Fall/Winter 2015
West Chester & Chadds Ford
LIFE
Magazine
The colors of fall in West Chester INSIDE Chadds Ford Days celebrates 50th year Historic fountain reborn Love of music leads to opera career
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Table of Contents West Chester & Chadds Ford Life • Fall/Winter 2015
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20
26
52
62
10
A Chadds Ford tradition celebrates 50 years
20
A long-lost fountain will rise again in West Chester
26
Bringing professional theatre to West Chester
38
Chester County Historical Society receives grant
46
A former dance hall and art studio is saved
52
A bit of everything at Brandywine View
58
The field that became a phenomenon
62
A love of music leads to opera career
68
Q & A with Lisa Kerschner
72
His silver lining
78
New team at Kildare’s West Chester
68 6
West Chester & Chadds Ford Life | Fall/Winter 2015 | www.westchesterlifemagazine.com
Cover design: Trisha Hoadley Cover photo by Alessandra Manzotti
Traditions old and new Letter from the Editor: In this issue of West Chester & Chadds Ford Life, we cover everything from favorite traditions like Chadds Ford Days to the emergence of the Resident Theatre Company’s productions as the hottest ticket in town. Chadds Ford Days marked a major milestone this year, and we talked to officials from the Chadds Ford Historical Society about the planning of the 50th event. We also talked to the Resident Theatre Company’s founding artistic director, Kristin McLaughlin Mitchell, about bringing theatre professionals from New York City and Philadelphia to West Chester audiences. If you’re looking for a new tradition to start with your family, there isn’t a more entertaining choice than the work of the Resident Theatre Company. We profile opera singer Stephen Powell, who grew up in West Chester and now performs on stages around the world. We explored how an 1899 fountain is being reinstalled in its former location in Marshall Square Park. We also tell readers about how the former studio of artist Tom Bostelle is being refurbished
along the Brandywine River. Writer Richard L. Gaw introduces readers to Lou Samba, co-owner of Anytime Fitness in West Chester who, with the help of his friend and coowner Evie Cunliffe, is achieving his biggest dreams. The subject of the Q & A in this issue is Lisa Kershner, who owns North Star Orchard with her husband, Ike. We talk to Kershner about her participation with the West Chester Growers Market, and about what keeps vendors and customers coming back season after season. Our writers and photographers met many interesting people who help to make the West Chester and Chadds Ford area such a wonderful place, and we are pleased to share their stories with you. We look forward to working on the next issue of West Chester & Chadds Ford Life, which will arrive in the spring of 2016. Sincerely, Randy Lieberman, Publisher, randyl@chestercounty.com, 610-869-5553 Steve Hoffman, Editor, editor@chestercounty.com, 610-869-5553, x. 13
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—————|Around Chadds Ford|—————
Chadds Ford Days
A Chadds Ford tradition celebrates 50 years
Photo by Steven Hoffman
Kyle Reynolds demonstrated how to make candles using 18th century methods in front of the John Chads House during Chadds Ford Days.
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West Chester & Chadds Ford Life | Fall/Winter 2015 | www.westchesterlifemagazine.com
es
By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer
F
Photo by Steven Hoffman
Charlie Megosh, 6, with Michael Ferrante, one of the re-enactors.
or Kendal Reynolds and others who grew up in th community, there is the a always something special a about the weekend when C Chadds Ford Days rolls a around. “I grew up in Chadds Ford s this has always been a so tr tradition for us,” Reynolds e explained during the first d day of this year’s event, w which took place on the g grounds of the Chadds Ford H Historical Society on North Creek Road on Sept. 12 and 13. “This has always been a family event—a gathering place to celebrate the history in the area.” This year, Chadds Ford Days wasn’t just a celebration of history, it made a little history—this was the 50th time that it has been held, and Reynolds, the president of the Chadds Ford Historical Society’s board of directors, and George Franz, the chairman of Chadds Ford Days, were very pleased by the celebration of the milestone. The weekend was filled with activities pertaining to history—there were Colonial demonstrations, Revolutionary War re-enactors, Civil War re-enactors, and visits from the likes of Gen. George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and soldier Ned Hector thanks to a Continued on page 12
www.westchesterlifemagazine.com | Fall/Winter 2015 | West Chester & Chadds Ford Life
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Chadds Ford Days... Continued from page 11
number of historical impersonators. The John Chads House was open for tours. Colonial demonstrators included blacksmiths, dulcimers, gunsmiths, tapeloom weavers, and potters. There was also a barn market with dozens of vendors showcasing their wares. “We like to be a part of what makes Chadds Ford unique,” explained Franz, a past president of the Chadds Ford Historical Society’s board of directors who has been involved with Chadds Ford Days in one way or another since 1983. Reynolds and Franz are always eager to share the history of Chadds Ford Days as a community event. Chris Sanderson is credited with starting the community tradition in the 1950s as a way to commemorate the anniversary of the Revolutionary War’s Battle of the Brandywine. The Battle of the Brandywine took place on September 11, 1777 when Continental troops formed a line of defense along the eastern bank of the Brandywine. Gen. George Washington had selected this location to halt the British Army’s advance toward Philadelphia. Gen. William Howe divided his forces to outflank the Continental army in the Battle of the Brandywine. After a day of fierce fighting, the American forces were forced to retreat to Chester, leaving the British camped on the battlefield for five
Photo by Steven Hoffman
Kendal Reynolds, the president of the historical society’s board, with George Franz, the chairman of Chadds Ford Days, during the first day of festivities.
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West Chester & Chadds Ford Life | Fall/Winter 2015 | www.westchesterlifemagazine.com
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There were many demonstrations for children to enjoy.
more days. The British soldiers ransacked nearby homes during the extended stay. While the battle was a loss for the Continental troops, the fact that Gen. Washington was able to lead the American forces away without being destroyed was very significant. Eventually, the Continental troops managed to turn the tide. The Battle of the Brandywine is a significant historical event. Sanderson organized the first community-wide celebration of the battle in 1957. Another event took place in 1959, and several more were held in the years that followed. During these early celebrations, local residents would parade through the area. While 2015 marked the 50th time that Chadds Ford Days has been held, it became an annual event starting in 1968. The event evolved into an old-time country fair with events for the whole family. Chadds Ford Days became one of the major events for the Chadds Ford Historical Society, which preserves and maintains the John Chads House and the Barns-Brinton House. The historical society also operates the Barn Visitors Center, and continues the historical research and collection of records and artifacts of the region. John Chads is an important figure in local history. He was heir to his father’s 500-acre plantation along the Brandywine. He hired John Wyeth, Jr. (no relation to the Wyeth family of famous artists) to build a house on the banks of the creek. Chads was moderately wealthy, but he was also a Quaker, and the simplicity of the house reflects his religious heritage. His house was completed sometime around 1725.
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Chadds Ford Days... Continued from page 13
Chads married Elizabeth Richardson in 1729, and the house became their family home. Chads operated a tavern and eventually started a ferrying service across the Brandywine. Both businesses passed to a Chads’ relative in the 1740s. Chads died in 1760, leaving his widow the use of the house and forty acres of land. The story about how she remained in the house as the Battle of Brandywine raged around her is often repeated. The Barns-Brinton House is also an important piece of local history. In the early 1700s, William Barns, a blacksmith, saw the need for a tavern on what was then called “Ye Great Road to Nottingham”—a major road on the route between Philadelphia and Maryland. In 1714, Barns constructed a handsome brick structure that was to become a tavern. He first requested a license for a tavern in 1722 and operated it for at least several years. When Continued on page 16
Photo by Steven Hoffman
Chadds Ford Days featured many crafters and demonstrators who were dressed according to the styles of the time period.
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Chadds Ford Days... Continued from page 14
Barns passed away in 1731, he was in debt to 78 of his neighbors. The building changed owners several times until James Brinton purchased the house and farmland in 1753. Brinton was the grandson of William Brinton, one of the earliest settlers in the area. Maintaining these buildings is an important part of the Chadds Ford Historical Society’s mission, and the historical society sponsors several events—Chadds Ford Days, the Great Pumpkin Carve, and the Candlelight Christmas Tour—each year to help with the costs associated with that maintenance. Educating the public about local history is another part of the mission. Programs for adults and schoolchildren utilize the Barns-Brinton House, the John Chads House, and the Barn Visitors Center. Visitors can see demonstrations of 18th century skills, and guides lead groups on tours with interactive activities. Earlier this year, the historical society hired Allison Schell as the program and development manager to expand the education programming and extend the outreach through various school visitations and summer
Photo by Steven Hoffman
Re-enactors offered explanations about their weapons and their dress to the visitors.
camps. Reynolds said that Schell “brings a lot of energy to our programs,” and talked about the importance of finding effective ways to share local history with young people. “We’re looking at how our programs reach the kids of
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today,” Reynolds explained. “How are the kids of today going to learn about history?” One example of how the historical society is successfully teaching youngsters about this period in history is Kyle Reynolds, who took part in the historical society’s Junior Guides Program and learned how to make candles using 18th century methods. He was doing a demonstration of this skill near the John Chads House during Chadds Ford Days. Schell, who previously served as the director of the Milton Historical Society, said that there’s a lot to like about 18th century history, and plenty of opportunities to make that history come alive for modern audiences. “I like to make history accessible,” Schell explained. The addition of an energetic newcomer like Schell helps with the historical society’s goal of respecting history while also keeping things fresh and interesting. Organizers are always looking for ways to add new elements to attract new people to the event.
Photo by Steven Hoffman
Chadds Ford Days chairman George Franz, program and development manager Allison Schell, and Susan Beach, who is in charge of signing up crafters for the event.
Continued on page 18
www.westchesterlifemagazine.com | Fall/Winter 2015 | West Chester & Chadds Ford Life
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Chadds Ford Days... Continued from page 17
“Even though this is the 50th year for Chadds Ford Days,” Reynolds explained, “some people may just be getting to know us.” Tom Singer, a member of the Chadds Ford Historical Society’s board of directors, said that the opening of the barn market probably doubled the number of vendors for the event, just one illustration of how it keeps evolving to reach a broad audience. “There are some cool, creative vendors this year,” Reynolds added. One illustration of the enduring popularity of Chadds Ford Days is the number of people who are willing to volunteer their time and energy each year. Singer estimated the number of volunteers at about 200. “Without our volunteers, we wouldn’t be able to put on an event like this,” Singer explained. Reynolds singled out Franz for his extraordinary dedication to Chadds Ford Days. Franz has studied the battle and its place in local history. He also served on the historical society’s board of directors, and also is very involved with the presentation of Chadds Ford Days each year.
Photo by Steven Hoffman
Visitors liked this classic car that was on display.
“He’s really a key figure in all of this,” Reynolds said. For more information about the Chadds Ford Historical Society or next year’s Chadds Ford Days, visit www. Chaddsfordhistory.org. To contact Staff Writer Steven Hoffman, email editor@ chestercounty.com.
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The Great Pumpkin Carve One of the Chadds Ford Historical Society’s largest annual fundraisers is The Great Pumpkin Carve, which will take place this year on Oct. 22, 23, and 24 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Chadds Ford Historical Society’s Barn Visitor Center. A marching demonstration by reenactors.
Photo by Steven Hoffman
www.westchesterlifemagazine.com | Fall/Winter 2015 | West Chester & Chadds Ford Life
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——|West Chester & Chadds Ford History|——
A long-lost fountain will rise again in West Chester Friends of Marshall Square Park restore an 1899 fountain, and return it to its original home Photo courtesy of Chester County Historical Society
The original fountain, with Chester County Hospital in the background.
By John Chambless Staff Writer
I
n 1883, a leisurely stroll through Marshall Square Park in West Chester was a chance to enjoy the shade of large trees, to see and be seen by neighbors and passers-by, and to stop and admire a fine fountain that splashed in the northeast corner of the park. By 1889, civic pride – and a little funding – led to this first fountain replaced by an even grander example. It had five cast-iron layers, allowing the water to jet out from the top and then trickle down over the ledges to the basin below. But as the decades went by, fountains became nothing
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West Chester & Chadds Ford Life | Fall/Winter 2015 | www.westchesterlifemagazine.com
Photo courtesy of Chester County Historical Society
The fountain was a showpiece for West Chester when it was new.
Photo courtesy of Chester County Historical Society
Anne Walters, Allan Steenhusen, and Jeff Beitel discuss unearthing the fountain’s underpinnings.
to admire anymore. By the 1960s, the fountain was gone. And that would have been the end of the story, if not for the Friends of Marshall Square Park, a group of residents who got together in 2005 to maintain the trees and surviving buildings in the park. They had historic photos of the park, with the fountain standing tall. They started investigating what happened to it. Eventually, the pieces were discovered to have been at the farm of Gene and Joan Gagliardi, who had installed three of the tiers and kept the fountain operating on their property. The top tier was never found. The Friends of Marshall Square Park recovered the three tiers after the Gagliardis moved, and have had them in storage since 2012, lining up the restoration process. Of course, there was the question of what remained inside the corroded iron fence around the area where the fountain once stood. So shovels hit the dirt. Anne F. Walters, who has her own landscape architecture firm and serves as vice-president of Friends of Marshall Square Park and chair of the fountain committee, said recently, “The original lower basin remained in place, but was filled with dirt and grass. About eight years ago, my office prepared a landscape plan for the area inside the antique iron fence which FMSP paid to have installed and maintained over the
last eight years. That planting has since been removed in anticipation of the construction.” Since the 1960s, piping had corroded, and there was plenty of work to be done. “Several pieces of the structure of the fountain and a couple of bowls are missing and will be re-fabricated to match the original, multi-tiered fountain,” Walters said. “All new piping, electrical and plumbing work will be required as part of making the fountain operational. There will be substantial excavation required in preparing for the construction of the new basin and support for the fountain. A newly designed shed will be attached to the existing nearby building, which will safely house new pump equipment for the fountain. This shed will mimic the detailing on the existing building, and will have new landscaping that will provide screening.” The moment when the time-traveling fountain again stands tall in the park will be a proud one for the group, but there have been other accomplishments since they first recognized how much history quietly existed inside the park. The group traces the origin of the park to 1848, when a public square was established around the site of the public reservoir at the corner of Biddle and Matlack Continued on page 22
www.westchesterlifemagazine.com | Fall/Winter 2015 | West Chester & Chadds Ford Life
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Fountain... Continued from page 21
streets. It was named Marshall Square Park in honor of Humphry Marshall, a leading botanist from Marshallton. A bargain was struck with a local nurseryman, Paschall Morris, to established a nursery on the property, rentfree, for eight years. In exchange, he agreed to plant and cultivate trees selected by a committee. More than 150 trees of various species were selected, and an arboretum was born. In 1856, Morris’ lease expired, the existing nursery stock was not maintained and the grounds fell into disrepair. In 1877, the borough appointed a committee to improve the park. Josiah Hoopes was hired for the task. He laid out walks, flower beds, shrubbery and buildings throughout the park. By 1878, the walks, benches and 20 beds of flowers were installed, and a Swiss cottage -designed after the Swiss Pavilion at the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia – was built, along with a large gazebo. In 1885 it was decided that the old reservoir would be removed. In 1887, a Civil War monument dedicated to the 97th Pennsylvania Regiment was constructed in that location.
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Since 2005, the Friends of Marshall Square Park have helped to preserve the Swiss cottage and the gazebo, put up a sign about the park and Humphry Marshall, and have completed a tree labeling project. They have installed historically appropriate benches as well. The cost of restoring the fountain seemed out of reach, but fate has taken a hand. Jeffrey Beitel, president of Friends of Marshall Square Park, donated all the architectural work required over the last eight years, and prepared all of the architectural drawings, through his company, Jeffrey C. Beitel Architecture. Walters served as the committee coordinator and worked with Beitel during the design process. She also lined up a fountain design company to prepare a detailed set of plans for the operation of the fountain. In June, a donation of $45,000 was made by Pat Loew, widow of the developer Jack Loew. A plaque honoring Jack Loew will be placed at the fountain, which will be named in his honor. As a result, the first phase of the project -- the restoration of the fountain, the basin and surrounding fence -- is fully funded. Fundraising for the second phase – which includes the restoration of the brick sidewalk
West Chester & Chadds Ford Life | Fall/Winter 2015 | www.westchesterlifemagazine.com
surrounding the fountain, landscape beds and historically appropriate signage -- continues “It would certainly have taken more time and effort without this donation, but we were never at the point of giving up,” Walters said. “There is a lot of support and enthusiasm in the neighborhood and within FMSP for this project. It has been our priority project for the last three years, and we have been very persistent with our efforts.” Future funding for maintaining the fountain will come from an endowment set up by the Friends of Continued on page 24
A vintage postcard view of the fountain in Marshall Square Park.
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Fountain... Continued from page 23
Marshall Square Park. “This fountain and the park belongs to the Borough of West Chester,” Walters said. “However, we have not requested, or been given, any funds from the borough for the project. The borough will pay for the electrical power and water usage to operate the fountain. “The project has been fully endorsed by West Chester Courtesy photo Borough Council The iron fence surrounding the fountain and is overwhelm- was in need of repair in 2005. ingly supported by our local residents,” Walters continued. “Jeff Beitel and I will continue coordinating together and with the contractors on a regular basis during the construction and installation of the fountain – and likely indefinitely. We will likely make daily site visits to review the construction progress.” When the water is again trickling through the restored fountain, it will be a proud moment for the Friends group, and the community. “Our fountain committee is very excited about the project and has been committed to the project since before we recovered the original fountain,” Walters said. “Everyone in the group will be thrilled to see this piece of history restored to the location in the park where it originally stood. We hope to make this gateway to West Chester a focal point for the borough and our park. We have plans to add landscaping and new walks, repair existing antique brick, and add signage to the area after the fountain is installed.” Visit www.marshallsquarepark.org for more information, to contribute or become a member. To contact Staff Writer John Chambless, email jchambless@chestercounty.com. 24
West Chester & Chadds Ford Life | Fall/Winter 2015 | www.westchesterlifemagazine.com
——|West Chester & Chadds Ford Arts|——
The hottest ticket in town
The Resident Theatre Company’s new home at The Armory Theatre on High Street won’t be ready until 2016, but the organization is already delighting audiences this year with its Broadway in the Borough series and a lineup of special events. Founding artistic director Kristin McLaughlin Mitchell talked to West Chester & Chadds Ford Life about bringing professionals from New York City and Philadelphia to West Chester audiences and the busy year ahead...
Clockwise from above: Courtesy photos
Matt Ferrell at the launch party for the Resident Theatre Company earlier this year. Nikki Van Casselle delighted audiences. Chelsey Ristaino at the launch party for the Resident Theatre Company in West Chester. Christopher Sheehan was part of the show at the launch party.
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West Chester & Chadds Ford Life | Fall/Winter 2015 | www.westchesterlifemagazine.com
Courtesy photo
Christopher Sheehan, Matt Corr, and Chelsey Ristaino at the show to launch the Resident Theatre Company.
By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer
A
fter more than two decades of professional theatre experience, including a Broadway background as an actress and director, Kristin McLaughlin Mitchell knows to expect the unexpected. So when the Resident Theatre Company launched Broadway in the Borough earlier this year to bring a cabaret with professional singers to West Chester once a month, Mitchell expected only small crowds in the beginning. After all, the main purpose of Broadway in the Borough was simply to build the Resident Theatre Company’s Continued on page 28
Courtesy photo
The renovation of The Armory Theatre is expected to be completed in 2016, setting the stage for a full season of shows starting in the fall of 2016.
www.westchesterlifemagazine.com | Fall/Winter 2015 | West Chester & Chadds Ford Life
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R.T.C.... Continued from page 27
audience until the renovation project on its new home is complete in 2016. The first Broadway in the Borough in June was an instant smash with audiences, selling out and earning rave reviews. Tickets went on sale for the next show in July, and that was a quick sell-out, too. The Resident Theatre Company’s shows were suddenly the hottest ticket in town. “We were really excited to find out just how much West Chester wants to see professional theatre,” explained Mitchell, the founding artistic director of the Resident Theatre Company. “It’s been unbelievable. Everybody is so enthusiastic about theater and the theatre company.” During an interview in September, Mitchell talked about the schedule of events that the Resident Theatre Company has planned for this fall. The lineup includes more Broadway in the Borough shows, a Mischief Night Party, as well as a a murder mystery,
Courtesy photo
Luke Brahdt and Janine Merolla at one of this year’s Broadway in the Borough shows.
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West Chester & Chadds Ford Life | Fall/Winter 2015 | www.westchesterlifemagazine.com
“And Then There Was One,” at the gorgeous Greystone Hall. “We’re really excited that they agreed to partner with us on that,” Mitchell explained. “We are having a lot of fun coming up with new events.” When the holidays approach, Christmas shows are planned for Dec. 5 and 6. It’s a full schedule for a new company to take on, but the artistic director’s enthusiasm for each show is evident. Mitchell’s arrival in West Chester more than two years ago was almost perfect timing, as if she were destined to be the person who would have the duty—and the opportunity—to bring professional theatre to West Chester. Mitchell was almost immediately enlisted to serve on the Uptown Entertainment Alliance’s programming committee. The group was making progress toward bringing a theatre to West Continued on page 30
Nikki Van Casselle
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R.T.C.... Continued from page 29
Chester, a prospect that thrilled Mitchell. Before long, the leaders of the Uptown Entertainment Alliance were asking Mitchell to help create the Resident Theatre Company that would stage performances in The Armory Theatre. She agreed, knowing that her background and professional experiences would serve her well as she worked to bring professional actors and designers from New York City and Philadelphia to produce full seasons of musicals and plays in downtown West Chester. Before a full season with larger productions, Mitchell wanted to start to build a following for the Resident Theatre Company, so she developed the popular Broadway in the Borough series. The performers who were featured in the first few Broadway in the Borough shows are indicative of the kind of talent that Mitchell wants to bring to West Chester on a regular basis. Jenny Lee Stern, from Broadway’s “Rocky” and “A Christmas Story,” and Janine Merolla, Luke Brahdt, and Rajeer Alford from the Philadelphia theater scene delighted the
Courtesy photo
One of the goals of the Resident Theatre Company is to bring professionals like Jenny Lee Stern to West Chester audiences.
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West Chester & Chadds Ford Life | Fall/Winter 2015 | www.westchesterlifemagazine.com
“We were really excited to find out just how much West Chester wants to see professional theatre.� ~ Kristin McLaughlin Mitchell, artistic director of the Resident Theatre Company
West Chester audiences during these shows. Performers then started rehearsals for the upcoming Mischief Night live show at the Boxcar Brewpub on Oct. 30, so the Broadway in the Borough shows were put on hiatus until later in the fall. The Mischief Night show features Maria Eberline, an accomplished New York City actress who has Continued on page 32
Courtesy photo
Casey Erin Clark lent her talents to one of the Broadway in the Borough shows.
www.westchesterlifemagazine.com | Fall/Winter 2015 | West Chester & Chadds Ford Life
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R.T.C.... Continued from page 31
been seen as Elphaba on the national tour of “Wicked,” and Mark Woodard, who played the Major General in “Pirates of Penzance” and Stewpot in “South Pacific.” Mitchell has spent most of her adult life working with top musical theatre professionals. She earned a degree in musical theatre from Emerson College, and studied conservation biology with a fellowship at Columbia University’s CREC graduate school. During her time as an actress, she performed in shows in 20 different countries around the world. Some of her favorite roles include
Courtesy photo
Matt Corr and Nikki Van Casselle
Continued on page 34
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R.T.C.... Continued from page 32
Shelia in “A Chorus Line,” Lola in “Damn Yankees,” Cathy in “The Last 5 Years.” She played Leila in “Sessions,” Laurette in “What Makes Sammy Run,” and over 25 characters in “The World According to Ruth Wallis.” Mitchell has worked with many inspiring actors, including Justin Bartha, Tony Shalhoub, Anthony LaPaglia, Paul Rudd, Spiro Malas, Jan Maxwell and Nicole Kidman. When she transitioned into directing, she had many more great experiences. Mitchell was an assistant director of the Broadway revival of “Lend Me a Tenor,” a Tony-nominated play that was directed by Stanley Tucci and earned much critical acclaim. She also directed “The Incredibly Deaf Musical” at The Duke Theatre in New York as part of NYMTF, Ave. Q at The Geva Theatre, “Spamalot” and “Next to Normal” at The Cape Rep Theatre, “Lydia” for the world premiere in New York City, and “The Last 5 Years” for The Heritage Theatre Company. Mitchell’s resume also includes serving as an assistant director
K
Matt Ferrell and Nikki Van Casselle
on dozens of productions, including the European tour of “A Chorus Line” and “The Music Man” national tour, where she worked with such directors as Chet Walker, Troy Garza and Phil Soltanoff. According to Mitchell, there is excitement building as the renovations to the future home in the historic Armory Building on High Street continue. The Uptown! Entertainment Alliance’s renovation project on the building will result in a sparkling new 350-seat theater that could be
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ready to open as early as the fall of 2016. Everyone involved with the project wants the Resident Theatre Company to be a part of the West Chester cultural community, and Mitchell wants everyone to feel like they are a part of what’s taking place with the Resident Theatre Company. The popularity of the Broadway in the Borough shows suggests that the fun is only beginning for the West Chester audiences and for the actors and directors involved with the Resident Theatre Company. “I’m really excited to bring professional theatre to West Chester,” Mitchell explained. To contact Staff Writer Steven Hoffman, email editor@ chestercounty.com.
For more information about the Resident Theatre Company and the upcoming shows, visit the organization’s Facebook page or website at www.RTCwc.org. Courtesy photo
Alanna Smith during a Broadway in the Borough performance.
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—————|West Chester|—————
The Chester County Historical Society receives $400,000 grant Funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities will be used for Chester County: A Place in History
T
he Chester County Historical Society (CCHS) recently received an implementation grant of $400,000 from the National Endowment for the Humanities for the upcoming exhibition Chester County: A Place in History. The grant program is extremely competitive. Of the 212 grants awarded nationally, CCHS was one of only ten to receive funding in the Museums,
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Libraries, and Cultural Organizations Planning and Implementation category. The Chester County Historical Society’s new 6,000 sq. ft. permanent exhibition Chester County: A Place in History will highlight CCHS’s nationally recognized permanent collections with a depth of interpretation that will enable visitors, local and distant, to
West Chester & Chadds Ford Life | Fall/Winter 2015 | www.westchesterlifemagazine.com
understand more about this community and their relationship to it. This innovative re-installation and expansion project will feature stories about people, places and events that make this vibrant county unique. CCHS will be able to increase access physically and electronically to more objects, photographs, and manuscripts than ever before through the exhibit and an adjacent gallery featuring visible storage. The exhibition is scheduled to open in 2017. “The NEH is excited to support Chester County: A Place in History,” said Karen Mittelman, NEH Director of the Division of Public Programs. “In this exhibition we see great potential to connect the community to the past in meaningful ways, enabling audiences to re-examine events in terms of ideas that make the past relevant to present concerns. Our reviewers were enthusiastic about the multitude of creative techniques the project proposes to actively engage audiences in this type of critical investigation.” “The Chester County Historical Society is very excited and grateful to partner with the National Endowment for the Humanities to bring Chester County: A Place
in History to the public,” said David Reinfeld, CCHS Interim President & Vice President, Development. “The partnership with National Endowment for the Humanities will aid in our efforts to preserve and share the remarkable history of Chester County, and provide a powerful and meaningful experience for our visitors.” “The entire project team is thrilled to have this significant acknowledgement from the history and museum community,” said Ellen Endslow, CCHS Director of Collections/Curator. “This support will help us build on the long legacy of CCHS to tell a wide range of stories about a diverse population. We are eager to explore new ways of exhibiting our collections.” An anonymous donor who believes strongly in the importance of this project will match each gift in 2015 dollar for dollar, thus doubling every donation’s power. To date, CCHS has successfully raised more than $2.1 million in gifts and pledges from members and community partners towards Chester County: A Place in History. For more information, please visit http://chestercohistorical.org/permanent-gallery-project.
www.westchesterlifemagazine.com | Fall/Winter 2015 | West Chester & Chadds Ford Life
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——|West Chester & Chadds Ford Arts|——
A former dance hall and art studio is saved Photo by John Chambless
John and Karen Delaney are the new owners of the 1900s dance hall across from Lenape Park that was the longtime studio of artist Tom Bostelle.
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West Chester & Chadds Ford Life | Fall/Winter 2015 | www.westchesterlifemagazine.com
er ce
d
o
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By John Chambless Staff Writer
S
tanding in the cavernous shell of the 1900s dance hall, Karen Delaney smiled brightly. “My husband and I are project people,” she said. “We like to work together. The process is enjoyable for us.” That’s a good thing, because Delaney and her husband, John, are the new owners of the decrepit building across the Brandywine Creek from the Brandywine Picnic Park. They bought the decaying building last month after it had been vacant for years following the death of artist Tom Bostelle, who had lived there in spectacular obscurity since the late 1960s. The 96-foot-long main building was built at the turn of the century as a dance hall for customers who would ride the train from West Chester or other stations nearby, and dance to live music played on a stage in the main hall. It functioned as part of Lenape Park, the small amusement park across the river whose rides were long ago replaced by the modern tents of the picnic park. The dance hall eventually became a place to rent canoes to paddle on the dammed-up Brandyine Creek. Bostelle bought the place in 1968 for $2,500 and created haunting paintings and sculptures there until his death in 2005. The building has fallen into ruin, targeted by vandals and now leaning alarmingly toward the river. There are holes the size of a minivan in the roof. The floor is buckled. The porch running the length of the building is now mostly decayed pilings and planks. It is something well below the level of a fixerupper, but the Delaneys said they have been fascinated by the place since they moved here in 2004. Karen is the executive director of the Chester County Art Association. “We learned about Tom over time,” she said. “I found his drawings at the Art Association, and then learned little bits everywhere.” The Delaneys live near the studio, “and even driving by, it was barricaded, and we didn’t know much about the place. I just thought, ‘That’s a mess,’” Karen said. “But John and I and our family spend a lot of time on the Brandywine River. We Continued on page 48
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Former dance hall... Continued from page 47
canoe, we fish and on hot days we throw our tubes in and spend a lot of time in the water. We’ve looked at this place so many times from the water, and it’s fascinating. There’s a sense of history. We wondered why it had been left to rot. We had an interest, never thinking that we’d own it.” Bostelle taught generations of Chester County artists in the studio space, and lived in an adjoining, smaller building. In its heyday, the studio – which Bostelle dubbed The Aeolian Palace – was an artistic hub, but best known for its garden of metal shadow sculptures that Bostelle placed in the yard by the nearby train tracks. Lately, it’s been known as a creepy building by the river that had become overgrown with weeds. Bostelle’s unique work is well-respected, and his paintings and sculptures are in the collections of several museums, including the Delaware Art Museum and the Brandywine
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One of the points working in the favor of the Delaneys is that the building was built to withstand the weight of hundreds of people dancing, so the pilings were thick and well-set in the Brandywine mud. But the past century has taken its toll. The place floods yearly, and there has been little maintenance on it in decades. The Delaneys have been cleaning up the trash and stabilizing the structure while they consider their options. The building had been condemned by Pocopson Township, but Karen said she thinks the township will be happy to see it saved. “It is historical. I think that if we express to the township that we would like to remember its past that they may be a little more lenient,” she said. “Plus, it’s commercially zoned and not residentially zoned, which is a little bit more favorable, too. “We recognize that it’s in the flood plain, and the water can come in here, four feet in height,” she said. “We’re not interested in reconstructing it to have that happen again. At the same time, we have no use for a 96-foot building, but we wouldn’t mind having some structure that recalled the history here. We’d like to pay tribute to Tom Bostelle, including some of the things that were part of the space when he was in it.” The tentative plan is to shorten the building a bit, using the trusses which remain in good condition, and move the building higher up the river bank to raise it above the flood level. The Delaneys would like to reconstruct the stage area for future performances, and if the building is able to be raised high enough, Karen envisions a sculpture display area nearer the railroad tracks, with additional seating. Perhaps there will be art classes and private studio space. But right now, the couple is putting in long hours of cleanup and moving things like the 1900s wooden benches that were an original feature of the building into a place where the rain can’t decay them any further. “Ideally what we’d like to do is recreate this building up above the flood plain, on a smaller scale,” she said. “That would allow this entire riverside area to be quite lovely. There could be a place for seating and sculpture, and maybe public events. We’re going to try to do something here that preserves the past.” To contact Staff Writer John Chambless, email jchambless@chestercounty.com.
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—|West Chester & Chadds Ford Business|—
A bit of everything at Brandywine View Visitors have to plunge in to explore three floors of antiques By John Chambless Staff Writer
S
itting in the midst of a room full of antiques and rehabbed items at Brandywine View Antiques, owner Lisa Vonderstuck couldn’t help herself. “Oh, I just love my job!” she said, beaming. “I couldn’t ask for anything better.” In late August, Vonderstuck moved her eclectic, ever-changing collection of vintage items from a Victorian home on Route 1 to an 1807 home that’s three Continued on page 54 The Barn Room at Brandywine View has barn wood walls.
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West Chester & Chadds Ford Life | Fall/Winter 2015 | www.westchesterlifemagazine.com
Photo by John Chambless
Photo by John Chambless
Lisa Vonderstuck: ‘I love to take the old and turn it into new. I like saving the past. It doesn’t matter what it is – I will do my best to give it a new home.’
www.westchesterlifemagazine.com | Fall/Winter 2015 | West Chester & Chadds Ford Life
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Brandywine View... Continued from page 52
miles closer to West Chester. The former business was perhaps best known to passers-by for its wraparound porch that was stacked with hundreds of railings, beams, trunks, chairs, cupboards and whatever else caught Vonderstuck’s fancy. Inside, the rooms were, well, Victorian. Light was scarce and the hallways were narrow. Parking was a challenge when the neighboring Gables at Chadds Ford held events and people would fill up the lot at her store. “My husband and I live in Chadds Ford and we’ve been driving past this place for years,” Vonderstuck said of the stately brick home that is on the National Register of Historic Homes. “I never thought this would be our property.” It has been used as office space for many years, and the interior was “ugly 1980s commercial carpet and horrendous fluorescent lighting,” Vonderstuck said, but the 5,000-square-foot building sits on three acres, has great visibility and is actually larger than the former building. When it came up for sale, the couple pounced on the chance to move. It was a quick transition, with all the store stock being moved in a rush. “It took 12 guys and four trucks, two and a half days to move it all,” she said. “I never want to move again. This is it.” The home has its original wood floors visible again, and the majestic central stairway looks much the way it did in the 1800s. Each
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West Chester & Chadds Ford Life | Fall/Winter 2015 | www.westchesterlifemagazine.com
Photo by John Chambless
Children’s chairs and a stuffed toy llama on the third floor.
room has its own distinct theme, but there are still plenty of surprises. When customers arrive, they still get the customary “Hello! Three floors – have fun!” greeting, and the same semi-arrangement of the individual rooms. Everything is brighter and just a bit less cluttered, but still retains the air of discovery. Things aren’t polished and positioned just so, and the mix of antique, and refurbished pieces is interesting. Vonderstuck knows just when the right bit of paint will give new appeal to an old thing, and when to leave well enough alone. “I like country primitive – stuff that looks like it’s been run over a few times on Route 1 and then brought into your house,” she said, smiling. “I love to take the old and turn it into new. I like saving the past. It doesn’t matter what it is – I will do my best to give it a new home.” Vonderstuck has been in business for 20 years, so she’s beginning to see former customers downsizing their collections and she’s picking up their antiques to sell again at Brandywine View. In addition to the wares that she cleans up just enough to make them presentable without making them too pristine, Vonderstuck credited “an amazing group of artisans here. I used to paint furniture myself years ago, but I don’t
Photo by John Chambless
Antique-looking wooden signs for home décor.
have the time to do it now. We have a great group of vendors in here that take the time to upcycle and resalvage, such as Savannah’s House, House of Red, Robin’s Nest, all local. What makes Brandywine View different is there Continued on page 56
www.westchesterlifemagazine.com | Fall/Winter 2015 | West Chester & Chadds Ford Life
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Brandywine View... Continued from page 55
is no ‘I’ here, but ‘we,’ and it takes a village to succeed. I would like this shop to be unique.” She enjoys building relationships with customers who come in first to just wander around, and then come to appreciate the store’s warm, witty outlook on what can be a stuffy business. “I make people feel comfortable, I laugh with them, I listen to them,” Vonderstuck said. “You watch them grow, you watch their kids grow. These are not just customers, these are friends.” Vonderstuck said she’s “always had a passion for antiques. I’d always go into antique stores years ago. You can learn a lot. When you go into really nice, high-end stores, they’re very detailed. I also learn from books and magazines. But I don’t want to be a museum – that kind of high end. When people come in here with their kids, we tell them, ‘Touch everything. It’s fine. This stuff will make it another day.’” During a walk-through, Vonderstuck pointed out the themed rooms – the Barn Room, which has barn wood walls and farm-related antiques; or the Period Room, “where everything is as old as possible” – but on the two upstairs floors, you’ll find light-up marquee letters that
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West Chester & Chadds Ford Life | Fall/Winter 2015 | www.westchesterlifemagazine.com
Photo by John Chambless
Plastic letters await discovery on the second floor.
would look great on a wall, or a well-worn cupboard that will add a bit of history to any home. There are reproduction signs to serve as home accents, a set of child-size antique chairs and a table that is overseen by a furry stuffed llama, displays of paints that allow customers to refinish their own antiques for a “shabby chic” look, as well as vintage jewelry, toys, knick-knacks, a few fossils, candles, some antique gingerbread trim, wooden boxes, a barrel full of old wooden rakes and a lot of other things that continually change as merchandise sells and gets replaced. Then there’s the boundless enthusiasm of Vonderstuck and her sister Linda, who greet visitors and get to know just what type of antique they’re looking for. Chances are, there’s something they want in the three rambling floors of Brandywine View. They just have to dig a little. Brandywine View Antiques (1244 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford) is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit www.brandywineview.com or call 610-388-6060. To contact Staff Writer John Chambless, email jchambless@chestercounty.com. Photo by John Chambless
Older antiques are displayed in the Period Room.
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The field that became a phenomenon
A 20-acre portion of Liondale Farm has become a must-see for visitors.
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West Chester & Chadds Ford Life | Fall/Winter 2015 | www.westchesterlifemagazine.com
James Sinclair of the Liondale Farm.
Photo by Richard L. Gaw
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
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hen a 20-acre portion of the 300-acre Liondale Farm in Unionville was dedicated to be a field of sunflowers earlier this year, owner Jim Sinclair and his wife Ann had no idea that their meadow of yellow would become a stunning pilgrimage for thousands of visitors. It has. Throughout August and September, at any time, Sinclair said that there were seven to 15 cars parked along the farm’s Route 926 main entrance. Still other cars entered down the road. For whatever their reasons, visitors from nearly every state in the Mid-Atlantic region stopped by to admire the gentle sway of sunflowers that seemed to go on forever. Many people took photographs or let their children run in the pasture; while others simply stopped to admire the view, but whatever the purpose, the word quickly spread. “I heard there’s 10,000 hits on Facebook about this,” Sinclair said in September. “When we did this four years Continued on page 60
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Sunflowers... Continued from page 59
ago, we’d come home and see a few people near our driveway, but this year, there has been four times the amount of visitors. It’s just turned into this phenomenon. People love flowers, and sunflowers bring a cheerfulness and a smile to people’s faces. People have left notes in our mailbox, thanking us.” The sunflowers, planted by local farmer Jamie Hicks in late July, will be harvested later this year by Sinclair and Hicks, and converted into birdseed. Sinclair said that crops are rotated every year, and for the next two growing seasons, corn will be planted and harvested, followed by soybeans and winter wheat. Sunflowers are not expected to be planted again until four years from now, he said. For Sinclair, who has lived at the farm for the last 14 years and is the eighth generation in his family to have done so, opening up a portion of his farm to admirers has connected thousands of visitors to the beauty of nature. “This field makes us realize the fact that we can own a property here, and allow people the freedom to come here from so many different parts of the country, simply to enjoy this,” he said. To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, e-mail rgaw@chestercounty.com.
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West Chester & Chadds Ford Life | Fall/Winter 2015 | www.westchesterlifemagazine.com
Photo by Richard L. Gaw
Throughout late summer and early fall, the Liondale Farm’s 20 acres of sunflowers became a must-see for hundreds of visitors who flocked to the site.
www.westchesterlifemagazine.com | Fall/Winter 2015 | West Chester & Chadds Ford Life
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—|West Chester & Chadds Ford Arts|—
A lifelong love of music leads to career on the opera stage By John Chambless Staff Writer
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he legacy of music that stretches through Stephen Powell’s family – from his grandparents to his teenage sons – has been a constant inspiration and a lifelong companion. During an interview at his home near Longwood Gardens, Powell traced the career path that has led him to immortal roles on some of the world’s greatest opera stages. Despite the accolades, Powell is relaxed and humble about how he got to this point in his long and distinguished career. Sipping his morning coffee from a Metropolitan Opera Company ceramic mug, Powell said, “I was born and raised in West Chester. My father loved big bands, and my mom was the classical and opera fan. Her parents, my grandparents, had season tickets to the Academy of Music, so that started back in the 1940s. They saw all the greats when the Met used to tour. My father played saxophone and clarinet, and he played in big bands in his youth. My mom played the piano a little bit. They were great music lovers and appreciators.” When Powell was young, his older sister and brother schooled him in the pop and rock acts of the 1960s and 1970s – “Chicago, and Loggins & Messina, and the Carpenters and Motown. So my family had a good saturation of different styles of music. I really still enjoy all of them,” Powell said. Singing wasn’t always part of Powell’s goals, however. “I started playing piano at 6. I studied all through high school and entered Northwestern University as a piano major,” he said. “I always sang for fun. I had a rock band in high school, I was in the school choirs and musicals at Stetson and Henderson. 62
Courtesy Photo
Opera singer Stephen Powell and his wife, soprano Barbara Shirvis.
West Chester & Chadds Ford Life | Fall/Winter 2015 | www.westchesterlifemagazine.com
“So I got to Northwestern, and realized I loved the piano but not as much as the other piano majors, who spent eight hours a day practicing. I quickly realized that it was not really a fit for my personality. So over the next three or four years, I graduated with a degree in theory and composition. It wasn’t until I was 25 when I went down the path of treating it as a vocation. When I started actually taking voice lessons, I didn’t have any bad habits from previous teachers. I was fairly raw, which turned out to work to my benefit. My first voice teacher was basically my mentor – Norman Gulbrandsen was his name.” Early in Powell’s career, at the New York City Opera’s opening night of the 1995 season, he filled in for an ailing singer in the kind of showbiz moment that is only supposed to happen in the movies. “I was what they call a weekly singer, so I was paid weekly rather than per performance,” Powell said. “To do that, you participate in quite a few operas at the same time. So I was understudying the lead role in Hindemith’s ‘Mathis der Maler’ for William Stone. “So as luck would have it, he injured one of his vocal cords during a rehearsal. This was about two weeks before the premiere, and the opening night of the season. I didn’t know the staging, since I had not done the rehearsals, so he walked the part on stage and I sang from the orchestra pit. That was a strange and rare occurrence. “It was a convergence of large, dramatic events,” Powell said. Out of that same production, not only was his career launched, but he met his future wife, soprano Barbara Shirvis. Powell’s biography is packed with dozens of roles that would be any baritone’s ultimate goal. He has been able to enjoy “just about all of the roles I’ve wanted to do,” he said thoughtfully. He especially enjoys Bach’s compositions, “because he wrote great music for the voice, not just oratorios.” The rigorous demands of opera – being able to act the role while projecting a vocal performance of peak quality – is both the challenge and the satisfaction of doing what he does, Powell said. “Opera is a live, acoustic art form,” he said. “You don’t get the same effect from the voice by watching it on TV or listening to a CD. You must be in the theater to experience it properly. There’s no other way to feel the instruments in the pit, and to feel the voices. There are no microphones. I am a strong opponent of them. There should be no impediment between the voice and your ears. It takes a lot of study and a lot of time to get the Continued on page 64 www.westchesterlifemagazine.com | Fall/Winter 2015 | West Chester & Chadds Ford Life
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technique that you need to do that. It’s about the integrity of the performers, who have worked for years and years to present you with that sound.” While outdoor concerts do require amplification, Powell said, “opera house acoustics are meant for this kind of music, and you have to be able to do the job without enhancement.” The power that must be summoned for a performance can be taxing, but Powell said if proper care is taken, a vocalist can perform into their 60s. Many legendary singers go longer, with varying results. “Some of the roles you do may change slightly as you age,” Powell said. “Your voice lowers as you grow older. But if you’ve trained well and your cords are still healthy and you have the muscle, you can go that long.” Placido Domingo, who is in his 70s, made his career as a tenor, but now he’s singing baritone roles, Powell said. The popular misconceptions about opera set up barriers between the art form and prospective audiences, Powell said. “The barriers are language, and perception, which has to do with lack of familiarity and education. It’s not
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fostered in our school system. The classical arts are not given their proper place in our lives as a whole.” Operas also require large casts and often spectacular staging, which makes them cost-prohibitive to present, and consequently raises ticket prices, leading to a spiral that makes opera even less accessible to broader audiences. Still, the global popularity of “Les Miserables” and “Wicked” in recent years proves that there is an audience for productions that are essentially operas. Powell said he can perform lyrics in French, Italian and German. “I can understand when people speak to me in German, but the grammar is slightly different than Italian and French,” he said. “Those two languages, I have. I’m afraid if I went to Italy and lived there for a month or two, it might take me a while to converse. But we could talk about opera,” he added. Some opera companies try to lure new audiences by performing operas in English, but Powell objects to the sometimes clumsy translations necessary to change the lyrics. “I was once asked to do ‘Eugene Onegin’ in English, but I said no thanks. I had killed myself to learn it
West Chester & Chadds Ford Life | Fall/Winter 2015 | www.westchesterlifemagazine.com
in Russian and I was not going to do it in English,” Powell said, smiling. Concessions to audiences, such as supertitles projected above the stage during performances “help with the language barrier a great deal,” Powell said. “I wish they weren’t necessary, but I suppose they help more than they hurt.”
What Powell has found is that, when people see an opera staged properly, they are impressed. “Anyone who has never gone to an opera, when and if they finally do, they say, ‘Oh, I had no idea,’” he said. “I have lots of friends who are not musicians, and they come to see me and are pleasantly surprised. It’s novel to see someone on Continued on page 66
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Opera... Continued from page 65
stage who they usually see out mowing the lawn.” While Powell’s resume is studded with star-making performances, he doesn’t mention any of his celebrity acquaintances unless asked. “I’ve worked with Renee Fleming, Placido Domingo, Samuel Ramey,” he said. “They’re lovely people. No diva about them at all. From my experience, the people I’ve worked with at that level are not divas. They don’t need to be. They’re at the top of their game.” As a professional singer, Powell has a repertoire of baritone roles he knows well enough that he can step into productions with minimal rehearsal time. He has performed the role of Giorgio Germont in Verdi’s “La Traviata,” for instance, well over 100 times. He reprised the role for the Opera Philadelphia production from Oct. 2 to 11. “I usually am asked a year in advance to do a role,” Powell said. “For this one in Philadelphia, I got three weeks of actual rehearsal.” To keep well-worn roles interesting, he said, “it helps to work with new people and young singers. There’s a
freshness about that. It’s up to me to approach it that way, and not come in like an old codger, saying, ‘This is what I do here.’ It’s my job to present the best performance every night.” To build a career, opera singers can be booked all over the world, something reflected in Powell’s resume. But with two boys at home – 15 and 17 – “My family has been a priority,” he said. “But even so, I am gone an average of six months a year, but there are other singers who are gone 10 months a year. I’ve endeavored to take jobs that are closer to home. At this point, going to Europe is too far away and it’s too long a time.” For that reason, Powell and his wife have created recital programs that they perform together at local venues. They sing with orchestras or other musical ensembles, performing classical and pops selections. It’s a chance for them to see each other and share the music that they both love to perform. “We also do master classes with young singers,” Powell said. “And I do classes at opera companies where I’m singing. I’m going to begin teaching at the New School of Music in New York this fall.
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It’s a transitional period. Now I’m the older one in the room, where I used to be the younger one in the room. I used to be looking up to learn, and now I’m looking back to pass along what I’ve learned. But it’s gratifying.” As for his sons continuing in the family career, Powell said, “when they were 5 or 6, we got them each an iPod and we loaded them with music we liked – Motown, Aerosmith, Billy Joel, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Chicago, Elvis and the Beatles and Chuck Berry and all that. So now, when they hear some of this newer stuff, they’re like, ‘Ugh.’ I wanted them to know what good pop-rock is. My younger son is in band, playing that kind of classic rock. They’re both in the jazz ensemble at school. Now they listen to music with ears that are trained and knowledgeable.” At this point in his career, Powell said, “I have to say that music was my first love. It’s what drew me initially, and truly fulfilled me in the arts. I’ve been very fortunate.” To contact Staff Writer John Chambless, email jchambless@chestercounty.com.
Courtesy Photo
Stephen Powell and Barbara Shirvis with their sons, Benjamin and Zachary.
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—————|West Chester|—————
QA &
Lisa Kerschner
The West Chester Growers Market was established in 1995, and was Chester County’s original producer-only market. North Star Orchard was one of the participants during the first year that the West Chester Growers Market opened, and continues to be an active and enthusiastic vendor at the market. West Chester & Chadds Ford Life caught up with Lisa Kershner, who owns North Star Orchard with her husband, Ike, to talk about what keeps vendors and customers coming back season after season, and what is in store at the West Chester Growers Market this fall. 68
West Chester & Chadds Ford Life | Fall/Winter 2015 | www.westchesterlifemagazine.com
Q: The West Chester Growers Market (WCGM) was established in 1995 and is Chester County’s original producer-only market. Growers markets have become very popular over the years, of course, especially here in Chester County. What are some of the benefits for families who shop at the West Chester Growers Market? A: In addition to an excellent selection of produce, meats, baked goods, etc., one major benefit of the market is knowing that it IS producer-only. There are a lot of markets out there, but they’re not always as strict with the source of the products as we are here. At WCGM, every item for sale was either grown or made by the person selling it. So not only are things very local and very fresh, but customers also have the opportunity to ask questions of the vendors about the products and their farms. Most of the vendors are happy to answer questions and give suggestions for food preparation, especially for lesserknown items like celeriac, bitter melon, unique varieties of mushrooms, kohrabi, Asian pears, and other products which customers don’t always have access to or know how to use. Discovering new favorite foods and the connections between farms and families are two great benefits of the WCGM. Q: Many of the vendors come back season after season. How long has North Star Orchard been involved with the West Chester Growers Market? A: We’ve been involved in the market since its first year in 1995. Back then, since there were no producer-only markets around, not only did customers have to learn about this type of market, but most farmers had to do some learning as well. Since then, the market has grown greatly both in the number of vendors and customers and types of products offered. It has been an amazing 21 seasons with the market so far, and we’re looking forward to the next 21!
Q: As a vendor, what do you like about this opportunity to bring your products to the growers market? A: For us, it’s all about flavor and connections. Enjoying good food is one of the great pleasures in life, as are great interpersonal connections. At the market, we and the market customers enjoy both of those. We may start out connecting over the food, but soon we’re also connecting as friends...sharing stories as our children grow and lives change, and saying heartfelt goodbyes when people move. The community aspect of the market is one which is invaluable to all involved. None of us go to the grocery store for that type of connection. But at the market, we
can connect with farmers, customers, and friends over common interests in food and societal issues. I am reminded of the week after 9/11 in 2001 when we vendors had some concern about how the market might go, considering the tragedy which unfolded a few days earlier. Although it was certainly a more subdued day that first Saturday after 9/11, we did see an enormous number of customers stop by—many more than we expected. For many, it was a chance to meet up with friends to share stories, mourn losses, and help each other through. Again, a priceless benefit to the community aspect of our market. Continued on page 70
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Q: Local artisans bring their freshly made cheeses, salsas, sauces, pies, jams, pasta, honey, and breads to market. Can you talk a little bit about the diversity of products that can be found in the West Chester Growers Market? A: The diversity of products like you mentioned are a direct benefit from the fact that customers want to buy directly from producers. When the market first started, there were absolutely fewer small farms in the area than there are now, and there were hardly any artisanal producers of things like cheeses and spreads, much less the truly unique types of produce we have at the market now. The number of small farms and businesses which have started over the past 15 years or so can be directly attributed to markets like WCGM and the interest in local foods. Continued support of markets, CSAs, and buying local will encourage even more choices and opportunities.
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The West Chester Growers Market is located at the corner of North Church and West Chestnut streets in downtown West Chester. The regular season market hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Saturday from May through December.
West Chester & Chadds Ford Life | Fall/Winter 2015 | www.westchesterlifemagazine.com
Q: What products will be popular at the growers market this fall? A: There is a lot to enjoy at the market in fall! Some people think things start slowing down by September, but that just isn’t so. There is a lot of wonderful produce in fall, including greens, root crops (like potatoes, carrots, and beets), various squashes, brassicas (like broccoli, cauliflower, Romanesco), a wide variety of mushrooms, Asian pears, apples in an abundance of varieties, and more. Continuing through fall and winter are cow, sheep, and goat-based cheese, meats of all kinds, eggs, and plenty of baked goods (both artisanal-style breads and pastries and pies). Complimentary products such as spreads, salsas, wine, tea, locally-roasted coffee, and handcrafted soaps (to clean up with!) ensure a well-rounded selection of items all through the year, winter included!
Q: What are the hours that the market is open? A: The market is open every Saturday, rain or shine, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. between the first Saturday in May and the end of December. In the winter and early spring months of January through April, the market is open from 10 a.m. to noon every first and third Saturday of the month. Q: Where can people get more information about what’s fresh at the West Chester Growers Market? A: The market has excellent updates on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and puts out an email newsletter every week which provides more details about market events, what the farmers are bringing each week, and vendor spotlight articles, so customers can learn more about each vendor. Please visit the market website, www.westchestergrowersmarket.com, to learn more about the market, join the newsletter or connect with social media.
www.westchesterlifemagazine.com | Fall/Winter 2015 | West Chester & Chadds Ford Life
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——|West Chester & Chadds Ford People|—— Lou Samba gave Evie Cunliffe a plentiful blend of energy, hope and vision, and when it came time to thank him, Cunliffe gave Samba the opportunity he had worked for his entire life
His silver lining
Photo by Richard L. Gaw
Lou Samba and Evie Cunliffe are co-owners of the Anytime Fitness franchise on West Chester Pike.
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West Chester & Chadds Ford Life | Fall/Winter 2015 | www.westchesterlifemagazine.com
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
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n nearly every work desk in America, there are trinkets, photographs, do-dads and gizmos that provide a glimpse into the person who sits near them. They’re like windows and doors and answers. They are invitations to the curious who want to know more. Thirty-three year-old Lou Samba’s desk at Anytime Fitness on the West Chester Pike – unlike the immaculately pristine conditions of the 5,600 square-foot facility outside his office – is the happy clutter of a busy person, but he smiles all the way through it and accepts it as part of his position as a co-owner of the nearly three-year-old business. One would have Continued on page 74
Samba helps train an Anytime Fitness member.
Photo by Richard L. Gaw
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Silver lining... Continued from page 74
to look more closely at the contents of his desk in order to unlock a little bit of its occupant, but there it is – a framed quotation in script – that rests behind a computer. “Most obstacles melt away when we make up our minds to walk boldly through them,” it says. Just how Lou Samba met Evie Cunliffe and, even more crucial to the telling of this story, how their friendship blossomed into a West Chester business partnership that will celebrate its third anniversary in late November, is a mash-up of unlikely connectivity. Yet, in order to understand it, and know how the desk quote figures into everything, you start on Willow Street in Norristown. Lou Samba’s beginning in life did not fall from the sky like a blessing or a gift. Rather, it was earned, and then protected, by a pyramid of positive influence that began with his single mother, Ashabi, and extended to the neighborhood families, who decided early on that their kids were not going to fall through the cracks of drugs, crime and helplessness. “Even though that element was on my front doorstep – people being hurt, killed, and always some kind of police activity – my two siblings and I were all kept away from that,” Samba said. “We looked out for each other. People make excuses, like if they’re a product of a single-parent home or a low-income environment, but I’ve always just tried to make the right decisions.” From the time he was a child, Samba’s greatest fear had already been cultivated. He hated disappointing anyone he cared about. Consequently, he didn’t. He did well in school. He disappeared into sports. He drempt of someday becoming a professional football player. He wasn’t one of those kids who made excuses, and he wasn’t afraid to fail. By the time he was a senior at Norristown High School, he was a two-way star – fullback and linebacker – and heavily recruited by some of the top colleges and universities in the nation. Letters began to pour in, which he stored in garbage bags. Ultimately, he chose to attend the University of Delaware, where he enrolled in 2000, in order to play for legendary coach Tubby Raymond. Although
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the school was not the football powerhouse of, say, Penn State or Notre Dame, Raymond had brought the Division 1-A prominence, and dozens of his former players later went onto careers in the National Football League. Samba loved the University, particularly game time: the soft grass field. Coach Raymond and his assistant coaches on the sidelines. The 23,000-seat stadium slowly filling up. At the end of the 2001 season, Raymond retired, opening the door to new head coach K.C. Keeler. In 2003, Samba was a defensive lineman and a part of a swarming defensive unit known as “The Chain Gang,” on the Division I-A National Champion Blue Hens. “At Delaware, there was that sense of wanting to be better, the idea that we could be great – together – and the belief that we needed to lift up everyone who was around us,” Samba said. “It was a grounding foundation to say, ‘That’s your brother. You look out for your brother. You will rise to that top level, together.’ “ Several players on that team were drafted and eventually played in the NFL Samba never did. The first injury was to his right knee in his sophomore year. Towards the end of the game, Samba rushed the quarterback and stripped the ball from him. The quarterback fumbled. Samba got up, grabbed the ball, and was hit from behind. He had torn the meniscus in his right knee. His sophomore season was over. In his junior year – the championship season – he made a similar play, tackling the opposing quarterback in the backfield for a loss. “In the process of getting up, another player fell on me,” Samba said. “I felt a pop in my left shoulder. It had completely dislodged and quickly locked itself back into place. I chose to avoid surgery, so I played the remainder of the season with torn ligaments in my left shoulder. I just couldn’t leave the team then. It was the best year of my life in football.” Here he was, a star defensive lineman on a national championship football team, at a school that was no stranger to seeing players who would eventually play in the NFL. He was on his way to likely achieving his
West Chester & Chadds Ford Life | Fall/Winter 2015 | www.westchesterlifemagazine.com
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Silver lining... Continued from page 74
lifelong dream. What he did not want to admit, however, was that he was also in possession of a body that was in severe pain. After surgery to repair the torn ligaments in his shoulder, Samba’s recovery was long and painful. He returned to training camp, and re-injured himself. The doctors told him that they had to cut the ligaments in his shoulder first, in order to stretch them out. They confronted Samba and told him what every athlete never wants to hear. “Do you want to hold your kids above your head someday?” They asked him. The dream was over. Samba left football, sat out his senior year, and graduated with a degree in Health Sciences. Fast forward this story. Samba put his degree to work, first at Pro Physical Therapy in Wilmington for several years, and then as the manager of the Anytime Fitness in Newark, where Evie Cunliffe first arrived four years ago. She originally dropped by the facility with no further intention than to work off a few inches and do
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a little toning. There, she met Samba, and noticed that he was doing everything: gym maintenance, administrative duties, as well as motivating the other members at seemingly every corner and crevice. Cunliffe took on Samba as her personal trainer, and slowly, her entire approach to fitness transformed. What used to be considered the necessary evil of maintaining health became a passion. She began to compete in triathlons and bicycle races. “Lou completely changed my opinion of myself and my abilities,” Cunliffe said. “I knew I could lose weight, but he turned me into an athlete. In the process of working with him, I felt like he had that incredible something. I saw this hugely motivated, incredible person.” Having grown up in a family of means, Cunliffe had always made it a goal in her life to be able to give someone who did not have the same upbringing she had, an opportunity. She approached her now former husband and told him about Samba. “Steve,” she said, “I think this young man is simply amazing.”
West Chester & Chadds Ford Life | Fall/Winter 2015 | www.westchesterlifemagazine.com
Soon after, Cunliffe approached Samba with a proposition: that she and Steve would raise the necessary capital in order purchase an Anytime Fitness franchise – and give Samba the opportunity to eventually earn co-ownership of the business. At first, Samba thought Cunliffe was joking. He was concerned that this was a huge financial responsibility on behalf of Evie, Steve and other members of their family, and that they were wresting the future of the business on what amounted to what he was able to instill in others. It would be more than enough, Cunliffe told him. Samba eventually agreed, and a site was found in West Chester. “I had every benefit in life, and Lou did not, but he is such an amazing man, and he deserves an opportunity to have that same initiative and opportunity that I had,” Cunliffe said. “It’s our privilege to see Lou doing so well. He has a genuine love of life and people, and he connects with people on a very real level, and they feel his enthusiasm. For him to be in the same room, is for you to feel better. He inspires other people.”
For up to12 hours a day, nearly every day, Samba arrives and departs Anytime Fitness with all of the positive energy that Cunliffe and her family believed would be the driving force behind their enterprise. He answers e-mails, orders supplies, coordinates trainer’s schedules, and buoyantly floats from station to station, encouraging members – the stepping stone for what Samba’s new dream has become. He wants to own several more Anytime Fitness locations. He loves the model of the franchise – to provide fitness opportunities for busy people in a 24-7 world. “I have come to believe that there is a silver lining in every situation we have in our lives,” he said. “It may be the worst experience you go through in your entire life, and you may be sad and you may grieve, but at some point there is a silver lining. You have to open your eyes, your mind and your heart and your perceptions. You’re much better off in life if you can find a way to do that.” To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, e-mail rgaw@ chestercounty.com.
Spectacular home that will grab your attention from the first moment you step inside! This custom contemporary home was well built and maintained by the current owners. Pride of ownership shines thoughout! From the outside to the inside there is space for everyone! Gleaming wood floors, an abundance of natural light and a spiral staircase greet you. Spacious bright rooms throughout the main floor. The formal living room is accented with a two story brick fireplace and skylights, just off of the living room is an amazing sun-room with cathedral ceilings, skylight and sliding doors that take you out to a deck that over looks the private entertaining back yard, with pool and tiki bar! The dining room is over sized for the family and friends not to mention the kitchen is also well equipped for those holiday gathering. An amazing laundry/mud room is just off of the kitchen. There is a master suite on the first floor as well with a stone fireplace and backyard access. The first floor makes for easy indoor and outdoor entertaining. Upstairs you will find 3 additional bedrooms, all nice sized with good closet space too. The finished basement boasts a large game room, wood burning stove, bar and plenty of storage. Don't miss the backyard with the in-ground pool and ample "patio" space. This lovely contemporary two-story home sits on a large lot creating a private feel and yet easy access to commuting, shopping and dining. Truly one of a kind you won't want to miss. $439,900
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www.westchesterlifemagazine.com | Fall/Winter 2015 | West Chester & Chadds Ford Life
77
—————|West Chester Business|————— This past July, business partners Tom Farnesi and Dane Gray became the new owners of Kildare’s West Chester. With a sophisticated menu and an ever-changing variety of beers on tap, West Chester’s version of Dublin is headed to a strong future
Oh, my Guinness!
Photo by Richard L. Gaw
The new team at Kildare’s West Chester! From left to right, Executive Chef Stephanie Gray, co-owner Tom Farnesi, co-owner Dane Gray, bartender Ryan Uhler and wait staffer Xana Lindsay. 78
West Chester & Chadds Ford Life | Fall/Winter 2015 | www.westchesterlifemagazine.com
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
Y
ou can say that Dane Gray knows a little about what makes a successful Irish restaurant and pub. For years, he was the manager and head concierge of the Morrison Hotel in Dublin, Ireland. Over the last several years, Gray has served as the director of operations for up to seven Kildare’s location in as many as four states, but it as the flagship location of the Kildare’s brand – on West Gay Street in downtown West Chester – that was always nearest to his heart. So this past July, Gray, along with his business partner Tom Farnesi, took over the ownership of the West Chester location from the pub’s former owner, the Dave Magrogran Group. The first inklings to purchase a restaurant began in 2012, when Gray and Farnesi – a long-time West Chester businessman and owner of Penn Street Mortgage – began discussions. Armed with Gray’s background and Farnesi’s business connections in the community, they began their search for the perfect place, only to have it land at a very familiar spot: Kildare’s West Chester. “It’s a beautiful establishment in a beautiful town,” Gray said. “Having spent so many years in Ireland, I truly appreciate the time that was put into the aesthetics of the space. Every day, as soon as I walk into Kildare’s, I’m transported back to Ireland. I really feel at home within these walls.” In fact, the West Chester location reminded Gray so much of home, he recruited his wife Stephanie – a Culinary Institute of America graduate – to serve as the restaurant’s executive chef. “I’m really excited to let my creativity run free again,” she said. We’re going to elevate the sophistication of the menu to a level that West Chester diner will truly appreciate.” Kildare’s West Chester is located at 18 West Gay Street, West Chester, Pa. 19380. To learn more about the restaurant and pub, and to see a full menu listing, visit www.kildarespub.com/ west-chester, or call 610-431-0770. To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, e-mail rgaw@chestercounty.com.
Photos by Richard L. Gaw
Dane Gray and business partner Tom Farnesi took over the ownership of the West Chester Kildare’s this past July. Gray said that the beautiful establishment reminds him of Ireland. The new owners have plans to elevate the sophistication of the menu. For more information about the Kildare’s menu, visit www.kildarespub.com/ west-chester.
www.westchesterlifemagazine.com | Fall/Winter 2015 | West Chester & Chadds Ford Life
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