The WC Press Crime & Justice Issue - July 2018

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The

Press

“At his best, man is the noblest of animals; separated from law and justice he is the worst.” –Aristotle COLUMNISTS Becca Boyd bboyd@thewcpress.com Jamie Jones jjones@thewcpress.com Andrea Mason amason@thewcpress.com DJ Romeo romeo@thewcpress.com

PUBLISHER Dan Mathers dan@thewcpress.com

ADVERTISING MANAGER Nick Vecchio nick@thewcpress.com EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Skye McDonald skye@thewcpress.com GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Nazarena Luzzi Castro nazarenaluzzi.com

Published By...

Mathers Productions 12 E Barnard Street West Chester, PA 19382 mathersproductions.com 610-344-3463

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Kate Chadwick kchadwick@thewcpress.com CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Amy Tucker amytuckerphotography.com

on the Cover

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.

Timlyn Vaughan Photography Timlyn Vaughan has a well-earned reputation in our community for his excellent images. He was kind enough to supply this issue with his one-of-a-kind images of the historic courthouse—inside and out—that we've used frequently. For more amazing West Chester photos and awesome prints, check out his website. www.timlynvaughanphotos.com

Worth

Noting

Our no-nonsense table of contents

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THE BLOODLESS BATTLE OF TURKS HEAD The evolution of the Chester County Courthouse

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BARTENDER OF THE MONTH Jen Marquez of Mercato talks about attaining work-life balance

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CRIME AND PUNISHMENT A history of laws and law-breaking in West Chester

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LEGAL AUTHORITY Directory and profiles of the top attorneys and juridical minds

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

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AUGUST 2018

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Deadline to Reserve Space: Friday, July 20 by 5pm Nick@thewcpress.com | 610.299.1100 THE WC PRESS VOICE OF THE BOROUGH

Letter

from the

Editor

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

I imagine most of us have had an evolving relationship with the law. Growing up has a funny way of changing perspectives.

As a teenager, the law was an obstacle. I rebelled against it and saw its enforcers as oppressors. My earliest experiences with lawyers involved cutting deals to mediate whatever wrong I’d done. Within months of earning my drivers license, I was in danger of losing it.

I begged to drop the 26mph speeding charge to something that didn’t come with a six-month suspension; a lenient DA, seeing my remorse, gave me a “one-time” deal and cited me for 15 over.

Through my early 20s, I faced a number of misdemeanors. In particular, I remember working my way out of a noise violation in State College. On my way home from the bar on Halloween, police pulled up to the house I shared with six friends and asked, “Who lives here?” Even geared up head-to-toe as Kenny from South Park, with only a sliver of my face exposed within my ridiculous costume, it was still my duty to respond—I was the only roommate of age. There were a few hundred people there that night, and the officer informed me that ours was the loudest party in town. He wasn't thrilled when I took that as a compliment, and he wrote the citation without another question. I still consider that Halloween party at Penn State to be one of my crowning achievements—there are some things growing up doesn’t change.

I appeared before the judge a few weeks later. My roommate was going to testify that I wasn’t part of the party planning and my girlfriend would affirm my alibi. As I began to outline my case, the judge cut me off and said, “You’ve put a lot of thought into this.

Usually people just show up claiming ignorance or apologizing.”

Impressed, he let me off without hearing a single witness.

I reveled in my victory and began planning my career as a counsellor. I majored in political science and expected to attend Villanova for law school, where my grandfather was an engineering professor. But, when I found out there was an exam to get into law school and another after I got out, I thought, “Eh, maybe I’ll try something else first and come back to this.” Obviously, I never did.

Since graduating, my experience with our justice system has been a bit different. Attorneys are now facilitators instead of oppressors. I rely on lawyers to prepare for what I can do, rather than learning after the fact what I shouldn’t have done. I’ve come to realize that lawyers don’t just argue in court. They plan estates, investigate the best interests of children and serve as the support for immigrants in search of a better life.

Producing this issue has been enough to make me reconsider my career. It’s made me wonder what might’ve been if I’d managed to mature more before leaving college, if I’d sucked it up and faced the LSATs. Maybe I’d be an accomplished criminal defense attorney, fighting for the wrongly accused. But then, I wonder if it wouldn’t be more fulfilling to serve as a DA, scaring straight unruly versions of my younger self. Life really does have a funny way of changing your perspective. —dan@thewcpress.com

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In 1784,

after nearly twenty years of petitions and complaints, the Pennsylvania Assembly approved moving the seat of Chester County from the City of Chester to “the vicinity of Turks Head Tavern," a place at the crossroads of the Philadelphia and Wilmington Pikes.

Construction soon began for what would become the first courthouse for West Chester. However, moving the County Seat did not sit well with the folks in Chester. John Harper, a tavern owner there, figured that the move would be bad for business, and he wasn’t going to take it lying down.

Having been a major in the American Revolutionary Army, it was easy for him to muster a small force of volunteers who, according to reports of the day, were provided with “a field-piece, a barrel of whiskey, and other warlike munitions.” The field-piece was likely a small cannon and the whiskey could be used for liquid courage, medicinal purposes, or celebratory enhancement, depending on the outcome. The mission was to “march towards the Turks Head (and) batter down the new courthouse”.

When the residents of Turks Head caught wind that a unit of armed “non-removalists” (as they were called) was on its way, they formed their own military defense. Under the command of Col. John Hannum, a local farmer and also veteran of the Revolutionary War, a “pretty respectable force” was collected along with arms, cartridges, rations, and (of course) grog — meaning rum and beer.

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According to an account by early historian Joseph J. Lewis, “the windows of the (unfinished) courthouse were boarded on each side, and the space between filled with stones, loopholes being left for the musketry. Each man had his station assigned to him (so that) all things were arranged for a stout resistance.”

When Maj. Harper’s tiny army arrived after a two-day march, they set up a battle line facing the courthouse. Seeing this, Col. Hannum’s men took to the courthouse windows with their muskets loaded and cocked. Each were ready to engage the other, but neither dared to fire the first shot. After “several hours in a hostile position,” the non-battle was interrupted by a small number of Quaker pacifist who intervened to argue for a resolution through peaceful dialog. This, and respect for the rule of law, and perhaps the notion that a barrel of whiskey sat patiently waiting to be opened, seemed enough for Harper’s army to stack their arms, call it a day, and prepare to shrink back to Chester.

Work was eventually completed on the courthouse without further incident. It was located just north of the current

historic courthouse where there is now a grassy courtyard and fountain. On November 28, 1786, the seat of Chester County was officially relocated to Turks Head when the first court session was held.

Even before the courthouse was completed, local property owners and community leaders developed plans for a town.

On April 9, 1784, the first map of West Chester was laid out to guide the development. It showed four square blocks divided by Gay and High Streets and bounded by Chestnut, Walnut, Market, and Church Streets. Thirty-two parcels were set-up within the grid ready for development. The courthouse was becoming a significant community anchor along with a school house, Turks Head Tavern, stables, and shops.

To help advance the ambitions of the local population, the Pennsylvania Assembly designated the area as a “county town” on March 3, 1788. With it, the current boundaries and name ‘West Chester’ were applied. It also allowed local citizens to elect two justices of the peace. The first to be called to serve were Charles Dilworth and — no surprise here — Col. John Hannum.

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Commerce continued to grow. In 1789, James Smith constructed the building at 13 North High Street, which was enlarged three years later by William Sharpless. It is now the oldest surviving “first period” structure related to the County administrative center. On March 28, 1799, West Chester, as we now know it, was chartered as a Borough by the Pennsylvania Assembly. The population was just 374, but the groundwork was laid and West Chester was off and running.

The first big change to the courthouse was the installation of what is now an iconic feature of downtown: the clock tower. It was actually the borough, rather than the county, that commissioned it in the mid-1830s. It was constructed simply because the citizens of the borough could not agree on the time of day. Personal clocks and watches were expensive and needed constant attention. Having consistent timekeeping ensured appointments would be kept, school classes could start, and trains were not missed. The community clock provided that service.

So the Borough asked a young and ambitious architect name Thomas U. Walter to construct a clock tower for the courthouse. Walter had already proved himself competent with other local commissions, but this would be special, an engineering feat along with architectural mastery. Isaiah Lukens constructed the clock, and while the original clockworks have been modernized, the original 1836 bell still marks the hour. It is the oldest continuous sound in West Chester.

Eventually, the original courthouse became obsolete and could not meet the demands of the judicial system in the growing county. So on July 4, 1846, a cornerstone was laid for a new courthouse, also designed

by Thomas U. Walter, to replace the old courthouse.

It now stands as the historic Courthouse of Chester County at High and Market Streets and is considered one of Walter’s greatest architectural achievements. He would go on to design the dome on the nation’s Capitol Building, for which he’s famous.

Isaiah Lukens constructed the clock, and while the original clockworks have been modernized, the original 1836 bell still marks the hour. It is the oldest continuous sound in West Chester.

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On February 22, 1848, George Washington’s birthday, the new courthouse opened. But due to a lack of funds, the walls were brick rather than the stone facing you see today.

But eleven short years later, the Courthouse walls were faced with Pictou stone, finally completing the structure.

The next expansion came in 1891 when the Courthouse Annex, with its entrance on West Market Street at Courthouse Alley, was constructed to add two more courtrooms.

Designed by T. Roney Williamson, it interprets the Italian Renaissance style, although it’s connected to the Greek Revival Courthouse. It’s faced with Indiana limestone while the interior is embellished with Italian marble wainscoting, stained art glass, and decorative wood garlands, diamonds, and pilasters. What is referred to as Courtroom Number Two is its most historic space.

The courthouse served its purpose well until the early 1960’s, when Chester County needed to expand its judicial and administrative services once again. To accomplish this, it replaced the three-story Assembly Building, which sat just north of the courthouse to serve as the government admin-

istration building, to construct a five-story structure that would be called the North Wing. The intent was to create a Courthouse Complex that would include the Courthouse, the North Wing, and a green space with FUN FACT: The exact world map a fountain as it is location of the Chester County today.

Courthouse was determined in 1843

The North Wing first opened by E.W. Beans, Principal of the Public School, and Walter Hibbard, to the public on April 24, 1966, Surveyor and Conveyancer. It is to introduce the latitude 39 degrees, 57 minutes, 31.3 $3.3-million seconds north; and longitude 75 structure. It had two court rooms, degrees, 36 minutes, 32.7 seconds located on the west of Greenwich, England. second floor, plus administrative offices which included the Board of Commissioners offices and their meeting chambers. The original address was 16

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North High Street. That was changed to 2 North High Street when the North Wing became the entrance to the entire Courthouse Complex.

The architecture of the North Wing is International style, with elements of Brutalism (an actual architectural term). The front facade is of limestone veneer and has one vertical column of windows obscured by Stone Reliefs created by artist Harry Rosin. The architects described the design as having a “colossal impact” relating to the “mass” of the structure. Despite its Post-modernist characteristics, there are architectural features borrowed heavily from the 1846 Courthouse located next door, such as the inverted dentils at the cornice, as a nod to the historic nature of its neighbor.

On October 14, 2011, the building was sold to the E. Kahn Development Corp and J. Loew & Associates, and the address was changed again to 10 North High Street, while the Historic Courthouse retains its correct address of 2 North High Street.

The biggest change for the justice services in Chester County came September 7, 2008, when the 422,000 square foot Justice Center, housing all the court-related departments for Chester County, opened at 201 West Market Street. That did not render the historic courthouse worthless. Rather, it gave the county breathing time to complete a $1.4-million renovation.

Which finally brings us to the most recent chapter of the courthouse. On April 28, 2014, it reopened with court services

by District Court 15-1-04. And today, it remains West Chester’s iconic emblem to history.

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Bartender of the Month

PHOTO Amy Tucker INTERVIEW Skye McDonald

Jen Marquez of Mercato talks about attaining work-life balance and the best girly cocktails So, what brought you here? I’ve always liked it. It’s a very pretty bar and I know Alfredo, the owner — he’s a great guy. He used to come into my old job at Kildare’s when I was bartending there.

What’s the difference? I like the family and business-professional crowd at Mercato, and I have better hours for my schedule. I work Tuesday and Friday nights from 6pm to midnight. And I like the environment at the bar, and the drinks and apps. Drinks are really fun to make. I like the social aspect and being creative on the job.

Have a favorite drink? I would say

the espresso martini. It has Crown Royale with Godiva Chocolate Liqueur, cocoa whipped cream, and espresso.

Towards the end of the night, you’ll be wide awake! My favorite featured drink to make is a white chocolate cherry martini. It has Godiva white chocolate with Baileys Almond Liqueur, vanilla vodka and Amarena cherry juice.

Favorite food on Mercato’s menu?

The Margherita Pizza! It’s so good.

Had you always wanted to bartend?

I’ve always done it; I’ve been doing it for 16 years. I’m from Orange County in Southern California and worked at a bar for 10 years there. Then, I moved out here when my boyfriend wanted to move. I was ready for an adventure, too!

West Chester was on my short list of places I was willing to move.

Why West Chester? The nightlife drew me in. In a college town, there’s so much going on. It’s a cute, little town. It’s absolutely beautiful in Pennsylvania, but I didn’t know what winter was like!

What’s kept you bartending for so long? I enjoy interacting with people.

There’s always something new — it’s never like a nine-to-five office job. There’s

always someone interesting to talk to.

You learn so much about different people. Sometimes, you overhear conversations and pretend not to hear them!

At Mercato, you mostly see a lot of families. Mercato’s a nice restaurant for date night or girls’ night, too. We have some really delicious girly drinks — our Bellini is great; it’s made with a lot of St. Germain, Blood Orange Purée, cranberry juice, and prosecco. And then we add Amarena cherries to it and they are sooooo good!

Is bartending your sole job? Yep! I also bartend at Ron’s Schoolhouse in Exton during the day. I really enjoy bartending because it’s a flexible job, and I’m not a morning person! It’s fun. It’s a more casual pace here, which I like. Now that I’m getting older, I like the pace more, instead of the nightclub tornado.

Who’s Jen Marquez when she’s not a bartender? I like running and any outdoor activities. I just do whatever sounds fun that day. I like going to baseball games — I’m mostly an Angels fan, but Phillies are my number two team!

You gotta make the most of the time you have, and enjoy life.

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

Staying organized is one of the most challenging things we can do and something everyone can work on. Properly organizing your home can eliminate clutter, make it look fabulous, and clear your mind.

Here is a list of my favorite tips and tricks for keeping a home looking tidy while keeping your design entact.

PURGE: Begin by going through your house and donating things that are no longer of importance to you. Does this item spark creativity? Happiness? Memories? If the answer is “No,” then consider tossing it. If you have any duplicates, then purge one. If you haven’t used something in a year then it’s probably time to let it go. The less you have in your home, the easier it will be to organize!

GROUP ITEMS: I love family heirloom knick knacks and collectables as much as the next person, but these small accessories can clutter tables and bookshelves to the point of disorganization. A great idea is to group these items in one spot.

It’s the perfect way of saying, “We belong together.” Instead of your eye jumping around from one spot to the next, it rests easily on one area and gives your precious collection a spotlight. One great example is showcasing your small knick knacks in a table shadow box.

FURNITURE WITH STORAGE: I suggest shelving and cabinets to client’s who live in small spaces, have children, or need help with organization. Suggesting a closed media cabinet to hold toys or paperwork will help keep things looking neat. End tables and coffee tables with shelving are also great pieces to help with storage. If there is something that you don’t want seen, select a cabinet door that you can shut.

BINS & BASKETS: These will be your best friends inside cupboards, on shelving, or standing alone. Your shelving will look great without even knowing the chaos that lies inside. Think of labels to help identify each box. Inside cabinets or drawers your bins can be plastic or glass, but if they are exposed then stick with opaque and decorative boxes that will showcase your personality.

USE TECHNOLOGY: Our lives have become much simpler due to technology. Use this to your advantage to help declutter your home. Get rid of stereo systems and tv appliances and use a smart tv instead. Take printed photographs and create organized photo albums. Scan paperwork into your computer to make an online filing cabinet.

Organizing your home will help it stay tidy and look great!

If you need help implementing design elements and simplify your home, , or if you’re just not sure where to begin, contact Perceptions Interiors today —amason@thewcpress.com

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It’s a story with a plotline straight out of a Netflix documentary: a sudden, intense fire, a body inside the building, burned beyond recognition, insurance claims filed, an investigation launched, tangled plot uncovered, and not one but two murders discovered.

The difference here is that this particular crime took place in 1872, and the resolution of it involved not just a guilty verdict for one William Udderzook, it was also the first case in the state of Pennsylvania that would be decided based on photographic evidence.

In a nutshell, a conspiracy was hatched between Udderzook and his brother-in-law, Winfield Goss—an elaborate scheme to defraud four insurance companies from whom Goss had obtained several life insurance policies, totaling $25,000, the equivalent of well over half a million dollars in today’s currency. The men, who were living in Maryland, conspired to fake Goss’ death in a fire while Goss hid out under an assumed name here in Chester County. There are conflicting theories about whether the body later discovered in the fire and presumed to be Goss was actually murdered by one or both men or... otherwise acquired, but we digress.

The insurance companies smelled a rat and refused to pay, the “widow.” Goss sued and won, and the insurance companies appealed in court. At issue were several pieces

of circumstantial evidence, including the fact that, although the face of the body in the fire was burned beyond recognition, the teeth of the corpse were in poor condition and Goss reportedly possessed a healthy set of chompers.

Then, while the appeal of the insurance companies was getting underway, the dismembered body of a man was discovered in Chester County. Although the arms and legs of the corpse were dismembered from the body and found buried nearby, the face was intact. The man who found the body was shown a photo of Goss, provided by the Prosecutor, and he said it did indeed match the face of the body he’d discovered. Udderzook was found guilty of both the insurance fraud conspiracy and the subsequent murder of his brother-in-law to cover it up. It seemed that the late Mr. Goss had a propensity for excessive alcohol consumption, and, faced with the prospect of being exposed by the investigation/appeal by the insurance companies, Udderzook became concerned that Goss would slip up and reveal their scheme. He was convicted based on that photo identification.

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The Crimes It may seem jarring to think of such a movie-worthy case taking place so long ago, and indeed, the types of crimes in West Chester have changed over time. A look at some of the archived cases at the county and at the Chester County Historical Society library reveal WC’s citizens of the 17th and 18th centuries being arrested and charged with such somewhat quaint crimes as “horse-stealing,” “seduction,” “fornication and bastardy,” “mayhem,” “speaking seditious words,” and the poetic “highway robbery.” We paged through the folders filled with details of the Udderzook case at the county archives, housed in the basement of the government services building on Westtown Road.

Probably the most sensational case in West Chester’s past, a poster of the cover of a book that was subsequently written about the Uddezook case hung on the wall over us. The hand-written subpoenas were fragile and covered with looping flows of cursive handwriting, an odd juxtaposition with the thoroughly modern office spaces of the building.

Throughout our research, alongside those “quaint” crimes were such things as burglary, larceny, assault and battery, and breaking and entering, along with murder—criminal activities which certainly continue in present-day society.

Joel Benecke, Esq can attest to that. He’s a criminal defense attorney at BenLath Law Group, who got into criminal defense because “it was one of the easiest to practice as a solo attorney.” Now in partnership with Julie Lathia, Esq, he has continued with criminal defense because he has grown to enjoy it. He cites DUIs and drug possessions as his most frequent cases. “Because of the college, West Chester has a higher percentage of alcohol-related offenses and lower-level drug offenses,” he explained.

Indeed, it’s very difficult, albeit entertaining, to imagine being criminally charged today with things like “harboring dogs that worry the neighbors’ hogs,” “divining by stick,” and “taking a wife contrary to the good and wholesome laws of the Province.” Maybe one day it’ll be hard to imagine “possession of marijuana” as a crime, too.

The Punishments If you lived in West Chester in 1692 and were convicted of being a thief, you might be ordered to wear a red, blue, or yellow “T” on the outside of your outer garment sleeve, and that “T” would cover your sleeve from shoulder to elbow. Both the pillory and the whipping post were also favored forms of punishment, with public lashings being ordered and administered more than 350 times between 1714 to 1786, when it was ultimately abolished. The number of those lashes administered varied, depending upon both the severity of the crime and the whims of the County Justices, but felony cases typically started—started—at 21 lashes for things like larceny, with no extenuating or aggravating circumstances. Ouch.

For misdemeanors—which most of the time meant fornication—one could get away with a mere 15 lashes. Sometimes, the lashes were meted out over the course of several days. According to the fascinating book Side Lights on the Bench & Bar of Chester County by Wilmer W. MacElree, published in 1918 and available for perusal at the Chester County Historical Society Library, a particularly larcenous fellow, one John Criswell, was creatively sentenced to 21 lashes on a Thursday, 15 on Friday, and 15 more on Saturday.

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Schenker notes that his office handles more than 5,000 cases per year, with the county total exceeding 7,000. “I have been here more than 30 years and the number of cases has increased regularly over that time, which makes sense as the population increases, economic and social changes occur, etcetera,” he said.

“I would think there are more criminal defense attorneys [in recent years]; many do criminal as part of a general practice. Certainly both the District Attorney’s Office and the Public Defender’s Office have grown over a 20-year span.”

By the way, of those 350 convicts who were sentenced to the whipping post, 50 of them were women. It should also be noted that this was one—if not the only—place where a married woman’s rights were recognized by the Court... that is if women who were convicted alongside their husbands being given the same number of lashes as that husband could be counted as “recognition.”

challenge of going up against the power and resources of the police and the District Attorney. He said he often struggles with the mismatch he sees between crime and punishment. “I feel as though we focus more on punishment and do too little to address fixing what led the person to commit the crime to begin with,” he told us. “Further, once a conviction occurs, the person has a hard time finding decent paying work, so is more likely to commit another crime in the future, and this is the case for everything but a first-offense DUI.”

And in the Udderzook case, his defense attorney, J. Perdue, vehemently argued against the conviction of his client based on the photograph, insisting that a photo is not an accurate enough portrayal of its subject, but to no avail. He seemed to be the only one who believed it.

For the aforementioned Mr. Udderzook, his was the ultithe orighinal subpoena sent to William Udderzook mate punishment the county could administer. At 12:19pm on November 14, 1874, a mere two days after his conviction, he was hanged until dead.

Defending the Accused We all know that one is entitled to a proper defense under the law, although differences between defense “then” and “now” are a tough comparison to make, according to First Assistant Public Defender, Nathan Schenker. “It is a more complex matter. There were fewer crimes, fewer and different punishment options, fewer rights, and certainly a trial would look very different,” he said. “Consider that many rights, like the right to free counsel for indigent defendants, has only existed since the 1960s.”

As for Benecke, he enjoys the

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Changes in Procedure According to the Chester County Bar Association website, “One needed an attorney in order to safely navigate the maze of procedures and technicalities, but attorneys were scarce. They were disliked. In fact, in 1677, attorneys were banned altogether from practicing in the predecessor court at Upland in what became Chester County, upon William Penn’s arrival.”

County had one of the first ARD, or alternative dispute resolution procedures, in the nation. Back in 1709, there were but four members of what was then called the Chester County Bar Committee. By 1910, the number was 50. In 1929, it became the Chester County Bar Association, and membership today stands at nearly 1000.

Occasionally, things got unruly in the courtroom in the days of yore. “In the early days of the Republic, ‘the Gentlemen of the Bar,’ as they referred to themselves,

Penn directed that each court in the county appoint three “peacemakers” for the purpose of dealing with disputes among neighbors—or “to hear and end differences betwixt man and man” in order to prevent lawsuits. To that end, Chester

finding useful information hidden throughout the archives requires liberal interpretation of fanciful handwriting

had occasion to unite in order to uphold their dignity,” states the Chester County Bar Association website. “For example, in 1797, matters had gotten so out of hand during trials that the group filed a petition with the Court to express their ‘extreme inconvenience, interruption, and disgust’ at the habit of spectators to seat themselves at counsel table. The Court was asked to make it the business of one of its offices to shoo such strangers away in the name of “decent deportment.”

As procedures have changed, so have the faces representing justice in the county. Isabel Darlington, a University of Pennsylvania School of Law graduate, was the first woman admitted to practice law in Chester County in 1897, and one of only a handful of women attorneys in the entire country—quite the leap from a generation ago when being accorded as many lashes as one’s husband was considered a bit of a privilege, and when a woman could be arrested for when, how, and with whom she had a baby. Fast forward to 1991, when Paula Francisco Ott, Esq, became elected as the first female judge of the County Court after three centuries. In 2005, Ott was chosen to be the President Judge, and won a seat on the Superior Court of Pennsylvania in 2010.

Another thing that has changed significantly through the years is the admissibility of photographic evidence in a case. These days, with a camera in practically everyone’s hand and the prevalence of Photoshop and other photo-altering and editing software, courts and attorneys have changed the way that photographic evidence is handled. Rules of evidence now dictate that digital images be preserved in their original formats, and copies saved as “read only.”

But that all started, at least in Pennsylvania, right here in West Chester, and a bit too late for William Udderzook, where despite the efforts of a determined defense attorney, one photo was enough to sentence a man to his death.

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Home

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

Beccanomics

July is a month of bag packing. I’ve got the gym bag as well as the pool bag, which contains the lunch bags. I pack the weekend bags, the day trip bags, and the family vacation bag (times five). None of my humans can handle being hungry, so you’d better believe there are snacks in each of these bags. You can’t get better than these muffins for their portability, flavor and fill-em-up fiber. The zucchini recipe will come in handy when you’ve visited the Grower’s Market and bought more squash than any family could eat; it’s one of my favorite summer sides. –bboyd@thewcpress.com

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

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

Oatmeal Cookie Muffins - makes 16 2 1/3 c. oats 1 c. white whole wheat flour 1/2 c. chopped walnuts 1/2 c. brown sugar 1/3 c. sugar 1/3 c. ground flax seed 2 tsp. cinnamon 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda 3/4 tsp. salt

1 c. buttermilk 1/2 c. vegetable oil 1 large egg 1 tsp. vanilla 1/3 c. boiling water 1 c. white chocolate chips 1/2 c. finely chopped dried apricots

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a muffin tin with paper or foil liners. 2. In a large bowl, mix oats, flour, walnuts, sugars, flax, cinnamon, baking soda and salt together with a whisk.

3. In a smaller bowl, whisk buttermilk, canola oil, egg and vanilla together. 4. Add wet ingredients to dry and stir until just combined. 5. Add boiling water to mixture and stir to combine.

Let stand five minutes. 6. Fold in chocolate and apricots. 7. Fill muffin liners 2/3 of the way full. 8. Bake for 20 minutes or until no longer wet in the center of each muffin. 9. Cool on a wire rack and keep covered at room temperature for several days.

Crispy Garlic Parmesan Zucchini Boats - serves 4-6 4 medium zucchini 1 tbsp. olive oil Kosher salt and pepper Filling 1/4 c. chopped fresh basil 1/4 c. chopped fresh parsley

3 garlic cloves, minced 1/2 c. panko bread crumbs 1/2 c. parmesan cheese, ideally freshly grated 1/2 tsp. kosher salt 1/4 tsp. black pepper

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Cut zucchini in half and scrape out a small divot, lengthwise (mostly just seeds). 2. Arrange zucchini, 4 at a time, on a dinner plate. Microwave for 4 minutes. Repeat with remaining zucchini halves. 3. Arrange halves cut side up in 9x13 baking dish. Brush with 1 tbsp. olive oil and sprinkle with several pinches of kosher salt and black pepper.

Bake for 10 minutes. 4. Meanwhile, combine filling ingredients until well blended. Fill zucchini evenly with filling, using a small spoon. Bake for 10 more minutes or until filling is heated through and crunchy. 5. Serve warm or room temperature.

Our services include: ■

Auto Body & Collision Repair

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Full Auto Detailing

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PA State & Emissions Inspection

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Tune-Ups

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Engine Replacement

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Oil, Lube & Filter Changes

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Full-Service Machine Shop

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Brake Service & Repair

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Fleet Accounts

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Tires & Alignments

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Paintless Dent Repair

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Belts & Hoses

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Exhaust & Mufflers

Windshield Repair and Replacement

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Shocks & Struts

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Discounted Rental Car Rates

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4-Wheel Drive & AWD Diagnostics & Repair

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Free Estimates

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Same Day Service

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Local Shuttle Service

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Transmission & Clutch Replacement

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Engine Diagnostics

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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

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Legal Authority Directory and profiles of the top attorneys and juridical minds in West Chester compiled by Skye McDonald

About Joel Benecke: After Joel earned his bachelor’s degree in political science and government from the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, he earned his Juris Doctorate from Temple University’s James E. Beasley School of Law. He has argued cases in state and federal courts all over southeastern Pennsylvania. After serving as a managing partner of the Chester County office of Benari Law Group, Joel ran his own practice for several years before partnering to form BenLath.

Q: Why do you specialize in criminal and civil litigation?

BenLath Law Group 212 W Gay St 610.620.3996 benlathlaw.com Number of Attorneys: 2 Law Specialty: Criminal and Civil Litigation

A: Part of our work at BenLath is helping people with an acute legal and/ or public relations crisis. This is high-intensity work that often involves very serious, long-term consequences — we pride ourselves in helping clients achieve the best possible results, so they can put the situation behind them and focus on their businesses and their personal lives.

Q: What case are you most proud of?

A: I recently handled a case in which a large corporation made dubious legal claims about our client, as well as released bad information about their small business. We were able to address the matter quickly and achieve a result that ensured our client’s interests were protected and that they remained in business.

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Buckley, Brion, McGuire, & Morris LLP 118 W. Market St, Suite 300 610.436.4400 buckleyllp.com

About Christine Kimmel: Christine is the managing partner of Buckley, Brion, McGuire & Morris, LLP, and she specializes in commercial banking, finance, business and real estate. After graduating from the University of Delaware with a bachelor’s of science in 1986, she was a bank loan officer but discovered that she enjoyed the legal side of finance more. She earned her J.D. in 1996 from Villanova University School of Law. In 2015, Christine was the first woman to be elected to the Board of Supervisors of East Marlborough Township in Chester County, and she currently serves in that capacity.

Q: Why do you work on such a broad spectrum?

A: As a full-service law firm, Buckley, Brion provides a wide range of practices, including real estate, land use, municipal, litigation, personal injury, business and transactional, trusts and estates and healthcare. We are Number of Attorneys: 15 constantly growing and expanding our practice areas to Law Specialty: Full Service meet the ever-growing and expanding needs of our clients.

Awards: Super Lawyers, Main The firm also expects its lawyers to give back to the Line Today Best Lawyers, community through service on boards and sponsorship of events, and it’s proud to be an integral part of the Chester Super Lawyers, Rising Stars, Best Lawyers of the Main Line, County and West Chester community.

AV Rated, Who’s Who. Q: What case are you most proud of?

A: It is not a question of what case the firm is most proud of—getting a good result for each client is important. Client relationships and satisfaction is what we are most proud of, whether that case is a complex, high-profile litigation matter or the purchase of a small commercial property.

The Altman Law Firm, LLC 882 S Matlack St Suite 107 610.436.4040 altman-law.com

Chotkowski, LLC 103 S. High St, Suite 11 610.994.2668 chotlaw.com

Clarion Law, LLC 211 N. Walnut St, 1st Floor 484.948.1428 clarionlaw.net

Focus: Full Service Attorneys: 1

Focus: Litigation Attorneys: 1

Focus: Business and Real Estate Attorneys: 3

Carosella & Associates, P.C. 882 S Matlack St, #101 610.431.3300 carosella.com

Ciccarelli Law Offices 304 N High St 610.692.8700 ciccarelli.com

Donaghue & Labrum, LLP 433 W Market St, #10e 484.999.2240 donaghuelabrum.com

Focus: Full Service Attorneys: 6

Focus: Personal Injury Attorneys: 9

Focus: Personal Injury Attorneys: 3

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Morton & Kubacke Family Law, LLC

About Kim Morton: A WCU alumna, Kim earned her bachelor’s degree in political science and government in 1979 and later earned her J.D. from Widener University School of Law in 1983. After working 20 years at Crawford, Wilson & Ryan, where she was a partner, Kim founded her own practice in 2007 — Morton Family Law. Kim recently partnered with Christin Kubacke to form Morton & Kubacke Family Law, LLC, where they specialize in family law, and practice in divorce, mediation, child custody, child support, spousal support, visitation rights, domestic violence, premarital agreements, and paternity.

113 E Evans St, Suite B 610.692.3999 mortonfamilylaw.com Number of Attorneys: 2 Law Specialty: Family Law Awards: Super Lawyers, Main Line Lawyers

Q: Why do you specialize in family law?

A: I realized early on that I was good at negotiating when people were at a difficult crossroads. I enjoy the process and working with clients to negotiate something they can live with. We come at a time of chaos, and even though it’s a sad time, the clients leave with an understanding of their finances and confidence moving forward.

Q: What are you most proud of?

A: I’m really proud of the mediation cases where parties come in with some really hard feelings, and we worked to soften their stances.

They are often just so mad and hurt in the beginning, but we work with them through the process. Our clients often end up feeling better about the other person and are more willing to do what’s best for their children.

Gawthrop Greenwood, PC 17 E Gay St, Suite 100 610.696.8225 gawthrop.com Focus: Full Service Attorneys: 19

Kohler Law Offices, LLC 27 S Darlington St 610.430.7500 kohlerlaw.net Focus: Family Law Attorneys: 1

Goldberg, Goldberg, & Janoski 213 W Miner St 610.436.6220 goldbergjanoski.com

Law Offices of Joseph P. Green Jr. 138 W Gay St 610.692.0500 www.chestercountylawyers.org

Focus: Personal Injury Attorneys: 4

Focus: Criminal Law Attorneys: 1

The Law Office of Wesley W. Legg, Esquire, LLC 28 S Darlington St 484.401.7079 wesleylegglaw.com Focus: Family Law Attorneys: 1 Law Offices of Kelly & Conte 213 W Miner St, #3 610.314.7066 chestercountycriminallawyer.com Focus: Criminal Defense Attorneys: 3

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Lamb McErlane, PC

About Joel L Frank: Joel is Chairman and Managing Partner of Lamb McErlane, PC. He concentrates his practice in commercial and civil litigation in state and federal courts, election law as well as attorney discipline, judicial discipline and ethical matters. Joel is very integrated in the community serving on numerous boards.

24 E Market St 610.430.8000 lambmcerlane.com Number of Attorneys: 37

Q: What’s the advantage of a full-service firm?

Law Specialty: Full Service

A: We practice in a wide variety of legal areas to comprehensively, effectively and efficiently serve our clients’ needs, making Lamb McErlane a full-service law firm with sought-after expertise and sophistication. Lamb McErlane delivers the breadth of services you expect from a downtown firm with the personal attention associated with a neighborhood law office, and we have delivered competent, dedicated and results-oriented legal services since its founding in 1948.

Awards: AV Rated by Martindale Hubbell, Main Line Today Top Attorneys, Philadelphia Life and Suburban Life Top Attorneys, Top Law Firm by Philadelphia Business Journal, Local Winner for the Advancing Women Award by the Philadelphia Business Journal, Pennsylvania Honor Roll of Legal Organizations... and too many more to list.

MacElree Harvey, Ltd 17 W Miner St 610.436.0100 .macelree.com

Q: What are you most proud of?

A: There are numerous cases of which we are proud. In addition to our legal capabilities and results, we are most proud of our support of and integration in the community and service on various philanthropic and charitable organizations.

Murphy Law Firm 320 N High St 610.436.7555 murphy-law-firm.com

Ramsay & Ramsay 882 S Matlack St, Suite 110 610.235.4000 ramsaylawoffice.com

Focus: Immigration Law Attorneys: 5

Focus: Criminal Defense Attorneys: 2

Miller Law Offices Washington Square Apartments, W Washington St Suite D 484.999.0607 westchesterpalawoffices.com

Pettine Law Offices, LLC 113 E Evans St, Suite B1 610.692.7090 pettinefamilylaw.com

Robert S. Supplee 329 S High St 610.344.9560 suppleelaw.com

Focus: Criminal Defense Attorneys: 2

Focus: Family Law Attorneys: 1

Focus: Business Law/Estate Law Attorneys: 1

Focus: Estate Planning & Administration Attorneys: 33

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Levy & Hoskins Law Group LLC

Levy & Hoskins Law Group LLC

About Irene Levy: Irene Levy began her legal career in 2003 after attending Manor College and earning her bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies from Widener University’s Legal Education Institute. She then earned her J.D. from Widener University School of Law in 2011. During her tenure at Widener, she served as Manuscript Editor for Widener Law Review. She has been working at Levy & Hoskins since 2012 after her work at Abogados, LLC. Irene specializes in family law, including divorce, custody, child and spousal support, and dependency members. She currently serves as a Guardian Ad Litem in Chester County Dependency Court and is a member of the Chester County Bar Association.

134 N Church St 267.222.0837 levyandhoskinslawgroup.com Number of Attorneys: 2 Law Specialty: Family Law Awards: Main Line Today Top Family & Divorce Lawyers 2018, Guardians Ad Litem in Chester County.

Q: What makes your firm different?

A: We love being able to help people through difficult times. We know that your family is the most important thing in the world, so we take every possible measure to protect our clients. We take an energetic and innovative approach to every case—speaking to every witness, examining every piece of evidence, and researching every facet of the law to make sure our clients obtain their objectives.

Q: What are you most proud of?

A: Chester County awarded us a contract last year to act as Guardians Ad Litem in child welfare cases. It’s very special to us because we get really involved in helping children in need.

Saling & Litvin: Attorneys at Law 442 N High St 610.692.2800 salinglitvin.com

Tom Mohr Law Office, P.C. 301 Market St 610.431.0111 forallthingsrealestate.com

Wetzel Gagliardi Fetter & Lavin, LLC 101 E Evans St 484.887.0779 wgflaw.com

Focus: Family Law Attorneys: 4

Focus: Real Estate Law Attorneys: 1

Focus: Full Service Attorneys: 8

Skinner Law Firm 15 W Gay St 610.436.1410 skinnerlawfirm.net

Unruh, Turner, Burke & Frees, P.C. 17 W Gay St 610.692.1371 utbf.com

William J. Shehwen III, Esq. The Apple House, 123 E Gay St 610.430.0607 barristerbill.com

Focus: Criminal Law Attorneys: 1

Focus: Full Service Attorneys: 20

Focus: Real Estate Law Attorneys: 1

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Near and Far

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

It seems like yesterday that I was finishing my last days of school, getting ready to embark on the best time of the year: summer.

Whether it was riding my pony Misty, playing Olly Olly Oxen Free in the neighbor’s woods, catching fireflies in the field, or spending countless hours in the pool practicing for the doggy-paddle Olympics, there was always something fun and exciting to do each day. Summer also meant camp.

Growing up, both of my parents worked, so I had an au pair to keep me out of trouble up until I was 10. During my nanny’s vacation weeks I was sent to what is now known as Summer Nature Camp at the Myrick Conservation Center, on Route 842 southeast of the borough. Run by the Brandywine Red Clay Alliance, this was where I learned to look for salamanders under rocks, identify poison ivy and honeysuckle, and master holding my breath long enough to use the outhouse.

Nature Camp was a time to meet friends and get dirty without getting in trouble. We tubed down the Brandywine River, got lost on the trails of the conservancy and learned all about protecting the Brandywine Watershed, recycling and composting. Nature Camp was one of my favorite times of the year.

When I was 11 years old I was sent to a camp far away in Graz, Austria. As one of four delegates from the Childrens International Summer Villages (CISV) Brandywine Chapter, I lived with forty other 11 year olds representing 11 countries for a month of pure cultural immersion. We stayed in a school and learned how to communicate, cooperate and live together while discovering each other’s cultures. It was amazing experiencing the peace and love that came from so many varied backgrounds.

I have kept in touch with some of my CISV peers and wonder what has happened to others. One of the other delegates from our area is still a dear friend to this day. Catching up with him feels like CISV Camp was last summer. I later went on to an exchange program with a girl from Japan, and then on to chaperone my own group of 11 year olds to Milan, Italy when I was 21. Thinking back on it now I wonder how I could have been trusted with four kids in a foreign country, but somehow they all came home in one piece!

Now, as a parent, I want my kids to enjoy the same experiences I had growing up. They just started their fourth and second years at Summer Nature Camp and come home each day with stories of slimy things under rocks, floating down the river and learning about everything that creeps, slithers and crawls.

My mission is to convince my husband to allow our daughter to apply to be a CISV delegate next year. In a world that seems to be coming apart at the seams, our only hope may be to get our kids to learn about other cultures and learn to live together peacefully for a positive future. —jjones@thewcpress.com

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Welcome, Olivia Rose Vecchio

To celebrate the arrival of the newest team member at The WC Press (and to ease her father’s way back to work after a month off), we’re offering a 5% discount on all one, three and six month advertising packages that start with the August issue. We call it the Baby Olivia Special — you’re welcome.

Congrats & Ad Requests can be directed to Nick@thewcpress.com

image courtesy Daniella Bella Photography

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If you spot the five differences in this photo of the Courthouse clock works by Timlyn Vaughan (timlynvaughanphotos.com), then send your answer to contests@thewcpress.com, you’ve got a chance to win a Barnaby’s gift certificate.

Congrats to June’s winner, Barbara Curtis who identified the changes to a photo from last year’s West Chester Mile (coming up again soon!)

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July Playlist DJ Romeo curates a list of the tracks you’ll be enjoying all summer 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

Maroon 5 ft. Cardi B – “Girls Like You” OneRepublic ft. Logic – “Start Again” Tiesto ft. Dzeko, Preme & Post Malone – “Jackie Chan” Nicki Minaj ft. Ariana Grande – “Bed” Martin Garrix ft. Khalid – “Ocean” 5 Seconds of Summer – “Youngblood” Clean Bandit ft. Demi Lovato – “Solo” Luke Bryan – “Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunet” Kygo ft. Imagine Dragons – “Born To Be Yours” Kanye West – “All Mine” Luav – “Enemies” The Knocks ft. Foster The People – “Ride Or Die” Florida Georgia Line – “Simple” Jonas Blue ft. Jack & Jack – “Rise” The 1975 – “Give Yourself A Try” Tyga ft. Offset – “Taste” Backstreet Boys – “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” Garth Brooks – “All Day Long” Cash Cash ft. Abir – “Finest Hour” Arctic Monkeys – “Four Out Of Five” Don Diablo – “Anthem (We Love House Music)” MNEK ft. Hailee Steinfeld – “Colour” Ryan Montgomery – “Drop A Tailgate” Mansionair – “Violet City” Steve Aoki ft. Lil Yachty & AJR – “Pretender” Pharrell Williams x Camila Cabello – “Sangria Wine” BTS – “Fake Love” Little Big Town – “Summer Fever” American Authors – “Deep Water” Two Friends ft. Kevin Writer – “Just A Kid”

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