October 19, 2011 - Page 2 of 2 - ChaddsFordLive.com

Friendly determination

Granted, it didn’t come off as
originally planned, but the 325^th anniversary celebration for
Birmingham Township did finally happen.

It’s easy to become jaded and
cynical about events centering around history when pretty much everything around
you relates to history and so many people claim to be the true caretakers of
history. But, it’s good when people honor their past, especially when they have
to demonstrate determination to do so.

Birmingham Township is the
oldest township in Chester County, founded in 1786. The township was finally
able to celebrate that fact last Saturday. It only took three tries.

Supervisors’ Chairman John
Conklin said a number of people became excited earlier in the year when they
realized Birmingham was 325 years old. They wanted to celebrate that fact.
There has always been a big deal made of how the Brinton family came to America
and settled in the Birmingham and Chadds Ford area after living in a cave when
they first arrived.

Today’s residents have a much
easier life, but they do appreciate what their predecessors had to endure, from
bartering with Indians to the Battle of Brandywine and everything in between
and since.

And while it’s nowhere near the
same determination that early settlers had to deal with, there was
determination in getting the anniversary celebration to actually happen.

The first scheduled date was
Aug. 27, but Hurricane Irene flushed that date. A secondary date in September
was also scuttled because of a scheduling conflict. That left last weekend.
Attendance wasn’t the best, but that was due to the fact that people are
involved in school-year activities, such as soccer games, football, hockey and
band practice.

It was also windy, so windy
that the celebration had to be scaled back. Larger displays had to be
scratched. Instead of a large screen to display an interactive map of the
Battle of Brandywine, only a simple laptop computer was used. Still, people
came and enjoyed the day.

Was it worth the $12,000 —
$7,000 in donations and $5,000 from the township coffers — it cost to put on?
That’s subjective. But, those who attended had a great day in the sun, played
games and ate for free.

The township was determined to
have a celebration and those who attended were determined to have a good time.
Good for both of them.

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Bits & Pieces Oct. 20

Along the Ford

• The Unionville-Chadds Ford
PTO Umbrella Organization and the League of Women Voters are sponsoring a Meet
the School Board Candidates Forum on Wednesday, Oct. 26, from 7-9 p.m., at
Chadds Ford Elementary School. This is an opportunity for the public to ask
questions of, and receive answers from, all the school board candidates in a
controlled and moderated setting.
There are two candidates running for one seat in Region A, which comprises East
and West Marlborough townships: Vic Dupuis and Robert MacPherson. There is one
candidate running for one seat unopposed in Region B, which comprises Newlin,
Pocopson, and Birmingham, Chester County townships: Eileen Bushelow. There are
five candidates running for three seats in Region C, which comprises Chadds
Ford and Pennsbury townships: Kathleen Meehan Do, Sharon Jones, Gregg Lindner,
Frank Murphy, and Timotha Trigg.

• Chadds Ford Township is scheduled to begin making
repairs to Marshall and Bullock roads this week, according to a letter sent out
by Township Manager Joe Barakat. This will necessitate road closures during the
daytime hours. The work will last about six weeks, the letter said. Demolition using bulldozers and the
like will be performed sequentially in mid-October in multiple locations. The
final paving is scheduled to take place at the end of the project, closer to
Thanksgiving, according to the letter.

• Brandywine Battlefield is
holding its second annual Halloween event, from 4-8 p.m., on Oct. 29. The
Family Halloween Adventure will present “The Life and Times of James
Fitzpatrick,” aka, Sandy Flash. The notorious 18^th century local
highwayman will be captured and tried at Washington’s Headquarters. Want to put
a loved one in jail? We have a jail in front of the Visitors Center. State Rep.
Stephen Barrar has committed himself to our jail at 5 p.m. that evening.
Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for youth. There is no charge for children under
6. There will be a film, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” Refreshments
are free.

• The Brandywine Smile Center will be collecting candy for
the troops this Halloween season. Each year the center collects candy and sends
it in care packages to our troops.Items must be
dropped off no later than Wednesday, Nov. 9. The
center acceptsany commercially produced,
individually wrapped candy or snack. We cannot ship beverages or items that are
perishable. Brandywine Smile Center is located at736 Baltimore Pike Glen Mills, PA
19342. For more information call610-558-0416.

• On Oct. 21, Darlington Arts Center will present Etty,a touring one-woman theatrical play based on
the diaries and letters of Etty Hillesum, adapted and performed by Susan Stein.
Sharing the stage with a suitcase, Etty speaks as she tries to gain clarity and
insight into her life as she prepares for her three-day journey to Auschwitz.
Darlington’s Coffee House starts with an open micfor amateurs and students at 7:30 p.m., followed by the featured
performers at 8 p.m. Bring a picnic and a corkscrew. The coffee house is BYOB.
Darlington Arts Center is at 977 Shavertown Road in Garnet Valley. For more information, call
610-358-3632 or visit www.darlingtonarts.org.

• Highly-acclaimed children’s book author and illustrator
Charles Santore, a native and current resident of Philadelphia, will sign
copies of his latest book, The Night
Before Christmas, at Brandywine River Museum on Saturday, Nov. 5, from
2 to 4 p.m.
On Dec. 17, Philadelphia native Jerry Pinkney
will sign copies of his latest book, Twinkle,
Twinkle, Little Star and the recently re-issued A Starlit Snowfall. In Twinkle, Twinkle,a little chipmunk’s
curiosity about the stars takes him on a sailboat journey through the sky,
across the earth, under water and back home again. The book signings are free with museum admission. The books
are available in the Museum Shop and online.

About CFLive Staff

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History Made Personal: Wyeth portrait of Chris Sanderson

Along the Ford

Article 08- Wyeth Portrait of Chris Sanderson — History Made Personal: Wyeth portrait of Chris Sanderson

The Brandywine Valley has become associated over the years
with many famous artists, most notably Howard Pyle and N.C. Wyeth. Wyeth was
later to become his best known student.

When N.C. Wyeth set up his studio in
Chadds Ford after the turn of the 20^th century, he gained
recognition for illustrating many popular novels, including “Treasure Island”
and “Robinson Crusoe”. Wyeth’s home was not far from Washington’s Headquarters
within what is now known as Brandywine Battlefield Park. Chris Sanderson and
his mother lived in that house from 1906-1922 and became good friends with the
Wyeth family.

Chris and his mother posed for many portraits by Wyeth and
members of his family. N.C. Wyeth’s gifted son Andrew painted a large portrait
of Chris in 1937, welcoming him and his mother back to Chadds Ford after they’d
moved away from the area. Andrew invited Chris and his mother Hanna over to his
home for dinner on April 30, 1937 to view the portrait. Hanna later wrote that
the painting was “so absolutely perfect that my astonishment knew no bounds…”

The painting shows Chris (around the age of 55) standing
dapperly in a brown suit, holding a map of Chester County in the foreground,
green rolling hills in the distance. Bucolic countryside wrapped around
isolated houses, a woman in Colonial-period garb working in the fields, is
overshadowed in the upper right hand corner by dark storm clouds, rain
beginning to drench the area. This may have been subtle symbolism by the
artist, as storm clouds were gathering over Europe, Hitler having invaded the
Rhineland in 1936.

Standing before the painting, the viewer is drawn both to
Chris’s finger- which is pointing to the map of Chester County- and his eyes,
piercing the scene, which seem to be telling us “Pay attention… important
things happened here… The young Marquis de Lafayette fought alongside George
Washington’s troops at the Battle of the Brandywine, the largest land battle in
North America up until the Civil War… Artists have painted our beautiful
countryside, which holds many treasures for you to find… Come and enjoy what we
know here…You will learn much about our heritage and find a sense of history…
your history…”

The portrait of Chris Sanderson by Andrew Wyeth is just one
of many paintings within the museum by members of the Wyeth family, Peter Hurd,
John McCoy and others who knew and loved Chris. Their work- portraits,
landscapes and still lifes- is a testament not only to the beauty of this
region, but also to the inner beauty of this man, who preserved these and other
priceless artifacts for all to see. Visit 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 or on-line atwww.SandersonMuseum.org. For
information on the author of this article, visitwww.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.

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Mind Matters: Change or change back

Health

Don’t know if and when the corporate
takeover will occur but thus far the Occupy Wall Street movement does not seem
to be co-opted by any behemoth moneyed entity. As a psychologist, I observe
this movement as organic and egalitarian. Where verticality and leadership are
the attributes of a patriarchal, hierarchial system, the horizontal seems to be
the geometry here. There is a sense of consensus and collaboration rather one
person singled out as the charismatic leader with a band of disciples.

Perhaps this movement signals a
change (and for every change in a system, there is a push to change back) from
an old order of going about “business” to a new paradigm.

Author Riane Eisler has written many
books on the subject of sociology and culture and the need for partnership. In “The
Real Wealth of Nations,” she outlines the differences between partnership and
domination systems. She considers that many nations are moving toward a
partnership way of life. Perhaps the Occupy Wall Street movement is a
burgeoning partnership model in its process of debunking an outmoded system.
Whether they be families, or nations, systems don’t like change and so a push
for change back is inevitable. However, the cat’s not going back in the bag.

Eisler outlines the differences
between partnership and domination systems. In the domination system, there is
an inequitable distribution of wealth and power. The socio-economic structure
is skewed. In the partnership system, there is an equitable socio-economic
structure. Mutual respect and trust in the partnership model replace the fear,
mistrust (and verbal and physical abuse), and bullying of the domination model.
What is stereotypically considered “feminine,” such as empathy, caregiving,
relationship, connection, is given as high value as the stereotypical “male”
attributes, such as focus, assertiveness, competitiveness, in the partnership
system. In the domination system, the feminine principle is demeaned and
minimized.

The world view of the domination and
partnership system is also strikingly different. The domination culture
rationalizes violence, bullying, and objectifying and demeaning those deemed as
different or “other.” The partnership culture restores value to care and
empathy, inclusivity and connection.

Now, I don’t know if the Occupy Wall
Street movement is any more of the partnership model than the powers that be or
not. But I would like to hope that it represents a start in that direction—and
that it withstands any push for “change back.”

* Kayta Curzie Gajdos
holds a doctorate in counseling psychology and is in private practice in Chadds
Ford, Pennsylvania. She welcomes comments at MindMatters@DrGajdos.com
or (610)388-2888. Past columns are posted to http://www.drgajdos.com.

About Kayta Gajdos

Dr. Kathleen Curzie Gajdos ("Kayta") is a licensed psychologist (Pennsylvania and Delaware) who has worked with individuals, couples, and families with a spectrum of problems. She has experience and training in the fields of alcohol and drug addictions, hypnosis, family therapy, Jungian theory, Gestalt therapy, EMDR, and bereavement. Dr. Gajdos developed a private practice in the Pittsburgh area, and was affiliated with the Family Therapy Institute of Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, having written numerous articles for the Family Therapy Newsletter there. She has published in the American Psychological Association Bulletin, the Family Psychologist, and in the Swedenborgian publications, Chrysalis and The Messenger. Dr. Gajdos has taught at the college level, most recently for West Chester University and Wilmington College, and has served as field faculty for Vermont College of Norwich University the Union Institute's Center for Distance Learning, Cincinnati, Ohio. She has also served as consulting psychologist to the Irene Stacy Community MH/MR Center in Western Pennsylvania where she supervised psychologists in training. Currently active in disaster relief, Dr. Gajdos serves with the American Red Cross and participated in Hurricane Katrina relief efforts as a member of teams from the Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Now living in Chadds Ford, in the Brandywine Valley of eastern Pennsylvania, Dr. Gajdos combines her private practice working with individuals, couples and families, with leading workshops on such topics as grief and healing, the impact of multigenerational grief and trauma shame, the shadow and self, Women Who Run with the Wolves, motherless daughters, and mediation and relaxation. Each year at Temenos Retreat Center in West Chester, PA she leads a griefs of birthing ritual for those who have suffered losses of procreation (abortions, miscarriages, infertility, etc.); she also holds yearly A Day of Re-Collection at Temenos.Dr. Gajdos holds Master's degrees in both philosophy and clinical psychology and received her Ph.D. in counseling at the University of Pittsburgh. Among her professional affiliations, she includes having been a founding member and board member of the C.G. Jung Educational Center of Pittsburgh, as well as being listed in Who's Who of American Women. Currently, she is a member of the American Psychological Association, The Pennsylvania Psychological Association, the Delaware Psychological Association, the American Family Therapy Academy, The Association for Death Education and Counseling, and the Delaware County Mental Health and Mental Retardation Board. Woven into her professional career are Dr. Gajdos' pursuits of dancing, singing, and writing poetry.

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