The following animals are ready to be adopted from the Brandywine Valley SPCA in West Chester.
Spunk
Spunk and Magic
Magic
This is a bonded pair. Spunk is a big fellow with an equally big heart. This poor kitty weighed in at 27 pounds. He’s a big boy with a big, outgoing personality. He arrived as a stray with his best pal Magic, who is much slimmer and looks to his outgoing friend Spunk for comfort. We’re hoping to find this bonded pair a home together where Spunk can slim down while continuing to be there for Magic. We estimate them to be 7 years old, so lots of love and life to share. Come meet this purrfect pair in Kitty City at our West Chester Campus. You can name your fee for Spunk and Magic through Sunday, March 13.
Chewie
Chewie
Chewie is a big sweetheart who loves taking over your side of the bed. He also loves attention and affection from people and gets along well with kids. Chewie has got basic commands like “sit,” “stay,” “down,” “out,” and “enough” down pat. He’s done well in dog playgroups at the shelter and would be open to meeting other dogs. Come meet this big hunk of love and make him your newest family member. A kind donor has sponsored Chewie’s adoption fee.
For more information, go to www.bvspca.org or phone 484-302-0865.
William P. Mclimans Sr., 92, of Oxford, died Thursday, March 3, at his residence. He was the husband of Reba Miles McLimans, who died in 2020, and with whom he shared 65 years of marriage.
William P. Mclimans Sr.
Born in West Grove, he was the son of the late S. Pusey McLimans and the late Florence Myers McLimans.
He was the foreman of the carpenter shop at Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, retiring in 1990 after 28 years of service. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving during the Korean Conflict.
Mr. McLimans was a master woodworker. He enjoyed gardening, golfing, fishing, reading, traveling, watching the Phillies on TV, and being with his family and friends.
He was a life-long member of the West Grove Presbyterian Church, where he served several terms on the Board of Trustees, including serving as board president, and also served on two pastoral nominating committees.
He is survived by one daughter, Kimberly A. McLimans of Oxford; two sons, William P. McLimans Jr. of Nottingham, and James R. McLimans and his wife Kathy of West Grove, and four grandchildren, Shannon McLimans, Katelyn McLimans, Christopher McLimans, and Michael McLimans.
Mr. McLimans was predeceased by one sister, Mary Moore, and four brothers, Harry McLimans (who died in infancy), John “Jack” McLimans, Robert McLimans, and James McLimans.
You are invited to visit with his family and friends from 10 to 11 a.m. on Friday, March 11, at the West Grove Presbyterian Church, 139 West Evergreen Street, West Grove. His funeral service will follow at 11. Burial will be in the New London Presbyterian Cemetery, Route 896, New London.
In lieu of flowers, a contribution may be made to the West Grove Presbyterian Church, 139 West Evergreen Street, West Grove, PA 19390
To view his online tribute and to share a memory with his family, please visit www.kuzoandfoulkfh.com
Arrangements by the Foulk Funeral Home, West Grove.
Richard “Dick” Southard, 80, of Willowdale, a retired farmer, and avid horseman died Friday, Feb. 25, at home with his family.
Richard Southard
Dick is survived by his wife, Lua, sons Kenneth Charles Southard, Sr. (Marie) of Centreville, Md. and Kevin Oas Southard, of Millington Md., grandsons Kenneth C. Southard, Jr. (Morganne), of Centreville, Md. and Paul D. Southard of Salisbury, Md., granddaughters Misty D. Amarena (Joe) of Glastonbury, Conn., Jacquelyn and Jennifer Southard of Millington, Md., and four great-grandchildren, Julia, Landon, and Alyvia Southard and Theodore Amarena. He is also survived by brothers Thomas Southard of Rural Retreat, Va. and Frank Southard of Elsmere, sisters Mary Burton and Marla Lewis, both of West Grove. Dick was predeceased by his mother and father, sister Lydie Laub and grandson James R. Southard.
Dick was born on Dec. 8, 1941, to Thomas Southard Sr. and Laura Hale Southard. He lived 72 years of his life within one mile of Willowdale where he grew up from the age of three. He lived and worked as the farm manager on Mr. Truman Welling’s Scarlett Thicket Farm for over 55 years. The farm raised crops, cattle, and horses.
On Sept. 23, 1961, Dick married his high school sweetheart, Lua Oas, whose career was based in the equine industry. On March 15, 1962, and October 10, 1964, respectively, he welcomed his two sons into this world.
Dick was a devoted father and husband. He would light up a party with his sense of humor, enjoyed making furniture, coaching recreational youth soccer, traveling, karate, the great outdoors, and his own brand of storytelling. He was also a firefighter at the Unionville Fire Co. for many years.
He “bled” John Deere green and yellow. Most of his equipment on the farm was John Deere. Dick also had a collection of antique John Deere “putt-putts” and a huge collection of John Deere memorabilia.
A private memorial for immediate family was held on March 5 at Ware Retirement Village, Oxford. You are invited to Dick’s Celebration of Life ceremony at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 14, at Scarlett Thicket Farm, 284 W Street Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348. Please wear your favorite John Deere hat and dress is casual attire.
Contributions in his memory may be made to Stroud Water Research Center, a not-for-profit organization performing freshwater research, environmental education, and watershed restoration, at 970 Spencer Road, Avondale, PA 19311 or online at https://stroudcenter.org/donate/
Arrangements are by Matthew Grieco of Grieco Funeral Home & Crematory of Kennett Square 484-734-8100. To view his online tribute, please visit www.griecofunerals.com
As the dull days of winter finally start to fade away, bright art shows and fun events are ready to launch! Galleries throughout the Brandywine Valley have new exhibits starting over the next few weeks. Take advantage of the last days of chilly weather to check them out. Don’t forget to check the gallery’s website or call ahead for updated safety measures.
European Bee Eaters by Rinal Parikh at the Art Trust
The Art Trust is going to the birds with three popular local artists. “Put a Bird On It” celebrates the feathered friends in all their detailed, delightful, curious glory. Annie Partizi incorporates found materials and vintage items in gorgeous pieces of art. The multidimensional aspect brings life to her striking subjects. Rinal Parikh’s exquisitely detailed pieces show birds surrounded by colorful nature scenes. And Jeremy McGirl’s multimedia collages incorporate detailed etchings and graphic designs to great effect. Art and nature lovers can flock together at an Exhibit Cocktail Reception Friday, March 4th from 5 to 9 pm, or hear straight from the artist’s beak at an Artist’s Talk April 21st from 7 to 8 pm. The exhibit is on display from March 2nd to April 22nd. The Art Trust is at 16 West Market Street, West Chester, PA. More information can be found at TheArtTrust.org.
The Chester County Arts Association brings back their popular Open Call shows, featuring over sixty artists from the local region and beyond. The two packed exhibits are on display from March 10th to March 30th. In the Allinson Gallery, the Open Call Juried Photography Show will feature a wide variety of types of photography, from candid shots to landscapes, still lives to portraits, sports to fashion to architectural pieces. In the Huston Gallery, the Open Call Juried Print Show showcases new artists and new techniques. An Opening Reception will be held Thursday, March 10th from 5 to 7 pm. The CCAA is located at 100 North Bradford Avenue, West Chester, PA. More information can be found at ChesterCountyArts.org.
Gallery 222 is bringing back popular artist Rhoda Kahler as well as landscape artist Bill Sweeney in a duo show. A public Artist Reception opens the show Thursday, March 10th from 5:30 to 8 pm, and the show runs through April 2nd. Kahler is exhibiting for the third time with a brand-new series of works that include sculptural inspired pieces, cityscapes, and more. Sweeney is new to the gallery, and their pastel landscapes will be appreciated by local art lovers, who may be reminded of celebrated local artist Andrew Wyeth. Gallery 222 is located at 222 East King Street, Malvern, PA. More information can be found at Gallery222Malvern.com.
Take a breath and find your inner peace at the Darlington Arts Center with “Meditative Mandalas,” a new exhibit featuring the art of Erika Matyok. A free gallery reception on Saturday, March 12th from 6:30 to 7:30 pm is open by RSVP, call 610-358-3632 to reserve your spot. The exhibit is open now and runs through April 4th. The Darlington Arts Center is at 977 Shavertown Road, Garnet Valley, PA. More information can be found at DarlingtonArts.org.
Flight of the Bumble Bee by Dan Chow at the Station Gallery
The Station Gallery is showing a full refresh with all new paintings by gallery artists. A Spring Opening Reception will be held on Friday, April 1st. Art will be displayed throughout the month leading up to it and can be viewed Monday through Friday. The Station Gallery is located at 3922 Kennett Pike, Greenville, DE. More information can be found at StationGallery.net.
The Main Line Art Center will host their annual Member and Teaching Artists Exhibition from March 28th to April 30th. A range of works by local artists will be shown, including photography, sculpture, mixed media, ceramics, and more. The Main Line Art Center is located at 746 Panmure Road, Haverford, PA. More information can be found at MainLineArt.org.
The Square Pear Gallery brings many local favorites as well as new faces to their new show, “Stories We Tell.” Featuring Merrill Weber, Donna Porter, Jack Giangiilio, and a dozen others, this vibrant show runs through March and April. The Square Pear Gallery is located at 200 East State Street, Kennett Square, PA. More information can be found at SquarePearGallery.com.
Victoria Rose (she/her) is an editor, writer, avid reader, self-described geek, and fan of all things creative. Her passion for words has led to her current career as a freelance editor, and she is the owner of Flickering Words, an editing service. When not wielding a red pen (or cursor), she loves reading books of all genres, playing video, board, and word games, baking ridiculous creations to show off on the internet, or enjoying the gorgeous outdoors. She is a board member of the West Chester Film Festival and part of the Thirsty Monsters, a team of streamers from around the world who fundraise for various charities supporting LGBTQIA+ and accessibility rights. She can be found online @WordsFlickering or the Brandywine Art Guide @BrandywineArtGuide.
Unionville High School’s Aria Zutshi was one of 30 students across the country selected to participate in the Young People Address the Nation event, a national day of action in direct response to President Biden’s 2022 State of the Union Address. Zutshi was invited to speak based on her work last year as an Ambassador for PeaceFirst, an organization that helps young people create and lead projects that address injustice in their community through compassion, courage, and collaborative leadership.
Aria Zutshi
The Youth Response to the State of the Union was live-streamed directly after the State of the Union and featured 30 young people from 26 states who responded to a number of the topics covered in the address. Zutshi was tasked with responding to President Biden’s remarks on Education.
In her response, she stated, “I think unfortunately the way our government has functioned for many many years, is that education has never been prioritized over our defense spending budget in regards to how much money we put towards it. I was glad that he did mention the need to prioritize those with fewer resources, which has been something necessary with racial inequality. I am glad that he is starting to allocate those funds even if it is not his top priority. He didn’t focus on education all that much…It was a bit disappointing. I was excited because of the amount of time and effort he is putting is coming a bit late, especially how rapidly mental health issues are becoming more apparent in the U.S. I am glad he is recognizing that and starting to put in some effort to get that done.”
When asked about the feedback school boards are receiving from parents nationwide regarding what children should be learning in school, she added, “When we don’t learn our history it’s bound to repeat itself. Knowing the basic history and being able to understand what the U.S. and society has done wrong in the past is crucial in order to form another generation of kids that can act upon these issues better.”
You may view Zutshi’s full response here. (14:44 -19:17)
Zutshi is a junior at Unionville High School where she has taken on many leadership roles at school. She is President of UHS’ Interact Club, Director of Operations for TedEx UHS, VP of SHOC, and Captain of Public Forum for the Speech and Debate Team. Her experience in public speaking was certainly evident in her poise and delivery while participating in this national forum. Unionville-Chadds Ford commends Zutshi for using her voice to provide perspective on education and encourage younger students to make a difference in any way they feel is important. Her participation in this event is an outstanding example of the district’s mission of empowering students to succeed in life and contribute to society.
Delaware County Health Department Director Melissa Lyon announced the official approval of the Delaware County Health Department at the County’s Board of Health meeting on March 3. The county received the Certificate of Approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Health stating that the Delaware County Health Department is ready to exercise its powers and duties.
In a letter addressed to County Council, Acting Secretary of Health Keara Klinepeter noted, “Throughout the proposed establishment of this county department of health, including after submission of the Plan, your staff have regularly met with the Pennsylvania Department of Health, sought feedback, and made strides to create a successful health department. The amount of effort and work achieved is commendable and demonstrates the importance that Delaware County Council has placed on providing comprehensive public health services in Delaware County.”
The County notified all municipalities on March 3, 2022, and will be able to officially act as a Health Department 30 days later- making April 2, 2022, the official operational start date for the Delaware County Health Department.
The Health Department leadership team, under the direction of Melissa Lyon, will lead a team of 53 local health experts to improve the quality of life and health outcomes for Delaware County residents.
“The Delaware County Health Department will, at the local level, address fundamental public health issues including, but not limited to communicable, infectious diseases, vaccines preventable diseases and maternal child health issues,” said Melissa Lyon, Director of the Delaware County Health Department. “We will have the ability to efficiently collect data that drives positive health outcomes for residents, and fully operate in what I call the 3 P’s: Prevention of illness and injury, Protection for all populations, and Promotion of healthy habits and lifestyles.”
The Delaware County Health Department has already started the process to address health equity, establishing the following Divisions:
Environmental Health Division– responsible for the prevention of human injury and illness, the promotion of a healthy environment, and protecting the community from environmental hazards. The department prevents, minimizes, and contains adverse health events and conditions resulting from communicable diseases like food, water, vector-borne outbreaks, chronic disease, environmental hazards, injuries, and health disparities.
Personal Health Division– to promote healthy behaviors and habits that prevent chronic illness and the spread of infectious diseases and ensure access to clinical services and programs to all residents of Delaware County.
Population Health Division– to serve as the chief health strategist and build cross-sector partnerships that foster collaboration, create funding opportunities, and promote collective action with community partners, agencies, and healthcare institutions to ensure health equity across all communities.
The Health Department Team’s presentation to the community can be found here.
For more information about the Delaware County Health Department please visit https://delcopa.gov/health.
Members of the Chadds Ford Business Association enjoy some camaraderie with one another during the CFBA’s first gathering of 2022. January and February meetings were canceled because of Omicron.
•After a few months off because of Omicron, members of the Chadds Ford Business Association got together for an informal social gathering at Brandywine Prime on March 3. There was no formal presentation, and no business was discussed. Members enjoyed beverages, hors d’oeuvres, and good conversation as a group for the first time since December.
It’s music at Galer Estates every Friday and Saturday evening this month.
•Galer Estates Vineyard and Winery is featuring live music every Friday and Saturday night in March from 5-7 p.m. Musicians will decide if they want to play inside the tasting room or outside on the deck. Music is rain or shine. Reservations are not accepted, except for our current wine club members. Next weekend’s performers are Paul Wilkinson on Friday, March 11, and Still Moon on Saturday, March 12.
Joseph Donald McHoul, 82, of West Grove, died Tuesday, March 1 at his home. He was born in Philadelphia, on July 25, 1939, the son of Andrew Joseph and Josephine (Cieslak) McHoul; the older brother of sister Patricia (McHoul) Dougherty of Philadelphia.
Joseph Donald McHoul
Joe attended John Paul Jones Junior High School, and Central High School in Philadelphia, graduating as part of Class 208 in 1957. After high school, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, with deployments including Lebanon in 1958, rising to the rank of corporal at the time of his honorable discharge. Joe then attended Temple University, earning a degree in metallurgy.
Joe married Charlotte Rizzo, his wife of 61 years in 1960; having four children: Cherylann (Damian) Harding; Jeffrey Andrew McHoul (Sara); Caryn Marie Wallis (Damon); and Heather Jo Smalley (Richard); and nine grandchildren: Ian Michael Harding (Jamee), Justin Nicholas Harding (Erin), Kelsey Lynne Harding; Zachary Joseph McHoul, Joshua Dennis McHoul, Emma Louise McHoul; Aiden Mitchell Wallis; Sophia Angelina Smalley, and Nicholas Mason Smalley; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Joe was a long-time member of the Delaware County Camera Club, the Clan MacDougall Society, and a dedicated member of the Saint Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother Parish in Avondale, where served as head lector. He had the uncanny ability to fix or repair almost anything he put his hands on; but derived the most pleasure from spending time with his family and being “Dado” to his nine grandchildren, with whom he especially enjoyed family vacations at his favorite spot in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Friends will be welcomed on Tuesday, March 8 from 10 11 a.m. for a visitation, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial commencing at 11 at Saint Gabriel’s Church 8910 Gap Newport Pike in Avondale. Interment will be private.
As per his request, memorial contributions can be made to:
Alzheimer’s Disease Research
22512 Gateway Center Drive
PO Box 1950,
Clarksburg, MD 20871-1950
or by visiting:
brightfocus.org/stopAD
Please visit Joe McHoul’s online memorial at www.kuzoandfoulkfh.com.
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 March 5 through March 11. Motorists are urged to allow extra time if they are traveling through one of the construction zones. Work schedules are subject to change.
•Gas line installation will close a lane on Heyburn Road between Keepsake and Holly Tree lanes in Chadds Ford Township for one to two weeks.
•Utility installation will cause lane closures on Lenape Road between Williamsburg Drive and Winston Lane in Pocopson Township on March 8.
•Vegetation Management will cause lane closures on Route 82 in two places in East Marlborough Township through March 12. Motorists should expect those closures between Street Road and Wawaset Road, and between Tape Worm Road and Wawaset Road.
•Vegetation Management will also cause lane closures on Embreeville/Unionville Road between Street Road and Scott Road, and between Byrd Road and Doe Run Road through March 12 in East Marlborough Township.
•Storm damage also closed Embreeville Road Bridge over the West Branch over the Brandywine Creek in Newlin Township. That closure remains listed as indefinite.
Officials at Radley Run Country Club break ground for a new clubhouse.
•Radley Run Country Club broke ground for a new clubhouse on March 1. The Clubhouse is the central project in what the club is calling the Radley Run Renaissance, a new stage in the life of the 57-year-old country club that features 18 holes of championship golf, 12 racquet sports courts, an Olympic pool, and several historic buildings dating back to the pre-Revolutionary War colonial era. The clubhouse is just one phase of the $10 million Renaissance project.
•It’s time to gear up for the spring gardening season at Mt. Cuba Center with Spring Gardening Saturday on March 26 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Learn tips on how to prepare garden beds for native plants that will not only bring beauty but invite insects and wildlife to your landscape. Enjoy the whole day or register for individual sessions. Learn more and register here.
The Sounds of Summer at Longwood Garden comes alive in June, but tickets go on sale this month.
•Tickets for Longwood Gardens summer events go on sale later this month. It starts March 15 at 10 a.m. but become a member and get pre-sale access on March 14. View the event lineup here.
•City Theater Company returns to the Wings Black Box in their new residence at The Delaware Contemporary with the World Premiere of Blues in My Soul, a new play with music by David Robson. Based on a true story, Blues in My Soul reimagines a fateful 1959 meeting between guitar legend Lonnie Johnson and music historian Chris Albertson. The two men riff together on issues of authenticity, injustice, and legacy as they work their way through a catalog of great blues tunes. General admission tickets are $40, but $30 with a military or student ID. The production is scheduled for March 18-26, at 8 p.m. each night. Audience members are required to be vaccinated or provide a negative PCR test.
