious: Fears, False Notions and Fables on Oct. 13, and All Things Apple on Nov. 10.
State Sen. Andy Dinniman of Chester County has been named to the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, according to a press release from Dinniman’s office.
State Sen. Andy Dinnigan (left), D-19, has been named to the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee.
Dinniman, D-19, who has a long record of support for veterans and emergency first responders, requested the committee appointment to be in a position to act further on his support.
“Supporting our veterans and ensuring that our communities are safe are not Democrat or Republican issues. They are Pennsylvania issues,” he said in the release. “I look forward to working in the spirit of bipartisanship to help ensure that our veterans have access to strong support services and all our residents have access to strong emergency response services.
Dinniman said the foremost issue facing fire, ambulance and emergency services today is the struggle to recruit and retain volunteers. Over the past 40 years, the number of volunteer firefighters statewide has plummeted from an estimated 300,000 to about 50,000, according to the Office of the Pennsylvania Fire Commissioner.
Dinniman has introduced several pieces of legislation designed to boost the recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters. Senate Bill 1097 calls for establishing a Volunteer Firefighters Length of Service Award Program (LOSAP), as is used in other states, to provide incentives for recruiting and retaining volunteer firefighters.
In addition, he is reintroducing the Student Volunteer Firefighter Housing Grant Act, which would allow fire companies to provide housing for college students in their stations in exchange for the students’ volunteer service. Dinniman said the bill aims to both attract new young people to the volunteer fire service while retaining current or previously trained members who may go to college away from their home stations.
“The vast majority of our fire companies are primarily staffed by volunteers, and we are losing them at an alarming rate,” Dinniman said. “This is not just a tradition. It’s an economic necessity. We need to find new and innovative ways to incentivize and grow our volunteer force.”
Dinniman has also introduced Senate Bill 1096, legislation to expand the Premise Alert System statewide to allow anyone with a special need, complex medical diagnosis or disability to share pertinent information with local law enforcement and the 911 system.
Last year, Dinniman was honored by Good Fellowship Ambulance and EMS Training Institute for his work in passing legislation and updating state regulations to give police and emergency first responders access to the life-saving, anti-opioid drug Naloxone (Narcan). Dinniman said that he continues to work on effective ways to address the crisis of addiction. His office maintains a close working relationship with Good Fellowship, as well as the law enforcement and fire service community on state issues, legislation, and regulations impacting emergency first responders.
Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness will be Dinniman’s sixth committee assignment in the Pennsylvania Senate this session. He currently sits on the Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Environmental Resources and Energy, Public Health and Welfare, and State Government committees, in addition to serving as minority chair of the Education Committee.
For more information, contact Dinniman’s Office at 610-692-2112.
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.
Miffed that you missed Mardi Gras? The Kennett Flash is offering a musical alternative.
The Lowdown Brass Band is coming to the Kennett Flash.
On Tuesday, April 19, the Flash will present the Lowdown Brass Band, a horn-driven ensemble with strong roots in the New Orleans Second Line Tradition. This 10-piece group, which includes Sousaphone, trumpets, trombones and saxes, ranges from spontaneous call-and-response to bombastic brass attacks.
Reminiscent of the Rebirth Brass Band, Stooges Brass Band, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, and Bonerama, the Lowdown Brass Band, which has shared stages with Lake Street Dive, G. Love and Special Sauce, promises to get Kennett Square rocking on a Tuesday night.
Doors open at 7 p.m. for an 8 p.m. show. Advance tickets are $12, day-of-show tickets are $15. Advance tickets are available via www.kennettflash.org and www.ticketfly.com.
James H. Mosier Sr., 91, of Landenberg, died Saturday, April 16, at the Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. He was the husband of Frances Combs Mosier, with whom he shared 68 years of marriage.
Born in Laurel Bloomery, Tenn., he was the son of the late Wiley and Mary Riddle Mosier.
Mr. Mosier was a spot welder and General Motors Corp. in Wilmington, retiring in 1982, after 30 years of service.
He enjoyed building birdhouses, working in his garage, watching airplanes and being with his family and friends.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by one son, James H. Mosier Jr. and his wife Ada of Gap; two daughters, Sandy Couch and her husband Bob of West Grove, and Kathryn Waltman of Ronks; one brother, Raymond Mosier of Dallas, Texas; one sister, Shirley Hiltz of Dallas, Texas; 10 grandchildren, James C., John, Keith and Dyanna Mosier, Robert, Brad, and Samantha Couch, and Mike Dillard, Tina Palmer and Ashley Walton; 11 great grandchildren and one great-great grandson.
Mr. Mosier was predeceased by three brothers, Herbert Mosier, Sherman Mosier and Billy Mosier and one sister, Margaret Tallman.
You are invited to visit with his family and friends from 10 a.m. to noon on Friday, April 22, at the Foulk & Grieco Funeral Home, 200 Rose Hill Road in West Grove. His funeral service will follow at noon. Burial will be in the New London Presbyterian Cemetery, Route 896 in New London.
Candidates for state Senate Marty Molly, center, and Tom Killion, right, debate at Riddle Village on Sunday, April 17. Susan Carty, the president of the Pennsylvania League of Women Voters, at far left, asked the questions.
They may be vying for the same Pennsylvania Senate seat, but Marty Molloy and Tom Killion have a lot in common.
That’s what came out almost from the beginning of the April 17 debate held at Riddle Village in Middletown Township near Riddle Hospital. The two are running to fill the state’s 9th Senate District seat vacated when Dominic Pileggi was elected to the Court of Common Pleas in November. The special election is April 26. All registered voters may vote in the special election, even though it’s being held as part of the primary election.
Both want the state to do away with, or at least modify, mandatory minimum sentencing. They want a severance tax on natural gas and both are proud to have poor ratings from the National Rifle Association.
“I love that I have a D-minus from the NRA,” Killion said when he was asked whether he would support allowing guns on state-run college campuses.
Killion, the Republican currently serving as state representative for the 168th Legislative District, said students should not be armed, but he would support armed security on campus.
Molloy said he’d work hard to receive an F from the NRA. He thinks allowing students to be armed is a “terrible, terrible idea” that wouldn’t work.
“We need a sensible gun policy. More guns mean more deaths,” the Democrat said.
They also agree that mandatory minimum sentencing is a failure.
Molloy said minimum mandatories take discretion away from judges and removes nonviolent drug offenders out of the work force because of the difficulty they have getting jobs after they serve their time.
He added that the current system “prioritizes profits over people.”
Killion agreed, saying too many people are in jail for nonviolent drug crimes.
“They shouldn’t be in jail. They should be getting treatment,” he said.
The candidates also agree that the state should be getting more money from the oil and gas industry in the form of a severance tax.
Molloy said even Sarah Palin, the former Republican governor of Alaska, signed a severance tax into law in Alaska, but that the oil and gas industry in Pennsylvania “has Harrisburg in its pocket…We’re the only state without a severance tax.”
Killion agreed there needs to be a severance tax, but said the situation is not as severe as Molloy described.
He said there is an impact fee for drilling in the state and that he has been able to get some of that money for projects in his legislative district.
A major area of disagreement concerns liquor store privatization. While Killion favors privatization, saying it would bring more jobs and revenue into the state while providing the customer with more selection, Molloy is strongly opposed.
Molloy called privatization the “Walmartization” of liquor stores where they don’t pay a living wage.
Killion said the current system for alcoholic beverages is out of touch with reality. People have to go to different types of stores to get beer, wine and spirits, and they can be prosecuted — or have their property confiscated — if they bring in alcohol from other states.
The candidates disagreed on where Pennsylvania ranks when it comes to funding public education. Molloy said the state ranks 44th in the country. That, he said, puts the burden of raising taxes on the local school districts.
Killion said the state has increased spending on education by 28 percent in the 10 years he’s been in office.
The Chester and Delaware County chapters of the League of Women Voters put on the debate.
The 9th Senate district includes Chadds Ford, Thornbury, Concord, Edgmont, Middletown, Bethel, Aston, Upper Chichester, Lower Chichester, Nether Providence, Chester Heights, Rose Valley, Brookhaven, Upland, Parkside, Chester, Eddystone, Trainer and Marcus Hook in Delaware County and Newlin, Pocopson, East Marlborough, Pennsbury, Kennett Township, Kennett Square, Birmingham, Thornbury, Westtown, West Goshen and East Goshen in Chester County.
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.
To Neighbors, the Chadds Ford Community, the Businesses, and Friends:
What was planned to be a beautiful unique spring event offering treasures, antiques and a beautiful spring day setting of food and music turned into a very, very unexpected amount of attendance, traffic issues and regrettable impact to the community. In the year past, there was nowhere near the attendance and we did not even use the large parking field that was for this year’s event. We prepared by having the police at the parking entrance but since we had no idea of the exponential attendance since the last event ( the Barn Market was also part of Chadds Ford Days in September), we had to call the state police the day of to assist. By the time they were here, the gridlock had occurred and people took it upon themselves to walk along the highway and park in areas not permitted. That was our mistake. Our organized large events always have additional police presence and traffic control, and we simply did not know that so many people would attend.
We know for our large events that have been around for 50 years that attendance can be high. We simply had no idea that this event would draw similar attendance with the power of the social media reach.
We know that having the state police at Route 1 and Route 100 and potentially in other areas to be identified with their input, along with secondary parking with shuttle service to ensure people are off the roads and safe are critical improvements. We will also have no-parking signs made and provided to all neighbors and businesses in the community.
These solutions do not take away from the impact of Saturday to the community. There are no excuses here only resolution and commitments. We learned the power of social media, and we are very very sorry that this impacted the neighbors, the businesses and the community. We sincerely apologize for the unexpected response and we are 100 percent committed to resolving this for this and any other events.
With my sincerest apologies and appreciation of our town and community,
Kendal Reynolds
President, Chadds Ford Historical Society
Employees of Asplundh Tree Service inoculate one of the ash trees against the Emerald ash borer at Newlin Grist Mill .
Newlin Grist Mill in Concord Township is vaccinating trees on the property; some, anyway. About a dozen ash trees are being inoculated against the Emerald ash borer, a beetle-like pest that will kill the trees.
“They’re already in Chester County and, if they’re not here, they’re coming here,” said park Director Tony Shahan.
The Emerald ash borer — Agrilus planipennis — is a bright metallic green beetle that implants its eggs into ash trees. Over the course of a growing season, the implanted larvae eat through the host tree’s vascular system, ultimately destroying the tree.
“It’s been moving in from Western Pennsylvania for several years now,” Shahan said. “It’s almost here. We’ve been wringing our hands for several years, wondering what’s going to happen when it gets here. It’s in Chester County and will get here quickly.”
He said the borer has about a 90 percent kill rate. If enough trees are damaged or killed, Shahan said, that would leave the grounds open for more invasive plants, something he wants to avoid.
While there are hundreds of ash trees on the property, only 12 — those that are healthy and in areas that people visit most — are being inoculated, at least for now. Those areas are from the visitors’ center to the mill’s dam, and across the street at the mill site.
That’s phase one. Phase two would be to remove selected ash trees and replace them with other species.
The inoculations cost about $8 to $10 per inch of tree diameter. Asplundh Tree Service and Arborjet — a plant health solutions company — are donating their services to the Grist Mill and, according to Shahan, have agreed to donate those services for nine years.
Chemicals are being injected into the tree’s vascular system — the xylem and phloem — that carries water and nutrients up to the leaves and sugars and other metabolic products down from the leaves, according to Grist Mill Naturalist Jessica Shahan.
Those layers, she said, are very thin and lie just under the bark of the tree.
Officials at Newlin will evaluate the trees’ condition to see what else could or should be done.
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.
