New Garden Township police are investigating an armed robbery that took place at the Reliable Communications (Cricket Wireless) store located at 739 West Cypress Street on May 17 just before 6 p.m.
Store employees said the suspect entered the store and brandished a black semi-auto handgun and demanded property. The suspect pointed the handgun at several employees, holding them at bay while ransacking several drawers located behind the counter. When confronted by the owner, the suspect fled from the store running east toward Kennett Square Borough.
The suspect is described as a white male in his early 20s. He was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with a design printed on the back, dark blue jeans, black Vann-style sneakers with white soles, a black t-shirt wrapped around his face and head. The suspect was also wearing aviator-style sunglasses with black frames.
Anyone who can identify the suspect or has any information is asked to contact New Garden Township Police at 610-268-2907, ext. 102, or email kcowdright@ngpd.org.
Rudisill “Rudy” Alston Sr., 80, of Coatesville, died Saturday, May 14, at the Brandywine Hospital. He was the husband of Dorlene Brown Alston, with whom he shared 10 years of marriage.
Born in Coatesville, he was the son of the late David K. Alston, Sr. and Ida Belle Eggleston Alston.
Rudy was a maintenance engineer at the Coatesville VA Hospital for more than 35 years, retiring in 1992.
He was a member of the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Coatesville.
Rudy enjoyed dancing, fishing, traveling, teaching games to his grandchildren and being with his family and friends. He was a people person.
In addition to his wife he is survived by two sons, Rudisill Alston, Jr. and Sultan McGibboney, both of Coatesville; four daughters, Ellylanna Tippins of Phoenixville, Charmain Thompson, Darlene Alston and Pamela Alston all of Coatesville; six stepchildren, Timothy Brown of Coatesville, Sergio Perez (Joy) of Coatesville, Andrea Perez (Stevie) of Coatesville, Noelia Perez of Coatesville, Mona Perez of Modena, and Carmen Perez of Coatesville; three brothers, Willie Alston of Coatesville, Amos Alston of Delaware, and James Alston of Harrisburg; four sisters, Helen Cody of Coatesville, Ida Mae Calloway of Plymouth Meeting, Irene Robinson of Coatesville, and Phyllis D. Alston of Coatesville; his mother-in-law Viola Brown of Coatesville; his aunt, Annabelle Eggleston of Coatesville, and several grandchildren and great grandchildren.
You are invited to visit with his family and friends from 9 to 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 21, at the Holy Trinity Church of God in Christ, 101 North Fifth Avenue in Coatesville. His funeral service will follow at 10. Burial will be in the Church of Christ Cemetery, 750 Doe Run Road in Coatesville.
James W. Hampton, 75, of Oxford, died Monday, May 16, at Seasons Hospice in Christiana Hospital. He was the husband of Linda Roberts Hampton, with whom he shared 14 years of marriage.
Born in Shouns, Tenn., he was the son of the late James W. Hampton and Ada Plummer Hampton.
James worked in the maintenance department at General Motors in Wilmington, for more than 30 years, retiring in 1997.
He was a member of the UAW Local No. 435. He was a nature lover and enjoyed fishing, playing horseshoes, and being with his family and friends.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by three daughters, Donna Hampton of Windsor, Pa., Lenna M. Pierson and her husband Mark of Landenberg, and Crystal Alexander and her husband Tim of West Grove; two brothers, W. James Hampton of Mountain City, Tenn. and Diesel Hampton of West Jefferson, N.C.; 12 grandchildren, Jeremy, Josh, Andrea, Amanda, Samantha, Michael, David, Heather, Daniel, Alexis, Brayden and Kaylee; two great grandchildren, Jaxson and Addie, and his faithful companion, Cuddles, Jr.
James was predeceased by one son, James R. Hampton, seven brothers, and one granddaughter, Rachel Hampton.
You are invited to visit with his family and friends from 11 a.m. to noon on Friday, May 20, at the Foulk & Grieco Funeral Home, 200 Rose Hill Road, West Grove, PA. His funeral service will follow at noon. Burial will be in Union Hill Cemetery, Route 82 in Kennett Square.
When the Chester County Board of Commissioners and the Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC) opted to employ a comprehensive survey to “Take the Pulse” of the business community, they theorized that the assessment would help facilitate good health.
Sixty percent of business owners who responded to the survey project revenue growth during the next year.
The results of their findings, released at the commissioners’ Sunshine meeting on Tuesday, May 17, reflected the county’s overall fiscal well-being with some areas in need of further treatment, such as traffic congestion and public transportation.
Developed in partnership with the county’s 10 chambers of commerce, the survey was a key component of VISTA 2025, Chester County’s 10-year economic development strategy, a plan that aims to maintain the economic health of the county by striking a balance between progress and preservation, said a press release from the CCEDC.
“The Take the Pulse survey results have revealed the top opportunities and challenges that Chester County business owners are facing as we continue to bounce back from the nationwide recession,” Chester County Commissioners’ Chairman Terence Farrell said in the release. “The results give us valuable guidance on where to focus our energy as we work to ensure the future health of Chester County’s economy.”
Chester County Economic Development Council COO and Executive Vice President Michael Grigalonis (clockwise from left), Chester County Commissioners’ Chairman Terence Farrell, CCEDC Urban Development Consultant David Sciocchetti, Chester County Planning Commission Executive Director Brian O’Leary, RMI Research President Rosemarie Miller, CCEDC Director of Business Development MaryFrances McGarrity, and Chester County Commissioner Michelle Kichline gather for the survey results.
More than 400 individuals responded to the online, 20-question survey that was open to all businesses and designed to assess the business climate in Chester County, the release said.
Key results from the Take the Pulse survey include:
More than 94 percent of respondents expect to see increased revenues in the next 12 months.
Approximately 90 percent of respondents believe the business climate in Chester County is “stable” or “improving.”
Most companies in Chester County are here because they were “started here” or because “the principal lives here.”
Survey respondents are highly optimistic about the future business climate in Chester County. More than eight in 10 (82 percent) of business owners expect to maintain or grow their business over the next year.
The overall “quality of place” in Chester County was rated as excellent in terms of its positive effect on the county as a place to do business. Community safety, community events and activities, recreational opportunities, community attitudes and quality of educational system were also rated as the most positive.
The majority of survey respondents have a long-standing presence in Chester County, with nearly half (49 percent) operating in Chester County for 20 years or more.
While survey respondents are optimistic for the future, managing “new business growth” was most often cited as the primary challenge facing their businesses, followed by the ability to attract and retain a “qualified workforce.”
The items rated as having the most negative effect were “public transportation” and “traffic congestion.”
“Take the Pulse survey results further validated one of the primary themes contained in the VISTA 2025 strategy – quality of place is paramount to the people of Chester County and critical to our continued ability to attract talent and businesses,” said CCEDC President and CEO Gary W. Smith in the release.
Chester County Commissioner Kathi Cozzone added that the data would help the county chart its course over the next decade. “These survey results, combined with the feedback we receive through our urban center forums, our workforce and education summit and workshops, and the work of our goal teams continue to provide valuable insight for our future economy,” Cozzone said.
Commissioner Michelle Kichline, who also co-chairs the VISTA 2025 initiative, noted that while it was reassuring to have the value of the county’s “quality of place” affirmed, it was not surprising to see that public transportation and traffic congestion affect businesses adversely. “We will continue to identify the top transportation improvements that support economic development, and are working on ways to improve additional modes of transportation including rail, bike and pedestrian infrastructure,” she said
Terry Bruno is a Reiki master with 30 years experience. She specializes in treating people dealing with emotional issues.
One True Heart Healing Center is now open in Chadds Ford Township. The center is the venture of Terry Bruno, a Reiki master with 30 years experience in the healing art. She also said she’s a spiritual healer.
“My practice is helping heal people. I also hold monthly seminars and workshops from various healing partners,” she said.
Bruno described Reiki as a healing art that balances the energy flow between chakras allowing the body and psyche to naturally heal themselves.
(Chakra is the Sanskrit word for wheel. In some Eastern philosophies, chakras are thought to be an energy point or node in the subtle body, not the physical body, and as such, are the meeting points of non-physical energy channels.)
It’s a hands-only modality, but she said she doesn’t necessarily have to touch a client for Reiki to help. She said she could move her hands above the body to achieve the same result. She will work either way, depending on what works best for her client.
Her focus, she said, is on helping people who have undergone high levels of negative stress.
“I specialize in working on people with emotional issues such as rape victims, people with post-traumatic stress disorder, people dealing with crisis or who have a lot of stress,” Bruno said.
She said Reiki allows for the healing by moving energy and cleansing the body’s chakras to clear and clean emotional or physical blockages.
One True Heart Healing center is located in Suite 4 at 2 Station Way Road in Chadds Ford, just down from Leader’s Sunoco. Bruno’s phone number is 484-254-6974. Information is also available at www.terrybruno.us
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.
A unanimous vote on Tuesday, May 17, ended what had become a seemingly endless name game.
John Hendrix (left), who heads children’s services at the Kennett Library, gives an overview of the summer programs. To his right are board members Stan Allen, Jeff Yetter and Tom Swett.
The once Bayard Taylor Memorial Library and former Kennett Public Library will soon be known in simpler terms: the Kennett Library. The new moniker will take effect on June 7 to avoid interfering with the materials already printed for the upcoming Home & Garden Day Tour, one of the library’s most popular fundraisers.
Board President Tom Swett said the decision followed a lengthy process of research and community outreach. He said that five public information sessions were held to explain the procedure and that a summary report was distributed through thousands of emails and newsletters and personal contact with officials in the eight municipalities the library serves: the Borough of Kennett Square and East Marlborough, Kennett, Newlin, New Garden, Pennsbury, Pocopson, and West Marlborough townships.
“At our five sessions, more than 95 percent of the comments made were both favorable and encouraging,” Swett said.
He added that he understands that acceptance might take time for some. “But I believe we have done the homework and the research and made the honest effort that our community both expects and deserves,” he said.
A second unanimous vote, emphatically linked to the first, followed the name change. The board approved a resolution “to honor and incorporate Bayard Taylor into the new library grounds or building in a meaningful, imaginative and lasting way.”
Swett explained that the way in which that goal is accomplished would unfold as plans for a new library facility become clearer. The library has outgrown its building in the 200 block of East State Street in Kennett Square, and the board has expressed its desire to remain in the downtown area.
Before the votes, the board welcomed two new members from Pocopson Township: Brad Piper and Chris Larson, both of whom expressed a commitment to the important role the library serves in the community.
“We are delighted to welcome you … to this august group,” Swett said. “You are here on a very momentous day.”
The board also heard from John Hendrix, the children’s librarian, who gave an animated overview of the many summer programs the library is offering.
Hendrix said that this is the 10th year he’s been involved in the summer lineup. He said in 2006, it attracted 2,660. By last year, attendance had jumped to 6,138.
“I’m a competitive person,” he said. “Each year I try and beat the previous number.”
Hendrix said a wide range of free children’s programs was designed to attract audiences ranging from infants to 12-year-olds. He said he appreciated the board’s investment this year in a comprehensive brochure that includes detailed descriptions of all the offerings, such as Family Place Playgroup for infants to 4-year-olds, Pinkalicious Party for ages 3 to 6, and Mad Science: Chemistry for ages 9 to 12. To access the brochure, click here.
Finally, the board received an update on the Home & Garden Tour, scheduled for Saturday, June 4, from Tiffany Volovich, one of the volunteers. She said a lot of hard work by many people has paved the way for a successful 25th anniversary tour. She said both ticket sales for the event and raffle sales for a selection of coveted gift baskets – currently on display in the library – were going well.
Volovich said the committee greatly appreciated the board’s support. “We’re very excited about this year,” she said. “Everything’s in place and the homes look great.”
• State police from Troop K, Media barracks, charged two teenagers in connection with a robbery at Garnet Valley High School. The suspects were identified as Mark Eisenhower, 19, and Wyatt Weible, 18, both of Garnet Valley. According to the police report, the two forced their way into their former high school during the overnight hours of May 11, causing significant vandalism and damage throughout the school, as well as stealing computers and laptops before fleeing. They were charged with burglary, criminal trespass, institutional vandalism and other offenses.
• Charges of making terroristic threats were pending against a male juvenile, a police report said. The unidentified youth, police allege, made threats against the school through the social media app, Whisper. The juvenile was taken into custody and questioned. While it was determined that he is no longer a threat, the investigation was continuing.
• Edward M. Jordan, 54, of Coatesville, is accused of DUI, harassment and trespassing, said state police from the Embreeville barracks. Police allege that Jordan drove his all-terrain vehicle while intoxicated onto a property in the 1500 block of Embreeville Road in Newlin Township on April 22 at 10:58 a.m. He then made sexually suggestive comments to the victim and attempted to strike her with his fist, police said.
• New Garden Township police arrested Ashleigh Farling, 23, of Landenberg on DUI charges, a police report said. According to police, Farling was observed driving erratically in the 800 block of Penn Green Road at 11:12 p.m. on May 5. A traffic stop was attempted on Starr Road, but the vehicle continued to Newark Road where the driver finally complied with the command to stop. The report said the arresting officer smelled alcohol saw an empty container of alcohol. A field sobriety test confirmed impairment, the report said.
• State police are looking for a silver SUV believed to be a getaway for two people who stole $40 worth of merchandise from the Walmart in East Marlborough Township on May 7. Anyone with information is asked to call the Avondale barracks at 610-268-2022.
• Devon Moses-Johnson, 19, of New Castle, was arrested in Kennett Township for possession of a small amount of marijuana on May 5, a police report said. According to the report, the arrest was made incidental to a disabled vehicle check on Route 1 south of Parkersville Road at 7:30 p.m.
