December 20, 2017 - ChaddsFordLive.com

Armed bank robbery in Concord

Bank_Robbery_12-19-17-page-002_12_21_2017_11_36_32_AM — Armed bank robbery in Concord

The Pennsylvania State Police, Troop K, Media Station is investigating an armed bank robbery that happened in Concord Township Tuesday, Dec. 19. It happened at noon at the Malvern Federal Savings Bank, 900 block of Baltimore Pike.

The suspect is described as a black male with light-to-medium complexion, approximately 20-35 years of age. He was last seen wearing a black face mask, blue jeans, and a white fishing hat. The suspect displayed a black handgun with silver barrel and an imitation explosive device. The suspect stole a large amount of currency and fled the scene in a silver Pontiac G6 sedan. The suspect vehicle is reported stolen out of New Castle County, Del. Anyone that encounters this suspect and or vehicle should use extreme caution.

Anyone with information pertaining to this incident please call PSP at 484-840-1000.

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Chandler Mill Preserve now open

Along the Ford

Interpretive Nature Center 12.14.17 (2) — Chandler Mill Preserve now open

Thanks to the generosity of public and private supporters alike, the Chandler Mill Nature Preserve and Interpretive Nature Center is now open to the public. Come hike along the perimeter trails or relax for a spell next to the historic Chandler Mill Bridge.

Experience the bold vision of Kennett Township, area residents, a local family, and The Land Conservancy for Southern Chester County in creating this unique oasis within Kennett Township’s largest contiguous corridor of permanently protected lands.

This is an example of a successful public-private partnership that will result in a community asset for generations to come. In 2015, Kennett Township officially took ownership of the historic Chandler Mill Bridge, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2010, to avoid its being demolished and replaced by a two-lane, road widening project. This closed the bridge to vehicular traffic and earmarked it for use as a pedestrian trail and ambulance access bridge.

Since that time, TLC has been busy raising more $1.7 million in grants, outright donations, and in-kind materials to purchase the former Walnut Hill Bed & Breakfast for its headquarters and to create the Chandler Mill Interpretive Nature Center and Preserve at the base of the historic Chandler Mill Bridge. During this time, TLC has also been successful in having the area designated as a local historic district. The Brokaw family, who are local artists and conservationists, generously donated 42 acres to create the Chandler Mill Nature Preserve.

The Mills Family, former owners of the current TLC Walnut Hill Headquarters, sold their home of 50 years to TLC in 2015, and in addition to conversion to office space, TLC with the help of Architect Wayne Simpson and Lindsey Construction retrofitted the former family two car garage into what is now the Interpretive Nature Center.

Taxidermy of screech owls, foxes, hawks and mallards, along with a neighbor’s bird nest collection and various local artifacts, line the shelves. TLC will host educational programming at the center with participants able to step right out into the Preserve. The project is a microcosm of TLC’s work, it encompasses the four tenets of land conservation, historic preservation, environmental education, and stewardship. We pinch ourselves every day when we drive down the road to our headquarters.

The Chandler Mill Interpretive Center and Nature Preserve is located at the confluence of the Red Clay and Bucktoe creeks and contains Class I Woodlands and Meadows, specimen trees, rare species of flora and fauna, and historic sites. It is part of an Audubon Important Bird Area, as well as an over 35-year-long Cornell Lab of Ornithology study. The preserve is a haven for birds and threatened flora and fauna, so dogs are not permitted on the preserve.

Fortunately, TLC has four other local preserves that are dog-friendly. The Chandler Mill Nature Preserve and Interpretive Center is part of the largest contiguously conserved area in Kennett Township, with over 500 areas of open space containing some of the most biodiverse habitats in the region. This project greatly advances TLC’s efforts to protect, enhance, and promote the importance of watershed health within the Brandywine/Christina Watershed and highlight the protection of our history and our stories in Southern Chester County.

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Barbara E. Oliva of Chadds Ford

Obituaries

Barbara E. Oliva (nee Filippone), 75, of Chadds Ford, died Wednesday, Dec. 13.

Born in Philadelphia in 1942, she was the daughter of the late August and Agnes (nee Fantini) Filippone. Barbara enjoyed working with children at Glen Acres Elementary School. She liked to read, sew, and over the course of her married life, she traveled the world with her husband, Raul.

She was the beloved wife of Raul N. Oliva; loving mother of Raul C. Oliva (Laurie), Maria Oliva-Jurden (Peter Donaldson), Ann Marie Oliva (Prasad Gerard), and Jon-Paul Oliva (LeeAnne Fergason); devoted grandmother of Jessanne, Sarah, and Jesse; dear sister of the late Stephen Filippone.

Her funeral mass was Dec. 18 at St. Agnes Church in West Chester and interment was at SS Peter & Paul Cemetery in Springfield.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the ALS Association, Gift Processing Center, PO Box 37011, Boone, IA 50037 or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Pl, Memphis, TN 38105 would be appreciated.

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Police Log Dec. 20: Retail thefts, forged checks, assault

Police

Pennsylvania State Police

• Police said Irene Padilla, 50, of Philadelphia, is accused of stealing $82 worth of merchandise from the Walmart in East Marlborough Township on Dec. 13.

State police from the Media barracks cited a mother and daughter for harassment and criminal mischief respectively after the two got into a dispute at 3:44 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 3. A police report said the mother hit the daughter and the daughter kicked in the mother’s vehicle GPS system.

• An unnamed 47-year-old woman from Newark was arrested on retail theft charges after she tried to leave the East Marlborough Township Walmart without paying for items. The incident happened 7:23 p.m. on Dec. 15.

• A 46-year-old woman from Schwenksville was the victim of identity theft when two people tried cashing forged checks in the drive-through lane at the Citadel bank on Ponds Edge Drive in Pennsbury Township on Dec. 11. A police report said the suspects fled the scene but tried the same thing at Citadel branches in Glen Mills and Springfield.

• Police said a reported domestic assault led to a Coatesville man being found with drug paraphernalia and a stolen firearm. A report said state police received a call regarding domestic abuse and found the victim with a bloody nose. The accused, Alan Errol Carter, was not on the scene when police arrived, but a traffic stop was made on his vehicle. When stopped, police found the paraphernalia and the stolen weapon in the car. The incident happened Dec.11.

• State police from the Avondale barracks said Juan Hernandez-Bedolla, 22, of Wilmington, was arrested on various theft charges after he tried stealing items from the Walmart in East Marlborough Township. According to the report, the accused used a stolen screwdriver to pry open antitheft devices from items containing Skullcandy and iPhone earphones. He then tried to steal $350 worth of earphones. The incident happened about 4 p.m. on Dec. 11.

• The driver of a 2013 Chevrolet Impala person sustained a neck injury after the car was struck from behind on Dec. 12. Police said the accident happened at 6:15 p.m. on Route 82 south of Route 926 in East Marlborough Township. They identified the driver who struck the car as Michael K. Penacale, 63, of Kennett Square.

• Someone stole a chainsaw from a property in the 500 block of W. Creek Road in Pocopson Township sometime between Dec. 4 and Dec. 8. Police are investigating, a report said. The saw was removed from a shed on the property.

Southern Chester County Regional Police

• Jose H. Beltran-Salas, 35, of Kennett Square, was arrested and charged with an accident involving death or personal injury while not properly licensed, and several related traffic offenses, following a two-vehicle crash that was witnessed by police. According to Southern Chester County Regional police, the incident happened just before 8 a.m. on Dec. 7 at the intersection of Gap Newport Pike and Penn Green Road, in New Garden Township. The Nissan that Beltran-Salas was operating failed to yield and turned left in front of an oncoming Honda SUV, causing a collision. The other driver was taken by ambulance to the hospital. Further investigation revealed that Beltran-Salas did not possess a valid driver’s license, the report said.

• Police said Ronnie W. Wedington, 48, of Philadelphia, was charged in connection with the unauthorized use of a 2004 Chevrolet Suburban. The incident occurred on Nov. 30 in the 500 block of Church Road, in New Garden Township. The victim, police said, reported that Wedington took his vehicle from his residence without permission to drive a family member to a hospital in Delaware. When Wedington still hadn’t returned the vehicle by Dec. 02, the victim contacted police. Police said they made contact with Wedington by phone and instructed him to return the vehicle immediately. Wedington responded by hanging up on the officer.

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