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Chester CountyPRESS
www.chestercounty.com
Covering Avon Grove, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Oxford, & Unionville Areas
Volume 150, No. 20
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
60 Cents
Township may soon back out of delayed land easement deal By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
On Feb. 23, 2015, the New Garden Township Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to enter into negotiations to purchase the 178-acre Green Valley Farm in the township for $2.3 million, for the purpose of placing a conservation easement on it. More than 15 months later, the deal has yet to be finalized, a delay that has prompted a few township officials to express concern that the township is committing big bucks to an agreement that has become known more for its tardiness than its potential. At the board’s meeting
Photo by Richard L. Gaw
New Garden Township supervisor Pat Little
on May 16, supervisor Pat Little – the most vocal opponent of the Green Valley Farm easement – requested that the board enter into a motion to reconsider the easement deal, at its next meeting on June 20. The board agreed to the motion.
The site is currently owned in part by former supervisor Warren Reynolds, who began discussions with the township’s Open Space Review Board three years ago, for the purpose of preserving the land in perpetuity. Little first suggested this motion at the board’s Jan. 19 meeting, but withdrew the motion after Tom Johnson and George Elser, attorneys representing the Reynolds family, spent 45 minutes explaining the reasons for the delay, and telling the supervisors that a final agreement would be reached by the end of February. Johnson called the Continued on Page 3A
U-CF School Board votes for 2.7 percent millage increase
By John Chambless Staff Writer
The good news at the May 16 meeting of the Unionville-Chadds Ford School Board was that extra money had been discovered that could amend the tax increase for Chester County for the coming year. The debate was focused on how
Kennett Library priorities are upside down By Uncle Irvin The new board of directors of the Kennett Public Library, under new president Tom Swett, has unfortunately decided that pursuing a new name is more important than fundraising. Hiring a paid consultant to come up with a new name will not get the library a new, larger home with ample free parking. To that end, it was premature to spend Continued on Page 3A
to allocate the savings. District superintendent John Sanville explained to the board how the recommended weighted tax increase proposed by the administration on Monday night had gone from 2.88 percent to 2.47 percent. “The 2.88 percent budget included the use of $193,000 in fund balance
was the administration’s recommendation on May 2. Since that time, there has been a realization of other savings across a number of categories,” Sanville said. “It’s been shared with the board. Those areas include an increase in state funding through the basic education funding formula, the Continued on Page 2A
Photo by Richard L. Gaw
Beneath a sunny sky, the 27th annual Kennett Run drew more than 1,300 competitors on May 14.
Annual event draws 1,300 competitors
Given respite from the rain, Kennett Run shines in the sun By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer Among the more than 1,500 competitors, race organizers and volunteers who participated in the 27th annual Kennett Run last Saturday, it was likely that every one of them fell asleep on Friday evening to the sound of pelting rain, the chorus of which implied
an ominous forecast for the morning after. While there is no firm proof that Race Gods exist, some form of a higher being, perhaps an empathetic presence clad in running shoes, gifted Kennett Square with a clear blue sky that held strong throughout the start of several races, and at Anson B. Nixon Park, Continued on Page 2A
Eight organizations and individuals receive Citizen Recognition Awards in Oxford By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer The police officers in the Oxford Police Department, Police Corporal Scott Brown, Randy Teel, Family Promise of Chester County, David Ogino, Reba Webb, Janis Walker, and the Relay for Life of Oxford were all honored with Citizen Recognition Awards at the May 16 Oxford Borough Council meeting. “What a wonderful gathering!” Mayor Geoff Henry exclaimed as he looked around the room filled with people supporting this year’s recipients. Henry said that handing out the Citizen Recognition
Photo by Steven Hoffman
The recipients of this year’s Citizen Recognition Awards include (front row) The Relay for Life of Oxford—Ralph Greer, Jane Freeman, and Christine Bennett; Janis Walker; Reba Webb; and Mayor Geoff Henry; and (back row) The Family Promise of Southern Chester County—Wes Bowers and Annalie Korengel, Randy Teel, David Ogino, Scott Brown, and The Oxford Borough Police Department—John Slauch.
Awards is always one of the highlights of the year. He established the Citizen Recognition Awards in 2006 as a way to recognize the individuals, businesses,
and organizations that have made positive contributions to the Borough of Oxford and its citizens. The entire community is invited to Continued on Page 8A
© 2007 The Chester County Press