Monthly Archives: October 2023

a love note to ardmore

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Ardmore.

Ardmore in Lower Merion Township is a place that will always have a place in my heart, and many of my friends and I will always have a place in her history. We made up the then Save Ardmore Coalition and we helped save historic downtown Ardmore from eminent domain for private gain, which is part of Ardmore’s history, uncomfortable or not. It’s probably inconvenient to mention it during the year which represents Ardmore’s Sesquicentennial (1873 – 2023), but it needs to be remembered in the ghosts of recent past. And the recent past photos? Mine. Including the opening photo which made the cover of Main Line Today magazine once upon a time.

I have said before that I wonder sometimes what we have saved Ardmore from, and that Ardmore’s biggest problem has always been Lower Merion Township is headquartered in it, and I remain unapologetic for that. I don’t get back to Ardmore as often as I should, but a lot of us don’t. Our lives are different, in different stages. But she will always be part of our hearts. Even if the parking is worse than ever, Lower Merion Township….

From the Lower Merion Historical Society:

Ardmore began on 410 acres of land bought by Richard Davis in 1686 from five Welshmen for 32 pounds, 16 shillings. One of the few local towns without a Welsh name, the village’s original name was Athensville, a nod to the fascination with the Greek revival style movement of the time (1811). William J. Buck reported in his 1884 history, “Athensville is situated on the Lancaster turnpike, seven miles from Philadelphia, and is the largest village in the township. It contains [at the center] 8 houses, three stores and one hotel.”

The first roads were but trails, and only horse and foot transportation were available. Conditions were impossible: dusty in hot summer, muddy after rains. The settlement of Lancaster led to a demand for an adequate highway that led there from Philadelphia. In 1796, the Lancaster Turnpike (first one constructed in America) allowed ponderous Conestoga wagons to carry merchandise and interior bound settlers…..The original settlers of the area were Welshmen who came to work in the neighboring farms and the thriving mill industry along Mill Creek. Then followed a wave of Germans who contributed their industrial skills. Next the Irish added their abilities and found work in the hotels and staffed the lavish estates built in the mid 1800s.

About the same time, the establishment of railroad systems added to Ardmore’s expansion and prosperity. The first Board of Commissioners met in 1900 (at the General Wayne) to establish a local government. The same year, The Autocar Works relocated from Pittsburgh, attracted by good roads, a high grade of labor supply, the closeness to Philadelphia and a location on the main line of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Ardmore is a popular residential area with a lively business center…..Ardmore has retained a number of examples of the wooden houses of “The Gingerbread Age.” From the mid 1800s through the end of the century, as the suburbs were burgeoning, there was a need for tastefully designed, practical housing at moderate cost. Because Victorians admired the English and American Queen Anne styles of domestic architecture, there was a growing housing market. For those who could not afford an architect (too expensive, too difficult, too time consuming) one could buy plans books, choose a style and have a local builder put up the house. There were hundreds of designs available; some books also featured designs for gates, posts, inside doors, hardware and bookcases for the average woodworker to follow. A medium quality home could be built, complete, for $2,000 to $5,000. There are no building records, though, for these….Along a short commercial stretch of “The Pike” in Ardmore, businesses are shown in approximately their original locations, keyed to a 1926 map. A few of the establishments are in business today.

From Wikipedia:

Originally named “Athensville” in 1853, the community and its railroad station were renamed Ardmore in 1873 by the Pennsylvania Railroad, on whose Main Line, west out of Philadelphia, Ardmore sits at Milepost 8.5.[5] The Autocar Company moved its headquarters to Ardmore in 1899 and constructed a factory on the edge of the downtown area. The factory closed in 1954; during demolition in 1956, a major fire broke out that threatened the downtown area before it was extinguished. Today, Ardmore consistently ranks among the most desirable suburbs of Philadelphia…In 2004–2006, Ardmore’s business district was the subject of a hotly contested eminent domain battle. A grassroots organization, the Save Ardmore Coalition, along with local businesses and other civic groups,[23] opposed an eminent domain/redevelopment program that would have involved the demolition of historic buildings, in favor of preserving those buildings for other commercial use. In March 2006 the Lower Merion Township Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution disavowing the use of eminent domain for the benefit of private redevelopment projects. The Ardmore battle was also instrumental in prompting the Pennsylvania General Assembly to enact legislation in 2006 restricting the use of eminent domain for private projects.[24]

Now my friends and I were the original Save Ardmore Coalition. Not the thing it eventually became years later. We did the eminent domain heavy lifting. We all went on to remain involved and working on things like First Friday Main Line which was started by Sherry Tillman who owns Past*Present*Future still to this day in Ardmore. First Friday Main Line made art accessible to everyone. Art in unexpected places. Lots of music. Fun events. Artists exhibiting monthly. I did the PR and photography for Sherry for First Friday Main Line. Things we did within First Friday Main Line included initiatives like Operation Angel Wings. We worked to help the innocent children of Afghanistan in 2009 by collecting items that United States soldiers could carry and distribute while out on patrol in war torn Afghanistan at that time. In 2010, we received a US Congressional Commendation.

So now onto the Ardmore Sesquicentennial. I had to add some of the history back that I feel would be left out for well….political reasons. And that’s fine. That is what a blogger is for: to remember the other parts of the history, even if inconvenient for some.

I like to think what we did in the early 2000s caused today to be possible, right or wrong. Other things we did was Scribe Precious Places Video. That was an amazing, unforgettable experience. We captured our Ardmore 2005 -2006. Our video has been shown again this year again in Ardmore as a matter of fact.

All of 2023 has had Ardmore Sesquicentennial events. Among my favorite things is this amazing project from the creative genius of a man I do not know named Jeff Mellin (See WEBSITE HERE) and a lady now at the Ardmore Initiative named Jane Murray (who should be the next Executive Director of the Ardmore Initiative)…along with Lower Merion Conservancy’s Director of Historic Preservation Kathleen Abplanalp (with intellectual contributions of Greg Prichard, Historic Preservation Planner for Township Of Lower Merion).

Ardmore: The Main Street of the Main Line

This is one cool project. https://www.jeffmellin.com/ardmoresesquicentennial :

Windows Into History: Explore Historic Ardmore is a “pop-up museum” collaboration between the Ardmore Initiative, the Lower Merion Historical Society, Lower Merion Conservancy, and The Township of Lower Merion.

The Ardmore Initiative Streetscape Committee wanted to create a more inviting downtown shopping, dining, and pedestrian experience, in a way that could speak to the whole community, and would go beyond mere, uh, window dressing. We decided to convert vacant storefront windows into a cohesive, informative, and (I hope) aesthetically pleasing celebration of Downtown Ardmore’s history.

So now, after months of research, through binders and binders of archival photos and documents, we’re installing our multi-panel posters showcasing a treasure trove of historic photos and stories, some site-specific, some general, depending on location. Passers-by can read about Ardmore’s 150-year history, and view these amazing archival photos at (or near) their historic locations.

It’s been a ton of work, but absolutely worthwhile. I’ve learned so much about my adopted town and got the chance to meet and work closely with people both knowledgeable and passionate about the community. If you’re in Downtown Ardmore, take a look around.

(CLICK HERE FOR THE INTERACTIVE ARGIS MAP / WEBSITE)

Seriously? How great is this project. And another slice of genius: the stories of Ardmore’s past can be found in her storefront windows. (We used to do that with art for First Friday Main Line too!)

So it’s been a year, Ardmore. I am sorry it took until Halloween night to write you a little love note for the year of your big anniversary. Ardmore is proof that Main Street oriented communities can survive in spite of hideous development.

Happy 150th Ardmore!

oh what the hell…

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Ma Belle? No that’s not it…it’s Mae Belle. That’s it.

It’s a new Jawn with a move out at 6730 Germantown Ave and possibly a move next door to 6732?

Ok come on, line up now and get it out of your system. I am terribly horrible for writing about this, but it’s out there and fascinating. Nothing privileged. Above is the former site of Farmer Jawn Greenery in Mt. Airy on 6730 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia PA 19119 which is now CLOSED and for rent. Only they say she opened something else next door as in immediate right of where she was? ( I found a website too.)

Even Google marks it closed:

So….the Farmer in the Westtown Dell gave an interview to The Daily Local Last week.

Now this was a rather interesting article because it’s obvious the subject, Farmer Jawn herself was dancing, not substantively answering some questions. Like…where the article says:

The farm store is up and running, with more than a 100 different items to choose from. Farmer Jawn said everything offered is local and comes from no farther than 2 hours away.

Ok translation please? I think the reporter asked where the food is coming from because obviously she isn’t growing it, but if she still has the Elkins Park location for real, why not? Other markets, and not just the way Pete’s was, will tell the customer WHERE THE FOOD CAME FROM. This is a sketch at best answer IMHO

For more information, go to farmerjawnphilly.com

Another dodge ball response, the website says essentially NOTHING or regurgitates what is past, past, past. Or has broken links.

Every backyard gardener is familiar with weeds….Barfield said farmers don’t have to look at weeds as the enemy. She noted that weeds retain water in the soil, can provide shade, keep plants cool in summer and deter deer from eating the crops.

Ummm. Yeah. Fairly accomplished gardener here. Weeds take up what viable crops and garden plants need for survival…which is why personally I pull them. Except for poison ivy/oak/sumac as I have that removed chemical free. And weeds deter deer? Good lord city girl, have you met the deer in Chester County yet? (This was a very tooth fairy response I think.)

Next growing season, rye, barley, and buckwheat will grow on 20 acres for a local malt house. Barfield said that all ingredients in the beer from beginning to end will be created by Blacks.

So will madam actually be growing her own honey as well? Wasn’t sure where last honey originated from and was not a fan and yes I tried and tossed a jar of it out. It was in a basket I won as a silent auction item for a non-profit fundraiser.

And can we talk about the whole recurring message elephant in the room and on the fields of the farms which is to be other than a black farmer is a bad farmer? Sorry not sorry, that bothers me. And because I am white, I am not supposed to ask that and will I be once again called a racist for asking why only one type of farmer is a good farmer? Why if I personally don’t take others to task over the color of their skin or nationality or religion and more am I supposed to apologize or feel bad because all of my ancestors are Caucasian?

Comments from last week/weekend:

So as a related aside how does Farmer Jawn like living in West Chester Borough since that is where she is living supposedly? It’s a cute town, I hope she and her family are enjoying it and I say that honestly, without edge.

And I will state (again) for the record that I have zero issue with her stated mission. It just seems like for someone who so lived their life out loud and has done, that we have so many questions about the business of her business.

Let’s chat this other new Mae Bell biz and how will that work with what? Two farms? One in Westtown and one in Elkins Park at 1760 Ashbourne Road or wherever? That’s a lot on one plate, isn’t it? And what about the non profit?

So, she’s part of our community and still in Philadelphia? Sign me still waiting to see how this all works out. And what is the address of her charity etc. now that she is no longer actually at her old location given the empty and forlorn look and for rent sign?

(Cue the attack rats and keyboard warriors.)

less development, more eagles please

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This eagle lives around W. King Rd. near Immaculata. It will actually hang out in my woods some days. Amazing bird that takes my breath away.

A friend took this video for me and to me this is yet another sign of why we don’t want heavy infill development up W. King Rd. on the Weston property just over the East Whiteland border in West Whiteland.

More eagles, less development please.

This is Chester County. Remember this majestic creature, the bald eagle. This has been our national symbol since 1782.

big brother watches us vote now?

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So it’s been a long week. On Thursday I had post cancer reconstructive surgery on the back of my head. I have the back of my head shaved larger than a softball section and I have a lot of stitches and I have a lot of pain.

But because I’m already immuno compromised, I vote by mail. I voted, and my vote was counted. I always vote so imagine my surprise when I get this mailing from someplace called the Center for Voter Information in Harrisburg.

This is the freakiest big brother is watching you thing I have gotten in quite a while. Allow me to quote the mailing:

Public records indicate that you are eligible to vote in the upcoming election on Tuesday, November 7, 2023. Who are you vote for is private, but if you vote is a matter of public record.

We’re sending this mailing to you and your neighbors to share who does, and does not vote in an effort to promote election participation. While we have hidden the name and street address of your neighbors, to protect their privacy, these are their true voting records.

We will be reviewing these records, after the election to determine whether or not, you joined your neighbors in voting.

~ Gail L. Kitch, Board Chair, Center for Voter Information

They have a website. https://www.centerforvoterinformation.org/

I vote every election cycle. So at the letter at the opening of this post, it’s my name at the top, and my name at top of voter chart, so why they’re sending it to me I have no idea. And it’s none of my business if my neighbors do or don’t all vote every election. For the most part they do.

But to get a piece of mail like this is something that makes you feel like your privacy has been invaded even though the fact that you vote, or don’t vote is indeed a matter of public record,

So what am I supposed to do hobble around after surgery to all of my neighbors and knock on their doors and say hey are you the one that only voted for this election and are you the one that missed that election?

In my humble opinion, this doesn’t encourage anyone to vote this is like a visit from big brother you can do without so Gail Kitch whoever you are you can fuck off.

And yes I did just curse.

shadyville crazy in west goshen

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This is NOT acceptable.

So NOT acceptable.

This is WRONG.

Not a fan of Shaun Walsh and have no clue about Nate Wolman other than he is their auditor now running for Supervisor.

A friend sent me these pictures that they took. I’m sorry they didn’t tell me the road, not that it matters because it’s just FLAT OUT WRONG.

Some wonder if this is an employee doing this, what do you think? Honestly, after reading the press release, I am posting below from the local GOP as in West Goshen not county I’ll have to wonder if this is a political ploy?

So we have the friendly collective of the village idiots known as the West Goshen Republican Committee who have issued an edict in what they perceive to be their kingdom. All Supervisors should resign and the township manager should resign.

Alrighty then.

I am not a fan of West Goshen in general because it really is It’s always shady in West Goshen Township. BUT these people didn’t murder anyone. The current township manager whom I was not enthused over Bashore when he was in Malvern Borough but he didn’t do anything wrong. He put a stop to something that never EVER should’ve happened in the first place and when you read this press release from the village idiots known as the West Goshen Republican Committee it’s like they’re saying it’s OK to do shady things? So the West Goshen Republican Committee says it OK to deceive the residents like this? But hey remember their recent raffle?

So is defacing these signs is a political ploy of the Republicans? I mean, read this press release and tell me releasing that and defacing the candidate signs occurring is a coincidence? Or is it an employee and local GOP joint project?

Whatever the motive is, whomever wrote on the signs is wrong. And I would say the police should look into it, but that only happens if the homeowners call and complain about their signs being defaced.

#shadyvillecrazy

#inmatesruntheasylum

dear congresswoman houlahan,

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Dear Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan,

I called your office today. Like any other time I have called since you’ve been in office, you have wonderful staffers in DC. Then listen and they are polite and then what will happen?

Nothing.

The same nothing that has been happening since I first voted for you for your first term which began in 2019. I used to think it was just me and I don’t call very often and I’m not anybody important. But then I discovered that people who should be important get the same treatment.

I took the picture above here in October 2018. I was so happy to meet you at this event. I was happy to vote for you the next month. I was thrilled when you were elected. I’m not some big campaign donor I don’t actually donate to campaigns. I vote for people whom I can believe in or whom I think I can believe in.

Sadly Chrissie, I don’t know if I believe in you anymore. How can I? You are so removed from your average constituency and that’s me. I’m not a big donor I’m not some big swinging political dick in Washington. I’m just one of the people that has voted for you twice.

But you kind of keep letting us down, Chrissie.

Like I said, when we call your office, they listen. But nobody ever falls up unless of course it’s to get a Robo call for a Townhall meeting or something. And then there’s your Townhall meetings which are scripted and you can’t just ask a question it has to be screened, doesn’t it?

When we try to reach you, it kind of just circles. So like I said, you’re out of touch with your constituency. You don’t even get how here in Chester County we are not only plagued by the pipelines, but we just had to beat back the concept of a hydrogen hub too close to home a few months ago.

say NO to data centers and a new power plant at exton park

So imagine my surprise when you send me a newsletter this week proclaiming to me that hydrogen hubs are fabulous. So allow me to quote my friend Ginny Kerslake:

These PA hydrogen hubs are cloaked in secrecy and greenwashing.

Impacted communities here in southeastern PA are especially being kept in the dark on MACH2 which will mean more dangerous pipelines through Chester County and possibly power plants. And the executive who was at the helm during the disastrous Mariner East planning and construction is leading this project.

I know Ginny has written you to on this topic. And she has the background and chopsticks presser so far better than I do. But have you ever read the Robert Frost poem The Road Not Taken? Here allow me:

The Road Not Taken 

BY ROBERT FROST

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Have you ever thought of becoming the Congresswoman we thought we were voting for? Have you ever thought of being the Congresswoman doesn’t show up for strategically placed sound bites alone?

I’m really trying very hard not to be rude because I genuinely like you and I would like to believe in you again. But let me tell you the story of the election of 2022. Do you understand why so many people voted for you? Do you understand that 2022 was the lesser of two evils election all around?

No, I’m not going to play for the other team, but I’m trying to wake you up before you have your next election to run. Right now you’re losing people and more every day, especially with the hydrogen hub that is only going to benefit the same people/kinds of people who put the crappy pipelines to Chester County. Would you also seem oblivious to, and you serve our district.

Your people seem to think that we’re just going keep voting for you because you’re a Democrat.

You are indeed, totally greenwashed at the prospect of this hydrogen hub. If you’ve done research surely you can see hydrogen hubs aren’t actually really clean energy?

All hydrogen hubs are is danger on many levels wherever they are shoved, and profit for others NOT in the communities where they are shoved.

So the bigger Democrats threw you a bone and let you play Vanna and turn those letters, right?

Houlahan Announces Hydrogen Hub in Southeastern Pennsylvania
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Print this Page Share by Email
Washington, D.C., October 13, 2023

If the original Chrissie returns in time for the next election, happy to vote for you again. But you have to prove you are not the congresswoman in the golden Democratic cage first. And sometimes when the little people call, they actually expect you to respond yourself.

I actually had a similar conversation years ago with another Congressman who once held this district. And I was nobody important. I was just a constituent. Same person I am today except the difference was this Congressman listened to all of us. He came to our community events, his staffers really listened and looked into things when asked. His name was Jim Gerlach. Personally I miss him.

Be more like Jim. Also be your own woman again. Not the unapproachable, overly handled woman your constituents no longer recognize.

It truly makes me sad to write this post. But I don’t get what you don’t get about how your constituents actually feel about hydrogen plants and hydrogen hubs.

Thank you for your time. There is no need to reply, because I know you won’t anyway.

widow of west goshen public works director to sue township over his sucide, and west goshen thinks forensic audit paid for by taxpayers should remain a secret? that’s some “squirrel time” indeed, right?

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Ahhh West Goshen. A very murky, politically funky municipality. Today I learned something. Doreen Woodward whose late husband was Dave “Woody” Woodward the Director of Public Works is suing West Goshen Township.

Woodward.v.WestGosheDownload

Read the docket. It talks about “squirrel time” . It also makes you think back to just recently when West Goshen decided that residents didn’t need to see the result of the forensic audit that residents/taxpayer paid for. I am sure old Shaun Walsh doesn’t want ANY of this out before the election, right? I mean this is enough to make a politician take a final bow, right?

It’s always shady in West Goshen Township.

So yes. Litigation has been filed. Cliff Notes is West Goshen Township, West Goshen Supervisors, and Township Manager, Christopher Bashore, will have to defend 4 counts of Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress that allegedly was the cause of Director of Public Works, John David Woodward (22 yr. township employee) taking his life on July 28, 2023.

A lawsuit was filed against the defendants (named above) on Oct. 19, 2023 in the Court of Common Pleas, Chester County, PA. by the deceased’s Estate, et. al.

Again, any West Goshen person running for re-election right now, sure as shineola doesn’t want ANY of this to see the light of day, right?

https://www.griecofunerals.com/obituaries/john-woodward-jr

Also don’t forget….

History’s Mysteries….in West Goshen Township from 2014

Widow denied state benefits over husband’s mysterious drowning at water treatment plant
Updated: Jul. 17, 2014, 12:17 p.m.|Published: Jul. 17, 2014, 11:17 a.m.
By Matt Miller | mmiller@pennlive.com

Suicide is a terrible burden for the families which survive. So was this a suicide?

Click to access 2275CD13_7-16-14.pdf

Is the past prologue in this municipality or is just everything always a hot mess half hidden? You have to ask the whole past as prologue thing now, don’t you?

And then there was this:

6ABC: Local leader killed by truck at West Chester grocery store
Wednesday, August 13, 2014

WEST CHESTER, Pa. — Police say a longtime West Goshen Township Supervisor was killed by a pickup truck in a crash at a West Chester grocery store.

Action News has learned that the man killed was 77-year-old Dr. Robert White.

It was around 12:30 Wednesday afternoon when the driver of a silver pickup truck – a young woman in her early 20’s – reversed right into the front of the ShopRite store on the 1100 block West Chester Pike.

As the truck went careening toward the front of the store, White was standing right in the path on the sidewalk out front.

The truck first hit him – sending him right through the front window of the supermarket – then the pickup came to a stop.

http://6abc.com/news/local-leader-killed-by-truck-at-grocery-store/256384/

Seriously if you are looking for local municipality that could be the topic of several Lifetime TV whodunnit movies, look no further…..

West Goshen can bring out the conspiracy theorist in everyone.

The Daily Local has an article which I will excerpt next but it’s stuck being a paywall.

But please read the court filing. And shouldn’t Casey LaLonde be in this suit?

Widow of former West Goshen official files suit over his death

John Woodward committed suicide days after being placed on administrative leave

By MICHAEL P. RELLAHAN | mrellahan@dailylocal.com

PUBLISHED: October 26, 2023 at 12:45 p.m. | UPDATED: October 26, 2023 at 12:47 p.m.

Image courtesy of Just The Facts Please.

So apparently none of the employee supervisors who knew about squirrel time got this money? But they knew about it? And they are still working there? And one guy takes his life over it and West Goshen wants to sweep it under the rug? And why isn’t the former Township Manager in this lawsuit again? Seems like he knew this was going on? You can’t blame the current manager for being upset because well this is some shady ass stuff, correct?

What is the value of life West Goshen?

I close with (again) why is it always shady in West Goshen Township?

they said “no” in west whiteland!

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West Whiteland Township Supervisors voted UNANIMOUSLY last night to DENY the zoning amendment request of the developer for the Weston Tract on West King Road.

Yes, they said NO.

There were quite a few on social media being just negative with all the why bother saying anything about the issue at a meeting? The keyboard tiger opiners club and guess what? They are wrong.

Sometimes the public can get something they seek when it comes to development. But it only happens when people go to the meetings even if you don’t speak in a meeting, packing a board room and letting a governmental body know that this concerns you or flat out upsets you, matters. And today if you can’t get to a meeting for some reason you can participate on Zoom.

The other problem, of course is a lot of times the Municipalities Planning Code which guides all the zoning throughout the state. It hasn’t been updated comprehensively since 1969 so a lot of times when elected officials actually want to say no they can’t legally and won’t take a risk. This however was an instance, where they legally could say NO, and they did. They listened to the residents in multiple townships. Weston is located at almost the edge of West Whiteland, but anything done here in this area affects residents in East Whiteland, the edges of East Goshen, the edges of West Goshen along with the West Whiteland residents.

No, it doesn’t happen often and even I was surprised. But pleasantly surprised.

However…,people packed that board room last night in West Whiteland Township and there were also a lot of people on zoom.

This is a reminder to everyone that the voice of the people does matter. Just like your vote. But you have to step up and be heard.

This issue is not over, and I do believe this property will be developed. But what West Whiteland heard loud and clear last night is people don’t want high density developments everywhere every five minutes and here in this location a high density development would be a disaster.

Good job residents!

Thank you supervisors.

Thank you even to outgoing Supervisor Theresa Hogan Santalucia, and I will note that I agree 100% about a need for affordable housing. It would be great if people could actually afford to age in their communities, as well as successive generations coming back to raise their families where they were raised. However, you’re not going to get affordable housing here on a site like the Weston Tract because single-family detached homes and LOW DENSITY is what would be best for this location and area, and what Theresa was talking about in her comments last night were essentially twin homes. Twins are not low density.

We do desperately need affordable housing in our communities. And it’s not the section 8 horror show that people imagine, it’s much simpler than that as I previously stated even in this post. Affordable housing is giving people the ability to start out in the community where they were raised or downsize and end their days in a community they have called home for decades. that’s a very human need and desire and something we should want for our communities. But it’s never a priority for new Tyvec cities.

And while we also need affordable housing, we also need lower density housing. We live in a county that was known for its vistas and open spaces and farmland. And too much of it has been replaced by high density developments of townhouses and “carriage homes” which are just townhouses by another name and apartment buildings. We need a less is more approach for our communities.

If you look at the mid century single family homes through the 70s and 80s that were developed in just Chester County alone, you will see something that you don’t see in new developments: space, trees, individuality. This is why those homes are still a pretty hot real estate market, and desirable.

Last night was an unexpected victory for the people who live here. We need more of those and we need developers that actually hear what we’re saying and give a damn. Quality of life matters.

I hope some more of you can see today after this decision which (again) was unexpected, that public participation, where you live matters.

Have a great day.

#farmertakeover

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So you know I’m pro-farmer as in real farmers not faux farmers. And something no one has picked up on this election season is there is not one, but two farmers running in East Goshen Township for supervisor.

One we all know because he almost lost part of his land to eminent domain (Pete Hicks) for the path to nowhere and the other is the farm next-door farmer neighbor and friend (Sean Ellsworth).

I think this is awesome and if you are in East Goshen I think you should vote for

#farmertakeover

It would be nice to live in a world once again where the thought of more farms, less townhouses and farms, less apartment buildings was a better plan. Now, these two men can’t unring any development bells already rung, but because their business is farming, they have a greater appreciation in my humble opinion of what’s important in Chester County.

Preserving what made Chester County Chester County is what we have to do before it is lost forever.

People, this is what I’m talking about. These are two men who were not politically inclined, but who have stepped up to run for supervisor because they see change is needed. The impetus here was East Goshen Township failed eminent domain attempt. They can phrase it however, they want in the township building and that they “unwound“ it, but that will never ever change what those supervisors did in East Goshen.

So these are gentlemen who already lead busy lives who are stepping up to the plate for public service because they know it’s the right thing to do.

#vote #farmertakeover

in east goshen, #VOTEPETE

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I have something that came to me through the Hands off the Hicks Farm page on Facebook.

East Goshen residents are lucky. Pete Hicks whom East Goshen tried to steal farmland from via eminent domain for the trail to nowhere is running for Supervisor.

He’s a good guy and an old school decent Republican. But apparently that’s not good enough for people in East Goshen, who are completely ignorant as to the reality of local politics, and what the different elected positions entail, and dragging in national politics that have nothing to do with a local municipality.

I really can’t believe people are so limited and lacking in reality. But alas they are.

But back to this message. It is so astoundingly stupid and ignorant, and limited that it is something that just took my breath away.

I cannot abide stupidity. NOWHERE does this page Hands Off The Hicks Farm say it is run by the Hicks family! It never has. All that page has ever said is this was up in support of the Hicks family and stopping the use of eminent domain in East Goshen was the way to go.

So now nice Pete is running for Supervisor in East Goshen and public service is a familial legacy. East Goshen residents would be LUCKY a to have him, but oh no the political idiots remain as erstwhile as ever tiptoeing through unicorns farting rainbows.

I am publishing a message that came in to this page which is a public page. This is what I told this person:

Maybe before you ask a candidate questions, you study reading comprehension for yourself personally.

This page is not run by the Hicks family, but it ironically is run by a registered Democrat. And if you can’t vote for someone because he’s the right person for the job and you have to add all sorts of extraneous BS into making a decision for supervisor not school board or national office, good luck to you.

A supervisor is a local position. Similar positions in New England are called Selectmen. They don’t run with any political party because they are your neighbors and friends running for the betterment of your community.

Again, you all would be LUCKY to have Pete Hicks as a supervisor! I am tired of the knee-jerk reaction everywhere that every Republican is a bad Republican and voted for Trump and every Democrat is a bad Democrat and is a pervert in a drag show. That’s #stupid.

Pete Hicks has nothing to do with the Donald Trump situation. He’s a generational landholder in East Goshen Township, who has spent his life here and among other things, farming. He almost lost his property to eminent domain. Thanks to East Goshen supervisors specifically and pathetically, Democrats. And there’s some Republican blame to go around as well since they took forever to “Unwind“ eminent domain, which my personal opinion means there’s still something hidden that has not been found.

This is a good guy running for the RIGHT reasons. Don’t conflate things WAY OUTSIDE his office description with the job he is running for. Don’t be a dumb bunny like Lynn. It’s embarrassing.

The politics of stupidity does not recognize a particular political party. But this is what is wrong with politics, that people no longer have the basic intelligence to evaluate a candidate for the office they are actually running for without dragging everything in, including the kitchen sink.

Sign me sick of stupidity.

And PS #VOTEPETE – if I was in East Goshen resident still and I once was when I first came to Chester County, I would vote for Pete Hicks in a heartbeat.