State police from the Avondale barracks will be conducting a free child safety-seat check-up on Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Avondale Fire Company, 23 Firehouse Way, Avondale, police said Tuesday.

The event is being held in conjunction with the “Click It or Ticket” campaign and is by appointment only. To reserve a spot, call Trooper Corey Monthei at 610-268-2102.

Troopers certified as child safety-seat technicians will assist parent with the installation of child safety seats and will also offer information on best practices and common misuse issues, police said.

By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times

Michele Amendola (left), kennel coordinator at the Chester County SPCA, and Carin Ford, a board member, show off a Doberman pinscher puppy that they hope will be a short-time guest at the facility.

The Doberman pinscher puppies yelped gleefully when a visitor opened the door to their pen; within seconds they enveloped the Chester County SPCA staffer, jockeying for position to grab the attention they anticipated.

Kennel coordinator Michele Amendola didn’t disappoint, picking up the enthusiastic tail-waggers one by one. “They won’t be here long,” she predicted while receiving copious nuzzles.

Quick adoptions remain one of the highlights of working at the agency, which has had an unarguably drama-filled year – from the completion of a much-needed expansion to the remarkable recovery of a pit bull terrier left for dead in a roadside ravine to a contract with Delaware County to house its rescues.

Several staff members sat down for a recent interview to discuss some exciting changes – such as aromatherapy for dogs – and  to dispel some common misconceptions about the agency.

Toys, a comfy box, food, and water help keep these kittens waiting for a permanent home content.

One of the most prevalent, said Rich Britton, who handles community relations for the Chester County SPCA, involves funding. “A lot of people think we’re affiliated with a national group, and we’re not: We’re an independent nonprofit,’” he said. “People also think we get government funding, which also isn’t true.”

The Chester County SPCA has contracts with some municipalities – Delaware County, for example – and gets fees for services. The rest of the agency’s operating budget – a much-needed infusion to cover the expense of caring for the animals – comes from private donations and fund-raisers such as the recent Walk for Paws and the upcoming Forget-Me-Not Gala, he said.

Britton explained that the Chester County SPCA is an open access shelter, which means that no animals are turned away. The goal is to find them permanent homes, a process that ranges from a few days to more than a year. “There’s no time limit,” he said. “Our main objective is to get them placed; we keep them as long as it takes.” Euthanasia occurs only as a last resort – when an animal becomes too sick or is too injured to recover, he said.

Even with the expanded facility, which includes training runs for the dogs, and a dedicated core of volunteers, some animals need more attention than the agency can provide. Amendola said the Chester County SPCA has a growing list of volunteer rescue organizations, some local and some as distant as southern Tennessee, all of which are vetted.

Some animals may return after an extended period of rehab,  some may be placed by the other group, and others may   remain with that group, she said. “We’re constantly looking to partner with rescue organizations,” Amendola said, adding that recommendations are welcomed.

“We are also always looking for foster families,” added Carin Ford, a board member. “Despite our wonderful staff and volunteers, this isn’t the best place to recuperate.” She said people willing to work with animals on a temporary basis to make them more adoptable are a valuable part of the agency’s operation.

For those animals who don’t need extensive care and attention, the agency looks for new ways to break up the animals’ routine and “keep them happy in the moment,” said Britton.

After Kelley Bollen, a well-known animal behaviorist, presented a two-day educational seminar, Ford and Amendola said they both went home and raided their kitchen cabinets. Bollen suggested spritzing an appealing scent into cages once a day to add a pleasant diversion.

Chester County SPCA Kennel Coordinator Michele Amendola quickly gets surrounded as she enters the pen of a group of Doberman pinscher puppies.

“You can see what works,” Ford said. “Their noses perk up, and it keeps them alert.”    She said vanilla, cinnamon, and coconut did the trick while basil was a dud.

Another new addition: 12 hours of music therapy. The agency is using its public-address system to surround the animals with soothing sounds, such as classical compositions and nature songs. The staff is also using clickers to reinforce good behavior with dogs, and cats are getting scratch boxes and covered shoebox homes, a place to retreat and “feel secure,” Ford said.

As any pet owner knows, an animal’s unconditional love comes with a price tag, said Britton, who estimated the monthly cost per animal at about $400, which includes food and veterinary care. Prospective adopters get a bargain since animals are already vaccinated, neutered and micro-chipped, he said.

Amendola said the agency works hard to ensure that animals are ready for adoption and is always looking for ways to make the process easier.  Some new initiatives involve a matchmaking program, which  enables people to be notified when a particular breed becomes available, and a dogs-on-tour promotion in which volunteers take adoptable animals to various public venues.

The outreach has proven successful, Britton said. Even though the agency is accepting more animals, adoption numbers have been keeping pace, thanks to the concerted effort. “We’re trying to cast a wider net,” Britton said. “We’re using social media, and constantly looking for new opportunities to get the word out.”

Ford said it’s impossible not to become extremely attached to some of the animals. In fact, working at the agency poses an occupational hazard: Many rescues end up going home with staffers or volunteers. “You can’t work here and not love animals,” Amendola said.

Sometimes families will bring their pets back to the Chester County SPCA for a visit. Ford recalled one dog that required a lot of socialization work because it didn’t interact well with other dogs. Despite the bond that she formed with the dog, it didn’t recognize her when it returned because it had become so acclimated to new surroundings.

Ford described the experience as a bit bittersweet. She said she felt a tinge of loss that quickly dissipated because the dog’s transition had been so positive. “I remember crying with happiness,” she said.

For more information on the Chester County SPCA, its programs, or its 26th Annual Forget-Me-Not Gala on June 9, visit http://www.ccspca.org.

You can by signing your relay team up for the annual Kennett/Unionville Relay For Life on June 7 and 8 at Unionville High School.

With only four weeks left until the event, it is time to register your team. To do so, just go to relayforlife.org/pakennettunionville and follow the instructions.  Relay For Life is a great all-ages family event that raises money to help cancer patients and their families fight cancer and funds research to end cancer. The Relay, starts at 6 pm on June 7, and continues nonstop all night until 10 am on Saturday, June 8. Go for the entire time and camp overnight, or attend any number of hours during the event.

“Last year we raised over $65,000,” said Mike Zieg, chairman of the committee that organizes the Kennett/Unionville Relay For Life.  “We have been successful because so many community members want to end cancer after experiencing its effects in their families.  Our goal this year is to beat last year’s total, and we need everyone who has been impacted by cancer to come out and join us.”

Relay For Life is also a great opportunity to help celebrate the lives of cancer survivors, organizers say.  Recent research conducted by the RFL organization with local survivors showed that they want to celebrate their victory with family and friends. For those who know anyone who has survived cancer, invite him or her to join you in creating a team and come out to celebrate at the event. Special recognition of survivors occurs on Friday evening, and all cancer survivors are welcome to attend whether part of a team or not.

The Kennett/Unionville Relay includes continuous laps around the UHS track, games, face painting, live music, picnicking and more. A recognition lap and dinner for survivors and their caregivers is held on Friday evening, and a beautiful lighting of luminaria recognizes those who have lost the fight against cancer and honors others who are still bravely fighting the disease. Details about the Relay For Life of Kennett/Unionville can be found at relayforlife.org/pakennettunionville and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RelayForLifeOfKennettUnionville.

One other fun fact: the annual Unionville/Kennett Community Breakfast is held the morning of June 8 at Unionville High School, meaning participants can go right from the track to enjoy a warm breakfast.

The general aviation airport, owned and operated by the township, will show off its facilities during a fun-filled event, running from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rain date is June 2.

The event organizers say that area residents are invited to visit New Garden Flying Field to experience general aviation and learn about the important role the airport plays in our community.

The family-friendly event will feature live music, remote control airplanes, safety presentations, airplane rides, and more.

In addition to the aviation-themed activities, there will also be an antique car gathering.

For more information, go the airport’s Website:  http://www.newgardenflyingfield.com

Historic military vehicles — as seen from the 2012 parade — will again be a big part of the 2013 Kennett Square Memorial Day parade.

KENNETT SQUARE — It just wouldn’t be Memorial Day without the parade!

The annual Memorial Day Parade will again take place on May 27, starting at 10, running its usual route through the Borough and up Route 82, ending with ceremonies at Union Hill Cemetery.

There will be more than 1,000 participants, ranging from marching bands — including Unionville and Kennett high schools —  and color guards to historic re-enactors, WWII Grand Marshalls, bag pipers, and fife & drum companies.

One of the highlights of this year’s parade will be the Joseph A. Ferko Mummers String Band, Marine Color Guard, more than 100 veterans in antique military vehicles and convertibles, Dixie Demon Alumni Band, Penn Dixie Band, Christiana Clampetts, Lion Club Band, Ameri-Kids Choral, Camptown Shakers Civil War Band, Bayard Middle School Drumline, 1899 Carousel Street Organ, Antique Bikes, Uncle Sams, Shriner’s Mini Cycles, Antique Helicopter, 1940’s Andrew Sisters, Service Clubs, Churches, Floats, Upland Country Day School, Singing Summer Camp Choral, Scouts, KAU Little League, Chinese Folk Dance Troupe (they were in 2013 Inaugural Parade), Chinese American Community Center Lion Dance Club, Fire Companies and much, much more.

A rendering shows the format of the plaque that Kennett Square Mayor Matt Fetick will dedicate on Saturday.

The Historic East Linden Project will celebrate another milestone on Saturday and is inviting the public to participate in the festivities.

From 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the nonprofit is holding its 2013 Community Gala, a block-style, community fund-raiser for its myriad projects. This year’s event will include the dedication of a bronze plaque by Kennett Square Mayor Matt Fetick.

In addition to identifying the neighborhood, the plaque contains the words “Peace, Community, Caring,” hallmarks of an organization that some thought would never get off the ground.

In 2004, a group of residents led by Theresa Bass, who has lived on the street for more than four decades, and Joan Holliday, a public nurse, decided it was time to work toward reversing the neighborhood’s decline. More than a decade later, the Historic East Linden Project, Inc. is a 501c3, Bass is president, and Holliday serves as a board member.

Bass’s daughter, Latoya Myers, is executive director and oversees a staff that runs programs such as “Study Buddies” for area schoolchildren. Through cooperative campaigns, the diverse, mainly low-income community has spruced up the street, reduced crime, and engendered residents’ pride.

On Saturday, a $50 ticket will admit one patron and sponsor one resident’s attendance at the casual, outdoor gala, which will include brunch, tours, a silent auction, and the sign dedication. Tickets can be purchased in advance by calling board member Ethan Cramer at 302-293-1854 or emailing him at ecramer@historiceastlindenstreetproject.org.

East Linden Street will be closed for the event. Visitors are encouraged to park in the garage on Linden Street, off of Union Street, and stroll down to the 300 block of East Linden. The rain date is June 8. For more information, visit http://www.historiceastlindenproject.org/page10.html.

The Chester County Library is offering a paddle-boat safety course in conjunction with the Coast Guard Auxiliary.

Want to ensure you know what you’re doing the next time you decide to paddle down the Brandywine? The Chester County Library and District Center is offering an educational opportunity to help accomplish that.

Partnering with the Coast Guard Auxiliary, the library is offering Paddlesports America, an introductory course designed to meet boater education needs for operating a paddle craft, specifically a canoe or kayak. Each student will receive a 47-page, four-color manual and certificate upon completion of the course.

The program consists of two classes, which are being held on Thursday, May 9,^, and Thursday, May 16, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Burke Meeting Room of the Chester County Library in Exton.  The test to become certified will be held Saturday, May 19,at 2 p.m. in the Burke Meeting Room.  Patrons must attend both sessions and take the test in order to become certified.

A $10 fee covers the cost of the manual.  Visit www.ccls.org and click on “find an event” to register.