An Intergenerational Community Space Opens with Heart and Imagination

Allie-Mazza-Brandywine-Concierge — An Intergenerational Community Space Opens with Heart and Imagination

Heart and Imagination Shape a New Intergenerational Community Space

A new kind of community space has officially opened its doors, offering a place where older adults, children, and families can come together in meaningful ways. The Village by Brandywine Concierge is now open, introducing an intergenerational third space rooted in connection, creativity, and belonging.

The Village is the vision of Allie Mazza, a longtime advocate for families navigating aging care through her work with Brandywine Concierge Senior Services. That business remains active and continues to serve as a free local resource for families seeking guidance for their aging loved ones. With the opening of The Village, Mazza is expanding that mission beyond services and into shared experience.

The concept behind The Village grew from a simple belief that life is richer when generations connect. Designed as a third space, it offers a welcoming environment that is neither home nor work, but something entirely its own. It is a place where stories can be shared, curiosity can be nurtured, and relationships can form naturally across age groups.

Mazza is not building this space alone. She proudly shares the title of co-owner with her five-year-old business partner, Joey, who serves as the Village’s Chief Joy Officer. While young, Joey plays a meaningful role in shaping the spirit of the space. His imagination and sense of wonder help inform an environment where play, laughter, and creativity are encouraged for everyone who walks through the door.

The Village is intentionally designed to welcome children, older adults, and caregivers together rather than separating programming by age. By bringing generations into the same room, the space fosters moments of connection that feel organic and genuine. Older adults are invited to share wisdom and stories, while children are encouraged to explore, ask questions, and simply be themselves.

For Mazza, the opening of The Village represents both a professional milestone and a deeply personal project. It reflects years of listening to families, observing where gaps in connection exist, and imagining what could happen if people of all ages had a place to truly belong together.

Rather than focusing on structured outcomes, The Village centers on presence. It offers a setting where relationships can develop naturally through conversation, creativity, and shared time. The result is a space that feels warm, intentional, and community-driven.

As neighbors begin to gather, The Village by Brandywine Concierge stands as a reminder that meaningful connection does not require complexity. Sometimes it starts with an open door, a welcoming space, and the belief that everyone has something valuable to contribute.

For more information about The Village, visit
www.thevillagebybc.com

To learn more about Brandywine Concierge Senior Services, visit
www.brandywineconcierge.com

About Jamie Kleman

Jamie Kleman is a children’s author, playwright, TEDx speaker, and the Executive Producer of It’s Not Mean to be Green, an award-winning book and musical that toured for two years and launched a national Make a Monster Difference movement. She is the creator of the It’s Not Mean to be Green Camp and Licensing Program, a turnkey theatre and sustainability curriculum adopted by schools, libraries, museums, homeschool networks, and youth organizations.

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Proposed Giant wants liquor license

Business, Headlines, Local News Concord

It was a relatively quick meeting in Concord Township on Tuesday, but not without a reference to the proposed Shops at Ridge Road. The proposed Giant Supermarket in the proposed shopping center wants a liquor license. A conditional use hearing date has been set for that.

Township solicitor Hugh Donaghue made the announcement during his report at the Feb. 3 Council meeting.

“The application that’s currently in front of the Zoning Hearing Board, Concord Acquisitions [aka Retail Sites], and specifically as part of that proposed development, is a Giant Supermarket. The Giant Supermarket is applying for a liquor license transfer.”

Donaghue explained that Giant was a successful bidder for a license that was auctioned off by the state Liquor Control Board.

“Their rule and regulations indicate that within six months, they have to obtain a clearance from a township if it’s an intermunicipal transfer. So, there will be a hearing on that liquor license matter here in the township building on Feb. 24 at 7 p.m.,” Donaghue said.

He added that the continued zoning hearing for the development is scheduled for Feb. 18, which will also be in the township’s main meeting room.

Following a question from Council Co-Vice President John Gillespie, Donaghue said the council will likely make a decision on the liquor license during the council’s March 3 meeting. He also said the public may take part in that Feb. 24 hearing by asking questions and providing testimony.

He said the council will then “have the ability to approve it, deny it, or give a conditional decision because, quite frankly, this Giant hasn’t even been approved yet.”

The store must still get land development approval for the shopping center before there is a Giant.

Gillespie commented that, “This board has not yet seen anything on this development, so we can’t do anything legislatively until the Zoning Hearing Board finishes their case. This is something unusual that just came up, so we will have the hearing on the liquor license. That will either be approved or denied. And the Zoning Hearing Board will make a decision on what’s in front of them. After that, we will then have a conditional use hearing for the remainder of the site. If that’s approved, then it will go to land development.”

Other business

• The township is moving ahead with the Smithbridge Road Roundabout Project. Township Manager Amanda Serock said PennDOT is requiring the township to apply for a grant to use one of PennDOT’s third-party approved inspectors for the physical construction of the roundabout.

“So, they had us fill out this form and resolution notifying that we will do so as part of the grant process,” Serock said.

Before the meeting, township engineer Nate Kline explained that a roundabout will be going into Smithbridge Road at its intersection with Kirk and Temple roads.

That roundabout will be connected to a trail that goes all the way down to the [Garnet Valley] middle school, park, and the high school complex. A left-turn lane will also be added to the school district driveway at the high school. That was a requirement made years ago, he said.

Kline said the school district, PennDOT, and the township will each have a portion to pay for the total project, but he wasn’t sure of the payment breakdown yet, but a large portion will be paid by PennDOT. Construction on the project could begin sometime this year or early next year.

• In honor of Black History Month, the Concord Township Historical Society will host a Harriet Tubman reenactment this coming Saturday, Feb. 7, in the community center.

• Tom Ferro was appointed to be an alternate on the Zoning Hearing Board. His term will expire Jan. 2, 2027.

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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Read Pennsylvania State Police reports curated for Chadds Ford Live readers, including local crashes, DUI arrests, traffic citations, and patrol activity on the roads you drive every day.

Police Report February 4

Police, Police Log

Pennsylvania State Police

Police said Gary C. Gerber, 83, of Garnet Valley, was cited for driving without required financial responsibility, following a two-car crash on the Conchester Highway on January. 23. According to the police report, both cars were traveling south on Conchester Highway, with Gerber in the right lane and the other car in the left lane, when Gerber side-swiped it. No injuries were reported.

State police are investigating the theft of $918 worth of merchandise from the Wawa in Chadds Ford on Jan. 13

M P Jacob M. Cooray, 18, of Chadds Ford, was cited following a crash on Conchester Highway near Featherbed Lane on Jan. 30, police said. According to the report, both vehicles were in the right lane when the second car came to a stop at a red light. Cooray was unable to come to a stop and rear-ended the lead car. The front seat passenger of the second car complained of neck pain and was transported to Riddle Hospital. No other injuries were reported on scene.

Police said Giuseppe G. Brancato Jr., 38, of Prospect Park, was cited for following too closely following a two-car crash on Conchester Highway at its intersection with Spring Valley Road on Jan. 27. The report said both cars were heading east on Conchester when the lead car slowed to make a right turn onto Spring Valley. Brancato was following too closely and could not slow down before striking the other car.

Avondale Barracks

Todd E. Kline, 52, of Birdsboro, was cited for careless driving following a crash on W. Street Road in Pennsbury Township on Jan. 30, police said. The accident happened west of Brintons Bridge Road. According to the report, Kline was traveling too fast and failed to slow down before he hit the other car.

Police said a 17-year-old girl was cited for her involvement in a two-car crash on Lenape Unionville Road near London Grove Road on Jan. 29. The report said the teen was entering onto Lenape Unionville Road and stopped in the middle of the roadway, blocking the intersection when another car approached. The teen panicked, police. Said, and tried to accelerate, fishtailed, and lost control of the car, and struck the other.

Police are investigating a case of criminal mischief in East Marlborough Township. A 33- year-old woman called police, and an investigation revealed someone had tampered with. her water well.

Kennett Square Police Department

Borough police said they arrested Alejandro Galvan-Gonzalez, 38, of Perkiomenville, and Thalia Guzman, age 28, of Eagleville, on a variety of assault charges following an incident at a business in the 200 block of E. State Street on Jan. 29. A victim said that the staff was attempting to get the group to leave because they were in the process of closing when they became aggressive towards him. The victim said the two punched and bit him.