The Buzz Ware Village Center (BWVC, a.k.a. “The Buzz”) is located at 2119 The Highway, Arden, Delaware, 19810.  The building was renamed in 1973 in memory of a longtime trustee of Arden and Ardentown, an Ardencroft Director, a respected community leader and an excellent graphic designer, Hamilton D. “Buzz” Ware, who died in 1968.

The original Arden School, a public school, built of two surplus wooden World War I military buildings, was dedicated in 1925, but burned down in 1945. The three main rooms of the current structure were built in 1946 to 1947, and was considered somewhat innovative for schools of its time. It had radiant heat, abundant windows, and direct access to the outside from each classroom. A fourth room was added in 1950.

The Arden School was racially integrated two years before the U.S. Supreme Court decision barring segregation, and in spite of Delaware’s policy of segregation at that time. The Arden School had six grades from the late 1920s until 1969, when it was reduced to a Kindergarten building and finally closed, as a Public School, in 1973.

Since that time, the Center has been run by the BWVC Committee of the Town of Arden, with help from Ardentown and Ardencroft. If you would like to use “The Buzz” for an event, please use the contact form to get in touch with the building manager. Availability can be researched using the online calendar.

BWVC COVID-19 Guidelines

The Buzz Ware Village Center continues to open its doors for service to the community, offering rental space for events and gatherings. This facility strictly adheres to Delaware State and CDC guidelines for the COVID-19 State of Emergency declaration, supporting health and safety for all. Here are the latest guideline updates for use of the facility:

• Social distancing requirements and the mask mandate have been eliminated. Unvaccinated and partially vaccinated individuals should continue to wear masks to reduce their risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19.
• Those who are not fully vaccinated, including children not yet eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, should continue to wear masks when they’re around others outside their immediate household. Any child under 2-years-old must not wear a face covering due to risk of suffocation.
• The serving of food and drink must be discussed with the building manager prior to an event to assure adherence to most current health and safety guidelines.

We thank you in advance for your cooperation and support of these temporary restrictions.

Strength and Mobility Class Offered via Zoom

Instructor:  Barbara McAnany

Class Schedule:  Tuesdays & Thursdays, 2-3 pm

While there is no fee for the class, the BWVC continues to pay the instructor, so a donation is greatly appreciated.   Suggested donation:   $3-5 per session

The BWVC is doing its part to keep our community healthy during this difficult time. While we are not currently meeting in person, our popular Strength & Mobility class is “going strong” via Zoom. Led by a certified fitness instructor, each 45-minute session (2:05—2:50 pm) includes a variety of exercises to strengthen every major muscle group, improve balance and flexibility and practice a bit of mindfulness. Designed especially for seniors, but easily adapted to any fitness level and effective for middle-agers, too.

For class you need a sturdy chair (like a kitchen chair), a pair of weights (soup cans are a good substitute), and a resistance band, and an internet connection for your computer, tablet or even your phone. You do not need to be a resident of the Ardens. You are welcome to invite your friends and relatives. There is no registration fee, but we encourage donations to support the program.

To join, contact the class administrator (below), and we will send you the link to the Zoom meeting, plus more information about the class and how to send monetary contributions.

Contact: Cecilia Vore  cavore@comcast.net

The Buzz Ware Village Center opens its doors for service to the community to provide events such as this.  Please help us to continue to keep our lights on and the doors open for future recreational and educational events. Your donations are gratefully accepted. 

Donations can be dropped off at The Buzz Mailbox, marked as such, and located across the street  from the facility; or mailed to:  The Buzz Ware Village Center, 2119 The Hwy, Wilmington, DE 19810.