Easttown Spring 2026

SPRING 2026

EASTTOWN NEWS THE COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER

“Whether you're buying your dream home or selling for top dollar, you deserve a trusted professional with hands on experience, and a commitment to your success.”

EXPERT KNOWLEDGE. UNPARALLELED EXPERIENCE. PROVEN RESULTS.™

Megan McGowan Ady & Megan McGowan Team BHHS Fox & Roach Realtors O. 610.651.2700 M. 610.715.8727

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EXPERT KNOWLEDGE. UNPARALLELED EXPERIENCE. PROVEN RESULTS. ™

Whether you're buying your dream home or selling for top dollar, you deserve a trusted professional with hands on experience, market knowledge, and most importantly a commitment to your success.

Contact me today to get started achieving your real estate dreams!

Megan McGowan Ady & Megan McGowan Team BHHS Fox & Roach Realtors 610.651.2700 (Office) 610.715.8727 (Mobile)

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TOWNSHIP DIRECTORY

CONTENTS: Township Directory.................................4 Chester County Emergency Services...6 Community Connections .......................6 School District News ............................10 Pennsylvania Children’s Services.......12 Parenting Your Teen .............................14 Health & Wellness.................................18 Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens............20 Willows Park Preserve .........................22 Wharton Esherick Museum..................24 Valley Forge Park Alliance...................26 Washington Memorial Chapel..............28 Wayne Art Center News........................30 This publication is an effort to keep the community informed with what is actually happening in your area.

For future editions, I welcome your thoughts on topics that affect the community. I'd be happy to publish your opinions on any relevant topics.

Do you have an event that you'd like to publicize? Let me know, and I'll do my best to incorporate your event into the newsletter.

This is your community. This is your home. Use this publication to share your thoughts and ideas with your neighbors. Are you ready to get involved in your community?

David Amsterdam franklinmaps@aol.com

MUNICIPAL COMPLEX 566 Beaumont Road Devon, PA 19333 Website: www.easttown.org Phone: 610-687-3000 Email: easttown@easttown.org POLICE ADMINISTRATION Email: police@easttown.org Non-Emergency: 610-341-9780 EASTTOWN LIBRARY 720 First Avenue Berwyn, PA 19312 Website: www.easttownlibrary.org Phone: 610-644-0138 Email: info@easttownlibrary.org Amber M. Osborne Library Director aosborne@ccls.org BERWYN FIRE COMPANY 23 Bridge Avenue Berwyn, PA 19312 Website: www.berwynfireco.org Non-Emergency: 610-644-6050 Email: info@berwynfireco.org PAOLI FIRE COMPANY 69 Darby Road Paoli, PA 19301 Website: www.paolifirecompany.org Non-Emergency: 610-644-1712

PUBLIC MEETING SCHEDULE* Held in the Township Building Meeting Room and Open to the Public Board Of Supervisors

7:00 PM: third Monday of the month, (first Monday October - January)

Easttown Citizen's Advisory Committee 6:15 PM: second Monday of the month

Easttown Library Board Of Trustees 7:00 PM: fourth Wednesday of the month at the Easttown Library

Easttown Municipal Authority

7:15 PM: second Tuesday of the month

Environmental Advisory Council 7:15 PM: third Tuesday of the month

Historical Commission

7:00 PM: second Wednesday of the month

Parks And Recreation Board

6:00 PM: third Tuesday of the month

Planning Commission

7:00 PM: first Tuesday of the month

Stormwater Management Advisory Committee 6:15 PM: second Tuesday of the month

Zoning Hearing Board

7:00 PM: third Thursday of the month

Published by Franklin Maps • 610-265-6277 • FranklinMaps@aol.com

Independently owned and operated. Terms and conditions apply. Cannot be combined with other offers. May not be available in all service areas. Offer expires 07/31/26. © 2025 Bumble Bee Blinds. All rights reserved.

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*Some meeting dates are shifted due to holidays. Alternate meeting dates are available on the Township Public Meeting Calendar at www.easttown.org

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CHESTER COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES

The Chester County Department of Emergency Services (CCDES) is simplifying the way that Chester County residents and visitors can voluntarily share emergency information with CCDES in the event of an emergency - using existing smartphone features. The Chester County Emergency Communications Center (ECC) can now receive updated emergency information through opt-in applications and integrated settings on smartphones.

• Name • Age • Medical Conditions • Medical Notes • Allergies & Reactions • Medications • Blood Type

Commonly, these apps are the default Health app for Apple phones and the Personal Safety app for some Android phones. On Samsung devices, this information can be added in settings, under Safety and emergency.

• Weight • Height • Primary Language • Emergency Contacts

Once the user approves their information to be shared with 9-1-1, these applications and integrated settings automatically share emergency information with dispatchers when they call 9-1-1.

If enabled, these apps also allow first responders to access this information on the user's phone in the event that the patient is unable to communicate.

In addition to the ability to receive emergency information through 9-1-1, ReadyChesCo, Chester County's official emergency notification system, has the ability for users to add additional personal information, including access, functional, and evacuation needsto their ReadyChesCo account. This additional information will allow county and municipal emergency management officials to make betterinformed decisions regarding evacuations during disasters.

When signing up for a ReadyChesCo account, community members are prompted to provide Additional Needs.

Community members who already have a ReadyChesCo account can log in at ReadyChesCo.org and update or add this information on the home page under My Information.

In addition to these mobile phone apps, anyone can sign up for a free account at www.emergencyprofile.org regardless of their mobile phone brand. The following information illustrates what can be shared with 9-1-1 and first responders:

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

BY RICK ANTHONY, MLTV21 PRODUCER/HOST

Could Maria Middleton Become America's First Millennial Saint?

From her deathbed, suffering from the debilitating ravages of an inoperable brain tumor, 18-year-old Maria Middleton made a final entry in her journal: “Think Hope.” Two words that summed up Marsa's remarkable life, became the title of an inspirational book and a rallying call for her parents and the thousands of people around the world who prayed for her.

In my interview with Maria's parents, Suan and Brian Middleton, for MLTV21, they described the unyielding faith in God of a young girl who believed “You don't have to be weird to be holy.”

According to the accounts in “Think Hope,” the book written by her parents, Maria was a teacher, mostly by her example, but also by her words. In a speech she gave at an eighth-grade graduation ceremony, she said: “In a world where many teenagers struggle to find real meaning and purpose, we know that our purpose in life is to know, love and serve God so we can be happy with him in heaven. This understanding calls us to lead others to Him through our words and actions.”

In another passage from the book, a friend describes Maria as “Funny, hopeful, smart, faithful, witty, and resilient. - traits that attracted friends and, eventually, led her friends and others from despair to hope.”

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EASTTOWN NEWS · SPRING 2026

When I asked her parents why the book did not contain a definition of hope, they said it wasn't necessary because “Maria was a witness to hope. She lived it.”

In anexample of her indomitable faith, 17year-old Maria sent an email to Philadelphia's Archbishop Perez chastising him for closing the churches during Covid.”

Your decision to suspend the Mass and Sacraments is preventing me from going to Church and receiving the Sacraments — which are graces I need.” Within 15 minutes, the Archbishop replied telling Maria that he would personally bring Holy Communion to her, which he did. He later said that Maria's email lit up his computer screen. After a three-hour visit with Maria in the sunroom of her home, he said he had the most profound conversation he'd ever had in his life about the role of the Eucharist and grace and suffering. They remained friends until her death.

Whether the Catholic Church, after scrupulously examining her life, proclaims Maria a saint will take years to determine.

Nonetheless, in the hearts and minds of thousands of people around the world, Maria's life was unquestionably saintly.

Think Hope.org

In the Forward in the book, the Archbishop wrote: “'Think Hope' was the simple phrase used by Maria Middleton as she faced the immense challenge of dealing with terminal brain cancer, a diagnosis that came during her sophomore year of high school. She, and the family, faced this challenge with steadfast hope — a hope rooted in faith and expressed in love.”

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TREDYFFRIN/EASTTOWN SCHOOL DISTRICT

Groundbreaking on Bear Hill Elementary School

On July 31, members of the TESD School Board and administration, along with representatives from Heckendorn Shiles Architects, gathered to celebrate the official groundbreaking of Bear Hill Elementary School. This milestone marks the beginning of construction for the district's sixth elementary school at 1200 West Swedesford Road in Berwyn.

The School Board awarded bids for construction during its July 2025 meeting, and construction began in November. The School is scheduled to be open for the 2027-2028 school year and will support full-day kindergarten and accommodate high elementary enrollment. For more information about the Bear Hill Elementary School project, visit www.tesd.net/newelementaryschool.

Forty Conestoga High School Students Recognized as National Merit Semifinalists

Conestoga High School has again reported the most National Merit Semifinalists in all of Pennsylvania, with 40 this year. Approximately 16,000 of the highest scorers qualify as Semifinalists annually, representing less than 1 percent of the nation's high school graduating seniors. This recognition is based on the students' performance on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. These academically talented high school seniors will go on to compete for over 6,930 scholarships through the National Merit Corporation or its sponsoring organizations.

Congratulations to all of our scholars!

Conestoga High School Girls Golf Team Clinches State Championship

The Conestoga Girls Golf Team captured the PIAA 3A Girls Team Golf State Title at the Blue Course of the Penn State Golf Courses, finishing with a team score of 232 (+12), four strokes ahead of defending champion Peters Township. This crowning achievement capped off a standout season marked by strong team depth and clutch performances. The team also went undefeated in matches with a 6-0 record, claimed first place at the Girls Golf of Valley Forge Tournament, and earned the title of District 1 AAA Champion.

T/E Schools Recognize Hispanic Heritage Month

Throughout the District, students and staff joined together to honor Hispanic Heritage Month with a variety of engaging activities. Bulletin boards were decorated with facts about Hispanic countries, highlighting their cultures. Student volunteers enriched morning announcements by sharing information about famous Hispanic Americans and inspiring stories of achievement and cultural pride. Libraries featured vibrant displays of picture books, inspiring biographies, and engaging chapter books, inviting students to explore the rich voices and stories from Latin America and the United States. At some schools, families were also invited to participate in a special video project, sharing traditions, recipes, music, and stories that reflect their unique backgrounds. These videos were shared in classrooms to deepen understanding and celebrate the diversity across our schools.

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Devereux Pennsylvania Children's Services operates six Approved Private Schools throughout Chester and Montgomery Counties that offer high-quality, innovative special education programming for students who need care, compassion and support to succeed and thrive. All schools are licensed by the PA State Board of Private Academic Schools and accept 4010 placements.

Children, adolescents and young adults may come to Devereux as day students, or as a part of residential treatment. Each student has an Individualized Educational Plan, which outlines goals for skill development and the best strategies by which the student can reach his/her goals. A multi-disciplinary team, including the individual's parent(s) or guardian, regularly reviews the plan to discuss challenges, progress and adjustments to goals as appropriate.

CARES (CENTER FOR AUTISM RESEARCH & EDUCATION SERVICES)

600 Boot Road Downingtown, PA 19335 Full-time placement: Co-ed youth, ages 5-21, with autism; intellectual disabilities; speech and language disorders.

The School for Integrated Learning

390 East Boot Road West Chester, PA 19380 Full-time placement: Co-ed youth, ages 5-21, with autism; intellectual/multiple disabilities; emotional disturbances; speech and language disorders.

Day Academy — Audubon

2650 Eisenhower Ave, Suite A101 Norristown, PA 19401 Full-time emotional support placement (day):Co-ed youth, grades 4-8, with emotional, behavioral and cognitive differences.

Day Academy — Landenberg

20 McMaster Blvd, Suites 3 and 4 Landenberg, PA 19350 Full-time emotional support placement (day): Co-ed youth, grades K-8, with emotional disturbances, learning disabilities and autism.

Brandywine School

390 E. Boot Road West Chester, PA 19383 Full-time emotional support placement (day/residential): Co-ed youth, grades 6-12, with learning disabilities and emotional disturbances.

Mapleton School

655 Sugartown Rd., Building 100 Malvern, PA 19355 Full-time emotional support placement (day/residential): Co-ed youth, grades K-12, with emotional disturbances, learning disabilities and autism.

Contact Devereux at PAEducationReferrals@devereux.org or 267-418-9623. Admissions team members will help you determine which program is most appropriate for your child.

Visit www.devereuxpa.org for more information about Devereux's Approved Private Schools and other services for children.

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PARENTING YOUR TEEN

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

Emergency Department vs. Urgent Care: Where Should You Go? • Splints and stitches • Colds, viruses and the flu • Stomach ailments and respiratory illnesses • Strep throat, ear infections and allergic reactions • Flu and tetanus shots; physicals for work, camp, sports and drivers' licenses • X-ray and EKG

Jennifer Campbell, DO Medical Director, Main Line Health Urgent Care & Occupational Medicine Making quick choices is tough, especially when you or someone in your family needs fast medical attention. When it comes to getting treatment for injury or illness, where should you be going: an urgent care center or the emergency department (ED)? Urgent care centers and EDs both offer similar services, but depending on your medical need, one facility might be a better option than the other. Although split-second decisions are typical in medical emergencies, it's helpful to familiarize yourself with what constitutes a trip to urgent care or the ED before you need to make the trip. Check out the lists below to see what facility is the right option in an emergency.

Urgent Care Centers Urgent care centers are for accidents and illnesses that require a physician or nurse practitioner's attention, but not a trip to the emergency department. Common conditions and treatments provided at an urgent care center include: • Minor cuts, lacerations and burns • Muscle aches, strains and sprains

Where Should I Go for Care?

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Urgent care centers provide excellent quality of care for patients who need help with injuries and illnesses when most doctors' offices are typically closed. Main Line Health Urgent Care, with locations in Broomall, Concordville, Exton, Oaks and Wynnewood, offers a variety of options for after-hours and emergency care and has hours on nights, weekends and holidays.

“Urgent care provides the right level of care for non-life-threatening needs, giving patients an alternative to both waiting for an office visit and heading straight to the ED. We're here for the times when your doctor's office is closed, but you still need medical attention whether it's a sprain on the soccer field, a child's fever on a Sunday evening or a cut that needs stitches on a holiday. Our goal is to provide safe, timely care when you need it most at a location convenient to you,” said Jennifer Campbell, DO, a Main Line Health physician who specializes in both urgent care and emergency medicine. Additionally, Main Line Health hospitals are near these urgent care locations, which allows patients to be easily transferred to the emergency department if they require a higher level of care.

Emergency Departments Emergency departments are for lifethreatening conditions and symptoms like: • Heart attack • Major trauma • Numbness in the face, arm or leg • Difficulty speaking • Coughing or vomiting blood

• Severe shortness of breath • Uncontrolled or excessive bleeding • Severe headache or burns • Poisoning • Confusion, lethargy and changes in mental status • Changes or loss of vision • Chest pain • Significant abdominal pain • Behavioral emergencies, such as suicidal or homicidal feelings While urgent care centers and emergency departments provide different levels of care, don't take too long to decide which one you should go to. While many people's first thought is to head to the emergency department, what you should do is head to whatever facility is closest. And if you're experiencing symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath or any of the other symptoms listed above, call 911 to be transported. “The most important thing to remember is to not delay your care,” said Campbell. “If you're experiencing serious symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath or signs of a stroke, the emergency department is always the safest place to be.

But for so many other health concerns from minor injuries and infections to fevers or stomach bugs urgent care is a convenient option.”

Main Line Health is home to four emergency departments at Lankenau Medical Center, Bryn Mawr Hospital, Paoli Hospital and Riddle Hospital. Main Line Health serves patients at hospitals and health centers throughout the Philadelphia region. Virtually jump in line and join the waitlist at mainlinehealth.org/urgentcare.

For life-threatening conditions, visit an emergency department or call 911. Conditions include heart attack; numbness in face, arm or leg; difficulty speaking; coughing or vomiting blood; major trauma; severe shortness of breath; uncontrolled or excessive bleeding; severe headaches; severe burns; poisoning; suicidal or homicidal feelings.

Main Line Health urgent care and emergency department locations

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JENKINS ARBORETUM & GARDENS Bird-Safe Windows:

How Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens Is Modeling Change

by Alyssa Turner, Development Assistant

You have probably heard it before — the sudden thud of a bird crashing head-first against the window. Maybe you look and notice a smudge, a few feathers on the glass. Maybe there's no sign of the strike at all. The sound is easy enough to brush aside, but for birds, it's a moment that often marks life-or-death.

For the staff and volunteers at Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens, these moments were incompatible with our guiding philosophy: to steward our 48 acres of woodlands and gardens in partnership with nature. With guidance from Bonnie and Phil Witmer, trained experts with a deep passion for birds and for Jenkins, we set into motion a community-funded project that has transformed how we think about glass, reflection, and our shared responsibility to protect wildlife.

Unlike people, birds don't recognize glass as a barrier. Instead, they see reflections of trees and sky and hurtle head-first into what they perceive as open space. The result is one of the biggest humancaused threats to bird populations, with window collisions killing over a billion birds annually in North America alone. It's a devastating figure and an international crisis, but the solution is surprisingly simple.

In 2025, Jenkins completed a site-wide retrofit of our John J. Willaman Education Center windows using a combination of Feather Friendly markers and Acopian BirdSavers. The small, white markers by industry leader Feather Friendly — spaced just two inches apart and applied to the outer glass — create a subtle pattern that breaks up reflections, helping birds to recognize the glass as a solid surface and reducing bird-window collisions by up to 95%.

In contrast, the Acopian BirdsSavers stationed on the windows below our Tree Canopy Deck are made of black paracord that hang in front of the glass. The movement of the paracord alerts birds to the barrier without blocking views. Collectively, these two methods allow Jenkins to maintain the open, airy feeling of our building while also making it much safer for wildlife.

Feather Friendly NGS Install

It's easy to feel environmental challenges are too big to tackle, but this project reminds us otherwise. Protecting birds starts at home.

Visit www.jenkinsarboretum.org/birds to learn more or stop by our Education Center (free and open daily from 9AM 4PM) to see our bird-safe designs in person. Together, we can save birds, one window at a time.

Feather Friendly — Witmer Install

Acopian BirdSavers Curtains

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WILLOWS PARK PRESERVE

Establishing Partnerships with Other Nonprofits Since its establishment on the brink of a global pandemic, the Willows Park Preserve (WPP), a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization, has made great progress toward the fulfillment of its mission: “to revitalize the Willows Mansion” in Radnor Township and “open it to the community as a welcoming and inclusive place for relaxation, connection, celebration and life-long learning.”

Restoration activities that have taken place over the past few years include replacement of the Mansion's roof, upgrading restrooms to meet ADA requirements, repainting the Mansion's exterior and interior spaces, modernization of the kitchen, repairs to the HVAC system, installation of a new steam boiler, replacement of windows and much more. Free and low-cost community programs that have been offered at the Mansion include classes on topics such as gardening, local history, birding and music. In December, the WPP held its fourth annual Holiday Open House featuring vendors, free activities for children, music by local students and plenty of hot chocolate and cookies. In February, the WPP hosted its annual Love and Chocolate event, with free activities and chocolate treats for kids. In April, the WPP will once again be hosting its free Wellness at the Willows event, with classes on yoga, mindfulness, healthy eating and other topics.

None of these restoration activities and community programs would have been possible without the support of generous donors, Radnor Township, state grants and revenues from private events.

There is still much that remains to be done at the historic Mansion, and the WPP will be relying on the support of its donors, the Township, grants and revenues from private events as it continues to serve its purpose. But with all of the physical improvements to the Mansion that have been made over the past few years, the WPP is now in a position to help other local nonprofit organizations fulfill their missions while simultaneously fulfilling its own. The key is partnerships!

There are numerous small, nonprofit organizations in Radnor that serve the local community in various ways: offering educational opportunities for students of all ages, supporting

the arts, assisting victims of domestic abuse, preserving our history, protecting our environment, encouraging literacy, protecting our homes and businesses from fire, providing support services for our senior citizens . . . the list goes on! When organizations like these are able to share their resources they can increase the level of services they offer and everybody benefits: the partners themselves and the community they serve.

A great example of this is the partnership recently established between the WPP and the Wayne Senior Center (WSC). The mission of the WSC is “to provide community, friendship and resources which enrich the lives of older adults.”

One of the WSC's many services is the provision of free lunches for the senior members of our community. The WSC serves 100 patrons each weekday at its Wayne facility. Preparing meals for so many people requires a good deal of space and equipment, both of which are limited at the WSC's facility. However, with the help of generous donors and a Keystone Communities grant from the state of Pennsylvania, the WPP was able to upgrade the kitchen at the Willows Mansion with a new exhaust hood, dishwasher and refrigerator and other improvements. The previously unusable kitchen is now up to code and up to task. Although the kitchen is used primarily by the WPP's caterer for revenuegenerating events such as weddings and other parties and for community programs involving food preparation, it is typically not in use on weekday mornings. Recognizing an opportunity for collaboration, the WSC and WPP have entered into an arrangement by which the WSC will use the Mansion's kitchen on weekday mornings for meal preparation for its clients. This collaboration enables each organization to serve the community in accordance with its mission. It is, as they say a “win-win.”

The WPP has also established a mutually beneficial partnership with Main Line School Night (MLSN), a nonprofit organization that has served not just Radnor but the entire Main Line community since 1938. MLSN's mission is “to offer adults of all ages affordable educational experiences to promote personal enrichment and to enhance the quality of our community.”

The nonprofit's programs and classes are

extremely popular and widely attended. Indeed, the catalogue for Spring 2026 offers over 400 classes. Although some of these classes are offered online, most are live and most take place in one of a handful of small, makeshift classrooms in the Creutzberg Center's historic mansion. Restoration efforts at the Center will reduce the already limited classroom space. The solution? A partnership with the WPP which enables the MLSN to use the restored spaces in the Willows Mansion for some of its classes while enabling the WPP to use the Mansion for one of its primary purposes: the promotion of life-long learning.

The WPP has formed additional partnerships with other nonprofit organizations, such as the Radnor Historical Society, the Radnor Conservancy, the Radnor League of Women Voters and the Skunk Hollow Community Garden, to organize and offer programs and to provide affordable space for events. The WPP also partners with local schools and universities, providing opportunities for students to showcase their talents at concerts at the Mansion, meet their community service requirements, and learn about the management of a nonprofit corporation. The WPP also has partnered with numerous local businesses and commercial organizations, such as the Wayne Business Association, Main Line Chamber of Commerce, and the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce.

As the poet John Donne wrote, “No man is an island.” The same is true for small nonprofits that serve the same community, albeit in different ways. For such organizations to succeed in the fullest sense they need to do what they can, when they can, to ensure one another's success. Creative partnerships between and among our local nonprofits serve more than just the partners. They serve the entire community.

If you would like to host your next event at the WPP, register for a program, learn about volunteer opportunities, provide financial support, or simply want to learn more about the WPP, please visit our website: www.willowsparkpreserve.org or email us at: info@willowsparkpreserve.org

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23

WHARTON ESHERICK MUSEUM

BY KATIE WYNNE, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT

Off The Shelf — The Wharton Esherick Museum Book Club As we make our plans for another season of the Wharton Esherick Museum Book Club, we are eager to share with local readers a bit more about Wharton Esherick's literary network and what makes the book club at WEM so unique. Off the Shelf is an Eshericklike twist on the classic book club. It provides the opportunity for bookworms, Esherick fans, and local community members alike to explore Wharton Esherick's legacy through the artist's own richly stocked bookshelves, recently published books that illuminate Esherick's artistic networks and enduring legacy, as well as materials from our special collections and archives.

Esherick's Relationship with Books and Authors

Wharton Esherick's life intertwined with many prominent writers of his day. His close friends included the American authors Theodore Dreiser, Sherwood Anderson, and Jean Toomer. Beyond these friendships, Esherick worked with many authors and publishers during his lifetime to provide woodblock print illustrations. In many ways, Esherick's journey in wood and threedimensions began with the woodblock prints he created for Mary Marcy's Rhymes of Early Jungle Folk (1922). Esherick was also quite the book collector, and often shared books that were meaningful to him for others to experience, too. What can we learn about Esherick's life, work, and the time in which he lived through the books he worked on, read, lent out, as well as through the writers he considered close friends?

Whether they are pulled directly from his shelves, written by his close friends and

Wharton Esherick circa 1960. Photo by Susan Sherman, courtesy of WEM.

companions, or shed light on Esherick's life and work in new ways from our present moment, the books we discuss together every month promote a deeper, richer understanding of Wharton Esherick's legacy.

Our 2025 book list included texts by Zora Neale Hurston, D.H. Lawrence, Jia Tolentino, Rachel Carson, Virginia Woolf, and Walt Whitman. For this final selection, we read Whitman's Leaves of Grass and through it

explored some of Esherick's ideas about individuality, relationships to nature, and the philosophies that played an important role in his life and work. One of his all time favorite writers, Esherick did not only engage with Whitman's work as a reader.

Rather, Esherick had the opportunity to make illustrations for reprints of Whitman's Song of the Broad Axe and Philip Dalmas' musical setting for As I Watch'd the Ploughman Ploughing. During the meeting, we looked at rarely displayed collections, objects and archives related to Esherick's work on these publications. This was just one of many rich discussions from the past year.

Join the Club

Looking for a community of curious, generous, and engaged readers? Hesitant to dive into some of the old classics without a group to discuss them with? Looking for a way to explore new titles? Join us at the Wharton Esherick Museum for Off the Shelf: The Wharton Esherick Museum Book Club.

With each meeting, we took a look into WEM's special collections and archives to explore materials related to the month's reading. Meetings are moderated by friend of the museum, WEM board member and Director of West Chester University Special Collections Ron McColl.

Details can be found at https://whartonesherickmuseum.org/ book-club

24 EASTTOWN NEWS · SPRING 2026

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Mon.-Fri 7:30am - 6:00pm Sat. 8am - 4pm EASTTOWN NEWS · SPRING 2026

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VALLEY FORGE PARK ALLIANCE Looking Ahead to 2026: Valley Forge's 50th and America's 250th

Big things are coming to Valley Forge in 2026 and the Valley Forge Park Alliance will be right at the heart of it all. As the nation celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Valley Forge National Historical Park —and the Alliance — will also mark its 50th year as part of the National Park System.

Valley Forge Park Alliance's mission is to inspire appreciation for and citizen stewardship of Valley Forge National Historical Park. The Alliance is dedicated to preserving and promoting the historical, cultural, and natural resources of this national treasure. As the Park's philanthropic partner, the organization engages the public with educational programs, events, and volunteer opportunities that enhance the visitor experience and foster a deep connection to the Park.

26 EASTTOWN NEWS · SPRING 2026

The Alliance is proud to be one of the official Houses of Declaration for the region's “Dare to Declare” celebration, hosting a community reading of the Declaration of Independence at our new headquarters, the historic Maurice Stephens House, in the center of Valley Forge National Historical Park. It promises to be a meaningful and memorable day, tying to gether our nation's founding ideals and the park's remarkable legacy.

In the coming months, the Alliance will open a contest inviting community members to apply to be one of the readers of the Declaration or to sing the National Anthem during our July 4th celebration.

Stay tuned for more details as we prepare to celebrate. To stay informed and receive updates, please visit our website vfparkalliance.org or email us at info@vfparkalliance.org.

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EASTTOWN NEWS · SPRING 2026

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WASHINGTON MEMORIAL CHAPEL

Celebrating 100 Years of Bells at Valley Forge - Washington Memorial Chapel's Carillon The 110 ft. tall tower currently holds a carillon of 58 bells: one bell representing each of the U.S.States, seven bells representing our U.S. Territories, and the c.1926 National Birthday Bell.

Washington Memorial Chapel and Carillon, Valley Forge

Inspired by Washington Memorial Chapel's founder, the Rev. W. Herbert Burk, the Washington Memorial National Carillon developed from an earlier installation known as the “Star-Spangled Banner National Peace Chime.”This initial chime consisted of 14 bells: one for each of the 13 colonies and a 14th bell, the National Birthday Bell. This bell bears a star and inscription for every colony not among the colonies.

Enlarged bell tower on the west side of Chapel holding 28 bells, c.1950

Bigelow, an engineering professor and campanologist, oversaw the casting and tuning of the new French bells to assure that their sound would perfectly match the

Cast by Meneely & Company of Watervliet (West Troy), New York then the nation's leading bell foundry these fourteen bells ranged in weight from approximately 225 lbs. to 3,500 lbs. The bells and keyboard were housed in a temporary wooden structure on the northwest corner of the Chapel Cloisters. The chime was dedicated on July 4, 1926, commemorating the 150th anniversary of American independence.

The first piece performed at the dedication ceremony was “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Washington Memorial National Carillon c.1953

The instrument is played by Doug Gefvert, who has been the Chapel's Carillonneur for 27 years. The bells are played for Sunday Chapel services, weddings and funerals, and Sunday afternoons April-June and September-November. There are 112 steps up a winding stairway to the keyboard where Carillonneur Gefvert manually plays the bells from a keyboard similar to that of a piano only larger and fist and feet (pedals) are used instead of fingers.

Arthur Bigelow adjusts the bells before the carillon's dedication.

The Dedication Ceremony, July 4, 1926. 14 bells.

Rev. Burk appears in the foreground.

The 1926 installation was conceived as just the first stage in assembling a grand National Carillon, centrally located, with a bell for each state. Through the 1920's and 1930's 14 additional bells were cast by the Meneely bell foundry and placed into an enlarged bell tower. Bell size was determined by the state's population at that time.

Construction of the new bell tower began in 1941, but was suspended for the duration of World War II. Once construction was resumed in 1950, it took three years to complete. An additional 30 bells were cast by the Paccard Bell Foundry of Annecy, France and added to the earlier bells cast by Meneely. The carillon's designer, Arthur 28 EASTTOWN NEWS · SPRING 2026

American Meneely bells.

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution funded the new stone tower and the additional bells, and the Pennsylvania State Society DAR continues to fund special projects and maintenance of this tower. Like at the dedication of the first 14 bells in 1926, the first piece performed at the 1953 tower dedication ceremony was “The StarSpangled Banner.”

The carillon is played using fists and feet (pedals).

Since 1953, the Chapel's summer carillon concerts have featured outstanding performances by leading carillonneurs from America and around the world. Bring dinner or snacks and listen to the world's best carillonneurs present hour-long outdoor concerts every Wednesday evening at 7:30 PM during July and August. Rain or Shine.

Come enjoy world-class carillonneurs playing this world-class carillon.

Three of the mid-range Meneelybells

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EASTTOWN NEWS · SPRING 2026

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vv ayne art center Enriching Our Community through the Arts Wayne Art Center Summer Art Camp 2026: ART 250 - Visions of America

Wayne Art Center Announces Art Quilt Elements 2026

Wayne Art Center is proud to announce 2026 Summer Art Camp, featuring the landmark theme ART 250: Visions of America. In honor of our nation's 250th Anniversary, this summer's program invites campers to embark on an 11-week journey through the diverse landscape of American history, culture, and artistic expression.

Wayne Art Center is pleased to present Art Quilt Elements 2026, an international juried exhibition celebrating contemporary fine art quilts. This biennial show features the work of 55 artists from 22 U.S. states and two international locations — Australia and Luxembourg.

Through ART 250, students will explore how artists from varied backgrounds and eras have captured the essence of America's land, people, and evolving ideas. Each week, campers will translate these historical inspirations into contemporary masterpieces, blending education with hands-on studio innovation.

The exhibition will be on view March 23 through April 25, 2026, in the Davenport, Ethel Sergeant Clark Smith, and Vidinghoff Galleries. An awards ceremony and reception will take place on Sunday, March 29, from 3-5 pm, followed by a Meet the Artists Gallery Talk, where participating artists will discuss their work.

The exhibition will also be available online at artquiltelements.org.

Program Highlights • Diverse Curriculum: More than 200 unique classes including drawing, painting, cartooning, ceramics, sculpture, photography, cooking, and jewelry making.

• Ages & Levels: Tailored instruction for children and teens ages 4-17.

• Flexible Scheduling: 11 one-week sessions with morning, afternoon, and late-afternoon options.

• Full-Day Experience: Families can combine sessions with the supervised “Lunch Bunch” program for a full day of creative engagement.

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN! Parents are encouraged to register early to secure preferred sessions and help their children's creativity thrive this summer. For more information, please call 610-688-3553 or email camp@wayneart.org.

Since its inception, Art Quilt Elements has become a respected showcase for innovation in the art quilt field, attracting thousands of visitors and highlighting the evolving role of textile art in contemporary practice.

Gallery Hours: Monday-Friday: 10 am - 5 pm Saturday: 10 am - 4 pm For more information, call 610-688-3553 or visit wayneart.org or artquiltelements.org.

Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival Celebrates 18 Years This year marks the 18th anniversary of the Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival, one of the nation’s longest running and most beloved outdoor painting events.

Over the course of seven days, 32 nationally recognized plein air artists will create more than 300 original paintings inspired by the lush landscapes, local landmarks, charming towns, and vibrant cityscapes that define our region. These impressive masterpieces will be available for sale at Wayne Art Center from Saturday, May 9 through June 20, 2026.

Plein Air Festival, May 3 - May 9 Collectors’ Preview Party, May 9, 6 -9pm Plein Air Exhibition, May 9 – June 20 Minis and Mimosas for Moms, May 10, 11am-1pm Juror’s Talk & Demo with Mark Boedges, May 10, 1-3pm Origins of Plein Air Lecture with William Perthes, June 4, 6-7:30pm Exhibition Closing Reception, June 20, 2-4pm

About Wayne Art Center

Through outreach programs and community Wayne Art Center offers more than 500 Established in 1931, Wayne Art Center has partnerships, Wayne Art Center expands classes and workshops in the visual, served the cultural needs of the community access to the arts by providing enrichment performing, and culinary arts. A dynamic for more than 95 years. Today, it is one of opportunities for underserved populations and diverse schedule of exhibitions attracts the most vibrant art centers in the and individuals with special needs. artists and visitors from across the United Philadelphia region, welcoming over 35,000 States and around the world. visitors and program participants annually. vv ayne art center 413 Maplewood Avenue • Wayne, PA • 610-688-3553 • wayneart.org 30 EASTTOWN NEWS · SPRING 2026

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