I am writing to answer the many questions that have arisen during the pendency of this unfortunate litigation involving me and the Hillendale Elementary School PTO.
While serving on the HES PTO Board, I authored a grant that resulted in an award of $30,000 for the Hillendale Trail. However, there were conditions that I was required to fulfill, conditions that made me responsible for making sure the money was allocated and used properly. But, having been removed from the Board, I would not have been able to satisfy those obligations. Thus, I needed an indemnification or waiver from the other parties — the school principal and the other members of the PTO Board. It’s as simple as that.
For whatever reason, I was not given that critical piece of paper before filing my injunction, and then again not after essentially being given no choice, but to file it. Thereafter, and not by my doing, the case was publicized widely and with provocative slants. To this day, the case can go away with a mere release. I am not responsible for the failure to resolve the case properly.
As a side note, you have been told that the case was dismissed, which is incorrect. Procedurally, a court has much discretion in approaching an action for equitable relief. Therefore, we included every issue that we learned prior to filing. The judge merely “sustained” objections so that my claims would be narrowed to a derivative action. We followed the judge’s orders and filed an amended complaint. Now, once again we are willing to resolve the case with a mutual release.
If you desire to see this case go away, please allow your voice to be heard. Thanks for reading!
Megan Umbs and her father David recently purchased the iconic Longwood Art Gallery that has been a fixture at 200 E. State Street in Kennett Square for almost 12 years. While the gallery will continue to exhibit the traditional landscape paintings, owner Megan Umbs wants to shake it up a bit and also bring in a contemporary, eclectic mix of artists and media. This Monday, Megan will clear the walls and invite all local artists to submit “rooster themed” artwork for a big, bold and fun Chinese New Year exhibition scheduled for February 2017. Get your rooster pieces into Longwood Art Gallery this Monday and be featured in their newest show!
Longwood Art Gallery
The past two months have been a flurry of activity at the gallery, with furniture and walls moved out and new lighting, throw rugs and a Bob Deane installation of stunning ceramic works moved in. The gallery is instantly brighter and more inviting, and the exhibition space now seems large and light filled. More plans are on the way, like redoing the floors, repainting, and clearing up the backrooms to display more art. Meanwhile, the frame side of the Longwood Art Gallery is booming, with owners Megan and David Umbs putting in ten hour days.
I spoke with Megan recently about her plans to make Longwood Art Gallery a destination gallery. Kicking off the opening of the new gallery will be a celebration of Chinese New Year, the year of the rooster, with an all-out artist shout-out for rooster artwork. On Monday, January 23rd from 9 a.m. to closing, she will be receiving art work for the rooster show. Artwork can be in any medium, including sculpture, but it must be ready to hang or display.
She is particularly excited to bring in young, new local artists, “I am more than happy to be the springboard for a new artist!” If you are interested in showing at Longwood Art Gallery’s new show, just go to the gallery and bring one or two ready to show artworks that have a rooster theme. The show goes up for the First Friday, February 3rd with a fun artist opening reception scheduled for that evening.
Also in the works are a series or artist discussions with the exhibiting artists, as well as artist framing discussions for framing paintings as well as photography. Artists are always concerned about framing their pieces to their best advantage, and Megan Umbs has a plethora of information to share about that subject! She went to school for framing, and has a large supply of framing examples at her gallery. “I got rid of all the metal frames…if someone wants that then there are many places to get those.”
Megan knows that framing is very individual, both for the artwork and for the customer, and she has a great eye for finding the frame that best compliments the art piece. “I love what I do!” she exclaims, “I love to be surrounded by wonderful pieces of art! People come into the gallery all the time to look, but they don’t ask questions. I want the gallery to be full of energy and people talking about the artwork.”
Megan and her father David live just blocks away in downtown Kennett Square, and have been looking for a project to do together since he retired twenty years ago. “He knows most of the artists here because we have them all hanging on our walls at home! We love the artists that we already have at the gallery, but we would love to have more variety, more mediums, to make it a fresh and exciting place to be.
“She and her father have been filing their house with Longwood Art Gallery artwork for more than 6 years, and when former owners Sheila Washington and Marjorie Kuhn confided that they would be retiring from the gallery, Megan and David knew “It was the right timing! We looked at each other and said, “We’re buying!'”
Everything is all about “local” for Megan and David Umbs. Items in the gallery, like the rugs from Holly Peters, her shoes from Ashley Austin are all locally sourced and she enthusiastically praises all of her store neighbors. “We are like a family around here!” she smiles. Her phone is constantly buzzing all during the interview with store neighbors calling “to just chat.”
Kennett Square has gone through an artistic renaissance over the past ten years, but most of the buzz is two blocks down on State, near Philter and Talula’s Table, but Longwood Art Gallery hopes to change all that. There have been some terrific, chic, fun new stores that have opened recently, just north of the main hub on State Street.
One of a kind jewelry artist Amanda Kane opened up her wonderful “Bohemian boutique” across the street, called Salt & Stone in June of 2016. The artistically inspired gift store, The Orange Door, also opened its doors in 2016. Mala Galleria, owned by Stella Scott, is just a couple doors down from Longwood Art Gallery, and always has terrific shows of contemporary art. With the new facelift for Longwood Art Gallery, and the creative energy of her neighboring stores, this section of State Street now the place to be.
If you are an artist with a nice rooster or two to exhibit, stop by the gallery this Monday to submit your works. For artists and art lovers alike, make sure to say hello on First Friday to Megan and David Umbs at The Longwood Art Gallery, as well as Stella Scott at Mala Galleria, Amanda Kane at Salt & Stone, and Linda Elsdon at The Orange Door!
Lele Galer is an artist who has chaired numerous art shows, taught art history and studio art, public art and has chaired, written and taught the Art in Action Art Appreciation series for the UCFD schools for the past 12 years. She worked at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and wrote for the Associated Press in Rome. She has been dedicated to Art History and art education for most of her adult life. Lele and her husband Brad own Galer Estate Winery in Kennett Square.
Jose Manuel Castro Gutierrez, 63, of Avondale, died Wednesday, Jan. 11, at the Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. He was the husband of Elvira Castro Perez.
Jose Manuel Castro Gutierrez
Born in Rancho De La Barranquita, Ixtlan Del Rio, Nayarit, Jalisco, Mexico, he was the son of the late Ismael Castro and The late Emiliana Gutierrez.
He was a maintenance worker at To-Jo Mushrooms in Avondale.
Jose enjoyed being with his family and friends.
He was a member of St. Rocco Catholic Church.
In addition to his wife, Jose is survived by four sons, Fidel Castro Castro of Safford, Va., Manuel Castro Castro of Avondale, Ismael Castro Castro of Stafford, Va. and Juan Jose Castro Castro of Mexico; four daughters, Veronica Castro Castro of Woodbridge, Va., Angelica Castro Castro and Luz Elvira Castro Castro both of Mexico and Maria Guadalupe Castro Castro of Oakland, Calif; three brothers, Jesus Castro Gutierrez, Jaime Castro Gutierrez and Javier Castro Gutierrez, all of Mexico; one sister, Esperanza Castro Gutierrez of Mexico and 21 grandchildren.
You are invited to visit with Jose’s family and friends from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 18, at St. Rocco Catholic Church, 333 Sunny Dell Road, Avondale. His funeral mass will follow at 7. Burial will be in Panteon, Jardines Recinto De La Paz, Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico.
The Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce announced the appointment of five new members to its Board of Directors. They include Heather Connolly of Operation Warm, Tony Scheivert of New Garden Township, Donald G. Sellers of Edward Jones Investments, Andrew Smith of the YMCA of Greater Brandywine, and James Turner of Chester Water Authority. The appointments are effective January 2017.
“The addition of these talented professionals to the Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors continues a tradition of stellar leadership guiding our Chamber,” said SCCCC President and CEO Cheryl Kuhn. “Their varied experience and vast knowledge of our community will serve the Chamber and its growing membership well,” Kuhn said.
Heather Connolly serves as the director for Operation Warm, a national non-profit that provides new winter coats to children in need. Connolly is responsible for all lines of business including community programs, corporate partners, the International Association of Fire Fighters, as well as grant writing and development.
In previous roles, Connolly served as the associate executive director at the Kennett Area YMCA and founded the Chester County chapter of Girls on the Run and STRIDE. She also has experience in Banking Operations at Wachovia Bank, has served on the Kennett Run Board, and served a previous stint on the SCCCC Board. She also currently serves on the Kennett Education Foundation Board of Advisors.
Tony Scheivert is the township manager for New Garden Township and has served in this role since January 2015. Prior to joining New Garden Township, Scheivert spent 10 years with Caln Township. During his time with Caln, Tony served on the Board of the Downingtown-Thorndale Chamber of Commerce.
In his time with New Garden Township, Scheivert has assisted the New Garden Township Board of Supervisors with the sale of its wastewater treatment system, regionalizing New Garden Police Department with neighboring West Grove Borough, establishing a township fund investment policy, obtaining multiple grant awards for open space preservation, road improvements and New Garden Airport Improvements, and vastly improved communications and outreach within the community.
Scheivert holds a bachelor’s degree from Lock Haven University in recreation management and a master’s degree in public administration from West Chester University.
Donald G. Sellers, AAMS, is a financial advisor with Edwards Jones Investments. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from West Chester University and received the AAMS® professional designation in 2011. Sellers previously served a three-year term on the Board of Directors of the Southern Chester County Chamber, where he chaired the Membership Committee and served on various other committees.
Andrew Smith is the senior program director of facilities and aquatics at the Kennett Area YMCA. In addition to his duties at the YMCA, Smith is active with the Boys Scouts of America, where he has served as a leader for 12 years.
Jim Turner is the director of marketing for the Chester Water Authority’s Regional Development and Government Relations Team. The team provides support to municipalities and developers in the region to promote economic growth throughout Southern Chester, Western Delaware, and Lancaster Counties. He also oversees procurement opportunities to small and MBE/WBE businesses to promote local economic development.
This Thursday Night, Jan. 19, is the first in a new monthly Jazz Series, presented on the third Thursday of the month, curated by a new partnership between KSQJazz and The Kennett Flash. The first concert in the series features The Hot Club Of Philadelphia, a “Gypsy Jazz” group in the style of Hot Club of France, which was founded in 1934 and active until 1948, which featured legendary guitarist Django Reinardt and equally legendary violinist Stephane Grappelii.
“The Kennett Flash has been terrific to work with and they really want to develop Kennett Square as a destination for world class live music and entertainment,” said KSQ founder, Bryan Tuk. “As a performance space, The Flash is perfect for jazz and the kinds of performers that are going to appear in this series. We’re really looking forward to opening night.”
“I’m excited to continue to diversify our programming and bring new people into The Flash, that is exactly what this series will do, it truly meets our needs,” said Andrew Miller, the managing director of The Kennett Flash.
The January performance also features opening act Kiki Villani, made up of Unionville High School Senior Kiera Sankey and Concord High School graduate and Ithaca College music composition major Nick Fagnilli. An important part of this series, and all events at The Flash, is a teaching component and learning opportunity for area music students.
This performance is sponsored by Tuk Law Offices.
Tickets are $20 and are available online at www.kennettflash.org or at the door the night of the show.
Houzz Inc., the leading platform for home renovation and design, today announced the community’s picks for Best Of Houzz 2017, a homeowner-to-homeowner guide to the top remodeling professionals on Houzz.
West Chester remodeling firm Pine Street Carpenters and The Kitchen Studio at Pine Street picked up Best Of Houzz 2017 awards for both design and customer service.
“We are so pleased to award Best of Houzz 2017 to this incredible group of talented and customer-focused professionals,” said Liza Hausman, vice president of Industry Marketing for Houzz. “Each of these businesses was singled out for recognition by our community of homeowners and design enthusiasts for helping to turn their home improvement dreams into reality.”
The Best Of Houzz is awarded annually in categories for Design and Customer Service. Design award winners’ work was the most popular among the more than 40 million monthly users on Houzz. Customer Service honors are based on several factors, including the number and quality of client reviews a professional received in 2016.
This is the fifth straight year that Pine Street has been awarded Best Of Houzz awards for both design and customer service.
“We are honored to be recognized by Houzz with these awards,” said Michael Dolan, Marketing Manager for Pine Street. “This recognition speaks to the heart of what we strive for here at Pine Street – excellence in craftsmanship, creativity, and service.”
While the Houzz awards highlight Pine Street’s residential services, Pine Street Carpenters also provides design and construction management services to both institutional and commercial clients. These services include office remodels, building renovations, and retail fit-outs throughout Chester County and the region.
The Kitchen Studio at Pine Street, Pine Street’s kitchen and bath showroom in West Goshen, provides design and cabinetry solutions for all areas of the home. Cabinetry lines offered include Plain and Fancy Cabinetry, Wood-Mode Cabinetry, and Dura Supreme Cabinetry. The showroom is open 9AM-5PM, Monday through Friday, and by appointment on weekends and evenings.
• State police from the Media barracks reported a 29-year-old man stole from the Target store in Concord Township. The suspect, who was not named in the police report, placed items in his cart and left the store without paying, the report said.
• An unknown suspect stole nine doors from a construction site on Drayton Way in Concord Township. The theft took place sometime between Jan. 6 and Jan. 11. Police said the doors were in the garage of a house under construction at 502 Drayton. The doors were being stored in a garage without a door prior to them being installed.
• State police from the Avondale barracks said someone smashed the rear window of a car parked on Marlboro Road in Pocopson Township last month. Nothing was taken from the vehicle. The incident happened sometime between 8:30 p.m. Dec. 27 and 7 a.m. Dec. 28.
• Michael James Kline, 35, of Kennett Square, was arrested for DUI and drug possession following a traffic stop on Route 82 at Route 1, according to state police. The incident happened at 12:56 a.m. on Nov. 23.
• A West Grove woman was arrested for DUI following a traffic stop in Kennett Township. Police said Michelle Margaret Schatz, 39, was stopped on East Baltimore Pike near Route 52 at 2:19 a.m. on Dec. 31.
• Police said two women were taken into custody for stealing from the Walmart in East Marlborough Township on Jan. 6. State police from the Avondale barracks identified the suspects as Auburjene Rosin Sanders, 20, of Bridgeport, and Morgan Briane Bynum-Clary, 28. No other details were released.
• State police are investigating a fraudulent check case in Pennsbury Township. A report said someone used the bogus check to gain funds from the victim.
• Three Coatesville women, ranging in age from 79 to 81, escaped serious injury after the vehicle in which they were riding ran off Doe Run Road in East Marlborough on Jan. 8. One of the passengers might have received a minor injury, but there was no transport. The incident happened at 2:15 p.m. Police said the Subaru Outback lost traction after crossing a snow drift, ran off the road and hit a tree.
• An unidentified 36-year-old man from Wilmington faces DUI charges following an incident on Route 41 at Sheehan Road on Jan. 1. Police said the vehicle was being driven on a grassy area at 1:34 a.m.
