Gov. Tom Wolf this afternoon announced that the stay at home order he issued in March would end as of 11:59 tomorrow night, June 4. The measure moves all counties that were in the red phase — including the five-county area of Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties — into the yellow.
The governor made one note of caution, however. “I remind Pennsylvanians that yellow means caution and, even in the green phase, everyone needs to take precautions to keep themselves and their communities healthy.”
He added that Pennsylvanians did “a tremendous job of flattening the curve” on COVID-19.
Wolf also renewed his 90-day disaster declaration that was to expire tomorrow. Extending the declaration provides increased support for agencies continuing to respond to the coronavirus and aiding in the recovery involved in reopening the state to normalcy.
In the yellow phase, restaurants and bars remain limited to carry-out service only. Gatherings of more than 25 people are still prohibited, and indoor recreation, health and wellness facilities and personal care services (such as gyms, spas, hair salons, nail salons and other entities that provide massage therapy), and all entertainment (such as casinos, theaters) remain closed.
While restaurants are still prohibited from providing dine-in service, Chadds Ford Township is considering an ordinance that would provide more restaurants with the opportunity of offering outdoor dining. Supervisors are expected to vote on that matter this Saturday, June 6.
The Chester County COVID-19 Business Task Force will be continuing a series of webinars for county businesses and organizations looking to reopen, revise, or even expand operations due to the impact of the coronavirus.
The next webinar, scheduled for tomorrow, June 4 at 3:30 p.m., focuses on how businesses can build consumer confidence as they increase public interaction during the re-opening process. Led by speakers Brian Myers, chief technology officer at Cleaned for COVID LLC; Ellen Langas, President of NouSoma Communications; and Jessica Capistrant, President of the Phoenixville Chamber of Commerce, the webinar will focus on tools and best practices for addressing customer concerns and providing solutions as Chester County enters the yellow phase on June 5th.
Brian Myers will introduce participants to Cleaned for COVID™, a Veteran-owned App that allows county businesses to communicate their real-time completion of cleaning, disinfecting, and COVID-19 safety activities to patrons. More information can be found at www.cleanedforcovid.com.
“Cleaned for COVID will quickly enable greater trust in the community while providing comfort to employees and consumers,” said Myers.
Ellen Langas will speak about marketing and communications strategies that provide clarity, establish credibility and build a business, including effective ways that companies can inform clients and patrons of safety precautions.
“In a time of uncertainty and transition, maintaining clear communication that focuses on the customer experience is key and will be essential for the restoration of Chester County’s industries,” Langas said.
Jessica Capistrant will provide an overview of what the chambers of commerce are doing to collaborate with and aid county businesses.
“We stand behind county businesses and support their efforts to re-open operations and reinvigorate consumers,” said Capistrant.
The webinar is free and will be hosted by Chester County Commissioners Marian Moskowitz, Josh Maxwell and Michelle Kichline. It is backed by the County’s nine chambers of commerce and other economic, education and government leaders – all members of the COVID-19 Business Task Force and their Restore Chester County initiative. Click here to register for the webinar.
Alongside the webinar series, the Chester County COVID-19 Business Task Force recently launched the “Restore Chester County” website. The site is an online resource specifically designed for Chester County businesses, organizations, and residents that provides practical and downloadable information for the re-opening process in more than 20 industries. Through “Restore Chester County,” businesses, organizations and residents can confidently and easily navigate their way through reopening guidelines, providing both overall and industry-specific guidance relating to COVID-19.
The masked poll watchers at the Concord Township municipal building are, from left, Kevin O'Donoghue, Jerry Weinhardt, and Cindy Cappelli.
See UPDATE at bottom.
The primary was delayed, voters from various precincts had to vote in polling places not their own, and more people opted to vote via mail because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But the results, though still unofficial, are in.
The stage is set for an Anton Andrew/Craig Williams battle in November for the 160th Legislative District seat currently held by state rep. Steve Barrar. Barrar is retiring at the end of the term.
Williams is the GOP-endorsed successor for the 160th, and he ran unopposed. He’ll be going up against Democrat Anton Andrew, who defeated Cathy Spahr for their party’s nomination. The unofficial vote total was 1,032 for Andrew, 891 for Spahr. The 160th includes municipalities from Western Delaware County and Southern Chester County.
Some voters needed to go to different polling locations because of the pandemic.
A matchup is also set for the state’s 9th Senate District. Incumbent Republican Tom Killion ran unopposed. He will face John Kane, who defeated Brett Burman. Kane pulled in 4,628 votes to Burman’s 3,352. The district includes portions of Delaware and Chester counties.
For the U.S. House of Representatives, 5th Congressional District — representing Delaware County and parts of South Philadelphia — incumbent Democrat Mary Gay Scanlon ran unopposed. Her opponent in November will be Republican Dasha Pruett. Pruett received 4,059 votes in her primary race against Rob Jordan.
In the race for the 6th Congressional District for U.S. House representing Chester County, incumbent Democrat Chrissy Houlihan will go up against John Emmons. Both ran unopposed.
With Democrat state Sen. Andrew Dinneman leaving office, the Democrats ran a three-way primary pitting current state Rep. Carolyn Comitta, D-156, against Kyle Boyer and Don Vymazal. Comitta pulled in 55 percent of the votes with 8,506. Vymazal took 4,661 votes while Boyer received 2,112.
Comitta was also on the ballot for her current seat in the state House. She ran unopposed in the primary, as did Republican Len Iacono.
There was little in the way of a contest in either of the presidential primaries. While both President Trump and presumptive Democratic Party nominee Joe Biden faced opposition, both won their respective primaries easily.
Combining votes in both Chester and Delaware counties, Trump scored 32,903 votes. His closest challenger, former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld, received 2,732. On the Democratic Party sides, Biden received 32,339 votes to Bernie Sanders’ 6,381.
Chester County reported a voter turnout of 17.7 percent, while some mail-in votes are still being counted. All vote totals are unofficial until verified by their respective county boards of election. Both counties were continuing to count ballots at the time of publcation.
UPDATE:
According to a press release sent Thursday, June 4, Delaware County Court of Common Pleas has ruled that all valid mail-in ballots postmarked by June 2, and received by the Board of Elections by June 9, at 5 p.m. will be counted.
The Court also ruled that certain voters whose ballots had not been mailed out to them by the Bureau of Elections before Election Day would have until 5 p.m. on June 12, to return their ballots to the Bureau. Those voters will receive their ballots in the mail in the next day or two. The envelope will contain a special notification with instructions for those voters. They may return their ballots in person to the Bureau of Elections or by mail (if returned by mail, the ballots must be received by the Bureau, not merely postmarked, by 5 p.m. on June 12).
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.
Abby Sue Duncan Middleton, age 53 of Chadds Ford, PA passed away suddenly on May 29, at Riddle Memorial Hospital. Born in Parkersburg, W.Va., she lived in Chadds Ford for the past 12 years, previously living most of her life in Wilmington. She graduated from Brandywine High School class of 1985 and earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Richmond, Phi Beta Kappa, in 1989. After graduation, she joined Marvin & Palmer Associates, where she met her husband. A mother, homemaker and entrepreneur, Abby turned her love for art into her own business, Signs of Serenity.
Abby was a devout catholic and member of St. Cornelius Catholic Church where she was very active in the church and school. Abby never met a stranger; and she gave boundless time, love and attention to everyone God put in her path. Abby was relentless in caring for her family – her husband Jay to whom she was married for 25 years, and especially her two sons, Jim and Chris, who were the loves of her life. She was involved in their education as well as their many sports activities. Their graduation from Salesianum was among her proudest accomplishments. She treasured time spent with her father, mother, sister and many loved ones who all loved her dearly. Abby left us all way too soon but her love for and devotion to her family will never be forgotten.
Abby is survived by her husband, Jay F. Middleton, two sons, James Byron Middleton and Christopher John Corcoran Middleton, father, Donald (Betty) Duncan, mother, Ruth Ellen Ott Duncan, sister, Beth Ellen Duncan, father and mother in law, James and Sheila Middleton, sister in law, Maura Middleton, brother in law, Patrick (Kate) Middleton, niece, Sophie Middleton, nephew, Joseph Middleton, aunts and uncles, Barney (Marya) Ott, Rick (Charlotte) Ott and Carma (Wayne) Cunningham, also numerous cousins and loved ones.
A private funeral mass will be Livestreamed, Friday, June 5, precisely at 11 a.m. from St. Cornelius Catholic Church, 160 Ridge Rd., Chadds Ford, by visiting (www.paganofuneralhome.com) or via Facebook (search Pagano Funeral Home). The video will remain on our website after the services are completed. Interment will remain private. Donations in her memory may be made to Saint Cornelius School, 160 Ridge Rd., Chadds Ford, PA 19317 or Salesianum School, 1801 N Broom St, Wilmington, DE 19802.
Police said Stephen P. Ryan, 29, of Glen Mills, was arrested on DUI charges while in a Wawa parking lot. Police arrested Ryan on May 16 at the Wawa on Naamans Creek Road at Route 202. According to the report, troopers were making a security check at 2:57 a.m. when they observed a vehicle with a driver slumped in the driver’s seat. They were able to wake the man and found him to be under the influence of alcohol.
Southern Chester County Regional Police
•Frank Delsignore, 57, of Avondale was arrested and charged with simple assault and harassment, following a domestic disturbance, a police report said. The incident occurred on Monday, May 25, at 5:22 p.m., in the unit block of Daniel Drive, in New Garden Township. According to the report, the victim said Delsignore pushed her to the ground, causing abrasions to her arm. Delsignore was taken into custody, then transported to Chester County Prison, where he was processed and held for arraignment. He was released on bail.
•Police said Thomas P. Pennington, 42, of Avondale, was arrested and charged with DUI and a summary traffic offense following a one-vehicle accident in New Garden Township on May 28. The incident occurred at 8:37 a.m., near the intersection of Sharp and Bucktoe Roads. While speaking with Pennington, police said, numerous indicators of impairment were observed. Pennington was taken into custody for suspicion of DUI. He consented to a chemical test of his breath, which resulted in a blood alcohol level of 0.312 percent. He was released and transported by medical personnel to the hospital due to his level of intoxication.
•Abdias Lopez-Perez, 39, of Toughkenamon, was arrested and charged with DUI and related traffic offenses, following a traffic stop for erratic driving, police said. The incident occurred on Thursday, May 21, at 11:34 p.m., in the area of Baltimore Pike and Chambers Road, in New Garden Township. Police said they observed indicators suggesting intoxication. Lopez-Perez was taken into custody where a chemical test of his breath showed a blood alcohol level of 0.112 percent, police said. He was later released pending issuance of a summons.
•Police said Joshua B. McMillan, 38, of Avondale, was arrested and charged with unauthorized use of an automobile. The incident occurred on Saturday, May 23, at 7:19 a.m., in the 600 block of Hillendale Road, in New Garden Township. According to the report, the victim told police that McMillan took her vehicle after being told he was not authorized to do so. McMillan was taken into custody and was transported to Chester County Prison, where he was processed and held for arraignment. He was released on bail.
