July 26, 2017 - ChaddsFordLive.com

SPCA reopens after fire

The Brandywine Valley SPCA re-opened the New Castle Campus today for all services following the fire that destroyed the veterinary clinic and damaged the adoption areas. A car crashed into the building early the morning of July 9, sparking a fire that took the life of the driver and four cats, and displaced nearly 100 animals.

Cleanup at the facility started immediately on the afternoon following the fire. Work crews have cleaned and repaired the adoption areas, where there are now dogs and cats available for adoption. The clinic has been gutted, and rebuilding is expected to take up to two months. In the meantime, other parts of the facility have been temporarily equipped for spay/neuter surgeries and wellness visits. Regular operating hours are in effect starting today:

Adoptions: Tuesday-Friday, noon-7 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Wellness: By appointment Tuesday, noon-7 p.m., Wednesday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
S/N Surgery: By appointment Tuesday-Friday

“Our staff and vendors pushed all the limits to re-open as quickly as possible,” said Adam Lamb, BVSPCA Chief Executive Officer. “The animals need us as a safe haven, and the incredible outpouring of support from the community underscored how vital our services are to the pet families in the area.”

Nearly 100 animals were evacuated from the fire scene. Four cats lost their lives, and many of the surviving animals have since been placed with forever families. Several dogs and cats remain available for adoption at the West Chester and Georgetown campuses.

Costs of the fire are still being totaled, many of which will not be covered by insurance. The BVSPCA continues to ask for the public’s help with donations to fund the rebuilding effort. Donations can be made online at https://fundly.com/bvspca-new-castle-campus-fire or by mailing checks to Brandywine Valley SPCA, 600 South Street, New Castle, DE 19720.

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Sparse crowd for Crebilly hearing

Along the Ford

_1JF2806-empty-seats — Sparse crowd for Crebilly hearing

Testimony continued last night in the Toll Bros. conditional hearing for the proposed development of Crebilly Farm in Westtown Township, but the hearing was conducted before a crowd of empty seats.

An unofficial headcount indicated fewer than 100 people attended the session at the Rustin High School auditorium, a session that focused on testimony from two traffic engineers.

Nicole Kline, of McMahon Traffic Engineers & Planners, representing Toll, returned to finish her cross-examination. Supervisor Carol DeWolf questioned her on how township residents on the west side of Route 202 currently access northbound 202 and how they would do that after the development.

Kline responded that most currently use Route 926 and would continue to do so after the development.

She was also asked about queuing, or the length of a line of traffic, on southbound New Street as it approaches 926. Kline said the queuing now is about 1,400 feet (roughly 57 vehicles based on industry standards) during morning peak hours.

Also under questioning, Kline said there are no proposed changes that would affect current pedestrian and bicycle traffic.

She repeated some points previously made, that there is a proposed right in/right out access point directly along Route 202, but that Toll would consider abandoning that.

Other access points include two on W. Pleasant Grove Road and another on Route 926 to align with Bridlewood Boulevard.

Attorney Michael Gill, representing the Westtown Township Planning Commission, asked whether pedestrian connections or sidewalks are required. Kline said that would need to be evaluated. “We don’t want to build sidewalks to nowhere,” she said.

After Kline’s cross-examination, Al Federico, of Kimley-Horn, testified as the township’s traffic engineer. He said that based on a number of traffic- and road-related points, Toll has not yet met the conditions set forth by the Planning Commission.

Specifically, he said the plan does not show a proper connector road through the property as is required by the township’s comprehensive plan and that the scope of improvements offered don’t include turn lanes.

While there is a road planned through the development connecting W. Pleasant Grove Road with Route 926, Federico said it doesn’t qualify as a connector road because it’s not wide enough. He said the road should be 28 feet wide.

When questioned about the level of service at the main intersection of 926 and 202, Federico said the current level is rated “F” and it would still be that way after proposed improvements.

Under cross-examination from Toll attorney Gregg Adelman, Federico said that while the service level would still be an “F” after the improvements, delays through the intersection would be reduced.

Other improvements, as specified by PennDOT, include building a dedicated right turn lane on southbound 202 for motorists to turn west onto 926, and adding a second left turn lane on eastbound 926 for motorists wanting to go north onto 202.

Planning Commission conditions also include installing an additional right turn lane from Route 202 to W. Pleasant Grove Road, and a southbound left turn lane on Route 926 at S. New Street.

The hearing was continued until 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29 at Rustin High School.

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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Chadds Ford now a defendant

Local News, Local News Chadds Ford, Local News Concord

***UPDATE BELOW***

As anticipated, Chadds Ford has been named a defendant in the matter regarding the Pettinaro property at Ridge Road and Route 202.

Attorney John Jaros, representing Ridge Road Development, LLC, the Pettinaro entity seeking to build The Shops at Ridge Road, updated a filing that previously only named Concord Township and its council as defendants.

The update, filed July 25 in Delaware County Court, asserts that Chadds Ford Township “acknowledged the PennDOT traffic improvements were satisfactory…” and that “the conditions of the land development approval have been satisfied.” It came a week after a conference that included Jaros and Concord Township solicitor.

Jaros filed the original complaint with the court in May. In June, Concord responded saying that Chadds Ford was an “indispensable party” to the matter and had to be brought in to the case.

While the suit now includes Chadds Ford Township and the Chadds Ford Township Board of Supervisors as well as Concord Township and Concord Township Council as defendants, the complaint itself remains as it has been.

Ridge Road Development owns the 25-acre property at Ridge and Route 202. Concord Township supervisors, in 2008 approved that property for a commercial development and reaffirmed that approval in 2014. One of the 21 conditions of approval, Condition 19, requires Chadds Ford to sign off on highway improvements before the final plans can be released so work can begin.

Chadds Ford Township Supervisors Chairman Frank Murphy said he wouldn’t sign off on those improvements until Chadds Ford residents’ concerns about those improvements are addressed.

Those improvements include having the main entrance to the shopping center on Ridge Road and widening Ridge Road to six lanes for a quarter-mile stretch from 202 to the end of the development. Ridge Road would be brought back to two lanes before Pheasant Lane in Chadds Ford Township.

In a letter dated Jan. 4, 2017, Murphy told Andrea Finerosky, Pettinaro’s land development manager, that increased traffic queuing and volume along Route 202 and Ridge Road has made earlier traffic studies “obsolete,” that more traffic to and from the proposed development would have a severe impact on Chadds Ford residents and that increasing delays for people leaving the already existing Olde Ridge Village (across Ridge Road from the proposed development) would have motorists seeking alternative routes on township roads.

The suit contends that Chadds Ford has already tacitly agreed to the highway changes by signing a series of documents and being a co-applicant/ co-permittee for the Highway Occupancy Permit application in September of 2013.

According to the filing, those actions “unequivocally demonstrate that the traffic improvements proposed for the state roadways are ‘satisfactory’ to Chadds Ford Township.

The plaintiff is seeking a declaratory judgment that the conditions for approval have been met. Jaros said in an email that he has asked for a hearing within 30 days.

Update: Chadds Ford Township solicitor Mike Maddren said, “The Board of Supervisors in Chadds Ford Township takes the health, safety and welfare of its residents very seriously. They believe that the current traffic design of this project has a negative impact on those variables. The Board is grateful that Concord Township had the foresight to include Condition 19 in the approval of the project, and intends to exercise the power granted thereby in the best interest of the township residents who elected them.”

About Rich Schwartzman

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Pocopson hires firm for Barnard House study

Local News, Local News Pocopson

Pocopson Township supervisors voted Monday to appoint GKO Architects of Ambler as the feasibility study consultant of the Barnard House project.

GKO, which stands for Godshall, Kane and O’Rourke (the three principals of the Montgomery County firm), was one of 19 firms that originally submitted a proposal to Pocopson to examine possible uses of both the historic Barnard House and the current municipal building.

Supervisors then each recommended their top three choices, based on items such as price and deliverability, and those nine proposals were then narrowed down to three. The board also held an executive session July 17 to discuss the feasibility study, Supervisors’ Chairman Ricki Stumpo reported on Monday.

Regarding the final three, Stumpo said in an interview, “One other company was terribly expensive and the other was not a good fit.”

GKO has worked on municipal buildings, commercial projects, charter and K-12 schools, religious facilities, and career and technical centers, according to the firm’s website (gkoarchitects.com). In Chester County, GKO designed a concept for New London Township’s utility building.

The next step in Pocopson’s process, according to Supervisors’ Vice Chairman Elaine DiMonte, is to find a volunteer to serve as a liaison between the township and GKO. She said she would also send an email to the county commissioners letting them know the latest developments with the projects.

Chester County transferred 68 acres and the historic Eusebius Barnard House to the township in 2008.

About Monica Fragale

Monica Thompson Fragale is a freelance reporter who spent her life dreaming of being in the newspaper business. That dream came true after college when she started working at The Kennett Paper and, years later The Reporter newspaper in Lansdale and other dailies. She turned to non-profit work after her first daughter was born and spent the next 13 years in that field. But while you can take the girl out of journalism, you can’t take journalism out of the girl. Offers to freelance sparked the writing bug again started her fingers happily tapping away on the keyboard. Monica lives with her husband and two children in Kennett Square.

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Gables restaurant to host blood drive

Along the Ford

The Gables Restaurant on Route 1 in Pennsbury Township is opening its doors on Monday, Aug. 21 to blood donors. The restaurant is normally closed on Mondays, but owner Ann Kolenick said she wanted to do something to help generate blood donations because of a friend.

The blood drive is in honor of Timothy “Timmy” Gaige. Timothy died in June from complications of B cell lymphoma. He was the husband of one of Kolenick’s long-time friends.

“When I learned he was sick they were living in Washington D.C., and I felt like I couldn’t do anything to help,” Kolenick said. “I gave platelets, but I thought I could do more.”

In her search to do more, she went to the American Red Cross website and saw the idea of hosting a blood drive. She immediately thought of The Gable’s banquet room as a possible location.

Though it’s too late to help her friend’s husband, “It was a nice way for me to help out,” she said.

To take part in the drive, would-be donors need to first make an appointment. They can do that by going to either The Gable’s website or Facebook page or contact the American Red Cross. They can also call the restaurant at 610-388-7700 and ask for either Ann or Nicole.

The goal is to get 60 donors. Red Cross personnel will be on hand with all necessary equipment to draw the blood.

According to the American Red Cross, all patient needs could not be met without the voluntary help from the community.

About Rich Schwartzman

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Police Log July 26: Theft, accidents, DUIs

Police

• State police from the Avondale barracks said Marian A. Langerak, 59, of Wilmington, was cited following a two-vehicle accident on School House Road near Longwood Road in East Marlborough Township on July 22. A report said Langerak crossed into the oncoming traffic lane. No injuries were reported.

• Police arrested two women who allegedly robbed the East Marlborough Township Walmart on July 15. A report said store employees witnessed Samantha Garcia De Dios, 21, of New Castle Del., and Marvonna Zorrah Holms, 20, of Penn Grove, N.J., conceal $140 worth of merchandise in their purses and leave the store without paying.

• State police are looking for information regarding an incident on Route 1 at Bancroft Road in New Garden Township on June 28. Police said that someone shot a BB at a passing car driven by a 74-year-old man of West Chester at about 7:30 that evening. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 610-268-2022.

• Someone stole a bicycle from a porch on W. Doe Run Road in East Marlborough Township sometime between 5:30 p.m. on June 30 and 3 p.m. July 1. The bicycle was recovered near the victim’s home the following day, police said.

• David M. Duszak, 43, of Landenberg, was arrested and charged with violations of the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device, and Cosmetic Act after the vehicle he was driving was stopped for an equipment violation at 10:42 p.m. on June 28 in the 200 block of Sunnydell Road, New Garden Township, a press release said. According to the report, police detected the odor of marijuana emanating from inside the vehicle. Further investigation by the Southern Chester County Regional Police led to the discovery of a small amount of marijuana and related paraphernalia under the front seat.

• Police said Erik Martinez-Zurita, 27, of Kennett Square, was arrested and charged with indirect criminal contempt after he violated a valid Protection from Abuse Order by having contact with the protected person. He was taken into custody, arraigned and then committed to the Chester County Prison in lieu of $5000.00 cash bail.

• Antonio Torrecilla-Santiago, 32, of Oxford, was arrested and charged with DUI and a related traffic offense, after he was stopped for erratic driving on June 29. The stop was made at 7:50 p.m. on Newark Road at the Route 1 Bypass, in New Garden Township. A report said police observed indicators suggesting intoxication and he was taken into custody after he was unable to safely perform field sobriety tests.

• According to police, Holly J. Reyburn, 57, of Oxford was arrested and charged with DUI and related traffic offenses, following a crash in which she backed into an unmarked police vehicle, a Southern Chester County Regional Police report said. The incident happened 9:18 p.m. on July 2 in the 1400 block of Baltimore Pike, in New Garden Township. Damage to both vehicles was minor, and there were no injuries. The report said Reyburn was taken into custody on suspicion of DUI after she failed field sobriety tests.

• Southern Chester County Regional Police said David Pryce, 48, of Kennett Square was arrested and charged with DUI and related traffic offenses, after he was stopped for erratic driving July 5. The stop was made in the 700 block of West Cypress Street in New Garden Township at 8:41 p.m. Pryce refused to take field sobriety tests. He was taken into custody on suspicion of DUI and was transported to the substation, where he refused to provide a sample of his breath to determine his B.A.C.

• Thomas L. Von Koch, 59, of Landenberg, was arrested on simple assault charges in New Garden Township on July 6, according to police. A report said one victim told police about being punched in the chest, while another victim reported having her hand injured during a struggle with the accused.

• Michael Anthony MacIntosh, 39, of Coatesville, was charged in connection with the theft of six wire probes, valued at approx. $600, from a mushroom farm in the 1000 block of Newark Road, in New Garden Township.

• Jose Sanchez, 47, of West Grove, was arrested and charged with DUI and related offenses, following a one-vehicle traffic crash on July 8. Police were dispatched to the 600 block of Hillendale Road, in New Garden Township, for a report that a large SUV had collided with an embankment. Police arrived to find evidence that the vehicle had traveled across a yard and struck a retaining wall of an adjacent property, before coming to rest in a driveway.

About CFLive Staff

See Contributors Page https://chaddsfordlive.com/writers/

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