December 2022

Happy Holidays

Willistown Township and the Willistown Police Department would like to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season. The Township offices will be closed Friday,12/23, Monday 12/26, and Friday 12/30. There are secure drop boxes located beside the front and rear doors at our Administration Building at 688 Sugartown Road for residents to drop off any correspondence or sewer payments while we are closed.

Electrical Safety Tips for the Holidays

Please keep the following electrical safety tips in mind to make your Holiday season a safe time for you and your family:

Replace worn, old, or damaged extension cords or decorative light strings.
Use extension cords and decorative lighting for temporary purposes only. In other words, according to the UL Guide information and NEC 590, 90 days from the time they are installed to the time they are removed.
Avoid installing cords that can be damaged or pinched, such as under a rug or through a door or window.
Do not overload multioutlet power strips; only use the multioutlet power strips with internal overload protection.
Only use properly listed decorative lighting, listed cords, and listed relocatable power taps (multioutlet power strips)
Use the above-listed devices within the parameters of their listing and installation instructions provided.
From the Nov/Dec magazine issue of the IAEI

License your dog - licenses available at chesco.org/treasurer

Reminder: License Your Dog in PA by January 1

All dogs three months or older must be licensed by January 1 of each year. Violators can be cited with a maximum fine of $300 per violation plus court costs. An annual license is $8.50 and a lifetime license is $51.50. If the animal is spayed or neutered, the annual fee is $6.50 and lifetime is $31.50. Discounts are available to older adults and people with disabilities.

The small license fee helps the millions of dogs in the state by funding the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement. Dog licenses are available from Chester County.

Don Mancini receives award from Supervisor Shoemaker

2022 Willistown Community Service Award Winner - Don Mancini

The Willistown Township Community Service Award recognizes a resident who gives of their time to the community by serving on a Township board or commission.

At their December 12 meeting, the Board of Supervisors recognized the 2022 Community Service Award recipient, Donald Mancini. Don is a long-time resident of Willistown. In fact, he lived on Garrett Mill Road from age 11 until he left for college at 18. He returned to Willistown in 1980 with his wife to raise their son and daughter and has lived here the last 42 years.

Mr. Mancini currently serves on the Willistown Township Zoning Hearing Board as its Chair. He was first appointed to the Zoning Hearing Board in 1996, but this was not the beginning of Don’s service to the Township. Don was a Township Supervisor from 1992 to 1995 and served on the Willistown Township Planning Commission from 1983 to 1991, including 3 years as its Chair.

Don has also made contributions to our greater region, having served as a Chester County Commissioner, the Chester County Register of Wills, the Chester County Assistant District Attorney, and on the Chester County Board of Assessment Appeals.
In his nomination, a fellow volunteer noted the following: “Don has likely given thousands of hours of his time, and much of his valued judgement, in the decades of his service to our community, and our Township is a better place for it.

How to Dispose or Recycle Batteries

By Patti Lynn, Recycling Resources Manager at Chester County Solid Waste Authority (CCSWA)

What do batteries and plastic containers have in common? Both are ubiquitous and confusing to recyclers, having multiple chemistries in multiple products. Manufacturing of batteries will increase over 400% from 2020-2025. From button cells to embedded ones, batteries are smaller, lighter, and cheaper, but more energy-dense than ever before. Their power can make them dangerous to manage, even if you think they have lost their charge. A recent fire in a York County recycling facility is believed to have started with a lithium-ion battery mixed with cardboard.

Batteries are either alkaline batteries (one and done), or they are rechargeable. Nickel cadmium labeled Ni-Cd, lithium-ion labeled Li-ion and nickel metal hydride often labeled NiMH are examples of rechargeable batteries. Alkaline batteries (AA, AAA, etc.) are the ONLY ones that can safely go in the trash. Remember - a spent battery can still have a charge. Lithium-ion batteries are flammable if they are punctured. Rechargeable batteries are recyclable but before battery drop off, tape the terminals, or put the same type of batteries (Ni-Cd, e.g.) in a plastic bag to separate. View the CCSWA’s safety video on how to dispose of them. Otherwise, bring them to a local Home Depot or Lowe's Home Improvement (the recycling bins for plastic bags, rechargeable batteries and compact fluorescent light bulbs are usually located near the entrance of the stores). During April - October, CCSWA runs a monthly hazard household waste event and rechargeable batteries are one of the many accepted items.

Wouldn’t it be helpful to have a universal labeling system for common household batteries so consumers will know how to manage them at end-of-life? Batteries are getting recycled for their component metals, thereby reducing extraction needed from the earth. That is a good thing. Please be responsible with your batteries!

Snow Removal Tips & Info from Willistown Public Works

The Willistown Township Public Works Department takes great pride in executing snow removal operations. The eight-man crew clears 57 miles of Township roadways and 12 miles of PennDot roadways in a quick, efficient, and safe manner to ensure the safety of its residents. Residents can do their part to facilitate the process:

No vehicles should be parked on roadways or cul-de-sacs from the onset of the snow until the roadways have been completely cleared.
Mailboxes should be located at least one foot behind the face of the curb at a height of four feet.
Do not deposit shoveled, blown, or plowed snow onto public streets or storm sewers. This can cause dangerous conditions and is a violation of the law.
When possible, wait to clear your sidewalks and driveway aprons until the Public Works Department has completed its snow removal operations.
Please be patient. Snow removal does take time, especially in heavy snowfall. Crews will begin salting at the onset of the storm. Once two inches of snow have fallen, plowing will begin. Roads are plowed in an order based on traffic: state roadways will be plowed first, major secondary roadways will be plowed second, and tertiary roads will be plowed last.

Willistown Parks & Recreation News

Willistown Township Community Garden
Spring 2023 Openings

Located in Sugartown Preserve, the Willistown Community Garden is a volunteer garden under the oversight of Willistown Parks and Recreation where Willistown and area residents share fellowship over gardening and gather to grow organic fruits, vegetables, and herbs.

The gardeners donate a portion of their harvest to local Chester County Food Bank food cupboards. Historically, the gardeners have donated over 900 pounds of fresh produce per year for Chester County neighbors in need.

Gardeners commit to the garden through a pledge outlining expectations, requirements, and agreements, and there are volunteer liability waiver(s).

If you are considering becoming a member, please review the Pledge and Waiver(s) to be sure you are comfortable with the time and diligence needed to participate in the garden. Contact Mary, Director of Parks and Recreation, with any questions after reviewing the materials. If interested, kindly execute this Willistown Community Garden Interest Form. The deadline for membership inquiries is February 14, 2023.

Music Survey for Willistown Parks & Recreation

Greentree In Tune and On Tap
Music Survey RSVP by December 19

Greentree In Tune and On Tap is a music series hosted by Willistown Parks and Recreation at Greentree Park. We currently host 3 events all highlighting local music, food, beer, and wine. Due to its popularity, we are adding a fourth event to the series, and we'd like your opinion on what type of band you'd like to see and hear!

Please feel free to share with your friends and neighbors and let them know it closes December 19!

Take the survey now.