December 5, 2013 - ChaddsFordLive.com

Spencer “Skip” B. Kennedy III, of Wilmington

Spencer “Skip” B. Kennedy III, 62, of Wilmington, originally of Landenberg, died Tuesday, Dec. 3, at Compassionate Care Hospice at St. Francis Hospital in Wilmington. He was the longtime companion of Kathy O’Brien for over 17 years.

Born in Wilmington, DE, he was the son of Spencer B. Kennedy, Jr. and Jeanne D. West Kennedy of Oxford.

He was a construction worker for J.R. Coldiron, Inc. in Avondale,for many years, and was a member of the Carpenter’s Local Union No. 626.

Skip loved deep sea fishing, especially years spent with friends as “Skipper” aboard the GoGo.

He loved his vegetable garden and canning and was known for his excellent jams. He loved spending time at the family cabin in the mountains. He enjoyed month long birthday celebrations.

Skip was a fun loving, kind hearted, good-spirited, genuine human being, always ready for a good time, and will be remembered for his perpetual smile.

In addition to his parents and partner, he is survived by three daughters, Krista K. Taylor and her husband Daniel of Kemblesville, Nichole D. Kennedy of Kennett Square and Brittany K. Petrucci and her husband Eric of New London; five sisters, Edith Weidlein and her husband Philip of Newark, Del., Virginia Stidoms and her husband Jesse of Oxford, Donna Norris and her husband Lee of Elkton, Md., Debra Crom and her husband Bob of Jacksonville, N.C. and Peggy Krygier and her husband Ken of Gaithersburg, Md. and his step daughters, Jennifer Kutney-Soper (Michael) and Meagan Kutney. He loved being a pop-pop to his four grandchildren, Joey Borror, Dylan Petrucci, Mekhi and Jonathan.

You are invited to Skip’s graveside ceremony at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10, at Kemblesville United Methodist Church Cemetery, 1772 New London Road (Route 896) Kemblesville, PA 19347. A Gathering celebrating his life will follow at 2 p.m. at the Italian American Club 30 Ways Ln, Kennett Square, PA 19348. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Compassionate Care Hospice 405 East Marsh Lane Suite 4 Newport, DE 19804. Arrangements are being handled by the Cleveland & Grieco Funeral Home Inc. 610-268-2166 of Avondale. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.griecocares.com

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John ‘Jack’ Williamson Taylor, formerly of Kennett Square

Obituaries

John ‘Jack’ Williamson Taylor, 91, of Estero, Fla., formerly of Kennett Square, died at Joanne’s House at Hope Hospice in Bonita Springs, Fla. on Saturday, Nov. 30. He was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years Rebecca Plankinton, also originally from Kennett Square.

Jack graduated from Brown’s Technical High School in Wilmington. He proudly served his country in the US Army during WWII, spending 27 of his 38 months in the service overseas.

Upon early retirement as a mechanic from the Sunoco Oil Refinery in Marcus Hook, Jack moved to Estero with Becky to enjoy the sunny, warm climate of Florida. Competitive shuffleboard was their passion. He and Becky enjoyed traveling by motorhome throughout the US during the summer, often stopping to visit friends and relatives along the way. Estero became his permanent home following the passing of Becky in 1995. Jack also enjoyed hosting the weekly bingo games at his retirement village recreation center.

Jack was preceded in death by his father, William Turner Taylor, his mother, Elizabeth Williamson, and three brothers, William Turner Taylor, Richard Stern Taylor, and Horace Darlington Taylor. He is survived by his brother Newell C. Taylor of Millsboro, Del. Also, surviving are cousins Jayne Taylor (David) Richter of West Chester, Ronald N. Taylor (Donna) of Goodrich, Mich., and William C. Taylor (Marcia), of Bridgeton, N.J., godson, Bradford S. Taylor (Sara) and many nieces and nephews.

You are invited to join family and friends from 11 to noon on Saturday, Dec. 7, at the Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home, 610-444-4116, 250 West State Street in Kennett Square. His funeral service will follow. Interment will be at Longwood Cemetery. Contributions in his memory may be made to the National Parkinson Foundation Gift Processing Center PO Box 5018

Hagerstown, MD 21741. To share condolences, please visit www.griecocares.com

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Anna M. McMillan of Oxford

Obituaries

Anna M. McMillan, 75, of Oxford, died Thursday, Dec. 5, at the Chester County Hospital.

Born in London Grove, she was the daughter of the late Ernest and Anna Brown Peterson.

Anna was a certified nursing assistant for 20 years, retiring in 1999. She last worked at Neighborhood Visiting Nurse Association in West Chester.

She was a member of the Full Gospel Apostolic Church in Kennett Square.

Anna enjoyed gardening, lawn work and playing her guitar.

She is survived by two sons, Lawrence B. Wilson of Lancaster, and Hugh D. Wilson and his wife Marjorie of Oxford; one daughter, Violet H. Green and her husband Dennis of Lancaster; five sisters, Adeline Trotter of Dinnwiddi, Va., Joan Griffy of Kennett Square, Shirley Davis of Kennett Square, Jean Glasco of Kennett Square, and Rosetta Juarez of Kennett Square; her former husband, Bobby McMillan of Media, and fifteen grandchildren, many great grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews.

Anna was predeceased by one son, Arthur Wilson; three brothers, Arthur N. Peterson, Mason C. Peterson , and Ernest Peterson ; two sisters, Violet Owens and Dolly Peterson.

You are invited to visit with her family and friends from 11 to noon, Tuesday, Dec. 10, at the Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home, 250 West State Street in Kennett Square. Her funeral service will follow. Burial will be private.

In memory of Anna, a contribution may be made to the American Cancer Society 1626 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103.

Online condolences may be made by visiting www.griecocares.com

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Concord closes Wegman’s hearing

Local News

The bureaucratic hurdles are coming to an end for a proposed Wegman’s grocery store in Concord Township. Supervisors there closed a conditional use hearing on Dec. 3 and are expected to render their decision on Dec. 10 at 6:45 p.m.

The board is also expected to give its decision on the Wegman’s land use application that same night. Concord’s Planning Commission has recommended approval.

Dennis Glacken, the applicant’s land planner, said the final plan is pretty much the same as was previously proposed. The only changes were in the number of parking spaces and some modifications to the shape of the building. While the shape has changed, it’s still a 140,000 square foot building.

Glacken said the total number of parking spaces was reduced from 804 to 752, but that’s still more than the 620 spaces required by Concord’s ordinance. The spaces were reduced because of the inclusion of several islands in the parking lot.

There could still be more parking if the Chadds Ford Zoning Hearing Board grants a variance for parking only use on an adjacent piece of property in Chadds Ford. That decision could come on Dec. 18.

Wegman’s wants parking on the adjacent property near the store’s planned outdoor seating area.

There was no opposition during the Dec. 3 hearing. Whole Foods and Applied Card had initial opposition, but Whole Foods, through attorney Rocco Imperatrice, and Wegman’s reached an agreement regarding traffic.

Wegman’s attorney Robert Gundlach and Garth Hoyt, representing Applied Card, are working on an agreement whereby Wegman’s will pay to move a guard shack so motorists won’t try to get to Wegman’s through Applied Card Way off of Route 202.

The piece of Applied Card Way at Route 1 will become part of the southeast segment of the loop road allowing drivers to go between routes 1 and 202 without using the main intersection. Completing that section of the loop road will be one of the conditions required for approving the project.

December’s session was a continuance from a hearing in May that dealt with conditional use and a text change to the zoning code. That text change was approved and part of that allows for a single store of more than 65,000 square feet, but only with conditional use approval.

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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New faces on U-CF School Board

Local News

School-Board-3178 — New faces on U-CF School Board

Chadds Ford’s Carolyn Daniels raised her right hand and took the oath of office to become the new Region C representative to the Unionville-Chadds Ford School Board.

She will serve the remaining two years of Frank Murphy’s term. Murphy resigned from the board in June. Leticia Flores DeWilde had been appointed to fill in for Murphy until the November general election, but was defeated in the election by Daniels.

Region C is made up of Chadds Ford and Pennsbury townships.

Also new to the school board are Michael Rock and Steven Simonson from Region B, comprising Birmingham, Pocopson and Newlin townships. Rock and Simonson replace Jeff Leiser and Holly Manzone, both of whom chose not to run for re-election.

Incumbent board Directors Jeff Hellrung and Keith Knauss were also sworn in for another term. They ran unopposed in November and will, again, represent Region A, East and West Marlborough.

The swearing in ceremony took place during the board’s Dec. 2 re-organization meeting in the district office meeting room.

During the meeting, Vic Dupuis, also from region A, was elected board president and Chadds Ford’s Gregg Lindner was elected vice president.

Following the reorganization, board members voted to hire Megan Garvin as a special education teacher at CF Patton Middle School. Her hiring is part of the autistic support program.

Photo: Unionville-Chadds Ford School Board members from left to right, standing are Michael Rock, Carolyn Daniels, Jeff Hellrung, Kathy Do, Steven Simonson, Keith Knauss and Eileen Bushelow. Seated are Gregg Lindner, Vic Dupuis and Superintendent John Sanville.

About Rich Schwartzman

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Around Town Dec. 5

Along the Ford

• Top photo: Chadds Ford Gallery’s 32^nd annual Christmas in Miniature is underway through the end of the year. More than 70 local and nationally known artists have their works on display’

The McCoy doll collection. (Photo by Rich Schwartzman)

• There’s something for everyone during Brandywine Christmas at the Brandywine River Museum. The O-gauge model railroad attracts boys and girls of all ages, as does the doll display.

O-gauge model trains (Photo by Rich Schwartzman)

Rob and Katharine King join Sue Minarchi during one of the rare times the train exhibit runs for adults only. (Photo by Emily Myers)

• More than 70 Chadds Ford Business Association members and friends met at the Brandywine River Museum on Monday, Dec. 2. The group gathered on the first floor for hors d’oeuvres and libation. Guests then enjoyed the train exhibit and Ann Wyeth McCoy’s dolls and dollhouses. The scenes in the dollhouses are so complete that there is an NC Wyeth painting of Santa over the fireplace. All enjoyed the “Night at the Museum.”

• Concord Township will hold its annual tree lighting and photo with Santa at the Concord Community Center, 43 Thornton Road, from 6-9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6. There will be traditional reindeer food and youngsters can write letters to Santa, enjoy cookies and milk, listen to the carolers, and make a craft.

• Barnaby’s in West Chester —15 S. High Street — will host a live Eagles event during the Old Fashioned Christmas Parade on Dec. 6. Sean Brace of 97.5 The Fanatic fame and a burgeoning talent in Philadelphia sports radio will host a celebration with three Eagles cheerleaders, three Eagles players, and Swoop, the Eagles mascot. Autographs will be signed there will be Old Fashioned Christmas Cheer. The event starts at 7 p.m.

• The Chadds Ford Historical Society is again celebrating the holiday season with Candlelight Christmas on Saturday, Dec. 7. Visitors can tour 15 historic and distinctive homes decked out in seasonal splendor in the Unionville and Marlborough Village area. Most of the homes date back to the 18^th and early-mid 19^th centuries. John Chads House (circa 1725), Taggart’s Tavern (1800), the Marlborough Meetinghouse (1801) and the Christian Sanderson Museum (early 1840s) along with many others will be decorated and hosting visitors from 1- 6 p.m.

Darlington caption: Preschool music teacher Stevie Neale shows preschool student Aisling Donahue, of Wilmington, how to play a drum during a Native American unit.

• Darlington Arts Center is hosting a kid-friendly preschool open house on Tuesday, Dec. 10 from 9:45-11 a.m. Parents are encouraged to bring their children and participate in “An Adventure through the Arts.” Throughout the morning, children will participate in 3 different activities with Darlington’s teaching artists (music, art, dance, or drama), and families will have the opportunity to tour the facility, meet preschool instructors, and learn about the curriculum. New spaces are opening in January, and registrations will be accepted at the event. By attending Preschool Open House, families will receive a $10 coupon. Please RSVP to Katie@darlingtonarts.org. Registrations for January will also be accepted at the event. By attending Preschool Open House, families will receive a $10 coupon. Please RSVP to Katie@darlingtonarts.org.

• The Kennett Area Senior Center sponsors an afternoon Tea Party on Tuesday, Dec. 10 from 2:30 – 4 p.m. In addition to a variety of fine teas, delicacies are served. The theme of December’s Tea Party is “Snow Flakes and Mistletoe.” The cost is $10 for members and $12 for non-members. Please call the KASC for reservations at 610-444-4819.

• Join the director of the Brandywine River Museum for a special event at the Hotel du Pont. Tom Padon will discuss N.C. Wyeth, including how he settled in the Brandywine Valley, his influence on other artists, and the collections at the museum and the hotel of work by the artist. This is the third lecture in a series celebrating the centennial of the hotel. The cost of the Speaker Series presentation is $65 per attendee, and includes a champagne & hors d’oeuvres reception, lecture, and Q&A session. For more information and reservations, please call the Hotel du Pont at 302-594-3154.

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Photo of the Week: Pastoral Pennsbury

Photo of the Week

Ladies-Day--3169 — Photo of the Week: Pastoral Pennsbury

Cows take a break after grazing on a lazy afternoon.

About Rich Schwartzman

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No tax increase in Chadds Ford

Local News

To borrow an old phrase: There will be no new taxes in Chadds Ford, not going into 2014 at least.

Supervisors, on Dec. 4, unanimously passed the budget for next year without raising any taxes. The current millage rate of 0.787 will remain for most property owners. Those whose property is in a fire hydrant district will continue to pay a rate of 0.882 mills. A mill is a tax of $1 for every $1,000 of assessed property value.

The budget is balanced with income and expenses anticipated at slightly more $1.2 million.

Property, open space and local enabling taxes represent the largest sources of income. They total $637,694, more than half the projected income.

The major portion of anticipated costs pertain to road and highway services. That total comes to almost $300,000. Wages and benefits for township manager, secretary and treasurer add another $176,000, while legal and engineering costs are anticipated at a combined $133,500.

Deborah Love prepares to sign the last batch of bills as a supervisor in Chadds Ford Township.

Other business

• The Dec. 4 meeting was the last regularly scheduled meeting for Deborah Love as supervisor. She did not get the Republican Party’s endorsement to run for another term. Frank Murphy will replace her on the board beginning in January.

Supervisor George Thorpe thanked Love at the beginning of the meeting for her years of service to the township. At the end of the meeting, Love thanked the people of Chadds Ford, saying it had been “an honor to serve for 12 years.”

• Picking up on business from last month, the board acted on an appeal from Dave Kelleher, the owner of David Dodge. Kelleher renovated his dealership and had been assessed $8,600 for open space as part of the Fee in Lieu ordinance.

The ordinance requires a donation of land or a fee in lieu of land for developers who develop a certain amount of land or for others who renovate property.

Love, last month, suggested that the fee charged be lowered to $1,500 because of assistance Kelleher has given to the township over the years. However, Supervisor Keith Klaver objected.

The resolution was passed with a provision allowing Kelleher to appeal, which he did. The board voted Dec. 4 to lower the fee to $3,500.

• The board also voted 3-0 to allow a request for a zoning text amendment to go forward to the Planning Commission and the Delaware County Planning Department. If approved, the change would allow for assisted living facilities in the B-business district.

Such a facility — a three-story structure on Route 202 — is being sought. The location is the former site of C Harry B 4 U Buy.

About Rich Schwartzman

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Police Log Dec. 5: Crashes, thefts

Police

• Driving too fast for conditions is being blamed for an accident that sent a Parkesburg woman to the hospital on Nov. 27. Police said Andrew J. Throckmorton, 28, of Exton, was driving his Toyota 4 Runner in the left lane on Route 202 behind a Ford F 100 just south of Ridge Road in Chadds Ford Township. The report said the Ford was slowing down due to traffic, but Throckmorton was driving at an unsafe speed and could not slow down in time. The Ford driver, a 61-year-old woman, was transported to Chester Crozer medical facility with what was described as a “major injury.”

• A New Jersey man was sent to the hospital following a one-vehicle accident on Route 202 in Chadds Ford on Nov. 17. The severity of the injuries was not known at the time of the police report. According to police, Michael C. Hackett, 54, of Cape May Courthouse, was driving his 1999 Doge van in the northbound shoulder of Route 202 in order to pass another vehicle. He then re-entered the roadway moving toward the left lane, but never made it. The report said he moved back into the right lane and onto the shoulder again before he left the roadway completely, driving onto a lawn, crossing a driveway, driving over a curb on the opposite side of the driveway, back onto the lawn before colliding with a boulder that he pushed across the lawn before hitting a wall and coming to rest against a tree.

• One person was cited, but no injuries were reported after a three-car accident on Route 322 in Concord Township on Nov. 20. Police said Gary R. Christy was following too closely when he struck the vehicle in front of him, forcing the second vehicle into a third. Both of those vehicles were stopping because of slow traffic, police.

• Speed is being blamed for a one-vehicle accident at Smithbridge Road on Nov. 28. Police said James H. Porter, 31, of Willow Grove, was driving west on Smithbridge about 8:10 p.m. when he lost control of his 2004 Jeep Liberty on an icy patch near the intersection at Heyburn Road and hit a tree. According to the report, Porter had minor head injuries, but he refused medical treatment.

• Police said Gary Fenza, 23, of Media, was arrested for DUI after he was stopped for multiple traffic violations along Thornton Road at Trimble Road at 11:13 p.m. on Nov, 27.

• State police are investigating a burglary at a residence on Naamans Creek Road in Concord Township. A report said someone forced entry into the home sometime between 8:30 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Nov. 29. An undisclosed amount of cash was stolen.

• Two Nike gym bags were stolen from a vehicle parked at Keenan’s Auto Body in Chadds Ford Township sometime between Nov. 15 and 23, a police report said. Anyone with information is asked to call the state police Media barracks at 484-840-1000 and anyone who was having their vehicle fixed at Keenan’s during that time should inventory their belongings.

• No names were released, but police filed harassment charges against a 67-year-old Chadds Ford man. A report said the suspect threatened to shoot a 69-year old man at 300 Evergreen Drive in Concord Township shortly before 1 p.m. on Nov. 25.

• Someone stole a Samsung Galaxy S 3 phone and $30 from a 25-year-old Nottingham woman while at the Outback Steakhouse on Byers Drive in Concord Township. Police said the theft happened sometime between noon and 5 p.m. on Nov. 27.

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88 keys can’t contain her

Arts & Entertainment

Rei Hotoda began playing piano at the age of 3 in Japan. Hotoda arrived Tuesday in Kennett Square to audition for the position of Conductor of the Kennett Symphony. The next morning she told her story — a

geographic and career journey — to a group from the Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce.

After an undergraduate and doctoral degree in piano performance, a career as a concert pianist would have seemed most likely path. As a student, Hotoda was playing a concerto under the direction of another student. She told of how wanted to jump up and tell the conductor how to conduct the symphony orchestra. The 88 keys of the piano were no longer enough.

Describing her experience as conductor, Hotoda said conducting is multitasking leadership, management, and psychology. The conductor must lead a group of individuals, each with his own talents and history, to a goal. The goal is not just beating notes out, but it is for the individuals to come together to make music.

Hotoda is the second of three candidates to come to Kennett Square Symphony during this conductor search season. The candidates come to Kennett Square for one week where they are given a budget and plan a program within that budget. One hard decision she made was to use a keyboard instead of a full piano to offer a variety of pieces and instruments yet stay within budget.

“Spirit of the Season” is the name of the concert to be held at Kennett High School Saturday night at 8 p.m. The concert venue and time of year tend to have family participation. With this in mind, Hotoda selected many favorite and short pieces that are accessible. The few pieces that might be less familiar will be accompanied by a brief description.

Having selected the works to be played, the orchestra members come to three rehearsals knowing the music.

“There is a lot of trust involved,” she said.

The musicians have to know their parts. This concert involves the Kennett Symphony Children’s Chorus so they too have to arrive having practiced.

The schedule is one rehearsal with the chorus, which happened the day Hotoda arrived. The next two days are 2 ½ hour rehearsals with the orchestra. Finally the day of the performance, there is a dress rehearsal with chorus and orchestra.

In between the actual rehearsals, Hotoda is meeting with many constituencies of the Kennett Symphony including the board, the press, and the patrons.

Hotoda’s vision for the evening is a Christmas party with the spirit of giving. Concert goers are asked to arrive with canned goods to be donated to the Kennett Food Cupboard.

Parades and parties are what Hotoda would recommend for the 75^th anniversary of the Kennett Symphony coming up next year. She would like to see an artist in residence and a fund begun for the Kennett Symphony to build its own concert hall.

Monica Buffington, Executive Director, said that the Kennett Symphony enjoys an excellent relationship and the wonderful facilities of West Chester University, Lincoln University and Kennett High School. She did allow that it would be nice not to have to move everything for every concert.

The concert will be preceded by an introduction by Hotoda of the works to be played. After the concert, there will be a question and answer period. The Kennett Symphony will take surveys of the audience as part of the conductor evaluation process. Input from the audience, other constituents and the musicians will be collected in order to make the final decision. The entire process will take 18 months.

At present Hotoda makes her home with her conductor husband and children in Morton Illinois, the pumpkin capital of the world. Will she find a new home in the Mushroom Capital?

Tickets for Saturday’s concert art on sale at

http://www.kennettsymphony.org/index.php/concerts-buy-tickets

About Emily Myers

Emily Myers has lived and worked in Chadds Ford for over thirty five years. She founded the parent company of Chadds Ford Live, Decision Design Research, Inc., in 1982. ChaddsFordLive.com represents the confluence of Myers' long time, deep involvement in technology and community. Myers was a founding member of the Chadds Ford Business Association and currently serves on its board of directors. Her hobbies include bridge, golf, photography and Tai Chi. She lives with her husband, Jim Lebedda, in Chadds Ford Township.

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