April 2016 - Page 14 of 19 - ChaddsFordLive.com

Applied Belief: How to vote

During this election cycle many Christians and evangelicals have decided to vote based on anger, emotions, and political ideology over obedience to the Bible’s criteria for electing the right person. I am not an evangelical. I am unapologetically a truly Bible-believing Christian.

What this means is that I believe that the Bible, composed of the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, is the divinely inspired infallible Word of God, without error in the original manuscripts, our final authority for all matters in life, faith and practice.”

The Bible guides me in how I live my life, how I practice my faith, and also how I vote. Yes, I know what you’re thinking. This pastor is too political. Actually one or two members of my church have said as a much.

Perhaps I am, yet it would be ungodly of me not to be. I believe that Jesus my Lord, has supremacy over all things and this includes politics. Hebrews 1:3 tells us “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.”

I will talk and write about politics because of Jesus’ supremacy, but also because we are at a crucial point in our nation’s history. I firmly believe that this election has major implications for both our political and spiritual future. While I am not endorsing a candidate, I do believe that truly Bible-believing Christians like myself must engage in the political arena and vote in accordance with what the Bible, the Word of God, says.

The Bible is our final authority in all matters including politics. We have in the Bible very specific guidelines for who should be elected to public office. In Exodus 18:21, when Moses is having a difficult time presiding over the people of God, his father-in-law, Jethro, gives Moses some timeless advice. He says “But select capable men [people] from all the people — men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain.”

While the primary purpose of these men was both administrative and spiritual, the same qualifications should be used by Christians today in selecting or electing those who would serve in public office. Since America is not a church (spiritual) these qualifications are extended to women as they are for men. (As a side note, it would be great to see more godly women in public office and one day as president of this country.)

We should then vote for and elect people who are capable. This means someone who knows what they are doing. As much as people want to ride this wave of outsider insurgency, we still need people who understand the system and culture to then change the very system and political culture. Secondly we need men and women who fear God.

America was founded on Judeo-Christian principles. (To read more on this please see “The Legal Basis for a Moral Constitution” by Jenna Ellis, Esq.) The settlers in Jamestown believed in God and the Pilgrims at Plymouth clearly came to establish a nation that would be founded and grounded on the idea of religious freedom, which begins and ends with the God revealed in the Bible.

America is a great nation. We don’t need to make it great again, what we need is to return it to the basics that founded this great nation and that requires more people who fear God in government. These people, in fearing God, must also be ones who believe that the Bible is not just a book, but the very Word of God. Without this understanding one cannot uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States.

Finally, those we vote for should be trustworthy and hate dishonest gain. Trust is not built overnight. Consistency is the key in building trust. We need people who have demonstrated, throughout a substantial period of time that they are consistent in their fear of God and in their ability to govern and lead.

So this April and this November, when Pennsylvania and Delaware vote, truly Bible-believing Christians will have an opportunity to vote the right people according to the Bible, which we claim to be our authority.

In the words of founding father Noah Webster: “In selecting men of office, let principle be your guide. Regard not the particular sect [party] of the candidate–look to his character…It is alleged by men of loose principles or defective views of the subject that religion and morality are not necessary or important qualifications for stations. But the scriptures teach a different doctrine. They direct that rulers should be men [or women] ‘who rule in the fear of God, able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness.”

* The opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the ownership or management of Chadds Ford Live. We welcome opposing viewpoints. Readers may comment in the comments section or they may submit a Letter to the Editor to: editor@chaddsfordlive.com

About Rev. Marcos O. Almonte

Rev. Marcos O. Almonte is senior pastor at Brandywine Baptist Church, the oldest Baptist Church west of Philadelphia. Pastor Marcos is a graduate of Palmer Theological Seminary with more than 10 years working with families with an expertise in theology, trauma and addictions. Pastor Marcos and his wife Mary have three children, Carmen, Joseph, and Lincoln.

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Op/ed: Borough residents taxed by growth

Opinion

I want to see the Kennett Square community move forward. I have been part of this forward movement for over 40 years. Unfortunately, what I see now is growth that is unsustainable for the community as a whole. As developers and well-intentioned people who don’t sleep here make decisions, they are leaving many of us longtime residents behind. On top of the ground, things look great. However, under the ground, our infrastructure is crumbling.

In my years in Kennett Square I have been involved in paying for at least two sewer plant expansions. Why am I expected to pay for further expansions as we move forward? The move-forward crowd is proud of being one of the coolest towns in America, but at what cost to the citizens who just want to sleep here? We were here first, and our rights need to be protected. I absolutely believe that everyone should pay their fair share and that we as a community should support businesses that wish to call Kennett Square home. However, this support should not come from taxpayer dollars.

For whatever reason, our taxes have increased 170 percent in an eight-year period. There is either a hole in the dike or nothing coming in. As we strive to be a festival town, some folks are doing great. People who own businesses all around the country come to Kennett Square to sell their wares, and they do quite well. Some of the profits from these events go to charitable organizations, many not in Kennett Square.

Kennett Square is a walkable community; that’s part of its charm. Being one square mile makes it easy to see, and if we were good businesspeople, we would call this little borough a venue. When people want to have an event, they need a venue, and you can bet that Kennett Square is at the top of the list of available venues. Things usually go well for the event sponsor, event participants, some business owners, borough employees and police, who can make a little extra in their paycheck. Unfortunately, nothing is set aside for the residents who sleep here.

As much as you try and dress it up to a lot of sleepers, festivals are just an inconvenience and intrusion of their weekend. On the advertising for these events, some of the “funders” have been publicly thanked, but the biggest funder has been left off and taken for granted: those who sleep here in Kennett Borough. We are left behind.

At one time we could walk through the beautiful grounds at Longwood Gardens for free, but now it’s $20 for most of you. If you sleep in a Genesis facility, it costs about $325 a day; if you work at the Chester County Planning Commission, you make a fair wage, and if you own a business in Kennett Township, you pay taxes. However, if you use the venue of Kennett Square Borough, you pay the owners of the venue nothing.

In every place in the modern world, owning a venue like Kennett Square means you hit a home run, but where is the fair share for those who sleep here? I voted for seven people to represent me and my tax dollars, and I firmly believe that we should be getting our cut for anything that happens in our community. As developers tie into our sewer plant, they should pay for upgrades. Festivals should be charged a fee that makes it worth our while to allow them use of the venue.

Living in one of the coolest towns in America should make my taxes go down, not up. The Borough of Kennett Square has allowed too many folks who don’t sleep here to determine our future. If Kennett Square is such a cool place to live, why don’t most of the board members from Historic Kennett Square live here? Who on that board represents those who have been left behind?

Tony Talamonti

Kennett Square

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Winterthur exhibit an elegant global showcase

Arts & Entertainment

WINT_0271 — 'Made in the Americas' curator Dennis Carr shows the path that luxury goods took in the 16th century that inspired their Asian influence and replication.

For a Winterthur intern who graduated in 1991 before heading to Yale for a doctorate, the journey back to Henry Francis du Pont’s esteemed estate constituted an odyssey replete with globetrotting, research discoveries – and even some colorful dead birds.

Linda Eaton, Winterthur's project curator, shows off some of the elegant textiles in 'Made in the Americas.' — Linda Eaton, Winterthur’s project curator, shows off some of the elegant textiles in ‘Made in the Americas.’

Dennis Carr returned to Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library as the curator of “Made in the Americas: The New World Discovers Asia,” an exhibit which opened on March 26 after debuting at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA).

During a recent presentation, Carr, now the Carolyn and Peter Lynch Curator of American Decorative Arts and Sculpture at the Boston museum, said that not only was it an honor for him to come full circle, but Winterthur offered the perfect venue to continue the first large-scale, Pan-American exhibition to examine the profound influence of Asia on the arts of the colonial Americas.

Visitors who regard globalism as a modern phenomenon – fueled by economics or the Internet – will quickly find that the exhibit upends that view. It provides compelling, visual evidence that despite the thousands of miles and many-month voyages centuries ago that separated the Americas from Asia, its influence proved pervasive and lasting.

Curator Dennis Carr points out the intricacies of a mid-18th-century desk and bookcase that contains myriad global influences.

“We tend to think of globalism as a recent discovery, but globalism has its roots in the 16^th century,” Carr explained. “The history of the colonial Americas has long been written as a series of encounters between Europe and the New World; however, the extraordinary objects in this exhibition encourage us to think more broadly about the Americas as being at the center of this global cultural and commercial exchange.”

About 80 works, including fine furniture, textiles, ceramics, silverwork, and paintings, which date from the 17^th to the early 19^th centuries, relay the complex story of how craftsmen throughout the hemisphere co-opted Asian styles in a range of objects. The exhibition features works from the MFA and Winterthur, and loans from public and private collections, many never previously seen publicly.

Carr said that beginning in 1573, Spanish ships set sail for Manila, laden with luxury goods from Asia, headed toward Acapulco, Mexico. The bounty for the English and French colonists in the Americas included silk and porcelain from China, painted screens and lacquer ware from Japan, and carved ivory from India and the Philippines.

A desk and bookcase from 18th-century Peru features mother-of-pearl and tortoiseshell inlays, Spanish cedar, mahogany, gilding and oil painting.

Amassing the items for the exhibit also required years of travel for Carr, who described one acquisition of a Mexican feather-work painting – an intricate technique utilizing bird feathers in such a way that they appeared to have been painted – posed a challenge. The Boston museum purchased the late 16^th-century work entitled “St. Michael Slaying the Devil” and had to consult with ornithology experts to assure customs officials that no endangered birds were included in the work.

Carr said his travels also introduced him to items such as a painstakingly detailed Peruvian tapestry created as a balcony hanging in 1661 for the arrival of a viceroy, “objects that fell through cracks of art history.” The embroidery received its bright red color from cochineal, a natural dye derived from cactus-craving insects.

Linda Eaton, Winterthur’s John L. & Marjorie P. McGraw Director of Collections and Senior Curator of Textiles, served as the project curator for the Winterthur installation, and said the opportunity to juxtapose the artifacts was exciting, such as a rare 18^th century shawl purchased by Henry Francis du Pont and some early embroidery that is double-sided.

“The range of exquisite objects ‘Made in the Americas’ brings together is remarkable, but it is the riveting scholarship presented that is eye-opening,” she said. The exhibit should help explain why decorative art historians grimace when globalism is touted as a recent addition to the mainstream.

“This is not new,” she said. “We clearly lived in a global age long before the internet and smartphone.”

Dennis Carr points out that this circa 1773 painting from Mexico illustrates global imagery in the young noble's embroidered dress. — Dennis Carr points out that this circa 1773 painting from Mexico illustrates global imagery in the young noble’s embroidered dress.

“Made in the Americas: The New World Discovers Asia” is an exhibit that requires viewers to take their time and read the detailed descriptions about the work. Those who do will be rewarded with insight as well as education. The approximately 80 pieces in the exhibit range from examples of “chinoiserie,” which translates as “in the Chinese taste” and created a global sensation during the colonial period, to Peruvian furniture inlaid with mother-of-pearl and tortoiseshell.

Among the rarest pieces of furniture in the exhibition is a desk-and-bookcase from mid-18^th-century Mexico. It boasts a dramatic interior displaying chinoiserie-style painting in gold on a red background. Reminiscent of early colonial maps drawn by indigenous artists, the inside of the doors reveals an extensive hacienda in Veracruz.

The items on display include treasures from Mexico City, Lima, Quito, Quebec City, Boston, New York, and Philadelphia dating from the 17^th to the early 19^th centuries. Carr said only about 10 pieces differ from the Boston show. He said some of the textiles were too fragile to move from New England; however, they were quickly replaced with items from Winterthur’s collection.

He said the opening of the exhibition in Boston in 2015 was timed to mark the 450^th anniversary of the Galleon trade between the Philippines and Mexico, inaugurated in 1565 and lasting for two and a half centuries, until 1815. He said that the exhibit proved popular and that he hopes audiences in the Philadelphia region will share that enthusiasm.

At Winterthur, the exhibition will be accompanied by a range of special programming, including concerts, dancers, cuisine, and wine tastings. For more information, visit winterthur.org/madeintheamericas.

Carr said the exhibition has served as a catalyst for reevaluation of traditional history, art history, and other curricula relative to the period. He said that professors at Harvard taught a course in the fall that was inspired by the exhibit, and other institutions, such as the University of Delaware, have also expressed interest in adding this new scholarship into their curriculums.

Backed by DuPont, Glenmede and John L. and Marjorie P. McGraw with additional support from M&T Bank and Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP, the exhibit will continue through Jan. 8, in the Winterthur Galleries.

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Amerikids to mark 30 years of service, song

Arts & Entertainment

A chorus of youthful patriotism will fill Stetson Middle School on Friday, April 15, when Amerikids, a West Chester-based patriotic show choir, takes the stage.

The Amerikids are shown at a performance at Freedoms Foundation. — The Amerikids are shown at a performance at Freedoms Foundation in Valley Forge.

The 7 p.m. concert, which celebrates the 30th year of Amerikids’ “Service and Song” to the Chester County community, is free and open to the public, with a special invitation to veterans. The concert includes a color guard presentation and the singing of “The Armed Forces Salute.”

Under the direction of Nicole O’Rourke, a former music teacher in the West Chester school district, Amerikids is a group of area students in grades five to 12. The students learn a show during a week of summer camp and then take the show on the road during the school year to nursing homes, community events and veteran centers.

Founded in 1986, Amerikids teaches middle and high school children about patriotism and volunteerism, helping them develop self-esteem through performing arts and by devoting their time and talents to community service. The program is open to boys and girls in the Delaware Valley; however, nearly all of its members reside in Chester County and typically consist of all girls, according to its website.

In addition to annual performances ranging from the Veterans Administration hospital in Coatesville to Memorial Day ceremonies, the Amerikids complete many service projects. They have ranged from collecting hundreds of personal hygiene products for Safe Harbor, a homeless shelter in West Chester, to creating and mailing holiday greeting letters to the men and women in the Armed Forces.

In the process, the Amerikids organization has received numerous citations for program excellence from numerous lawmakers to the American Legion.

In addition to the annual concert, a summer camp will be held from July 25 to July 29 at Stetson Middle School from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. All middle-school students who are interested in singing as a community service are welcome.

During the weeklong summer camp, students are mentored by Amerikids who have graduated from the program and return to share their experiences. During the school year the Amerikids rehearse or perform once a week.

For more information, visit http://amerikidswc.org.

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Mind Matters: Words matter

Health

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” So goes the childhood ditty of defense against the bully. Actually, words do hurt and they do matter.

This column has addressed bullying previously. Hence, the foray into words here will take a different tack — not only how we use words towards and about others but towards ourselves as well.

No Pollyanna of positive psychology am I, yet I concur with cognitive behavioral therapists about how we can be negative with our words. We may “generalize” when something we don’t like happens and say, “it’s always like this,” or we may “awfulize” and perceive even a minor disturbance as a horrific one. Family therapists talk about rephrasing a situation or message — how to speak affirmatively instead of negatively.

Now with the birth of my first grandchild, I am even more cognizant of how words matter — what we say and how we say it is creating an imprint on that young, absorbent mind.

What does she hear us say, not only to her but to each other that will influence not only her speech development but also her outlook on life? Recently, I needed my own reframe when I developed a very painful neck, shoulder, and arm. What did I say? “My neck and arm are killing me.” A colleague and friend urged the rephrase. Okay, my arm and neck hurt, but they are not “killing me.” Why add that violent image to what already hurts? So I changed the message to self. Also note that there are also psychological components to our aches, as well as muscular issues. Who is the “pain in the neck”? Are they really “killing you”?

We bandy about all sorts of words that convey much violence and negativity.

We label ourselves and others cruelly, often internalizing the negative refrains of a verbally abusive authority figure from childhood. Some of us go beyond chastising ourselves with these inner voices that chide us with “you’re stupid” or “bad” (or whatever words demean us) and externalize the labels onto others. Who hasn’t cursed at a driver in “our way”?

Think, too, about the words we use to describe another derogatorily that are our and their body parts. Ever reflect on how there really is no part of the body that should be so defamed? From head to toe, mouth to —–, we are one whole body. We need all the parts to work in unison.

I am reflecting on my words about myself and others a lot these days. Might you do the same?

* Kayta Curzie Gajdos holds a doctorate in counseling psychology and is in private practice in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania. She welcomes comments at MindMatters@DrGajdos.com or 610-388-2888. Past columns are posted to www.drgajdos.com. See book.quietwisdom-loudtimes.com for information about her book, “Quiet Wisdom in Loud Times: The Rise of the Wounded Feminine.”

** The opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the ownership or management of Chadds Ford Live. We welcome opposing viewpoints. Readers may comment in the comments section or they may submit a Letter to the Editor to: editor@chaddsfordlive.com

About Kayta Gajdos

Dr. Kathleen Curzie Gajdos ("Kayta") is a licensed psychologist (Pennsylvania and Delaware) who has worked with individuals, couples, and families with a spectrum of problems. She has experience and training in the fields of alcohol and drug addictions, hypnosis, family therapy, Jungian theory, Gestalt therapy, EMDR, and bereavement. Dr. Gajdos developed a private practice in the Pittsburgh area, and was affiliated with the Family Therapy Institute of Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, having written numerous articles for the Family Therapy Newsletter there. She has published in the American Psychological Association Bulletin, the Family Psychologist, and in the Swedenborgian publications, Chrysalis and The Messenger. Dr. Gajdos has taught at the college level, most recently for West Chester University and Wilmington College, and has served as field faculty for Vermont College of Norwich University the Union Institute's Center for Distance Learning, Cincinnati, Ohio. She has also served as consulting psychologist to the Irene Stacy Community MH/MR Center in Western Pennsylvania where she supervised psychologists in training. Currently active in disaster relief, Dr. Gajdos serves with the American Red Cross and participated in Hurricane Katrina relief efforts as a member of teams from the Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Now living in Chadds Ford, in the Brandywine Valley of eastern Pennsylvania, Dr. Gajdos combines her private practice working with individuals, couples and families, with leading workshops on such topics as grief and healing, the impact of multigenerational grief and trauma shame, the shadow and self, Women Who Run with the Wolves, motherless daughters, and mediation and relaxation. Each year at Temenos Retreat Center in West Chester, PA she leads a griefs of birthing ritual for those who have suffered losses of procreation (abortions, miscarriages, infertility, etc.); she also holds yearly A Day of Re-Collection at Temenos.Dr. Gajdos holds Master's degrees in both philosophy and clinical psychology and received her Ph.D. in counseling at the University of Pittsburgh. Among her professional affiliations, she includes having been a founding member and board member of the C.G. Jung Educational Center of Pittsburgh, as well as being listed in Who's Who of American Women. Currently, she is a member of the American Psychological Association, The Pennsylvania Psychological Association, the Delaware Psychological Association, the American Family Therapy Academy, The Association for Death Education and Counseling, and the Delaware County Mental Health and Mental Retardation Board. Woven into her professional career are Dr. Gajdos' pursuits of dancing, singing, and writing poetry.

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Roadwork for week of April 9

Along the Ford

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 April 9 through April 16. Motorists are urged to allow extra time if they are traveling through one of the construction zones.

Shoulder work on Route 202 in both directions is scheduled for Monday, April 11, through Thursday, April 14. Lane restrictions will be needed between Routes 926 and 422 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will affect motorists in Birmingham, Thornbury, Westtown, West Goshen, East Goshen, East Whiteland, West Whiteland, and Tredyffrin townships.

Route 1 in Concord Township will be the site of utility installation through Sept. 1. Lane shifts will be needed on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. between Brinton Lake Road and Applied Card Way.

Patching crews on Route 322 will require lane closures in both directions between Route 1 and 1-95 in Concord, Bethel and Upper Chichester townships. The work is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, April 12.

Lane restrictions will continue to be needed on Gay Street in West Chester Borough between North Worthington and Montgomery Street for sidewalk installation. Crews are scheduled to work from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Monday, April 18.

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.

One lane in each direction of Route 3 in East Goshen Township will be closed from through Friday, April 15. Crews will be working between Valley Drive and Westtown Way from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. on bridge joint repairs.

Work will 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.

Work will continue on the Birmingham Road Bridge in Birmingham Township, which closed in September due to structural damage. Posted 24-hour detours will be in effect between Lambourne Road and Stoney Run Drive through Aug. 31.

Daylong lane closures will be in place on Route 100 in Uwchlan and West Whiteland townships for the installation of aerial fiber optic lines. The project is scheduled to finish on Friday, April 29. The northbound right lane will be closed from Ship Road to Sheree Boulevard, and the southbound right lane will be closed from Marchwood Road to Sunrise Drive. An additional lane closure also may occur, if needed, weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

I-95 South between Routes 291 and 420 in Tinicum Township will require lane closures for bridge joint repairs. Crews will be working from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. from Sunday, April 10, through Friday, April 22.

I-95 will also be subject to intermittent lane closures between the Philadelphia County and Delaware state lines for patching. Crews will work on the southbound side on Wednesday, April 13, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the northbound side on Thursday, April 14, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Route 30 Bypass will continue to be the site of patching crews, who will be working from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. between Swan Road and Route 100 from Monday, April 11, through Wednesday, April 13.

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.”

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Marc Buckwalter is founder of M.A.D. UpCycle (Middle Aged Dude Upcycling). Bed springs photograph is from exhibit at 10 Gallon Hat Winery.

Brandywine Artisan Wine Trail’s ‘Art of Spring’

Arts & Entertainment

For the month of April , seven winery tasting rooms along the Brandywine Artisan Wine Trail will be celebrating the “Art of Spring” with a wide variety of spring-inspired art events. Earth Day in April, will be marked by art that utilizes “up cycling and recycling” and encourages us to look at old things and repurpose them in new and utilitarian ways.

Spring is also a great time to start up new projects, take a stab at that new book idea, or follow through with a blog or Instagram concept. The warm weather is also a perfect time for art shows and getting outside to plant vegetables and paint “plein air.”

In the vineyards, the vines have been pruned and the first buds have appeared on the vines – a very exciting time in the vineyard. In the wineries and tasting rooms, the patios and porches have been made ready for guests to enjoy their wine outdoors, in the spring sunshine.

The Brandywine Artisan Trail links the wineries in our region through a series of monthly themes that celebrate local arts. Individual wineries chose to opt in or opt out of a theme as their busy schedules permit. Visitors are encouraged to try wines at all of the wineries along the trail, and if they stop by these wineries during an artisan event, they get to enjoy terrific wines and local arts as a double incentive to pop in.

At Ten Gallon Hat Winery, master carpenter and “Up-Cycler” Marc Buckwalter is creating an installation of found and repurposed artifacts for their tasting room in Chadds Ford. Mark specializes in making hanging light fixtures and cool, vintage inspired table lamps.

He is the founder of M.A.D. UpCycle (Middle Aged Dude Upcycling), and loves to breathe new life into forgotten things. Visit the Ten Gallon Hat tasting room throughout the month of April, taste great wines, get creatively inspired, and buy some MAD objects to enliven your home. In addition to running with the theme of Spring and all things new and bright, Ten Gallon Hat will be featuring the promising, fresh, young artists of our county, with the works of West Chester Area School District’s Art students gracing their walls. The student exhibition is made possible through a collaboration with Lisa Bryan, one of the amazing and talented Art teachers from the West Chester School District.

Kreutz Creek Vineyards will showcase the recycled and repurposed utilitarian art objects by Jen Harley, of Mission Salvage Company in West Chester. Jen’s work will be exhibited in both Kreutz Creek locations in West Chester and in West Grove. This artist finds “the beauty in all things, especially old rusty items and recycled barn materials” and will be exhibiting some delightful items this April at Kreutz Creek!

Flickerwood Winery recently closed its location in Kennett Square to concentrate its efforts at its popular Oxford location across from The Oxford Arts Alliance. To celebrate the merger of their Kennett Square and Oxford staff and customers, Flickerwood is having a Spring party on April 16th from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. with food, music, and wine. Customers might also enjoy Flickerwood’s Oracle Readings on April 8th 6 to 9 p.m., and words of insight by medium Kelly Kearney April 29 from 6 to 9 p. m. Both of those events should be very popular, so make reservations at 610-932-9498.
Penns Woods Winery is celebrating April’s Earth Day with their First Session of “Organic Gardening Class” April 23 from 1 to 2 p.m. Topics will include container gardening for any size space, heirloom and hybrid seeds and plants, what to plant for mid-spring, and how to grow lettuce and other spring greens.
Learn from third generation gardener Deborah Kates from Coatesville Area Arts Alliance. Tickets are $38 per person, which includes a glass of wine and a starter plant to take home. Class size is limited to 35 people, so it is suggested that you purchase your ticket in advance.
Galer Estate Winery, located behind Longwood Gardens, will have several art events tied to the idea of making a fresh, creative start in the Spring. On April 17, 3 to 5 p.m, very popular local blogger Estelle Tracy will hold a free social media workshop at the winery. For the many of us who cannot keep social media platforms straight, or are fearful to take the plunge, Estelle makes social media understandable and approachable – even exciting.

If you have ever wanted to write that book, or read a new author’s prose, on April 24 from 3 to 5 p.m , 6 local authors will talk with customers about their writing and their commitment to the process of writing. Engaging and wise, this is a great spring event to get your writer’s block unblocked.

Patsy Keller, fused glass artist, will be exhibiting her work for sale on April 22 from 4 to 7 p.m. Her bowls and pendants are all about color and light, a perfect spring antidote for Winter’s grey.

Paradocx Winery will be hosting “Earth Day Painting Class in the Vineyard” on Friday, April 22nd at 6 to 7p.m. which includes a glass of wine. Sign up online at paradocx.com. In support of Earth Day, Paradocx will also be promoting their eco friendly cans and pouches with a buy one get one 10% off April 22 to 24th.

Wilson Vineyards also has monthly outdoor painting classes, instructed by artist Sally Wilson. Check out their website for more information and signup details.

For more information about each of these events, please go to the Brandywine Artisan Wine Trail website www.brandywineartisanwinetrail.com, or to the individual participating winery sites.

April on the Brandywine Artisans Wine Trail

In May, the Brandywine Artisan Trail will celebrate the Art of Chester County, in coordination with the fantastic not-to-be-missed Chester County Study Tour May 21 and 22.

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Ideas, energy abound at Kennett workshop

Local News Kennett

KS_0316 — Members of the Kennett community put their heads together during an economic development workshop on Thursday, April 7.

On Thursday, April 7, Kennett Square endured another downpour, but it ended appropriately with a rainbow, noted Mary Hutchins, executive director of Historic Kennett Square.

Mary Hutchins, executive director of Historic Kennett Square, addresses the audience at the American Legion building.

Hutchins made the observation at the beginning of a workshop in the American Legion building, part of the Kennett region’s economic development strategy and implementation plan. Organizers are hoping that the project will bring a bright and welcome change to the region.

On Feb. 11, Todd Poole of 4Ward Planning and Mark Keener of RBA Group, the consultants, gave a public presentation and overview of plans for the community’s future development. They were hired last year by Historic Kennett Square, the Borough of Kennett Square, Kennett Township, Chester County, Genesis HealthCare and Longwood Gardens to help set the course for Kennett’s growth.

Thursday’s program began with remarks from Paul Redman, executive director of Longwood Gardens – and a huge proponent of advance planning. He said the gardens subscribe to the “measure twice and cut once” philosophy. Changes at Longwood, which is approaching 1.5 million visitors a year, don’t occur without a lot of deliberation, he explained.

Todd Poole, one of the study consultants, reviews his notes during the small-group sessions.

Redman said Longwood has “north of 500 employees,” the majority of whom are part-time and seasonal. With an absence of mass transit, Longwood could use more affordable area housing, a need that was echoed at the Feb. 11 gathering.

At Thursday’s meeting, Poole and Keener reminded residents that seven geographic areas had been identified as “susceptible to change:” the State Street corridor; the Cypress Street corridor; Birch Street from Walnut to Broad streets; the area known as Millers Hill, on the eastern border between the borough and the township; the Ways Lane area in Kennett Township; the former NVF property, a nearly 24-acre vacant industrial site in the borough; and the area on the west side of Mill Road in the township.

The bulk of the workshop gave the approximately 100 participants, seated at eight-person tables, the opportunity to share their thoughts with the smaller group on each of the seven areas. A table leader served as recording secretary, jotting down notes on suggested changes and improvements for each of the geographic locations.

Marnie Conley (standing), Longwood's chief marketing officer, confers with her group during the brainstorming sessions. — Marnie Conley (standing), Longwood’s chief marketing officer, confers with her group during the brainstorming sessions.

At the end of the small-group exercise, Poole solicited an overview from the groups about the targeted areas, eliciting nearly a dozen lively comments.

Kennett Square Borough Councilman Wayne Braffman said his group envisioned Birch Street as a cultural and arts center with 50 percent residential and a themed main street. Architect Dennis Melton suggested that the Creamery building could become the largest banquet hall in the area.

John Haedrich, a member of the Kennett Township Planning Commission, said Millers Hill represented an opportunity to create a lushly landscaped gateway for visitors heading toward the borough from Longwood Gardens.

Kennett Township Supervisor Richard L. Leff said his table felt that Ways Lane needed to become more of a corporate campus with light industrial, and Kennett resident Michael Guttman noted that Cypress Street offered a logical place for a parallel “main street,” a mix of residential and commercial that would encourage filling in the side streets.

Mia Fragale, 10, poses with her mother, Monica Fragale, after contributing feedback to the audience of 100.

But for thinking outside the box, there’s nothing quite like a 10-year-old. Mia Fragale, seated next to her 7-year-old sister, Emilie, and her mother, Monica, offered two creative suggestions. She would like to see a roller-skating rink on the NVF site and a radio or TV station on Millers Hill. “People should go rollerskating,” she added.

Mark Keener, the director of urban design for the RBA Group and one of the organizers, said he did not need to review the documentation that was amassed during the evening to deem the workshop a success.

“You saw a level of animation and engagement,” he said. “That doesn’t always happen, and it bodes well for the project.”

Indeed, many of the conversations continued after the meeting ended, and some even spilled out onto the street.

About Morgan Carter

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.

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7th Run for Our Sons takes aim at Duchenne

Local News

On Saturday, April 16, racers will converge at Charles F. Patton Middle School, making a mad dash to help find a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).

The 2016 Race for Our Sons will benefit the Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy.

The Seventh Annual Unionville Run for Our Sons will raise funds to research treatments for this debilitating disease that affects approximately one in every 3,500 boys born each year. The disease is the result of a mutation of a gene on the X chromosome, and primarily affects men.

Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD), an organization focused on raising awareness and funding research of muscular dystrophy, began its Run For Our Sons program in 2005. Since then, the program has expanded, and branches have opened in cities and towns all over the country.

DMD causes a progressive decrease in strength, which can contribute to many medical problems (especially those affecting the heart and lungs). Many affected by Duchenne live only into their late 20s, according to the PPMD website.

Runners get ready to take off during the 2015 race. — Runners get ready to take off during the 2015 version of Run for Our Sons.

A local couple, Joanna and Paul Johnson, became involved with PPMD after their sons, Henry and Elliot, were diagnosed with the disease in 2007. Joanna Johnson teaches Spanish at Unionville High School, and a letter on the Johnsons’ Run for Our Sons website explains the genesis of the local race.

“The days and months that followed [the diagnoses] were the darkest days we experienced as parents as we came to grips with the fact that our two beautiful boys would become progressively weaker over time and most likely not live beyond the age of 30,” they wrote. “Worst of all, there was no treatment or cure that would change the outcome. However, we refused to believe that nothing could be done and started researching to learn all that we could about the disease.”

In the six years since the race’s beginnings in Unionville, over $300,000 has been raised for PPMD to support Duchenne research. The Johnson boys have been a part of a clinical trial for a drug called Ataluren, which is reaching the final stages toward getting FDA approval.

AJ Sandor, 16, Elliott Johnson, 12, and Jordan Reidenberg, 14, are among the children hoping to benefit from advances in treatment for Duchenne.

“For the last few years, I have dreamed of starting this letter by saying, ‘Congratulations! Our hard work has paid off as the first treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy has been approved by the FDA,’” the letter said. “We are that close, but still have yet to cross the finish line … However, this battle is a marathon and we are only at the beginning stages. FDA approval of Ataluren would be a victory, but we need to take that momentum and keep it going.”

The treatment will only benefit 15 percent of the boys with Duchenne. “That is simply not good enough,” the letter said. “We will not stop until every boy, every single one, has a viable treatment.”

Joanna Johnson said it is hard to believe that the seventh race is a week away. “My husband and I never could have dreamed how successful this event would become when we first thought about having a local run,” she said. “Every year when we watch the runners take off, we are overcome with emotion. The way that this community comes together to support our cause to end Duchenne means the world to us. It gives us the strength to keep fighting against this devastating disease.”

She said she and her husband have formed close relationships with other families fighting DMD and share the pain of watching their sons grow weaker. “This is why we are so committed to Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy and donate all funds raised to them every year,” Johnson said. “They have completely changed the landscape of this disease and have given hope to families like us.”

Last year’s race had over 900 runners registered, Unionville’s largest turnout yet.

The race will begin and end at Charles F. Patton Middle School, proceeding through the rolling hills of two residential neighborhoods. Runners can register for $30 ($25 for students).

In addition to the race itself, there will be raffles, family fun activities, and refreshments for all who attend. The race begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 16, with on-site registration starting at 8 a.m. For more information, click here.

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Lola Auriti of Kennett Square

Obituaries

Lola Auriti, 86, of Kennett Square, died Tuesday April 5 at Bryn Mawr Hospital.

She was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, but lived her early years in Guardiagrele, Italy, then moved to Brooklyn, N.Y. and eventually to Kennett Square. She was the daughter of the late Giovanni and the late Emma (Damiani) Auriti and was a sister to three brothers.

Lola worked in the clothing industry for many years. She loved good food and enjoyed spending time with her brothers and their families and socializing with friends and neighbors.

She was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Kennett Square.

Survivors include one brother, Ovidio Auriti (Donatella) and several nieces and nephews, all of whom brought her great joy in her later years.

You are invited to visit with Lola’s family and friends from 9:30– 10:30 a.m. Monday April 11, at Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home Inc (610-444-4116) 250 W. State St. Kennett Square, PA 19348. Her Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11 at St. Patrick Catholic Church 212 Meredith St. Kennett Square. Interment will be in St. Patrick Cemetery, Kennett Square.

To view her online tribute and to share a memory with her family, please visit www.griecocares.com