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Covering Avon Grove, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Oxford, & Unionville Areas

Volume 153, No. 49

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

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Oxford Borough mayor resigns By Betsy Brewer Brantner Contributing Writer Oxford Borough mayor Lorraine Durnan Bell officially resigned from the position at a borough council Meeting on Dec. 2, citing medical reasons. Borough council president Sue Lombardi hand-delivered Bell’s letter of resignation to the members of borough council, who unanimously approved the resignation effective immediately. Bell was sworn in as Oxford’s mayor on Jan. 2, 2018. As mayor her primary responsibility was to direct the activities of the 24-hour police department, which includes a full-time chief, detective sergeant, nine full-time officers, two part-time officers, and a police clerk. Bell was injured in a twovehicle crash near Rising Sun, Md. on Sept. 12 of this year. Two other people were also injured in that crash. Cecil County’s Sheriff’s department investigated the incident. Bell, who sustained serious injuries in the accident, is still

recuperating. Council will be seeking letters of interest from those interested in filling Bell’s unexpired term, which ends in December 2021. Anyone interested should contact Borough Manager Brian Hoover at 610-9322500, ext.302 for further information. Lombardi thanked Bell for her service saying, “She did a great job in representing the Borough of Oxford.” On Dec. 4, Oxford Borough issued a press release saying that borough council is looking to fill the vacancy at the Dec. 16 meeting, and that any borough resident interested in filling the position should forward a letter of interest to council president Sue Lombardi, P.O. Box 380 Oxford, PA. 19363, no later than Friday Dec. 13 at 12 p.m. You must be a resident of Oxford Borough and a registered voter to be considered for the vacancy. The press release from the borough also outlined some of the duties of the mayor, including the following: administer oaths and affirmations; preside over mandatory reorganiza-

tion meeting; vote when it is necessary to break tied votes of council (It is important to note that a mayor cannot vote on hiring or firing police personnel, or if there is a conflict of interest); take part in council discussions; declare an emergency and regulate certain actions

during this time; administer the police department; inform council of fees charged and collected for performing marriage ceremonies; enforce ordinances and regulations; perform marriage ceremonies (this is a privilege, not a requirement of the office); attend

ribbon-cutting ceremonies; represent the borough at public events and celebrations; be involved with the police department in community projects; submit articles for the borough website or newsletter; and attend and participate in municipal meetings.

‘Jingle Bell Rock’ on State Street

Photo by Chris Barber

Dancers from Longwood Performing Arts kicked off Kennett Square’s Holiday Light Parade and tree-lighting festivities last Friday with their traditional version of ‘Jingle Bell Rock.’ The group performed twice—once on each side of Union Street—in front of a large crowd. A story about this Christmas event and others will appear in our special section that will be included in the Dec. 11 issue of the Chester County Press.

After Barrar’s retirement announcement, 160th District race is wide open In the last 50 years, only one Democrat has been elected to serve as State Representative in the 160th District. But, with the retirement of a longtime incumbent, the door could be opened for Democrats to flip the seat in 2020 By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer The calendar hasn’t even flipped to 2020 yet, and the race for the 160th Pennsylvania House of

Three Oxford athletes sign to play collegiate sports...1B

Jeff Hellrung was unanimously re-elected president of the Unionville-Chadds Ford School Board on Monday night. During the annual reorganization meeting, Steve

School in new

INDEX

spend more time with his family as well as some serious health issues as reasons why he decided to retire now. “It is bittersweet to announce my intentions

to retire from the General Assembly at the end of my term in November of 2020 and I will not run for another term as a member in the General Assembly,” Barrar Continued on Page 2A

Simonson was also unanimously re-elected board vice president. The board also swore in four board members who just won seats in the election: Rashi Akki, Tori Baratta, John Murphy, and Erin Talbert. A fifth member, Jen Brown, was sworn in ear-

lier as she couldn’t make the meeting. During a chance for the new directors to comment, Talbert thanked the outgoing school board members “for their many years of service to us all.” Akki told those in attendance that serving on the school

board is another avenue for her to give back to the school district from which her sons graduated and her daughter is attending. In her comments, Baratta said she and the others were excited to be joining the board. “I’m excited and hum-

bled to represent my community,” she said. Meeting dates were also approved for 2020. Upcoming meetings include a curriculum and instruction meeting and board work session on Jan. 6, and the regular board meeting Jan. 21.

Kennett resident creates fundraising campaign for Kenyan schoolchildren By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

Opinion.......................5A

In May of 2018, Kennett Square resident Mary Church Calendar........2B Williams traveled on a tour Calendar of Events.....3B bus with seven other visiClassifieds..................4C tors through the village of Kawangware in Kibera, Kenya, a trip that was sponsored by Intentional © 2007 The Chester County Press Tours, a Lancaster Countybased social enterprise travel company that organizes interactive and purposeful trips to underserved countries. What those on the bus saw Obituaries.................2B

has served as the State Representative in the 160th District since 1997, announced that he plans to retire at the end of his current term. Barrar cited a desire to

Hellrung unanimously re-elected U-CF school board president By Monica Fragale Contributing Writer

Kennett Board swears members...3C

Representatives district is already shaping up as one of the more intriguing State House contests in the next election cycle. On Nov. 19, Steve Barrar, the incumbent who

from the windows silenced everyone aboard – a massive and ramshackled city built on the rickety foundation of hardship, where 250,000 people live in what is considered to be the largest slum in Africa, and one of the largest in the world. From the Intentional Tours bus window, the facts of poverty revealed themselves before them. There is a 50-percent unemployment rate in Kibera, and those who do have jobs are employed as unskilled laborers.

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The average size of home in this area is 12-foot by 12-foot, and is constructed of mud walls and corrugated tin roofs, with dirt or concrete floors. Each residence houses up to eight or more people, most of whom sleep on the floor. Only ten percent of the entire population of Kibera owns their own home, which are rented to the remaining 90 percent of the population. Photo courtesy of Molly Kiunga Foundation Only about 20 percent The Molly Kiunga Foundation raises funding and of Kibera has electricity, provides educational opportunities for the children Continued on Page 3A

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2019

Chester County Press

Local News Barrar... Continued from Page 1A

said in statement released on Nov. 19. “On Dec 1, 2019, I will begin my 24th year in the Legislature, a job I have loved since being elected in 1996. This has been the opportunity of a lifetime, and I hope I have represented you well and to the best of my ability. It is not easy to leave, I have always loved this job, but after 24 years, I feel it is time to step down.” Barrar’s retirement announcement wasn’t a surprise to political insiders, and neither was Democrat Anton Andrew’s decision to run for the seat for a second time. In the 2018 election, Andrew came within about 900 votes of unseating Barrar, and when that previous showing is factored into the equation, along with the recent election wins by several Chester County Democrats, may set the stage for Democrats to win the 160th District seat in 2020.

The 160th District is comprised of portions of Chester County and Delaware County, including Kennett Square Borough, Kennett Township, Pennsbury Township, and Pocopson Township in Chester County and Bethel Township, Chadds Ford Township, Concord Township, and five wards in Upper Chichester Township in Delaware County. The 160th District has always been represented by someone from Delaware County, and it has almost always been represented by a Republican. With the exception of four years in the 1970s, Republicans have always held this seat. Barrar is no exception, having frequently won reelection by wide margins. In 2010, he won with 64 percent of the vote, ran unopposed in 2012, and overcame the challenge of Whitney Hoffman, now a supervisor in Kennett Township, in 2014. Barrar then won 81 percent of the vote two years later, when he was challenged by an

Independent candidate and no Democrat was on the ballot. Then came the 2018 election and the strong showing by Andrew, who earned 48.51 percent of the overall vote. He was boosted by a particularly strong turnout by Democrats in Chester County, where he out-polled Barrar. Now, in 2020, there won’t be a longtime incumbent running so the path to an Election Day victory is much more wide open. While Republicans still hold an advantage in terms of registered voters in the 160th District, Democrats have been making gains in both Chester County and Delaware County. If Andrew, an attorney with degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and Hofstra School of Law, can win the Democratic nomination in the Primary Election in the Spring, he could get a further boost from the “blue wave” that has resulted in unprecedented wins by Democrats in Chester County during the last two election cycles.

When he announced his campaign kickoff for 2020, Andrew said that the results of 2018 strengthened his determination and commitment to win the 160th District race in 2020. “I’ve been working tirelessly every day to make certain we flip this seat in 2020,” he said in a statement announcing his candidacy. “That’s meant spending time getting to know even more about every part of the district by attending school board, county and township council meetings. I’ve been canvassing for candidates, meeting voters at their homes, and advocating for issues that are most important…[including] common sense gun safety reform, fair funding for our schools, and protecting our environment.” Although it’s still early in the campaign, more candidates will likely line up to challenge for the 160th District seat. Cathy Spahr from Upper Chichester is a likely Democratic challenger, who ran against Andrew

Courtesy photo

Anton Andrew

State Rep. Steve Barrar

for the party’s nomination in 2018. On the Republican side, Dan Foltz has been mentioned as a potential candidate. The filing deadline for candidates to take part in the Primary Election is Feb. 18, 2020, and the Primary Election takes place on April 28. The general election will be held on Nov. 3. With no incumbent in the race, the 160th District seat is being targeted as part of the statewide effort by Democrats to win control of the Pennsylvania State House. In order to do that, Democrats will need to flip nine seats. Local Democrats are enthusiastic that a strong

candidate like Andrew will help win a critical race. “The 160th District is one of the top-five pickup opportunities for the Democratic Party in 2020,” said Wayne Braffman, the chair of the Kennett Area Democrats. “Anton Andrew lost this race by less than 900 votes in 2018. With the recent Democratic surge in both Chester and Delaware counties, and Rep. Steve Barrar’s retirement, the Democrats are in good position to win this seat in 2020.” To contact Staff Writer Steven Hoffman, email editor@chestercounty.com.

Wallace elected as president of Unionville Community Fair The Unionville Community Fair ended its 95th year with the election of new leadership. Since 1924, the fair has evolved each year with new events and activities for all ages, while continuing to showcase and educate the community of its agricultural background. After serving on the board since 1978, Bonnie

Musser has stepped down from her position as president. Musser led the fair through a successful 95th year, overseeing the introduction of new events to the fair—including the Haunted Tent and the Car and Truck Show. Her involvement in the fair is not over, as Musser will continue to lead the publishing of the fair catalog.

Leading the 96th year of the fair will be Cindy Wallace, a longtime resident of the area and involved member of the fair board. Wallace served as the president-elect in 2019. Wallace’s family has entered crops from the family farm in the fair for many years. She lives on part of the farm her grandparents bought in the

1940s and raises chickens, ducks and goats. Her children are active participants in the fair. They won the 2018 and 2019 Family Award and Katrina Wallace is a two-time winner of the Robert Struble youth award. Ed Shultz will serve on the leadership team as the vice president. Schultz organized the Haunted

Tent, a new addition to the 2019 fair. As a volunteer of the fair, he first became involved after he was asked to help set up tables for the event. He was previously on the fair’s board of directors and is the facilities director, as well. Schultz’s wife, Debbie Schultz, is a highly involved fair volunteer as well, as the co-director of

youth art. The fair is operated by an all-volunteer staff and is always looking for new community members to become involved. Thousands of hours go into putting on the fair each year, which will be held next Oct. 2 to 4. More information can be found on the website at ucfair.org.

OAEA makes donation to Oxford Library The Oxford Area Education Association (OAEA) presented the Oxford Public Library with a $300 check in honor of American Education Week. The week-long celebration “presents all Americans with a wonderful opportunity to celebrate public education and honor individuals who are making a difference in ensuring that every child receives a quality education,” according

to the National Education Association (NEA). OAEA’s gift to the library has become an annual gesture of the organization’s commitment to strong educational partnerships in the community. OAEA president Chrissie Boyer said, “It’s important to give back to the community and continue to provide resources for our students outside of school.” The Oxford Public Library is located at 48 South Second Street in Oxford. The Oxford Area Education Association recently presented Oxford Library director Carey Bresler with a donation that the association made to the library. Pictured are Chrissie Boyer, Kim Webber, Lauren Sharp, Brenda Moran, Carey Bresler, Janet Fowler, Ryan Maule, and Denise Hicks.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2019

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

Chester County Press

Local News Kenyan... Continued from Page 1A

and until recently, the only access to water was from the Nairobi dam, which is considered unclean and causes typhoid and cholera. In most of Kibera, there are no toilet facilities, and one latrine – largely a hole in the ground – is commonly shared by residents from as many as 50 homes. Once full, young boys are employed to empty the latrine and they take the contents to nearby waterways. “We pulled into this community on a giant tour bus with our fancy clothes and fancy shoes,” Williams said. “We were watching them through the glass windows of the bus, and they were watching us. At first, it felt like we were tourists from another world.” When Williams and her colleagues got off the bus, however, they saw the purpose of Intentional Tours at work. Created as an alternative to the traditional mission, service-learning trip, the company provides authentic cultural experiences that allow guests to engage with local communities as equals, rather than as benefactors. Williams and her entourage played hand puppet games and sang songs with the schoolchildren. They drank tea with members of the village. They met with the community’s pastor, and heard the stories of several community members. “It was their story of survival and gratitude, and of coming from nothing but having so much, in their church, their community and in their families,” she said. “You can see that they are all living in extreme and abject poverty, but these are robust and engaged communities, thriving in a way that I didn’t anticipate experiencing. I felt a transparency that passed through a filtration process of mutual interest and storytelling.” “We allow our travelers to have conversations and experiences that help them understand a wide array of perspectives, from a tribal Maasai shepherd to a tech entrepreneur in Nairobi, to religious leaders based in the slum areas,” said Jonathan Coleman, who cofounded Intentional Tours with his wife, Kate. “All of

these experiences are carefully thought-out, so as to empower the Kenyan people we meet to share their stories, because they have so much to offer. “Our travelers are there as guests and tourists, so we want to have unique experiences that help them grow as humans, while also ensuring that the people we interact with are treated with dignity, as well as fairly compensated for their time, expertise, and willingness to interact with us.”

Photo courtesy of Mary Williams

Mary Williams, third from right, was one of a group of people who visited Kenya in 2018, as part of Intentional Tours.

Mary meets Winnie During her two weeks in Kenya with Intentional Tours, Williams met Winnie Kiunga, the founder, chief advocate and operating officer for the Molly Kiunga Foundation (MKF). Founded in 2011, the foundation – named in honor of Kiunga’s mother -- is focused on three areas of youth development: its Youth Mentorship Project, that provides opportunities to encourage youth leadership and help with career choices, financial planning and other life skills; its Scholarship Initiative, which provides direct financial support to needy students for secondary and university education, as well as school supplies in under-resourced schools; and its Girls Hadhi Project, that provides safe spaces for girls to talk about sexuality, gender-based violence and other topics and to attend self -esteem building activities. “When I first laid eyes on Winnie during one of our events, we immediately wrapped our arms around each other,” Williams said. “She radiates that struckby-lightning energy that I was immediately drawn to. I didn’t want to leave her. I wanted to stay. I asked her to tell me everything she was doing.” Kiunga told Williams that the foundation was seeking U.S. funding to raise the essential money to provide three students from the village with scholarship funding to attend a private school. While each student demonstrated high academic achievement, their families could not afford to send them to better schools. When Esther Mathenge, a young girl from Kihuyo Village in Central Kenya,

Photo courtesy of Molly Kiunga Foundation

Winnie Kiunga of the Molly Kiunga Foundation.

received an acceptance letter from Kahuhia Girls High School, her parents approached the foundation for assistance, due largely to their being jobless. Moses Ndirangu became the first recipient of the MKF scholarship, and received full tuition and fees to attend Kaheti Boys High School. He was then accepted at Moi University and is currently studying public relations and communications, but right now, MKF is not able to provide additional scholarship funding for him. Diana Emali from Western Kenya began high school this year and received a partial scholarship from MKF, but due to her family not being able to afford school tuition and fees, she has moved from one school to another. Right now, MKF is trying to raise money to afford Diana a full scholarship next year. “When I met Mary, I was consulting with Intentional Tours by overseeing logistics and facilitating community interactions during their trip to Kenya,” Kiunga said. “I immediately liked Mary. She exuded warmth and kindness, and she was very funny — I like people with a sense of humor. In the course of our interactions, I shared with her about the Molly Kiunga Foundation, and since then she has been my number one cheerleader.” After spending the next two weeks in Kenya, Williams and Kiunga have kept in nearly constant communication with each other, and recently, Kiunga told Williams that if MKF is not able to raise additional funding by January, that

Mathenge, Ndirangu and Emali will be in danger of not being able to complete their schooling this year. Two weeks ago, Williams launched a social fundraising campaign, titled “Sending Students to School,” that to date has raised more than $500 for MKF, and will be accessible for additional donations through the end of the year. “These children are poised to attend a university if that is their choice, or have demonstrated that they are qualified to go right into the work force, in a meaningful way,” Williams said. “It quickly became abundantly clear to me that without this support, that for many of these children, there’s nowhere for them to go.” ‘My big sister’ “Sometime in 2017, I felt like giving up and closing the foundation,” Kiunga said. “I had been paying tuition for many kids and I was overwhelmed. I had just lost my job and had no more money to help the kids. I sent a message to Mary asking for help. She responded immediately and rallied support for me. That year, MKF was able to pay fees and tuition for all scholarship awardees. “I was with Mary for less than five days, but I feel like she has been my big sister all along. She is not patronizing with her giving. She is one of my most favorite human beings.” Growing up in West Hartford, Conn., Williams was an active participant in her parents’ efforts to serve those who were less fortunate. Her mother Patricia

ACE annual gift collection takes place on Dec. 14 The ACE annual holiday gift collection will be held on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 9:30 a.m. at the monthly meeting of ACE Anti-Human Trafficking Alliance of Oxford. Items needed for vulnerable women and children are warm hats, gloves, socks, personal hygiene items,

paper towels and napkins, shelters. Refreshments 12 East Locust Street. paper plates, toilette & will be served at 9 a.m. at Questions may be directed facial tissue, anti-bacterial the Oxford Senior Center, to 610-932-0337. wipes, individually packaged snacks, gift cards, calendars, journals, pens, pencils, and hand warmers (all items must be new). Collected gifts will be disPECIAL ECTION ALENDAR R tributed to youth centers, transitional homes and

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Photo courtesy of Molly Kiunga Foundation

The Molly Kiunga Foundation’s Youth Mentorship Project provides opportunities to encourage youth leadership and help with career choices, financial planning and other life skills.

formed an interfaith coalition made up of community leaders, for for-profit and nonprofit businesses and local churches, in helping to raise money to build affordable housing for low-income families in the Greater Hartford area that opened up opportunities for the children of these families to attend better school districts. Her father Bill, a longtime journalist with the Hartford Courant, created a literacy program at a nearby state prison. Williams’ dedication to young people doesn’t end with her efforts to help Kiunga raise funds for Kenyan schoolchildren. She is a program advocate with Chester County Futures, a non-profit organization that offers direct program support and services through after-school academic enrichment meetings, mentoring and post-secondary scholarship support. Founded in 1996, the organization serves low-income students in the Coatesville, Kennett Consolidated, Oxford Area and Phoenixville Area school districts who are motivated to earn a high school diploma and postsecondary degrees. Williams said that she is very confident that her

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campaign will provide a good chunk of what MKF needs to continue to send these students to school. After all, she said she grew up in the company of diligent and dedicated parents who in the process of creating opportunities for others, never took ‘No’ for an answer. “I can’t stand it when people say ‘No,’” she said. “We don’t get anywhere when people say ‘No.’ I told Winnie that when I came home, that I intend to return to her, whether it’s to build a building or help in other ways. I will be in touch with her forever.” To make your contribution to Williams’ efforts to raise funding for the Molly Kiunga Foundation, visit the Facebook page of “Mary Elizabeth Williams, Sending Students to School.” To learn more about the Molly Kiunga Foundation, visit it on Facebook. Headquartered in Lancaster County, Intentional Tours is headed by co-founders Jonathan and Kate Coleman. To learn more, visit intentionaltours.world. To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2019

Chester County Press

Local News Nathanael Ogden continues fight for fellow youth living with genetic syndrome State Sen. Andy Dinniman recently received a visit from Nathanael Ogden, an eighth-grade student who has Bardet Biedl Syndrome. Nathanael has used his experience for good, helping others with the genetic syndrome through a fundraiser called the Rocky Ride. “When faced with impossible obstacles, many people might think that giving up is the only option. Others, like Nathanael, choose the tougher option: to keep moving forward, helping others along the way,” Dinniman said. “Nathanael uses his own experience to help others with Bardet Biedl get through theirs. That’s heroic.” Bardet Biedl Syndrome has a long list of possible symptoms and effects, ranging from kidney dis-

ease to visual impairment. Nathanael has lost 95 percent of his vision over the last 10 years. This hasn’t stopped him from helping others through Rocky Ride, a biking fundraiser he completes with his father, Tim Ogden. The trail starts at Uptown Worthington in Malvern, and journeys all the way to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The Rocky Ride’s 2019 event raised over $33,000 for the Clinical Registry Investigating Bardet Biedl Syndrome, and over the course of three years of biking, has raised over $93,000. When Dinniman read about Nathanael’s story, he wrote him a letter – and a few weeks later, Nathanael responded with a letter of his own, delivered in-person with his father. As it

turns out, Dinniman wasn’t the only elected official in the room. “I was able to win vice president of the Student Council,” Nathanael said, due to his speech and a little campaign help from his younger brother, Jackson, to rally sixth-grade voters. Marie Henry, the executive assistant of Dinniman’s office and daughter of the founders of the Chester County Association for the Blind, shared her insights and learned her parents and Nathanael had a distinct similarity: competency in mental mathematics. “He can solve complex algebra problems in his head,” Nathanael’s father said. “It’s just a matter of writing down how he got to those answers on the paper.” Nathanael and Tim were eager to share more info

Courtesy photo

State Sen. Andy Dinniman with Nathanael Ogden, an eighth grade student diagnosed with Bardet-Biedl Syndrome, at Dinniman’s office. Nathanael and his father complete the Rocky Ride bike trail from Malvern to Philadelphia each year to raise funds for others with Bardet-Biedl Syndrome.

about 2020’s Rocky Ride as soon as more details became available. In the meantime, Nathanael will be improving the lives of his fellow

students as vice president and improving the lives of others fighting Bardet Biedl through his fighting spirit. “Nathanael’s compassion,

enthusiasm, and service are nothing short of inspirational,” Dinniman said. “We can all learn something from him.”

Delaware County Community College students learn about business and technology during a visit to Dansko Students from an Introduction to Business class at Delaware County Community College’s Pennocks Bridge Campus in West Grove recently toured the Dansko Distribution Center. Among the topics covered in the course, which is taught by Business Instructor Frank Jeliskowski, are business in a global environment and

the role of technology. The visit allowed students to see first-hand how inventory is received, processed, sorted and packaged for delivery using today’s technology. Based in West Grove, Dansko, an employeeowned company, employs more than 150 people working in its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Goldcertified corporate

headquarters and state of the art distribution center. Courtesy photo

Delaware County Community College students Esmeralda Oseguera and Casey Kryworuka; Linda Lefevre, the College’s Pennocks Bridge Campus Director; students Patrick Jones and Noah Buller; and College Business Instructor Frank Jedliskowski.

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Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Opinion

Editorial

Guest opinion

A fond farewell to some longtime school board members in the area

It’s time to protect Pennsylvania’s courts and judges

School boards in the area are reorganizing this week, and that means that a new group of school board members will be sworn into office, while other school board members have officially completed their terms in office. Serving on a school board can be a demanding and thankless job—there are lots of difficult decisions to make and countless board and committee meetings to attend. There are teachers’ contracts to negotiate, construction projects to plan, and many personnel decisions to make. The school board members who take on these duties do so without pay, of course, offering up both their time and their talents to help the community in which they live. This year, the school districts in southern Chester County are saying farewell to some longtime members. For example, on the Kennett School Board, the departing members—Rudy Alfonso, Steven Ciprani, Aline Frank, and Dominic Perigo, Jr.—combined to serve for 35 years on the board. Perigo led the way with 13 years. Frank was a school board member for 12 years, while Alfonso served for 8 years. In the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District, three departing members—Victor Dupuis, Gregg Lindner, and Carolyn Daniels—served for a combined 22 years on the board. Gary Olson in Oxford and Charles Beatty in Avon Grove are also longtime school board members who have completed their terms. Chester County is fortunate to have public school systems that rank among the top-half in the state. A few school districts in the county are among the very best in the state. One reason for the success is the work of school board members. We’d like to wish a fond farewell to the departing school board members who served their communities well, and offer good luck to the new school board members who are now taking over those duties. It’s a challenging job, but one that’s worth doing—and worth doing well.

By State Rep. Melissa Shusterman D-Chester/Montgomery The gun violence epidemic has gripped Pennsylvania for the last several years. Lives are lost every day because of it, and it’s occurring in places where we expect to be protected and for justice to be delivered. On Monday, Dec. 2, an individual took his own life in front of a waiting room full of people inside of a district magistrate’s office. The person shot himself in the head in Lower Paxton Township, Pa., in front of several district court staff members and civilians. This was not an isolated incident. On Sept. 19, 2018, in Masontown, Pa., four people were shot, including a police officer. The shooter? A disgruntled 61-year-old man whose wife had just filed a Protection from Abuse order against him. He was later shot by police during the standoff. The location of the shooting? A magisterial district court. Although the person from this most recent incident in Lower Paxton Township did not threaten anyone else at the scene, why were either of these people permitted to bring a firearm into the building? It is crucial to understand our commonwealth’s judicial system and the obstacles it faces to better address this issue.

There are five levels of courts in Pennsylvania’s judicial system. Magisterial district courts are the lowest level of court in our state. Each county (except Philadelphia) has magisterial district courts. These courts can cover several municipalities or there can be several municipalities covered by one court, depending on the population of the county. Magisterial district courts deal with a wide range of issues and are often the first point of contact in the judicial system for most Pennsylvanians. These courts handled 2.4 million cases and collected $252 million in fines and costs in 2017. Magisterial district courts handle landlord-tenant disputes, summary offenses, violations of municipal ordinances, and can issue emergency PFAs. Magisterial district courts also handle preliminary matters for misdemeanors and felonies. This is where a major problem arises. Despite their importance, magisterial district courts are often an afterthought in our judicial system. They are underfunded and understaffed. The issues these courts deal with—domestic abuse, murder, other violent crimes—means the possibility of danger arising, like it did in Masontown, is high and ever-present. Lack of funding and staffing mean that magisterial district

courts cannot adequately address the threat of violence. Even if they had the staff and money to do so, they still would not have the space. Magisterial district courts might be found in a strip mall, an office park, or shoved in the back of a municipal building. This lack of space means that victims and perpetrators may be sitting in the same waiting room, just feet from each other, increasing the threat of violence even more. Magisterial district courts try to reduce the possibility of violence by having lockers for guns to prevent firearms in the courtroom. However, the lack of available space means that the gun lockers are usually right in the lobby along with everyone else. This has proven to be unsafe. In Lancaster County, a gun was accidentally discharged while a man was removing it from the lockers right in the waiting room. Magisterial district court judges know that aspects of their courts are not safe. They want the state to take steps to make courts safer. The House Judiciary Committee, on which I serve, recently held a hearing with some judges about magisterial district court safety. A common theme that emerged from judges’ testimony is the high possibility of danger arising in their courts and the need

for the state to step in and do something. That’s why I’ve been working closely with magisterial district judge associations to draft a bill that fits their needs and ensures that they have a safe work environment. I’ve introduced legislation that has gained bipartisan support from Pennsylvania judges that would ban the possession of firearms in magisterial court buildings. In fact, it is a measure that the judges who testified at our hearing asked to state to take. Simply having firearm lockers does not adequately protect our courts, and we must act. This is not a Democratic or Republican issue; the protection and functioning of our judicial system should be something we can all agree on. I urge my colleagues to sign onto this bill, which would prevent any more of these tragedies from occurring. The judges and other members of your community are depending on you. We must allow justice to be served fairly in magisterial district courts without the threat of firearm-related danger. Contact your state representative today and tell them about this bill that supports ensuring the safety and security of Pennsylvania’s judicial system. State Rep. Melissa Shusterman represents the 157th Legislative District.

Deana’s Law, imposing stronger penalties on repeat DUI offenders, clears major hurdle, Killion says Legislation named in memory of Delco woman advances to the Senate floor Deana’s Law, groundbreaking legislation requiring the use of innovative technology to combat repeat DUI offenders in memory of DUI homicide victim Deana Eckman was approved by the Senate Transportation Committee, Senator Tom Killion (R-Chester & Delaware) recently announced. “With committee approval, Senate Bill 773 is on track to be passed by the Senate before the first anniversary of Deana Eckman’s tragic death on February 16,” said Killion. “Deana was a warm, loving, generous woman murdered by an individual now convicted of six DUIs. This bill,

named in her memory, will save lives.” Most notably, Deana’s Law will mandate the use of continuous alcohol monitoring (CAM) devices for the first time in Pennsylvania. Similar to home arrest monitors and other devices affixed to offenders, CAM devices are strapped to the wearer. At regular intervals, CAM devices sample and test the wearer’s insensate perspiration for the presence of alcohol. As sensitive and reliable as Breathalyzers, CAM devices upload test results to a base station installed in the wearer’s home and transmits them to the monitoring agency.

CAM devices have been used for the last seven years in York County as part of the adjudication of DUI cases. York experienced a 90 percent decline in DUI recidivism in the first year of their use. DUI fatalities in York dropped 21 percent from the previous three-year average during that same period. “CAM devices work. They effectively deter offenders from consuming alcohol,” said Killion. “You keep someone from drinking, you keep them from turning a threeton vehicle into a killing machine.” Requiring those arrested for a third or subsequent DUI offense be fitted with a CAM device is just one

of the innovative methods and changes provided for in Deana’s Law. Killion’s legislation would also: • Increase jail time for those convicted of three DUIs or more. Those convicted of a fourth offense would be subject to a five to 10 year sentence rather than the current three-anda-half to seven years. Fifth and subsequent DUI convictions would expose the felony offender to a 10 to 20 year rather than the current three-and-a-half to seven years. • Require the imposition of consecutive sentences after conviction. Deana’s Law would mandate that those convicted of a third DUI offense serve the sentence for that offense

consecutively to any other sentence the offender is serving and to any other sentence to be imposed by the court. “These crimes are so egregious, those convicted of them should not be allowed the luxury of serving DUI sentences concurrently,” said Killion. “It was a concurrent sentence which allowed the individual who killed Deana to be on the road rather than behind bars.” “The death of our daughter at the hands of a six-time drunk driver cannot be adequately described,” said Rich DeRosa, father of Deana Eckman. “My faith in humanity has been shaken and I’ve been immersed in a constant depression.”

“Children should outlive their parents. That’s the natural order of things,” said Roseann DeRosa. “The disruption of that has caused indescribable pain, and we fervently hope and pray that Deana’s Law will be passed to spare other families from this neverending nightmare.” “We must do everything within our power to make sure no other family suffers the way the DeRosa and Eckman families have,” said Killion. “I thank Senate Transportation Chair Kim Ward for her support and advancing this legislation in memory of Deana.” Senate Bill 773 now moves to the full Senate for consideration.

Union Fire Company No. 1 of Oxford receives donation The Oxford Presbyterian Church’s popular Apple Festival supports worthy causes in the area

Teressa Verkamp, the chairperson of the 2019 Oxford Presbyterian Church Apple Festival, recently presented a check for $6,515.91 to Union Fire Company No. 1 of Oxford. Fire chief BJ Meadowcroft accepted the check on behalf of the fire company, which was named as the beneficiary of this year’s Apple Festival. In the fall of 1989, members of Oxford Presbyterian Church began the festival to raise funds after the church suffered a devastating fire.

After the rebuilding years, the church continued the festival but turned their focus to raising money for other non-profits and worthy

causes in the Oxford community. In recognition of the 30th anniversary of the fire, the committee selected Union Fire Company No.

1 in appreciation of their continued service, and their efforts on that Memorial Day weekend thirty years ago.

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2019

Chester County Press

Sports

Section

B WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2019

Three top Oxford athletes sign letters of intent to compete at collegiate level By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer A top wrestler and two teammates on the Oxford baseball team have signed letters of intent to compete at the collegiate level. Kevin Quin, one of the leaders on a perennially strong Oxford wrestling team, is heading to Belmont-Abbey College in the fall of 2020. Brennan Rozich, an infielder on the baseball team, signed with Kutztown University, while Ryan Santangelo, a catcher for the Hornets, is heading to the University of Charleston (West Virginia) in the fall of 2020. Oxford Area High School held a signing ceremony for the three athletes on Nov. 20. Quin is about to start his fourth season on the varsity wrestling team. He made the varsity squad as a freshman, competing at 106 pounds even though he was a bit under-sized when compared to others in the weight class. “It was tough,” Quin said. “I wrestled a lot of

kids who were cutting weight to wrestle at 106.” But wrestling against larger opponents pushed him to work harder. He picked up 23 wins as a freshman. Then, as a sophomore, wrestling at 113 pounds, Quin picked up 27 wins against just 7 losses. He was having an even better season as a junior when he suffered a fractured C5 vertebrae that ended his run in districts. He underwent extensive physical therapy and worked hard to overcome the injury. Quin said that competing in such a rigorous sport has helped him learn how to set and achieve goals. He also credited his family and coaches with helping him deal with the adversity of suffering an injury. He is looking forward to the wrestling season that is about to get underway. “I feel strong. I feel prepared,” he said. He will likely compete at 132 pounds or 145 pounds as a senior, and he has a goal of making it to states this year. Signing to wrestle

at Belmont-Abbey College is the realization of a longtime goal—Quin said that wrestling at the collegiate level has been something that he has wanted to do since he was in the third grade. He said that his best memory as a part of the Oxford wrestling team is the camaraderie of being with his teammates and sharing his knowledge with younger wrestlers. Like Quin, Rozich and Santangelo are looking forward to the upcoming season. In 2019, the Oxford baseball team posted a 10-8 record and qualified for the playoffs. Santangelo and Rozich were key contributors on that squad. “It was a great year,” Santangelo said of the most recent season. He hit .420 in 2019, which was the third-best average in the Ches-Mont League. He also primarily played catcher, a demanding position—and one that is important to any baseball team. “You’re the quarterback on the field,” Santangelo said of the catching posi-

Kevin Quin, one of the leaders on a perennially strong Oxford wrestling team, is heading to Belmont-Abbey College in the fall of 2020.

tion. “I like being a leader on the team.” Santangelo said that he has enjoyed the camaraderie that he has had with his teammates, and everyone is really excited about the upcoming season under new head baseball coach Tim Rector. Rozich will once again be one of the leaders on the Oxford baseball team in 2020. He primarily plays second base on the diamond, and is also a player

on the school’s basketball team. Rozich said that one of his favorite aspects of his high school career has been developing a brotherhood with both the baseball and basketball teammates. He said that he decided to attend Kutztown University because the visit there went very well. “I felt right at home,” he said. “The coach and I hit it off right away.” He noted that he’s been

playing with a core group of players in Oxford since he was nine years old, and everyone is looking forward to the next baseball season, especially the seniors on the team. “This is our last season,” Rozich said. “We’d like to go further in the playoffs than this year—go out on a high note.” To contact Staff Writer Steven Hoffman, email editor@chestercounty.com.

Photos by Steven Hoffman

Oxford Area High School senior Brennan Rozich signed to play baseball at Kutztown University. He is pictured with his family, athletic director Mike Price and high school principal James Canaday.

Ryan Santangelo will be heading to the University of Charleston (West Virginia) in the fall of 2020 to play baseball. He recently signed his letter of intent.

Porter signs to play baseball at Siena College

Courtesy photo

Bryce Porter, pictured with his family, has signed to play Division 1 baseball at Siena College.

Bryce Porter, a student at the Perkiomen School, has committed to play Division I baseball at Siena College. Porter, a post-graduate student from Lincoln University, Pa., signed his national letter of intent at Perkiomen School, surrounded by family, faculty, and teammates. “It is a tremendous accomplishment for our student athletes to reach this level of success and

to be rewarded with the opportunity to continue playing in college,” said Perkiomen School headmaster Mark A. Devey. “This is a proud moment for Perkiomen School athletics and for our community as a whole.” Perkiomen School’s athletic director Ken Baker praised Porter, recognizing his hard work and dedication. “Bryce joined us from Avon Grove High School

as a post-grad student,” said Baker. “He chose to come to Perkiomen to continue his development as a student and as a baseball player. Bryce’s primary position is third base where he showed a strong arm and good instincts during our fall season. He is a middle of the lineup hitter where he showed solid gap power. He will be a positive contributor to the Sienna program in the future.”

Oxford Diamond Divas post undefeated tournament season The Oxford Diamond Divas 14U softball tournament team had a stellar fall season. The team competed in three tournaments this fall and won all three tournaments. They went undefeated all season long, with a combined record of 14-0. For their first tournament, the team went to Berwyn, Pa. to compete in the Fall Brawl, hosted by Paoli Xpress Elite Softball. In 2018, the girls won this tournament and went back to compete, again, this fall. On Saturday, the girls played outstanding softball and won all three games to seed first for tournament play. Superb performances led the team to three wins, including in the

championship game. The Oxford Diamond Divas had impressive victories, outscoring their opponents 60-10 over their six games. This included three shutouts. The team did not have to travel far for their second tournament, the Oxford Spooktacular. This was a one-day tournament held in Oxford. The girls masterfully played two seeding games and won both to seed first again. The playoff game and championship games were challenging, but the girls prevailed and won both games. The final tournament was the 2019 Lady Brawlers Halloween Crawl. This was another one-day

tournament, this time held in Gloucester City, NJ. The girls came out of the gate big and won all three of their poolplay games to advance to the championship game. The championship game started off a little shakier than they would’ve hoped and they fell behind 4-0. With their backs against the wall, the Diamond Divas dug deep and overcame the deficit to win the championship game, 7-6. Oxford Diamond Divas president Bob Van Zyl, said the organization could not be more proud of the 14U tournament team. “This is a special group of dedicated, focused young ladies who put in the time and effort all year long to

become the best they can be,” he said. “These young ladies play with tremendous pride and passion. They work extremely hard on the mental and physical aspects of the game. This team never gives up. Their bar for effort is extraordinarily high and they play as a team. They are willing to sacrifice and do whatever it takes for the team to succeed. We are very excited to see what the future holds for these remarkable young ladies.” The Oxford Diamond Divas are in their second year dedicated to playing softball tournaments throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. This season’s 14U fall tournament team

Courtesy photo

The Oxford Diamond Divas enjoyed a stellar fall tournament season, posting an undefeated record.

consisted of Anna Heisler, Ashley Flynn, Deanna Estes, Emma Willis, Erin Chapin, Grace Allen, Maggie Sullivan, Molly Friel, Natalia D’Onofrio

and Alexea Frontz. Emily Sullivan and Sydney Kargulewicz are two additional guest players who also contributed to the team’s success.

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2019

Chester County Press

Obituaries HAROLD WESTON BLEDSOE

Harold Weston Bledsoe, 86, of Willow Street, Pa., formerly of Nottingham passed away on Nov. 22, with his family near at home, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. He was the husband of Mary Smyth Bledsoe with whom he shared 62 years of marriage. Born in Todd, NC, he was the son of the late Bernard and Beulah Callaway Bledsoe. Harold was a veteran of the U.S. Army, stationed in Germany from 1953 to 1955. He retired from Lukens Steel in 1994 after 42 years of service. His love will never be forgotten. He is survived by his wife; one son, Steve Bledsoe of Willow Street; one daughter, Donna Nardo of Oxford; one grandson, Reynold Davis; one great-grandson, Weston Davis; one brother, Denton Bledsoe of NC; three sisters, Jewel Woodie, Berniece Hunt and Barbara Goodman all of NC. He was preceded in death by a sister, Dottie Bledsoe. Services will be held at a later date. Arrangements are being handled by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc., Oxford, PA. On-line condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.

DOUGLAS ARTHUR FISHER

Douglas Arthur Fisher of Oxford died peacefully on Thanksgiving day, Nov. 28. He was born on July 13, 1942 to Ralph and Ruth Fisher in Battle Creek, MI. He grew up the eldest of three in Indiana and Michigan. After graduating from Wabash College in 1964, he moved west to UC Davis where he received a PhD in Botany in 1968. Doug’s career included time as a professor, as a manager of a research publishing company (BIOSIS), and as an independent timber-milling operator where he made fine wood boards from trees around the Southeast Pennsylvania area. Some of Doug’s fondest memories were spending time in Houghton Lake, Michigan as a boy with his grandfather, and later as a father with his sons and extended family. Another annual highlight for Doug over the years was a week-long ski trip with friends to different ski resorts around the country. At home, Doug sang in the choir at Westminster Presbyterian Church, donated his time to Habitat for Humanity, played bridge with an extended group, and loved a good steak or hamburger. Doug is survived by his wife Barbara, his sister Susie, his two sons David and Nathan and their spouses, Barbara’s children Brian Donahue and Angie Allen, and six grandchildren (Tad, Skye, Talia, Nadia, Kylie, and Zach). He is predeceased by his parents and his sister, Barbara. Doug’s love of family and hearty laugh will be missed. A Memorial service will be planned at a later date at Ware Presbyterian Village.

Church Calendar William J. Turner

120 Doe Lane, Kennett Square, PA 19348

302-760-3190

wjt4th@outlook.com sipplemonuments.com

Dec. 6 Oxford Trio concert “Christmas with the Oxford Trio and Friends” will be held on Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m. at the Oxford United Methodist Church (Market and Addison streets, Oxford). The chamber ensemble (featuring Katie Slauch-Boozer, violin, Julia Farber, horn, and Nancy Pedrick, piano), will be joined by the a cappella ensemble, Una Voce. Included in the concert will be choral and instrumental offerings and carol singing. Admission is free, but an

offering will be donated to the Oxford Neighborhood Services Center. Dec. 6 and 7 Live Nativity Stillwaters Presbyterian Church (643 Coatesville Rd., Route 841, West Grove) will present a live Nativity display on Dec. 6 and 7 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. There will be 11 scenes depicting the Christmas story set up on the church grounds. Cookies and hot chocolate will be served in the church. For more information, visit www. stillwatersfamily.com.

Obituary submissions The Chester County Press publishes obituaries, free of charge, for those with a connection to southern Chester County. Obituaries appear on the Wednesday after they are received, space permitting. They also are posted on www.chestercounty.com. Photos should be sent as .jpg attachments to the obituary text. To submit an obituary to the Chester County Press, email the information to: editor@chestercounty.com.

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Alleluia Those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Psalm 34:10 The Chester County Press features a dedicated church/religious page that can help you advertise your house of worship and/or business. The page is updated weekly with new scripture. Only $10 Weekly for this space. We are offering a special discount of 25% off each and every help wanted/ classified advertisement to any business that advertises on the PRESS church page.

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BARRY LEE KENES, SR.

Barry Lee Kenes, Sr. passed away peacefully on Nov. 26 at the age of 74. He was born and raised in Enola, Pa., the son of Frances (Weaver) Kenes and Stephen Kenes. He was known for bringing joy and laughter to his family and friends. He worked with high-rise electrical signs in and around eastern Pennsylvania. He was also the owner and operator of ServiceMaster Commercial and Home Cleaning Company with Audrey, his wife of almost 50 years. Barry came to know the Lord, Jesus Christ at the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church of Progress, Pa. and most recently was a member of the Bible Evangelical Church of Kennett Square. He was a member of the Full Gospel Christian Business Men’s Association. Barry continued to express God’s loving kindness throughout his life. Survivors include his wife, Audrey Kenes (Shorter) and their children: Adam (married to Suzie) Kenes; Kelly (married to Kevin) Calley; Monica (married to Scott) Schneider; William (married Sendi) Kenes; Barry (married to Rhonda) Kenes Jr.; Jodi (married to Scott) Beckey; Sherry (married to James) Benson; and Jo (married to Doug) Stirling. He was also blessed with 32 grandchildren and 46 great grandchildren. Barry was preceded in death by his mother, Frances (Weaver) Kenes, his father, Stephen Kenes, and his sister, Stevonna Crousore. Visitation with the family will take place Wednesday evening, Dec. 4, from 6 to 8 p.m. and Thursday, Dec. 5, from 10 to 11 a.m. A celebration of life service will then take place at 11 a.m. The visitations and services will be held at the Bible Evangelical Church of Kennett Square, 500 E. Cypress Street, Kennett Square. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Adult and Teen Challenge PA at the website www.paatc.org/ donations-support. Dec. 7 Bell choir concert London Grove Monthly Meeting (500 W. Street Rd., Kennett Square) is featuring a family concert by Lavenia Civitella and her Bell Choir on Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. Refreshments will follow the concert. Visit www. londongrovemeeting.org. Dec. 7 Christmas craft fair Upper Octorara Presbyterian Church (Route 10, one mile south of Route 30) hosts a Christmas craft fair on Dec. 7 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Holiday crafts and baked goods will be featured. The free event

benefits mission projects. Call 610-857-5787 for more information. Dec. 8 Holiday concert West Grove United Methodist Church (300 N. Guernsey Rd., West Grove) invites the community to a Christmas musical celebration on Dec. 8 at 6:30 p.m. There will be music by the Chancel Choir, PraiseWorks Band, Memory Bells Handbell Choir, and a carol sing-along. Christmas cookies and cider will be served after the concert. For more information, call 610869-9334 or visit www. westgroveumc.org.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2019

Through Jan. 5 ‘A Longwood Christmas’ “A Longwood Christmas” will be on display at Longwood Gardens (Route 1, Kennett Square) through Jan. 5. This year’s holiday display is inspired by the contours of traditional holiday favorites, such as poinsettias, pinecones and snowflakes, as well as shapes unique to Longwood. The exhibition hall holds a 400-foot-long ribbon entwined with giant ornaments, nestled among trees, culminating in a towering Christmas tree decorated in red, gold and silver ornaments. Daily concerts and themed light and fountain shows are scheduled. More than half a million lights are on the trees outside. Admission is by timed admission ticket, purchased in advance for a specific date and time. Members require free, timed reservations every day if arriving after 2 p.m. Gardens Premium Members do not require reservations. Tickets and reservations are available at www. longwoodgardens.org. Through Jan. 1 Herr’s Light Display Herr Foods Inc. (20 Herr Drive, Nottingham) opens its drive-through Christmas light display every day from 5 p.m. to 7 a.m. through Jan. 1. Visit https://herrs.com/visitus/community-events or call 1-800-344-3777. Through Jan. 5 ‘A Brandywine Christmas’

The magic of the holiday season returns to the Brandywine River Museum of Art (Route 1, Chadds Ford) during “A Brandywine Christmas,” through Jan. 5. There will be a gallery filled with an expansive model train display; a special exhibition featuring a selection of three beloved fairy tales and their evolution through time and different cultures; towering trees decorated with whimsical Critter ornaments; and a wide selection of holiday events and programs for the whole family. The museum is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day). Admission is $18 for adults, $15 for seniors ages 65 and older, $6 for students and children ages 6 and older; free for children 5 and younger. Visit www.brandywine. org/museum. Dec. 7 Holiday Concert The Brandywine Valley Chorale presents “Luminous Night,” a concert by candlelight, on Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m. at the St. Michael Lutheran Church (109 E. Doe Run Rd., Unionville). The program will feature “Luminous Night of the Soul” by Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilo, the premiere of composer David Bennett Thomas’ “A Christmas Carol,” and other seasonal works and carols. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for students and $15 for seniors at the door, or in advance online at www.thebvc.org.

Dec. 7 to 15 Holiday Village Market The Kennett Square Holiday Village Market is a curated, open-air artisan market filled with holiday gift options from local and regional vendors. On Dec. 7, 8, 14 and 15 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., enjoy food trucks, ice sculptures, seasonal craft workshops, live music, a photo booth, children’s activities and greenery sales and holiday shopping at the Creamery of Kennett Square. A shuttle will run to and from downtown Kennett Square. Dec. 7 to 15 Santa at Millburn Orchards Millburn Orchards (1495 Appleton Rd., Elkton, Md.) will offer a free photo with Santa on Dec. 7, 8, 14 and 15 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Additional photos can be purchased, or families can bring their own cameras. Visit www. millburnorchards.com. Jan. 26 Chocolate Lovers Festival The Kennett Chocolate Lovers Festival will be held on Jan. 26 at Unionville High School. Dozens of bakers will be competing for prizes, and offering tastings of their creations at the event. Proceeds benefit the United Way of Southern Chester County. Tickets are on sale at www. KennettChocolate.org. VIP ticket holders gain early entrance at noon. General admission opens at 1 p.m. Additional tasting tickets are

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

Craft show set for Dec. 14

The Chester County Library will be hosting its ninth annual craft show on Saturday, Dec. 14 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Vendors will be set up throughout the library to display and sell their crafts just in time for the holidays. A great selection of vendors is lined up this year. Save some holiday shopping and enjoy browsing the work of 27 vendors, including makers of personalized ornaments, turned wood products, pottery, jewelry, knit and fabric crafts, home décor, baked goods, and more. The Craft Show is free to attend. The Chester County Library and District Center is located at 450 Exton Square Parkway, Exton.

available. Kennett Flash schedule The Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square) hosts regional and national artists. Tickets are available in advance at www.kennettflash.org, or at the door. Snacks and beverages are sold, or guests can BYOB. The schedule includes: 3 Stories High reunion show (Dec. 6, 8 p.m., $20 and $25); Nik Everett’s 35th anniversar y celebration concert (Dec. 7, 8 p.m., $20); The Suitcase Junket (Dec. 12, 8 p.m., $20 and $25); John Flynn’s holiday benefit for Camp Dreamcatcher (Dec. 13, 8 p.m., $25

and $30); Better Than Bacon improvisational comedy troupe Holiday Extravaganza (Dec. 14, 8 p.m., $16 and $20); Open Mic featuring William Rose (Dec. 15, 7 p.m., $5); Rise Twain and Valdez (Dec. 20, 8 p.m., $18 and $23); We Kids Rock Christmas (Dec. 21, 11:30 a.m., $12 and $15); Runnin’ Late Rock and Roll Christmas Jam (Dec. 21, 8 p.m., $16 and $20); Hometown Holiday with Lisa Jeanette, EB Hawkins, Todd Chappelle and Lori Citro (Dec. 22, 3 p.m., $15 and $20); Vinyl Artifacts with Olivia Swenson (Dec. 23, 8 p.m., $10 and $15);

Jeffrey Gaines (Dec. 27, 8 p.m., $25); Steal Your Peach: Allman Brothers and Grateful Dead tribute (Dec. 28, 8 p.m., $18 and $23); Films & Words: Miles Davis Birth of the Cool with guest lecturer Matt Cappy (Dec. 29, 7 p.m., free); Steve Forbert and the New Renditions Trio (Dec. 31, 7 and 9:30 p.m., $45 and $50). To submit items to the Calendar of Events, e-mail jchambless@ c h e s t e rc o u n t y. c o m . There is no charge. Not every submission can be included. Items should be submitted at least two weeks before the event.

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2019

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Chester County Press

Holiday Happenings

Section

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2019

Sixth annual “Shop with the Sheriff” scheduled for Dec. 7 Tradition and merriment will merge on Saturday, Dec. 7, at the Elks Club in West Chester and the Walmart in East Marlborough Township. The sixth annual “Shop with the Sheriff” will provide about 80 children from the Chester County Family Academy (CCFA), a K-2 charter school in West Chester, with a law-enforcement escort from the Elks Club to the Walmart – complete with wailing sirens and flashing lights. At the store, the students will experience a coveted shopping spree to ensure that they get the perfect gifts for their family members. The event got its genesis in Coatesville, where Chester County Sheriff Carolyn “Bunny” Welsh and her deputies participated for years in “Shop with a Cop,” an excursion that provides underprivileged children with money to buy holiday gifts — and a member of law-enforcement to serve as a personal shopper. In 2013, Welsh, who sits on the board of the CCFA, mused aloud about emulating the program for the charter school and received immediate encouragement from her staff. The event debuted in 2014, and this year will mark Welsh’s final “Shop with the Sheriff.” After 20 years in office, she did not seek reelection and will retire in January. Sheriff-elect Fredda Maddox said that Welsh had invited her to attend this year’s event and

The sixth annual Shop with the Sheriff event, which will allow dozens of children to enjoy a pre-Christmas shopping experience, will take place on Dec. 7.

that she was looking forward to it. “This event is the highlight of the year for these children,” said Welsh. “It gives them the opportunity to spend a joy-filled time with a uniformed deputy and creates a real bond with the child and law enforcement. It is heartwarming to see their special interaction throughout the day.” To make “Shop with the Sheriff” possible, preparations began during the summer to line up volunteers and sponsors. Lt. Harry McKinney, one of the lead organizers, said “Shop with the Sheriff” could not occur without their invaluable support, assistance that continues to generate contagious enthusiasm. Some of the volunteers are community residents who

happened to be shopping at Walmart during a previous “Shop with the Sheriff” and signed up to help. Members of the Elks Club, where the festivities begin and end, also participate, and Walmart workers reportedly compete for the shifts that overlap with the event. “Shop with the Sheriff” includes a plethora of activities, ranging from breakfast and lunch to caroling and photos with Santa. The students will gather at the Elks Club and then board Krapf’s buses that will be escorted by a caravan of law-enforcement vehicles. Arrival time at the Walmart is estimated between 9:30 and 9:45 a.m. At the store, the youngsters will assemble in a room filled with activities, such as movies and coloring books, to

Santa arrives on Longwood Fire Company truck Visits scheduled for Pocopson, Pennsbury, Kennett, and East Marlborough townships Santa has scheduled his yearly arrival trips on a Longwood Fire Company truck. “It’s that time of you year again for Longwood Fire Company to escort our buddy, Santa, to hand out candy canes to all of our residents in the area,” said Longwood Fire Chief A. J. McCarthy. All of the trips begin at 8:30 a.m. Santa will visit areas served by Longwood’s fire and rescue service. Santa’s schedule of appearances includes Sunday, Dec. 8 in East Marlborough Township, Saturday, Dec. 14 in Kennett Township, Sunday, Dec. 15 in Pocopson Township, and Saturday, Dec. 21 in Pennsbury Township. Longwood Fire Company has served the communities of Kennett, East Marlborough, Pennsbury and Pocopson townships since 1921. Longwood Fire

await their turns shopping with a deputy or the sheriff herself. Students will come to the event with a wish list of gift ideas for family members and a $100 budget. Practical choices such as pajamas, slippers, blankets, scarves and gloves typically dominate the lists. If money is left over, the deputies will encourage students to

pick out a little something for themselves. Once the gifts are selected, the shopping teams will head to designated cash registers, where a posse of volunteers will write the recipients’ names on the gifts, load them into large bags with the students’ names, and transport them to the gift-wrapping station set up at the Elks Club.

The Chester County Family Academy was founded in 1997 to carry out the vision of local philanthropists Dick and Sheila Sanford “to make a difference in the lives of children.” Most of the families, for whom English is a second language, struggle financially but share a strong commitment to the importance of education.

Enjoy Christmas events in Chesapeake City Amid the flurry of holiday shopping, take a break and allow yourself to be whisked away to another century in Chesapeake City, a picture-perfect village along the C&D Canal. Discover Chesapeake City’s light display, Christmas Market, and Candlelight Tour. Arrive early and stay late to experience specialty shops, inns, and amazing restaurants, along the waterfront and in town. And catch a glimpse of ships and pleasure vessels from around the world passing through the canal and slipping beneath the bridge.

Get the festive feel of another era at the following events: On Saturday, Dec. 7, enjoy the Poplar Hall Christmas Market from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The evening will include artisans, European-inspired fare, Biergarten, storytelling, music, vintage cars, and vintage bikes. The activities are centered around Bohemia Ave. at Pell Gardens in Chesapeake City. Then, on Saturday, Dec. 14, a candlelight tour will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The canal-side town is magical the tour. Holiday decorations,

lights, and luminarias, set the scene for this heritage experience. Carolers dressed in 19th Century attire will serenade visitors during the self-guided tour of charming homes and inns. Tickets available in advance or at the door. There is always memorable cuisine in Chesapeake City. Whether overlooking the canal and majestic bridge, or dining in town amidst the history, there are mouthwatering menu options for hungry visitors, Chesapeake Bay-inspired entrees, steakhouse dishes, family fare, craft brews, and more.

Victorian holidays come to life

Courtesy photo

Santa Claus greets Gianna Winters. The Longwood Fire Company will once again be escorting Santa around to meet with residents in the service area during the holiday season.

Company provides fire and rescue and emergency medical services 24 hours

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Santa Claus comes to Kennett Square for three events Santa Claus is coming to Kennett Square on Dec. 7 and he is making three stops to see area children before returning to the North Pole. Santa’s Chester County visit is made possible by Bentley Homes to raise awareness for the Kennett Area Community Service.

Courtesy photos

Shop with the Sheriff includes a plethora of activities, ranging from breakfast and lunch to caroling and photos with Santa.

The free events include: Breakfast at Pemberton with Santa from 10 a.m. to noon at 385 Pemberton Road (model home); Reindeer Snacks at Walnut Walk with Santa from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at 517 N. Walnut Road (model home); and Candy Canes

& Cupcakes at Stonehouse with Santa from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at 912 S. Union Street (model home). Enjoy Santa’s visit in the comfort of a beautifully decorated model home. Make sure to bring your camera. For more information, call 484-604-2227.

Kick off the holiday season in Historic New Castle, Del. with the Spirit of Christmas and A Dickens Experience on Dec. 13 and 14. On Friday, Dec. 13, the community is invited to don their finest period or formal attire and usher in the holiday season with the New Castle Historical Society at Fezziwig’s Ball. Beginning at 7 p.m., guests will enjoy an authentic Victorian holiday ball with refreshments, dancing and merriment at the Arsenal. Tickets for this event are $40 per person. Space is limited and early registration is encouraged, as tickets will sell out. Spend Saturday, Dec. 14 in Historic New Castle as the town transforms into a Victorian winter wonderland. Roam the festive streets of New Castle to visit the town’s private homes, churches and museums, many of which will be decorated for the holidays and open

to the public. Shop for holiday gifts at a special Christmas market on the Green, at the New Castle Visitor’s Center at the Arsenal and at the New Castle Presbyterian Church. While you explore and travel back in time, you may be greeted by Victorian townspeople who will fill the streets with holiday cheer. Limited space remains for the New Castle Historical Society’s traditional tea seatings at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $26 per individual or $160 per eight-person table and available online. Make your way to the Bandstand at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. to see your favorite “A Christmas Carol” characters in action, as they perform scenes from the iconic work by Charles Dickens. Musical events and other programming will also be available throughout the day. Before heading home, join in for the town’s annual tree-lighting ceremony and caroling in the Market

Square. Maps, programs, and information for the day will be distributed at the New Castle Presbyterian Church, located at 25 East 2nd Street. This event is collaboratively sponsored by the New Castle Historical Society, New Castle Presbyterian Church, New Castle Visitors Bureau, Trustees of New Castle Common, the City of New Castle, A Day in Old New Castle, the Reedy Point Players, and the Arasapha Garden Club, who graciously handcrafts the wreaths and greens used to transform the town. All proceeds from Spirit of Christmas sales benefit Friendship House homeless ministries. For more information on the days’ events, please visit the New Castle Historical Society and New Castle Presbyterian Church websites or contact the New Castle Historical Society office at 302-322-2794.

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2019

Chester County Press

Local Interest Rotary Club of Oxford seeking a second host family for a foreign exchange student The Rotary Club of Oxford is seeking a second host family for a foreign exchange student. This student is from Germany and is a senior at Oxford

Area High School. She is fluent in English. The time period would be from Jan. 4 to the end of the school year. If interested, please email Mary Fasick, Oxford Rotarian

and current host for the student, at mfasick@ brightcare.com or call Phil Sacks, Oxford Rotarian and foreign exchange student counselor, at 610-932-5404.

The Avon Grove High School Leo Club, with the assistance of advisor Bonnie McCloskey, recently led the collection of items for the 16th annual ‘Stockings for Soldiers’ project. Eight boxes and two bags of donated articles will be delivered to the Stocking Store in Wilmington, where volunteers will prepare up to 10,000 personalized stockings for service men and women away from their homes and families. Pictured (from left): Leo Club officers Josh Arencibia, Brisa Luzzi Castro, Ava Kirwin, Camille Fancy and advisor, Bonnie McCloskey.

Motown legends brings joyful, unifying music for the holiday season The Temptations. The Jackson 5. The Supremes. Their music (and more) takes the stage at Prima Theatre in Lancaster, Pa. this December. Motown shattered barriers and continues to inspire every generation to move to the same beat. Fill your soul with the spirited music of “Hitsville USA” in this exciting concert celebration, featuring a seven-piece band and ten powerhouse performers. This will be Prima’s third concert production in the past ten years celebrating the music of Motown. “It’s because of the unifying power of this music,” said Prima’s executive artistic producer, Mitch Nugent. “Everyone loves Motown.” The concert is supported in part by Headline Sponsor Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Homesale Realty. “Over a half century ago, Motown began its immense influence on music and society,” said concert director Reji Woods. “The first African-American-owned record label to reach widespread national acclaim, ‘Hitsville USA’ has had more than 180 number-one hit songs worldwide. In an of racial segregation, Motown provided a musical language to bridge deep divides,

Courtesy photo

The music of Motown legends will be featured at six shows in December.

touched people of all ages and races, and offered an irresistible force of positive social and cultural change. We dedicate this concert to the artists, the Legends of Motown, who shattered barriers and changed the music industry forever. We celebrate the power of their music, their heart, their joy, and the inspiring example they set for us.” Motown Legends singers hail from Lancaster, Harrisburg, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. They

include Reji Woods, Jeanette Wehye, Nicole Stacie, Atman William, Brian McCloud, Ian Sanchez, Kathryn Cook, Rachel Farmer, Tiffany Trueblood, and Zane Wehye. The upcoming performances take place Dec. 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, and 21. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. at Prima Theatre, 941 Wheatland Avenue, in Lancaster. To purchase tickets visit primalancaster.org/motown or call 717-327-5124.

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CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

Chester County Press

Local News Kennett School Board swears in new members By Chris Barber Contributing writer

Kennett Square Borough, where all new members were elected for their first term and replaced incumbents who were also running in the election last month. The new members are Ryan Bowers, Ann Parry and Maribel Garcia. Parry and Garcia replaced Dominic Perigo, and Steve Ciprani, while Bowers ran unopposed for an unexpired seat. It was reported by the Kennett Square Democrats Committee in October that Garcia had dropped out

of the race. However, her name was already on the ballot at the time of the The Kennett Consolidated announcement and, accordSchool District Board of ing to Chester County Voter School Directors swore in Services Director Sandra its newly elected members Burke, she did not file an at the annual reorganizaofficial document with the tion meeting on Monday. county board of elections Following the administrato terminate her candidacy. tion of their oaths, the sworn When Election Day came, in members took their seats she won with the highest at the board table with the number of votes, 736, and incumbents. was entitled to her seat. The biggest change in In Region B, New Garden representation came from Township, Board President Region A, which includes Joseph Meola was re-elected, while newcomer David Kronenberg won a seat on the board. They were unopposed. From Region C, Kennett Township and Independent Number 1, incumbent Michael Finnegan was re-elected. In the second part of the reorganization meeting, Meola was re-elected president, Vicki Gehrt was elected vice president and Finnegan continued in his role as treasurer. The board set the second Monday of each month at Mary D. Lang Kindergarten Elected officers are from left are President Joe Meola, Center as its regular meetVice President Vicki Gehrt and Treasurer Michael ing day. Finnegan.

Three local authors hold book signing West Grove Friends Meeting will be hosting three local authors who are introducing their newly published books. Mel Leaman, Susan Scott, and Lassiter Williams will have books available for purchase and signing. Refreshments will be served. The event will take place on Sunday, Dec. 8 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the West Grove Friends Meeting, 153 East Harmony Road, West Grove. For more information, please call Alyce Denver at 610-405-2819.

Photos by Chris Barber

The newly elected members of the Kennett School Board are, from left, Ryan Bowers, Ann Parry, David Kronenberg, Maribel Garcia, incumbent Michael Finnegan and incumbent Joe Meola.

Following the conclusion of the formal reorganization meeting, the board held its regular monthly meeting, which was abbreviated due to limited committee reports. The board approved the first reading of a school wellness policy which dealt with state requirements for providing physical educa-

tion and educating students about nutrition and lifelong physical activity. They also approved the second reading of a school policy that dealt with providing students with healthy eating habits which incidentally urged strongly that parties in classes avoid unhealthy celebratory snack events.

Superintendent Barry Tomasetti reported good news that Kennett has been named as one of the best STEM schools in the nation. He also praised outstanding performances by the football, hockey, cross country and golf teams. There were no public comments presented in either meeting.

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2019

Chester County Press

Local News Local Girl Scouts experience ‘marvelous metals’ Over 100 Girl Scouts participated in the annual STEM event sponsored by the Delaware Section of the American Chemical Society. This event, open to the public, celebrated the many ways chemistry is part of daily life. A variety of hands-on chemistry activities were offered by local museums, companies, and schools. The theme was “Marvelous Metals” and participants learned about magne-

tism, metal bending, the chemistry a metal polishing and more. The event culminated in an amazing chemistry show.

Courtesy photos

Cadette Girl Scouts Aileen Lopez-Camacho and Leslie Camacho provide the makings of Alka Seltzer rockets to younger children. These girls were helping at the Northrup-Grumann table, along with a rocket engineer and rocket scientist from the Elton, MD manufacturing site.

Nicole Lopez and Adaly Lopez-Posada of Girl Scout Troop 41221 are thrilled by a demonstration of how metals produce the colors of fireworks, as explained by the Hagley Museum staff.

Legals ESTATE NOTICE

Estate of, Marion Schroeder Late of Kennett square Township, PA, LETTERS TESTAMENTARY on the above Estate have been granted to the undersigned, who request all persons having claims or demands against the estate of the decedent to make known the same and all persons indebted to the decedent to make payment without delay to Wilhelm K. Schroeder, Execu-

tor, 9 Wavy Lane, Wantagh, NY 11793. 11p-20-3t

PUBLIC NOTICE

IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, CIVIL ACTION – EQUITY, No. 2019-03305-RC, RAYMOND ZOOK : Plaintiff,v., Unknown Owners Of Parcel 6-8-151, Defendant(s). ,TO UNKNOWN PRIOR OWNERS OF PARCEL ID No. 6-8-151 in Oxford Borough, Chester

County, Pennsylvania:You are hereby notified that on April 4, 2019, Plaintiff RAYMOND ZOOK filed a Quiet Title Action against you in the Court of Common Pleas of CHESTER County, Pennsylvania. Plaintiff requests the court to rule that he is the rightful owner of Parcel No. 6-8-151 located on South Third Street in Oxford Borough, Chester County, Pennsylvania and that Defendant(s) have no estate, right, title or interest in said property. NOTICE, If you wish to defend, you must enter a written appearance personally or by attorney and file your defenses or objections in writing with the court. You are warned that if you fail to do so the case may proceed without you and a judgment may be entered against you without further notice for the relief requested by the plaintiff. You may lose money or property or other rights important to you. YOU SHOULD TAKE THIS PAPER TO YOUR LAWYER AT ONCE. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A LAWYER, GO TO OR TELEPHONE THE OFFICE SET FORTH BELOW. THIS OFFICE CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION ABOUT HIRING A LAWYER. IF YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO HIRE A LAWYER, THIS OFFICE MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION ABOUT AGENCIES THAT MAY OFFER LEGAL SERVICES TO ELIGIBLE PERSONS AT A REDUCED FEE OR NO FEE.. Lawyer Referral Service, Chester County Bar Association, 15 West Gay Street, Second Fl, , West Chester, PA 19380, 610-692-1889 11p-27-4t

ESTATE NOTICE

ESTATE OF R A LPH LEONARD DiFILIPPO, a/k/a LEONARD DiFILIPPO DECEASED. Late of the Borough of Oxford, Chester County, PA. LETTERS

TESTAMENTARY on the above Estate have been granted to the undersigned, who request all persons having claims or demands against the estate of the decedent to make known the same and all persons indebted to the decedent to make payment without delay to EUGENE J. DiFILIPPO, III, EXECUTOR, c/o Anita M. D’Amico, Esq., 204 N. Union St., Kennett Square, PA 19348, Or to his Attorney: ANITA M. D’AMICO, D’AMICO LAW PC, 204 N. Union St., Kennett Square, PA 19348 11p-27-3t

NOTICE

PENN TOWNSHIP ZONING HEARING BOARD, NOTICE is hereby given that the Zoning Hearing Board of Penn Township will hold a Public Hearing at the Penn Township Municipal Building, 260 Lewis Road, West Grove, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday, December 9, 2019 at 6:30 p.m. at which time the Board will hear the following matter: In Re: Application of Avon Grove School District, seeking variances from the requirements of Penn Township Zoning Ordinance Sections: §1203.A.2 (noise levels at lot boundaries); §1203.A.5 (requiring underground utilities); §1401.A (steep slope controls); §1512.B.2.a (restricting access to public water); §1514.C (screening of outdoor recreation areas); §1602.D.1 (minimum planting requirements); §1602.F.6.b (elevation or bordering of parking lot planting areas); §1603 (minimum lighting and light shielding); §1704.A.2 (parking stall width); §1704.A.3 (curbing of parking lots); and §1803 (maximum size of signs); all so as to permit the construction of a public school on property consisting of 153.8 acres located at 148 Sunnyside Road, in the Township’s R-2 and I-1 zoning districts (UPI #58-4-71). If you are a person

with a disability and wish to attend the public meeting scheduled above and require an auxiliary aide, service or other accommodation to participate in the proceedings, please contact the Township Secretary at (610) 8699620 to discuss how Penn Township may best accommodate your needs. Edward M. Foley, Solicitor, Brutscher, Foley, Milliner, Land & Kelly, LLP, 213 E. State Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348 11p-27-2t

ESTATE NOTICE

ESTATE OF DANIEL MICHAEL NOVOSEL, DECEASED. Late of NOTTINGHAM Township, Chester County, PA, LETTERS of ADMINISTRATION on the above Estate have been granted to the undersigned, who request all persons having claims or demands against the estate of the decedent to make known the same and all persons indebted to the decedent to make payment without delay to REBECCA SALLEN, ESQ. ADMINISTRATOR, 325 MERION ROAD, MERION STATION, PA 19066, ATTORNEY NAME REBECCA SALLEN, ESQ., SALLEN LAW, LLC, 325 MERION ROAD, MERION STATION, PA 19066 12p-4-3t

ESTATE NOTICE

Estate of Arnold H Reeves Late of Landenberg, Franklin Twp, Chester County PA, LETTERS TESTAMENTARY on the above Estate have been granted to the undersigned, who request all persons having claims or demands against the estate of the decedent to make known the same and all persons indebted to the decedent to make payment without delay to David Reeves 331 W. Biddle St. West Chester, PA 19380, Executor, 12p-4-3t

ESTATE NOTICE

Estate of Philip E. Bannan, DECEASED, Late of West Chester, Willistown Twp, Chester County PA, LETTERS TESTAMENTARY on the above Estate have been granted to the undersigned, who request all persons having claims or demands against the estate of the decedent to make known the same and all persons indebted to the decedent to make payment without delay to Lisa Christensen, Executrix, C/O Anne DeLuca, Law Offices of Sand Gibbs, LLP, 3475 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square, PA 19073. 12p-4-3t

NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the London Grove Township Board of Supervisors will conduct a special meeting on Monday, December 9, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. to discuss the AP Zoning District Update, and any other business that comes before them. The meeting will be held in the London Grove Township Building, 372 Rose Hill Road, West Grove, PA. The public is invited to attend. Kenneth Battin, Township Manager 12p-4-1t

ESTATE NOTICE

Estate of, Richard E. Phillips, DECEASED, Late of Lower Oxford Township , Chester County PA, LETTERS TESTAMENTARY on the above Estate have been granted to the undersigned, who request all persons having claims or demands against the estate of the decedent to make known the same and all persons indebted to the decedent to make payment without delay, Bruce Fite, Executor, C/O Attorney: Ira D. Binder, 227 Cullen Rd, Oxford, PA 19363 12p-4-3t

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CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

Chester County Press

Local Interest Chester County Youth Center receives statewide award for community service dog treat-making program The Chester County Youth Center recently received a Pennsylvania Juvenile Detention Centers and Alternative Programs (JDCAP) award for a dog treat-making program, an initiative that helps Youth Center residents earn community service hours. The program is the creation of Kristi Washington, caseworker at the Youth Center, who recognized the benefits of programs like this that help the youth to “pay it forward” as well as learn valuable life skills. “We are very pleased about this Youth Center

award and are proud that Kristi and staff at the Youth Center are being recognized for the work they are doing,” said Gary Blair, director of the Chester County Youth Center. The dog treat program runs up to six times a year for Chester County Youth Center residents. The program begins with baking the all-natural dog treats from scratch and follows through to the delivery of the treats to the Chester County SPCA. The visit to the SPCA also provides an opportunity for participants of the Evening

Reporting Center to witness the services of the SPCA, learn about volunteer opportunities and how the organization relies on community donations like the dog treats. “The dog treat program has been extremely beneficial for the Youth Center residents as well as the youth that attend our Evening Reporting Center,” added Blair. “Not only do they earn valuable and appreciated community service hours, but they benefit from working together as a team and acquiring cooking life skills.”

Kristi Washington (center), Caseworker for the Chester County Youth Center, who received a state Program of the Year award for the Youth Center’s dog treat-making program, along with Youth Center deputy director Fred Ellzy (left) and Youth Center Director Gary Blair (right).

Brandywine Conservancy gets $80,000 grant for work on Brandywine Creek Greenway The Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art has announced that it has received an $80,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (PA DCNR) to conduct outreach and technical assistance within the Brandywine Creek Greenway; and coordinate and fund the 2020 Brandywine Creek Greenway (BCG) minigrant program. As part of this grant, the Brandywine Conservancy will provide outreach, planning, and technical assistance to 25 municipalities and other partners within the Brandywine

Creek Greenway to advance connections to Circuit Trails and to improve access to the Brandywine creek for recreation. The 25 municipalities within the BCG are Birmingham, Caln, Chadds Ford, City of Coatesville, Downingtown Borough, East Bradford, East Brandywine, East Caln, East Fallowfield, Honey Brook, Honey Brook Borough, Kennett, Modena Borough, Newlin, Pennsbury, Pocopson, South Coatesville Borough, Upper Uwchlan, Uwchlan, Valley, Wallace, West Bradford, West Brandywine, West Caln, and West Nantmeal. The Brandywine Creek

Greenway’s mini-grant program will implement small projects that improve parks, open space, and community trails. The mini-grant program will advance priority conservation and recreation projects identified in the BCG’s Strategic Action Plan (2014) and other publicly vetted municipal planning documents. The mini-grant program will be complementary to the Conservancy’s outreach and technical assistance efforts. The projects will benefit the participating municipalities and the BCG partnership as a whole, promoting open space and trail planning and the public with new and

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enhanced park, open space, and trail facilities along the Brandywine Creek. “We are very grateful to the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for this award,” said Ellen Ferretti, Director of the Brandywine Conservancy. “The funds from this grant will be used to reinforce the work of the partnership created through the Brandywine Creek Greenway by providing mini-grants for smaller, yet critical, projects that may otherwise be overlooked for traditional sources of funding. This award reinforces the merits of the strong and collaborative partnership

formed by the Greenway partners.” According to Sen. Tom Killion, “The Brandywine Conservancy is a national leader in protecting our natural resources. I am grateful that Gov. Wolf is releasing funds to help them accomplish their mission of protecting the Brandywine River and nearby land. I thank the Brandywine Conservancy for all that they do in our region, and I will continue to be a strong supporter of funding that helps safeguard our waterways and open spaces.” “The Brandywine is one of the environment treasures that define Chester

County and give our region such unmatched natural beauty and distinct sense of place,” said Sen. Andrew E. Dinninman. “This investment will help preserve our environmental heritage, protect our watersheds, and open new outdoor recreational opportunities to residents, visitors, families and young people. I want to thank the Brandywine Conservancy and its staff for their vision and hard work in this effort – one that leverages collaboration with more than two dozen local municipalities and shows that there is no task too large or too small when it comes to conservation.”

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2019

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2019

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PA STATE SAFETY INSPECTION & EMISSIONS, TUNE UPS, BRAKES, ALIGNMENTS, COOLANT SERVICE, MOTORCYCLE INSPECTIONS, TRANSMISSION SERVICE, BATTERIES, OIL CHANGES, AC REPAIR, AND MUCH, MUCH MORE Pennsylvania Safety & Emission Testing Oxford Goodyear Full Service Center

401 S. Third Street, Oxford, PA

610-932-0988

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2019

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE

Merry Christmas!

Judy

HASTINGS SALON

HAIR, NAILS, MAKE-UP & PEDICURES

Ask about our Mirabella Minute 610.932.9566

490 W. Christine Rd., Nottingham, PA 19362 hastingssalonweebly.com open Tuesday - Saturday

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Pub style restaurant & bar with deck

YOUR CAR - YOUR CHOICE A fully equipped auto body repair shop

FREE ESTIMATES Stop by and see us before you call your insurance company

100 Gas Card $

w/ min $1,000 Collision Repair

The BEST hot wings & burgers in town! FREE parking & hometown atmosphere. Drink specials & 16 draft beers! 6 TVs playing at all times!

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106 Bethel Road â&#x20AC;¢ Oxford, PA | 610-932-8330

610-998-9000 562 Lincoln Street, Oxford

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2019