November 5, 2025 – ChaddsFordLive.com

Election day glitch in ChesCo

DSC_1808-Election-morn — Early morning voting was light with only a few people waiting for the doors to open at Calvary Chapel where Chadds Ford votes. Turnout did pick up during the day, however.

There was a glitch on election day in Chester County. When the county Voter Registration service sent out the poll books to the various polling places, they messed up and only included voters registered as Republican or Democrat. Independents and third-party voters weren’t included.

Those independent and third-party voters who voted early had to file provisional ballots. The county did send out updated books later in the day, and kept polls open until 10 p.m. to get everything squared away.

Beyond that, there were few surprises in the results for local elections since so many incumbents ran unopposed.

Incumbents Scott Boorse in Birmingham and James Cornel of Newlin were in that category of running unopposed and were reelected.

In Pennsbury Township, incumbent Supervisor Kay Ellsworth was defeated by Democrat Gerard Pinamonti, 1138 votes to 641 for Ellsworth.

Ellsworth was appointed supervisor earlier this year and was sworn in at the beginning of the February meeting. She replaced Dan Boyle, who was appointed township manager, replacing Kathy Howley, who retired in the summer of 2024.

In the Kennett Square mayoralty race, incumbent democrat Matt Fetick beat out former mayor Leon Sopencer by a count of 883 to 566.

There were no surprises in Delaware County either.

In Chadds Ford Township, incumbent Supervisor Kathleen Goodier earned reelection by running unopposed. Also unopposed in Chadds Ford were Valeria Hoxter for tax collector and Swati Patel for auditor.

There were more names than usual on the Concord Township ballot for Township Council, five names in all.

Incumbent councilmembers Dominic Pileggi, Dana Rankin, and John Gillesie each won reelection, and James Hunt was elected to replace Colleen Morrone.

Hunt came in with 3,034 votes, barely beating out Democrat Dave Cleary with 3,003 votes.

In the Unionville-Chadds Ford School Board Regions A and B, where voters were to elect two people each, Susan Still Elks and Joseph Everett were voted in for Region A, while Sandra Litvin and Steve Simonson won in Region B. Not returning to the board for another term are Jeff Hellrung, Elise Anderson, and Mary Kate Loomis.

All tallies are unofficial until certified by the board of elections in the two counties.

Election day glitch in ChesCo Read More »

Wyeth homestead may open for tours

Arts & Entertainment

The Wyeth Foundation is looking to open a part of the Andrew and Betsy Wyeth home on Creek Road to the public for tours. That was the word during the Nov. 3 Birmingham Township Board of Supervisors meeting. No action was taken or needed by the board.

The property is at 1400 Creek Road in Birmingham, and the project is in conjunction with the Brandywine Conservancy. If the project goes through, the granary building would be open for limited tours, possibly beginning in June of 2026.

“The whole project is to restore and serve the property and make it available for guided and selected trips to the site,” said attorney Lou Colagreco.

Laura West, executive director of the Wyeth Foundation for American Art, said the foundation is the new owner of the Wyeth home. The property consists of three buildings, with the granary being the building on the left as viewed from Creek Road. The building had to be restored after the flooding from Hurricane Ida in 2021.

“Our purpose is to open the ground floor to tours in conjunction with the Brandywine. They’re considering constructing a footpath and offering limited shuttle service, with no general public parking. We’re restoring the home to tell the general story of the Wyeths,” West said.

The tours will be similar to those given at the Andrew Wyeth and the N.C. Wyeth studios, but on a smaller scale, and limited to a number of days.

West later said they’ll just open the granary ground floor on a short-term based on the run of a planned future exhibit, and then we’ll re-evaluate after we see how individuals react to the site.

Will Coleman, curator for the Wyeth Foundation Curator and Director, Andrew & Betsy Wyeth Study Center said, “What’s really special about this hidden gem, that we call Brinton’s Mill, is that it’s not just another member of the boy’s club. This is Betsey Wyeth’s pride and joy, the power behind the throne, Andrew Wyeth’s creative partner. It was Betsey James Wyeth’s first work of environmental design.”

He said it was her attempt to work with the pre-existing mill and turn it into something personal and special.

Coleman said the timing of the tours is in conjunction with an upcoming exhibit at the Brandywine, By Design: The Worlds of Betsy James Wyeth. That exhibit delves into Betsy Wyeth’s designs of complex environments that left a legacy in the visual arts and landscapes. That is slated to open on June 27, 2026.

Wyeth homestead may open for tours Read More »

Lillian “Lee” Crowther Reynold, formerly of Pennsbury Township

Obituaries

Lillian Atlee “Lee” Crowther Reynolds, 88, of Avalon, N.J., died peacefully on Oct. 28, surrounded by the love of her family. Born in Philadelphia, to Jean and Lillian (Thompson) Crowther. Lee spent her early years living between the city suburbs and the shore in Avalon. During World War II, she and her mother lived at the shore. Lee attended the Sanford boarding School in Hockessin, where she excelled at field hockey, lacrosse, loved her horse, and formed treasured friendships that became her extended family.

Lee continued her education at Westhampton, the women’s college at the University of Richmond in Virginia. There, chance and a bit of boldness, brought her together with William “Bill” Reynolds. Their romance began when Bill vowed to randomly invite the next girl who walked through a campus building door to a school dance; that girl happened to be Lee. After she showed her beautiful smile, she promptly responded, “No way.” He persisted and thus began their life of dedication and love. They married on Bill’s birthday in Richmond, with friends and family who continued to be in their lives for nearly 70 years of marriage. Bill remains dedicated to Lee from the moment he saw her to the last kiss on her forehead.

Lee’s work in Richmond included updating city and county maps and records, while Bill began his career at the Dupont Company. They welcomed their son Scott and seven years later, their daughter Kendal. Bill’s career moved the family to Chadds Ford in 1969. Lee immersed herself in the community and created an extended family, again, with neighbors and friends, as an active PTA mom, launching the inaugural Chadds Ford Elementary Art Show (still a big event) and helping celebrate the opening of the (then named) Brandywine River Museum.

When Bill’s career transferred the family to Geneva, Switzerland, Lee embraced the international adventure and Swiss culture and forged lifelong friendships with their Swiss family. Her passion for antiques and travel took them to all the countries in Europe and Russia. Upon transferring back to Chadds Ford, Lee opened Mill Run Antiques, where her impeccable eye drew customers and friends alike, and she remained active in her local community of Pennsbury Township, while continuing to travel and enjoy many family vacations.

No matter where life took her, without fail, Lee loved her friends and family, often bringing spirited fun into everyone’s life. Every summer of her life, even when she lived abroad, Lee returned to her beloved community in Avalon and made countless memories on the bay, hosting parties, making family-style dinners for the neighborhood kids, and her beloved front porch gatherings hosting neighbors and friends.

Lee never met a stranger. She was known for her effervescence, laughter, and characteristic candor. Lee will always be remembered for creating beautiful, welcoming homes, being a homemaker, and her passion for decorating. She loved blue skies, clouds, and searching for animals and faces to see in clouds. Lee will be remembered for her beautiful, easy smile, adventurous spirit, and quick, sharp wit. Like all, Lee had her own complexities and always had a passion for life’s simple joy-finding the best cakes, cream donuts, cinnamon buns, lemon meringue pie, cream chipped beef, egg salad, BBQ, hot dogs, Cokes, fabrics, furniture, restoration, or shopping. She kidnapped friends for days of fun and loved to drive fast on back roads, never using maps, cooking without a recipe, and always living by her own rules.

Lee is survived by her Husband William “Bill” H. Reynolds; Children Christopher Scott Reynolds (Jamie) and Kendal Reynolds (Colin Dyckman); grandchildren Lyndsey Landrum (Don) and Jamison “Jay” Reynolds who all called her Macca; step-sister, Michelle Headley Manners and nephew Ross Headley; cousin Jon Butler (Chris Murphy) and extended cousins; caregivers Robin S, Naomi G, Jacqueline B; Compassionate Care Hospice; grand-dogs Olive and Charlie; Kitty-Puss and Baby Doll.

Join us in a Celebration of Lee’s life to share favorite memories: Dec. 2, 4 p.m. at the Gables Barn Reception Room, 423 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, PA 19317.

Lillian “Lee” Crowther Reynold, formerly of Pennsbury Township Read More »

Police Log Nov. 5: Shoplifting, DUIs, indecent assault

Police, Police Log

Pennsylvania State Police

Media Barracks

Police said Shockee Wilson, 32, of Wilmington, was arrested for shoplifting at Wegmans on Oct. 14. He is accused of stealing 30 bottles of EOS Body Lotion valued at $299.70.

Avondale Barracks

• State police are investigating a case of harassment communication in East Marlborough Township. According to the report, an individual is continually phoning AFC Urgent Care in Kennett multiple times per day without any legitimate reason.

• Police said Zachary Rinck, 35, of West Chester, was. arrested for DUI on W. Lafayette Drive in Pocopson Township on Oct. 25. According to the report, police stopped Rinck for speeding. After making contact with him, the police administered standardized field sobriety tests, then arrested him for DUI and drug possession.

Kennett Square Police Department

• On October 16, District Court 15-3-04 issued an arrest warrant for Jaclyn Carpenter for a March 30 DUI incident. On that date, at 9:23 a.m., police were dispatched for an erratic driver operating in the borough. The witness and reporting party stated that the suspected vehicle failed to remain within its lane boundaries on multiple occasions while traveling southbound on N. Union Street and made an illegal left-hand turn at a steady red light onto E. Cypress Street. Officers made contact with the driver, who was identified as Jaclyn Carpenter, 36, of West Chester. Police said they observed indicators suggesting intoxication, and field sobriety tests showed impairment. She was taken into custody for suspicion of DUI and submitted to a chemical test of her blood. Carpenter was processed and later released pending issuance of a summons.

• The Kennett Square Police Department Criminal Investigative Division arrested and charged Elpidio Galvez-Gonzalez with endangering the welfare of children, indecent assault, and harassment after a juvenile made a report of being touched inappropriately by him. On Oct. 22, an interview was conducted with Galvez-Gonzalez at the Kennett Square Police Department, in which he admitted to touching the juvenile inappropriately. He was then transported to Central Booking at Chester County Prison, where he was processed and arraigned.

Police Log Nov. 5: Shoplifting, DUIs, indecent assault Read More »