Unionville-Chadds Ford fifth-graders carried on the annual oldies dance tradition with the usual bobbysoxers in poodle skirts and some very special greasers.
The students from each of the district’s four elementary schools danced away to tunes from the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s, but the cast from the Unionville High School cast of Grease was on hand to h=perform, then teach, the number “Hand Jive.”
Chadds Ford Elementry School fifth-grader Isabella Barnabei also won the jitterbug contest with her father Drew as her dance partner.
“Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by Hillendale Elementary.Pocopson students lip synch to “Hey, Hey We’re the Monkees.”
“Funky Town” courtesy of Unionville Elementary School.Chadds Fortd Elementary School students lip sync “Mama Mia.”Unionville High School students from the cast of Grease perform “Hand Jive.”After the performance, cast members taught the number to the fifth-graders.
Old neighborhood butcher is reborn at The Meat House
A casual stroll through the new Meat House on Route 202 can get the juices flowing, the salivary juices that is. There are the occasional tasting stations along with sights of fresh meats, seafood and poultry on display that evoke a mouthwatering response.
But the new market is more than just a place to buy meat. There’s also a produce section and an area to get prepackaged meals or have a sandwich made. How about a place to sit down for a cup of coffee?
For proprietor Scott Gagnon, The Meat House is an old idea that’s new again. With an emphasis on hospitality and a getting to know the customer attitude, it’s a modern day version of the old neighborhood butcher.
Gagnon even invoked a TV character to explain the concept of being the modern day mom and pop butcher shop.
“I use the example of Sam the butcher from The Brady Bunch. He was a secondary character, but they referred to him as Sam and he was their butcher. They knew him. He wasn’t just ‘a butcher.’ He was Sam. That’s our idea here. We want people to know Scott. We want them to know John. We want them to know Jamie. It’s not that we want them to know The Meat House,” he said.
According to Gagnon, the focus is always for people to come in and buy a meal, to schedule catering. It’s not necessarily a butcher store where you just buy meat. It’s for the dinner party, the christening. It’s about events and meals.
“Part of what differentiates our store is that, at its heart it’s not just a butcher shop. It’s about meals. It’s about food. We always have chefs in the kitchen cooking something. That’s what separates us from other butcher shops. We round out the whole plate,” he said.
The model for The Meat House centers around three things, Gagnon said: hospitality, quality products and local community.
“Hospitality is always the first,” he said, “because you can go to other places and find quality meats. You can go to other places and find prepared foods. But the hospitality that we try to bring, from welcoming everyone coming through the door to trying to have a positive friendly attitude, that makes it really fun to come here. If it’s fun, you’ll want to come back.”
The cuts of meat are top quality, many of which can’t be found in the average supermarket, Gagnon said.
There’s also a dedication to local businesses and organizations. The Meat House will be carrying pet treat products from Giggy Bites in Olde Ridge Village and will also be sponsoring or catering a Garnet Valley Lacrosse team tournament later this year.
But it starts with hospitality, from the greeting at the door to getting to know the customers individually, about learning what they like.
And while larger stores can offer a broader selection, Gagnon said The Meat House would have a better relationship with its customers.
“At the end of the day, it’s about the hospitality and relationships. If you come in and I know that you like rib eyes and if I know we have rib eyes that look great or are going to be put on special, we’re going to remember that’s what you like and we build those relationships,” he said. “There’s a trust level that gets established.”
There’s also a large variety of locally or regionally produced sauces, each with their own unique flavors and Gagnon seems to know where each one comes from, what’s in it and how each one differs from the others.
The Meat house also carries wild game such as venison and bison and Gagnon said he’s really up for a challenge.
“We love special orders and I’d love it for people to play stump the butcher. We have folks come in to pre-order goat, some form of octopus other than what we already have ready and we just sold out of alligator the other day,” he said.
And they’ve already had a request for a full side of beef.
“If people have a special request, something that’s hard to find or they can’t get someplace else, we want to be their go-to place.”
The store is open every day from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Their phone number is 610-910-4030 and the shop’s Web presence is on Facebook at The Meat House Chadds Ford PA
There will be a “small gathering” type of grand opening event this Saturday, March 8 from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. with live music and food samples.
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.
It’s a simple fund-raiser that’s become a big deal. Roughly 300 people — paying $45 a piece — turned out for the fifth annual Wild Game Dinner hosted by the Chester County Sheriff’s Department on March 1.
According to Sheriff Carolyn “Bunny” Welsh, people began clamoring for tickets last summer.
Guests at the wild game dinner check out some of the weapons that were raffled and auctioned off. The money raised benefits the Chester County Sheriff Department’s canine unit.
The event — held at the Westside Entertainment center in West Chester — helps support the department’s canine unit and featured a menu that included alligator, duck, venison, pheasant and a buffalo/llama meat loaf. There were also raffles and auctions for a variety of sporting weapons.
One of the hits of the evening was the auctioning off of a black Labrador retriever puppy named Chester.
The dog went to recently elected Pocopson Township Supervisor Matt Read.
Read, a professional dog trainer, said the lab would be a gift for his mother. He said he expected to have a full belly by the end of the evening, but didn’t count on going home with a dog.
“My mom was saying she wanted a black Lab. Her golden is getting older so my son and I thought we’d surprise his grandmother,” he said.
Beyond getting the dog for his mother, the event is important to Read because it supports the canine division.
“They work hard to train their dogs and anything my son and I can do for them, we’d like to,” Read said.
He added that the department had previously taken his son, Jake Read, 16, out with the unit to show him how they work with the dogs.
“It meant a lot to me that they did that,” the elder Read said.
As a trainer, Read said he works with a number of police departments.
Also on hand for the event was state Rep. Stephen Barrar who also thinks highly of the annual dinner, both for its goal to raise money for the sheriff’s department and for the chance to try new foods.
“I get to sample food that I would never eat and you get to meet a lot of nice people,” Barrar said.
He said he specifically liked the meat loaf, calling it “incredible.”
The lure of exotic food brought out others as well. Sonya Perry, from Valley Township, and her friend Kimber Grant-Diaz, from West Grove, both said they like exotic meats and try new things. Neither of the two hunt, but both are target shooters, they said.
Grant-Diaz said her boyfriend would definitely go to next year’s dinner.
Tom Verwey, an attorney from Downingtown, called the night a “neat way to raise money for the canines.”
Roughly $9,000 was raised last year and Deputy Sheriff Harry McKinney said they were hoping to do at least that this year.
Deputy Adam Weaver loved the turnout.
“It’s great to see people support us. It’s just a great night,’ Weaver said.
The Chester County Sheriff’s Department currently has three dogs, one each to sniff out drugs, explosives and accelerants. Several deputies are scheduled for training in Ohio later this month.
Last year’s dinner raised some controversy when one of the rifles that was raffled was an AR-15. A number of protesters gathered then arguing that it was inappropriate to offer such a weapon in light of the Sandy Hook shooting.
There was no such controversy this year.
Top photo: Chester County Sheriff Carolyn :Bunny” Welsh, with the help of Erin O’Connor, show off Chester, the black Labrador retriever that was eventually auctioned off to Pocopson Township Supervisor Matt Read.
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.
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.
The Chadds Ford Business Association was hosted by the Chadds Ford Township Board of Supervisors for the association’s March breakfast meeting. Township Manager Judy Lizza opened the meeting by discussing township developments as they relate to local businesses and their success.
“We’re here to help you get to the bottom line,” Lizza said.
The board reported that 20 new businesses had opened in Chadds Ford in 2013, and guests at the meeting included representatives from two ‘coming soon’ businesses U Financial Group and Junto Restaurant.
For those interested in advertising their business in Chadds Ford, Supervisor George Thorpe reviewed the temporary sign exemption, instructing members of the proper procedures and of restrictions on “things that flutter and flap,” including balloons.
Supervisor Keith Klaver went on to discuss more permanent signs, saying that a committee is currently considering the feasibility of a multi-business sign for Route 1 that would welcome visitors to Chadds Ford.
“We don’t want their only notification to be a U-turn as they hit the Pennsbury Township Sign,” he said.
Existing business may be receiving a visit from Fire Marshall Michael Daily in the near future as he is in the process of visiting all Chadds Ford businesses to conduct a business compliance inspection. Daily encouraged members by advising that he is willing to work with businesses to ensure safety and also made note that no one has ever failed such an inspection.
Also available to Chadds Ford businesses and residents is enrollment in CodeRed, the new emergency notification provider. The system is utilized to send critical communications from evacuation noticed to missing child alerts. Enrollment is available on the Web site Chaddsfordpa.gov and a mobile alert app is even available. Notifications can be tailored per user to be sent to a mobile device or e-mail address, and users can opt in to receive nonemergency information via e-mail as well.
Several members offered concerns regarding traffic congestion. Supervisor Frank Murphy advised that a public meeting with representatives of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is scheduled for March 26, at 7:30 p.m., to discuss concerns such as development of the southwest segment of the loop road around the intersection of routes 1 and 202.
(Photo: Chadds Ford Township Supervisor Frank Murphy makes a point for members of the Chadds Ford Business Association during the group’s March meeting.)
Sarah Gregg relocated to Chadds Ford six years ago, but has been working for local Business Pennock Insurance for the past 10 years. When home in Chadds Ford she enjoys reading, gardening, and spending time with her Jack Russell Terriers. Her hobbies also include traveling, especially on Wine and Craft Beer tasting adventures. She enjoys volunteering, especially at the Township Recycling days, and currently serves as the Press Secretary for the Chadds Ford Business Association.
I’m Pumpkin and I’m as sweet as pie. I’m a 6-year-old female American Staffordshire terrier mix. I really know how to work a room and always have a wag to offer. I’m very social, and enjoy being around people. People say that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks but that’s not so. I want to learn. I love my toys, but sharing them with other dogs doesn’t appeal to me. I would be best suited in a home with no other pets. If you are able to provide Pumpkin 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 or go to www.ccspca.org. Not quite ready to adopt? Consider becoming a CCSPCA foster parent.
Chadds Ford Township supervisors heard a liquor license transfer request during their March 5 meeting and also made some appointments to a newly made committee. Those appointments were met with a strong objection from one supervisor.
Supervisor Frank Murphy nominated five residents — Noelle Barbone, Valeria Hoxter, Deb Reardon, Margaret Faia and Samantha Reiner to the newly formed Strategic Advisory Committee.
He said the committee is an important one, saying it would look at various projects — big ideas — “from a view 10,000 feet high,” a phrase he used during his campaign last year. In short, he said, they would be thinking “outside the box.”
However, fellow Supervisor George Thorpe objected saying that none of the people he wanted to appoint were included or even considered. He also said he didn’t have time to review the qualifications of those who were nominated.
Most of those named are either currently active with the township or have been in the past.
Murphy said he had never seen Thorpe’s list of names.
Chairman Keith Klaver agreed with Murphy that it was important to get the committee started. When the question was called, he and Murphy voted aye, with Thorpe uttering a resounding “Opposed.”
Prior to the start of the regular meeting, the board heard a request for a liquor license transfer for Not Your Average Joe’s, the restaurant moving into the former Outback Steakhouse location in Glen Eagle Square. The license had been issued to the Olive Branch restaurant farther up on Route 202.
A representative for the new restaurant said they are in the process of renovated the interior of the former Outback facility, but are not expanding the footprint. However, they do want an outdoor seating area and want to be able to serve alcohol outside. The existing license has a restriction against that and the applicant wants that restriction removed.
It was also testified that 80 percent of the restaurant’s business is food with the remaining 20 percent split evenly between beer, wine and spirits.
There would be interior seating for 225 to 235 people plus a bar with about 25 seats. Outside seating would be for about 80 people.
Not Your Average Joe’s is based in Boston and has 15 restaurants in New England and another in the District of Columbia area, he said.
Other business
There will be a public meeting with representatives from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation regarding the proposed final segment of the loop road connecting Hillman Drive with Route 1. That meeting will be in the Chadds Ford Township municipal building at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 26, immediately following the supervisors’ workshop.
Many residents from Painters Crossing Condominiums and the Estates of Chadds Ford oppose the loop.
Township Manager Judy Lizza said letters advising people of the meeting will be sent to those who own property — business or residential — in the vicinity.
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.
Concord Township supervisors granted conditional use approval for a Dunkin’ Donuts shop, but not without first adding a condition requested by a resident.
The board heard the request for the shop on Feb. 25. Diptesh Patel — who runs other Dunkin’ Donut shops in Aston and Upper Chichester — wants to put another shop in in the Concord Village Shopping Center at Route 1 and Cheney Road. The shop would go into the location vacated by the Concord Village Pharmacy. It would also include a drive-thru window.
It was testified during the hearing that there would be no grilling, frying or baking on the premises — that donuts and sandwiches would arrive from a corporate site already cooked and that all the local shop would need to do is reheat the food — but when the supervisors read the list of conditions prior to the March 4 vote, nothing noting that was mentioned.
Township resident Rufus Miley spoke up and reminded the supervisors that such a restriction on cooking should be part of the formal approval. Township solicitor Hugh Donaghue agreed with Miley and suggested that the supervisors add the restriction to the list of conditions.
Other conditions include relocating a large trash receptacle and adding signs and striping to help motorists and pedestrians navigate safely through and around the drive-thru area.
There are other retail operations in the shopping center and the doughnut shop will be on the lower level of the same building that houses the district court. Supervisors were concerned about pedestrian safety because of the heavy amount of foot traffic, especially on days when court is in session.
The required signage will direct people walking between the court and the lower level to use the north side of the building, away from the drive-thru.
Planned operating hours are 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days per week, with peak hours being 6-9 a.m.
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.
• Motorists should expect lane closures along Route 52 between Route 1 and Hickory Hill Road from March 10 through July. Work crews will be installing bike lanes from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and again from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will also close Wawaset Road in Pocopson Township between Lenape-Unionville and Corinne Road for road reconstruction through Sept. 26.
• The Christian Sanderson Museum is open for another season of tours. The Sanderson, on Creek Road in Chadds Ford Township, is open noon to 4 p.m., Thursday through Sunday. On display at the museum has are myriad memorabilia — from colonial times through the early 20th century — collected by Chris Sanderson.
• Steinway artist Catherine Marie Charlton will perform original piano compositions and improvisations at the Brandywine River Museum of Art from 1-3 p.m. on March 12, April 26 and May 2. Performances are free with admission. Charlton’s seven piano albums have received extensive worldwide play, including on Sirius XM Satellite Radio, cable TV’s Music Choice and PRI’s Echoes. Her recording Red Leaf, Grey Sky: Piano Improvisations was the winner of the 2013 Independent Music Awards (Instrumental EP) and Winner of the 2011 Zone Music Reporter/ZMR “Best Instrumental Album – Piano” Award.
• Registration is currently underway for the YMCA of the Brandywine Valley Spring Sports Leagues and will continue through March 23. A variety of sports leagues such as t-ball, coach-pitch baseball, basketball, soccer, flag football, softball, volleyball and cheerleading are available at different branches and open to kids ages 3 to 14. The leagues run from April 5 to June 7. Membership is not required to join the leagues. Register online at www.ymcabwv.org or contact your local branch for more information.
• State police from Troop K, Media barracks, reported multiple injuries from a three-vehicle accident at Route 322 and Evergreen Drive in Concord Township shortly before 3 a.m. on March 2. According to a report, two vehicles were traveling east when one of them drifted into the westbound lane and struck an oncoming car. The drifting vehicle, a 2006 Jeep, continued for another 100 yards before rolling over onto the passenger side. The vehicle that was struck went into a spin and hit the second eastbound car. The driver of the Jeep was believed to be DUI.
• No injuries were reported in a two-car accident on Route 1 in Concord Township on March 2. Police said the accident, at 1:07 p.m., happened when one car pulled out of a parking lot onto Route 1 when it wasn’t safe to do so. One driver, 19-year-old Daniel A. Thompson, of Aston, was cited for improperly entering or crossing a road.
