Scenes from Around Town for Sept. 9
Scenes from Around Town for Sept. 9 Read More »
September 8, 2010
Bits & Pieces for Sept. 9
• The Brandywine River Museum opens a new exhibit this
weekend, Reality Check:
Contemporary American Trompe l’Oeil. The exhibit is a
display of 19th- and early 20th-century American trompe l’oeil paintings. A
French term meaning “fool the eye,” trompe l’oeil is part of a long
tradition of illusionism that dates to antiquity. Reality Check runs from Sept.
11 through Nov. 18.
• This weekend is also the weekend for Chadds Ford Days, the
annual Fair at the Ford in the meadow at the Chadds Ford Historical Society
with free admission and parking. The fair feature antique cars, kids rides,
tours of the John Chads House, beehive bread sales and our newest exhibit
showing the history of the Railroad in the Chadds Ford area. Fairgoers can also
relax in an outdoor colonial tavern, sample dishes from three area restaurants,
which includes, Pace One, Brandywine Prime, and joining us this year, Jimmy
Johns.
•The Brandywine Battlefield Associates group is conducting a
Remembrance Reception on Saturday, Sept. 11, to commemorate the Revolutionary
War’s Battle of Brandywine. Highlighting the event will be the ringing of a
Remembrance Bell. The bell is being driven to Chadds Ford from New York City.
The ceremony is also designed to remember the 40 innocent victims who died on Flight
93 at Shanksville, Pennsylvania, on Sept. 11, 2001.The event will take place
beginning at 6 p.m. at the Brandywine Battlefield Park on Route 1 in Chadds
Ford Township
• State Rep. Stephen
E. Barrar, R-160, of Boothwyn will host a free health and safety fair for
residents of the 160th District on Saturday, Sept. 25, in Chadds
Ford Township. The fair will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Endo
Pharmaceutical, located at 100 Endo Blvd. across from Painters Crossing.
Bits & Pieces for Sept. 9 Read More »
Adopt-a-Pet
Coca-Cola
is an adult female guinea pig that is available for adoption through the Chester County SPCA. She came to the shelter
in July because her owner did not want her any more, so Coca-Cola came here to
find her new forever home. We are
estimating her age to be between two and four years old. Coca-Cola is a very
sweet girl who loves to sing for her treats. Her favorite treats are carrots
and lettuce. Coca-Cola is now looking for a responsible
care giver 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. Patty’s registration number is 96800097.
To look at some of the other animals available for adoption, visit the shelter
or log onto www.ccspca.org.
Election bureau considers change in CF polling location
Should Chadds Ford Township change its polling place from
St. Cornelius to Calvary Chapel? That’s what the Delaware County Election
Bureau will decide as part of a Sept. 14 hearing.
Township Supervisors’ Chairman Deborah Love announced the
request for the change during the September supervisors’ meeting. She said it would likely be approved.
The original request to the township for the change came
from resident Mary Kot, the chairman of the Chadds Ford Republican Party
Executive Committee.
“We’re grateful to St. Cornelius for offering the use of
their facilities, and they were far superior to when we were at the old twp
building, but we had a mutiny on our hands. The workers who were there all day
said they wouldn’t come back,” Kot said in a telephone interview.
The reason for the discontent was a matter of physical
comfort at the St. Cornelius Parish Life Center. Kot said the building was too cold for poll
workers who spent 12 hours at the polls on election days. She said workers
complained two consecutive elections, both spring primary and fall general
elections.
Voting used to take place at the old township building on
Station Way Road, but that location was too antiquated and small with
inadequate parking. Voting was moved to St. Cornelius after the 2004
presidential election.
The St. Cornelius location was considered to be temporary
with the thought being that voting would eventually be shifted to the new
township building at Turner’s Mill. That site, however, does not have adequate
parking for the two voting precincts, Love said. She added that the township
could not properly staff two voting locations.
Steve Smickley, the pastor at Calvary Chapel said there was
no question about using the chapel as a polling place when township officials
approached him.
“We said, ‘Absolutely.’ We worked hard to get township
approval [to build the church] and want it to be a blessing to the community,”
Smickley said.
While Love is OK with the Calvary Chapel location on
Brandywine Drive, she said she would have preferred the change to first be made
for a spring primary when there is still some daylight for people who vote
after work.
The Elections Bureau hearing will be 1 p.m. in County
Council Chambers at the County Courthouse in Media.
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.
Election bureau considers change in CF polling location Read More »
German chemical company plans Chadds Ford office
Brüggemann Chemical U.S. wants a two-story office building
in Chadds Ford Township. A plan for the 3,755 square foot facility went before
the township Planning Commission Sept. 7.
Brüggemann wants to build on a wooded lot at 1361 Baltimore
Pike, on the north side of Route 1, between Southpoint and The Commons. There
would be no manufacturing at the location, just office space and storage
facility, but no chemicals would be stored on site, according to Michael Looney
of Montchanin Design.
Plans call for a building with a stone façade. There would
be offices and a showroom on the upper level and storage on the lower level,
Looney said. He added there might be a small exercise area for the six to eight
employees who would be working at the site.
Engineer Jim Fritsch, of Regester Associates, said plans
call for using on-site water, but public sewer with the office tying into the
Turner’s Mill Wastewater Treatment Plant.
He added that there would be 20 parking spaces, one more
than township code requires for that size building. Ingress and egress would
share a common driveway with a right in/right out traffic pattern, he said.
The site is less than 3.5 acres. To comply with open space
regulations, Fritsch said Brüggemann would select for the fee in lieu option
instead of giving land for open space because the site is so small.
No decisions were made during the Sept. 7 meeting. The
applicant will return to the Planning Commission next month.
According to the company Web site, Brüggemann Chemical U.S.
opened an office in Newtown Square in 1990. The Chadds Ford location would
replace the Newtown Square facility. The company was founded in 1868,
fermenting molasses into alcohol in Heilbronn, Germany. In 1922, the focus was
changed to refining instead of producing alcohol. It began making chemical
products in 1926.
A full history of the company can be found at www.brueggemann.com
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.
German chemical company plans Chadds Ford office Read More »
Foolishness from the pulpit
Stupidity comes in all shapes and sizes, all races and
religions. The most recent case in point is Pastor Terry Jones of the Dove
World Outreach Center in Florida.
As of this writing, Pastor Jones is still planning to burn
copies of the Quran this Saturday, Sept. 11, the ninth anniversary of the 2001
terror attacks.
Local fire officials told the pastor that such a burning
would be illegal. He disregarded that. He was also told that such an action
could jeopardize U.S. troops in Afghanistan. The pastor, so far at least, is
still disregarding that warning coming from the White House and from Gen. David
Petraeus.
The pastor and the members of his congregation have the
right to burn copies of the Quran that they own, just as they have the right to
burn their own copies of the New Testament, Torah and their own American flags.
But, just because they have the right to do these things, doesn’t mean they’re
the right things to do.
What is planned is pure disregard for an entire faith simply
because some militant adherents committed heinous, criminal acts, acts that
totally disregarded the sanctity of human life. Perhaps the pastor should be
reminded of other such acts committed by others. People used the Bible to
justify black slavery. There was the forced conversion of the American Indian.
Perhaps he should be reminded of the Spanish Inquisition and the destruction of
native Latin American people. Let’s not forget the burning of witches. Those
actions were conducted in the name of Christianity. Should the New Testament be
burned?
The planned book burning has nothing to do with patriotism
or Christianity. It is nothing more than anti-Islamic prejudice that will, if
it is held, do nothing but inflame those in the Muslim world who already hate
the U.S., and will add more recruits to those ranks.
We were attacked on 9/11, not because of our freedoms as the
right has contended, but because U.S. foreign policy is meddlesome, an
intrusion into areas of the world where we have no knowledge, no understanding
and no respect. The planned book burning is proof of that disrespect.
Pastor Jones has said he will pray on the idea, then make
his final decision on whether to burn the books. Let’s hope those prayers bring
the voice of sanity and decency.
Foolishness from the pulpit Read More »
The Appraising Eye: What’s it worth?
With the popularity of the Antique Road
show, everyone seems to be asking the question “What is it worth?” More
importantly, why is it imperative to understand the value of your personal
possessions?
At some point in our lives many homeowners
will be in a position to downsize their homes and it is important to understand
the value of your personal property for estate planning. At this point individuals will need to
decide which of their treasured possessions they should keep and which will be
passed along to family, sold or donated. In the case of a catastrophic loss,
theft or damage, understanding the value of your personal property is
essential. Establishing what
an item is actually worth after it is lost or destroyed can be a daunting task. Would you be prepared for such a
loss?
While many homeowners have a general idea
of their real estate holdings, fewer are cognizant of the value of their
personal possessions. Most people
generally place an emotional or intrinsic value on a personal possession,
particularly if the object was inherited.
In today’s market the value of art and antiques can change over the
course of a single auction or private sale.
In a household full of objects, how does
one identify an item of value, specifically an antique? In 1930, the U.S. Government ruled that
objects had to be at least 100 years old to be classified as antiques, so they
could be admitted duty free into the United States. Since then American antiques have often been defined as
objects made before 1830. In reality, antiques are products that are more than
100 years old or products that are rare enough to have some value. However, the
age of an object does not always equate to value. There are many antiques that have little value. The more limited the supply usually the
more valuable the item. Other aspects, such as the provenance, which is defined
as where the object derived, is another important factor that effects the value
of an object. If George Washington
ate from a specific plate versus Aunt Betty, the value of the object would be
greatly altered.
However, antiques are not the only
personal possessions that may have appreciating value; collectibles also fall
into this category. A collectible
is an item that has value due to its rarity and desirability. Antiques can fall into this category as
well as stamps, coins, glassware, ceramics, baseball cards, comic books or even
Star Wars memorabilia! Contemporary
objects including art work,
furniture or decorative arts object can be deemed valuable due to the
reputation of the artist, the originality of the object, or the period of
origin.
In establishing value, look for marks or
signatures on an item which can help
identify not only the maker, but also the age of an object. A signature or mark can also identify
whether an object is authentic.
Many paintings and ceramics may have fake signatures and marks that have
been passed on as original. Regarding furniture items, check the construction
techniques used for the specified time period. Are there modern construction elements on 18th century
furniture objects? Nonetheless, the best way to ascertain the value and
authenticity of an object is to have a certified appraiser or reputable dealer
establish the value of the objects in your collection. With an independent
appraisal of your personal possessions you have information necessary to make
informed financial decisions about the care and disposition of your
belongings. An appraiser will
inventory and evaluate your collection and provide you information with the
identification, description and value of each item.
If you have valuable objects they should
be insured against damage or loss.
A proper appraisal will enable you to replace or restore lost or damaged
items. Once the value of your
objects has been properly established you will be able to make an informed decision
in regards to insuring your personal possessions. Several options are available for insuring your valuables
therefore talk to an agent who is well versed in covering fine arts, antiques,
and collectibles. Choose someone
who will assist you in selecting the best policy to best meet your needs.
To better understand and identify
personal possessions of value in your home, each month Chadds Ford Live will
feature an article focused on a different object. Look for next month’s article Keep on Ticking: the history
and value of tall case clocks.
* Colleen Boyle is an
appraisal consultant for Freeman’s, America’s oldest auction and appraisal
company. She holds advanced degrees in art history and a diploma in
French fine and decorative arts from Christie’s, Paris. She has appraised art
and antiques for private collectors and corporations throughout the U.S. and
regularly publishes articles about art and antiques. 610-470-5340 (phone) cbfineart@gmail.com, www.freemansauction.com
About Colleen Boyle
The Appraising Eye: What’s it worth? Read More »
Police log for Sept. 9
•
Pennsylvania State Police are now linking an August bank robbery in Chadds Ford
Township with one in Gloucester Township, NJ. Police describe the suspects as black men in their late
teens or early 20s. One is 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 9 inches tall, stocky
build, walks with a limp, wearing a dark hoodie, dark pants, baseball hat and
sunglasses. The other is described as 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet tall, with a
thin build, wearing a dark t-shirt, dark pants, baseball hat, sunglasses and
armed with a revolver.
Police said the pair robbed the Wachovia Bank in Painter’s Crossing at 10:50
a.m. on Aug. 24. Three hours later, police said, the pair robbed a bank in New
Jersey. A third suspect was with them during the New Jersey robbery, according
to a police report. The third suspect is also described as a black male in his
late teens or early 20swearing a t-shirt, jeans, and baseball hat.
• A home on Webb Road in Chadds Ford Township was
burglarized on Tuesday, Aug. 31 sometime between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m. Several items
were stolen, but police provided no details.
• An Apple iPad was stolen from a vehicle at McKenzie Brew
House on Aug. 31. No other details were provided in the police press release.
• A purse was stolen from the glove compartment of a vehicle
parked at the Brandywine River Museum on Aug. 31 sometime between 2:30 and 5:30
p.m., a police report said. The unknown suspect gained entry into the car by
disabling the driver’s side door lock, according to the report.
• Pennsylvania State Police are looking for a suspect they
describe as a black male in his mid 20s, with dreadlocks and wearing black
pants and a white t-shirt in connection with theft from a vehicle at the
Concord Township Library parking lot. The incident happened at 4:30 p.m. on
Sept. 3. According to police, the victim, a 55-year-old white woman from Chadds
Ford, saw the man loitering in the parking lot. After she entered the library,
the front passenger window of her car was broken and a black satchel was
removed. Police said other witnesses saw the suspect flee in a black sedan. No
one recorded the license plate.
• A home and several unlocked cars on Bolling Circle in
Concord Township were burglarized sometime between 3 and 3:51 a.m. on Sept. 7,
according to a police report. No details were reported on what was stolen.
• Another home on Bolling Circle was burglarized between 4
and 5 a.m. on Sept. 6, a police report said. A 42-inch TV, a Wii system and Wii
games were stolen.
• A black leather briefcase was reported stolen from a
vehicle parked on Lenape Road in Pocopson Township sometime between 9:30 p.m.
on Sept. 3 and 7:34 p.m. on Sept. 6.
• State police from Troop J, Avondale arrested Jason Eric
Winn, 32, for DUI on Cossart Road at Stockford Road in Pennsbury Township
shortly after 8 p.m. on Sept. 6. No other details were available.
Police log for Sept. 9 Read More »