May 2022

Save the Date for Our Recycling Events

Thank you to our Environmental Sustainability Committee for organizing these events. Please note all events are for Willistown Residents only:

June 11 - Document Shredding
October 8- E-Waste Recycling
October 22 - Wood Chipping
October 29- Document Shredding

Chester County Solid Waste Authority has announced its Household Hazard Waste Events. These events are held once a month from April to October at various locations across Chester County. Pre-registration is required.

Private Underground Lines

If you or a contractor excavating on a property, it's always important to call 811 before excavation beings. Utility companies will mark the location of the underground lines they own and/or maintain when the 811 call is placed. But not all underground lines are maintained by the utility companies. It's important to remember there may be private lines on your property that may include:

Utility service lines from the meter to the home
Electric or gas lines to a pool or outdoor grill
Invisible fences
Septic systems
Sprinkler systems or drainage pipes
Propane tanks and lines

If you believe there are any privately owned underground lines on the property, please contact a private line locating company to have the lines marked before any excavation work.

Police Update: 5 Tips to Avoid Scams

1. Don't fall for imposter scams - the IRS, Social Security Administration, or Medicare will not call you demanding payment. Government agencies will notify you by mail of issues with your accounts.

2. Never give personal or financial information to a request that you did not expect or initiate.

3. Never pay with gift cards or money transfers/wires. These are often indicators that the item or service is fraudulent.

4. If it sounds too good to be true, it may be a scam. Talk to someone you trust when you are unsure about a situation or phone call.

5. Run a free annual credit report to check for identity theft and read your monthly bank and credit card statements.

If you believe you are a victim of a scam, please call the Willistown Police Department to report it at 610-251-0222.

Welcome Public Works Director George Martynick

George Martynick joins Willistown Township as the Director of Public Works. George retired from the PA Turnpike after 31 years of service, where he managed all facilities in the eastern half of the Commonwealth. He studied Landscape Architecture at Temple University and holds multiple certifications in Facility Management and Sustainability.

A lifelong Chester County resident, George, his wife, and two children live in West Goshen with their dog Vivian. George’s wife, Claire, is a third-grade teacher at Sugartown Elementary School. George is the Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 149 and enjoys backpacking and playing guitar in his spare time.

Ready ChesCo

Summer storms are rolling in. Stay in the know with ReadyChesCo! Get severe weather warnings, public health concerns, and Amber Alerts for Chester County via phone, email, or text. Sign up at readychesco.org. Registration takes only a few minutes, and you can receive notifications and updates on all or some of your devices.

Vacancies on the Environmental Sustainability Committee

Willistown Township is seeking two residents to fill vacancies and serve on the Environmental Sustainability Committee. The ESC is responsible for recommending plans and programs to protect natural resources, encourage sustainable practices, and plan recycling events in the Township. The Commission meets on the second Tuesday of every month at 7 pm. Find out how to apply.

Willistown Parks & Rec News

Park Parties Are Back

Join Willistown Parks and Recreation for summer fun in Greentree Park.

School's Out Let's GO WilMa! Kick Off Party - 5 - 8pm June 21, Rain Date June 23 - School is out and we are celebrating our TENTH YEAR of our outdoor adventure program, GO WilMa!. We'll have face painting, petting animals, pony rides, balloon art, food, and music.

Greentree In Tune & On Tap - 5:30-8:30pm - Enjoy a relaxing summer evening with music. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.

The Sun Brothers June 14, Rain Date June 17
Beg, Borrow, and Steel July 20, Rain Date July 22

The Fraction September 13, Rain Date September 15

Willistown Township Historical Bus Tour - July 7th

Travel through White Horse, Okehocking, and Sugartown, Willistown’s National Register Historic Districts, hearing about the people, architecture, history, and open space of the beautiful countryside that Willistown is known for. Bus tour tickets on sale in June. More details to come!

'Tis the Season for Spotted Lanternfly Nymphs

Keep an eye out for egg masses and the small adolescent nymphs before they grow their wings. SLF will lay their eggs on trees, outdoor furniture, fences, buildings, and even vehicles, which makes containing this pest difficult.

SLF attacks many plants, including important crops like apples, grapes, hops, and many species of trees that dominate our forests, like maples.

If you find an egg mass, crush the eggs with a scraper or some other implement. Kill eggs and nymphs by putting them into bags with alcohol/hand sanitizer or by smashing or burning them.

Visit the Penn State Extension website for more information and to report them.

Willistown Summer Fun Camps - A Few Spaces Left

Willistown Township summer fun camps will be returning for grades K - 5 to Sugartown Elementary School for 8 fun-filled weeks, June 20- August 12, 2022. Residents and non-residents can register for individual weeks or all 8 weeks. We offer full and half-day options, plus before and after care is available. Themes change every week. For more information visit our Summer Camp page.

Calling All Youth Soccer Fans

Willistown Parks and Recreation is pleased to partner with the Philadelphia Union's youth soccer program - June 13 – 16^th from 9 am to 12 pm at Rita Reves Parks.

This unique camp program is designed to enhance individual skill levels, possess a fun element, and allow players from different soccer organizations to come together to play the beautiful game. For boys and girls ages 6 - 14. Every participant is given the opportunity to attend a Union game for free to watch their heroes play and enjoy the atmosphere and passion of the Philadelphia Union Soccer fans.

Location: Rita Reves Park, 1040 Garrett Mill Road, Newtown Square, PA 19073.
Fee: $179 Resident/$199 Non-Resident. Willistown residents: please contact Mary, our Parks & Recreation Director, for a discount code before registering.

Community News

Paoli Library News
Check the Event Calendar for a wide array of children's programs. Families can still attend storytimes either outdoors in Greentree Park or virtually as they Zoom into Storytime or both.
Paoli Library is open Monday–Saturday for in-person browsing and holds pickup. We have reopened our seating areas for library users to work, read, and relax. Check our website, tredyffrinlibraries.org, for up-to-date hours and services.

Malvern Public Library
It's time for our annual Spring Book Sale! Join us on May 20th & 21st, starting at 10am. We'll be out on the lawn with children, teen, adult and AV materials.
Hard Cover: $2
Soft Cover: $1
Children's Books: $1
AV: $2

Willistown Conservation Trust
We are kicking off the season of Community Supper Series on May 20 with a new partner PapermillFoods. Bring your blankets and chairs and experience Papermill's original sandwich — the Spurrito — while enjoying the sunset over Rushton Farm. Register and view the full menu at wctrust.org/calendar

Barns & BBQ - June 4. Two options this year - The Willistown Morning Barn Tour and Barns & BBQ. Both options feature a tour book, access to barns and farms on tour, and deep history of all tour stops. Barns & BBQ attendees will end the evening with a cocktail hour, roving barbecue-style meal, and live music overlooking preserved land at a secret barn location. Head to our website to get your tickets today (wctrust.org/barns-bbq).

Historic Sugartown
This year, we are starting off our trifecta of biergartens on Thursday, May 26 , from 5 to 8 pm. Our first biergarten will offer craft beer from Locust Lane Craft Brewery and Chaddsford Winery will offer their wine. The food trucks that will be cooking up some delicious food include Buddy's Burgers, The Flying Deutschman and Humpty Dumplings- so plan to grab a bite to eat.
Music will be provided by Shake Down, a Biergarten favorite! Explore Sugartown's historic buildings with your friends and watch paper marbling demonstrations by the bookbinders of Sugartown's Bindery Shop. Tickets are $10 for adults 18 and under are free.