Local News Birmingham

Drought watch for Chester, Delaware counties

Read more about the article Drought watch for Chester, Delaware counties
Low water levels in area waterways, such as the Brandywine Creek, are responsible for the drought watch issued for Chester and Delaware counties.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has placed Chester and Delaware counties, under a drought, according to the Chester County Water Resources Authority. The DEP issued a drought watch declaration this week for four Pennsylvania counties – Chester, Cumberland, Delaware and Philadelphia – due to low stream flows, declining groundwater levels, and lack of precipitation. This week’s declaration brings the number of Pennsylvania 67…

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Mosquito control treatment scheduled for Birmingham

The Chester County Health Department will conduct a mosquito control treatment spray in portions of Thornbury and Birmingham townships on, Sept. 13 from 7:30 to 11 p.m. The rain date for this event is Wednesday, Sept. 14, also from 7:30 to 11. The Health Department conducts mosquito control treatment in areas with high levels of mosquito activity and where multiple mosquito samples have tested positive…

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Resolve, empathy, leadership mark his career

Read more about the article Resolve, empathy, leadership mark his career
Chester County Detective Harold 'Butch' Dutter stands next to an appropriate painting in the detectives' conference room as he prepares to set sail figuratively into retirement after 43 years in law enforcement.

For more than four decades, a Chester County detective has enjoyed a successful law-enforcement career that might never have happened in today’s world. Det. Harold "Butch" Dutter, who will retire on Friday, Sept. 9, after 43 years as a police officer, acknowledged that his path to law enforcement didn’t follow a standard route. It was neither a childhood quest nor a family tradition. “I was…

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No decision on loop road, assisted living

It will be at least another month or two before Chadds Ford Township Supervisors make decisions on a plan for the loop road or a proposal for an assisted living facility in the township. And if one of those decisions is a negative, the matter could go to court. Supervisors’ Chairman Frank Murphy said the reason for waiting is that “We want to get it…

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Lawmaker to host two town halls

Given the attendance at three recent breakfasts scheduled earlier this summer for constituents, an area lawmaker said he plans to continue the outreach. State Rep. Dan Truitt, R-156, said the popularity of his breakfast series, coupled with the numerous issues percolating in Harrisburg, prompted him to schedule two town halls. Both will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. to accommodate those who could not…

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Hermine likely to brings clouds, not deluges

Sunshine may be in short supply over the Labor Day weekend, but fortunately for area residents, Tropical Storm Hermine is expected to pack less of a punch inland than originally feared when it moves into the region late on Saturday, Sept. 3, according to the National Weather Service. Hermine, currently centered over southeast Georgia, is expected to stall off the New Jersey and Delmarva coasts…

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Hearing continues for Chadds Ford land plan

A hearing for a planned residential development on Oakland Road in Chadds Ford is continuing. A second session for Wonderland Farms was held during the Chadds Ford supervisors’ Aug. 31 workshop and was continued to Sept 28. Wonderland Farms is a residential development planned for both sides of Oakland Road on the Baldino, Goodman and Lenz properties near Brinton’s Bridge Road. It calls for 23…

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Touting Chesco attractions in high-tech style

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As carpenter Mike Ennis watches, Scott Miller of Miller Designworks transforms a new interactive touchscreen at the Chester County Conference and Visitors Bureau into a conference table.

The manager of guest services for the Chester County Conference and Visitors Bureau hatched an idea that mushroomed– an appropriate result for an agency whose promotions include Kennett Square. On Monday, Aug. 29, Jan Reeps said she had been thinking about a way to encourage visitors to the Tourism Information Center to linger. After all, the more people see and hear about Chester County’s attractions,…

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Gala celebrates core value: conservation

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Brandywine in White attracts a convivial, conservation-minded crowd to Chadds Peak Farm in Pennsbury Township.

Conservation-minded to the core, more than 300 people attended Brandywine in White at Chadds Peak Farm in Pennsbury Township on Saturday, Aug. 27, motivated by a desire to protect Barnard’s Orchard from development. Vince Moro, who organized the apple-themed, pop-up gala with his girlfriend, Elizabeth Roche, said preliminary figures indicated that the event would easily attain its mission: closing the funding gap for an agricultural…

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Family’s anti-DUI crusade eludes surprise

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With her husband Ken Iwaniec (from left) at her side, Debby Iwaniec accepts the Governor’s Pathfinder Victim Survivor Activist Award for her statewide efforts to curb drunk-driving.

On March 27, 2008, a 24-year-old state trooper had been savoring his dream job, having just completed his probationary period at the Avondale barracks, when his shift ended and he began his drive home. Just two miles from the station, a woman transporting her 4-year-old son and a fifth of Grey Goose slammed head-on into Trooper Kenton E. Iwaniec’s vehicle; Kristina M. Quercetti had a…

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Basking in baseball, apple pie – and awards

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Mark Rupsis, the chief operating officer of Chester County, is the recipient of the 2016 'Outstanding Chief Clerk Award' from the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania.

Chester County’s top administrative official typically takes pride in being in charge and knowing what’s happening. But that pattern got interrupted last week when Chester County Chief Operating Officer Mark Rupsis attended the 130th Annual Conference of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania. Rupsis said the announcement that he was the recipient of the statewide “Outstanding Clerk Award” caught him completely by surprise. CCAP recognized…

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