The Barns-Brinton House will be open during the launch of America 250 on May 16. (File photo)
This year marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and Pennsbury Township and the Chadds Ford Historical Society are about to launch some celebrations.
Pennsbury’s celebration on May 16 is part of Chester County 250, according to Dan Boyle, Pennsbury Township manager. He called it a family-friendly event.
But Randell Spackman, president of the Chadds Ford Historical Society, went into much more detail.
“This is the 250th anniversary of our nation. The excitement in the area and the nation is overwhelming right now because people have recognized that, despite everything else, this is the one thing that brings us all together because we have a commonality to celebrate,” he said.
The historical society will have a strong presence and involvement with Pennsbury’s celebration on the 16th.
“We will have. The Barns-Brinton House opens from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.,” Spackman said. “We’ll be baking bread, having house tours, and I believe Chaddsford Winery will be doing some things along with the antique mall.” He added that there will be some things happening at the Pennsbury municipal building.
He said the Barns-Brinton House doesn’t get opened to the public as often as he would like and hopes that this will change. Spackman added that he wants to see that house and the John Chad House open on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays this year.
Having the Chad House open won’t be part of the May 16 celebration, but said, “That is one of our own celebrations for making this year special. We want people to come out and see the local culture that was here before we had a nation.”
It’s that culture, he said, that helped lead to the War of Independence, adding that the Battle of Brandywine was fought in Pennsbury, Chadds. Ford, and the Birmingham township area.
He said having that opening celebration is May is good because by the time July 4 rolls around, people will have many other options, “But we’re trying to carry the celebration all year long.”
Speaking solely as CFHS president, Spackman said the society is trying to get more activities for people to explore, not just as part of America 250, but to continue beyond that.
“We’re trying to have the houses open more; we’re trying to do more activities. We’re trying to do a special marble-making, candle-dipping, bread baking. We want people to stop and say ‘Oh, let’s look at this,’ or let’s look at that,’” he said.
Further out, beginning in June, the society will be holding its annual summer camp, a total of four one-week sessions spread out through June, July, and August.
Members of the group Save-Ridge.org protest the proposed commercial development at Route 202 and Ridge Road. There is an ongoing zoning hearing on the matter in Concord, but that has been continued to May 20.
There is now a two-month continuance in the zoning hearing for the proposed Shops at Concord. Two sessions of the he hearing were held in Concord Township in December and January, but they were then continued to February. However, that session was continued to March 18, but that too has now been continued to May 20.
The proposed shopping center would be in the empty 23-acre lot at Route 202 and Ridge Road. While that property is in Concord, it borders Chadds Ford Township. The plans include a Giant supermarket with a proposed gas station, something the Concord zoning officer said is not permitted there, as it’s not an acceptable accessory use.
But while the two-month delay is in effect, members of Save-Ridge.org, a predominantly Chadds Ford group, are still protesting.
Caróle Sinclair-Thompson is the organizer of the protest that took place on Sunday, March 15. She speculated on what might be happening during that two-month lapse and expressed some hope about what might happen.
“I think they’re redoing their plan. I think the whole idea of it being a building, there is a question of what a building is,” she said.
Sinclair-Thompson was referring to part of the zoning hearing that concerned itself with three pads on the proposed plan. Those three pads are separated only by narrow, 2-inch expansion joints, which Concord’s zoning hearing officer said was actually one building in excess of 62,000 square feet, which would require a conditional use hearing for approval.
One of the possible tenants is a Giant supermarket. And while neither the shopping center nor the Giant have been approved, Ginat still had a liquor license conditional use hearing in Concord on Feb. 24.
“I think they’re reworking it. The whole thing with the liquor license is questionable, whether they’re going to try to get a liquor license before they get a building permit. That seems odd to me,” she said.
Sinclair-Thompson then brought up what she hopes is being considered.
“I hope that they’re eliminating the gas pumps [proposed for the Giant]. I would hope they’re eliminating the whole thing. My dream would be that somebody else would come in and but [the property] or that Concord Township would buy it and maybe put a Lenape Indian museum there, and a dog park,” she said. “But that’s just a dream that I don’t think will come true. In reality, I just hope that they modify what they’re doing and make it more Chadds Ford-like.”
Another protestor was architect Modesto Bigas-Baledon.
“I would think they’re reconsidering their development plan,” he said while speculating what the applicant might be doing during these two months. “I hope they are considering some of the input that’s been given to Concord Township during the hearing process. That would be positive.”
He went on to say he’s hoping the applicant will reconsider the proposed tenant mix for the center and wants there to be time to properly review any updated plan, if one is to come out of this public hiatus period. Bigas-Baledon added that he hopes they will eliminate the gas station.
Many, if not most, of the residents involved with Save-Riudge.org live along or just off Ridge Road, and their homes are on well water. They fear that any gas spill could pollute their wells, making them unusable.
Other residents, such as Qaizar Hassonjee and Paul Lincoln, expressed stronger attitudes.
What I hope they’re doing is rethinking the whole plan,” Hassonjee said. “What they had previously proposed was going to be a big issue for the neighborhood and the community. They were proposing a gas station that could contaminate our water supply. And if that gas can get into our aquifer, that would poison all of our drinking water. And there’s no guarantee that it will not contaminate.”
He also said they don’t want any more traffic on Ridge Road because it’s a windy, curvy road. When he was reminded that PennDOT might want Ridge Road widened and used as an entrance and exit for the proposed center, Hassonjee said he is opposed to that, too, adding that all ingress and egress should be off Route 202. He said explicitly that he does not want Ridge Road widened.
“We are not against development, but we want to make sure it’s a responsible development that does not cause issues with safety and security for the residents,” he added.
Paul Lincoln was even more adamant.
“There are two possible options with what they’re doing. One is the first design that came with obvious noncompliance with the gas station…and large contiguous building ordinances. So, they could be changing that. But this could also be a graceful exit,” he said.
Lincoln explained that he thinks they might be reconsidering the entire proposal because of all the community opposition to the plan.
What Lincoln hopes is that the whole application will go away.
“I hope they walk away, I mean, this shopping center. The developer has the right to do whatever he wants with it, but they’ve completely missed the market in this area of Concord and Chadds Ford townships for things that we really want and need. We don’t need extra supermarkets; we don’t need extra car washes or gas stations. This is the wrong place and feels like the wrong time to develop this land in the manner that Robert Hill [applicant] wants.
Residents will have to wait until May 20 to find out what’s going on unless something is revealed sooner. In the interim, the Concord Township Council is expected to announce its decision on Giant’s liquor license hearing at its meeting on April 7.
Volunteers show off debris collected during a Red Clay Valley Clean Up. The annual effort mobilizes hundreds of volunteers to remove trash from roads and waterways throughout the watershed. Photo courtesy of Brandywine Red Clay Alliance.
Volunteers Invited to Clean the Red Clay Valley as a Spring Tradition Returns
Hundreds of volunteers are expected to gather across the region for a shared purpose – protecting one of the area’s most important natural resources. On Saturday, March 28, the Red Clay Valley Clean Up will once again mobilize community members from both Delaware and Pennsylvania to help restore and protect the Red Clay Creek watershed.
Organized by the Brandywine Red Clay Alliance in partnership with organizations including Anson B. Nixon Park and the Delaware Nature Society, the annual event brings together residents, families, students, and civic groups for a large-scale environmental effort. Volunteers will work together to remove litter and debris from roadsides, parks, and waterways throughout the Red Clay Valley.
Participants will assemble at 8:00 a.m. at one of three gathering locations: Ashland Nature Center in Hockessin, Anson B. Nixon Park in Kennett Square, or the Kennett Area YMCA outdoor pool. From there, teams will head out to designated cleanup areas across the watershed, with volunteers working through the morning until approximately 12:00 p.m.
In total, volunteers will help clean approximately 103 miles of roads and streams that feed into the Red Clay Creek. Organizers estimate that more than 800 volunteers are needed to make the effort successful.
The Red Clay Creek watershed stretches across southeastern Pennsylvania and northern Delaware and is an important environmental and recreational resource for the region. The creek ultimately flows into the Christina River and the Delaware River, making stewardship efforts upstream important for water quality throughout the broader watershed.
Community events like the Red Clay Valley Clean Up play a role in protecting these natural systems. In addition to removing trash and debris that can harm wildlife and pollute waterways, the event helps highlight the importance of caring for local ecosystems.
Organizers emphasize that the cleanup is designed to be accessible to everyone. No experience is necessary, and all supplies will be provided for volunteers. The event is open to individuals, families, and organized groups, including school clubs, scout troops, and community organizations.
The cleanup itself has deep roots in the region. According to Charles Shattuck, owner of Wild Birds Unlimited in Hockessin, the effort began more than three decades ago when local residents recognized growing environmental problems in the watershed.
“The Red Clay Clean Up was started by local residents more than 35 years ago who were concerned about issues affecting the watershed. Pollution, poor environmental protections, trash and debris from dumping had created an unsafe environment for people and wildlife. The easiest solution was to go out and pick up the trash,” Shattuck said.
He noted that the effort has grown into a multigenerational tradition for many local families and community groups.
“Since then, volunteers have come together each spring to make the waterways and roads from Kennett Square to Mt. Cuba free of trash. From children to adults everybody helps out. The clean up has gone on so long we now have generations giving us a hand.”
Shattuck added that the impact of the volunteers extends far beyond what people might expect.
“The amount of trash collected each year by volunteers can’t be easily discounted. They pick up tons of rubbish that not only is unsightly but hazardous to the environment. It can affect wildlife such as fish, birds, and mammals not only here but around the world. Trash in our local streams can easily be sent downstream and into the ocean far from the source, the Red Clay Valley.”
Only one registration is needed per group, and reservations are requested for groups of five or more. With hundreds of volunteers expected to participate, organizers hope to once again make a measurable difference across the watershed and inspire continued stewardship of the Red Clay Valley.
Hundreds of people pack the CFES gymnasium for the school's annual art show.
The 77th annual Chadds Ford Elementary School Art Show and Sale got off to a grand start Saturday. Hundreds of people packed the school’s gymnasium/auditorium to view — and buy —works of more than 70 professional artists. There have been some changes to the show, and some are liked, some not.
While the event is annual and many artists return year after year, some feel a closer connection than others to the event. They are the local artists who keep on coming back.
Jacalyn Beam, known primarily for her plein air impressionistic approach, has been painting the local Chester County for years and has been attending the CFE S Art Show for more years than she can recall.
Artist Jacalyn Beam talks about art with some patrons.
“These are my people,” Beam said. “It’s been a number of years, and I do it because this is where I paint, this is my clientele,” she said.
Yet, while Beam can’t recall how many years she has been showing at the school, she has seen changes to the event. She said she was glad to see more space given to artists in the gymnasium.
“This particular show, this year, they gave more room in the aisles, which I think was good because people don’t like to bump into each other, and also, they need to stand back to see all of the art,” Beam said.
She said she can’t think of anything else the school can do.
“I just show up and have fun…These are my people, and this is the area I paint.”
While not part of the show, Beam was pleased to reveal that she has a new book coming out in May titled simply “Jacalyn Beam.” The book has 112 of her paintings, with a forward written by the senior curator of the Brandywine Art Museum, Amanda Burdan. It’s being published by Brilliant Graphics.
Another returning local artist is Kathy Ruck, who thinks she’s been showing at the Chadds Ford event since about 2012. Why does she keep coming back?
Nicki Wandersee makes a sale.
“Oh my gosh, this is the best show in the area,” Ruck said. “We have such a great community of art here. We have the Wyeth tradition. We have so many artists in the area that are just wonderful, and I get to see all my friends. But the community supports us so much.”
Ruck said she’s seen several changes to the show over the years and pointed to one in particular.
“We don’t have the Friday night reception,” she said, “I do kind of miss that. But, on the other hand, we now handle our own sales, and that’s good. It’s good because people get a chance to talk to the artists. The artists have to be here, so you get to be face-to-face with the artists.”
There’s only one change she would like to see.
“I’d like to see the Friday night reception come back,” she said with a laugh, “because that was a lot of fun.”
And then there’s Nicki Wandersee, a former Chadds Ford resident who sketches animal figures, many of which show some humor.
Wandersee wasn’t exactly sure how long she’s been showing, but thinks it was about two years before COVID hit. She keeps coming back for one simple reason: “It’s great.”
She then fleshed out that statement a little more.
“This is my hometown. It’s a great community of artists; wonderful people. The volunteers are awesome, and I love the people here. It’s really great.”
One of the changes that Wandersee likes is the fact that the show is now open to artists who work in different media.
“It can now incorporate a lot of different artists, and it’s not strictly just a certain kind of art. And I love that they’re trying to make it easier to get in; I just love the diversity,” Wandersee said.
She explained that some of the new people in the show work with different materials. One person that she mentioned specifically was Brian Marshall, who makes fish out of recycled material.
“Before it was just 2-D art, now we have three-dimensional, all kinds of different artists where you see so many unique talents,” she said.
One change Wandersee would like to see is more rooms opening for artists’ displays, and for artists to pick their location in the gym.
Brian Marshall is one of the newbies to the show. Here he is with some of his fish.
Another local artist who continues to return is Concord Township resident Jerry Dowling.
“This is going to be my last year, but I said the same thing last year,” Dowling said with a smile. “I hope I say that again next year.”
He’s been showing at CFES for about 28 years and said he keeps coming back because of the people.
“I get to know the people here,” Dowling said. It sure isn’t about selling because you’re not going to make a living at it, a lot of years you don’t sell anything. But you get to talk to the people, and that’s nice.”
Dowling said he thought the Friday night receptions were too crowded with too few sales, so he was OK with them going away
“This way, a one-day event like this, you control your own sales and pay them a fee to be here, I think, is much better,” he added.
And while some of the old folks return, there are always new people who show up. One of those people is Briam Marshall, whom Nicki Wandersee referenced. Marshall sculpts fish from found pieces of wood. One large piece is a fish he made from wood that came from a mushroom house.
He said he only started doing the fish a few years ago. Before that, he had been making robots, but then he started making the fish for people to put on their walls.
Another newbie to the show is Sean Davis, a massage therapist by trade, who makes small sculptures from wood and hand-built ceramics. He said he learned about the Chadds Ford show from a massage client.
Davis said he got into sculpting because he’s always been drawn to sculptures, be it stone, wood, clay, or ceramics. “But it really started with his fascination with castles and gargoyles,” he said, adding that he’s always been attracted to the history of sculpting, especially the sculpting around European castles.
He said that he and his wife are preparing for retirement and want to make sculpting a part of that future.
“Once we get to that stage, hopefully we’ll be at a point where we can expand beyond what we’re doing right now.”
He hopes to start creating larger pieces that are geared more toward galleries. He’s also looking to explore other media. One of his plans are top study metal work.
The Chadds Ford Elementary School Art Show and Sale is a fundraiser for the CFES PTO. It began 77 years ago when Betsy Wyeth started the idea when her son Jamie was in school.
