The long-awaited replacement of the Route 926 Bridge will be the subject of a PennDOT open house and presentation on Wednesday, March 30.
PennDOT is urging the public to attend and provide input on the project, which includes associated roadway improvements in Birmingham and Pocopson townships, a PennDOT notice said. The program will be held at Pocopson Elementary School, 1105 Pocopson Road, West Chester, Pa., 19382.
The purpose of the meeting is to update the public and local communities on the current design of this transportation improvement project and the results of recent environmental studies. The meeting will consist of a plans display, a brief presentation, and a question-and-answer period.
Citizens will have an opportunity to meet and discuss the bridge and roadway improvement project with PennDOT’s design team. “Please plan to attend this informative meeting,” the PennDOT notice said.
The program will begin with an open house at 5:30 p.m., where attendees can circulate among the various subject displays. The open house will be followed by an hour long presentation from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., and the session will conclude with a Q&A from 7 to 7:30 p.m., PennDOT said.
Mary Alice Stewart died peacefully on Sunday, March 6, after an extended battle with cancer.
She was an avid reader and dog lover who was politically and socially active in her community.
She was born in Harrisburg and attended Hummelstown High School, Class of 1947. She continued her education at St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing in Lancaster, Class of 1950. Upon graduation she worked as a labor and delivery room nurse at St. Joseph’s Hospital until 1958.
She married her late husband Richard A Stewart on Feb. 7, 1953.
She went on to work as a public health nurse for the State of Pennsylvania serving the Amish communities in Lancaster and York County.
After moving to Chadds Ford in 1964, her career shifted to elder care as a night duty nurse at the Episcopal Nursing Home of Hockessin, where she retired after 25 years of service.
The beloved matriarch was survived by James A. Stewart and wife Suzanne, Thomas R. Stewart, Michael A. Stewart, Patricia Stewart (Lerro) and husband Michael, Margaret Stewart (Bruce) and husband Bill, Allen P. Stewart and wife Brenda (Martin) Stewart, Helen Stewart (Krusen) and husband Dave, and Elizabeth Stewart (Salvo) and husband Jim. Her surviving grandchildren include Matthew Stewart, Grace Stewart Lerro, Brianna M. Krusen, Zachary D. Krusen, Faith E. Krusen and Emily P. Stewart.
She was also survived by her great-granddaughter, Kinsley Stewart. Additional extended family survivors include: Christopher A Bruce, Melisa Bruce (Pfau), her son, Graham M. Pfau, Matthew Salvo and wife Megan, and Dana Salvo.
She was preceded in death by her late husband and grandson, Jonathan Stewart.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. on Monday, March 14, at St. Cornelius Church, 160 Ridge Rd., Chadds Ford, PA 19317 where the family will receive guests starting at 9 a.m. Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to St. Cornelius Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist Outreach 160 Ridge Road Chadds Ford, PA 19317.
Arrangements are being handled by the Founds Funeral Home, Inc., West Chester, 610-696-0134.
Jean Marie Evans, 84, of Landenberg, died at home surrounded by her family on Saturday March 5. She was the wife of Robert H. Evans, to whom she was wed for nearly 65 years. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother and will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
Raised in Claymont, she was the daughter of the late Wilfred and Miriam Stuart Smith.
Jean was a graduate of Claymont High School “Class of ’49” and was active in the alumni association. She worked for the Avon Grove High School for 12 years as a cafeteria monitor.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by five children: Robert H. Evans, Jr. and his wife Becky of Newark; Thomas Evans and his wife Nancy of Bear; Kathleen Evans of West Grove; Beth Anne Evans of West Grove; Lawrence Evans and his wife Beth of Lewisville; and her sister Rosemary Smith and her husband Thomas of Newark. Jean is also survived by eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her brothers Wilfred Smith, Jr. and James Smith; granddaughter Elizabeth Evans; and great-grandson Anthony Evans.
You are invited to visit with her family from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday, March 11, at the Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home, 250 West State Street in Kennett Square. Her Memorial services will follow immediately. Burial will be private.
Scott D. Riale, 52, of Landenberg, died Saturday, March 5, , at Ware Presbyterian Village.
Born in West Chester, he was the son of Betty Badger Riale Kessler and the stepson of Jake Kessler of Milton, and the son of the late Donald E. Riale,
He was a 1982 graduate of Kennett High School.
Scott was a self-employed mechanic. He enjoyed boating, fishing and he had owned a drag racing car.
In addition to his mother and step father, he is survived by two step sisters, June C. Oppenheim of Kennett Square, and Kathryn A. Kochan and her husband Michael of Hackettstwon, N.J. and a special friend, Kelly and her sons.
You are invited to visit with his family and friends from 10 to 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 10, at the Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home, 250 West State Street in Kennett Square. His funeral service will follow at 11. Burial will be in the Longwood Cemetery in Kennett Square.
In memory of Scott, a contribution may be made to your favorite charity.
PennDOT announced that two slow moving operations are scheduled on Route 322 (Conchester Highway) and Interstate 95 in Delaware County on Tuesday, March 8, and Wednesday, March 9, for spray patching.
On Tuesday, March 8, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., one lane will be closed on U.S. 322 —Conchester Highway — between Route 1 and I-95 in Concord, Bethel, and Upper Chichester townships.
On Wednesday, March 9, also from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., one lane will be closed on I-95 south between the Delaware County line and the Philadelphia County line in Tinicum, Ridley, Chester Upper Chichester and Lower Chichester townships, City of Chester, and Upland Borough.
Motorists are advised to find an alternative route and allow extra time when traveling on U.S. 322 and I-95 during the patching operation.
An East Caln Township man allegedly intent on silencing an accuser unleashed a hail of gunfire on Sunday, March 6, into a mobile home occupied by multiple people, including two children, said Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan, adding that miraculously no one was hit.
Douglas L. Kohen
On Monday, March 7, Hogan and Downingtown Borough acting Police Chief Howard Holland announced the arrest of 63-year-old Douglas L. Kohen for attempted murder, witness intimidation, and related offenses, according to a press release from the District Attorney’s Office.
“This defendant shot directly through a window, just missing a child,” said Hogan in the release. “It was only by dumb luck and God’s grace that this defendant did not kill a child.”
Kohen was apprehended in West Goshen Township, where he had flipped his car and was also charged with suspected drunk-driving, the criminal complaint said. Police reportedly found Kohen’s gun with six spent shell casings and 36 more rounds of live ammunition in his vehicle.
The complaint said Kohen admitted to the shooting and then began to hyperventilate. Police called an ambulance, which prompted Kohen to throw himself on the floor and attempt to bang his head on the door. When medical personnel arrived and attempted to restrain him, he tried to bite one of them, the complaint said.
The shooting occurred three days before Kohen was scheduled for a preliminary hearing on charges that he had molested the young daughter of his next-door neighbor, one of the children inside the home he targeted. He had been released after posting 10 percent of $25,000 bail in that case, the complaint said.
The complaint said Kohen approached the side window of the residence containing the child victim, her father, and another child around 3 a.m. on Sunday, March 6. One of the children was on a couch next to the window. Police said Kohen fired six rounds from a .357 caliber revolver directly through the window. The father, who had been at the front of the trailer, grabbed the two children and crawled into the back of the trailer, calling 9-1-1.
Hogan said the bullets went through the window, through the back wall of the residence, and into another residence containing two adults and three children.
“These poor kids were scared to death,” said Hogan in the release. “This defendant is going to face the full weight of the Chester County justice system.”
Magisterial District Judge Thomas Tartaglio set Kohen’s bail at $1 million cash, and Kohen was remanded to Chester County Prison to await a preliminary hearing on Wednesday, March 9.
The case was investigated by the Downingtown Police Department, with assistance from the West Goshen Township Police Department, Uwchlan Township Police Department, and the District Attorney’s Office. Anybody with any information should contact Downingtown Detective Andy Trautmann, the lead investigator, at 610-269-0263, the release said.
“The Downingtown Police Department responded rapidly and professionally to this violent attack,” said Holland in the release. “He was taken off the street within hours of the attack.”
Local residents whose property rights have been threatened by pipeline companies will speak in support of state Sen. Andy Dinniman’s legislation to regulate land agents at a press conference on Thursday, March 10, at 3 p.m.
The press conference will take place at Ship Road Park, located at 1425 Ship Road in West Whiteland. The park is nearby several properties that are impacted by Sunoco Logistics proposed Mariner East pipeline project. Numerous homeowners in the region say they have been threatened with eminent domain by Sunoco land agents in advance of the extensive pipeline project, a press release from Dinniman’s office said.
In response to complaints from residents, businesses and homeowners about the aggressive tactics employed by such land agents, Dinniman introduced Senate Bill 991.
“Currently, land agents in Pennsylvania operate with no oversight whatsoever,” Dinniman said in the release. “I’ve heard from constituents who feel that they have been intimidated, harassed and bullied by land agents. It seems like some of these agents, according to residents, will do or say practically anything to get landowners to sign over their property rights. That is not right, and it cannot be allowed to continue.”
Dinniman cited residents’ concerns regarding land agents having access to their personal information and home addresses.
In addition, he said that several homeowners claim they were misled by land agents who threatened the imminent taking of their land even though the necessary eminent domain procedures had yet to be initiated in court. According to homeowners, land agents also make a practice of delivering such threats in the evening hours and on the days before holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Dinniman’s legislation calls for amending Pennsylvania’s Real Estate Licensing and Registration Act to define the role of “land acquisition broker” and require registration with the Pennsylvania Real Restate Commission. In addition, the bill calls for allowing public access to a listing of registered brokers, requiring criminal history background checks of brokers, and providing the commission with the authority to revoke or suspend them for a number of reasons such as fraud or misrepresentation.
“Chester County is not the Wild West and we will not allow residents to be pushed around and steamrolled by the land agents of pipeline companies,” Dinniman said. “These agents perform title or contract functions and negotiate the acquisition of land and property rights. There is no reason why they shouldn’t be held to the same standards and scrutiny of Realtors.”
Other states, such as Texas and North Carolina, already have similar laws in place. Senate Bill 991 is currently in the Senate Consumer Affairs and Professional Licensure Committee. For more information, contact Dinniman’s office at 610-692-2112.
Outgoing Unionville Community Fair President Danielle Chamberlain (left) passes the gavel to her successor, Deb Deckman.
Over the past 91 years, the Unionville Community Fair has grown from a grassroots school harvest festival to a community institution – one that was imperiled until last month.
Jeff Lewis (left) will assume the duties of his predecessor, David Pritchard, the outgoing treasurer of the Unionville Community Fair.
Organizers are now savoring the fact that the 92nd Unionville Community Fair will occur on Friday, Sept. 30, and Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 1 and Oct. 2, according to a fair press release.
Before a Save the Fair meeting on Feb. 17, the future had looked bleak as key leadership posts remained vacant. However, Deb Deckman stepped forward and agreed to serve as the fair board’s next president, and Jeff Lewis volunteered to serve as the fair’s next treasurer.
The fair’s board said it was happy to see about 50 community-minded individuals come out to preserve the past and invest in the future of the fair, which honors the area’s agricultural heritage, promotes environmental education, and provides engaging family and community-centered programs. The two officers were elected at the board meeting on Feb. 24, the release said.
Deckman, who lives in West Grove, has deep roots in Unionville and the fair. Her husband Matthew’s grandparents were part of the fair since the beginning. Grandmother Laura (Case) Deckman was the fourth Unionville Fair Queen, and many fairgoers remember Fred Deckman’s homemade matchbox cars.
Outgoing Unionville Community Fair President Danielle Chamberlain (from left) poses with Pam Eppinger, the new fair manager, and Deb Deckman, the new board president.
Matthew Deckman’s parents, Joe and Lori (Johnson) Deckman, are both Unionville grads. Joe Deckman introduced Fred and Laura Deckman when the fair was dedicated to them a few years back. Jeff Lewis is new to the area and wanted to get involved and give back to the community just like Deb Deckman, the release said.
The board also welcomed a new member, Tara Soto Regester. Danielle Chamberlain and David Pritchard, outgoing president and treasurer respectively, will remain on the board of directors.
Chamberlain said the first-time addition of a paid fair manager, Pam Eppinger, should facilitate the transition to new leadership. The position was designed “to take some pressure off new incoming board officers,” she explained. Eppinger knows the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District well, having provided educational support to students in the district and working with other nonprofits, the release said.
No one wants to become a crime statistic, but the Crime Victims’ Center of Chester County (CVC) exists to help those who find themselves in the grip of a justice system that can be daunting for those unfamiliar with it.
Racers committed to supporting crime victims assemble at the Chester County Justice Center for the 2015 Chester County Race Against Violence.
The advocacy agency, often labeled a lifeline by crime victims, is now preregistering participants for the 21st Annual Chester County Race Against Violence, an initiative that helps fund the agency’s mission. This year’s race will be held Saturday, April 30. Registration and check-in will be held from 7:30 a.m. until 8:45 a.m. at the Chester County Justice Center, 201 West Market Street in West Chester, on the day of the race.
Since 1973, CVC has been operating in West Chester and has been recognized internationally for its victim advocacy work. Sponsors are still needed to help make this year’s benchmark event a fundraising success. Anyone interested in learning about the many sponsorship opportunities should call Peggy Gusz, the agency’s executive director, at 610-692-1926. All sponsors will be named on the race t-shirt and are welcome to have a table or exhibit at the event.
Starting times for the event will be 9 a.m. for the 5K Run/Walk and 9:05 a.m. for the One-Mile Walk. All proceeds from this annual fundraiser are used to provide CVC’s supportive services to child and adult victims of all types of crime, as well as prevention and education programs on personal safety and risk reduction for all ages.
On the day of the race, the cost to participate is $25 for either the race or the walk. All participants will receive a t-shirt. The family maximum is $60, which includes up to four t-shirts. Registration and check-in will be held from 7:30 a.m. until 8:45 a.m. at the Chester County Justice Center, 201 W. Market St., West Chester.
Preregistration is $20 by April 28 and can be done via mail or online at www.runccrs.com. Click on race and then race calendar to locate the April 30 event. Online pre-registration, which requires a small fee, ends on April 28 at 11:59 p.m.
Trophies will be awarded to the top male and female runners. Medals will be awarded to the winners of each age group. The divisions are age 12 and under; 13 to 19; 20 to 29; 30 to 39; 40 to 49; 50 to 59; 60 to 69; and 70 and over. Activities for children will be held near the area of the finish line.
For more information on the event, call CVC at 610-692-1926 or click here.
The Crime Victims’ Center of Chester County, Inc. is a private, community-based, nonprofit that provides a broad range of supportive services to crime victims and their families, including hotline response, counseling, education programs, and accompaniment to medical, police, and legal procedures. It also operates two, 24-hour hotlines: 610-692-7273 (sexual assault) and 610-692-7420 (other crimes).
For more information about CVC and its work in Chester County, visit the agency’s website: www.cvcofcc.org.
As the rising costs of a college education generate discussion in the 2016 presidential election, scholarships can offer a lifeline for struggling families.
Benchmark Federal Credit Union has opened a call for entries to Chester County-area students as well as its existing membership to compete for five scholarships totaling $15,000. The scholarships will be awarded to three graduating high school senior students and two students currently enrolled in an accredited higher-education institution, according to a Benchmark press release.
“Financing higher education is a major undertaking, and today’s mobile banking now makes it possible for students to take their Chester County credit union with them, wherever they go to college,” David LaSala, Benchmark president and CEO, said in the release. “We hope to lessen the financial burden for these deserving students and their families. Providing scholarships is a key part of Benchmark’s philanthropic initiative to support financial awareness and success strategies throughout Chester County.”
Three graduating high school senior students will each receive a $4,000 scholarship ($1,000 during the fall semester of each of four years of higher education). Two existing college students will each receive a one-time $1,500 scholarship toward their fall 2016 tuition.
Essays of up to 750 words must be submitted by 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 30, and will be judged by an independent panel of community and education leaders. Winners will be notified by June 1, the release said.
The scholarship program is open to students who are or are eligible to become Benchmark FCU members, and do so prior to the contest deadline. The minimal membership fee to join the credit union is $5. For rules, official cover sheet, and membership information, visit www.benchmarkfcu.org.
