July 3, 2019 - ChaddsFordLive.com

Concord preserves 17 acres

Concord Township Council Tuesday night voted to spend $870,000 to preserve a 17-acre property at the corner of Featherbed Lane and Bethel Road. The property, owned by the Hall family, is a former Christmas tree farm that will now be used for passive open space.

The John Beale House, dating back to the mid to late 1600s, on the Hall property will remain. It’s on the 2.5 acres retained by the family. (Courtesy image.)

Of the 17 acres, the township is buying 14.5 acres while the family will retain 2.5. Those 2.5 acres include the log and stone farmhouse that dates back to the late 1600s. The township portion is to include 1.5 miles of trails and provide access to Clayton Park and possible trail expansions the township is considering.

According to Councilmember John Crossan, the township is giving residents what they want.

“Our residents have said they want more open space and we are listening and taking action,” he said.

Council member Libby Salvucci said it’s a positive sign that the township has the money to buy properties for open space preservation.

That money has been a point of concern for Councilmember Joshua Twersky since the 2019 budget discussions last year. Specifically, he expressed concern about how open space money is put into various funds. He has questioned why $3.5 million was put into the capital reserve open space fund, while another $1 million was put into a fund specifically designated for open space.

Council President Dominic Pileggi explained that the open space fund is for immediate open space purchases while the other is held back during negotiations but can be moved if necessary.

The issue became more heated when Twersky did not accept an offer for endorsement for another term in office. The Concord Republican Party offered the endorsement but Twersky did not accept it by a deadline, so the endorsement was withdrawn. Twersky then ran a write-in campaign for the Democratic Party nomination in the May primary election.

Now some of the Council meetings are more politically charged. Prior to the start of the July 2 meeting, one of Twersky’s supporters handed out copies of a May 14 letter written by Salvucci a week before the primary. That letter was critical of Twersky, calling him a “former political operative from Swarthmore” and said Twersky voted against the $3.5 million and the $1 million being earmarked for open space. Her letter was also critical of Jai Oberoi who ran a write-in campaign alongside Twersky’s.

Twersky took time out of the meeting to say that Salvucci’s letter was all “lies,” that it constituted “workplace harassment” and that he wanted her censured by Council.

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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Galer adds sparkle to wine selection

Arts & Entertainment

GalerSparkle — Red Lion Chardonnay Sparkling Wine by Galer Estate Vineyard

Galer Estate Vineyard and Winery of Kennett Square will introduce their first sparkling wine on Sunday July 7^th from 12-7 p.m. in their Red Lion Room and Red Lion Deck. The winery will offer a curated tasting board of sparkling wine food pairings from Talula’s Table in Kennett Square for the special occasion.

The Red Lion Vineyard Sparkling Wine is made from Chardonnay grapes which were hand-picked in early September of 2018 from their Red Lion Vineyard grapes grown at the Galer Estate Winery property at 700 Folly Hill Road in Kennett Square. Primary fermentation was completed in stainless steel and the secondary fermentation occurred in the bottle, by Galer Estate Winemaker Virginia Mitchell and Assistant Winemaker Miles Basilia. When sparkling wine is made outside the Champagne region in France, even if it is of the same grape varietal and methodology, must be called “Sparkling Wine,” not Champagne.

Galer Estate Owners Brad and Lele Galer are very excited to release this new sparkling wine, “This is absolutely delicious! I love dry sparkling wines, and we are so proud to be making this quality wine in Chester County.” And Lele adds, “Making sparkling wine in the Champenoise style is an enormous amount of work, and I never would have asked them to do all this, but Virginia insisted…and we are so happy that she did!”

Every step of the journey from grape to wine was labor-intensive, done with great care and attention. The grapes were tended all year and then hand-picked in the beginning of by Vineyard Manager Jan Grimes and her BrandywineVines team. The grapes were picked and pressed during the cooler temperatures of the morning, and then the juice was immediately fermented to dryness in stainless steel.

The wine was then put into clear bottles, re-inoculated with yeast, sugar and nutrient (a process called tirage), and capped under a crown cap. During secondary fermentation (in the bottle), the yeast produce more alcohol, flavors and the characteristic carbon dioxide that produce the carbonation. This is a “bottle conditioned” sparkling, so all the sediment from secondary fermentation is still visible in the bottle. Some visitors might be surprised to see yeast particles still evident in the bottle, but this is a popular trend in winemaking to draw attention to the process and art of making sparkling wine.

Virginia Mitchell winemaker at Galer Estate Winery

Virginia Mitchell, who recently won awards for her Galer Estate Rosé and Cabernet Franc wines, said, “I think this wine is very unique and soon to be a favorite wine at Galer Estate. It feels cheerful, modern and tropical, and I can’t wait for everyone to try it!” This is Virginia Mitchell’s 5^th year at Galer Estate Vineyard and Winery, where she is now General Manager as well as Winemaker.

Since it opened to the public 8 years ago, Galer Estate has won over 150 national and international awards for their estate grown wines, which include Cabernet Franc, Albariño, Gruner Veltliner, Rosé, Chardonnay, Vidal Blanc, as well as the Huntress series of white and red blends.

Galer Estate Vineyard and Winery is located just behind Longwood Gardens at 700 Folly Hill Road in Kennett Square Pennsylvania. They are a boutique winery, making only 2500 cases per year. Open every weekend, the winery offers wine tastings and wine bottle sales, a popular wine club as well as live music, food and art events throughout the year. For more information go to www.galerestate.com.

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Police Log July 3: DUIs, weapons offense, crashes

Police

Pennsylvania State Police

• State police from the Media said Robert Sentman Ryan, age and municipality not reported, was to be charged with DUI following a June 8 traffic stop on Route 202 near Marshall Road. The report said he refused to take field rests.

• No injuries were reported, but the driver of a 2018 Porsche Macan was cited after she tried to turn right onto Conchester Road from the middle lane of southbound Route 1 and striking another vehicle in the process. Police identified the errant driver as Kathleen G. Spagnola, 60, of Bryn Mawr. The incident happened on June 13.

• Zachary Clark-Lang, 31, of Clifton Heights, was arrested on drug charges in Concord Township on June 14, police said. According to the report, the accused was in possession of methamphetamine at Targetmaster on Route 202.

• Police said Maya Gloria Staub, 20, of Wilmington, was arrested for DUI and drug charges following a June 15 traffic stop on Route 202 in Concord Township. The report said Staub was determined to be impaired, incapable of safe driving and was in possession of drug paraphernalia.

• DUI and drug charges were to be filed against Lisa Ann Houtz, a police report said. Her age and municipality were not mentioned. Police said they were making a welfare check on June 19 and found Houtz to be under the influence of a controlled substance while driving.

• Lauren Suzanne Possenti, 50, of Glen Mills, faces harassment charges after she pushed, scratched and pulled the hair of an 18-year-old girl, June 23, on Bethel Road in Concord Township.

• Two men face retail theft charges for allegedly trying to steal two vacuum cleaners from the Target store in Concord Township n June 25. Police identified the suspects as Charles Cornelius Perry and Tyree Marcus Warthen, both 24 and from Philadelphia.

• Police said 49-year-old Sean Christopher Purnell, of West Chester, turned himself into Coatesville police after fleeing the East Marlborough Walmart on June 11. According to the report, Purnell left the store with more than $350 worth of unpaid merchandise. He fled after being confronted by a store employee, then turned himself in.

• Harrison Davis Eichelberger, 19, of Pocopson Township, was arrested for DUI and marijuana possession, a police report said. The incident happened on S. Creek Road at Lenape Road in Birmingham Township, just after midnight on May 21. Police said Eichelberger was stopped for multiple traffic violations. Field sobriety tests indicated impairment, the report said and that marijuana and paraphernalia were found in his possession.

• Police said Brian P. Duffield, 41, of Downingtown, was cited after the Ford F450 he was driving went off Newark Road in May. According to the report, Duffield was driving north on Newark road, south of Doe Run Road, when he decided to brake on the downslope. He thought his brakes were failing and deliberately veered toward the shoulder to avoid oncoming traffic, then hit a stone wall, the report said. No injuries were reported.

Southern Chester County Regional Police

• Payge A. Sloyer, 52, of Coatesville, was arrested and charged with DUI and related traffic offenses, following a traffic stop for moving violations, a police report said. The incident happened June 5 at 7:59 p.m., in the 800 block of Newark Road, in New Garden Township. Police said they observed indicators suggesting intoxication and field sobriety tests showed impairment. She was taken into custody for suspicion of DUI and submitted to a chemical test of her breath, resulting in a blood alcohol level of 0.136 percent.

• Police said Herculando Gabriel-Mendez, 20, of West Grove, was arrested and charged with DUI and related traffic offenses, as well as with giving false ID to law enforcement, after the 2005 Ford he was driving was stopped for moving violations. The incident occurred on June 2 at 1:05 a.m., in the 100 block of New Garden Road, in New Garden Township. He was taken into custody for suspicion of DUI and submitted to a chemical test of his breath resulting in a blood alcohol level of 0.302 percent. During arrest processing, it was learned that Gabriel-Mendez had given police false names and a false date of birth and that he had an active arrest warrant held by our agency. He was transported to Central Booking where he was held for arraignment.

• Jermaine S. Smoke, 28, of Wilmington, was arrested on firearms charges and with violations of the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device, and Cosmetic Act (Act 64), after the 2015 Dodge he was driving was stopped for a registration violation, police said. Smoke was found to be in possession of marijuana and related paraphernalia, as well as a Ruger .380 caliber pistol, for which he had no valid license to carry, according to the report. The incident occurred on June 3 at 11:51 a.m., in the 800 block of West Cypress Street, in New Garden Township. Smoke was taken into custody, processed, and arraigned. He was initially committed to the Chester County Prison but was later released after posting $5000 bail.

• Police said Mariana G. Otersen, 21, of Landenberg, was arrested and charged with DUI and related traffic offenses, following a one-vehicle crash on May 31. Police said they responded to the scene to find the vehicle on its side and evidence of where it had left the roadway. Otersen was taken into custody for suspicion of DUI and submitted to a chemical test of her breath, which showed a blood alcohol level of 0.195 percent. She was released from custody pending issuance of a summons and was subsequently transported to the hospital for evaluation of injuries sustained in the crash.

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