William “Therm” Eller Jr., 80, of Avondale, died Tuesday, Jan. 19, at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in Philadelphia. He was the husband of Shirley A. (Kimberle) Eller, with whom he shared 57 years of marriage.
Born in Landenberg, he was a son of the late William T. and the late Callie (Poe) Eller Sr.
Therm was a machine operator for Crowell Paper Company for more than 35 years before retiring.
He enjoyed hunting and fishing with his family.
Survivors include in addition to his wife, three sons, Robert Eller and his wife Lori of Landenberg, Kevin Eller of Avondale and William T. Eller III and his wife Samantha of Oxford; one daughter, Kimberly Barlow and her husband Charles of Oxford; two brothers, Charles Eller and his wife Marie of Conowingo, Md. and John Eller and his wife Linda of Boone, N.C.; two sisters, Elsie Blevins of Avondale and Jane Gibson of West Grove; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by three brothers and four sisters.
You are invited to visit with Therm’s family and friends from 10-11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, at the Foulk & Grieco Funeral Home Inc. (610-869-2685) 200 Rose Hill Rd. West Grove, PA 19390. A memorial service celebrating his life will follow at 11. Interment will be held privately. Contributions in his memory may be made to Kennett Area Community Service (AKA Kennett Food Cupboard) or KACS, PO Box 1025 Kennett Square PA 19348. To view his online tribute and to share a memory with his family, please visit www.griecocares.com
As the region’s first winter storm bears down, PennDOT is urging drivers to prepare appropriately.
“It’s important to remind drivers about winter safety laws, such as clearing vehicles of ice and snow, but we also need to promote driver readiness,” PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards said in a press release. “Drivers who may have been holding off due to relatively mild weather should be sure they and their vehicles are prepared for the rest of the season.”
Drivers should frequently check all fluid levels, lights and wiper blades. Tires should be examined often for the correct level of air pressure and adequate tire-tread depth to perform on ice and snow.
A properly trained mechanic should inspect your vehicle’s cooling system, battery, hoses, drive belts, tires and wiper blades to ensure they are in good condition and functioning properly, the release said.
Finally, do not travel in wintry weather without a vehicle emergency kit, including items such as non-perishable food, water, first-aid supplies, warm clothes, a blanket, cell phone charger and a small snow shovel. Also, make sure vehicles are fully clear of ice and snow before venturing onto roadways; if snow or ice is dislodged and strikes another vehicle or pedestrian, causing death or serious injury, the operator could face a $200 to $1,000 fine.
When winter weather is occurring, PennDOT asks drivers to be extra cautious around snow-removal equipment. When encountering a plow truck, drivers should:
Stay at least six car lengths behind an operating plow truck and remember that the main plow is wider than the truck.
Be alert since plow trucks generally travel much more slowly than other traffic.
When a plow truck is traveling toward you, move as far away from the center of the road as is safely possible, and remember that snow can obscure the actual snowplow width.
Never try to pass or get between several trucks plowing side by side in a “plow train.” The weight of the snow thrown from the plow can quickly cause smaller vehicles to lose control, creating a hazard for nearby vehicles.
Never travel next to a plow truck since there are blind spots where the operator can’t see and they can occasionally be moved sideways when hitting drifts or heavy snowpack.
Keep your lights on to help the operator better see your vehicle. Also remember that under Pennsylvania state law, vehicle lights must be on every time a vehicle’s wipers are on due to inclement weather.
To help make travel decisions, motorists are encouraged to “Know Before You Go” by checking conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 770 traffic cameras.
511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.
For more information on safe winter travel, an emergency kit checklist, and information on PennDOT’s winter operations, including a video released this winter, visit www.penndot.gov/winter.
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. 23 through Jan. 30. Motorists are urged to allow extra time if they are traveling through one of the construction zones.
Route 1 in Concord Township will continue to have lane restrictions between Powell and Stoney Bank roads from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Crews will be working on turning-lane reconfigurations through Friday, Feb. 12.
Drivers on Route 1 in Concord Township will experience lane closures between Brinton Lake Road and Applied Card Way. Crews will continue working on roadway modifications and utility installation connected to the Mainline Health Care complex. The work is scheduled from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Saturday, Jan. 30.
A lane closure will be needed on Route 52 between Hillendale and Byron roads in Kennett Township for utility installation. Crews are scheduled to work from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 28, through Thursday, Feb. 4.
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 in Tredyffrin and East Whiteland townships.
Work will also 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.
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.”
Updated at 2:35 p.m. with Longwood Gardens’ closing
The National Weather Service (NWS) has upgraded its forecast for southeastern Pennsylvania to a blizzard warning from Friday, Jan. 21, at 7 p.m., into Sunday morning, Jan. 23, at 10 a.m.
A 2015 view from the Brandywine River Museum of Art shows how beautiful the landscape will become if forecasters are correct, but officials warn that roads could be dangerous.
The blizzard warning, which includes Delaware and Chester counties, means a potential exists for severe winter weather, including falling and blowing snow, strong winds, and whiteout conditions that will make travel dangerous.
A total accumulation of 12 to 18 inches is predicted in the region, where snow will begin moving from south to north late Friday afternoon, intensifying after the evening commute. It will continue, heavy at times, into Sunday morning.
The strongest winds and greatest potential for blizzard conditions are expected on Saturday, Jan. 23, with gusts up to 45 mph. Temperatures are likely to stay in the upper 20s.
The snow will become wetter and heavier as the storm progresses, which could make shoveling problematic and could cause power outages as heavy snow builds up on wires and trees.
Municipal officials are reminding residents to avoid parking on state, township or borough roads so that PennDOT snowplows can do their job.
Many communities have already declared a state of emergency, which often prohibits parking on designated streets so snowplows can ensure that roads are cleared. Those who don’t comply could find their vehicles towed.
In Kennett Square, where the emergency restrictions kick in at 8 p.m. on Friday night, residents are urged to park for free in the Municipal Parking Garage.
Kennett Township officials are reminding residents that no cars should be parked on township or state roads. Since the township is prone to power outages, which may leave residents with wells without water, officials recommend filling bathtubs in advance of the storm and keeping water jugs and flashlights with extra batteries handy. If possible, keep a trickle of running water to prevent the pipes from freezing, and keep generators away from doors, windows and vents so no carbon monoxide comes indoors.
Kennett Township will be sending out periodic updates by email and Facebook postings. If Kennett Township declares a township-wide emergency, residents will be notified and only emergency personnel will be permitted on the roads. If necessary, shelters will be opened.
Organizers of the Unionville Used Book Sale said the Neighborhood Collection Day planned for Saturday, Jan. 23, has been rescheduled for Saturday, Jan. 30. In addition, collection boxes will be available at all school starting on Monday, Jan. 25.
Longwood Gardens announced that it will close on Saturday, Jan. 23, and reopen at noon on Sunday, Jan. 24.
Emergency officials throughout the region are advising people that if they absolutely need to travel, they should make sure they have a winter survival kit with them. The kit should contain items such as non-perishable food, water, first-aid supplies, warm clothes, a blanket, cell phone charger and a small snow shovel. Motorists should tailor their kits to any specific needs that they or their families have such as baby supplies, extra medication and pet supplies.
In addition, power outages should be reported to PECO, not 9-1-1.
PECO officials say they have geared up for the storm with extra personnel and equipment. Residents are reminded to report power outages immediately at peco.com; on PECO Smart Mobile On-the-Go, the company’s mobile website; or by calling 800-841-4141. Customers should report any natural gas issues by calling 1-800-841-4141.
Stay away from downed wires, damaged electric equipment, and tree limbs and branches contacting electrical equipment. Always assume PECO’s equipment is energized, even if there is an outage in your neighborhood. Report such dangerous conditions to PECO immediately at 800-841-4141. More safety and storm preparation tips are available at peco.com/safety.
Almost everyone who dreams of starting their own business knows they need to create a business plan. However, that’s often where many people stop. When you created your business plan, what did you do with it? You actually have the basis for the next step, which is creating your marketing plan. Without the plan of how you are going to market your business, the business plan is just an empty jumble of words speaking of dreams and desires. The marketing plan takes those dreams and creates a strategy for how to make them come true.
Marketing plans need not be complex. Following the eight steps below will lead you in the right direction to grow your business.
Prepare a mission statement Your mission statement should clearly and succinctly describe the nature of your business, services offered, and markets served in just a few sentences. A mission statement is a statement of who you are and what you stand for. It answers the question of why you are in business.
List your ideal client I cannot emphasize this enough. You have to know who your ideal client is and what their needs are. You have to be able to visualize them in front of you. Be very specific in identifying your ideal client. What are their values, what do they like, and what do they need? Really get clear who this person/business is.
Describe your services Imagine everything you currently do and everything you want to do in the future. It’s ok if you haven’t done it before — If it’s something you want to do in the future, list it. You will later determine how to make it happen. Don’t leave anything out even if you’re not sure it’s something you want to do in a month or a year or even 2 years. It’s all about setting goals.
Who is your competition?
In order to know how to position yourself from your competition, you must know who your competition is. Do some research and determine what your competition offers, how they promote, what they charge, and what their strengths and weaknesses are. Do your research.
Marketing objectives and strategies Marketing objectives will indicate targets to be achieved across several marketing decision areas. Examples could include such things as what products/services you wish to offer, who you plan to offer them to, how you plan to make your services known, your promotional objectives, etc. Objectives should be clear, measurable, and have a stated time frame for achievement. Objectives should include both marketing objectives and financial objectives.
Marketing strategy This is your game plan to achieve your marketing objectives. You are now getting into the nitty-gritty. This is where it’s time to play and play big. The marketing strategy should include information about your products/services, pricing, how you will promote or create awareness, and how you will distribute that information.
Create the action plan Once the objectives and strategies have been developed, put together an action plan describing the steps that need to be taken in detail. This is your actual game plan for how you will accomplish all that you have written about in your business plan and marketing plan. It will include what the specific objective is, exactly what and when the steps will be taken, what results you expect to see, the marketing tactics you will employ and so on. This will be your template for your marketing calendar.
Monitor results.
By monitoring results, you can determine which of your strategies are working and which are not. Identify strategies that generate increased business. This involves tracking and evaluating responses to each marketing strategy.
Creating a marketing plan is not something enough people take time to complete. I can’t emphasize how important it is to do this work. Skipping this step can mean the difference between success and failure. Many people who start a small business are aware of creating a business plan. However, the business plan is just the first step. The marketing plan is not the final step either! This document is the template for creating your marketing calendar that will set your projects in motion. You are creating your future with the marketing plan, and then watching that future become reality with your marketing calendar.
Maria L. Novak Dugan is president of Marketing Solutions & Business Development, a firm in West Chester, PA, offering creative marketing services and goal implementation for small & medium sized businesses. For more information, contact Maria at 610-405-0633 or MariaNovak001@yahoo.com or visit www.Maria-L-Novak.com
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
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
