April 2016

Wonderland Farms not ready for hearing

The residential development proposed for Oakland Road is not yet ready for its hearing. The development is a PRD, or planned residential development, that calls for a total of 34 new homes covering both sides of Oakland Road near Brinton’s Bridge Road.

Because it’s a PRD, where homes are closer together than regular zoning allows, a special hearing is needed. The supervisors already authorized the advertising for such a hearing, and one could have been scheduled for May. However, Mike Dignazio, representing the applicant — Harrier LLC — told the Chadds Ford Planning Commission members last night that the applicant is not ready with a final plan. He said they’d return with the plan next month.

Even though the hearing couldn’t be scheduled, several new concepts were introduced for the development. One was a change in the proposed pedestrian crosswalk on Oakland so residents can cross safely between the two sections.

Marty Eustace of Eustace Engineering said the crosswalk now being considered is a “speed table,” a striped, elongated speed bump about eight feet long.

In addition, Eustace said there would be a walking trail from the homes on the west side of Oakland up to Brinton’s Bridge so residents can walk to restaurants at the five-points intersection.

A third change would be to remove material from the Brinton’s Bridge/Oakland Road portion of that five-point intersection to improve sightlines, Eustace said.

As part of the overall concept, 22 new homes would be built on the west side of Oakland on the former Goodman property. One home already exists there. There would also be 27.9 acres of dedicated open space.

On the east side of the street — on the site of the Lenz property — 12 townhomes would be built, but both sides would be considered one community.

When Harrier, a Joe Grace Family business entity, bought the properties, an additional area between the Lenz property and Route 202 was included. That section is zoned PBC, or planned business center. The idea was to sell that parcel and have the zoning changed to PBC-1 to allow for an auto dealership.

Jim Sipala wants to bring his Kia of West Chester dealership onto that site. Attorney Larry Strohm, representing the dealership, and several engineers went over a preliminary plan for the site, but Planning Commission Chairman Craig Huffman said the commission needs more information before it can recommend a zoning change to the board of supervisors.

One major issue came from township resident Susan Darrell, whose property is adjacent to the proposed dealership. She expressed strong concern that construction and an eventual on-site septic system for the dealership would foul the springs on her property that she needs for fresh water.

Darrell said she doesn’t object to the dealership coming in, but wants assurances that her water would not be polluted.

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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Library board working to finalize name

What’s in a name? For a certain library in Kennett Square, plenty of angst and consternation.

The Kennett Public Library facade displays the facility's former name: The Bayard Taylor Memorial Library.
The Kennett Public Library facade displays the facility’s former name: The Bayard Taylor Memorial Library.

Now the facility – formerly known as the Bayard Taylor Memorial Library and presently called the Kennett Public Library – is revisiting its most recent moniker change, one that occurred a year ago.

At its Feb. 16 meeting, the Kennett Public Library Board of Trustees board hired Carl Francis, chief strategist for Envisian, a Malvern-based strategic advisory firm, to assist the library in determining where it wants to go in the future and how to get there. One of the board’s most ambitious long-term goals is to oversee the construction of a new facility, necessitated by growth that has rendered the present location in the 200 block of East State Street in Kennett Square inadequate.

A bust of Bayard Taylor is one of the few reminders of the Kennett Public Library's previous namesake.
A bust of Bayard Taylor is one of the few reminders of the Kennett Public Library’s previous namesake.

But before it can proceed with that initiative, the board has said it needs to reevaluate some past decisions. It acknowledged that however well-intentioned the last name change was, a previous board incurred substantial wrath when it failed to involve stakeholders in the decision. The library serves residents in East Marlborough, Newlin, New Garden, Kennett, Pennsbury, Pocopson and West Marlborough townships and Kennett Square Borough.

So one of Francis’s first tasks was to reassess the library’s name. To accomplish that, he said he began delving into the library’s history, which dates back to 1820. During its first 76 years of existence, the library had five different names.

In 1896, it was named the Bayard Taylor Memorial Library Company to honor one of the borough’s prominent citizens. In fact, Taylor’s mother organized the first library. And although company dropped off the name at some point, Bayard Taylor endured for nearly 120 years, until April 2015, Francis said.

Carl Francis explains the procedure in play to determine the best name for the Kennett library.
Carl Francis explains the procedure in play to determine the best name for the Kennett library.

Francis shared his research with groups of library stakeholders during a series of meetings on Tuesday, April 12. He said the board wants to make sure that the public understands the thoroughness and the methodology being used.

He said when he first discussed the divide over the name – Bayard Taylor vs. Kennett Public – with Board President Tom Swett, he was told: “It’s tragic. We are all on the same side. We all love the library.”

Francis said that pleasing everyone was not possible, but involving everyone in the process was feasible. He said he reviewed all of the feedback the library received on the name change, from news articles to emails, and he concluded that sufficient input existed to create a name that is “inclusive, effective and fresh.”

Ultimately, that decision will rest with the board, he said, and numerous brainstorming meetings have occurred. “You need more than a name; you need a brand,” he explained, stressing the need to incorporate the library’s history into the process. “The job of a name is to get people’s attention and bring them in.”

Francis said that at one point, a list of 36 choices existed; it has since been reduced substantially. The leading contender is the Kennett Library, with the addition of homage to its former namesake, creating the Kennett Library at Bayard Taylor Commons.

Taylor, a trailblazing travel writer, remains a significant figure in the area’s history and should certainly remain an integral part of the library’s presence, Francis said.

Library Board President Tom Swett says he's eager to get everyone on same page.
Library Board President Tom Swett says he’s optimistic that passion for the library will get everyone on same page.

“It’s not a matter of keeping him alive,” Francis added. “He’s been allowed to disappear; it just happened.”

Francis said he could envision a Bayard Taylor Memorial Lecture Series, a reading room, or sculptures. He suggested that the image of a young Bayard Taylor at the library – long before he wrote 65 books – could offer inspiration to children, especially since Taylor began writing poems at age 7.

A Bayard and Friends Committee might be a good way to resurrect Bayard as well as some of the area’s other significant leaders, such as Indian Hannah, Francis suggested.

Because the response to the three presentations on Tuesday were so positive, Francis said two additional public sessions to present the branding plan would be held on Tuesday, May 3, at 3 and 6 p.m. at the Kennett Township Building.  Registration will be available later this week via the library website, he said.
The library will also be preparing a written summary of the presentation that is expected to be available within 10 days and will also be accessible via the website. Francis said the board expects to vote on the first phase of the brand development process at its May meeting. The entire branding plan will be implemented in phases as the library begins work on planning and building a new library facility, likely over a three- to five-year period, Francis said.

Once the name change occurs, the board plans to issue its first-ever annual report and begin to focus on consistency. The building still bears Bayard Taylor’s moniker, and library records and documentation are all different.

In the meantime, Swett said that the growing use of the library makes the process of moving forward to expand the facility even more imperative. He said the 116,000 visits in 2015 represented a 13 percent increase over 2014.

“It’s wonderful to be part of such a dynamic and growing institution,” Swett said.

 

About CFLive Staff

See Contributors Page https://chaddsfordlive.com/writers/

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Free conference to focus on Latino students

Delaware County Community College (DCCC) will hold its second annual conference focused on Latinos and education titled, “Beyond Multiculturalism: Empowering Latino Students and the Community” from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., on Friday, April 15.

The free conference, which is open to the public, will be held in the Large Auditorium (Room 2225) on the college’s Marple Campus, 901 South Media Line Rd. in Media, according to a DCCC press release.

The conference will focus on Latino issues in education, including issues of immigration, representation, inclusion, equity and mentoring. The conference is coordinated by the college’s faculty-led Latino Initiatives and Outreach Network (LION) in collaboration with the college’s student-led Latin Flavor Club.

The luncheon keynote presentation, from 12:40 to 1:35 p.m., will be “A Conversation with Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Pedro A. Rivera.” It will concentrate on the Latino immigrant population in college, educational policies, and their impact on students’ success.

In addition, a panel of experts, including Elizabeth Conde-Frazier, dean of Esperanza College, and Steven Larin, an immigration attorney and director of Legal Services & Immigration Policy at the Nationalities Services Center, will discuss the effects of an increasing Latino population in college; factors influencing the Latino achievement gap; the importance of mentoring; leadership; and institutional support at college campuses.

Another expert panel, including Hernan Guaracao, founder & CEO of AL DIA news media, and Iliana Pagan-Teitelbaum, professor of Spanish and Latin American film at West Chester University, will discuss issues regarding Latino representation in media and film, as well as the lack of Latino representation in higher education.

Finally, a panel of Delaware County Community College Latino student leaders will discuss their experiences at the College and the role of student involvement and leadership in their academic success.

Registration is not necessary, but is strongly encouraged. For more information and to register online, visit https://www.dccc.edu/latino-conference.

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Adopt-a-Pet April 14

Adopt-a-Pet April 14

Come meet all the wonderful animals available now for adoption at the Brandywine Valley SPCA. All featured pets are “Name Your Price” adoption fee until Monday, April 18. Not ready to adopt yet? Then sponsor a pet and provide a safe place for our companions to rest until they find their forever homes. Help us give them a second chance at a fresh start!

Darcey
Darcey

Darcey

My name is Darcey and I’m an uptown lady that knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to go for it. Like all great feline lovers, I truly adore a good chin scratch and cuddle time on a comfy couch. I have been described as a very independent feline that will ask for attention when I’m good and ready for it. Hey, it’s not attitude when you are as adorable as I am. If you’re looking for a sassy copilot, look no further. Stop by the BVSPCA and don’t forget the name Darcey.

Shortie 

Shortie
Shortie

My name is Shortie, but not because I’m short on love. I used to be a stray, which is why my ear tips have extra “pawsonality” due to my brief encounter with Mr. Frostbite. Don’t let my past fool you though, I am a dedicated lap cat with so, so much love to give. I like all different kinds of people and only really want a forever home where I can enjoy some good one on one time. Swing by the shelter today and ask for Shortie.

Click HERE to learn about all of our cats at our Pennsylvania Campus

Princess Leia
Princess Leia

Princess Leia

My friends at the shelter named me Princess Leia because I remind them of her with my funny ears and coloring, but I also possess a personality like hers: bold, smart and sassy. I am a very happy girl who loves hanging out with my two-legged friends and my excitement is contagious. I already know sit, shake and down, and am eager to learn more tricks. Take some time to come meet me, and may the force be with you

Pepper 

Pepper
Pepper

 

I’m Pepper, and I am ready to add some spice into your life. I’m an adorable little girl with an adorable scrunched up nose and I know you won’t be able to resist me once you meet me!  I’m a sweetie pie who loves everyone and loves to cuddle.  I’m great with kids and truly enjoy being with them. I walk well on a leash, am very smart and know my commands. I’m always up for a spirited game of fetch and will also enjoy my quiet time lying close to you. Come and add some spring to your step with me by your side.

Click HERE to learn about all of our dogs at our Pennsylvania Campus.

About CFLive Staff

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Around Town April 14

Author Sue Madway Levine, center, receives a gift basket from Chadds Ford Live owner and publisher Emily Myers at the Bryn Mawr Trust bank in Chadds Ford. Also shown is Bank branch manager Linda Darrach.

• Sue Madway Levine, a teacher and author of the children’s book series “Susie’s Shoesies” won a gift basket of wine and guest passes from The Chaddsford Winery courtesy of Chadds Ford Live. Levine won the basket in a drawing at the Bryn Mawr Trust bank in Chadds Ford in March when Chadds Ford Live was the bank’s Business of the Month. (See photo above.) Levine’s book series consists of eight books aimed at readers from 8 to12 years old. For more information on the series, go here.

• The Chadds Ford Gallery launches a new exhibit, My World – Chapter Three, featuring the works of watercolorist Ray Hendershot, on Friday, April 15, beginning at 5 p.m. The exhibit runs through May 1.

• State Rep. Stephen Barrar will host a Chester County Veterans ID event at the Kennett Area Senior Center on Wednesday, April 20, at 1 p.m. This program will provide photo identification cards to Chester County veterans that will allow them to receive local discounts and benefits at businesses throughout the county. Bring your DD214 or any other military discharge paper. Contact Rick Loughery at 610-344-6330 or on the website if you have any questions.

Project Fusion, a saxophone quartet, will perform at the Brandywine River Museum of Art on Thursday, April 21, at 7 p.m
Project Fusion, a saxophone quartet, will perform at the Brandywine River Museum of Art on Thursday, April 21, at 7 p.m

• The Brandywine River Museum of Art presents Music on the Brandywine: Project Fusion, a saxophone quartet, on Thursday, April 21, at 7 p.m. Project Fusion won the 2015 Astrals’ National Audition. Project Fusion actively takes part in outreach and arts advocacy programs throughout the country. The ensemble presents convocations, clinics, and workshops in numerous K-12 schools, as well as residencies and master classes at colleges and universities throughout the Midwest and East Coast. Project Fusion is also dedicated to public arts outreach, and has presented recitals and educational programs in retirement communities, libraries, churches and civic centers. Advance tickets cost $15 for non-members, $12 for members, and $8 for students through April 18. Prices then increase to $25, non-members; $20, members; and $10, students. Purchase tickets online here.

• Saturday, April 23, is the annual recycling day and spring read cleanup in Chadds Ford Township. Collections will begin at 9 a.m. and end promplty at 1 p.m. The township has hired vendors to collect the following: nonperishable food items, gently-used furniture and clothing, old documents for shredding, certain electronics and small hazardous-free appliances, light bulbs and batteries, propane tanks and used gas cans (without the gas). Roadside cleanup begins at 8 a.m. Meet at the township building for gloves, vests and trash bags.

• Chester County was chosen as one of 20 counties in Pennsylvania to implement a five-year pilot process whereby a portion of Human Services’ funding would be administered as a block grant.  Chester County has drafted the fiscal year 2016-17 plan for the fifth-year implementation of the pilot process, which must be submitted to the Department of Public Welfare by June 2016. Two hearings will be held to solicit public comment on the draft: Monday, April 18, at 4:30 p.m., at the
 Chester County Government Services Center,
601 Westtown Rd., Suite 170, in
West Chester, and Tuesday, April 19 at 1:30 p.m. at the
Brandywine Health Center Conference Room,
744 E. Lincoln Highway, in
Coatesville. Anyone interested in submitting comments should email the Department of Human Services at cchumanservices@chesco.org by April 22.

• The 12th annual West Chester Film Festival will take place Friday, April 22, through Sunday, April 24. Filmgoers will enjoy a mix of comedy, drama, animation, art/experimental and documentary in each of the seven unique film screenings. Each two-hour screening is shown twice throughout the weekend, once at the Chester County Historic Courthouse at 2 N. High Street and again at the Chester County Historical Society at 225 N. High Street. The West Chester Film Festival is a nonprofit organization that relies on the financial support of its dedicated, local sponsors and the personal time and labor of volunteers for its success. To see the full lineup of films, workshops and other festival events for this year, visit www.westchesterfilmfestival.com or send an email to info@westchesterfilmfestival.com

• The Young Friends of the Brandywine will host their 20th annual Brandywine River Cleanup on Saturday, April 23, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. This event helps to ensure cleaner water for communities that rely on the Brandywine as a source for their drinking water a healthier habitat for wildlife, and a safer environment for recreational activities. More than 500,000 residents in Pennsylvania and Delaware rely on the Brandywine as the source of their drinking water. To volunteer for the cleanup, please contact Kathy Smith at ksmith@brandywine.org or 610-388-8315. Volunteers are asked to come to the Environmental Management Center at the Brandywine River Museum of Art at 9 a.m. to register and be divided into teams, which will clean sections of the riverbanks.

• Christiana Care Health System is offering a free program designed to reduce the risk of falls and increase physical activity among older adults. “A Matter of Balance” is an evidence-based program that uses volunteer coaches to teach participants how to overcome their fear of falling, increase their strength and balance and improve their environment. “A Matter of Balance” is a series of eight weekly classes, 1 to 3 p.m., May 4 until June 23, at the Christiana Hospital in Newark. For more information or to register for the free classes in New Castle or Kent counties, contact Susan Fox at (302) 255-9690 or susan.fox@state.de.us.

• Want to turn your yard into a beautiful landscape, but don’t know where to start? Let Mt. Cuba Center offer professional guidance through its new Home Landscaping Basics series. Participants will learn how to solve common landscaping problems, select plants that thrive in your location, and add design elements that make your space unique. Sign up for the session you need, or all three. The first session, Getting Started, will be held on Sunday, April 17 from 1 to 3 p.m. To register, go here.

About CFLive Staff

See Contributors Page https://chaddsfordlive.com/writers/

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Kennett Twp. reports possible child-luring try

The Kennett Township Police Department is warning residents about a possible child-luring attempt.

Police said the incident occurred on Wednesday, April 13, about 3:20 p.m. in the 1000 block of East Baltimore Pike, between Lenape Road and Kennett Pike in Kennett Township. A white male approximately 35 years old with a full beard, wearing a black shirt, sunglasses and a hat and operating a black Hyundai Sonata (unknown registration) stopped behind a school bus from which children were exiting, said a police press release.

A passenger in the vehicle, who was described as a white male, approximately 20 years of age, clean shaven, and wearing a black shirt, was reported to have yelled to a child who had exited the bus: “Come here; you want some candy?”

Police said the child fled toward home without incident. The vehicle was last seen traveling northeast on East Baltimore Pike, the release said.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Kennett Police Officer Amanda Wenrich at 610-388-2874, ext. 304, or email Amanda.wenrich@kennett.pa.us.

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Vigils to focus on loved ones lost to violence

Every year in April, the Office for Victims of Crime helps lead communities throughout the country in their annual observances of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week: April 10 through April 16.

At the 2015
Attendees at the 2015 Annual Candlelight Vigil and Memorial Service in Chester County salute the flag.

In Chester County, the Crime Victims’ Center will hold its 25th Annual Candlelight Vigil and Memorial Service, an effort to provide words of comfort, hope and challenge to those who have experienced the interminable pain of losing a loved one to violence.

In Delaware County, the District Attorney’s Office and members of Delaware County’s Victims Policy Funding Board will recognize victim advocates whose mission is to assist others in need and have provided extraordinary care and treatment for victims of crime.

On Wednesday, April 13, U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey will be recognized for his efforts to ensure the disbursement of federal funds to victims of crime, and Upper Darby Township Police Det. Raymond Blohm will be honored for the unwavering commitment that led to the incarceration of three dangerous criminals who brutality victimized a 22-year-old mother on Christmas Day in 2012. At 7 p.m., Parents of Murdered Children will hold a candlelight vigil in Courtroom One of the Delaware County Courthouse.

The Chester County vigil will take place on Thursday, April 14. It will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a service at the Central Presbyterian Church in Downingtown followed by a candlelight walk to the nearby Victims’ Memorial at The Ponds in Kardon Park. It will conclude with a reception at the church. The annual event remembers homicide victims as well as law enforcement personnel killed in the line of duty.

Victim advocates say that such events enable families an opportunity to come together and share the grief of losing a loved one. The vigils also afford comfort to those left behind that the victims have not been forgotten. Finally, they remind the public of the devastating impact such crimes have on the victims as well as their families and the ongoing efforts to assist those who have been caught in the crossfire.

 

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Delco man indicted for fraudulent asylum bid

A Delaware County resident is accused of lying about his murderous background in his application for asylum from Liberia.

Mohammed Jabbateh, 49, a citizen of Liberia residing in East Lansdowne, was indicted on Wednesday, April 13, and charged with immigration fraud and perjury, said U.S. Attorney Zane David Memeger in a press release.

According to the indictment, in December 1998, when making application for asylum and later for permanent legal residency, Jabbateh, also known as “Jungle Jabbah,” allegedly lied about his activities during Liberia’s first civil war. Prosecutors said he was a member of the United Liberation Movement for Democracy in Liberia (ULIMO) and later ULIMO-K, a rebel group that battled for control of Liberia, the release said.

The indictment said Jabbateh was a commander who ordered ULIMO troops to commit acts that included genocide; the murder, torture, enslavement and maiming of civilian noncombatants; the sexual enslavement and public raping of women; the conscription of child soldiers; the execution of prisoners of war; and the desecration and mutilation of corpses.

“This defendant allegedly committed unspeakable crimes in his home country, brutalizing numerous innocent victims,” said Memeger in the release. “He then sought to escape to the United States where he lied about his criminal background on federal immigration forms. This office will use whatever tools are available to bring to justice serious criminals who abuse our immigration process by concealing their background and history.”

In January 1999, during his successful asylum-seeking process, Jabbateh was interviewed by an immigration asylum officer to determine whether his application should be granted. To this end, it is alleged that Jabbateh falsely responded “no” to questions that included whether he had ever committed a crime or harmed anyone. Prosecutors said he repeated the lies during his application for legal permanent residency.

“The United States has always welcomed refugees and those fleeing oppression, but we will not be a safe haven for alleged human rights violators and war criminals,” Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Jack Staton of Homeland Security Investigations said in the release.

If convicted, Jabbateh faces a maximum possible sentence of 30 years in prison, the release said.  To support anyone who may have been victimized by Jabbateh but has not yet reported it, Homeland Security Investigations has established a Victim Assistance Hotline.  Impacted individuals are encouraged to call 215-717-4987 to speak with a victim assistance specialist, the release said.

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DAs take steps to standardize photo lineups

Who's the real bad actor? That's a question that Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan (second from right, top row) wants witnesses to get right.

In a recent series of grocery store holdups, detectives had their suspect: a six-foot-tall, 160-pound man with a shaved head who bore a striking resemblance to Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan.

As Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan (left) listens, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele explains how prosecutors are trying to stay ahead of technology.
As Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan (left) listens, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele explains how prosecutors are trying to stay ahead of technology.

In fact, Hogan’s image appeared in a photo lineup prominently displayed during a press conference on Tuesday, April 12, at the Chester County District Attorney’s Office. But Hogan was masquerading as a mugger to underscore the importance of statewide uniformity in eyewitness identification procedures.

Hogan, chairman of the Best Practices Committee for the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association (PDAA), was joined by Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele, Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams, and a half-dozen other law-enforcement officials to announce guidelines that would be incorporated into law enforcement training throughout the state. A simultaneous announcement occurred in Harrisburg by other PDAA representatives, Hogan said.

He explained that the announcement marked the first time in its history that the PDAA has made a statewide best practices recommendation. He likened the new research and technologies to the field of medicine, suggesting that if a doctor developed a cure for cancer, the public would want that information shared.

Witness identification was the first agenda item because “it’s a hot topic,” Hogan said, noting that many cases hinge on it.

Among Pennsylvania’s 67 counties are 1,117 law-enforcement agencies – “more police departments than any state in the U.S.,” Hogan said. “Prosecutors want to convict the guilty, protect the innocent, and stand up for the rights of victims,” he said. “It’s important that we get this protocol right across the state.”

Toward that end, he said PDAA received input from law-enforcement, social scientists, criminal-defense agencies and academics to formulate the best way to conduct a fair and reliable eyewitness ID procedure. The PDAA was formed in 2014 to serve as a collaborative network to identify best practices, research, and legal methods.

Among the recommendations: presenting photo lineups simultaneously rather than sequentially. New research shows that witnesses benefit from being able to compare and contrast, Hogan said.

In addition, an officer not involved in the case should administer the photo lineup, using neutral language to avoid bias. Someone connected to the prosecution could subconsciously affect the outcome. “If I’m there, I’m rooting for them to pick the right person,” Hogan said.

Finally, the protocols call for extensive record-keeping, such as documenting the witness’s demeanor and response time, and preserving the evidence, including all of the photographs used.

Hogan said that the guidelines represent recommendations and that their implementation would be determined by each district attorney. Hogan, Steele and Adams all said that they are already using some of them and that the initial reaction from the law-enforcement community has been positive.

Steele said the committee would now turn its focus to three other emerging issues: body cameras , officer-involved shootings, and the recording of interrogations. He said the group would also be seeking legislative fixes for the state’s Wiretap Act.

Right now, if a police officer wearing a body camera chases a suspect into a dwelling, he has an additional burden. “We don’t want an officer to worry about turning off a body camera” in that situation, Steele said, explaining that the video would be illegal in a private home.

As for Hogan the suspect, he explained that the use of his own mugshot was an attempt to add some levity. However, he acknowledged that he might have erred in allowing county detectives to select the other images. Among the potential “bad guys” were West Goshen Township Detective Darren Sedlak and actors Bruce Willis, Patrick Stewart, Dean Norris, Michael Chiklis and Jason Statham.

 

 

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Pat Ciarrocchi will keynote Chamber breakfast

The Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce will hold its Annual Inspirational Breakfast Wednesday, April 20, beginning at 7:30 a.m. at the Mendenhall Inn. The keynote speaker is Pat Ciarrocchi, an award-winning broadcaster who will share insights and lessons learned during her esteemed career.

The Herald Trumpeters from the Valley Forge Military Academy & College
The Herald Trumpeters from the Valley Forge Military Academy & College

The event includes a coffee reception at 7:30 am followed by a sit-down breakfast and program at 8:30 am. Special guests Valley Forge Military Academy & College, as well as the Heraldic Fanfare Trumpets & Academy Color Guard will begin the program.

Award-winning Broadcaster Pat Ciarrocchi will speak at the SCCCC 2nd Annual Inpsirational Breakfast
Award-winning broadcaster Pat Ciarrocchi

Chester County native Pat Ciarrocchi traveled the globe covering major events of the day during her 33-year career as anchor at CBS3 in Philadelphia. She has earned virtually every major honor in broadcasting including being the first woman inducted into the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

The Inspirational Breakfast welcomes business and community leaders from across the region. The fee is $45 for members and $55 for non-members. Tables are available for $450. To register, click visit the SCCCC event page.
The Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce, the region’s leading pro-business member organization, is dedicated to the growth and development of its members and the business community by providing opportunities to connect businesses and support sustainable economic development. Founded in 1929 in Kennett Square, the chamber’s nearly 500 member businesses consist of influential business leaders and professionals, not-for-profits, institutions, legislative leaders, and more. The chamber hosts more than 70 events and programs each year in the Southern Chester County region. To join or learn more, visit www.scccc.com.

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