Around Town March 20

Posted by ChaddsFordLive on March 20, 2025

Learn how a medical school for women was saved.

• The first medical school in the country allowing women to earn their MD was founded in Philadelphia in 1850. How and why? It was founded by a group of Quakers and businessmen. It was about to fail 10 years later but one Quaker woman, Chester County's Dr. Ann Preston, kept the dream alive. On Tuesday, March 25, the Chester County History Center presents Pathfinder: How Chester County's Ann Preston Blazed the Trail for Woman Doctors. This a virtual presentation from 7-8 p.m. Admission is pay-as-you-wish. Register here.

• April is National Poetry Month, and the Kennett Library will be celebrating with two programs, an Open Mic Poetry Night and Solace Through Poetry. Open Mic will take place on Thursday, April 24, at 6 p.m. in the auditorium. Bring a poem, or more than one, either original or by a favorite poet to read. Solace Through Poetry will take place on Wednesday, April 30, at 6:30 p.m., also in the auditorium. This program is geared toward anyone who is struggling with grief or loss of any kind. Bring a poem (or poems) (original or by a favorite poet) to read and share. To learn more and register, visit https://ccls.libcal.com/event/14002450 and https://ccls.libcal.com/event/14228232.

Organist Thomas Gaynor performs at Longwood Gardens on International Organ Day on April 26.

• Longwood Gardens celebrates International Organ Day on Saturday, April 26 with four live organ demonstrations by Thomas Gaynor. Gaynor is the Assistant Organist & Choirmaster at Saint Mark’s Church in Philadelphia, an adjunct professor of organ at Westminster Choir College of Rider University, and a winner of the Gold Medal and Audience Prize at the St. Albans International Organ Competition. Tickets to the demos are included with garden admission. Go here for timed tickets.

The races are on, The Radnor Hunt Races that is. It's May 17 in Williston Township.

• The 94th Radnor Hunt Races, benefitting the Brandywine Conservancy, returns Saturday, May 17 in Willistown Township. Admission to the Radnor Hunt Races is sold in advance and must be purchased by May 7—there are no Race Day sales. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.radnorhuntraces.org or by calling 610.388.8383. The races will take place rain or shine; gates open at 9:230 a.m.

It's time again for the Race for the Watershed, on Saturday, Jun 14.

• The third annual Race for the Watershed Duck Derby and 5K at Newlin Grist Mill Park is Saturday, June 14. this event is a fundraiser to help raise money for watershed protection projects, including controlling erosion along the streambanks, monitoring water quality, and restoring riparian buffers at Newlin Grist Mill. Admission is free to watch the races & enjoy the Family Fun Festival! There is a $35 per runner entry fee for the 5K ($40 on the day of registration). Racing ducks can be “adopted” for $20 per duck or $50 for 3 ducks. Medals will be awarded to the top three finishers of the 5K, and the top finishers in each age group will receive gift cards from local businesses. Winners of the duck races will be awarded cash prizes of up to $100 per heat and a championship prize of up to $1000. Register for the 5K here. Purchase ducks here. https://newlingristmill.org/race.