July 27, 2016 - ChaddsFordLive.com

Chesco initiative aims to prevent deed fraud

As the number of aging Baby Boomers – many of whom are sophisticated enough to establish power-of-attorney – continues to increase, it make sense that prosecutors are seeing more cases of elder fraud, said Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan.

Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan (from left) examines real-estate documents with Recorder of Deeds Rick Loughery and Ruth Huganir, a deputy recorder. — Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan (from left) examines real-estate documents with Recorder of Deeds Rick Loughery and Ruth Huganir, a deputy recorder of deeds.

So it’s not surprising that Hogan is applauding a new preventive initiative by Chester County Recorder of Deeds Rick Loughery to prevent the kind of abuse that has plagued other counties and robbed some senior citizens of their residences. Operation Fraud Guard initiates an enhanced review of real-estate transactions to protect the elderly and disabled persons from property fraud, according to a county press release.

“Certain real-estate transactions are red flags for possible abuse,” said Loughery in the release. “As part of this anti-fraud initiative, we are being proactive and reviewing some documents, specifically transfers of title using a power of attorney. If something appears suspicious, my office will notify landholders and law enforcement of the transactions.

“For example, if an elderly man’s property title is transferred to another person through a power of attorney, the Recorder of Deeds Office would immediately notify the gentleman of this change in title. If the elderly gentleman responds with concerns about the change to his property title, the recorder and his staff will assist the man in contacting the district attorney and local law enforcement. Thus, a fraudulent land transfer involving an elderly citizen can be detected and prevented,” Loughery added.

Loughery said he and his staff meet regularly to discuss ways to prevent problems. He said Philadelphia has been plagued by horror stories involving elderly victims whose homes have been sold out from under them. “We want to make sure that doesn’t happen here,” he said.

Before initiating the new procedure, Loughery said he met with Hogan as well as Chester County Commissioners’ Chairman Terence Farrell, who served previously as recorder of deeds, to get their input and counsel.

“This added protection is yet another service that helps to ensure the safety of Chester County citizens, especially our elderly and disabled,” Hogan said. He added that he was also familiar with some of the gut-wrenching Philadelphia cases and eager to avoid them in Chester County.

Farrell called the Recorder of Deeds Office the first line of defense against real-estate fraud. “As technology advances, it is important that we continue to build up our preventative measures to protect our citizens and their homes,” Farrell said in the release.

Loughery said the added measure of protection would enhance the Fraud Guard online alert service established by his office in 2012. The Fraud Guard service enables a Chester County property owner to sign up for email alerts when any document with his or her name is recorded in the Recorder of Deeds Office.

He described the email that someone would receive as deliberately bland. “We’re not sending out any personal data,” Loughery explained. “We just want people to call our office if they have any questions about the notification.”

Loughery said the online alert system is voluntary, and he urged residents to take advantage of it. To register with the Chester County Recorder of Deed’s Fraud Guard online alert service go to www.chesco.org/recorder, scroll down the left-hand column and click on Operation Fraud Guard at the bottom of the list, or call 610-344-6330.

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John Joseph Hellmann Jr. of West Chester

Obituaries

John Joseph Hellmann Jr., 92, of West Chester, formerly of Maple Glen, died Monday, July 25, at Neighborhood Hospice.

Born in 1924 in Baltimore, Md., John was the beloved son of the late John and Gertrude (Velte) Hellmann Sr.

He was a graduate of Temple University and worked in sales for more than 50 years for Gamse Lithographing of Baltimore.

John was a Boy Scout scoutmaster and was politically active with the Democratic Party in Chester County.

He was the loving husband of the late Marie T. (Taneyhill), who died in 2000; loving father of John J., III (Bonita), William (Jennifer) and Robert C.; loving grandfather of Christina, John IV, Melissa, Eric, Amy and Joshua.

Relatives and friends are invited to his Visitation 9-10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 4, at St. Agnes Catholic Church, 233 W. Gay Street, West Chester, PA 19380, followed by his funeral mass 10. Interment St. Agnes Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are requested to NAMI, National Alliance on Mental Illness, 825 Paoli Pike # 6, West Chester, PA 19380 or to St. Agnes Church at the above address.

Arrangements by The Donohue Funeral Home, 1627 West Chester Pike, West Chester, PA 19382, 610-431-9000.

Online condolences at www.donohuefuneralhome.com.

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Fitness class improves seniors’ health, energy

Health

_1JF8527-cardio — After a warm up of walking around the room, seniors start with some light cardio.

Fitness instructor Jackie Tate said it’s good for seniors to keep moving. But those in her Silver Sneakers class say it’s much more than just moving. The class has improved their lives.

Balance, stamina, strength improve, as do emotions, they said.

Ken Paulsell, who moved from Chadds Ford to Birmingham Township, is a two-year veteran of Tate’s class He said it’s brought him positive changes.

“I’m part of the 81 percent of the population that didn’t prioritize exercise until a few years ago. And now I miss it if I don’t do it. It’s been transformational for me,” he said.

That transformation includes the fact that, “I simply feel better. There are more things that I can do more easily,” said the 79-year old Paulsell.

Delaware residents Sandy and Steve Scheinberg, 75 and 76 respectively, have been working out with Tate for more than three years. Sandy Scheinberg said they used to be couch potatoes, but are now in great shape.

Jackie Tate has seniors use resistance bands for a pushup type of exercise without the need to get done on the floor.

“We come three times a week, and our kids are very proud of us because they know so many elderly people who haven’t done much in a long time and now can’t,” she said.

They have more stamina since they began exercising, and Steve Scheinberg said he’s lost six inches from his waist in those three-plus years.

Others also recount improvements.

Carolyn Ginther is also approaching 74 years of age. She’s been working out with Tate for two years after leaving another exercise class.

“I’m more satisfied with this class because of the variety of exercises. Jackie knows what she’s doing and she varies things, which is good for your body,” Ginther said.

She added that the workouts have helped her emotionally.

“I have anxiety issues. The exercises definitely help with that. Absolutely,” she said.

Kathy Uschold, 74, said she had issues with falling before starting with Tate two years ago.

“Silver Sneakers has made a complete difference in my lifestyle. It’s improved my balance, my flexibility and the strength I have in my arms and my legs. Flexibility is the key to longevity.”

Tate — a nutritionist and fitness instructor — teaches at two locations, Darlington Arts Center in Concord Township and at Way Martial Arts, next to the Amish Market, in the Westtown Village Shopping Center at Routes 202 and 926. She said the impetus for the program came from Darlington Arts Center, who contacted her.

The average class size is about 16. She has the class warm up with a five-minute walk around the room; then she leads them through 15 minutes of light cardio, some strength training with light hand weights, another 15 minutes using resistance bands followed by a 10-minute cool-down period.

There’s always some music playing and the group was working out to old tunes from Dion and the Belmonts, Chuck Berry and Little Eva during a recent session in the Westtown location.

The Silver Sneakers program is free for those who have the program as part of their Medicare Supplemental insurance. Tate said people should call the phone number on the back of their insurance cards to see if their carrier covers the program. If not, classes are $8 per session.

For more information, Tate can be reached at 484-576-7690 or at tate4foodandfitness@verizon.net. Her website is www.tate4foodandfitness.com.

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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Police Log July 27: Assault, indecent exposure, DUIs

Police

• Minebaldo Reynoso-Vasquez, 30, and Fausto Reynoso-Vasquez, 21, both of Toughkenamon, were arrested on multiple accounts of simple assault, harassment, terroristic threats and disorderly conduct on July 17. Police in New Garden said the two were arrested following a call of a domestic dispute with injuries. Police said the victim, who was suffering from numerous lacerations and severe swelling to the face, said a verbal argument escalated into a physical assault committed by her husband and brother-in-law. The report also said the defendants warned her that if she called the police, they were going to beat her worse. They were arraigned and remanded to Chester County Prison after failing to post $5,000 cash bail each.

• New Garden Township Police said they arrested Pablo Diaz-Albarran, 32, of Newark, on charges of indecent exposure. According to a report, police were dispatched to the 300 block of Scarlett Road for the report of indecent exposure on July 11. Upon arrival, the victim provided a detailed account of the incident and a description of the suspect and vehicle. Police located Diaz-Albarran the following day. He was arraigned and remanded to Chester County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bail.

• Someone gained account information of a Pennsbury Township woman and used a counterfeit card to charge $238 worth of merchandise at a store in New York on July 1.

• State police from the Avondale barracks cited George J. Rose, 21, of Kennett Square, for driving at an unsafe speed, according to a report. Police said Rose was driving west on Longwood Road in Kennett Township, came around a curve, and had to swerve to avoid hitting another vehicle. The car went off the road and up a curb, which caused disabling damage. The accident happened on July 16 at 4:37 p.m. No injuries were reported.

• A West Marlborough man was the victim of identity theft. Police said the victim’s debit card information was used to make fraudulent purchases in the Dominican Republic, Maine, Missouri, Wisconsin and North Dakota for a total dollar amount of $265.12.

• Neil A. Knight, 54, of Kennett Square, was cited for careless driving on July 4 at 10:20 p.m., according to a police report. State police from the Avondale barracks said Knight drove into a median on Baltimore Pike near Route 52, then hit a traffic light before continuing onto Route 52.

• Police said Joanne M. Hall, 53, of Avondale, was cited for an improper left turn that led to a two-vehicle accident on Newark Road in West Marlborough Township on July 13 at 11:11 p.m. A report said Hall was driving north on Newark Road when she tried turning left onto Church Road, but drove into the path of another vehicle driving south on Newark Road. No injuries were reported.

• Cristian Zavala-Vazquez, 22, of Newark, was arrested for DUI on July 11, according to police in New Garden Township. Police said they observed Zavala-Vazquez’s vehicle being driven erratically on Baltimore Pike and he was stopped on Sharp Road and Candlewyck Drive. He was determined to be impaired after a field sobriety test, the report said.

• On Wednesday, July 13, at 7:33 pm, police responded to a report of a male staggering near the roadway on Route 41 in New Garden. Police located the subject, Robert West, 36, of Elizabethtown. West was observed to be impaired, which resulted in his being taken into custody for public drunkenness.

• An accident on Scarlett Road in New Garden Township led to a 69-year-old man being taken into custody. New Garden police said Kem Moser, of Avondale, was arrested for DUI. He was processed and released, police said.

• A Kennett Square man was arrested for DUI on Friday, July 15, after a traffic stop for a moving violation at the intersection of Newark Road and Baltimore Pike, according to a police report from New Garden Township. Jesus Diaz, 36, was stopped at the intersection of Chambers Road and Baltimore Pike, and arrested following a field sobriety test.

• New Garden police said Daniel Vazquez-Bedolla, 31, of Kennett Square, reported he had been involved in an accident in the 800 block of Newark Road on Sunday, July 17, at 7:51 p.m. Police said Vazquez-Bedolla exhibited signs of impairment. New Garden police administered standard field sobriety tests, which confirmed impairment.

• State police from the Avondale barracks are looking for the owner of a black toolbox, which was found located on the side of southbound Route 1 on the ramp from Route 41 on Tuesday, July 19, at 7:45 p.m. Anyone with information on the owner should contact Trooper Foulk at 610-268-2022.

• On Saturday, July 16, at 7:29 p.m., state police from the Avondale barracks responded to a two-vehicle crash in East Marlborough Township. Police said Nicholas C. Dilorio, 55, of Brookhaven, was traveling north on Route 1 and lost control, hit the guide rail, spun and struck another northbound vehicle, causing it to spin out and hit the guide rail. Dilorio, who was not injured, was cited for speeding; the other driver had a suspected minor injury, police said.

• State police from the Embreeville barracks detained Jeremy C. Barr of West Chester for an inoperable front headlight on Saturday, July 9, at 1:41 a.m. The traffic stop on Route 100 at Goshen Road in West Goshen Township led to Barr’s arrest for possession of two grams of marijuana, police said.

• Embreeville troopers are investigating a one-vehicle crash that occurred on Route 162, west of Cannery Road in Newlin Township, at 11:14 a.m. on Monday, July 18. Police said a 16-year-old girl from Downingtown traveling with two passengers lost control of a 2011 Acura MDX; no injuries were reported.

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