Robert F. Mancill II died peacefully at Pocopson Home on Sunday, July 5.
Born Oct. 5, 1924 in Wilmington, he was the son of the late Norman B. and Anna Marshall Mancill of Mendenhall, brother of the late Norman Mancill, and twin brother Alan Mancill.
He attended Wilmington Friends School, the George School in Newtown, and graduated from Lehigh University in 1949.
Robert and his twin brother Alan served our country in the US Army, 12th Armored Division from 1943–1945 where Alan was killed and Bob taken prisoner of war.
Robert married Janet McGrath on Sept. 26, 1958 at Christ Church in Wilmington.
Robert was the proprietor of Mancill’s Hobby and Photo Shop in downtown Kennett Square, for 30 years. He was also a member of the Kennett Lions club for many years.
Robert was a quiet man, a talented photographer, an avid reader, and a life-long sports fan, especially baseball. He enjoyed spending time with his family, Sunday drives along the Brandywine River, and entertaining on the back patio in the summers.
He was the loving husband of the late Janet M. Mancill. He is survived by his sons James B. Mancill and his wife Lynn of Hilton Head Island, S.C., Thomas M. Mancill and his wife Barbara of Kennett Square, and Robert F. Mancill III of Pike Creek, Del., and grandchildren Ashley, Alexandria, Clayton, Travis, Harrison, and Chase, and former daughter-in-law Laura Lynch and her daughter Rachel.
You are invited to visit with his family and friends from 4-5 p.m., Thursday July 16, at the Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home Inc. (610-444-4116) 250 W. State St. Kennett Square, PA 19348. A Quaker memorial service celebrating his life will follow at 5. Interment will be held privately before the visitation. Memorial contributions in his memory may be made to the Pocopson Home, 1695 Lenape Road, West Chester, PA 19382. To view his online tribute and to share a memory with his family, please visit www.griecocares.com.
Paul Joseph Cosgrove Jr., 90, artist, of West Chester, died Monday, July 6.
Son of Paul J. Cosgrove Sr. and Miriam Reidenbach Cosgrove, Paul devoted most of his time painting scenes of Chester County, New England, and the Southwest. In addition, he explored modern art techniques.
He was drafted in his senior year from St. Agnes High School. During WWII he served in the U.S. Navy at Panama as pharmacist mate 3rd class. He received the American Theatre and Victory medals.
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University, Paul was employed at Shaw’s Hatchery and Wyeth Laboratories. He was a member of St. Agnes Church and the Knights of Columbus.
Paul is survived by brothers John and William of West Chester, and sister Alice of Warren, Ohio.
He is predeceased by his wife Anne Mullin Cosgrove; brothers Robert, Eugene, and Richard; and son Joseph P. Cosgrove.
Paul is survived by seven children: Melinda of Lincoln University, Mark of Wyndmoor, Timothy of Absecon, N.J., Lois of Trenton, N.J., Thomas of Elverson, Paul J. III of Kennett Square, and Peter of Christiana; seven grandchildren: Tina, Desiree, T. Christopher, Peter, Evyn, Paul J. IV, and Cory; and one great granddaughter: Adrienne.
A viewing will be from 9-10 a.m. on Saturday July 11, at St. Agnes Catholic Church, 233 West Gay Street, West Chester, PA 19380. His mass of Christian burial will follow. After interment at St. Agnes Cemetery, a reception will be held at the West Chester Country Club. If available, the family asks that you bring pictures to share or you may share online at Paul’s online tribute at www.griecocares.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer Association 399 Market St. Suite 102 Philadelphia, PA 19106. Arrangements are being handled by the Foulk & Grieco Funeral Home (610-869-2685) of West Grove.
Soil erosion may generate a macabre appearance, such as this tree that looks like it might be part squid, but exposed roots provide habitat for new vegetation.
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.
Dolly is a 1-year-old spayed female terrier, pit bull mix.
Good Golly Miss Dolly! Would you believe I am one of the longest residents at the Chester County SPCA shelter? I have been here almost four months, and no one can figure out why, including me. Maybe it is because I am so quiet in my kennel that no one notices me. But I know it is bad manners to bark, so I never do. I’m just the sweetest girl with the biggest ears you ever will see. I’m an athletic superstar. I am the queen of our agility circuit and I love showing off my skills. I walk well on a leash too. Athletic prowess aside, I am just looking for a good friend to hang out with who will pet my super soft, gleaming black coat, acquiesce to some sweet doggie kisses and enjoy hugs with me. I don’t think that is too much to ask, do you? Swing by and visit with me- I dare you not to fall in love at first sight!
• State police from Troop K, Media barracks, are investigating a burglary at an unidentified shop in Chadds Ford Township sometime between 8:30 p.m. on July 3 and 9:15 a.m. on July 4. A police report said someone smashed the front door of the shop at 391 Wilmington Pike, Route 202, entered the business, removed the cash register and then fled.
• Police cited Makel Jermall Halley, 22, of Philadelphia, for disorderly conduct and harassment following a July 3 incident at the Wawa in Chadds Ford Township. According to the report, Halley started cursing and arguing with store employees shortly after midnight. He hit a pan of ice, police said, then fled north on Route 202. He was tracked down, stopped and issued non-traffic citations.
• Police are investigating a case of reckless endangering in Concord Township. A report said someone fired a shot through a residence on Beaver Valley Road at 9:30 p.m. on June 27.
• On Sunday, June 21, at 8:03 p.m., New Garden Township Police said they conducted a traffic stop in the 1200 block of Baltimore Pike after observing a vehicle swerving. The driver, Javier Medina-Cortez, 45, of Kennett Square, failed field sobriety tests and was taken into custody for DUI, police said.
• State police from Troop J, Avondale barracks, said two unknown men entered the Walmart in East Marlborough Township on June 2 and stole three smart phones valued at $570. The pair then fled in a light blue Chevrolet sedan. Anyone with information is asked to phone police at 610-268-2022.
• Police from Troop J also conducted a traffic stop on July 6 at 1:33 p.m. on Route 1, south of Greenwood Road in East Marlborough Township. Police said Rozina Crystal Hess, of Newark, was arrested for DUI.
• Birmingham Township Police Chief Tom Nelling told supervisors that his department responded to 1,463 incidents in June, resulting in nine criminal arrests.
• Pennsylvania State Police said during the three-day Fourth of July weekend, troopers across the state investigated 473 crashes, 59 of which were alcohol-related. The collisions resulted in 133 injuries and four fatalities. During the 2014 weekend, police said eight people died and 247 were hurt in 695 crashes.
• The Kennett Area Senior Center sponsors an AARP Driver Safety Program for drivers age 50 and over on Thursday, July 16 from noon to 4 p.m. This course is applicable for those who have previously completed the 8-hour course. The session explains the changes that occur in vision, hearing, and reaction time as we age and provides useful driving safety tips for handling those changes. There is no test and participants may be eligible to receive a discount on their auto insurance premium (consult your insurance company for details). Call the KASC at 610-444-4819 for further information and to reserve your seat in the class.
• It’s Wineberry Days at the Brandywine Battlefield Park in Chadds Ford on July 17, 18 and 19. Visitors can pick their own wineberries, a type of red raspberry. Each person must use an official Brandywine Battlefield Wineberry Pail, which can be purchased for $5 each at the visitors’ center. Wear protective clothing, apply insect repellent, use buddy plan (accompanied by one or more of your friends or family. No limit on amount of berries picked or fun you have. Hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday, July 17 and 18, and 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Sunday.
• Pony Partners will be offered through Chester County 4-H from July 27 through -30 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Romano 4-H Center, 1841 Horseshoe Pike (Route 322) in Honey Brook. Geared for children with no prior horse or large animal experience, campers will learn safety, grooming techniques and non-verbal communication. Learning how to recognize horse emotions, horse nutrition and distinguishing different horse breeds and colors will also be taught. Students will experience hands-on grooming and leading with miniature horses and ponies. For more information or to download the registration form, please visit the website at http://extension.psu.edu/4-h/counties/chester/events/pony-partners-summer-camp or call the extension office at 610-696-3500. Registration is on a first come-first serve basis. Please call the Extension office to verify class availability prior to mailing in payment.
• Every Tuesday in August, the Delaware Museum of Natural History is partnering with Artisans’ Bank to lower admission prices to just $2 per person during Two Dollar Tuesdays. Visitors are invited to explore the wonders of the natural world at the Museum for just $2 on Aug. 4, 11, 18, and 25, courtesy of Artisans’ Bank. Admission includes entry to the Museum’s special exhibit, Dr. Entomo’s Palace of Exotic Wonders, where visitors can explores the truth, myths, and mysteries surrounding some of nature’s most curious creatures, many of them alive and on view.
• Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library has set an annual fundraising record, surpassing $12 million for the first time in its history. “It is with great thanks and pride that we share this exciting news,” said Dr. David P. Roselle, director of Winterthur. “I hope everyone will take heart in the number and generosity of our friends, including many Winterthur employees, who contributed.” Winterthur received more than 12,000 gifts from nearly 11,000 donors, which will be used for initiatives such as exhibitions and collections acquisitions as well as various capital projects and operating expenses.
• The Southeastern Electric Exchange has named PECO as the organization’s safest member company and the recipient of its 2015 Total Company Safety Award, a PECO press release said. The award, presented last month at the SEE Annual Conference and Trade Show in Hershey, recognizes the participating member company that achieves the lowest Occupational Safety and Health Administration recordable incidence rate for the year, the third year in a row that PECO achieved its best-ever safety performance, the release said.
• Michael Leff, of Chadds Ford, has been named to the 2015 spring semester Dean’s List at Lafayette College for outstanding academic achievement. To qualify for Dean’s List, a student must achieve at least a 3.60 semester grade point average on a scale of 4.0.
• Danielle Nicole Robinson, of Chadds Ford, graduated with a degree in accounting from James Madison University during the May 8 commencement exercises. Robinson was among more than 3,500 students who received undergraduate, master’s, educational specialist and doctoral degrees.
• Former Garnet Valley High School student graduates from Colgate University. Preston Devens, a molecular biology majoris a member of the Colgate University Class of 2015.
• Ava Moses, of Chadds Ford, will join the Chautauqua School of Dance this summer. Moses is in 10th grade at School of American Ballet in New York, where she is studying ballet. Moses is the daughter of Andrew Moses and Jo-Anne Darragh. The Chautauqua Ballet summer program, under the direction of Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux, hosts students from all over the country and the world. Students are admitted to the school after a rigorous application and audition process.
My son stayed up until 11:30 p.m. on July 4th to see the televised Philadelphia fireworks. 6ABC did that good a job with the hype hours before. He just knew he would see the letters U-S-A sparkling in the sky. Personally, I expected a Liberty Bell shape to burst over the Museum of Art.
The Liberty Bell is a local and national symbol. It is an iconic reminder of the call to freedom. Engraved upon it are the words from Leviticus 25:10: “Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants thereof.” This rendering of the verse is powerful for its repetition of “All.” “All the Land” and “All the Inhabitants” evoke the sense that this liberty is far ranging. It reaches everywhere and everyone. It is little wonder then that Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. drew on this verse asking freedom to ring from various mountain ranges and mountainous places all across the United States during his famous “I Have a Dream” speech.
The Hebrew of the verse does not actually indicate “throughout all the land,” rather it reads more literally as “in The Land,” referring to the Land of Israel. The verse comes in a passage about releasing slaves and indentured servants every 50 years, each jubilee year. The intent seems to be more along the lines of reminding us that “The Land” belongs to God, this land, too. Since our land is not truly ours but is rather God’s, we are told to remember the same is true of people. Human nature, as designed by God, includes free will. We were born to be free.
Liberty, in this sense, is more than being free from slavery or servitude; liberty is also freedom to determine our potential and how to achieve it. This dual nature of liberty is best described by the great political philosopher Isaiah Berlin in his 1958 lecture, “Two Concepts of Liberty.” He calls the first kind of freedom, freedom from restraints, negative liberty. He calls the second kind, freedom to be, positive liberty. Leviticus and the Liberty Bell want us to hear both kinds, with emphasis on positive liberty.
This summer has seen civil liberties take center stage in the media and our collective conscience. Typically in the United States, we speak of “rights” when trying to define our liberties. The switch from a civil liberty to a civil right is meant to help us hone in on the positive notion of liberty. We ought to already be free from the dominion of others, at least since the Emancipation Proclamation. What are we free to do becomes the question.
In this vein, the Supreme Court ruling affirming the legality of same-sex marriages is about the freedom to marry a loved one, regardless of sex just as we once established that freedom regardless of race. While marriage may have varying definitions in religious circles, as a civil right, the civil rite is now a civil liberty. Many religious leaders will conduct religious ceremonies for same-sex couples because they see marriage as a sacred commitment between two loving individuals. For these clergy, same-sex marriage is a positive expression of human fulfillment.
I would suggest, too, that the call to remove the Confederate flag from southern state government locations comes from acknowledging this same kind of positive freedom. The nine victims in the Charleston, S.C. Emanuel AME Church shooting were studying their scripture; they were seeking to raise up their souls. Killing them in racist hatred indelibly marred the Confederate flag as keeping African-Americans from having any liberty, rather than any attempt to express Southern heritage.
The 12th century Spanish Bible commentator Ibn Ezra notes that the Hebrew word for “liberty” in our verse is related to the songbird in Proverbs 26:2 that sings merrily when independent but refusing to eat in captivity and dies. Liberty throughout the land for all its inhabitants rings out as a call to positive freedom. We must remember we are all on loan from God, we are all meant to flourish. Let freedom ring.
Rabbi Jeremy Winaker is the executive director of the Greater Philadelphia Hillel Network, responsible for West Chester University, Haverford, Bryn Mawr, and other area colleges. He is the former head of school at the Albert Einstein Academy in Wilmington and was the senior Jewish educator at the Kristol Hillel Center at the University of Delaware for four years. Rabbi Winaker lives in Delaware with his wife and three children.
Two clients and one friend in the past week have talked about seeing the movie “Inside Out.” Usually we (my husband and I) wait for Netflix, but all the talk prompted a trip to the movie theater instead. This Disney-Pixar film captivates older children and adults alike in its story about an 11-year-old girl, Riley. She is a happy hockey-playing kid in Minnesota when her family moves to San Francisco, thus disrupting Riley’s life just as she is on the cusp of puberty.
“Inside Out” delves into the mind of Riley by depicting emotions through various characters. At first Joy, and her positive, “can do” attitude leads the action through tumultuous times. However, it is Sadness whose role is also critical. When Sadness and Joy are lost, deep in the labyrinth of Riley’s mind, the characters Fear, Disgust, and Anger are left at the controls. Havoc ensues, and we see Riley acting out.
What the animation portrays well is how we all have an internal dialog of feelings that interacts with another’s cacophony of feelings. Moms and dads would do well to consider how their own emotions interact and intertwine with their children’s. There is one scene where Riley is reactive with her parents, one minute displaying Anger, another minute Fear, and another Disgust. Father escalates the turmoil by reacting with his Anger, and mother in turn reacts to father. Seeing this reactivity makes us laugh — but it also gets us to think — about our own emotional reactivity.
In another scene, Sadness sits and listens to a sad story being told by Riley’s imaginary friend. He weeps because Sadness is listening and is being understanding. Because of this, this character finds himself at the other side of his story, feeling some resolution to his grief. Joy, who at first wanted to gloss over his feelings with some “happy” distraction, sees that Sadness has an important role. She is the balance to Joy’s energy. Joy and Sadness are opposite sides of the same coin.
This film wisely did not portray any emotion as “negative.” We need our feelings; they are not to be gotten rid of. In right proportion and integrated, Fear helps us avoid danger; Disgust also keeps us safe—from being poisoned, for example. And Anger can help us recognize injustice.
This movie may help us understand the pre-pubescent kids in our midst, but it also gives lessons about our adult selves.
It’s worth going out to go inside.
* Kayta Curzie Gajdos holds a doctorate in counseling psychology and is in private practice in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania. She welcomes comments at MindMatters@DrGajdos.com or 610-388-2888. Past columns are posted to www.drgajdos.com. See book.quietwisdom-loudtimes.com for information about her book, Quiet Wisdom in Loud Times: The Rise of the Wounded Feminine.
Dr. Kathleen Curzie Gajdos ("Kayta") is a licensed psychologist (Pennsylvania and Delaware) who has worked with individuals, couples, and families with a spectrum of problems. She has experience and training in the fields of alcohol and drug addictions, hypnosis, family therapy, Jungian theory, Gestalt therapy, EMDR, and bereavement. Dr. Gajdos developed a private practice in the Pittsburgh area, and was affiliated with the Family Therapy Institute of Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, having written numerous articles for the Family Therapy Newsletter there. She has published in the American Psychological Association Bulletin, the Family Psychologist, and in the Swedenborgian publications, Chrysalis and The Messenger. Dr. Gajdos has taught at the college level, most recently for West Chester University and Wilmington College, and has served as field faculty for Vermont College of Norwich University the Union Institute's Center for Distance Learning, Cincinnati, Ohio. She has also served as consulting psychologist to the Irene Stacy Community MH/MR Center in Western Pennsylvania where she supervised psychologists in training. Currently active in disaster relief, Dr. Gajdos serves with the American Red Cross and participated in Hurricane Katrina relief efforts as a member of teams from the Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Now living in Chadds Ford, in the Brandywine Valley of eastern Pennsylvania, Dr. Gajdos combines her private practice working with individuals, couples and families, with leading workshops on such topics as grief and healing, the impact of multigenerational grief and trauma shame, the shadow and self, Women Who Run with the Wolves, motherless daughters, and mediation and relaxation. Each year at Temenos Retreat Center in West Chester, PA she leads a griefs of birthing ritual for those who have suffered losses of procreation (abortions, miscarriages, infertility, etc.); she also holds yearly A Day of Re-Collection at Temenos.Dr. Gajdos holds Master's degrees in both philosophy and clinical psychology and received her Ph.D. in counseling at the University of Pittsburgh. Among her professional affiliations, she includes having been a founding member and board member of the C.G. Jung Educational Center of Pittsburgh, as well as being listed in Who's Who of American Women. Currently, she is a member of the American Psychological Association, The Pennsylvania Psychological Association, the Delaware Psychological Association, the American Family Therapy Academy, The Association for Death Education and Counseling, and the Delaware County Mental Health and Mental Retardation Board. Woven into her professional career are Dr. Gajdos' pursuits of dancing, singing, and writing poetry.
The photography of Sean Davis will be featured this Thursday’s Pop up art show at the Galer Estate Vineyard and Winery. Sean has recently begun a massive photographic documentation project that spans 30 miles along the Pennsylvania, Route 1 corridor from Avondale to the Main Line. In each township and borough along the way, he’s capturing the beauty that makes each area unique. What’s more is the images and landscapes brings a brief, written history of the image to tie in what the viewer is looking at. I am looking forward to seeing his images of our beautiful area! Several wineries in the area feature artist shows, so if there are other artists out there that would like to show at a winery for a day or more, just call one up and see if they have a spot on the calendar.
“Shot” by Terry DeAngelo
The Church Street Gallery in West Chester is exhibiting the wonderful oil paintings of local West Chester artist Terry DeAngelo for their July show entitled “Quiet Truths.” The central image for the show is a four foot square painting called “Shot” with hundreds of black birds flying from the branches of a large tree against a canvas of cerulean blue. I asked Terry why he called it “Shot”, and the answer is so obvious I felt like an idiot. He said “have you ever been in the woods and seen one of those trees filled with black birds? This is what happens when they hear a gunshot.” That is wonderful!
DeAngelo looks at painting as “a kind of adventure, a journey” which Carol Giblin, co-owner of Church Street Gallery, has interpreted as “Quiet Truths.” The show opening reception is Friday July 11 at 5 pm. Please note that they never seem to have their receptions on First Friday! They go for second instead Friday. I own one of Terry’s paintings and I love it. He has the light sensitivity and careful touch of a realist painter, but his composition allows for large spaces of color and makes his work very contemporary. Terry is a delightful person; very humble about his talent and wonderful to talk with, so I recommend you come to the reception and say hello.
Patterns on exhibit at The Art Trust Gallery
Also in downtown West Chester, The Art Trust Gallery at Meridian Bank’s show “Patterns” is in its last weeks. Please stop by and catch this delightful, small eclectic collection of themed art works before it closes July 17th.
Don’t miss the wonderful Horace Pippin show “The Way I See It” at the Brandywine Conservancy and Museum of Art . The last day of the landmark show is July 19! Horace Pippin lived and painted in West Chester and is famous for his direct portrayal of African American life in the 1940s and 50s, as well as his images of war. As a wounded war veteran of World War One, he learned to guide his painting arm with his left hand, painting or burning in his figures with deliberation and care. Come visit the show before it closes. While you are at the museum make sure to see the permanent collection too!
In Phoenixville, The Art Gallery at Franklin Commons is continuing their exhibition of “Flight” through July 16th. Some of the artists participating in the “Flight” Exhibit include Katee Boyle, Daisy Cohen, John Pompeo, Lynnette Shelley, Bob Hakun, and David Rankin. The Art Gallery at Franklin Commons is starting an educational and dialogue enriching Seeing Art by Numbers. This program is to encourage the understanding of and conversation around art, which becomes easier with some vocabulary. Through this new way of seeing and understanding artwork in the gallery, conversation is encouraged, and can be helpful to any level of artist or non-artists alike. The August Exhibit is “Roots”, so if you are an artist that is inspired by the title, contact Katie Naber, curator, to see if your work may be included in the next show!
In Cochranville, art is literally rocks at The Street Road Artist’s Space, located in an industrial building on the intersection of routes 41 and 926. This summer they are exhibiting “Sailing Stones” in their brand new 4500 foot barn. Sailing Stones shows work by 350+ contributors to the Street Road Rocks project, and by artists José Avila (Delaware), Egidija Čiricaitė (UK/Lithuania), Julia Dooley (Pennsylvania), Kaori Homma (UK/Japan), and their new participation in L.A.N.D., an ongoing project by Danish collective N55. Each stone art piece takes a single rock as a starting point to an art work, and invites a conversation about permanence and transience, nature and art as well as the inclusivity of art in terms of medium and participation. They are open Fridays and Saturdays 10am-4pm and by appointment. Along with their “Sailing Stones,” their summer exhibits include “Suburban Landscapes” by Brian Richmond, and “Crisis Farm: Seed to Table” by artists Maryann Worrell and Doug Mott. If you have a cool rock, you might bring it along to the show and see how yours might be included in the collection!
Many of you might have seen the news announcement about the sale of 4 masterpieces from The Delaware Art Museum‘s permanent collection that were sold in order to pay for the museum’s renovation debt. Sales from collections are always met with negative press, but in a way, it should remind us how very precious each picture is in a museum and give us a greater appreciation of the artworks when we go to a museum. I am thrilled that the Delaware Art Museum is solvent and I am looking forward to a great year of exhibitions ahead.
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.
