November 25, 2014 - ChaddsFordLive.com

Chadds Ford entrepreneur honored

Students Run Philly Style, a Philadelphia program that uses marathon training to help young people succeed in life, held its fourth annual Extra Mile Celebration earlier this month, and a Chadds Ford entrepreneur was one of the honorees.

As part of its 10^thanniversary, Students Run Philly Style recognized a group of individuals who have facilitated the organization’s success at 10 milestone moments since its founding.

Bryan and Gina McHahon — Bryan and Gina Mahon

“We are thrilled to present this year’s Extra Mile award to a group of very special people who each represent a significant milestone in our growth and who have stood by us and supported us whole-heartedly over the last 10 years,” said Students Run Philly Style Executive Director and Founder Heather McDanel. “At Students Run we are guided by three core values – courage, effort and respect – and each one of our honorees embodies these values every day and shares our belief that these values can change the trajectory of a young person’s life.”

This year’s honorees included Philadelphia Runner, the first and only retail partner for the purchase of running shoes and clothing for students. Owned by Bryan Mahon of Chadds Ford and Ross Martinson, Philadelphia Runner has three stores, one of which is located in Glen Eagle Square.

Mahon first moved to the East Coast when he received a track scholarship to St. Joseph’s University. In college, he started working at Bryn Mawr Running Co., where he met Martinson. The pair attribute their success over the last 10 years to their involvement in the local community and giving back, allowing them to maintain a competitive edge over national competitors.

About Press Release

Chadds Ford entrepreneur honored Read More »

Court upholds death sentence in Willard murder

Along the Ford

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Nov. 21 affirmed the order of Delaware County Common Pleas Judge Frank T. Hazel, issued on Sept. 4, 2012, which denied the Post Conviction Relief Act petition of Arthur Bomar.

Bomar was sentenced to death in 1998 for the brutal kidnapping, rape and first-degree murder of 22 year old college athlete Aimee Willard, daughter of former Chester police officer, Paul Willard. Aimee Willard had been out socializing with friends at a bar in Wayne one night in June, but she never made it home. Her abandoned vehicle was found on the Blue Route, near the Media bypass, with the lights on and a pool of blood by the car. Her naked and battered body was later found, face down, in a vacant lot in North Philadelphia. DNA evidence tied Bomar to the crime, along with statements he made to others, including a former girlfriend, his brother-in-law and another inmate.

“For the second time, the Supreme Court has upheld the defendant’s conviction and sentence, finding there was overwhelming evidence of his guilt and that and that he was effectively represented by trial and death penalty counsel,” said District Attorney Jack Whelan in a press release. “It is time for his sentence to be carried out without any further delay.”

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court denied Bomar’s direct appeal in 2003; however, in 2004, he then claimed that his previous attorney’s provided ineffective assistance, entitling him to a new trial.

Bomar alleged, among other things, that he was not competent; that the prosecution made secret, undisclosed deals with certain witness; that he had been incompetent to stand trial; that his penalty please attorney had failed to find, and introduce, certain mitigating evidence; that the DNA results were unreliable; that the District Attorney’s office illegally questioned him; that erred in conducting jury selection and erred in allowing certain outside information to effect the jury. Between 2008 and 2011, Judge Hazel conducted evidentiary hearings regarding Bomar’s allegations. Judge Hazel, in a 213 page comprehensive opinion, found these allegations to be meritless and, now, so has the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

Last week’s decision means the governor will soon be required to sign a death warrant for the execution of Arthur Bomar. It is anticipated that Bomar and his attorneys will file a federal habeas corpus petition seeking relist in federal court, now that they have lost in state court.

Deputy District Attorney Daniel McDevitt tried the case for the prosecution, and Assistant District Attorney William Toal Jr, III has successfully handled all of the appeals and post-conviction litigation.

About Press Release

Court upholds death sentence in Willard murder Read More »

Lydia F. Haggerty of New London

Obituaries

Lydia F. Haggerty, 74, of New London, died Sunday, Nov. 23, at her residence. She was the wife of Edward F. Haggerty Sr., with whom she shared 53 years of marriage.

Born in Unionville, she was the daughter of the late Thomas F. and Edith Best Russell.

Lydia was a homemaker. She was an avid Dallas Cowboys fans, and enjoyed traveling and genealogy.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by two children, Kim Haggerty Hawkins and her husband Brian of Great Mills, Md. and Russell D. Haggerty and his wife Meghan of Great Mills, Md.; one brother, Thomas Russell of Westwood, Pa.; two sisters, Margaret Russell of Oxford, and Mary Winchester of Harrisburg, and four grandchildren.

She was predeceased by one son, Edward F. Haggerty Jr.

You are invited to visit with her family and friends from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 1, at the Foulk & Grieco Funeral Home, 200 Rose Hill Road in West Grove. Her funeral service will follow at 1 p.m. Burial will be in the New London Presbyterian Cemetery, Route 896 in New London.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you hug and kiss your family members.

Online condolences may be made by visiting www.griecocares.com

About CFLive Staff

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

Lydia F. Haggerty of New London Read More »

DelCo police first to carry life-saving drug

Local News

A new state law set to go into effect on Nov. 29 allows police to carry the drug Narcan, also known as nasal naloxone, and Delaware County police will be the first in the state to do so.

According to the Delaware County District Attorney’s office, the drug reverses an opiate overdose — from heroin or OxyContin — and brings an unresponsive person back to life.

Collingdale Police Chief Robert Adfams said during a press conference Nov. 24 that in February, police and EMS personnel responded to a call for what was first believed to be a bathtub drowning, but was a drug overdose. Medical personnel administered the drug and the victim woke up, walked out of the tub and refused further medical treatment, Adams said.

The drug’s deployment follows the enactment of David’s Law, which was signed into law on Sept. 30 by Gov. Tom Corbett. The law is named for David John Massi II of Upper Chichester who died on Jan. 27, 2013 at the age of 27 of a heroin overdose.

The legislation gives police access to naloxone and provides Good Samaritan immunity from prosecution to those who seek help when someone overdoses.

The effort to change state law to allow for Good Samaritan immunity in using the drug was spearheaded by Lynn Massi, David’s aunt.

Previously, there was no such immunity for unauthorized people, including police, to administer naloxone.

Delaware County is the first county in the state of Pennsylvania to have its police officers trained and equipped with nasal naloxone, which was funded by the Delaware County DA’s office. Naloxone cost $23 per dose.

Beginning Saturday, every police patrol car in the county will have the drug onboard, according to District Attorney Jack Whelan.

About CFLive Staff

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

DelCo police first to carry life-saving drug Read More »

Jane Craig Morrison of Kennett Square

Obituaries

Jane Craig Morrison, 92, of Kennett Square, died Saturday, Nov. 22. She was the wife of Albert B. Morrison who died in 1997.

Born in Birmingham Ala., she was the daughter of the late Hugh and Ethel Woods Craig.

Mrs. Morrison was a homemaker, and a member of the First Presbyterian Church of West Chester.

She received her bachelor’s degree from Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Va. She also was a wave in the U.S. Navy during WWII. She was an artist, loved entertaining and an avid cook.

She is survived by three daughters, Lynn Miller and her husband Eric of Phoenixville, Janet Childs and her husband Keith of Blue Bell, and Laurie Swift and her husband David of Kennett Square; one brother, Hugh Craig of Birmingham, Ala.; one sister, Joyce Butterworth of Birmingham, Ala. and five grandchildren.

She was predeceased by one son, Craig Morrison.

Her service and burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, a contribution may be made to Mary Baldwin College, PO Box 1500, Staunton, VA 24402, attn.: Terri Walker.

Online condolences may be made by visiting www.griecocares.com

Arrangements by the Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home in Kennett Square.

About CFLive Staff

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

Jane Craig Morrison of Kennett Square Read More »

PennDOT: Be ready to alter travel plans

Local News

With weather forecasts calling for potential wintry mixes or accumulating snow on Wednesday, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is urging drivers to be prepared and change travel plans if necessary.

The National Weather Service has extended the winter storm watch for Wednesday, Nov. 26, and it now includes all of southeastern Pennsylvania and the northern half of New Jersey, warning that land and air transportation is likely to be adversely impacted on the busiest travel day of the year. At 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 25, the watch was upgraded to a warning.

PennDOT says it has crews scheduled round-the-clock to deal with the expected pre-Thanksgiving storm.

According to the forecast, precipitation is expected to hit the Philadelphia region from the south on Wednesday morning. It will likely start as mainly rain during the daylight hours on Wednesday from the Interstate 95 corridor southeastward and mainly snow at locations well to the northwest. The rain-snow line is anticipated to move southeastward on Wednesday night with the rain changing to snow along the Interstate 95 corridor, ending early Thanksgiving morning.

Snowfall amounts of four to eight inches are possible to the northwest of the Interstate 95 corridor from Wednesday into Wednesday night, with eight to 10 inches possible in the higher elevations of the southern Poconos and northern New Jersey. Northerly winds are forecast to increase to 10 to 20 mph on Wednesday with gusts of 25 or 30 mph possible, the National Weather Service said.

“We all want to visit our friends and families this Thanksgiving, but I urge all motorists to be prepared for potential winter road conditions and consider altering travel if necessary,” PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch said. “Our first priority should be to arrive safely, even if it takes more time to reach our destinations.”

PennDOT said it expects to extend crew shifts to have 24-hour coverage and will work through the Thanksgiving holiday to clear any accumulating snow.

Crews will monitor road and outside temperatures using technology in each plow truck. This technology helps operators ensure that if conditions warrant road treatment, they are using the optimal type and amount of material.

“Motorists should be aware that if this storm begins with rain or freezing rain, we generally won’t pretreat roads because the rain will wash salt brine away,” Schoch said. “This is one of the reasons why it’s so critical that we have real-time conditions and that drivers closely watch forecasts to decide whether they should travel.”

No matter the holiday destination, drivers should ensure their vehicle has an emergency kit including non-perishable food, water, first-aid supplies, warm clothes, a blanket, cell phone charger and a small snow shovel. Motorists should also tailor their kits to any specific needs that they or their families may have, including baby and pet supplies, extra medication or even children’s games.

Statewide, PennDOT currently has 714,000 tons of salt on hand to tackle winter weather and will continue to take salt deliveries throughout the season. Last winter, PennDOT used more than 1.2 million tons of salt on state-owned roads.

About CFLive Staff

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

PennDOT: Be ready to alter travel plans Read More »