Scene Around the Town Aug. 11
Scene Around the Town Aug. 11 Read More »
August 10, 2011
Montessori school opens in Dilworthtown
When the new school year begins
later this month, there will also be a new school in the area. The
International Montessori School at Dilworthtown opens its doors on Aug. 31.
The school is in the building
that housed the old Harvest Community Presbyterian Church on Birmingham Road in
Birmingham Township.
As a Montessori school, the
idea is to tailor the education to the kids instead of tailoring the kids to
the education.
Angie Meadows, the director of
the school, said the Montessori method is based on a “multi-aged classroom”
with kids of 18 to 36 months of age in one class, those aged 3-6 years in
another, with similar types of groupings for older students. Students also stay
with the same teacher for a three-year-period.
”There’s also some specially
developed materials and a lot of independence and self-confidence,” Meadows
said. “The teachers really follow the lead of the children to guide them
through the curriculum.”
She said that one of the
reasons for the success of the Montessori concept lies within that fact that
students have older students to work with and that they stay with the same
teacher for three years. The education process isn’t interrupted, even over a
summer break.
“That initial beginning of the
year learning curve isn’t there. When I have students who start at the age of
3, they have some adult, so to speak, 5-year-olds in the classroom, leaders
that can help them get acclimated. Children who are returning at 4 or 5, I can
pick up right where we left off at the end of the last school year and hit the
ground running. There isn’t that first six to eight weeks of getting to know
the child, ” said Meadows.
She added that teachers get to
know a lot about the families of students and get them involved in the
education process. She said families reinforce what’s going on in the
classroom.
Meadows refers to a Montessori
classroom as “a well run machine” even with different students doing different
activities at the same time.
“There’s a hum of activity and
excitement. There are children working independently, children working in small
groups and some children are having individual or group lessons with the
teacher, but the children are very self-directed and know what level they’re
working in… If they need a little direction, we’re there to steer them in the
right direction,” she said.
Meadows said it’s the quest for
independence that motivates the kids.
“Often times they see older
students in the classroom doing something which intrigues them. Sometimes
they’ll learn just by observing and asking if they can have a lesson on that.”
She said students often revisit
material on their own to gain a mastery of the subject.
“They’re always excited for the
next thing that comes down the road,” she said.
While there have been few
long-term studies comparing the education received in Montessori and other
schools, Meadows said they do well on standardized tests.
“Truly darn fabulous,” she
said. “The [long-term] studies aren’t there yet. We only have about five or 10
years of data but, generally speaking, it has been my experience in the past 20
years that children who leave a Montessori environment transition very easily
to a traditional environment, whether it’s parochial, private or public.
Teachers comment that they are very independent, creative and assertive in that
they ask for what they need.”
She added that more Montessori
schools are implementing standardized tests to make sure their students are on
track and are implementing curriculum that follows state curriculum.
The International Montessori
School at Dilworthtown — one of five International Montessori schools in
Chester County — is beginning with younger kids at first, but Meadows said the
goal is to get classes through the sixth grade.
This year there will be two
groups, the 18-36 month old children, and the pre K group from 3 years to
kindergarten.
The school offers half and full
day programs for two, three or five days per week. A five-day full day class
for the younger group is $9,000 and $8,700 for the older group.
For more information, contact
the school at 610-399-6699.
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.
Montessori school opens in Dilworthtown Read More »
Adopt-a-Pet Aug. 11
Motie is a 7-year-old spayed female Lab Rottweiler mix that
is currently available for adoption at the Chester County SPCA. She came to the
shelter on July 28 because her owners had lost their home. She is a very sweet,
gentle dog who loves attention and would be very happy to hang out by your
side. Motie is full of energy and loves to go on walks she is housebroken and knows
basic commands. She enjoys the company of other dogs and gets a long with
children as well. Motie is now looking for a responsible care giver who will
give her the love and attention she deserves. If you are able to provide Daisy a home, visit the Chester
County SPCA at 1212 Phoenixville Pike in West Goshen or call 610-692-6113. Motie’s
registration number is 96804909. To meet some of the other animals available
for adoption, visit the shelter or log onto www.ccspca.org.
Adopt-a-Pet Aug. 11 Read More »
The Doctor is In: Living with GERD and other digestive disorders
If
you regularly experience abdominal bloating, gas, constipation, or heartburn,
you may have a chronic disorder of your digestive system. Although these types
of conditions can be uncomfortable and embarrassing, digestive disorders are
very common — affecting 60 to 70 million Americans, according to theNational Institute
of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases — and many can be
managed effectively by your family doctor.
Among
my patients, I see the following digestive health problems most frequently:
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)— Gas, cramping pain, bloating, and painful constipation or
diarrhea are some of the most prevalent symptoms ofIBS, which is more common in women than in
men. Symptoms of IBS can range from mild to debilitating and vary from person
to person. Medical professionals are unsure of the exact cause of IBS, but
symptoms can be triggered by emotional stress and diet.
Although there is no specific blood test or medical procedure used to diagnose
IBS, doctors may perform a sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy to look inside the
colon and rule out other causes of symptoms. Researchers have yet to discover a
cure for IBS, but laxatives, fiber supplements, prescription medications,
dietary changes, or stress-management techniques may provide symptom relief.
Gastroesophageal reflux
disease (GERD) — Occasional heartburn (after a spicy, fatty, or acidic meal, for
example) usually is not a cause for concern. But if you experience heartburn or
acid indigestion on a constant basis, you may be suffering fromgastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
GERD
is caused by the chronic backing up, or reflux, of stomach acid into the
esophagus. This reflux can cause the pain and discomfort of heartburn and may
appear after you eat, when you lie down, or when you bend over. Frequent
burping and a bitter taste at the back of your throat are other common warning
signs of GERD.
A
class of prescription medicines known as proton pump inhibitors, which reduce
production of stomach acid, is widely used to treat GERD. In my patients with
GERD, I also recommend lifestyle changes, such as avoiding food triggers,
quitting smoking, and limiting alcohol intake. Elevating the head of your bed
may help to prevent acid reflux while sleeping.
Gallstones — Maintaining an
appropriate weight yields greater health benefits than reducing your risk for
cardiovascular disease and diabetes. People who keep their weight in check also
are less likely to developgallstones, which are caused by
the buildup of hardened bile in the gallbladder or small intestine.
In
addition to obesity, gender and age are risk factors for gallstones. They occur
more often in women than men, although all adults face increased risk as they
age.
You
can develop gallstones and not know it for many years, until the gallbladder
becomes inflamed and symptoms come on suddenly one day. Common warning signs of
a gallbladder attack include chronic indigestion, nausea, and intense pain in
the upper right abdomen, in the back between the shoulder blades, or under the
right shoulder. Sometimes this pain mimics the feel of a heart attack. Because
our bodies can function without a gallbladder, surgical removal of the gallbladder
is the most common treatment for gallstones. This usually can be done as a
minimally invasive procedure in most patients.
If
digestive health problems are limiting your lifestyle or causing frequent pain
and discomfort, talk to your family doctor about the symptoms you are
experiencing.
*Joshua Feinberg, D.O., is a family
medicine physician in practice at the Crozer Health Pavilion,
145 Brinton Lake Road, Suite 201, Glen Mills, PA 19342, 610-459-1619
About Crozer Keystone Staff
Crozer-Keystone Health System’s physicians, specialists and advanced practitioners are committed to improving the health of our community through patient-centered, quality care across a full continuum of health services. Crozer Brinton Lake is Crozer-Keystone’s comprehensive outpatient care facility in western Delaware County, offering primary care, specialty services, outpatient surgery and advanced cancer treatment. Contact us: 300 Evergreen Drive, Glen Mills, PA 19342 http://www.crozerkeystone.org/Brinton-Lake 1-855-254-7425
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Bits & Pieces Aug. 11
• The Unionville-Chadds Ford
School Board has released a statement regarding the ongoing labor negotiations with
the teachers’ union. The statement may be found at
http://www.ucfsd.org/nn/board_response_080511.pdf
• Due to the continuing high
school construction project, there are changes to the traffic pattern, parking
plan and student drop-off / pick-up procedures for both the high school and
middle school. These changes will be implemented Monday, August 29th and will
be in effect the entire school year. People should refer to the district, high
school or middle school websites for the written procedural changes, and a map
with audio description.
• Chester County author Bruce
Mowday will be signing his new book on Richie Ashburn at Burton’s Barbershop.
Ashburn is called the “most beloved athlete” in the history of Philadelphia.
The signing will be on Saturday, Aug. 13, from 7 to 11 a.m. The barbershop is
located at 105 W. State Street. The book is entitled “Richie Ashburn … Why the
Hall Not? The Amazing Journey To Cooperstown.”
• 2011 is the 100th anniversary
of the publication of Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Treasure Island” with
illustrations by N.C. Wyeth. The famous edition was a critical and popular
success, established Wyeth among the period’s foremost illustrators, and became
the iconic Treasure Island for generations of readers. To mark the anniversary,
all 16 dramatic paintings created by Wyeth will be on display together for the
first time since they left the artist’s studio a century ago. The exhibition
also presents some Treasure Island productions of the last 100 years created by
the many illustrators, theater and film directors and even digital application
designers who have been influenced by Wyeth’s imaginative vision. These
productions are as varied as a 1915 stage version and Disney’s 2002 movie
Treasure Planet.
• Birmingham is gearing up for
the 325th anniversary of the township’s founding. The event is
scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 27, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Birmingham Hill.
There will be tours of the Birmingham Friends Meeting and the Lafayette
Cemetery. There will be hayrides, music, kid’s games, food and a talk by
historian Tom McGuire, author of “The Battle of Philadelphia.” Birmingham
Township was founded in 1686 and is the oldest township in Pennsylvania.
• Delaware’s only professional
school of art and design and the state’s only museum of natural history will
team up this October for “Natural Attraction: Nature-Inspired Art,” a unique,
curated exhibition showcasing work inspired by the natural world. The Delaware
College of Art and Design will display work by students in a variety of
media Oct. 7 – Nov. 6, at the Delaware Museum of Natural History. This
program is made possible, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the
Arts, a state agency dedicated to nurturing and supporting the arts in
Delaware, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts.
Bits & Pieces Aug. 11 Read More »
Repeating Bush-league mistakes
President Barack Obama seems to
have forgotten a history lesson, or perhaps he’s inconveniently overlooking the
fact for the sake of political rhetoric.
The president wants Congress to
enact a luxury tax on corporate jets to generate revenue. He is falling into
the same trap that snared President George H. W. Bush 21 years ago.
That was the year the former
president broke his promise about “No new taxes,” and signed a bill that
included 10 new luxury taxes on yachts, private airplanes, and expensive cars
and jewelry. Democrats Ted Kennedy and George Mitchell loved the idea, touting
that the rich would finally be paying their fare share. As with many other
governmental decisions, they were wrong and the unintended consequences hurt a
lot of innocent people.
In less than a year, the
largest yacht manufacturer in the country had to lay off almost 90 percent of
its workforce — 1,140 of 1,400 workers— and closed one of its two plants. The
company was down to only 68 employees before the taxes were repealed in 1993.
Viking Yachts was only one
example of the disastrous policy. The yacht industry as a whole saw more than a
30 percent drop in production and a loss of 100,000 jobs —25,000 yacht builders
and 75,000 people in support business were out of work. The United States went
from an exporter of yachts to an importer of the luxury craft.
The Heartland Institute and
George Mason University economics professor Walter Williams, who supplied the
figures cited above, also noted that supporters of the taxes said they would
generate $31 million in revenue each year, but the job losses in the yacht,
jewelry and aircraft industries, cost the government $24 million in
unemployment benefits per year alone.
“The Joint Economic Committee
concluded that the value of jobs lost in just the first six months of the
luxury tax was $159.6 million,” wrote Williams.
So why would Mr. Obama think a
luxury tax on jets will yield different results? If he really believes that
things will be different this time, he’s either ignorant of history or is
deluded. New luxury taxes will add more losses to an already bad job market;
they will simply repeat the Bush-league mistake of 1990.
So why make the pitch? The
country is only 15 months away from a major election. Democrats are afraid of
losing the White House and maybe even the Senate in 2012. They also hope to
regain the House. Talk of taxing the rich is part of the political rhetoric of
class warfare, using the wealthy as a scapegoat for the government’s failed
economic policies that intervene where they don’t belong. (Republicans play the
same game; they just use different scapegoats.)
It’s not Mr. Obama’s fault that
the economy tanked. The neo-cons and other Republicans who blame him are just
as delusional as the president’s economists are, and just as delusional as
today’s Democrats who lay the bad economy solely at the feet of the eight-year
George W. Bush presidency. Bush II and Bush III, aka Barack Obama, have merely
accelerated the decline.
The bad economy and the left
wing salivation for more taxes on the rich are a result of almost 100 years of
the federal government involving itself in what should be a free market.
Whenever government attempts
regulating a free market in any way other than protecting people from the
initiation of force or fraud, it is destructive to a healthy economy. No tax,
luxury or otherwise, will fix the problems caused by intrusion.
Repeating Bush-league mistakes Read More »
Blogging Along the Brandywine: Troubleshooting
I
guess I’m spoiled. When technology goes wrong, I want it fixed…and I want it
fixed NOW. I don’t want to wait
while someone at the end of a 1-800 line guides mein trouble-shooting.
For
instance, about a year ago we couldn’t get a dial tone at the Sanderson Museum.
So I called our big name phone service provider on my cell phone to get some “service.”
“Ma’am,
are you calling from the phone in question,” he asked. I felt a little like he
had just asked me who was buried in Grant’s Tomb.
“No,”
I answered, “Like I said, it doesn’t work. I’m calling from my cell phone.”
“OK,
ma’am let’s do a little trouble shooting,” came the voice. “Outside your
building, you need to locate your junction box –the one with the thick wires
running to it. I need you to open the box with a screw driver where you’ll see
some wires running to…..”
“Wait,”
I stopped him, as I stood outside the museum, “It’s outside the third floor
attic.”
“Can
you get a ladder,” he asked.
But,
the next day they sent a truck and the trouble was found about one-half mile south
on Route 1.
Then,
last month we lost Internet connection on our home computers.
I
hate the feeling of being isolated from the entire world and I wanted it fixed NOW.
I
checked every connection to our router, checked that all the lights were green,
rebooted, stuck the end of a paper clip in the re-set button…everything. The router
was fine, but we had no Internet connection.
So I
called our big name Internet provider.
“Hi
there, I’m Tony,” came the voice. “May I call you Sally?”
I gave
him the history of the problems and the steps I had taken to connect to the net.
“OK
Sally, let’s do a little trouble shooting,” he said. “Take a look at the back
of your router. What green lights are on?”
“I
already did this,” I reminded him.
But we went through the whole process again. Tony even tried, with
no success to remotely “ping” my computer. Something I would not have let
him do if we had not been on a first name basis.
I
finally said with a hint of desperation in my voice, “Can you please just send someone over?”
Then
he says, “We can’t authorize a technician to come out until we’ve sent you a
new router.”
“But
there’s nothing wrong with my router,” I said.
So a
few days later the new router arrives in a box at our front door.
I
unplug the little clips connecting the yellow and black cords on the old one,
unscrew the big white cable and hook up the new one, place the router installer
in the CD drive and follow all the instructions.
“You
have no Internet connection,” my screen tells me – Duhhhh…. I KNOW!
So
we called our provider again, they agreed to send out a tech and finally after
four days, we were once again connected and all was right with the world.
And
now as I write this blog, these same technicians are on strike. According to
the press, “…business has been declining for a decade as customers have
disconnected their home phones in favor of cellphone and Internet services.”
I just
found that a bit bizarre.
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.”
Blogging Along the Brandywine: Troubleshooting Read More »
The ‘Days’ are coming
The annual celebration Chadds
Ford Days is just a month away. The two-day open air fair that celebrates
artists, crafters, family fun and, this year, our four-legged friends.
“Dog Days of Summer II” will be held Sept. 10 and 11 at the Chadds
Ford Historical Society on Creek Road. Admission is $5.
This year fairgoers can help us
embrace our four legged friends with some fun events for your dog including dog
photos, dog relay contests and dog obedience demonstrations. The fair will also
feature antique cars, kids’ rides, tours of the John Chads House, beehive oven
bread sales and our newest exhibit showing the history of Wood, Woods, and
Woodworkers in the Chadds Ford area.
Fairgoers can also relax in an
outdoor colonial tavern, sample dishes from three area restaurants, which
includes, Brandywine Catering, Brandywine Prime, Jimmy Johns, and Maggie Moos.
Sit back and listen to great music, including the return of Charlie Zahm and
Steve Liberace, Brandywine Country and Makin’ Whoopie. You can shop for
handmade crafts, or watch the kids revel in their special activities! The 46th
Annual Art Show on Chadds Ford Days, Sept. 10 and 11 will again have a
“Gallery Tent” for artists and will feature awards including the
people’s choice award.
The ‘Days’ are coming Read More »
History Made Personal: Wyeth-Sanderson Map
Standing
tall on a wooden easel in the entryway of the Sanderson Museum is a framed map,
its blue trim surrounding red, green and yellow highlights calling attention to
the people, places and events which have made the 768 square miles of Chester
County so special in the history of our country. Fifteen people and 45 places
of interest are depicted, drawn by the artist Andrew Wyeth with historical
references by Chris Sanderson.
The map was
first conceived when the group Friends of the Brandywine discussed generating
an historical map of the area. Rolund Grubb, president of the Friends wrote to
Sanderson on Oct. 19, 1935 indicating that he’d shared the idea with personnel
of the Atlantic Refining Co., who’d expressed an interest in sponsoring the
project.
Although the
company eventually didn’t finalize their support, N.C. Wyeth agreed to make
arrangements for its printing. A limited number of the maps were produced by
the Beck Engraving Co. of Philadelphia in 1937. Several copies from the first
printing were recently donated to the museum and are available for sale to the
public. The original can be found in the School Room on the second floor.
Of the
historical personalities shown on the map, most notable are William Penn,
Bayard Taylor and Major General Anthony Wayne. Penn received a land grant from
the British Crown to fulfill an obligation owed to his father and established
the first counties (Chester, Delaware and Bucks) in what was to become the
colony of Pennsylvania. Bayard Taylor, author of “The Story of Kennett,” world
traveler, diplomat and minister to Russia and Germany is depicted in the upper
right hand corner. Anthony Wayne fought with Washington’s forces at the Battle
of the Brandywine and other engagements of the Revolutionary War. William “Buffalo
Bill” Cody is there too, a legend who fought in the Civil War, scouted the
Western territories and frequently visited West Chester and Coatesville.
Baseball great of yesteryear Herb Pennock, who was born in Kennett Square,
pitched in five World Series and inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in
Cooperstown stands proud on the left side, grinning with his ball held high.
The places
shown are equally as fascinating. Wyeth skillfully sketched miniatures of Valley
Forge, the Star Gazer’s Stone (where Mason and Dixon made astronomical
observations to delineate portions of the famed Mason-Dixon Line), the Lincoln
(Coventry) Forge, second iron forge built in Pennsylvania (owned by Mordecai
Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln’s ancestor), Longwood Gardens and Brandywine
Battlefield. Chris Sanderson often gave lectures about the Battle of the
Brandywine to groups in the region. Signposts along the trail of history
include the birthplaces of two signers of the Declaration of Independence
(Thomas McKean and John Morton), a gathering place for escaped slaves on the “Underground
Railroad” (now the Chester County Visitors Center), along with Phoenixville,
where 75 percent of the cannons used by the Union to win the Civil War (Griffen
guns) and the first cannon fired at the Battle of Gettysburg were made at the
Phoenixville Iron Works in northeastern Chester County.
Chester
County has blossomed over the centuries as a vibrant region with an abundance
of resources, nourishing the development of numerous industries, artists,
scientists and statesmen. Stop by and see this special drawing, as it stands,
greeting visitors inside the Sanderson Museum – A
Man’s Life, A Nation’s History at 1755 Creek Road (old Route 100) in Chadds
Ford, PA just north of Route 1.
• Gene Pisasale worked as a petroleum geologist, then later as a portfolio
manager/analyst for 24 years in the investment industry. He retired in 2010 to
pursue his writing career and lecture tours. He is the author of several
historical novels including “Abandoned Address- The Secret of Frick’s
Lock” and “Lafayette’s Gold- The Lost Brandywine Treasure.” Gene
is married and lives in Kennett Square. Contact Gene at
gpisasale@FoodWineTravelHistory.com or www.GenePisasale.com.
About Gene Pisasale
Gene Pisasale is an historian, author and lecturer based in Kennett Square, Pa. His eight books and historic lecture series focus on the history of the mid-Atlantic region. Gene’s latest book is Alexander Hamilton: Architect of the American Financial System, which delves into the life and many accomplishments of this important Founding Father who almost single-handedly transformed our nation from a bankrupt entity into the most successful country in the history of mankind. Gene’s books are available on www.Amazon.com. His website is www.GenePisasale.com; he can be reached at Gene@GenePisasale.com.
History Made Personal: Wyeth-Sanderson Map Read More »
Lane restrictions on routes 1, 202 and 322
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
announced that lane restrictions are scheduled at the intersection of Route
202/322 and Route 1 in Concord and Chadds Ford townships, Wednesday through
Saturday, Aug. 17-20 for concrete replacement.
The work schedule is:
·
Wednesday and Friday, Aug. 17-19 – One lane will be closed at the
intersection of Route 202/322 and Route 1 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next
morning; and
·
From 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19, to 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20 – One
lane will be closed at the intersection of Route 202/322 and Route 1.
Lane
restrictions are also scheduled on northbound Route 1 at
its intersection with Route 52 in Kennett
Township, on Monday through Friday, Aug. 15-19. from 9
a.m. to 3 p.m. for road widening and intersection construction
In
addition, Route 926 will be closed and detoured between Route 52 and
Parkerville Road in Pennsbury Township, beginning
Sept. 7 for intersection realignment. Motorists will be detoured
over Route 52, Route 1 North, and Creek Road. The 24-hour closure is
expected to finish by October 9. Local access will be maintained up to
the construction zone. Motorists are advised to allow extra time when
traveling through this area.
About Press Release
Lane restrictions on routes 1, 202 and 322 Read More »