Unionville-Chadds Ford School Superintendent with World Chanmpion Philadelphia Eagles head Coach Doug Pederson.
An open letter from Unionville-Chadds Ford School Superintendent John Sanville:
As you probably know, the parade for our World Champion Philadelphia Eagles will be held on Thursday, Feb. 8, starting at 11 a.m. Millions of fans are expected to be there — decked out in green and cheering wildly — to welcome home our gridiron greats. It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that many fans want to participate in. Having suffered through the two previous Super Bowl games and decades where there was no reason to celebrate, I understand completely.
The Philadelphia School District and several school districts in Delaware County have already announced they will close on Thursday. These are probably wise decisions based on the probability of exceptionally high student absences. I understand that completely, too.
However, here in U-CF, we are not going to hear the parade during recess or have our roads backed up with traffic and parked cars. In fact, in examining past absentee data during large events like this, it is likely the majority of our students and staff will be at school ready to learn and teach. Knowing and understanding we have families who wish to attend the parade or attend school, both options are available to you. Parents who wish to send their children to school – our teachers and staff will be here to welcome you. If a parent wishes to take their child to the parade – have fun – the absence will be excused.
To be clear, I am not encouraging anyone to go to the parade, but I do recognize the excitement and appeal of this event and defer to parents making the decisions for their students. I do this in part because when I was in high school, the Phillies won the World Series. On the day of the parade, my father insisted I go to school. He ignored my pleading, begging, and insistence that I be allowed to skip school for it. So – I went to school – I will think of my father fondly as I drive to school this Thursday.
Finally – I share a selfie of Doug Pederson and me – clearly the Coach of the Year in my book.
February may have started off on a bummer note with the groundhog (aka dirt rat) seeing its shadow and thus condemning everyone to six more weeks of winter, but there’s plenty to entertain while you twiddle your thumbs waiting for the daffodils.
Chinese New Year is coming up, and it’s the Year of the Dog, arguably the best animal, period. Delaware Contemporary will be celebrating the occasion with their China Pop event on February 16th. Wear a little bit of red for good luck, as is the Chinese tradition and look on at the works of featured artists: Colette Fu, Zhihui Xie, Decue Wu, Dongze Ho,and Han Wang. Enjoy a silent auction, cash bar, live DJ, dog lovers luxury auction items, culinary treats by Koi On The Go, and a balloon drop and pop to ward off bad luck! The event runs from 7 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance by 2/15, or $30 at the door.
Featured on going exhibitions at the Delaware Contemporary include “Settled” by Daniel Jackson, and “Form to Function I & II” by Gregory Nangle and Peter Pincus in conjunction with Wexler Gallery. “Settled” runs from February 1 until March 3. “Form to Function I & II” runs from February 2 to March 24.
“Red Separatic” by David Eldreth on exhibit at the Oxford Art Alliance
Coming up next week, Oxford Art Alliance hosts David Eldreth. If you’re a fan of Mark Rothko’s minimalist, dreamy abstractions, you will not want to miss this show. Eldreth pulls his inspiration from landscapes, and then abstracts them to create beautifully simple colorscapes. Employing the rule of thirds with his compositions, Eldreth creates a contrasting horizon line that anchors the rest of his ethereal composition to this world. Join Oxford Art Alliance for the Opening Reception on February 16th from 5 to 8 p.m. Eldreth will present an Artists Talk on February 21st at 7 p.m. This exhibition runs from February 16 to March 10.
Mala Galleria hosts “Around Town” through February 24th. This group exhibition features Teresa Haag, Jack Giangiulio, Rhoda Kahler, Marie Wolfington Jones, Sarah Baptist and Brad Earl. Fitting exhibit name as this gallery is a perfect pedestrian destination before heading to dinner on State Street in Kennett. This exhibition features colorful city scapes of the two dimensional and three dimensional variety.
This Thursday, February 8th Chester County Art Association hosts group show, “Stillness” from 5 to 7 .pm. Juried by Mala Galleria’s new owner, Corien Siepelinga, the award winners will be announced at 6:15 p.m. Barbara Grant’s solo show will be exhibiting concurrently. Both exhibitions run through March 8.
While it may be a bit of a hike for the Pennsylvania crowd, as The Palette & The Page located in Elkton, Maryland, it’s worth the trip. Take in the variety of work that the gallery supports, including ceramics, sculpture, jewelry and two dimensional work. Enjoy pieces from over fifteen different artists. The Palette & The Page hosts their annual Member Show, “Illumination” through February 23rd.
How have I written this much without even mentioning Valentine’s Day? Easily one of the most polarizing holidays, you either love it or hate it. You can still get your heart day fix at The Wayne Art Center with their featured show, “Heart Attack.” This exhibition, hosted in the ceramics gallery, features artwork inspired by love lost and found. Opening on Valentine’s Day, February 14th, “Heart Attack” runs through March 9th.
While you’re there, three other shows are opening at Wayne Arts Center in February. “Shared Space: New Works by Martin Campos and Valerie Craig”, “Expressions of Radnor”, and “Landscapes by Carol Hardon”, all run from February 11 to March 10.
“Hero” by Andrea Snyder at Mainline Art Center
Mainline Art Center hosts a new exhibition in the Welcome Gallery by Andrea Snyder. This show runs from February 14 to March 25. Snyder’s abstract mixed media compositions blossom from her previous sculptural “anti furniture” work. Now she works primarily on a two dimensional canvas, paper, canvas, or mylar. Her work echoes the organized chaos of abstract expressionism.
Speaking of abstract, Delaware Art Museum’s upcoming exhibition “Point, Counter-Point: Alan Soffer, Brian Dickerson, Moe Brooker,” opens on February 10th. The works which explore texture, color, and the abstract compositions runs through April 29.
As always, tune into Art Watch 1520 AM every Wednesday from 1 to 1:30 p.m. This Wednesday, Mary Cronin, Head of Education and Public Programs at The Brandywine River Museum of Art hosts photographer Jim Graham. They will talk about upcoming public program at Brandywine of Jim’s photographs in Delaware and Chester counties, including those focusing on landscapes protected by the Brandywine Conservancy such as the Laurels Preserve.
* Winter weather advisory in effect from 4 a.m. to 11 a.m. EST Wednesday.
* Mixed precipitation expected. Total snow accumulations of up to one inch, and ice accumulations of a light glaze are expected.
* Portions of central and northern New Jersey and southeast Pennsylvania, including the Philadelphia metropolitan area are included in the forecast.
* Precipitation is expected to begin as snow late tonight before transitioning to a wintry mix of sleet and freezing rain during or just after the morning commute on Wednesday. Precipitation should change to rain from southeast to northwest between 9 and 11 a.m.
* A winter weather advisory means that periods of snow, sleet or freezing rain will cause travel difficulties. Be prepared for slippery roads and limited visibility, and use caution while driving. The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.
The largest privately-owned nature preserve open to the public in Southeastern Pennsylvania just got even bigger with the addition of 20 acres of rare habitat. Natural Lands, a regional land conservation organization, announced that its ChesLen Preserve, in Newlin Township, expanded to 1,282 acres when the organization purchased land from an adjacent neighbor.
ChesLen was the vision of philanthropist H.F. “Gerry” Lenfest, whose 2007 donation of 568 acres to Natural Lands inspired Chester County to transfer 500 additional acres, thus establishing the preserve. Since that time, Natural Lands has added more than 200 acres to the preserve through purchases of adjoining lands.
The recently acquired acreage is part of a rare ecosystem known as the Unionville Serpentine Barrens, which supports a number of threatened plant and animal species.
Serpentine barrens derive their name from the presence of serpentinite, a type of rare, greenish bedrock from which the soils are weathered. The soil’s peculiar chemical characteristics make it inhospitable to all but a few tenacious plant species that have adapted to these extreme conditions. The term “barrens” was coined by farmers who discovered long ago that the soils were poor for growing crops.
“There were once 40 barrens sites in the eastern United States; today, there are fewer than 20,” said Molly Morrison, president of Natural Lands. “Natural Lands has long-prioritized not only the permanent protection of the Unionville Barrens but also believes deeply in our commitment to restoring this unique habitat.”
The loss of serpentine barrens is due to land development but also to inattention. Without periodic disturbance, bordering woodlands quickly encroach, creating a richer soil layer over the serpentinite soil as their leaves drop and decompose. For millions of years, this essential disturbance came from native animals: mastodons, mammoths, and herds of hungry elk kept trees at bay by browsing and trampling the ground beneath them. Humans have done their part, too. Native peoples set fires to improve hunting conditions, grazed livestock, and mined for soapstone.
When the serpentine barrens disappear, so too do the rare plants and insects that depend on this unique, inhospitable habitat. So Natural Lands’ team of land stewardship experts are working to restore the barrens through removal of encroaching vegetation and planting the areas with grasses and wildflowers that thrive in the hostile serpentinite soil. Similar restoration is planned for the newly acquired 20 acres.
In addition to habitat restoration, Natural Lands has established a nine-mile trail system at ChesLen Preserve, installed five trailheads, created Ollie Owl’s NaturePlayGround, and built the Lenfest Center, which serves as a management center and hosts dozens of events and community gatherings each year.
In a joint statement, Chester County Commissioners Michelle Kichline, Kathi Cozzone, and Terence Farrell said: “We congratulate Natural Lands on this latest addition to ChesLen Preserve, and especially on the acquisition of a section of rare Serpentine Barrens. This project is a great example of Chester County’s public-private partnerships investing in a future that maintains our tremendous quality of place.”
In 2010, the Unionville Barrens at ChesLen Preserve was designated a “Wild Plant Sanctuary” by the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). The Wild Plant Sanctuary Program, as part of the Wild Resource Conservation Act of 1982, was created to establish a voluntary statewide network of native plant sanctuaries. Landowners agree to protect the area and educate others about the importance of native and wild plants and habitats.
“Whenever land is protected in rapidly developing areas, there is reason to rejoice but this expansion of Natural Lands’ ChesLen Preserve takes on very special meaning,” said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. “This department is proud to aid in the protection of this rare ecosystem and the threatened plant and animal species found there.”
Funding for the most-recent addition to ChesLen Preserve was provided by the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Chester County – Preservation Partnership Program, and Cheshire Land Preservation Fund.
