December 16, 2014 - ChaddsFordLive.com

ChesCo commissioner takes oath of office

In the presence of family members, politicians, and county officials, a lawyer from Tredyffrin Township was sworn in on Tuesday, Dec. 16, filling the vacancy created by Ryan Costello, who was elected to the U.S. House in November.

Before administering the oath, Chester County President Judge James P. MacElree II called Michelle H. Kichline “the very best” of six well-qualified Republican candidates who had sought the seat and were interviewed by the Chester County bench on Dec. 6.

Michelle H. Kichline (center) has joined fellow Chester County Commissioners Terence Farrell (left) and Kathi Cozzone.

Valentino DiGiorgio III, head of the county’s Republican Party, also praised Kichline’s qualifications, predicting that her “well-rounded resume in local government” would continue a pattern of strong GOP leadership. That history has led to many accolades for the county, which has been rated the healthiest and wealthiest in the state, he said.

Addressing the audience in Courtroom One of the Chester County, Kichline said she was humbled and honored by her selection. She expressed thanks to her husband, Michael, their two children, and her parents, who “took a chance” in 1956 when they left Hungary with nothing to start a new life.

“Thanks, Mom and Dad, for all of your love and support, and for teaching me to work hard, to persevere, and to have a voice,” she said. “You are my heroes and my inspiration.”

Kichline pledged to help keep Chester County “recognized as one of the best places in our nation to live, work and play.” She ended her remarks with a quote from Henry Ford: “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.”

A graduate of Conestoga High, the University of Pennsylvania and Temple University Law School, Kichline will join Terence Farrell, the other Republican on the board, and Democrat Kathi Cozzone. The seat will come up for election in November 2015.

A former chair of the Tredyffrin Township supervisors, Kichline has also served on the township’s zoning hearing board, the Chester County Association of Township Officials, and the Delaware River Port Authority.

Kichline’s appointment did not occur without dissent. Brian McGinnis, chair of the Chester County Democratic Committee, said in a prepared statement that her selection signaled a double standard among the judges.

McGinnis pointed out that in 2006 when then-commissioner Andy Dinniman, a Democrat, was elected to the state Senate, the judges selected former Democratic Commissioner Pat O’Donnell to fill the vacancy. At the time, they reasoned that a replacement who did not plan to run for a full term would level the primary’s playing field since no one would have the advantage of incumbency.

But that logic didn’t carry over into 2010 when the court appointed Costello to fill a vacancy, setting up his successful run for reelection, McGinnis said. He called Kichline’s appointment “a backroom deal brokered between the court and county Republicans, who of course originally financed the judges’ campaigns to get them on the bench.”

McGinnis said if Kichline seeks reelection, she should expect a fight. “In 2013, Kichline, as an incumbent Tredyffrin supervisor, was rejected by the voters, who instead elected her Democratic opponents,” McGinnis said.

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‘Pump up the quaint’ to build community

Local News

There was a dramatic difference between the first meeting regarding “Walkable Chadds Ford” and the second. The initial meeting in November attracted dozens of people, many of whom were Chadds Ford Township residents. Meeting number two, held on Dec. 15, drew 12 attendees and only one who lives in the township.

However, the aim was the same: figure out what’s needed to make the village of Chadds Ford a more walkable and more connected environment. The thought is that such an environment would make the village a better place for business and for a sense of community.

What many advocated in both meetings was the need to connect both sides of Route 1 in the village area.

Deb Reardon, Chadds Ford’s Open Space Committee chairperson, has stressed the idea of connectivity and community for years and said again during the December meeting that there’s no sense of community in the township and that lack can be traced to two things, Route 1 and two-acre zoning.

“The township is divided by Route 1,” she said. “Route 1 is not safe.”

She also said that a sense of community would not occur until “people get out of their two-acre lots.”

Peter Simone, standing, leads the meeting on developing a walkable Chadds Ford Village.

Reardon said there is no place where people in the township can get together informally and mentioned her regret that the old Wawa in the village closed.

“That’s where people met in the morning,” Reardon said. “It was the neighborhood…We’re in the process now of seeing what we can do to have a sense of community again.”

Echoing Reardon’s sentiment were Ann Murphy and Suzanne Regnier, both from the Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art.

Murphy lamented the loss of activity and energy at the Barn Shoppes on the north side of Route 1, while Regnier said she’s hoping to develop a sense of community.

To that end, she said later, was to remember that quaint is valuable and that the area should “pump up the quaint.”

She explained that the quaint was part of an identity and that if the area becomes too slick, the quaintness and identity would be lost.

Examples of quaint are Hank’s Place, the critters the museum volunteers make for sale as Christmas decorations and the annual canoe event — Tip-a-Canoe and a Barbecue, Too — put on by the Young Friends of the Brandywine, she said.

“It has to be authentic quaint,” Regnier added. “If you have manufactured quaint, it’s never quite right. It has to be genuine.”

She said it’s a matter of finding and maintaining that core identity.

“It’s a matter of blooming where we’re planted. We were planted in Chadds Ford for a bunch of reasons. So, let’s celebrate that which is quirky and different and us,” Regnier said.

The meeting was considered to a brainstorming session of the Steering Committee. Those 12 who attended are members of that committee, but Peter Simone and Geoff Creary, of the landscape architecture firm of Simone Collins, each said the committee is still open to new members.

Simone Collins is the planner for the project, and Peter Simone led the meeting.

The overall discussion during the meeting was wide-ranging, from what to do about Route 1, how to develop that sense of community and how to create a better business environment, both for economic and social benefit.

The Steering Committee is considering numerous ideas on how to build a more business- and pedestrian-friendly village area in Chadds Ford Township.

One of the rhetorical questions Simone asked was: How can the business environment be made better, but still maintain the historic character of the village?

However, no definitive answer surfaced. That part of the discussion centered on several ideas brought up in the November meeting, and most of those centered on Route 1.

Simone ruled out a pedestrian overpass because of expense and ineffectiveness. Other ideas included replacing the standard intersection at Route 1 and Creek Road with a roundabout or with lowering the speed limit.

Simone called the current status of the process a “concept study” where most ideas are on the table.

“We’re looking at this from 20,000 feet up,” he said in a comment similar to one made by Chadds Ford Township Supervisor Frank Murphy when Murphy ran for election in 2013.

Reardon said the viability of businesses in the village wouldn’t improve until that sense of community is developed because, now, the township is “disjointed.”

The next committee meeting is scheduled for Jan. 13, and a second public meeting, during which a draft plan will be presented, is scheduled for March 7. A final draft plan is expected to be presented May 20.

A story from the November meeting can be found here.

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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Art Watch: Great vibes for your home

Arts & Entertainment

For the month of December encaustic neo-pop artist Jeff Schaller is showing “Sweet Spot” at Mala Galleria in Kennett Square. Once again, Mala has allowed for a total interior and exterior transformation by the visiting artist. This December, Mala is an infusion of Jeff Schaller’s sexy, fun, brash artistic vision. If you want to tweak your home with a vibe that is hip and sexy, then buy one of Jeff’s pieces. A little affordable is buying “Pink Cow Studios” piece by his kids. You’ll feel happy that you did. I have two!

Jeff’s work used to hang in the coffee shop in the TV show “Friends.” Go to On Demand or Utube for an episode and then meet the artist and all of a sudden you will feel infinitely more fun and cool. By the way, he is as nice a person as you will ever meet, so no need to feel star struck. For all of this month, Mala Galleria is donating a turkey to the Kennett Food Cupboard for every art purchase – what a thoughtful way of giving back and encouraging the arts.

On the subject of changing the vibe to your home, if you have one of those huge new houses with enormous empty white walls, consider a David Oleski painting. He paints enormous canvases with dappled subtle colored variations in a buttery finish – a delicious, sublime and sophisticated addition to any home with big white walls. He currently has rented the wall space of the Franklin Gallery in Phoenixville, where you can check it out face to face, or just look at his work online and give him a call.

The Franklin Gallery is showing its “Seasonal Interpretations” Exhibit right now and it is really just wonderful. That is my favorite exhibition gallery space in Chester County. The next show is “Romance and Magic” which should also be amazing –if you are an artist, go online and submit work to that one! If you are interested in renting wall space to show your art and get noticed, contact curator Katie Naber at fc.curator@gmail.com.

Friday December 19th, from 2-6pm at the Chester County Art Association, there will be a Kriskindlmarkt with mulled wine, cookies and more for you to indulge in while you shop at the “$300 and under” show. Great art gifts include small painted works, jewelry and other easy-to-buy holiday gifts. On Saturday at Galer Estate Winery, there will be perfectly gorgeous jewelry from Bleu Archer, showing from 2-7pm. Great for last minute gifts, jewelry and wine, and then head over to Sovana Bistro or Catherine’s for a midday meal – a perfect Saturday!

Saturday the 20th from 11am -5pm there is a Christmas Artist Open House with photographer Timlyn Vaughn and artist Jeremy McGirl who will be showing and selling art at the Vaughn’s studio in his 1850 Farm House at 235 Blue Rock Road in West Chester. There will be a roaring fireplace, food and wine and art of course. Sounds lovely!

Popular local photographer Bobby Wolf is showing his work this month in a solo show at Green Wolf Village Barn in Skippack. And this Saturday from 1-4pm, Bobby will be there to talk about his work and sign his book “Journey True”. His book chronicles his recovery from a devastating illness, and his discovery of photography as a healing art and personal passion. There are some other neat art galleries and shops in this little shopping village, which might all be a nice shopping excursion for the weekend.

Showing through January 1st at The Radley Run Country Club Gallery are three wonderfully talented local artists: Randall Graham, Diane Cannon and Sara Simboli. These monthly shows are newly curated by interior designer Laurie Murray who has such a great eye for talent and beauty, and is a wonderful abstract artist as well. Radley is a little gem of a club tucked away next to the Brandywine River. Full of historical buildings, they also have a great brunch and lunch menu. 25% of the artist’s sales go to support the good work of the Chester County Art Association, so that is a nice thing to keep in mind when you are making your purchases.

Local wonderful artist Leander Fontaine has a Philadelphia show at the 3rd Street Gallery which you should check out if you are in Philly. It is great to see our local Chester County artists making it to the larger cities, to Philadelphia and beyond.

http://www.malagalleria.com

http://www.jeffschaller.com/

http://randallgraham.com/
http://www.sarasimboli.com/

http://www.dianecannonart.com/

http://www.chestercountyarts.org

http://www.bleuarcher.com/

http://www.galerestate.com

http://www.timlynvaughanphotos.com/-/timlynvaughanphotos/

http://www.jeremymcgirl.com/

https://www.facebook.com/BobbyWolfsPhotographyBookJourneyTrueByBobbyWolf

http://www.davidoleski.com/

http://www.franklincommons.net/art-gallery/exhibitions/

http://www.3rdstreetgallery.com/

http://www.leanderfontaine.net/

About Lele Galer

Lele Galer is an artist who has chaired numerous art shows, taught art history and studio art, public art and has chaired, written and taught the Art in Action Art Appreciation series for the UCFD schools for the past 12 years. She worked at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and wrote for the Associated Press in Rome. She has been dedicated to Art History and art education for most of her adult life. Lele and her husband Brad own Galer Estate Winery in Kennett Square.

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UCFSD report: No need to redistrict yet

School & Education

Concerned about rising enrollment at Pocopson Elementary, the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District hired a firm two months ago to study population growth and evaluate a potential need for redistricting.

Tonight, the board will hold a public forum at 7 p.m. in the district office to discuss the report that was prepared by McKissick Associates and reviewed by an advisory committee. The research prompted a recommendation from the committee that no redistricting is needed for the 2015-2016 school year.

The details and rationale for the committee’s findings will be presented and discussed at the meeting, which will be videotaped and available online the following day.

According to district documents, which can be found at https://docs.google.com/folderview?pli=1&id=0B82UgPjD25Oab2xXajg0aXdMSWc&tid=0B82UgPjD25OaUFg3dzJQZ3g3Um8, Pocopson’s enrollment is predicted to continue to grow, peaking in the 2018-19 school year with as few as 665 students to as many as 742.

That number would push the school to 96 percent capacity, an increase of seven percent from the 2014-15 projection, which shows enrollment of 652. It would also require the addition of two classrooms.

During the same period, enrollment at Unionville Elementary is shown to decrease from 390 to 359. Chadds Ford Elementary is expected to rise from 371 to 396, and Hillendale Elementary shows a projected increase from 328 to 353.

Additional recommendations posted on the district website include continuing to monitor elementary enrollment figures and having administrators provide suggestions for making accommodations at Pocopson Elementary School at the January work session.

Superintendent John C. Sanville has said that the district remains committed to four K-5 elementary schools, with each school providing the same experiences for its students.

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