Anne Reynolds Orem (nee: Kennedy),86, of Kennett Square, died Tuesday, Oct. 21, at Crosslands. She was the wife of George Orem, who died in 2011, and with whom she shared 24 years of marriage. Her first husband, John V. Reynolds, with whom she shared 28 years of marriage, died in 1980.
Born in Philadelphia, she was the daughter of the late John J. and Agnes Barnes Kennedy.
She was a homemaker, but had also worked as a real estate agent and a secretary.
She was a former member of Assumption BVM Church in West Grove, and while living in Naples, Fla., she was a member of St. John the Evangelist Church.
Mrs. Orem enjoyed crafts, making stuffed teddy bears, knitting blankets for the soldiers and baby caps for the Preemies.
She is survived by four sons, John V. Reynolds, Jr. of Avondale, Thomas Reynolds and his wife Paula of Anchorage, Ak., Richard Reynolds and his wife of Holly of Tuscon, Ariz., and R. Stephen Reynolds and his wife Wendy of Landenberg; three daughters, Jo Anne Katrowski and her husband Martin of Wilmington, Maureen Alston and her husband Derek of Newark, , and Karen Wells and her husband Donald of Unionville, and four step children, one brother, Thomas Kennedy of Spring Grove, four sisters, Agnes Miller of Charlotte, N.C., Mary Steinbruck of Bridgeville, Del., Catherine Kucinskas of Philadelphia, and Julia Shollette of Holland, Pa., 10 grandchildren; many great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by one brother, John “Bud” Kennedy.
You are invited to visit with her family and friends from 10 to 11 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 24, at Assumption BVM Church, 300 State Road in West Grove. Her Funeral Mass will follow. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery in West Grove.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a contribution to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or your favorite charity.
Concord Township Planning Commission members still aren’t ready to recommend yea or nay on the development proposed for the Woodlawn Trustees property.
Following another three-and-a-half-hour meeting on Oct. 20, township solicitor Hugh Donaghue told a crowd dominated by opponents of the plan that the commission would announce its decision on Nov. 17.
John Jaros, the attorney for the applicant, agreed to give the township another 30-day extension. This means that the earliest the board of supervisors could vote on the plan would be December.
If the commission recommends approval and the supervisors agree, 229 acres of a 325-acre property — from the Delaware state line to Smithbridge Road, and in between Route 202 and the Concord border with Chadds Ford Township — would be developed with 160 homes on half-acre lots with 124 acres of gross open space, 97 acres after netting out rights-of-way and stormwater management areas. The development would be known as Vineyard Commons.
The 160 lots represent a reduction from 171 homes when the plan was presented in August. An original plan that was withdrawn in May 2013 called for more than 300 single-family homes, 120 townhouses, and an area for commercial development.
In announcing the delay, Donaghue said the commission wants the township sewer authority to review the sewage plans for the project on or before Nov. 5. The commission also needs time, he said, to study the Oct. 20 comments made by the township’s land-planning consultant and the Oct. 14 comments from the township engineer.
Donaghue added that the commissioners want township consultants to review a letter from Jaros relating to requested waivers. They also want to know, in writing, what the applicant intends to do with six historic sites on the property.
Jaros said one Class 1 historic structure would be kept, but that anyone who wanted the remains of the five Class 3 structures could have them free of charge.
One of the other concerns for those who oppose development of the Beaver Valley property is that the walking and equestrian trails would disappear.
Dennis Glacken, a land planner for the applicant, said slightly more than three miles of the original eight miles of trail would remain and another two-and-a-half miles would be added. There would also be six miles of paved sidewalks bringing the total walkable distance to more than 11 miles.
“People could still walk from point A to point B,” he said, “there would just be a different alignment.”
As for landscaping, the perimeter would be tree-lined, with a total of 4,600 new trees planted throughout the development.
Jaros said the current plan is a by-right option with the clustering permitted in the R2D Zoning District, but he was challenged on that point.
Julie Von Spreckelsen and Jack Michael represented residents who don’t want the development.
Von Spreckelsen said the application was deficient and did not comply with a variety of zoning, subdivision and land development ordinances as well as stormwater ordinances.
She gave the commission a letter citing 17 areas where the application is noncompliant, citing a few during her address.
She said the plan shows six cul-de-sac streets that far exceed the allowable length and that two of the six waiver requests were not in writing. She also argued that 54 acres would be clear-cut, that several of the lots were on steep slopes, which is against the code, and that others were too small to be code compliant.
Spreckelsen added that all of the required zoning variances had to be granted by the Zoning Hearing Board before the Planning Commission could recommend approval. She also said the applicant would need a variance to get rid of five of six historic structures.
She called the plan “fundamentally deficient,” adding that the violations must be dealt with before preliminary approval can be recommended and requested that the recommendation be denied.
Michael, who is also representing a resident, made a PowerPoint presentation that also cited the number of trees lost, specifically trees of 12-inch diameter or greater that are considered significant, and the loss of historic structures that he said, “represent our connection to the past.”
Jaros countered Michael’s and Von Spreckelson’s arguments by saying that township, county, state and federal regulatory bodies had reviewed the plans. They all commented favorably, he said, and recommended the plan go forward.
“Mr. Michael doesn’t want this development here,” Jaros said, “but there are property rights that let you do what you want as long as it’s legal.”
The audience, comprised of many people from the Save the Valley group who want the plan shut down, raised green cards when Von Spreckelsen and Michael made their points, while holding up red cards when Jaros and his witnesses made theirs. They also applauded for their side and jeered, booed or made other calls when the applicant’s representatives spoke. At one point, Donaghue told audience members not to shout out or they would be asked to leave.
To accommodate the large audience, the meeting was held at the Garnet Valley Middle School. The Nov. 17 meeting is also scheduled for the school auditorium at 6 p.m.
Woodlawn Trustees owns the property, but Eastern State Development Co. and McKee Concord Homes are equitable owners.
The timeline for the opening of the Route 52 Roundabout has taken another detour.
Earlier this month, a spokesman for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation said the date had been pushed back to around Thanksgiving, giving area residents hope that they could celebrate the end of their longer commutes with their turkeys.
Crews are working on the Route 52 Roundabout in Pocopson Township, but weather has delayed the completion date until Dec. 31, according to PennDOT.
The weather dashed those dreams, said PennDOT’s Brad Rudolph. The new completion date is Dec. 31.
Originally slated to finish by the end of September, the project stalled in late summer because the general contractor, Road-Con Inc. of West Chester, had to wait for five utility companies to complete their work, Rudolph said.
He said that work was completed a couple weeks ago, enabling Road-Con to resume a full schedule to finish Phase 3 of the project, which involves the actual construction.
“We had been looking to get the Roundabout project complete by Thanksgiving, but that timetable has been pushed back because of weather and earlier utility delays,” said Rudolph. “PennDOT has given the contractor special permission to extend the hours of their work days to try and complete the project as quick as possible and before the end of the year.”
PennDOT began work in January on the roundabout at the intersection of Route 52 (Lenape Road), Wawaset Road, and Lenape Unionville Road. The $2.15 million project is being financed totally with federal funds.
Designed by Pocopson Township to improve safety at the intersection, the roundabout will be the first built by PennDOT in southeastern Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia region has five other roundabouts, but they were constructed by a municipality or private developers, according to PennDOT.
A routine meeting of the Unionville-Chadds Ford school board threatened to become a snoozer for about a dozen high school students in attendance – until one of them took advantage of the comment period at the end of the meeting.
Senior Sam Miller asked the board why the student-parking permit costs a whopping $200 a year. He said he understood that some of the $20,000 collected from 100 students is used for maintenance, but he wondered whether the lot’s upkeep could cost that much, especially since the neighboring Kennett district charges $20 to $40.
Miller’s question prompted applause from the students, who had attended the meeting for extra credit in an Advanced Placement class. And it also got the attention of the school board, which promised to do some research on the fee.
In closing remarks, several board members applauded the students’ presence. Kathy Do said the fact that Miller had broached the subject would generate discussion and a response from the board. “I think it’s great that you came – even if it’s for extra credit,” Carolyn Daniels told the students.
Board President Victor E. Dupuis said the meeting only provided half of the two-hour commitment the students needed so he urged them to come to the next work session on Nov. 10, a better opportunity to hear discussion. “I look forward to seeing you,” Dupuis said.
Because the meeting was held at Unionville Elementary School, the audience got an enthusiastic update on what Principal Clif Beaver termed the school’s “oodles,” or out-of-desk learning experiences. They include field trips from kindergarten through fifth grades ranging from Barnard’s Orchard to the Chester County courthouse to Harrisburg, Beaver said.
Other business
• The board unanimously approved the per-pupil building allocations for the 2015-16 school year. Board Vice President Gregg Lindner said the amount — $191.66 — is exactly the same as last year’s figure.
• Do, who heads the board’s Curriculum, Education and Technology Committee, said the district is making progress on instituting anti-bullying initiatives. She said each school’s web site now has links to resources, and efforts are underway to bring parents into the discussion. “There’s always more to be done,” she said.
She also reported on ongoing efforts to instill a culture that discourages cheating and to explore the issue of homework: how much is too much or too little? She said surveys would be going out to students, parents, and teachers to gain input.
• The board also unanimously approved one retirement and a host of resignations, reclassifications, and supplemental contracts. Unionville High Principal Paula Massanari said she had hoped that the retirement of Sandra Norton, who worked for 27 years in the high school front office, wouldn’t happen.
“I’ve been dreading this day,” Massanari said, explaining that “a lot of knowledge” would be walking out the door with Norton on her last day, Dec. 19. She said Norton, who has kept track of student detentions and attendance, “has seen and heard” every excuse imaginable in that role.
Norton said that she was lucky to have had “a job you love every day,” but that it was time for a new phase in her life. She said she was looking forward to spending time with her husband of 45 years, her two daughters, and seven grandchildren. “It was a privilege to work in this place,” Norton said.
Ilse Pappas, 99, of Chadds Ford, died Oct. 16, with her beloved daughter Susan and son-in-law Clark by her side at Barclay Friends in West Chester.
Born Anna Louise “Ilse” in 1914 in Machern (Leipzig), Germany, she was the third child born to the late Otto Max Hopfner and Olga Anna Losche.
Mrs. Pappas was a long time resident of Venice, Fla. before moving to Chadds Ford where she spent the last 20 years living with her daughter and son-in-law.
Mrs. Pappas enjoyed gardening, sewing and cooking but her true passion was her love for animals. Over the years, she raised numerous dogs, cats, chickens and birds. She leaves behind her dog (Jada), cat (Sammy) and her 11 chickens that she tended to.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 32 years, Nicholas(1981) and her two brothers Reiner(1916) and Carl (2003) both of Leipzig, Germany.
She is survived by her two grandsons, Brain Burnette(Jennifer) & Eric Burnette(Amanda), six great-grandchildren, Brittany Ferguson, Aimee, Emily, Zachary, Luke & Zoe Burnette, and two great-great-grandchildren Julian and Jaxon. She is also survived by many nieces & nephews in Germany.
Mrs. Pappas would have turned 100 on Dec. 4 and the family will be having a celebration of her life on Saturday Dec. 6, from 2-6 p.m. at the home of her daughter Susan. Family and friends are invited.
The Affordable Care Act was the original topic for Patrick Gavin, president of Crozer Chester Medical Center, who addressed the Business and Professional Association of Western County (BPA) last week. However, when members assembled for their monthly meeting at Brandywine Prime, they got a surprise: 8-year-old Hannah Burella opened the program.
Burella told a story about wanting to have fun and fit in. But her efforts to do that presented a challenge. She explained that she has to pay particular attention to her health before doing things that other children her age do without thinking. Last summer, Burella got to “feel normal” when she went to Camp Kweebec in Schwenksville.
The zip lining was fun, she said, but meeting other children with Type 1 diabetes and talking to them about their shared difficulties was even better. Burella said the camp and her insulin pump – a touch-screen device that resembles an iPhone – are supported by the American Diabetes Association. The ADA’s mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.
Burella invited to the group to watch her You Tube video “Candy General.”
She closed with a pitch to support ADA. “Can I count on you guys?” The board of the BPA pledged support to the ADA.
Acknowledging that Burella was a hard act to follow, Gavin began his presentation. Although he was initially scheduled just to talk about the Affordable Care Act, Gavin agreed to the audience’s request that he discuss Ebola as well.
He explained that Ebola is not spread by casual contact, air, water or food grown or legally purchased in the United States. So the virus is different from the flu, which is spread by casual contact.
Ebola is also different in that the “viral load,” the number of particles needed to get sick is much lower than flu viruses. “One little breach” could cause the illness. The breach could be a touch of the face by a hand that had been in direct contact with the fluids of a person with Ebola or who died of Ebola, he said.
Ebola can only be spread after symptoms appear. Symptoms are fever, headache, stomach pain, diarrhea, vomiting, muscle pain, and unexplained bleeding or bruising.
Gavin was peppered with questions from the audience.
Can you get Ebola again if you are lucky enough to survive it? You cannot get the same exact disease, but you can get a mutant of the virus that infected previously.
Is Crozer Chester Medical Center prepared? “We are following the CDC guidelines for PPE (Personal Protective Equipment).” The procedure calls for double-gloving, masks, shields and boots affording no trans-dermal contact. Plus, every patient presenting with flu-like symptoms is asked if they have traveled to affected country within 21 days.
Will there be a vaccine? According to a GlaxoSmithKline press release last week, “development of the vaccine candidate is progressing at an unprecedented rate.” If the phase 1 trials are successful, the next phases of the clinical trial will begin in early 2015. Gavin added that the virus has not mutated in the 40 years it has infected humans, which makes development of a vaccine easier.
Can you catch Ebola from a doorknob? There is a seven- to eight-hour viability. “As it dries, it dies,” Gavin said. Bleach is a good way to kill the virus. Regarding gym equipment, Gavin recommended wiping it before and after you work out.
Moving on to the Affordable Care Act, Gavin warned that the subject could be a whole presentation itself. Business owners said they wanted some overview for decisions they are facing about insuring their employees.
Gavin explained that everyone must have health insurance or pay a fine. Businesses with over 50 full-time employees must provide health insurance for their employees or pay a fine. Full-time employees are defined as working at least 30 hours a week. Health plans must contain 10 core benefits.
The annual enrollment period was Oct. 1, 2013, to March 31, 2014. Open enrollment for next year will begin Nov. 15, 2015.
The State of Pennsylvania declined Medicaid expansion in 2014 and proffered its own plan, “Healthy PA.” The plan was approved and will start Jan. 1, but implementation may stop depending on the outcome of the election for governor.
“The donut hole” – those making too much to be covered by Medicaid and too little to afford insurance – is being closed. In Delaware County, the number of uninsured has been reduced by 25,000. In Pennsylvania, the number has decreased by 702,000, Gavin said.
From the providers’ point of view, Gavin sees a problem with people who take the minimum coverage, which leaves them exposed to potentially large co-payments. Those bills can be for thousands of dollars, which is out of the reach of many. Asked how he feels about the ACA, Gavin said he is an agnostic. As the leader of his health organization, his job is to make it work.
Lisa Dort, BPA president, tried to give Gavin a chance to sit down and eat, but questions were fast and furious throughout the evening. The evening closed with the offer that Gavin would revisit these topics in the future.
In addition the titles of president of Crozer-Chester Medical Center and executive vice president and chief operating officer of Crozer-Keystone Health System, Gavin is co-chair of this year’s Midatlantic ADA Fundraising Run on Nov 1.
The Unionville High School Art Gala is now as old as legendary comic Jack Benny — 39. And it’s celebrating with extended hours.
The event is Friday, Nov. 7 from 3-9 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 8 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. A silent auction begins Friday and ends at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
More than 60 working artists, UHS alumni and current students will be on hand displaying work in various media from photography to mixed media, jewelry, wood and metal sculpture and fabric arts.
This year’s event will have West Chester metal sculptor Karen Delaney as featured artist.
The Art Gala raises money for educational projects at the school with 30 percent of art sales being donated.
An artist reception begins at 6 p.m. on Friday with live music featuring the talents of Chadds Ford’s Skip Barthold and Friends.
Food will be available from Catherine’s Restaurant, Sovana Bistro, Not Your Average Joes, Brandywine Prime and other local eateries.
For more information, go to http://uhs.ucfsd.org/artgala.html
Funding for three Delaware County projects – a municipal park, a network of trails, and stream bank restoration – was approved today by the Commonwealth Financing Authority, Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-9) announced in a press release.
“These are exciting projects that will pay dividends for decades to come,” Pileggi said. “I strongly supported the grant applications because of the positive impact each project will have on the local community. The new park and trails will leave a legacy of green space for future generations, and the stream bank restoration project will provide significant water quality benefits.”
In Chadds Ford Township, a $110,000 grant will be used to help construct a network of trails and crossings that provide access to the many historic attractions in the township. The new trails will also provide access to public walking trails on adjacent properties owned by Brandywine Conservancy and PECO, and will connect to the Mason-Dixon Trail. The total project cost is $181,945.
Edgmont Township will use a $215,838 grant to help fund the township’s first municipal park and trail system at a cost of $643,184, and Upper Chichester Township was awarded a $106,000 grant for construction costs associated with restoring the severely eroded stream bank along the East Branch of Naamans Creek and to improve the existing detention basin. The project, with a total cost of $250,000, will improve water quality and meet regulatory requirements.
Funding for these projects comes from the CFA’s Act 13 Program, funded by revenue from the state’s Marcellus Shale impact fee.
