State Rep. Craig Williams, R-160, announced in a press release that Chadds Ford and Concord received a combined $500,000 in grants through the Local Share Account grant program. The grants, issued by the Commonwealth Financing Authority, will support essential initiatives to improve public spaces, preserve historical landmarks, and enhance environmental infrastructure in the region.
State Rep. Craig Williams
Chadds Ford Township was awarded $200,000 for the purchase and conservation of a 15-plus acre parcel of land, known as the Davis tract. There’s a barn on the property that N.C. Wyeth used as a studio. It was most recently the home of the Camp Family.
The property also holds significance as a priority I, Class A site in the Battle of Brandywine. It will be preserved for public recreation and education and will be managed by the North American Land Trust to ensure public access and conservation.
Concord Township is the recipient of a $300,000 grant for upgrades to its central sewage treatment plant, which includes a protective cover to prevent algae blooms, improve water quality, and improve efficiency.
In the press release, Williams said “These projects reflect a shared commitment to preserving our local heritage, protecting the environment, and providing our communities with the infrastructure they need to thrive. I’m proud to see state support in the preservation and utilization of open space in our community.”
Geneva H. Barlow, 85, of Avondale, died Monday, Oct. 14, at her residence. She was the wife of John K. Barlow who died in 1998, and with whom she shared 45 years of marriage.
Geneva H. Barlow
Born in Chilhowie, Va., she was the daughter of the late Leonard Blevins and the late Nanny Mae Hash Blevins.
Geneva was a homemaker, and she enjoyed gardening, taking care of her animals, and being with her family and friends.
She is survived by two sons, John K. Barlow, II of Avondale, and Leonard Barlow of North Carolina; one daughter, Rebecca Barlow of Mountain City, Tenn.; 10 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
Geneva was predeceased by three children and seven brothers and sisters.
You are invited to visit with her family and friends from 12:30 to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26, at the Kuzo Funeral Home, 250 West State Street, Kennett Square. Her memorial service will follow at 1. Burial will be private.
To view her online tribute and to share a memory with her family, please visit www.kuzoandfoulkfh.com.
I believe that a thoughtful consideration of the facts, the truth, will convince all but the most blinded MAGA adherents that they cannot vote for Trump and must vote for Harris, even if they have some genuine policy concerns. I am and have been a registered independent voter, not a Democrat.
Trump supporters have genuine grievances and justified fears. The economic policies of the last 40 years (yes, 40, not 4) have played an important role in creating the unprecedented income inequality we have experienced in this country, and income inequality is one of the leading causes of our societal polarization. That said, it is important to make the point that while Trump talks a good game and says he sees you and cares about you, he really doesn’t. He did absolutely nothing during his time in office to address your needs.
For me, it’s character not policies that is required for the presidency. On this metric, Trump is disqualified. He wraps himself in the flag, but he is a fake patriot. He does not love this country. Our nation’s motto is “E pluribus unum” — out of many, one — there is no “us” and “them”, there is only “us.” And yet, he continuously sows fear and division, making no attempt to unite us, to include everyone. He has no moral compass.
There is no need to repeat here the myriad of transgressions that would have disqualified any other candidate in the past. We have all become numb to his repeated lies. Suffice it to say that his only guiding principle is what is best for him — not others, not the country, and certainly not you. He is a grandstanding huckster, devoid of principles or moral fiber.
Many have said this is the most consequential election in our lifetimes. I agree. When you consider all the issues we face at home and abroad, Trump does not deserve your vote, and he must not get your vote.
It's been more than three years since work started, but Longwood Reimagined is about top open to the public.
The $250 million Longwood Reimagined project is a month away from being finished and open to the public. The opening is scheduled for Nov. 22, which coincides with this year’s A Longwood Christmas.
Members of the media had the opportunity to take a press tour of the work leading up to next month’s official opening.
Paul Redman, president and CEO of Longwood Gardens tells members of the press that the new West Conservatory is the centerpiece of Longwood Reimagined.
In a nutshell, there are six new buildings, a renovation of others, and a rearranging of a few pathways. The bonsai and cascade gardens have been moved, and the lower level of the main conservatory was renovated to include a new restaurant and event space. But Longwood’s President and CEO Paul Redman said the biggest change and the centerpiece of the project is the construction of a new conservatory, the West Conservatory.
That new conservatory is a 32,000-square-foot glasshouse built where a parking lot had been. There are peaks rising from a pool making it seem the building is floating. Plantings were inspired by Mediterranean gardens. There are 65 plant species evoking Mediterranean climate zones.
But the exterior is just as important. Michael Manfredi, an architect with Weiss/Manfredi of New York, said the structure was designed with nature in mind.
The columns of the new West Conservatory branch out like tree trunks.
“When we’re in the conservatory, we’ll start to see this rather unusual development of columns. Marion [Weiss] and I are interested in nature teaching us how things are built,” Manfredi said.
He pointed to a group of trees and noted how the trunks branch out as they take shape.
“Typical architecture is a column with a post on it, so this is very much inspired by nature where, literally, the column becomes a beam,” he said.
He and Weiss designed the vertical columns for the new conservatory that branches the same way. In addition, the columns on the roof have gutters to recapture rainwater and store it underground cisterns to maintain water for the floating aspect of the interior.
The glass used is also designed with nature in mind. There are dots on the glass that birds can see so they don’t crash into the window panels.
The interior of the new West Conservatory is designed as a Mediterranean garden.
Landscape architect Christine Frederickson, of Reed Hilderbrand, spoke more on the garden, and interior of the West Conservatory.
“The garden is conceived as a series of floating planes that step down… a series of shallow step planes that descend into the pools,” she said.
Redman added that the precedent that Weiss/Manfredi brought to Longwood was the great cathedrals of Europe.
“We wanted that type of aspirational experience,” Redman said.
The press kit for the tour included the comment: “The West Conservatory is a living, breathing building which tunes the interior climate through a unique combination of automated roof and wall vents, active shades, and earth ducts. Rainwater is collected from the roof and stored for reuse in the water features. Together, these systems sustain the vitality of the garden.”
Work crews are putting the final touches on most of the buildings, but not everything will be ready on Nov. 22. Redman said the waterlily garden will not be finished until the end of the year and will open to the public in the spring.
The project was announced in February of 2021 with work beginning a month later. But the idea had been percolating for several years before that, according to Longwood’s President and CEO Paul Redman.
“Here at Longwood, we have a culture of planning, something that we are deeply devoted to. So, we give a great deal of thought to anything we embark upon,” Redman said. “For us, this particular project began with our far-reaching and visionary comprehensive site master plan that we initially developed in 2010 and 2012. The purpose of this master plan was to capture ideas for how we would fulfill our mission on the property here at Longwood, far, far, into the future…We’ve been working that plan to get to this point.”
Again, Longwood Reimagined will open to the public on Nov. 22, along with A Longwood Christmas which runs through Jan. 12.
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.
As anticipated, directors of the Unionville-Chadds Ford School Board voted to approve changes for three elementary schools, changes deemed necessary for all-day kindergarten.
The board approved indoor building improvements to support the full-day kindergarten at Chadds Ford and Hillendale elementary schools for $25,425, and outdoor changes at CFES and Unionville Elementary for $33,215.
There was little discussion since the matter had been discussed several times during the last few months.
Director Rashi Akki said the changes should be made now so everything will be in place for full-day K at the beginning of the next school year. A science room and a music room will be added to Chadds Ford Elementary, while two rooms at Hillendale will be reconfigured into three rooms. She added that the money is already earmarked in the Long-Range Facilities Plan and capital budget sources.
For the outdoor work, Akki said that will be funded by Longwood Grants, adding that because it’s for outdoor classrooms, working with Longwood “is a natural fit.”
A covered pavilion will be added to CFES, Akki said, and an amphitheater will be added to UES.
“I think that [the amphitheater] will create a very nice outdoor space for learning which our young kids can really enjoy.”
In another facilities-related matter, the board approved spending $24,740 to approve the water heating system at Unionville High School. Akki said the current system is obsolete.
While a non-voting item at this point, the board continued a discussion on whether to move forward with electric or diesel school buses. The district is looking to get five new buses. A diesel bus would cost $151,000, while an electric bust would start at$380,000 but rebates and grants would bring that down to $78,000, according to board documents.
Director of Finance Joe Deady said there are concerns regarding the cost of installing charging stations for electric buses.
“We’re not 100 percent certain of the costs that range from $300,000 to $500,000,” Deady said.
The discussion also included speculation over how costs for electricity and diesel fuel might change during the next few years, and there is about the battery life of electric buses.
The district’s capital savings fund has $850,000 earmarked for bus purchases.
The board is expected to vote on the matter in November.
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.
•A female juvenile was charged with simple assault, harassment, and disorderly conduct following an altercation, during which she struck a female subject in the face, causing a minor laceration and contusion to her right cheek. The incident occurred on Sept. 12, at approximately 2:46 p.m., in the 100 block of E. South Street.
•Police said Inael Roblero-Lopez, 24, of Miami Gardens, Fla., was charged with aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, and other related offenses following an altercation during which he allegedly struck a male subject multiple times, causing unconsciousness and bleeding from various locations. The incident occurred on Oct. 14, at approximately 5:46 p.m. in the 700 block of Meredith Street. A criminal complaint was completed, and Roblero-Lopez was transported to Central Booking at Chester County Prison. This case is pending a preliminary hearing.
