April 23, 2014 - ChaddsFordLive.com

CFES principal retires unexpectedly; school board director announces resignation

***Update: A message sent to parents on April 24 said an interim principal has been named for Chadds Ford Elementary School. Tom Tobin starts Monday morning, April 28.***

Chadds Ford Elementary School Principal Mark Ransford retired unexpectedly effective immediately. His retirement was announced and voted on during the April 21 School Board meeting.

District Director of Curriculum and Instruction John Nolen and current Hillendale Elementary School Principal Steve Dissinger will temporarily fill in to provide administrative assistance at CFES.

School Superintendent John Sanville said during the meeting — and repeated in an e-mail to parents afterward — that there had been a break down in protocol during the March 31 PSSA testing.

“Mr. Ransford, Chadds Ford Elementary School principal, provided 12 students with the opportunity to finish certain sections of the PSSA after testing had concluded. This violation of PSSA testing protocols was reported to the District Office by CFES staff. At that time we contacted the Pennsylvania Department of Education and launched an investigation,” Sanville said.

“Our inquiry concluded that irregular testing procedures had occurred. All information from our investigation has been sent to Harrisburg.

Mr. Ransford has decided to retire. Mr. Ransford’s decision is personal. The Board has accepted and approved his retirement request.”

Sanville also said it was a one-time offense.

Other business

• School Board Director Eileen Bushelow also announced that she would be resigning as of May 24. This means she will not be voting on the budget for the 2014-2015 budget scheduled for June. Bushelow said her resignation was for personal reasons.

Bushelow represents Region B, which includes Birmingham and Pocopson Townships.

• The votes was close, 5-4, but the board agreed to raise the fees for participation in sports and other activities in the district.

The new fees range are $25, $50, $75 and $100, per student per activity, but there are caps of $250 per individual participating in multiple activities and a cap of $500 per family with more than one student involved in activities.

According to Director Keith Knauss, the fees are roughly 15 percent of the actual per student cost and are reasonable. However, other directors disagree.

Michael Rock said taxing participation is an “unmitigated failure” and unconscionable. And Gregg Lindner called it a slippery slope.

Kathy Do, who voted for the increase after making sure there were individual and family caps, said she struggled with the idea but would support it. She added that she hopes the action does not set a precedent for increasing fees on a regular basis.

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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Conservancy doubles down on tree planting

Along the Ford

_1JF5496-Number-2500 — Conservancy doubles down on tree planting

The Brandywine Conservancy and Museum of Art has been digging a lot of holes the past few years, 25,000 to be precise. And the folks there are planning to dig another 25,000.

On April 19, the conservancy planted its 25,000^th tree as part of a reforestation project along the Brandywine Creek Watershed. Volunteers planted 650 trees along the creek in Downingtown near the intersection of Creek Road — Route 282 — and Dowlin Forge Road.

An army of volunteers from the conservancy, Victory Brewing Co. and the Downingtown Municipal Water Authority took part. The reforestation is seen as a way of

Brandywine Conservancy and Museum of Art Executive Director Virginia Logan takes to the field to help plant trees.

continually improving the water quality of the creek in general and specifically for those municipalities that rely on the creek for their water supply. The DMWA water intake is just downstream from last weekend’s planting.

Reforestation also slows down erosion, prevents sedimentation and filters out pollutants.

Conservancy Senior Advisor for Water Resources Wes Horner said the 25,000 trees were planted ahead of schedule. The plantings were part of a five-year plan that completed in less than 4-and-a-half years. They were planted in areas from Avondale to Honeybrook.

That, though, is now half the job. Conservancy Executive Director Virginia Logan said the new plan is to plant an additional 25,000 trees by the conservancy’s 50^th anniversary in 2017. She called it “50 by 50.”

That planting will be part of the Brandywine Greenway Project involving 24 municipalities on both sides of the creek. All want the green buffer, she said.

Logan addressed the crowd during a brief ceremony right before the planting of the 25,000^th tree.

“It’s nice to know there are so many people who like to plant trees, because we’re going to need you. We’re celebrating this milestone today by deciding it needs to be double or nothing,” she said explaining the 50 by 50 idea.

Jack Heinz, vice president of the Board of Trustees and the chairman of the marketing committee, then led the crowd in a root beer toast for the 50 by 50 project.

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society is also involved. PHS has its own 1 million tree-planting program.

Glen Abrams, the director of Sustainable Communities of PHS, said the trees planted by the conservancy are part of his group’s goal of planting 1 million trees in Pennsylvania, South Jersey and in Delaware by the year 2020.

He said that would increase the tree count in the region by 30 percent.

Top photo: Wes Horner, senior land planner for water resources digs the hole for tree number 25,000.

About Rich Schwartzman

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Around Town April 24

Along the Ford

_1JF5642-Fly-Away — Around Town April 24

• It was “Ladybug, ladybug, fly away home” for preschoolers at Chesterbrook Academy in Chadds Ford Township on April 22. In honor of Earth Day, the kids,with the help of teachers and staff, released an estimated 4,500 ladybugs into the environment. Amid the squeals and giggles were the occasional “eew,” but mostly the kids expressed joy and fascination. (See photos)

• The Kennett Area Senior Center sponsors a free Medicare counseling session on Thursday, May 1 and 15 from 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. Sign up to meet with a Department of Aging volunteer from APPRISE who can help you with any questions you have about Medicare and your individual coverage. Please contact the KASC at 610-444-4819 to make an appointment.

• Hillendale Elementary School will host its third annual 5k and 1-mile fun run/walk on Saturday, May 10, at 9 a.m. All proceeds go to Operation Warm, a non-profit organization that provides new coats for kids in need. Preregister for the 5k and receive a free t-shirt. Go to https://www.signup2raceusa.com/registration/huskyhustle/ Race day registration is also available. For more details, visit www.hes.ucfsd.org.

• Nationally-known lecturer and author Brooks Gibbs will speak about bullying to all middle school students and staff at the Charles F. Patton Middle School on May 8. Gibbs’ program was awarded to the district through the efforts of a Unionville High School student. His nationwide tour of middle schools is sponsored by Office Depot and the band One Direction. An event for parents and high school students is scheduled for May 7 at 7 p.m. in the Unionville High School Auditorium; made possible by a grant from the Unionville-Chadds Ford Education Foundation. For more information on Gibbs, visit his Web site at: www.BrooksGibbs.com

• The P-51 Mustang, one of the most iconic fighter planes of WWII will be on display from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 3 at the New Garden Flying Field. Admission to see the aircraft is free, according to a press release.

About CFLive Staff

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Adopt-a-Pet April 24: Sugar

Home and Leisure

Hi, I’m Sugar. I’m a 2-year-old spayed female terrier mix. I get very excited to see people and I give nice doggy kisses. I like to dine alone and a home with no cats will work best for me. Because I’m still a young gal, I would benefit from additional training as well as exercise and socialization. A home with experienced dog owners and with children over 15 will best suit me. Do I sound like the right dog for you? Come visit me to find out.

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Photo of the Week: Faded Memories

Photo of the Week

Faded-History-540 — Photo of the Week: Faded Memories

An old farmhouse, empty for years. What would they say if the walls could talk?

About Rich Schwartzman

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Police Log April 24: Two injured in traffic accident; stolen vehicle; Concord burglary investigation

Police

• Two people were injured in a traffic accident in which one motorist was driving the wrong way on Route 1. Police said Sotiraq Gjergo, 50, of Drexel Hill, was driving north in the southbound lane of Route 1 near Thornton Road when he struck an oncoming vehicle. Gjergo and the other driver were injured. The second driver was taken to Riddle Memorial Hospital for treatment. Gjergo was cited for careless driving, the report said.

• State police are investigating a months-old burglary in Concord Township. The incident happened sometime between Nov. 1 and March 1. According to a police report, someone entered the residence on Brandywine Street and stole several pieces of jewelry including a gold cross, a ring with the name Virginia inscribed, other rings and a Longines watch. Anyone with information is asked to phone Pennsylvania State Police, Media barracks, at 484-840-1000.

• Police are looking for a white Ford F-250 truck that was reported stolen from a location on West Baltimore Pike in Concord Township. The theft took place sometime between midnight April 14 and midnight April 17. The vehicle had the Pennsylvania registration YWT3410. Anyone with information is asked to phone Pennsylvania State Police, Media barracks, at 484-840-1000.

• Kimberly Lindell, 23, of Wilmington, was arrested for DUI after a 1:24 a.m. traffic stop on April 19 in Concord Township. She was stopped on Route 322 near Fellowship Drive. No other information was released.

• A West Grove woman was taken into custody for DUI in Chadds Ford Township on April 5. State police said Catherine Ankrom Levering was found to be under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance after a 2:33 a.m. traffic stop on Route 202 at Ridge Road.

• State police charged Ahmad Malik McGlone, of Philadelphia, with DUI following a traffic stop in Concord Township at 1:41 a.m. on April 7. McGlone was in possession of a small amount of marijuana, police said.

About CFLive Staff

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Barakat new CFHS exec

Local News

The Board of Directors of the Chadds Ford Historical Society is pleased to announce the appointment of Nadia Barakat as executive director. Nadia has been serving as the Society’s Media and Office Manager for the past two years and brings an outstanding set of academic, business and development skills to our organization. In addition to her degree in Management, she has attained professional certification in event planning from Temple University’s Fox School of Business and has held management positions for several national hospitality companies and ran her own event planning firm.

Barakat has served on the Development Committee for Ursuline Academy for several years as well as being a prior board member for the Civic Association of Chadds Ford Township and the Chadds Ford Historical Society. She has lived in Chadds Ford with her husband Joe and two children since 1990.

Together, with our outstanding existing programs, events, volunteers, employees, and Board of Directors, as the society’s new executive director, Nadia will lead our organization’s mission to educate and preserve our local history by focusing on expanding our collection resources and strengthening our role and contribution as a critical resource to the community. Please join us in wishing Nadia all the best for her success.

About Press Release

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Chester County launches health discount program

Along the Ford

A new health discount program for Chester County residents was presented during the April “On the Road” meeting of the Chester County Commissioners in Parkesburg.

Jeanne Casner, Director of the Chester County Health Department, provided the Commissioners with details of the program that allows citizens to save money on medical discounts and savings to manage their family’s health and wellness.

The program is provided by the National Association of Counties in partnership with CVS Caremark, and includes discounts on vision care, LASIK and PRK vision procedures, hearing aids and screenings, prepaid lab work, prepaid diagnostic imaging and diabetic supplies, as well as prescriptions.

“Chester County may be ranked as one of the healthiest counties in Pennsylvania, but for many of our citizens, health care costs remain a key concern,” said Chester County Commissioners’ Chair Ryan Costello. “Having access to programs that help save on health and medical costs is a great help to county residents.”

Residents benefit from the program by saving on auxiliary healthcare services that are not currently included in the Affordable Care Act. There are no annual limits placed on use, no forms to fill out and no waiting period. The plans starts at $6.95 a month or $69 a year for individuals, and for families it is $8.95 a month or $79 a year.

Commissioner Cozzone said, “The NACo discount card programs for prescriptions and dental services have been very well received – and used – by Chester County residents. Both programs link our citizens with hundreds of pharmacies and dentists throughout the county who honor the NACo discount cards. I’m sure the Health Discount Card program will be as beneficial in cost savings.”

The Health Discount Card program is offered at no cost to Chester County taxpayers, through the County’s association with NACo. It follows the successful Prescription Discount Card program and the Dental Discount Card program, both of which have already saved county residents hundreds of thousands of dollars.

“In the five years that it has been available, the Chester County Prescription Discount Card program has saved county residents $600,000 in prescription drug costs,” said Commissioner Terence Farrell. “The overall average prescription drug price savings has been 25 percent, and has been used by nearly 18,000 people since 2009.”

The Dental Discount program, which began in 2011, has saved participants between 20 to 50 percent on dental service expenses.

For more information on the new Health Discount Card program, as well as the existing Prescription and Dental Discount Card programs, go do www.chesco.org/health or call the Chester County Health Department on 610-344-6225.

About Press Release

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Free Your Space: Grab the reins of your to-do list

Home and Leisure

Do you make lists? I do. Grocery lists, packing lists, party-planning lists, to-do lists…my list of lists goes on and on! Sometimes, even with the best of lists, it can feel like time is galloping out of our control and we are merely trying to stay on the horse that is our crazy schedule – never mind the style points! When it comes to lists, there are some challenges that seem to be universal. Here are some tips for organizing your To-Do list that can help you overcome some of the common challenges:

The challenge: “I make lists all the time and then can never find them.”

The solution: As in real estate, it’s all about location, location, location. Choose one place where you are going to keep track of your To-Do’s. This could be a paper planner or notepad or some type of electronic task manager or app. The key is to make a commitment to whatever one location you have chosen. That means that you check your list regularly and, if you write something down on a napkin at lunch, the item gets transferred to your list at the first opportunity.

The challenge: “I am always forgetting something I need to do for work or home.”

The solution: Sort ‘like with like’. Just as you sort your frozen food from dry goods and your colored laundry from whites, your To-Do list can be sorted. A list might be sorted between Work and Personal items or by type of activity, such as Calls-to-Make and Errands-to-Run. The way you sort your list should reflect your own needs and comfort level. Grouping like-tasks together will make for easier review and fewer missed details.

The challenge: “My family has so much to do, it’s hard to keep track of it all.”

The solution: We are busy people, even the littlest of us. So it’s important to be able to locate our loved ones when we need to. If you use computers and smart phones, try “sharing” a calendar or task scheduler and color-code it for each family member. This will make scheduling and tracking appointments much easier for everyone. If you haven’t gone digital yet, try a large wall calendar where everyone’s events (including corresponding information) can be posted.

The challenge: “Even though I use a To-Do List I always seem to put the same items off, week after week.”

The solution: Look at your list for the day or week. Put an M next to what must be done, a W next to what you would also want to get done and a C next to what could get done but would not be terrible if it didn’t. Next, take only three of your M items and add only those to your agenda. These are now the only things you have to do and the things that must get done. When those are completed you can go back to your master list if you have time and want to try to tackle more. Start each day or week like this and you will watch the items you’ve been avoiding begin to disappear. This method of prioritizing is a great way to meet procrastination head-on.

Try one or all of these list-management ideas out for a month. When you do, it will be like grabbing the reins of your run-away time and pulling it back to a pace that you set.

* Annette Reyman is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO®) and President of its Greater Philadelphia Chapter. To contact her for organizing work, professional unpacking, productivity support, gift certificates or speaking engagements call (610) 213-9559 or email her at annette@allrightorganizing.com. Visit her websites at www.allrightorganizing.com and www.allrightmoves.com. Follow All Right Organizing on Facebook and Pinterest.

About Annette Reyman

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Wilmer B. Powell of Chadds Ford

Obituaries

Wilmer B. Powell, 79, of Chadds Ford, died Saturday, April 5, at St. Francis Hospital. Wilmer was born in Dilworthtown, on May 9, 1934, son of the late William and Emma Powell.

Wilmer retired in 1998 after 45 years as a vice president from Wilmington Trust Company. He served on the NFSOC Executive Board of the American Bankers Association 1987-1991 and served on the ABA Alumni Council for 5 years. After retirement Wilmer volunteered as a captain and docent for The Nicholas and Alexandria exhibit for three years.

Wilmer is survived by his wife of 26 years, Brenda Sturgeon Powell; his children, Sharon Murphy and Beverly Reinholz; his step-daughter, Candace Vogelsong and husband Adam and the loves of his life, his granddaughters, Grace and Abigail. He is also survived by his sister, Mary Derickson.

Wilmer was predeceased by his brother, William Powell, and his sister, Jane Boyd.

Wilmer was a kind and gentle man who was highly respected by his friends and colleagues. A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 1, at the Episcopal Church of the Advent, 401 North Union Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests honoring the memory of Wilmer by sending a contribution to The Episcopal Church of the Advent, 201 Crestline Drive, Kennett Square, PA 19348 or to The Church of the Trinity, 323 Lincoln Highway, Coatesville, PA 19320. Arrangements are being handled by the Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home (610-444-4116). Online condolences may be shared at www.griecocares.com

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