October 16, 2019 - ChaddsFordLive.com

Charles Theodore Axarlis

Charles Theodore Axarlis, 80 of Chadds Ford, died on Oct. 13, in West Chester, following a lengthy illness.

Charlie was born in 1938 in Lebanon, Pa. to Theodore S. and Victoria Kutcher Axarlis. He graduated from Lebanon High School in 1956 and Millersville University in 1960 and received his master’s degree in 1963 from Millersville as well. He started his career in education at Northern Lebanon High School and spent more than 40 years at Haverford High School in Havertown, teaching mechanical drawing, architectural drawing, and basic design. He also taught eighth grade Sunday School for twelve years at St. Luke’s Greek Orthodox Church in Broomall. In 1972 he married Judith K. Axarlis; they spent over 47 years together raising a family in Chadds Ford.

Charlie was an outdoorsman early in his life. He enjoyed hunting with bow and arrow, scuba diving, beekeeping, and sailing and was a Freemason for more than 50 years. In addition, he loved to travel; he spent several months diving for treasure in the Caribbean in his early thirties, visited his family in Greece, and accompanied his wife on student trips to Europe throughout their teaching careers.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Christopher of Falls Church, Va.; a daughter and son-in-law, Victoria and William Tarantino of Severn, Md.; a brother and sister-in-law, S. Theodore and Lois Axarlis of Newmanstown, Pa.; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sister, Olympia Kresge.

Memorial services will be held at Christ Church, Christiana Hundred, 505 Buck Road, Wilmington, DE 19807, on Friday, Oct, 18, at 1 p.m. Interment private. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Charlie’s name to Chester County Pocopson Home, c/o Accounting Department, 1695 Lenape Rd., West Chester, PA 19382, or Penn Medicine Hospice, 795 E. Marshall St., Suite 204, West Chester, PA 19380.

For online condolences, please visit Chandlerfuneralhome.com

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Fire puts community’s neediest at risk

Local News, Local News Birmingham, Local News Chadds Ford, Local News Kennett, Local News Pennsbury, Local News Pocopson

foodbank — Volunteers load a delivery from Chester County Food Bank for storage.

A malfunction in a freezer at 4 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 13 sparked a fire at the Kennett Food Cupboard. The damage from fire, soot and smoke forced Kennett Area Community Service, who runs the cupboard, to throw out half of their current inventory and close their doors.

Ann Williams brought all the canned goods in her house.

“We hope to open in 7-10 days,” said Leah Reynolds, executive director of KACS. The cupboard supplies qualified families with a week’s worth of food each month through their Healthy Options program. “We will give out a food box this week with a gift card to tide our clients over until we re-open.”

The cupboard served food to 1,124 people last month. The individuals and families live in the Avon Grove, Unionville-Chadds Ford and Kennett Consolidated school districts. Qualified families have incomes of less than or equal to 180 percent of the federal poverty level.

As word of the loss spread through the community, shelf-stable donations have begun to arrive, courtesy of people like Ann Williams of Traditions. “I’m the ‘bag lady’ there because my neighbors leave donations for the cupboard at my house and I deliver them.”

Volunteer Dennis Babcock is ready to accept donations to replenish the Food Cupboard’s supplies.

Hearing about the fire, she grabbed what she could spare from her own kitchen and went to find out what else was needed. “I’m going to hang a list of volunteer needs at both our clubhouses,” she said. “There are so many kind people at Traditions who want to help.”

“We couldn’t do what we do here without volunteers,” Reynolds said between thanking donors for the bags and boxes they are bringing to the storage pod. “We need 60-75 volunteers every week to run the food cupboard.”

The labor-intensive nature of their venture is evident with every car that arrives. The stream of donations is managed by a combination of staff and volunteers. In addition to accepting donations from individuals, volunteers drive to stores each week and pick up the generous donations from local grocery stores and markets.

“Getting back on our feet will take all of us,” Reynolds said.

She recounted the kindness of the Chester County Food Bank, who sent over lunch for the volunteers and staff yesterday as they worked to take inventory and create reports required by the USDA inspectors before they can re-open.

Shelf-stable donations and $25 Giant gift card donations are gratefully being accepted at the pod in front of the Kennett Area Community Service offices. Volunteer needs are listed online https://www.kacsonline.net/ and https://www.facebook.com/KennettFoodCupboard/.

About Karen Myers

Karen Myers lives in Pocopson Township and has written for several local publications. A strong supporter of our community, Karen has served on several non-profit boards, such as Pocopson Elementary PTO, The United Way of Southern Chester County, Chester County Art Association and Tick Tock Early Learning Center. She received her M.B.A. from the University of Delaware and worked in marketing and operations with a focus on banking.

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Concord nixes Concord Ventures

Local News Concord, Local News, Local News Chadds Ford

The vote was unanimous and the applause strong Tuesday evening when Concord Township Council denied the PRD application of Concord Ventures. Had the application been approved — along with required future land development plans — 29 townhouses in six buildings and 166 apartments in three five-story buildings could have built off of Watkin Avenue near southbound Route 202.

Tuesday’s 7-0 vote temporarily put the 2-plus-year controversy to rest. Temporary because Marc Kaplin, attorney for the applicant, said he would appeal but has to wait until he reads Council’s written decision before filing. Council has 60 days to issue the written decision, according to the state Municipalities Planning Code.

During the presentation of his case, Kaplin spent several sessions having a witness read sections of the township zoning code, then have the witness state that the proposal meets those sections. Several lawyers attending the hearings said it’s possible that Kaplin presented the case that way in anticipation of a possible appeal.

After the vote, council President Dominic Pileggi called for a five-minute recess before beginning the regular meeting. An estimated 60-75 percent of the audience left the building.

During the regular meeting, Council reaffirmed the acquisition of almost three acres of land purchased from Virginia and Harold DeNenno. The property is located near the Garnet Valley Greenway, a proposed trail that would connect the township park with Clayton Park.

According to a statement read by Council 2^nd Vice President John Crossan, “This property has ecological value and helps us expand access and promote a buffer to our planned trail network.”

Pileggi also read a proclamation honoring the late Rufus Miley, a long-time township activist and volunteer who recently died.

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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DelCo warns of phone scam

Police

The Delaware County Park Police has received reports regarding scam phone calls originating from unknown phone numbers, or possibly a “spoofed” number, appearing to be from the sheriff’s office.

The scammers may represent themselves as county employees. In the most recent case the caller used the name, of a park police officer. The scammers tell the targets that there is a warrant for their arrest, or they are subject to arrest for failing to appear for jury duty.

Typically, the scammers will request payment of some type, often MoneyPak, GreenDot, or some other type of prepaid money, or gift card as payment to avoid arrest. They may also ask for personal information including a social security number and/or bank account information.

Residents who receive this type of call are advised to hang up and not give any personal information, account information, or purchase any type of money card, or gift card if requested to do so over the telephone.

The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office or Jury Services will never contact anyone by telephone and ask for personal, account information, or payment of any kind to avoid jury duty or arrest.

If you receive a call, please contact your local police.

About Press Release

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Heavy rains possible

Along the Ford

AccuWeather and the National Weather Service are each calling for the possibility of heavy rain from today into Thursday.

The weather service is calling for 1-2 inches of rain in Chester County, with a chance of up to 3 inches. Localized flooding is possible and fallen leaves may lead to slick roads and reduced storm drain capacity.

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Police Log Oct. 16: Revolver, license plates stolen

Police

Pennsylvania State Police

• State police are investigating the theft of a revolver that took place on Pole Cat Road in Concord Township sometime between noon on Sept. 29 and noon on Oct. 3. The victim is reported to be a 92-year-old man.

• Police are also investigating the theft of a license plate from the Team Toyota dealership on Route 1 in Concord Township. Police said the theft took place sometime between 12:01 a.m. on Sept. 14 and 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 23.

• Police said two 17-year-olds at Garnet Valley High School were charged with drug offenses after one was found in possession of marijuana that was purchased from another student. The incident took place on Sept. 17.

• Jillian Rose Curran, 29, of Boothwyn, was charged with DUI after a traffic stop on Route 202 at Spring Hill Road in Chadds Ford, according to police. The report said the traffic stop was made for vehicle code violations at 1:55 a.m. on Sept. 21.

• Someone stole the license plate from a 2017 Nissan Altima sometime between 1 and 3 p.m., on Sept. 23. The vehicle was parked at 705 Byers Drive in Concord Township.

• State police said Debra Ann Sellers, 66, of Gen Mills, was determined to be DUI after a traffic stop because the Ford Fusion she was driving was not kept in its lane of travel. The incident happened at Walnut Hill and Stoney Bank roads in Concord Township on Sept. 27.

• Mark. B. Cunrod, 52, of Broomall was cited following a two-car accident on Route 1 in Concord Township on Oct. 3, according to police. A report said Cunrod was unable to maintain his lane of travel and moved from the right lane to the left, striking another vehicle which, in turn, hit a guide rail.

• A police report said Jeffrey T. Clute, 51, of West Chester, was cited for an improper left turn on Dilworthtown Road in Chadds Ford Township. Clute was westbound in the righthand lane and wanted to turn left into the Wawa but turned into the path of an eastbound vehicle, police said. The accident happened on Oct. 4.

• A Maryland man was cited following a one-vehicle crash on Cheyney Road in Concord Township on Oct. 5. Police identified the driver as Jorge O. Alvarado-Cabrera, 45, of Grasonvile, Md. The report said Alvarado-Cabrera was driving north when his vehicle went off the right side of the road.

About CFLive Staff

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