June 13, 2012 - ChaddsFordLive.com

Lunch prices up in U-CF

School lunches will cost more come the next academic year thanks to a new federal law.

The June 11 Unionville Chadds Ford School Board work session included a discussion of the implementation of the federal law titled “The Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act” and the 25 cent increase in school lunches for the 2012 – 2013 school year. The elementary cafeteria lunch will cost $2.50 and the high school lunch will increase to $2.75

According to Marie Wickersham, the district’s supervisor of food service, “The new meal requirements will raise standards for the first time in more than 15 years and improve the health and nutrition of our students that participate in school meal programs. The final standards make dietary changes many parents are already encouraging at home.”

Those changes include:

• Ensuring students are offered both fruits and vegetables every day of the week;
• Substantially increasing offerings of whole grain-rich foods;
• Offering only fat-free or low-fat milk varieties;
• Limiting calories based on the age of children being served to ensure proper portion size; and
• Increasing the focus on reducing the amounts of saturated fat, trans fats and sodium.

“When it comes to our children,” said school board member Kathy Do, “we must do everything possible to provide them the nutrition they need to be healthy and ready to learn.”

Business Manager Robert Cochran said he will post additional information about the cafeteria food nutrition requirements triggered by “The Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act” on the web site http://www.ucfsd.org/?reload.

Other business

• Superintendent John Sanville and Rick Hostetler, supervisor of buildings and grounds led a joint discussion of the incremental maintenance costs incurred by the district when athletic fields or building facilities are used by outside groups. A policy change will be implemented by the district administration to charge outside groups like the Southern Chester County Soccer Association and KAU Little League.

The amounts charged will allow the district to recoup incremental costs.

Sanville said he would. “… lead further discussion of this policy change at the June 18 School board meeting and welcome school board and public input regarding this policy change.”

• Cochran said there has been no additional funding for the school district from Pennsylvania legislature education budget changes.

Keith Knauss, the finance committee chair said “The final 2012 – 2013 budget will be voted on at the June 18 school board meeting. Delaware County property owners will see a decrease of 1.74 percent and Chester County property owners will see a 2.65 percent increase in their school tax assessments.

• The June 18 meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the Unionville Elementary School auditorium. Charles F. Patton Middle School Principal Bruce Vosburgh’s retirement will be one of the topics of board discussion.

— By Jim Phreaner

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Battlefield task force faces resistance; fate of park uncertain

Along the Ford

The Brandywine Battlefield Task Force may face resistance before finalizing a plan for preserving lands within the battlefield landmark.

Jeannine Spiers, the chairman of the task force and a senior community planner for the Chester County Planning Commission, said during a June 7 informational meeting that her group is supposed to have a final plan by the end of the year. But there were indications of potential pushback when part of the discussion focused on trails.

The issues of trails came up during a presentation on land conservation and public access. Jake Michael, a member of the task force steering committee and of the Chester County Planning Commission, reviewed a series of draft maps that showed areas of open space with historic significance that are being considered for preservation.

Some of the maps showed suggested trails — equestrian, biking and foot trails. Michael said trails could link Sandy Hollow, Brandywine Battlefield Park and the Brandywine River Museum. New trails could also connect with already existing trails to link the entire landmark from New Garden Township in Chester County to Thornbury Township, Delaware County.

Debbie Hineman, of Birmingham Township, asked what would happen if residents didn’t want trails. Michael said the task force would likely not be able to get into the residential areas, but hoped to educate property owners.

It was at that point an unidentified resident shouted out, “We don’t want to be educated. We want to be left alone.”

Michael said there’s “not a great potential to put in a trail network,” but that the limited amount of dollars available for the project would go toward the more popular ideas.

Hineman later explained her concern, saying trails going through residential areas represented “… too much government telling me, as a homeowner and taxpayer, what I can do and can’t do on my property. I’ve been a resident [of Meetinghouse Road] since 1976. It’s been a lot of hard work to keep it as we have. It’s a beautiful scenic road. We’ve already fought this before with our township officials and now we’re being hit with something like this. I feel this is too much government with people telling us what we’re going to do with our property.”

(In 2002, Birmingham Township began hearings on an official map that showed trails going through several private properties. Supervisors eventually voted down the map amid strong opposition from residents.)

Meanwhile, the fate of the Brandywine Battlefield Park remains uncertain. The state stopped funding the day-to-day operation of the park in 2009. Since then, members the Friends of the Brandywine Battlefield Park have been running the site.

Prior to the meeting, Stephen Miler, of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, said the task force efforts to preserve the landmark brings focus to the park, but as yet, there are no specific plans for the park.

“The status of the park is not yet fully determined,” Miller said, but added that selling the park on Route 1 in Chadds Ford was not on the table.

He said PHMC was still working with the friends’ group and with the task force “in order to help us chart a new future for the site.”

“We’re looking at various operational models for all of our sites. What works in one community doesn’t work in another community. So, it’s a process of strategic thinking and strategic planning, evaluating local assets and resources and making the best determination possible.”

When asked if that meant plans were still up in the air, Miller said that is was “a fair assessment.”

Spiers said the BBTF would have one more public meeting on July 31, then have a wrap up in the fall before coming up with a final report.

–By Rich Schwartzman

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Unionville and Kennett team up during community breakfast

School & Education

Since their inception during the tenure of former Unionville-Chadds Ford School District Superintendent, the annual community breakfasts have been about building community.

Now, with John Sanville at the helm, the purpose remains the same. But the 2012 breakfast was expanded to include the Kennett Consolidated School District.

“This event has grown since Sharon started it three years ago,” Sanville said between bites of pancake and sausage during the June 9 event. “Now we’re expanding to embrace our entire community. … It’s a nice thing to do to promote teamwork and friendship.”

While there were no specific goals under discussion for the building of community, Sanville said that although the two districts often find themselves in competition — most notably in sports between the two high schools — they have more in common than not.

“We have good folks in Kennett and good folks in Unionville-Chadds Ford and I think that we can work together. I think this is the start of working together on a number of things,” Sanville said.

There is precedent for the two neighboring districts joining forces. Sanville said the two middle schools came together to work at the Anson B. Nixon Park in Kennett Square during the Martin Luther King Day of Service back in January.

Barry Tomasetti, the KCSD superintendent, said the combined community breakfast is a natural since many students from both districts participate in a lot of activities together, but he doesn’t see the parents from the two communities get together as often as he’d like.

“We want to say we’re neighbors, that we have the same goals in mind as far as doing the best for our communities and our kids,” said Tomasetti.

He said he would like to plan more activities with Sanville to build that wider community. Part of that includes students from both districts getting together beyond that of competitors on an athletic field.

Tomasetti said he would like to see “deeper friendships” develop between students and employees of Kennett and U-CF.

This year’s Community Breakfast was held in conjunction with the Relay for Life, a fund-raising event to aid cancer research. There were teams from both school districts involved, teams walking to raise money.

— By Rich Schwartzman

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Around Town June 14

Local News

Around Town-Relay for Life — Around Town June 14

• Students take part in Relay for Life. Sisters Morgan and Kate Limbaugh, of Chadds Ford Township, walk 20 laps around the track at Unionville High School as part of the Relay for Life that raised money for cancer research. The girls’ mother, Kathy, said the relay was a good way to bring awareness to the kids. Students from both Unionville-Chadds Ford and the Kennett Consolidated school districts took part. (Photo by Rich Schwartzman)

• The Kennett Symphony will present Guitarra – An Evening of Classical and Flamenco Guitar, Song and Dance on Saturday, June 23, 7:30 p.m. (Rain date June 24) in the Open Air Theatre of the Longwood Gardens under the direction of Maestra Mary Woodmansee Green. Special guests include classical and flamenco guitarist and flamenco singer Marija Temo and flamenco dancer Ulrika Frank. For tickets or information, call 610-444-6363 or visit www.kennettsymphony.org. Longwood Gardens members, students and group discounts are also available by calling the symphony office.

• Brandywine Summit Camp Meeting kicks off the 2012 Summer Concert Series with two popular music groups; Harps to Halos, blues, and The Rockdale Boys, gospel/bluegrass. Faith Fellowship Weekend begins Friday, June 22, at 7 p.m., when Harps to Halos, will perform for the coffee house in Biddle Hall. Gary Ditchburn, of the band says, “Music should be played with an energy that comes directly from your soul, and blues music has that quality…” www.fromharpstohalos.com. At 7 p.m., June 23, The Rockdale Boys will perform in the largest open-air tabernacle in the area—truly a taste of history. Strong vocal harmony and solid instrumental arrangements make the music of this solid group joyful, uplifting and just plain fun to hear. So get your toe tapping shoes on and come along for the experience. www.therockdaleboys.com

• The Chester County Historical Society presents The Struggle for Freedom, an exploration of two Chester County stories — the 1852 Pennsylvania Woman’s Rights Convention and the 1821 murder trials of John Reed, a former slave. The presentation will last about 25 minutes and is free, a press release said. It will be held at Barnaby’s, 15 South High Street in West Chester on Tuesday, June 19, at 5:30 p.m.

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Photo of the Week June 14

Local News, Photo of the Week

Out on a Limb. The Brandywine Creek becomes a playground for kids and adults on a hot, sunny Sunday afternoon. Here a youngster swings from a rope into the creek as others splash around keeping cool. (Photo by Rich Schwartzman)

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.

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Living History: The Vanishing Train Depot

Local News

Living-History-Pocopson — Living History: The Vanishing Train Depot

Before superhighways, railroads dominated the landscape providing transportation for both passengers and heavy commodities. Pennsylvania ranked number one among all the states in the production of minerals from 1820 to 1920, necessitating improved access between commercial centers. Located near the bustling port of Philadelphia and the richly endowed farming and mining communities to the west and northwest, Chester County has a long and storied history with passenger railroads.

The early railroads were horse-pulled coaches on wooden rails lined with iron strips. On Oct. 7, 1834 the line that would become the heart of the great Pennsylvania Railroad opened, two trains leaving Columbia on the Susquehanna River going toward Philadelphia. The PRR became one of the dominant railroads in the United States, spurring dozens of branch lines as well as imitators around the nation. Many depots were built to accommodate travelers; over 25 of these structures still exist in Chester County.

The West Chester Railroad began operation in 1832. The line ran from West Chester to Malvern, where it connected with the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad. The PRR began leasing the line in 1859 and re-routed the northern end to a connection with the main line at Frazer in 1880, becoming known as the “Frazer Branch”. Although passenger service on this branch ended in 1932, the PRR provided transport on the West Chester line until 1986.

The railroad came to Kennett Square on Dec. 17, 1859 after a group of citizens formed a corporation to conduct an engineering survey for a rail line off of the Philadelphia- West Chester Railroad. The opening ceremony was a lavish affair, with a coronet band playing and cannons firing in celebration. The period between the Civil War and World War I was the golden age of the railroad in Kennett Square. The line was purchased by the Pennsylvania Eastern Railroad and later re-named the Octorara Branch of the Philadelphia and Baltimore Central. Both passenger and freight service occurred over the line, with local farmers providing corn and hay to Philadelphia customers. Though passenger service ended in 1948, the Kennett station still stands.

The very active Septa R5 line boasts several interesting depots. Strafford Station just off of Old Eagle School Road was constructed as the Catalogue Building for the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876. The structure was purchased by the PRR and moved to its present location in 1887. Dark brown ornamental woodwork gives it a unique appearance. Devon Station was built in 1890 and its brownstone and clapboard façade flanks two red brick chimneys rising toward the sky. Berwyn Station, built in 1900, now houses a suite of businesses, but remains in superb shape with its brick walls and sloping metal awning alongside cheerful banners.

The recently closed Brandywine Scenic Railway wound its way through rural Chester County over an unusual rail line of numerous S-curves. Two privately owned depots still stand. The Northbrook Station, built in 1860 on the western branch of the Brandywine River, is just off of state Route 842, next to the Northbrook Canoe Company. The building resembles a clapboard farmhouse, with rustic tan shingles and dark maroon wooden pillars standing at attention along the tracks. Pocopson Station was built in 1890, its strikingly green serpentine walls and buff-colored wood-shingled upper surface greeting visitors along PA Route 926. A station sign still hangs there. The building is in excellent condition, the ticket office now the examining room of the Pocopson Veterinary Station.

Some lesser know depots include the Morstein Station in West Whiteland Township which opened in 1840 and was part of the West Chester and Frazer Railroad. There is no town of Morstein; the station was likely named after a local farm. Built of sturdy red brick and tan clapboard, a prominent gold and forest green historical marker shines brightly on its side. Renovated in recent years, the building is one of the best examples of the early railroad stations. The tracks are long gone and the building is privately owned. A short distance west is the Whitford station (circa 1880), a tiny clapboard building situated below a towering ‘flyover’ girder bridge.

Many of the great train depots around Chester County have closed, victims of fires or urban planning. Yet some stalwart structures remain, a testament to a once-thriving railroad culture and a spirit that was sparked by a new mode of transport long ago… a spirit that survives today in these buildings which hold many proud memories.

— By Gene Pisasale

Gene Pisasale has written two historical novels of Chester County. For more information visit his website at www.GenePisasale.com or e-mail him at Gene@GenePisasale.com

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Adopt-a-Pet June 14

Local News

Meet Princess Bubble Gum- and a princess she is. Princess Bubble gum is a young adult spayed female domestic short hair cat. This sweet and playful girl was brought to us as a stray. She was actually found trying to take a swim in a swim clubs pool. Princess Bubble Gum is a well-rounded cat who would do well in any home. She loves attention and to hang out by your side. She cannot wait to go home with you. If you are able to provide Princess Bubble Gum or any of our other animals here at the shelter a home, visit the Chester County SPCA at 1212 Phoenixville Pike in West Goshen or call 610-692-6113. Princess Bubble Gum’s registration number is 96807637. To meet some of our other adoptable animals, visit the shelter or log onto www.ccspca.org. Not quite ready to adopt? Consider becoming a CCSPCA foster parent! Additional information and applications are available online or at the shelter.

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Police log June 14

Police

• Three Chadds Ford Township residents — living at three different homes on Harvey Road — had their cars broken into during the overnight hours of June 9 and 10. Police said the three vehicles had been left unlocked. Thieves reportedly took cash and a black GPS. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 484-840-1000.

• State police are investigating a theft at Terrain at Styers on Route 1 in Concord Township on June 10. A police report said a woman fraudulently returned one item, then had another, a decorative pillow, under-rung. The value of the loss was $158, according to the report. Police said the suspect is a white woman in her 40s. She was last seen in a blue Mercedes Benz station wagon.

• Lauren Marie Contino, 26, of Ridley, was charged with DUI after state troopers found her passed out and hanging out of the driver’s side door, a police report said. Troopers were dispatched to the scene after getting a report of a woman passed out behind the wheel of a car that was stopped in the right lane of Route 1 at Dougherty Boulevard in Concord Township on June 10.

• According to an email sent by Concord Township, the state police are reminding residents to call police if they see any suspicious activity, people or cars. The emergency number is 911. To reach the Media barracks, call 484-840-1000. The number for the Avondale barracks in Chester County is 610-268-2022.

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Privatize the park

Opinion

The legacy of the colonial soldiers who fought the Battle of Brandywine — and that of those who fought in all of the other battles in the American War of Independence — deserves to be preserved.

So, It’s frustrating to hear that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania still doesn’t know what it wants to do with the Brandywine Battlefield Park. The park’s status is “up in the air,” according to Stephen Miller, the director for the Bureau of Historic Sites/Museums, a division of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

Miller made the comment during a meeting of the Brandywine Battlefield Task Force held at the park on June 7. The task force is looking for ways to preserve the battlefield landmark, but it seems the park itself is not a priority.

PHMC still pays for maintenance of the site on Route 1, but stopped funding the day-to-day operation in August of 2009 because of state budget tightening. After a brief shutdown, the Friends of the Brandywine Battlefield were allowed to reopen the park, but it’s not open full time.

As reported in this issue of ChaddsFordLive.com, Miller said PHMC is looking at different models of operation and that: “The status of the park is not yet fully determined.”

It’s been three years. What’s the state waiting for?

There’s been some unofficial speculation that it’s waiting for the legislature to get its fiscal house in order, and then resume operation of the park when the state can afford it. On one hand that makes some sense, but one has to wonder whether the current politicians can actually correct the state’s financial situation.

It should also be asked whether the friends group would get something for acting as a foster parent. Of course, members probably don’t care about that. They care about preserving the site for its own sake.

Miller also said that the state is not looking to sell the site. Selling, however, might be the right thing to do. A private entity with a dedication to preserving history might do better than the state at running the site. Another option would be to lease the park out to a private management company that’s allowed to make a profit.

Private management has helped save elephants in Africa and the American bison in the U.S. Privately owned toll roads tend to be better maintained than government owned roads. Bryant Park in Manhattan was in horrible condition when publicly operated by the city of New York, but was cleaned up and became well used once a private management firm took over.

Some people might complain that a private company is only after profit. So what? The men who fought for American independence from Britain were fighting for private property, not government owned land. And if a private entity can maintain the park and preserve its educational function, it would well deserve any profit it makes.

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