Chester CountyPRESS
www.chestercounty.com
Covering Avon Grove, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Oxford, & Unionville Areas
Volume 150, No. 47
INSIDE
U-CF School Board hears from concerned parent about ethnic intimidation incidents in district By John Chambless Staff Writer
Kennett Square Today Magazine
Black Friday & Small Business Saturday Buyers' Guide
At a meeting that focused on the many positive aspects of the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District as shown in the Annual Achievement Report, a concerned parent sparked a serious discussion for the school board about how minority students in the district are feeling threatened after the recent
Oxford Borough officials discussed the preliminary budget for 2017 at the council meeting on Monday night, and the good news for residents is that there is no tax increase proposed in the spending plan. Borough manager Brian Hoover said that the general fund budget totals $3,358,615. As it stands now, the spending plan projects a surplus of approximately $75,000. Officials have been working out any issues with Cameron’s Hardware specific line items in the plans expansion...6A budget, and the numbers have been fairly consistent during recent weeks. “The preliminary budget hasn’t changed since we last met,” Hoover told Four top Oxford students sign to play college sports...1C
INDEX
Opinion........................7A Obituaries...................3B
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Classifieds..................3C
© 2007 The Chester County Press
election of Donald Trump. At the school board’s Nov. 21 meeting at the refurbished Patton Middle School auditorium, a concerned mother of three children in district schools addressed the board during public comment. Vandana Dubay said she was representing the county’s Southeast Asian community. “Over the last couple of weeks, multiple issues have occurred in the
schools and colleges across the region and the country,” she said. “Kids who are in religious or ethnic minorities have been bullied. Here in our own schools, we have had several. As Southeast Asians, and as parents, we fear the threats that our children feel for their personal safety. “These are not just random words that I’m pulling out of thin air,” she Continued on Page 2A
A holiday happening
‘A Longwood Christmas’ rings in the holiday season at Longwood Gardens with a musically inspired display through Dec. 8. The Christmas displays are also opening at the Brandywine River Museum of Art, Winterthur, and Hagley Museum. For more information, see Page 1B.
Officials say Kennett Township no tax increase approves preliminary is expected in 2017 budget Oxford Borough By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer
Calendar of Events.....2B
60 Cents
Wednesday, November 23, 2016
council. “I’m very comfortable with where the budget stands.” With no tax increase anticipated under the spending plan, the millage rate would remain the same at 12.25 mills. The borough’s water rates are also remaining the same for 2017, according to the current plan. Borough council member Randy Grace noted that this would be the second year out of the last three without a tax increase. One significant issue that is not impacting the proposed budget for 2017 is the ongoing financial situation of the Oxford Area Sewer Authority. The four member municipalities—Oxford Borough and East Nottingham, West Nottingham, and Lower Continued on Page 3A
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
The Kennett Township Board of Supervisors gave approval to the township’s preliminary budget for 2017 at its Nov. 16 meeting. The budget snapshot takes six township funds into account: general, library, open space, sewer, state and capital. As of Jan. 1, 2017, the township’s beginning balance for its general fund will be $5.7 million, with $3.43 million in income projected for next year, with $2.4 million of that figure coming from local enabling taxes -- which will be nearly equal to last year’s budget. The total revenue comes in at 13.2 percent less than the 2016 budget, which Township Manager Lisa Moore said was likely due to the high number of
DuPont employees who either retired, or were the victims of layoffs in the company over the past year. On the expense side, the township forecasts a $4.2 million outlay from its general fund in 2017, which will include a transfer of $1.5 million from the general fund to its capital fund, that will be used to pay for the reconstruction of the historic Chandler Mill Bridge, paving projects, capital equipment, and the purchase of a new police vehicle. The largest increase in general fund spending is reflected in a 33.8 percent boost in police expenses, which will be 14 percent higher than 2016’s budget and 12 percent higher than projected 2016 expenses. The board is considering whether or not to hire another police officer in 2017,
Run2Shine, Inc. presents $5K each to three beneficiaries By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer On the morning of Oct. 15, nearly 700 runners lined up at the start of the first Mushroom Cap 13.1 halfmarathon at the Kennett High School football field. It was cold, the sun had just begun to pop over the famous water tower, and each competitor knew he or she was about to face the challenge of steep slopes and never-ending roads. Many competed in order to test their endurance and better personal times, but whether or not they were aware, they were also running for another purpose: To assist hundreds of citizens in southern Chester County. On Nov. 15, the aches and pains they endured were all for a great purpose. Run2Shine, Inc., the fundraising wing of the Mushroom Cap 13.1, donated $5,000 each to three beneficiaries: The Garage Community & Youth Center, Family Promise of Southern Chester County and The Genesis Employee Foundation, at its gala celebration held at the Marketplace at Kennett Square. Run2shine, Inc. found-
which will be decided by the time the 2017 budget is finalized. While open space income in 2017 is projected at $796,000, open space expenses are anticipated to be $3.24 million, to account for the anticipated easement purchases of two properties -- totaling 170 acres -- next year. The township’s sewer income for 2017 is projected to be slightly more than $2 million. Next March, the township expects to receive $1.5 million in sewer connection fees for the Ravello apartment complex on Miller’s Hill Road, which kicks off construction next spring. Expenses for the sewer fund next year are projected at $1.1 million. The township’s library fund will remain at $154,050 -- no change from Continued on Page 3A
Hidden costs that are avoidable By Uncle Irvin
director for the Garage Community & Youth Center, said the gift will support the Garage’s afterschool academics program, which includes tutoring, homework help, use of the computer labs, and support of additional studies. “We are immensely grateful to the Mushroom Cap team, not only for all of
All the school districts in southern Chester County have privatized their busing operations, except UnionvilleChadds Ford. The U-CF board wimped out, even after a study found it could save money by privatization. Recently, the board voted to spend $150,000 on a new fuel pump; earlier, hundreds of thousands on new buses. All of these hidden costs are borne by the private bus company, leaving the school district with the annual negotiated cost – nothing more. The U-CF district has also been averse to privatizing janitorial and cafeteria operations, and has been willing to provide health benefits and fixed benefit pensions to all these employees.
Continued on Page 3A
Continued on Page 2A
Photo by Richard L. Gaw
Karen DiMascola and Sarah Nurry, co-founders of Run2shine, Inc. and organizers of the Mushroom Cap 13.1 race, celebrated with representatives from three organizations on Nov. 15, who were the recipients of $5,000 donations from the race. Pictured with DiMascola and Nurry are Susan Minarchi of Family Promise of Southern Chester County; Kristin Proto of The Garage Community & Youth Center; and Jennifer Pantalone, Joanne Lippert and Deb Mahrlig of the The Genesis Employee Foundation.
ers Sarah Nurry and Karen DiMascola launched the idea for the Mushroom Cap 13.1 more than a year ago, soon after they completed a half-marathon together. “We had both finished a race, and we were sitting in the field, and we left longing for a better halfmarathon,” Nurry told the audience of over 100 who attended the celebration.
“We thought, ‘Why not do it in Kennett Square, where we both live, because it’s beautiful?’ Our idea turned into a dream and because of everyone in this room, it turned into a great event.” Nurry said that the organizations were selected on the basis of their ability help families overcome hardships. Kristin Proto, executive