January 8, 2016 - ChaddsFordLive.com

Roadwork for week of Jan. 8

PennDOT has announced the following road projects, which are weather-dependent and could affect residents in the greater Chadds Ford area during the week of Jan. 8 through Jan. 15. Motorists are urged to allow extra time if they are traveling through one of the construction zones.

Patching will necessitate lane restrictions on Creek Road in Birmingham Township between Routes 1 and 926. Crews are scheduled to work from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Monday, Jan. 11, and Tuesday, Jan. 12.

Crews are scheduled to do brushing work from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Route 322 in East Goshen, West Goshen and East Bradford townships between Routes 202 and 322. The dates are Wednesday, Jan. 13, through Friday, Jan. 15.

Route 1 in Concord Township will be the site of lane restrictions between Powell and Stoney Bank roads from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Crews will be working on turning-lane reconfigurations from Tuesday, Jan. 12, through Friday, Feb. 12.

Drivers on eastbound Route 1 in Concord Township will experience lane closures between Brinton Lake Road and Applied Card Way. Crews will be working on roadway modifications and utility installation connected to the Mainline Health Care complex. Crews are scheduled to work from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Brushing work will necessitate lane restrictions on Route 842 in Pocopson, East Marlborough, and Newlin townships between Route 82 and South Creek Road. The work is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 13, through Friday, Jan. 15.

A lane closure will be needed on Route 52 between Hillendale and Byron roads in Kennett Township for gas main installation. Crews are scheduled to work from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 19, through Tuesday, Jan. 26.

Route 52 in East Bradford Township will require a lane closure between Birmingham Road and Chesterdale Farm Lane through Tuesday, Jan. 12. Crews are scheduled to work on utility installation from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Utility installation will result in lane restrictions on Penn Green Road at Starr Road in New Garden Township through Friday, Jan. 22. Crews are scheduled to work from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Route 1 in Concord Township will require lane closures between Brinton Lake Road and Applied Card Way for road modifications and utility installation related to the Mainline Health Care Service facility. Crews will be working from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Saturday, Jan. 30.

Work will continue on the Speakman Covered Bridge in East Fallowfield and West Marlborough townships. Frog Hollow Road between Concord Bridge and Strasburg roads will be closed and detoured until the estimated completion date of Sept. 20.

Burnt Mill Road in Kennett Township remains closed and detoured indefinitely between Norway and Spring Mill roads while advance work continues on repairs to the Burnt Mill Bridge, which was closed on April 24, 2014.

The Birmingham Road Bridge in Birmingham Township is also closed indefinitely to repair structural damage discovered in September. Posted detours will be in effect between Lambourne Road and Stoney Run Drive.

The road-widening project continues on Route 100 in Uwchlan and West Whiteland townships. Lane closures will be in effect between Swedesford Road and Route 113 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 11, through Friday, Jan. 15, for seeding and pavement marker installation.

Work is continuing on the project to widen Route 202, which is scheduled for completion in August 2016. Motorists should expect delays for traffic pattern shifts.

Bridge inspections are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Interstate 95 in Philadelphia: On Tuesday, Jan. 12, the northbound left lane will be closed between Broad Street and Packer Avenue; on Wednesday, Jan.13, the right southbound lane will be closed between Packer Avenue and Broad Street; and on Friday, Jan. 15, the left lane will be closed on the northbound I-95 Girard Point Bridge between Island Avenue and Broad Street.

If you want to report potholes and other roadway maintenance concerns on state roads, call 610-566-0972 in Delaware County or 484-340-3200 in Chester County, or visit www.dot.state.pa.us and click on “submit feedback.”

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Longwood launches 3rd Community Read

Arts & Entertainment

Books that focus on forging inspirational connections will comprise the Third Annual Community Read, a collaborative initiative designed to spur community conversation, according to Longwood Gardens.

Grandma's — Grandma Gatewood’s Walk will be part of the Third Annual Community Read.

This year’s main title, Grandma Gatewood’s Walk by Ben Montgomery, traces the story of an unlikely heroine – a woman who, to escape personal struggles, in 1955 embarks on a solo journey of several thousand miles of rugged terrain and often ill-marked trails – without any equipment at the age of 67, a Longwood press release said.

To encourage the next generation to value and respect nature, the Community Read also includes an award-winning children’s book, On Meadowview Street. In the book, author Henry Cole tells the story of a little girl, Caroline, who makes a connection with a small flower. That connection grows – and grows, transforming her new neighborhood.

Area libraries and community organizations are joining in the Community Read by hosting programs and events now through April. Community Read partners include Appalachian Trail Museum, Natural Lands Trust, Chester County Trail Club, Delaware Nature Society, The Land Conservancy for Southern Chester County, New Castle County libraries, Chester County libraries, Cumberland County libraries, Delaware County libraries, and many more. A complete list of community partners and programs can be found at longwoodgardens.org/community-read, the release said.

Children are invited to participate in the Third Annual Community Read with — Children are invited to participate in the Community Read with On Meadowview Street.

“We are thrilled to launch the third year of the Community Read, which continues to grow each year. This year, the selected books explore the idea of one person inspiring many,” Longwood Gardens Executive Director Paul B. Redman said in the release. “This is a powerful notion that reminds us of our founder Pierre S. du Pont, and the many people he inspired with his vision.”

Grandma Gatewood’s Walk and On Meadowview Street are available for purchase at the Longwood Gardens Garden Shop and at major book retailers. It is sold as an eBook, Kindle, Nook, and iBook and is also available at many area public libraries.

On Saturday, April 2, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Family Community Read Day will take place at Longwood Gardens. This event will allow children and their families to meet the author of On Meadowview Street, Henry Cole, and discuss how they, too, can connect to nature in their own lives. Family Community Read Day is free with Longwood Gardens admission.

After Family Community Read Day concludes, Cole, the illustrator of many beloved books for children, including his own Jack’s Garden, will host a hands-on workshop for children and their parents. Learn about illustration and creating original works of art. All participants will receive a copy of the book to be signed by the author. This Family Workshop with Henry Cole will take place from 2:30 to 4 p.m. The $21 registration fee includes a copy of the book.

Longwood Gardens visitors can meet Ben Montgomery, author of Grandma Gatewood’s Walk and an enterprise reporter for the Tampa Bay Times, for a Small Group Book Discussion on Saturday, April 23, and Sunday, April 24, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 pm. The $29 registration fee includes a copy of the book. Stay for an optional short hike in Longwood’s Meadow Garden with Longwood’s Natural Lands division.

On April 23, from 7 to 9 p.m. Longwood will hold a Community Conversation, during which readers will get an opportunity to learn more about Montgomery’s writing and be among fellow peers to discuss the book. The presentation will also include Matt Kirk, an accomplished Appalachian Trail hiker. A book-signing follows the conversation. Advanced reservation and a $20 fee are required. Members require a free reservation.

Readers can also join the conversation on social media throughout the Community Read by following Longwood Gardens on Twitter and using the hashtag #CommunityRead.

Longwood Gardens is located off of Route 1 near Kennett Square, Admission is $20 for adults; $17 for seniors (age 62+); $10 for students (ages 5–18) or with valid student ID) and free ages 4 and under. Group rates available. The gardens open at 9 a.m. For more information, visit www.longwoodgardens.org.

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Chamber announces new board members

Business

The Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce (SCCCC) has announced four new members on its board of directors.

The appointments of Michele Berardi of Kendal-Crosslands Communities, Gail Chase of WSFS Bank, Margarita Garcia-Taylor of Garcia-Taylor Insurance Company, and Timothy A. Moore of Exelon Nuclear are effective immediately.

“The addition of these talented professionals to the Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors continues a tradition of having stellar leadership guiding our chamber,” SCCCC President and CEO Cheryl Kuhn said in a press release. “Their varied experience and vast knowledge of our community will serve the chamber and its growing membership well,” Kuhn said.

Berardi is the director of community outreach for Kendal-Crosslands Communities. She has more than 30 years of business experience in various industries. For almost 15 years, she worked in a variety of area retirement communities and has educated numerous older adults and their families about the various options for retirement living. Berardi is a frequent speaker at many religious, civic, social, and universities on senior living topics. She holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Immaculata University.

Chase is vice president and manager of the Kennett Square branch of WSFS Bank, a Wilmington-based financial institution operating under the same name since 1832. Chase has served the greater Southern Chester County region with WSFS, the seventh oldest bank in the country, for five years. In her time managing the Kennett Square office, deposits increased by nearly $30 million. Chase is active in the community and serves on the board of the Kennett Run Charities and has been a member of the Lions Club of Kennett Square for more than 20 years.

Garcia-Taylor is owner and president of Garcia-Taylor Insurance Agency, Inc., located in Oxford. She began her career with Allstate. After several years, she moved to an independent agency and gained knowledge of the commercial insurance segment. She then joined Nationwide and quickly gained expertise in the complex agribusiness insurance industry, becoming one of the first agents to earn the Agribusiness and Farm Insurance Specialist (AFIS) designation in 2007. Garcia-Taylor took her talents to Erie Insurance prior to realizing an opportunity with Nationwide that resulted in her purchasing the Garcia-Taylor Insurance Agency in 2012.

Moore is the vice president of fleet support for Exelon Nuclear, located in Kennett Square. He has more than 30 years of experience in the electric power generation business and has held a variety of leadership positions related to the safe operation of Exelon’s nuclear power plants. Moore has engineering degrees from both Penn State University and Widener University, and also earned an MBA from Widener University.

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Conferees nominate Killion for 9th Senate District election

Along the Ford

Representative Tom Killion (R-168) has earned the unanimous support of conferees to serve as the Republican candidate in the upcoming special election to fill the vacancy in the 9^th Senate District. Republican Party conferees from Delaware and Chester Counties selected Killion as the party’s nominee at a conferee meeting held Jan. 7 at the Concordville Inn in Concord Township.

Lt. Gov. Michael Stack announced on Wednesday that the special election in the 9th Senate District will take place on the same day as the primary election, Tuesday, April 26.

“I’m running because I think I will have a stronger voice in the legislature as one of 50 members of the Senate as opposed to one of 203 members of the State House of Representatives,” said Killion in a press release. “As a member of the Senate, I will side with working families in opposing Governor Wolf’s proposals to hike the state sales and personal income taxes. I will fight for common sense liquor and pension reform that has been blocked by special interests. And I will work to ensure our schools are properly funded with a fair and equitable education funding formula.”

“While we are still in the early stages of the campaign, I am thrilled with the outpouring of support that I have already received,” said Killion. “I’m ready to hit the ground running with the opening of a campaign office in the next few weeks, a coordinated volunteer effort, and many events already on the schedule.”

“I have known Tom for many years and he is a smart, highly effective leader,” said Andrew Reilly, Chairman of the Delaware County Republican Party. “He has an extensive record of involvement with local community and charitable organizations, he’s a small business owner who founded two local businesses, and has local government experience as the former Chairman of Delaware County Council. His background and experience will make him a great advocate in the Senate for local residents.”

“Tom is a strong candidate with a proven record of fighting proposed tax hikes, working to attract businesses and create jobs, and protecting open space,” said Val DiGiorgio, Chairman of the Chester County Republican Committee. “In the House, Tom has been a leader on a number of high profile issues, including medical malpractice reform, pension reform, and liquor privatization, to name a few. He will make an excellent Senator.”

When a special election is called to fill a vacant House or Senate seat that spans multiple counties, the Republican Party bylaws call for a conferee meeting to be held to select the Republican Party’s nominee in the special election. Each county is allocated a specific number of conferees based on the electoral results of the 2012 Presidential race. The conferees to select a nominee in the 9^th Senate District consisted of a total of 61 conferees — 26 from Chester County and 35 from Delaware County. Conferees must be registered Republican electors that reside in the 9th Senatorial District.

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