February 16, 2023 - ChaddsFordLive.com

Around Town Feb. 16

for Mt. Cuba — Getting the garden ready for spring courtesy of Mt. Cuba Center.

• Mt. Cuba Center wants to help people get their gardens ready for spring. Join instructor Toni Gattone and learn how to plan, prioritize, and plant with comfort, safety, and ease. This class includes a drawing to win Toni’s new book. The class is on March 7 at 6:30 p.m. and the cost is $25. Register here.

• Longwood Gardens also wants to take the mystery out of gardening. On Thursday, March 16, Jenny Rose Carey, author of “The Ultimate Flower Gardener’s Guide,” sheds light on how to create your own flower garden, how to keep it going from year to year, and how to choose plants that provide the most spectacular effects. Jenny will explore color combinations, planting your favorite flowers to cut and enjoy, and much more. The talk will be held at The Creamery on Birch Street in Kennett Square. The doors open at 5 p.m., and the talk begins at 6. The cost is $29, with an additional $3.78 processing fee per ticket. Register here.

• Concord Township Historical Society will recognize Black History Awareness Month with its presentation of Ned Hector and the Battle of the Brandywine. See the famous teamster and bombardier come to life as Mr. Noah Lewis shares Ned’s story by using audience participation and laughter. In the Battle of the Brandywine, Ned disregarded his orders to abandon everything and retreat. He is remembered for replying to the orders, “The enemy shall not have my team; I will save my horses and myself!” The presentation is 3:30-4:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 26 at the Concord Township Municipal Building – 43 S. Thornton Road. The event is free for Historical Society members and residents, but donations are welcomed. Visit https://concordhist.org/contact/ to RSVP or to ask questions.

Learn about N.C. Wyeth’s teacher Howard Pyle during a virtual talk at the Chester County History Center.

• On Tuesday, Feb. 21, from 7-8 p.m., the Chester County History Center is offering a virtual talk, Howard Pyle and the Brandywine Tradition: An American School of Art. Pyle founded the Howard Pyle School of Art in Wilmington, and later taught students, including N.C. Wyeth, in Chadds Ford. He championed imagination over technique and originality over imitation. Author and illustrator Alice Carter will explain how Pyle’s audacious experiment spawned six generations of remarkable students schooled in his methods. This is a pay-as-you-wish event. Register here.

Learn about the attempts to preserve Revolutionary War battlefields and military sites.

• The Brandywine Battlefield Park Associates would like to announce their next speaker in the Revolutionary Speaker Series at Brandywine Battlefield Park on February 25, from noon to 2 p.m. Archaeologist Wade Catts will give an illustrated lecture on the current national and regional efforts for investigating and safeguarding Revolutionary War battlefields and military sites. After the presentation, guests can visit the Brandywine Battlefield Park’s exhibit gallery and enjoy some light refreshments. Tickets are $20 per person and available on Eventbrite Revolutionary Speaker Series.

• The annual Unionville High School Used Book Sale is set for 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 25 and 26. This is a fundraiser for the UHS PTO. The snow dates are March 11 and 12.

• The Delaware County Health Department announces the launch of “Doing Delco Safely,” a free mail-order condom distribution program in recognition of Valentine’s Day and National Condom Week. Doing Delco Safely offers a variety of condom options. Residents can order up to 10 free condoms to be mailed directly to them by visiting https://delco.jotform.com/222093639102854. Additionally, residents can also pick up condoms during business hours at both Delaware County Wellness Centers in Yeadon and Chester.

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Parking issues on Constitution Dr.

A handful of residents from Constitution Drive let Pennsbury Township supervisors know that they aren’t happy with new parking restrictions on their street. Those restrictions went into effect in late January.

Supervisors’ Chairman Aaron McIntyre said the board made the decision to prohibit on-street parking because of traffic flow issues and safety concerns. There have been congestion problems and potential safety issues when people had family gatherings, especially during the holidays, or when there were construction vehicles on the street, he explained. So, the board amended the township code to prevent parking on both sides of Constitution Drive. He also said there had been similar problems on W. Pennsbury Way and that parking restrictions helped there.

But residents who live on the street said during the Feb. 15 meeting that parked cars are not the problem, speeding is.

Lisa Mullan said she understands the potential hazard, but that speed is the problem. “If parked cars slow traffic, that’s not a bad thing.” She added that restricting parking on one side of the street is OK, but not both.

Stacey Gallo echoed most of Mullan’s comments, adding that the hilly nature of the street is a problem when it snows.

“Cars fly through the street, but they slow down when they see parked cars. If you want parking restrictions, limit it to one side, or put up weather-related restrictions,” she said. She also suggested installing speed bumps.

Another resident, Tiffany Varghese agreed with both saying, “Keeping an eye on speed is more important than parking on the street.”

She added that she received no notice that the “No Parking” signs would be going up. “I just woke up one day and there they were.

Marty Ryan also agreed. He said restricting parking on the hill or during snowy weather would be OK, but not allowing parking on the street at all would reduce property values.

“All of us could support no parking on one side,” he said.

The supervisors made no decision during the meeting, but they are willing to review the matter.

Dan Boyle said he wants to see some data from the roadmaster before making a final decision, and Wendell Fenton said he might be able to support limiting the restriction to one side only. But then again, maybe not, he added.

McIntyre agreed that speed is a problem and might be willing to modify the restriction but still wants to keep people from parking on the street in bad weather. He added one more comment that might give residents some hope.

“The board is leaning heavily in your favor,” he said.

Other business

• The board agreed to enter a new five-year contract with Verizon as an Internet and fiberoptic television provider. Solicitor Tom Oeste said the township would get 5 percent of the gross receipts Verizon gets from Pennsbury residents.

• Supervisors appointed William C. Dugdale as a second alternate to the Zoning Hearing Board.

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.