The WC Press West Chester Reads - January 2018

Baldwin's Book Barn

elevating the experience of book buying

West Chester Public Library

history, community & continuity

Second Reading

the bookshop with a greater purpose

2

THE WC PRESS VOICE OF THE BOROUGH

2018 MAGAZINE THEMES JANUARY WC Reads

From the West Chester Public Library to Baldwin's Book Barn, the borough is full of readers.

FEBRUARY I <3 WC

We're sharing all the reasons we love this incredible town (and why our readers feel the same).

MARCH Family Owned

Profiling multi-generational family businesses that have long been the heart of this town.

APRIL Design

Featuring everything from interior and landscape design, down to artists and consumer products.

MAY Style

A collaborations with West Chester's fashion boutiques and salons to showcase the best looks in town.

JUNE Summer Fun Guide

Our annual guide to finding family fun in West Chester while the kids are home for the summer.

JULY Law & Order

As the county seat, West Chester is home to the most prominent legal minds in the county (and the state).

AUGUST Edible West Chester

West Chester is a foodie paradise, and we profile some of the best chefs and their culinary creations.

SEPTEMBER Nightlife

With more than a dozen bars in a fourblock radius, there's always something going on after dark.

OCTOBER Kid-Friendly

Information parents need to know, from when kids eat free to where you'll find family-friendly fun.

NOVEMBER Animals Our furry friends feature prominently, and we profile those pets and their industrious owners.

DECEMBER Holiday Shopping

Everything you need to know to find the best gifts while shopping locally this holiday season.

ADVERTISING THEWCPRESS.COM

3

4

THE WC PRESS VOICE OF THE BOROUGH

The

“Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind.”

–Calvin Coolidge

Press PUBLISHER Dan Mathers dan@thewcpress.com ADVERTISING MANAGER Nick Vecchio nick@thewcpress.com EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Skye McDonald skye@thewcpress.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER Nazarena Luzzi Castro nazarenaluzzi.com CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Kate Chadwick kchadwick@thewcpress.com STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Sabina Sister sabinasister@gmail.com CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Amy Tucker amytuckerphotography.com

COLUMNISTS WC Food Co-op wcfoodcoop@thewcpress.com Becca Boyd bboyd@thewcpress.com Jamie Jones jjones@thewcpress.com Andrea Mason amason@thewcpress.com DJ Romeo romeo@thewcpress.com Published By...

Mathers Productions 12 E Barnard Street West Chester, PA 19382 mathersproductions.com 610-344-3463 The WC Press is a monthly magazine distributed free of charge to more than 250 businesses. For a free digital subscription, visit thewcpress.com.

For more information about specific distribution locations, visit thewcpress.com/distribution.

Worth

Noting

Our no-nonsense table of contents

9

OWNER OF THE MONTH Chatting with Frank Eckley of Market Street Hardware

13

BALDWIN'S BOOK BARN Eelevating the experience of book buying

27

WEST CHESTER PUBLIC LIBRARY The history and community built around a landmark institution

39

EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH Chatting with Mike Zawada of Pietro’s Prime

41

SECOND READING A profile of the bookstore that serves the greater good

53

PHOTO HUNT Find the five differences between two pictures and win!

JANUARY 2018 THEWCPRESS.COM

5

6

THE WC PRESS VOICE OF THE BOROUGH

Letter

from the

Editor

Dan Mathers shares some personal insight about this month’s theme

The argument has been made that literature is on its way out. The gist is that novels evolved as a cheap alternative for those without the time or money to access other forms of entertainment, like the theatre, and as other means of inexpensive distraction evolve, the book will die off.

We're only concerned with novels, they say, because they‘re relatively new. Some cite Thomas Malory’s 1485 work Le Morte d'Arthur as the first English novel, while others argue for later works like Don Quixote, or even Robinson Crusoe, published in 1791. They say, given enough time, books will become no more important than all those antiquated pastimes that came before them.

I don’t buy this argument. I’ve been an avid reader most of my life, and the Kindle app transformed my iPad into a $300 e-book reader. I kept it on my nightstand and burned through a couple dozen pages every night before nodding off. I often fell asleep with it on my chest. Whenever I finished a book, Amazon’s kindle store offered near instantaneous satisfaction—for novel series, there's usually a download link for the next book right in the epilogue.

I hadn’t given a thought to purchasing physical books until, while working my way through a list of the top 50 sci-fi novels of all time, I discovered that Robert A Heinlein’s The Moon is a Harsh Mistress wasn’t available for Kindle. I was forced to buy it in paperback and wait a whole two days for shipping. The horror!

But that’s when I noticed that, on average, paperbacks were only a dollar or so more expensive than their Kindle counterparts.

For a dollar more per book, I could’ve been filling my bookshelves.

I’d purchased 76 books through the Kindle app—13 in the previous six months—and all I had to show for it was an icon on my iPad. That night I went out and bought a book light for bedtime reading and vowed only to read physical books. Yes, compared to digital reading it’s a bit tedious: it takes up more space, requires two hands, and I can’t fall asleep without first finding where I’ve misplaced my bookmark. Still, it’s worth it. I recently ran out of room on my current shelves and have decided to build bigger bookcases—I’ve always been enamored by homes filled with books.

I can’t be the only one who’s made this decision. After dominating online sales and the e-book market, Amazon began opening physical book stores. Maybe I’m just more aware now, but every time I’m in the airport, I see fewer people with e-readers and more with books. Right here in this issue, you’ll discover unique local bookstores and learn about how the West Chester Public Library serves their more than 100,000 visitors each year.

There will always be a place for books. Particularly good books.

They may no longer be the primary method of individual entertainment, but they won't be any less important. We still play board games, assemble puzzles, and 25 American cities host an annual Shakespeare in the Park festival. We still tell stories around the campfire. New entertainment will come, and some may go, but there's really nothing better for a day on the beach or with a hot cup of tea. Books aren’t going anywhere. —dan@thewcpress.com

JANUARY 2018 THEWCPRESS.COM

7

8

THE WC PRESS VOICE OF THE BOROUGH

Owner of the

Month

PHOTO Sabina Sister INTERVIEW Skye McDonald

Chatting with Frank Eckley, owner of Market Street Hardware, about his work ethic and building friendships and businesses You just opened up here. What were you doing before? Previously, I owned Parkway Hardware. I closed up that store at the end of 2013. I re-opened as a Key and Lock shop doing hardware store services in the Parkway Center, until an old friend of mine came in and had the idea to go back into the hardware and general store business.

It must have a passion for this kind of business Yes. We started working on the hardware store project back in February of this year and opened at the end of May.

What do you enjoy most? It doesn’t feel like work; it feels like coming to a community social. I love the people.

We have all walks of life. I like joking around—I have a good sense of humor that’s carried me through the hard times.

Besides a sense of humor, what else is essential to owning a business? A passion to get up every day. We are a seven-day-a-week business. I’m here an average of six days a week. Even when I’m not here, my phone is ringing with questions.

What's been the most exciting moment? The day the truck came and the merchandising took place when we first opened up. That was exciting to see the shelves full and to see it transform. We were delayed, so we had a fully-stocked store.

What do you like to do outside the store? I’ve coached in the semi-pro baseball league here for over a decade.

I’m also passionate about hunting, fishing and collecting antique cars.

Do you see your customers outside of the business? I’ve even taken some of my customers hunting with me.

They’re my friends. It’s not a friendship defined by a sale—it takes place outside the business, too. I treat everybody the same, whether you're spending $2 or $200.

How have you built those friendships? You have to earn confidence and respect from the customer. That’s really all you can do. And I treat people the way I want to be treated.

Is there anyone that's inspired your work? I didn’t know my grandmother, Catherine, but I knew of her work ethic.

She opened up a general store in the 1940s that then grew into a restaurant and bar in the coal mine region of Pennsylvania. She always knew how to make a living, even during the tough times.

She would work in the shop, and my grandfather worked on the Lehigh Valley Railroad. Whenever he was off the train, he would come in and help her in the shop.

What's made you most proud since opening? I’m proud of how the staff has all come together and I’m proud of how this whole project came together. We’re seeing success with rapid growth.

DECEMBER 2017 THEWCPRESS.COM

9

10

THE WC PRESS VOICE OF THE BOROUGH

Home

Grown

Sonia Nolasco shares info on local food and the upcoming West Chester Food Co-op

Small family farming is a tough business to sustain, but folks like Kathy and Matt Goin are rethinking farm revenue for the 21st century. The couple, who own Katt and Mathy Farm, produce all-natural Black Angus beef. They sell it at a meat shop on their farm and serve up burgers on their food truck, the Road Rancher, one of the rotating trucks at Levante Brewing Company's Chester Springs beer garden. They also rent out the truck for parties and offer catering services. Starting in 2018, they'll even be supplying beef for West Chester Food Co-op’s Local Food Program, which brings fresh, sustainable food from local farms and producers to the borough each week, April through December.

Although it's hormone- and steroid-free, their beef isn't labeled grass-fed because they receive a small daily ration of local, soyfree grain. According to Matt, “Grass fed tastes good, but the cow is a bit leaner, so there isn’t as much marbling. A small amount of grain adds marble.” But, that's not the only reason for using it—bucket of grain is an excellent tool to peacefully lure a 1,300pound cow away from a neighbor’s backyard.

Because their steers are pastured, the Goins have only used antibiotics four times in four years—it’s rare for them. “But in the big feedlots," says Matt, “they have to keep the animals on antibiotics, they have sick cows in that crowded mess every day.”

Kathy, a clinical researcher, suggests scrutinizing supermarket labeling of grass-fed, all-natural or organic. “You can’t control for all those factors and at the same time be a mass producer,” she says. “I come from a big manufacturing world, and I can’t see how the two can work together.”

Presently operating from two locations, Jennersville and Kemblesville, the farm will soon be consolidated at the Kemblesville site with its 70 acres of pasture featuring, a blend of clover and orchard grass. The consolidation will include a new barn, with facilities for events. They’re also experimenting with artisan beef jerky, to be sold on the truck and at the shop. All of these plans converge around a trio of revenues that can make small family farms sustainable: agricultural products (their beef), value-added products (prepared foods like burgers and jerky) and agricultural tourism (using the farm and event space to accommodate both family and corporate customers).

One more tip for sustainable family farming: a member of the team should work off of the farm. “I believe that part of our success is attributed to the fact that one of us isn’t so tied to the farm and can move around different communities, as I do through my work. Some of our biggest customers are people that I work with,” says Kathy. “You do need to have more than one iron in the fire.” –wcfoodcoop@thewcpress.com West Chester Food Co-op supports local family farms and is working to build a member-owned, full-service grocery store in West Chester. Learn more about the Co-op, the Local Food Program, and how to become part of it all at: www.wcfood.coop

12

THE WC PRESS VOICE OF THE BOROUGH

elevating the experience of book buying story KATE CHADWICK photos SABINA SISTER JANUARY 2018 THEWCPRESS.COM

13

14

THE WC PRESS VOICE OF THE BOROUGH

H

ow many books did you read last year? A Gallup poll some 40 years ago found that 42% of American adults had read 11 books in the previous year; by 2014, that number had dropped to 28%. The distraction provided by shiny, internet-connected, handheld devices, and the explosion in the number of television channels is the obvious suspect here. But technology eventually even crept directly into book territory with the advent of the Kindle, which, when it was released in late November 2007, promptly sold out in less than six hours and was out of stock until the following spring. Magazines and newspapers were also tossed onto the funeral pyre and eulogized, with dire “print is dead” warnings being whispered as the industry scrambled to adapt to a fickle audience.

But for those who never took to electronic tomes (ahem)—and even for those who did—physical books never really went away, and in fact are experiencing a renaissance. According to a CNN report this past April, e-book sales plunged 18.7% in the first nine months

of 2016, while paperback and hardback books saw upticks of 7.5% and 4.1%, re s p e c t i ve l y.

For many book lovers, the bells and whistles of e-books never managed to outshine the sensory experiences provided by physical books: the feel of the paper, the “...the 10,000 square foot barn is smell of books, both old and new, packed with more than 300,000 the weight of it in your hand, perhaps even the absence of a sense books, some new, most used, and of terror that it would be ruined in some cases, very rare.” beyond redemption if dropped in a bubble-filled bathtub (ahem, 1946 by Lilla and William Baldwin in a also). And, for many readers, that most vast stone barn that had stood vacant singular delight that only comes from for the previous 10 years. The barn was whiling away an afternoon in a book- originally part of a dairy farm built in store. Indeed if browsing is your mission, 1822 by Brinton and Sarah Darlington.

Baldwin’s Book Barn is your mothership. Today, it remains largely the same as Baldwin’s Books was established in

it was, set back slightly from the road

DECEMBER 2017 THEWCPRESS.COM

15

CONVENIENT, FULL-DAY

KINDERGARTEN AT THE Y KINDERGARTEN AT THE OSCAR LASKO YMCA AND CHILDCARE CENTER prepares your child for success in a safe, learning environment.

• Literacy-building activities, math, science, social studies and technology development • Spanish language instruction offered • Weekly gymnastics and swim lessons included • Before and after school care, with after care until 6:30 pm (half-hour later than most programs) • PA State Department of Education licensed

VISIT FOR AN OPEN HOUSE! Feb. 17, 10 am • Feb. 20, 6 pm

The YMCA is a cause-driven charitable organization that provides financial assistance for programs. Ask us for details.

Photos from the 2017 YMCA Fashion Show

Located in downtown West Chester!

For details, visit www.ymcagbw.org/childcare or contact the Y today.

OSCAR LASKO YMCA AND CHILDCARE CENTER 610-696-9622 • One E. Chestnut Street, West Chester, PA 19380 a branch of the YMCA of Greater Brandywine

16

THE WC PRESS VOICE OF THE BOROUGH

The wood for the stove is piled by the door as you enter the barn, and that stepping-back-in-time sense is immediate and warmly comforting as soon as you cross the threshold, where an old-fashioned bell chimes your arrival.

And, it’s chilly—the aforementioned wood burning stove only heats one particular room, so keep your coat on if you visit in the winter; on the flip side, the stone structure stays fairly cool in the summer months.

Year’s Day: Carol Rauch, Fred Dannaway, and Joe Scott. Carol, a former realtor, has been running the Barn for the past seven years; Fred is a retired English teacher and has been with Baldwin’s for 16 years, and Joe is retired from Scott Paper and has the daunting task of shelving all those books. In fact, to the left of the front door there were a dozen or so empty, handled, brown-paper bags, lined up like soldiers along the That gravel apparently crunched wall. Carol explained that when books under the tires of cars from Ohio, DelThe front room of the barn is where come in, they are sorted into the bags aware, and Florida, according to according to what floor they’re the license plates we saw in the to. Then Joe loads them “...you’ll be promptly handed a map. heading lot. Indeed, according to manager up and takes them around back Carol Rauch, Baldwin’s has cus- Yes, a map. Folded like a brochure, it and gets to work. tomers from all over the country, outlines just where you’ll find books Oh, right—there are several and in some cases from around floors of books to be found here— in every category you can imagine...” the world, many of them book five of them, to be exact, and dealers. This is not surprising, they’re packed with labyrinthian given that the 10,000 square foot barn you’ll find some of the rarer books, some rooms and corridors and snug nooks is packed with more than 300,000 shelved in sets that run around half the everywhere you turn. This is why part of books, some new, most used, and in perimeter of the room on shelving up your greeting when you arrive at Baldsome cases, very rare. The Barn also near the ceiling. It’s also where you’ll win’s will be an inquiry as to whether has letters, photos, maps, manuscripts, find at least one of the three employ- you’ve visited before. If you answer in antiques, fine art, and prints, but we’ll ees who keep the place open every day the negative, you’ll be promptly handed just stick to books for our purposes here. but Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New a map. Yes, a map. Folded like a broand sitting on six acres. A massive tree stands guard over a picnic table (feel free to pack a lunch), not far from a trio of Adirondack chairs just past the parking lot. The stones crunch under your car tires as you pull into the parking lot, and on a recent visit, the smell of smoke from the barn’s wood stove permeated the cold December air as it curled up out of the chimney.

DECEMBER 2017 THEWCPRESS.COM

17

18

THE WC PRESS VOICE OF THE BOROUGH

chure, it outlines just where you’ll find books in every category you can imagine (and some you probably can’t), from children’s books to modern literature (alphabetized), to history, to hobbies and games, to religion, to self-help, to cookbooks, to pets, to art. The map orients you with notations for the windows, emergency exits, and with “front of the barn” notations where applicable. These are more useful than you’d think, given that wandering, lingering, and daydreaming are all hazards of a protracted visit to Baldwin’s, and it can become easy to forget where you are.

Other useful tools for a few hours of purposeful browsing come in the form of antique chairs sprinkled at var-

ious locations throughout the building, should you feel the need to sit down and get to know a book better before taking it home. Speaking of taking books home, here’s a fast fact: you can even rent books here. Baldwin’s has rented sets of uniformly bound books to theaters and sets for films, for staging and props.

of books isn’t tempting enough for you, the environment, both inside and out, is peaceful in every sense. The doorways are arched, curved into the stone in Hobbit-like fashion; the old wood floors creak softly beneath your feet. There is no piped-in music, no flat screens flashing, only the low chatter of other bibliophiles. Or not, as the case may be. We saw a pair of gentlemen—clearly there together, present when we arrived and still there when we left—and we never heard either of them utter a word.

Instead they just walked up to one another randomly and pointed out passages in open books they were perusing.

If the prospect of wandering aimlessly through floor-to-ceiling shelves

In terms of customers, you’ll find all sorts at the Barn. Men, women, and chil-

“The doorways are arched, curved into the stone in Hobbit-like fashion; the old wood floors creak softly beneath your feet.”

DECEMBER 2017 THEWCPRESS.COM

19

20

THE WC PRESS VOICE OF THE BOROUGH

dren, young and old, alone or in pairs; edition copy of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The anyway; it would be in the Stephen King at one point during one of our visits, Great Gatsby, valued at $50,000, that section,” Fred said. “Which is pretty an hour before closing, a group of four languished in a box at the Barn back in much always empty—we can’t keep his twenty-somethings piled in, followed 2005 for several months until Fred dis- stuff in here. It flies right out the door. shortly by a group of five sixty-some- covered it. First editions always cause a Young people especially love him.” As things. It’s the kind of place you can go stir; Carol had just purchased a first edi- someone whose love of reading was to either get away from everyone, or to tion Harry Potter book for the Barn. She cemented forever at the age of 15 after share with a friend or two. It’s even the got it the very morning of our visit at a reading The Shining in two days, I can relate. kind of place, according to Carol, to host flea market for one dollar. a wedding or stage a photoshoot.

Speaking of things flying out, one She did note that not as many chilof the joys of picking up a used book “...a first edition copy of F. Scott dren are coming in as in years past, is finding something left behind by Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, the previous owner, whether it’s an and said that sometimes if they do, the adult with them doesn’t always valued at $50,000... languished endearing inscription or a forgotten buy them a book. In that case, Carol lottery ticket or play program. Peoin a box at the Barn back in will give them one. “I’ve done it ple use some interesting things as 2005 for several months...” often—it’s good to get them started bookmarks, and they also use books on learning.” as a hiding place for cash. “We do come across money once in a while— “A first edition of Stephen King’s CarThe books at the Barn are either and photos, too, especially in the older bought or donated, and they are sold rie, which was his first novel, would get books,” Carol said. “We have a box full to regular customers and book deal- about $15,000,” Fred told me. This was of them, but usually if I find something ers from near and far. Unpacking those right after I’d mentioned that I’d been in a book, I just leave it there.” books is Carol’s favorite part of the job. looking in the writing section for a copy “To find that special treasure that some- of King’s On Writing: A Memoir of the There are a few rooms in the Barn one was about to discard: a first edition Craft, which I’ve somehow managed to that are off limits to the general public, Mark Twain, a 1700’s medical book, that not read after a decade of writing pro- including a room upstairs with a collecGreat Gatsby...” Carol is referring to a first fessionally. “You wouldn’t find it there tion of exceedingly rare and therefore

DECEMBER 2017 THEWCPRESS.COM

21

DISCOVER

MONTESSORI AT THE Y! WEST CHESTER AREA YMCA MONTESSORI awakens your child’s

natural curiosity and builds a foundation for joyful, lifelong learning.

Our students thrive in authentic Montessori classrooms while learning science, Spanish, the arts, music and more. The program includes swim lessons, yoga, gym time and other Y activities, all at no added cost!

VISIT FOR AN OPEN HOUSE!

Jan. 20, 2:30-4 pm • Feb. 13, 6:30-8 pm Feb.16, 9-10:30 am The YMCA is a cause-driven charitable organization that provides financial assistance for programs. Ask us for details.

Photos from the 2017 YMCA Fashion Show

For ages 2½ to 5

For details, visit www.ymcagbw.org/childcare or contact the Y today.

WEST CHESTER AREA YMCA 610-431-9622 • 605 Airport Road, West Chester, PA 19380 a branch of the YMCA of Greater Brandywine

22

THE WC PRESS VOICE OF THE BOROUGH

“For now, though, the only overnight residents at Baldwin’s are the three ghosts alleged to inhabit the premises, one of them purported to be a female Darlington.” fragile books. There is also a beautiful (and warm!) office area, which is also pressed into service as a book-signing room, Carol said. On the day of our visit, there was a stack of rare 1940’s Frank Lloyd Wright prints on the book signing table.

The upstairs on the right side of the barn also has living quarters, most

recently used by the current owner, Tom Baldwin, who is now retired.

Given that he has permanently relocated to Florida, there has been talk in recent years of selling the Book Barn.

Even if that ever happened, Carol said, “They would only sell it to a book person, someone who would keep it as it is.” It seems they could probably find a worthy candidate among their many loyal fans.

“I feel that people love the barn because it activates most of your senses with the look, the smell of the woodstove when it’s going all winter; the smell of the books, the old barn, getting lost and needing a map to find your way to your favorite book,” Carol said. “People come in here and they don’t want to leave—many have asked to stay overnight. It’s true!”

For now, though, the only overnight

residents at Baldwin’s are the three ghosts alleged to inhabit the premises, one of them purported to be a female Darlington. Carol also relayed the story of Fred telling a customer that he was getting ready to close; the customer said, “Okay, but I’m not the last one here—there’s a guy upstairs reading in a rocking chair.” When Fred went to move the lingerer along, there was no one there. The employees take it all in stride. “I’m here at night a lot, alone, in the dark,” Carol said. “And I’ve never felt scared, never gotten a creepy feeling, never had the hair on the back of my neck stand up or anything.” So these are benevolent spirits, then? “Of course they are!” Carol said. “Who could be upset in this place?”

Indeed. The next time you want to get away from it all and still have the world at your fingertips, alone or with some fellow bookworms, carve out an afternoon and plan a browsing trip to Baldwin’s Book Barn.

The longitude and latitude is on their website—just don’t forget your map.

DECEMBER 2017 THEWCPRESS.COM

23

24

THE WC PRESS VOICE OF THE BOROUGH

Near and Far

Jamie Jones of Whirlaway Travel explores some travel options abroad and highlights their local counterparts

There is an enchanting castle in West Chester filled with fairy tales and mystery. Ascending the stairs brings the sense of excitement and anticipation of stepping out of my own reality and delving deep into the psyche of strangers who I will know intimately by story’s end. As a child, visiting the West Chester Public Library on Church Street, I would gaze skyward at the turret and imagine climbing a spiral staircase to a small, circular, panoramic room lined with a red velvet banquette that held secret treasures and portals to magical lands. I wanted to get lost in that room, hide from reality and delve into a book, and into my own head, only to be found when I descended the stairs back to reality.

In our digital age, there is still something magical and fulfilling about holding a book and feeling the pages turn, one by one, as a story unfolds. So many people have embraced the Kindle for delving into a book because of the ease of purchase and travel; I still head to the library. Knowing that someone else touched the same pages, met the same characters and got lost in the same world is part of what makes reading books so fulfilling. I love taking my kids to the library because it is more than just books for them—it truly is entering into a different world, a place where stories are free and imaginations can run wild. The children’s floor invites them to explore rows upon rows of books, play with puppets, pretend, and participate in programs ranging from story time to chess club.

There is always something to keep them curious and creative.

These days I find solace in a good book. Business-wise, I was inspired by Simon Sinek’s Start with Why. After reading it I was able to clearly state why I do what I do and make decisions in my business that directly correlate to my Why. Scar Tissue, the autobiography of Red Hot Chili Peppers front man Anthony Kiedis’ gave me a better understanding of heroin addiction and how instrumental life experiences, relationships, and periods of light and dark have and impact on music and art.I am working on getting my kids to embrace the Harry Potter series so we can travel on the Jacobite Steam Train across the Glenfinnan Viaduct in Scotland and pretend we are on our way to Hogwarts to drink butterbeer and learn spells to levitate.

Most recently I was given Circling the Sun, by Paula McClain. It’s the story of a woman raised in Kenya who went against the grain in nearly everything she did. I see some of myself in her and long to visit Eastern Africa to gaze across vast plains, herds of zebra and wildebeest thundering past, and watch the African sunset dipping into the horizon, painting the sky with hues of orange, red and yellow that are so unique Pantone hasn’t classified them.

My obsession with reading started at the West Chester Public Library and has led me all over the world to explore far off lands, meet new characters and maybe even write my own story that could one day be read by a curious child curled up in a turret escaping their own reality. —jjones@thewcpress.com

JANUARY 2018 THEWCPRESS.COM

25

26

THE WC PRESS VOICE OF THE BOROUGH

© Sabin a Sister

WC118 ine S2 , Cather n a m l l i u Q

Library: c i l b u P y ster ontinuit8 West Che nity & C 1 Commu History,ter, PA, “The s West Che 5 p.

”, WC Press

20

es & Servic s g n i d l Bui ssential

E

© Sabina Sister

© Sabina S ister

28

THE WC PRESS VOICE OF THE BOROUGH

B

eing that it’s the time of year for resolutions, I’ve been doing a bit of reading about achieving goals. In the few guides I’ve read about habit-forming decisions, authors typically cite psychological studies that claim people are better able to achieve their goals if they make a public commitment. In that vein, the mission statement of the West Chester Public Library – a public declaration from one of the borough’s oldest organizations – reads a bit like a New Year’s resolution: West Chester Public Library is a destination for connection, collaboration and enrichment through knowledge and community engagement.

One of my resolutions for this year is to read more books, and so I’ve also been reading articles about how to convince myself to do that. In one particular article from Entrepreneur magazine, I learned that three of the most important factors to keep in mind are securing cheap access

to books, joining a book club, and finding a trusted referral source; the library is the perfect place for all these things. Not only can you get your books for free, but they also have a monthly discussion group. On top of it all, they have a knowledgeable staff who share their own reading tastes on a special bookshelf near the front door labeled “Staff Picks.”

And, while these services are going to serve me well on my quest for self-enrichment in 2018, they only begin to scratch the surface of the West Chester Public Library’s value to this community.

History Located at 415 North Church Street, a stone’s throw from the new Barclay Borough Park, the library is an architectural wonder and rare masterwork of early craftsmanship, highlighting skills in using brick, stone, wood, plaster, and metal.

The library’s construction and style

– what architectural historians call late Victorian Eclectic – was perhaps typical of an era when commerce was booming and focus was most often placed on money-making schemes. Typical of such a time, a library “company” was formed in 1872. But, it’s important to keep in mind that the roots of the library are also grounded in community support and what newspapers once called a “dogged effort” of the community. That term is particularly applicable in this case, because one source of funding for the library in its early years was a tax on dogs.

Long before construction began in the summer of 1887 (at the cost of $3,870), West Chester proved to be a borough of readers. In addition to book shops, library shelves existed in local stores and even a bank as early as 1815. According to the late West Chester historian Paul Rodebaugh, it wasn’t until 1871—when a group comprising mostly women formed the Library

DECEMBER 2017 THEWCPRESS.COM

29

30

THE WC PRESS VOICE OF THE BOROUGH

© Tom Caldwell

Association—that a concerted effort was begun to find a permanent location that could house more books.

Volume 13 of The Library Journal, then the official publication of the American Library Association, was published in 1888 and says that Hannah M. Darlington made the library a reality by securing its permanent location. Her donation of a large part of her property (and presumably her gardens) near the corner of Lafayette and Church Streets made the library possible.

A charter was granted on January 30, 1873, and the association soon raised a record sum—$1,000— and purchased 950 books to be displayed in the back rooms of a new bank at the corner of High and Market Streets called The Bank of the Brandywine. When the bank failed – evidently there were more readers than cash-flush customers – it was decided that the Library Association would need to rent rooms. As such, they were required to raise the necessary capital because, as Rodebaugh writes, “Money, then as now, was a difficult problem for the library committee.”

After much effort, enough money was secured by 1884 to hire and convince T. Roney Williamson, a famed 19th-century architect and West Chester native, to give up more lucrative jobs in Philadelphia in order to pursue civic work. Williamson was reportedly incapable of working with limited material types, opting instead for variety, which is why the library presents such eclectic elegance.

Naturally, given the times, several other men then got involved to do the legal footwork, and a lawyer named John J. Pinkerton aided the association by filing the incorporation papers at the courthouse.

While Pinkerton was listed as the chair of the first board of directors, Victoria E. Dow, library director, says, “This was a femaledriven library, certainly in its early history.”

Sarah Starkweather—one of the first board members who later became West Chester’s first female superintendent of the schools, and for whom a local elementary school is named—devised a rather new means of raising money, at least it was new for libraries: the selling of stock.

Judging from an original share dated July, 1887, which now hangs in the library stairwell, the aim was to raise $5,000. Starkweather reportedly bought the first share and the practice continued until 1927..

The library’s website says that they receive more than 110,000 visits annually and circulate more than 150,000 items per year...

It may also have been Starkweather’s idea to charge admission to the library dedication, an event remembered equally for its long list of VIPs as for taking place in legendarily bad weather. More than $200 was raised by the event—equivalent to roughly $5,000 today—but the 30th annual report, published in 1929, focuses more on the night being “a stormy, sleety evening in February, 1888.” Fortunately for attendees, the dedication also featured “a social and musical reception enjoyed by all,” as well as a revealing lecture on the “growing tendency toward materialism.”

It seems that some things never change.

Community Like most in the Chester County Library System, the West Chester Public Library is not just a branch but an independent

entity, with its own budget for programs and books. It has an interesting two-way relationship with the community, in that— while its board of directors is selected by borough council—the library is independently responsible for fundraising and community engagement. And, it’s shown a willingness to innovate in fulfilling those duties.

The library’s website says that they receive more than 110,000 visits annually and circulate more than 150,000 items per year from a collection of roughly 50,000 pieces. That collection includes new media and a variety of rental items only tangentially related to reading.

Patrons in search of goods beyond books come to the library to check out an array of cake pans for baking and even a special quilt-cutter.

Part of the library’s budget goes toward purchasing media through OverDrive, an ebook and audiobook program you can use for free with a library card on the app “Libby.” Audiobooks are found in the basement addition of the library (a $2.3 million renovation from 2005 that built down instead out). While the library was originally envisioned as a space for adults, their

DECEMBER 2017 THEWCPRESS.COM

31

32

THE WC PRESS VOICE OF THE BOROUGH

© Tom Caldwell

summer reading club—used to encourage kids to read while school is out—dates back to the early 1900s. As for teenagers, young adult (YA) literature wasn’t a category until Maureen Daly’s Seventeenth Summer, considered the first book directly targeted at teenage readers, was published in 1942. In recent years, responding to a rise in the popularity of YA—due in part to series like Harry Potter and The Hunger Games—the library has adapted, and there are now two staff members devoted to working on activities and reading programs with a teen advisory board.

The reading community now includes a teen writing club run by Alyssa Turner, the library’s new YA coordinator. Clara Kelly, who previously held the job, is now in an expanded position overseeing children’s and young adult programs. “Usually the teens who come here are really big readers anyway,” Kelly said about her job of gentle encouragement. “What we end up doing is just making recommendations for them.”

Young adults are also given a chance to just hang out at the library, with programs such as “Teen Tuesdays.” One group in December was scheduled to make handicrafts, which would then be distributed through the New Century Club, a group which dates back to World War I when library patrons were first invited to make washcloths for soldiers.

During my last visit to the library I re-discovered some holiday children’s classics—books like Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree by Robert Barry and the illustrated The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore— when I saw many of them displayed on a shelf above the library’s grand staircase. That staircase takes readers to the collection on the second floor, and I suspect any child who climbs those stairs for the first time is awestruck when they reach the top and discover the entire second floor is devoted to them. At least that’s how Dow tells it. Her office is near the stairs and she is often amused by the things children say. “My favorite was the kid, maybe five years old or so, who came pounding up the stairs to the Children's Department as fast as he could go,” she remembers. “When he got to the top of the stairs the whole library heard him shout, ‘Books! Books! Books!’” It’s probably also relevant to point out that, from the beginning, the library has never had a quiet policy.

Continuity In many ways, things at the library are not all that much different than they were in 1888. In others, they’re constantly innovating. In terms of atmosphere, there’s something encouraging about reading in one of the first-floor study areas and having the same view as early patrons. Depending on the afternoon sun, an amber light glows through a bank of five Tiffany-style glass windows. It’s a feature that makes the West Chester Public Library a landmark: the windows are illustrated with quotes

by Bayard Taylor, a Kennett-born writer and poet who was so wildly successful he reportedly inspired Mark Twain to take up the same occupation.

“..the windows are illustrated with quotes

by Bayard Taylor, a Kennett-born writer and poet...”

Today that same area is reserved during after-school hours for teens, but I still like to sit nearby and look at the ever-changing decorations put up by the library’s teen advisory board. Signs pointing out the “stache” of YA books under a hand-drawn mustache, for instance, once introduced me to Pretty Little Liars, the best-selling series by Chester County native Sara Shepard, who recently gave a book signing at the library.

DECEMBER 2017 THEWCPRESS.COM

33

1/31/18

34

THE WC PRESS VOICE OF THE BOROUGH

1/31/18

In its early efforts to raise capital, the library depended heavily on its volunteers, like Joseph Trimble Rothrock. He is recognized today as an early environmentalist and the state’s "Father of Forestry,” but back then, he lived across the street and put on evening lecture series at the library to aid its fundraising.

Today, the library’s major fundraisers include an annual holiday house tour and community events. “You learn to get creative about your fundraising,” Dow says.

For instance, every March the library is transformed into a miniature golf course, played through the stacks. “The front nine are down on the first floor and the back nine are upstairs,” says Dow. “The 18th hole goes down the stairs, which children think is just hysterical. They love it.”

In terms of near history, I remember back in the the late 1990s when the Community Room still resembled a Victorian reading room, complete with a wooden ladder that could be moved along a track secured to a book-filled balcony. The room still has a quaint atmosphere, but instead of seeing patrons perusing the newspaper racks (now replaced by computers), you might find the room literally crawling with babies, with the library’s traditional “Story Hour” now focused on “singing, playing, talking, and reading together.” This particular community includes infants up to 12-month olds who crawl across mats that line the floor.

“This is truly a community library, “ Dow says. “The people of West Chester came up with the idea and with the money. It’s not a Carnegie library; it is something West Chester created.”

In West Chester, residents had the foresight to realize that an independent library, built with the support of local residents, would also be treated like one’s second home. That was apparent in the history of the library’s major “dustups,” Dow says, when the library community reacted to perceived problems with library administration.

The first of these dustups was a disagreement between the ladies on the library board and the gentlemen sitting on borough council over the burgesses assertion that borough council should get to select the librarian. It actually reached the point that the ladies of the board shut the library down. As for the response of the community, Dow says, “A library history,

Library Director Victoria Dow and Young Adult Coordinator Clara Kelly photo Sabina Sister

“This building was built some 130 years ago. It has never been anything but a library, and it still works as a library.” written in 1929, reveals that there were threats of fistfights, and the columns of the local news were blue with the smoke of battle.” In the end, with the support of the community, the ladies won.

This same fervor was played out again more recently when, in the early 2000s, the library needed to expand and residents were worried about the historic structure.

“You got the idea how much people loved the library when we began to discuss ways to make the library larger,” says Dow. The community made it clear they didn’t want the original structure changed. “People said, “Don't mess with our library,’” she remembers.

Fortunately, a solution was found when the West Chester architectural firm of Frens & Frens, LLC was able to double the size of the library without touching the beautiful library facade. Cleverly, the

firm decided to expand by building the aforementioned basement. Thanks to this community involvement, the library was selected for a West Chester Downtown Foundation “Bricks & Mortar Preservation Award” in 2011, in recognition of the meticulous restoration of the building while successfully addressing the need for more usable space.

The West Chester Public Library is an icon of the borough. It has a rich history dating back to an era populated by the people after whom many of our prominent streets and facilities are named. It serves as a source of pride and community for all of West Chester, and though its services may have changed over time, its purpose is as relevant today as it was 13 decades ago. “Just think about it,” says Dow. “This building was built some 130 years ago. It has never been anything but a library, and it still works as a library.”

This year, if you haven’t yet settled on your New Year’s resolution, I have a suggestion for one that will be both entertaining and enriching, one that’s easy to uphold and won’t cost you a penny. This year, resolve to spend more time at the library.

DECEMBER 2017 THEWCPRESS.COM

35

36

THE WC PRESS VOICE OF THE BOROUGH

Home

Becca Boyd shares tips on life and cooking on her blog at homebeccanomics.com

Beccanomics

It’s a new year, which often means a new set of lofty lifestyle goals.

To many, these intentions conjure images of steamed vegetables and listless salads, and with these two recipes I’m delighted to prove you wrong. If you doubt me, get thee to the kitchen; with sharp cheeses like parmesan and gorgonzola, even the blandest vegetable is sure to please. –bboyd@thewcpress.com Roasted Broccoli and White Beans with Parmesan serves 4-6 1 large head broccoli, florets 2 anchovies and stems cut to bite sized 15 oz can of cannelini beans, 1/4 c. plus 2 tbsp. olive oil, drained and rinsed divided Zest of 1/2 a lemon 3/4 tsp. kosher salt Juice of 1 lemon 1/4 tsp. black pepper 3 oz. parmesan cheese, shaved 3 cloves garlic, minced Crushed red pepper flakes

1. Heat oven to 450 degrees. On a large baking sheet, toss broccoli with 1/4 c. of the olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until starting to blacken on the edges.

2. Meanwhile, heat remaining 2 tbsp. olive oil over medium low heat. Add garlic and anchovies and mash with the tip of a wooden spoon to dissolve anchovies. Let cook until garlic begins to turn golden and add beans. 3. Stir beans with garlic mixture until well coated. Remove from heat. 4. Add zest and juice of lemon and stir to combine. 5. When broccoli is finished cooking, pour bean mixture over the top. Shave parmesan over broccoli and serve, with pepper flakes as desired.

Double-stuffed Sweet Potatoes w/ Bacon & Gorgonzola serves 4 4 large sweet potatoes 1/2 tsp. black pepper Cooking spray 3/4 tsp. kosher salt 5 slices bacon or turkey bacon 1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg 1 heaping tbsp. coconut oil 4 scallions, thinly sliced 1/2 c. nonfat plain Greek yogurt 1/4 c. crumbled Gorgonzola

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Scrub potatoes clean and mist with cooking spray. Bake on parchment lined baking sheet for 1 hour, turning over halfway through. Remove but maintain oven temperature. 2. Let cool at least ten minutes or until cool enough to handle. Meanwhile, fry bacon in skillet over medium low heat until cooked. Drain on paper towel. 3. Cut each potato from stem to stem and holding carefully, scrape most of the flesh into a bowl, leaving a thin layer of flesh still inside the potato to give it shape.

4. Add coconut oil and mix with fork until melted. 5. Add yogurt, pepper, salt and nutmeg and mix until smoothly combined. 6.

Chop cooled bacon and reserve about two tablespoons. Fold the rest into the potato mixture along with 1/4 c. cheese and most of the scallions (reserve about two tablespoons for topping). 7.

Fill potatoes with mixture and return to baking sheet. Top with reserved bacon and cheese. Bake for 10 minutes or until heated through. 8. Top with reserved scallions and serve.

JANUARY 2018 THEWCPRESS.COM

37

38

THE WC PRESS VOICE OF THE BOROUGH

Employee of the

Month

PHOTO Sabina Sister INTERVIEW Skye McDonald

Chatting with Mike Zawada of Pietro’s Prime about the importance of professionalism How long have you been working at Pietro’s Prime? Eight years. It’s a low–key, family–oriented, relaxed atmosphere.

Do you think that atmosphere is unique to Pietro’s? Absolutely. The tight– knit camaraderie that we all have, we look after each other. We’re family when we’re here, and friends outside work.

What do you think you bring to Pietro’s? I serve four nights a week and bartend one night a week. I bring a good mood, a friendly atmosphere, a professional touch with the customers, and experience—I’ve actually been in the restaurant business since I was 15.

15? I started washing dishes at a private club. Eventually, I bartended with a friend at private events. At 21, I went to bartending school. After that, I moved around and came here. I still remember the date: September 12, 2010. It was a Monday night.

What do you love about the business?

I love that it’s different every day. You meet new people and interact with roughly 40 personalities in a night. It’s fun to just adapt to it—routine is not good for me. I take care of a lot of high–end customers; people often request me to be their server.

Why do you think they request you? I always try to make things perfect and make everyone feel comfortable, like they’re sitting in their own homes. When a customer comes in, I already know what they’re going to order. I have everything memorized. They don’t even have to talk for me to know what they want. When kids come in, and I know they like root beer, I’ll have it sitting on the table for them—if we don’t have it, I’ll run to the store. At Christmas, I bring my regulars gifts. I always want people to come back.

What makes you go above and beyond for your customers? They take good care of me, so I want to take care of them. I got

invited to two of my customers’ Thanksgiving dinners. I do private parties for one customer and go for drinks with another. They’ll text me if they’re coming in.

You have their numbers? Yeah, they text me to set up a reservation.

So, it’s safe to say you take your job home with you. Yes, in a good way. I’ve developed a lot of good relationships and friendships with customers.

Do you have any career advice for others in the service industry? Don’t take it for granted. No matter what you do, do it the best you can. Just because you’re a server in a restaurant doesn’t mean you’re any different than a corporate CEO. If you do your job in your most professional way, no one can ever fault you for the job you do. You never know who you’re speaking to, so pay attention to everything they say.

Seems pretty important when you’re taking orders. Yeah. I don’t write anything down.

Really, what’s the largest party you’ve served by memory? 26. I’m always trying to learn from my customers and make them happy. That’s the goal.

DECEMBER 2017 THEWCPRESS.COM

39

40

THE WC PRESS ADVERTISING VOICE OF THE BOROUGH

DECEMBER 2017 THEWCPRESS.COM

41

42

THE WC PRESS VOICE OF THE BOROUGH

O

n a brisk winter day that promised snow, I walked to Second Reading I on 32 N Church Street.

Since the early 1990s, Second Reading I has been using the combined efforts of their volunteers and the generous donations from community members to fund programs at the West Chester Senior Center.

The shop was small, cozy, warm, and full of used and donated books. As I walked in, I was met with by the smiling face of Kevin McGovern, the store’s manager, who was overseeing a couple of other book shoppers.c Kevin extended his hand in greeting.

With neatly combed gray hair and small, round black glasses, he reminded me of an old family friend. He seemed like the sort of approachable man I could easily be friends with.

“You must be Skye,” he said in a pleasant voice as he gripped my hand.

“So nice to meet you!”

Kevin excused himself and brushed past me, squeezing through the narrow path between bookshelves to gather a

folding chair from the back.“This should do!” he smiled as he hoisted it over his head and unfolded it next to the counter.

He took a seat in his rolling desk chair, and opposite him, I took out my steno pad and my recorder.

“Tell me,” I asked, clicking my pen, “how did it all begin?”

T

hanks to the innovations of Russell Rickert and Esther Wolfe, around 1992 or 1993, Second Reading I got its start. The building was stocked with loads of donated books, and right from the beginning, they all went to the West Chester Senior Center. “All of our proceeds fund the Senior Center’s meal, exercise, and language programs,” Kevin said. “We’re entirely non–profit.”

that filters in a soft illumination, it’s easy to see why. “The atmosphere has to come from within,” he continues. “People who volunteer or shop here, they all feel something — their own happiness at finding a quiet place. It’s a solace to be here and the people who come here either add to it or are looking for it themselves.”

Currently, Second Reading I has around 25 volunteers who create their own schedules, and according to Kevin, many of them are involved in multiple volunteer positions with other organizations. As for Kevin, “I’m a volunteer manager” he says. A fair amount of the stores volunteers also participate in the Senior Center’s activities, so they come full circle.

“The atmosphere has to come from

The non–profit status is a sufficient reason to shop at the store, within... People who volunteer or but Kevin also thinks there’s more shop here, they all feel something...” to it. “It’s also the atmosphere,” he Kevin believes that a large portion of said. “It has the curiosity of an old–time the store’s success is derived from its bookstore. There’s a nice feeling here.”

From inside the shop, looking out across location in downtown West Chester.

Church Street through the wide window The store on Church Street sees a lot of

DECEMBER 2017 THEWCPRESS.COM

43

44

THE WC PRESS VOICE OF THE BOROUGH

foot traffic due to its central, walkable location. Kevin also believes that the borough has a certain energy to it, and that energy lends success to businesses like his. “It’s quite alive,” he says, “but very tuned into the people.”

point about the power of selling for a good cause. “You see,” he said, pointing at the door through which his customer had just exited. “That book I sold was $4, but she gave me $5 and told me to keep it! Everyone has their own way of giving back.”

Second Reading I only accepts cash, but they have largely inexpensive books, and a deal where you can fill up an entire bag, with as many as it’ll hold, for just $14. Kevin attributed another portion of their success to their prices, saying that it’s not expensive books that keep them going, but the $3 books, dozens at a time. “And people know it’s going to a good cause.”

“Giving back” seemed to be the store’s catchphrase.

Kevin described a time when a volunteer really went above and beyond, posthumously.

She had passed away the year before and her family asked Kevin and the Second Reading team if they had interest in her books, knowing she’d loved her time at the store. He was touched by their consideration. “She had had mental health issues her whole life, but the one thing she was so happy about was coming here to get that nice feeling,” he said. “Having known the memories of her is a wonderful thing.”

Throughout our conversation, Kevin kept politely excusing himself to attend to the register. At one point, he helped a woman purchase a book, then excitedly turned back to me to illustrate his earlier

In my time spent at the shop, it really seemed like Second Reading was more than just a shop staffed with a random collection of volunteers: they were family, too. Kevin agreed. “Russell and

“When customers come in, they almost exhale. They just want to be here for five or 10 minutes. They’re looking for something... that goes beyond books.”

Esther, who founded the shop, don’t work here anymore, but whenever they stop by, it’s like our parental figures have returned,” he said. “It’s very warming.

Esther speaks her mind and volunteers as much as she can at St. Agnes Church.”

Kevin insisted that while he is the manager of the store, the role he plays isn’t the reason Second Reading does well; rather, it’s the equal efforts of everyone. They all contribute to the store and work very well with the Senior Center. Kevin calls this team the “Army of Ants,” because they each have their specific jobs, they all do a little.

Despite the store’s emphasis on donations and proceeds, it’s perfectly acceptable to just come hang out. “You can see so much in people,” he said.

“When customers come in, they almost exhale. They just want to be here for five or 10 minutes. They’re looking for something that we have to offer, something that goes beyond books.”

And what is that something? To me, it always seems to offer a reprieve from

DECEMBER 2017 THEWCPRESS.COM

45

46

THE WC PRESS VOICE OF THE BOROUGH

life’s craziness. Kevin seems to agree.

“Yep! You see lightning and fire all over the place,” he said. “But there’s this blue cloud with a silver lining. That’s this place.”

D

riving along High Street on another chilly day, but this one thankfully deprived of precipitation, I stopped by Second Reading II, nestled in the Parkway Shopping Center at 929 South High Street. Like its predecessor, the shop’s inviting window welcomes swathes of natural light that illuminate its many book–lined shelves. It was quiet when I walked in; save for a few murmured voices and the gentle hum of a radiator, the shop is nearly silent.

“Excuse me,” I inquired to a volunteer.

“Is Ann Marie available?”

It was then that I was greeted by Ann Marie Fletcher–Moore, the store’s manager, whose demeanor embraces a happy professionalism. Not just a volunteer, Ann Marie is the only person who is employed by both Second Reading and the Senior Center, and as such she

maintains a unique liaison position, directly controlling and continuing the shop’s Senior Center support.

Dressed in a turtleneck with short, gray hair and stylish glasses perched on her nose, she shook my hand and smiled.

Like its predecessor, the shop’s inviting window welcomes swathes of natural light that illuminate its many book–lined shelves.

“Thank you so much for coming,” she greeted me. “It’s so wonderful you’re writing an article on us.” She led me further into the expansive store, stopping at a wooden table surrounded by fully stocked bookshelves and we sat opposite each other.

Setting the recorder between us and touching my pen to paper, I asked Ann Marie about their mission.

O

ne goal for Second Reading is to promote literacy in the community.

Beyond selling books, they’re linked Chester County Family Academy that helps at–risk children in the borough.

Volunteers read stories to those children once a month through Grand Friends, an intergenerational program for seniors

ages 60 to 100, which partners with this academy. The seniors make use of Second Reading’s collection of previously loved books to engage with the children.

Ann Marie stresses the importance of how reading works in conjunction with the other school subjects. “We’re not going to have educated people otherwise,” she said. “And physically holding that book in your hand is more important than using electronic devices.” Perhaps unsurprisingly, Ann Marie is not a fan of Kindles and Nooks, declaring that she’s never owned one.

She firmly believes in the power of education and worked as a teacher for a decade. Later, when she had children, she was employed for eight years by the Chester County Book & Music Company. She became the manager of Second Reading II three years ago.

DECEMBER 2017 THEWCPRESS.COM

47

48

THE WC PRESS VOICE OF THE BOROUGH

exclude specialty books — antique books over a century old and brand new, mint books, which are priced up to $7. Specialty books that collectors may be interested in are sold online — Ann Marie has currently listed a donated first–edition copy of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird for $130. It’s the continuous donations help keep these prices low. “Most of our books come from donations,” Ann Marie said, “And whatever we don’t sell, we provide to our veterans. Everything is reused and recycled. We’re not just a senior bookstore — we’re here for everyone.”

“That’s our main mission... We have a purpose here; we’re here for a reason.”

“It’s a good crossover for me, being employed here and at the Senior Center,” Ann Marie said. “I go to the Senior Center roughly three times a week, and I can collect donated books to bring back here. They both help our community.”

She emphasized that everyone needs to help each other, and the strength of the surrounding community is imperative.

Second Reading II has been at this location in the Parkway Center for nine years, and the only way they’ve ever promoted the business is through word of mouth. Without an advertising budget, they really want customers to spread the word. Recently they’ve taken to social media to continue sharing. Ann Marie also takes advantage of the internet to sell a few books on eBay and Bonanza.

Second Reading II accepts both cash and credit, and some of their books cost as little as $1, with their priciest, regular volumes topping out at $5. Those prices

But, while the store is for everyone, Ann Marie knows it’s important to remember the reason they’re raising funds in the first place. “We want to encourage our customers to contribute to the Senior Center,” She believes it’s imperative that their programs remain funded, and she’s willing to work hard to do so. “That’s our main mission,” she emphasized. “We have a purpose here; we’re here for a reason.”

T

he cover story in National Geographic magazine’s November 2017 issue was titled “The Search for Happiness.”

They sought out the happiest places on the planet in hopes of discovering what it was the made these folks so content with their lives. The central themes were feeling a sense of purpose, the ability to pursue passions, and finding meaning and success in careers and hobbies.

This article was on my mind as I reviewed the recordings of my interviews with Kevin and Ann Marie. Sitting in their respective Second Reading stores, they both effused a sort of contentment, a happiness with their lives. Their ability to positively impact the lives around them fills Second Reading volunteers with a sense of purpose, and the act of volunteering lends meaning to their lives.

In retrospect, Second Reading is a sort of haven, one that lends as much joy to those who spend their time there as to the thousands of people who’ve been helped over the years by the money they’ve raised.

DECEMBER 2017 THEWCPRESS.COM

49

50

THE WC PRESS VOICE OF THE BOROUGH

Design Dilemmas Andrea Mason of Perceptions Interiors is a professional interior designer who wants to help you upgrade your space

Happy New Year from the Perceptions Team! We want to share with you some of the top interior design trends that you will be seeing in 2018.

Dave's Automotive Repair has served the West Chester, PA area with a commitment to service and value for over 40 years.

Color: Pantone’s color of the year is Pantone 18–3838 Ultra Violet. It looks just like it sounds—vivid purple! This particular purple has not made it’s appearance in the design world for quite some time, so it’s great to see it in the spotlight. I would suggest using it in small quantities so you won’t overwhelm your space. Think a powder room wall color, a chair, a throw pillow, or a vase. Another color trend that will continue through to 2018 are whites and grays.

We appreciate your interest and look forward to earning your business.

Finishes Expect to see more of gold, copper, and brass. These finishes look great in both traditional and modern homes. You can replace your cabinet fixtures, door knobs, or even a new chandelier. A room will look more cohesive if you make all of the hardware a similar finish. For example, I love gold and black mixed together or silver and black, but I would not mix silver tones and gold tones together in the same room. It is ok, however, to have silver in one room and gold in the next if you do not want to change all of your fixtures at the same time. DIY Tip: If you want to get crafty, you can spray your old hardware or chandelier a new color. Any local hardware store will sell the finish spray cans and will make it look like the real deal.

Cement Tile: These tiles are durable and will add so much character to your room. They come in an array of colors and patterns. I think they look best in smaller spaces like a backsplash in a kitchen or your mudroom flooring. Cement tiles can be on the pricier side, and they require a special sealant, so they need more labor, but there are tiles that have a similar style and are made of ceramic and porcelain for budget–friendly buys!

Wallpaper: This will be a trend you’ll continue to see everywhere.

No longer is wallpaper a treatment for only traditional homes; there are modern and fun patterns that will add character to any space. Wallpaper also comes in textures, such as seagrass. It’s a great way to add color, pattern, and texture to a space. I love applying a fun pattern to a small room or using the seagrass in larger rooms.

Minimalism: With books out like The Life–Changing Magic of Tidying Up and The Joy of Less, it’s not surprising to hear that making your home clutter–free and more organized is a design trend.

People are purging their homes to create a calming environment that contains only the essentials of living. If you don’t want to do it alone, there are professional organizers that can help you through the process in a painless way. Easier said than done, but that’s something we can all work on for the New Year!

With so many fun design trends to look forward to in 2018, it should be easy to use this inspiration to update your home. Cheers to a happy and healthy New Year! —amason@thewcpress.com

Our services include: ■

Auto Body & Collision Repair

■

Full Auto Detailing

■

PA State & Emissions Inspection

■

Tune-Ups

■

Engine Replacement

■

Oil, Lube & Filter Changes

■

Full-Service Machine Shop

■

Brake Service & Repair

■

Fleet Accounts

■

Tires & Alignments

■

Paintless Dent Repair

■

Belts & Hoses

■

■

Exhaust & Mufflers

Windshield Repair and Replacement

■

Shocks & Struts

■

Discounted Rental Car Rates

■

4-Wheel Drive & AWD Diagnostics & Repair

■

Free Estimates

■

Same Day Service

■

Local Shuttle Service

■

Transmission & Clutch Replacement

■

Engine Diagnostics

■

Fuel Injection Service

Visit our website to make an appointment online.

610-696-7153 www.DareAuto.com 301 S. Bolmar Street, West Chester, PA 19382 8:30-5:00 Monday-Friday | 8:30-4:00 Saturday

JANUARY 2018 THEWCPRESS.COM

51

52

THE WC PRESS VOICE OF THE BOROUGH

Spot the five differences between these images of some of the yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most popular novels, then send your answer to contests@thewcpress.com for your chance to win a Barnabyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gift certificate.

Congrats to December winner Nick Banta who identified all our holiday changes.

JANUARY 2018 THEWCPRESS.COM

53

54

THE WC PRESS VOICE OF THE BOROUGH

January Playlist DJ Romeo curates a list of the tracks you’ll be enjoying all month long.

The following is a list of songs that will take over the radio stations in the next few months. You’ll soon know them by heart and play them ‘til they’re tired. But, good news: you can download them first and look like the cool musical genius to all of your friends. djromeo@thewcpress.com

www.djromeo.fm | @DJRomeo24

Eminem ft. Ed Sheeran – “River” G–Eazy ft. Charlie Puth – “Sober” Pink – “Beautiful Trauma” Martin Garrix ft. David Guetta, Jamie Scott & Romy Dya “So Far Away” Camila Cabello – “Real Friends” Taylor Swift ft. Ed Sheeran – “End Game” Machine Gun Kelly ft. X Ambassadors & Bebe Rexha – “Home” Fall Out Boy – “Hold Me Tight Or Don’t” Bastille – “World Gone Mad” Matt Terry – “Sucker For You” Shania Twain – “We Got Something They Don’t” SZA ft. Calvin Harris – “The Weekend” (Funk Wav Remix) Andy Grammer – “Smoke Clears” Post Malone – “I Fall Apart” Vance Joy – “Lay It On Me” Yellow Claw ft. STORi – “Both Of Us” Kalie Shorr – “Two Hands” BTS ft. Desiigner – “MIC Drop” Childish Gambino – “Have Some Love” Sheppard – “Coming Home” Billy Eilish ft. Vince Staples – “&burn” Craig David ft. Bastille – “I Know You” Demi Lovato – “Tell Me You Love Me” Axwell ^ Ingrosso – “Dreamer” Glades – “Do Right” James Arthur – “Naked” WALK THE MOON – “Kamikaze” Trace Adkins – “Still A Soldier” Brown & Gray – “Top Down” Diplo ft. MO – “Get It Right”

JANUARY 2018 THEWCPRESS.COM

55