A note from our Co-Chairs

Happy New Year once more to all of our members! We have a lot to build on after a successful 30th Anniversary, and as always, our foundations are our wonderful supporters themselves. From our members and Board, to the sponsors and volunteers who produced an amazing milestone Touchstones reception, we are so grateful for all the people who led to such a successful 2025! We also want to extend one more congratulations to our 2025 Touchstone Award recipient, Nicole Moshang, and to our 2025 grant and scholarship recipients! We look forward to making 2026 even greater.

To that end, we are proud to debut a revitalized newsletter. We extend additional thanks to Laurel Klein, who took on the mantle of the newsletters for 2025, and to Marie Forney, Lindsey Chadderdon, and Kayla Waldrup who will be leading the charge in 2026. They have been brainstorming since the end of last year, and we hope you will enjoy the updated format. We encourage you to share topics for future issues, submit your own articles, or contact us with any other feedback!

In 2026, we welcome four new Board members: Ann Mathews, our new Scholarships & Grants Chair; Dwight Hoster, who has helped out on the Programs Committee and will be a general Board member; and Kayla Waldrup and Lindsey Chadderdon, who will be co-Chairs of the Programs Committee. Please visit our website for more information on all of our leadership. 

Finally, please consider getting involved in SWEP GP! Our organization is powered by the ideas, skills, and time of its members. We have countless opportunities for engagement, from attending our events to taking on committee or Board roles. It is a great place to learn leadership skills, network with other industry professionals, and gain insights into our industry. Feel free to contact any of our Board members if you’d like to help out!  

Good health, safe travels, and much success to all of you in 2026!

January Board Updates

Our first Board meeting of the year laid the groundwork for our 2026 initiatives, including revising our governance documents, continuing to update our website’s features, and creating more opportunities for member engagement. We also welcomed some new faces to the Board, to be formally voted in during our upcoming Annual Member Meeting. Our DEI Committee and the Programs Committee are working on several exciting events, including a virtual lunch and learn for Women’s History Month and a(nother) Reading Fightin Phils game! The Membership Committee is working on coordinating our Annual Meeting, as well as our Annual Membership Breakfast. This updated newsletter format is the outcome of some brainstorming by the Outreach Committee (please let us know what you think!). And even though it’s only January, our Scholarships and Grants Committee and our Touchstones Committee are already hard at work planning this year’s awards. 

Phield Notes 

New Year, New Hope!

Lindsey Chadderdon

Assistant Staff Project Manager, ECS Ltd.

Programs Committee Co-Chair

On January 15th, I came across the news that the PA DCNR awarded Solebury Township an $800,000 grant to help rehabilitate the New Hope Crushed Stone Quarry. Something about this news wrapped around me the same way the heat from a pumpkin spice latte does when I order one from Old Village Roastery in Peddler’s Village (located just about three miles from the quarry). This Bucks County gem has always been a draw for locals and travelers alike; knowing its neighboring town is planning to restore a former industrial site to a public showcase of natural beauty gives me even more reason to venture into this beautiful community along the Delaware.

The New Hope Crushed Stone Quarry is a 166-acre property that operated from 1930 to 2019. While the quarry was a major limestone supplier, it drew criticism over the years for disrupting water tables, contributing to sinkholes (including some near Solebury High School), and harming the Primrose Creek watershed. When the company failed to renew its operating permits, mining operations were halted in 2019. Since then, the quarry has slowly filled with water to create the 75-acre Lake Solebury.

In February 2025, Solebury Township purchased the site. Township officials have said the purchase gives them control over the site’s future and the ability to protect the ecology of the lake, surrounding land, and the recovering Primrose Creek environment. They’ve also partnered with the Solebury School District, creating a non-exclusive easement agreement that allows students access to the trails and water features for educational and recreational use. 

The DCNR grant has enabled the Township to focus on early stages like environmental remediation, improving the existing on-site building, and securing the property. A formal master planning process is expected to begin in 2027, depending on funding. It’s still early, but I already picture what this place could become; walking trails, quiet water views, and a preserved landscape that future generations can enjoy. For me, this isn’t just a local government story. It’s about protecting the kinds of places that make days feel slower, air feel fresher, and moments taste sweeter… just like sipping a latte in a quaint historic village.

Check out recent the recent property improvements on Vimeo, and find out more information on Solebury Township's website.

The Phield Notes section is our place to feature articles by and about our members (with some Philadelphia "phlair" thrown in)! We welcome topics like environmental news, event reflections, editorials, spotlights on our members' accomplishments and awards, interviews with our Board, or even creative works.  Have an idea for a submission?

Our Events

Monthly Member Poll

Last weekend brought the biggest winter storm our area has seen since 2016. While some people prefer to stay cozy by the fire and dream of warmer climes, others are eager to embrace the frigid temperatures and frozen precipitation. What's our members' favorite wintertime activity?

Touchstone Updates

Scholarships & Grants Updates

This year, our previous rock star of a Scholarships & Grants (S&G) Committee Chair, Laurel Klein, is passing the baton to Ann Mathews. Laurel has been involved in SWEP GP for years, and has been an invaluable element in pretty much all of our activities. She has guided the S&G Committee to selecting distinguished candidates for these awards, personally organized and set up many of the decorations for our Touchstone receptions, and consistently contributed constructive feedback and ideas in our Board meetings. Laurel will stay on our Board to help Ann settle in as the new Chair. We welcome Ann to her new role, and eagerly await the ideas and leadership she'll bring to the table! And once more, we thank Laurel and the entire S&G Committee for their hard work!

Stay tuned for more updates on our 2026 Scholarships and Grants program! And feel free to contact us if you want to get involved!

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