September 5, 2013 – ChaddsFordLive.com

Supervisor: Keep Woodlawn zoning as is

At least one Concord Township supervisor doesn’t want to change the current zoning in the 325 acres of property owned by Woodlawn Trustees.

Elizabeth “Libby” Salvucci said at the end of a rather routine Board of Supervisors’ meeting on Sept. 3 that the current zoning should be kept.

She commented further after the meeting finished.

“We don’t have a plan in front of us but, based on what I’ve heard from everyone and their feelings on it, I’m inclined to leave the zoning as it is and see what happens,” Salvucci said.

She said she spoke to many people at the Open Space Music Fest last month and they all said they wanted the property zoning kept as is. Those comments, however, did not change her opinion.

“From the beginning I was always open to saying that I felt this way,” she said after the meeting, adding that most of the comments made at the festival centered around wishes that a consortium could buy the property.

“I wish there was something out there, some miracle that it would happen,” she said. “We just don’t know what’s available right now. But, by us not changing the zoning, hopefully it can happen.”

Salvucci was appointed supervisor in 2011 to replace Colleen Morone who was elected to Delaware County Council in the general election that year. She is running for a full term as supervisor this year and is challenged by Democrat Dan Foster.

According to Foster, “That’s great, but she’s a day late and a dollar short.”

He said coming out in favor of keeping the current zoning would have been stronger had Salvucci done so before Woodlawn withdrew its application. Foster called it a political move for the election.

The property in question is from the Delaware state line to Smithbridge Road and from Route 202 to the Concord Township border with Chadds Ford. Woodlawn wants to sell the property, but first wants it rezoned. It withdrew the application for rezoning in the spring because, Green said, there was too much misinformation regarding the plans. He said he would submit a new plan sometime this fall.

According to Woodlawn CEO Vernon Green, rezoning would allow greater residential density, but also guarantee more open space. Opponents disagree.

Woodlawn wants to sell the property so it can continue to provide affordable housing in Wilmington.

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Board approves HARB applications for new restaurants

Local News

It appears that Chadds Ford Township will be getting two new Italian restaurants. When they will open is uncertain.

Supervisors on Sept. 4 approved Historical and Architectural Review Board certificates of approval for Felini Café and Antica Restaurant.

The restaurants will be across the street from each other along Route 1 near Creek Road. Antica will move into the former Bistro on the Brandywine across the parking lot from Brandywine Prime. Felini, as previously reported in June, will be in the center across the street in the old Wawa location.

The café was approved for a new ventilation system, but nothing else. Supervisors said there are more approvals needed before it can open.

Antica, which will be a BYOB, was approved for new signage and owners said they hope to open in the second week of October.

Other business

Attorney John Jaros, representing K. Hovnanian Homes, told supervisors that since the proposed overlay is on the Planning Commission’s back burner, his client will be asking that the 20-acre parcel along Brandywine Drive be rezoned from PBC, Planned Business Center to R-M, Residential Multi-family.

He said he understands the need to go through the zoning hearing process and hopes to prove the idea is appropriate.

Supervisors’ Chairman Deborah Love reminded Jaros that the board would still want impact studies on traffic and how the proposed 114-unit townhouse development would affect the school district.

Supervisors George Thorpe and Keith Klaver said they agreed with Love, adding that they would need more information on the specifics of the plan before they could say whether they were comfortable with the proposal. Klaver added that he was disappointed that the Planning Commission was not working on the overlay at this time.

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Retracing Mason and Dixon

Along the Ford

driving-spike — Retracing Mason and Dixon

The Brandywine Valley has more historic significance than just the Battle of Brandywine in 1777. It’s also where surveyors Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon made the astronomical calculations needed for their namesake Mason-Dixon Line.

Members of the Surveyors Historical Society came to Chester County to honor that fact during their 2013 rendezvous by driving a spike into Star Gazer Road in Newlin Township to mark the spot where Mason and Dixon set up their original observatory.

This year’s rendezvous was a kickoff to the 250^th anniversary of the creation of the line.

“We’re out here today to mark the location of the observatory where Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon started the 15-mile line from the southern-most latitude of Philadelphia down to the west line between Pennsylvania and Maryland,” said Todd Babcock of the society.

While the Mason and Dixon Line is more readily associated with the line separating the Union from the Confederacy during the Civil War, the line was intended to ascertain the the exact border between Pennsylvania and Maryland in order to settle a boundary dispute — dating back to the 1681 — between the Penn and Calvert families, Babcock said. That border was to be 15 miles south of the southern most point in Philadelphia.

The surveyors arrived in Philadelphia in November 1763. At that time, the southern-most point in Philaldephia was at what is now where I-95 crosses South Street. At that time, though, it was called Cedar Street, according to Babcock. But it would have been too difficult to measure from there because they would have had to cross the Delaware River. So, from South Street in Philadelphia they traveled 31 miles west to the Harland House in Newlin Township and set up their camp in January of 1764.

That 31-mile distance put Mason and Dixon almost due north of the northeast corner of Maryland where it meets Pennsylvania. Babcock said 15 miles south of the point in Newlin is no more than 3 miles east from the point where Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware meet.

Mason and Dixon set up their astronomical observatory to take their readings on what is now Star Gazer Road, just off Embreeville Road, or state Route 162. In October 1767, the pair finished their 233-mile long line in the area of what is now Wheeling, W.Va.

Members of the society drove a spike into the street in front of the original Harland home, several hundred yards south of the original Stare Gazers stone.

Babcock said the original is actually in the wrong place, that it’s too far north to be the actual site of the observatory.

After driving in the spike, Babcock and others unveiled a smaller version of the stone — of the same Settlers quartzite material — with a plaque commemorating the observatory.

Prior to the ceremony, members of the society displayed exhibits of early surveying equipment and several demonstrated the use of a perambulating waywiser, or walking wheel. The wheel has a known circumference and surveyors would walk the wheel from point to point counting the revolutions to determine the distance between the points.

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Living History: We haven’t forgotten

Local News

Cannon-fire — Living History: We haven’t forgotten

Two world-changing events occurred on the same date separated by 224 years. One was the Battle of the Brandywine, the largest military engagement in America up until the Civil War. The latter one was an act of lunacy by terrorists that shocked the world. Both have earned an important place in our heritage.

Although nearly 12 years have passed since the attack on Sept. 11, 2001, the scenes of destruction and mayhem remain embedded in the collective memory of our nation. On that morning, 19 hijackers linked to al-Queda wrested control of four American commercial airliners, using them as lethal weapons. American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York City; United Airlines Flight 175 penetrated the south tower. Simultaneously, others among the deranged group directed American Airlines Flight 77 into the walls of the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Terrorists aboard United Airlines Flight 93 were targeting other strategic facilities in Washington- possibly the White House or the U.S. Capital building. Brave passengers managed to stop them, the plane crashing into the countryside near Shanksville, Pa. Nearly 3,000 people perished that sunny September morning in what was the most violent attack in United States history. As the images floated across television screens around the world, hundreds of millions of law-abiding citizens were stunned with an unpleasant reality- we’d entered a new age, one constantly threatened by those who want to destroy our way of life.

Sept. 11, 2001 was not an isolated event, but it was the most consequential. Our country had experienced many acts of terror over the years. From the first World Trade Center bombing in 1993 to the devastating attacks on U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998 and the assault on the U.S.S. Cole in October 2000, we’d been given many warnings, signposts along a road now more treacherous, filled with both uncertainty and the possibility of future atrocities difficult to prevent.

The September 11th Remembrance has become a solemn fixture each year at Brandywine Battlefield Park- honoring the day Lafayette fought with General Washington to help us gain our independence and the tragic day 12 years ago as important in our history. This year many special guests have been asked to be part of the ceremonies. Brother David Schlatter, a member of the Franciscans will ring his “Bells of Remembrance” as he has done for several of these memorials. Schlatter’s appearance will follow his performance ringing the bells at a similar event the same day in downtown New York City. John Sagrati, a member of the Ceol Neomh Pipe Band in Lancaster, Pa. will be there playing the bagpipes in solemn recognition of all who died and those who served valiantly trying to save them. The Brandywine Baptist Church will sing hymns honoring all these heroes. There will even be an appearance by the “father of our country”- General George Washington in full military uniform, as portrayed by “living biographer” Carl Closs. Closs has been at the Park for this occasion many times. He’s appeared as Washington at numerous venues around the country, including Mount Rushmore, Valley Forge and others for the last 16 years.

Today many children wonder what it would be like to talk to their father who never came home that day from work. Hundreds of men still grieve, seeing the empty chair at the dinner table where their wife once sat. Most peace-loving people have trouble understanding the mindset which produced these tragic events. We all likely sense- deep down inside- that our country has changed forever. Yet, this new world need not be one of fear. It is one in which we must alter the way we detect threats to our national security before they become disasters. Amidst this heightened level of danger, we cannot lose sight of two things. Those who perished that day in 1777 and 2001 will always be heroes. The other is more fundamental. We must not grant terrorists the option to dictate the way we live our lives. To allow that would deliver the victory they’ll so gladly die for. Prevailing through our struggle for independence and more recently those horrific attacks, we as a nation are stronger, more resilient and wiser than we were before being tested in the forge of calamity. We should use that wisdom to build a better, safer world for all mankind.

The commemoration this year will be on Wednesday September 11th from 6- 6:30 P.M. at Brandywine Battlefield Park. For more information, please call the Park at 610- 459- 3342 or visit their website at http://brandywinebattlefield.org/.

* Gene Pisasale is an author and lecturer based in Kennett Square, Pa. He has written six books and conducts an ongoing lecture series on topics of historical interest. Gene’s latest book is “The Forgotten Star” which delves into the War of 1812 and true life mysteries surrounding the Star-Spangled Banner. It is dedicated to all of our Veterans. His website is www.GenePisasale.com; he can be reached at Gene@GenePisasale.com.

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Adopt-a-Pet: Maxine

Along the Ford

Maxine is a sweet and quiet young adult kitty that came to CCSPCA in May as a lost cat. Maxine loves nothing more than to cuddle and sit on a lap to be petted. She currently resides in the shelter’s cat community room with a few other cats and kittens, so Maxine is suitable for a multiple-cat home. Maxine is looking for a quieter home where she can take her time adjusting to her new surroundings. If you are able to provide Maxine 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. Maxine’s registration number is 96814318. 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 for kittens and mother cats. Additional information and applications are available online or at the shelter.

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Photo of the Week: Cape May Sunset

Photo of the Week

Cape-May-Sunset-copy — Photo of the Week: Cape May Sunset

As the title implies, sunset at the Cape May, N.J. point. A framed 8×10 of the image will be raffled at Chadds Ford days.

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Police log Sept. 5: Burglaries in Concord; a reminder from PSP

Police

• Southco, on Brinton Lake Road in Concord Township, was the victim of theft sometime between Aug. 14 and 28. A police report said six brass valves were stolen from a fire hydrant near the front of the property. The valves are reportedly worth $1,600.

• Sometime between 5 p.m. on Aug. 28 and 6:50 a.m. on Aug. 29, 60 feet of copper pipe was stolen from a construction site on Route 202 in Concord Township. Police said the copper was valued at $500.

• State Tpr. Rosemary McGuire, from Troop K, Media barracks reminds residents to phone police immediately when they see something or someone suspicious. She said people sometimes use e-mail, but that takes too long. She also said people should identify their location by township, not mailing address. “Glen Mills is not a township,” she told Concord Township supervisors and residents during a Sept. 3 supervisors’ meeting.

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Around Town Sept. 5

Along the Ford

• Chadds Ford Days is this weekend, Sept. 7 and 8 in the meadow at the Chadds Ford Historical Society, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Re-enactors, Colonial exhibits, arts and crafts from local artisans, live music, food, beverages and fun for the entire family. Gen. George Washington and local patriot Ned Hector will be there giving talks on the American Revolution.

• The Kennett Area Senior Center sponsors a Book Club session on Tuesday, Sept. 10 from 10 – 11 a.m. The Book Club meets on the second Tuesday of each month and is always looking for new members to join the group for stimulating and interesting discussions. They will be reviewing the book “Defending Jacob” by William Landay. Please contact Cindy Engle at 610-444-3947 if you would be interested in joining the club.

• It’s music on the Brandywine beginning Friday, Sept. 13 as The Brandywine River Museum presents Andy Kahn’s All-Star Jazz Trio. Swing to the sounds of be-bop, American standards and mainstream jazz compositions in this salute to the Great American Songbook of singers and composers. Pianist Andy Kahn, bassist Bruce Kaminsky and drummer Bruce Klauber will perform in this concert presented in conjunction with World Cafe Live at the Queen. The museum’s concert series expands this fall to include jazz, classical music, be-bop, funk and classic soul. All performances take place in the museum’s glass-walled lobby.

• Crozer-Keystone Health System will offer a free “Men’s Wellness Program at the Lake” on Saturday, Sept. 21, from 8 a.m. to noon in the Crozer-Keystone Regional Cancer Center at Brinton Lake, 500 Evergreen Drive in Glen Mills. The event will feature glucose/cholesterol screenings, prostate screenings, educational presentations and a continental breakfast.

• A reunion of Darby-Colwyn High School classes 1963, 1964 (50th) and 1965 will take place Saturday, Sept. 21, beginning with cocktails at 6 p.m. (cash bar) and a 7 p.m. dinner at the Renaissance Hotel (near Philadelphia Airport), 500 Stevens Drive, Philadelphia PA 19113, with casual “meet-and-greet” at the hotel Friday, Sept. 20, 6 pm. Price is $75 perperson. Block of rooms held at the hotel for Saturday night, at reduced rate. Call 610-876-9568. Music by Steve Kurtz Entertainment.

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History Made Personal: The Civil War comes to the Sanderson

Local News

The Christian C. Sanderson Museum in Chadds Ford presents a new exhibit: “History Made Personal: The Civil War” starting Sept. 27. The opening of this exhibit will be celebrated with events on September 27, 28 and 29, including an opening reception, a reading of a children’s book, and an appearance by local author Bruce Mowday. The exhibit will be on display at the museum through Nov. 30.

This exhibit will include a letter written by the man who lowered the Union flag at Fort Sumter, the purse that was in Jennie Wade’s apron pocket when she was killed at the Battle of Gettysburg and much, much more. The opening of the exhibit begins

From the collection of the Sanderson Museum, a letter to Christian Sanderson by W.S Hammer, the man who lowered the Union flag at Fort Sumter.

Friday, Sept. 27 with a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. The reception includes refreshments, music and a Civil War reenactor dressed in an authentic uniform who will put on a weapon demonstration and teach visitors about his clothing and equipment.

Tickets to the reception are $5 for Sanderson Museum members and $10 for non-members. Space is limited to attend the reception, so reservations are suggested.

On Saturday, Sept. 28, the museum will entertain children with Li’l Dan, The Drummer Boy, by Romare Bearden, presented by a recorded reading by Maya Angelou. Afterwards, children will have fun making a replica of Li’l Dan’s drum that they can take home. There will be book readings at 1 and 2:30 p.m. Cost is $3 per child.

The events conclude Sunday, Sept. 29, with popular local author Bruce Mowday entertaining visitors with tales from his book, Pickett’s Charge: The Untold Story, about the decisive Confederate defeat on the last day of the Battle of Gettysburg. A book signing will follow. Signed prints by renowned Chadds Ford artist Karl J. Kuerner will also be available.

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Mind Matters: The I and the we

Health

“Let there be spaces between your togetherness,” said Kahlil Gibran, the Lebanese poet, long ago. Meanwhile, before even his words, the German poet, R.M. Rilke reminds us, “Love consists in this: that two solitudes protect and touch and greet each other.”

The poets speak the wisdom of family and couples therapists. I often describe to my clients how relationships need both an “I” and a “we.” Whether couples are straight or gay makes no matter: the dynamics are the same. Every long term relationship—marriage—to be healthy, necessitates a continual balance between being two individuals and being a unit of “one.”

Without a balance between these two opposites—separateness and togetherness—relationships can flounder. I have seen couples who have grown apart because their individual paths were so dominant that their lives stopped intersecting: these couples literally grew apart. Living in parallel universes, they no longer shared any interests, did not initiate pursuits that would bring them together again.

The other end of the spectrum involves couples thast display such togetherness that there is no breathing room. What often happens in such cases is that one person will feel smothered by the “fusion” and attempts to break free. Unfortunately, the break may not just be a plea for space in the relationship but may be a cry instead to sever the relationship entirely.

Another version of “we-ness” gone awry occurs when one person in the relationship “de-selfs” him or herself in deference to the other. In “de-selfing” there is an imbalance of “power” in the relationship. Instead of being peers, seeing eye to eye, one partner maybe more dominant while the other may be more submissive. This can be blatant: as in physically abusive relationships where one partner, usually the male, controls the other, usually the woman, by violence. Yet this power play can be subtle as well—for example, when one partner controls the purse strings or when job moves are made unilaterally without consideration of the effects on the partner and the family in general.

An antidote to “de-selfing” is respect for each individual’s needs. Having a “self” is not to be confused with selfishness. Honoring the self in relationship is the only way to bring aliveness to the “we” of relationship.

I recall many years ago, the early family therapists, Salvador and Pat Minuchin, remarking how partners may sometimes have to take turns in the individuation process. Simply put, “individuation” is about maturation with the adult that is fully you, as in Abraham Maslow’s terms, self-actualization. The Minuchins observed, in their work with graduate students that only one student partner could complete his or her dissertation while the other partner kept the home fires burning. Then they could switch roles. In other words, one person kept the we-ness alive and well, while the other focused on individuation. Otherwise, if both were individuating at the same time, the possibility loomed large that each would veer off into separate parallel universes! Surely there are exceptions to the Minuchin’s generalization. Anecdotally, however, I can attest that my spouse completed his dissertation first, and then I completed mine.

In healthy relationships, there is respect for both the “I” and the “We.” There is acknowledgment that awareness, growth, and aliveness come from the constant movement between these seeming polarities. In fact, the dance between gives more fullness to both!

* 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 www.drgajdos.com.

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