Home Care In Chester Springs, PA

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A pair of Chester County property owners with the help of Natural Lands have permanently preserved their 44-acre farm in East Nantmeal Township, ensuring the natural features and wildlife will remain untouched by development in perpetuity.

“My wife and I want our kids and grandkids to appreciate nature’s healing qualities,” landowner Martin Aguilar said in a statement. “We all need to do more to preserve land. Once it’s gone, it’s too late.”

The Aguilar farm sits along Beaver Run Creek and a smaller tributary. Water from the Beaver Run basin eventually makes its way to the Schuylkill River.

Jack Stefferud, the senior director of land protection for Natural Lands, told WHYY News that the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has identified the stream as having exceptional value.

“It’s ranked at the very top of water quality. And so, protecting that watershed and keeping the water quality pristine, for not only East Nantmeal residents but everybody downstream that has access to the water and safe drinking water and places to go fishing, is important,” Stefferud said.

East Nantmeal Township also plans to put a public trail easement on the part of the property that borders Horseshoe Trail Road. The hope is for the area to get connected to the Delaware Valley’s broader trail network.

“East Nantmeal Township has a fantastic open space program. And it’s another conservation success in a township that’s had plenty of conservation successes,” Stefferud said.

The project has the financial backing of the township, the Conservancy Grant Program, the Chester County Board of Commissioners, and the Virginia Cretella Mars Foundation.

County Commissioners Marian Moskowitz, Josh Maxwell, and Michelle Kichline said in a joint statement that they were pleased to partner in protecting this “irreplaceable” site.

“Preserving a property like this one checks all the right boxes in Chester County’s efforts to invest wisely in open space. The Aguilar property has historical value, the Beaver Run Creek runs through it, its woodlands extend the amazing high-quality woodlands already preserved there, and it is all located within the fast-developing Route 100 corridor,” the statement read.

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HONEY BROOK, Pennsylvania (WPVI) -- Earlier in life, John Stoudt was an industrial arts teacher with a knack for working with wood and metals. While in his 50s, he became interested in collecting and building model yachts.

He went on to become the founder and commodore of the Chester Springs Model Yacht Club.

"I started sailing with a club in New Jersey, and realized that there might be some interest in this area," he said. "I put a display up in our local library and the next thing I knew, there were eight people interested and we're off and running and now we have a club of about 27 members."

Stoudt also serves as president of the United States Vintage Model Yacht Group, which is hosting its annual National Championship Regatta this weekend.

The three-day event is taking place at Tel-Hai Camp and Retreat in Honey Brook, Pennsylvania. It hopes to power through the rain on Saturday and then wrap up on Sunday, October 15, at 3pm.

In the future, Stoudt hopes to promote the hobby and acquire enough support to build a Model Yachting Center.

"We want to recognize the past and ensure the future because model yachting is waning," he said. "All these wonderful vintage boats could disappear. And that's what we're trying to prevent."

To learn more about the United States Vintage Model Yacht Group, visit their website.

RELATED: Philly-area vintage baseball teams play like it's the 1800s

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Local baseball fanatics gear up several times per year to relive the "old" ball game in the Greater Philadelphia Area.

2024 is sneaking up quickly and is looking to celebrate its arrival. Welcome in the New Year with dinner, dancing, or maybe Cinderella or a demolition derby! No matter your style, we’ve got you covered with local options for adults, children, and all that in between.

Midnight in the Square - Mushroom DropDowntown Kennett Square, State & Union, 7:30pm The Mushroom Festival presents the 11th Annual Mushroom Drop in Downtown Kennett Square.Entertainment begins at 7:30 featuring performers Kevin Pierce, KMC Dancers, School of Rock, Freddie McCarthy and Syde Two on the Main Stage at 9.Laser Light Show - Food Vendors - Raffle - Photo Booth - Fun for All!Admission: Non-Perishable food items to support KACS!

New Years Eve Fireworks on the WaterfrontIndependence Blue Cross RiverRink, Penn’s Landing, 6pmJoin us for New Year's Eve Fireworks on the Waterfront celebrating 30 seasons of Independence Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest.As the grand finale of Philadelphia’s holiday season, ring in 2024 with the biggest and brightest fireworks show in the area. Enjoy the vibrant show set to an exhilarating soundtrack to start the New Year unforgettably.Enjoy two shows: 6 pm and midnight.

New Years Eve Live! PhillyXfinity Live, 1100 Pattison Ave, Philadelphia, 8:30pmJoin us for Philadelphia's Best New Year's Eve Party!Ticket prices will increase leading up to the event, be sure to get your tickets early!TICKETS INCLUDE ACCESS TOParties in Each of our Venues, Including:DJ in NBC Sports ArenaSilent Disco in 1100 SocialGo Go Gadjet in Victory Beer HallKaraoke in Broad Street Bullies PubDJ, Bull Riding & Buckle Bunnies in PBR PhillyComplimentary Food Stations throughout Xfinity Live!All-Inclusive Bar Package & MoreVIP TABLES AVAILABLEGet Tickets Here: https://rb.gy/lmx2l

Celebrate New Year’s Eve @ Valley Forge Casino ResortValley Forge Casino Resort, Valley Forge PA, 8pmRing in the New Year at Valley Forge Casino Resort!Enjoy live music & a specialty menu at Revolution Chop House, karaoke at Valley Tavern from 8pm - 1am, a DJ at Center Bar from 8pm - 2am, and a complimentary champagne toast on the casino floor at midnight!

Hershey New Year’s Eve 2023Downtown Hershey, PA, 11amHershey New Year’s Eve returns for its 19th year with a full celebration.Hershey New Year’s Eve is a FREE, family-friendly event planned and staffed by community volunteers and fully funded by its generous sponsors, including Platinum level sponsors - Hershey Entertainment & Resorts, The Hershey Company, WINK 104, HOT 106.7 Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. - HRG, Penn State Health and Highmark.

The main stage entertainment kicks off at 9:00 pm with Fully Stocked and Daddy-O and the Sax Maniax. At 11:59, MC Denny Logan (WNNK 104.1) and the HERSHEY’s Characters will count down to the HERSHEY’S Kiss raise. Then, downtown revelers will enjoy the second annual laser and pyrotechnics display.

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Schedule of Events:11:00 AM - 3:00 PM: Celebrate the New Year throughout the day at The Hershey Story. Kids can make noise with the Hershey product characters as they countdown to the new year with bubble wrap stomps at: 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 3:00 PM8:30-9:00 PM: Join the HERSHEY's Characters for a dance party followed by the final bubble wrap stomp countdown in ChocolateTown Square.8:00 PM-midnight: Food vendors available in Chocolatetown Square9:00-10:00 PM: Fully Stocked on the main stage at Chocolate Ave and Cocoa Ave10:30-11:55 PM: Daddy-O and the Sax Maniax on the main stage11:59 PM: Countdown begins! Followed by the Kiss RaiseMidnight: Downtown revelers will enjoy an immersive display!

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Got questions? Most are covered on our website's FAQ: https://www.hersheynewyearseve.org/

New Years Eve Party, The Restaurant at Wycncote Wyncote Golf Club, 50 Wyncote Drive, Oxford PA, 7pmEnjoy two ticket options for cash bar ($125/person) or open bar ($175/person). Tickets include:- Cocktail Reception- Choice of Dinner Entree: Pork Belly & Pan Seared Scallops, Filet & Grilled Shrimp, or Ricotta Cheese Stuffed Eggplant Cannelloni- Desserts and DancingReservations are required.

New Year’s Eve Dinner PartyOctoraro Hotel & Tavern, 2 S. 3rd Street, Oxford PA, 7pmJoin us on our second floor$50 includes a live band, prime rib dinner & champagne toast at midnight

NYE at The Acadian Wine Company553 Guernsey Road, West Grove PA, 6pmLive music from Allison Landon 6-9pmDrag bar in the cellar 8-10pmDance Floor 10pm - Midnight$50/personSweet and savory grazing tables all night and champagne toast includedWine and beer for purchaseCocktail attire

October Oak NYE at Old Stone Cider102 Brick Meetinghouse Road, Landenberg PA, 9pmWe're excited to return to Old Stone Cider for another amazing New Year's Eve show! Bring your friends and ring in the new year with great music, delicious cider, tasty food, and a countdown to the new year with a lighted apple drop at that amazing maple tree!

Anti-New Year’s Eve BashLevante Brewing, 889 S. Matlock Street, West Chester PA, 5pmWe're toning down the glitz and glam and making New Year's Eve a little cozier (and a little earlier). We invite you to dress down in your favorite PJs for a specially curated dinner provided by Lui's Kitchen paired with your most-loved Levante libations. Enjoy live music beginning at 6 pm. Ring in 2023 on the early side with a festive balloon drop at 9 pm, including a "champagne" brut rose cider toast, giving you time to spare before the clock strikes midnight for your next destination (perhaps your bed?)! No ticket required.Live Music with John Valerio & Erin McMenamin: 6:15 - 9:15 PMEarly Ball Drop with Honeyfire Brut Rosé "Champagne" Cider Toast: 9 pm

3rd Annual New Year’s Eve Demolition Derby & FireworksBuck Motorsports Park & Entertainment Complex, 900 Lancaster Pike, Quarryville PA, 4:30pmSponsored by Waynes Towing & Recovery - includes 6 classes of Derbies including youth small car, V-8 Trucks, Super Stock, Pro Stocks and more!NYE Fireworks Display & 130' Car Drop courtesy of Dougs Tree ServiceGates open at 4:30pmDerby starts at 7:00pm!Rain Date January 1st 2024 - 4:00PMAdvanced tickets available NOW at www.BuckMotorsports.com

Countdown to Noon with CinderellaSunny Day Play Cafe, 747 W. Cypress Street, Kennett Square PA, 10:30amFace painting by Cinderella herself! Crafts, open play, pizza & snacks, & giveaways. Count down until noon with friends and Cinderella!$35 first child, $25 additional. Under 1 is free!Get tickets online at www.sunnydayplaycafe.com on our events page!

WEST GOSHEN — It is something of a mantra recited by leaders in Chester County that their home is a great place to live, work, raise a family and retire.

While that is almost certainly true, it is also evident that it is not necessarily an affordable place to live, work, raise a family and retire, especially if you have a household that falls below the median income of $110,000.

According to U.S. Census figures provided to the MediaNews Group, the county has lost more than 5,500 affordable rental units under $1,500 a month in the last five years, dropping from 31,425 such units to 25,889. Meanwhile, the number of rental units — houses and apartments — that cost more than $1,500 a month, has grown from 12,319 to 17,991 over the same period, from 2016 to 2021. Median rents in the county went from $1,200 to $1,400 from 2016 to 2021.

The affordable nature of housing in the county was the topic of a recent gathering organized by the Chester County commissioners that brought together housing activists and legislative representatives to not only raise awareness of the issues and impacts facing the county and its less wealthy residents but to also encourage those participating to make pledges that would lead to solutions for the problem.

“We didn’t get into this situation overnight, and we are not going to get out of it overnight,” said Kris Keller, one of those who attended the session at the Government Services Center in West Goshen on Aug. 22, in an interview after the meeting. “We need long-term solutions. People can’t afford to live here.

“Affordable housing is needed not just in West Chester, Coatesville, Kennett Square or Phoenixville, but also in other places, like Chester Springs,” said Keller, the executive director of Orion Communities, an organization that serves housing needs in the county. “We need to be able to allow people to live in the communities in which they work. It can’t all be pushed someplace else.”

Put on by the commissioners, led by Vice Chairman Josh Maxwell, and the Allies for Housing in Chester County, the goals of the gathering were to hear examples of those who have attempted to find affordable housing here and to explore ways legislators and community groups can work together to ensure affordable, equitable, and accessible housing is available to all residents.

The legislative gathering served as a follow-up to a similar gathering held one year ago. This year’s event featured a historical perspective offered by Cheryl Miles of Kennett Area Community Services, and elected officials’ responses to the housing crisis from West Chester Mayor Lillian DeBaptiste and Conor Johnston, from the office of U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-6th, of Easttown.

Keller said in her remarks at the session that she had spoken directly about the nature of affordable housing recently, with a landlord and developer who wanted to explore the issue.

“What style of housing do we need to build to meet the requirements of the clients you serve and the homeless in our area?” she quoted the landlord as asking. “The reality during this national housing crisis is we need everything we can get.

“We need studios for extremely low-income folks,” she said. “We need three-bedroom apartments for single moms. We need starter houses for young families. We need accessible units for elders and people differently abled. We need options in the $350 to $850 per month. We responded that if you build it, we will help find families for all types of housing.”

But asked later why none of those options were being developed in the county, as opposed to luxury apartment complexes seen springing up from Downingtown to Frazer and in between, Keller said she had only one, short answer.

“Because you are making more money by building luxury apartments,” she said. “Some people call it greed.”

According to a news release issued by Maxwell’s office about the matter, the cost of living in the is 19.6 percent higher in the county than the national average. This higher cost of living is largely due to the high median house value of $491,600 in the county. Despite being more expensive than average, the county does have a wide range of housing options for those looking to invest or live in the area. But many of those do not meet the test of affordability.

Our cost of living indices are based on a U.S. average of 100. An amount below 100 means Chester County is cheaper than the U.S. average. A cost of living index above 100 means Chester County, Pennsylvania is more expensive.

Said Miles, “Folks from our group want to share their stories and they want us to know that not only do they need help with housing, but they also need housing that is going to be within their income range. They need assistance to not just move in, but to be able to maintain a stable housing experience.”

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