I hope all in the Panhandle are doing well and finding that life is getting back to some kind of normal.

It appears as though those up to no good are also getting back to normal, unfortunately. Recently there have been several reports of personal checks being stolen from local mailboxes, then altered and cashed. Neighbors are encouraged to take remittances to the post office or a US mailbox rather than use their own mailbox with the flag up.

A white BMW or Mercedes was identified as the car involved in two of these instances. People are encouraged to take note of license plate numbers and the description of any car that is idling in the street, or near mailboxes, and report that information to the police. Never approach the driver directly.

All residents of the Tredyffrin Township Panhandle, and especially new residents, are encouraged to sign up on The Panhandle Civic Association’s website to receive occasional emails regarding local issues and events.


PCA Executive Committee
February 10, 2022

Governor Wolf has set May 8 as the potential date to begin to reopen the State, thus we are postponing the Annual Meeting of the Panhandle Civic Association scheduled for May 5. A new date is still to be determined and we will work with our speakers, Chester County Commissioner Josh Maxwell and Tredyffrin Township Supervisor Julie Gosse, to try to ensure that they will be able to join us. We will maintain safe distancing and face masks if that continues to be the best practice.

The election of our volunteer officers was also on the agenda. The proposed slate is as follows:

President: Mike Mignogna
Vice President: Josh Hunter
Secretary: OPEN
Treasurer: Jim Cruickshank

You will note that the Secretary position is still open. Also, no other residents have expressed interest in the slate noted above. If you are interested in getting more information on, or running for, any of the above positions, please send an email to panhandlecivicassoc@gmail.com. If no additional interest is expressed by two weeks, we will consider the officer positions filled as noted above.

Former presidents of the group, Julie Lindberg, Mark Werther and Christine Wright, and Tom Frank, our Web Manager, will remain on the Executive Committee.


Christine Wright
April 28, 2020

The Panhandle Civic Association is holding its Annual Meeting on Tuesday, May 5, 2020 at 7:00 PM in the Tredyffrin Library on Upper Gulph Road. All Tredyffrin Panhandle residents are encouraged to attend. We will be inviting a number of local government officials to address the group and then take questions from the audience. In addition, we will hold the election of officers to serve from 2020-2022. The position of secretary has not yet been filled. If you are interested in the position and would like more information, send an email to Panhandlecivicassoc@gmail.com. More specific information regarding Annual Meeting speakers will follow.

Please scroll down to find out more about the PCA and our 45 year history of achievements.

Township Surveys

Two Township surveys are available on the Tredyffrin website (Tredyffrin.org). The administration is asking for feedback relating to storm water management issues in the neighborhoods and also to changes, improvements and maintenance to the Wilson Farm Park. The PCA Executive Committee is encouraging our membership to weigh in on both of these surveys.


PCA Executive Committee
February 25, 2020

As you may know the spotted lanternflies (SLF) are a major nuisance but are also extremely dangerous to our region’s trees and crops. The spotted lanternfly is particularly attracted to Tree-of-heaven but feeds on more than 70 types of plants, including crops such as grapes, apples, walnuts and other hardwood trees such as the trees that are growing on your property.

As summer ends, all the living lanternfliles die off, but they leave behind their eggs which will grow the population EXPONENTIALLY next spring and continue their spread. Each lanternfly can lay hundreds of eggs so kill as many adults you find.

Keep a look out for their egg masses on any vertical surfaces. Especially trees and the tops of stone/brick/stucco walls, lawn furniture, junk piles, firewood, etc. They lay eggs until December. You should scrape the egg masses into a plastic bag and douse with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer. They're only about the size of a quarter and are hard to see so look closely. Here is a link to information from the Penn State Extension service for the identification, life cycle, current distribution, and techniques for managing spotted lanternfly on your property.

https://extension.psu.edu/spotted-lanternfly-management-for-homeowners

Anyone with spotted lanternfly questions or to report a sighting can call the spotted lanternfly hotline at 1-888-4BAD-FLY.

This map shows the counties where infestations have already been reported in Pennsylvania.

• SLF is currently under quarantine in 13 counties in Pennsylvania.
• SLF does not bite or sting.
• Stop the spread of SLF by checking your car and any outdoor equipment (grills, mowers, firewood, etc.) when going in and out of the quarantine zone.
• Manage SLF on your property by scraping eggs, banding trees, removing the favored host (tree-ofheaven), and using chemical control when appropriate.

Here is a good article about the eggs which includes photos of both the flies and eggs:

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-nws-spotted-lanternfly-egg-mass-20180925-story.html


If you find spotted lanternfly, take action by using the resources below:

Avoid Home Remedies to Control Spotted Lanternfly

Spotted Lanternfly Management for Homeowners

Choosing a Qualified Pest Management or Lawn Care Company

Tree-of-Heaven Identification

Spotted Lanternfly IPM Management Calendar

Placing Sticky Bands on Trees

Spotted Lanternfly on Grapes and Tree Fruit

Updated Insecticide Recommendations for Spotted Lanternfly on Grape


Please click here for a PDF of this Spotted Lanternfly information.

In the past six months, three cars have been stolen from the Pine Tree section of Radnor Township, an area which borders the Panhandle. Local police are encouraging residents to remove keys, all valuables and to lock any car which is parked outside. With the advent of keyless entry, it is easy to forget that a fob has been left in an unlocked car. The police are also encouraging residents to call 911 to report any suspicious activity in the neighborhood, which would include unfamiliar cars parked along the street, particularly if someone is sitting inside the car. If possible, without confronting anyone, try to get the car license plate number, make and color.

Additionally, according to police, professional burglars will ring the doorbell to see if anyone is home. If the bell is answered, they will claim to be working in the neighborhood and have just come to the wrong house. If this should happen to you, police ask residents to call 911 and report it along with a description.

Police are stepping up patrols in our area, and continue to have collaborative relationships with surrounding police departments to combat the increasing crime rate.

April, 2017
Panhandle Civic Association Executive Committee

The Tredyffrin Township "Panhandle" of Chester County is a 600 acre wooded area with 400 homes nestled between Radnor Township, Delaware County, on the south and Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County, on the east and north. The neighborhood consists of mature, well-maintained homes of various styles and ages. Wildlife and many species of birds make their homes within the wooded neighborhood.

Conveniently located, the Panhandle is two miles from both the SEPTA Regional Rail System and the King of Prussia office complexes. Commuting to Center City Philadelphia is an easy 30-minute train ride. The area is bisected by King of Prussia Road, which provides access to major interstate highways, both north and south of the area, without disturbing the rural feel of the suburban homes. Several universities are close by, including Cabrini College, Eastern University, Valley Forge Military Academy and College, and Villanova University.

The Panhandle is located in the Tredyffrin/Easttown School District, one of the top rated districts in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Conestoga High School is located five miles west of the Panhandle on Conestoga Road. Access to the western regions of the township is via Upper Gulph Road. The Strafford Park Tredyffrin Public Library with full resources is located one mile west on Upper Gulph Road.

Emergency services are provided by the Radnor Fire Company and the Radnor Ambulance Company, both located in downtown Wayne.

Jenkins Arboretum in Tredyffrin Township at 631 Berwyn Baptist Road is well worth a visit any time but especially in late April and during May, when azaleas and rhododendrons are in full bloom. The arboretum is open every day from sunrise to sunset, and admission is free. For directions, call 610-647-8870.

Shopping is convenient, located in downtown Wayne along Lancaster Avenue, and at The King of Prussia Mall. In addition, Center City Philadelphia is within an easy 30-minute drive or train ride.

The homeowners established the Panhandle Civic Association (PCA) in 1975 to provide residents with a community organization to plan for the future and to protect their interests by seeking to maintain a safe, healthy and prospering community.

The PCA was instrumental in establishing Town Watch in 1975 to deter burglaries and vandalism in the area. Click here to learn more and to sign up for Town Watch.

PCA has addressed many issues since its establishment over 25 years ago. Significant past issues were the installation costs for sewers, defoliation by gypsy moth caterpillars, and tax funding for schools. Other issues addressed have been traffic congestion, zoning decisions contrary to residential interests, and large expenditures for township building.

The PCA has helped to maintain proper management of township revenues which has kept our tax ratio as low as possible.

PCA remains an organization ready to address problems as they arise and to foster good neighborly relations, while continuing its routine monitoring and other activities.

We encourage your participation in community affairs by joining the Panhandle Civic Association and one or more of its committees.

1. Originally formed in 1975 while sewers were being installed in the Panhandle, the Panhandle Civic Association (PCA) assisted homeowners in fighting the per foot cost versus the tap in fee, and acted as a liaison with the Township in addressing individual problems associated with the sewer installation, which took over a year to complete. At a later date, the PCA objected to gallonage metering as a basis for sewer fees. The fixed Sewer Charge is still in place today.
   
   
2. As the Panhandle is located far from the town center, residents’ concerns were often ignored by Township officials. It took ten years of PCA involvement to formally tighten administration of the Township, but eventually we gained the respect of the Supervisors and School Board as we operate and work quietly with personnel. At age 45, we have long been a strong community voice active in the Township.
   
   
3. The PCA successfully urged developers of Fox Chapel to finance widening Upper Gulph Road at the King of Prussia intersection. Prior to this, the narrow road gave no indication of the coming jog when driving east, and accidents occurred regularly at night crashing into the resident’s fence and landscaping.
   
   
4. PCA worked with developers of Fox Chapel to preserve a William Penn oak tree (they redesigned the property lines) in the neighborhood, and to protect the natural, pure stream feeding into what is now the McKaig Nature Center.
   
   
5. We assisted residents of Mount Pleasant to clarify the deed to the property adjoining the water tanks along Upper Gulph Road, and helped residents improve the neighboring playground used by Tredyffrin sports teams.
   
   
6. Over many years, we pursued the need for better drainage during storms on Hollow Road until the Township twice enlarged the storm water system. Prior to this, the asphalt roadway washed out regularly from flooding.
   
   
7. Drivers exiting Kynlyn Road onto King of Prussia Road were endangered by a lack of visibility until Bob Witmer, one of our founders, discovered the state statute requiring a wider line of visibility. The Township and State then lowered the rise on King of Prussia to improve safety.
   
   
8. In the mid-1980s, the frequent invasion of Gypsy Moths threatened our oak trees. The PCA twice organized aerial spraying to control the moths throughout the surrounding neighborhoods, which enhanced the spraying provided by the State.
   
   
9. In 1975, burglaries in the Panhandle became very common. A Townwatch organization was established in cooperation with the Tredyffrin Police. Ours was the first such area patrolled by local citizens. When it lagged in supervision the PCA took over the sponsorship which lasted for 30 years. Burglaries became very rare, as did vandalism. The PCA installed visible signs at every entry point to the Panhandle, and the “eye” motif is now used nationwide.
   
   
10. Members of the PCA Executive Committee regularly monitored the Township’s Board of Supervisor meetings.  Those members felt that the financial management of the Township by staff and elected officials was lax and administered with little advanced planning. The Supervisors accepted our recommendation to hire a Finance Director providing advance planning.
    
    
11. During the expansion of the Chesterbrook area with the ensuing receipt of high transfer taxes, for three years in a row the PCA successfully challenged the Supervisors' proposed tax increases. A $1,000,000 surplus was realized each of those years without the tax increase, which increased the Township’s Reserve Fund. This Fund carried the Township through the sharp decrease in taxable income and transfer taxes following the 2008 financial crash.
    
    
12. The PCA contributed $3,000 to the Police Department for purchase of a defibrillator when the need for having one in each police car was publicized. Twice when the Library was expanded, the PCA contributed $1,000 for purchase of furniture - each piece is acknowledged with a plaque.
    
    
13. When the Township was offered funds to install more street lights in various neighborhoods, we polled our area which rejected the lights.
    
    
14. When the State proposed altering the design of the difficult intersection jog at Upper Gulph Road, we organized a meeting for the various sides to present their views in person to the Township Supervisor. The residents rejected altering the intersection at King of Prussia Road and the proposal was dropped.
    
    
15. When the issue of installing sidewalks along Hollow and Weadley Roads was proposed, a PCA poll of residents caused the idea to be rejected. Residents were opposed to the liability of icy sidewalks. One of the long standing benefits of the PCA is providing residents an organization to coordinate issues with the Township.
    
    
16. When St. Davids Golf Club announced plans for a new garage facility to be built close to Copperbeech homes, the PCA helped mobilize opposition to the proposed building design. Local residents went to court and won a change in the design, which limited hours of operation and created a buffer between the building and private homes.
    
    
17. Following the recession of 2008, the PCA exposed and resisted plans by the Township to continue to deplete the Reserve Fund after it had used $6 million to balance the budget. In 2010, we encouraged the establishment of a citizen’s working group which reviewed expenses in the Township, resulting in the removal of $3 million in budget savings with no tax increase.
    
    
18. A variety of problems faced by homeowners (improper water drainage from a neighbors' property, or nuisance college student residences creating havoc in a quiet neighborhood,) have arisen over the 40 years of the PCA lifetime. There is seldom a year that goes by without an issue needing the assistance of the PCA.
    
    
19. Over the last 40 years, the PCA has invited US Representatives, State Senators, State Representatives, Supervisor and School Board candidates, County officials, Fire and Police Chiefs and the Township Manager for informational meetings with our membership.  It is a rare opportunity for constituents to speak with government officials who are responsible for making decisions which directly impact our community. The PCA is pleased to have been able to provide those opportunities, and to continue to be a voice for our residents.
    

The Panhandle Civic Association operates with the philosophy of carefully reviewing all issues. For issues that universally affect the PCA as a whole, we will directly be involved. For limited problems we may support and assist members of the community who are experiencing difficulties. We encourage all residents to be members of the PCA and continue to support the organization, which has brought positive change to our relationships with government officials and staff, Township Supervisors and the members of the T/E School Board. We are non-political, and do not take stands on issues but provide a venue for the exchange of ideas between residents and government officials.