June 23, 2010 - ChaddsFordLive.com

School taxes going up in U-CF district

Property owners in the Unionville-Chadds Ford School
District will see their school taxes go up for the next academic year. How much
of an increase depends on whether the property is in Chester or Delaware
County.

School board members passed the budget by an 8-1 vote, with
Keith Knauss the lone vote against.

This was the same budget that was finalized in May and
posted on the district’s Web site. The 2010-2011 spending plan calls for $70.1
million in appropriations. Millage rates will increase.

Property owners in the Chester County townships of the
district will see their rates increase to 24.26 mills, a 2.88 percent increase.
In Chadds Ford Township—the only Delaware County township in the district— the
new millage rate is 20.83, a 0.73 percent increase.

The millage rates are different because of a state formula.
School District Business Manager Bob Cochran said this happens when a school district
crosses county boundaries and the different counties use different base years
for their assessments.

The Chester County increase represents half of what the
board could have done without the need for a referendum.

A mill is a tax of $1 for every $1,000 in assessed property
value. Assuming an assessment of $250,000, Chester County property owners would
pay an extra $184.62 per year and Delaware County property owners paying an
extra $38.71 above last year.

None of the board members said it was a good budget, but the
best that could be worked out.

Jeff Leiser said opinions on the board ranged from no tax
increase, to a budget reduction, to maximizing the amount of the tax increase.

“After all the deliberation, this seems fair,” he said.

Franki Murphy said the budget was “as low as it could be.”

Knauss, in his dissent, said the budget represented $900,000
more in spending than the last school year, too much of an increase for the
current economy, that spending should have been held steady.

However, Knauss said, “The administration did an excellent
job in seeking cuts and the increase is half of what it could have been.”

Other business
• The school board and the teachers’ union—the Unionville-Chadds Ford Education
Association—continue negotiating the next teachers’ contract. Negotiations are
being kept behind closed doors, something that board member Paul Price thinks
is wrong.

“Nothing is served by keeping people in the dark,” Price
said.

• Patton Middle School received $20,000 through three grants
enabling the school to add a greenhouse to grow the food for the consumer
science classes. The greenhouse would aid students learning more about fresh
foods and ways to prepare them for meals. The grants came from the
Unionville-Chadds Ford Education Foundation, Bentley Systems and from Lowe’s in
Avondale.

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.

School taxes going up in U-CF district Read More »

Animals win big at SPCA fund-raiser

Local News

dsc_1635 victoria — Animals win big at SPCA fund-raiser

The Chester County SPCA was looking to raise $65,000 from a
fund-raiser at Big Bend in Chadds Ford Sunday, and it appears the organization
is on its way to exceed that, according to Linda Kaat, the development director
for the SPCA.

“We exceeded our expectations thanks to so many vendors,
donors, restaurants, and especially to Frolic Weymouth. The setting drew so
many guests. Sixteen horse and carriages came out to celebrate the hard work of
the SPCA and the important work that we do,” Kaat said Monday afternoon.

Kaat was reluctant to specify how much money came in on
Sunday, but said they were close to reaching the goal with more donations still
to come in.

This was the 23rd annual Forget Me Not fund-raiser for the
Chester County SPCA and the first time it was held at Weymouth’s Big Bend in
Chadds Ford. The evening began with a parade of carriages and included
demonstrations by rescue dogs and by an agriculture-sniffing dog from the U.S.
Customs & Border Protection. There was also a brief speech from Victoria
Wyeth.

Money is raised through ticket sales and a silent auction.
Kaat said tickets were $175 per person with 400 tickets sold in advance. She
was hoping the auction would bring in an additional $15,000, Kaat said before
guests arrived.

“We have a good crowd of loyal
animal lovers today,” she said.

Dennis McMichael, director of operations, said the Chester
County facility is capable of housing about 20 dogs and up to 80 cats at a
time. He said the goal, however, is not to build more space, but to focus on
education, neutering and spaying so there will be fewer homeless animals.

While the event was a positive one for the SPCA, there was
also talk about the investigation into the shooting deaths of Emma and Luna,
the two German short-haired pointers found shot to death and laid out on the
railroad tracks along Brinton’s Bridge Road in Pennsbury Township last October.

Kaat said the investigation remains open, with no new
information. Members of Rescue Ink were brought into the case in January. They
remain active, but nothing has come from their involvement yet. A reward of
$50,000 remains for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those
who killed the dogs.

“We’re still working very hard with the Animal Protection
Service to get a break in the case,” she said, adding that Rescue Ink members
think they will be able, in time, to get information leading to the culprit.

Victoria Wyeth, the granddaughter of Andrew Wyeth, was one
of the people who contributed to the reward fund early on in the investigation.
She offered to be a guest speaker at a dinner and give a slide show of her
grandfather’s work. Someone bought the evening and matched her donation. That
added another $10,000 for the reward.

“[The killing] was so sadistic,” Wyeth said Sunday. “This is
something you read about happening in a bigger city like Manhattan or Chicago.
Stuff like this shouldn’t happen in Chadds Ford. It can’t happen in Chadds
Ford. It’s ridiculous.”

She said she’s been calling the SPCA constantly to see if
anything new has been learned.

“We’re just waiting for this person to slip up and nail his
[butt] to the wall,” she said in a private interview Sunday.

Wyeth expressed her outrage over the shooting when speaking
to the crowd at Big Bend, but also told a lighter story about the Wyeth family.

She said the Wyeths were always dog lovers and the famous
piece “Master Bedroom” by Andy Wyeth, the image of a dog asleep on the bed in
the master bedroom.

The painting, she said, was inspired when Andy came home one
day, tired from painting and wanting to take a nap. He walked into the bedroom
and there was the dog asleep on his bed.

About Rich Schwartzman

Animals win big at SPCA fund-raiser Read More »

Adopt-a-Pet

Local News

Zeek
is a 6-year -ld neutered male Shih-Tzuthat
is available for adoption through the Chester County SPCA. He was brought to the
shelter because his owner had passed away. Zeek is a very sweet and playful guy
who likes attention and affection. He is an all rounded dog who is housebroken
and gets along with kids, cats and other dogs. Zeek is now looking for a
forever home with a responsible care
giver who will give him the love and attention he 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. Zeek’s registration number is 96799712. To
look at some of the other animals available for adoption, visit the shelter or
log onto http://www.ccspca.org/

About CFLive Staff

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

Adopt-a-Pet Read More »

Scenes from Around the Town for June 24

Along the Ford

About CFLive Staff

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

Scenes from Around the Town for June 24 Read More »

Bits & Pieces for June 24

Along the Ford

• The Chadds Ford Gallery is changing its hours next week
through Labor Day. It will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday,
noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, but by appointment only Monday through Wednesday.

• The fund-raiser for Jimmy John’s is this Sunday, June 27,
from 2-6 p.m. at Radley Run Country Club. A $1`5 donation is suggested.

• The Brandywine River Museum
honors the life and legacy of Andrew Wyeth on what would have been his 93rd
birthday by offering free admission to all visitors. The day is Monday, July
12, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• Darlington Arts Center opens a new group art show “recent works” ?featuring Eric Ermigiotti, Kaela Parkhouse,
Regina Stoltz & Laura B. Westmoreland. The exhibit opens Saturday, Aug. 7,
from 4-8 p.m. and runs through Aug. 31.

About CFLive Staff

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

Bits & Pieces for June 24 Read More »

First Person Singular: Thank you, Sally

Opinion

The need to write this particular piece is pleasing and
saddening at the same time. Sally Jane Denk has ceased her weekly “Blogging
Along the Brandywine” column for ChaddsFordLive.com, but it’s for a good
reason.

As most readers know, Sally became engaged a few months ago.
She and Tom, her fiancée, moved into a home in West Chester two weeks ago.
She’s no longer in Chadds Ford, doesn’t even drive through the township on her
commutes to and from work. So, less time here means no more column for us.

I already miss Sally’s work and I miss running into her
while I cruise the Chadds Ford area looking for stories and photo
opportunities. I even miss the fact that she would make up her own rules of
punctuation, like putting spaces between the last word of a sentence and the
period or question mark, or her putting the comma after the quotation mark.
There were normally three to six incidents per column.

But Sally was always on time with her columns. They’d be in
my e-mail between noon and 1 p.m. every Tuesday. If they weren’t there, she
would send an e-mail telling me when she’d have the column to me. Sometimes I’d
get two or three of those of e-mails, but I knew I needn’t worry. She was
dedicated and professional even while knowing her only pay might be a meal at
Hank’s.

I first met Sally while cruising for stories and photos
during my first spring as editor of the Chadds Ford Post. As I pulled into the
entrance of the Brandywine Battlefield Park I saw a woman walking on the lawn
in front of the visitors’ center. She was dressed in garb and carrying a
guitar. (At least I think it was a guitar.)

Seeing people in garb was still novel enough to me to make
me stop and talk with her. She was bubbly and talkative, chatting away as if
she and I were already friends. She talked about the park, the Battle of
Brandywine, 18^th century music and gave me one of her CDs. This was
how I became acquainted with the “Bard of the Brandywine.”

Sally and I became friendly and would talk when we’d see
each other at various events in Chadds Ford. A running gag between us developed
the first time I attended the annual Antiques Show at the Brandywine River
Museum.

Sally and I were chatting in line waiting for the doors to
open, but once inside, we went our separate ways. We bumped into each other
again on the second floor and then again on the third floor. When Sally saw me
that time she asked: “Are you stalking me?”

My response: “Only if you want me to.”

Sally has a strong caring side to her personality. She
e-mailed me almost weekly after the Post closed and I was laid off. She kept
telling me, “Remember who you are,” and to know that things would work out.

Those e-mails meant a lot to me.

As Emily Myers and I were developing ChaddsFordLive.com,
Sally Jane Denk was our first choice for a columnist. We knew her personality
would be perfect. But could she convey that in writing?

I broached the subject with Sally during a breakfast meeting
at Hank’s Place. Her jaw dropped when I told we wanted her to write a blog for
us.

“I don’t even know what a blog is,” she said.

Maybe she didn’t, but she sure caught on fast. Sally hit the
right tone immediately. The column was as chatty and bubbly as Sally herself.
It was just what we wanted and she kept it going throughout her stint with us.
Her fan base grew. “Blogging Along the Brandywine” became the first thing many
readers would go to when logging on to our site.

Emily misses Sally. I miss Sally and I know her readers miss
her, too. But we’re also pleased that a friend has found her personal
happiness.

Maybe we can coax her back to write monthly but, even if we
can’t, we wish Sally and Tom nothing but the best. Thank you for all you gave
us, Sally. Thank you for what you
gave me. Be forever well.

About Rich Schwartzman

First Person Singular: Thank you, Sally Read More »

Police log for June 24

Police

• State police recovered two bags in Painters Crossing
shopping center that were stolen from a vehicle in the Shoppes at Brinton Lake.
A police report said the bags were taken when someone broke the right rear
window of the car about 6:47 p.m. on June 19. They were recovered, with the
contents, later in the evening, the report said.

•
A residence on Ridge Road in Chadds Ford Township was the scene of a burglary
on June 17. A sate police report said someone stole a computer and a silver
platter set after kicking in the door at the residence. The burglary occurred
sometime between 10:15 a.m. and 12:45 p.m., the report said.

• Pennsylvania State Police charged a man they identified as
Michael Marshall, of Chadds Ford, with harassment. A police report said a woman
complained that Marshall pushed her to the ground in the 100 block of
Smithbridge Road at 3:35 p.m. on June 16. Marshall was charged and asked to
leave the residence, the report said.

• One person was reported injured in a two-car accident at
the intersection of routes 1 and 202, according to state police. A report said
one vehicle was stopped at a traffic light when it was struck from behind. The
driver of the stopped car was transported to Riddle memorial hospital. The
accident happened at 9:45 p.m. on June 15.

• Police are looking for an unidentified white male
described as having a thin build, in his early 20s, clean-shaven and with blond
hair for retail theft. A police report said the man walked into Planet
Powersports on Route 202 wearing an old motorcycle helmet and stole a newer
version of the same helmet. He left the old helmet at the store, the report
said. The investigation is continuing.

About CFLive Staff

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

Police log for June 24 Read More »

Free Your Space: I think that used to be salsa

Home and Leisure

Ever had this experience: You reach into your refrigerator and pull
out the container that you believe to be the leftover macaroni and cheese. Upon opening the container you find an
unidentifiable creature, blue and green, red and white, smelly and in the
process of some scary mutation.

What was this? Do you toss it out or do you quickly
close the lid and return it to the ‘way back’ of the fridge where it can
continue it’s gestation period in peace?
Do you wait until the little bugger has a family of other similarly foul
relatives, each in their own private cocoons, before finally giving in and
sending them all together to their inevitable demise?

If you can relate to this, take a moment with me as I talk about three
ways to avoid these smelly encounters and insure that our creative cooking
juices won’t end up going so horribly went awry.

First let’s focus on the tools
you are using for storage.

Whether
you have purchased your storage containers or you are repurposing containers,
all of the food you store in your refrigerator should be put into something
that has either clear sides or a clear lid. This means that, even though margarine containers are so
conveniently small and the ricotta cheese containers are so conveniently large,
get rid of them! Recycle
them. Start now.

Go into your plastic-ware cabinet and
pull out all your opaque containers.
How many do you have? Do
you accumulate more and more and more?
Let them go. If you feel
you must keep some, choose one or two that you feel are the perfect size for
something specific. For instance, a
large ricotta tub may be the perfect size every time for your leftover
sauce. If that is all you use it for, keep it. And only use it for that. Otherwise, stick to clear containers
that allow for visible reminders.

Next, if you want to mark your containers with the contents and a date
but don’t want to ruin the container, use a piece of clear scotch tape. Put the tape on the container and then
write on the tape.

Finally, be creative with your recipes. Instead of choosing a recipe,
start with the ingredients that you have and create a recipe around them. Last week I boiled a large amount of
fresh string beans. A couple of
days later I fried a couple of pieces of garlic in a little olive oil, threw in
a can of diced tomatoes and then added the remainder of the cooked beans. No one seemed to be bothered that they
were eating string beans again. As a matter of fact I got some rave revues from
my boys! Starting with the
ingredients at hand is also a great way to tackle an overstuffed cupboard.

So, challenge yourself this month to get to the bottom of the matter
(a.k.a. the back of the fridge).
By using up what you have you will also realize the added benefit of
cutting down on your grocery bill.

• To contact Annette Reyman for organizing
work or speaking engagements in the Greater Philadelphia area call (908)
361-7105 or email her at annettereyman@gmail.com. She is a member of the
National Association of Professional Organizers and its Philadelphia
Chapter. View her Web site at www.allrightorganizing.com.

About Annette Reyman

Free Your Space: I think that used to be salsa Read More »

Mary Woodward of Kendal

Obituaries

Mary
Connell Woodward died on June 18, at her residence at Kendal at Longwood where
she had lived since 1984. She was 94 years old.??

Born
Aug. 3, 1915, in Covington, Ky., she was a lifelong resident of West Chester
and Chester County.??

She
was the daughter of William F. and Mary Meyer Connell. She grew up in West
Chester and was a 1933 graduate of West Chester High School.??

Receiving
her undergraduate degree in elementary education in 1937 from West Chester
State Teachers’ College (now West Chester University), she later went on to do
graduate work at Columbia University and the University of Maine.??

She
began her teaching career in 1937 at a rural one-room school in Compass, where
she taught all eight grades. Most of her students there were drawn from the
local Amish community. The school schedule followed the farming season with
gaps during the year while the students worked during planting and harvesting.
In addition to her students, regular classroom visitors included sheep, goats,
dogs, and the occasional calf, colt or mule.??

She
then moved to the two-room school in Elverson, where she taught grades one
through three. During World War II she taught in the Ridley Township, Delaware
County public schools. Most of her students were the children of war workers
from Appalachia brought to the shipyards on the Delaware River. Many of those
children had never been to school before and she felt working with them was one
of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of her teaching career. In
1954 she began teaching at Wilmington Friends School in Wilmington, Del. She
taught there for 25 years until her retirement in 1979. In her early years at
Friends she taught fifth grade, and then moved to teaching middle school math
and social studies. While at Friends she served on numerous faculty committees,
including search committees for headmaster.??

In
the summer of 1965 and in later summers, during the early stages of the federal
War on Poverty, she taught in Chester County’s Project Head Start program in
New Garden and West Chester. While with Head Start she saw the harsh realities
of rural poverty of a sort that she had not seen since growing up in the Great
Depression. She was firm in her commitment to racial and social equality, and
saw education as a means to foster that equality.??

She
was a member of Birmingham Friends Meeting for over 70 years, serving for many
years on its religious education committee and teaching First Day School. She
was also a member of the Birmingham Forum and the New Century Club of West
Chester.??

She
is survived by two sons, Roland H. Woodward and his wife Faith and Stephen B.
Woodward and his wife Ann B. Brown, all of West Chester. Also surviving are her
granddaughters, Rebecca Woodward Tabbutt, her husband Joe Tabbutt and their
daughter Anna Hope Tabbutt, all of Parkesburg, Hannah C. Woodward of New York
City, Sarah M. Woodward of West Chester and her step-granddaughter Laura K.
Woolford of West Chester. She is also survived by her very close friends Randy
and Barbara Davis Bovbjerg and their sons Chris and Matt, all of Washington,
D.C., as well as by several nieces, nephews and cousins.??

She
was predeceased by her former husband, Roland McCullough Woodward, her brother
John A. Connell, her sister Katherine C. Wiswesser and her daughter-in-law Anne
Spivey Woodward.??

A
memorial meeting for worship will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 17, at
Birmingham Friends Meeting, 1245 Birmingham Road, West Chester. Interment will
be private at Birmingham-Lafayette Cemetery.??

In
lieu of flowers, her family suggests contributions to the Kendal at Longwood
Resident Assistance Entry Fee Fund, P.O. Box 100, Kennett Square, PA 19348; or
Wilmington Friends School, 101 School Road, Wilmington, DE 19803.??Arrangements
are by the DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home Inc., West
Chester, 610-696-1181, www.DellaFH.com.

About CFLive Staff

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

Mary Woodward of Kendal Read More »