Clouds and clearing
Just took this with my drone locally- John DeSimone
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April 6, 2017
Supervisors honor conservancy; call for traffic counts
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Brandywine Conservancy and River Museum of Art. The conservancy will have its 50th anniversary gala on April 29 and, last night, the Chadds Ford Board of Supervisors declared this April as “Brandywine Conservancy and River Museum of Art Appreciation Month.”
All three supervisors — Frank Murphy, Samantha Reiner and Noelle Barbone — read from the proclamation citing the conservancy for its dedication to preserving land as well as art.
Since its formation in 1967, the conservancy holds “460 conservation and agricultural easements and has contributed to the permanent preservation of more than 62,000 acres of farmlands, forests, water resources, historic sites and scenic vistas in Pennsylvania and Delaware,” Murphy read from the resolution.
The resolution also cited the conservancy’s 1971 creation of the Brandywine River Museum that has an international reputation and is dedicated to the preservation of American art “with primary emphasis on art from the Brandywine Region.”
After supervisors read the resolution, they presented a plaque to Virginia Logan, the conservancy’s executive director, and to conservancy Chairman of the Board Morris Stroud.
Other business
• During the main body of the April 5 meeting, supervisors voted to spend up to $5,000 for traffic counts to discover the number of vehicles traversing some roads in the township. This is in response to the concerns over the proposed widening of Ridge Road as part of the Pettinaro commercial development in Concord Township at Ridge Road and Route 202.
A fuller traffic study could cost anywhere from $20,000 to $50,000, Murphy said, but doing the traffic counts could determine whether a fuller study is warranted.
Township engineer Michael Schneider will set up the parameters for the counts, but intersections to be looked at include Heyburn and Ridge roads, Ridge and 202 and the intersections along Route 202 from Ridge Road north to Route 1.
• Tpr. Tim Greene, the community affairs officer at the Pennsylvania State Police Media barracks, told supervisors that there has been an increase in daytime home burglaries in the area. He said the general routine is for criminals to ring the bell or knock on the front door. If there’s no answer, they go to the rear of the home and attempt to break in through the back door.
Greene reminded people to report any suspicious activity they might see in the area. He added that the police would like to have a list of any businesses tat have surveillance cameras that might help solve crimes. He said the list would remain confidential.
• The board postponed a vote on adopting an updated comprehensive plan until the next workshop on April 26.
• Township Manager Amanda Serock announced that the township would hold its annual recycling day in conjunction with the Civic Association’s Road Clean Up Day on Saturday, April 22. In addition, the official opening of the Harvey Run Trail would be the following Saturday, April 29.
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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Blogging Along the Brandywine: Mozart, Mendelssohn and Mimi
The concert of the Kennett Symphony Orchestra at Longwood Gardens on Sunday evening, April 2 was more than a concert. It was a festival for the ears, eyes, nose and soul as well, the perfect experience to bring one out of the doldrums of winter.
The evening’s experience started as the audience was invited to walk to the conservatory in the warm colors of a springtime sunset. Shuttles were available although many people walked. As they entered the large East Conservatory guests were immediately greeted by the aroma of orchids, the warm smell of green plants and earth, so sorely missed during the winter.
After strolling along the conservatory pond, guests were ushered into the centrally located Exhibition Hall. The familiar sunken marble floor is usually seen covered with a few inches of water to reflect seasonal floral themes. But tonight, the floor was drained creating the perfect concert venue.
Michael Hall, currently in his third season as Musical Director of the orchestra, has brought new vision and direction to the Kennett Symphony Orchestra with noteworthy results. Before the concert started, Paul Merluzzi, president of the orchestra’s board of directors announced this concert was the unprecedented third sell-out in a row.
The orchestra opened the evening with a gentle pastorale by the 20th century Swiss composer Arthur Honegger. Written in 1920, the composition avoided the rough edges and atonality of many 20th century compositions, making it the perfect accompaniment as the audience watched the sun set through the glass paned roof of Exhibition Hall.
The true star of the evening was flutist Mimi Stillman, acclaimed by the New York Times as “a consummate and charismatic performer.”
Indeed, Stillman was the youngest wind student to be accepted into the Curtis Institute of Music at age 12, graduating in 4 years with her music degree in 1999.
Despite being a non-transposing or “C” instrument, the flute is challenging to play. Rather than blowing into it as one would a whistle or other wind instrument, the performer blows across the mouthpiece. Many a young flute student has struggled for days or weeks before even being able to make a sound on their new instrument.
In her performance of Mozart’s Flute Concerto in D Major, Stillman made it look not only easy but fun. During the cadenza of the final allegro movement, Stillman, the music and the flute were inseparable – they were one. A cadenza is freely played solo which gives the soloist a chance to show their virtuosity, while the orchestra is silent. It is rare to witness such a performance and the audience rewarded her with a standing ovation.
Stillman changed pace with the richer sounds of Vittorio Monti’s Czardas, an 18th century dance form of eastern Europe and Russia. One of the high points was a brief antiphonal duet with concertmaster, first violinist Eliezer Gutman.
Rather than playing in the traditional manner, Gutman reached the high pitches through playing harmonics, achieved by lightly touching a string instead of a full stop. It is a difficult technique. The results were beautiful.
The orchestras final selection was Mendelssohn’s familiar Symphony No. 4 in A Major, the Italian Symphony. Even non-music aficionados of a certain age, recognize it as the theme from the soundtrack of the 1979 film Breaking Away.
However, the evening wasn’t over. As the audience walked back to the Longwood Visitors Center with stars twinkling in the clear night air, the music was still ringing in their ears and hearts.
Director Michael Hall had achieved the perfect concert experience.
Bravo !
About Sally Denk Hoey
Sally Denk Hoey, is a Gemini - one part music and one part history. She holds a masters degree cum laude from the School of Music at West Chester University. She taught 14 years in both public and private school. Her CD "Bard of the Brandywine" was critically received during her almost 30 years as a folk singer. She currently cantors masses at St Agnes Church in West Chester where she also performs with the select Motet Choir. A recognized historian, Sally serves as a judge-captain for the south-east Pennsylvania regionals of the National History Day Competition. She has served as president of the Brandywine Battlefield Park Associates as well as the Sanderson Museum in Chadds Ford where she now curates the violin collection. Sally re-enacted with the 43rd Regiment of Foot and the 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment for 19 years where she interpreted the role of a campfollower at encampments in Valley Forge, Williamsburg, Va., Monmouth, N.J. and Lexington and Concord, Mass. Sally is married to her college classmate, Thomas Hoey, otherwise known as "Mr. Sousa.”
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Adopt-a-Pet April 6
Come meet all the wonderful animals available now for adoption at the Brandywine Valley SPCA. All featured pets are “Name Your Price” adoption fee until Monday, April 10. Not ready to adopt? Then sponsor a pet and provide a safe place for our companions to rest until they find their forever homes. Help us give them a second chance at a fresh start.
AJ
I like to think of myself as a handsome little panther. I’m stealth in my cage here at the shelter because I’m a little overwhelmed, but the reward for a gentle touch and a quiet approach is a purr that my friends here say is calming and mesmerizing. I’m hoping for a quiet home where I can feel safe and loved again. Stop by to meet me so I can win you over with my charms.
BRINA
Our volunteers say I’m large and in charge, and I’m OK with that. That just means there’s lot of me to love. And I’ve got lots of love to give back. I’m a social and confident 7-year old girl who would do well in a home with older kids since I like to do things on my terms. I am a cat, after all, right? I was lucky a volunteer took these stunning photos of me, but wait until you see how gorgeous I am in person.
LEIA
They say I’m special because I don’t have a tail, something called a Manx. I don’t really care about that tail thing and want to feel the kind of special that comes with having a family. I’m a small 2-year old gal who isn’t quite sure about this big cat room I live in, but once you let me sniff you out, I’ll completely melt from your touch. I do fine hanging with the other cats. I just want a little spot for little me to hang out and call my own. Have room to make that spot for me in your home?
GENJI
I’m all ears. Yes, I do think you’ll love my crazy-cute ears, but I’m also a great listener and quite a smart boy. I know lots of commands, including sit, stay, laydown and shake. My friends here at the shelter think I’d make a great dog for a family with kids, and I sure do love all the people I meet. I’d prefer to be the only fur-member in my family, though. I’m also so smart that I can climb fences, so I need a family who will enjoy taking me on fun leash walks together. I’m just under 2 years old and have all the makings of a great family dog, so I just need you to come on by to sweep me off my paws and into my forever family.
PEPPY PATTON
Do I look like a bunny? I don’t think I’m a bunny, but the folks here say I’m like some guy named Energizer Bunny. I’m only 3 years old, after all, so I do like my fun in big doses. The only catch to all that jazz at the moment is that I’m heartworm positive, so I do need a family to see me through finishing my treatments. I almost didn’t get that chance, until the BVSPCA Second Chance Program rescued me from a high intake shelter. So I’m ready for that second chance. Now, where are you, family?
ANGUS
Who loves life as much as I do? I’m super friendly, I’ve done well meeting other dogs at the shelter, and I’m pretty much all puppy even though I’m about 3 years old. I like people so much that I can be a little jumpy, so I might do best in a home with bigger kids. I’m hoping for a family who will have lots of time to play with me and enjoy long walks together. And being that I’m so cute, who wouldn’t want to show me off in their neighborhood?
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Around Town April 5
• Natural Lands Trust is planning two tree plantings this weekend in Chester County. The first is Friday, April 7, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Stroud Preserve. (Use private entrance: 449 Lucky Hill Rd., West Chester.) The goal is to plant 300 trees and 50 shrubs at the preserve. On Saturday, April 8, also from 9 to noon, NLT hopes to plant 500 trees and 100 shrubs at its 1,263-acre ChesLen Preserve. No experience necessary to volunteer; instructions and tools will be provided. Older kids (12+) are great helpers, so bring them along. These events are free of charge, but pre-registration is requested. Go to natlands.org/events to register.
• The Concord Township Easter Egg Hunt will take place Saturday, April 8 with the Easter Bunny arriving at 11 a.m. Children should bring their own baskets to participate in the egg hunt which will begin at 11:15 a.m. sharp. Enjoy crafts, snacks and more. The 11 a.m. event is at the Park & Rec Building, 40 Bethel Road.
• Author Christina Baker Kline will have a discussion and book signing at the Brandywine River Museum of Art on Tuesday, April 11, from 6 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 for members and $20 for non-members. They are available at http://www.brandywine.org/museum/events or by calling 610-388-8326. She will give a short reading from her new book, “A Piece of the World,” and share the true story behind the novel, which focuses on Christina Olson, the model for Andrew Wyeth’s iconic painting, “Christina’s World.”
• The Kennett Area Senior Center invites you to attend our popular monthly Tea Party, Tuesday, April 11, from 2-3:30 p.m. The theme is “Easter Parade.” Ladies are encouraged to wear their favorite Easter bonnet. Enjoy homemade tea sandwiches, desserts and fine teas, all prepared by our KASC Tea Committee. Cost is $10 for members and $12 for non-members. Reservations can be made by calling 610-444-4819.
• Surround yourself with wildflowers this spring at the 13th annual Wildflower Celebration at Mt. Cuba on Sunday, April 23. This daylong, free event invites people of all ages to learn and play in nature. Discover rare and beautiful wildflowers, observe tadpoles in the iconic ponds, and enjoy family-friendly activities at Mt. Cuba Center’s annual springtime festival. The first 1,000 families that attend the celebration will receive a free native plant to bring home. This year’s plant is Chocolate white snakeroot, or Ageratina altissima ‘Chocolate’, which blooms with small, white flowers in early September and delights all summer with deep burgundy leaves.
• Walk MS is planned for 10 a.m. Saturday, April 23 at Ridley Creek State Park. Walk MS unites teams of families, friends, neighbors and co-workers to raise funds that drive groundbreaking MS research, provide life-changing services and guarantee a supportive community for those who need it most. More than 800 people are expected to raise more than $113,000 at the event. Walk MS has been in existence since 1988 and has raised close to $1 billion.
• Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library is planning several Friday evenings of live music, guided garden walks, refreshments, and other attractions in varied locations in the new Winterthur After Hours. The casual series, which will run through November, will be in the Galleries Reception Area and on the East Gallery Patio, from 5:30-8 pm. Tickets are “pay what you wish” and can be reserved at http://www.winterthur.org or at 302.888.4600. Beer, wine, and food can be purchased in the beer garden set up each evening. The next event will be April 28 and will feature the band Marlboro Road.
• State Rep. Eric Roe, R-158, is hosting an open house at his East Marlborough Township district office at 400 Old Forge Lane, Suite 407, on Friday, April 28 from noon-6 p.m. Roe said in a press release that the open house is an opportunity to discuss local and state-related issues over light refreshments. If you have any questions, call the office at 610-388-3100.
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