April 30, 2025 - ChaddsFordLive.com

Richard John Florschutz of Chadds Ford

Richard John Florschutz, 81, of Chadds Ford, died Monday, April 21, at Chester County Hospital. He was the spouse of Karin Florschutz, with whom he shared 59 years of marriage. Born in Harrisburg, he was the son of Otto Florschutz and Berta Schatzler Florschutz of Elizabethtown. Richard graduated from Indiana University with a master’s degree in graphic design.

He was the business owner for Graphic Design Associates in Wilmington. He is survived by Karin Florschutz (Wife), Karl Florschutz (Son), Lori Florschutz (Daughter-in-law), Kyle Florschutz (Grandson), Casie Florschutz (Granddaughter), Averie Florschutz (Granddaughter), Craig Florschutz (Son), Jennifer Florschutz (Daughter-in-law), Nicholas Florschutz (Grandson), Dylan Florschutz (Grandson), Natalie Florschutz-Miller (Granddaughter), Beau Miller (Great-grandson), Josie Miller (Great-granddaughter), and Joe Miller (Grandson-in-law). Richard enjoyed gardening, stone carving, being the #1 sports fan for his grandchildren, and valued time with his family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to Delaware Wild Lands, Inc., P.O. Box 505, Odessa, DE 19730. dewildlands.org/make-a-contribution/

Arrangements are by Grieco Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc. of Kennett Square. (484-734-8100) To view Richard’s online obituary and leave condolences for the family, please visit www.griecofunerals.com

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Francis Charles Thomson of Lincoln University

Obituaries

Francis Charles Thomson, 85, died peacefully at home on April 21 after a long illness. Born at home in West Chester, PA, he attended school at Saint Agnes Catholic Church, then immediately joined the Marines in 1956.

His first career after the military was as a machinist and supervisor at JM Schmidt Precision Tool Co., while also working as a night manager at Bevan’s Cold Cuts, where he enjoyed working with his daughters Brenda and Patty. Following his retirement at Precision Tool, he worked for the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.

Fran lived a life rich in service to others. While his daughters were in school, he was an active member of West Chester East Band Boosters, chaperoning many band trips. He was a board member of LAPS (Large Animal Protection Society) for 10 years, volunteering alongside his sister, Charlotte, rescuing horses and other large animals. Fran always had horses, and he enjoyed attending steeplechase races in the area.

He attended Willowdale Church, and when the Jennersville campus opened, he volunteered to run the coffee bar at both services for several years. He was a member and past president of the Avon Grove Lions Club and volunteered at their Book Barn every Friday evening and Saturday morning.

His parents were Charles Levis Thomson and Alice Osborne Thomson. He was preceded in death by his grandson, Eddie Gates. He is survived by his beloved partner of 30 years, Linda Haldeman, his sister Charlotte (Richard) Carrigan, daughters Tara Ray, Deborah (Scott) Gates, Patricia (Jim) Sullivan, Brenda (Wayne) Clemson, nephew Steve (Drew) Carrigan, 11 grandchildren, and 22 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by 7 stepchildren, Jason Haldeman, Alissa O’Hara, Jessica (Ryan) Conley, Jared (Feather) Haldeman, Amy (Daniel) Flather, Andrew (Mindy) Haldeman, Rebecca (Tony) DeRose, and 16 step-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held June 3 at Willowdale Church, Jennersville campus, at 11 a.m., with visitation at 10. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Avon Grove Lions Club. Checks can be mailed to 600 North Baker Station, West Grove, PA 19390.

Those who touch our lives stay in our hearts forever. Fran, you are greatly loved and will be deeply missed.

Arrangements are by Grieco Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc. of Kennett Square. (484-734-8100) To view Fran’s online obituary and leave condolences for the family, please visit www.griecofunerals.com

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Heroes Bar & Grill wants outdoor dining

Local News Concord, Local News

Robert Keates, the owner of Heroes Bar & Grill, needs to wait until May 13 to learn if he can have outdoor dining at the restaurant. Keates represented himself at an unusually short — maybe 10 minutes — conditional use hearing Tuesday night and was the only person to give testimony. There was no one present to oppose the application.

Since Nov. 11, Heroes Bar & Grill has occupied the old Duffers Tavern location on Route 1, 996 Baltimore Pike, in Concord Township. Outdoor dining is permitted in Concord with conditional use approval, and Duffers had outdoor seating.

Keates said the proposed outdoor dining area will be on an existing patio area that Duffers had used. He was only seeking approval for the outdoor dining, nothing more

According to township solicitor Hugh Donaghue, the restaurant is in the Commercial 2 District, and adjacent properties are zoned either Commercial, Industrial, or Business.

Under questioning from Council President Domnic Pileggi, Keates said the pre-existing bocci court has been removed and will be leveled, stairs leading to the patio area have been repaired, and that there will be a six-foot fence around the area. There will also be a full-time hostess at the patio during hours of operation.

Pileggi said that in previous conditional use hearings, seasonal outdoor dining is limited to April 1 through Oct. 31, and hours of operation were limited. Those hours are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday.

Keates said he had no objections.

Pileggi said the council would issue its decision during the May 13 council meeting. Council postponed the meeting a week because of a meeting of the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors from May 4-7. The council meeting would have been on May 6.

About Rich Schwartzman

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.

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Police Log April 30: Rape, thefts, fraud

Police, Police Log

Pennsylvania State Police

Media Barracks

• State police are investigating a case of forgery/counterfeiting that victimized a business in Chadds Ford. The incident happened sometime between Feb. 5 and Feb. 20. The police report said Patriot Medical Distributors mailed a check for #$4,480, but it was intercepted and the name of the recipient changed.

• Someone ripped off Pulte Homes, which is building a development in Concord Township. Someone stole $4,300 worth of kitchen appliances on Jan. 18.

• Police are investigating a bad check case involving Brandywine Harley Davidson in Chadds Ford Township. A report said someone used a cashier’s check to buy a bike. The dealership later received another fraudulent check from the suspect.

Avondale Barracks

• An 82-year-old woman was reportedly raped in Pennsbury Township on April 8. Details are scarce, but the police incident report said troopers received a call at 9:48 a.m. about a sexual assault at Crosslands Drive. Police went to Chester County Hospital to conduct interviews.

• Russell E. Bowers Jr., 35, of Tyrone, PA., was cited for DUI and unsafe driving following a one-vehicle crash on Chandler Road in Pennsbury Township on March 29. The crash happened at. 5:36 a.m. According to the report, Bowers was driving at a high rate of speed on a wet road, lost control of the Chevy Equinox he was driving, slid across the road, striking a large decorative lawn boulder, mailbox, and shrub.

• Police said Christina L. Mattoscio, 40, of Toughkenamon, was injured when a tree fell on her car while she was driving on Lenape Road, north of E. Street Road, just before 8 a.m. on April 7.

• Troopers from the Avondale barracks are investigating a reported retail theft in East Marlborough Township. According to the incident report, troopers responded to a retail theft call from Ulta Beauty on April 3. An unknown person concealed multiple items in a bag and left the store without paying. The incident happened at 3:15 p.m. at the shop on 861 E. Baltimore Pike.

• Police are investigating the reported theft of two mailboxes in Pennsbury Township on March 22. A report said two residents on Parkerville Road had their mailboxes stolen.

Kennett Square Police Department

An arrest warrant was issued for Guillermo Arroyo-Barrios, 38, of Oxford, for violating a court-ordered Protection from Abuse order by allegedly having contact with a person he was prohibited from contacting. The criminal complaint and arrest warrant were issued by District Court 15-3-04.

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