Hay bales dry under a blue sky in front of a barn missing part of its roof.
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.
Photo of the Week: Bales and Barn Read More »
Nancy Elaine McCracken, 81, of Kennett Square, died Saturday, July 17, at Reading Hospital in West Reading.
Born in Wilmington, she was the daughter of the late James Fulks and Mary Brown Fulks.
Nancy graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School and attended Goldie-Beacom College (University) where she studied business.
She was a business owner in the arts and crafts industry for many years. She is well known for being the owner of the Infant Resale Boutique in Wilmington, during the 1970s.
She served as a member of the Brandywine Hundred Ladies Auxiliary for many years. Her hobbies were sewing, arts and crafts, and genealogy research.
She will be remembered for her dedication to family and friends and her love of the beach, especially the Outer Banks, N.C. where she spent many summers with family and friends.
In addition to her partner of 20 years Ed Quinlan, she is survived by her daughter Sherry McCracken (Dina Engel) of Ventnor City, N.J.; her son Bill McCracken (Beth) of Earleville, Md.; her grandson Patrick Quinlan of Unionville; and brother Robert Fulks of Delaware. She was predeceased by her brother James Fulks from New England.
You are invited to visit with Nancy’s family and friends on Aug. 5, from 11 to 11:30 a.m. at the Kennett Square Golf & Country Club, 100 E. Locust Lane, Kennett Square, PA 19348. Her Celebration of Life service will follow from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. with a reception to follow at 12:30.
Interment will be held privately.
Contributions in her memory may be made to The American Kidney Fund http://www.kidneyfund.org.
Arrangements are by Matthew Grieco of Grieco Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc. (1800-FUNERAL). To view her online obituary, please visit www.griecofunerals.com.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Nancy Elaine (Fulks) McCracken, please visit our floral store.
Nancy Elaine McCracken of Kennett Square Read More »
The following animals are ready to be adopted from the Brandywine Valley SPCA in West Chester.
Beau
A boy as handsome and friendly as Beau waited too long to find a home at an overcrowded shelter in the south. Beau touched down safely in Pennsylvania recently thanks to BVSPCA’s partnership with the Tangipahoa Parish Animal Shelter, and he’s now ready to find a loving home to match his fun personality. He is open to meeting other dogs in the home before committing to forever. You can adopt Beau for a fee you name through Sunday, Aug. 1.
Chipmunk
One look at Chipmunk’s puffy cheeks and soulful expression and you know that he is a very special guy. Social, sweet, and good-natured, Chipmunk absolutely loves attention and will reward you with his cat vocalization language to say, “thank you!” A great all-rounder, he is looking to make a connection in either a single or family environment. You can adopt Chipmunk for a fee you name through Sunday, Aug. 1.
For more information, go to www.bvspca.org or phone 484-302-0865.
Adopt-a-Pet July 26 Read More »
Mary B. Houtmann, 92, of Chadds Ford, died peacefully on July 21, at home. Born and raised in Blackstone, Mass., she livd for the past 22 years in Chadds Ford, residing in Chester Heights for over 40 years.
She graduated from Blackstone High School, Class of 1946, where she was awarded the Daughters of the American Revolution Award for the qualities of dependability, service, leadership, scholastic achievement, and patriotism in her community. She was also a graduate of the Hill School of Business in Woonsocket, RI. In her earlier years, Mary worked for the family engineering business of G. D. Houtmann & Son.
Devoted to her faith, she was a member of the Mothers Club and volunteered throughout her 40 years as a parishioner of St Francis de Sales Parish, and more recently a member of St. Cornelius Catholic Church. She loved taking trips to the beach, especially Cape Cod, gardening, cooking, and family gatherings. Most of all she enjoyed taking care of her home and being with her children and grandchildren. In addition to her parents, Noel and Mabel Dwyer Beane, Mary is preceded in death by her husband, Edouard N. Houtmann who passed in 1994, and three brothers: John, William, and Gilbert Beane.
She is survived by six children: Edward Houtmann, Martha (Joseph) Provanzano, Matthew (Nancy) Houtmann, Jane Houtmann, Gustave (Barbara) Houtmann, and John (Margaret) Houtmann, brother, Harold (Corrine) Beane, 15 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
The family offers special appreciation to Mary’s caregiver for the past five years, Darrie. A visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 27, 9:30-10:45 a.m. at St Francis de Sales Catholic Church, 35 New Road, Lenni, PA, followed by a funeral mass at 11. A private interment will be held at Media Cemetery, Media.
Online condolences may be made by visiting www.paganofuneralhome.com
Mary B. Houtmann of Chadds Ford Read More »
The Kennett Library Board of Trustees will host a groundbreaking for the new Kennett Library and Resource Center on Thursday, Aug. 12 at 9 a.m. It will take place at the location of the new building, the corner of State and Willow Streets in the Borough of Kennett Square. All are welcome to attend.
“For over 20 years community members have planned, worked, and dreamt about a new regional library and now in 2021 that dream will become a reality, said Board President Jeff Yetter in a press release. “The Kennett Library is both a knowledge sanctuary and a community center. It is the soul of our community. It doesn’t matter who you are or what your background, the library welcomes you and has something for you.”
The Kennett Library serves as a literacy center for everyone from infants to seniors. In addition to the core services of any library, there are storytimes, in both English and Spanish to entertain and promote early literacy; there are ESL, U.S. Citizenship, and GED classes. In the last two years, the library helped 24 community residents become U.S. citizens.
The Kennett Library has served the community for more than 125 years in just two buildings. The current building, built in 1961 is outdated, has a basic lack of space for both materials and activities, the facility’s antiquated core systems — utilities, parking, access, storage, etc. — are seriously deficient.
Highlights of the new building include a 110-seat auditorium; Bayard Taylor Conference Room; children’s maker space; adult maker space; two classrooms; one multipurpose room; four tutor rooms; quiet and reflection room; computer carrels; several quiet reading areas; and an outdoor terrace.
Thanks to a core set of volunteers, many of them who came before us, we are now in the early stage of building a new library that will serve the community for another 50 years and longer. Thanks to our donors and supporters, both past and present, the Capital Campaign has raised 60 percent of the $20 million-goal needed to build the state-of-the-art library and resource center.
Library groundbreaking planned Read More »
PennDOT has announced the following road projects, which are weather-dependent and could affect drivers in the greater Chadds Ford area during the week of July 24 to July 30. Motorists are urged to allow extra time if they are traveling through one of the construction zones. Work schedules are subject to change.
• From Sunday, July 25, through Friday, July 30, there will be overnight lane closures on Route 52 (Kennett Pike) between Route 1 and Raintree Road in Kennett and Pennsbury townships for milling and paving operations.
• Northbound Route 1 motorists will encounter an overnight lane closure at various locations between Hoffman Mill Road and Route 202 on Wednesday, July 28, and from Friday, July 30, to 7 a.m. Monday, Aug. 2, for saw cutting and concrete patching operations under a project to repair and resurface approximately six miles of Route 1 in Chadds Ford and Concord townships, Delaware County and Pennsbury Township in Chester County.
• Water main work will cause lane closures and flagging in Birmingham Township on Wylie Road, between Birmingham Road and Firethorne Drive, and on Birmingham Road between Thornbury and Wylie roads, from July 30 through Aug. 13.
• Motorists should expect flagging during the day on Wawaset Road, between Doe Run Road and Spring House Way, in East Marlborough Township, for gas main work from July 26 to Aug. 6.
• Utility construction will force daytime lane closures on Miner Street in West Chester from July 26-30.
• Business Route 322 — Market Street — between Church Street and Wilmont Mews in West Chester will have overnight lane closures from July 26 through July 28 because of water main work.
• Motorists on the Conchester Highway will encounter a lane closure in both directions between Dutton Road and Route 95 in Upper Chichester Township, on Monday, July 26, through Friday, July 30, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. for geotechnical drilling,
• Water main work will continue to cause daytime lane closures on Pocopson Road between Trolley Way and Route 926 in Pocopson Township, through Aug. 6.
• Baltimore Pike remains closed and detoured 24/7 between Union Street and Chambers Road through the completion of a culvert replacement project scheduled for early September. Baltimore Pike motorists will be directed to use Cypress Avenue/Baltimore Pike, U.S 1 (Kennett-Oxford Bypass) North, Greenwood Road all turns, U.S. 1 (Kennett-Oxford Bypass) South, Route 41 interchange, and Route 41 (Gap Newport Pike/Pennsylvania Avenue) South. Local access will be maintained up to the construction zone.
Road Report July 24 to July 30 Read More »
• Alex Bolinger and Maura McManus, both from Chadds Ford, were named to the Bucknell University Dean’s Lost for spring 2021. Students must earn a grade-point average of at least 3.5 to be named to the list.
• Robert Andrew Maxwell of Chadds Ford has been awarded a Bachelor of Science in sports management, graduating Cum Laude from Kutztown University. He graduated with a 3.4-grade point average.
• Madison Caccese of Chadds Ford was placed on the Gettysburg College Dean’s Honor List for outstanding academic achievement in the Spring 2021 semester. Students with a quality point average of 3.60 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) for a semester’s work are placed on the College’s Dean’s Honor List.
Academic Achievement July 23 Read More »
Kennett Township supervisors reported Wednesday that the criminal case involving former township Manager Lisa Moore appears to be headed toward a plea agreement.
Supervisors’ Chairman Richard Leff said Moore’s case – on charges she allegedly embezzled $3.2 million from the township – was called for trial on July 19 but continued until September after Moore’s attorney asked for the continuance.
“There are indications plea discussions are taking place,” Leff said. Reading from a statement, Leff said Moore’s attorney had “indicated plea negotiations are taking place between Moore and the [Chester County] District Attorney’s office.”
Leff also reported that Moore’s Kennett Township home was put up for sale recently.
“A county judge … ordered that the proceeds of any sale of Moore’s McFarlan Road home would be transferred to the Chester County Court Administration Office to be retained and applied to any restitution ordered in Moore’s case,” Leff read from the statement.
Moore’s three-bedroom, 1,887-square-foot home is currently for sale for $575,000, according to a listing on Re/Max.com.
“The township and our legal counsel continue to aggressively pursue full restitution for the money taken in the embezzlement,” Leff said in the statement.
On Dec. 10, 2019, the district attorney’s office announced criminal charges against Moore following months of investigation. Those charges included 112 counts of first-, second- and third-degree felonies (such as theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception, receiving stolen property, forgery, and tampering with public records/information) and 26 counts of first- and second-degree misdemeanors (including tampering with records and securing execution documents by deception).
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.
Plea deal possible for Moore Read More »
Pennsbury Township supervisors Wednesday night voted to acquire an open space easement for a 39-acre parcel of land on Bluestone Drive that extends to Brinton’s Bridge Road. The property belongs to Arthur Neilson.
According to Supervisors’ Chairman Aaron McIntyre, the Neilson property has been among the township’s top 10 acquisition projects. Supervisor Wendell Fenton was more than pleased. “We’ve been talking with Neilson for years about this. I’m delighted he’s agreed to do it.”
Township solicitor Tom Oeste said the county assessed the easement value at $487,500, or $12,500 per acre but, with 15 percent woodland, he said, the county reduced the appraisal by 10 percent to $438,750. Oeste added the county would pay 55 percent, and the township will pay the remaining 45 percent or $197,437 from Pennsbury’s open space fund.
The easement is designed for the protection and conservation of prime agricultural lands, wildlife, and scenic resources, Oeste said.
The board also approved a request for relief of riparian buffer intrusion requirements for the property at 941 Cossart Road. It’s a one-acre lot with one house being planned. However, a stream and some wetlands run through the site and the driveway would cause a disturbance to those areas.
The Planning Commission had already recommended the relief, and the supervisors agreed.
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.
Pennsbury gains open space Read More »
Donald Alan Lester, 88, of Kennett Square, died in his sleep on Saturday, July 10, at his home.
He was the husband of Elizabeth “Betty Ann” (Gilbert) Lester, with whom he shared 64 years of marriage.
Born in Chester, he was the son of the late Herbert Clifford Lester and Elizabeth Reamy Lester.
Don served our country in the Navy during the Korean War serving on the USS Bushnell and the USS Picuda submarine. He received a National Defense Service Ribbon, a Navy Occupation Service Medal, and a Good Conduct Medal for his service.
He was the owner of Lester Water Inc, a water purification company, which was started in 1951 by his father. He retired in 1994 when David McKeon, his son-in-law, took over the business. Don was a longtime Rotarian. He joined the Concordville Rotary Club in 1969. When he and his family moved to Kennett Square in 1977, he joined the Rotary Club of Kennett Square. He was named Kennett Square Rotarian of the Year in 2003. He was an active member, serving as president two times (once in each club), as well as participating on many committees and service projects. He was also a member of the Unionville Presbyterian Church, where he loved singing in the choir.
Don was an avid antique car collector, having owned many during his life, including a Pierce-Arrow and a Rolls Royce. He enjoyed model trains and had an extensive collection at his home where he would create elaborate outdoor displays. He was also an enthusiastic fisherman, traveling to Canada and many other places with fellow Rotarians. In his younger days, he loved skiing with his family and his good friend, Stan Saft. He and Betty Ann loved ballroom dancing and traveling together. For a number of years, but especially during COVID, Don enjoyed playing the computer game Civilization with his brother Cliff, trying to conquer the world together.
He will be remembered for his dedication to service in our local community, his ability to remember and tell the many stories of his life, and to hum everywhere he went.
In addition to his wife Betty Ann, Don is survived by two daughters, Patricia McKeon and her husband David of New London, and Marianne Kennedy and her husband Michael of Oxford; one son, Wayne Lester of Kennett Square; four grandchildren, Erin Dougherty and her husband Steven, Ryan McKeon and his wife Stephanie, Connor Kennedy, and Nicholas Thompson; two great-grandchildren, Lilian Dougherty, and Wade McKeon; as well as his brother, H. Clifford Lester and his wife Jean, of San Marino, Calif. He was predeceased by a son, Donald Gilbert Lester in 1977 and his brother, John Lester in 1940.
You are invited to visit with Donald’s family and friends from noon to 1 p.m. on Friday, July 23, at the Unionville Presbyterian Church, 815 Wollaston Rd. Kennett Square, PA 19348. His memorial service will follow.
Please click the link to join the live streaming of Don’s Celebration of Life: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81165631274?pwd=TEJCZjJyQkZmRTF5T0JaRjVMVEcyQT09 Passcode: 186318
The interment will take place at a later time.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the Rotary Club of Kennett Square, PO Box 291, Kennett Square, PA 19348, or the Unionville Presbyterian Church, 812 Wollaston Rd. Kennett Square, PA 19348.
Arrangements are by Matthew J. Grieco of Grieco Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc. (1-800-FUNERAL). Condolences may be made at www.griecofunerals.com
Donald Alan Lester of Kennett Square Read More »
