the
Kennett Square Life Winter 2020
Letter from the Editor:
Kennett Square is at its most wonderful during the holidays, and in this issue of Kennett Square Life you’ll find a few stories that illustrate why.
The Kennett Square community is very giving, as evidenced by the effort to help those who have been impacted most by the pandemic. As COVID-19 began to impact small business owners in Kennett Square earlier this year, relief soon came in the form of grants from Historic Kennett Square that were made possible by the contributions of 260 donors -- who ranged from corporations to neighbors. Kennett Square is coming together to support the local businesses in the downtown during this holiday season.
This issue features a story about high school principal Dr. Jeremy Hritz’s efforts to make sure that every student in the school feels included. Hritz credits the staff at Kennett High School for the school’s success.
In this issue, you’ll also find a story about how Kennett Square native Kera Passante and her boyfriend Bill Welch explored the Appalachian Trail and experienced a journey that was more than just a 2,193-mile-long walk.
We talk to Kennett High School graduate Gregg Fornario about his new business, Living My Best Cigar Life, which is located at 116 West State Street. Living My Best Cigar Life features premium cigars, name brand accessories, humidors, and more. While Fornario’s shop is one of Kennett Square’s newest businesses, this issue features another story that highlights multi-generational businesses that have enhanced Kennett Square for generations: Barber’s Florist, Burton’s Barber Shop, and Sam’s Sub Shop.
We also talk to Kevin Roberts, the owner of West Branch Distilling Co., about the process of making small-batch handcrafted vodka and a selection of other spirits.
We hope that you enjoy these stories, and we wish you all good health and happiness for the holidays and in the New Year. We look forward to bringing you the next issue of Kennett Square Life in the spring of 2021.
Sincerely,
Randy Lieberman, Publisher
randyl@chestercounty.com, 610-869-5553
Steve Hoffman, Editor editor@chestercounty.com, 610-869-5553, Ext. 13
Cover Design: Tricia Hoadley
Cover photo: Jie Deng
The holiday train display at Mrs. Robinson’s Tea Shop in Kennett Square
Handcrafted vodka… in Kennett Square?
West Branch Distilling takes pride in its products, and there’s more to come
By Natalie Smith Contributing Writer
While an upsurge of craft breweries and profusion of area wineries have been welcomed by many beer and wine fans in Chester County, those who favor alcohol with a bit more punch can also enjoy their favorite beverages produced locally.
West Branch Distilling Co. in Kennett Square currently makes small-batch handcrafted vodka, said owner Kevin Roberts, and a selection of other spirits are not far behind.
“A lot of craft distilleries are really focused on whiskey,” Roberts said. “We want to do every product, and so we’ve got [bourbon] whiskey going and will be releasing gin soon. Then we’re moving into rum.”
But right now, the focus is on West Branch Vodka. This spirit, unlike the typical odorless and tasteless variety, has a very slight flavor. Roberts said that’s because it actually starts out as a mixture of corn and rye. Yes, the vodka begins as bourbon mash that is distilled to vodka proof.
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vodka… Square?
All photos by Natalie Smith West Branch Distillery owner Kevin Roberts is flanked by the whiskey still (left) and vodka still. The copper column on the vodka still is modular and can be used on both to create different varieties of spirits.
West Branch Distilling
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“The difference then, between bourbon and vodka, is when vodka comes out of the still, it comes out at 95 percent purity or higher that we just dilute and bottle,” Roberts said. “When bourbon comes out at 80 percent alcohol or lower it leaves a lot of the taste in there. The bourbon then has to go into an oak barrel for a while to mature color and gain taste.” West Branch bourbon is maturing in charred oak barrels which Roberts will release later this year.
As for the vodka taste? “It’s by design,” he said. “We like it that way and a lot of our customers drink it just straight or on the rocks because of that. It’s something I take some pride in.”
The gin product West Branch is working on is the result of Roberts’ research.
The base of the gin is the same as the vodka. “We just take that product and re-distill it on a smaller scale with juniper berries and fun botanicals,” Roberts said.
Those botanicals include those traditionally used in gin, such as cardamon and coriander, combined with what Roberts calls “unique botanicals found along the banks of Brandywine Creek.”
“The best way that keeps all of those flavors together and
really gets the most out of them is [a process] called maceration,” he said. “You throw it all in the kettle and let it sit for a day or two in all of that alcohol and let all those oils release. Then you boil it and it pushes all of those oils out. You just have this really thick flavor when you pull out all of those botanical flavors. It’ll be tasty.”
It’s all about the chemistry
Entering into the world of distilling was kind of a natural step for Roberts, who also works as an environmental compliance consultant to the natural gas industry.
“I got interested distilling a long time ago,” he said. “I kind of learned as a hobby. People were doing a lot of home brewing, and that piqued my interest. But distilling is a lot different from home brewing and home winemaking; you can’t really distill at home. It’s not very safe.”
After applying for -- and a year later -- receiving the necessary permits from the state and federal governments, in 2016 he made the decision to move forward with his project.
“We were able to test the equipment and test our recipes,”
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West Branch Distilling
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he said. “We really started selling very locally to restaurants and bars, friends and family.”
Roberts compared the processes to oil and gas refining. “It’s very similar,” he said. “A refinery separates hydrocarbons like a distillery separates alcohols; the ones you can drink and the ones you can’t drink.
“[Like a refinery], that’s essentially what we do here on a much smaller scale. And obviously the end product is a heck of a lot more fun.”
The pre-COVID sales to restaurants, which accounted for most of West Branch’s business, have unfortunately dried up. “It’s a shame because we had such great restaurant partners that are struggling right now,” Roberts said. “However, like many other savvy entrepreneurs, he’s been able to pivot his business: “We’re focusing on direct-to-consumer sales [via website, phone or walk-in]; pickups, deliveries and shipping.”
Roberts was pleased to say obtaining a limited distillery license has allowed West Branch Vodka to be found in up to ten state-run Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores across Pennsylvania.
“We’re in Glen Mills, Longwood and Avondale, and
soon to open in West Chester,” Roberts said. “The state, to their credit, has done a great job pushing locally made spirits and that’s something that’s very central to us.”
There’s also another venue where West Branch products are available, and it’s a bit of a revelation for some. In 2016, a change in the state law allowed distilleries and breweries to sell their wares at Pennsylvania farmers markets.
“A lot of people are surprised that we can sell our spirits there,” he said. “We do a lot with Kennett and I’m trying to hit others in the area. It’s fun to be there with all those other local vendors. I’ve really enjoyed the camaraderie. I’ve been to a thousand farmers markets, but I’ve never been ‘behind the scenes.’ It’s a cool place to shop, too. My kids always go for the cookies.
West Branch previously operated out of a smaller building on West Cypress Street before moving in May to its current location across town on Birch Street. “Once this space became open, we jumped on it,” he said. “We had a challenge obviously with COVID, like getting the construction work done here. Also, there was a lot of the equipment that we had on order that was delayed. We were able to make ends meet for a while and get up and running here.”
A different kind of alcohol
Moving West Branch during the pandemic also underscored a need that the firm was uniquely qualified to fill.
“We started making hand sanitizer,” he said. “When there was a massive shortage for a while, people were in a panic and rightfully so, so we shifted a lot of our time to making it. “
The main ingredient of their sanitizer is ethanol, which is also at the base of the spirits West Branch manufactures. “But there are other components to it: hydrogen peroxide, glycerol.” Also, the ethanol had to be denatured, which Roberts explained meant to include additives that make it undrinkable. “We started to denature it with isopropyl alcohol,” he said.
To be allowed to produce the sanitizer, West Branch Distillery had to follow the “very specific formula by the World Health Organization. And that’s all we’re allowed to produce,” he said.
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Over a dozen local vendors.
Thank you for making us #1 Antique Shop three years in a row!
HOLIDAY
3 Floors - Packed
On a personal note: 2020 marked 5 years at 1244 Baltimore Pike. For many of you, you entered as strangers and left as friends. Throughout the years, you followed us along Rt. 1. Nobody could imagine 2020 would turn out to be so challenging and not easy. We can’t thank our community and friends enough for your support. If you haven’t had a chance to visit 3 floors, have fun - please do so, and we will say it personally. Lisa & Co. ~
10-5
A bottle of the handcrafted vodka produced by West Branch Distillery in Kennett Square. The name West Branch was inspired by owner Kevin Roberts’ fond memories of his childhood spent near the West Branch of Brandywine Creek.
Lisa Vonderstuck, Proprietor
West Branch Distilling
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But production of the alcohol wasn’t the only area of the business affected by the pandemic. There were other shortages too.
“Sourcing ingredients were really tough to come by, like even plastic bottles. You’d be surprised we couldn’t find them. They were at a premium for a long time,” Roberts said.
“So we started a kind of a bottle recycling program with essential businesses that were trying to reopen, so they had access [to hand sanitizer] that was fairly priced or below market. We would refill those bottles and keep them going. We donated a lot locally and to a couple fire companies, senior care facilities, the Chester County Historical Society, and to Kennett and West Chester food cupboards. We took donations from the community and dropped off as much as we could.
“I’ve had to learn a lot about hand sanitizer. It’s something we felt we could do to help, so it was kind of no brainer. It was an easy decision.”
The distiller’s connections to the community run deep. Although he, wife Jenna, daughter Charlotte or “Charlie,” 13, and son Harry, 10, live in Pocopson, it’s for no idle reason that Roberts named his venture West Branch Distilling Co.
He grew up in Embreeville, near what is now the ChesLen Preserve on the West Branch of the Brandywine Creek. “It was pretty much
Fermenting mash made from corn, rye and malt that will be distilled to make bourbon whiskey.
my backyard,” Roberts said. “I spent my childhood fishing and hiking. We used to ice skate when the fields flooded and froze back there in the wintertime. We’d pack some sandwiches and spend all day there.”
When asked if he considered using water from the Brandywine Creek in his distilling process, Roberts laughed. “I’d probably have to talk to someone from the Brandywine Conservancy and then test the waters. That’d probably be a pretty substantial project.”
In reflection on West Branch, Roberts spoke ardently about his craft. “We make everything from scratch,” he said. “We don’t source spirits. A lot of distilleries will bring other spirits in and repackage them. That’s just not something we’re going to do here.
“I feel like it’s a little misleading to the consumer sometimes … I just think if you’re doing a real small-craft distillery and you say things are really handcrafted then they should be handcrafted. Maybe I’m a little stubborn in that belief, but I think it’s important and I think the consumer does, too.”
Natalie Smith may be reached at DoubleSMedia@rocketmail.com.
One of the new charred oak barrels in which West Branch Distillery’s first batch of bourbon is aging. Owner Kevin Roberts estimates the bourbon will be ready between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Dr. Jeremy Hritz: An advocate for students
By Monica Thompson Fragale Contributing Writer
Dr. Jeremy Hritz, the principal of Kennett High School, would often sit in on meetings of the National Honor Society, an organization with a chapter at Kennett for highachieving students.
It was not just his frequent presence that left an impact on students like Cole Verrico, a 2020 graduate. It was the way he challenged them to be leaders.
“It was a very powerful message,” Verrico said recently, adding that Hritz is “someone who looks for the best in all individuals.”
So much of who Hritz is as principal of a school with more than 1,300 students begins and ends with the students.
Assistant Principal Jeff Thomas sees it in Hritz’s “studentfirst mentality.”
“The connections that he makes with the students and the care that he has for them is phenomenal,” Thomas said. “He’s a very caring principal, always trying to do what’s right or best for the students. All the decisions he makes are what’s in the best interests of the students.”
Current senior Max McKinney has seen it in his years at the high school through Hritz’s presence at things like school events and pep rallies.
“You know who he is if you go to Kennett,” McKinney said. “He’s kind of everywhere in the school.”
Kennett Consolidated School District Superintendent Dr. Dusty Blakey described Hritz as an advocate for the children and a leader who promotes positivity.
“Dr. Hritz is very much engaged in the future success of our children,” Blakey said. “He has developed a system that implores students to partner with our school through
All photos courtesy Kennett Consolidated School District superintendent Dusty Blakey described Kennett High School Principal Dr. Jeremy Hritz (second from right) as an advocate for the children and a leader who promotes positivity.
Dr. Jeremy Hritz
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their engagement and involvement in extra-curricular activities. These genuine partnerships between students and staff help build the desire and enthusiasm to achieve in all aspects of our school community.”
When Kennett High School starts hybrid instruction, a new group of students will get to know Hritz as more than just the person they’ve seen on Zoom or Microsoft Teams meetings so far.
“We want to make sure the kids feel safe and welcome,” Hritz said, adding that he and the rest of the administration and staff are “focused on making sure the day is fun for the kids and everything is safe … just making sure the experience is just an optimal experience for everybody.”
Hritz’s journey to becoming the top administrator in the high school began when he was a student himself at Bethlehem-Center High School in western Pennsylvania. It was where his teachers challenged him to expand his learning.
“I had some great teachers when I was in high school,” the husband and father-of-three said. “My favorite teachers were my English teachers. They really cared about me and pushed me hard.”
Hritz added, “I liked being challenged and realizing what I was capable of. I really became obsessed with learning.”
After high school, he went to Penn State where he began what would become his quest to earn multiple educationrelated degrees.
“I’m very much of a goal-driven person and I like to set targets for myself,” he said. Those targets can range from running marathons to broadening his educational background.
Over the years, he has earned a bachelor’s degree, three master’s degrees – the most recent one in special education – and one doctorate. He spent ten years in Maryland as an English teacher and then assistant principal, served as an assistant principal at Kennett Middle School, and now has been the lead principal at Kennett High School since 2015.
“When I first met Dr. Hritz, he was an assistant principal at Kennett Middle School,” said Duane Kotz, an assistant principal at Kennett High School, recalling that Hritz at first seemed like a serious person. “I wasn’t sure if he ever smiled.”
But the more Kotz got to know Hritz, the more he saw how Hritz was “always focused on doing what is best for our students.”
“He is serious when it comes to his work, but since I have gotten to know him better, I now know that he has a great sense of humor and he is a lot of fun to be around,” Kotz said, adding that the administrative team “has a lot of fun working together.”
It’s obvious in talking to Hritz how important the district is to him.
“Kennett is such a special district,” he said. “Working with my colleagues here at all the different schools, I get to see the quality of work that goes into the kids. We really are lucky to be part of such an amazing community. This really is a special place.”
In all his years as an administrator, this year – with the COVID-19 pandemic, the subsequent shutdown, and beginning the year in a remote setting -- has presented a number of challenges for which his student-driven approach has helped guide the way he has handled whatever issues have arisen.
“We are just trying to preserve as much possible,” Hritz said of the remote start to the year. “Right there along with the academics is making sure the kids are okay.”
Another priority is the health of the students, not just physically but emotionally.
“We try to do things for their social and emotional wellbeing (and) how to keep things as normal as possible in a very unnatural environment,” he said.
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RENEWAL Dynamics, INC.
Dr. Jeremy Hritz credits the staff with making the school successful.
Dr. Jeremy Hritz
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Blakey said one of the biggest challenges Hritz and the other administrators have faced during the pandemic is flexibility.
“This unprecedented circumstance has forced all of us to become very pragmatic and thoughtful, yet flexible, given the ever-changing nature of the last eight months,” Blakey said.
Graduation was a perfect example. The ceremony for the hundreds of seniors couldn’t happen in the traditional way because of the pandemic and the shutdown restrictions, but the district was committed to some sort of graduation ceremony.
Ultimately there was a drive-through graduation ceremony at the middle school in late July.
“I’m glad we were able to give something to the kids,” Hritz said, calling the ceremony “very successful” and a “team effort.”
Continued on Page 24 Hritz has emphasized
Dr. Jeremy Hritz
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Verrico recalled Hritz reaching out to the graduating class about the ceremony, adding, “He also did a great job reaching out to the seniors making sure we had the best experience.”
Hritz said one consistent goal, especially during the pandemic, is making sure the high school families feel connected. He encourages parents and students to give feedback.
“I can’t tell you how many things we’ve done at the high school are from feedback from parents or students,” Hritz said. “I’m just very grateful. It shows that the community is very much interested.”
Blakey said Hritz has always “emphasized building positive relationships with all constituents.
“Dr. Hritz never turns away a student or staff member that needs support and continues to work tirelessly to provide all with access and opportunity to achieve desired outcomes,” Blakey said.
That access and opportunity can be seen in Hritz’s desire to get students more involved in the school community.
“He has emphasized student involvement in clubs,
Assistant Principal Jeff Thomas said that Hritz has a studentfirst mentality.
athletics, and activities,” Kotz said. “We have seen a significant increase in student involvement in extra-curricular activities, and there have also been many new clubs and activities added during his tenure as our building principal.”
Hritz balances his responsibilities as the Kennett High School principal with his responsibilities at home. It’s clear from talking to him how important his family – his wife and three children -- is to him.
“They’re everything to me,” he said.
Hritz has been able to experience remote learning as both an administrator and a parent. His son started kindergarten online this year, and Hritz called it an interesting experience.
“Our teachers don’t get enough credit for what they do,” Hritz said. “Here at Kennett, I’m just so lucky with our amazing staff. They are what makes the school successful.”
All in the Family
Multi-generational businesses enhance the Kennett Square experience
KBy Chris Barber Contributing Writer
ennett Square has certainly become a destination because of the large number of newer restaurants and boutique shops in town. But, happily, there are also some businesses that go back several generations that are scattered among the new restaurants and recently opened shops in the borough’s business district.
These are the shops that have served the parents, grandparents and sometimes great-grandparents of the longtime residents.
When the regular customers come in, they are greeted by name. They are in on the local gossip, their hearts hold memories of persons and events from long ago, and they reminisce about the good old days. They feel comfortable within those walls.
Often, during events like the Mushroom Festival during which visitors from beyond southern Chester County peruse the streets, it is not unusual to hear them say, “This is a neat town. I’d like to come back.”
Could it be they’re expressing a longing for the qualities of conviviality and friendliness that these longtime shops contribute to the spirit of a community?
Perhaps.
Herewith is a sampling of three of Kennett Square’s “Old Deuteronomies.”
Olivia prepares a steak sub at Sam’s Sub Shop.
Barber’s Florist has two large refrigerators to keep the plants fresh.
All photo by Chris Barber unless otherwise noted Burton’s is a popular destination for haircuts and talk about baseball.
SAM’S SUB SHOP
Most Kennett square natives and beyond would tell you that Sam’s has the best hoagies and steaks anywhere – even if they are measured against the highly-touted Philly sandwich establishments.
According to founder Sam Frabriso’s daughter Sandy Bertrando, who now runs the East State Street shop, Sam got tired of factory assembly line work and started the shop in 1946 along with his wife. They sold hoagies – the big sandwiches that are so-named because they came from Hog Island in South Philadelphia, where workers at the Navy Yard took them in for substantial lunches.
In Kennett Square, Sam, who copied that recipe, chose the name “subs” for his lunch creations.
Shortly after Sam started the shop, he added steak subs. Then, later, he put some cheese on the steaks for those who wanted it, Sandy said.
These sandwiches to this day are all served on fresh “hard” rolls that are delivered daily.
In the years since Sam oversaw the operation, its offerings have grown to include breakfast sandwiches, hamburgers, hot dogs and sausages and cold cuts, as well as Philadelphia-area favorites like Herr’s chips and Wise chips, and Tastykake snacks.
Another addition to the shop has been the inclusion of Sandy’s husband, Bob “Bert” Bertrando, who joined the shop after his retirement from teaching and acquired the touch for making sandwiches. He also has gained the reputation for greeting customers and engaging them in banter while they await their orders.
Sandy said when her father died, people asked her if she would continue the store. She said she asked herself, “Whatever else would I do for the next 25 years?”
The family remains to serve the folks in Kennett Square, and as Sandy and Bert view it, the hoagies will just keep coming.
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The late Sam Frabriso started Sam’s Sub Shop in 1946.
Sandy Bertrando cuts the meat fresh for each hoagie.
Bob “Bert” Bertrando joined Sandy in the shop after he retired. Sandy said he can share banter with anyone.
Sam’s is a popular destination to buy lunch. The shop offers great steaks and hoagies.
ROLAND BARBER AND SON INC.
Brian Barber, 57, is walking in the footsteps of his father and grandfather at Barber’s Florist of Kennett Square. In more than 80 years since his grandfather Roland took over the business however, things have changed substantially.
Back in 1882, this flower growing and selling operation was founded and known as the Swayne Family Farm. The flowers were sold at the shop on the corner, and the plants were grown in a greenhouse that is now the site of the Juniper Hills Apartment next door.
When Roland arrived on the scene and bought the business in the 1930s, it took his green thumb and a dedication to community service to fulfill the floral needs of Kennett Square.
He was a talented gardener, and in his greenhouse he produced carnations, gladiolas, roses, Calla Lilies, snap dragons and chrysanthemums and more. Simultaneously, he turned around and delivered them to customers, who were marking weddings, funerals, graduations, proms, Valentines and birthdays.
Roland’s son Kenneth took over in 1973 and soon became known for not only glamorizing the community’s special events
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Brian Barber displays the offerings of his flower shop on Juniper Street.
All in the family
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with flowers in a timely manner, but adding special touches like charms, toys and candy special requests.
A big change came under Ken’s son, Brian, in 2004 with technology advances that helped the company grow.
These days, the local flower shop no longer grows the flowers at all. They arrive imported from California, Colombia, Holland, Italy, Japan and elsewhere. The flower shop owners of today are, by and large, import-export managers.
The talent for art and local community service has not been lost on Brian, however. He still arranges the flowers and assures their timely delivery. He works with a national network of florists so customers can order flowers online from anywhere to have them delivered locally, and he in turn can take orders at the home shop and have them delivered elsewhere all over the country.
He is proud to open his shop to local customers and has on display not only different arrangement styles, but a host of
gifts to send along with the floral delights.
A product of Kennett Square culture and life, Brian Barber still gets pleasure when longtime, loyal customers come in and recall their experiences from the past.
“They say, ‘I got flowers from your father and grandfather,’” he said.
Dianne Bramble takes care of business at Barber’s Florist.
Barber’s Florist accents flower deliveries with charms, toys and other items.
Toby the dog greets customers at Barber’s Florist.
is a popular gathering place to talk about sports. Here, frequent visitors Chuckie Hartman, left, and Andre Davenport, second from right, surround Bob
and customer “C,” while a young customer at right looks on.
BURTON’S BARBER SHOP
Take a stroll into Burton’s Barber Shop on West State Street and the first thing that strikes your eyes is virtual museum to baseball, team photos and game memorabilia with an emphasis on the Philadelphia Phillies. Owner and barber Bob Burton said the shop was started
Karen
by his grandfather, Amos Burton, in 1892. Even then, Bob added, the mood of the shop has centered around baseball. The business itself has had a few small moves since that first year, but essentially has remained in the same block on West State Street, even back to the years when the trolley was still going by.
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Jenny Chen
Burton’s
Burton,
Petersen
Burton’s Barber Shop has always been on West State Street.
All in the family
Continued from Page 31
Like the other multi-generational family shops in the borough, most of the customers who come in are greeted by name. In 2017, the shop celebrated 125 years with an indoor picnic for the neighborhood, and friends came to share cold cuts, sandwiches and cake.
About 50 years ago, Bat Burton, heir to Amos’s shop, began the Kennett Old Timers Baseball Hall of Fame, which honors local athletes who shined on the baseball diamond. That torch was passed on to Bob, who continues that banquet every year. The names of the inductees are memorialized in plaques on the wall inside Burton’s Barber Shop.
Through the years, Burton’s has also been a destination for haircuts and banter for prominent Major Leaguers like Dallas Green, Herb Pennock, Curt Schilling and lots more.
When asked about prospects for retirement, Bob would have none of it. There’s no end in sight at this destination for haircuts and good conversations.
Amos Barber founded the barber shop in 1892.
Bob Burton points to an old team photo in which he sat square in the middle. “I was a catcher, and so were all the players in my family,” he said.
The late Dallas Green, left, stands beside Bat Burton, the founder of the Kennett Old Timers Baseball Hall of Fame. Green, a manager and general manager with the Phillies, was a frequent visitor to Burton’s Barber Shop.
‘Always’ and ‘Sunny’
For Kennett Square native Kera Passante and her boyfriend Bill Welch, exploring the Appalachian Trail was more than just a 2,193-mile-long walk. It was a journey of the soul, logged one mile at a time
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
On a June afternoon, Kera Passante paused from the most incredible walk of her life to tell the story of how she and her boyfriend Bill Welch put their entire lives on hold this past March to walk the entirety of the 2,193-mile-long Appalachian Trail, a massive undertaking for the courageous and the willing, that begins in Georgia and ends in Maine.
The phone call was made from a stop on Bald Pate Mountain near Bridgton, Maine - mile 1,928 on the Appalachian Trail – and just moments before Passante and Welch began their descent of a summit that led them to several more peaks and valleys on their way to finishing a journey that began five months before.
For 34-year-old Welch – a West Chester native – and 32-year-old Passante -- who grew up in Kennett Square – the idea of embarking on America’s most famous trail took a serious turn during the couple’s hike through the Pennsylvania portion of the “A.T.” on Christmas Day in 2018.
“It was something that we had both wanted to do since we were kids, and we kept talking about the idea of someday hiking the entire trail,” Passante said. “But that day, our conversation took a giant leap forward. We asked ourselves, ‘How many times are we going to talk about this thing that we want to do? Let’s just do it.’”
Welch and Passante promptly finished the hike, returned to their Malvern home and began what would become a planning process that would take them the next 15 months. Piece by piece and obligation by obligation, they put their life on hold. As winter became
spring, they moved out of their house, and put all of their things in storage. Welch took a leave of absence from his job, and Passante -- a licensed professional counselor specializing in experiential therapy – did the same.
On March 4, 2020, Welch and Passante arrived at the face of Spring Mountain in Georgia, and with the support of their friends and families at
Photos courtesy of Bill Welch and Kera Passante Kera Passante and Bill Welch began their 2,200-mile journey along the Appalachian Trail on March 4, and expect to complete their trek in late August.
their backs, took their first steps on the Appalachian Trail.
During the first leg of their journey, the weather was not kind. In Georgia, they were pelted with a “bi-polar” flip-flop of continuing weather moments that fluctuated between severe cold and snow to 60-degree temperatures. They trudged through waves of fog that complete obscured vistas, as well as through thunderstorms and hailstorms. In the common vernacular known among Appalachian Trail thru-hikers, they “embraced the suck.”
Averaging between 15 and 20 miles a day, they worked their way northward, coinciding with the similar destinations of what are known as “Trail Angels,” fellow travelers and residents along the trail who provided them with overnight accommodations, food, advice and companionship.
Nicknames stick
Early in their trip, as they reached Neels Gap near Blood Mountain in Georgia after a 16-mile hike, they searched for a place to camp for the night and heard far-off music and saw a blazing campfire. They introduced themselves to the rest of the travelers as “Bill and Kera from Philadelphia.” The next morning, as they rose from their tent, they met their campfire friends, who had forgotten the names of their companions from Philadelphia, but had resorted to calling Kera
“Sunny” and Bill “Always,” in reference to the TV show, “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.”
As Welch and Passante continued to ascend and descend, however, they began to take notice of what was happening on their cell phones, far
Passante and Welch pause at the Vermont-New Hampshire border.
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beyond their wooded and insular cocoon. A global pandemic had gripped the entire world.
Welch and Passante considered shutting their journey down, but the idea of hopping on public transportation back to Chester County and piecing back together lives that it had taken them so long to put on hold “didn’t make sense,” Passante said.
“One of the reasons I wanted to do something like this for myself was to gain self awareness, self reliance, and learn how to exist in equanimity with life, in a world of uncertainty,” she said. “Two weeks into this trip, the entire world got faced with the same exact challenge I came out here seeking. I feel as though everything I came here to face for myself turned into a worldwide challenge, and I got to see my friends and family navigate those challenges at home.
“The voices from the people we care about kept telling us, ‘Keep going.’ We began this more for ourselves initially, and then we found that there were a lot of people who are looking to us to do something really special now.”
Eventually, the last throes of winter gave way to the promise of spring along the Appalachian Trail, as Welch and Passante navigated past the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee; the Jefferson National Forest, Shenandoah National Park, and the famous McAfee Knob in Virginia; Passante and Welch averaged a distance of between 15 and 20 miles per day.
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‘Always’ and ‘Sunny’
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through West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania, the southern ridge of the Appalachian Mountains in upstate New York, and through New England, which saw them hiking through four to five mountains a day.
Passante and Welch reached Mount Katahdin in Maine – designated as the endpoint of the Appalachian Trail – at the end of August. After a few days of rest and transition, “Always” and
When Passante and Welch completed the Appalachian Trail, they walked a combined 4,400 miles.
“Sunny” then began their next adventure -- a 3,000-mile crosscountry bike trip from Maine to San Diego. The estimated two- to three-month trip took off from Bar Harbor, Maine, and included a pit stop in Chester County to see family and friends.
“Prior to heading off to the Appalachian Trail, we put every piece of our belongings in storage except for our bikes,” Passante said. “We had an idea to bike home to Chester County from Maine after finishing, but we decided while we were out here to decide to go for it, and plan the bike trip.”
Voices from home
For every one of the more than two million courageous souls who embark on their own personal adventure on the Appalachian Trail every year, there are equal amount of reasons for doing so, and even more internal voices that keep pushing their journey forward. For Passante, the most persistent voices have been that of her mother Sandra Passante, who is an essential worker in the medical field, and that of her father Frank Passante, who passed away last year.
“Sometimes when I am out here on the hard days, I hear my father tell me how strong I am, and that really inspires me to keep
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moving forward,” she said. “When I call home, I hear my mother’s voice. Through the pandemic, she has been working 16-hour days, and when I listen to what she has to go through now, it makes me realize that if she’s that strong, I can be strong enough to climb that mountain of us, or push our way over these peaks.”
At the time of the phone call, there were less than 300 miles left to travel on a nearly 2,200-mile trail.
“This is a celebration about things that take time,” Passante said. “It’s an overwhelming feeling to be so connected to nature, one that has allowed me to walk through spring and into summer and see the seasons literally unfold and blossom before my eyes, and to not only track that growth externally but to watch myself grow with each step at the same time.
“It’s a feeling of deep connection to the world around me, and it’s all been a mirror to what’s happening inside of me. Now that we’ve come 1,900 miles, I’ve begun to notice how much my inner peace reflects an acceptance with the world all around me.”
To learn and see more about Kera Passante and Bill Welch’s journey along the Appalachian Trail, visit them on Facebook: “Thru-Hikers 2020 – The Grumples.”
To learn and see more about their cross-country bike trip, visit them on Facebook: Always & Sunny: “Bike Across America”
To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.
“Sometimes when I am out
the
I hear my father tell me how strong I am, and that really inspires me to keep
~ Kera Passante
Scott Ritterman, M.D.Nikos K. Pavlides, M.D.Linda P. D'Andrea, M.D.
Glenn E. Lipton, M.D.James T. Guille, M.D.
Through her gifts, owner, maker, designer, illustrator and artist April Heather Davulcu has spent her career illuminating the beauty and strength of the
female
In the company of women
Photos by Jie Deng
Text by Richard L. Gaw
Before she moved to Kennett Square – before she launched a career as a successful designer and illustrator -- April Heather Davulcu grew up in a small town in East Texas.
There, she began drawing characters from the books she had read, and homes that she dreamed of someday of living in, and glamorous gowns that the movie stars wore. In some ways, the early interests she pursued in college – fashion design and historic costuming – dovetailed with her childhood dreams, and after graduation, she worked at a costume company in Houston, and on the set of a Disney movie that was shot in Austin.
All the while, April never let go of her drawing pad and pencils -- or perhaps it was the other way around. Eventually, she left
April Heather Davulcu
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the needle and thread behind, because, in her words, “The things that we do best are those that make us happiest.”
Over the past several years, Davalcu’s work has become easily recognized for its signature illustrations and watercolors that have illuminated the beauty of women of all shapes, sizes, ages and ethnicities. It’s been showcased in fashion coloring books and publications, as well as licensed on desk planners, recipes, home décor, gifts and fabrics. She also counts some of the leading retail stores -- including Pier 1 Imports, Wayfair and Trader Joe’s – as her clients.
Her tag line is simple but powerful: Illustrating Everyday Women, Every Day-ish.
“I am inspired by women, and the lives that we all lead,” she said. “I think it is important that representation matters, and I didn’t see a lot of diversity in fashion
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April Heather Davulcu
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illustration. I just wanted to do my part to put those images out there – of strong women, strong women and women from so many different backgrounds.”
Locally, April recently illustrated a map for Historical Kennett Square, as well as various signage that is seen throughout the borough -- and has also created illustrations for a map that will be used by Natural Lands, a Chester County-based non-profit organization that saves open space, cares for nature, and connects people to the outdoors in eastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey. She is also preparing for a 2022 exhibition of her work at the Chester County Arts Association.
“I really love Kennett Square, and I am thankful to be a part of this community,” she said. All commissions are closed until 2021. To learn more about April Heather Davulcu and her work, visit www.aprilheatherart.com.
|Kennett Square Business|
As COVID-19 began to impact small business owners in Kennett Square earlier this year, relief soon came in the form of grant from Historic Kennett Square that was made possible by the contributions of 260 donors -- who ranged from corporations to neighbors
Thepeople’s fund
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
For many of us, it is our annual black-and-white reference point for kindness and decency, and it is burned permanently into the blueprint of what we think about when we think about helping others.
At the conclusion of the film It’s a Wonderful Life, word quickly circulates through the town of Bedford Falls that one of its greatest citizens is in the deep thicket of a financial mess that threatens to shut his business and destroy his livelihood.
Soon, an entire community galvanizes without a second thought to help George Bailey, a man who had helped so many of his fellow residents that their numbers were too dizzying to properly count.
This spring, that same story came to Kennett Square, and it played itself out in full color.
In the ferocious wake of the arrival of COVID-19 to the United States, the nation’s economy went into a sudden nosedive, and any economic optimism that may have been felt and seen prior to the pandemic had vanished in a cloud of uncertainty. Its toll was sudden and dramatic: Positive cases skyrocketed. Death counts climbed on online dashboards. Businesses that had been thriving just a few weeks before found themselves scrambling against shutdowns and fear, and for very likely the first time in their lives, small business owners found themselves holding on for life against a raging and invisible force.
Immediately after Pennsylvania and Chester County were ordered by Gov. Wolf to enter into the “Red Phase” of reopening in the middle of March, Historic Kennett Square Executive Director Bo Wright had a conversation with Square Roots Collective co-founder Mike Bontrager – a spark of ideas that would ultimately save five dozen small businesses and jobs of over 400 employees in Kennett Square.
“Three weeks into a lockdown, no one had answers at the time,” Wright said. “While we recognized that initiatives like the CARES Act were well intended and reflected national support to small businesses, it wouldn’t be a perfect fit for a lot of our local businesses.
“We also began to see a tremendous support from the community who were all stuck at home wondering, ‘How can I help?’
“Mike and I recognized the problems, and saw that while the solutions already on the table were good, they weren’t going to solve everything, so we began to talk about we could help facilitate a local response to what was needed.”
On May 21, at the Kennett Economic Development
All photos courtesy
The Small Business Response Fund, created by Historic Kennett Square and Square Roots Collective, raised a total of $267,800 which was distributed to 61 local businesses to provide assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As a grant recipient, we are grateful for the opportunity to invest in our storefront as we look forward to a brighter future for our beautiful town. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to preserving this one-of-a-kind community. Heartfelt thanks.”
~ Mrs. Robinson, Mrs. Robinson’s Tea Shop
Services Committee’s online meeting, Bontrager – along with former economic director Nate Echeverria, the borough’s first economic director – announced that beginning May 27, businesses in the borough and in Kennett Township could begin to apply for the Historic Kennett Square Small Business Response Fund grant (SBRF), which would provide businesses in the borough and in Kennett Township with grants up to $10,000.
Bontrager and Echeverria said that the financial wellspring of the grant fund would be built from donations from the local community, as well as a commitment from Square Roots Collective to match up to $250,000 in the total amount of donations that came from the community.
(The SBRF wasn’t the only solution that launched in an effort to help local small businesses. Kennett Square Mayor Matt Fetick introduced the Community Relief Fund (CRP), a program created by the Borough of Kennett Square that would be administered by True Access Capital, developed by the borough’s Revolving Loan Fund Committee and approved by Borough Council. Through the CRP, a borough business would be able to apply for a low-interest loan program up to $10,000, with no principal and interest payments due for the first 12 months.)
In speaking about Square Roots Collective’s substantial matching offer, Bontrager said that it stems from the Collective’s belief that “any thriving community is really an ecosystem, where the health of one area affects the
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As part of their pledge to match the total of private and corporate gifts up to $250,000, Square Roots Collective contributed $133,900 to the fund.
The Peoples Fund
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“As far as financial support goes, the SBRF was the best thing to come across our screens since the beginning of the pandemic. What makes it so special is that it came with love from the community. We have each other’s backs in Kennett Square, and that has brought much needed comfort.”
~ Chris Thompson, Philter Coffee
health of the others.” It’s in perfect step, he said, with the objectives of the Collective, which is centered around community development, social impact and environmental stewardship.
“The mission of the Collective is advancing the community of Kennett Square so that all residents can thrive,” he said. “We want to see a thriving community regardless of your background, your race, your socio-economic status or your faith.
“Clearly in this time of COVID-19, our financial ecosystem is under stress, and we’re asking, ‘How do we participate in helping to alleviate some of the pain of that stress?’”
Bontrager said that a key silver lining that he is seeing emerge from the COVID-19 crisis is that local residents are beginning to see how important for-profit businesses are to the lifeblood of small towns like Kennett Square.
‘Unique sense of place’
“Too many people think in terms of non-profits as altruistic and for-profits as more self-centered,” he said. “What this crisis has demonstrated is that successful businesses are not simply good for tax base, but for the jobs, the vibrancy and the unique sense of place that makes Kennett and so many other small towns successful.”
Within days of the May 27 launch date, grant applications were reviewed, selected and distributed through a seven-member grant review committee of bilingual local stakeholders. Each application revealed the harsh reality of the pandemic’s potential devastation: Many of the applicants were primary wage earners for their families, and the majority of businesses were owned by women.
The cumulative result of these efforts to build the SBRF soon became the stuff of what uplifting holiday movies are made of.
• The Small Business Response Fund raised a total of $267,800.
• Cumulatively, the SBRF was made possible by the contributions of more than 260 different individuals, foundations, and corporate donors.
• $73,000 came from the residents of the Kennett Square community.
“Thanks to the SBRF grant, we were able to improve our patio area and buy umbrellas for people to sit and eat outside and also hire another person so we can follow all the necessary precautions and prepare take-out orders more quickly. In addition, we’re almost ready to launch an online ordering system and will be converting the side door into a pickup window which will also help keep everyone safer. We couldn’t have done this without the support of our community.”
~ Noelia Scharon, Michoacana Grill
• Through contributions from corporations and local foundations, an additional $60,400 was raised for the SBRF.
• Keeping their pledge to match the total of private and corporate gifts up to $250,000, Square Roots Collective contributed $133,900 to the SBRF.
• In all, the SBRF provided grants to 61 small businesses in the Kennett Square community -- at an average of $4,390 per grant -- which went to payroll/hiring; working capital; rent; equipment; and COVID-19 modifications and supplies.
• 74 percent of funding was awarded to women-owned businesses, and of those businesses who received grants, 62 percent included on their application that they were the primary wage earners for their family.
“As the applications came in, we began to see the stories from those who applied, and we know who they are and what they have meant to the community over the years –helping out others and routinely giving back,” said Lorenzo Merino of True Access Capital and a member of the SBRF’s grant review committee. “Now they’re in a position where they are looking for help, and to see the community be able to give back an average of $4,400 meant so much to them.”
“I’ve always said that Kennett Square is the downtown
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The fund distributed an average of nearly $4,000 to each of the businesses who received the grant.
The Peoples Fund
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to the greater southern Chester County region,” said Bob Norris, a member of the SBRF’s grant review committee. “The heart of the community is what makes it so special, and one of the biggest hearts is Mike Bontrager and the people at Square Roots Collective. To have a leader in the community say that he would match dollar-for-dollar up to a quarter of a million dollars -- demonstrates why Kennett Square is so special.”
Those small business owners who were recipients of the grant agreed.
“Receiving the grant allowed me to breathe and start seeing that I can survive this situation,” wrote Stacy Madonna, Kennett Square Massage. “I was able to purchase necessary supplies to keep my clients and myself safe and pay part of my back rent and utilities.
“I am thankful to say I am still in business and surviving! I am grateful to live and own my business in my hometown of Kennett Square!”
To read the Small Business Response Fund Impact Report, visit www.historickennettsquare.com.
To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.
Small Business Response Fund Grant Review Committee
Edwin Castaneda, Student
Carrie Freeman, United Way of Southern Chester County
Mary Kay Gaver, MacElree, Harvey, Ltd.
Lorenzo Merino, True Access Capital
James Miller, State Street Pizza & Grill
Bob Norris, Next Home, LP
Luke Zubrod, Square Roots Collective
“Receiving this grant was such a wonderful gift from our Kennett community! Not only did it provide relief financially when we needed it most, but with the outpouring of support from those who contributed, it was also a wonderful reminder that this community stands with us business owners and wants us to succeed.”
~ Kari Matthews, Clean Slate Goods
Living My Best Cigar Life
By Marcella Peyre-Ferry Contributing Writer
One of the newest additions to downtown Kennett Square is something completely different. It’s Living My Best Cigar Life. The new store at 116 West State Street is truly a premium cigar shop complete with all kinds of cigar and cigar lifestyle accessories, plus a tasting room where you can enjoy your latest purchase.
Living My Best Cigar Life will feature three thousand premium cigars, name brand accessories and humidors in all sizes for purchase.
The shop features a very wide range of cigars with selections that should appeal to every taste and every budget. New cigar smokers can rely on assistance in selecting an appropriate cigar and finding the right accessories. Longtime cigar lovers will also appreciate suggestions on new tastes to try or the best cigars to pair with whiskey or wine.
Special pairing events will be regular features on the calendar at Living My Best Cigar Life. “At times we will have complimentary glasses of wine or whiskey, pairing nights with a selection of cigars paired with multiple whiskies or wines,” Gregg Fornario said.
Living My Best Cigar Life can also bring cigar selections to your location for private parties, weddings or corporate events.
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All photos courtesy
Living My Best Cigar Life features three thousand premium cigars, name brand accessories, and humidors in all sizes for purchase.
Cigar Life
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“You can book us to go to your catered event. That’s something that is becoming more and more popular now,” Fornario said.
Living My Best Cigar Life makes picking out a cigarrelated gift easy. “If you know the person, and know what they smoke, that’s one thing. If you come to my store and ask what’s good to smoke, we have mix and match sets and gift sets,” Fornario said.
Fornario explained that unlike cigarette smokers who often stick to just their favorite brand, a cigar smoker loves a good cigar of any kind.
“You’re going to have your favorites, but you’re going to want to try different cigars,” he said. “If someone gave me a sampler of five cigars, I’d be more thrilled than if they gave me five of my favorite cigars.”
The price range on cigars is just as variable as the brands and flavors. “Premium cigars can get pricey, yet we also have cigars for only five dollars. There are a lot of beginner packs that are very affordable,” Fornario said. “When I started to get into the premium cigars, I wanted something affordable to start out with. You start exploring and go from there. You start tasting more cigars and find out what you like.”
The higher cost of cigars as opposed to cigarettes can be misleading. Cigars are smoked differently and last longer. “If you want to sit down and smoke the whole cigar, it can last you two hours,” Fornario said. “Cigars are for everything. It can be a relaxing day when you want to go sit down on the patio and smoke a cigar. It can be a celebration – it’s a boy or it’s a girl. Cigars can be a celebration or a wedding, a victory, or graduation. Cigars are for a lot of different occasions.”
One of the newest additions to downtown Kennett Square is Living My Best Cigar Life at 116 West State Street. Owner Gregg Fornario graduated from Kennett High School and is excited to open a business in his hometown.
Non-smokers can feel comfortable walking into the store where there is no smell of smoke outside of the tasting room. That makes it a great place for anyone to shop for gifts for the cigar smoker in their life.
“Cigars are great gifts. It’s actually a huge gift buy for a dad, for a husband, for a grandfather. Here it’s not just going in buying a cigar and leaving. Sometimes you might want to splurge and buy a box of cigars. We have a lot of things at our shop that you might not see elsewhere. We have a lot of accessories, including highend ash trays, high-end torch lighters, and humidors. We also have a lot of neat gift sets. A lot of cigars pair with whiskey so there are neat little rocks glasses. Cigars also pair with golf so there are golfing and cigar accessories,” Fornario said.
Unlike other cigar shops where accessories have to be ordered online, Living My Best Cigar Life carries its full range of products on site. That even includes a selection of cigar-linked apparel and even fedoras for the complete look.
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Cigar Life
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If you prefer ordering online, that option is also available at the Living My Best Cigar Live website where purchases can be shipped down the street or across the country.
As an entrepreneur, Fornario looked to his hometown for his latest venture. A 1992 Kennett
“Cigars can be a celebration or a wedding, a victory, or graduation. Cigars are for a lot of different occasions.”
~ Gregg Fornario, Owner of Living My Best Cigar Life
High School graduate, now living in Jennersville, he has always been passionate about cigars and passionate about Kennett Square. He found himself going to Delaware to get cigars and knew there should be a local alternative.
“I’ve definitely always been a business guy. This is my first time entering into the tobacco business,” he said.
Fornario has owned a bar in Hockessin and a night club in Wilmington, and is currently an owner of the Wheeling, West Virginia Roughriders Arena Football team.
“COVID-19 really put a damper on my arena football business. That stopped in March and there’s not really a green light for anything to come back anytime soon,” he said.
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The shop features a very wide range of cigars with selections that should appeal to every taste.
Cigar Life
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Before COVID-19 struck, he planned to open a cigar bar and restaurant. The pandemic put an end to that idea – at least for now – but Fornario has been able to adapt.
“This business doesn’t entail large gatherings or even medium gatherings. Two or three people might be in at one time. it’s a very safe environment,” Fornario said. “The nature of the business is that people come and go during the day.”
Additionally, Living My Best Cigar Life is located in the heart of Kennet Square.
“I was born and raised in Kennett Square. This is where my heart is. I’m right here in the midst of all the great festivals they have all year long,” Fornario said. “This location is exactly where I want to be. I eventually hope to open a few more stores.”
Living My Best Cigar Life is open noon to 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and Sundays noon to 4 p.m. Until you have a chance to stop in the store, explore the possibilities through social media on Instagram, and Facebook at Living My Best Cigar Life or visit the website at www.livingmybestcigarlife.com. You can also call the shop at 833-48CIGAR.
Living My Best Cigar Life offers great cigar choices for every budget.
