Richie LaFrance,67,of Avondale, died Tuesday, Oct. 7, at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He was the husband of Deborah Feconda LaFrance, with whom he shared 23 years of marriage.
Born in West Chester, he was the son of the late James and Jessie Lemmon LaFrance.
Richie worked in the maintenance department at Kendal at Longwood, for 10 years, retiring in 2013. Prior to that he had worked at the NVF Company.
He was a member of the VFW Post No. 5467 in Kennett Square.
Richie enjoyed drinking beer, watching NASCAR and the Dallas Cowboys on TV. He was an avid Dallas Cowboys fan. He enjoyed being with his cat, his family and friends, especially his granddaughter, Aubree.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two stepdaughters, Susan Kline and Ashley Kline, both of Kennett Square; one sister, Josephine Fragale of Avondale, and one granddaughter.
He was predeceased by four brothers, Ralph, Peter, Joseph and David LaFrance, and one sister, Catherine Ferranto.
You are invited to visit with his family and friends from 9 to 11 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 13, at the Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home. 250 West State Street, Kennett Square, PA. His memorial service will follow at 11. Burial will be in St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Kennett Square.
At a restaurant table full of jokes, laughter and easy conversation, Katherine McMullen is, well, speechless.
“I have no words,” said McMullen, with a beaming smile, “I’m just so blessed.”
John Montgomery congratulates Katherine McMullen on her selection as Caregiver of the Year.
The recent party at Buca di Beppa in Exton, Pa. is in McMullen’s honor, as she has been named Caregiver of the Year for 2014 by the Always Best Care national franchise. Nominated by her employer, Always Best Care Senior Services of Chester County, McMullen was chosen from 180 nominees from around the U.S. The award recognizes a caregiver who demonstrates an extraordinary commitment to the delivery of superior care to clients and their families.
Always Best Care Senior Services of Chester County provides free assisted-living placement services and in-home, non-medical home care to seniors who need compassionate companionship and help with bathing, dressing, light housekeeping, meal preparation, visits to the doctor and medical testing, or routine errands.
As the top prizewinner in the national franchise, McMullen received $500, an engraved trophy, and an all-expenses-paid trip for two to the Always Best Care national meeting in San Antonio, Texas.
“We are so proud of Katherine and this national recognition, but of course we’re not surprised. We work with Katherine and observe first-hand her deep devotion to our senior clients,” noted John Montgomery, owner of Always Best Care Senior Services of Chester County (ABC-CC).
“Our clients love her,” he added, “as she continually goes above and beyond, working holidays and weekends, in order to provide seniors and their families with the best care possible.”
The Caregiver of the Year award is based on a series of criteria, including…
· The caregiver exemplifies extraordinary commitment to clients and their families
· The caregiver shows compassion, empathy and respect in the delivery of care to clients and families
· The caregiver acknowledges and meets the unique physical, emotional and practical needs of clients and their families
· The caregiver has been available and enthusiastically steps in when needed due to absence of other caregivers or unanticipated demand
At McMullen’s party, the conversation took on a gently teasing tone as her husband, Hank McMullen, told the group how his wife reacts with excitement when she is called in to provide in-home senior care. “When that phone rings, she just jumps! I know who she just talked to when she gets off and says, ‘I gotta go, I gotta go!’” he said with a broad smile.
McMullen is known for handling new cases on short notice, filling in for other caregivers at times that would inconvenience the rest of us, and establishing warm relationships even with the most challenging clients.
John Montgomery believes Katherine’s sincere devotion is what earned her the Caregiver of the Year award.
“When I nominated Katherine, I just sat down and wrote about all the times Katherine has come through for our clients, how she cares about and for each client as an individual, and how she always has energy for more. I believe it was the passion we all feel for Katherine that came through,” John said.
On a regular basis, Katherine handles a sizeable caseload of six ABC-CC clients, and she also cares for her in-laws, who are in their 70s and both undergoing cancer treatment. Despite those family commitments and the terrible weather last winter, McMullen never missed a client appointment.
“I have a truck, and I would just go. Sometimes I would have to park it and walk the rest of the way. But I know those people are counting on me,” she said.
Having just celebrated her first anniversary with ABC-CC, Katherine has a long history of being a care provider in group homes for a decade before joining ABC-CC. She has received extensive training in areas such as Dementia, Senior Living Care, and caring for Disabled and Special Needs persons.
“I love what I do because the people I care for look forward to having me in their homes. I love being with them and communicating with them. I especially love the connection I feel with seniors,” she said.
Now the McMullens are looking forward to an expenses-paid trip to San Antonio next May. Katherine McMullen said she plans to take a ride on a riverboat, tour the Alamo, and eat out in nice restaurants. She will enjoy the break from caregiving, but her clients will not be far from her thoughts.
“I have their pictures on my phone,” she said as she turned to share the photos with the other ABC-CC staff and well-wishers.
For more information on ABC-CC, contact Judith Lee at judithlee@epix.net or www.communicationworksnow.com.
Democratic Party candidate for state representative Whitney Hoffman and incumbent Republican state Rep. Stephen Barrar join in a meet the candidates' night at Fox Hollow Farm in Concord Township.
It wasn’t a debate and there were no harsh words, but Whitney Hoffman did flick a few verbal darts at state Rep. Stephen Barrar.
Hoffman, the Democratic Party candidate hoping to unseat Barrar as representative of Pennsylvania’s 160th Legislative District, said, “It’s time for an upgrade,” in reference to Barrar’s 18 years in office.
During a response to a question about how to resolve an under-funded state pension system, both candidates said the problem could be attributed to the last three governors, but Hoffman added:
“A lot of the problems have come from the nine years of underfunding the pension plan, of having kicked the can down the road, of being overly optimistic and not being good stewards of the people’s tax money, and Mr. Barrar was there that entire time.”
Barrar and Hoffman, along with Marty Ellen Balchunis — who is running against U.S. Rep. Patrick Meehan for Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District seat — answered questions during a meet the candidates’ night at Fox Hollow Farm in Concord Township on Oct. 9.
Meehan, however, did not attend the event. His aide Caitlyn Ganley shared some remarks from Meehan, but did not answer questions. She said she would send the questions to Meehan and that he would respond.
The questions — from Fox Hollow residents — were submitted in advance to the community’s Government Advisory Committee. The GAC’s Marty Frick was the event moderator.
After their opening statements, Barrar and Hoffman answered questions ranging from abortion to pensions to gun control and highway maintenance. They took turns responding to the same question. There was no follow-up rebuttal.
With regard to the pension problems in the state, Barrar said he wants to see a shift to a 401K-type plan, beginning with all new employees.
Hoffman agreed to a point, but said the shift should start with members of the legislature, both House and Senate. She said that would be a way to “beta test” the new system and work out any problems before it was applied to all other state employees.
Hoffman said she’s a firm believer in gun control, but she also acknowledges there is a Second Amendment right to own and carry firearms. She said she supports those rights, but believes there should be a requirement for training before a person is permitted to carry in public.
Hoffman also advocated stronger gun registration laws, universal background checks, and the elimination of the “gun show loophole.”
[That loophole is defined as a gap in the law that allows private citizens who are not federal firearms dealers to sell a gun without conducting a background check or keeping records. According to the Pennsylvania State Police, state law requires background checks for sales of all side arms, even between private citizens. That requirement doesn’t apply to the private sale of rifles and shotguns.]
Barrar said there’s a “delicate balance to our Second Amendment rights. and we live in a time when people are very skeptical of an increase in government surveillance over everything we buy and everything we do.”
Saying there are already hundreds of laws dealing with guns and criminals, Barrar wants those laws enforced. He cited a three-year period in which 72,000 previously convicted felons tried to buy a gun, which is itself a felony. However, he said, only 1 percent of those 72,000 were ever prosecuted.
Barrar said judges in Philadelphia, where gun violence is the worst, refuse to add the mandatory five years to a sentence when a gun is used in a crime. Efforts to impeach those judges have failed.He also referenced a comment from the state police commissioner who said criminals would always find a way to get a gun.
Both candidates said they’ve never taken any money from the National Rifle Association.
On abortion, Barrar said he’s pro-life except for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest, but even then there should be no federal or state funding for the procedure.
He added that he’s only talking about restricting abortions, not birth control.
Hoffman said she’s in favor of a woman’s right to choose.
“I believe that’s a sacred decision that a woman has to make in conjunction with her doctor and her family,” she said. “The government doesn’t have any business in the middle of it.”
A question regarding maintaining roads and bridges led to another barb from Hoffman.
“He’s the only person in Delaware County, Republican or Democrat, who’s voted against the transportation bill,” she said. “Our roads are in disrepair because the people in Harrisburg keep on kicking the can down the road…Steve has been having hearings since the early 2000s about fixing Route 322, but it still hasn’t happened. And I’m just really wondering how many years we have to wait until it gets fixed.”
That transportation bill raised gasoline taxes in the state by 28 cents. Barrar defended his vote against the bill saying there could have been a better solution and that it was “irresponsible” to raise gas taxes by that much when the price of gasoline was already at a record high.
He said an increase of that size on gasoline would have a drastic impact on transportation costs, adding to the price of all goods, including food.
Barrar said there was an alternative.
“Republicans and Democrats wanted a bill that would have taxed the Marcellus Shale, a 5 percent tax, which would generate $600 million to $700 million. We could have gotten by then with a five- to nine-cent gas tax increase, which I was more than willing to support,” he said.
Barrar went on to say that he made a deal with former Gov. Tom Ridge regarding Route 322 that never materialized. The same thing happened with another former governor, and Barrar said he is skeptical even when it comes to the current governor.
“Gov. Rendell asked me to vote for his income-tax increase back in 2003. I voted for it, and he never did the project. So this governor [Tom Corbett] said ‘if you vote for this 28-cent gas tax increase, we’ll do Route 322.’ I told him, ‘I bought that road twice. I’m not buying it a third time, especially knowing that, if this governor isn’t re-elected, the promise will go out the window,” he told the Fox Hollow audience.
Barrar added that the delay, ironically, has helped save some homes. He said one of the last plans for the Conchester Road widening would have taken eight homes, but that he was able to work with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to save seven of them.
Democratic congressional candidate Balchunis said she wanted to see an increase in the minimum wage because people working a 40-hour week deserve a living wage, and their resulting extra buying power would help the economy.
She added that she’s an advocate for ensuring equal pay for women, maintaining health benefits for veterans, and keeping Medicare a federal program instead of privatizing it. Balchunis also wants to see an end to gun violence, she said.
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 Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has announced the following road projects, which are weather-dependent and could affect residents in the greater Chadds Ford area during the week of Oct. 12 through Oct. 19. PennDOT recommends that motorists allow extra time if they are traveling through one of the construction zones.
Utility installation will require a lane closure on Baltimore Pike at Orchard Avenue in East Marlborough Township. The work will be performed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 15, through Friday, Oct. 17.
Line painting, which will slow traffic, will continue on state roads in Kennett and Londonderry Townships through Friday, Oct. 17. Motorists are advised to remain an ample distance behind line-painting trucks and stay off the lines. Crews will be working from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Cable guide rail installation will continue to require shoulder closure between Newark Road and East Baltimore Pike on Route 1 in both directions in New Garden and Kennett Townships. The work will be done from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday, Dec. 19.
Lane restrictions will be enforced in both directions on Paoli Pike in East and West Goshen Townships for base repair. The work will be done between Five Points and Airport Road from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Tuesday, Oct. 14, through Friday, Oct. 16.
Line painting will require a lane closure on Coatesville Road at Route 926 in West Marlborough Township. Crews will be working from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 14.
Base repair will necessitate lane restrictions on Westtown-Thornton Road in Thornbury Township between Route 926 and the Delaware County line. The work will be done from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 14, through Thursday, Oct. 16.
Crews will be cutting brush on Route 202 in both directions in West Whiteland, East Whiteland and West Goshen Townships – between Route 30 and Paoli Pike – on Tuesday, Oct. 14, through Friday, Oct. 17. The work will be done from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will require lane restrictions.
Dilworthtown Road in Thornbury Township will be the site of utility installation between Judith Lane and Cherry Farm Lane. The work, which will be done from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 15, and Thursday, Oct. 16, will require lane restrictions.
The roundabout project continues on Wawaset Road in Pocopson Township, which will be closed until Nov. 26 between Lenape-Unionville and Corinne Roads; detours are posted. Detours are also posted on Rt. 52, which will also be closed through Nov. 26 between Pocopson and Locust Grove Roads in Pocopson Township for roundabout reconstruction.
Burnt Mill Road in Kennett Township is closed and detoured between Norway and Spring Mill Roads indefinitely while crews prepare repairs to a bridge that collapsed on April 24.
Route 202 in both directions will continue to require a traffic pattern shift between the Route 401 and Route 30 interchanges through May 2016 during the ongoing road reconstruction and widening.
Fern Hill Road in West Goshen Township will be closed and detoured between Old Fern Hill Road and Five Points Road from Monday, Oct. 20, through Dec. 20 for bridge rehabilitation. Detours will be posted.
Utility installation will cause lane closures on Marshall Street between High Street and Montgomery Avenue in West Chester Borough through Dec. 6; a detour is posted. Work will also be done on East Gay Street between Patton and Matlack Streets and Hannum Avenue between South New and West Market Streets on Monday, Oct. 13, through Wednesday, Oct. 15, causing lane restrictions. The utility work will be done from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Work is continuing to repair overhead bridge damage on northbound Route 202 in West Goshen Township. The right lane will be closed at all times between the Paoli Pike and Route 322 interchanges. A completion date has not been announced.
One lane will remain closed on Interstate 95 North at the Commodore Barry Bridge for construction through July 14, 2015.
If you want to report potholes and other roadway maintenance concerns on state roads, call 1-800-FIX ROAD.
The Pennsylvania House of representatives unanimously concurred with Senate amendments on a Chris Ross bill to establish a licensing program for community respite services, making it easier for senior citizens to receive appropriate transitional care as they age.
Respite care offers older Pennsylvanians, who require only minimal care and want to remain in their homes, an alternative to assisted living or nursing home care. The Kennett Square Senior Center recognized a need for temporary respite services for seniors who were not ready for assisted living or more intensive care, but still require limited assistance. These transitional programs enable seniors to receive only the care they need, saving them money.
Under House Bill 1702, the Department of Aging will be granted the authority to license and inspect community respite programs in cooperation with the Area Agencies on Aging and representatives of licensed long-term care providers and community senior centers.
Respite care is designed to support the independence of adults. Prior to enrollment in a community respite program, individuals would be evaluated to assess the level of care they need, then on-going monitoring will ensure they continue to receive the most appropriate care as conditions change.
To be eligible for respite care, a participant:
• Must be 60 years of age or older and able to express critical needs
• Must be able to engage in social and leisure activities with others
• May exhibit mild cognitive impairment
• May not present a risk of wandering, beyond gentle redirection
• May not require assistance with medication or personal care.
The Ross legislation fills a need that is not presently being met. It will prolong the independence of older Pennsylvanians, enabling them to remain in their homes and giving them greater control over their lives. The bill is now awaiting the governor’s signature.
Redistricting can be a discomforting word, especially for parents of elementary school children. And that word is hovering over the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District.
The school board, during its Monday, Oct. 13, work session, is expected to vote on retaining the firm of McKissick Associates to conduct a study to assess population growth in the district. In 2011, the board declined to study a possible reconfiguration of elementary schools.
Superintendent of Schools John Sanville stressed that no decision on potential redistricting has been made. “We understand the importance this has for faculty, students and families,” he said. “It’s an emotional issue.”
Sanville told faculty members of Hillendale Elementary School on Oct. 7 that the driving force behind this is the increased school population at Pocopson Elementary School.
Pocopson is at capacity, he said, and if the current trend continues, the district won’t be able to provide the same programs there that are provided at the other three elementary schools.
Repeating that no decisions have been made, Sanville said one possible move would be to shift students from the westernmost portion of Pocopson’s district into that of Unionville Elementary, where there is more room.
According to district documents, which can be found online at http://www.ucfsd.org/redistricting-study-2014-2015.html, the student population at Hillendale and Unionville has declined while Chadds Ford Elementary School’s population has remained steady. Pocopson, though, has increased.
Currently, there are 652 students at Pocopson, 395 at Unionville, 350 at Chadds Ford, and 328 at Hillendale. Pocopson also has 116 first-graders this year, while Unionville has 56, Chadds Ford has 52, and Hillendale has 48.
Sanville said the board can’t predict the future and that’s the reason for hiring McKissick to do the projection study. Assuming the board votes to do that, the results could be available by the winter break, Sanville said. A final board decision could be made at the March 2015 meeting.
The superintendent said the district remains committed to four K-5 elementary schools, with each school providing the same experiences for its students. He also said no decision would be made until all stakeholders are engaged in the study.
Also part of the plan as it moves forward is the understanding that no trailers should be used as classrooms and that there should be a six-year plan so students would not be affected twice by redistricting during their elementary school years.
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.
Steven Silverman (right) is shown with Dan Patrick, the host of “Sports Jeopardy.”
The score seesawed through most of a recent episode of “Sports Jeopardy” until late in the contest, when one of the three competitors grabbed a substantial lead.
But Birmingham resident Steven Silverman, a 19-year-old sophomore at Carnegie Mellon University and the youngest of the trio, remained undaunted in second place. The Final Jeopardy question remained, and the 2013 Unionville High graduate met the challenge, earning a $5,000 check, which he believes is “in the mail.”
Silverman, a math and sports aficionado who honed his buzzer skills on the Unionville High Academic Team, said he remembered seeing something about the inaugural season of “Sports Jeopardy” online this past spring and emailed an application.
He received a reply on May 28 inviting him to an audition with several hundred others in New York on July 19. After three hours that included a written test, a mock round, and a brief interview, Silverman and the other hopefuls left without knowing whether they had qualified.
Silverman said the aspiring contestants were told that if they were chosen, they’d get three weeks’ notice before the August taping in Los Angeles. He said when he got the call, he couldn’t believe how fortuitous the timing was – the taping was scheduled during the two days in between a baseball conference he was attending and his return to school in Pittsburgh.
Determining how much to wager on the Final Jeopardy question employed Silverman’s math skills, he said, adding that he quickly analyzed his competitors’ points. He said he considering betting the maximum, but calculated that he still wouldn’t reach the point totals earlier contestants had acquired – and he would risk losing a second-place finish.
Calling the experience “a ton of fun,” Silverman explained that the format of “Sports Jeopardy” differs a bit from the regular TV show. It airs online only once a week, and each contestant plays just one game. The top three scorers at the end of the season will face off during a championship match.
For Silverman, Final Jeopardy represented more than just bragging rights. His mother, Sharon Silverman, appeared on regular “Jeopardy” in 1991 and missed the Final Jeopardy question.
“I think she was also in second place before Final Jeopardy,” her son said. “I guess I’ve restored the family honor.”
But first Silverman had to be mum about his accomplishment. After the taping, he was sworn to secrecy about the results until the show went online last week. To watch Silverman’s buzzer-beating prowess, visit http://sportsjeopardy.com/.
If you’re looking for a workout buddy or simply a companion to tag along during your daily jog, then come to the Chester County SPCA to meet me. My name is Moe and I’m a handsome 4-year-old neutered male American bulldog mix. I arrived to the shelter as a stray and all I want is to belong to a family as kindhearted as me. I’m a friendly guy with an athletic build and I would love to join an active family. I’d love to go on a hiking trip or take a long walk in the park. I also have a big heart and I will greet you with a wagging tail and sit by your side during down time. Because of my energy level, I will benefit from additional training and I will do best in a home with older children capable of keeping up with me. Please stop by the shelter to visit me and find out for yourself just how loving and friendly I truly am. The Chester County SPCA is located at 1212 Phoenixville Pike in West Goshen. The phone number is 610-692-6113 and the web site is www.ccspca.org.
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.
Area residents are invited to race through open space to help maintain it on Saturday, Oct. 25 – and then to celebrate the results.
Natural Lands Trust is sponsoring ChesLen Chase for Open Space, a 10K run, a 5K run, and a 1.5-mile run/walk, to benefit ChesLen Preserve, one of the area’s largest private nature preserves in Newlin Township. As an added incentive, the trust will plant one native tree on the 1,263-acre preserve for each race participant.
The Lenfest Center anchors the ChesLen Preserve in Newlin Township, a 1,263-acre tract of trails and scenic vistas.
The races will begin at 11 a.m., with check-in starting at 8:30 a.m. Whether you choose the challenging 10K run, which will include dense woodlands, steep hills and a creek crossing, or the less strenuous options, the festivities will continue long after you hit the finish line.
The post-race party will include live music from Mojo Gypsies; craft beer and barbecue from Victory Brewing Company; and an awards ceremony. Event sponsor Victory Brewing Company will offer one free barbecue sandwich and one free beer (age 21 and older) to all participants. Additional sandwiches and beverages will be available for purchase.
The Chester County Running Store will provide professional timing services (bibtags) and instant results for runners. Race results will also be posted on the CCRS and Natural Lands Trust websites.
Runners and walkers of all ages are welcome. Kids ages 12 and under are free. All registrants for the races will receive an event T-shirt. The cost is $45 for the 10K race, $35 for the 5K race, and $25 for the 1.5-mile fun run/walk. Runners receive a $5 discount if they register on or before Oct. 11. Members of Natural Lands Trust receive an additional $5 discount. Runners who become a fundraiser for the event will have the opportunity to race for free.
The ChesLen Preserve is located at 1199 Cannery Road, Coatesville, 19320. Learn more and register online at natlands.org/cheslenchase.
