London Grove Township will celebrate 300 years since its incorporation with a Community Day in Goddard Park, 568 Wickerton Road, West Grove, on Saturday, Oct. 21, from noon to 5 p.m.

The event will include craft vendors, food trucks and wine and beer from local brewers. Historic displays, a scavenger hunt, and a talk by historian Bruce Mowday will help enrich attendees' understanding of the area. A bounce house, face painting, and Halloween treats will be provided for kids, and Camp Bow Wow will provide a photo opportunity with a fall theme and memorial message.

Local fire, rescue, and police personnel will be on hand, as will officials from SECCRA and volunteers from the township's committees and Inniscrone Golf Club. Tri-State Bird Rescue, Stroud Water Research Center, and an Extension service club will have displays. Also represented will be local charities and other organizations, including LCH Health & Community Services, Mighty Writers, Avon Grove Library, the local Lions Club, and the Knights of Columbus.

State Rep. John Lawrence will be on hand to present a commemorative plaque to Stephen Zurl, chairman of the board of supervisors. The first 1,000 people to attend the event will receive a commemorative metal pin.

Attendees may bring their dogs to the event.

Major sponsors of the event include Twin Pines Health Care Center and Mushroom Farmers of Pennsylvania.

More information about participating can be found by visiting http://www.londongrove.org and clicking on the "Volunteers Needed" article or by emailing volunteer coordinator tina.skinner@rocketmail.com.

In 1699, what is now London Grove Township was part of over 60,000 acres that William Penn sold to the London Company of England. The township was formally organized in 1723 and given the name London Grove because it consisted of land belonging to the London Company. Many of the first settlers were members of the Religious Society of Friends, also known as the Quakers.

The township's first government named James Lindley as constable, Joseph Sharp and Shadrack Scarlet as overseers of the poor, and John Fincher as supervisor. Today the township is governed by five elected supervisors. Ken Battin is the paid manager with a staff of four in the administration office, and nine employees work in the Public Works Department. The 17.2-square-mile township owns 62 miles of road and is home to 19 miles of state-owned road. The township has 8,300 people, and its agricultural ventures include dairy, horse and mushroom farms. Attractions include the historic Village of Chatham and White Clay Creek. The township's vision statement is "preserve our rural heritage while embracing our new community."