October 2021

Election Day 2021

Election Day is Tuesday, November 2. The polls will be open 7 am to 8 pm. Check your polling location and view specimen ballots at Chester County Voter Services. If you are voting by mail, visit VotePa.gov to find ballot return locations and track your mail-in ballot status. Voted mail-in and absentee ballots must be received by the County by 8 pm on election night.

Trick Or Treat

Willistown Township does not regulate dates or times for Halloween Trick or Treating. Willistown neighborhoods and HOAs are encouraged to coordinate Trick or Treat times together. If a homeowner does not wish to participate, the standard practice is to turn off exterior lights. Trick or Treaters heading out on Halloween night should carry flashlights or glow sticks and drivers should be mindful of pedestrians. We hope everyone has a safe and fun Halloween!

Code Corner - Keep Sight Distances Clear

Sight distance along roadways can become obstructed by vegetation – especially at intersections. The Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code places the burden of clearing corner obstructions on the property owner, even if the obstruction is in the right of way. Property owners are responsible for keeping corners as well as the frontage of their properties clear and unobstructed by keeping trees, branches and hedges trimmed.
In addition to keeping obstructions clear, property owners who have a fire hydrant in front of or along their property should ensure that the hydrant is kept clear of brush and other vegetation. The hydrant should be visible at all times to save firefighters time in case of a fire. Thank you for doing your part to keep Willistown motorists safe!

Registration Deadline for FEMA Disaster Assistance is November 10

The FEMA Disaster Assistance deadline is Wednesday. 11/10/21 for residents affected by Hurricane Ida. Residents can apply in person at the Disaster Recovery Center in Downingtown at 945 E Lancaster Avenue. Hours are Monday through Friday 10AM-7PM and Saturday 10AM-5PM. To apply online visit, https://www.disasterassistance.gov/ or download the FEMA mobile app available at the Google Play or the Apple App stores.
Residents can also call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Multilingual operators are available. Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY, may call 800-462-7585.

Volunteers Needed!

Looking to get involved and make a difference in your community? The Environmental Sustainability Committee has an unexpired vacancy. Learn more about the position and how to apply on our Volunteer Information page.

Document Shredding

Saturday, October 30, 9 am to 12 pm, 688 Sugartown Road, Malvern

Here is an opportunity to dispose of sensitive documents that you’ve been storing but have been reluctant to dispose of as trash. Cancelled checks, new checks that you’ll never use, insurance statements, tax forms, charge/bank/debit statements, receipts, savings passbooks, confidential letters, and brokerage statements are some of the many types of sensitive documents that people need to dispose of with finality in this age of identity theft. Shredding will take place on site in a specially equipped truck. Limit: six boxes. Do not bring newspapers, magazines, cardboard, wallpaper, books, sheets of plastic, Pendaflex folders with metal strips, or three-ring binders. Remove all binder clips. Items containing staples, standard paper clips, or rubber bands will be accepted. This is a program for residents, not for commercial enterprises seeking to empty file cabinets. Shredding truck departs at 12:00PM or when it reaches its 5-ton capacity. Willistown residents only.

Blue Beards for Charity

With fall approaching, the leaves are changing, the days get shorter, and of course, it's "beard-growing season." Blue Beards for Charity was started last year by the Willistown Township Police Department based on our successful past and to ensure a more charitable future. We will continue to support four local charities: Unite for Her, The Sambuco Children's Education Fund, A Child's Light, and the Chester County Crime Victims Center.

This year's goal is to build on last year's momentum and add more police departments and agencies. Each department will establish its own rules on how the money is raised. For example, many departments in past years have allowed their officers to grow beards or wear pink t-shirts and/ or nail polish while working. In exchange, each officer would donate $100, and the police officer's association for that department would match the donation.

In 2020, our charitable efforts raised more than $60,000, and 2021 will be even more successful with more participants. We hope to expand our fundraising to the private sector and encourage anyone to donate to this amazing charity. If you'd like to contribute, please stop by the station during business hours (M-F 8:00 am – 4:30 pm) or email Lt. Heim, jheim@willistown.us

Help Keep Storm Drains Clear

Fall is here and that means falling leaves. Grass clippings and leaves blown into the street during yard maintenance don’t just disappear; they end up in the nearest river or plugging local storm sewer systems. When it rains, anything in the street washes into storm drains that lead to area creeks and rivers. Why should you be concerned? Organic matter such as grass and leaves can cause odors in neighborhood creeks and drainage problems that lead to flooding on our roads and properties. Rake or blow excess leaves into a compost pile, where they can decompose without odor or contact your trash hauler to see if they take bagged grass clippings and leaves.

Willistown Parks & Rec News

Fall is a Beautiful Time to Explore Willistown Parks and Preserves

With hundreds of acres of persevered land and miles of trails, Willistown residents don't have to travel far to enjoy the beauty of fall. According to the 2021 fall foliage reports from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Chester County is heading into peak color with our recent cool night time temperatures. Head to your favorite park or preserve in Willistown, or explore a new trail this fall. Learn more about a trail near you by visiting our park land and open space fund map.

Community News

Historic Sugartown

Sugartown's Spookier Side - A Special Tour - Saturday, October 30th at 2 pm and 4 pm
A soldier exhumed, a fallen farmer & a shopkeeper’s spirit. Many people have left their mark on the village of Sugartown over the past two centuries. Many births, deaths, celebrations, and other activities have happened in this little town. Over the course of this tour, visitors will hear the tales of the village inhabitants. Some happy, some sad, some bizarre…Did anything creepy or sinister ever happen at Sugartown? Find out for yourself! Tickets are $12 and advanced registration is required.

Family and friends visiting over the holidays? Take them on a guided tour! You’ll see Sugartown’s c. 1880 General Store, Carriage Museum, Book Bindery and more. 11 AM & 1 PM every Saturday through November. Advance registration required at HistoricSugartown.org. Admission: $9 Adults, $8 Seniors, $7 Children ages 3 - 17.

Malvern Public Library

The Malvern Library is offering NEW children and teen events for November and December. Sign up today at on the Malvern Library calendar.

Children's Zoom Yoga - Mondays at 10 am (reoccurring)
Babytime - Tuesdays at 10:30 am (reoccurring)
Preschool Story Time - every other Thursday at 10:30 am (reoccurring)
Sensory Storytime - every other Thursday at 10:30 am (reoccurring)
Kids Can Cook! - November 8th at 6 pm
Teen Advisory Board - November 15^th at 6 pm (first meeting)
Teen Book Club - December 13th at 6 pm

Paoli Public Library
The Paoli Library offers lots of programming every month. Join a Book Club, sign up for Storytime with Miss Stephanie, get your zen on during Zen Mediation, or join a virtual Scavenger Hunt – there is something for every ages 1-100. or Sign up today on the Paoli Library Calendar.

Willistown Conservation Trust

Fall Migration Songbird Banding - October 28, 7:30 am to 10:30 am
RNK Monster Night - October 28, 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm
Forager Fridays- 9 am to 12 noon (reoccurring)
Ashbridge Preserve Tree Planting - October 30 and 31, 9 am to 12 noon
Lunch and Learn from Home - November 2, 9, 16 and 23, 12 pm to 1 pm
Fall Bird Walks - November 2 and 13 8:00 am to 9:00 am
Pre-registration required for all events

CRC Watersheds

Science of Tap is Back!
Thursday, October 28 – 7 pm to 9 pm
Join CRC Watersheds at 2SP Brewing Company for a night of science and beer. Try a variety of beers & learn about the perils eels encounter along their journey to the tributaries of the Chester, Ridley, and Crum creeks. Get tickets here.

Native Tree Planting at Colonial Plantation
Saturday, Oct 30th 9:00am - 12:00pm
Please join CRC as we plant native trees and shrubs at Colonial Plantation, located along Ridley Creek in Ridley Creek State Park. Email Lynn at lynn@crcwatersheds.org if you are interested in helping out!