Chadds Ford Township supervisors Wednesday night met with representatives from a variety of homeowners associations. According to Township Manager Amanda Serock, the meeting was designed to improve communication between residents and the township government.
Supervisor Noelle Barbone used the controversial Ridge Road development in Concord Township as an example of why communications within Chadds Ford needs to be improved. That development was approved in 2008 and re-approved in 2014, but most Chadds Ford residents were unaware of the plan that calls for widening Ridge Road from two to six lanes for a short stretch from Route 202.
Samantha Reiner, the supervisors’ vice chairman, plugged the township website. She and Serock stressed the need for keeping up to date on board agendas.
At one point the conversation moved to the topic of solicitation. Serock said homeowners could put no soliciting signs on their lawns and doors, and HOAs can put them at the entrance to the development. Those who solicit must abide by that, and if they don’t, the homeowners can call the state police.
Chadds Ford has no ordinance regarding solicitation, but Reiner said people should contact the township if they would like such an ordinance.
“We’re here for you,” she said.
There were representatives from about 12 HOAs. Supervisors’ Chairman Frank Murphy did not attend the meeting because he was recovering from a car accident that happened Monday, Barbone said.
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.
Pictured from left, Delaware County Councilmen Michael Culp, Dave White. Special Agent in Charge Marlon Miller of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations’ (HSI), District Attorney Jack Whelan, Nat Evans, K9 handler and ICAC forensic analyst, Chairman Mario Civera, Jr., Vice Chair Colleen Morrone and Councilman John McBlain.
District Attorney Jack Whelan and Special Agent in Charge Marlon Miller of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations,’ announced today the newest member of the District Attorney’s Internet Crimes Against Children Pennsylvania Task Force. Charlie, a 2-year-old Labrador retriever, is the first and only electronic-detection forensic K9 in Pennsylvania and one of less than two dozen across the country, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
As an electronic-detection K9, Charlie has been trained to track the distinct chemical smell of small electronics that humans are not able to detect. Her unique abilities allow her to pinpoint the exact location of electronic devices and locations where electronics were located previously. Charlie is in the courthouse daily and enlists her skills by joining ICAC detectives during their investigations and the execution of warrants.
Charlie
A demonstration was held when Charlie showed off her unique skills by successfully locating a flash-drive hidden by detectives in the council public meeting room earlier in the day. For her efforts, she was awarded with a round of applause and her favorite toy, a green tennis ball.
In many of the cases ICAC investigates, the evidence often includes pornographic photos of children which are located on storage devices and drives. As technology devices become smaller in size, criminals are better able to hide evidence of their crimes and are creative in concealing incriminating photos. In addition to tablets and laptops, Charlie can find a variety of small electronics including hard-drives and micro-SD cards.
Charlie just recently finished a two-week long training in Ohio with her handler, Nat Evans, a forensics analyst in the Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division. Charlie was trained by Gerald Azzi of Azzi International Service for Dogs in Delaware County, Ohio. The dogs he trains come from a company called “TK Hot Retrievers” in Idaho. Gerald Azzi has been training dogs for more than 35 years.
“We are excited to introduce Charlie the first and only ICAC electronic-detection K9 in the state of Pennsylvania,” said Marlon V. Miller, special agent in charge of HSI Philadelphia. “Charlie has the ability to detect objects that would be impossible to find. We are excited to have her on the team and look forward to her contributions in helping bring predators to justice.”
“Charlie is a great addition to our ICAC team in their daily efforts to bring predators to justice,” said District Attorney Jack Whelan. “In Delaware County, we are constantly looking at how we can advance our abilities and forensic capabilities to catch predators. Amazingly, Charlie can find elements of a crime that even the most seasoned investigator can miss, which are essential for prosecution.”
Led by Sergeant Kenneth Bellis, the Delaware County ICAC Task Force has three detectives, two forensic analysts, two analysts who investigate cyber tips, and now Charlie the K9. In addition to investigating and prosecuting crimes against children committed online, the ICAC Task Force Program strives to raise awareness of the potential dangers of the internet through educating children, parents, law enforcement officers, and professionals who work with children.
Anyone with information about criminal activity related to the possession or dissemination of images of child sexual assault is urged to call the Cyber Tip Line at 800-843-5678. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children hotline is also open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-THE-LOST.
So many great shows and art events happening this weekend that it will be very difficult for you to choose which event to attend! Ivystone Studio in Downingtown hosts a silent auction and benefit art show for hurricane Relief. “Art From the Heart” at the Wayne Art Center is also holding a big hurricane relief art sale this Sunday, September 17th from 3 to 5 p.m. After months of an important retrospective show of Andrew Wyeth’s works, Somerville Manning Gallery opens this Friday with “Under the Influences” a wonderful show that pairs a contemporary artist’s work with original work by a famous artist that inspired them. Also this weekend is the Paoli Hospital Auxilary’s Fine Art Show, with a big Opening Night Gala on Friday Night. This Friday in Oxford, at the Oxford Arts Alliance, is the artist’s reception for “Schaller, Friends & Family” from 5 to 8 p.m. and this Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m. There is so much to do art-wise this weekend!
Judith Pond Kudlow (left) and John Singer Sargent (right) at the Somerville Manning Gallery
“Under The Influences” is such a great idea for an art show which pairs a regional artist’s work with work of the master artist who has inspired them. Not many galleries can actually get original work of great masters like Francisco de Goya, John Singer Sargent, or Andrew Wyeth, but Somerville Manning can, and does a beautiful job hanging the disparate works, and showing the relation of one to the other.
Vicki Manning, owner of Somerville Manning Gallery, said “All of our artists in the show are influenced by the art history before them, so having an opportunity to view a contemporary artist alongside an original master gives us a rare insight into today’s art.” If you were to have your work shown with a lauded master, whose work would you choose? For “Under The Influences” the artistic pairings include: Vicki Vinton, to Sol LeWitt, Sarah McRae Morton to Francisco Goya, Judith Pond Kudlow to John Singer Sargent, and Betsy Eby to Mark Tobey. The opening reception is this Friday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m at Somerville Manning Gallery, Breck’s Mill, 101 Stone Block Row in Greenville Delaware and the exhibition runs through October 14th.
In Downingtown, the beautiful Ivystone Studio, located at 138 Moore Road in Downingtown Pennsylvania, hosts a Silent Auction and Benefit Art Show for Hurricane Relief. During the day, from 5 to 10 p.m. 15% of all art sales and 100% of all auction items will be donated to charities involved in hurricane relief efforts. Besides art for a great cause, it is a wonderful art place to visit, with two stories of art, revolving room dividers and now a newly installed gallery catwalk. Owner Justin Smith is really changing up the traditional art gallery space with Ivystone Studio. Be sure to check out the hand-blown industrial glass works made by Justin Smith, as well as the many canvases, jewelry, sculpture, furniture and more made by an ever-growing list of exhibiting local artists.
Also helping with the hurricane relief effort is The Wayne Art Center, at 413 Maplewood Avenue in Wayne Pennsylvania. This Sunday from 5 to 7 p.m. Wayne Art Center presents “Art from the Heart”, with art donated by an enormous list of well-known regional artists, all very affordably priced from $75-$200. 100% of the proceeds will go to All Hands Volunteers to benefit those in Houston and the surrounding areas in Texas effected by Hurricane Harvey.
This Friday is the swank Opening Gala for the Paoli Hospital Auxiliary Fine Arts Show, with 50 regionally known artists of every medium, including featured painter Jacalyn Beam, as well as Erica Brown, Jeff Schaller, me (Lele Galer), Sandra Severson, Diane Micklin, Darcie Goldberg, John Pompeo and many more. Along with this show and sale of regional art, Devon Fine Arts will be showcasing some of their fine collection of modern and contemporary art by Picasso, Chagall, Basquiat and other greats. “Last year’s art show was incredibly well-received by all who attended, and we look forward to another great turnout this year,” said Paoli Hospital Auxiliary President Carol Rabe Palmer. This year’s Opening Gala is from 6 to 10 p.m. and costs $75 per person, which includes a full bar and hors d’oeuvres. If you can’t make it to the Gala, then please check out the show during this Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. The Paoli Hospital Auxiliary’s Fine Art Show is held at The Barn at Liseter, formerly the John duPont estate, at 1 Liseter Road in Newtown Square.
“Schaller, Friends & Family” – Oxford Arts Alliance
Further south, the opening for “Schaller, Friends & Family” is also this Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Oxford Arts Alliance at 19 South Third Street in downtown Oxford. Well known encaustic artist Jeff Schaller has curated a wonderful show with fellow artists Heather Davis, Paul Downie, Teresa Haag, Rhoda Kahler, Jeff Schaller and his daughter Mia Schaller. These artists will show their own work as well as special collaborative works made especially for this show. This a fun, innovative art show that I heartily recommend you to visit this month. “Schaller, Friends & Family” runs through October 13th, with a not-to-be-missed “Artist Talk” on Wednesday September 27th at 7 p.m. Across the street from the Oxford Art Alliance, at the Art Annex, landscape painter Patsy Reese is exhibiting her work through September 30th.
Art Watch Radio is every Wednesday from 1 to 1:30 p.m. on AM station WCHE 1520. This week, Wednesday September 13th, well-known clay sculptor Rhoda Kahler interviews Gallery 222 owner Andrea Strang, her videographer Sarah Graham and me, artist Lele Galer, just in time for the Anniversary Show “Graham, Durnin & Galer”, celebrating Gallery 222’s first year! Stay tuned.
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.
People appreciate their local library as a resource for reference information, books, periodicals, and more. However, for 47 adult students seeking to improve their literacy skills, the local library has rescued their educational pursuits.
The Family Literacy organization had provided English as a Second Language, General Equivalency Diploma, and citizenship classes in West Grove and Oxford. It was a shock when Family Literacy learned of its loss of government funding which would force the cancellation of these classes. This left stranded 47 adult students with their education on hold.
Fortunately, Family Literacy’s former director Patricia Quynn and Kennett Library’s Filomena Elliott had other ideas. Quynn contacted Elliott who is Kennett Library’s Adult Literacy Program director with news of these canceled classes. ALP already offered similar classes at no charge in Kennett. However, extending classes to West Grove and Oxford would require hiring a teacher, purchasing educational materials, and renting classrooms that were beyond ALP’s budget.
Quynn and Elliott networked within the communities to request help and the response was impressive. The Kennett Library approved additional funding to assist these 47 students. Library directors Lori Schwabenbauer of Avon Grove and Carey Besler of Oxford volunteered classrooms within their facilities. Finally, Chester County Regional Education Services redirected a financial grant to make these extended ALP classes possible.
The happy ending to this near tragedy is that 47 motivated adult students in West Grove and Oxford are now able to continue their literacy education. Well done to our libraries and all who contributed to helping their fellow community members.
Laurence John “Larry” Colfer Jr., 91, of Glen Mills, died peacefully on Sept. 10 after a full and happy life.
Laurence John Colfer Jr.
His wife, Margarita “Rita” McLaughlin Colfer, predeceased him in 2005. He is survived by his daughter Kimberly of Woodstock Valley, Conn., his daughter Laurene of King of Prussia, his son David of Somerville, Mass., his son Stephen and wife Lauren (Klotz) of Wayne. He leaves three grandchildren, Rena Colfer of Boise, Idaho, Marguerite and Anneliese Colfer of Wayne. He is also survived by his brother John (Jack) Colfer and his wife Barbara of Avon, Mass., and nine nieces and nephews.
He was a graduate of St. Joseph’s Prep and St. Joseph’s University, Larry had a long career ranging from operations at General Electric, to insurance, to teaching. He was a devoted teacher and held adjunct positions at St. Joseph’s, Drexel, Widener Universities and Delaware County Community College. He was born Feb. 15, 1926, and raised in Upper Darby, a 43-year resident of West Chester, and most recently of Maris Grove in Glen Mills where he was an active resident. He enjoyed many summers at the shore at his beloved Avalon.
Relatives and friends are invited to his Visitation noon-1:45 p.m., Friday, Sept., 15, at St. Katharine of Siena Church, 104 S. Aberdeen Ave, Wayne, PA 19087, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial celebrating Larry’s life at 2 p.m. Interment will follow at SS Peter & Paul Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, mourners are encouraged to support Maris Grove Scholars’ Fund, c/o Office of Philanthropy, 200 Maris Grove Way, Glen Mills, PA 19342.
• State Police from the Media barracks are investigating the theft of a chainsaw and two toolboxes in Concord Township. Police said the unknown suspect stole the items after entering an attached garage on Spring Valley Road sometime between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Sept. 6.
• Police said Renna M. Drumheiser, 24, of Wilmington, was cited following a one-car accident on Smithbridge Road. The report said Drumheiser was traveling east on Smithbridge approaching Leopard Run at 7:18 a.m. on Sept. 2, when the Chevrolet Prizm she was driving went off the road, struck a utility pole and a flower bed before coming to rest on another utility pole. She was uninjured, police said.
• Matthew C. Pantellas, 38, of Newtown Square, was cited for driving too closely following a Sept. 7 accident on northbound Route 1 in Concord Township, according to a police report. That report said Pantellas rear-ended another vehicle that was stopped for a red light at Cheyney Road.
• No one was injured, but a 19-year-old driver was cited after the vehicle he was driving ran off Ring Road in Chadds Ford on Sept. 9. Police identified the driver as Patrick J. Rush of Chadds Ford. According to the police report, Rush failed to properly make a right turn in the road and struck an embankment. The Chevrolet Cavalier then overturned.
• Someone entered a work van parked at the Texas Roadhouse Restaurant in Concord Township and stole approximately $4,000 worth of tools, a police report said. The incident happened sometime between 7 and 9 p.m. on Sept. 11.
• Southern Chester County Regional Police said Nichole Kennedy, 42, of Landenberg, was arrested and charged with violations of the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device, and Cosmetic Act, as well as with DUI (Controlled Substances) and related traffic offenses, after the Honda SUV she was operating was stopped for equipment and registration violations. The incident occurred on Aug. 28 at approximately 1:39 p.m. in the 300 block of Center Street, in New Garden Township. Upon making contact with Kennedy, police said they observed evidence of suspected drug use in plain view.
• Billie Jean Guinn, 50, of Oxford, was arrested on charges of retail theft, criminal conspiracy to commit retail theft, and receiving stolen property, according to a police report. Guinn is accused of conspiring with a male accomplice to steal more than $450 of beauty care items from the CVS store, at 730 Newark Road, in New Garden Township. The crime happened on Aug. 8 at approximately 14 p.m. and was captured on the store’s surveillance cameras, police said.
