August 8, 2015 - ChaddsFordLive.com

Roy E. Campbell of Unionville

Roy E. Campbell, 69, of Unionville, died Thursday, Aug. 6, in the comfort of his home. He was a dedicated, loving husband to Susan Wilson Campbell during their 46 years of marriage.

He grew up in Havertown, and was the son of the late Maurice and Dorothy Campbell. Roy was predeceased by his brother, Robert “Bob” Campbell.

Roy worked in construction for 48 years most recently as a contractor and retired in 2014. Roy served his country in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War as a helicopter crew chief.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughter Stacie Campbell Maiers and son-in law David of Oxford; two sons, Roy E. Campbell II and his wife Chae of Hong Kong, and Todd Campbell and his wife Shawn of Landenberg. Seven grandchildren also survive him: Evan, Tyler, Ryan, Ethan, Emily, Olivia and Abigail.

Roy was incredibly strong during a yearlong fight with brain cancer for which his family will be forever proud. He passed, surrounded by his wife and three children and is now at peace.

He enjoyed sailing on his boat, barbecuing and spending time with friends at the marina, fly fishing, and throwing the Frisbee to his dedicated chocolate lab, Joey. He loved spending time with his family.

Roy was a loving father and grandfather. He, along with Susan, always supported their children in their pursuits in life including sports, careers and family. He loved being surrounded by his grandchildren. Most of all, Roy will be remembered for his endearing patience and understanding with his family, pragmatic approach to life, his contagious sense of humor and ability to always be positive.

You are invited to join a celebration of Roy’s life with his family and friends from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 11 and from 10 to 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 12, at the Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home, 250 W. State St, Kennett Square PA 19348. A memorial service will follow at 11. Burial will be private.

In memory of Roy, donations can be made to benefit the brain cancer department (or research) at University of Pennsylvania’s Abramson Cancer Center, who provided tremendous care to Roy over the past year. Send to Penn Medicine Development & Alumni Relations at 3535 Market Street, Suite 750, Philadelphia PA 19104.

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

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Sanford goes from Pennsbury to Hollywood

Arts & Entertainment

IMG_3814-(1)-copy-cropped — Sanford goes from Pennsbury to Hollywood

Lizzy Sanford is living the dream of a small town girl trying to make it in the big city. If that’s sounds like a Hollywood cliché, it should.

Sanford, who grew up on Brinton’s Bridge Road in Pennsbury Township, is now in the Hollywood area making a name for herself in the film industry. The 27-year-old is a freelance producer, director, and writer whose latest project is about to be released to 40 festivals. Among those festivals are Sundance, Toronto and Cannes.

She is also the daughter of Dick Sanford, a former executive well known locally as the founder of Operation Warm, a nonprofit that distributes winter coats to needy children.

The film project is “Palisade,” which she refers to as a “farcical, short form character piece.”

“Palisade is a comedy about a man named Lloyd who robs a convenience store to help his girlfriend out of debt. To escape the cops, Lloyd breaks into a woman’s home, locks himself in her bedroom, and holds her cat hostage. The pair develops an odd friendship through the locked bedroom door,” Sanford said in an email interview.

Beneath the plot line is the theme of contrasting forces, something she tends to focus on in her writing.

The story and theme present “a contrast between an alluring incompatible relationship based on falsities and vice, and a truly compatible relationship, which trumps even the most unforgiving of circumstances,” she said.

The project also allowed her to explore another goal, that of hiring as many women as possible for the upper end positions. The writer, director, producer, editor, director of photography, Steadicam operator, sound tech, costume designer, hair and makeup artist and graphic designer are all women.

Sanford, who attended the Upland Country Day School, grew up loving movies, theatrics and stories, she said, and moved to Los Angeles four years ago. She’s worked as a producer and director and has developed a few screenplays. She feels fortunate to have had several influential mentors who have supported her career and helped develop her craft.

While she’s not had any project the general movie-going public would know about, she readily admits that’s her goal.

“I’ve worked on many short films, commercials, art and experimental films. I hope the first feature project I work on will be my own,” she said.

There is another goal, one that would bring her hometown to the big screen.

“I hope to capture the beauty of Chadds Ford on film at some point in my career,” Sanford said.

For a glimpse into “Palisade,” go here.

(Top photo: A courtesy image of Lizzy Sanford directing her film “Palisade.”)

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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Members of the U.S. men's 8+ rowing team (left) receive silver during the medal ceremony for the 2015 World Rowing Junior Championships. Photo courtesy of World Rowing.com

Unionville grad rows to silver medal in Rio

Local News

Updated at 3:30 p.m. to add information from the U.S. Rowing Association

In an exciting, hard-fought race at the 2015 World Rowing Junior Championships on Saturday, Aug. 8, the eight-member men’s U.S. team, which included 2015 Unionville grad Justin Best, earned a silver medal.

Justin Best (second from right) enjoys some rare down time in Sarasota, Fla., where 16 of the top junior rowers trained for the 2015 World Rowing Junior Championships. — Justin Best (second from right) enjoys some rare down time in Sarasota, Fla., where 16 of the top U.S. junior rowers trained for the 2015 World Rowing Junior Championships.

Initially resembling a replay of an earlier race, the U.S. led all six teams for about three-quarters of the race in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, before the Netherlands pulled ahead, finishing first in 5:51.74. The U.S. came in at 5:53.39, and Germany, the reigning world champions, notched third in 5:54.28.

Jeanne and Glenn Best, Justin’s parents, listened to the audio and watched the World Rowing website’s live tracker from their Kennett Square home; however, Jeanne Best said she did a lot of pacing along with her cheering, which was periodically interrupted by flurries of incoming texts from friends and relatives from as far away as Montana.

“This is just really incredible. These kids raced their hearts out,” she said, adding that the U.S. men’s 8+ (eight rowers plus a coxswain) hadn’t medaled in five years. “It was a good year for the U.S.,” which won five medals to last year’s two.

She explained that unlike many of the other competitors from other countries, the U.S. teams only train together for a month in Florida. “They’re going home with some hardware,” she said. “We’re just beyond proud of the work they and their coaches put in to accomplish that.”

Jeanne Best said she never could have imagined this outcome when her son took up the sport as a freshman at Unionville High. “I’m just thrilled for him – and the other members of the team,” she said.

She said she and her husband haven’t spoken with Justin yet, but they know they will and are eager for all the details. For now, they’re enjoying the text he sent: “Thanks so much … I am so happy now. You have no idea.”

Best and his teammates will get to savor their silver. Because the finals were moved up a day due to the threat of high winds, the team, scheduled to return to the U.S. on Monday night, gets an extra day in Rio. Jeanne Best said the kids from different countries typically spent time after the race swapping gear.

According to the U.S. Rowing Association, the women’s four won gold, the men’s eight picked up silver, and the women’s pair, quadruple scull, and eight each won bronze, constituting a team record at the junior world championships. Germany won the medal count with 11, while the U.S. and Italy finished second with five medals each.

The U.S. team advanced to the finals on Thursday, Aug. 5, with two second-place finishes in a prestigious competition representing rowers from over 40 countries. Having finished second in one heat by 0.39 seconds, the crew just missed the top spot in the repechage – a contest in which the top teams that failed to win heats compete for a place in the final.

The U.S. held first place through the 1,500-meter mark in the repechage, before The Netherlands seized the advantage, finishing with a time of 5:58.12. The U.S. came in at 5:58.85, according to the U.S. Rowing website.

Best, 17, who said in an earlier interview that he’s excited about attending Drexel University in the fall as a member of its crew team, was selected through national tryouts spanning nine identification camps (where national team coaches identify potential contenders) from coast to coast that started in January and a selection camp in Pittsburgh this past June.

The top 16 sweep junior men’s rowers and two coxswains were picked to move onto the world championship. In sweep rowing, each competitor is responsible for a single oar. Jeanne Best said that for the first time in U.S. men’s junior rowing history, all three teams selected through the camps – the eight-member and two four-member teams – made the finals.

Best’s fellow silver medalists are coxswain Ethan Ruiz (Newport Beach, Ca.), Mark Levinson (San Francisco, Ca.), Hunter Johnson (Winnetka, Ill.), Cameron Chater (Berkeley, Ca.), Ethan Seder (Berkeley, Ca.), Charles Watt (Acton, Mass.), Andrew Gaard (Madison, Wis.), and James Palmer (Rye, N.Y.)

Last year, Best represented the U.S. at the CanAmMex regatta in Nova Scotia, Canada, where Team USA won gold in the men’s 8+.

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Gency A. Phipps of Oxford

Obituaries

Gency A. Phipps, 89, of Oxford, died Thursday, Aug. 6, at the Pocopson Home. She was the wife of Willie C. Phipps who died in 1980, and with whom she shared 41 years of marriage.

Born in Independence, Va., she was the daughter of the late Crockett Phipps Sr., and Edna Valentine Phipps..

Mrs. Phipps was a homemaker and enjoyed cooking, playing Bingo and being with her family and friends, especially her grandchildren.

She was a member of the Faith Tabernacle Church in Oxford.

She is survived by one son, Clifton Phipps and his wife Janice of Newark,; one daughter, Meldora Phipps of Newark; one sister Katherine Simpson of Salem, Va.; three grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Her service and burial will be private.

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

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

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In Kennett Twp., catch-up on trails, open space

Local News

If you were going to issue a land-preservation grade for two townships – Kennett and East Bradford, both of which possess a similar size and population and impose the same 0.25 percent open-space tax – East Bradford would earn an “A” and Kennett would flunk.

Michael Guttman, the grant program coordinator for Kennett Township, provides an overview of the township's plan to add trails and open space. — Michael Guttman, the grant program coordinator for Kennett Township, provides an overview of the township’s plan to add trails and open space.

But the Kennett Township supervisors said they are eager to reverse that failing grade, an effort that occupied the bulk of a three-hour work session on Wednesday, Aug. 5.

Michael Guttman, the township’s new grant program coordinator, led the presentation, which sparked some lively debate and numerous questions from the dozen residents in attendance. Guttman’s focus was a multi-modal grant for which the township recently applied.

Guttman pointed out that East Bradford, which comprises 15.1 square miles and 9,942 residents, has used grants to help preserve more than 50 percent of the township. Kennett, which has 15.6 square miles and a population of 7,565 and has not regularly availed itself of grant opportunities; as a result, it has preserved about 20 percent of the township as open space.

Kennett is eager to capitalize on the myriad benefits of open space, Guttman said. One study calculated that households save nearly $400 a year on recreation costs when open space is available while another said that open space has added $16.3 billion to the value of southeastern Pennsylvania housing stock, he said, adding that he met with East Bradford officials, who shared advice.

Guttman said if the township, which has about $3 million in its open space account, received the full amount of the grant, it would get about $3 million for an approximately $4.5 million project that would connect the township with the borough through six miles of trails. He said a decision on the grant application is expected in November.

The township now has a plan that will result in preservation of 30 percent of township land in the next decade, Guttman said. The effort, anchored by the Red Clay Greenway Trail Program, would “create a contiguous ‘hike and bike’ trail backbone along a preserved open space corridor looping around the township and borough,” he said. The backbone would connect to a number of spur trails in various subdivisions as well as other networks in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland, he said.

He stressed that applying for the grant does not guarantee receiving it, but he estimated the township’s chances at about 80 percent. The fact that the project includes open space and trails as well as partners, including The Land Conservancy (TLC) of Southern Chester County, Kennett Square Borough, the Kennett Area Parks and Recreation Board, the Kennett Track Alliance and Michael Pia Jr., who is developing Magnolia Place in the borough, also increases its attractiveness to funders.

Guttman said other grants could be used to pay the remaining costs. “I’m always looking for new grants,” he said.

In an effort to put the cost of obtaining six miles of trail in perspective, Guttman said the same amount of money would fund one mile of a two-lane road or four miles of sidewalk.

To view Guttman’s presentation, click here.

In other business, Supervisors’ Chairman Scudder G. Stevens presented a $40,000 check — the township’s second-quarter library payment — to Rosa Quintana, a township resident who serves on the Kennett Library Board. Despite recent friction between the township and the board, Stevens said the township remains committed to assisting the library, which is a valuable resource used by township residents.

The supervisors also voted to appoint Michael O’Brien as a part-time recording secretary at a rate of $25 an hour. Previously those duties had been performed by Township Manager Lisa M. Moore, who acknowledged that the task had become increasingly challenging since she is often presenting material at meetings, giving her two responsibilities at the same times.

Finally, the township signed an engagement letter for the attorneys assigned by its insurance carrier to represent the municipality in its defense of a recent lawsuit.

Michael Hammon sued the township on July 22, accusing the supervisors of violating the Sunshine Act by entering into an agreement on May 7 with former Police Chief Albert J. McCarthy, a pact that could cost township taxpayers “well in excess of $45,000.”

In a press release earlier this week, attorney Mark A. Sereni said the suit sought to force township officials to comply with the Sunshine Act by conducting a public meeting and inviting residents’ comments on the agreement with McCarthy. “We have accomplished that objective,” the release said, referencing a July 29 meeting held to discuss the McCarthy agreement, which has been posted on the township’s website.

The release said the litigation also seeks to “prohibit Kennett Township and its supervisors from ever again agreeing to the kind of secrecy provision in public contracts that our lawsuit focuses upon – specifically a provision that would prohibit Kennett Township from disclosing the very existence of a public contract.” It requests the township enter into a court-approved consent decree to that effect, the release said.

Asked for comment, Kennett Township solicitor David J. Sander declined, explaining that he was not going to litigate the case in the media.

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Flutist, Nicole Ozdowski and Bass-Baritone, Rocky Sellers will perform with Kennett Symphony

‘Opera Without Words’ features rising musicians

Arts & Entertainment

Two rising musicians will be featured in the performance of Opera Without Words at Longwood Gardens. Even without words, this is music you will recognize and fall in love with!

Both musicians are winners of the Kennett Symphony’s young artist competitions. Flutist, Nicole Ozdowski will perform Carmen Fantasy by Borne/Bizet. Bass-Baritone, Rocky Sellers will perform La Vendetta from The Marriage of Figaro, Le Veau D’or from Faust, and Ol’Man River from Showboat.

The Kennett Symphony of Chester County presents Opera Without Words, under the direction of Music Director, Michael Hall, Saturday, August 15, 2015, 7:00 pm. The rain date Saturday, August 16, 7 pm. The concert features melodies from well-known operas. Orchestral music is so essential to opera that it is often featured by itself – as Music Director Michael Hall has programmed – in the form of Opera Without Words. It defines the characters, generates the action, and establishes the atmosphere of the story.

The program features many of opera’s “greatest hits” including works by Bizet, Mozart, Puccini, and Verdi. Audiences will recognize the orchestral music of Carmen, The Marriage of Figaro, Faust and more, plus medleys from two popular musicals: Phantom of the Opera and West Side Story.

Flutist, Nicole Ozdowski is a 2015 graduate of Marple Newtown High School. Ms. Ozdowski is guaranteed to wow the audience with her beautiful tone, stellar technique and engaging performance style. In addition to winning the KSCC’s competition, Ms. Ozdowski has won numerous awards and competitions throughout the region, and will be attending Princeton University in the fall.

Bass-Baritone, Rocky Sellers has been described by the New York Observer as a “vibrant, booming bass”. Mr. Sellers has performed with the Portland Opera, Manhattan Opera Studio, Opera Company of Montclair, Opera Ebony, American Spiritual Ensemble, Santa Fe Opera, and Sarasota Opera, among others. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Tennessee.

Ticket price includes the concert, access to visit Longwood Gardens during the day on the day of the concert, free parking, and a special gift courtesy of Longwood Gardens and the Kennett Symphony.

Ticket prices are $40 in advance, $45 on the day of the concert. Student tickets are $10.

For complete information visit www.kennettsymphony.org or call the Kennett Symphony at 610 444 6363.

Currently in its 74th season, the Kennett Symphony of Chester County is Chester County’s only professional symphony orchestra. The Symphony serves residents of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and New Jersey, along with the thousands of tourists who attend the Kennett Symphony’s popular summer concerts in Longwood Garden’s Open Air Theatre. In addition to presenting varied and entertaining orchestral concerts, the Kennett Symphony encourages young musicians through annual Instrumental and Voice Competitions and its affiliation with the Kennett Symphony Children’s Chorus.

About Press Release

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