Gov. Tom Wolf signed legislation into law on Monday, June 29, to update and enhance Pennsylvania’s 9-1-1 emergency communications law, said a press release from State Rep. Steve Barrar, R-160.
The legislation, sponsored by Barrar, brings fiscal stability and greater financial accountability to county 9-1-1 centers, which initiate an emergency response after someone dials 9-1-1. The law will greatly enhance the public safety of residents across the state, the release said.
House Bill 911, now Act 12, focuses on enabling 9-1-1 centers to provide critical emergency services to the community as quickly as possible and via a host of new communication methods including texting, calls from video, non-human (e.g. OnStar) calls and calls from non-specific devices, such as an iPad. The implementation of NG-911 technology going forward is made possible as a result of an updated 9-1-1 surcharge.
The new law will generate a surcharge increase, the first since 1990. The surcharge, which is uniform across all types of two-way communication devices capable of contacting a 9-1-1 center as authorized by the FCC—including tablets with phone plans—will be $1.65 per month. This reflects a 15-cent increase from the current maximum monthly surcharge allowed under state law, the release said.
Without the passage of House Bill 911, county 9-1-1 centers would have become responsible for their own funding if the current law were allowed to expire on June 30 without the necessary changes that were made, the release said.
This first Friday in July marks a First Friday Art Stroll for the towns of West Chester, Kennett Square and Phoenixville. Make sure to mark your calendars for this Friday July 3rd and check out the various opening receptions and pop up shows throughout the towns. First Fridays are a great way to introduce you to these wonderful downtown locations. Make sure to reserve ahead for dinner, as the restaurants can get booked up on First Fridays!
Kennett Square’s Mala Galleria is featuring the oil paintings of David Katz in their July installation entitled “Musical Chairs”. The show’s opening reception is during the Kennett Square First Friday Art Stroll, Friday July 3rd from 6-9pm. David’s work is always interesting and fun. Juxtaposing various realistically painted objects with one another in unusual ways, his paintings are a visual delight and reflect the humor and talent of the artist. Come to Mala on Friday and meet David Katz and enjoy his lively conversation and engaging “Musical Chairs” exhibition. David says, “The Chair Series was started by first making a collage from collected images either arranged or just allowed to drop to from a base for each painting. All are painted to music.”
Mala’s June exhibit “Pedal” successfully donated 15 bikes for the Urban Bike Project which supports Wilmington communities by providing access to bicycles as a healthy, affordable transportation option. Cheers to Mala!
In downtown Kennett Square, The Longwood Art Gallery, which just celebrated 30 years in Kennett Square, is continuing their exhibit of the award winning work of watercolor artist Jack Giangiulio with “Sailboats” for the month of July. Jack enjoys taking simple shapes found in nature and making them more interesting and entertaining. He seizes the moment to capture a scene where natural light affects the color of the immediate surroundings. The July Art Stroll Reception will be held on Friday, July 3rd from 6-9pm where you can enjoy great art, lively conversation, wine, cheese and live music by Dr. J. Visit this gem of a gallery just a few doors up from Mala Galleria and other artist studios that are open to the public for the evening.
Robin in Snow by Bobby Wolf
Also in Kennett Square, Galer Estate Vineyard and Winery has three scheduled artists for their July Thursday Pop-up shows from 4-8pm every Thursday. Thursday July 2, from 4-8 pm, photographer Bobby Wolf will show his latest works. Popular at so many local art shows, Bobby continues to experiment with his love of the medium. A former track champion, Bobby was stricken with cancer just after high school. Confined to a wheelchair, and in between surgeries, Bobby was mentored by his former track coach Charlie Shank and photographer John Bosler. Bobby discovered a love for photography and you can see his passion for the art and for all of nature in each of his wonderful images. I hope people will come out to see Bobby Wolf’s new show and continue to encourage him in his work! Several other wineries also showcase local art, including Ten Gallon Hat Winery and Penns Woods Winery in Chadds Ford.
Ironiasii by Roberto Carlos Andrade Jijena
In Phoenixville, the Phoenix Village Art Center will exhibit a “Celebration of Latinos-Hispanos Art in Phoenixville” from July 3 – August 3. The show features the artworks of renown Latino artists Roberto Carlos Andrade Jijena, Nestor Diaz-Valentin, Lourdes Barajas, Carmen Sanchez-Martinez and more. The Exhibition reception is July 3rd from 6-9 pm, and the art titles and conversation will be in Spanish and English! Sounds like a wonderful idea for a show. Also in Phoenixville, The Art Gallery at Franklin Commons continues to show its wonderful “Flight” exhibit for another two weeks.
Delaware Valley Art League Plein Air
The Delaware Valley Art League (DVAL) had a glorious week for their Plein Air show at the Valley Forge Battlefield, which is on exhibition at the Valley Forge Visitor Center in the Center’s gallery through September 12th. Every month, DVAL members are encouraged to exhibit at a large variety of venues throughout the area, and every month there are meetings with artist demonstrations and get togethers where artists exchange information and news. If you would like to learn more about DVAL shows or become a member, go to http://www.delawarevalleyartleague.com
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.
Stanley is one of Winterthur's two Boer goats who will be introduced to participants in the Wednesday walk on July 22. Photo courtesy of Winterthur
As summer settles in, Winterthur has a host of activities planned for the month of July, running the gamut from goats to fraktur.
Those who haven’t had an opportunity to meet Franklin and Stanley, two Boer goats that Winterthur acquired last August and who boast an appetite for invasive plants, should plan on attending the July 22 “Wednesdays at Winterthur Garden Walk.”
Included with museum admission, the program, which begins at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesdays at Winterthur’s Brown Horticulture Learning Center, includes demonstrations, talks, and guided walks covering a wide range of gardening topics. The outings last from 45 minutes to an hour, and visitors are encouraged to dress for the weather and wear walking shoes.
In addition to the goats on July 22, the program will feature garden restoration on July 8, groundcovers on July 15, and the intern’s garden on July 29. For those who can’t make a Wednesday program, a nighttime “Second Saturday Garden Walk” is scheduled for 8 p.m. on July 11. Participants will head up to Farm Hill to see the chimney swifts.
Other upcoming nighttime entertainment includes “Music Along the Bank,” an opportunity to jam to a variety of acoustic styles with Clenny Run as a backdrop from 5:30 to 8 p.m. On July 8, Buffalo Chip will perform, and on July 15, Sin City Band will take the stage. Bring picnics and chairs or blankets. Music starts at 6 p.m. The event costs $5 per member, $15 per nonmember, and is free for children 16 and under.
On July 9, Professor Mark Louden from the University of Wisconsin-Madison will explore the linguistic diversity of Pennsylvania German culture, examining fraktur, textiles, and other Pennsylvania German folk art in the Winterthur collection. The talk, which will be held from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m., is included with admission.
Visitors looking for children’s activities will want to seek out “Squeaky Wheels” and “WOW! Wee Ones at Winterthur,” two of Winterthur’s most popular kids programs, which continue through July.
“Squeaky Wheels” is held the first Wednesday of the month from March through October from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Parents and their toddlers in strollers are invited to join Winterthur staffers for informative walks through the garden and galleries.
“WOW! Wee Ones at Winterthur ,” held the first Thursday of the month from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. from March through October, is intended for children ages 3 to 5 and incorporates active learning through music, movement, and the exploration of objects in a warm and welcoming setting.
“Terrific Tuesdays,” a drop-in program for ages 3 to 10 that runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., has returned for older children, featuring a different craft each week that’s related to the museum and gardens. In July, the program will investigate how craftsmen made objects now in Winterthur’s collection and how museum conservators continue to care for them.
On Saturdays and Sundays, kids of all ages can visit “A Colorful Folk Hands on History Cart,” where visitors can race against time to assemble a patterned quilt square, and do other fun Pennsylvania German cultural activities.
Phillippina “Lena” A. Corkadel, 71, of West Grove, died Friday, June 26, at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. She was the wife of William E. Corkadel Sr., with whom she shared 52 years of marriage.
Born in Boston, Mass., she was the daughter of the late Diego and Nancy Miscioscia Scimemi.
Lena was a court administration assistant, in the Chester County court system in West Chester, retiring in 2009, after 13 years of service.
Lena was a highly active member at Assumption BVM Church in West Grove, where she was a member of the Columbianettes. She was also a member of the West Grove Senior Center.
She enjoyed reading, going on cruises and being with her grandchildren.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by one son, William E. Corkadel JR (Laura) of Quarryville; two daughters, Roseanne Ruoff (Jesse Yip) of Cherry Hill, N.J. and Suzanne Niemkiewicz (Ian Hawke) of Avondale; two sisters, Rosie Termine of Boston, Mass, and Josephine Medal of Franklin, Mass.; four grandchildren, Jacqueline, Brandon, Brianna and Trevor.
She was predeceased by one son, Anthony Corkadel; one brother, Anthony Scimemi and two sisters, Grace Ianno and Mary Scimemi
You are invited to visit with Lena’s family and friends from 9 to 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 2, at the Assumption BVM Church, 300 State Road in West Grove. Her funeral mass will follow at 11. Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, a contribution may be made to the Assumption BVM Church, 300 State Road, West Grove, PA 19390
