June 19, 2013 – ChaddsFordLive.com

Kids and parents love PJ Yoga

lady-bug-handstand — Kids and parents love PJ Yoga

As the old commercial used to say, “Trix are for kids.” For Disha Mattive, so is yoga. Kids and their parents think so, too.

Mattive, of Chadds Ford, teaches yoga to adults, but also has a special PJ Yoga class on the second floor of Transcend Yoga in the Barn Shops at Chadds Ford. She said kids benefit from the ancient practice as well as adults. They like it, she said, and it can help them as they grow.

Kristyn Smith, of Wilmington agrees. Her 4-year-old daughter has been taking the class with Mattive for a year and Smith can see the results.

“She loves it,” Smith said of her daughter. “It’s taught her concentration, how to focus on one thing and there’s a change in how she looks at nature.”

Brett Clancy, of Chadds Ford, has twins who take the class.

“They love it. They’re obsessed. When we drive by in the car they shout, ‘That’s where yoga is.’ At home they teach me the poses.”

Another parent said her daughter needed emergency surgery after being hit by a golf ball and the yoga class taught her breathing techniques to calm herself.

Mattive said the poses strengthen and improve balance, and can also help with other activities. She said her own daughter plays soccer and yoga helps her get over sprains and bruises much more quickly than other girls who don’t do yoga.

“It complements everything they do, helping them be safer in other activities and sports.”

The class also teaches confidence.

“Here they can all do this,” Mattive said.

Specifically she was referring to the “ladybug handstand” where kids do a handstand while supporting themselves with their feet against a wall.

In general, she said, yoga can benefit kids because “it can help counter the stress they experience in their busy world filled with school, sports, and extra-curricular activities. And it is non-competitive so it encourages cooperation and compassion which is such a wonderful gift to give our children.”

Class begins with a welcome song, followed by the kids picking small stuffed animals known as yoga buddies. The buddies stay on the yoga mats except for when the wind up on the kids heads or tummies during some of the poses.

All of the kids said they love the animal poses, whether it’s downward dog, cat, snake, frog or crab. They also do a crab walk that ends with them high-fiving each other with their feet.

They also use their feet to pick up small, fuzzy pompoms. Mattive said that helps them develop muscles in their feet and toes that would otherwise be constricted in shoes.

Kids also blow the pompoms along the floor, a practice that teaches breath control.

What else do the kids like? Snack time.

Parents get a break from their kids during class. It’s held at dinnertime and the parents go out to eat. They get as gift certificate to Brandywine Prime. Parents like their snacks, too.

Featured photo: Disha Mattive helps students with their ladybug handstand.

For more information on summer classes and camps, visit www.kindredspiritsyoga.com or contact Mattive at disha13@hotmail.com

Also on Facebook:

https://m.facebook.com/#!/pages/Childrens-Yoga-with-Disha/264887476864389?id=264887476864389&_rdr

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Adopt-a-Pet: Sweetness

Along the Ford

Sweetness is a lovable young pooch that is sure to make a wonderful companion for anyone willing to give her a chance. Sweetness came to the shelter in February as a scared and under-socialized dog but, with the help of CCSPCA staff and volunteers, she’s come a long way in learning to trust and is now more than ready for her forever home. Sweetness gets along with other animals but is looking for a family without small children. If you are able to provide Sweetness 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. Sweetness’ registration number is 96812917. 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 – Kitten season is in full swing and CCSPCA needs fosters to raise kittens and mother cats. Additional information and applications are available online or at the shelter.

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Photo of the Week: Whoosh

Photo of the Week

Heavy rain causes the Brandywine Creek to run hard and fast beneath Route 1 in Chadds Ford.

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School board postpones vote on security system

Local News

Unionville-Chadds Ford School Board directors were forced to punt on two measures up for a vote during their June 17 meeting. Decisions on a replacement director and on a security check-in system were postponed to July 15.

One of those votes regards the adoption of the Raptor Visitor Security System. That system, recommended by Superintendent John Sanville, requires visitors to show a driver’s license or other state approved ID, which would then be scanned and run through a sex offender data base. Visitors would then be given a pass with their photo.

Sanville has said it adds an extra layer of perimeter security.

As previously reported, the Great Valley School district uses Raptor and U-CF looked at the system there.

Several board members said they wanted more information before they decide.

Kathy Do said the system only looks for one type of person, not people with other criminal records. Citing the December shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., Do said no system could prevent such an incident, but that she would like to know whether the system could be upgraded to look for people with records of gun violence.

Gregg Lindner said the system isn’t practical when a large number of people are visiting a school and that more discussion is needed.

Holly Manzone said she doesn’t know whether Raptor would make people safer.

“It wouldn’t stop [convicted child molester] Jerry Sandusky,” she said. “I want to know more about it. We need more time.”

Another director, Vic Dupuis, agreed that further discussion is warranted, but suggested that Raptor should be viewed as an ID system, not a security system.

Supervisor of Building and Grounds Rick Hostetler, in response to questions from Director Jeff Hellrung, said Raptor does not do a deep background check, but it is possible. Such a check would take longer and it wouldn’t differentiate between minor and major offenses. He also said it can’t be programmed to look for anything specific in that type of mode. It’s designed to check a Megan’s Law database, nothing broader.

Noting that visitors have to be checked in anyway, Hellrung said it’s not a security system, but “It’s an upgrade in what we have now. It’s clearly an improved check-in system and the price is reasonable.”

That price is an initial $11,200 with an additional $480 per school per year.

Board President Eileen Bushelow said there’s no downside to adopting the system, but was willing to postpone a vote. She initially suggested a vote in August, but Hostetler said that would be too late to install the system by the beginning of the school year.

The board did vote on an interim replacement for Frank Murphy who previously announced his resignation from the board effective noon, June 17, but none of the six candidates received the requisite number of votes.

Procedure required nominations followed by a vote, with five votes needed for the appointment. Only three of the six candidates — Dell Joshi, Carol Biederman and Leticia Flores De Wilde — were nominated, but none received the necessary five votes after three tries.

Joshi and Biederman received three votes each and Flores De Wilde received one in the first round of voting. Flores De Wilde was then eliminated — by procedure — and a second vote taken resulting in three votes for Joshi and four for Biederman. The third round had the same result.

By procedure, all six candidates will be back in the running next month.

The other candidates are John Murphy, Lorraine Ramunno and Skip Barthold.

The candidate who is appointed will serve until the November general election.

Sanville said state law requires the appointment be made within 30 days of a vacancy or the matter goes to the Court of Common Pleas.

The vacancy is from Region C, made up of Chadds Ford and Pennsbury townships. Of the six candidates, Joshi and Barthold are from Chadds Ford. Frank Murphy is also from Chadds Ford. He will be running for township supervisor in November.

Other business

• As anticipated, the board approved the budget for the 2013-2014 academic year. The plan calls for $72.5 million in revenue. The new millage rate is 25.73 mills in Chester County and 21.71 mills for the Delaware County residents in Chadds Ford.

Hellrung and Director Keith Knauss voted against the budget. Knauss said the district has for years over anticipated spending and under anticipated revenue. That has resulted in a $4.5 million surplus that Knauss would like to see returned to the taxpayers in the district.

• The board also approved, again, the new teachers’ contract. Members previously approved the deal, but had to vote again when two half-days were changed to full days for teachers and students.

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Sewer rates to drop in Chadds Ford

Local News

It may not be a lot, but sewer rates are about to drop in Chadds Ford Township. The Sewer Authority, in a special June 18 meeting, voted on the rate change effective July 1.

The rate for a single-family dwelling will drop to $195 per quarter, that’s $15 down from the $210 they had been paying.

Residents in multi-family dwellings will see a savings of $10 per quarter. They will be paying $137 per quarter beginning next month.

The authority made the announcement in a press release issued June 19.

In a telephone message later that day, Sewer Authority Vice Chairman Amanda Konyk said, “This is good news for the people of Chadds Ford. It’s really good for the people in Painters Crossing.”

This is the first rate change in more than a decade and while the drop is seen as a positive, the authority also said in the release that rates could go back up.

“[U]pward adjustments may be required in the future with increases in plant operating costs due to aging facilities, particularly at the Ridings Waste Water Treatment Plant,” the release read.

Authority Chairman Marc Altman said in the statement: “After a decade without any change in the sewer rates, we are pleased to be able to reduce them for our customers.”

Rates for commercial customers remain what they have been because “of the greater complexity and therefor expense of commercial uses,” the release said.

The authority owns two treatment plants, Ridings and trhe one at Turner’s Mill. There are other sewage treatment facilities in the township, but they are privately owned.

For more information on the Sewer Authority, click here.

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Police log June 20: DUIs, car flips and theft at a Goodwill store

Police

• A 40-year-old Wilmington woman was injured when her car overturned on Brinton Lake Road in Concord Township around 7 p.m. on June 18. A police report said the woman was driving southbound when she lost control and struck a utility pole. The car flipped over and came to rest on its roof. The driver was taken to Riddle Memorial Hospital with chest pains. Police said she was cited for driving too fast for conditions.

• Someone stole tires and rims from numerous vehicles parked at David Dodge. Police said the incidents happened sometime between June 15 and June 17.

• State police arrested 56-year-old John Edward Kruzel for DUI and drug possession following a traffic stop on Route 202 near Hillman Drive on June 13. Police said he was stopped for traffic violations and found to be DUI. A search showed he was in possession of controlled substances, the report said.

• Christie N. Fry, 35, was found to be in possession of marijuana at a traffic stop on Route 1 near Dickinson Drive on June 16, police said. According to a report, she was stopped for traffic violations about 1:30 a.m.

• Police are looking for two people who independently stole clothing from the Goodwill store on Route 202 in Concord Township. The incident happened shortly after 1 p.m. on June 10. A police report described the two, a man and a woman, as black, between the ages of 30 and 35. Both took clothes from the racks, placed them in backpacks and tried to leave without paying. They were confronted, but fled the scene in a white Dodge pickup truck with Delaware tags.

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Around Town June 20

Along the Ford

• The Chadds Ford Gallery is helping the victims of the Oklahoma tornadoes by sponsoring a Sunset Plein Air Exhibit, Friday June 21, from 4 to 8 p.m. Noted artists will set up their easels and paint in an outdoor setting and attendees will have an opportunity to watch artists in action as they create beautiful works depicting the local landscape. The Mid-Atlantic Plein Air Painters Association (MAPAPA) promotes the art of outdoor painting and is pleased to welcome Jacalyn Beam, Roger Dale Brown, Valerie Craig, Beverly Ford Evans, Paul Scarborough and Robert R. Stack as participants. Admission to this event is free. Participating artists will have their works available for sale, with 10 percent of all proceeds donated to the American Red Cross- Central Oklahoma Relief Fund.

• The Christian C. Sanderson Museum in Chadds Ford will present its first Sanderson Sunday of the year, “Art Made Personal: Chris Sanderson and the Wyeth Family” on Sunday, June 23, from 1 to 3 p.m. Bigthink.com arts writer Bob Duggan will discuss how Chris Sanderson’s approach to making history personal influenced N.C., Andrew, and Jamie Wyeth in their art. Following Duggan’s talk, museum curator Chuck Ulmann will lead a personal tour of the museum’s Wyeth art.

• Dust off your wands, iron out your capes and do a flight check with those wings because the annual Fairy and Wizard Festival is coming to Tyler Arboretum on Sunday, June 30, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The festival is a celebration of all that is magical in nature. This event is presented by the Tooth Fairy and in partnership with Dental Health Care Associates. This event will take place rain or shine. For more information, please visit www.tylerarboretum.org or call 610-566-9134.

• People in Chadds Ford who play the lottery now have a new placed to buy tickets. Cold Beverage Storage, the recently opened beer store in Painters Crossing now has a lottery machine. Owner Chuck Scott said they handle Power Ball, Mega Millions and the instant games.

Jamie Wyeth and friend enjoy time together at a catalog signing at the Brandywine River Museum Saturday, June 15.

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Mind Matters: Self care is a necessity, not luxury

Health

Recently I have been teaching Psychological First Aid to those who volunteer after disasters occur. Basically, psychological first aid is “a compassionate and supportive presence designed to mitigate acute distress and assess [needs].” (Everly and Flynn)

However, in order to be a compassionate and supportive presence, volunteers need to learn the fundamentals of self care. As do we all!

So let’s explore self care and stress management in general here. Karen Saakvitne and Laurie Pearlman address self care in their book Transforming the Pain. Awareness, balance and connection are the key themes — the ABC’s if you will.

Do you have awareness of your limits, your emotions, your needs? Do you have balance among the realms of your life? In other words, do you engage in play time as well as work time? Do you rest? Do you have connection to your inner life, to others, to something larger than yourself? This means are you able to be reflective? Do you feel connected to others and others are connected to you? Do you connect with something larger than you? That might be God, or a Higher Power, but it could also be nature or music or art. You could ask yourself these questions as they relate to your professional life, your organizational life, your personal life.

So here is a mini questionnaire to peruse adapted from Saakvitne and Pearlman’s work.

Physical Self Care

How are your eating habits? Do you eat healthily? Do you exercise? Do you engage in fun activities, e.g., swimming or dancing or singing? Do you take vacations, mini day trips or otherwise? Do you get enough sleep? There are other questions; these are just a few!

Psychological Self Care

Do you make time for self reflection? Write in a journal? Do you allow yourself to be curious? Do you allow novelty into your life? Are you able to say “no” when you need to? Do you allow yourself not to be an expert and to make mistakes?

Emotional Self Care

Do you find time to be with friends and family? Do you stay connected with the people you love and care about? Do you love yourself and even silently give yourself some affirmations? Do you allow yourself to cry? Do you laugh? Do you connect with social causes larger than yourself and show care and concern through appropriate actions such as letters, donations, etc.?

Spiritual Self Care

Do you find nature uplifting? Do you have a spiritual connection or community? Are you aware of the non-material aspects of life? Can you be open to not knowing? Can you cherish hope? Can you identify what is truly meaningful to you? Do you meditate, pray or sing? Or, play with children? Do you experience awe and wonder? Do you contribute to causes in which you believe? Do you read that which inspires you?

Professional/Workplace Self Care

Do you take a break during the work day? Do you connect with co-workers? Is your workplace comfortable and comforting? Do you negotiate for your needs?

Balance

Do you find balance among work, family, relationships, play and rest?

Remember what the flight attendant always reminds us: you need to put the oxygen mask on yourself first before you can put it on the child or the elderly person next to you. If you’re not able to breathe, you won’t be able to help anyone else breathe either. Indeed self care is analogous to that oxygen mask. We need it so we can care for others.

* Kayta Curzie Gajdos holds a doctorate in counseling psychology and is in private practice in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania. She welcomes comments atMindMatters@DrGajdos.com or 610-388-2888. Past columns are posted towww.drgajdos.com.

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Random-Lee: Summer recess

Along the Ford

One of the things I love about living in a part of the country that has four seasons is that we can experience so many different “rebirths” throughout the year. Like the freshness of watching things turn green every spring after the long winter’s nap, or the cleansing of winter when everything is covered in a blanket of fresh white snow. And then there is the exhilaration of the “end of the year” when students leave their books and classrooms behind and “turn it off” for the summer with visions of swimming pools, summer camps, amusement parks and vacation trips to the beach, the mountains, some new exciting place.

Like those school kids, we too will be taking “summer vacation,” heading off to New England in June, then to the beach in July, and then a much anticipated family trip to Italy at the end of summer. Things always seem to go full circle in life, including the joy of taking “summer off” when you reach retirement age!

I wish you all a very relaxed and invigorating summer, wherever your vacation plans take you, and will see you again in the fall.

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