Arthur “Bugs” Harrison, 86, a lifelong resident of Kennett Square, died at his home on Saturday, July 8. He is survived by his wife, Patricia, with whom he shared 54 loving years of marriage.
Born in Kennett Square, he was the son of the late Charles and the late Marie (O’Neill) Harrison. After receiving his education, Arthur enrolled in the U.S. Air Force and served during the Korean conflict. He then went on to become a plumber working for Jenkins & McMahon and the Borough of Kennett Square.
When Arthur wasn’t working, he greatly enjoyed taking road trips all over the East Coast with his family. He was also an avid sports fan; he loved the Yankees, the Giants, and the Celtics. Arthur was an active member of the American Legion Post 00491, the VFW Post 5467, and the Italian American Citizens’ League.
Along with his wife, Patricia, Arthur is survived by his children, Charlie and his wife Michelle of West Grove; Sean of Lewes, DE; and Marie of West Chester. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Matthew, Lexi, Carissa and Curtis.
Arthur was predeceased by his brother, Charles L. Harrison, his sister, Liza McKenna, and his son, James “Bugsy” Harrison.
A graveside service will be held privately for the family at St. Patrick’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Arthur’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105.
To view his online tribute and to share a memory with his family, please visit www.griecocares.com
Shutters flutter at the unveiling of the Andrew Wyeth Forever Stamps
Chadds Ford neighbors, art fans and philatelists stormed the Brandywine River Museum of Art courtyard Wednesday to get their hands on the newly minted Andrew Wyeth Forever Stamps. The official ceremony to unveil the stamps was a steamy affair even though a white tent provided some relief from the blazing hot sun. Ironically, or fittingly, the ceremony was hosting by WPVI-TV meteorologist Cecily Tynan.
Everyone has his or her own personal “Wyeth story,” and Tynan shared hers. She recounted
Cecily Tynan opens the ceremony
that on her wedding day her groom went jogging in Chadds Ford. He encountered Andrew Wyeth as he was painting. “He had white dabs of paint under his nose from where he missed his mouth while trying to wet his brush,” she said laughingly.
Patrick Mendonca, Senior Director, Office of the Postmaster General, USPS, spoke of the twelve individual works that inspired each stamp. He reminded everyone of how determined Wyeth was to capture the essence of the people and the surroundings of Chadds Ford, and how excellently he succeeded. “These Forever Stamps are timeless, just like the work of Andrew Wyeth,” he said. “They will continue to touch people every day,” he added.
Director of the Brandywine Conservancy and Museum of Art Virginia A. Logan spoke next, telling the visitors, “How lucky you are to be able to go inside and see one of the best exhibitions of Andrew Wyeth’s work ever on display. She shared that, “The reproduction of Wyeth paintings on these stamps will extend the reach of his work.”
Jamie Wyeth at the podium
Jamie Wyeth knows something about working with the USPS. In 1971, he designed a Christmas stamp for them. He chose to illustrate the beginning lyrics from the Christmas favorite, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” He chuckled as he remembered the USPS calling him after he was well underway with the painting to tell him the denomination had changed from six cents to eight cents. “So, I very carefully changed the “six” to an “eight” and sent the painting on to Washington,” he said. “Then, I get another call saying they want me to change the phrase “my true love gave to me” to “my true love sent to me. So, I fixed that and sent the painting back again,” he continued. “Subsequently, after nine hundred million stamps were printed, the USPS received thousands of letters telling them the wording should have been, “my true love gave to me!” Wyeth concluded his remarks about his father’s stamps saying, “I can’t wait to use them!”
“The Andrew Wyeth Forever Stamps seemed like forever in the making,” said Karen Baumgartner who is in charge of rights and reproductions for the Andrew Wyeth Office. “We were asked to avoid paintings with people in them due to privacy issues. For Big Room, 1988, which has pictures on the fireplace mantel, we had to get permission from the families of every single person depicted.” “We were able to include Christina’s World in the series because Betsy Wyeth was the model for the painting, and she said, ‘yes.’”
Mary Landa, Collections Manager for the Andrew and Betsy Wyeth Collections, and husband Michael Landa
Chadds Ford resident Michael Landa, new products manager for a division of Avery Dennison, took personal pride in the Wyeth stamps festivities. Years ago, working with the United States Postal Service, he perfected the self-stick stamp, as we know it today.
State Representative Stephen E. Barrar arrived after the ceremony, but many people returned to the tent to hear him announce that the Pennsylvania House of Representatives had declared July 12 “Andrew Wyeth Day.”
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.
Harmony, remains hospitalized in critical condition.
***Update: The SPCA has reported that Harmony died this morning, Friday, July 14. End Update***
Four days after fire broke out at the Brandywine Valley SPCA New Castle, Del., Campus most of the fire victims have been placed up for adoption and one cat remains hospitalized in critical condition.
The fire was the result of a car crashing into the building shortly after midnight last Sunday.
Nearly 100 animals were evacuated from the fire scene. One cat, Harmony, remains hospitalized in critical condition. At the time of the fire, Harmony was housed in the area behind the vehicle point of impact, the same location where three other cats lost their lives.
Harmony suffered smoke inhalation and burns to her pads and face. She was immediately taken from the scene to a local veterinarian and is now in the care of a specialty veterinary hospital. She was initially on oxygen and IV fluids but has become strong enough to be taken off of oxygen. She continues to have no appetite, so yesterday the medical team fit her with a feeding tube to help her rebuild her strength.
The other surviving animals cleared medical reviews with no significant issues. Following the fire, they were moved to temporary housing until space could be opened in the BVSPCA’s other facilities.
“Thanks to an amazing response from the community and our friends in animal welfare to adopt or transfer animals that were in our other facilities at the time of the fire, we’ve been able to open space and move all of the adoption candidates from the fire into in our other campuses,” said Adam Lamb, BVSPCA CEO. Most are at the BVSPCA West Chester Campus.
The New Castle facility continues to be closed. Work on rebuilding began on Sunday, the day of the fire. Power has been partially restored to the building, a remediation team began working on water and smoke damage on Sunday, and construction crews have begun work on the shelter side of the building. The veterinary clinic will be a longer-term rebuilding project. A timeline for partial re-opening has not yet been established based on the number of variables involved in rebuilding.
The organization’s biggest need right now is monetary support to recover from the financial impact of the fire, such as medical treatment and temporary housing costs as well as lost revenue from the clinic that funded the organization’s work. Donations can be made at https://fundly.com/bvspca-new-castle-campus-fire
The following animals are ready to be adopted from the Brandywine Valley SPCA in West Chester.
Farrah
Farrah
Farrah gives all of Charlie’s Angels a run for their money. This sweet and gentle 6-year-old would make a wonderful companion. She prefers to be the only kitty, but who wouldn’t have a little diva going on with these gorgeous looks. Farrah’s adoption fee is “name your price” through Sunday, July 16.
Louie
Louie
Louie is the cutest thing you’ll ever lay your eyes on. This 3-year-old is a big baby who’s always anxious to please. He’s housebroken, loves other dogs, and could do well in a home with kids. What more could you ask for? Louie’s adoption fee is “name your price” through Sunday, July 16.
For more information, go to www.bvspca.org or phone 610-692-6113.
Because of last weekend’s fire that damaged the BVSPCA’s New Castle facility, more adoptions are going through the West Chester facility. For information on how to donate to help the BVSPCA, go to recover:https://fundly.com/bvspca-new-castle-campus-fire
The Swinging Foxes perform at the Brandywine River Museum of Art on Friday, July 14.
• Music is back at the Brandywine River Museum of Art with Concerts in the Courtyard: The Swinging Foxes on Friday, July 14, from 6-9 p.m. Enjoy tight boogie-woogie, sultry jazz, and sassy rhythm and blues by this vibrant and riveting group. Deliciously and unabashedly retro, The Swinging Foxes will lead you on a striking romp through the sounds of the ‘40s and ‘50s. Prices on the day of the concert are $20 for members; $25, nonmembers; and $10, students. Cash bar and food available for purchase.
Ken Liester of the Bluebird Society of Pennsylvania chats with a group at Brandywine Ace, Pet & Farm.
• Brandywine Ace, Pet & Farm is hosting another of its popular Bluebird Chats on Wednesday, July 19 at 10 a.m. Ken Liester of the Bluebird Society of Pennsylvania will be moderating the casual roundtable discussion. Attendees are welcome to discuss any topic related to bluebirds and are encouraged to share tips and photos. Pre-registration is not required for this free event; coffee and donuts will be served. Attendees will receive a discount on bluebird houses, feeders and seed.
• The Chester County Health Department is offering free technical assistance to Chester County businesses interested in starting or improving their worksite wellness program. Through this collaborative program, the department will help businesses select and implement effective strategies to encourage healthy eating and physical activity in employees. County businesses interested in receiving technical assistance on their worksite wellness efforts should complete a short survey (www.surveymonkey.com/r/CCHDworksite) to determine eligibility. This project is funded by the Pa. Department of Health’s Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant.
• The Chester County 4-H is exploring a variety of science topics. The 4-H National Youth Science Day projects will include wind, drones, rockets and hydrogels. This camp will be hands on and give participants the opportunity to explore many facets of science. The program will be held 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. from July 31 to Aug. 4 at the Romano 4-H Center, 1841 Horseshoe Pike in Honey Brook. The registration fee is $75, but if you choose to participate in our afternoon Quilting Quest program the fee is reduced, and free lunch care is provided. Scholarships are available. Registrations are processed in the Penn State Extension/Chester County office. The registration form and more details are available at http://extension.psu.edu/4-h/counties/chester/news/2017/2017-4-h-summer-camps or by calling the Extension Office at 610-696-3500.
