Longtime residents of Chadds Ford Township lost a friend the other day when Janet Smith, a 38-year employee at the Sunoco station on Route 1 and Station Way Road died Tuesday, Sept. 10.
Janet Smith
She worked at the station for eight years with former owner Pete Ochmanowicz, then with new owner Jim Leader for another 30 years before she retired late in 2015. In an interview before she retired, Smith said the best part of her job was getting to know everyone.
“It’s been a home away from home. I have enjoyed it and I will miss it,” she said in the interview. “You meet so many different people, and they depend on you being here.”
According to Jim Leader, it was always difficult to get Smith to take a day off and, even when she did take one, she still wanted to open up so the rest of the employees would get off to a good start.
“Janet was a most caring person,” Leader said. There was nobody she didn’t get along with. She made this business more than a business, she made it part of the community. She was an integral part of making us a success.”
Lou D’Iorio, who lives on Webb Road, said he feels as if he lost an old friend
“I knew her from day one. Janet was the nicest lady you’d ever want to meet. The whole township liked her. She always had a smile, even in the face of adversity,” D’Iorio said.
Barbara Moore, of Barbara Moore Fine Art and director of the former Chadds Ford Gallery, called Smith a “dear, and caring person” who always took time to help others even when she was busy.
Moore was also touched by a phone call she received from Smith shortly before her death.
“She called to say she wasn’t doing well. I think she was calling to say goodbye,” Moore said. “It was such a kind thing to do.”
Pat Wells knew Smith for 40 years and was impressed when Smith, as a single mother with eight young children 40 years ago, would handle work at the station while taking care of her children alone.
“I called Janet the mayor of Chadds Ford. She was always cheerful, kind and funny, no matter the situation. She was a Chadds Ford institution,” Wells said.
Ron Coates, who first came to know Smith when he began working at the U.S. Post Office in Chadds Ford, summed it up succinctly.
“She was like family. She always made you feel at home.”
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.
I met Amie Potsic at an exhibition in Philadelphia last year. Amie Potsic is one of those people who can wear a multitude of hats and still keep their lives on track. Folks may know her from her days as Executive Director of Main Line Art Center. This is just one role which has given her a platform to cultivate artists and art programs in the Delaware Valley.
Below are the notes from an interview with Amie Potsic in her Berwyn studio.
The Journey: My journey has taken me around the world as it’s opened my eyes to different aspects of the cultural landscape. Starting out by backpacking and photographing on my own for a year in India, Israel, and Turkey, it has been full of daring and dramatic paths of action. As such, I’ve engaged in many roles including artist, photographer, curator, gallery director, professor, executive director, and CEO. As someone who has been on multiple vantage points of the art world, I have a broad view that helps me put things in perspective and keep me moving forward in my artwork and my business.
The Inspiration: My work explores climate change and gender equality through immersive installations and photographic works. My current show explores these ideas through a lens of Magical Realism, introducing narrative and personal experience to issues that can sometimes seem too large to address. After photographing my daughter in the lush forests of the Northeast, I traveled west to Paradise, California and its surrounding forests to photograph the complete devastation caused by the deadliest wildfire in the state’s history. Personal experience underscoring the urgency of climate change; my new work intertwines visions of girlhood in a magical environment with nature’s unprecedented destruction caused by wildfires.
The Mediums: My first love is photography. I absolutely love the act of taking pictures as it forces you to live in the moment and see with heightened sensitivity. It has taken me across the globe to photograph in amazing places. And, it has allowed me to experience this advanced level of observation with my camera in the everyday. After the photographs are taken, conceptual connections are made and narrative tales are spun during the editing process. Bringing it all together to communicate in a dialogue is very satisfying. However, the two dimensionality of photography began to leave me wanting. I always wanted to literally walk into the photographs – to make a three-dimensional space that conveyed what I was photographing. This led to creating silk-fabric installations with photographic imagery to make immersive forest environments. It was very freeing to invite the photography off the wall and into space to create an experience.
The Process: I generally create bodies of work that address a particular issue that has grabbed me and held on for dear life. It begins with images and ideas that I direct but then the work itself provides answers if I listen. So, I gather photographs and ideas for whatever time it takes before creating the actual artwork. There are numerous steps between the initial image making and the final artwork. I allow my work to grow and evolve and take the form of the medium and aesthetic that best suits the message.
Paying the Bills: After receiving my MFA, I was an adjunct professor but it led to very few long-term opportunities and I started looking beyond academia to galleries and museums. My left-brain organizational skills combined with a seriously driven personality allowed me to move into administrative and curatorial positions. I became an Executive Director and Chief Curator. I then realized I could create a business that utilized my skills and experience to their fullest while enhancing my role as an artist. My prior experience combined with my understanding of the market from a variety of perspectives, put me in a unique position. I launched Amie Potsic Art Advisory, LLC in January of 2018.
Community Engagement: By offering fine art appraisals, art advising for artists and collectors, legacy planning, and curatorial projects, I can support the arts and I can make things happen. Having support to bring work and ideas to fruition is invaluable and is what I try to provide to my clients so they can reach their potential and enjoy acknowledgement of their work and collections. I am also Chair of the Art in City Hall Artistic Advisory Board to the City of Philadelphia. I’ve been involved with the committee for many years. By my contributions to its exhibitions and programs, I enjoy staying connected to the city’s concerns, creativity, and artistic community.
Advice for Emerging Artists: At first, it’s important to take time to experiment and develop the work to its potential. Many artists are making work so it’s important that your work is uniquely yours. It is essential that it be well done. Strong work gives you something substantial to exhibit, promote, and be proud of. Be a professional in any work you do with colleagues, clients, and decision-makers. Be someone people want to work with. Developing relationships creates opportunity and long-term professional gains. Being an artist is a long game, so enjoy the journey.
The Mantra: Dream big, try your hardest, and will it to be so.
You can see Potsic’s new work beginning Sept. 14th at James Oliver Gallery/Hot Bed where her solo exhibition “Girl in the Garden: Danger in Paradise” will be on view through Nov 15th, 2019. An opening reception will be held on Saturday, Sept. 14th from 6:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M. For more information, visit http://amiepotsic.com/ and www.amiepotsicartadvisory.com
Montgomery County Community College is hosting two dynamic group exhibitions right now. At the Pottstown Campus, Kutztown University’s Art Faculty Show of mixed media is on view through Nov. 7th at its North Hall Gallery. Kutztown’s faculty teach numerous forms of art ranging from ceramics, drawing, painting, illustration and woodworking to new and time-based media. Given that, expect to see a wide variety of mediums on display. A reception will be held Wednesday, Sept. 18th from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M.
“Ghosted” by K H McLaughlin
At the Blue Bell Campus, works by the mother’s cooperative group, MamaCITA are on view through Oct. 3rd at its Fine Arts Center Gallery. The exhibition, Marginalized features painting, printmaking, ceramics, jewelry, collage and installation. Karen Hunter McLaughlin, a long term member and leader said, “Our mother-artists initiated this exhibit idea almost two years ago in response to the changing political atmosphere. We were really excited to bring a wide range of issues to the public via the educational experience. We think it’s important to engage the community and the student body, in concerns of people and ideas that are often pushed to the fringes of society.” The reception is on Wednesday, Sept. 11th from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. For more information about these exhibitions, contact Patrick Rodgers at prodgers@mc3.edu.
“When in Doubt, Add Yellow” is a group show positively glowing with light, opens Thursday Sept. 12th at Chester County Art Association in West Chester.
“Spaces & Faces” at Square Pear in Kennett Square features, among others, the ceramic artist Zhanna Martin who coaxes amazing expressions into form for her fictional characters of clay.
“Faces and Spaces” exhibit of the work of Zhanna-Martin
A native of Philadelphia, Constance McBride lived in Arizona for 16 years, where desert observations made a transformative impact on her work as a research based visual artist. Passionate about contemporary art, she was actively engaged in the local arts community. She served as a board member for several art organizations, managed an artist collective/gallery space, curated and juried several exhibitions and wrote for two arts publications in Phoenix. She taught ceramics at Shemer Art Center and Museum and exhibited her work both locally and nationally. McBride returned to Pennsylvania in 2018 and resides in Chester Springs with her husband and two dogs. In West Chester, she serves as a board member at The Art Trust Gallery at Meridian Bank and teaches ceramics at Chester County Art Association. She also teaches at Clay on Main in Oley, PA. She is a member of American Craft Council, Philadelphia Sculptors, and Women’s Caucus for Art, Philadelphia Chapter.
Chadds Ford’s Varoon Joshi, a seventh-grader at CF Patton Middle School, was named one of the Top 300 MASTERS in the 2019 Broadcom MASTERS® program. The Top 300 Broadcom MASTERS were selected from a pool of 2,348 applicants from 47 states, DC, and two U.S. territories. These competitors were evaluated by a panel of distinguished scientists, engineers, and educators and judged on creativity and originality of their science fair project, their ability to engage in analysis of data and understanding of STEM principles as they relate to the real world.
Varoon Joshi
Each applicant was nominated to compete in the Broadcom MASTERS by placing among the top 10 percent of middle school competitors at Society-affiliated regional and state science fairs. Over 90,000 students participated in various feeder science competitions across the country. Varoon went through the Chester County Science Research Competition, Delaware Valley Science Fairs where he competed with students from all of Delaware, South East Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey. Patton teacher, Ms. Mary Jo Knauer, encouraged and supported Varoon through the competition.
Varoon’s project is titled “Correlating Birth Order to Parent Perceptions of Various Child Qualities.” He studied the influence of birth order on individuals’ personalities. He utilized a confidential survey to gather and statistically analyze the parents’ perception of their children on thirteen personality characteristics and analyzed responses on 276 children from 144 parents.
Varoon performed his research under the mentorship of Dr. Neil Izenberg, founder of KidsHealth.org, and a former vice president at Nemours Children’s Health System, and Dr. Ed Hass, director of consumer insights and marketing research at the Center for Health Delivery Innovation for Nemours Children’s Health System.
Varoon is following in his older brother’s footsteps. Viraj Joshi (a UHS senior) was a Broadcom Top 300 in 2016. The only difference is, Varoon achieved this as a sixth-grader competing with sixth to eighth-graders including many from Silicon Valley (Seventy-seven of the 300 are from California..
“I came across several outstanding projects throughout this journey,” Varoon stated. “I am humbled and feel fortunate to be selected. It could have been one of many other fellow-participants. I’d like to dedicate this success to my parents, mentors, educators, and my brother who is my role model.”
The next step in the Broadcom MASTERS takes place on September 18, 2019 when 30 finalists will be selected from the Top 300 MASTERS. Finalists and one parent or guardian will receive an all-expense paid trip to Washington, DC to attend the Broadcom MASTERS Finals Week competition from October 25-30, 2019. Finalists will present their research and compete in hands-on challenges for top prizes, including funds to attend a STEM summer camp and the Samueli Foundation Prize of $25,000.
•A Nottingham man, identified by police as Michael Harris III, 25, was arrested on drug charges after police made a traffic stop on Route 1 near Ring Road in Chadds Ford Township on Aug. 6. Police said they found marijuana and paraphernalia in the vehicle.
•Police are investigating a burglary at the Cardinal Camera store in Concord Township. A report said $95,000 worth of equipment was stolen after someone broke into the store and damaged a display at about 3:23 a.m. on Aug. 8.
•Charles O. Fehlandt, 23, of Wallingford, was cited for driving too fast after a one-vehicle crash on Heyburn Road at Smithbridge Road, police said. According to the report, Fehlandt was driving on Heyburn, lost control and ran onto the shoulder and hit a tree. He sustained minor injuries but refused treatment, police said. The accident happened shortly after midnight on Aug. 11.
•A police report said Cynthia Joseph Buchanan, 31, of Chadds Ford, took $49 worth of merchandise from Wegmans without paying on Aug. 12. A second suspect, Joshua Clyde Tucker, 30, also of Chadds Ford, was also arrested.
•Police are investigating a case of identity theft from a theft in Concord Township. A report said a purse left in a locker was stolen from a woman who was taking a yoga class at Empire Yoga at 391 Wilmington Pike. The victim’s credit cards were later used at several stores in Delaware. Police described the suspects as black females, one tall in her late 20s or early 30s, wearing black tights, jean jacket and blue Nike hat. The other suspect is shorter, about 5’6”, heavy set in her late 50s, wearing a red and white dress, and a jean jacket and white polo cap. The pair fled in a grey vehicle that police think is a Toyota Camry. The women entered the studio asking to use the restroom. The incident happened 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 17.
•Police are also investigating the theft of 20 boxes of sneakers taken from DSW in the Concordville Town Centre on Aug. 18 at 2:03 p.m. The suspects are two black females who witnesses said fled in a bronze or copper colored sedan temporary Delaware tag XP725522. Anyone with information is asked to call Tpr. James Lark at the state police media barracks at 484-840-1000.
•Mary M. Hartman, 66, of Glen Mils, was cited for her involvement in a two-vehicle accident in Concord Township on Aug. 21, police said. According to the report, Hartman was driving south on Evergreen Drive at Regency Plaza at 1:19 p.m. and failed to stop at a stop sign. Her vehicle then struck another. Neither driver was injured, police said.
•A rear-ender accident sent a 50-year-old woman from Elkton, Md. to the hospital after the Chevrolet Equinox in which she was a passenger was struck from behind. Police said Harold E. Little, 77, of Berwyn was cited for following too closely after the accident on Route 202 near Isaac Bullock lane at 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 23.
•A driver, unidentified in the police report, was cited for following too closely after striking another vehicle from behind on Route 1 at Route 202 on Aug. 31.
