Mario “Chuff” Basciani, 91, of Avondale, died peacefully on Sunday, Sept. 13, at his home surrounded by his loving family. Born on January 20, 1929, in Toughkenamon, he was the son of the late Emedio and Anna (Basciani) Basciani. Mario’s father began farming mushrooms in 1925, which is how he found his passion.
Mario Basciani
Mario was a 1947 graduate of Kennett High School where he found the love of his life, Anna Masciantonio, with whom he shared over 70 years of marriage. He was the founding owner of Basciani Mushroom Farms. In his free time, he loved playing cards, but Mario’s life revolved around his family and his business.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children, Mario “Monnie” Basciani and wife Kathleen, Joanne Regester and husband George, Richard Basciani and girlfriend Kim, Susanne Guizzetti and husband Victor, and Michael Basciani and wife Carla; 18 grandchildren and 39 (soon to be 40) great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, Mario was preceded in death by his siblings Rose DiFabio, Flavian Basciani, Dora Basciani, and Emedio Basciani Jr.
There will be a time to support the Basciani family on Saturday, Sept. 19, from 8 to l 11 a.m. at St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother Catholic Church, 8910 Gap Newport Pike, Avondale, PA 19311. The Mass of Christian Burial and interment will be private. Please visit Mario Basciani’s online memorial by going to www.kuzoandfoulkfh.com.
Michael “Mickey/Mike” Louis Arcus, 82, of Upper Chichester, died peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family, on Thursday, Sept. 10. Mike was born in Aliquippa, Pa., raised in Chester, and was a 1956 graduate of Chester High School. He served his country in the United States Army National Guard, was a member of Chadds Ford Baptist Church, and the owner and operator of Arcus Cleaning Services.
Michael Louis Arcus
Mike enjoyed sports, music, history, politics, and Bible theology. He loved people and sharing stories and his faith. Most of all he loved his family. He was the son of the late Michael and Katherine Arcus, and brother to the late Barbara Schoenborn. Survivors: His loving wife of 55 years: Janice M. Arcus (Mantz); children: Dana M. Arcus, Kristy K. Arcus Sheldon, Kara B. Arcus, and Deborah C. Arcus; grandchildren: Christopher T. Zambrana, Johnny J. Arcus, Kierstan K. Lê, and Luke M. Sheldon; and sister: Romaine Worster. Visitation: Thursday, Sept. 17, from 10-11 a.m. at the Chadds Ford Baptist Church, 415 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, PA 19317. Funeral service: Thursday, Sept. 17, at 11 a.m. at the Chadds Ford Baptist Church. Burial: Mount Hope Cemetery, Aston. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to OAR (Organization for Autism Research) at www.researchautism.org. Condolences: www.nolanfidale.com
It was all about traffic at the latest Toll Bros./Crebilly Farm conditional use hearing in Westtown Township Monday night. Traffic engineer Nicole Kline, of McMahon Associates, wrapped up her testimony being cross-examined by attorneys and others with party status.
The current hearings, referred to as Crebilly II, since this is the second set of conditional use hearings for the farm’s proposed development at Routes 926 and 202. Township supervisors denied approval two years ago for the proposed 319-home development.
During the Sept. 14 session, conducted via Zoom, attorney Kathy Labrum, representing Thornbury Township, Chester County, asked Kline about traffic calming measures in the area of Route 926 and Bridlewood Boulevard. Kline responded saying there have been some talks about traffic-calming measures between Toll and Thornbury, but the township has not offered any specifics about what it might want.
Possible locations for speed tables along W. Pleasant Grove Road.
They also discussed improving the intersection at 926 and S. New Street. Toll has proposed widening that intersection so that there would be dedicated right and left-turn lanes, both eastbound and westbound. However, to accomplish that, Toll would need an easement from Thornbury Farm Trust, which owns properties on both the southeast and southwest corners of that intersection.
Kline said the owner is not willing to grant the necessary easements. So, she added, Toll would only be able to widen the road from property it controls, which would mean there could only be dedicated right-hand turn lanes at the intersection.
During cross-examination from Fronefield Crawford, representing Birmingham Township, Kline repeated the need to acquire the easements for Toll to widen the intersection at S. New Street and Route 926 to install dedicated straight through and turn lanes.
“The right turn lane can be completed within the applicant’s property…We do not believe a left turn lane can be provided along 926 in either direction without acquiring right of way that the applicant does not control.”
Kline also told Crawford that the dedicated right-hand turn lanes would still help reduce the development’s traffic impact if approved.
“We have demonstrated through the traffic study that there is no overall impact at this intersection from the development and, with the addition of the right turn lane, westbound — which the applicant can provide — there would be an improvement at the intersection. The left-turn lanes are needed today and are not directly attributable to the development, but the applicant, in discussion with PennDOT agreed to pursue them and would install them if the right of way could be acquired to construct them,” Kline said.
The cross-examination then moved to a discussion about traffic avoiding the intersection of 202 and 926. Crawford used the example of a Birmingham Township resident driving west on Route 926, wanting to go north on Route 202.
As things are now, the driver would need to go to the intersection. However, Kline said one of the changes, the one involving a new road, Orvis Way, would allow that motorist to turn left onto S. New Street, then right onto W. Pleasant Grove Road, left onto Orvis to Stetson where a left onto northbound 202 could be made with the safety of a traffic light. Orvis Way opened late last year.
Under further questioning from Crawford, Kline said that the same motorist could access W. Pleasant Grove Road and Orvis Way by using the proposed connector road in the development.
Throughout the rest of the hearing, Kline said Toll proposed speed tables as traffic calming devices along W. Pleasant Grove Road, but the locations would be decided upon by the township.
Toward the end of the evening, Kline told Supervisors’ Chairman Dick Pomerantz that the traffic study indicates there would be 1,432 vehicles on the connector road daily. She also said that none of the intersections would be worse after development than they are now, that improvements would mitigate any increased traffic volume from the development.
The next hearing session is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Oct. 22, also on Zoom.
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.
Scarlett Thicket Farm in Kennett Square is well known by locals for its annual spring art show hosted by Peter Welling and curated by Stan Smokler. It typically features works by well-known local artists in its majestic barn, including Katee Boyle. This weekend, the venue is opening its doors again for another unique art gathering. With safety measures in place, and in an open-air setting, Boyle’s taken the reigns to plan an exhibition and performance of sorts. She’ll be unveiling new work and has invited three other artists to show their work there too.
Lessoning Dress, Photo of Katee Boyle by Carlos Alejandro
Boyle has been feverishly sculpting, welding, forging, writing, sewing and painting. She’s also been collaborating with some of her photographer friends; people she trusts and who understand her vision. “I am excited to share the newest narratives I have been chipping away at during the past six months. I am ambitiously completing four life-size dioramas for documentation and Studio Tour visitors will have the first preview! The installations are a combination of 2-D works, conceptual sculptural-objects, and illustrative collaborations with Photographers Carlos Alejandro, Jie Deng, and Natale Caccamo.” A storyteller who isn’t afraid to wear her heart on her sleeve, her work is soul stirring. Intriguing sneak peeks, posted on social media, beg to be seen in person. These installations are not to be missed. For more information about Boyle, visit her website here.
Katee Boyle welding in her studio
Delaware artist Roderick Hildago usually makes his mixed media art at a studio inside The Delaware Contemporary, but his space wasn’t accessible for months. He found a way around it though. “This obstacle was especially problematic for me due to the incredibly messy nature of the materials that I work with. I had to completely change my process and find a way to continue creating at home. Instead of viewing this as a complete road block, I decided to take advantage of this time to create some experimental works and come up with a new concept for my next series.” About showing at Scarlett Thicket Farm, Hildago said, “We have a beautifully curated show inside of an unarguably stunning space. You can expect to be visually satisfied!” Following the studio tour, Hildago will be working on a project with fashion designer, Shawn Baron Pinckney. “This project is centered on the 100 year anniversary of the Women’s Suffrage movement and will be included in The Delaware Contemporary’s, ‘Art and Couture: A Contemporary Centennial’ in late September.” For more information about Hildago, visit his website here.
Callowhill II – Painting by Alex Griffin
Philadelphia artist Alex Griffin will have his atmospheric paintings hung in a traditional manner within the barn. “It will be a unique experience for me and hopefully the viewer.” Unlike Hildago, he’s used to working from a home studio but trying to work during the pandemic proved to be problematic for him. “I have spent an incredible amount of time sitting in my studio and looking at my work while trying to make decisions. There are times where I will just walk into my studio because I feel like I have to, and I will just look at a painting without working on it, for hours and then I will leave.” Two of his shows were cancelled this year but somehow he managed to keep things moving along. For more information on Alex Griffin, visit his website here. In full disclosure, this columnist will also have work on display at Scarlett Thicket Farm, Studio #47, during the Chester County Studio Tour.
Alex Griffin in his studio
Miho Kahn, is opening her studio in West Chester for visitors. Kahn took on two projects this year and she is excited about them. “Having such intensely focused time and my desire to be outside created the space for me to take on an environmental art installation that I have been thinking about for some time. I felt particularly sad about the lost time between family members, especially new babies and the infirm. Out of those thoughts and prayers a book emerged that I am very fond of. I am presently working on the illustrations for it. These two projects have coalesced and I am thrilled with the results.” Weather permitting, Kahn will be displaying the paintings and installations which are both now part of the book. Located at 485 South Creek Road in West Chester, Kahn’s Studio is #44. To get a taste for all that she is doing, visit here. The Chester County Studio Tour is this Saturday Sept. 19th and Sunday, Sept. 20th.
Other events worth checking out: In West Chester, CCAA is hosting two new virtual shows: a solo of works by artist Neil Dreibelbis and a group show titled, “Topographically Told.” Both will be on view from Sept. 17th through Oct. 8th. Visit here for the latest updates.
In Philly, see the new show, “Growth Determined” at HOT-BED on Chestnut Street. It features fascinating works by Francis Beaty, Kate Norris and Gregory Brellochs.
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.
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.
