November 18, 2015 - ChaddsFordLive.com

Margaret Cloud Elvin

Margaret Cloud Elvin, 97, died Tuesday, Nov. 17, at Kendal Community in Kennett Square. She was the wife of the late Harold T. Elvin who died in 1999 and with whom she shared 59 years of marriage.

Born in 1918, she was the daughter of the late Pusey Cloud and Ida Hoopes Cloud.

Margaret enjoyed more than 20 years teaching first grade at Upland Country Day School and Chadds Ford Elementary. She was a graduate of Unionville High School and Drexel University and received her teaching certificate from West Chester University. She served as a school board director for the Unionville-Chadds Ford district, was a member and past master of East Lynn Grange in Unionville and a member of Po-Mar-Lin Fire Company and Marlborough Friends Meeting.

Margaret enjoyed cooking, baking and entertaining family and friends. She appreciated art and took lessons in painting. Her hobbies included quilting, needlepoint and playing Pinochle.

She is survived by sons Wayne T. Elvin and his wife Diane of New Castle, Donald J. Elvin of Warsaw, N.C., Roger K. Elvin and wife Lisa of Unionville.; five grandchildren, two great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

You are invited to visit with Margaret’s family and friends from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21 at the Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home (610-444-4116) 250 W. State St., Kennett Square, PA 19348. A service celebrating her life will follow at 2 p.m. Interment will be held privately.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory can be made to either Marlborough Friends Meeting, c/o Debbie Stamm, 4 Owenwood Dr., Lincoln University, PA 19352 or Po-Mar-Lin Fire Co. , P.O. Box 36, Unionville, PA 19375. To view her online tribute and to share a memory with her family, please visit www.griecocares.com

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Marian “Mannie” C. Tavoni of Kennett Square

Obituaries

Marian “Mannie” C. Tavoni, 90, of Kennett Square, died Wednesday, Nov. 18, at her daughter’s residence. She was the wife of Samuel J. Tavoni, who died in 2011, and with whom she shared 66 years of marriage.

Born in Kennett Square, she was the daughter of the late Francis P. and Grace O’Neil Campbell.

She was a homemaker, and a member of St. Patrick’s Church.

She is survived by one son, Stephen K. Tavoni and his wife Kathleen of Kennett Square; one daughter, Phyllis Anne Tavoni Smith and her husband Barry of Kennett Square; one sister, Patricia Brown of Kennett Square; eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Mrs. Tavoni was predeceased by one son, Samuel J. Tavoni, Jr. and one sister, Carolyn C. Field.

You are invited to visit with her family and friends from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 27, at the Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home, 250 West State Street in Kennett Square. Her Funeral Mass will follow at 11 at St. Patrick’s Church, 212 Meredith Street in Kennett Square. Burial will be in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Route 82 in Kennett Square.

In memory of Mrs. Tavoni a contribution may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 100 West 10^th Street, Suite 209, Wilmington, DE 19801 or to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc., 2600 Network Blvd., Suite 300, Frisco, TX 75034

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

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Around Town Nov. 19

Along the Ford

• The holiday season is upon us. Volunteers at the Brandywine River Museum of Art assemble the annual wreath that will adorn the outer wall of the museum. More than 60 volunteers took part. The wreath is 18 feet in diameter and is made of blue spruce. (See top photo.) Brandywine Christmas, featuring O-gauge trains and the Ann Wyeth McCoy doll collection, at the BRM runs from Nov. 27 through Jan. 3.

• Although tickets for a preview reception – and a chance to chat with Victoria Browning Wyeth – at the Westtown School on Saturday, Nov. 21, have sold out, area residents can still purchase seats for the lecture at 7:30 p.m. The fundraiser for the Chadds Ford Historical Society will feature a presentation by the granddaughter of painter Andrew Wyeth entitled “I Paint My Life,” an evening that will spotlight four never publicly viewed studies that center on one of the historical society’s buildings and another uncirculated watercolor of Helga Testorf, one of her grandfather’s most famous models. It will also include Andrew Wyeth’s last in-person interview. Lecture tickets are $30 and are available here.

• The Unionville High School Art Gala is this Friday and Saturday, Nov. 20 and 21, at the school. This annual event showcases local celebrated working artists, UHS alumni, and current UHS students along with live music and great food. This year’s featured artist is Margaret Matuszewski. And the gala also features two senior student artists. Admission is free and 30 percent of all purchases are tax deductible. All proceeds support educational enrichment programs at Unionville High School. Doors open 6 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. on Saturday. The exhibit ends at 4 p.m. Saturday.

• The Brandywine Battlefield Park will hold its Patriots’ Day on Saturday, Nov. 28 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. This event is an opportunity for you and your kids to engage history in an exciting and interactive way. Gen. George Washington will stop by along with Benjamin Franklin and some of his inventions. Soldiers from the 1^st Delaware and 9^th Pennsylvania Light Infantry Divisions will appear in uniform as well as Sutler’s 18^thcentury interpreters and other historical demonstrations.

"The Nutcracker" opens Dec. 11 — Brandywine Ballet presents “The Nutcracker” beginning Dec. 11.

• Brandywine Ballet will have performances of “The Nutcracker” Dec. 11-20, as well as The Nutcracker Tea on Dec. 12 & 19 at 2:30 pm and Dec. 20 at 12:30 p.m. Brandywine Ballet continues its residency this season at Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall, 700 S. High Street in West Chester. Individual tickets range from $25-$42. Tickets and a complete schedule are available by telephone at 610-696-2711 and online at www.brandywineballet.org.

• Kennett Township, which currently has more than 70 residents – up from 60 two years ago – on numerous committees ranging from its Environmental Advisory Council to its Deer Management Committee, is seeking more volunteers. The township is undergoing its yearly process of making committee appointments for January. An application form and brief description of each committee can be found here.

• Time is running out to catch the Chrysanthemum Festival at Longwood Gardens, the largest display of exhibition mums in the country. The show of more than 16,000 mums includes a 1,000-bloom mum, which was painstakingly cultivated to produce that many blooms on a single plant, all perfectly spaced. It runs through Sunday, Nov. 22, and is included in gardens admission. For more information, go here.

• On Thursday, Nov. 19, at 7 p.m., the Chester County Department of Emergency Services will hold the Fall 2015 Firefighter I Graduation and Certification Recognition Ceremony at the Wagontown Fire Company on West Kings Highway in Wagontown. The ceremony will recognize the hard work of the 26 Firefighter I Cadets, who have completed the requirements of the course and can now serve as volunteer firefighters at their local fire companies. The guest speaker will be Chaplain Jerry Schwartz, a retired captain with the Baltimore City Fire Department who serves as chaplain and safety officer for the West Chester Fire Department.

Boy Scout Pack 31, of Chaads Ford, will hold a Court of Honor for three Eagle Scouts 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 23, at Hillendale Elementary School. Scouts being honored are, from left, Dylan Smallacombe, Ian Mears and Benjamin Schenk.

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Photo of the Week: Blacksmith Shop

Photo of the Week

Blacksmith-Shop-2 — Photo of the Week: Blacksmith Shop

Wood dries outside the blacksmith shop at Newlin Grist Mill Park.

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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Adopt-a-Pet: India

Home and Leisure

Adopt-a-Pet: India

Namaste. My name is India, and I’m a 6-year-old shorthaired white cat with black patches. I came to the Chester County SPCA on Sept. 27 as an owner-surrender. Do not fret, I have no ill will and my kitty yoga helps to keep my mind and spirit centered at all times. My friends here have given me the nick name “Guru” because I have one tooth and am constantly purring mantras that help ease any mind. I am outgoing, social, and love attention. What can I say I have much to give to the world (you). Come meet me today and lets bring light to the world together.

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Police Log Nov. 19: Firearm stolen in Pennsbury; New Garden police on alert

Local News Pennsbury, Police

• The New Garden Township Police Department is investigating a daytime forced-entry burglary to an unoccupied residence occurring during a very brief time frame on Friday, Nov. 13 between 10:45 a.m. and 1 p.m. The location of the crime is in the unit block of Shortledge Court in Landenberg. Although this is only one residential burglary, police strongly encourage the public to report suspicious behavior immediately by calling 9-1-1 or 610-268-3171.

• State police from the Avondale barracks are investigating a robbery in Pennsbury Township. A report said unknown suspects gained entry into a home on Kennett Pike and stole a handgun and money on Nov. 2, sometime between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m.

• Criminal trespass charges were pending against a Kennett Square resident after he allegedly entered the East Marlborough Township Walmart on Nov. 14. A police report said David Wayne Forrester, 54, had been banned from the store.

• A state police report said Ashley Nicole Ford, of Philadelphia, was arrested for DUI following a traffic stop in East Marlborough Township. According to police, the stop was conducted at 10:35 p.m. on Nov. 9 at Route 1 and Village Lane.

• Raul Mercado, 21, of Kennett Square, was arrested for harassment, according to state police. A report said Mercado punched his girlfriend’s baby’s father in the face at 6:29 p.m. on Nov. 9.

• Two people, both from Wilmington, were arrested for retail theft at the Walmart in East Marlborough Township after they filled a shopping cart full of Keurig K-cups and left the store. State police identified the suspects as Matthew Donald Kelb, 27, and Rebecca Michelle Osman, 23. The incident allegedly happened at 2:09 p.m. on Nov. 9.

• The driver in a one-car accident was hospitalized after he ran off Lenape Road in Pocopson Township on Nov. 8. State police identified the driver as Christoph Debonaventura, 29, of Nottingham. According to the police report, Debonaventura was rounding a curve when his 2007 Honda Accord left the roadway and struck a tree. He was transported to Chester County Hospital with what police termed a “moderate” injury.

• State police from the Embreeville barracks are investigating a burglary that occurred in the 1600 block of Embreeville Road in Newlin Township. Police said someone gained access through an unsecured door between midnight on Sept. 30 and 3 p.m. on Nov. 1. An orange Suzuki ATV, an aluminum canoe, and a green kayak were stolen, police said; anyone with information is asked to contact police at 610-486-6280.

• A 40-year-old Kennett Square woman faces misdemeanor harassment charges, according to Kennett Township Police. Aimee Ragazzo was taken into custody on Friday, Nov. 13, for conduct that occurred in the 200 block of Stewarts Lane in Kennett Township over several weeks. Ragazzo allegedly threatened to have the victim deported using her “public position” as a notary, showed up at the victims’ residence and blocked the victims’ vehicle in the driveway of the residence, refusing to allow the victim to leave until she could “talk,” police said. She is accused of sending the victim over 330 harassing text messages between Oct. 24 and Nov. 6, police said.

• On Saturday, Nov. 7, at 10:42 pm, New Garden Township Police said they observed a vehicle commit a moving violation at the intersection of Main and Center streets in Toughkenamon, prompting a delayed traffic stop. Police said the driver, Jose Lopez-Nunez, 24, of Toughkenamon, first tossed a clear baggie out the window. When contact was made, Lopez-Nunez, who had two children aged 1 and 3 in the back seat, admitted tossing “weed” out of the vehicle. The bag was retrieved and contained marijuana, a pipe, and U.S. currency folded to contain more marijuana. The children were picked up by a family member and Lopez-Nunez was taken into custody for possession of a controlled substance, police said.

• Kennett Square Police said they filed charges of possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia against Michael Hindman, 23, of Kennett Square, following a report that drug paraphernalia had been found at a relative’s residence in the 500 block of East Cypress Street on Sunday, Nov. 1, at 1:43 p.m.

• On Sunday, Nov. 1, at 9:13 a.m., Kennett Square Police arrested David Stewart, 18, of Kennett Square, for retail theft. Police said Stewart was observed stealing eye drops valued at $7.99 from a business located in the 100 block of South Mill Road.

• Eric Melendez, 22, of Kennett Square, was arrested following an altercation on Sunday, Nov. 1, at 1:18 a.m. in the 200 block of Birch Street. Melendez, who was unable to post $10,000 cash bail, faces charges that include aggravated assault, simple assault, marijuana possession, and public drunkenness, Kennett Square Police said.

• On Friday, Oct. 30, at 4:15 a.m., Kennett Square Police arrested Drew DiCarlo Jr., 34, of Kennett Square, for simple assault and harassment. The arrest followed an altercation that occurred in the 600 block of Crossing Court. DiCarlo was released on $10,000 unsecured bail, police said.

• Kennett Square Police arrested a 16-year-old Kennett Square male for terroristic threats, simple assault and harassment for an incident that occurred in the 500 block of Penn Avenue on Sunday, Oct. 25, at 4:55 p.m., police said. The teen was remanded to the Chester County Youth Center, police said.

• On Saturday, Oct. 24, at 11:22 a.m., Kennett Square Police arrested two 12-year-old males from Kennett Square for theft by unlawful taking or disposition, conspiracy and receiving stolen property following the reported theft of a Chaos bicycle and a Razor scooter from the front of a business located in the 500 block of South Union Street. Charges were filed through the Juvenile Unit of the District Attorney’s Office, police said.

• On Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 6:08 p.m., a complaint about males loitering and drinking alcohol in the 100 block of Race Street led to several arrests, Kennett Square Police said. John Norton III, 24, of Kennett Square, was taken into custody for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia and for possessing an open container of alcohol. Justin Plyer, 20, of Kennett Square, was also arrested for the latter offense as well as underage drinking, police said. And Jose Gutierrez-Quintino, 21, of Kennett Square, was arrested for marijuana possession. Plyer and Gutierrez-Quintino were released to await a summons, but Norton, who had an outstanding warrant, was taken to Chester County Prison, police said.

• State police from the Avondale barracks are investigating a case of identity theft. Police said someone opened a savings account and requested a replacement American Express card in the name of a Pocopson Township resident during the first week of November.

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Boost Your Business: The future of marketing

Business

I love marketing (obviously). To me, it is the most dynamic aspect of being in business. Just look at the rapid changes we have made globally in the past 45 years since the delivery of the first email in 1971. Twenty years later the world went “social” with LinkedIn and Myspace and Facebook born in 2002, 2003 and 2004 respectively, and YouTube and Twitter not far behind in 2005 and 2006. (Pinterest in 2009 and Instagram in 2010) And let us not forget the many other social platforms although this article would be 10 pages long. Since then social media has grown at an exponential rate with new platforms constantly being created and with it new methods and means of marketing.

Life has become a constant stream of status updates, photos and tweets. Social media has become a form of constant communication, a way we talk to each other and touch base with each other’s lives.

This phenomenon of online communication is undeniable, and you’d be hard pressed to find someone who didn’t understand the basis of most social network sites. How often, this week alone, have you caught yourself with the phrase “I saw that on… (insert your preferred social media site here)?”.

In the same short few years, businesses have shied away from traditional forms of marketing – such as flyers and newspaper ads, to more interactive and virtual forms online. Even in online marketing, selling and promoting products, services and brands can take on many shapes and forms, all of which is determined by your target media and social platform of choice.

It is due to this constant ongoing communication that businesses need to be aware that social media marketing isn’t a box merely to be checked-off or a campaign to be launched and forgotten. It’s about thinking differently about your marketing, customer service and your entire business. That is the exciting aspect of marketing: it is constantly happening whether you and your brand are involved or not. Wouldn’t you rather be involved, steering the conversation and honing your target market?

Social media makes it possible for you to have more meaningful interactions with your target market without appearing intrusive. Once you have developed the art of marketing through targeted, relevant, shareable and valuable content, then converting them into customers, you have a customer base that will come back again and again. People share, read and generally engage more with any type of content when it’s surfaced through friends and people they know and trust.

Marketing is now moving toward more meaningful interactions between customers and brands where they can voice their opinions in a communal “Social” setting. People love being involved in discussions; it is an effective way of gaining their trust. You become believable, trustworthy and a business they can go to when they need the “right” answers. The future of marketing is no longer about making the sale, it is about bridging the gap between your brand and your customers, and creating relationships that will last beyond the next “new” social platform.

This sharing and engaging creates a more dynamic, interactive form of Marketing. With interactive video marketing and mobile internet usage on the rise, the future of marketing is constantly developing and changing. It is the merging with business technology that makes marketing such an exciting aspect of business to be in and truly the reason why I love Marketing.

The opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the ownership or management of Chadds Ford Live. We welcome opposing viewpoints. Readers may comment in the comments section or they may submit a Letter to the Editor to: editor@chaddsfordlive.com

About Maria Novak Dugan

Maria L. Novak Dugan is president of Marketing Solutions & Business Development, a firm serving Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland, offering creative marketing services and goal implementation for small businesses. She has more than 30 years’ experience in the Marketing & Sales Industry ... 13 of those as the sole sales representative for a Pennsylvania payroll company growing their client base by over 500%. Maria Novak Dugan is also the former Managing Director of the Delaware Chapter of eWomenNetwork. Creating, developing, and conducting this division of a national organization strengthened her knowledge of networking, event planning, fundraising, and small-business development. For more information, contact Maria at 610-405-0633 or Maria@Maria-L-Novak.com or visit www.Maria-L-Novak.com

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Letter: U-CF needs redistricting

Opinion

The Unionville Chadds Ford School District parents who have expressed concern about overcrowded fifth grade classes at Hillendale Elementary School have exposed a very small tip of a large iceberg. Three of the four elementary schools in the district operate from of 95.9 percent to 105.3 percent of their design capacities. Only Unionville Elementary School operates significantly below its design capacity at 61.1 percent. Redistricting should have been done years ago and now is imperative before the start of the 2016-17 school year next fall. Proper redistricting should allow all four elementary schools to operate around 87 percent of their design capacities.

I am also deeply concerned about how the School Board plans to fund the teachers’ contract next year. I hope and expect the board to take actions so that the taxpayers in the district will not bear this burden. The board needs to find ways to cut expenses and to increase non-tax income to support their budgets. There are numerous options that have existed for years that can be taken. The taxpayers of the UCFSD deserve a break for a change. The last year with no tax increase I believe was in 1998.

Bruce B. Yelton
Pocopson Township

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Artist’s literal rise from ashes to be showcased

Arts & Entertainment

Nearly a year ago, the historic Frank Furness House on North Union Street in Kennett Square caught fire, and although no lives were lost, damage to the 1884 building was severe.

Included in the devastating loss was the total destruction of the studio belonging to T. Mark Cole, a lifelong Chester County artist and instructor at the Chester County Art Association (CCAA) in West Chester, said a CCAA press release.

During the past year, Cole has taken steps to rebound from the emotional toll of the blaze as well as the physical loss of supplies, including a lifetime of sketchbooks and more than two dozen pieces of art.

On Wednesday, Nov. 18, CCAA will celebrate Cole’s courageous return from the ashes with a two-day exhibition, “Phoenix Rising: The Rebirth & Renewal of Artist T. Mark Cole.” The exhibit at the art center will open to the public late afternoon on Wednesday, and a reception will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 19, which marks the anniversary of the fire. The public is invited to attend, the release said.

The show will display images of the famous Furness House before and after the fire, along with pieces of art that were literally pulled from the ashes. Work that was thought to be lost, but eventually recovered, will also be on display, along with the debut of several new pieces by Cole’s abstract nom de plume, Favi Dubo.

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Child Advocacy Center earns re-accreditation

Local News

Five years ago, Chester County became the only prosecution-based, accredited member of the National Children’s Alliance in Pennsylvania, a distinction that continues.

Members of the Chester County District Attorney’s Child Abuse Unit – Detective Sgt. David Sassa (from left), Detective Kristin Lund, Deputy District Attorney Deborah Ryan, Detective James Ciliberto, Assistant District Attorney Emily Provencher, Detective Gerald Davis, Assistant District Attorney Megan King, and District Attorney Tom Hogan – display the re-accreditation.

Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan announced on Tuesday, Nov. 17, that the Chester County Child Advocacy Center has received re-accreditation for another five-year term. The Child Advocacy Center (CAC) is the organization and location within the District Attorney’s Office that coordinates child-abuse cases, employing a sensitive, multi-disciplinary approach to young victims.

In a press release, Hogan explained that the center aims to reduce the trauma that can be inflicted on abused children in the judicial system by providing a child-friendly environment and comprehensive resources. The surroundings help minimize the stress for the children, who are often needed to recount painful, horrific details to investigators.

“In Chester County, we protect our children,” said Hogan in the release. “Chester County is at the forefront of investigating and prosecuting child abuse. Our Child Abuse Unit is dedicated to bringing those who would hurt a child to justice. The Child Advocacy Center is a tremendous resource, helping us to catch the monsters who abuse children, while protecting and healing the children who have been hurt.”

In the letter notifying Chester County of its renewed accreditation, the National Children’s Alliance Board of Directors noted that the county’s “hard work and commitment of your community” had been validated.

At the CAC, children are interviewed by forensic interviewers specially trained in speaking with young victims of abuse. It contains a relaxed waiting area for family members while children are being interviewed and also features state-of-the-art technology, such as audio-visual recording systems and a smart board that can be used by kids during interviews.

Conducting interviews of child victims in the CAC allows the children to be interviewed once, rather than being subjected to multiple questionings by different agencies. The CAC also has a multi-disciplinary staff who can address all of the needs of child victims, including medical, psychological, and familial concerns.

The multi-disciplinary team includes prosecutors and detectives as well as representatives from the Chester County Children, Youth and Families Department, the Crime Victims’ Center of Chester County, the Chester County Adult and Juvenile Probation Offices, and municipal police departments. Mental health professionals and health-care providers who specialize in child-abuse investigation, including Dr. Maria McColgan from St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, are also part of the team.

Accreditation by the National Children’s Alliance brings with it grant money and training opportunities, the release said.

Deputy District Attorney Deborah Ryan, the head of the District Attorney’s Child Abuse Unit, said the county relies on a team of dedicated professionals to prosecute child-abusers. “The Child Advocacy Center allows us to work together to protect these children, using experts in every field, from criminal investigations to medical services to psychological counseling,” she said in the release.

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