August 21, 2017 - ChaddsFordLive.com

Musings: Devilish details

As is said, the devil’s in the details. Pennsbury Township Supervisor Aaron McIntyre used the phrase last week regarding the proposed Walkable Chadds Ford plan.

Walkable Chadds Ford, as Chadds Ford Live has been reporting for three years, is an idea that, if it happens, would add walking and cycling trails in the village area of Chadds Ford Township, from Ring Road to Creek Road and eventually across the Brandywine Creek into Pennsbury Township at Fairville Road.

As a concept, it sounds great.

People do want the opportunity and ability to walk and bike safely, especially if they have places to walk and bike to and from, places that enhance their lives in one fashion or another. And those places do exist in the village. There are restaurants, shops, a bank, post office and the Brandywine River Museum of Art.

Wouldn’t it great for people visiting the museum to be able to walk from there to Hank’s Place, Agave or Antica for lunch, buy some stamps, get some flowers or check out some of the new businesses coming to the Barn Shops, maybe go to Brandywine Prime for dinner? Yes, it would.

It would also be good, conceptually speaking, for people to be able to walk or bike from the Brandywine Battlefield Park to those shops and restaurants or the museum. They could walk along Route 1 to the museum and connect to the creek trail, then walk under Route 1 and up to the Chadds Ford Historical Society. Then, if they chose, they could walk down Creek Road back to Route 1.

Those are some of the options for residents and visitors alike should this all happen. Walk it. Bike it. Enjoy it.

But, again, the devil is in the details. Would the proposed trails be safe? It’s counterintuitive to think a pedestrian crossing on Route 1 at Ring Road could be anything but dangerous. That said, I think the designers would have a vested interest in making sure such a crosswalk and a trail down Route 1 would be safe to use. No other entity would retain them otherwise. Safety is one of those devilish details.

Another detail is cost. What would it cost to bring these ideas to fruition and, maybe more important, who would pay for it? As Shakespeare said, “There’s the rub.”

Peter Simone, of Simone Collins, the consultant on the project, has mentioned several grants that could cover the costs and Chadds Ford Township is supposed to apply for the first one sometime in September, Simone said. Still, questions remain, perhaps politically incorrect questions.

Where does the money come from for those grants? Are they from voluntary contributions from philanthropical organizations? That would be fine. Are they from the state? Well, are those grants funded through taxes? I say not so great. Should money taken from people in Altoona, Johnstown or Coatesville be given to affluent Chadds Ford so people here can have walking trails? Or should Chadds Ford Township supervisors raise taxes for the project?

One of the thoughts expressed during all the discussions on Walkable Chadds Ford is that it would be good for the businesses in the village. It certainly could be to their benefit. So what about those businesses ponying up? If Walkable Chadds Ford is gong to benefit them financially, they should be picking up at least a big part of the cost. If the businesses think this is good for them, they should consider it an investment.

Another question or two: Would there be any extra parking in the area should the village become a more popular destination for visitors? If so, where? One of the prime movers behind the project is the Brandywine Conservancy but, when asked early on in the process whether its Potts Meadow property (on Route 1 at S. Creek Road) could be used for the project, the answer was an absolute, “No.”

More questions need to be asked and answered before Walkable Chadds Ford idea grows legs, can stand on its own and become a reality, unless some government decides to force it on people.

While there have been no comments posted to last week’s story on Chadds Ford Live’s website, a repost of the story to Facebook led to a number of comments there. A lot of people like the idea. Others are less than enthusiastic to the point of skepticism over safety and need.

Details need to be sorted out. And those doing the sorting should remember that the village is just a couple of blocks that are split by a major truck route.

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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Partying under a moon shadow

Along the Ford

_1JF3018-Laid-back — Clete and Connie Toschlog, of Hockessin, kickback to watch the eclipse.

They came to Kennett Square’s Anson B. Nixon Park by the hundreds to experience one of nature’s most impressive events, a total solar eclipse. The big event was seen across the U.S. from Oregon to South Carolina. And folks in the Brandywine Valley weren’t going to be left out.

For one, a full welding shield seemed to work.

It turned into a festive event with beach balls and Hula Hoops, and total strangers sharing highly sought-after eclipse viewing glasses.

Kevin McCann, of Kennett Square, tries watching the eclipse with a homemade pinhole box.

The Kennett Library organized the viewing event, but as an afterthought and without realizing the interest.

“At first we thought it would just be cool to give out some viewing glasses,” said library Program Director Alex Caliva. “We gave some out; then we thought to use the park because that’s where most people would go to watch. Then we thought about having some games. Then we started getting more and more and more phone calls every day until calls were coming in every few minutes with two people taking phone calls for viewing glasses.”

Unfortunately, he said, the library only had 130 to give out and had to have people take numbers for them to be handed out shortly before the eclipse. But those who had them offered to share them with anyone who wanted to view the event safely. Other people brought with them, and shared, welder’s glasses and pinhole boxes.

Mike Barrick, of Kennett Square, brought the family to the park so the kids could see “an epic event.” Natalie Ely brought her kids because “It’s the experience of a lifetime, just an awesome experience for the kids.”

Kevin McCann, of Kennett Square, had no glasses but came prepared with four pinhole boxes he had made from shoeboxes.

While the northeast was not in the path of the totality of the event, so no major darkness or moon shadow was seen, people were still impressed, especially some of the youngsters a group of Cub Scouts from Pack 191 in Avondale.

“It was great. The moon covered the whole sun,” said Colton, age 9.

Six-year-old Jack was more picturesque. “It was very good when the sun flipped over and looked like a frowny-face.”

The sun was the only “frowny-face” in the park Monday afternoon, and Caliva was glad.

“We were worried because there weren’t enough glasses to go around, but people shared. It caused people to reach out to one another.

About Rich Schwartzman

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Anthony L. Ruggiero of Kennett Square

Obituaries

Anthony L. Ruggiero, 77, of Kennett Square, died on Thursday, Aug. 17. He was the husband of Hannah Young Ruggiero with whom he shared 37 years of marriage.

Born in Philadelphia, he was the son of the late Michael Ruggiero and the late Flora Mossa.

Anthony worked at the Franklin Mint for 30 years and was director of Worldwide Postal and Distribution Services. After his retirement, he started Anvil Associates a consulting company specializing in mail and parcel processing and distribution. He also worked for Jet Sort, later named Ancora, selling mail presort services and then as president of TRA Consulting. He also served as director and president of the Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union from 1977-1979 as well as chairman of the board.

Anthony was an avid golfer and enjoyed his weekly games with his friends of many years. He loved attending his grandchildren’s sporting events both in high school and college where he became known as a vocal supporter of their teams. Every morning he would take his beloved dog Lucky to the dog park. He loved listening to music ranging from Frank Sinatra and Motown to opera as well as watching reruns of Seinfeld or Shark Tank. Pop Tony, as his grandkids called him, also loved to go to concerts to see acts like the Oak Ridge Boys. He loved a spirited game of UNO but really enjoyed when he could take Hannah to the casinos to try their luck on the slots. Most of all, he enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his son Chris A. Ruggiero and his wife Donna, of Wilmington; two daughters, Kristina Gensler and her husband Scott of Limerick, and Jennette (Ruggiero) Rowe of Drexel Hill,; one sister, Josephine Luongo of Mount Holly, N.J. and his grandchildren, Masynn, Kira, Carter, Cory, Nicholas, Peyton and Natalie as well as many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by one sister, Mary Fedele.

You are invited to visit with Anthony’s family and friends from 7-9 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 23, and from 10-11 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 24, at Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home (610-444-4116) 250 W. State Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348. His funeral service will be 11 a.m. Thursday. Interment will be in Bradford Cemetery in Marshallton.

Contributions in his memory may be made to the Brandywine Valley SPCA, 1212 Phoenixville Pike, West Chester, PA 19380. To view his online tribute and to share a memory with his family, please visit www.griecocares.com

About CFLive Staff

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

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Safety tips for solar eclipse

Health

For the first time in nearly 40 years, the United States will experience a total solar eclipse. On Monday, August 21, the Great American Solar Eclipse will cut a 70-mile-wide path across the country, starting in Oregon and ending in South Carolina. As the moon passes in front of the sun and casts a shadow that turns day into night, millions of Americans will marvel at a natural phenomenon that has surprised, frightened, and inspired mankind for millennia.If you’re planning to experience the eclipse firsthand, there are a few important things you need to remember before you head out the door to your favorite viewing spot. Without the right safety equipment to protect your eyes, a few minutes of marveling at the sun can set you up for long-lasting damage to your vision.

“It’s never safe to look directly at the sun, and the total solar eclipse is no different,” says Christopher A. Williams, M.D., chief of Ophthalmology at Crozer-Chester Medical Center, Springfield Hospital and Taylor Hospital. “It’s possible to enjoy the eclipse safely with the right eyewear.”

The Right Eye Protection Is Essential

“Eclipse glasses” are necessary if you’re planning to view the solar eclipse. These protective glasses block 100,000 times more light than your standard sunglasses or any homemade devices you create yourself.

“The sunglasses you use for everyday wear will not provide the protection you need to view the eclipse, even for a short period of time,” says Richard L. Jahnle, M.D., an ophthalmologist at the Crozer-Keystone Surgery Center at Haverford. “You need eclipse glasses that have been produced to meet international safety standards.”

Glasses meeting this standard will carry the number ISO 12312-2, which ensures that they provide the appropriate protection for viewing.

Be aware that not all glasses marketed as eclipse glasses meet this standard, unfortunately, so be careful. Amazon recently issued a recall for glasses from vendors who may be selling counterfeit versions.

NASA recommends getting glasses from manufacturers such as:

Rainbow Symphony
TSE 17
Baader Planetarium (Astro Silver/Gold Film only)
Thousand Oaks Optical
American Paper Optics

How a Total Solar Eclipse Can Damage Your Eyes

Think back to when you were a child and used a magnifying glass to focus the sun’s rays on a leaf to set it on fire. Looking directly into the sun or a solar eclipse can have much the same effect on the delicate structures in your eye.

“The condition is called solar retinopathy and it happens when sunlight floods the retina in the back of your eyeballs, causing a flood of chemical messengers that damages your eyes,” says Dr. Williams. “It can be painless while it’s happening, but the damage may last for weeks or months and sometimes is permanent.”

Common symptoms of solar retinopathy include blurriness and blind spots at the center, or near the center of your vision. Unfortunately, it doesn’t take long for the damage to occur.

“You may think that glancing at the sun and looking away quickly is a good strategy,” Jahnle says. “However, the damage is cumulative, which means that even short periods of looking at the sun can add up and become problematic.”

Don’t miss your chance to see the Great American Solar Eclipse on August 21, since your next opportunity in the United States won’t happen until 2024. Just make sure you’re using the proper protection to enjoy it safely.

Christopher A. Williams, M.D. is chief of Ophthalmology at Crozer-Chester Medical Center, Springfield Hospital and Taylor Hospital.

About Crozer Keystone Staff

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

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How to talk to kids about tragic events

Health

In today’s world, tragedy is hard to escape. We are constantly exposed to media coverage of the latest terrorist attack, mass shooting, or bombing. And though we try our best to protect them, our children are, too.

Deciding if, how, and when to talk to children about tragic events is a dilemma that many parents face. It may seem like the best option is to avoid the conversation completely; it’s probably not something you want to talk about in general, let alone with your children. But ultimately, creating a dialogue after a tragedy is the best thing you can do for your child’s mental and emotional health.

“Many parents don’t even want to broach the subject with their kids,” said Kevin Caputo, M.D., chair of Psychiatry and Vice President of Behavioral Health for Crozer-Keystone. “But from a professional standpoint, we highly recommend having a conversation, no matter how uncomfortable it might make you feel at first.”

If you, like many parents, are unsure how to go about discussing a tragedy with your child, follow these steps to help guarantee a safe, relaxed, and productive conversation.

Find out what your children already know.

Thanks to smartphones and social media, children have a completely unprecedented amount of access to information. They likely find out about a tragedy soon after you do—and sometimes before. Ask them to tell you what they know and understand already.

Younger children will probably get the story from friends or classmates who have gotten information via their parents or TV. Tweens and teens are more likely to have a deeper understanding of the events from social media and news sites.

Make sure that the information they relay to you is correct. If there are any misunderstandings, clarify the details. For older children, emphasize the importance of determining a source’s credibility before trusting it.

Explain what happened.

If your child is not aware of or knows very little about the situation, explain it to them in simple and straightforward language. Avoid focusing on unnecessary details.

“Sometimes, with younger children, it helps to use phrases like ‘good guy’ and ‘bad guy,’” said Caputo. “Using language that they are familiar with will help them understand what happened more easily.”

While you explain the event, be sure to remain composed. Children will model your behavior, so if you don’t seem worried or upset by the event your child is less likely to become anxious or scared.

Ask them if they have any questions.

Once you’ve told the story, ask if your children have any questions for you. Once again, answer in a straightforward manner without harping on details. Do not avoid answering any questions. The important thing is to let them know that you are listening and there to help them understand.

Comfort them.

Finally, reassure your children. Tell them that they are safe in your home and that you are always there for them if they are scared.

It can also be very helpful to articulate the rarity of these occurrences. Because of the massive amount of media coverage, your child might believe that tragedies happen often. Comfort them by reiterating how rare these events are.

After having the conversation, it’s important to go about daily life as usual. If children don’t sense anxiety, there is a far better chance that they’ll forget about the event and quickly move on. Be sure to also pay attention to their behavior during the following weeks. If they seem anxious or upset for an extended period of time, you should talk to them and consider calling a therapist (Psychiatrist, Psychologist, or Licensed Clinical Social Worker) if needed.

Crozer-Keystone Behavioral Health

Crozer-Keystone Health System employs Delaware County’s largest staff of board-certified and board-eligible psychiatrists. We offer a comprehensive range of services in the areas of mental health and substance abuse, including emergency care, outpatient counseling and inpatient psychiatric treatment. To learn more, visit crozerkeystone.org/Behavioral-Health

About Crozer Keystone Staff

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