• Three students from Chadds Ford made either the Dean’s or President’s Lists at the University of Alabama. They are Olivia Carpenter and Natalie Gartner who made the Dean’s List. Zachary DelCollo was named to the President’s List.
• Gina Lusvardi of Chadds Ford received a Master of Science in chemical engineering from The University of Alabama.
Academic Achievement June 21 Read More »
PennDOT has announced the following weather-dependent road projects that could affect drivers in the greater Chadds Ford area from June 24 through June 28. Motorists are urged to allow extra time traveling through one of the construction zones. Work schedules are subject to change.
• Pipe replacement will cause a daytime closure of Creek Road between Old Kennett Road in Kennett Township and Snuff Mill Road in New Castle County, Del. from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, June 25, and Wednesday, June 26. During the closure, motorists are directed to use Snuff Mill Road and Old Kennett Road. Local access will be maintained.
• Construction of the Baltimore Pike deceleration lane at Schoolhouse Lane is scheduled to begin on Monday, June 24. Schoolhouse Lane will be closed and detoured at Baltimore Pike. Detour signs will be placed to notify and direct motorists. The detour will be in place for approximately four weeks
• Roadway improvements will cause daytime single-lane closures on Route 1 between James Getty Lane and Pole Cat Road from June 24 through Aug. 9.
• Vegetation management will cause daytime lane closures on several roads in Westtown and Thornbury townships through July 27. Those roads include Street Road, Creek Road, and Thornbury Road.
• Manhole replacement will cause periodic daytime lane closures on Route 3 in West Chester between Darlington and Church Streets through June 30.
• The southbound lanes of Route 1 will be impacted by the lane widening project between the Oxford Kennett Bypass and Greenwood Road through Aug. 28 when utility relocation will cause daytime lane closures in both directions of Route 1 between Greenwood Road to just south of Schoolhouse Road.
• Pulte Homes roadwork will continue on northbound Route 202 through Monday, June 24, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Periodic weekday lane closures are scheduled between Cornerstone Drive and Springhill Drive when crews are actively working. Work may also take place on Saturdays or Sundays if needed by the contractor.
• Construction continues to replace Twin Bridges, the South Creek Road bridge over the Brandywine between Chadds Ford and Pennsbury townships. Work is expected to continue through fall 2025. South Creek Road will be closed 1,200 feet south of Bullock Road and 1.1 miles north of Cossart Road. During the closure, motorists are directed to use U.S. 1, Route 52, Center Meeting Road, and Delaware State Route 100 (Montchanin Road). Bicyclists traveling Bike Route L will be directed to use Bullock Road, Ring Road, Ridge Road, and Delaware State Roadway Smithbridge Road.
• Motorists should expect lane restrictions with a detour for trucks on Route 162 at its intersection with Route 82 in Newlin Township because of bridge repair. There is currently no date for completion.
Road report for June 24 through June 28 Read More »
Pottery is an ancient and functional art. It’s been referred to as throwing clay, throwing pots, and throwing on the wheel. But it’s also a way to de-stress, said Debby Wyatt, owner of Centered Clay Studio in Kennett Square.
“Throwing pots or working with clay are proven methods of relaxation, especially the wheel, its rotation and the spinning. Your hands are busy. You’re touching earth and water. For me, it takes the stress right out of my brain, and I see that here a lot.
“Whether someone is working on the wheel or whether they’re working on the table, just being immersed in clay your hands are completely busy. You get very focused on where you are. I watch people come in at 6 o’clock. You can feel the stress on them from work. By 7 o’clock it’s lower and by 9 it’s gone,” Wyatt said.
One of her students, overhearing the conversation interjected that it’s a great way to disconnect: “My hands are so dirty I can’t even pick up my phone.”
Wyatt added that it’s a “great way for people to connect with their creative side and let go a lot of stress.”
And to center the clay properly, the potter has to be centered.
“That’s why we’re called Centered Clay Studio,” Wyatt added. “That’s my play on the word because it’s very true. If you can put all that other stuff out of your mind and just focus on getting the clay centered, it gives you a break from all that stress because you’re focusing on all the steps you need to take in order to get that clay to open. Then, your mind and body just form what’s happening on the wheel.”
As Genevieve Conlin, another student said, “We love clay.”
The studio is a classroom. Wyatt conducts eight-week classes and a variety of workshops geared for a broad range of age groups and skill levels from the beginner level on up.
She said beginners learn how to center the clay on the wheel to make bowls and cups.
“That’s generally what you make during the first session. It’s really that art form of working on the potter’s wheel. But then we have Basic Wheel and Beyond, which is also an eight-week class. With that, we’ll use clay in slabs that look like sheets of clay.” Those sheets are used to make things such as berry baskets, she added.
“I want people to know that we offer classes tailored for teens and adults at all levels. We offer a way for someone to start working in an art form, and try something new, someone who knows nothing about [making pottery]. They never took it in school. They just think it looks cool and they have an appreciation for pottery, whether you’re a teenager who needs a new outlet or if you’re recently retired” she said.
The eight-week classes cost $350. They include three hours of instruction per week and the workshops, two to three hours of additional practice time per week, and clay. Workshops have different costs depending on the workshop.
Wyatt opened her studio in September of 2022. It’s at 67 Ways Lane across from the Italian American Club in Kennett Square. The building is the original building used by the Italian American Club and, Wyatt said, the basement was a speakeasy during prohibition.
The studio is open every day with a varied schedule of when classes are offered.
For more information about the studio and its classes and workshops, visit https://www.centeredclaystudio.com, or contact Wyatt at Debby@centeredclaystudio.com or phone 717-860-1507.
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.
Destressing at Centered Clay Studio Read More »
