Concord recognizes residents - Chadds Ford Live

It was a night for Concord Township Council to recognize individuals and groups for a variety of efforts.

Leading off during the Feb. 4 council meeting was the recognition of Allison O’Donoghue for years of service to the township. O’Donoghue retired after more than 20 years with the Parks and Recreation Board. She had served as director and as events coordinator during that time.

Her Certificate of Recognition reads, in part: “…Allison was the driving force and organization behind the many Parks and Recreation events and programming; and WHEREAS, Her vision, passion, and commitment to enhancing our community’s quality of life through innovative programs and events have left an indelible mark.”

O’Donoghue made no comment, but several council members did.

“Your programming has really brought our community together,” said Council Co-Vice President John Crossan. “When you see hundreds of kids and thousands of people at an Easter Egg Hunt or any of our events, we are all so grateful.”

Crossan then told a story about two special needs people in the township who are about to marry. When asked how they met, Crossan said they told him they met through one of the Parks and Rec programs that O’Donoghue had initiated for people with special needs.

Council member Vinita Deshmukh said O’Donoghue has been “the ultimate when it comes to hard work and all the dedicated hours, numerous numbers of hours that you have put in for the township and the residents. I do appreciate you. We will, of course, always miss you but at the same time I want to say you are hard to replace.”

John Gillespie, the other co-vice president, said “I just want to say congratulations. I personally will miss you a lot and I know. Everyone else up on this table will miss you a lot. Please enjoy your retirement.”

Concord Council also recognized the efforts of the Heroes Memorial Committee, established after the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The recognition for that reads:

“WHEREAS, under the visionary leadership of former Township Supervisor Robert C. Mench, this dedicated group of volunteers worked tirelessly to fund, construct, and maintain the Concord Township Heroes Memorial, a monument that stands as a testament to the bravery and service of all branches of the United States Armed Forces, law enforcement, fire services, rescue, and emergency medical personnel; and

“WHEREAS, for over two decades, the committee has upheld the dignity and purpose of the memorial through their stewardship, ensuring that future generations of Concord Township residents will continue to reflect on and honor the selfless service of our nation’s heroes; and

“WHEREAS their commitment exemplifies the highest ideals of community service and reflects the profound respect and gratitude of the residents of Concord Township.”

The final recognition of the night went to members of the pickleball group The Garnet Valley Gherkins for members giving CPR life-saving efforts.

Part of the recognition read: “...and WHEREAS, the swift and decisive actions of the Gherkins highlight the importance of preparedness and training in life-saving techniques, inspiring others, like Gherkins member Kirk Trautman, to take similar action in the moments of crisis.”

In reading the recognition, Gillespie said the actions of the team members were directly responsible for saving a life. And in that vein, he said, members displayed the values of selflessness, responsibility, and community spirit, and that the township appreciates “their bravery and commitment to preserving life.”

According to Steve Jacobs, director of Parks & Recreation, the incident happened in January. The Gherkins were playing pickleball at the indoor courts in the Brandywine Youth Center when a player went down. Trautman and others jumped in, taking turns giving CPR until someone could get the AED, automatic external defibrillator, and bring the person around.

In a follow-up email, Betty Allcorn, a member of the Gherkins, said it happened on Jan. 7. A player went down and was unconscious and not breathing when other members of the group took action. The player was to have had surgery on Feb. 5 and, she added, “will be returning to Gherkins and pickleball this spring thanks to the efforts of our players.”

Allcorn also said she would like other community groups to offer CPR training, and that the Gherkins offer such training to members frequently.

Other business

Council authorized the advertising of bids for three projects: barn preservation of the goat barn at Bush Hill Farm, cleaning services at the township building, and roof replacement for the main building at the sewer plant.

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.