August 22, 2016

Letter to the Editor: It’s Balchunis for me

This election cycle has been full of news about the presidential and Pennsylvania senatorial race. Both – with out question – very important. But there is another contest that deserves a much closer look than it is being given by the media. The contest for the 7^th Congressional District seat in Pennsylvania between incumbent Pat Meehan and Democrat Mary Ellen Balchunis is arguably a truest referendum on what we value in Pennsylvania.

Polls will tell you that most Pennsylvanian’s are concerned about climate change, a woman’s right to manage her own health care and fair and true representation. If that is the case then Pat Meehan’s voting record and stated positions indicate that he is not representing the people of the 7^th Congressional District or Pennsylvania.

Pat Meehan voted to defund research into the connection between climate change and the energy industry in HB5538. He has repeatedly voted to defund Planned Parenthood, a valuable provider of women’s and men’s health services and he stands firm in his opposition to an assault weapons ban.

The voice of the people is in Mary Ellen Balchunis. She supports the development of true, clean energy and recognizes that we must embrace a fact-based future not past-based mythology.

Ms. Balchunis has earned the support of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, Planned Parenthood, and the National Women’s Political Caucus. These endorsements are from organizations that represent the breadth and depth of our Commonwealth – working people and groups that protect our freedoms and rights.

History has shown us that “trickle down” is a myth. And a gerrymandered district like the 7^th fails to meet the standard of true representation. What we do know is that when the voice of the people speaks louder than the than the noise that is trying to block it out – good things happen.

Mary Ellen Balchunis is my voice.

Victoria S. Wiedwald
Kennett Township

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Annual wine festival to benefit cancer patients

Arts & Entertainment

Chester County Hospital is hoping area oenophiles will gather in Birmingham Township on Sunday, Oct. 9, to help put a cork in cancer.

Attendees stroll the grounds of the Dilworthtown Inn for the annual Wine Festival. — Chester County Hospital’s 25th Annual Wine Festival is expected to draw more than 1,000 to the Dilworthtown Inn on Sunday, Oct. 9.

The 25th Annual Wine Festival at the Dilworthtown Inn is expected to attract more than 1,500 attendees, who will sample approximately 100 wines, craft beers, and cuisine prepared by Dilworthtown Inn chefs and local food trucks. In addition, a silent auction, shopping opportunities in the Gallery of Artisan Vendors, live music, a performance car show, and more will contribute to the popular event, a hospital press release said.

Proceeds from the wine festival benefit patients of the Cancer Program of Chester County Hospital and Neighborhood Health, which brings world-class care close to home. Through a partnership with the Penn Cancer Network, the program offers the latest treatment protocols and cutting-edge technology, including care outside the hospital through the services of Neighborhood Health (home health, hospice, private duty, and Senior HealthLink services), the release said.

The festival will run rain or shine from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 9, on the grounds of the Dilworthtown Inn, 1390 Old Wilmington Pike, West Chester, Pa., 19382. General-admission tickets are $40 per person in advance or $45 at the door and include wine- and beer-tastings and access to shopping and entertainment. Food will be available for purchase at the Gourmet Food Tent.

Those who opt to purchase VIP tickets at $100 apiece will receive complimentary offerings from the Gourmet Food Tent as well access to the VIP tent, which will feature reserved seating, fruit and cheese, special wines, and more.

To encourage responsible drinking, a designated driver package for $200 includes five general- admission tickets and one free designated-driver ticket. The latter also includes lunch and a non-alcoholic beverage.

The Brandywine and Greystone Women’s auxiliaries to the hospital organize the annual wine festival. To attend, volunteer, sponsor, or donate, visit www.2crushcancer.com or call 610-431-5328.

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Pioneering musical journey leads to The Flash

Arts & Entertainment

Fourteen original instrumental tracks combine artwork and text to tell the adventures of a North American wagon train journey through one traveler’s personal experiences circa 1840 – an odyssey that will lead to The Kennett Flash on Saturday, Aug. 27.

Bert Lams and Tom Griesgraber will perform on Saturday, Aug. 27. — Bert Lams and Tom Griesgraber will perform Saturday, Aug. 27.

Bert Lams and Tom Griesgraber will be supporting their debut album, “Unnamed Lands.” The project began simply as an idea to produce an album together. But as the two began working on material a theme emerged: prairie travelers in the 1800s making their way westward and looking for better fortunes, a Flash press release said.

Throughout the recording process both Lams and Griesgraber performed and traveled through a lot of the areas described in the story, and a musical style seemed to emerge that could almost be described as “Progressive Americana.”

“It’s really a blend of our personalities and everything Bert and I do,” said Griesgraber in the release. “There is a strong progressive rock influence, with lots of odd meters and adventurous sounds, but it’s balanced by a highly melodic and folk-like approach and even some classical-styled modulations.”

A member of the California Guitar Trio, guitarist Lams is an honors graduate of The Royal Conservatory of Music in his native Brussels, Belgium. His affinity for jazz and rock in addition to classical music, inspired him to continue his studies and eventually tour with English guitarist Robert Fripp (King Crimson), before founding the CGT.

Lams’ music with the CGT blends musical styles as diverse as Beethoven symphonies, Bach preludes, progressive rock, surf guitar and spaghetti westerns together with a unique cello-like guitar tuning. His first solo CD “Nascent” features the music of Bach adapted to steel string acoustic guitar, the release said.

Griesgraber graduated summa cum laude from Berklee College of Music as a guitar major, before discovering The Chapman Stick in 1997. Combining six guitar strings and six bass strings with a two-handed tapping technique more like playing piano, the Stick allows the performer to play bass lines, chords and melodies simultaneously with a variety of sounds. Griesgraber and Lams have been touring together since 2004, the release said.

For a preview of their music, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JU0MaVHXV54 or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjNfTpapA9Y.

Tickets – which are $25 – are available at www.kennettflash.org or www.ticketfly.com. Doors open at 7 p.m. for an 8 p.m. show. BYOB is permitted for $4 at the door (beer and wine only), and dinner service is available from La Verona. The Kennett Flash is located at 102 Sycamore Alley in Kennett Square.