December 10, 2009 - ChaddsFordLive.com

Gallery opens Christmas in Miniature

The crowd was excited, sales were brisk and the Chadds Ford
Gallery maintained one tradition while forging ahead with plans for others.

And so it was as the annual Christmas in Miniature art
exhibit got up and running full stream ahead at the little gallery on Route 1
in the heart of Chadds Ford Village. This is the 28^th year for the
event that features miniature art by nationally known and award-winning
artists.

Barbara Moore, gallery director, said this year’s show has
brought back a lot of energy from the early days.

“It’s like in the beginning,” she said this week. “There was
an excitement like there was the first couple of Christmas in Miniatures when
the people weren’t used to this type of exhibit or sale.”

She said this year’s excitement may have come from the fact
that there were many new people coming to the gallery, but added, “The artwork
itself is pretty exciting.”

Moore was pleased with the Dec. 2 opening night turnout as
well as the continued interest in the show that runs through the end of the
year.

She said she was glad to see the interest because it’s been
a tough year for art and galleries all over.

“[Opening night] was definitely our Black Friday,” she said
referring to the day after Thanksgiving that is the traditional break-even sales
date for retailers across the country.

Moore has always said the show is a good way for people to
start collecting art since the prices range–on average–from $65 to $500.

Following last year’s tradition, the gallery broke new
ground and started another tradition with a show on African-American art in
February. That trend setting continues for 2010 with an exhibit of Hispanic art
in January, African-American art for Black History Month in February and an
exhibit of Asian art in March.

About Rich Schwartzman

Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.

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Rotary honors trooper and firefighter

Local News

rotary 6 — Rotary honors trooper and firefighter

The Concordville-Chadds Ford Rotary honored both a police
officer and a firefighter during the group’s annual holiday lunch meeting at
Maris Grove Dec. 9.

Policeman of the Year honors went to Pennsylvania State
Police Tpr. Joseph Yingling, of Troop K, Media.

Rotary past president Ike Watkin said Yingling has
“repeatedly proven himself to be an addition to the patrol unit” since joining
Troop K in May of 2008.

He said Yingling is “remarkably self-motivated and proactive
in the enforcement of both traffic and criminal arrests.”

Watkin cited Yingling’s 78 criminal investigations, 112
motor carrier inspections, 59 misdemeanor/criminal arrests, 19 DUI arrests, 24
summary criminal arrests and 292 summary traffic arrests during the past year.

“Tpr. Yingling has continually proven to be an asset to the
Pennsylvania State Police and the community as a whole,” Watkin said.

New this year was the awarding of a Fireman of the Year
Award, this going to Josh Turner of the Concordville fire Co.

In nominating Turner, Rotarian Joe Susco said the
firefighter has an exemplary number of fire calls to his credit despite not
being a member of the company for long. Turner graduated Garnet Valley High
School in 2004, is currently in EMT training and would also like to pursue
paramedic training, said Susco.

“He’s a fine young man and well deserving of this award,”
Susco said.

He said Turner is a fine example of “Service above self,” a
Rotary principle.

Susco said he hopes the Fireman of the Year Award will be
come an annual event.

Both Turner and Yingling were presented with the Paul Harris
Award. Harris was the founder of Rotary.

As is customary at the holiday luncheon, members and guests
were entertained by the fourth- and fifth-grade choruses from Garnet Valley Elementary
School. The students sang a series of eight traditional and nontraditional
holiday songs.

About Rich Schwartzman

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Adopt-a-pet

Local News

Zakara
is a 1-year-old spayed female tortoise shell cat that is available for adoption
through the Chester County SPCA. She came to the shelter with her kittens on
September 19, because their owner could no longer take care of them. Most
likely one of Zakara’s lovely kittens happened to scratch her eye while they
were playing. She was given pain medication and treatment for her eye but her
eye did not respond to the treatments.
When Zakara was spayed the veterinarian removed her left eye for
comfort. She can see just fine with one eye and is a very sweet and loving cat.
All of Zakara’s kittens have been adopted and now it is her turn to find a responsible care giver who will give her
the love and attention she needs. If you are able to provide that home, visit
the Chester County SPCA at 1212 Phoenixville Pike in West Goshen or call
610-692-6113. Sadie’s registration number is 96796744. To look at some of the
other animals available for adoption, visit the shelter or log onto www.ccspca.org.

About CFLive Staff

See Contributors Page https://chaddsfordlive.com/writers/

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Birmingham OKs new broadband antennas

Local News

Wireless broadband service could be improving along the
Route 202 corridor sometime soon. Birmingham Township supervisors granted
conditional use approval for new dishes and antennas on an already existing
tower at 1335 Wilmington Pike.

The two new microwave dishes and three panel antennas will
belong to Clear Wire, the broadband division of Sprint Nextel.

Supervisors’ approval gives Clear Wire the go ahead to add
the equipment to the tower on the Stoltzfus property, a tower that already
holds radio telephone equipment for Chester County, Sprint, Verizon, Cricket
and Metro PCS.

Additionally, there is space on the tower earmarked for
township radio equipment.

The Dec. 7 conditional use hearing was a continuance from
Nov. 2 when supervisors questioned the structural integrity of the tower with
the five new pieces of equipment for Clear as well as the future township
antenna.

Robert Cronin, the attorney representing Clear in the
application, had an engineer testify that the tower was structurally sound.

Also testifying was project manager Kate Relp who said Clear
wants to install the new dishes and antennas to improve it’s coverage area and
to link with other parts of the system.

About Rich Schwartzman

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Pileggi on property rebate deadline

Local News

State
Sen. Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-9, of Chester, reminds senior citizens
and other residents who are eligible for the state’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate
Program that the deadline for submitting an application for this year’s program
is Dec. 31. Those who have already completed an application do not need to
apply again.

The
Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate program provides property tax relief or
rent assistance for eligible Pennsylvanians. Eligible residents are those 65 or
older, widows and widowers 50 or older, and those 18 or older who are disabled.
Annual household income may not exceed $35,000, although only half of any
Social Security income and railroad retirement benefits count towards that
calculation.

Individuals
who qualified for a rebate last year should have received a new application in
the mail this year. Pileggi encouraged those who have not already applied to
stop in one of his three district offices as soon as possible to have the
application completed. Constituents should bring a copy of their paid
municipal, county and school taxes as well as proof of income.

Pileggi’s
district offices are located at:

100 Evergreen Drive, Suite 113, Glen Mills, 610-358-5183;

415 Avenue of the States, Chester, 610-447-5845; and

631 West Baltimore Pike, West Grove, 610-345-1084.

About Press Release

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Bill of Rights Day

Opinion

It can
rightfully be said that the only thing that differentiates the United States
from any other country has been the extent to which government–federal, state
and local–adhered to the Bill of Rights.

Those
first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution explicitly prohibit some
governmental action and they were the first in history to do so. They even go
so far as to say that people have rights even if the Constitution doesn’t
enumerate those rights.

But
over the years government, on all three levels, has evaded that responsibility,
quietly and sometimes not so quietly chipping away at our guarantees of
liberty.

So it
is no wonder that most people are unaware that Dec. 15 is Bill of Rights Day.
It was Dec. 15, 1791 when a U.S. Congress–who lived through the War of
Independence–ratified the Bill of Rights. It was 150 years later, in 1941, when
the day was officially proclaimed Bill of Rights Day.

There
will likely be some official resolutions in various state legislatures
acknowledging the day, and maybe some classrooms will discuss the significance
but, by and large, the day will pass as just another shopping day until
Christmas.

It is,
however, much more significant. As Thomas Jefferson wrote in a letter to James
Madison in 1787: “A bill of rights is what the people are entitled to
against every government on earth, general or particular, and what no just
government should refuse, or rest on inference.”

The
Bill of Rights is, what some call, “the great protector of American liberties.”

Yet,
such a bill can’t be a protector without the people protecting it. And the
people can’t and won’t protect what they don’t know or understand.

The
Bill of Rights, and its significance to actual as well as the concept of
liberty should not only be taught is school, but discussed in the home. People
should have ready reference to it and the rest of the Constitution whenever
discussing politics. They should know what is at stake every time some
politician from state representative to United States president says he or she
wants to make things better.

Until
that time here is a summary provided by Sharon Harris, president of the
Advocates for Self Government:

The
Bill Of Rights

1.
Freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, right to assemble
peaceably, right to petition the government about grievances.

2.
Right to keep and bear arms.

3.
Citizens do not have to quarter soldiers during peacetime.

4. No
unreasonable searches and seizures.

5.
Rights of the accused.

6.
Right to a fair trial.

7.
Right to a trial by jury in civil cases also.

8. No
cruel and unusual punishments.

9. Un-enumerated
rights go to the people.

10.
Reserves all powers not given to the national government to the states or the
people.

Those
who don’t know their rights will lose them, sooner or later.

Happy
Bill of Rights Day.

About CFLive Staff

See Contributors Page https://chaddsfordlive.com/writers/

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Police log Dec. 10

Police

A report from Pennsylvania State Police Troop K, Media said
four people, three men and one woman, are suspects in a case of retail theft at
the Wawa on Route 202 in Chadds Ford Township. The report said the four people,
each described as black and in their early 20s, consumed several food products
worth $30, then left the store without paying. They fled in a late model black
Buick Lucerne, the report said. The incident happened at about 11:30 p.m. on
Dec. 6.

• Two people were injured in a one-car accident after the
driver swerved to avoid hitting a deer on Route 202 near Dilworthtown Road in
Chadds Ford on Dec. 6. According to a state police report, Monae D. Kelsey, 25,
of Philadelphia, the driver, swerved, but clipped the animal and lost control
of her car driving 40 mph at about 10:20 p.m. The car hit a tree, rolled down
an embankment and came to rest on its roof. Zuri D. Stone, 20, also of
Philadelphia was Kelsey’s passenger. Both occupants were taken to Riddle
Memorial Hospital.

• Johnny Montina, 20, of Philadelphia, was taken into
custody at Marshall’s Department store in Concord Township. Dec. 3 on retail
theft charges. A state police report said Montina put $7 price tags on two
articles of clothing costing almost $250.

• Two people, Khalil Peña, 31, and Franchesca Rodriguez, 18, both of
Wilmington were arrested after undercover police observed the pair burglarizing
a property on Brinton’s Bridge Road in Chadds Ford Township, according to a
state police report. The arrest was made at 2 p.m. on Dec. 4. According to the
report, the two were seen committing the burglary, then apprehended in a Ford
Crown Victoria on Route 202 near State Farm Drive. A search warrant was
obtained, the release said, and numerous items of jewelry and three firearms
were found. All the items found were stolen from the Brinton’s Bridge property,
the report said. Peña is a convicted felon, according to the release, and
prohibited from possessing firearms.

• An
altercation occurred outside the AMC Theater in Chadds Ford Township at 11:20
p.m. on Dec. 5. A police report said a 14-iear-old boy was punched in the face
by another boy approximately 18 years old, according to police. No other
details were released.

About CFLive Staff

See Contributors Page https://chaddsfordlive.com/writers/

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Blogging Along the Brandywine

Along the Ford

A few years ago, Bill Bunch held
a local edition of “Antiques Road Show” at his large auction house on Route 202
just south of the Route 1 intersection, for the members of the Chadds Ford
Business Association.

As my mother had been collecting
antiques since the early 1950s, I thought, I’d bring in one of her large
paintings–a mid 19^th century oil on canvas landscape, with an
ornate, over-sized gold frame.

The format of the evening was to
educate those attending by speaking about each item before giving an appraisal
on their value.

I had visions of Chadds Ford Road
Show glory.

Throughout the evening, Bunch,
who in his own words, “cared not much for history in school,” spoke with candor,
humor and knowledge while educating those in attendance about the history,
significance and value of each item brought to his attention. Anyone could have
mistaken him for an on-air personality from the PBS series.

However, when Bunch came around
to our family painting, he said the artist was not in any databases but, hey,
nice frame though, which he could easily sell at any of his Tuesday auctions
for $1,500.

So much for my dreams of early
retirement.

William H. Bunch was born right over the state line in
Delaware near Foulk and Naamans Roads, graduating from the Brandywine High
School, class of ’65.

“As a kid, I always had to create
my own income,” he said.

“I picked up soda bottles for 2
cents each; caddied at about $2 per round; worked many part-time jobs at $1 an
hour; and sold candid photos in high school.”

His early training in auctions
and appraisals came from many years, “on the job, in the street, buying and
selling, going to auctions, talking to people who knew more than I did,” he
said.

Bunch,
who holds auctions at noon every other Tuesday at the auction house he opened
in 2002 said, “It’s the best place to stretch your money while having a very
good time. There’s always something you need at a fair price.”

Bunch
suggested those new to auctions first attend some sales and get product
knowledge before making a “major” purchase.

I asked
Bill if any surprises had ever been found in one of his estate auctions.

“Last
year we sold a 4″ high jade bottle to a collector in London for over
$40,000, underbid by a dealer in mainland China,” he said. “And three years
ago, [we sold] a rare country tea table with no top and partly rotted feet, for
over $14,000.”

Of
course, we all have that one auction phobia. You know which one.

When I
was a teenager, my parents took me along to a local estate auction. I was
cautioned not to touch my eye, tap my nose, pull my ear or wink, lest I bid on
something I could not afford. I literally sat on my fingers, barely breathing,
frozen to my chair.

But not
to worry, Bunch assured, “You will not buy something by accident if you scratch
your nose.”

The
next exciting multi-estate auction is Tuesday, Dec. 22 at noon, just in time
for last minute holiday buying for that special “difficult-to-buy-for” someone.

You may
view the on-line catalog at www.williambunchauctions.com
and dream.

“We welcome newcomers who want to
learn,” Bunch said. “Don’t be intimidated, just stop by.”

About Sally Denk Hoey

Sally Denk Hoey, is a Gemini - one part music and one part history. She holds a masters degree cum laude from the School of Music at West Chester University. She taught 14 years in both public and private school. Her CD "Bard of the Brandywine" was critically received during her almost 30 years as a folk singer. She currently cantors masses at St Agnes Church in West Chester where she also performs with the select Motet Choir. A recognized historian, Sally serves as a judge-captain for the south-east Pennsylvania regionals of the National History Day Competition. She has served as president of the Brandywine Battlefield Park Associates as well as the Sanderson Museum in Chadds Ford where she now curates the violin collection. Sally re-enacted with the 43rd Regiment of Foot and the 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment for 19 years where she interpreted the role of a campfollower at encampments in Valley Forge, Williamsburg, Va., Monmouth, N.J. and Lexington and Concord, Mass. Sally is married to her college classmate, Thomas Hoey, otherwise known as "Mr. Sousa.”

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