Robert Thomas Hobbs, 87, of Chadds Ford, Pa. and Naples, Fla. passed away peacefully at his home in Naples surrounded by his wife, Jan, his three daughters and Sam I Am, his beloved cat.
Born Sept. 1, 1937, in Scranton, to Althea and Thomas Hobbs, Bob grew up in Boothwyn and attended Chichester High School and Drexel University. Bob was the owner of Hobbs and Company, Inc., a business started as a small maintenance company by his father, now celebrating 85 years in the electrical contracting industry.
Robert Thomas Hobbs
As an active Chadds Ford resident, Bob worked on several projects for Chadds Ford Township. He was a longtime member of the Brandywine Lions Club and an active member of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA). He also held years-long memberships at Radley Run Country Club, in West Chester, The Port Royal Club, Kensington Golf and Country Club, and Hamilton Harbor Yacht Club, all located in Naples, Fla.
In addition to his wife, Jan, he is survived by three daughters, Bethann Canada (Edward), Sharon Lang (Edward), Marsha Welsh (Jonathan), and their mother Doris Hobbs (Kenneth Cibula), and seven grandchildren, Edward “Graham” Canada (Julie), Meryl Canada, Andrew Lang (Evely Ortiz), Sarah Lang, Morgan Middleton (Michael), Benjamin Welsh, Evan Welsh and one great-grandson, Edward Canada.
A celebration of Bob’s life is planned for Sunday, May 4 at The Gables at Chadds Ford, 423 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, Pa.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Matthew’s House, 2601 Airport-Pulling Rd, Naples, Fl 34112, Brandywine Valley SPCA, 1212 Phoenixville Pike, West Chester, Pa 19380.
A rendering showing the tiered roofline of the proposed new building at Painters Crossing.
It will take the Chadds Ford Planning Commission at least one more month before it votes on whether to recommend a new building for the Painters Crossing shopping center.
As has been reported, The Henderson Group, which owns the center, wants to erect a new 15,000-plus square foot building with five units in the southeast corner of the center where Farmers’ Road, Arby’s, and the first location for El Gran Rodeo had been. Plans call for a drive-thru lane for one possible tenant and two outdoor dining patios for two potential tenants. There are no signed tenants so far.
What Henderson needs is a recommendation from the Planning Commission for the subdivision and land use (SALDO), and a recommendation for a conditional use hearing to allow for the outdoor dining and a drive-thru. The drive-thru would be for the southernmost unit of the five. Henderson has filed for both a conditional use hearing and for preliminary/final land use approval.
(The shopping center is in the PBC-1 Zoning District which allows for outdoor dining and drive-thru service but only with conditional use approval.)
After two previous sessions, the applicant returned to the Planning Commission on Feb. 5.
According to Marc D’Amico, the attorney representing Henderson, the drive-thru has been an issue because there is no specific tenant lined up for that unit.
He said Henderson is willing to work with the township to come up with an objective condition to deal with the fact that there is no signed tenant for that end unit. The applicant does, however, expect that user to be a fast, casual restaurant.
A list of possible tenants was supplied to the township, he said, but there were some objections, and that list was pared down.
“Where we are with the condition is that no matter who that user is, [the drive-thru] will be subject to the review and approval of the township engineer,” D’Amico said. “No matter who that user is, it will go back to the township just to make sure everything is OK.”
The outdoor dining patios on the ends of the proposed building will be fenced on three sides.
John Grant, the engineer on the project, told the commission members that the plan was revised to put fences around three sides of the two designed outdoor dining patios so there would be no intrusion into sidewalk areas. Those areas are at the ends of the building.
There were also meandering discussions about landscaping and how to shield the area from the headlights of vehicles traveling on Routes 1 and 202, and how the backside of the proposed building would appear from Route 202.
The headlight issue was brought up by commission member Tom Bradley. He said vegetation and landscaping alone won’t block the light pollution from headlights, only a solid fence can do that.
As for the appearance of the front and back, that was addressed by David Urffer, of JKRP Architects, said this project is “as nice as we’ve ever done” in referring to the materials, textures, and colors used for the proposed building with the aim of breaking down the mass “so it’s not a monolithic building.”
To that end, the roof line is not one single straight line, rather it’s staggered, and the same lines and color scheme is used for the front side as well as the Route 202 side, so they have the same appearance.
Nothing definitive was established to the point that would allow the commission members to make a decision on whether to recommend. Henderson will need to return to the Planning Commission.
Commission Chairman Craig Huffman said he would put the applicant on the agenda for March.
“I think we should be in a position to vote,” Huffman said. “I want to get us in a position for everybody to vote next month. We’ll get everything squared up and lined up ready to vote next time,” he said.
•Longwood Gardens is offering special hours forValentine’s Day weekend. While it might be cold outside, visitors can still take a quiet stroll or enjoy the warmth of conservatory plantings during those extra hours of 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Feb. 14, 15, and 16. There will also be the sound of classical guitar from Rusty Banks, performing live on the Gardens Exhibition Hall stage from 5 to 8:30 p.m. each evening. Timed tickets are required.
The Delaware County Symphony performs Themes of Love on Feb. 16.
•They’re calling it the Themes of Love Chamber Concert in honor of Valentine’s Day. The Delaware County Symphony will explore the many dimensions of love—from friendship to romance. This intimate performance features a diverse program of chamber music with a flute duet, a string quartet, and a string ensemble, with the highlight being Andante et Rondo, Op. 25 by Franz Doppler, a piece composed for the famed flutist and his brother Karl. Also featured on the program is String Quartet No. 2 by Alexander Borodin, dedicated to his wife Ekaterina. Themes of Love Chamber Concert will be on Feb. 16 at 3 p.m. in Neumann University’s Meagher Theatre. Tickets for the concert may be purchased at dcsmusic.org/tickets.
•The Fearless Improv Show & Class returns to The Delaware Contemporary on Saturday, Feb. 22, with. a class at 4 p.m. and a show at 8. Fearless Improv creates comedy, on the spot based on audience suggestions. Before the show, take a class in improv to unleash creativity, and boost confidence. This class is appropriate for adults and mature teens. No experience is necessary. Class enrollment includes complimentary entry to one Fearless Improv show at The Delaware Contemporary, located at 200 S. Madison Street in Wilmington. Tickets for the show are available here.
Sweet Charity fundraiser is pn March 4.
•The Chester County Community Foundation is holding its annual Sweet Charity fundraiser on Tuesday, March 4 at the Downingtown Country Club from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. The Community Foundation brings together donors and beneficiaries of charitable funds to create lasting legacies that truly make a difference. The event will include a dessert competition between the finest restaurants, bakeries, and caterers in Chester County. Ticket prices start at $125. Go here to register. The address is 85 Country Club Drive Downingtown, PA 19335.
•The Chester County History Center continues its look at the Civil War on Saturday, Feb. 15 with Holding History: Civil War Letterswith James M. Scythes. Scythes, an assistant Professor of History at West Chester University, will discuss his book, Letters to Lizzie: The Story of Sixteen Men in the Civil War and the One Woman Who Connected Them All. This unique collection of 124 letters exchanged between sixteen Union soldiers and Lizzie Brick of Hurffville, New Jersey, offers insights into the daily lives, thoughts, and relationships of soldiers during the war. The event is from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. After the talk, participants will have a chance to delve into the special collections of the Chester County History Center’s Library. Get hands-on experience with historical manuscripts, letters, photographs, and journals from the Civil War era. The cost is $10 for adults, $7 for seniors. For more information and tickets, go here.
•Comedian and entertainer Joe Conklin and the City Rhythm Orchestra make a triumphant return to West Chester University for one performance only on Friday, Feb. 21, at 8 p.m., in the Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall, Philips Memorial Building, 700 S. High Street, West Chester. Tickets range from $70-$110 and can be purchased at http://wcupatix.com/organization-events. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.
The future is nuts.
•According to the Mt. Cuba Center, The Future is Nuts. At least that‘s the name of an online presentation planned for Feb. 22 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. It’s designed as an informational session where people can learn what nuts grow well in the mid-Atlantic region and beyond while exploring how nuts help stabilize ecosystems and provide much-needed wildlife habitat. The instructor is Michael Judd, and the cost is $25. Go here to register.
