March 10, 2016 - ChaddsFordLive.com

Delco DA: Officer coerced women for sex acts

A seven-year member of the Chester Police Department used his authority to coerce female detainees into sex acts, Delaware County District Attorney Jack Whelan announced on Thursday, March 10.

Roosevelt Turner, 37, of Chester, has been charged with indecent assault, official oppression, and indecent exposure charges, Whelan said in a press release.

Turner was arrested Thursday morning by detectives with the Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division and video-arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Diane Holefelder, who set bail at 10 percent of $25,000, the release said.

The investigation, led by was conducted by Sgt. John Kelly of the Delaware County CID Special Investigations Unit, surfaced after females reported that Roosevelt mistreated them in a sexual manner while they were in custody in 2015 at the Chester Police Department.

One woman interviewed by Kelly said Turner made suggestive comments, asked for nude photos of her, and told her to move away from the view of the camera because he wanted to have sex with her. She said he was putting on a condom when he heard a buzzer, “fixed himself and regained his physical composure,” the release said.

Another alleged victim said Turner repeatedly asked to see her underwear and private area. She said she relented, thinking the process would go faster, and later received a 3 a.m. text message from Turner, who wanted more contact with her.

A third victim said Turner refused to complete her paperwork if she didn’t expose herself to him; she said she received a Facebook message from him later that said: “Wow! Thanks for the enjoyable time,” the release said.

Whelan commended Kelly and the members of the Criminal Investigation Division for their work on the case.

“Officer Roosevelt used his position of authority to coerce and intimidate these women into acts for his own sexual gratification,” Whelan said in the release. “His behavior is extremely offensive. As a police officer, he took an oath to serve and protect the residents of Chester, and for that reason we hold him to a higher standard of conduct.”

Chester Police Commissioner Darren Alston said Roosevelt was suspended from his duties. “We take any allegation of misconduct seriously,” Alston said in the release. “We will work with the District Attorney’s Office and CID throughout the entire investigation.”

Roosevelt was released on bail with the condition that he avoid any contacts with the victims. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, March 23, court records said. Anyone with information or believes they may have been victimized is urged to contact Kelly at 610-891-4851.

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Gilbert L. Johnston of Kennett Square

Obituaries

Gilbert L. Johnston, 87, of Kennett Square, died peacefully on Monday, March 7, at Kendal at Longwood.

Gil was born in Harrisburg, the son of the late Mary and Walter Johnston.

He was a graduate of Cornell University, Princeton Theological Seminary and Harvard University. Following a ministry at Loudonville Presbyterian Church in New York, he was a professor of East Asian Religion at Pennsylvania State University and Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Fla., where he retired in 1995. Gil was active in the Quaker faith and was a member of Centre Friends Meeting in Centreville.

His interest and study of Zen Buddhism and Quakerism guided his personal philosophies of peace and social justice.

Gil is survived by his loving wife, Sheila Johnston, his children, Claire Mackin (Scott), Adam Johnston (Cindy), and Ben Johnston (Mary); five grandchildren; a sister, Margaret Thomas; and by a wealth of friends, who were deeply touched by his gentle nature and generosity.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 13, at Centre Meeting, 311 Center Meeting Road in Centerville.

Gil’s family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to The Sheila and Gilbert Johnston Scholarship for Study Abroad at Eckerd College, Office of Advancement, Eckerd College, 4200 54th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33711.

Donations may also be made to Centre Friends Monthly Meeting, P.O. Box 154, Rockland, DE 19732

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

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Albert E. Frank III of Cochranville

Obituaries

Albert E. Frank, III, 48, of Cochranville, died Sunday, March 6, in the Temple University Hospital.

He was the son of Albert E. Frank Jr. and Elizabeth “JANE” Miller Frank of Cochranville.

He was a tow truck driver and mechanic for Triangle Towing in Lester, for 17 years, leaving due to health reasons. After that, he was driving for the Amish community, which he really enjoyed.

He loved the outdoors, working on cars and driving the Amish.

In addition to his parents, he is survived by two sisters, Debora J. Young and her husband Steve of London Grove, and Linda Frank-Funk and her husband Rick of Valley Lee, Md.; one niece, Samantha Wood and her husband Chris; three nephews, Daniel Hilferty, John T. Hilferty and Steven Miller.

You are invited to visit with his family and friends from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 12, at the Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home, 250 West State Street in Kennett Square. His funeral service will follow at 4:30. Burial will be held privately at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, a contribution may be made in his memory to: Chester County Intermediate Unit, c/o Technical College High School, Pennock’s Bridge Campus, 280 Pennock’s Bridge Road, West Grove, PA 19390

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

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Popping up at Longwood: rare blue poppies

Arts & Entertainment

Screen Shot 2016-03-09 at 9.08.11 AM — Visitors have only about two weeks to view the rare, blue poppies on display in the Longwood Gardens conservatory. Photo courtesy of Longwood Gardens

You’re not seeing things: Those poppies in the Longwood Conservatory really are a luscious shade of blue.

Once considered a myth, blue-poppies (Meconopsis ‘Lingholm’) are alive and thriving at Longwood, but only for a limited time. These spectacular flowers – native to the high elevations of the Himalayan Mountains – are on display only for the next 10 to 14 days, according to a Longwood press release.

Longwood Gardens, one of very few places to see these rare gems, uses a growing technique to force the blue-poppies to flower every year in March. The cultivar, ‘Lingholm’, produces large flowers that average four-inches in diameter. The substantial petals are a mesmerizing deep sky blue color, the release said.

Blue-poppies are infrequently cultivated outside their native habitat. Given the right conditions, however, they can thrive in the northern regions of the U.S. and Europe, the release said.

Longwood Gardens, the former estate of industrialist Pierre S. du Pont on Route 1 near Kennett Square, is open daily, including holidays. Admission is $20 for adults; $17 for seniors (from age 62); $10 for students (ages 5 to18) or with valid student ID) and free ages 4 and under. Group rates are available..

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Loans, lights, water dominate borough agenda

Local News

Kennett Square Borough Council continued its commitment to improving communication at its meeting on Monday, March 7.

Kennett Borough Councilman Wayne Braffman details how one resident's complaint was addressed. — Kennett Square Borough Councilman Wayne Braffman details how one resident’s complaint was addressed.

As an example of the council’s intention to establish “collaborative pathways” with citizens, Councilman Wayne Braffman described how he responded to resident Tony Talamonti’s belief that the borough’s practice of selling bulk water to non-borough businesses was costing the borough money.

At Braffman’s request, Talamonti submitted a proposal, which was then reviewed by the council’s finance committee. After study, the committee concluded that the borough is not losing money on these sales. Moving forward, Borough Manager Joseph C. Scalise said a usage fee for companies will be established, in fairness to residents who pay a usage fee for water. Also, a lock will be placed on the bulk water meter to safeguard its use.

Talamonti has also expressed frustration with the numerous trucks driving through the borough for non-borough-related business. Braffman said that matter is already being addressed by Borough Council. Braffman expressed gratitude to Talamonti for his interest in his community, and Borough Council President Danilo Maffei thanked the finance committee for their “very well-thought-out work.”

Much discussion at the meeting focused on the borough’s state-funded Revolving Loan Fund. The purpose of the fund is to provide economic development stimulus to properties that are challenged to make their properties viable for business use. The fund is designated for business use only, not private residences.

Mary Hutchins, executive director of Historic Kennett Square, discusses the borough's Revolving Loan Fund. — Mary Hutchins, executive director of Historic Kennett Square, discusses the borough’s Revolving Loan Fund.

According to borough officials, restaurateur Jack McFadden was the first recipient of the funds – for a restaurant that was never completed at 120 E. State St. – and has recently paid back the loan. The Borough Council can now loan the entire amount to a worthy business or extend several smaller loans. It was agreed that gap-financing is risky, and the borough needs to resolve any ambiguities in the Revolving Loan Fund document.

“Are we headed in the right direction?” Scalise wondered aloud. He expressed his commitment to ensure that the $440,000 fund be managed properly. Toward that end, the council will study protocols of other municipalities.

John Schmid made a presentation on behalf of Energy Solutions, a company approved by the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, to administer a new LED lighting program for the borough. His proposal to replace the borough’s street lighting would have many advantages, including cost and energy savings, a more attractive appearance, and a reduction in vandalism and crime. The proposal will be re-visited at the next Borough Council meeting.

During the portion of the evening allotted for residents’ comments, Jean Jims stated her opposition to a new park on the south side of the borough, and John Thomas expressed concern for continued building, which causes increased traffic and stress on the borough sewer system.

“We do not benefit from new development that borders the borough,” Thomas said. He believes the builders should be held accountable for the stress that new development places on the borough.

Resident Charla Watson asked the council to consider giving residents an opportunity to speak again at the end of council meetings, enabling everyone to respond to the discussion that has just taken place. Watson also reminded council there should be a limit on the number of committees a person can serve on and a limit to the number of terms a person can serve. “We need fresh blood, fresh ideas,” she explained.

Several invitations were extended to attendees at the meeting. Mary Hutchins, executive director of Historic Kennett Square, announced “An Evening at the Arts” at Genesis HealthCare, on Friday, April 1, from 5 to 8:30 p.m. The art show and sale will feature the work of local and regional artists.

Kennett Square resident Carol Krawczyk, who serves on the Borough Planning Commission and the Kennett Area Regional Planning Commission, invited everyone to a planning meeting at Borough Hall on Tuesday, March 15, beginning at 7:30 p.m.

About Lora B. Englehart

Lora has a passion for art, gardening, yoga, music and dancing. She continues to research the life of locally born abolitionist and 1998 National Women's Hall of Fame inductee Mary Ann Shadd Cary. She is a dedicated community volunteer, working with the American Association of University Women, Wilmington, DE branch (programs chair), Chadds Ford Historical Society (former board member) and Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art. Lora lives in Birmingham Township with her husband Bill and son Brad. Daughter Erika lives in Pittsburgh with husband Bob and baby Wilhelmina. She is a former French, Spanish and ESL teacher, bilingual life insurance underwriter and public relations coordinator for Delaware Art Museum and Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art.

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Residential development plan gets a makeover

Local News, Local News Birmingham, Local News Chadds Ford

Wonderland Farms, a planned residential development submitted for Oakland Road near Brinton’s Bridge Road in Chadds Ford, is getting a makeover. The PRD proposal is currently before the Planning Commission, and the plan has changed since last month’s presentation.

The project, proposed by Harrier LLC, a Grace Family business entity, has gone from an original plan of 40 units to 38 units in February and now 35 units with housing on both sides of Oakland Road.

Attorney Mike Dignazio said the updated proposal is “a significantly amended plan that is more in tune with the commission’s thinking.”

With one single-family home already existing on the west side of Oakland Road, an additional 22 new home are proposed. On the east side of Oakland, another 12 homes are planned structured in six twin-home units.

According to engineer Josh Castillo, decreasing the number of homes has resulted in an increase in open space, which includes walking trails and recreation areas for residents on both sides of the development, but not for the general public. The open space will remain the property of the homeowners’ association.

Additionally, one six-acre parcel near Bellefair Lane will be deed-restricted as agricultural open space and used to graze horses for an existing property owner.

“It will be deed-restricted [to the home owners’ association] in perpetuity so that nothing could be built on those six acres,” Dignazio said. “It represents a farmette type milieu to the benefit of the other people who buy the homes.”

The attorney added that the restriction is a “significant contribution by the developer” because the original design showed three homes planned for those six acres.

Castillo said the open space requirement for the entire property is 26 acres, but the plan now has 27.9 acres dedicated as open space, before calculating in the deed-restricted six acres.

Also new in the updated plan is an emergency road for residents of Bellefair. They will be able to access the new development from their cul-de-sac.

While a trail is planned for the twin-homes on the east side of Oakland, concerns remain on how safely residents from those homes could access the open space and recreation areas on the larger, west side of the community.

Planning Commission Chairman Craig Huffman, Dignazio and Webb Road resident Skye George discussed a variety of ideas with George saying that adding 35 new homes “is a lot of traffic to add to Oakland Road.”

George was not alone with that concern. Another resident called the addition of 35 new homes and the associated traffic in the area “appalling.”

Huffman said stop signs won’t work, but speed humps might calm traffic.

He prefers the speed hump concept, saying that’s the “superior way to go…You have to slow down for it.”

Huffman suggested that people would likely just roll through stops signs and that they would be too close to the stop sign at Brinton’s Bridge Road. A benefit would be to have pedestrians cross at the hump.

Dignazio said they were envisioning an elevated crosswalk. “It will be more than a speed bump.”

No decisions were made regarding the plan during the March 9 meeting. The developer will be back before the commission next month.

Other business

The commission also heard a conditional use application for Concordville Subaru. The dealership would be in Concord Township, but Route 202 ingress and egress would be through Chadds Ford. The conditional use application needs to be reviewed because a stormwater infiltration basin would also be on a steep slope area in Chadds Ford. Concordville Subaru will be back before the commission next month.

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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Around Town March 10

Along the Ford

Barnyard Feast, by Helena Van Emmerik-Finn, the featured artist at this year's Art Show and sale at Chadds Ford Elementary School. — Barnyard Feast, by Helena Van Emmerik-Finn, the featured artist at this year’s Art Show and sale at Chadds Ford Elementary School.

• The 67th annual Art Sale and Show at Chadds Ford Elementary School is this weekend, Friday and Saturday, March 11 and 12 at the school. The Friday night reception runs from 7 to 10 p.m. and is for adults only. Saturday, the event is open for the entire family and runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be a guided tour of the show beginning at 11 a.m.

• The last day to register to vote in the April 26 primary election is Monday, March 28. The last day for civilians to request an absentee ballot is April 19, and the deadline to return those absentee ballots is April 22.

• The Brandywine River Museum of Art will hold a Children’s Read-Aloud Tour on Thursday, March 17, at 10:30 a.m. The price is $5 per child with one adult admitted free per child and free for members. The book is “The Tallest Leprechaun” by Emily Grace Koenig. Join in an artistic celebration of St. Patrick’s Day for children. Young children and their grown-ups hear a story, interact with art in the museum, and make their own creative works in this popular program. Registration is requested by contacting the education office at 610-388-8382 or education@brandywine.org

• Volunteers are needed for the annual Red Clay Valley Clean Up, to be held on Saturday, March 19, from 8 a.m. to noon. The cleanup is co-sponsored by the Brandywine Red Clay Alliance and the Delaware Nature Society to sweep more than 83 miles of stream and road ways along the east and west branches of the Red Clay Creek, including Kennett Square Borough going south through Yorklyn and Hockessin in Delaware, and ending at Kirkwood Highway. Volunteers will assemble at Anson B. Nixon Park in Kennett Square and the Ashland Nature Center in Hockessin. After check-in, volunteers will disperse to assigned areas along the cleanup route. Necessary materials (gloves, bags, reflective safety vests, etc.) will be provided. Large groups are encouraged to contact BRC (610-793-1090) or DNS (302-239-2334) for route assignments prior to March 16.

• Kennett Township will host its annual roadway cleanup along with the Red Clay Valley Clean Up on Saturday, March 19, beginning at 8 a.m. All necessary supplies (trash bags, gloves, reflective vests, etc.) will be provided. Pick your own area to clean up if you have a large group of five or more. To volunteer, contact Roger Lysle at 610-444-5130 or roger.lysle@kennett.pa.us or Jim Jordan at 610-793-1090 or jjordan@brandywineredclay.org. For more information about the Red Clay Valley Clean Up and the Brandywine Red Clay Alliance, visit http://www.brandywinewatershed.org/template/RedClayCleanUp.asp.

• The Chadds Ford Community Emergency Response Team will be holding a free Active Shooter Emergency Preparedness Presentation on Wednesday, March 23, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Chadds Ford Township Building, 10 Ring Road, Chadds Ford. Joe McGinn, homeland security liaison, will provide information on what to do if you or your family is confronted with an active shooter situation similar to the recent tragedies in Paris and San Bernardino. Email chaddsfordcert@gmail.com to reserve a seat.

• PennDOT will hold a public meeting regarding the Route 926 Bridge Improvement Project on Wednesday, March 30, at Pocopson Elementary beginning with an open house at 5:30 p.m. The actual presentation will begin at 6:30 p.m. followed by a question and answer period. The bridge has been scheduled for replacement for more than a decade, and work was to have begun this spring. However, that has been pushed back to next year.

• Fifth-grade classes from Chadds Ford, Hillendale, Pocopson, and Unionville Elementary Schools held their popular Oldies Dance on Feb. 26 to raise money for Three Hands of Hope, a local charity that helps children battling serious illnesses and their families, and the American Cancer Society. The students raised $2,611 and will donate $2,000 of the proceeds to Three Hands of Hope, and $611 to the American Cancer Society.

• Choosing and purchasing the best tailgating locations at Winterthur’s Point-to-Point, the region’s popular spring sporting event, can be done with the click of a mouse thanks to the new online purchasing program and mobile app entitled “Winterthur,” which is debuting this year. The option, https://ptptailgate.com, marks the first time in the steeplechase race’s 38-year history that tailgate parking spots and accompanying tailgate wristbands can be conveniently ordered online and from mobile phones. This year’s Point-to-Point falls on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 8.

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