As you probably know, it is election day tomorrow in Chester County.
Dan Maisano is on both the Republican and Democratic Primary Ballot running for the Court of Common Pleas in Chester County. He is respected by members of both parties and everyone I know in the Chester County bar.
He is the only candidate with judicial experience and has been an outstanding Magisterial District Judge for over 21 years, elected 4 times winning both primaries all 4 times.
I can attest to his integrity and the quality of his mind. Judge Maisano treats people from all walks of life with respect, and in this way earns the respect of everyone who comes before him.
Please consider voting for Dan Maisano, regardless of your party affiliation.
John V. Reynolds Jr., 62, of Avondale, died Friday, May 15, at his residence.
Born in Philadelphia, he was the son of the late John V. Reynolds Sr. and Anne Kennedy Reynolds.
He was a self-employed gardener.
He is survived by three brothers, Thomas Reynolds of Anchorage, Alaska, Richard Reynolds of Tucson, Ariz. and Stephen Reynolds of Landenberg; three sisters, JoAnne Katrowski of Wilmington, Maureen Alston of Newark, and Karen Wells of Unionville.
Connie Copeland, 53, of Kennett Square, died Sunday, May 17, at her residence. She was the wife of John R. Copeland, with whom she shared 32 years of marriage.
Born in Wilmington, she was the daughter of Richard M. Lau of Wilmington, and the late Gwendolyn Brown Lau.
Connie was a dedicated mother and grandmother. She enjoyed being with her family and friends.
She was a faithful member of the Episcopal Church of the Advent in Kennett Square, and the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition.
In addition to her husband and father, she is survived by one daughter, Lauren Falini and her husband Dave of Kennett Square; one son, John R. Copeland of West Grove; two brothers, Richard Lau of Wilmington, and David Lau, and his wife Judy of Wilmington; one sister, Pamela Rutherford of Ft. Myers, Fla.; her mother-in-law, Eileen Copeland of Wilmington, and four grandchildren, David, Logan, Vera and Josie.
She was predeceased by one sister, Lisa Hamilton.
You are invited to attend her Memorial service at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 23, at The Episcopal Church of the Advent, 401 N. Union Street (Union & Fairthorn Streets) in Kennett Square. Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, a contribution may be made to the Episcopal Church of the Advent, 201 Crestline Drive, Kennett Square, or to the Delaware-Cancer Support Community, 4810 Lancaster Pike, Wilmington, DE 19807
Alan Horowitz acknowledges that it’s an uphill battle for him to be elected supervisor in Chadds Ford come November. Horowitz is the Democratic Party candidate for that position, and he’s going up against incumbent Supervisor Samantha Reiner.
Reiner was appointed to replace Keith Klaver, who resigned as supervisor in January, but she’ll be running for the seat currently held by George Thorpe, who’s not running for re-election. Noelle Barbone will run for the remainder of Klaver’s term that expires in 2017.
“I am not doing this as a token gesture,” Horowitz said. “I believe in my heart that I have a path to victory if people vote with their hearts — and minds — rather out of habit or mere ‘obligation’ to the Republican Party.”
He added that he’d urge as many people as possible to vote in November and to vote for him if they believe he’s the type of person who would serve Chadds Ford responsibly.
“There has never been a more important time than now for the people of Chadds Ford to be served by an effective, diverse and truly representative board of supervisors,” Horowitz said.
During a candidate’s night at his home on May 15, Horowitz, who moved to Chadds Ford from Wilmington in 2002, said he’s in the race for the long haul.
“I’m doing this because I care about Chadds Ford…The township is at a crossroads. We have a great opportunity to make this community even better than it is,” Horowitz said to several dozen supporters.
He’s an advocate for the Walkable Chadds Ford project and sees great opportunity there.
Alan Horowitz, Democratic Party candidate for supervisor in Chadds Ford,says it’s time for an end to one-party government in the township.
“That whole initiative in trying to make a Centreville [Del.] type of community I think is absolutely tremendous, and I’ll put all my effort behind that.”
However, he also sees challenges. Specifically, he sees traffic along Route 202 and development in that area — including the Wegmans store currently being built — as problematic.
“That can compromise the way we enjoy this place. This is a special place and I do worry about that,” he said. “There are some very tough decisions the supervisors will have to make.”
One statement drew strong applause from the partisan audience.
“The other reason I’m running is that after 100 years, it’s time for some balance with Democratic representation…We’ve had one-party rule long enough,” he said.
But there’s a third reason for his candidacy: “I really think I can do a good job. I have a lot of experience as a leader.”
Horowitz is an environmental attorney and has been involved in a variety of volunteer organizations. He cited his position as president of the Board of Jewish Family Services in Wilmington, as an environmental safety leader, and working on other boards as examples of his leadership experience.
“I’d like to take the leadership skills I’ve learned and apply them to township government,” Horowitz said.
Democratic Party Chairman Jesse Shepard said he’s proud of Horowitz for taking on the responsibility of running. He had spoken with a number of others about running, but Horowitz stood out.
“He was, by far, the best because he reflects that combination of being super smart and engaged in the community. He has a lot of integrity and is engaged with the issues,” Shepard said.
Asked why Democratic Party candidates for supervisor only go to supervisors’ meeting when they run for office, Shepard said it’s difficult for many of his people to attend because most are working and have family commitments as well.
“They have very busy lives day to day. Getting to those meetings, getting engaged is more of a sacrifice for them than it is for a retired person who’s older or has older kids,” he said.
In addition, he said: “If you’re the only Democrat in the room, it can be a little intimidating.”
But Shepard added, “Having a Democrat as supervisor will bring more people into the process.”
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.
May Fair 2015 was the first May Fair for Shawn Dutkiewicz as principal of Chadds Ford Elementary School. It was also the last May Fair for third-grade teacher Sue Davis and head custodian Bonnie Erbe, both of whom are retiring at the end of this school year.
Third-graders perform “Who DO We Appreciate?”
During his opening remarks, Dutkiewicz noted the irony that all his firsts this year have been the lasts for Erbe and Davis.
For Davis, at least, it’s the last May Fair as a teacher, but not the last overall. She said that after 38 years teaching in the district, she and her husband will do some traveling, but “I’ll be back for the fair.”
Dutkiewicz said he’s been impressed with the district and the community throughout his first year at CFES.
“I keep saying the same thing again and again. It’s the tradition. Chadds Ford is so rich in tradition and history and with events like this that are 66 years old that reminds us what this community is all about,” Dutkiewicz said. “Even though the May Fair has evolved over time, it’s still a very special event and it’s great to be a part of it.”
Parachute party
As for his first year as principal, “I couldn’t have asked for better. I love it here. The community is great.”
As for the fair itself, traditions were maintained with each grade performing a musical and the third graders having the parachute party and the third-grade girls performing the Maypole dance.
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.
In a recent Unionville Chadds-Ford Board meeting, Director Keith Knauss advocated for stalling the negotiations process so that the contract with UCF teachers expires and goes into status quo.
By entering status quo, the teachers would not receive any salary increases thereby, in Mr. Knauss’s mind, save the district money. At the same time, healthcare benefits would also not change and automatic cost increases will take effect July 1st, thereby neutralizing any salary savings to the district.
To date, negotiations have been unproductive between UCF teachers and the School Board and a major sticking point is the district’s demand that the teachers take a reduction in healthcare benefits — in fact switch to a whole new, punitive and inferior plan. The district says this plan is part of their “Guiding Principles.”
If the district’s position is that a change in healthcare is necessary to settle a new agreement, why is Mr. Knauss suggesting otherwise? The district faces mandatory healthcare cost increases due to status quo that will eat up any savings due to a lack of salary increases. How can the district demand healthcare benefit reductions if they are willing to let the contract expire and be hit with automatic increases July 1st?
So either the district’s demand to switch healthcare isn’t really all that important, or Mr. Knauss doesn’t want to provide the 323 hard-working and dedicated UCF teachers a fair raise?
Ultimately this is a School Board decision. The whole School Board will vote on a final agreement between the district and UCF Teachers. Does the School Board feel the same way as Mr. Knauss? Or does the School Board want to settle a contract that is fair to the teachers and recognizes all the work they do to make the district one of Pennsylvania’s best.
, a family collaboration, with his parents, Eric and Lee Miller, in the wine cellar of their West Chester home."]
For area vintners, the co-founders of Chaddsford Winery blazed trails that have extended far beyond the Brandywine Valley.
Grapes that will be used for [Ee’z] thrive at the Beatty Vineyard on Howell Mountain in California.Eric and Lee Miller founded the winery in 1982, nurturing it from a fledgling upstart that bucked the odds into the state’s largest winery, garnering accolades along the way.
When the couple exited the business in 2012, they said they wanted to concentrate on ancillary wine activities, such as traveling and writing. But the lure of terroir – the chemistry and atmosphere integral to a particular vintage – has earned them a new distinction.
The Millers are now marketing [Ee’z], a California zinfandel that represents a third-generation collaboration. During a recent interview, Eric Miller and Eric Stauffer, his stepson, offered insight into their grape-filled history, which ultimately propeled their latest initiative from improbable to inevitable.
Eric Miller’s wine education dates back to his childhood. His father’s job as a magazine illustrator landed the family in the Burgundy region of France, where enjoying wine is inextricably linked to the culture. After the family returned to the U.S., Miller’s father retired and they started New York state’s first farm winery: Benmarl Vineyards in the Hudson Valley.
It was during that time that Miller met his wife, Lee Stauffer Miller, who had experienced a more abrupt transition into the world of cabernets and chardonnays. She and a business partner had been given a wine newsletter after writing a couple of newspaper articles about Lancaster County vintners.
Eric Stauffer (left), and his father, Eric Miller, say their winemaking collaboration benefits from the fact that they share the same tastes.
In doing research on the wine industry, Lee said she kept coming across the name Mark Miller, Eric’s high-profile father, and so she decided to travel to New York to interview him. Upon arriving, she took an immediate interest in his son, Eric Miller, and introduced him to her partner, Hudson.
Although Lee was disappointed that the sparks weren’t mutual, she got a second chance when she crossed paths again with Miller six months later. “The first thing he [Eric] said was ‘How’s your husband?’” she related, realizing that he had misheard her when she said “Hudson.” They’ve been together ever since.
Unbeknownst to anyone at the time, the marriage planted the seeds that would eventually give birth to the [Ee’z] zinfandel. Lee brought two sons from her previous marriage to Benmarl, and the couple had two more.
“Little Eric,” so named to avoid confusion, said he has fond memories of growing up at the vineyard. Although he’s technically a stepson, he said the family’s strong bonds always made that term inadequate, and it was never used.
Despite his early exposure to winemaking, Stauffer said he had no plans to pursue it as a career. As a teen, he helped out at the Chaddsford Winery on Route 1 but thought that “working for my parents was a cop-out.”
He said he started college but wasn’t motivated and ended up back at the winery by default in his early 20s. It was during that same time that he met Erin, who would soon become his wife. She later started working at the winery as its retail manager.
By then, the Millers had made their mark among area wine cognoscenti.
Lele Galer of Galer Estate Vineyard & Winery in East Marlborough Township said she believes everyone in the Brandywine Valley wine industry owes an enormous debt to Eric and Lee Miller.
[Ee’z], which the winemakers hope will go down easily and be enjoyed, is being sold online.“Their hard work and determination laid the groundwork for all the wineries and vineyards that have come after them,” Galer said. “Their dream was to put Pennsylvania on the map for quality wines, and that is a reality thanks to them.”
Anthony Vietri, founder of Va La Winery in Avondale, agreed. “Like Stargazers, Twinbrook, and others, they have been important to the region and are part of our history,” he said.
After Stauffer returned to working at the Chaddsford Winery, he said his parents started to do more traveling to other grape-growing meccas, and he sometimes joined them. “I was overwhelmed by the hospitality we experienced from other winemakers,” he said, “and I began to fall in love with the industry.”
Stauffer said he realized that the next logical step involved education, and he returned to college to begin rehabilitating his GPA. He was eventually accepted into the prestigious enology and viticultural degree program at the University of California, Davis, and he and Erin headed West to the Napa Valley.
“It was a very scary thing to do,” he acknowledged.
They both got jobs in the wine industry, working their way up to more responsibility. Stauffer earned his degree, and his parents enjoyed periodic respites there.
When the Millers sold the Chaddsford Winery, they also left the 250-year-old farmhouse on the property that had been their home, but they didn’t move far. They now reside in a historic residence they renovated in the borough of West Chester.
During one of his parents’ visits to California a couple of years ago, Stauffer said his father asked: “What do you think about doing a little wine project together?”
Stauffer said everyone loved the idea, although he experienced some pangs of nervousness. “Do I really want to take on this whole other project?” he wondered. He decided that he did.
He said his wife’s expertise, like his mother’s, involves the retail and marketing aspects of winemaking, which left him to tackle questions such as where to get the grapes and where to process them – with guidance from “Big E.”
“It made absolute sense,” Stauffer said of the arrangement. “I think Eric was getting antsy and starting to drive Mom crazy.”
Stauffer said the stars aligned when he learned that some old-vine zinfandel grapes were available for purchase at Beatty Ranch, a premier vineyard on Howell Mountain, and then he found a facility where they could be crushed. He also took advantage of his expert consultant.
When Eric Miller was not on site for face-to-face counsel, he got packages overnighted to him. For example, after Stauffer picked the grapes, he shipped them to Miller to see if he agreed that the timing was right. “They were drop-dead delicious,” Miller recalled.
Stauffer said the process continued to go well, despite moments of terror over a host of decisions ranging from pruning to yeast selection. One of the things he learned from Miller was that “if everything is going fine, step back, and let it do its thing.”
Both winemakers said they are pleased with the results and concurred that the partnership worked because their tastes are well-synchronized. “When we are tasting wine, we always know that we’re each tasting the same things,” Miller said.
Whether it makes sense to expand their operation will depend on sales, Miller said. He said he believes they produced a great bottle of wine, which they have a license to sell online for $45.
“It’s a $45 bottle of wine that cost us $65 to make,” Eric Miller said, affirming that winemaking can be a prohibitively expensive hobby. “The experience has been well worth the money we put up, though.”
He said they produced 74 cases, used 12 cases for promotional purposes, and only have about 10 left. Stauffer and his wife recently made a trip East to help promote [Ee’z] among area oenophiles, especially old customers who miss the Millers’ touch.
“I’m feeling pretty confident,” Stauffer said. “All indications point to this being a successful season.”
Miller, who said wine pervades his DNA, agreed. “My passion’s in the making of it and sharing it with people,” he said. “Part of selling it is sharing it.”
Stauffer said the wine’s name came from the “e’s” they all share in their names, not to mention the fact that they hope the public will agree that it goes down easily.
Miller said the moniker is also in keeping with a class of zinfandels playfully called “slutty zins” for their fruity, high-alcohol content. “I guess I’m still not quite finished [with winemaking],” he said with a smile.
Dorothy E. Nesbitt Bullock, 82, of Elkton Md., formerly of West Grove, died Friday May 15, at Laurelwood Care Center in Elkton. She was the wife of the late Howard Ulysses Bullock Jr. who died in 2014 and with whom she shared 50 years of marriage.
Born in Port Deposit Md., she was a daughter of the late Howard and the late Violet Krauss Nesbitt.
In her earlier years she loved watching her husband play steel guitar in the band Shorty Nesbitt & The Wranglers. She was a custodian at the University of Delaware for many years. In recent years she enjoyed singing at the nursing home.
Survivors include one sister, Margaret Devonshire of Maryland and many nieces and nephews.
You are invited to visit with Dorothy’s family and friends from 10-11 a.m. Wednesday May 20, at the Foulk & Grieco Funeral Home Inc. (610-869-2685) 200 Rose Hill Rd. West Grove, PA 19390. Her funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. Interment will be in New London Presbyterian Cemetery. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Jennersville Church of the Brethren 653 West Baltimore Pike, West Grove, PA 19390. To share a memory with Howard’s family, please visit www.griecocares.com
![Grapes that will be used for [Ee'z] thrive at the Beatty Vineyard on Howell Mountain in California.](https://chaddsfordlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Beatty-Vineyard-old-vine-300x224.jpg)
![[Ee'z], which the winemakers hope will go down easy and be enjoyed, is being sold online.](https://chaddsfordlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/EeZ-Two-Bottle-Shot1-241x300.jpg)