May 20, 2010

Pennsylvania Democrats turned their backs on President Barack
Obama’s endorsed candidate and chose Joe Sestak over incumbent Arlen Specter to
be their U.S. Senate candidate. Sestak will face former Republican Congressman Pat
Toomey in the November election.

Sestak, the current U.S. Rep. for the 7^th
Congressional District won 54 percent of the state-wide vote to upset Specter,
a 30-year U.S. senator who switched from Republican to Democrat last year. Sestak
scored 68.6 percent of the vote in Delaware County and 60.5 percent in Chester
County.

Specter carried only three of the state’s 67 counties.

In his concession speech, the incumbent said he would
support Sestak in the general election. Sestak called the victory “a win for
the people.”

Chadds Ford Democratic Party Chairman Peter Jesson, a Sestak
supporter, said in an early morning phone interview the day after the election
that Sestak’s victory was “The most astounding victory” in history.

“He had every piece of the machine, except for Delaware
County, from the federal government on down, fighting him,” Jesson said. “For a
guy who had no name recognition statewide, [the win] is just absolutely
stunning.”

In a follow-up e-mail later in the day Jesson said, “The
campaign strategy and execution where close to perfect, particularly
the husbanding of funds in order to mount a devastating set of TV
commercials
in the last couple of weeks. All
of this bodes ill for Pat Toomey in the November Election;
the chances of him beating Sestak are slim to none”

Toomey defeated Peg Luksik, 81.5 percent to 18.5 percent to
secure the Republican nomination in the May 18 primary election.

Other races
Stephen Barrar, the incumbent Republican state representative for the 160^th
Legislative District will face Democrat Nick DiGregory, a former high school
teacher.

State Rep. Chris Ross, R 158, will be challenged by Democrat
Susan Rzucidlo, founder and executive director of SPEAK Unlimited Inc.,
a nonprofit organization that supports, educates and serves public safety
professionals and the community.

Democrat Bryan Lentz, current state representative for the
161^st Legislative District, will face former U.S. Attorney
Republican Patrick Meehan for the 7^th District seat being vacated by
Sestak.

In the 16^th Congressional District, incumbent
Republican Joe Pitts will again be challenged by Lois Herr.

In the gubernatorial races, Democrats chose Allegheny County
Executive Dan Onorato among a field of four while Republicans went with state
Attorney General Tom Corbett over Samuel Rohrer.

The Chadds Ford Township Zoning Hearing Board granted
approval last week for the Old Wooden Market and Deli to use a freestanding
sign that previous markets had been able to use.

Township code limits businesses in the area to one sign, but
a second may be used with zoning board approval. Approval is also needed for
continued use of a nonconforming sign by a successor business.

Deli owner Bill Bondarchuk testified that the size, shape,
dimensions and lighting of his sign would be the same as those used when the
shop was the Cattie Shack and the Wawa before that.

“All I want to do is cover up the old name,” he said.

Bondarchuk had already gotten approval from the Historic and
Architectural Review Board for the sign. HARB approval was needed because the
deli is in the historic district.

The shop is in the strip with First Keystone Bank and the
U.S. Post Office on Route 1 between Creek and Station Way roads. The sign, on
the Station Way Road side, is 31 and seven-eights inches high and 68 and
one-sixteenth inches wide. It stands roughly 13 feet above ground level.

Bondarchuk bought the shop from Kevin Cattie in September
2009. Cattie opened his Cattie Shack a year after Wawa moved out.

If the staff at the Kennett YMCA seems even more chipper and
upbeat than usual lately it’s because the Y recently won two major awards, one
of which ranks it as the best in the country.

Both awards were based on surveys and audits done at the end
of 2009.

One of the awards was from a lifeguard rating service, Jeff
Ellis and Associates.

Nic Legere, director of aquatic safety and youth
development, said Ellis audits pools and their lifeguards four times each year.
Standard ratings are fail, pass or exceed, but the Kennett Y did better than
that.

“Just to meet their criteria is awesome because they have
the highest standards in the industry, but we exceeded three of the audits. [We
met] their standards but we really blew them away with our professionalism,
lifeguard skills and things of that nature.”

Legere was a part time employee at the Y for eight years,
but became fulltime in January after graduating from York College.

Babette Racca, the executive director of the Kennett Y said
a membership satisfaction survey led to the other recent award.

The Seer Analytic Institute fields the survey that many Y’s
participate in.

“It’s a survey to determine how members feel about the kind
of service they’re getting at the Y,” Racca said.

People are asked about friendliness of staff, how they’re
engaged at the Y, as well as the quality of the facilities and services.

“It’s really all around customer satisfaction,” according to
Racca.

“We’re really excited about these two awards,” she said.
“We’re very dedicated to member service and we are committed to excellence in
everything we do. The main thing on our minds is just to continue to provide
good service and do the best job that we can.”

She said the awards validate the efforts staff members make
to give people a good experience at the Y.

“We have a culture of excellence and we’re proud of what we
do,” said Racca. “We have a very dedicated staff. … If we have to work extra
hard, that’s what we do.”

She said the staff would continue serving its members,
whether or not they win future awards.

Lily
is an adult spayed female poodlethat is available for
adoption through the Chester County SPCA.She came to the shelter on
April 21 as a stray; we believe she is between 5-7 years old. Lilly was
possibly a “puppy mill” escapee and will need all of her training. She is a
very curious girl who is a little shy at first but will warm up to quickly.
Lilly is learning how to walk on a leash and is looking for an owner who can
give her the TLC she needs. Since Lily is a little timid she would do better in
a home with older children. Lilly is looking for aresponsible caregiver who will give her the love and
attention she deserves. 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. Lilly’s
registration number is 96799062. To look at some of the other animals available
for adoption, visit the shelter or log onto http://www.ccspca.org