September 18, 2020 - ChaddsFordLive.com

Rally to reopen UCF planned

A rally to reopen Unionville-Chadds Ford School District schools with in-person education is planned for 5:15 p.m., Monday, Sept. 21. Organizer Chris Brill, of East Marlborough Township, said Friday morning that at least 10 people said they intend on attending the rally to be held in front of the District Administration offices in the high school parking lot.

School Board directors had initially planned to reopen school with a hybrid plan — partial in-person classes and partial virtual — but that changed after the Chester County Health Department recommended virtual-only to start the school year. They plan to re-evaluate with a possible change on Oct. 9.

But Brill said there are several motivating factors for the rally.

“First, it’s not good for kids to be on the screens all day,” he said. “The learning is inefficient. Second, the data show kids can be in school and be safe and follow protocols.”

Brill said he didn’t have numbers in front of him during the interview but said other school districts around UCF are open for in-person activities without incident.

When asked about moving to a hybrid system, Brill said his goal is “fully open.”

“I think it’s completely understandable for people who are afraid to conduct in-person classes, that they follow virtual learning. But, for those parents who want to go 100 percent in-person, that should be a priority.”

He said he is OK with a hybrid system, “as long as the majority of time is in-person.”

The hybrid system UCF directors approved in early August called for students in grades K-3 to attend classes in school buildings five days per week. Other students would participate in in-person courses for two days each week with synchronous online classes the other three days. About one-third of the student body would have been in the actual buildings at a given time.

They changed the plan later in the month after hearing from the county Health Department.

Garnet Valley, Upper Chichester, and Lower Merion school districts plan a return to brick and mortar education — at least on a hybrid basis — this coming week.

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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Kennett Twp. cops: Obey the stop sign

Local News Kennett, Local News, Local News Chadds Ford, Local News Pennsbury

Kaolin-Bridge — Police fear possible major accidents if motorists ignore the stop sign at Marshall Bridge and Kaolin roads.

Kennett Township police have a message for drivers who ignore the stop sign at Marshall Bridge and Kaolin roads.

Prepare to be ticketed.

“We’re going to be enforcing that, and you will be getting tickets,” Acting Police Chief Matt Gordon said at Wednesday’s supervisors’ meeting. “People have just decided it’s going to be a speedway, and it’s not.”

Construction workers and the township’s Public Works Department complained to the police about drivers “screaming through” the stop sign at the three-way intersection, Gordon said in an interview. Even though Kaolin Road is closed for the bridge repair, the stop sign is still active.

Since the bridge has been closed, police have made about 100 traffic stops in that area, Gordon said.

“Construction workers on the Marshall Bridge side are only protected by rubber orange snow fence and a couple of cones,” Gordon said. “And the people aren’t just rolling through the stop sign – they’re screaming through there at 50, 60, 70 mph.”

Kennett Township’s Public Works Department recently installed a new stop sign, with a flashing red light atop it, at the intersection on Marshall’s Bridge Road to replace the old sign and alert more drivers, Roger Lysle, Kennett Township’s public works director, reported at the supervisors’ meeting.

“Traffic has been running the stop sign, creating a safety hazard for bridge workers,” Lysle said.

The reason for the increased enforcement is to prevent accidents, especially once Kaolin Road is reopened. Drivers turning right on Kaolin Road don’t need to stop at the intersection.

“That stop sign is the only control for that three-way intersection,” Gordon said. “So, if you’re rolling through there at 50 or 60, and people are coming south on Kaolin and making a right, they’re going to be victims of a horrible accident. Somebody’s really going to get hurt.”

He also urged drivers to “slow down on the Kaolin Road detours.”

PennDOT is saying the bridge rehabilitation is scheduled to last into February of 2021.

About Monica Fragale

Monica Thompson Fragale is a freelance reporter who spent her life dreaming of being in the newspaper business. That dream came true after college when she started working at The Kennett Paper and, years later The Reporter newspaper in Lansdale and other dailies. She turned to non-profit work after her first daughter was born and spent the next 13 years in that field. But while you can take the girl out of journalism, you can’t take journalism out of the girl. Offers to freelance sparked the writing bug again started her fingers happily tapping away on the keyboard. Monica lives with her husband and two children in Kennett Square.

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Road report for Sept. 19 to Sept. 25

Along the Ford

PennDOT has announced the following road projects, which are weather-dependent and could affect drivers in the greater Chadds Ford area during the week of Sept. 19 to Sept. 25. Motorists are urged to allow extra time if they are traveling through one of the construction zones. Work schedules are subject to change.

• Motorists should expect overnight lane restrictions on Creek Road — between Route 52 and Masters Way in Birmingham Township — for milling and paving operations from Sept. 20 through 25.

• Pavement marker installation will cause overnight lane restrictions in both directions on Route 202 — between Route 1 and Dilworthtown Road in Chadds Ford Township — from Sept. 21 to 23.

• From Sept. 14 through Nov. 20, roadway rehabilitation will force daytime lane closures on Unionville Road between Manor and Chapel drives in East Marlborough Township.

• Pole installation will cause daytime lane closures on Route 1, between Fairville Road and Joshuas Way in Pennsbury Township, through Sept. 30.

• Motorists should expect daytime lane closures on Route 82, between South Street and Church Alley, because of leak repairs. Closures are expected from Sept 14 through Sept. 25.

• Milling is expected to cause lane closures on Creek Road in Birmingham Township, between the Delaware County line and Lenape Road, through Sept. 25.

• Manhole work will cause daytime lane closures on Gay Street, between Darling and New streets, in West Chester, from Aug. 24 through Sept. 24.

• Gas main replacement will cause daytime lane closures on Market Street, between Church and High streets, on West Chester through Oct. 16.

• Construction on a project to rehabilitate the bridge carrying Kaolin Road over the west branch of Red Clay Creek in Kennett Township is scheduled to last through Feb. 21 of 2021. Kaolin Road will be closed and detoured 24/7 between Marshall Bridge Road and Round Hill and Kaolin Road motorists will be directed to use Route 41 North, Route 1 North, and Route 82 (Union Street) Local access will be maintained up to the construction zone.

• The Concord Road bridge over Green Creek will be closed and detoured between Valentine Drive and Foulk Road in Concord Township. Work is expected to be completed in early February 2021. During the closure, Concord Road motorists will be detoured over Valley Brook Road and Smithbridge Road. Local access will be maintained up to the construction zone.

• Lane restrictions on the Conchester Highway between Routes 1 and Clayton Park Drive continue through Oct. 31 for reconstruction and widening.

About CFLive Staff

See Contributors Page https://chaddsfordlive.com/writers/

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YouTube for growing a business

Business

YouTube is the second largest search engine with millions of viewers per day, so it pays for companies to have a YouTube channel. That, according to Randi Penfil, a trainer with Grow with Google.

Google owns YouTube, and Penfil — a former member of the Chadds Ford Business Association before she and her family moved to Baltimore — hosted a webinar for CFBA members and guests on using YouTube to grow their businesses.

She told her online audience that YouTube reaches 91 percent of the online population and that 68 percent watch to make an online purchase.

“YouTube is where people engage,” she said.

While the process of setting up a YouTube channel may appear daunting at first, Penfil said the basic ideas are simple, especially if business owners take some time to think things through before they begin.

“What role do you want the video to play,” she asked. “Focus on one or two areas of your business that you want to promote.”

At that point, start shooting the video. There’s no need to hire a professional production company, Penfil said, simply use the video recording function in your cell phone but, again, think about what you want to shoot. “Think about the story you want to tell.”

Also, be aware of the background of the video. Make sure it’s free of clutter. Make sure the lighting eliminates unwanted shadows. Use a microphone and “speak confidently. A clear, concise message makes a strong statement.”

Penfil said to keep the video short — no more than 90 seconds to two minutes — but understand you have only five to 15 seconds to grab the viewers’ attention. “Short and sweet is best.”

It’s necessary to have some Google account before setting up a YouTube channel, she said, but that can be as simple as having a gmail.com email address.

To begin, sign in to YouTube and click “create channel.” From there, choose a channel name, upload a profile photo for the business, then write a description for the channel, including keywords and links.

“Then, create videos that help you achieve your business goals,” she said.

Once the video is uploaded, select the visibility — who may see the video — then share to your website, social media, or email.

Penfil also said it’s easier to set up the channel from your desktop or laptop and advised not using a mobile device because images won’t display properly.

To help businesses set up and advance in using YouTube, the company has several tools owners can access. One is Creator Academy — https://creatoracademy.youtube.com/page/home — and the other is Skill Shop — https://skillshop.withgoogle.com. Both offer free online training for Google workplace tools, Penfil said.

About Rich Schwartzman

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