WEST MARLBOROUGH: COVID Voting

Today was primary election day in Pennsylvania. A lot of people voted via mail-in ballots, but I went to our township garage to cast my vote in person. Voting's not only a civic duty, one I'm proud to perform, but here in West Marlborough Township, population 850, it's also a social event -- even before the pandemic. 
This time around, after weeks of seeing friends only via Zoom, it was so great to chat with Jonathan Ireland and Brett Dolente (representing their respective political parties) and Tom and Risa Herman and Sandy Nutting (who were running the voting process; thank you for your service).
Everything was very well organized. Masks were of course required before you entered the township garage. Plexiglas screens separated the seated poll workers from the voters. Blue arrows on the floor indicated the correct pathway in and out. And even the ballpoint pen you used to sign the voters' book and to fill in the little circles on your ballot was collected afterward and sanitized. 

The West Marlborough Township garage/polling place. Photo by Tom Herman.

An update from the county library system

Libraries won't be opening to the public just yet, according to an email I received this evening from Joseph L. Sherwood, executive director of the Chester County Library System: 

"June 5 will be the first time the state has allowed library staff into the buildings (other than emergency facility work and emptying the book drops) since mid-March. Staff at libraries will be in the buildings trying to get organized, caught up and preparing for when we can restart services to you. Everyone’s priorities will be getting ready to continue services to you. However, those services will not start on June 5.

"The state is still restricting our in-person services. So, for now, our virtual services will continue.  However, we will be looking to add curbside holds pickup as soon as we are able. We will be cleaning our buildings, marking appropriate social distancing spaces, installing sneeze guards, and much more. While we have ordered PPE, as everyone has, not all of it has arrived yet."

Mr. Sherwood said he expects to post updates later this week.

EAST MARLBOROUGH: A new township supervisor, and local activities are starting up again

East Marlborough Township has a brand-new supervisor, Burling "Burley" Vannote. 
He was sworn in virtually by District Justice Al Iacoccca at the June 1 township meeting. The judge asked him if he wanted to have someone hold the Bible or other meaningful text, or simply to raise his right hand. Burley chose the latter: "My wife is tending to our two-year-old," he explained.
Burley replaces former supervisor Julia Lacy, who resigned in May.
The township meeting was full of news about local activities starting up again:
1. Plantation Field will be hosting an equestrian event June 5 through 7, although spectators will not be permitted. Denis Glaccum, president of Plantation Field Equestrian Events, said there will be a professional screener checking participants for any coronavirus symptoms. Scoring will be paperless, and no last-minute paperwork will be accepted. He said procedures have been put into place to "cut down on face-to-face interactions." Most of the competitors will be from Pennsylvania.
Denis said one of the great joys of running horse shows like this is seeing youngsters just starting out in competition and "10 years later you see them representing their country."
The supervisors gave their approval to the event as a "temporary outdoor activity."
2. From 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, June 8, the day Unionville High School graduation was supposed to be held, there will be a parade allowing the new grads to take a "drive down memory lane." The students will meet at their former elementary school (Unionville, Hillendale, Chadds Ford and Pocopson) and will process to the Patton/UHS campus. For efficiency, departure times and routes have been set for each school. Kim Murray, one of the organizers, said that 180 students have already RSVP'd and she doesn't expect more than 200 vehicles. No roads will be closed, but there will be people controlling traffic at the Willowdale crossroads.
3. Bob Dobie, president of the Unionville Recreation Association, said he'd like to allow families to be able to reserve one of the baseball fields for a half-hour at a time so members of the household can play ball. He said if the state goes to green status by June 29, URA will be able to hold a full baseball season. Signup will be via GoogleDocs, he said. 
"You'll make a lot of families happy," he said, thanking the supervisors for their approval.
Finally, the supervisors gave permission to Tom Blomer to build an 80-square-foot addition to the kitchen of his house at 1667 West Doe Run Road (across Route 82 from Hood's BBQ). He said it will allow people entering the house to walk into a mud room rather than directly into the kitchen.