More than 250 job vacancies from 35 employees are among the benefits for attendees at a Career & Training Expo on Thursday, Oct. 22.
Hosted by the recently formed community coalition, Coatesville ACTION, the event, which will run from noon to 4 p.m., will focus on the entire job search experience. On-site interviews, a computer lab, and training seminars will also be provided free of charge to job seekers, said a press release from the Transportation Management Association of Chester County (TMACC).
At 12:30 p.m., Wings for Success will present a seminar entitled “Wearing the Right Attitude.” At 2 p.m., Judith Lee of Communication Works Now will offer a session on “Your Online Persona & Networking in the Digital Age”. Job seekers and community members alike can attend either session for free without pre-registering.
The acronym ACTION stands for “A Change Through Ideas, Opportunity, and Networking,” Western Chester County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Donna Siter said in the release. “Our May 2015 Career & Job Expo helped get over 28 people jobs, and with Coatesville’s Centennial this year, we thought we’d make this event even bigger.”
The Coatesville ACTION group is comprised of volunteers from the following community organizations: Chester County Workforce Development Board, Chester County Economic Development Council, Western Chester County Chamber of Commerce, TMACC, Lincoln University, Chester County SCORE, and PNC.
“The Lincoln University’s Coatesville Campus is right on the ChescoBus LINK and Krapf A bus routes, so job seekers from Parkesburg to Exton and West Chester can conveniently get here,” TMACC’s Shannon Maria Jones said in the release.
Lincoln University’s Coatesville Campus is located at 351 Kersey St., Coatesville, 19320. Event flyers, employer listings, FAQs and additional information are available at www.CoatesvilleACTION.org.
The long-awaited opening of the Concord Township Wegmans Food Market is just weeks away. A grand opening is scheduled for 7 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 8.
According to a press release, store manager Todd Strassner Jr. said Wegmans would prove itself to be “true one-stop shopping to make your life easier.”
Wegmans’ website says the store will be a 24-hour operation, with a pub operating from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
While many people have been eagerly anticipating the opening of the Wegmans in Concord, there are also shops scheduled to open on the Chadds Ford Township side of the development.
Peter Miller, president of Carlino Construction, said that Wendy’s, Chipotle, a Pennsylvania state store and other businesses will be moving into the township along Route 202. Among the other shops are a Hair Cuttery, a nail salon, a Starbuck’s coffee shop, a Sleep Number store, an AT&T store and a Vitamin Shoppe.
As yet, there’s no definite word on when those shops will be opening, but Miller said some will start opening later in November and others are planning to open through January.
The development will also bring the completion of the third leg of the loop road — Applied Bank Boulevard — around the intersection of Routes 1 and 202. The road is already open, though Miller asks that people not use it yet because there’s still construction vehicles working there and the road is not yet completely paved.
Miller also said there would be a $3,000 donation to Walkable Chadds Ford.
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 its annual pre-election luncheon, Chadds Ford Republican Party leaders reminded party activists to make sure they vote and to make sure they get their neighbors to the polls on Nov. 3.
Party leader Mary Kot said she wants to set up a phone bank so registered Republicans can be reminded, and she wants volunteers to work the polls on Election Day.
“We have enough people to win the election,” said Deb Reardon, chairman of the township’s Open Space Committee, “but we have to get our people to the polls.”
Noelle Barbone addresses fellow Republicans at the Oct. 17 luncheon of the Chadds Ford Republican Party.
While Reardon is not running for any office this year, four others seeking office were on hand to speak. Among them were Supervisor Samantha Reiner, who was appointed earlier this year to replace Keith Klaver and who must run in November for the remainder of that term, and Noelle Barbone, who is hoping to replace George Thorpe as supervisor. Thorpe is not running again.
Other local candidates on hand were Carolyn Daniels and Lorraine Ramunno, who are both running for school board. Daniels is currently on that board and seeking re-election.
Reiner, who is running unopposed, said Chadds Ford residents need to make some serious decisions about its future.
“I believe we are at a crossroads here, as the pressure of development moves forward, and we feel the push from our nearby neighbors. The hundreds of acres of open area, beautiful view sheds and former farmland are vulnerable and targeted by developers,” she said, but “we can’t lock the gates and stop development.
“What we can do is raise the bar…and require excellence in design. Together with my running mate, Noelle Barbone, we are prepared to welcome progress that makes conditions better in our community, recognizes and preserves the important cultural, historic and natural resources that make Chadds Ford such a special place to call home.”
Barbone, a real estate agent who is running against Democrat Alan Horowitz, currently serves as chairman of the Strategic Advisory Committee and is on the Historic Architecture Review Board (HARB).
“For the past two years I’ve been attending the supervisors and Planning Commission meetings and various community meetings where issues are discussed, I have listened, I have questioned, and I’ve made comments,” Barbone said. “I’m also on a first-name basis with [state Rep.] Stephen Barrar and have no problem reaching out to him or to state Sen. Pileggi to discuss any issue that is paramount to our township. I am ready to serve as township supervisor…Let’s win this on Nov. 3.”
Constable Phil Wenrich, who is also running for re-election, said he thinks a board with Reiner, Barbone and current Supervisors’ Chairman Frank Murphy would be “the best thing that ever happened to this township in a long time.”
“We need to win this [election],” he said. “If we don’t win this, the other side is going to take this township in a very different direction. So if you care about this township, get out there and beat the doors and bushes to make this happen.”
Murphy spoke briefly, saying it’s important that Reiner and Barbone both win, but more important that Barbone win her race since Reiner faces no opposition.
“The other night we had a two-hour meeting about the last leg of the loop road, and there was one person in the audience who is running for supervisor: Noelle Barbone. There’s another person running for supervisor who was not in the audience. So [there was] the most important project that’s facing this township in years, which took hours of our evening. I was there. Samantha was there. And Noelle was there. Her dedication to this township speaks volumes,” Murphy said. “We need her on this board.”
Also attending were Barrar, Pileggi, U.S. Rep. Pat Meehan, Delaware County Republican Party Chairman Andy Reilly, and District Attorney Jack Whelan.
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.
On Wednesday, Oct. 21, the 19th annual Operation Safe Stop will be conducted in communities across the state as part of National School Bus Safety Week, which runs from Monday, Oct. 19, to Friday, Oct. 23.
Operation Safe Stop is a public awareness and enforcement effort to educate the motoring public that passing a stopped school bus, when children are loading or unloading, is both dangerous and illegal. Each year, through Operation Safe Stop, law enforcement agencies, school transportation providers, pupil transportation associations and PennDOT have combined their efforts to raise public awareness about the potentially tragic consequences of failing to heed the law.
During this operation, members of the Westtown-East Goshen Regional Police Department will work with the West Chester Area School District and Krapf Bus Company on different bus routes where violations of this law have occurred. Motorists found to be in violation will be stopped and issued a citation. The penalty for the violation is a $250 fine and a 60-day license suspension, followed by five points when the license is restored, said a press release from the Westtown-East Goshen Regional Police Department.
Pennsylvania’s School Bus Stopping Law requires motorists to stop at least 10 feet away from school buses that have their red lights flashing and stop arm extended. Motorists must stop when they are behind the bus, meeting the bus, or approaching an intersection where a bus is stopped.
Motorists following or traveling alongside a school bus must also stop until the red lights have stopped flashing, the stop arm is withdrawn, and all children have reached safety. If physical barriers such as grassy medians, guide rails or concrete median barriers separate oncoming traffic from the bus, motorists in the opposing lanes may proceed without stopping, the release said.
Elizabeth (Liz) O’Neill, 91, died peacefully on Oct. 13, at Jenners Pond in Jennersville after a 21 year bout with Parkinson’s disease. Elizabeth was born June 14, 1924 in Philadelphia, the daughter of Christian and Alma Wilhjelm.
She is survived by husband William O’Neill, her son, Charles, her daughter, Martha Belyea and four grandchildren, Travis, Ansley, Margot and David
Liz attended University of Pennsylvania and was an active alumnae and Theta. Liz and Bill were married for 63 years. In addition to raising their two children, she returned to school and received a masters’ degree in special education from American University and taught at the Cathedral School in Washington, DC.
Liz and Bill enjoyed traveling and had many fun times on their excursions through Europe and the U..S. Together they spent many a wonderful summer at their cabin on Moose Pond in Denmark, Maine.
Services and burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be sent in her name to Moose Pond Association, PO Box 674, Bridgton, Me. 04009,www.moosepondassociation.org.
Arrangements by the Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home in Kennett Square.
Helen Townsend Matson, 90, of West Grove, died surrounded by her family on Saturday, Oct. 17, at Neighborhood Hospice in West Chester. She was the wife of Thomas Matson, who died in 1998, and with whom she shared 28 years of marriage.
Born in Jonesborough, Tenn., she was the daughter of the late Frank and Lilly Mae Cole McKee.
Helen was a certified nursing assistant at the Pocopson Home in West Chester, for 10 years, before retiring.
She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Kennett Square, the Kennett Senior Center and the Golden Slippers Dance Group.
Helen enjoyed gardening, sewing, quilting and traveling.
She is survived by one son, Bobby Townsend, Jr. and his wife Mary Jane of Nottingham,; one daughter, Julia A. Emery and her husband Warren of Downingtown; one sister, Mary Malone of Jonesborough, Tenn.; nine grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren and twoi great great grandchildren.
She was predeceased by one son, David F. Townsend.
You may visit with Helen’s family from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at the Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home, 250 West State Street in Kennett Square. Her graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 22, at the Quarryville Cemetery, Route 222 in Quarryville.
Charles E. Wallner, 84, of Kennett Square, died Friday, Oct. 16, at Southeastern Veteran’s Center in Spring City. He was the husband of Louise Cloud Wallner who died in September of this year, and with whom he shared 38 years of marriage.
Born in Hanceville, Ala. and raised in Montgomery, Ala., he was one of six children and the son of a Lutheran minister. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War as a 2nd lieutenant and was discharged as a 1st lieutenant in 1956. He graduated from Auburn University in 1953 with a degree in mechanical engineering and worked for more than 50 years as a licensed professional engineer. He was employed by the DuPont Co. for 28 years as an engineer in plastics, producing the first nylon fishing line. He later served as town engineer and building inspector for Kennett Square. With his wife, Louise, he built and renovated houses in Sea Isle City, N.J. and was loved as a host, storyteller, and boatsman. He was a devoted father and grandfather who was filled with love and pride for his children and their families.
Mr. Wallner is survived by a son, John C. Wallner (Cristina) and a daughter Kathleen Allen (Rich); a stepson, Edward Killheffer (Sharon) and two stepdaughters, Margaret Oplinger (Tod) and Christine Muench (David); six grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild. Also surviving are two sisters, Edna Ruth Billings, Barbara Ann Sorter (Jack), and one brother, Francis Wallner. He was preceded in death by his wife, Louise Cloud Wallner; brother Norman; sister Agnes; and his parents, Reverend and Mrs. Herbert E. Wallner.
You are invited to visit with Charles’s family and friends from 10-11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 23, at Avondale Presbyterian Church 420 Pennsylvania Ave (Route 41) Avondale, PA 19311. A funeral ceremony celebrating his life will follow at 11. Interment will be in Longwood Cemetery. Contributions may be made to SEVC Welfare Fund, in Memory of Lt. Charles Wallner Attn: April Harley Southeastern Veteran’s Center, One Veterans Drive, Spring City, PA 19475. Arrangements are being handled by the Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home Inc. (610-444-4116) of Kennett Square. To share a memory with his family, please visit www.griecocares.com.
