Page 8 - The Hunt - Spring 2020

MEMORANDUM
From the Ashes
While change is often good, it can be devastating. Such was the case when a two-alarm fire ripped through Sovana Bistro, a revered Brandywine Valley dining spot in Kennett Square, Pa.
In the early-morning hours of Jan. 3, 2020, chef/owner Nick Farrell’s life changed in a heartbeat. The fire broke out in the kitchen, destroying most of the space, along with Nicholas Anthony Salon and Day Spa. It took 75 firefighters from companies across the region five hours to quell the blaze.
The Glen Mills, Pa., native debuted Sovana Bistro in January 1998 at the newly constructed Willowdale Town Center. “Unionville looked like the next frontier,” recalls Farrell. “The area had no restaurants, but the community was ready to embrace an eatery with good solid food.”
Since its inception, Sovana Bistro has become well known for both its farm-to-table approach and its creative spins on shrimp and grits, artisan pizzas, and various pastas. All of that is on pause as the restaurant recovers and rebuilds. “Fires happen. Life happens,” Farrell says.
Undeterred, Farrell sees the tragedy as an opportunity to “recreate from scratch, to find new ways to express hospitality in unique ways,” he says. “This is a chance for us all to venture out of the box.”
After 22 years in business, Farrell has a rare opportunity to bring about change—just not too much. “Our footprint will remain the same,” he says. “We don’t want you to come in and have the restaurant be unrecognizable. We know we’ll have to blend the old and
the new.”
No date for a reopening has been set, but
Sovana Bistro will return. “I realized I have an opportunity to go back and start from scratch,” says Farrell. “This is a gift.” —Jim Graham
Lasting Impression
Nick Farrell surrounded by the remains of his Sovana Bistro.
In his 98 years, Harry G. “Hal” Haskell Jr. accomplished more than most could in multiple lifetimes. The former mayor of Wilmington, Del., and a congressman in the First State, Haskell passed away on Jan. 16, 2020.
Elected shortly after the assassination
of Martin Luther King Jr., Haskell was the
last Republican mayor of the city. He also served in World War II and worked for bipartisanship in Delaware government during a decidedly tumultuous period.
While he was perhaps best known for his political endeavors, Haskell was also
a conservationist. During his tenure as mayor, he launched a task force to focus on cleaning up the Brandywine River. He later was a founding member of the Brandywine Conservancy and Museum of Art. A
lover of nature, Haskell served on the
conservancy’s board of trustees for over
50 years. He and his wife, Mimi, were among the first to designate a portion of their private land as an easement to help protect the river. Decades later, 95 percent of their property is permanently protected.
In 1993, Haskell worked to establish Delaware Futures, a nonprofit that helps economically disadvantaged youth plan for college. He was also involved in the National Recreation and Park Association and Outward Bound. “Hal was a dear, sweet and giving person,” says Mike Purzycki, Delaware’s current mayor. “Anyone who met Hal
would immediately pick up on his sincerity, authenticity and how he cared deeply for people. He appreciated the struggles that people go through, and that understanding guided his actions.” —Lisa Dukart
Hal Haskell with his wife, Mimi.
6 THE HUNT MAGAZINE SPRING 2020
COURTESY OF THE HASKELL FAMILY JIM GRAHAM