Sandra C. Reynolds, 63, of West Grove, died peacefully at Neighborhood Hospice, West Chester, on Saturday, March 25. She was the wife of Stephen C. Reynolds Sr., with whom she shared 46 years of marriage.
Born in Chester, she was the daughter of the late Alfred and Mary Ward Chew.
Her occupation was a social worker at Kendal-Crosslands, Kennett Square, and other private and non-profit organizations throughout the years. She also worked as the director of Kennett Area Community Services and United Cerebral Palsy, for many years, where she met and worked with many wonderful people.
Sandra was a member of Assumption BVM Church in West Grove, and the London Grove Grange.
She enjoyed animals, going to the Poconos and Ocean City, Md., bead work, crocheting, needlepoint and vacationing with her grandchildren.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by two sons, Stephen C. Reynolds, Jr. and his wife Colleen of Cranberry Township, and Christopher Reynolds of West Grove; one daughter, Nicole Reynolds of Elkton, Md.; three brothers, A. Kendall Chew of Claymont, D Donald Chew of Pleasantville, N.J. and Edward Chew of Kennett Square; one sister, Mary Allison Dydo of Middletown Springs, Vt.; five grandchildren, Collin, Alexa, Noah, Claire and Drew, and several nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by one sister, Marilyn Visco.
You are invited to visit with her family and friends from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. Monday, April 3, at Assumption BVM Church, 300 State Road in West Grove. Her funeral mass will follow at 11. Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, a contribution may be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 100 West 10th Street, Suite 109, Wilmington, DE 19801 or to Assumption BVM Church, 300 State Road, West Grove, PA 19390
Chadds Ford's Karl Kuerner discusses his life as an artist having been taught by Carolyn Wyeth and befriended by her brother, Andy Wyeth.
While there were artists from all over, local artists and history were strong at this year’s Chadds Ford Elementary School Art Sale and Show.
That art history, as one would expect, shows the influence of the Wyeth Family. It was Betsy Wyeth, the wife of Andrew and the mother of Jamie, who started the event in 1948. But that legacy continues through other artists, and the one artist who ties the elements of the history together is Chadds Ford’s Karl Kuerner.
Kuerner’s first teacher was Carolyn Wyeth, the sister of Andrew and the daughter of N.C. Wyeth. And it was Kuerner’s family farm that Andrew Wyeth used as a subject and inspiration for many of his paintings. The farm belonged to the young Kuerner’s grandparents.
He told the audience during a Saturday afternoon talk that, unbeknownst to him, his father took some of “Young Karl’s” drawings to Wyeth and she said she wanted to talk to him. He was 13 years old at the time.
Concord Township artist Annette Alessi, left, with her friend Helga Testorf. Testorf referred to Alessi as her “protégé.”
After their initial talk, Kuerner said, “She told me, ‘I’ve seen your drawings. Now go home, go home and do something that means something to you.’ I thought it was like homework.”
A short time later, the 13-year-old walked over to his grandparents where Andrew Wyeth was painting and asked him if would be OK for him to paint the farm.
“It was my family’s property, but it was Andy’s turf,” Kuerner told the crowd. “He told me, ‘If you see it through, you’ll have your own voice.'”
With all the technique he learned from the Wyeths, Kuerner said the main thing that he learned was to paint what you love.
“Andy talked about commitment, what it means to be an artist, to work every day and put emotion into it,” he said.
That’s the lesson Kuerner applies to all his work: “Every piece I do is from my own life history. Everything is intimate to me.”
He said he also learned never to grow up, to keep looking at things as a child might. “If you do that,” he said, “you’ll never grow old.”
He shared one humorous story about his relationship with the Wyeths. He said that Andy took over as his mentor after Carolyn died. And one day he asked Andy for a suggestion on one of his projects. While he didn’t say what the suggestion was, he did say, “It was the worst mistake I ever made.”
Art hunters look for something to buy.
Ironically, while he has judged the show before, this was the first year Kuerner showed at the CFES Art Sale and Show. He praised the event and its tradition.
“Obviously, it wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Betsy. But having an opportunity to show here and share an intimate part of Chadds Ford is significant.”
Though Kuerner was the only native Chadds Ford artist showing, other Chadds Ford area residents took part.
Jacalyn Beam, of Pennsbury Township, who began the plein air event at the Chadds Ford Historical Society, was the donating artist this year, and it was only the second time for her showing at the school.
“This is a great show. It supports educational programming, which is so important,” she said.
Chadds Ford photographers Rob Porter and Bob Lott were showing this year, as was Jerry Dowling, of Concord Township, who studied for a time with Kuerner.
Chadds Ford photographer Rob Porter checks out a photo someone took on her cell phone.
Dowling, like Beam, said supporting the school is important. “It means hometown to me,” he said.
Judy McCabe Jarvis, a former Chadds Ford resident, also said it’s important to help the school. Her ties to CFES include that fact her two daughters went to the school.
This year’s featured artist was Len Garon, who has no residential ties to the Chadds Ford area but has been showing at the event for longer than any of the others. Garon has been in the show for 37 years and the featured artist three times.
“I love this show, the food and the people, the school tradition and the Wyeth connection,” Garon said. “The people are arty and real, and everybody is a volunteer. It’s nice to come back every year and see old faces and renew friendships.”
This year’s featured artist Len Garon marks a card letting shoppers know the painting has been sold.
Another artist from Concord Township is Annette Alessi, who has her own Wyeth connection in the person of Helga Testorf who gained notoriety as the model in more than 40 Andrew Wyeth paintings and drawings.
Testorf said she saw Alessi’s art for the first time at the CFES show about three years ago and fell in love with her work. “She’s my protégé,” Testorf said.
The Chadds Ford Elementary School Art Sale and Show is a fundraising event for the school’s PTO with 30 percent of the sale price of each piece being donated to the PTO. Final figures for the two-day event were not available at press time, but event Chairman Nichole Scull said Saturday that Friday night grossed roughly $30,000.
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.
Doris L. Heher, of Nottingham, died Wednesday, March 22, at her residence. She was the wife of John F. Heher who died in 2010, and with whom she shared 51 years of marriage.
Doris L. Heher
Born in West Grove, she was the daughter of the late Robert earl and Phyllis Reeves Hilaman.
Doris was president and CEO of Brandywine Medical Management Services in West Grove for 30 years, retiring in 2014.
She was a member of Assumption BVM Church in West Grove, many business organizations, and the Models Guild in Philadelphia for 20 years.
She enjoyed antiquing and being with her family and friends.
Doris is survived by one son, Brian E. Heher and his wife Sharon of Nottingham; one daughter, Colleen Dugger and her husband Frank of Tennessee; her twin brother, Donald Hilaman of Springfield; five grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by one son, Sean Heher.
You may visit with her family and friends from 10 to 10:45 a.m. on Thursday, March 30, at Assumption BVM Church, 300 State Road, West Grove. Her funeral mass will follow at 11. Burial will be the Oxford Cemetery, Route 10 in Oxford.
In memory of Doris, a contribution may be made to Brandywine River Valley Hospice, 121 Bell Tower Lane, Oxford, PA 19363
Brandywine in Black organizors Vince Moro and Elizabeth Roche welcome the 165 guests
Brandywine in Black was “wildly” successful—With a Pop of Pink—as elegantly dressed partygoers dined and danced among the dinosaurs, bears and leopards on display at the Delaware Museum of Natural History in Greenville, Delaware, Saturday, March 25. Co-organizer Elizabeth Roche explained that she and event founder Vince Moro decided on pink as the accent color at the March on Washington. “Everywhere Vince and I looked we saw pink, pink, pink,” and we decided, “That’s our color for this
Jill Dal Nogare added miniature dinosaurs at the base of her floral arrangement
year’s Brandywine in Black!”
The secret location of the gala, revealed to ticket holders only 48 hours prior to the event, fueled the excitement and anticipation for the high-energy partygoers who brought their own dishes, table arrangements, food and wine. For many guests, it was their first Brandywine in Black. For others, it is a not-to-be missed date on their calendars. Devotee Margot Williams of Wilmington, Delaware, explained that for her and her friends, “This is a nice way to kick off our spring season of celebrations.”
Brandywine in Black tables decorated by participants
Tables for two, four, and eight people and long “community” tables were prepared for the invasion to the museum when the doors opened at 6 pm. Some friends reserved multiple tables for their own party within a party. Creativity and humor were abundant in the fierce competition for best table-scape design. Jill Dal Nogare added miniature dinosaurs at the base of her floral arrangement, a nod to the host location. “We found them at Walmart, and thought it would be fun to include them,” laughed Dal Nogare.
The winner of the competition, for the fourth straight year, was Diane Bartels and her gal pals from Delaware and Pennsylvania. Their table design, inspired by The Pink Panther, was the “cat’s meow.” The clever pink cat, dressed in hand sewn forma lwear trousers and sporting a diamond stud in his ear, sat next to an enormous “diamond” atop an elegant chandelier. When asked if this chandelier was the same one she used last year, Bartels laughed and said, “Oh, no, this is a different chandelier!” Bartels adorned each dinner plate and wine glass with a paw print and carried out the Pink Panther/Detective Jacques Clouseau theme with a detective’s magnifying glass on each plate.
Brandywine in Black sponsor Union Park Jaguar’s general manager Thym Smith (L) with David “Hap” Mearns (R)
Several woman wore stunning shoes in a spectrum of pink shades, hoping to snag first prize in the shoe competition. The ultimate winner was Sara Krausz of Chadds Ford, who wore shocking pink stilettos trimmed in silver. If there was a “best sport” prize in the shoe competition, that prize would surely go to Krausz, too, as she was still recovering from an ankle injury sustained while running in the Beau Biden Foundation Trail Run 5k/10k the previous weekend.
Brandywine in Black and its summer cousin “Brandywine in White” are the Brandywine Valley’s most sought after Pop-Up BYOs and the brainchild of Vince Moro. Moro was inspired to organize the first Brandywine in White when he was unsuccessful in his attempt to purchase tickets to Philly’s “Diner en Blanc.” Since Moro hosted the first Brandywine in White on his farm in Chadds Ford, the events have gained a loyal following.
In addition to being great parties, Brandywine in Black/White are also fundraisers, which support conservation and open space. The focus this year was the efforts of Neighbors For Crebilly (www.savecrebilly.org), a local advocacy group formed last summer, which hopes to redirect the
Ann Vandiver pours homemade strawberrycello to share
outcome of the proposed development of Crebilly Farm. Crebilly Farm is an iconic 322-acre farm that is part of Brandywine Battlefield and the site of some of the first skirmishes of our country’s Revolutionary War. The development plan will forever change history if the proposed 319 homes and town homes replace Crebilly farmland.
The net proceeds from Brandywine in Black will help offset the costs of legal counsel, defense pool, professional consultants and the continued costs of outreach. $8500 was raised at this event with 165 people in attendance. The fact that Brandywine in Black and Brandywine in White are much fun and benefit so many well-deserving area non-profits is a win-win for all.
Lora has a passion for art, gardening, yoga, music and dancing. She continues to research the life of locally born abolitionist and 1998 National Women's Hall of Fame inductee Mary Ann Shadd Cary. She is a dedicated community volunteer, working with the American Association of University Women, Wilmington, DE branch (programs chair), Chadds Ford Historical Society (former board member) and Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art.
Lora lives in Birmingham Township with her husband Bill and son Brad. Daughter Erika lives in Pittsburgh with husband Bob and baby Wilhelmina. She is a former French, Spanish and ESL teacher, bilingual life insurance underwriter and public relations coordinator for Delaware Art Museum and Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art.
Margaret “Mac” McLaughlin Irwin, 95, of Avondale, died Tuesday, March 22, at Brandywine Assisted Living at Longwood, in Kennett Square. She was the wife of the late Jay V. Irwin who died in 2014 and with whom she shared 68 years of marriage.
Margaret “Mac” McLaughlin Irwin
Born in Newtown Square, she was the daughter of the late Thomas Francis and the late Edna (Dutton) McLaughlin. Margaret graduated from Chester County School of Nursing and served our country during WWII as a Navy nurse at Camp Lejeune. It was there that she met her husband.
She was a proud member of the Needlework Guild for over 70 years and served as treasurer of the West Grove branch, which later became Community New Garment Association. She was a member of West Grove Presbyterian Church for 68 years.
Margaret loved time spent with family and enjoyed music, travel, the beach, and chocolate. She never met a stranger, as all who encountered “Mac” became her friend.
Survivors include one son, Jay Richard Irwin (Leigh) of Garland, Texas; three daughters, Deborah L. Schleifer (Robert) of Rockwall, Texas, Diane Irwin Schmidt of Bear, Del., and Marcia L. Case (Jeffrey) of West Chester; nine grandchildren, Dawn, Kim, Todd, Nathan, Lori, “Ollie”, Tyler, Braden, and Logan and fourteen great-grandchildren, Christopher, Sean, Gavin, Kylie, Raina, Laney, Hailey, Aiden, Rylin, Presley, Jude, Bowen, Ella, and Makena.
She was predeceased by two brothers, Robert McLaughlin of State College, PA and Wilbur McLaughlin of Walnut Creek, Calif.
You are invited to visit with Margaret’s family and friends from 9-11 a.m., Monday, April 10, at the Foulk & Grieco Funeral Home Inc. (610-869-2685), 200 Rose Hill Rd., West Grove, PA 19390. A memorial service celebrating her life will follow at 11. Interment in Arlington Cemetery in Newtown Square will be held privately. Contributions in her memory may be made to Community New Garment Association, c/o Kathryn Steele, President, 1 Sumner Lane, West Grove, PA 19390.
To view her online tribute and to share a memory with her family, please visit www.griecocares.com.
Attilio “Pete” Ciorrocco, 90, of Toughkenamon, died Saturday, March 25, at his home surrounded by his family. He was the husband of Aleene Kugler Ciorrocco, with whom he shared 60 years of marriage.
Attilio “Pete” Ciorrocco
Born in Toughkenamon, he was a son of the late Attilio and the late Serafina (Cordivano) Ciorrocco. Mr. Ciorrocco served our country in the Army stateside during the Korean War.
He and his brother Dominic owned D&A Ciorrocco Mushrooms. He was a longtime member of St. Gabriel Catholic Church. He was a past Committee chair of Boy Scout Troop 191 in Avondale and served on the executive board of the Chester County Council, Boy Scouts of America as the camping chairman for Camp Horseshoe Scout Reservation. He was a member of the Italian American Club and Sons of Italy in Kennett Square.
In addition to his wife, Pete is survived by two sons, Peter Ciorrocco and his wife Patricia of Downingtown, and Joseph Ciorrocco of West Chester; two daughters, Andrea Parrett and her husband Donald of West Grove, and Nancy Ciorrocco of Park City, Utah; one sister, Mary DiMarzio of Glenn Mills; three grandchildren, Matthew Werner, Michelle Bickings, and Joanna Parrett and two great-grandchildren, David and Christopher.
He was predeceased by three sisters, Helen Ciorrocco, Laura Pratola, and Ethel Pescatore and two brothers, Dominic Ciorrocco and Daniel Ciorrocco.
The family would like to acknowledge Willowtree Hospice for their care and kindness during their time of need.
You are invited to visit with Pete’s family and friends from 9-11 a.m. Thursday, March 30, at St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother Church 8910 Gap Newport Pike, (Route 41) Avondale, PA 19311. His Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11. Interment will be in St. Patrick Cemetery, Kennett Square. Contributions in his memory may be made to either St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother, PO Box 709 Avondale, PA 19311 or to Willowtree Hospice 616 East Cypress Street Kennett Square, PA 19348. Arrangements are by Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home Inc. (610-444-4116) of Kennett Square. To view his online tribute and to share a memory with his family, please visit www.griecocares.com
Asking “Dr. Google” about your symptoms may cause more anxiety than you anticipated.
Worrying needlessly about your health is easy to do, especially with instant access to a world of medical knowledge at your fingertips. You feel a slight twinge in your side or a sudden headache and ask “Dr. Google” what’s wrong by searching for your symptoms. In a matter of moments, you’ve convinced yourself the twinge you felt is a rare disease that will be your ultimate demise.
The good news is, statistically speaking, you likely don’t have whatever disease you’ve self-diagnosed through the internet. However, the bad news is worrying about your health constantly can create its own set of health problems.
Anxiety and Heart Health
Researchers examined the health records of more than 7,000 people in a recent study. They found that people who reported a high level of anxiety about their health were 70 percent more likely to have developed heart disease over the course of the 13 year study. This led the researchers to conclude that health-related anxiety should be considered a potential risk factor for coronary heart disease.
The connection between anxiety and heart disease is likely from a hormone called cortisol. In times of stress, your adrenal glands release cortisol as part of the body’s “fight or flight” response. This is a good thing in the short-term, since it helps use survive in an emergency situation. However, when the organs in your body are exposed to cortisol consistently over the long-term, it creates health issues. When it comes to your heart, this can result in increased risk for heart disease, heart attack and strokes.
Tips to Reduce Health Anxiety
Health anxiety, sometimes called hypochondria of illness anxiety disorder, is the preoccupation with getting sick. People who experience this condition may misinterpret normal bodily functions, such as a noisy stomach or a minor ache, with something more serious. One of the problems with health anxiety is people who experience it frequently seek reassurance for small things that aren’t actually health problems, but out of fear avoid seeking help for more significant symptoms that may be signs of an actual illness.
If you are experiencing health anxiety, the following strategies may help alleviate your symptoms:
Get a checkup: You should always feel comfortable consulting with your doctor about your symptoms. It’s better to find out there is nothing wrong than to continue worrying.
Follow your doctor’s advice: If your doctor examines you and determines you are not sick, ask for advice on how to alleviate the symptoms you are feeling. There may be other solutions that will help.
Don’t rule out therapy: Psychotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help with health anxiety. These solutions are not a sign of weakness, and can help reduce your anxiety and the physical symptoms it creates.
Consider medication: Like psychotherapy and CBT, antidepressants and antianxiety medications can also help to reduce or eliminate your health anxiety.
Change your diet and consult the experts: Dietary changes like avoiding caffeine and foods that create stomach upset can help to reduce anxiety. You should also consult a pharmacist before taking over-the-counter medications, since some can increase anxiety.
Overcoming health anxiety is possible, and it’s the right step to take in order to protect your heart. Don’t worry needlessly over questions about your health; talk to your doctor and get the actual answers.
Crozer-Keystone Health System’s physicians, specialists and advanced practitioners are committed to improving the health of our community through patient-centered, quality care across a full continuum of health services. Crozer Brinton Lake is Crozer-Keystone’s comprehensive outpatient care facility in western Delaware County, offering primary care, specialty services, outpatient surgery and advanced cancer treatment.
Contact us: 300 Evergreen Drive, Glen Mills, PA 19342 http://www.crozerkeystone.org/Brinton-Lake 1-855-254-7425
