HONESDALE, PA —The Stourbridge Project partners gathered with community members on June 29 to accept a handmade American flag crafted by Jeff Dexter in memory of Chip Forelli, a local artist, photographer and musician who passed away in August 2022. 

The Stourbridge Project is a business incubator with co-working space, located on Park Street. The Forelli family had an immediate connection with the Stourbridge Project when it opened, with sons Jake and Ryan among the first to assist with technology training classes offered to the community. 

Speaking at the event were Wayne County Commissioners Brian Smith, Jocelyn Cramer and James Shook; Lucyann Vierling, executive director of the Wayne Pike Workforce Alliance; and Mary Beth Wood, executive director of Wayne Economic Development Corporation (WEDCO). Family and friends also shared their memories during the hour-long celebration, emphasizing Forelli’s artistic and musical talents, exuberance and service to his community.   

“The Forelli family exemplifies what Stourbridge is—a community supporting each other and helping itself to learn and succeed,” said Wood. 

Damascus Township resident Jeff Dexter is a craftsman who makes wooden American flags to honor the service of individuals and organizations who support and help the nation. Recipients include members of the four branches of the military—many are veterans of the Vietnam War, law enforcement officials, teachers, nurses and others.  

The flag given to the Stourbridge Project is Dexter’s 27th flag and is dedicated to Forelli. 

Forelli actively supported Dexter’s work by helping with logo designs and production. The flag maker said that he hesitated in accepting the commission of the Stourbridge Project flag because of the intricate design of the logo, which features a likeness of a lion’s head. The lion pays homage to the historic Stourbridge Lion locomotive engine. 

Ultimately, he was successful in hand routing the logo. 

Dexter said that he agreed to do the flag because the Stourbridge Project’s mission is to encourage and support individual and business growth. He also personally benefitted from Forelli’s generous sharing of his talent and said he was pleased to honor his memory with the flag. 

Forelli was a world-class photographer whose prints are showcased by individuals and corporations throughout the globe, a spokesperson noted. Images of his photos can be found at www.chipforelli.com. A series of black-and-white landscape photos are on the walls of the Stourbridge Project co-working space.   

“It is clear when looking at his photos that Chip had a unique gift of making the ordinary look extraordinary,” said Wood.  “He is being honored today because of his talent, and even more so because he was a very kind and generous person who used his gifts to help others.” 

For more information about the Stourbridge Project, visit www.stourbridgeproject.com.