After almost a year, the Dilworthtown Inn has new owners. Frank Rupp, a member of the board of Chadds Ford Business Association, and his wife Susan made settlement earlier this month for the inn and sister properties, the Blue Pear Bistro and the Innkeeper’s Kitchen.
The restaurants have been closed since the death of Jim Barnes in April of 2019. Who will eventually operate the restaurants is yet to be determined.
Frank and Susan Rupp are the new owners of the Dilworthtown Inn.
“We are looking for stewards for each restaurant,” said Frank Rupp. “We want restaurateurs who share our interest in preserving history.”
Since purchasing the properties on Jan. 21, there has been a lot of interest and a number of tours from area restaurants looking to expand.
“No chains or franchises,” said Rupp. “We are looking to partner with people who have a depth of experience running restaurants and whose menu shares our vision for this historic property.
The purchase of the properties includes all the décor, with the exception of family heirlooms, which may allow future tenants to preserve the past. In addition to the restaurants, the Rupps have also purchased Barnes’ former home behind the bistro and the white house behind the Innkeeper’s Kitchen.
“Our goal is to make Historic Dilworthtown into a destination date for young people,” said Rupp. “We have a 21st-century vision for an 18th-century treasure.”
Their vision is to use all the properties to create a small village-like atmosphere that will invite diners to walk around and visit the other businesses after their meal.
The Rupp’s ownership of the properties will be a consistent presence to keep the vision intact, he said. It also allows the restauranteurs to focus on running their business while the Rupp’s care for the properties.
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.
An order by a Delaware County Common Pleas Court judge to overturn Concord Township’s denial of conditional use approval for Pulte Homes has been withdrawn.
Pulte wants to construct a 257-unit residential community — with 254 townhomes and three single-family dwellings — on the Spring Lake Tract, east of Route 202 at the site of the old Chip & Putt course, behind Whole Foods.
Concord’s Council unanimously turned down the conditional use request in August of 2018. After an appeal, Judge John Whelan remanded the matter back to the township in 2019. In November of last year, Council again voted down Pulte’s request and the developer appealed again. Whelan then ruled to overturn the denial on Jan. 15. However, the judge vacated that order on Jan. 29, following a request to reconsider written by Hugh Donaghue, Concord’s solicitor.
In the request for reconsideration, Donaghue said Concord “properly rejected Pulte’s conditional use application as submitted as it failed to meet the objective requirements of the Conditional Use Ordinance that require a signalized intersection, public roads on all boundaries and 2.5 parking spaces per dwelling unit.”
The solicitor also cited the opinion of the township fire marshal that the plan is inconsistent “with the promotion of the health, safety and general welfare,” and the opinion of the land planner that the property is too small for the requested number of residential units.
Whelan wrote in the order vacating his decision that there shall be a full evidentiary hearing on Feb. 7 in courtroom 8.
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.
Three more employees were let go in Kennett Township. It marks the second time in less than 48 hours that township Manager Eden Ratliff has announced staffing changes as part of the township’s ongoing restructuring effort.
The restructuring of Kennett Township follows the discovery and subsequent investigation last year that former township Manager Lisa Moore allegedly embezzled more than $3.2 million from the township. Moore is currently awaiting a preliminary hearing in April.
“As we’ve explained in recent months, we have been examining both the direction of the township going forward and the expertise we need in our staff from many angles and viewpoints,” Ratliff said in a press release, explaining that changes began once he accepted the manager job in September 2019. “We began making changes to our department structure, priorities and our staff. That process is continuing.”
Ratliff made the announcement Tuesday night that the township had offered severance packages last week to Megan Cadreau, Michael O’Brien, and Cathy Rowe. The three employees had worked for Kennett Township for a combined total of 43 years and had annual combined salaries totaling more than $250,000.
“We are reshaping the township’s future,” Ratliff said. “These decisions aren’t easy, and we want to respect the individuals departing and express our thanks for their past contributions.”
Cadreau was a 16-year employee of Kennett Township who worked as the Right to Know officer and the assistant to the treasurer at a salary of $91,680, according to the press release. She was appointed as the Right to Know officer at the township’s Jan. 6, 2020 reorganization meeting.
O’Brien had worked as the assistant to the township manager for five years at a salary of $72,600, according to the press release. Rowe was a 22-year employee with a salary of $90,189 who worked as the receptionist and permit coordinator.
In the press release, Ratliff said part of the restructuring included looking at expenses, such as employee salaries, and “reshaping the positions, responsibilities and compensation of our staff to bring them into line with professionals in other townships for comparable jobs.”
“We will continue to make changes in the best interests of the township as needed,” Ratliff said.
Monica Thompson Fragale is a freelance reporter who spent her life dreaming of being in the newspaper business. That dream came true after college when she started working at The Kennett Paper and, years later The Reporter newspaper in Lansdale and other dailies.
She turned to non-profit work after her first daughter was born and spent the next 13 years in that field.
But while you can take the girl out of journalism, you can’t take journalism out of the girl. Offers to freelance sparked the writing bug again started her fingers happily tapping away on the keyboard.
Monica lives with her husband and two children in Kennett Square.
It was a feast for chocolate lovers and a benefit for the United Way of Southern Chester County. More than 1,000 people packed into Unionville High School Sunday for the eighth annual Chocolate Lovers Festival.
“It takes a big village,” said Carrie Freeman, the chief executive officer of the United Way of Southern Chester County. This year’s event brought together 33 judges, 82 volunteers and 250 chocolate entries.
“My email address has chocolate in it,” said first-time judge Janice Prata. “This is heaven for me.”
“My favorite is chocolate for breakfast and then a nap afterward,” said eight-time judge Drew Yetter.
Judges rate the creativity of the amateur cake entries.
A team of judges evaluated the entries on flavor, overall appearance, moisture and texture, creativity and use of chocolate. The tables overflowed with an extensive selection of cakes, cupcakes, cookies, candy and brownies.
After the judges completed their tastings, the team of gloved cutters led by Christien Bass and Catherine Britt went to work slicing cakes, brownies and cupcakes into bite-size pieces while the guests gathered at the door.
At noon, the professional, amateur and student winners in each category were posted and the doors opened to allow the VIP guests to begin tasting. Many attendees came with strategies. Some headed directly to the back of the room, where the finest entries were located. Others perused the laden tables’ vast array of chocolate to plan their strategy before redeeming their ten tasting tickets.
“The most important thing is that the ticket holders have a wide array of chocolate to choose from,” said Freeman as the table selections were replenished before the doors opened for general admission. “The bakers who share their talents with the community are the reason this fundraiser is so successful.”
Kelly Barboni displays her winning ribbons
Kelly Barboni took the professional win in three categories: brownie, candy and cookies. Samantha Dill of Dilly Dally Cakery took the top spot for cakes and cupcakes. Amateur brownies when to Betty Hist, the cake winner was Rebecca Bakey. Lindsay Culp was the candy winner and Patti Beauchesne took the win for chocolates, with Marie Schneider scoring top honors for cupcakes. The student wins featured Hazel Smith for brownies, Miranda Rowles for cakes and Kara Mudrick for candy. Liz Bram took the win for cookies and the team of Kendall Rybarczyk and Sidney Brutscher won for their cupcakes.
While the event winners covet their bragging rights for the year, the real winner is the community.
“The money will go immediately to fund area agencies for programs that support crisis intervention, health, family stability and independence through education,” said Freeman.
The United Way also sold raffle tickets for a chance to win a year of chocolate desserts from local bakers like The Gables at Chadds Ford, Talula’s Table and the Country Butchers. Tickets can be purchased online at unitedwayscc.org/tickets before the Feb. 14 drawing.
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.
• Police are investigating the report of a stolen car. A 27-year-old woman from Sharon Hill had her black Ford Fusion parked on Walters Road in Concord Township sometime between midnight and 6 a.m. on Jan. 27 According to the report, the car was left unlocked with an extra set of keys in the vehicle. The license plate on the Fusion is Pennsylvania JLY5849.
• An unidentified driver was cited for driving too fast following a rear-ender accident on Route 202 at Spring Hill Road on Jan 27. Police said the cited driver told them he had taken his eye off the road to look at two other vehicles that had been in an accident and that he couldn’t stop in time before striking the car in front that was stopped for the light. No injuries were reported.
• Police said they arrested Mary Rice, 41, of Linwood, for DUI after a Jan. 12, single-vehicle crash on Conchester Highway near Featherbed Lane. The 2015 Hyundai Elantra crashed into a construction site. When troopers arrived on the scene, the report said, Rice was in the driver’s seat and found to be under the influence of alcohol and a controlled substance.
• A 93-year-old man was cited for excessive speed on Jan. 24. Police said Theodore W. Hissey, of Glen Mills, was leaving a dry cleaner’s on Byers Road in Concord Township a little before 3 p.m. when the Dodge Magnum he was driving accelerated, crashed into a curb and went airborne in front of the Outback Steakhouse. The vehicle then crashed in the restaurant’s walkway, taking out part of the walkway, railings and landscape. The Dodge came to rest after hitting a green PECO switching module. Hissey was not injured, police said.
• Police arrested a 32-year-old man from Philadelphia for disorderly conduct at the Texas Roadhouse on Jan. 23. No other details were released.
• Police are investigating the passing of a counterfeit $100 bill at Wegmans on Jan. 22. The bogus bill was used to buy a beverage valued at $2.49. Two men, not described in the report, were seen getting into the passenger side of a white 2016 Nissan Sentra sedan leaving the scene.
• A 29-year-old from New Castle, Del. was arrested on DUI charges in Concord Township on Jan. 18. The report did not name the suspect but said the incident happened on Route 1 at Brinton Lake Road. Troopers said they made the traffic stop after observing vehicle code violations. The driver was determined to be DUI and incapable of driving safely.
• Someone stole a pair of Apple Air Pods Pro from a juvenile victim on Jan. 17 on Smithbridge Road. Anyone with information is asked to contact Tpr. Jacquette at 484-840-1000 or email Bjacquette@pa.gov.
• Robert Durandis, 29, of Philadelphia, was arrested for DUI following a suspicious beer order in Concord Township on Jan. 18, police said. According to the report, police were called to D&I Beverages after the store received a telephone order for 40 cases of beer paid for with two credit cards. Durandis arrived the following day and the business owner called the police thinking the order was fraudulent. The report went on to say that investigation led to the determination that Durandis was DUI.
• Police are investigating the reported theft of $531 from a classroom at Garnet Valley High School. The money was taken sometime between Jan. 6 and 10. The teacher reported the theft to his supervisor who contacted police on Jan. 13, the report said.
• Gabriella Ward, 22, of Coatesville, was arrested for DUI in Concord Township on Dec. 28, a police report said. Police said Ward was stopped for vehicle violations at 3:38 a.m. on Naamans Creek Road at Route 202 for vehicle violations and discovered her to be under the influence of alcohol.
Troop J, Avondale
• Police from the Avondale barracks responded to a domestic dispute between a mother and son in East Marlborough Township on Dec. 30. The 16-year-old was detained and charged.
• A 31-year-old woman was arrested for retail theft after she was discovered under-ringing merchandise in the self-checkout line at the Walmart in East Marlborough Township. The arrest date was Jan. 25; the suspect was not named in the report.
• Police said a 22-year-old man from West Grove was arrested on drug charges following a traffic stop in Pennsbury Township on Dec. 26. The suspect, not named in the release, was observed committing a traffic violation on Route 1 at Constitution Drive, the report said and was stopped at Creek Road. Police said they smelled marijuana and saw signs of impairment. A probable cause search yielded a small amount of cannabis and the driver submitted to a field sobriety test which confirmed impairment.
• A 54-year-old man from Kennett Square, not named in the report, allegedly threw eggs at state police troopers who were responding to a criminal mischief report in Pocopson Township on Dec. 21. The incident took place at 2:13 a.m. on Osborne Circle. No other details were released.
Kennett Township Police
William “Billy” O’Donnell
The Kennett Township Police Department currently holds two arrest warrants for William “Billy” O’Donnell stemming from two separate incidents. In October 2019, the KTPD received notice that a 1-year-old child, in O’Donnell’s care had been hospitalized after ingesting a controlled substance. An investigation was conducted and O’Donnell was charged with endangering the welfare of a child. In December 2019, the KTPD received a report alleging that O’Donnell intentionally inflicted severe damages to the personal property of another, at a residence on Carlton Drive. An investigation was conducted, and O’Donnell was charged with criminal mischief, theft by unlawful taking, and receiving stolen property. The attached photograph was taken in June 2019 however, O’Donnell has since shaved off his hair. If anyone has any information concerning the whereabouts of O’Donnell, please contact the KTPD at 610-388-2874.
