Residents provide feedback for New Garden’s proposed zoning district plans
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
More than 100 New Garden Township residents crammed into the township’s meeting hall on Feb. 26 to voice their opinions – and for some, their displeasure – at the third public engagement meeting that elicited input about the municipality’s longterm zoning and planning concepts. The Draft Zoning Map &
Districts Open House, moderated by township Manager Christopher Himes, invited staff from Michael Baker International – a leader in engineering, planning and consulting services – to provide an update on the work the company is doing to clearly define the concepts and proposed changes to the township’s ten zoning districts: innovation; mixed use corridor; village gateway; village center; residential flex, medium density and
low density; airport; enterprise; and parks and open space.
“The reason for these public hearings is to get feedback and hopefully educate the public as to why we’re [exploring our zoning districts] and get them to understand what zoning means,” said supervisor Steve Allaband. “The reality is that New Garden was very late in adopting a zoning ordinance, so there were already multiple uses
scattered around the township. We’re trying to look at compatible uses and grow economic development to level the tax base.”
Samantha McLean, a senior community planner with Michael Baker International who is serving as the project manager on the New Garden zoning project, told the audience that the key goals in the coming months of the zoning map project will be to
Medic 94 settles in a new building and debuts its new mobile blood service
By Chris Barber Contributing Writer
Medic 94, the medical emergency room on wheels that responds to serious life-threatening medical conditions in 17 southern Chester County municipali-
ties, has added the delivery and application of blood transfusions to its services.
Medic 94 is dispatched with advanced life support facilities, skills and protocols for injuries and sudden illnesses that require more on-site and complex care
than the basic life support ambulances provide.
Medic 94 has been in operation for 42 years—41 of them working out of the former Jennersville Hospital campus in Penn Township.
They moved to their new building at Jenners Pond Road along Baltimore Pike on Nov. 18, 2024.
Executive Director Bob Hotchkiss said he is especially proud to announce the addition of Medic 94’s new blood program.
It is the only mobile unit in the region that has it, he said.
Under the management of Director of Operations Matt Collins, the blood program gives patients who have serious bleeding situations a much greater hope of sur-
Business owner asks Oxford Borough Council to keep politics away from his store
By Betsy Brewer Brantner Contributing Writer
Hugo Sandoval, the owner of El Nayarit Mexican Store in Oxford, recently addressed Oxford Borough Council about the issue of politics—and how politics shouldn’t mix with business.
“Being a business owner, you don’t want to put political opinion into that business,” he said. “That could affect my pocket. I try to remain neutral.
Social media can ruin you. I am concerned that just having a sign in front of my business could keep people out of my business.”
Sandoval had come to council last year expressing his concern over having a political table set up in front of his business during a community event before last year’s election.
Because of his concerns, borough council has approved amending the Borough Code of ordinances that address special events and public
gatherings. The episode happened during a First Friday event planned by Oxford Mainstreet, Inc. (OMI). The person handing out political information was not a vendor who signed up for a space during the First Friday, and this was where the confusion began.
Council member Peggy Russell said, “The problem was a political problem where it portrayed a business as being supportive of that table.
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vival than those who do not receive a transfusion.
Collins said he has been seriously interested in the program since he became aware through his emer-
gency response training that transfusions given to patients suffering from blood loss often save their lives.
New bill, if passed, would provide crop insurance against severe weather and phorid flies Houlahan
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
Against the rising tide of controversies facing mushroom growers lately – reports of higher than normal levels of Hydrogen Sulfide from composting facilities and the increased presence of phorid fly migration from farms – the industry recently received some very encouraging
news from state lawmakers.
On Feb. 26, U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan joined with Republican U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser in introducing potential legislation called the Protecting Mushroom Farmers Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. Houlahan and Meuser are being joined by Pennsylvania State Sens. Dave McCormick and John Fetterman, who intro-
duced a companion bill in the U.S. State Senate. If passed, the legislation would amend the Federal Crop Insurance Act to require the research and development of a policy to ensure the production of mushrooms and require the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to conduct a study on offering federally backed
Photo
Courtesy photo
U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan
Photo by Richard L. Gaw
After a short presentation, many audience members reviewed images of the township’s ten proposed districts.
Photo by Chris Barber
Director of Operations Matt Collins displays the load of life-saving equipment carried in the five Medic 94 SUVs.
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set rules and regulations that allow the township to develop in a way that meets the objectives of the township’s 2018 Comprehensive Plan; that incorporate best practices to address issues in the township’s existing zoning ordinance; and keep in compliance with the Pennsylvania Municipalities Management Code.
Getting there, she said, will necessitate the restructuring of a vastly outdated current zoning ordinance, which was developed in 1997. Because of the township’s tardiness in updating it zoning laws, it has had to place reliance on conditional use and variance hearings to get approval for certain projects, as well as lean on its Zoning Hearing Board to approve exceptions to variances. In addition, McLean said that the township lacks zoning regulations for “middle housing” units, such as a townhouse or a duplex.
“Right now, your zoning districts don’t permit that, and the township wants to see a variety of housing types to meet the housing crisis, not only in the township but in the region,” McLean said. “We really want to make sure that the uses and the character that you want to see is permitted and regulated in the zoning process and does not require extra processes.”
Of the ten distinctive zoning districts in New Garden Township, the one that has received increased attention by township
stakeholders is the mixeduse corridors of Route 41 that stretches from Newark Road to the Delaware border; Old Baltimore Pike; and Newark Road, north of the Newark Road intersection. McLean said these key tributaries have a great opportunity to create commercial, retail, residential and office development.
Public input
A survey of some of those in attendance revealed a variety of concerns related to the township’s progress on mapping out its zoning districts. Michael Pia, whose family owns South Mill Champs - one of the largest mushroom producers in North America - said he attended the meeting to see how possible changes in the placement of residential districts would potentially impact the mushroom industry in the township.
“We as an industry have been dealing with that for many years, not just in New Garden Township but throughout Chester County, as residential growth has increased and has been making it challenging for farms that have been here for a long time,” Pia said.
“From my understanding, the township has a pretty keen sense of that, and they want to be able to protect agriculture because they recognize the importance of it, and I think the county recognizes it, as well.”
In a related topic, Allaband discussed what is perhaps the most challenging hurdle facing the township as it reconfigures its land use: how to balance
the long-term presence of the mushroom industry with the need to plan for residential growth, an offshoot of which has over the last year led to studies, discussions and arguments between both factions about the persistent odors that emanate from nearby mushroom composting facilities and their effect on the air quality at nearby developments.
“There is conflict when you have intensive agriculture near residential housing,” he said. “With the intensity that we have here in the township, there should be a buffer. We’re hopeful that through some of the air quality studies – through the American Mushroom Institute – that they will identify something to remediate and make things better.”
While some of those in attendance were there to see how the proposed zoning map would impact where they live and how the township may be reconfigured, others levied criticism over what they believed are the township’s true intentions – to determine the final zoning map without the assistance of the residents.
“This is a major change in our environment and community. Shouldn’t this be put to a vote by the residents of the community?” one resident asked Himes. “Why would five, six, seven people make a decision that should [be decided by] all of the community?”
One husband-and-wife couple said they moved to Landenberg over a year ago after admiring its rural landscape on visits they made to see family in the area.
“This is a place that we would like to be in a forever home,” he said. “Preserving the characteristics that we moved out here for - and spent a lot of money to acquire - is important. This feels like a done deal, and I think what we’re seeing the public react to is not having the transparency of being told, ‘Here is what you had and here is the way your feedback was incorporated to where we take the census of where the community wants to be.’
“If the community wants to go toward high density, I am willing to accept that as an outcome as long as it is transparent and clear that this is the vote and the voice of the community.”
“I think that what they’re showing is vague,” she said, referring to the proposed district map. “I don’t like that they’re not showing what is changing between current zones and proposed future zones. It looks like a lot of green space, the rural area and the farmland have been cut down significantly, to be replaced with housing they are planning in order to help the housing crisis.
“Everyone knows that this is not the case, because this is to get more people in the township and receive more taxes and lead to more traffic and more crime.”
Allaband said that the township’s development of creating a final zoning district map is not only a delicate process but a changeable one.
“You create [effective zoning districts] through proper density, proper design standards and proper setbacks – all of the things
that I think are built into a lot of this,” he said. “What I’ve learned through the years is that when you change the zoning ordinance, you’re going to end up making other tweaks to it later. They are living, breathing documents.”
The updated zoning map is the result of a year’s collaboration between Michael Baker International with the township’s task force, as well as from community input. Himes said that the process to determine the final zoning map is about 50 percent complete, and the next public outreach meeting – the fourth in a series – is scheduled to take place in May.
The updated zoning ordi-
nance and map is expected to be adopted by the Board of Supervisors this summer, in accordance with the requirements of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.
To learn more about the New Garden Township Zoning update project, including zoning maps, videos of prior meetings and public responses to the first two public input meetings, visit https:// new-garden-townshipzoning-update-baker.hub. arcgis.com. For questions or comments, email codes@ newgarden.org.
To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.
Caucus is co-chaired by Rep. Shusterman, Rep. Tomlinson, Sen. Pisciottano, and Sen. Brown
Animals across Pennsylvania will continue to have a voice in Harrisburg as the Pa. Animal Protection Caucus announced its leadership team for the 2025-26 legislative session and laid out its legislative priorities.
Co-chairs of the bipartisan, bicameral Animal Protection Caucus include Rep. Melissa Shusterman (D-Chester), Rep. Kathleen
Houlahan...
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crop insurance specifically for mushroom farms to protect them against
Tomlinson (R-Bucks), Sen. Nick Pisciottano (D-Allegheny) and Sen. Rosemary Brown (R-Lackawanna, Monroe, Wayne). Shusterman first founded the caucus during the 2021-22 legislative session.
“We have some huge fighters for animal protection here in Harrisburg ready to increase the amount of
e nvironmental threats like inclement weather or pests uniquely harmful to mushrooms. Under the guidelines of the bill, the USDA would have the
effective animal welfare legislation in Pennsylvania,” said Shusterman. “We’ve made great strides to strengthen animal protection laws, but more can always be done. From adoption to animal cruelty, we stand ready to support the needs of our commonwealth’s furred, feathered, and scaled friends.”
Last session, the Animal
authority to begin offering crop insurance immediately to mushroom farms. That’s good news for Chester County mushroom farms, as the industry is responsible for more than $1 billion toward the Chester County economy and grows nearly 70 percent of the mushrooms in the U.S. annually.
“Every time I speak with mushroom farmers in Chester and Berks counties, they tell me about the unique threats they face,”
Protection Caucus helped pass legislation into law that strengthens the state’s dog law to improve enforcement of breeding standards and dog licensing and ensures protections for pets of domestic violence survivors. Additionally, progress was finally made toward ending cruel pigeon shoots in Pennsylvania. The Animal Protection
Houlahan said. “Pests like the mushroom phorid fly and the mushroom sciarid fly are only found in mushroom houses, and the fungal pathogens they carry can destroy entire crops. It is time that the federal government step up to ensure our farms are protected and can be passed down to the next generation.”
Fetterman gave credit to U.S. Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry
Caucus is now looking to build on those wins in the 2025-26 legislative session.
Some of the current legislative priorities include providing more funding for animal fighting investigations, allowing the Attorney General to assist in the prosecution animal cruelty cases and moving oversight of human society police to the Municipal officers’
Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) for her introduction last May of the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act, and House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson of Pennsylvania for his recent call for the Farm Bill to be signed into law. Houlahan and Meuser previously introduced the Protecting Mushroom Farmers Act in 2023, which was included in
Education and Training Commission (MPOETC), among others. “We have a lot of work to do. We need to talk to one another and advocate across the aisle. We’re looking to make a large impact for all of Pennsylvania’s animals during this session,” Shusterman added. “And always remember to adopt, don’t shop.”
Thompson’s 2024 draft of the Farm Bill.
“Pennsylvania is the mushroom capital of the world, and our mushroom farmers deserve access to the same insurance as so many other producers –that’s just common sense,” Fetterman said.
“Many people might be unaware that the mushroom capitol of the world is Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, employing nearly 10,000 people and contributing nearly $1.3 billion to the local economy,” McCormick said.
“USDA’s crop insurance program should be available to all farmers, and I’m hopeful that this yearlong study yields much needed coverage to protect Pennsylvania’s mushroom farmers. I look forward to working on this and other agriculture initiatives with my Pennsylvania colleagues in the House and the Senate.”
To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.
Photo by Richard L. Gaw
A capacity audience attended a Feb. 26 meeting that provided an update on New Garden Township’s proposed zoning district changes.
The statistics on donation bear this out, he said.
“For every minute of delay when a patient is losing and in need of blood, there is a 2-percent increase in the chances that the patient will die within 30 days.”
If that patient is sitting trapped in a car for the better part of an hour that dismantling takes before they can be reached, or if travel without blood requires a trip to a far distant hospital, those dangerous chances increase because of the time that elapses.
That’s why the blood program is making a difference, Collins said.
The setup for establishing a blood donation facility on wheels is a complex challenge that Collins has been up to.
The first challenge was getting the staff trained. The staff of Medic 94 are paramedics, which means that they have been trained to be basic life support officers as well as advanced life support technicians with more advanced skills. In addition, they must go through the course of identification of need and application for the blood.
Collins has established that training program at Medic 94.
The next challenge is obtaining and storing the blood.
Since blood has only 42 days between donation and application, it has to be stored in specially built refrigerators. The temperature has to be maintained at between about 39 and 43
degrees Fahrenheit. It must be monitored constantly, and alarms go off if the temperature goes beyond safe points in either direction.
There is also the need to outfit the Medic 94 with blood vehicles so it is ready to go with a call.
Collins displayed an insulated backpack device packed with a pint of blood that is so well insulated it can safely contain that blood for 72 hours. This pack has slots in the sides that are like frozen trays which are inserted to maintain the coolness. They are replaced periodically.
Additionally, there is the challenge in planning what to do if some of the blood on hand nears its 42-day life and is not used.
Medic 94 buys the product from Blood Bank of Delmarva. Collins said if they still have an excessive supply at the end of 30 days, the blood bank will buy some of it back for use immediately at hospitals.
These new blood services at Medic 94 have been in operation since last May.
Collins said they have responded with the blood eight times since June 2024, and “(A)t least one or two would have been dead without them,” he said.
The new blood program of Medic 94 is situated in their new building.
With the closure of Jennersville Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic, the future at that site for Medic 94 was in doubt.
Responding to that situation, CEO Bob Hotchkiss, his board of directors, and the Penn Township Board of
Chester
Supervisors set out to investigate creating a building of their own. Their efforts succeeded and on Nov. 18, 2024, after working with donors and municipalities, Medic 94 moved into its
new building. It is known formally as the Southern Chester County Emergency Operations Center. It sits on land adjacent to Jenners Pond Road at 863 West Baltimore Pike in Penn
Township, and its meeting room serves as a resource for public use as well as for the Medic 94 staff. This $2.5 million building benefitted from widespread gifts and grants, as well as
The
the advocacy by State Rep. John Lawrence and Penn Township, Hotchkiss said.
public will be invited to tour the new building during an open house hosted by Penn Township on May 17.
All photos by Chris Barber
The new Southern Chester County Emergency Operations Building offers much more room for equipment than Medic 94 at Jennersville Hospital.
Matt Collins holds the frozen slats that are inserted in the packs to keep the blood cool in the vehicles.
Collins displays the pack that contains and keeps safe the blood for travel in the vehicles,
The new building sits on Jenners Pond Road, just off Old Baltimore Pike.
Medic 94 CEO Bob Hotchkiss sits in the meeting room of the new facility that is available for public use.
The operations center at the new building offers more room and comfort than the old building did.
Stacey Fuller, the borough’s solicitor, said, “Trying to come up with an ordinance is tricky when there is a political component to it. You can regulate spacing around a business and signage, not to the extreme, but you can’t regulate what is political.”
OMI hosts the First Friday events and vendors must be approved through them in order to participate.
Fuller will work on amending the special event ordinance and any other ordinance that deals with this issue, and she will bring it before council for the members’ input before it is finalized.
In other business at the meeting, Oxford Borough Police Chief Sam Iacono emphasized that the Oxford Police Department is seeking qualified police officers.
The borough’s Civil
Service Commission will administer an entry level police officer examination for the purpose of establishing an eligibility list on March 8 beginning at 8 a.m. The examination will include both a physical agility and a written test. Applicants are required to pass the physical agility test in order to be eligible for the written test.
The requirements for applicants include the following:
• They must be 21 years of age at the time of the test;
• They must possess a high school diploma or GED certificate;
• They must be Act 120certified or eligible for certification before receiving a conditional offer of employment;
• They must be a citizen of the United States;
• They must possess a valid driver’s license;
• They must comply with any other qualification as
set forth in the civil service rules of the Borough of Oxford.
Oxford Borough Council is also accepting applications for Junior Council. High school seniors and juniors should contact the Oxford Borough at (610) 932-2500 by July 21 for more information.
The borough is continuing to upgrade water meters. In the fall of 2023, the borough began a series of long-term planning initiatives and improvements to Oxford’s water system, including the development of a 10-year capital plan and completion of a water rate study. These efforts overall are meant to ensure the sustainability of Oxford Water as a publicly owned utility. The borough believes that this is in the best interest of Oxford’s residents and water rate payers. Planned improvements include an expansion of the water plant to improve filtration capabilities and to increase capacity.
In December of 2023, Oxford was awarded a $600,000 grant through the PA H2O Program to support an upgrade to the borough’s water meters. This upgrade will save money over time, enhance the delivery services and improve the customer experience.
Appointments to upgrade water meters began the week of October 28, 2024 and continued through mid-January of this year. The borough sent a letter to water customers with instructions on how to schedule their appointment with LENEGAN Plumbing
and Heating, LLC. Water meter changes are happening in phases.
LENEGAN employees that come to replace meters are required to have personal identification and vehicles identified with the company’s name. For more questions, call LENEGAN at (855) 892-3830.
Oxford Mayor Phil Harris announced that the Oxford Methodist Church will be holding a Chocolate Festival. He also reminded everyone that March 1 was Eli Seth Matthews Day in Oxford.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held in May for the work completed on property behind the Community of Love Church. The Community of Love Lutheran Church and Oxford Borough worked together to construct a bioretention wetland on the church’s property. The project is part of the borough’s Pollutant Reduction Plan intended to help reduce the amount of stormwater that ends up in local waterways. The planned bio-retention rain garden will enable rainwater to be absorbed into the ground and filtered naturally. The project is considered an example of “Best Management Practices” for controlling stormwater run-off. It will also help the borough meet federal and state regulatory requirements to reduce stormwater run-off as required under the Pa. Department of Environmental Protection’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Program.
Oxford Borough Council
also approved a letter of intent to the Governor’s Center for Local Government Services to request technical assistance to complete a study to assess the feasibility of the regionalization of police services.
Pauline Garcia-Allen said that the borough had a meeting that was hosted by State Rep. John Lawrence for local officials to discuss the possibility of regional policing. Garcia-Allen said the meeting was friendly, and that representatives from six townships attended. The intent was to get people to think about police protection in the surrounding townships. It was noted that Penn Township was also a part of the meeting.
Iacono said, “I feel we had positive feedback.”
Russell said, “I hope the residents in Lower Oxford were aware of this meeting.”
Deborah Kinney, the township secretary/treasurer for Lower Oxford, said in a phone interview, “The Board did discuss this at our board meeting, and they said they feel comfortable with the State Police at the moment. Both Kinney and supervisor
Robert McMahon attended the meeting hosted by Lawrence.
Oxford Borough Council also approved the following:
• Historical Architectural Review Board (HARB) Certificate of Appropriateness for 24 S. Third Street; • HARB Certificate of Appropriateness for 142 Penn Avenue;
• HARB Certificate of Appropriateness for 119 S. Fifth Street; and • Resolution #1395 - 2025 authorizing the filing of a grant application to the Chester County Preservation Partnership Municipal Grant Program for proposed improvements to Memorial Park.
Garcia-Allen said that the project would be paid for by a DEP fine that comes back to the local municipality, which has to be used for air quality or parks. The borough will also apply for two other grants. The programs will pay for matching funds. The borough plans to construct at performance pavilion and do ADA accessibility improvements on the trails. They will also look at other ADA compliance issues, an electric gateway sign, and try to rectify a problem that occurred when a sidewalk was installed from Ware to the park.
Garcia – Allen also informed council of plans for the Broad Street Bridge. “This is part of the Niblock Alley Project,” she said. “A preliminary site plan is being done by SSM Engineering. It also includes the retaining wall behind NAPA. We need to make an investment in the bridge structurally and aesthetically. We will save money if we make the bridge just a pedestrian bridge and don’t allow vehicle traffic. The thought is to make the bridge a pedestrian gateway to the town.”
Discussions about the project will continue in the near future.
The people’s lawsuit
Last week, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro became a hero to the state’s countless agencies and businesses and individuals who help all residents of the Commonwealth live better and safer lives.
The federal government is accountable for approximately 40 percent of Pennsylvania’s annual spending, so given that the state had already been projecting to head fully into 2025 with a $4.5 billion shortfall, the mere concept of cuts to federal spending would further dry up the proverbial spending well in Harrisburg.
Then the gauntlet came down; the Trump administration issued a memo in late January announcing the freezing of federal grants and loans in alignment with the President’s intent to dramatically whittle away at the federal budget. Although the freeze was rescinded a few days later, the brushfires remained: funding for essential services like early childhood education, pollution reduction and HIV prevention research were still in question.
Shapiro did the most honorable duty for the people of Pennsylvania.
On Feb. 13, Shapiro sued agencies under President Trump, that included the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy and Russell Vought, the new secretary of the Office of Management and Budget. Filing the suit, he said, for the rights of all Pennsylvanians, Shapiro claimed that the administration was illegally and unconstitutionally withholding billions in federal aid from the state that had already been approved by Congress – about $2.5 billion in grants and reimbursements that had already been committed to Pennsylvania. The lawsuit called the actions of the agencies “flagrantly lawless,” that they had no legal right to withhold congressionally appropriated funding and that they had no reasonable explanation for their decision. In addition, the federal government has also cut Pennsylvania’s access to $3.1 billion in funds that is obligated to the state for fiscal years 2022 to 2026.
On Feb. 24, just 11 days removed from the lawsuit, Shapiro announced that all $2.1 billion in funding that was projected to be withheld from Pennsylvania had been unfrozen.
“As a result of our lawsuit – and our continued pressure on and engagement with the Trump Administration... in which we demanded the administration comply with the legal injunctions currently in place and made clear that we were ready to seek immediate relief from the courts... every dollar we identified at the filing of our lawsuit is currently unfrozen and once again accessible to Pennsylvania state agencies, in accordance with legal injunctions currently in place,” Shapiro announced. “With the funding restored, we will now resume critical programs and infrastructure projects that have been jeopardized by this illegal freeze.”
During his address, Shapiro said that Pennsylvania can now resume the important work it does for the people of the Commonwealth, “Work that includes plugging orphaned and abandoned wells – and creating good paying jobs in the process,” he said. “Work to clean up our waterways, help our farmers deal with runoff that leads into the Chesapeake Bay, and ensure Pennsylvanians have clean water when they turn on the tap. Work to repair abandoned mines before they turn into sinkholes and endanger people’s homes and businesses so we can prevent another tragedy like what we saw in Westmoreland County in December.”
The lawsuit Gov. Josh Shapiro filed on Feb. 13 was not intended to further a political cause or form another wedge in the partisan divide of our commonwealth. Rather, it was filed on behalf of the state’s registered Republicans and Democrats and Libertarians, its conservatives and its liberals, its men and women and transgendered, its straight and gay, its children and its elderly.
In clear retrospect, this was the people’s lawsuit, and the people won.
Proposed state budget overlooks direct care workers
Letter to the Editor:
As Senior Director of Workforce Development for the Pennsylvania Homecare Association, I am deeply concerned by Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposed 2025-2026 state budget, which critically overlooks our 270,000 direct care workers.
While the budget proposes a minimum wage increase and additional funding for participant-directed services, it completely fails to address 94 percent the broader home care work-
force crisis including caregivers and nurses.
The governor spoke about “opening doors to opportunities,” yet his budget actively closes doors for hundreds of thousands of direct care workers who provide essential services across Pennsylvania.
The proposed budget leaves Medicaid reimbursement rates at $20.63 for the personal assistance services. By the time employers pay taxes, insurance, workers compensation, rent, and other expenses, what is left for our direct care work-
ers does not adequately recognize the critical work they perform. Imagine not being able to get a shower tomorrow because there are not enough workers to visit you. Imagine not being able to get out of bed without support and relying on a paid worker to literally start your day. By not comprehensively supporting our workforce, we risk leaving vulnerable populations without necessary care and potentially forcing more individuals into nursing home settings.
Our dedicated healthcare professionals deserve dignified compensation and recognition. They are the backbone of Pennsylvania’s home healthcare system, providing compassionate, life-changing support to thousands of residents. We urge policymakers to reconsider this budget and prioritize our essential direct care workforce.
Becky Jacobs Senior Director of Workforce Development Pennsylvania Homecare Association
Congress just voted to cut Medicaid. Here’s what that means for my family—and yours
By Lisa Lightner
My son Kevin, through no fault of his own, was born with a chromosome disorder that significantly impacts his health and his life. I hate that our current system requires me to constantly describe him by his challenges and that families like mine have to expose private health information just to keep our health care, but here goes.
He has over 50 seizures a day, and that’s not an exaggeration. Our epileptologist has told me that I have already witnessed more seizures than most neurologists see in their entire career. He is tube fed, and cannot read, write or talk. This is a random genetic mutation that we, his parents, could do nothing to “cause or prevent.” It’s a one in a million, and we’re the one.
Medicaid has been a lifeline for him—covering critical therapies, medical care, and services that allow him to live at home instead of in an institution.
But last night, Congress voted to take that away. Imagine putting work restrictions on a child like Kevin.
The House of
Representatives passed a bill slashing Medicaid, a move that will devastate families like mine. These cuts are not theoretical. They will mean fewer therapies, longer waitlists, and more children being denied the basic care they need to survive and thrive.
For Pennsylvania families, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Medicaid provides health care for over 1.2 million children in our state, including those with disabilities. Let’s be clear: no political candidate won Pennsylvania by 1.2 million votes. None, and some only win by a few hundred or a few thousand votes. Future politicians who vote against our kids do so at their political peril.
Medicaid helps fund home-and communitybased services so families can care for their children at home instead of placing them in institutional settings. It also supports school-based services, ensuring that kids with disabilities receive speech therapy, occupational therapy, and provides other supports they need to access education.
If you have a child with an IEP, there’s a good chance Medicaid helps fund some
of the services they receive at school. These cuts will force schools to make impossible choices—either cut services or find the money elsewhere in already stretched budgets. If schools lose that funding, prepare yourself for state and local property taxes to increase or cut other programs, like those for non-disabled students. Schools are federally obligated to provide special education services, so this is not an area they can cut. They are not federally obligated to provide a lot of other things, and those could disappear. The cruelty of this decision is hard to stomach. Democratic lawmakers tried to introduce amendments that would have preserved funding for Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, ensuring vulnerable children wouldn’t pay the price for budget cuts, but every single GOP representative voted against them–even when they asked for an amendment restricting tax cuts for those who make a billion dollars a year.
So, let’s be clear about what happened here. Congress did not cut Medicaid because they had to. They did it because they wanted to. They chose to take away essential services from disabled children, the elderly, and low-income
families while protecting tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans. My son—and millions of others—will suffer so that billionaires can get richer.
Families like mine are exhausted. We already spend hours fighting for our kids—battling for services, navigating a healthcare system that constantly tries to deny coverage, and advocating for basic dignity. Now, Congress wants to make it even harder.
But if they think we’ll just accept this, they’re wrong. I’ve been in the special needs world for almost 20 years and working in it professionally for 15. You don’t want to tangle with special needs moms. We fought back when Medicaid was on the chopping block in 2017. And we will fight back now. I urge every Pennsylvanian to call their senators and demand that Medicaid be protected. Share your stories. Make them listen. Because if we don’t, our most vulnerable children will pay the price.
My son and I have spoken out about this issue before, in 2017 and 2018, and we’re ready to do it again. Kevin, and every other child who depends on Medicaid, deserves better than this.
Guest column
Courtesy photo
Lisa Lightner is a special education advocate who lives in Avondale.
‘The heart and the desire’:
Lef Jab Boxing Club celebrates 30 years
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
Beneath the banners that bear the names of some of the competitive boxers who have trained under him, Clif Johnson, the founder and owner of Lef Jab Boxing Club in West Grove, reflected on the decades-long odyssey of this small but fiercely independent training center that celebrated its 30th anniversary on March 1.
That journey began with a story of hope and redemption. Johnson, then a boxer living in Delaware, first started driving through Avondale. The sweet science of the sport was not the only thing on his mind; his nephew Shawn in Pittsburgh was living through a difficult period and he wanted to find a way to instill discipline in the youngster.
“I thought, ‘This is a nice, quiet place. I think I’m going to start a gym here,’” he said. “There was an abandoned space next
door to the fire station. I spent the first year there. I brought Shawn here, and when he first arrived, he was 280 pounds and I trimmed him down to 200, and he fought in the Golden Gloves and won the Gloves.
“We were on the undercard at Frawley Stadum [in Wilmington], but one of the main event boxers dropped out and asked us to fill in. The idea was that the other boxer would easily knock my nephew out, but my nephew ended up winning the fight in dramatic fashion.”
Shawn, the only four-time heavyweight Golden Glove champion in Pennsylvania, is just one of the more than 700 boxers who have come to Lef Jab to train, to fight competitively and acquire “discipline, structure and independence,” Johnson said.
Over the past 30 years, men and women of all walks of life and professions have come to Lef Jab: a physical therapist,
an accountant, a scientist, a computer genius, an actor and hundreds of others who hit the bag, life weights and spar under Johnson’s tutelage. Phoebe Shoap, a speech language pathologist, began coming to Lef Jab with her older brother, Wesley, now in the medical field in Louisiana, when she was 11.
“I went on to become the captain for the soccer team at Ursinus College, and boxing gave me the toughness and the ability to be a leader,” she said. “So much of that came from coming to Lef Jab and learning from the older men and women who I trained with. As a woman, seeing that environment has allowed me to take that with me throughout my life.”
For Ashley Woodard, a mother of four boys in Delaware County, she arrived at Lef Jab two years ago in order to explore a different pathway toward fitness.
“Through my weight loss journey, going to the
gym and participating in traditional cardio was not something I enjoyed too much,” she said. “Being able to improve my agility and develop skills on the bag have allowed me to create a sense of discipline. Clif has a way of instilling that – to help me focus on the basics - and I have found joy in that because it transcends through the rest of my life.”
There are a few mirrors at Lef Jab that allow a mem-
ber to shadow box against themselves, but to Johnson, the mirrors have a deeper significance, one that encourages each student who picks up the gloves to face off against their largest foe: themselves.
“A lot of people think that they can’t do this, or they can’t do that,” Johnson said. “What I learned when I began boxing was that I could do anything if I put my mind to it. You tell yourself that you can’t do something, but your body tells you otherwise. You
don’t win every round and every fight, but that’s what I love about this sport –the heart and the desire it gives you to be better and help you persevere, and it allows you to take that same mentality in everything you do in your life.”
Lef Jab Boxing Club is located at 112 Rosehill Avenue, West Grove, Pa. To learn more, call (484) 860-4464.
To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.
Hitting a high note
Unionville High School choral students selected to perform in two prestigious ensembles
Unionville High School (UHS) choral students were selected to perform in two major choral organizations, with 11 students participating in the prestigious Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) District Choir and two other students chosen for the acclaimed American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Honors Choir.
To qualify for PMEA, student musicians must audition at each level (District, Region and State).
The process includes the preparation of nine or ten choir songs for an audition where the judges will ask the person auditioning to sing only one randomly selected excerpt from the prepared music.
Katie Cotrotsios, Noori Choudhary, Marshall Gantt, Ian Gushurst, Nathaniel Gushurst, Brianna Greeley, Sofia McClain, Morgan Monthei, Will Neuberger, Advith Rajkumar and Jinny Zhao were selected for the PMEA District Chorus and participated in the festival. Choudhary, Cotrostsios, Gantt, Gushurst, Monthei, McClain and Rajkumar
Unionville High School choral students were selected to perform in two major choral organizations. Marshall Gantt and Nathaniel Gushurst were selected for the ACDA Honors Choir and will attend the National Conference from March 18 to 22.
earned a spot in the PMEA Regional Chorus on March 15 at Garnet Valley High School.
“PMEA has been a wonderful experience. It has shaped me as a musician,” Unionville High School senior Marshall Gantt explained. He has been involved in PMEA throughout his high school career. He said, “I owe so much to it because it helped me with my musicality and learning to thrive in a competitive environment. It’s given me the confidence
for my future musical pursuits beyond Unionville.”
Gantt and UHS sophomore Nathaniel Gushurst were selected for the ACDA Honors Choir and will attend the National Conference from March 18 to 22 in Dallas, TX. The one-time audition process for ACDA requires musicians to record themselves doing vocal scales or excerpts of songs. These students will meet some of the best high school singers from across the country and have the opportunity to work with some of the best
composers and conductors in the world.
She explained that she owes these opportunities to UHS Choral Director Jason Throne.
“You can tell he cares so much about what he does, it helps you care so much about what you want to do as well,” she said.
UHS senior Brianna Greeley, who has attended ACDA previously, said, “Getting to meet all the composers who made the music was such an incredible experience. Hearing firsthand from directors and composers about the story of their music was special.”
Throne said, “I am incredibly proud of our UHS choir students who qualified in the PMEA and ACDA festivals. Their dedication, hard work, and countless hours of preparation truly set them apart. They represent the very best of what it means to be a UHS music student.”
Johnson with some of the newer contingent of members at Lef Jab Boxing Club.
Photos by Richard L. Gaw
Lef Jab Boxing Club founder and owner Clif Johnson, center, with Kazy Tauginas, left, and his son, Evander Johnson, right.
Ashley Woodard hits the bag.
Antonio Rodriguez of Coatesville.
Courtesy photos
Katie Cotrotsios, Noori Choudhary, Marshall Gantt, Ian Gushurst, Nathaniel Gushurst, Brianna Greeley, Sofia McClain, Morgan Monthei, Will Neuberger, Advith Rajkumar and Jinny Zhao were selected for the PMEA District Chorus. Choudhary, Cotrostsios, Gantt, Gushurst, Monthei, McClain and Rajkumar earned a spot in the PMEA Regional Chorus on March 15 at Garnet Valley High School.
PAUL EDWARD PAXSON
Paul Edward Paxson, 50, of Kirkwood, Pa., passed away on February 16, 2025.
Born in West Chester, he was the son of Timothy H. and Dyann L. Blittersdorf Paxson.
Paul graduated from Avon Grove High School, class of 1994, where he was an accomplished wrestler. He enjoyed snowmobiling, the beach and spending time with family and friends.
He is survived by his parents, one brother, Greg Paxson (Winter) of Nottingham, one sister, Jennifer Paxson (Danny) of West Hempstead, N.Y., and Reed Hecker (Kilmer) of Quarryville, Pa.
He was preceded in death by his brother, James (Jay) B. Paxson.
A memorial service will be held 11:45 a.m. on Saturday, March 8 at the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc., 86 Pine St., Oxford, where friends and family may visit from 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Southern End Community Association (SECA), 299 Park Ave, P.O. Box 67, Quarryville, Pa. 17566.
Arrangements are being handled by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. in Oxford.
Alleluia
Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the
For more information or to place an ad, contact Brenda Butt at 610-869-5553 ext. 10
ERIC ALEXIS
Eric Alexis, of Nottingham, passed away at home on February 18, 2025. He was 54. Born in Wilmington, Del., he was the son of Alex Alexis of Maryland and the late Linda K. Chew Alexis. Eric owned and operated Lumber Jack Tree Service, Nottingham.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing and being one with nature.
He is survived by his father, Alex, one brother, Brett, and special loved ones, Kayci Riley of Landenberg and Louie of Kennett Square.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Alex Alexis, Jr.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 12 at the Kemblesville United Methodist Church, 1772 New London Road, Landenberg, where friends and family may visit from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Arrangements are being handled by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. (www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com) in Oxford.
ELOISE BRACKIN RUSSELL
Eloise “Bonnie” Brackin Russell, of Phoenixville, passed away on February 25, 2025 at the Pottstown Hospital. She was 78. Born on May 26, 1946, she was the daughter of the late Robert Brackin and the late Mildred Lane Brackin. Bonnie was a 1964 graduate of Avon Grove High School and was a member of the National Honor Society.
She worked as a secretary at the Dupont-Louviers in Newark, Del. and she later worked as a secretary at Lincoln University.
She enjoyed painting, reading, and antiques.
She was predeceased by her husband, Joe Russell of Oxford.
They lived in Idaho where they operated a small appliance repair business, before moving to Florida to continue their business. Since returning to this area, Bonnie lived in Phoenixville for over 40 years.
Bonnie is survived by two brothers, David J. Brackin and his wife Joan of Oxford and Richard L. Brackin and his wife Linda of Landenberg, one sister-in-law, Judy Brackin of West Grove, and one brother-in-law, Dennis Waugh.
She was predeceased by two brothers, Robert Brackin and Ray Brackin, and one sister, Nancy Waugh.
Her services will be held privately.
To view her online tribute and to share a memory with her family, please visit www.kuzoandfoulkfh.com.
Arrangements are being handled by the Foulk Funeral Home of West Grove.
JEAN ANN HILLEGASS
Jean Ann Hillegass, a resident of Jenners Pond in West Grove, passed away peacefully while surrounded by her loving family at Chester County Hospital on February 22, 2025. She was 89. Born in Souderton, Pa., Jean was the daughter of Irvin Y. Hunsberger and Meta L. Hunsberger (nee Potts). She was predeceased by her husband, John R. Hillegass, with whom she shared 62 years of marriage and by her oldest son, John D. Hillegass. She is survived by her daughter, Joan E. Buck and her husband Robert, and her son, Jeffrey M. Hillegass and his wife Lisa, as well as eight grandchildren and her first great-grand child.
Jean attended Souderton High School and Ursinus College, where she majored in mathematics and minored in Spanish. She taught Spanish at Philmont Christian Academy.
Jean was an active member of Saint Michael Lutheran Church in Unionville where she sang in the choir, played the flute, led the women’s group for many years, and attended Bible study regularly. She also researched and documented the history of Saint Michael and its buildings and congregation.
Jean loved being a mother and grandmother and cherished time with her family. She enjoyed travel and spending many summer days at the Jersey Shore. At Jenners Pond, she sang in the choir and found great community with the residents. She was a lifelong learner, always reading, researching, questioning, and seeking more information.
A strong believer in equality and social justice, Jean felt that we all have a responsibility to help our neighbors and care for those in need. The family loves her deeply, will miss her dearly, and will strive to follow her example.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 15 at 10 a.m. at Saint Michael Lutheran Church in Unionville.
Memorial gifts may be directed in her memory to Kennett Area Community Service (KACS), 136 W Cedar St, Kennett Square, Pa 19348, Lutheran World Relief P.O. Box 17061 Baltimore Md. 21297-1061, or St Michael Lutheran Church Memorial Fund P.O. Box 178, Unionville, Pa. 19375.
HAROLD C. BROOMELL
Harold C. Broomell, 91, of Kirkwood, Pa., passed away on February 22, 2025 while at his home. He was the husband of Lorraine Reyburn Broomell. Born in Liberty Grove, Md., he was the son of the late W. Norval and Hettie McCoury Broomell. He retired from Hewlett-Packard in Avondale as an engineer after 30 years of service.
Harold was a former township supervisor for Upper Oxford Township and he was a member of Skerrett Lodge #343 F.&A.M. in Cochranville.
Harold enjoyed playing the fiddle with several bluegrass groups including Lenape Bluegrass. He also enjoyed snowmobiling in several western states, as well as in Canada and Pennsylvania.
He is survived by his wife, one son, David Broomell of Kirkwood, and two grandchildren, Erin C. Broomell and Justin D. Broomell.
Harold was preceded in death by a brother, William Broomell.
Services are private.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the Next Gen Senior Citizens Center, 184 S. Lime St., Quarryville, Pa. 17566 or the Humane Society of your choice.
Arrangements are being handled by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. in Oxford. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.
JEAN M. MILES-WILSON
Jean Miles-Wilson, of Nottingham, passed away following a lengthy illness while at home on February 20, 2025. She was 58. Born in Carbondale, Pa., she was the daughter of Carol Morrison, and the late Donald Morrison. Jean was employed as a patient care technician in the health care field for many years. She also worked as a kindergarten teacher’s aide at Sacred Heart School, Oxford.
She enjoyed scrapbooking, decorating her home for all holidays, and most of all being with her family and friends. “Grammy” especially loved spending time with her beloved grandsons, Morgan, Milo, Riley, and Kai, whom she absolutely adored with all of her heart.
She is survived by her husband Patrick of Nottingham, her three daughters, Tara (Mark) Wozniak of Newark, Del., Ashley (Nathan) Miles of Willow Street, Pa., and Kristen (Doug) Miles of Stevens, Pa. Also surviving are her mother, Carol Morrison, her sister, Tamara Chopko (George), and a brother, Robert Burns, all from Scott Township, Pa., and a brother, Patrick Bastek (Sarah) of Doylestown, Pa.
Funeral services were held on February 27 at Sacred Heart Church, Oxford.
Interment will be held at Nottingham Cemetery, 120 Cemetery Road, Nottingham, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 8.
Arrangements are being handled by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. (www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com) in Oxford.
HARVEY GERALD POLEN
Harvey Gerald “Jerry” Polen peacefully passed away on February 22, 2025 while surrounded by his loving family at his home in Avondale. He was 86.
Jerry graduated from Kennett High School in 1957, and he spent several summers as a lifeguard for the Cape May (N.J.) Beach Patrol.
He later served in the U.S. Navy as a UTP3 with the Seabee’s. After his discharge from service, he spent the next 50 years as a plumbing and heating contractor. His last six years of employment were with Longwood Gardens, doing maintenance and custodial work before retiring at 70.
He was a charter member of the West Bradford Lions Club and was a member of the Navy Seabee Veterans of America Island X-5 in Lancaster, Pa., where he volunteered for several trips to the Mississippi coast following Hurricane Katrina. He used his skills and expertise to help local residents there with recovery efforts.
Jerry is survived by his wife of 60 years, Barbara Baldt Polen; his children, Dawn Polen Morgenstern and Robert Polen; and his grandson, Christopher Morgenstern. He is also survived by his sister, Mary Beth Polen Balogh. His services will be private.
To view his online tribute and to share a memory with his family, please visit www.kuzoandfoulkfh.com.
Arrangements are being handled by the Foulk Funeral Home of West Grove.
Public Notice Notice of Self Storage Sale
Notice is hereby given that Limestone Properties, LLC, 1020 Broad Run Road, Landenberg, PA 19350 will be blasting on their Surface Mine Permit located on Old Baltimore Pike, Avondale Borough, Chester County. The blasting will take place Monday through Friday between 7:00 AM and 5:00 PM. All interior permit area roads leading to the proposed blast area will be monitored or closed at the time of blasting. An air horn will give short bursts three (3) times before detonation and one (1) long blast after detonation. Possible conditions that might prevent blasting at times announced in the blasting schedule are as follows: rain, lightning, wind or other atmospheric conditions, possible breakdown of blasting company equipment or illness of personnel and operator of public safety.
Legal Notice
Affidavit of Patrece-Mulica:
Glenn
I, Patrece-Mulica: Glenn, being of sound mind and over the age of 18, hereby declare the following statements to be true and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief:
Identity and Competence:
I am legally alive and recognized as an adult, fully competent to manage my estate independently of the United States of America.
My Full Faith & Credit number is 23060357-1, licensed through the U.S. State Department on October 11, 2023.
My tax exemption number is 201688799.
Stateless Citizenship:
I declare myself a Stateless Citizen, abiding by the laws given to me by my Creator, YAHWEH. I do not wish to enter into contracts with any governments, municipalities, law enforcement agencies, corporations, or creditors unless such agreements are made voluntarily by both parties without threat, duress, or coercion.
Non-Minor Status and Estate
Management:
I am not a minor, and any accounts belonging to the Estate of Patrece-Mulica: Glenn currently under the control or management of any government agency, municipalities, law enforcement, or corporation must be returned to the Estate of Patrece-Mulica: Glenn, the living, breathing, sentient woman. I am domiciled in the Republic State of Pennsylvania (Pensilvania).
Revocation of Power of Attorney:
I hereby revoke all Power of Attorney duties previously granted
Please take notice Storage First Kennett Square 328 W Mulberry St Kennett Square PA 19348 intends to hold a public sale to the highest bidder of the property stored by the following tenants at the storage facility. This sale will occur as an online auction via www.storageauctions.com on 3/26/2025 at 10:00 AM. Noreen Sullivan unit #WR12. This sale may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Certain terms and conditions apply.
to any government, municipalities, law enforcement agencies, and corporations. I rescind all contracts with state, local, and federal government organizations, municipalities, and corporations, both foreign and domestic.
Conditional Acceptance of Outstanding Debt:
Any and all outstanding debt owed is conditionally accepted for value and honor exempt from levy.
I demand the immediate release of the proceeds, products, accounts, and fixtures in accordance with Public Policy, HJR-192, UCC 10-104, and UCC 1-104.
Legal Precedent: I accept the recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings in SEC v. Jarkesy and Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council as factual and applicable to my standing and declarations. I affirm that the above statements are made in good faith and are intended to assert my rights and status as declared.
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ESTATE NOTICE
Estate of Helen C. Graham aka Helen Canterbury Graham, Deceased late of New London Twp., Chester County, PA. Letters Testamentary on the above estate have been granted to the undersigned. All persons having claims against or indebted to the estate should make claims known or forward payment to Robert Wells Graham, Executor, c/o David W. Crosson, Esq., Crosson & Richetti LLC, 609 W. Hamilton St., Suite 301, Allentown, PA 18101.
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PUBLIC NOTICE
Pursuant to the provisions of Act 93, of October 15, 1998, notice is hereby given that the FINANCE COMMITTEE, House of Representatives, Pennsylvania, will hold a PUBLIC HEARING on Wednesday, March 12, 2025.The public hearing will begin at 1:00 P.M. at Kennett Library Auditorium, 320 E. State St., Kennett Square, PA 19348. The subject of this meeting is HB 820, the WPTC (Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit), which would provide PA taxpayers with a percentage of the amount they received from their federal Earned Income Tax Credit.
Brooke Wheeler, Chief Clerk House of Representatives Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
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Payment must be made via Bid4Assets. The balance must be paid within twenty-one (21) days from the date of sale via Bid4Assets. KEVIN D. DYKES, SHERIFF 2p-26-3t
Sheriff Sale of Real Estate
ESTATE NOTICE
Daniel P Huston, Deceased, late of East Nottingham Township, Chester County, PA. Letters Testamentary on the above estate have been granted to the undersigned. All persons having claims against or indebted to the estate should make claims known or forward payment to Walter J. Subers, Executor, C/O Attorney: Jeff P. Bryman, Esq., Law Offices of Pyle & Bryman, 225 Wilmington West Chester Pike, Suite 200, Chadds Ford PA 19317
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Sheriff Sale of Real Estate
By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff Kevin D. Dykes, the hereindescribed real estate will be sold at public online auction via Bid4Assets, by accessing URL www.bid4assets.com/ chestercopasheriffsales, on Thursday, March 20th, 2025 at 11AM. Notice is given to all parties in interest and claimants that the Sheriff will file with the Prothonotary and in the Sheriff’s Office, both located in the Chester County Justice Center, 201 W Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania, Schedules of Distribution on Monday, April 21 st , 2025. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedules unless exceptions are filed in the Sheriff’s Office within ten (10) days thereafter.
SALE NO. 25-3-58
Writ of Execution No. 2015-01455 DEBT $149,507.56
PROPERTY SITUATE IN BOROUGH OF KENNETT TOWNSHIP
Tax Parcel # 62-02J-0003
IMPROVEMENTS thereon: a residential dwelling
PLAINTIFF: M&T BANK VS DEFENDANT: DOROTHY N. CONNOLLY & FREDERICK P. MRAZ
SALE ADDRESS: 9 Woodchuck Way Lot 9, Kennett Square, PA 19348
PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: KML LAW GROUP, P.C. 215-6271322
N.B. Ten percent (10%) of the purchase money must be paid at the time of the on-line sale.
By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff Kevin D. Dykes, the hereindescribed real estate will be sold at public online auction via Bid4Assets, by accessing URL www.bid4assets.com/ chestercopasheriffsales, on Thursday, March 20th, 2025 at 11AM. Notice is given to all parties in interest and claimants that the Sheriff will file with the Prothonotary and in the Sheriff’s Office, both located in the Chester County Justice Center, 201 W Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania, Schedules of Distribution on Monday, April 21 st , 2025. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedules unless exceptions are filed in the Sheriff’s Office within ten (10) days thereafter.
SALE NO. 25-3-70
Writ of Execution No. 2015-06920 DEBT $135,576.05
PROPERTY SITUATE IN KENNETT TOWNSHIP
Tax Parcel # 62-02J-0003
IMPROVEMENTS thereon: a residential dwelling
PLAINTIFF: M&T BANK VS DEFENDANT: DOROTHY N. MRAZ A/K/A DOROTHY C. MRAZ A/K/A DOROTHY N. CONNOLLY & FREDERICK P. MRAZ
SALE ADDRESS: 9 Woodchuck Way, Kennett Square, PA 19348
PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: KML LAW GROUP, P.C. 215-6271322
N.B. Ten percent (10%) of the purchase money must be paid at the time of the on-line sale. Payment must be made via Bid4Assets. The balance must be paid within twenty-one (21) days from the date of sale via Bid4Assets. KEVIN D. DYKES, SHERIFF 2p-26-3t
Sheriff Sale of Real Estate
By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff Kevin D. Dykes, the hereindescribed real estate will be sold at public online auction via Bid4Assets, by accessing URL www.bid4assets.com/ chestercopasheriffsales, on Thursday, March 20th, 2025 at 11AM. Notice is given to all parties in interest and claimants that the Sheriff will file with the Prothonotary and in the Sheriff’s Office, both located in the Chester County Justice Center, 201 W Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania, Schedules of Distribution on Monday, April 21 st , 2025. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedules unless exceptions are filed in the Sheriff’s Office within ten (10) days thereafter.
SALE NO. 25-3-72
Writ of Execution No. 2024-04922
DEBT $132,359.74
ALL THAT CERTAIN lot or piece of ground, situate in London Grove Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, bounded and described according to a Final Title Plan of Subdivision of Ashley, dated 8/31/1987 last revised 8/9/1989 by Beideman Associates, Professional Land Surveyors, Exton, PA and recorded in Chester County as Plan No. 9677-82 as follows, to wit:
BEGINNING at a point on the Southerly side of Bramble Lane, a corner of Lot No. 19 on said plan; thence extending along said lot, South 16° 17’ 42” West, 209.22 feet to a point; thence extending North 68 33’ 15” West, 223.36 feet to a point, a corner of Lot No. 21; thence extending along said lot, North 19 19’ East, 195.03 feet to a point on the Southerly side of Bramble Lane; thence extending along same on the arc of a circle curving to the left having a radius of 4,025 feet the arc distance of 212.27 feet to the first mentioned point and place of BEGINNING.
CONTAINING 1.005 acres more or less
BEING Lot No. 20 on said plan.
BEING THE SAME PREMISES which David S. Cardile and Christine M. Cardile, by Deed dated 5/28/1997 and recorded 6/4/1997 in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds in and for Chester County in Deed Book 4184, Page 2118, granted and conveyed unto David S. Cardile.
Tax Parcel # 59-11-22.25
IMPROVEMENTS thereon: a residential property
PLAINTIFF: CITIZENS BANK, N.A. S/B/M TO CITIZENS BANK OF PENNSYLVANIA VS
DEFENDANT: David S. Cardile, Sr. a/k/a David S. Cardile
SALE ADDRESS: 6 Bramble Lane, West Grove, PA 19390
PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: LAW OFFICE OF GREGORY JAVARDIAN, LLC 215-942-9690
N.B. Ten percent (10%) of the purchase money must be paid at the time of the on-line sale. Payment must be made via Bid4Assets. The balance must be paid within twenty-one (21) days from the date of sale via Bid4Assets.
KEVIN D. DYKES, SHERIFF 2p-26-3t Sheriff Sale of Real Estate0
By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff Kevin D. Dykes, the hereindescribed real estate will be sold at public online auction via Bid4Assets, by accessing URL www.bid4assets.com/ chestercopasheriffsales, on Thursday, March 20th, 2025 at 11AM. Notice is given to all parties in interest and claimants
that the Sheriff will file with the Prothonotary and in the Sheriff’s Office, both located in the Chester County Justice Center, 201 W Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania, Schedules of Distribution on Monday, April 21 st , 2025. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedules unless exceptions are filed in the Sheriff’s Office within ten (10) days thereafter.
SALE NO. 25-3-73 Writ of Execution No. 2024-03866 DEBT $156,345.75
ALL THAT CERTAIN lot or piece of ground, with buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate in the Borough of Parkesburg, and being the same premises conveyed by the deed recorded November 21, 2000 in The Office of Chester County Recorder of Deeds, Book 4855 and Page 346 at Instrument No. 0076151, Receipt No. 0033531.
UPI # 8-5-296.1
PLAINTIFF: Nationstar Mortgage LLC VS
DEFENDANT: Randy Carroll Hoopes
SALE ADDRESS: 805 4th Avenue (aka 805 Fourth Avenue), Parkesburg, PA 19365
PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: ALBERTELLI LAW 856-724-1888
N.B. Ten percent (10%) of the purchase money must be paid at the time of the on-line sale. Payment must be made via Bid4Assets. The balance must be paid within twenty-one (21) days from the date of sale via Bid4Assets. KEVIN D. DYKES, SHERIFF 2p-26-3t
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Obituaries
RUFUS “GENE”
EUGENE SMITH
It is with great sadness that the family of Rufus “Gene” Eugene Smith, of New London Pa., announces his death on January 3, 2025. He died from a heart condition at his home in Verona, Missouri.
He is survived by his wife Mary Smith and his sisters and brothers: Mary Hughes, Connie Troupe, Nancy Taylor, A. James Smith, and Virgil Smith. He will always be in our hearts and thoughts.
DROP THE F*BOMB
Green
Death Conversations
Kennett Square will focus on the topic of green burial at its March 10 meeting, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Grieco Funeral Home office in Kennett Square. The program, Green Burial: Is It For You? is presented by Carin Bonifacino of the organization, Friends of Green Burial PA, and is free and open to anyone. Green (or natural) burial is not a new concept. It involves the burial of an unembalmed body, directly into the soil without a concrete vault, and in an entirely biodegradable casket or shroud. What is new with this concept is that many of these “green cemeteries” are essentially nature preserves – nature preserves that just so happen to allow for these limited impact burials on the land. For those who are concerned about the
burial: Is it for you?
environmental impact of modern burial and cremation, natural burial offers a way to leave a legacy that feeds the planet and does not create any pollution or waste. Along with that, it is an alternative that is legal in all 50 states and is available, even here in Chester County.
Following the presentation, there will be plenty of time for Q and A and discussion. For more information, visit greenburialPA.org. To RSVP or for more information, email deathconvos@ griecofunerals.com or call 484-734-8100.
Death Conversations
Kennett Square is an initiative of Grieco Funeral Home that provides opportunities for community education and conversation around the topics of death, dying, grief, and loss.
These free monthly gatherings take place on the second Monday of every month from 6:30 p.m. to
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Courtesy photo
Carin Bonifacino of Death Conversations Kennett Square will host a presentation about green burial on March 10.
Chester County sheriff deputies complete prestigious Command & Leadership Academy
The Chester County Sheriff’s Office announced that Corporal Tony Wilson and Corporal Deborah Gibney have successfully completed the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP) Command & Leadership Academy, an elite program designed to prepare future leaders in law enforcement.
The Command & Leadership Academy, established in 1993 in collaboration with the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, provides a blend of theoretical learning and practical application. The program, modeled after West Point’s renowned leadership courses, focuses on critical areas such as leadership psychology, organizational behavior, decision making under stress, and effective communication.
“We are incredibly proud
County
his
of Corporals Wilson and Gibney for their dedication and commitment to enhancing their leadership skills, not only for their professional growth but also for
the benefit of the Chester County community,” said Chester County Sheriff Kevin Dykes.
The Command & Leadership Academy pro-
gram is recognized for its rigor, and demands a significant time commitment from participants. Candidates dedicate themselves to intensive study,
collaborative exercises, and real-world applications designed to enhance their leadership capabilities.
“The completion of this program demonstrates the
added Dykes.
YMCA of Greater Brandywine welcomes new board members
Organization poised to expand support for public health
The YMCA of Greater Brandywine (YGBW) has announced the addition of five new members to its Association Board of Directors. Katie Angstadt, Brandy Smith, John Walker, Tia Wilson, and John Young join more than 30 returning board members, led by board chair Dr. Scott Heinerichs.
The new board members bring diverse expertise from prominent organizations such as Comcast and Lincoln Financial, enriching the strategic direction of YGBW. Returning board members equally have a diverse array of professions within organizations such as Main Line Health, the Chester County Health Department and Lincoln University, among many others.
“Many people may not realize the broad range of expertise required to run
our organization, locations and programs,” said Bertram L. Lawson II, YGBW president and CEO. “While most associate YGBW with Aquatics, Youth Sports, and Fitness, our team’s expertise extends into many other complex fields of business. Having an engaged, diverse and robust Board of Directors that bring their abilities, network and willingness to advance our mission as partners is essential to our success.”
YGBW employs over 1,600 individuals annually, including program specialists, operations leaders, teachers, board-certified behavior specialists, lifeguards, camp counselors, IT professionals, marketers, HR specialists, nationally accredited wellness staff, finance professionals, facilities professionals and more.
“It is crucial for the members of our Board of Directors to bring varied knowledge and experience to support our organization as we work toward achieving an ambitious set of strategic goals for 2025. I am honored that these talented individuals have committed to volunteering their time, talent and resources on our board,” Lawson added.
As YGBW continues to expand to meet the growing needs of the Chester County community, the organization has prioritized initiatives to improve local public health. Earlier this year, YGBW celebrated the launch of the Fit Truk, a mobile wellness hub designed to deliver health services to underserved areas throughout the county.
In the coming months, YGBW plans to roll out
across Chester County
several evidence-based health interventions, including Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring, Healthy Weight and Your Child and Walk with Ease. These programs will complement existing offerings, such as LIVESTRONG at the
YMCA, a free 12-week intervention program for cancer survivors, which includes a complimentary YGBW membership for participants to use during the program.
In addition to public health initiatives, YGBW’s
Senior Leadership Team, in partnership with its Board of Directors, will guide the organization to achieve strategic goals focused on strengthening communities, ensuring access for all and remaining an employer of choice in Chester County.
Chester County Commissioners name Edmond as Planning Commission executive director
Chester County Commissioners Josh Maxwell, Marian Moskowitz and Eric Roe approved the appointment of Matthew Edmond, AICP, as the new executive director of the Chester County Planning Commission.
He joined the county on Feb. 18 and replaces Brian O’Leary, who retired in November of 2024.
Edmond has more than 20 years of public planning experience with the Montgomery County Planning Commission, and his move to Chester County follows ten years as transportation section manager, followed by a stint as the assistant director of transportation and long-range planning. During his time at Montgomery County, Matt served as executive
leader for the county’s new comprehensive plan, Montco 2050, and has served as project manager for Bike Montco, as well as the county’s aviation policy plan, and the Montgomery County Complete Streets Policy.
Commenting on Matt’s appointment, Commissioners Maxwell, Moskowitz and Roe said in a statement, “We are pleased to appoint someone who has such an extensive background in public planning in Pennsylvania municipal government, as well as someone who is so highly respected within his professional community.”
The County Commissioners also thanked Chester County Planning Commission assistant director Carol
Stauffer for her leadership as acting executive director of the department in the interim following O’Leary’s retirement.
Chester County Chief Executive Officer David Byerman said, “The executive director of planning must possess a unique blend of skills—technical expertise, the ability to lead a large and diverse team, the versatility to communicate effectively with different audiences, and a deep understanding of how planning drives successful public policy. Matt Edmond embodies all of these qualities, and we are looking forward to see him realize his vision in this critical role.”
For ten years, Edmond has been executive director of the Montgomery County Transportation
Authority. He is a member of the American Planning Association (APA) and the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Association (APAPA). Throughout the year, he teaches Pennsylvania Municipal Planning Education Institute courses on community planning to municipal officials. He also chairs the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission’s Regional Technical Committee.
In his new role, Edmond will oversee Chester County’s Comprehensive Plan, Landscapes3, the main purpose of which is to balance preservation of the county’s open spaces, natural areas and historic landscapes with compatible growth of the county’s urban and suburban centers, providing
diverse and affordable housing, and expanding public transit, pedestrian and bicycle networks.
“I’m incredibly honored to be chosen by the Chester County Commissioners to lead the Planning
Commission and I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve the county’s citizens,” Edmond said. “The Commission has a long history of excellence that I look forward to continuing well into the future.”
Chester County Sheriff’s Office Deputy, Corporal Deborah Gibney, receives her certificate of completion from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police Command & Leadership Academy personnel.
Courtesy photos
Chester
Sheriff’s Office Deputy, Corporal Tony Wilson, receives
certificate of completion from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police Command & Leadership Academy personnel.
Chester County Sheriff’s Office’s commitment to fostering a culture of professional development and leadership innovation,”
Courtesy photo
Matthew Edmond is the newly appointed executive director of the Chester County Planning Commission.
