December 12, 2013 - ChaddsFordLive.com

Wegmans Project Moves to Chadds Ford

The ball is now in Chadds Ford’s court. Concord Township supervisors on Dec. 10 gave both conditional use and land development approval for a Wegman’s along Applied Card Way, but Chadds Ford Township supervisors need to give their approval for the Chadds Ford side of the development.

Two parcels of land in Chadds Ford are needed to complete the plan. One parcel, the one adjacent to Concord, will be used for parking and the other parcel will be for several retail stores. There will be no decision by Chadds Ford supervisors until sometime in 2014.

Most of the conditions placed on the development by Concord supervisors are routine in nature, such as getting all necessary permits and adhering to provisions in engineering review letters.

One condition, however, is functional. The developer is required to build the southeast segment of the loop road that would allow motorists to drive between routes 1 and 202 without going through the intersection.

That segment of the loop would begin on Route 1 at Applied Card Way and arc through the development in Concord and then into Chadds Ford, ending at Route 202 across from Hillman Drive. Concord’s condition requires the developer to complete that Chadds Ford Township section.

Developer Peter Miller said after the decision that work could begin sometime in February if he gets Chadds Ford Township approval in January.

The Chadds Ford Planning Commission voted Dec. 11 to recommend the supervisors approve the plan for a 19,000 square foot retail pad on one of the parcels.

In addition to approval for the retail portion of the development, Miller also needs zoning relief for parking and for moving a guard shack.

The parcel to be use for parking is zoned to allow parking as an accessory use, but there will be no building on that parcel. It will be parking only. In addition, a guard shack must be moved into the Chadds Ford section of the existing Applied Card Way to prevent unauthorized people from going onto Applied Card property.

The next zoning hearing is scheduled for Dec. 18.

Assuming all goes well, Miller said he expects to begin the site work in February and finish the project in 18 to 20 months.

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: A family industry of dairy farming

Along the Ford

Glenville-Farms-Milking-Room — Living History: A family industry of dairy farming

“Drink your milk. It’s good for you.” Children hear these words every day.

From Elsie the cow to “Got milk?” commercials in recent years, dairy products have remained part of our awareness of a healthy diet. Generating revenue of $4.5 billion, dairy operations make up the largest sector of Pennsylvania’s agriculture industry, with Chester County ranking fifth in the state. From very large farms to small ones, local dairy businesses boasts one very unique commonality — 98 percent are family owned and operated.

Many facts about the dairy industry are unfamiliar to most people. The United States is the number 2 producer of milk in the world (a surprise: India is number 1). Not all cows are created equal. Linebacks are known for high protein, Holsteins for higher volume production and Guernseys for their increased milk fat. A cow consumes roughly 50 pounds of dry food and 25-50 gallons of water per day. Milk is white because of casein, the protein that is rich in calcium. It takes ten pounds of milk to make one pound of cheese and 12 pounds to make one gallon of ice cream. Due to improved techniques, annual U.S. milk production per cow increased four-fold from 1950 to 2011. In addition, the product is quite fresh when it reaches the market. On average, the milk you buy today was still inside the cow three days ago.

Amidst the rolling hills of horse country, there are approximately 280 dairy farms in Chester County. They operate in relative solitude despite the encroachment of busy shopping malls and housing developments. Owners of these farms have learned to adapt to limits on their expansion while still playing an important role in our economy.

One sizable operation is Glenville Farms in Cochranville, owned and operated by the Laffey family since 1951. The property was originally used to support a cotton mill dating back to the Revolutionary War. The family maintains a herd of Holstein cows with 26 hard working employees. After weathering weak industry conditions, Glenville Farms has rebounded, expanding their herd by 50 percent from 1,000 to 1,500 cows since 2007. One might think there’s nothing sophisticated about milking cows, but you’d be surprised. Glenville Farms became computerized more than a decade ago, tagging their cows with microchips for efficient monitoring of production. Using sophisticated machines, Glenville can milk 40 cows simultaneously, a rate of 200 cows per hour. Their Holsteins are milked three times a day, each producing roughly 26,000 pounds of milk per year.

Running the largest dairy farm in Chester County, the Laffeys love the business and are committed to its success. Like many other farms in the area, Glenville sells their milk to a large Co-Op (cooperative). Prices are set monthly in advance, so the individual farmer has limited control over what his production will bring him. In times of falling milk prices and rising costs for feed like corn, Glenville and other dairy farms experience diminishing margins, as they saw a few years back when corn prices skyrocketed.

Not far away in Unionville, Pocopson Meadow Farm has 85 milking cows and less than ten employees. Designated a “Pennsylvania Century Farm,” the operation which began in 1874 has been in the Baily family over four generations. It was even mentioned in Futhey and Cope’s book “History of Chester County.” From adherence to sound business practices, the farm earned the prestigious “Dairy of Distinction” award. They raise hormone-free cows, something owner Bernard Baily said allows his herd to produce a unique, high quality product which goes into their skim, regular and chocolate milk. After years of dealing with the uncertainty of wholesale prices, Bernard decided to go retail, building both a pasteurization and bottling operation on-site. He now sets his own prices, managing profitability by selling Baily Dairy milk and other products at his farm and to local privately-owned markets. As with Bernard, their bottles exude a friendly manner, with an image of a cow gazing into your eyes over the quote “From Our Family to Yours.”

A century ago, America’s economy was largely agrarian, hundreds of thousands of farms operating around the country. Today only 2 percent of the population is involved in farming and the numbers keep shrinking. Some younger family members question participating in their household heritage, finding the allure of a high-dollar sale to developers too strong and the work too hard. For those who love farming, the dairy industry is rewarding, yet challenging. They persevere, rising early each day, putting in long hours doing difficult tasks, going to bed tired, but satisfied. Dairy farmers are a hard-working breed who know that what they do provides a critical product for society. So, as we sit down at the table to enjoy good, wholesome food, we can all give them a hearty “Thank you” for their work ethic and dedication.

Photos by Gene Pisassale: Top photo Glenville Farms milking room

* Gene Pisasale is an author based in Kennett Square, Pa. His six books and lecture series focus on local and regional history. Visit his website www.GenePisasale.com or e-mail him at Gene@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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Photo of the Week: Flock & Gaggle

Photo of the Week

Flock-&-Gaggle-60 — Photo of the Week: Flock & Gaggle

A flock of geese becomes a gaggle as birds land on the pond on Meetinghouse Road in Birmingham Township.

About Rich Schwartzman

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Convenience store and Audi dealership considered for Chadds Ford

Local News

Chadds Ford Planning Commission members heard preliminary sketch plans for an auto dealership and a convenience store during their Dec. 11 meeting. Both developments, if they go through, will be in the area of Dilworthtown Road and Route 202.

The convenience store — a Maryland-based Royal Farms — would include gas pumps and is the project of developer Joe Grace. In addition to the convenience store, three other stores and a bank are being considered for Dilworthtown Road between Route 202 and Oakland Road in the same general vicinity as Enzo’s.

An Audi dealership is proposed for the other side of Route 202, just south of the Wawa. It would be on a 4-acre parcel that straddles Chadds Ford and Thornbury townships. The showroom and service area would be in Chadds Ford, while inventory parking would be in Thornbury.

There was no voting on either of the proposals because they were preliminary sketch plans only and haven’t yet been engineered or officially submitted.

Commissioners did vote to recommend approval for the Chadds Ford portion of the Wegman’s development. (Click here for details on Concord Township’s Dec. 10 approval for the grocery store.)

About Rich Schwartzman

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Police Log Dec. 12: Burglary, theft, counterfeiting and DUI

Police

• State police are investigating a burglary at Leaders’ Sunoco on Route 1 at Creek Road in Chadds Ford Township. The break happened 11:37 p.m. on Dec. 5. According to the early report, someone broke the front glass door with a metal object, gained access to the cash register and removed an undisclosed amount of cash.

• David Monroe Richardson, 19, of Chester, is charged with theft by unlawful taking for allegedly stealing merchandise from the Target department store in Concord Township where he was an employee. According to a police report, store security said Richardson stole a Samsung Galaxy II phone and a Samsung 32 inch television. The arrest happened on Dec. 4.

• Police are looking for an unidentified black man for passing a counterfeit $100 bill at California Tortilla in the Concordville Town Centre shortly before 9 p.m. on Dec. 7. Police said the suspect bought two burritos valued at $15, then paid with the bogus bill. Store surveillance cameras captured good photos, the report said. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 484-840-1000.

• Speed is considered the cause of an accident on Ridge Road near Rocky Hill Road in Chadds Ford Township on Dec. 4. Police said Francis Harrison, 20, of Wilmington, was driving south on Ridge when he lost control of his car rounding a curve and crashed into a fence and an embankment. He was not injured, the report said.

• Speed is also being blamed for a one-car accident on Route 202 near Ridge Road on Dec. 8. According to a police report, Melissa L. Boleslawski, 25, of West Chester, was driving south in the left hand lane of Route 202 when she lost control while changing lanes. Her 2011 Mazda began to skid on the snow and crashed into a curb. There were no injuries reported.

• A Downingtown woman, 29-year-old Heather Ann Schnepp, was charged with DUI following a traffic stop on Route 202 north of State Farm Drive on Nov. 28. Birmingham Township police saw her green 2012 Nissan Sentra on the shoulder of the road. According to a report, Schnepp was seen vomiting outside the driver side door. The Birmingham police officer contacted the state police who found the accused to be under the influence.

• Police said two women received moderate injuries in a two-vehicle crash on Conchester Road near Evergreen Drive in Concord Township on Nov. 27. According to a report, Silvia C. Valentini, 63, of West Chester, was traveling east when she failed to stop for a red light and struck a westbound vehicle that was attempting to make a left hand turn onto Evergreen. Both vehicles had to be towed, police said, and the drivers both refused medical attention at the scene.

About CFLive Staff

See Contributors Page https://chaddsfordlive.com/writers/

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Blogging Along the Brandywine: The conductor race is on

Along the Ford

When asked to review the conductor search concerts of the Kennett Symphony I thought writing about three enormously and equally talented candidates would be impossible — that is until the second concert, “Spirit of the Season” at the Kennett High School, on Saturday, Dec. 7.

Reviewing the first concert was easy. But after hearing the second of the three concerts, it became evident that the selection committee was not presenting three identical candidates, but candidates with vastly different approaches to programming a concert.

I asked my editor, how to review this all-important second concert.

“Tell it like it is”, he said. “Just give solid reasons. In other words, be honest with our readers.”

Well that didn’t help much, as it immediately created a struggle between “honesty” vs. “tact”. You see I saw “Bambi” when I was 4 or 5 and since then have always heard Thumper’s voice proclaim, “If you can’t say something nice…don’t say nothing at all.”

Hmmm…

OK, here goes: Saturday’s audition concert with candidate Rei Hotoda was nice, very nice.

It was indeed a “feel good concert,” but not once did it challenge the listener or compel one to be an active listener. Indeed we have heard the identical selections and arrangements hundreds of times before. And the orchestra, all highly skilled, paid professionals had no doubt been playing the identical scores since high school.

Presenting familiar music is a necessity when programming a concert, but when the entire concert bill is filled with musical clichés, it becomes lackluster.

Ralph Vaughn Williams “Fantasia on Greensleeves,” selections form Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker Suite,” Coplands “Variation on a Shaker Melody – Simple Gifts;” Victor Herberts “March of the Toys;” Leroy Anderson’s “A Christmas Festival” and “Sleigh Ride.” All standard repertoire for high school orchestras. And unfortunately the orchestra often played as if it was bored — asleep at the wheel.

Not surprisingly, the number that received the most energetic and sustained applause was near the end of the program, “Believe,” from “The Polar Express,” by Alan Silvestri. Yes, it’s pop music, and you’ve heard Josh Groban sing it many times, but it was the least clichéd of the entire evening — a breath of fresh air. Sadly, the orchestra virtually drowned-out the sweet voices of the Kennett Symphony’s Children’s Chorus, but overall the selection was a winner.

But the real victim at Saturday night’s concert seemed to be candidate Rei Hotoda. This was her all-important audition concert and she chose to play it safe, conservative, without challenging the audience, the orchestra and most importantly herself.

I have no trouble finding superlative things to say about Hotoda – really. She’s petite and beautiful with a bubbly personality — someone you would want to have as your BFF. And her hard-earned credentials are impeccable having studied at both the Eastman School of Music and the Peabody Conservatory of Music. But not once did she show us who she really was.

During the question and answer session after the concert, one patron asked why she chose “traditional” music and did not choose a more challenging program.

Hotoda answered, “I did not want to expose the audience to that. I wanted to be conservative.”

She added that as she was new to the musicians she did not want to challenge them beyond a few tempo changes.

This competition has now become a very interesting contest — surprisingly, not one of musicianship, but one of approaches and philosophies. Stay tuned.

About Sally Denk Hoey

Sally Denk Hoey, is a Gemini - one part music and one part history. She holds a masters degree cum laude from the School of Music at West Chester University. She taught 14 years in both public and private school. Her CD "Bard of the Brandywine" was critically received during her almost 30 years as a folk singer. She currently cantors masses at St Agnes Church in West Chester where she also performs with the select Motet Choir. A recognized historian, Sally serves as a judge-captain for the south-east Pennsylvania regionals of the National History Day Competition. She has served as president of the Brandywine Battlefield Park Associates as well as the Sanderson Museum in Chadds Ford where she now curates the violin collection. Sally re-enacted with the 43rd Regiment of Foot and the 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment for 19 years where she interpreted the role of a campfollower at encampments in Valley Forge, Williamsburg, Va., Monmouth, N.J. and Lexington and Concord, Mass. Sally is married to her college classmate, Thomas Hoey, otherwise known as "Mr. Sousa.”

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Around Town Dec. 12

Along the Ford

• Brandywine Baptist Church will host a musical Christmas celebration on Sunday, Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. featuring songs and carols performed by the choir and guest musicians.

• Concord Township supervisors will be voting on the 2014 budget during a meeting on Dec. 17. The proposed budget is for slightly more than $3.5 million dollars with no tax increase. Supervisors’ Chairman Dominic Pileggi said this is the fifth consecutive year that that township millage has held steady.

• The Civic Association of Chadds Ford Township is partnering with Chadds Ford Township to collect needed items for the Veterans Group. The Veterans Group is a Philadelphia based organization that provides shelter, case management and supportive services to homeless veterans. Led by Executive Director and Chadds Ford resident, Matt Dunphy, the shelter houses 48 men. The mission of the Veterans Group is to empower veterans and their families to once again become productive members of society. Visit their website for more information at http://www.theveteransgroup.org. A donation box is located at the Chadds Ford Township Municipal Building, 10 Ring Road, Chadds Ford.

• The Delaware Museum of Natural History’s popular Dino Days swoop in on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 27 and 28, and this year promises to be bigger and better than ever, a press release said. “We’re tremendously excited to continue our tradition of highlighting the fascinating world of dinosaurs,” Executive Director Halsey Spruance said in the release. “This year promises to be our best yet — from live bird shows to special guests and exhibits — and we can’t wait to see everyone there.” Highlighting this year’s event will be bird expert Phung Luu and his team from Animal Behavior & Conservation Connections, LLC. This highly-trained team of experts will lead free-flight, live bird shows at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. each day with hawks, owls, falcons, and other birds of prey flying untethered in the Museum’s Hall of Birds. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for children (3-17), $9 for seniors, free for children 2 and younger. There is also a member discount, half-price for Household members; free for sustaining level members and above.

• There’s a new quilt display at the Brandywine Valley Tourism Information Center. The display features several beautiful quilts, owned by and depicting scenes from Longwood Gardens, celebrating the history of the Longwood Progressive Meeting that was part of the Underground Railroad and now the center’s home. Quilts were made by members of the Brandywine Circle Quilters. The Brandywine Valley Tourism Information Center is located at the gates of Longwood Gardens, 300 Greenwood Road in Kennett Square and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

About CFLive Staff

See Contributors Page https://chaddsfordlive.com/writers/

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No tax hike in 2014 ChesCo budget

Local News

The Chester County Commissioners unanimously approved the 2014 budget that results in a zero tax increase for county residents.

“This budget reflects Chester County’s commitment to provide the best services at the lowest cost to the taxpayer,” said Commissioners’ Chair Ryan Costello in a press release. “It demonstrates our continuing process of maintaining tight control over expenditures, while seeking new, cost-effective methods to deliver the services that are mandated, and that our residents want.”

The 2014 budget calls for $429,821,896 in operating expenses and $92,929,096 for its capital budget.

Commissioner Kathi Cozzone commented: “We faced the challenges of decreasing revenues and increased funding needed for emergency services and other critical services for our citizens. I’m pleased that our staff has again been able to prepare a budget that continues to provide quality services at a reasonable cost to our taxpayers.”

Commissioner Terence Farrell also pointed out increases in health benefits, along with the necessary capital investments that must be made. “Public safety remains one of our top priorities and this budget includes the necessary multi-year investment in a new emergency services radio system, along with the expansion of the Public Safety Training Campus.”

Chester County’s tax rate remains one of the lowest in southeast Pennsylvania. In the past five years the County has streamlined the operating costs of county departments and reduced the number of full time employees. It has also undertaken regular reviews of health benefit costs which, combined with the award-winning county employee wellness program, has resulted in a medical cost increase of two percent, well below the national average increase in health costs.

The balanced budget was attained despite declining revenue – including noted decreases in state and federal funds – and the investment linked with the addition of two new Court of Common Pleas judges. The county’s property tax base slightly increased. Chester County continues to actively manage its debt requirements, with its Aaa/AAA ratings being reaffirmed at the end of October by Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Ratings.

About Press Release

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