There was no fanfare when the new Fine Wine & Good Spirits store opened in Chadds Ford on Feb. 29. But there were fans galore on Friday, March 4, when award-winning actor Robert De Niro came to cut the ribbon for the store’s official grand opening.
De Niro came in as part of a promotion for VDKA 6100, a new brand of vodka for which De Niro helped with package design, branding and promotion. In addition, 15 of 300 fans had a chance to get a brief meet-and-greet with the star.
Fans wait for their idol
While the event was scheduled for 4 p.m., some fans began showing up before 11 a.m., standing outside in a waiting area. At 3:15 p.m., all 300 were each given a sealed envelope before entering the store. They then had to wait until the ribbon was cut before opening the envelopes. The lucky 15 each had a gold card in their envelopes, which gave them a chance to meet the actor and have pictures taken; they also got a certificate for a De Niro-signed bottle of VDKA 6100.
Among the lucky ones was June De Pasquale of Birmingham Township.
“I’m on such a high and I can’t wait until I get my pictures,” she said after her meeting. “They took the pictures, but a guy next to me told me to give my cell phone and he took five pictures. I’m so excited.”
She said she only found out about the event from a friend earlier in the week and said to herself, “Oh my god, I’m going.”
Robert De Niro autographs a baseball for Matt Whitehead of Garnet Valley
Matt Whitehead, of Garnet Valley, was also a lucky local. He got the actor to autograph a baseball for him.
De Niro made no comment to the crowd during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Concord Township supervisors Ken O’Donoghue, Gail Ryan and Libby Salvucci were among the huge crowd that packed the store, but no Chadds Ford Township officials were on hand.
The liquor store replaces the one that had been in the Concordville Towne Center. The new store on Route 202, on the Chadds Ford side of the Wegmans development, is larger than the old one. There are 13,000 square feet of space, with more than double the amount of retail space.
The focal point of the new store is a large center table where customers can get questions answered and pick up informational material such as a party-planning guide and a food-pairing outline.
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.
The Kennett Township Board of Supervisors’ meeting on Wednesday, March 2, focused on studies and a swearing-in ceremony.
Supervisors’ Chairman Scudder G. Stevens (from left) watches as Sophia V. Bilinsky takes the oath as Kennett Township’s elected auditor.
Magisterial District Judge Matthew Seavey performed the latter duty for Sophia V. Bilinsky. She was elected in the fall as the township’s auditor.
Following the ceremony, the board voted unanimously to approve its Traffic Impact Land Use Report. The purpose of the report is to set the study areas for assessing fees for future road improvement projects within the township, said township engineer Thomas G. Wilkes.
Wilkes explained that the report was part of a longer process, but that approving it represented a first step. He said it was not a definitive plan for moving forward, but instead sets parameters and guidelines from which future plans can be enacted.
According to Wilkes, the report will be updated every five years to remain as accurate as possible. The report analyzed the township’s 14.8 square miles, which consists of 4,541 acres of residential properties and 4,950 acres of nonresidential properties, which include agricultural, commercial, and industrial zoned land.
The board also heard an update from Township Manager Lisa M. Moore on the regional Emergency Services Study, a collaborative analysis commissioned by six area municipalities. Kennett joined with East Marlborough, Newlin, Pennsbury, and Pocopson townships and Kennett Square Borough to hire consultants to study fire and ambulance services, a mission that includes assessing equipment needs and exploring the viability of shared resources.
Moore said that more input is being gathered; the consultant is meeting with area assisted living facilities. She said another meeting would occur in April and the study should be completed in May. At that point, township officials would decide how to respond to whatever recommendations are made.
Finally, Adam Singer, a Delaware lawyer and longtime township resident, was appointed as an alternate for the township’s Zoning Hearing Board.
Morgan Carter is a creative writing student interning with Chadds Ford Live. She loves tea, long walks on beaches, and baking – provided there is a recipe on the back of the box. She lives in Chadds Ford with her parents, three siblings, and two spunky parakeets. Morgan is very excited to be a part of the Chadds Ford Live team, and hopes to pursue a career in writing after graduating from college.
A former resident of the historic Fussell House believes the overgrown shrubbery helped hide the home's deterioration. He applauds Kennett Township officials for rescuing the former Underground Railroad stop.
In 2009, a California transplant returned to the area and decided to drive by his boyhood home in Kennett Township: The shock of what he saw would haunt him for years to come.
Andrew Tavoni (center, front row) is shown with his siblings in the living room of The Fussell House. Photo courtesy of Andrew Tavoni
The historic Fussell House, also known as The Pines, once a bastion of the region’s proud past as a key stop on the Underground Railroad, was not only suffering from obvious disrepair, but it was also now sitting in the shadow of a Marriott Fairfield Inn.
Peeling paint adorned the windows and front door, shutters had disappeared, the hardwood front porch was blistered and rotted in spots, and the varnished hardwood ceiling of the front porch had faded dramatically, recalled Andrew Tavoni.
“Overall, the impression was of neglect,” he said, remembering the sight of shrubbery growing unchecked in the front of the house, obscuring the damage for passersby. “I’m sure very few understood its significance as it sat crumbling when they drove by it on Baltimore Pike. Seeing it in disrepair and clearly being neglected broke my heart. I realized I needed to do something to save it from destruction.”
Tavoni initiated a comprehensive campaign to save the residence, but he hit a number of stone walls in the process. After more than five years, the situation seemed bleak. So when he heard the news that Kennett Township had rescued the building last month, he was ecstatic.
“I’m so excited that Kennett Township has the vision and determination to save this historic structure! The Pines/Fussell House is a well-documented stop on the Underground Railroad,” he said. “It is of local and national historic significance and should rightfully be considered an important historic resource worth saving.”
Tavoni credits township officials with saving the building, a complex process that unfolded quietly over the course of the past year. But many of the advocates pushing for The Fussell House’s preservation said that Tavoni’s activism had an impact, despite occurring from thousands of miles away.
One of Tavoni’s first contacts was the late historian Mary Dugan, who already had the Fussell House on a list of significant buildings. He also reached out to township officials, started an email writing campaign, created the Save The Fussell House Facebook page, and built a website: http://thefussellhouse.weebly.com/about-me.html.
He even took advantage of his proximity to Hollywood to promote the cause. He appeared as a contestant in 2012 on “The Price Is Right” TV game show, where he wore a t-shirt featuring an image of Dr. FusselI on it. And although the experience didn’t make some township officials more receptive to his crusade, he won some posh prizes, including a 51-inch flat-screen TV and a Honda scooter.
Tavoni said members of the Kennett Township Historical Committee, especially Sara Meadows, embraced his mission, but the supervisors did not share their enthusiasm.
“Over the last couple of years, I lost hope that anything could be done as I had not heard of any progress,” Tavoni said. “Since I don’t live in the area, I felt stifled in my efforts to do anything more than I had already.”
But back in Pennsylvania, John O’Neal, a principal with the Kennett Underground Railroad Center (KURC), said his organization was well aware that Dugan and Frances Taylor had compiled an extensive inventory of Underground Railroad locations in the Kennett area approximately 15 years ago, a list that included The Fussell House.
About four years ago, the building came up for discussion at a KURC meeting as an example of a historic resource “undergoing demolition by neglect,” O’Neal said. He said he and others had seen Tavoni’s website and had encouraged others to view it.
The KURC had tried unsuccessfully to make a deal with the building’s owner to donate the building to the 501(c)3, O’Neal said. By now, a change in leadership was beginning in Kennett Township. Thanks in part to publicity generated by Tavoni, Supervisors’ Chairman Scudder G. Stevens had the property on his radar, as did Township Manager Lisa M. Moore.
Stevens, who took office in 2012, was joined on the board by Richard L. Leff in 2014 and Whitney Hoffman in 2016, both of whom supported the acquisition. When they made the announcement that a year of negotiations had culminated in the sale of The Fussell House to the township, Hoffman had already prepared a video of the interior.
Tavoni said he found out about the purchase because someone posted the news on the Facebook page he had created; he also received an email from Meadows. After he paused from celebrating, he added Hoffman’s video to his website.
“I’m surprised and happy to see from that video that the house isn’t in more decay, given the lack up upkeep,” Tavoni said. “Kudos to Kennett Township! The township supervisors and members who made this bold move to buy the structure should be applauded. Too many historic resources are destroyed in the pursuit of profit.”
Kennett Township officials said that plans for the building will be a work in progress and that community input will be welcomed. O’Neal said he expects the KURC to participate in the brainstorming.
Tavoni said he hopes the community will take advantage of the opportunity to help determine how the house will be used and how the restoration will be funded. He said he views the purchase “as a victory for preservation” and he hopes the momentum will continue.
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 March 5 through March 12. Motorists are urged to allow extra time if they are traveling through one of the construction zones.
Route 322 in both directions will continue to be the site of patching crews, this week between Route 1 and I-95 in Concord, Bethel and Upper Chichester townships. The work, which will require lane closures, is scheduled on Monday, March 7, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Patching crews will also be out on Wednesday, March 9, on southbound I-95 between the state of Delaware and the Philadelphia County line. Crews are scheduled to work from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and lane closures will be needed.
Utility installation will continue to require lane closures on South High Street in West Goshen Township between Yorktown and Lexington avenues. Crews will be working from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Tuesday, March 8.
Lane restrictions will continue on Route 202 in both directions in Birmingham, West Whiteland, West Goshen and East Goshen townships between Boot Road and Route 926. Crews are scheduled to work on patching from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Monday, March 7, through Thursday, March 10.
Drivers on Route 1 in Concord Township will continue to experience 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, March 11.
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.
Traffic signal work on Route 100 in Uwchlan and West Whiteland townships will require lane closures from Monday, March 7, through Friday, March 11. Crews will be working in both directions between Swedesford Road and Sheree Boulevard from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Bridge inspections in Philadelphia will require lane closures this week. On Tuesday, March 8, from 9 to 11 a.m., the left lane will be closed on the Interstate 676 east ramp to Interstate 95 south; on Wednesday, March 9, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the right lane will be closed on I-76 east between South Street and 28th Street; on Wednesday, March 9, from 9 a.m. to noon, the right lane will be closed on U.S. 1 south between Ninth and North Broad streets; on Thursday, March 10, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the right lane will be closed on I-76 west between University Avenue and South Street; and on Friday, March 11, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the right lane will be closed on Route 291 west (Penrose Avenue/Platt Bridge) between 26th Street and Bartram Avenue.
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.”
Members of the Chadds Ford Business Association had chance to peak behind the curtain that is Wegmans Food Market during their March 3 lunch meeting.
The group met in the small party room at the store and learned a little bit more about the market from manager Todd Strassner Jr. and from MJ Jones, who heads up the store’s catering and customer service.
Strassner, who’s been with Wegmans for 18 years — part of a family tradition — said one of his jobs is educating customers how to use the store, getting them to understand “how to shop at Wegmans.”
Wegmans’ store manager Todd Strassner Jr. addresses members of the Chadds Ford Business Association during their March lunch meeting. He said the reception from customers since the store opened has been remarkable.
“The big thing is our philosophy, to stay two steps ahead of our customers,” he said. “Sometimes we’re doing stuff out there with food, with health or with creating easy meals. You as a customer might not be used to that or understanding what we’re doing with meals…When customers say they want to understand what Wegmans is offering, I can walk with customers and help them understand what we’re doing, explain the programs we’re running in moving the industry forward.”
It’s also his job to make it the best place to work for his employees. As he succeeds at that, he said, “They make it the best place to shop.”
Strassner said the 40,000 customers the store serves per week since it opened in November is indicative of the great reception the community has given the market and how well the employees are working with those customers.
“The reception we’ve received has been outstanding. I’ve been in a lot of communities with Wegmans…but this community has been remarkable. I received more customer compliments. And it’s not just about Wegmans; it’s about the people working here. This area, the folks in it, are really a group of positive people who are connected to what we’re doing,” Strassner said. “Our volume is exceeding what we hoped for.”
Wegmans as a company was just ranked number four in Fortune Magazine’s top 100 companies. It’s now ranked in the top 100 for 19 consecutive years.
While half the store is a standard supermarket with aisles of cereals, snacks, sauces, produce, dairy and other sundry items, the other half of the store contains a fully licensed restaurant with bar and a large area of prepared food bars — pizza, soups, sandwiches and more — and areas of precooked meals for individuals and families.
The responsibility for the prepared food area, along with the catering service, falls on the plate of Jones, a five-year Wegmans employee.
Jones said the department, in addition to the prepared meals sold, provides fully catered meals for groups of 10 or more. There is no delivery, however. Customers have to come into the store to pick up and carry out their catered order.
“That’s because of the area. We couldn’t guarantee your order for noon because of traffic,” she said. “We don’t want anyone upset because they didn’t get their lunch in time.”
And all the food is made that day.
“We have orders that come in every morning. We do freshness. Nothing is processed out; nothing’s made the night before,” she said.
According to Jones, institutions such as Maris Grove use the catering service, but other customers include people who haven’t cooked in a while and want to reacquaint themselves with working in the kitchen. None of the food goes out hot except for pizza and wings.
Jones is proud of her department and of the safety factors the store uses for packing the prepared meals.
“All of the food goes out in reheat-able, oven-ready and microwave-ready containers. They worked three years to perfect this container so there’s no carcinogens, nothing that can change the taste of the food,” she said.
The Concord store was the only one of the stores to open with the catering service but, it was so successful, Jones said, that all the new stores will open with the service available.
Strassner said Pennsylvania shoppers have spurred the company to open two more store in the state. A Lancaster store is planned for the latter part of 2019 and a store in Marple is scheduled for 2019.
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.
Chester and Delaware County Commissioners have recognized March as Women’s History Month.
In Chester County, members of the Your Vote is Your Voice! Empowered Women Vote coalition, who represent social service agencies, faith-based, civic and social organizations, accepted the proclamation. The coalition is encouraging the approximately 9,000 women in Chester County who are not currently registered to vote, to register in time for this year’s local, state and federal elections.
Cheryl Miles, a partner in the Your Vote is Your Voice campaign and program director for Bridge of Hope Lancaster and Chester Counties, reported to the commissioners that Your Vote is Your Voice members are training people to register women to vote. The organization is reaching out to child care centers, public housing residents, food cupboard participants, houses of worship, universities, senior centers and shopping centers to encourage and help women with the voter registration progress.
The Commissioners’ proclamation noted the many achievements attained by women over the past few centuries in every aspect of American life. Also, the proclamation pointed out that millions of women worked and sacrificed to gain the right to vote in 1920 after a 70-year battle.
The proclamation states: “During Women’s History Month, a coalition of stakeholders, under the umbrella of Your Vote is Your Voice! Empowered Women Vote, is implementing a non-partisan countywide campaign to increase voter registration in line with the dream of the millions of American women who first exercised their right to vote on election day in 1920.
“The Board of Commissioners, County of Chester, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby proclaims its support for Women’s History Month throughout March 2016, and calls upon all Chester County women to honor the struggle by suffragettes to gain the right to vote, by registering and voting in the 2016 elections.”
Delaware County Council also recognized March as Women’s History Month with the theme: “Working to Form a More Perfect Union: Honoring Women in Public Service and Government.” A resolution was presented to members of the Delaware County Women’s Commission.
Chester County Commissioners Terence Farrell, Kathi Cozzone and Michelle Kichline with representatives from the “Your Vote is Your Voice! Empowered Women Vote” organization, along with Chester County employees, at the presentation of the Women’s History Month proclamation.
(Top photo: Delaware County Council recognized the 2016 honorees of the Delaware County Women’s Commission in advance of their March 16 awards breakfast. Shown at the March 2 Council meeting are, from left, Kelly Colvin, chair of the Women’s Commission, Women of Achievement honorees Josephine “Gigi” Laird and Carol Miller, Council Vice Chair Colleen Morrone, and family members of Hall of Fame inductee Margaret “Mickey” Murdoch including husband Harry, daughter Eileen and her husband, Jim, grandson Michael and, back row, Council members Mike Culp, Chairman Mario J. Civera Jr., John McBlain, Dave White and Jim Maloney.)
