Farm Community Market Opens Saturday May 15th

This Saturday May 15th marks the beginning of the 2010 Parkesburg Farm Community Market season. Vendors are lined up -and more will be coming as the season gets into swing, but this week we'll have Jonathan's BBQ chicken along with farm produce, crafters selling home made jewelry and more. A local apiary will be bringing honeys and jams.

This week the Brandywine Valley Association will demonstrate how to create a rain garden in your backyard. Rain garden plans, planting lists and simple instructions will be available.

Rain barrels can be purchased by Parkesburg residents for $ 50
$65 for residents outside the borough. Kit includes a 55 gallon barrel and the hardware needed to install.

Parkesburg residents can come down and vend for free every week as well, so if you have something to sell please come down -much easier than running around putting up yard sale signs. Setup begins at 8Am and the market is open from 8:30-1:30!


Last year the market became more popular as the summer went on and people discovered how good the fresh items could be. Many residents came regularly carrying out bags of product week after week, come on down and give it a try!

OK --- So why are we doing this? The Buy Fresh Buy Local slogan has been promoted to remind people of the value of eating fresh food. When you shop at a supermarket, the food you get has been in a ship, a truck, a warehouse for many many days or weeks or even months. Fresh food tastes better and I think is better for you. I recently travelled to Thailand and I found that just eating fresh food made a huge improvement in my health.

There is another side this though -We have an 80% commercial vacancy rate on First avenue and Main St. You can argue about mistakes business people may have made but the hard truth is when you go to big stores instead of a local store it means that eventually there won't be local stores. As I look at the market I see a vehicle to begin to nurture new small businesses, perhaps leading an artists consignment shop, local bakeries and more where local people could market their products.

Local development 101 says that today only the more creative businesses can survive in small communities. We can't compete head to head against a Walmart or a Best Buy -and we don't have the square footage to support one in the Borough, but we can adapt to today's environment, work with the developers who are anxious to invest in Parkesburg and create a vibrant new commercial area.

Please come down and shop this Saturday, and keep coming back as it changes through the summer. If you have suggestions I'd love to hear them, if you know people who might like to vend, raise money for their non-profits or churches, promote their local service business please encourage them to come down and set up a table!

See you Saturday at the Market!

George W. Mullen Death

George W. Mullen, 83, of Parkesburg, passed away on Saturday, May 8th, 2010 at the Neighborhood Hospice Center of West Chester, with his beloved family members by his side. George was one of America's finest patriots and veteran advocates, as both a World War II veteran and VFW state leader.

George was a man who loved and served his family, community and nation. He will be missed.

You can read George 'Peanut' Mullen's full obituary in this morning's Patriot News.

Good Meal, Great Cause

Chicken BBQ

Meal Includes:
½ BBQ Chicken
Baked Potato
Dinner Roll
Cole Slaw
Ice Tea

Only $6.00 a meal

When: Saturday May 15th 2010 from 11:00am - ?

Where: Hershey’s Market, 959 Octorara Trail (on Route 10 behind Walmart)

Proceeds benefit Boy Scout Troop 135 – Parkesburg, PA

For more information or to purchase pre-sale tickets, contact fundraising@parkesburgtroop135.org

PA American Water's Planned 229% Rate Increase

What gives?

Read the article from Monday's (5/3) where Chris Rice, a resident of Parkesburg who lives on Main Street, calls the hike  “unreasonable and unfair.”

Residents concerned about wastewater rate hike

Thank goodness people like Chris are paying attention and taking a stand for all of us against this unconscienable increase.  Give 'em hell Chris!