The Kennett Symphony announced
that they hired Barb Bullock as its new executive director.
Barb Bullock, the new Executive Director of
the Kennett Symphony, has enjoyed a career divided between the not-for-profit
and for-profit worlds. “The Symphony is fortunate to have Barb,” says board
president Bill Simeral. “She brings a unique blend of expertise and enthusiasm
that will help us grow and reach new audiences.”
Bullock has worked for a variety of arts
organizations (Grand Opera House, OperaDelaware, and Delaware Theatre Company)
in nonprofit management roles, specializing in fundraising, marketing and event
management. She was also Executive Director of First Night Wilmington, a
nonalcoholic family celebration of the arts held on New Year’s Eve.
She was an Account Executive in Bank of
America’s corporate marketing department and an Assistant Vice President at
Wilmington Trust working in Wealth Advisory Services. In this role, she planned
and managed cultivation events for high-net-worth clients and prospects, and
oversaw corporate sponsorships.
A music, theatre and art enthusiast, Barb
received a BA degree in theatre with a minor in voice from Shenandoah
University (formerly Shenandoah Conservatory of Music) in Winchester, Virginia.
She lives in Wilmington, Delaware, with her husband James, a marketing
professional who is actively involved in area theatre.
It’s been a frustrating and, in some cases, frightening, spring
and summer for several residents in Pennsbury Township. There have been a rash
of burglaries, maybe as many as seven or more, during the last four months.
Victims have notified police, but what has been frustrating
for residents and reporters is that the police have not notified the general public
or the press as properly as they should. State police fax press releases on
incidents three to four times per week, but the reports about these Pennsbury
burglaries were not included.
ChaddsFordLive.com first learned of these unreported crimes
from residents—some of them victims—in July. Inquiries were made and Tpr. Corey
Monthei, the community affairs officer at Troop J, Avondale barracks, did
confirm that there had been “a handful” of burglaries in Pennsbury between
April and July. He was unable, however, to discuss the ongoing investigation,
nor could he explain why there had been no press releases on the matter.
Last week this incomplete communication was brought to the
attention of Lt. Tracy Brown, the commander of the Avondale barracks since
April. Lt. Brown said he would work to rectify the situation and some of the,
heretofore, unreported information is being released. At least a few of the
press releases have now been sent.
This is a step in the right direction, but there should
never have been a breakdown in communication in the first place.
Many readers will recall the deaths of Miles and Mary Warner
of Chadds Ford. The elderly couple was found shot to death in their Atwater
Road home in December of 2002. But for two years neither the state police nor
the Delaware County District Attorney’s office would comment on anything,
saying nothing more than the investigation was active. All that was said was
that the victims were found shot in the head.
This lack of communication led to excess concern among
residents, especially those living on Atwater Road.
The same reaction can be seen now. The criminal activity
followed by a lack of communication by the police is getting to people. One
resident was talking this past weekend about getting a firearm. While all
people have the right to self defense, including the use of lethal force, the reaction
now is due to the combination of the crimes and concern that police aren’t
doing anything. It’s a fear
reaction, a reflex, and it’s understandable.
With an improved flow of information, we know that much of
the fear can be eliminated and that residents will regain trust in the state
police.
Lt. Tracy Brown, barracks commander for Pennsylvania State
Police Troop J, Avondale, said again he is working to improve communication
between the troop and the public.
He was responding to questions about press releases not
being issued after a rash of burglaries in Pennsbury Township earlier this
spring and summer.
Both Troop J and Troop K, Media barracks, fax releases to
the press several times per week relating to police activity. However, there
were a number of burglaries in two sections of Pennsbury when such releases
were not sent.
As previously reported, ChaddsFordLive.com learned of the
incidents from residents—victims and neighbors—and received verbal confirmation
of an investigation into those incidents from Tpr. Corey Monthei in July.
Monthei said then that there had been “a handful” of burglaries in the
preceding 90 days.
At least two more burglaries occurred in the township within
the last three weeks and, again, no press releases were issued. Brown, who
became barracks commander in April, attended the Pennsbury supervisors’ meeting
in August and addressed the issue when it was brought up by a reporter.
He discussed it again during a telephone interview earlier
this week. He said he was having a clerk review reports and promised to have
them faxed.
“I have made people aware of this and you will be getting
them,” Brown said during the interview. “I’ve brought it up at roll call and
discussed it with the sergeants and patrol corporals, as well.”
The spate of burglaries along with the lack of information
from the police has gotten to people to the point where at least one person was
talking about getting a firearm.
Brown said he understands people have that right, but wants
residents to know that he and his troopers are “out there doing our job. …
We’re trying to make sure that everything is out there for you.”
Brown added that residents with concerns should phone the
barracks and talk with him. He said he’ll meet with them to address their
issues.
A day following the interview, Troop J personnel did fax
press releases on several incidents, including three burglaries and one case of
criminal mischief that occurred between July 7 and Aug. 14.
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.
Sonny
is a young adult neutered male domestic short hair brown and white tabby cat
that is available for adoption through
the Chester County SPCA. He came to the shelter as a stray in June and is now
looking for his new forever home. Sonny is a very affectionate cat who would
like to lay by your side. He loves to talk to you while you scratch under his
chin. Sonny is very laid back, easy going cat with very handsome markings.For
the entire months of August and September, the Chester County SPCA is offering
special adoption incentives for all of our feline residents. All cats under the
age of 3 qualify for our “More Two Love” adoption program. Adopt one cat at the regular adoption
fee of $75 and take home another feline friend for a donation of only $10! All
of our more experienced feline residents (over the age of 3) are available for
$1.00 as part of our “One and Only” adoption incentive! Sonny and his friends are now looking
for a responsible care giver who will give them the love and attention they
deserve. 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. Sonny’s registration number is 96799987. To
look at some of the other animals available for adoption, visit the shelter or
log onto www.ccspca.org.
Jane Brydon saw a specific need and chose to fill it. That need is
daycare and boarding for small dogs, 20 pounds and under.
Brydon, a certified dog trainer working professionally for six
years, opened The Cottage Small Dog Daycare at 3 Woodland Drive in Chadds Ford
Township two months ago. She’s been in the location for four months, she said,
but couldn’t open for business until the dog warden inspected the site and gave
approval.
On site is Brydon’s office that doubles as the main daycare area,
rooms for the indoor kennel, a kitchen, an indoor playroom with a padded floor,
and an indoor potty area—boxes with drawers and fake grass—for use during
inclement weather. There is also a fenced outdoor area with a sand box and
small wading pool to keep the dogs cool during the summer heat.
“They like that. I have float toys in there for them,” Brydon
said. “They like to jump in and play.”
There is also a training academy in the basement of the property.
Brydon said she chose to focus on the smaller dogs because they
have special needs.
“I wasn’t seeing specialized doggy daycare to care for the little
guys…a safe place for little dogs to go so they had a place when their parents
work long hours or their families were busy,” she said.
One of the special needs of the smaller dogs is that they have
more difficulty being housebroken, Brydon said.
“They have a lot of issues with housetraining. I don’t know why, I
just know it’s true,” Brydon said. “It’s unfortunate for people who love little
dogs. I thought I was the queen of the housetrainers, but I always had big dogs
(Rottweilers and bull terriers) and I would housetrain a dog in three weeks…
Then I got Gracie (a Chihuahua/Jack Russell mix) and she humbled me.”
She still doesn’t understand why the smaller dogs have the
difficulty, but said they require greater watchfulness and awareness in
training to go outside, instead of in the house.
“You really have to be on the top of your game to housetrain a
little dog,” she said.
Brydon said she has an undergraduate degree in animal behavior two
master’s degrees in elementary education and another in psycho-educational
processes.
While the advanced degrees relate to humans, Brydon said it’s all
about learning.
“The truth of the matter is, I train humans. … If people go away,
I board and train, then train the people when they get back,” Brydon said.
As a trainer who also goes to a client’s home, Brydon said she
likes to work with the whole family so even the kids get involved in the
training process. She said the style is hands on, that she always leaves
handouts, and wants people to call her with questions.
“I train people to communicate with their own dog,” she said.
“It’s all about communication. It’s like having a little Martian in the
house…It’s two different worlds.”
She calls herself a “positive rewards based dog trainer.” Instead
of punishing the dog for doing things wrong, she said, you train a dog to do
the correct behavior and then continue to reward the animal for doing it
right,” she said.
Brydon is getting most of her clients through word of mouth and
the Internet. Her Web site is www.mydogtrainingcoach.com
and she can be reached via e-mail at jane@mydogtrainingcoach.com. Her
phone number is 484-437-8183. She is a member of Association of Pet Dog
Trainers and Dog Writers Association of America.
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.
• The Pennsylvania State Police, Troop K, Media
barracks, is investigating the theft of a wallet from a business located at 2 Christy Drive in Chadds Ford
Township. The theft occurred on April 15 and witnesses observed a black
male flee the scene. Approximately 45 minutes later the same suspect was
observed on surveillance video at a Target store in Concord Township utilizing
a credit card stolen with the wallet to purchase numerous items.
Approximately one month later the same subject
stole a credit card from the Hershey
Medical Center in Dauphin County, and used it at a Target in Mechanicsburg.
Another incident with the same subject was reported in July at a Target in
Bucks County where a stolen credit card was used to purchase goods.
Anyone who can identify the suspect is asked to
contact the Pennsylvania State Police, Media barracks, at 484-840-1000.
• State police are investigating a fatal collision on Route
202 at Marshall on Aug. 20. Two juveniles were also injured in the crash.
According to a police report, Robert Earl Stokes Jr., 35, was killed and his
two passengers injured, when his car crossed into the path of a northbound
truck. Stokes was pronounced dead at the scene. The youths were taken to DuPont
Hospital in Wilmington.
• A 35-year-old Glen Mills man was arrested on retail theft
charges, state police said. According to the state police, Marc David Portale
walked out of the Sears Department store with 13 Blu Ray discs he hadn’t paid
for. The value of the discs is estimated at $361.87, the report said.
• State police from Troop J, Avondale reported criminal
mischief at the Franklin Building Suites at Ponds Edge in Pennsbury Township
sometime between 11 p.m. July 10 and 8 a.m. on July 11. The report said someone
deliberately damaged overhead lights.
The above incident was one of several that were previously
unreported. Others include burglaries at Pennsbury Way East, another on Concord
Way in Pennsbury Township on Aug. 14, a burglary on Stirling Way in Pennsbury
sometime between Aug. 7mand Aug. 14 and another burglary on Hillendale Road on
Aug. 17.
