July 19, 2017 - ChaddsFordLive.com

Christmas in July at Olde Ridge Village

Local News, Local News Chadds Ford, Local News Concord

_1JF2792-Kristin-Cringes — Kristin Totoro of Salon Sestra prepares to take the plunge for fun during Christmas in July at Olde Ridge Village.

Ted Stavrakis serves up some hot dogs and spinach pies.

The merchants in Olde Ridge Village found a way to break the doldrums of summer heat and humidity with a Christmas in July event on July 19. There were a moon bounce and a dunk tank along with free food, water ice and other munchies.

Santa comes to Christmas in July but in his summer civvies.

One of the merchants isn’t even a merchant at the shopping center yet. Ted Stavrakis, formerly of Teddy’s Place, will be opening Ann’s Kitchen where Chef Anthony and Pagano’s used to be. Though his restaurant won’t open until September, Stavrakis was grilling hot dogs and serving spinach pies and stuffed grape leaves.

Pinot’s Palette had discounts going while Iron Workers Bank offered pretzels and Giggy Bites was offering samples of dog food and pet treats for the four-legged visitors.

And Santa was on hand, too, though sans his iconic red suit, elves or reindeer.

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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Elephant tranquilizer now in Chester County

Police

The Chester County District Attorney’s Office and Chester County Coroner’s Office announced that the presence of carfentanil, a synthetic narcotic used to tranquilize elephants, has been confirmed in a Chester County overdose death. As a result of that overdose death, a Phoenixville man has been arrested by the Phoenixville Borough Police Department for Drug Delivery Resulting in Death and related charges.

According to Chester County Coroner Dr. Gordon Eck, “Carfentanil is an extremely potent synthetic opioid that is often disguised as heroin or mixed with heroin. Carfentanil is incredibly dangerous because it is 10,000 times more powerful than heroin and 100 times more powerful than fentanyl. Because of the drug’s potency and its ability to be absorbed through the skin, only properly trained and equipped professionals should handle any substance suspected to contain carfentanil. If you suspect that you have been exposed to carfentanil, seek immediate medical attention.”

Phoenixville Police Chief Tom Sjostrom stated, “This was great work by our officers who were able to follow through and make the arrest. We will continue to work with the Chester County District Attorney’s Office in an effort to combat this new threat to our community and first responders. Our officers have to take extra precautions knowing that any contact with heroin might also mean contact with carfentanil, which could have deadly consequences.”

District Attorney Tom Hogan said, “Drug traffickers and drug users are engaged in a vicious cycle. The addicts, with their bodies and brains desensitized by repeated drug use, need stronger and stronger drugs to keep up their high. The drug dealers are only too happy to sell the addicts stronger drugs, like carfentanil, regardless of the risks. The end result is more money for the dealers and more dead bodies on the streets.”

The defendant is 20-year-old Damon Alfred Eskridge of Railroad Street, Phoenixville.

According to the criminal complaint, Phoenixville police, on July 4, were dispatched for a possible heroin overdose to a home on Second Avenue. Upon arrival, investigators found a 34 year-old male unresponsive.

During a search of the deceased’s bedroom, investigators found numerous empty heroin bags, some still containing suspected heroin. There was a used hypodermic needle, commonly used to “shoot up” heroin, found next to the dead body.

Further investigation led to Eskridge who, on July 5, was charged with possession with the intent to deliver drugs, criminal use of a communication facility, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity and related charges. The defendant posted bail and was released.

On July 18, based on the toxicology findings, the Phoenixville Police issued a second criminal complaint for the defendant charging him additionally with drug delivery resulting in death. Judge Ted Michaels set bail at $1,000,000 cash and the defendant was remanded to Chester County Prison.

About CFLive Staff

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Panorama of West Chester University Planetarium installation

Art Watch: Solar is out of this world

Arts & Entertainment

Panorama of West Chester University Planetarium installation

West Chester University is steadily increasing the presence of art throughout its beautiful campus in West Chester Pennsylvania. The latest artistic space was created outside the entrance to WCU’s Mather Planetarium, located off the intersection of Church Street and Rosedale Avenue. Clay artist Rhoda Kahler was commissioned to create “Constellation” a mosaic installation of hand-built clay pieces, mirrors and tile that Rhoda made on site to surround the Planetarium doorways.

A large kinetic steel yellow and blue sculpture by Dave Beck commands the small central Planetarium quad, whose pathways lead through campus. About 300 feet from the Sun sculpture is a newly acquired kinetic, shiny steel sculpture “Naked Alien” by Jeff Kahn, that moves with the wind. Also recently acquired, and ready for installation, are 13 “Shadow” bronze sculptures by famous local artist Tom Bostelle. From most any pathway on campus, a student or visitor can see a work of art, and next year the University plans to make an “Art Walk”, a self-guided tour of art within the campus of West Chester University. The Planetarium art installation is just the latest in a larger plan to integrate expand the visibility of the arts across campus.

Last week, metal sculptor Dave Beck completed the installation of his large kinetic abstract steel sculpture representing the sun. Set directly across from Kahler’s mosaiced entrance to the Planetarium, Beck’s sculpture is of a large yellow sphere, encased in two layers of revolving blue metal domes. Dave Beck is an artist as well as the Senior Metal Fabricator for Longwood Gardens. At Longwood, he does “a little bit of everything” and works with the Longwood Design Studio for metal elements in display support. Through Unionville High School’s vo-tech program, and then Technical school for welding in Ohio, Dave has always loved working with metal. Ten years ago, he became interested in the more artistic side of metal working, but he “didn’t know how to approach it or get into it, but I was drawn to it.”

A life-changing “Metal Shaping” seminar opened up his eyes “to see a skill that I had, and how to harness it. It helped me to see shape within metal.” Six years ago Dave Beck took renown local sculptor Stan Smokler’s summer metal sculpture workshop, and that “was the icing on the cake! A light went off. It was one of the best weeks of my life.” This author feels the same way! From there Dave showed at the Unionville Art Gala, a great venue where many artists have shown for their first art show. From the Unionville Art Gala, he showed at The Chester County Studio Tour, and from that point on, his sculptures have been installed and exhibited all over Chester County. Dave Beck’s “Sun” sculpture is his first site specific public art commission, and it is open to public viewing anytime.

The first thing you notice about the large Sun sculpture is the color. For a sculpture to last outdoors, the most durable treatment is called “powder coating”, but powder coating can leave a very flat finish that take away all the interesting textures and nuances of a surface. To make the surface interesting, as well as powder coated, Dave Beck worked with the team at Brooks Powder Coating in West Chester to create multiple layers of different blues, as well as an iridescent blue, which all combine to give a very celestial, deepened blue surface. The blue demi-orbs spin around the yellow sun element. The sun element is peppered with textures and holes, and within the holes are solar powered lights that radiate in the evening. When the “Sun” lights up, the lights are reflected in the mirror tiles in Rhoda Kahler’s mosaic, and voila! We have the start of a constellation with lights reflecting above and below!

Rhoda Kahler is a very well known clay artist, art teacher, and mural installation artist. If you have not already done so, visit the art center on campus and see the gorgeous, huge mosaic installation called “Transition” which Rhoda Kahler did in 2013. The Tom Bostelle metal “Shadow” figures will be installed near “Transition”. Rhoda’s fascinating combination of handmade shapes, cut mirrors and tiles create unearthly forms that hover and float midst a deep watery blue green grout. It is gorgeous!

The Planetarium beautification project has been planned for many years, and has evolved in several stages. Under the supervision and guidance of Dr. John Baker, artist, and WCU Faculty emeritus and former chair of WCU’s Department of Art & Design, the Planetarium project took shape, received generous funding and is set for a public dedication ceremony August 21 at 6 pm. John Baker explained that they wanted to create a “destination space with an art component.” He explained tha ,”We are very fortunate to have such generous donors and alumni that support the arts. It is a shared vision to create a greater awareness of the visual arts throughout campus. We have had the support and aid of the administration, dean and university foundation.”

John Baker and the arts committee were responsible for choosing the artists for the site, and there were many long hours at every stage of the planning. The Planetarium not only serves as the main building for the WCU astronomy students, but also welcomes more than 2300 children, students and families in their public outreach programs every year.

The first stage of the Planetarium project was actually 3 years ago, when John Baker selected student art works to serve as a Planetarium gallery space along the interior curved hallway. The artworks are each very different from one another but very loosely share a theme of astronomy. The second phase of the project was to create an artistic fundraiser that would draw the eye and also acknowledge people that have donated to the Planetarium’s beautification. John Baker created an 8 inch shooting star, and then cast 200 of them. Currently 100 shooting stars travel around the middle of the Planetarium, all with the names of the many donors and friends of WCU. There are 100 more shooting stars to claim. If you would like to name a shooting star, or buy one in someone else’s name, please contact The West Chester University Foundation and they can arrange that to happen for a donation of $250 or more at https://www.wcufoundation.org/StarCampaign.

I asked John if there were any more stages to this Planetarium art project, and he said that they do have plans to set planet markers around campus that would circumvent Dave Beck’s Sun sculpture, in relative equidistance as our solar system’s planets are to our sun. It should be noted that every artistic concept was discussed thoroughly with the Planetarium’s Director and Project ASTRO Director, Dr. Karen Schwarz. Dr. Schwarz even discussed the shapes and choices for the hand-built ceramic forms that Rhoda Kahler incorporated into her Constellation mosaic. This was an enormous community effort, that now anyone can visit and enjoy.

Lele with basil from the North Campus Garden — Lele Galer with basil from the North Campus Garden

While I was waiting to interview Dr. Baker and Rhoda Kahler in the installation courtyard, I noticed an abundantly full garden of sunflowers and vegetables surrounding the sculpture area. A young woman named Gina Mertz, popped her head up from the garden space, said a big hello and handed me an armful of delicious smelling basil! Gina is a WCU garden intern for the North Campus garden outdoor classroom and demonstration garden. She explained that the honors students established the garden space and interns like her maintain it. The vegetables and herbs that are grown there are donated to local food banks and also available to the public, students and faculty. The gardens use no pesticides or herbicides, and it is stunning! Gina is justifiably proud of this beautiful garden, and wanted to be sure to get the word out about it. Gardens like this need helping hands, financial support and also people to enjoy the abundant healthy fresh greens. We made a delicious pesto that very night – thank you Gina and the rest of the North Campus garden team!

If you are looking for a wonderful free place to walk and enjoy thrilling art displays and beautiful organic gardens, park the car at West Chester University and have a delightful walk through campus. To meet the artists and the dozens of others involved in the Planetarium project, go to the opening ceremony at 6 pm on August 21st.

This week’s Art Watch Radio on WCHE am 1520 includes metal sculptors Dave Beck, Rob Sigafoos and Ellen Durkan, hosted by Lele Galer from 1-1:30 Wednesday July 18.

About Lele Galer

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.

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Raise the Steaks: Dreaming of the of dry age

Home and Leisure

You bring home a steak, cook it perfectly, enjoy every bite, and go to bed hours later, only to wake up not thinking of anything but the day ahead of you. That is fine for a day-to-day lifestyle, but occasionally, you need to escape. You need to wake up in the morning after dreaming about the meal from the night before. One way to ensure that happens…. Dry. Aged. Beef.

If I could legally wed a food, it would be a proper grilled cheese (Which I will be covering in a subsequent article), wild boar loin or bacon, or a true dry aged steak. Sadly, it is forbidden, which is, I’m sure, a relief to my girlfriend.

Oddly enough all three could be described as having the characteristic of just melting in your mouth.

Where to get Dry Age

In all seriousness, dry aged steaks are a delicacy that should be experienced at some point in one’s lifetime. It comes with a price, but this is one of the rare things that follow the “You get what you pay for” colloquialism. The flavor, the texture, the presentation; It is truly perfection on a plate.

If you have read my previous writings, I touch on the process of dry aging beef in my introductory article “Raise the Steaks: Major in Meat, Part 1”. The process can take some time, but isn’t necessarily difficult. That being said, there are countless articles that talk about the option or ability to dry age at home, in your refrigerator. I do not recommend this.

There are certain safety procedures and protocols that need to be followed, as you are essentially letting a piece of meat sit there, in an environment that needs to be perfect to allow for aging, while not letting it spoil. It is a balancing act that if not followed correctly, can lead to a subpar steak, wasted food or worse, a dangerous finished product.

It is my suggestion that you don’t take the easy or cheap way out. Shortcuts only work in traffic and keyboards. Go to a butcher, ask to see their selection of dry-aged beef, ask about the length of aging, (to be considered a true dry age, it must go through the process for no less than 21 days, with the standard being 28).

Almost any cut/loin can be aged in this way, but typically, you will find Export/Ribeye, Strip, and Shortloin (T-bones & Porterhouses). A dry aged filet is hard to come by since it is a small loin to begin with, and the amount of lost weight makes the price borderline not even worth the butcher carrying.

If you go to a butcher like The Meat House in Chadds Ford, you will find those three common cuts. The Shortloin and Strip cut to your desired thickness, are very accessible as a foray into the dry age market; however, the export (bone-in ribeye) is for thrill seekers. Cut between the bones, frenched slightly, and marbled with that inter-muscular fat; it is a monster cut, able to feed up to 4 people, (or one 5-foot female manager at The Meat House).

First Step in Preparing Your Steak

*Repeated Advice* Let it stand. As with almost all steaks, take it out of the fridge and allow it to reach room temperature before cooking. This allows the center to get to the same temperature as the outside, making for an even consistent cook throughout the entire cut.

Seasoning Your Steak

Just don’t! Dry aged steaks have one of the most robust incredible flavors of any meat available. If you insist on adding a little something, salt, black pepper, and garlic, (aka Papa Joe’s Salt blend), is the only thing that should ever touch the meat.

Cooking Your Steak

This is where you need to pay attention. Dry aged beef takes some TLC. It’s easy to cook, yet easy to overcook. Because of the aging process, and the fact that it loses up to 30 percent of its moisture content, it cooks that much quicker. A strong sear can be all that an individual steak requires. If you normally cook a steak 6-8 minutes a side over medium high heat, you’ll only need 4-6 minutes for this style of beef, which gives you a doneness of medium rare.

Serving

Let it rest. Take it off the grill or out of the pan, and let it rest on the plate for about 5-8 minutes. This helps lock in the juices and cook just a little bit longer.

All that is left is enjoying this incredible cut and style of steak. Tonight, after you finish dinner, and lay your head down to sleep the night away, prepare yourself for the most pleasant of dreams. Not of sugar plums, but of Dry Aged Steak.

Eating is a necessary part of life, we might as well enjoy every bite. Sweet dreams.

*If you have any questions about the process, purchasing, preparation, or enjoyment of dry aging; feel free to call me at The Meat House Chadds Ford at 610-910-4030, Fill out the contact us / inquiry form on our website at www.themeathousechaddsford.com, or email me at Chaddsford.pa@themeathouse.com*

About Jon Hopkins

Jon "Doc" Hopkins is the assistant manager at The Meat House.

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Jo-Zetta F. Shawl of Garnet Valley

Obituaries

Jo-Zetta F. Shawl, 59, of Garnet Valley, died July 15, after a brief, but courageous battle with duodenal cancer.

She is survived by her mother, Juanita Davis, of Folsom, Pennsylvania, loving husband, Timothy Shawl, and son, Nicholas Shawl, of Garnet Valley, grandmother Sylvia Cox of Gretna, Va., and multiple members of the Shawl family from McKeesport and Herminie, Pa. She is also survived by many aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews of the Wimbish family, her loving nephews Dan and Alex Fitzgerald, and step-brother Warren Davis. Jo-Zetta was also predeceased by her younger brother, Garfield Fitzgerald, and step-father, Larry Davis.

She will be sorely missed by all that knew and loved her, including the friends and co-workers that she knew and cared for throughout her many years in the nursing industry. Jo-Zetta worked her way to assistant vice president of nursing at both Springfield Hospital and Delaware County Memorial Hospital, and most recently nursing director of perioperative services at Lankenau Medical Center until her illness occurred. She touched many lives both at work and at home with family and friends.

Despite her sickness, which was a battle at times, she was the best wife, mother, and daughter that anyone could ever ask for. Her love and blessed memory will remain with us forever.

Jo-Zetta’s public viewing will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. on July 22, at Donohue Funeral Home (1627 West Chester Pike, West Chester, PA 19382) with service to immediately follow. Burial will take place at Rolling Green Cemetery following the memorial service.

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Police Log July 19: Accidents, DUIs, assault

Police

• Alberto R. Guzman, 39, of Wilmington, was cited after a one-vehicle accident on Springdell Road in West Marlborough Township on July 14. A state police report said Guzman was driving south on Springdell south of Rokeby Road when the Mercury Mountaineer he was driving left the roadway, traveled into a ditch and then struck a tree and a metal pole.

• Pennsylvania State Police allege that Aaron Neil Twyman, 24, of Wilmington, punched and slapped a 22-year-od woman and then destroyed her television, a door handle and a dining room chair at the victim’s home on East Ruddy Duck Circle in East Marlborough Township on July 8.

• Someone rummaged through vehicles parked on Lafayette Drive in Pocopson Township sometime between 1 and 5 a.m. on June 30. The police report made no mention of anything being stolen.

• Ubaldo Perez-Melchor, 35, of Wilmington, was arrested and charged with DUI and a related traffic offense, following a traffic stop on June 25, according to Southern Chester County Regional Police. At approximately 1:13 a.m., police observed a Ford SUV, traveling south on Gap-Newport Pike, twice crossing the double yellow centerline into oncoming traffic, the report said. A traffic stop was initiated in the area of Route 41 and Brittany Drive, in New Garden Township. Upon making contact with the driver, Perez-Melchor, police said, there were indicators suggesting intoxication, and he was deemed to be too impaired to perform field sobriety tests.

• Jacob Appleby, 22, of Colora, Md. was charged in connection with an assault that occurred on June 24. At 11:31 p.m., police were dispatched to the 100 block of Watson’s Mill Road, in New Garden Township, for a report of a suspicious male. While checking the area, police met with a woman who reported that Appleby had physically assaulted her and threatened her, during an argument at a residence on Wilkinson Drive. According to the report, police observed recent physical injury and other evidence that corroborated her account of events. An arrest warrant was obtained and Appleby surrendered. He was released, after posting 10 percent of $35,000 bail, pending a preliminary hearing.

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