Chester CountyPRESS
www.chestercounty.com
Covering Avon Grove, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Oxford, & Unionville Areas
Volume 156, No. 31
Wednesday, August 3, 2022
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Historic Landenberg Store for sale By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer Throughout its 150-year existence, the Landenberg Store has remained an historic and cultural landmark that has served the small town through two world wars and several military conflicts, a Great Depression and several economic downturns, and along the way has seen countless generations of locals come and go. Over that time, the store has also seen the keys to its kingdom pass from one owner to the next. Since 2005, however, the store – as well as the Landenberg Hotel and the nearby Wool House -- have been owned and managed by Bill and
INSIDE
United Way of Southern Chester County plans ‘Sweet Celebrations’...1B
Photo by Richard L. Gaw
Bill and Beth Skalish, the owners of Landenberg Village, LLC since 2005, recently announced that they are selling the Landenberg Store, the Landenberg Hotel and a nearby historic building.
Beth Skalish. Now, after 17 years of stewardship, the couple recently placed Landenberg Village, LLC up for sale. Priced at $1.45 million, the terms of the sale include the ownership and management of the store, the Landenberg Hotel and the four-apartment Wool House on Mercer Mill and Penn Green roads. “We just felt it was time to turn it over to someone
else who can see the Village through for the next several years,” Bill said. “I don’t think the word ‘retire’ is in our vocabulary, but we feel it’s time for us to slow down a little bit.” When they were looking to purchase the Village, the White Clay Creek that flows by the hotel was a large factor in the Skalishes decision. Bill is an avid fly fisherman and has often ventured just a few yards
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away from the hotel’s deck to cast his line in the water. Eventually, it also became an office for Bill’s work as a provider of goods and services to hotels. In 2018, the Landenberg Store saw several upgrades, including the installation of new range equipment,
Libraries throughout Pennsylvania partner with community organizations to bring quality programming into the libraries for the state’s residents. Much of this programming is free. These partnerships provide a platform for experts to share information and skills while residents are introduced to concepts which will improve their lives, increase their health, strengthen digital and information literacy, understand their neighbors, and grow their financial capabilities. Public libraries, school libraries, and academic libraries continue to go above and beyond to keep their communities connected by expanding resources and welcoming all in their programming, resources, and collections. Libraries that work to provide literacy-focused resources and high-quality programming are being
a refurbished walk-in refrigerator, new kitchen equipment, the construction of a small office and expanded storage area. While the Skalishes have already met with prospective buyers of the Village, their ideal buyer would have an interest in con-
tinuing to own and operate store and maintain the Wool House as a rental unit, as well as re-imagine the hotel as a primary residence or as a four-room bed-and-breakfast – ideal for travelers visiting Chester County. While the hotel and the Continued on Page 3A
FROM OUR LENS
EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK Three libraries in Chester County, including Kennett Library, earn Star designation
Armstrong wins prestigious award...4B
Courtesy photo
The sale includes the ownership and management of the historic Landenberg Store, which has been in operation since 1872.
Game, set and match
Photo by Richard L. Gaw
This racketed foursome enjoyed a few competitive sets last Friday at the tennis courts at Kennett High School. Pictured are, front row, Sharon Federico and Tammy Altman and back row, Kristy Harper and Dana Mayer.
Continued on page 2A
A mother’s love In the midst of her own daughter’s medical challenges, Kristy Thompson seeks to help other families in similar circumstances By Betsy Brewer Brantner Contributing Writer When faced with a lifethreatening challenge, most people feel lucky if they survive. But when Kristy Thompson faced the challenge of losing her life, and the life of her baby, London, they both beat the odds and survived—and now Kristy is reaching out to help others with a group called Medical Mamas. Kristy has three children: two-year-old London Kelly, four-yearold Charlee Navarro, and 22-year-old Kristopher Thompson. Kristy calls her youngest child a true blessing. London spent 481 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). She has CCMS or Cerebrocostomandibular syndrome, which is a disorder that involves a small
chin (micrognathia), an opening in the roof of the mouth (cleft palate), a narrow chest, missing ribs, gaps between ribs, and breathing and feeding difficulties. Kristy was 42 when she had London, and she is 44 now. It takes a lot of work to raise three children, and Kristy’s mother, Delores Thompson, helps out with everything, including the extensive care that London needs to overcome her health issues. Kristy explained, “I don’t know what I would do without my mom and my other children.”
Fighting for life Kristy fought for her life on the night London was born. Kristy explained, “Due to the COVID-19 shut down and my decision not to leave the house, we
didn’t know I had developed HELLP Syndrome (a life-threatening condition that occurs in pregnant women or soon after delivery, that can cause high blood pressure, seizures, stroke or liver rupture). I mentioned the symptoms once I went back to my OB and he and my Endo ordered blood work. I was waiting to get the work-ups done together to reduce the exposure to COVID-19 by being out at the labs, but it was too late. I had to go to the hospital where they did run the blood work and explained the severity of my condition. When they put me asleep for London’s birth, I was told I might not wake up.” Thankfully, she did wake up. But soon the trauma in the post-op began. “I remember literally fighting for my life,” Kristy explained. “The nurses
Courtesy photo
Kristy Thompson is pictured with her daughters, Charlee and London.
were screaming out orders! I was so out of it, but I knew I was fighting for my kids. I knew there were other mothers who had lost their battle with HELLP. Every day I wake up now, I am so thankful and grateful to the Lord for every day he gives me.” That is a remarkable thing about Kristy. Despite the
challenge of caring for a child with CCMS, she is still grateful. Kristy has entered a world where no parent wants to go. It’s a dangerous journey, one she can never stop. If she stops, her child takes her last breath. She is tired, sometimes to the point of exhaustion, and she is Continued on Page 4A