The Look Nich keeps you ahead of the fashion curve
Left: Parley Dress by BB Dakota $82 Right: Jensine Dress by BB Dakota $92
Style Kristy Mak Makeup Kendra Davis Photo Adam Jones
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ith the Holidays right around the corner, you probably have a calendar full of holiday events for work, for your significant other’s work, with family, with friends...the list goes on. This year, instead of pulling out the same ol’ backup frock you always wear, get something a little unexpected but completely gorgeous! On the left, we have a sexy, black bodycon dress. Yes, it’s black, but the lace sleeve detail and mesh panel at the collarbone give you coverage while remaining just a bit suggestive. On the right, we have a flirtier fit-and-flare dress in a gorgeous lavender and silver metallic fabric. Who does lavender for the holidays? You do! Betty Draper would be seething at how unbelievable you look. And what holiday outfit would be complete without makeup? Beauty expert Kendra Davis added drama to our model with a bronzer-contoured cheek and precisely winged eyeliner with a splash of gold on the lids for a bit of holiday sparkle. And don’t forget the lips: baby pink complemented the lavender dress and, of course, she went bold red for the LBD. This season is about celebrating with colleagues, old friends, new friends and loved ones. But most importantly, it’s about celebrating your beauty and yourself, because you deserve it! WCP
DECEMber 2012 | thewcpress.com
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the wc press | voice of the borough
Children In Tow
Jennifer Ozgur is a mother, wife and teacher who still finds time to get out and about with the family ‘Tis the sEASON of giving. Nobody understands that more this time of year than parents. We are bombarded with countless advertisements as we negotiate our day. The media has made sure that we are aware of every last promotion using pop-up ads, “Current Resident” mass mailers, jingles on the radio more insidious than the latest Bieber tune, and let’s not forget the dreaded emails you signed up for in order to get your Rewards Points. I’m not saying you need to channel your inner Scrooge and banish all gifts, but a little out-of-the-gift-box thinking can result in presents with an impact much deeper than the discarded pile of wrapping paper left on the living room floor. May I first suggest the gift of health and wellness? The Chester County Running Store has the newest (kid translation: coolest and most popular) styles of athletic footwear for every kind of sport. CCRS has elevated sneaker shopping to a science. They will expertly size your child’s feet (yes, they DID just go up another shoe size!) and recommend the correct brand for their specific gait. Their knowledge and service is unparalleled. Having the latest technology for your budding MVP’s preferred activity is the most effective motivation to get them off the couch. What’s more, they have a special promotion if you mention this article. Maybe your tween or teen is more of the social type. The YMCA has tons of newly added programs to pique the interest of a variety of young learners that you can find listed on their website, ymcabwv.org. Many of their offerings–such as my daughter’s gymnastics–are no longer blocked out in sessions. You just sign them up for whichever classes they like, and the fee is conveniently withdrawn every month from your account. What you get back every week is your children’s anticipation and gratitude with every class. Even better, if you are lucky enough to have a seventh grader, they are eligible for a free membership for one 12-month cycle! If you still aren’t convinced, download a free three-day trial membership for your family. Now you’ve got a response when your kids claim to be bored halfway through winter break. Another way to make this season special is to give them the gift of music. No, I’m not talking about the iPhone 5. But for the same price [Editor’s Note: Or less, see page 35] you can take them to Taylor’s or West Chester Music and enroll them in music lessons for the better part of a year. Your future musician can learn keyboard, guitar, drums, wind, brass or voice. Of course, we want to make our children happy by indulging their desires. But kids are impulsive and fickle. What is a must-have gadget today quickly becomes a lost-in-the-back-of-the-closet toy tomorrow. So before you greenlight the first item on your children’s lists this year, consider selling them on a talent or lifestyle change that’ll stay with them for seasons to come. jozgur@thewcpress.com
DECEMber 2012 | thewcpress.com
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FALL MUSIC FEST Photos by Paul Imburgia
10/26 Organized by Justin Wilson, this music festival at the Charles A. Melton center helped raise funds for the center
AJ Thomas, Josh Christopher, Justin Wilson
Absolute, IV, Psyco Ra
Mike Beaston, Nick Brower, Justin Wilson, Valen Cianci, Kenneth Winston
Warren Shelter, Derek Pettie, Dereck Madden, Jenny Keefer, Dani MacCloskey
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the wc press | voice of the borough
for d a s i h tion t first tan! n e M your f $5 of
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West Chester Holiday Shopping Crawl Friday Dec. 7th 10am–9pm December Hours: Mon–Wed 10am – 6pm Thurs–Friday 10am – 8pm Sat 10am – 6pm Sun 11am – 5pm
Shop Local for All Your Holiday Gifts & Décor
DECEMber 2012 | thewcpress.com
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FALL MUSIC FEST Photos by Photo’s Name
10/21 Organized by Justin Wilson, this music festival at the Charles A. Melton center helped raise funds for the center
The Keepers: Alex Held, Pat Cassidy, Korina Dabundo, Brian Thomas
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Danielle Farley
Zowie Jones, Kaloni Baylor, Emily MacDonald, Linsi Ver Steeg, Ricky Eller
Kaitlin Garlitz, Linsi Ver Steeg
Katharine Moffett, John Reed, Juan M. Melendez
the wc press | voice of the borough
1347 Wilmington Pike, West Chester, PA 19382
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DECEMber 2012 | thewcpress.com
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Radiant. Luminous. Memorable. 52
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the wc press | voice of the borough
Holiday How-To: Painting Your Windows This unfinished work by Hannah Clark shows her window-painting process
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t’s doubtful you know hannah clark, but it’s likely you know her work. If you’ve ever walked down Gay Street and peered through the windows of Bella & Betty, you were looking right through her handicraft. For the past year the store’s owner, Rain Speciale, has been commissioning Hannah to paint her front windows, with everything from tree-scapes to Italian vistas. When I was a child we always painted the front window of my family’s house, but never with something as intricate as the work Hannah manages. So I thought it’d be nice to ask Hannah to guide us through the steps to achieve our own masterpiece. 1. Set aside two to three hours. This will take some time. 2. Clean the window. Windex it first, then make sure it’s completely dry and clear of residue and debris before painting. 3. Find your inspiration. Often I’ll come up with an idea for something I’d like to paint, and then I’ll look online for the cartoon version to get a clearer idea what it will look like simplified. 4. Sketch on a piece of paper. Before going to the window, it’s best to have a solid idea of what you’ll be working with. 5. Trace the design onto the window using a crayon. (above) 6. Prep for painting. Tape up any areas you’re especially concerned about getting paint on, and cover the whole area with a tarp or a sheet. This shouldn’t be too messy, but better safe than sorry.
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7. Using a very thin layer of paint in the appropriate color, trace the outlines of the areas you’ll be painting. 8. Now you can fill in the lines like a coloring book. Again, use a very thin layer of paint. This will prevent any dripping and will allow the paint to dry much more quickly. (above) 9. Once the first layer has completely dried, apply another layer. 10. Repeat until you’ve achieve the desired color saturation. (above) PRO TIPS: 1. Wet paint wipes easily off of glass, so don’t freak out if you make a mistake. Just keep a wet rag nearby at all times. 2. If you’d like to leave some textured brush strokes, avoid applying too many layers. 3. Less is more. Avoid painting images that are highly detailed. 4. Step outside every so often to make sure what you’re seeing on the inside is what your neighbors will be looking at. 5. A flat-edged razor is best for removing the paint. Again, set aside a good hour or two. 6. Have fun. It can get a little Grab sample-size paint at the hardware stressful, so invite some friends, store. It’ll only cost a few bucks, and it’s pour some hot cocoa and enjoy. more than enough for the job.
DECEMber 2012 | thewcpress.com
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VETERANS DAY FUNDRAISER Photos by Paul Imburgia
11/8 Living in Chester County, Culinary Deliveries and Doc Magrogan’s teamed up to raise awareness and funds for the Veteran’s Day Parade
Kaela Mast, Christina Galdieri
Christina Dubenko, Renauld “Reggie” Brown, Jon Prete, Bill Still
Jackie D’Amico, Ashley Denner, Paige Maloney
Tiffany Demas, Zach Weidner
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the wc press | voice of the borough
Kelly Malloy, Kylene Walmsley
Lexi DiGiovanni, Brittany Laird, Paige Frey
DECEMber 2012 | thewcpress.com
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VETERANS DAY PARADE Photos by Paul Imburgia
11/11 West Chester shut down Gay Street for a parade of marching bands, soldiers and military vehicles in honor of our veterans
Tina Robinson, Diane MacBrine
John and Julie Zwirzina
Davis and Timmy King
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the wc press | voice of the borough
DECEMber 2012 | thewcpress.com
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VETERANS DAY PARADE Photos by Paul Imburgia
11/11 West Chester shut down Gay Street for a parade of marching bands, soldiers and military vehicles in honor of our veterans
Nova and Jeff Adams
Jenny Hwang, Yura Oh
Lori and Bob Court
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the wc press | voice of the borough
Check out our winter specials Try something new, like a birchbeer milkshake or December's blizzard of the month, Candy Cane Chill
Open Year Round Family owned and operated for 57 years! 703 East Gay Street | 610-696-4678
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DECEMber 2012 | thewcpress.com
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A Three-Letter Word
Jill McDevitt is the proprietor of Feminique and is the only person in the world with three degrees in sex I recently remodeled Feminique to expand the sex museum section of the store, which now includes ten exhibits. Doing the research, tracking the patent numbers, and collecting the artifacts have been endeavors only a sexologist could love. But, to my surprise, there’s someone else on a similar endeavor. I primarily used eBay to purchase obscure sex artifacts, and I find I keep getting outbid. Here are three items I’ve been outbid on. Vintage Durex Paragon No. 120 Reusable Condom Exhibit: The history of the condom Year: c. 1920 Why I Wanted It: Before condoms were made out of latex, they were made out of vulcanized rubber. Unlike today’s condoms, they were able to be rinsed out and reused. The piece would demonstrate the role of technology in the evolution of the condom, as well as show that if you think “you can’t feel anything” with a condom on today, imagine what it must have been like to have an inner tube between you. Reaction to Losing: Are you kidding me? There’s someone else in the world willing to pay more than $120 for a used, 100-yearold condom? Vintage Victoria’s Secret Dark Red, Sheer Lace, Hi-cut Panties Exhibit: The history of lingerie Year: c. 1984 Why I Wanted It: Women’s underwear has evolved as attitudes about women’s sexuality and women’s role in society has evolved, starting out as knee-length pantaloons worn under an anklelength skirt in the 1870s to G-string thongs fashionable in the 1990s (examples of both are on display). In the 1980s, the trend was to wear panties that were cut high on the hip so that panty lines wouldn’t show when wearing spandex. Reaction to Losing: Really? I forget to check my account for a few hours and six other people sneak in to outbid me on a 30-year-old pair of underwear? Who else would want...oooooohhhh. I forgot that buying and selling used panties is big business to accommodate men with dirty panty fetishes. For real. Google “used panties.” Vintage Hamilton Beach Vibrating Massager Exhibit: The history of the vibrator Year: 1902 Why I Wanted It: This model was the first electric vibrator and the fifth household item to be electrified. It’s historically significant not only in the world of vibrators, but also when looking at the evolution of household appliance manufacturing and marketing. Reaction to Losing: Ok, now I think someone is playing a prank on me. Two minutes after I posted on Facebook that I was bidding on a vibrator from eBay, I got outbid. jmcdevitt@thewcpress.com
DECEMber 2012 | thewcpress.com
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the wc press | voice of the borough
Lexi DiGiovanni asks kindergartners and first graders at Glen Acres Elementary for their take on all the magic of the Christmas Season How does Santa get to every house in one night? His reindeer go lightning fast and are specially trained to get to every house. He has magic dust and powers so he can drop the presents down the chimney. –Anna, 8 How does Santa choose who’s been naughty and who’s been nice? He has a big book with everyone’s picture and his elves go out in the night to spy on the good and bad kids. –Elizabeth, 7 What does Santa do with all the milk and cookies? Can he eat ALL of them? Yes, because he doesn’t eat all year to prepare. –Juliet, 7 Why is Santa’s suit red? Red is his favorite color. –Lamar, 5 Why does Santa bring kids presents? Because it’s after Thanksgiving. –Cole, 6
How does Santa get into houses without chimneys? Windows...he opens them or breaks them if they’re locked. –Elizabeth, 7
How does Santa choose the reindeer who pull his sleigh? He has one dozen reindeer and he tests them on their speed, and the best reindeer win. –Camryn, 7 How do you get to the North Pole? You search for reindeer in the South Pole, and they take you to the North Pole. –Corey, 7 Do all children get presents? No, only if they’re good. –Juliet, 7 What do you have to do to get coal in your stocking? Roll your eyes at your parents or curse at them. –Joey, 7
Why don’t grownups get presents from Santa? Because they already have everything they need. –Brendan, 7
Other than presents, what is your favorite thing about Christmas? Putting ornaments on the tree and playing in the snow. –Lizzie, 6
What is the first place Santa visits? What’s last? Africa because they don’t really have anything, and he comes to the USA last because...because we’re awesome. –Jack, 7
How old is Santa Claus? Probably 60 years old. –Bryn, 7
Why are elves so good at building toys? Because their ears are so big! –Steven, 7
How long has he been married to Mrs. Claus? 17 years. –Kelly, 6
How big are elves? Two or three feet. –Karime, 7
How does Santa stay warm on his sleigh? He has a sleigh heater, and his beard helps, too. –Grant, 6
How much does Santa weigh? 25 lbs. –Jass, 7
How do reindeer fly? Santa gives them magic from all the Christmas spirit. –Lamar, 5
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the wc press | voice of the borough
The Makeshift Chef
Chelsea Durning is a cook by trade, and she knows how to scrape together last-minute treats for the holidays The holidays are a time for gathering with friends and family. It’s a time of giving and–of course– parties! This month I gathered a few recipes for those last-minute items to bring to your next holiday party. Happy Holidays! Chocolate Chip Cookies (makes 50-60) • • • • • • • • •
2 sticks Butter ¾ cups Sugar ¾ cups Light Brown Sugar 2 Eggs 1 tsp. Vanilla 2 ½ cups Flour 1 tsp. Salt 1 tsp. Baking Soda 1 bag Chocolate Chips
Cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time. Add vanilla. Combine the dry ingredients in a separate bowl. In three small batches, add the dry ingredients, scraping the bowl after each addition. Fold in the chocolate chips. Refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes. Form into 1 inch balls and bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Christmas Chex Mix • ½ bag Pretzels • ¼ bag Green and Red M&M’s • ½ box Chocolate Chex Mix • 1 bag White Chocolate Chips • 1 cup 10x Sugar
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In a large bowl, mix the pretzels, M&M’s and ¼ bag of white chocolate chips. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the remaining chocolate chips for 30 seconds at a time. When completely melted, drizzle over the pretzel mixture. Toss to coat everything, and while the chocolate is still warm, sprinkle everything with the 10x sugar and toss again to create a “snowy” appearance. Eggnog Bread Pudding (makes 1 13”x9” pan) • 5 cups Sugar • 1 quart Eggnog • 3 cups Milk • 1 tbsp. Cinnamon • 3 cups Raisins • 1 dozen Croissants (cubed) In a mixing bowl, whisk eggs, sugar, eggnog, milk and cinnamon. Place the croissants and raisins in a greased 13”x9” pan. Pour the egg mixture over the croissants and let sit for five minutes. Cover with a greased piece of parchment paper and aluminum foil. Bake covered for 50 minutes. Remove aluminum foil and parchment paper and continue baking for 15-20 more minutes. cdurning@thewcpress.com
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the wc press | voice of the borough
We are proud to offer up a print version of everyone’s favorite bar game... and you won’t have to pay 50 cents. Actually, you can WIN money. Compare the two photos at right. They may look the same, but there are seven subtle differences between the two. Find those seven differences and identify the items that have been changed. Then send an email to contests@thewcpress.com listing those items. You’ll be entered to win a $25 gift card to a local business. Winners will be chosen at random, and their name will be posted to Facebook along with the solution at the end of the month. So make sure to like us and follow along if you want to play. Enjoy!
We changed this photo of our last eight covers from this year. Can you spot seven differences?
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1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. DECEMber 2012 | thewcpress.com
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Lend a Hand ‘Tis the Season for Giving, and Jennifer Ozgur has curated a list of some charitable organizations located right here in our borough
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ith the holiday season upon us, now is the time for good will toward all. And the new year brings with it the opportunity to improve ourselves. In the spirit of both these sentiments, here are four local organizations you may want to consider helping in whatever way you can. Whether it is creating a course to teach senior citizens, joining a youth service organization, putting your handyman (or woman!) skills to use, or supporting those without a roof over their heads, there are plenty of options for you to spread some love in 2013 right in your community.
West Chester Area Senior Center 610-431-4242, wcseniors.org
You may not be familiar with the West Chester Area Senior Center, but if you’ve ever purchase a used book at one of their two Second Reading bookstores, you’ve helped their cause. Founded in 1975, this is their 37th year serving the West Chester borough and surrounding townships. Their mission is, “Enriching the lives of our senior neighbors through friendship, activities, education and nourishment.” They seek to do this by serving 28,000 meals to 3,500 seniors every year; offering important health and wellness programs like blood pressure screenings and yoga, tai chi and Zumba classes; and providing general life services such as teaching computer skills, help filing tax forms and assisting in financial planning. There are currently 472 volunteers on the team, but with such diversity in programming, there are plenty of opportunities for almost anyone who is interested and has a little time to share. “You can help by cooking and/or serving breakfast or lunch
on weekdays or working as a front desk volunteer at the center or helping at one of our bookstores,” says executive director Kathy Sullivan. The stores are located at North Church Street between Gay and Market, and in the Parkway Shopping Center. Your assistance is also welcome at special events like their annual gala and spring run/walk. Sullivan explains that, “[Your involvement] depends upon which particular group or subcommittee you join, and can be scheduled to best fit the group’s general availability.” To stay in the loop, you are always welcome to visit them in person at 530 East Union Street in the Good Will Business Park (near Pump It Up and the District Court). Their hours are Monday through Friday 8am to 3pm.
West Chester Rotaract
wcrotaract@gmail.com, wcrotaract.com Giving back to the community isn’t just an activity for your parents. The West Chester Rotaract community is a young adult organization for ages 18-30. It’s an offshoot of the Rotary Club, famous for their Four Way Test (It is the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendship? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?) and–at least in West Chester–their Chili Cook-off. The club’s main goals are to develop professional and leadership skills, emphasize respect for the rights of others and promote ethical standards and the dignity of all useful occupations. When I asked Tamara Minnick, who has been West Chester Rotaract’s president for one and a half years, what inspired her to get involved with Rotaract, she responded, “I was drawn to Rotaract because of the opportunities it creates for young people, both locally and internationally, through various programs.”
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Maybe you are interested in meeting some new friends. “That’s all part of what Rotaract is,” Minnick says. “We work hard on our service projects, but we also have fun, during–and after–our meetings.” They convene bi-weekly at The Hickman, located at 400 North Walnut Street. Since it is a newer organization, you will have the opportunity to help define the club and the role it plays in the community. It is a vibrant group of members who are always looking for fresh ideas about how they can improve West Chester. It is an excellent way to take that first step to getting involved in serviceoriented activities. Stockings for Soldiers is the most recently completed project. “[We] send personalized stockings to the brave men and women stationed in the Middle East,” explains Minnick. It was their third year collecting physical goods to be assembled into holiday care packages. Donations ranging from CDs, Beanie Babies and disposable cameras to the creature comforts of candy, lotion, coffee and Ramen noodles were accepted. They also hosted a fundraiser at Barnaby’s which included an open bar and buffet, with a raffle sponsored by local businesses. If you are looking beyond the basics in life, seriously consider Rotaract. Not only will you begin making a difference locally, you will have something to add to both your personal and professional dossier. As they say on their website, “the commitment is minimal, the cost is reasonable and the value you receive is priceless!”
Men of Mission
610-793-1920, firstpreswc.com/men-of-mission Another group’s value lies not only in how you can help others, but in how others can help you. “Men of Mission” (affectionately called “MOM” by its members) is, as its logo suggests, dedicated to renovation and construction projects to help both people in need and other organizations, including World Impact and Good Works Inc. Jim Serum is the founder and head of the organization. He started the group in 2003 with a couple of other men from his church, First Presbyterian of West Chester. “[We] organized to provide opportunities for members of the church and local community to serve local mission organizations and individuals that are in need of assistance,” explains Serum. “The only requirements are a desire to serve others by using your talents.” A variety of skills are needed. Painting, carpentry, electrical and plumbing skills are all useful, but so are general abilities like cleaning and basic repair. Serum wants to make it clear that Men of Mission welcomes both men and women. “We have a number of very capable women in the organization, and I always like to highlight this because I would like to increase the number of women volunteers.” One of their larger projects was the construction of a tree house for The Barn At Spring Brook Farm in 2010. Spring Brook Farm focuses on allowing children with disabilities to interact with animals and nature. Men of Mission had 34 volunteers contribute almost 850 hours to build this much-loved addition to The Barn.
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the wc press | voice of the borough
The structure makes it possible for children in wheelchairs to enjoy what many kids take for granted–to have a glimpse of the world at great heights and to hear the singing of the birds. Another gratifying element of joining the Men of Mission is the fellowship among the members. “I learned that nearly every person in our group was traveling a spiritual journey similar to my own,” says Serum. “It was a great comfort…. We became accountable to one another, to support one another and to grow together.” I am a witness to their warmth. I attended their “Friendraiser” banquet and auction last month and was greeted with openness and kindness. I arrived alone as a writer covering an event, but I left feeling accepted and appreciated by people who were, essentially, strangers.
Friends Association for Care and Protection of Children 610-431-3598, friendsassoc.org
The Friends Association for Care and Protection of Children is an invaluable resource to any family who has run into unforeseen hardships. For 189 years, Friends Association has provided essential social services for children and families. Their main goal is to help families find or maintain permanent housing and to achieve stability and self-sufficiency. They run an emergency shelter in West Chester and also run a homeless prevention program. The shelter provides homeless families with a safe, clean place to stay and helps them cope with stress and upheaval. Children and parents live together in their own apartment as Friends Association helps them stabilize, connect to other community resources and find a permanent place to live. They also work with families who are struggling to maintain their housing through financial assistance or rental subsidies. Providing immediate rental assistance can help keep a family in place, thereby avoiding the trauma of homelessness. One component of their homelessness prevention program involves supporting families who are coming from a shelter or facing eviction and homelessness. These families are assigned a case worker who meets with them to complete an individualized family service plan including education, job training, day care services and financial planning. Families are also referred to the medical, dental and counseling services they need, in addition to being supplied with furniture and household goods made possible by outside donations. Perhaps the most profound impact Friends Association has is on the children affected by circumstances beyond their control. Children in crisis often worry where they’ll sleep, and whether something bad will happen to their family. Many times they change schools, lose their friends and face the stigma of being homeless. In the worst cases, children may even be separated from their parents if a shelter or other living arrangement can’t accommodate the whole family. Friends Association can prevent these terrifying scenarios from becoming a reality. With all the services Friends Association provides, a typical family can anticipate living independently in 12 to 18 months. Friends Association will hold its annual fundraiser, the West Chester Charity Ball, on December 1, 2012 at the West Chester Country Club. Over 250 guests will enjoy dinner, dancing, auctions and other entertainment while raising money for the Friends Association housing programs. Please join in the fun! Go to www.friendsassoc.org and click on Charity Ball for more information and tickets. WCP
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the wc press | voice of the borough
Richard Bollinger displays a test print of his recent work “Winter Splendor” in the basement studio of his West Chester home
Local Talent Showcasing the World-Class Artisans of West Chester Artist: Richard Bollinger Medium: Watercolor You’ve painted a lot of snowscapes over the years. It used to be that nine out of ten paintings were snowscapes, but these days it’s more like one in five. I enjoy the colors of fall, and I’ve been working on a series of nautical paintings as well. What is it about the snowscapes that you like? I love the way the snow isn’t just white–it reflects the light around it. I also love the sky during the winter; without the humidity it’s crisp and clear. Also, I enjoy painting these historic places, and often they’re surrounded by trees, so the only time to really show them is during the winter when the leaves have fallen from the trees. Watching you work, it seems that a watercolor landscape is as much about what you put on paper as what you don’t. You have to pay very close attention to the highlights in a watercolor, because the brightest parts of the piece will be where there is no paint, where the paper shows through. It’s not like an oil piece where you can paint over it with a bright white. The colors are unforgiving, you have to know the colors you’ll be using before you paint. How do you determine what the colors will be? I determine that by doing lots of small studies, all very loosely painted, but it lets me decide. You need to know where the paint is going, and where the paint is not going, or you can really get into trouble. I’ll find the white spaces, then paint outward from there. Often you sketch your snowscapes without snow on the ground. How do you go about creating snowscapes when there’s no snow to be seen? I’ve been doing this for a long time, 40 years. You get the hang of it over time. I know how the snow lays, on
buildings, on different levels on trees, the way it looks when it drifts into the corner of a roof. I know how it rolls over structure. I don’t even think about it anymore. In one of your newest pieces, “Winter Splendor,” you also made some changes to the building that weren’t actually there. For this particular painting, the building is a historic building that has been restored, but it isn’t exactly historically accurate. I happen to know they didn’t use aluminum back when this building was built. So, my goal with this painting was to take it back to how it would look 100 years ago. I had to mess it up a bit. Your work seems to have a strong focus on historic, rural places. Does living in West Chester have a strong impact on that? It does. Chester County is a beautiful, historic place. And, we’re lucky that it still has rural spaces, but they’ve been disappearing since we first came out here. When did you move to West Chester? We moved from Delaware County 40 years ago. I was working as a freelance illustrator, doing work for Ranger Rick and J.B. Lippincot & Co. and illustrating stuff for children’s learning books like Dick and Jane. When Lippincott moved to New York, I moved out here to work for a small ad agency. You recently hosted a show as a fundraiser, tell us about that. With the help of area galleries and organizations, I displayed 100 prints of my work at Christ Community Church. We sold 80 of those pieces, with the proceeds going to benefit Good Works Inc., an organization that helps transform substandard houses into warmer, safer, and drier homes for low-income residents of Chester County. [Editor’s Note: You can find photos of the evernt on the following pages] WCP
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BRUSH STROKES Photos by Paul Imburgia
11/16 Artist Richard Bollinger exhibited 100 works at Christ Community Church to help raise money for Good Works Inc.
Glenn and Gretchen Huebner
Jen Evans, Marie Evans, Hartley Miller, Irene Miller
Dale Bryant, Melissa Hendrickson
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the wc press | voice of the borough
Richard Bollinger
Gene Tinus, Joanne Case
DECEMber 2012 | thewcpress.com
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BRUSH STROKES Photos by Paul Imburgia
11/16 Artist Richard Bollinger exhibited 100 works at Christ Community Church to help raise money for Good Works Inc.
Doug and Charlene Rogers
Ash, Rebecca, Luke and Drew Swaine
Debbie Brackett, Martin Brackett
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the wc press | voice of the borough
Leah, Pat, Debbie, Cindy, Lois, Gail
Katie Bowman, Dave Cutill
Fran Hoey, Juliette Goodman, Tony Stancato
presented by High Street Caffe
Happy Hour
7 Days a Week creole fusion gourmet takeout takeout craft beer $35 prix-fixe menu Jazz on Tuesdays 322 s HigH street 610-696-7435
HigHstreetcaffe . com DECEMber 2012 | thewcpress.com
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The WC.December.2012_Layout 1 11/13/12 5:56 PM Page 1
HoHoHo...naughty or nice...? ready or not...Santa’s coming Arden Bardol Trunk Show First Friday, Dec. 7
Light up your holidays with American Handmade Gifts from
5
The
Senses
North American Handmade Functional Works of Art
Extended Shopping Hours begin December 7
133 West Market Street, West Chester, PA • 610.719.0170
www.the5senses.com 78
the wc press | voice of the borough
Bartender of the Month W
e’ve spent plenty of time at Kildare’s but never really had the chance to spend much time speaking with our bartender of the month, 33-yearold Bradley Loftus. That’s because Bradley works the busy shifts. Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at Kildare’s have to be some of the most hectic bartending shifts anywhere, so it wasn’t until Bradley won this month’s honors, with 400% more votes than the next closest bartender, that we managed to set aside some time to chat with him. So, you won a vote to become bartender of the month by a landslide. How’d that happen? I think everyone knew that if I didn’t win, I’d freak out on them. Not really, but I was campaigning for the win really hard. I had co-workers, friends, family, even old-time regulars I haven’t seen in years voting for me. Why were you so passionate about it? Well, I’ve been in this town doing this job for a long time, and I love it. People can just tell I’m doing what I love. I wanted to share that story. Why do you love it? I’ve been drinking beer since I was seven… not really, but back in high school I would save up like $40 for a case of beer. Half the time the beer would be terrible, because we had no idea what we were doing. So, it’s exciting to work in a place like Kildare’s that has a really awesome beer profile, with all kinds of different craft beers from all over the world on tap. Of all those beers, what do you recommend? I always tell people, especially if they’ve never had it, to go for the Guinness. I know it’s classic, and it’s not a craft beer, but we do a really good Guinness here, and if you don’t like it, the beer is on me. I’m probably gonna end up giving away a lot of free beers because of that comment, aren’t I? We’re also getting in some really awesome winter beers soon, like Troeg’s Mad Elf.
How did you get into bartending? Shortly after Kildare’s opened up here, I was asked if I could help out a bit–just some latenight bussing. I remember telling my girlfriend at the time, who’s now my wife, that I was just gonna help out as they got started. Now here I am nine years later. You’ve been here for all that time? For a while I was working down at Kildare’s in Manayunk–I actually ended up being bar manager there–but I was living in West Chester and commuting to Manayunk. So, when I had the opportunity to open up Doc Magrogan’s here in West Chester, I thought it was an exciting opportunity to open a bar, and it would allow me to live and work in West Chester. Have any interest in getting back to managing? I just finished up my hospitality degree, so the opportunity’s been discussed, but, honestly, I’m just really comfortable working behind the bar. Do you do anything else when you’re not bartending? I’ve been working as a sub-contractor for the Postal Service, for ten years. So, when you do something, you’re in it for the long haul? I’ve been with my wife Bridget since senior year of high school; we’ve got a daughter and another kid on the way. So, yeah, I tend to stick with things. How’s being the father of a young child mesh with being a bartender? Most bartenders work late nights, then sleep in. There’s no sleeping for me anymore. Especially not this time of year. Why’s that? We have a lot of parties because the holidays are a great time to take advantage of how comfortable this bar is, with the fireplaces and the different rooms. Plus, we’ve got the Holiday Triple Threat charity run coming up on December 15; on December 16 we have brunch with Santa; and on December 20 drinks with Santa. Oh, and December 6 from 11am-7pm we’re offering half-price gift cards to students and faculty. So, that’s why I won’t be sleeping much. WCP
DECEMber 2012 | thewcpress.com
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the wc press | voice of the borough
Who’s That?
Below are eight Miis (You know, the characters on Nintendo Wii?) of famous men. Think you can name all the individuals listed below? If so, email your answers to contests@thewcpress.com for your chance to win prizes.
Live Acoustic Music Every Friday Night 929 S High Street, West Chester, PA 19382 484-887-8771 | timothyswestchester.com
Patio Dining Banquet Room
Comfort Food at it’s Best! Libation Creation of the Month:
Smashing Pumpkin Martini DECEMber 2012 | thewcpress.com
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KILDARE’S WING OFF Photos by Andrew Hutchins
11/14 There was hot sauce chugging, hulu hoop dancing and guys pounding down wings and beers all to benefit Meals on Wheels
Adam, Tommy, Dave
The Winner: Brian Marron
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the wc press | voice of the borough
Chris, Nikki, Alex, Ashley, Karissa
142 e mARKeT sT | THeNOTeWC.COm dOORs 5:30pm
suNdAy, deCembeR 2
All Ages
suCH gOld dRug CHuRCH, peNTimeNTO, CAviTies dOORs 7pm
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dOORs 7pm
THuRsdAy, deCembeR 8
18+
Kids THese dAys
THe sAfesT plACe ON eARTH NO suCH NOise!, yOuR gHOsT
dOORs 7pm
fRidAy, deCembeR 7
mOd suN
All Ages
THe COme up, pAT bROWN dOORs 8pm
sATuRdAy, NOvembeR 8
21+
TeRRible THiNgs ReCORd ReleAse sHOW
WiTH
gOddAmNiT & mOdeRN suiTs
sATuRdAy, deCembeR 8 dOORs OpeN 8pm | eveNT is 18+
sONATA ARCTiCA WiTH
ARisis
upCOmiNg sHOWs...
1/20: THe AlmOsT 2/15: dAdA 20TH ANNiveRsARy TOuR
Classes at... Peter’s Salon & European Spa 1009 West Chester Pike Mon, Tues, Weds, Thurs @7pm & Sat @9:30am Bring this ad to your first class and it’s FREE
carolt.zumba@gmail.com
610-436-6464
DECEMber 2012 | thewcpress.com
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KILDARE’S WING OFF Photos by Andrew Hutchins
11/14 There was hot sauce chugging, hulu hoop dancing and guys pounding down wings and beers all to benefit Meals on Wheels
Andrew, Drew, James
Rebecca, Kristin, Victoria, Alexandra, Alyssa
Gabrielle, Jessica, Michelle, Marissa
Karen, Samantha, Victoria
Joe V, John C, Bob C
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the wc press | voice of the borough
DECEMber 2012 | thewcpress.com
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We are Insurance. We are Farmers. Brandt van Naerssen agency owner Business 610-386-7326 Fax 610-441-7583 Cell 610-745-3276 bvannaerssen@famersagent.com
1000 Continental Drive, Suite 500 King of Prussia, PA 19406-2820 www.farmersagent.com/bvannaerssen
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the wc press | voice of the borough
Vintage Holiday Mix
DJ Romeo curates a playlist of classic Christmas tunes that harkens back to the good ol’ days It’s that time of the year again: when you can’t turn on the radio, walk into a retail shop or flip on the television without being bombarded with corny Christmas tunes. There must be more than 1,000 different versions of “Silver Bells,” “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer” and “Let it Snow” available for download. In my opinion, modern versions don’t compare to the quality of legendary artists like Sinatra and Bing Crosby. There is a certain vibe to the music from the ’40s and ’50s that signifies the true meaning of the holidays. The vintage sound these records possess can take you back to a time when Christmas was a little less commercialized.
Frank Sinatra - “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” Andy Williams - “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” Nat King Cole - “O Holy Night” Johnny Mathis - “I’ll be Home for Christmas” Bing Crosby - “Silver Bells” Eartha Kitt - “Santa Baby” The Drifters - “White Christmas” Dean Martin - “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm” Dinah Washington - “Silent Night” Tommy Dorsey - “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” The Andrew Sisters - “Winter Wonderland” Rosemary Clooney - “Let It Snow” Dinah Shore & Buddy Clark - “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” Frank Sinatra - “Mistletoe & Holly” Bing Crosby - “Happy Holidays” Judy Garland - “The Christmas Song” Perry Como - “Home for the Holidays” Dean Martin - “Peace On Earth - Silent Night” Gene Autry - “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” Sammy Davis, Jr. - “Christmas Time All Over the World” Elvis Presley - “Blue Christmas” Bob Hope & Delores Hope - “Happy Holidays - Let’s Have a Party” Tony Bennett - “My Favorite Things”
DECEMber 2012 | thewcpress.com
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29-31 East Gay Street, West Chester, PA 19382 | 610-738-3948