November 2, 2016 - ChaddsFordLive.com

John A. Woodford of Kennett Square

John A. Woodford, 64, of Kennett Square, died Monday, Oct. 31, at his home surrounded by his family, after a long battle with ALS. He was the husband of Pamela Winchester Woodford, with whom he shared 44 years of marriage.

Born in Paterson, N.J., he was the youngest son of the late Robert and the late Mary (Dillistin) Woodford. He grew up in Wilmington, and graduated from Mount Pleasant High School.

John earned his master’s degree in city and regional planning from Ohio State University and his undergraduate degree in sociology from Duke University. John and his family lived in Louisville, Ky., for more than 30 years where he was the assistant executive director for TARC for 27 years until his retirement. He then worked nine years as senior vice president for First Transit Inc. before retiring “again.” He was an active member of the Kiwanis Club of Louisville where he earned the “Man of the Year Award.” He also volunteered for the Boys and Girls Club of Louisville and served on the Board of Directors for Safe Place Services.

John was loyal to his faith, family and multiple sports teams. He was a longtime member of Harvey Browne Memorial Presbyterian Church in Louisville and became a member of Unionville Presbyterian Church shortly after relocating to Kennett Square. He relished spending time with loved ones at the family lake house in New Jersey. He rooted on the Blue Devils, the Buckeyes, the Phillies and the Eagles with much passion and enthusiasm.

Survivors, in addition to his wife, Pamela, include one son, Robert L. Woodford of Louisville, Ky; two daughters, Kate E. Woodford of Philadelphia, and Robin W. Kauffman and her husband Christopher of Media,; three grandchildren: Ansley, Benjamin and Chase Kauffman; a brother, William Woodford (Debbie) of Upper St. Clair, Pa.; and a sister, Alice Gillespie (Jim) of Danielsville, Pa.

You are invited to John’s memorial service at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 4, at Unionville, Presbyterian Church, 815 Wollaston Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348. Interment will be held privately. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Avon Grove Lions Club, 600 N. Baker Station Rd. West Grove, PA 19390 or to The Gleason Initiative Foundation PO Box 24493, New Orleans, LA 70184. Arrangements are by Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home Inc. (610-444-4116) of Kennett Square. To view John’s online obituary and to share a memory with his family, please visit www.griecocares.com

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Beaver Valley fate in limbo

Efforts to save Beaver Valley from development are continuing despite Concord Township supervisors’ last year granting preliminary approval of a plan that would have built more than 100 homes.

Township solicitor Hugh Donaghue said during the supervisors’ Nov. 1 meeting that the township would still work with the legal and equitable property owners of the Beaver Valley tract in an effort to preserve the valley as open space.

That announcement came after the public learned last week that Delaware County judges remanded two decisions involving the Woodlawn Trustees property in Beaver Valley to the supervisors.

Over the objections of many residents and other interested parties, supervisors last year granted preliminary approval for Vineyard Commons, a plan calling for a 160-home development on 230 acres in Beaver Valley.

Three people appealed the decision and oral arguments were heard this August. In response, Judge G. Michael Green remanded the decision approving the plan to the supervisors on Oct. 24.

In his decision, Green directed supervisors to hold evidentiary hearings on the application and to determine whether the plan complies with applicable laws and regulations regarding the preservation of natural, historic and scenic resources.

In announcing the township‘s response to Green’s decision, Donaghue said, “Please be advised that the board of supervisors is presently reviewing the court’s most recent decision. Also, be advised that over the past few months the developers, the owner and interested conservation groups have been negotiating the terms of an agreement to keep the Beaver Valley property forever as open space.

“In that regard, both the Concord Township Board of Supervisors and the Delaware County Council have reconfirmed their financial support and applaud the efforts of these organizations. Consequently, and in light of the above, the township will not be offering any additional comment regarding this subject at this time,” Donaghue said.

The financial support Donaghue referred to was $500,000 offered by the township and another $250,000 offered by Delaware County. Supervisors’ Chairman Dominic Pileggi announced the monetary support to keep the valley open the same night the board voted 3-1 to approve the preliminary plan in March of 2015.

Donaghue said after the meeting that he could not identify any of the conservation groups negotiating to keep the valley preserved as open space.

Jack Michel, Diana McCarthy and Eileen Mutschler were the three people who appealed the Vineyard Commons decision. None of them were available for comment, but Ken Hemphill, while not directly involved in the appeal, was one of the people advocating to save the valley.

“It remains to be seen where Judge Green’s decision will lead, but the dozens of people who’ve worked tirelessly over the past three years to preserve the taxpayer-financed Woodlawn Wildlife Refuge in Beaver Valley hope that it leads to the preservation of a place that should never have been on the auction block in the first place,” Hemphill said.

In a related matter, Donaghue said the township would not appeal the decision of Senior Judge Charles B. Burr to remand the Concord Ventures decision to the board. In that decision, supervisors denied a request for a lot line change and consolidation of property, preventing the possible construction of 29 townhouses and 167 apartments on 60 acres of the Woodlawn Trustees property.

Concord Ventures did not have a plan for any construction before the board at the time, but was seeking the consolidation of the parcels as part of its agreement of sale with Woodlawn Trustees.

However, “There is now an application by Concord Ventures for essentially a very similar subdivision and consolidation together with a land development plan. That will be considere

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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New Garden Police seeking teen runaway

Police

Update: Police said the teen has returned home safely

The New Garden Township Police Department is investigating a report of missing juvenile who appears to be a runaway.

Screen Shot 2016-11-02 at 11.34.38 AM — Alexis K. Schuetz

On Wednesday, Nov. 2, at 7:21 a.m., police were called to the juvenile’s residence on Edgewood Drive in New Garden Township. Officers were advised that Alexis K. Schuetz, 13, left the residence sometime during the night after an argument with his parents. The juvenile was last seen in his room at 9:30 p.m., a police press release said.

Schuetz is possibly wearing a blue Kennett Middle School hooded sweatshirt and dark shoes and may be carrying a gray backpack. He has short brown hair and a thin build. Schuetz does not have a history of this type of behavior but in the past has threatened to run away, the release said.

Anyone with information related to the teen’s whereabouts is asked to contact New Garden Township Police at 610-268-3171 or kcowdright@ngpd.org.

About Press Release

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Favorite Chesco vistas could win prizes

Arts & Entertainment

The Chester County Planning Commission is seeking shots of county attractions for a photo contest.

The Chester County Planning Commission is offering residents a creative photo opportunity.

It is seeking submissions for a photo contest that focuses on favorite places to have fun, take a walk, or just relax in Chester County. The contest is part of Chester County’s update process for its comprehensive plan, which currently falls under the banner of Landscapes2. The update – Landscapes3 – will help Chester County to continue to promote smart growth in the county, protect open space, and revitalize the county’s towns and communities.

The photo contest is open to anyone who lives, works, or plays in Chester County. Prizes for the winning photos will be awarded, and the contest runs through Nov. 25. To submit a photo, go to http://www.chescoplanning.org.

In addition to prizes for the top three photos, participants may have their photo featured in the Landscapes3 plan or on the website.

Photo contest prizes were donated by Dansko, a West Grove-based footwear company; Longwood Gardens; and the Brandywine Conservancy and Museum of Art. The first-place winner will receive a Dansko gift card and prize package valued at $225. A Longwood Gardens $150 gift card will go to second place, and third place will win Brandywine River Museum admission tickets and Millstone Café lunch vouchers for a party of four, valued at $125.

In addition to prizes for the top three photos, participants may have their photo featured in the Landscapes3 plan or on its website.

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Police Log Nov. 2: Phone scam, DUIs, accidents

Police

• On Friday, Oct. 21, at 3:23 p.m. Kennett Township police responded to the 900 block of Sunstone Lane. The resident had recently received a phone call stating that her grandson had been arrested and was going to be charged with multiple offenses. The caller told the resident to go to CVS and purchase a gift card in order to pay for the grandson to be released. Police want to remind residents that this is a prevalent scam; anyone with questions about such situations should contact police at 610-388-2874.

• A Kennett Square man received a warning after losing control of his 1998 Hyundai Accent on Route 926 in Pennsbury Township on Friday, Sept. 30, at 10 a.m. State police said Ninfa Rodriguez Aguilar, 44, was traveling west on Route 926, west of Brintons Bridge Road, when he left the roadway, struck a ditch, and overturned the vehicle. Aguilar, who was wearing a seatbelt, was not injured, police said.

• A 43-year-old Chadds Ford resident was cited for careless driving after a one-vehicle crash in Pennsbury Township on Saturday, Aug. 27, said state police from the Avondale barracks. Police said Jonathan H. Lunger was traveling south at 8:31 a.m. on Fairville Road when he failed to negotiate a curve and his 2016 Kia Soul struck a utility pole. Police said neither Lunger nor his passenger, both of whom were wearing seatbelts, were injured, but the vehicle had to be towed.

• Another crash on Fairville Road in Pennsbury Township occurred on Aug. 8 at 8:20 a.m., said state police from the Avondale barracks. Police said a truck driver traveling north on Fairville Road was struck by another vehicle as it attempted to pass the truck. Police said the other driver proceeded onto southbound Route 1 and left the scene.

• A 27-year-old Wilmington woman traveling north on Cossart Road failed to negotiate a curve on Saturday, Aug. 20, at 6:08 p.m. in Pennsbury Township, said state police from the Avondale barracks. Police said Cassie L. Gonzales was wearing a seatbelt and was not injured; however, her 2009 Toyota Rav4 had to be towed.

• Timothy A. Yohey, 50, of Peach Bottom, was traveling east on Route 1 in Pennsbury Township when he rear-ended a 1995 Toyota Tercel that was stopped at a red light at Ponds Edge Drive on Wednesday, Sept. 7, at 7:01 a.m., said state police. Both drivers were wearing seatbelts and were not injured. The Toyota had to be towed from the scene, police said.

• On Thursday, Oct. 13, at 8:20 p.m. a Kennett Township officer was on patrol in the area of Old Kennett Road and Creek Road when he observed a motor-vehicle violation and initiated a traffic stop. Upon making contact with the driver, Hailey Clough, 18, of Wilmington, the officer detected the odor of marijuana, and Clough, who admitted to smoking marijuana just prior to being stopped, was arrested for DUI, police said.

• On Thursday, Oct. 20, at 9:28 p.m., New Garden Township Police observed a vehicle driving erratically in the area of West Cypress Street and Scarlett Road. Following a traffic stop, Rigo Gutierres-Galvez, 28, of Kennett Square, showed signs of intoxication when he exited the car and walked to the passenger side, police said. He then failed a field sobriety test and was taken into custody, processed and released, according to a report.

• Police in New Garden Township arrested Jaime Obregon, 59, of Kennett Square, for DUI, a report said. According to police, Obregon was observed driving erratically in the 8101 block of West Cypress Street at 6:49 p.m. on Oct. 22. An odor of an alcoholic beverage was detected coming from the vehicle, police said, and Obregon did not respond when spoken to. He was also unsteady on his feet when asked to exit the vehicle and he failed a sobriety test, the report said. He was processed for DUI, and then released pending a court appearance.

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Kathleen M. Berger of West Chester

Obituaries

Kathleen M. Berger (nee, Hill), 60, of West Chester,died suddenly on Oct. 30.

Born in 1956 in St. Paul, Minn., she was the daughter of the late Francis and Estelle (Nedoroski) Hill.

Kathleen was the beloved wife for 27 years of Jerome M. Berger; dear sister of Maureen Heinsohn and Terrence Hill. She was predeceased by a daughter.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory can be made to the Chester County SPCA, 1212 Phoenixville Pike, West Chester, PA 19380.

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PennDOT: Police to target aggressive drivers

Local News, Local News Birmingham, Local News Chadds Ford, Local News Concord, Local News Kennett, Local News Pennsbury, Local News Pocopson

In 2015, aggressive driving led to 1,833 crashes and 26 fatalities in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties, numbers that PennDOT wants to reduce.

Toward that end, police departments representing 57 municipalities across southeast Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania State Police will conduct aggressive-driving enforcement activities as part of a statewide mobilization that runs through Nov. 22, said a PennDOT press release.

Police will be targeting motorists who exhibit aggressive-driving behaviors such as running red lights, speeding and tailgating. Motorists exhibiting other unsafe behaviors such as distracted driving, or violating Pennsylvania’s School Bus Stopping Law will also be cited, the release said.

Participating agencies will use traffic enforcement zones, saturation patrols, speed enforcement details, corridor enforcement, work zone enforcement and multi-jurisdictional patrol strategies to identify and cite aggressive drivers.

The enforcement is part of the Pennsylvania Aggressive Driving Enforcement and Education Project and is funded by part of PennDOT’s investment of federal funds from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Since the project was launched in 2006, nearly 600 roadways have been targeted with additional enforcement and education

PennDOT offers the following tips for drivers who encounter an aggressive driver: Get out of their way and don’t challenge them; stay relaxed, avoid eye contact and ignore rude gestures; and don’t block the passing lane if you are driving slower than most of the traffic.

To learn more about aggressive-driving and other PennDOT safety initiative visit www.penndot.gov/safety.