Chester County Press 01-02-2019 Edition

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Chester CountyPRESS

Volume 153, No. 1

Wednesday, January 2, 2019

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2019 County Gemini’s story: A Commissioners race peacock, a school starts to take shape and a dilemma By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer The new year is only a few days old, but the 2019 race for seats on the Chester County Board of Commissioners is already starting to take shape. Kathi Cozzone, the incumbent Democrat on the board, announced over a month ago that she is seeking reelection. Cozzone is currently in her third term as a county commissioner. So far, three other Democrats—Josh Maxwell, Marian Moskowitz and Ginny Kerslake—have also announced that they are planning to run for county commissioner, setting the stage for what will certainly be an interesting Primary Election race on May, 21. Republicans have traditionally dominated elections at the county level, including County Commissioner races, where the party has long held a two-to-one edge on the three-person Board

Kathi Cozzone

Josh Maxwell

of Commissioners. However, Democrats have been making big gains in the number of registered voters, and in 2016 they pulled off historic wins in three races for county row

offices, suggesting that the time could be coming when Democrats take control of the Board of Commissioners. Terence Farrell and Michelle Kichline are the two Republican incumbents on the Board of Commissioners, and they are both experienced and well-known in the county. Kichline and Farrell have not announced that they are seeking reelection yet, but it would be surprising if the incumbents did not run for reelection. Typically, two Democrats and two Republicans earn nominations in the primary election in the spring. Those four candidates then vie for three seats on the board of commissioners in the general election. Maxwell, who has been the mayor of Downingtown Borough since 2010, is hoping to help usher in a new era in county politics, with a new generation of political leaders taking the lead. He Continued on Page 3A

Courtesy photo

The owner of Gemini, a peacock, was charged with disorderly conduct when the bird was discovered defecating at the Bancroft Elementary School in New Garden Township on Sept. 8.

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

consists of between two and five females, called peahens. But Gemini, who By their nature, peacocks lives on a 2.5-acre hobby are polygamous, and usu- farm on Bancroft Road in ally form a harem that Continued on Page 2A

Revitalizing downtown Oxford OMI presents a report to Oxford Borough Council about efforts to keep Oxford’s business district vibrant By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer

Oxford Mainstreet, Inc. (OMI) will have a busy year in 2019, and no time is being wasted on starting that work: On Tuesday, Jan. 15, the organization is planning a downtown Oxford Open House to showcase the commercial properties that are currently available to potenWomen-owned busi- tial investors. This is one of nesses adding to many activities that OMI Kennett Square’s retail landscape...1B

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

has planned throughout the year, all of them aimed at benefiting Oxford Borough. At the Dec. 17 Oxford Borough Council meeting, Brian Wenzka, the executive director of Oxford Mainstreet, Inc., made a presentation outlining the organization’s ongoing efforts to help revitalize the downtown. He began by highlighting some of the more recent accomplishments in down-

town Oxford. The borough has added 35 new businesses in the downtown since 2012. OMI is also regularly receiving a lot more calls from investors and business owners asking about available spaces in the downtown. This year, Oxford hosted the Connective Festival, a new event that attracted thousands of people for a day-long celebration of music and art. The Country

Kennett Square resident marks 100th birthday

Christmas celebration and the borough’s other First Friday events have been growing in popularity for years. OMI has played a pivotal role in all the aforementioned achievements. In preparation for the report to borough council, Wenzka said, he reached out to borough officials to see if there was any specific information that they wanted him to include. He heard from

INDEX Opinion.......................7A Obituaries...................2B Calendar of Events.....4B Classifieds.................6B

© 2007 The Chester County Press

Ida Riccione and her family members gathered last week for her 100th birthday celebration.

“Cent’anni” or “Chindon” is a toast Italians share to wish someone 100 years of good health. Ida Riccione – Nonnina” to her family and friends -- has hit that milestone. Born in Furci, Italy, on Dec. 17, 1918, Ida has certainly seen the Great Depression, the rise and fall of fascism, World War II, and the advent of too many

life-changing inventions to count. That’s in addition to her own life – marriage, the births of three children, immigration to the United States, and the births of seven grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Ida celebrated her milestone birthday on Dec. 17 at Brandywine Living at Longwood, her home for the past four years. The commu-

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nity hosted a birthday party featuring live entertainment, food and birthday cake. The Mayor of Kennett Square, Matt Fetick, came to wish Ida a happy birthday, and presented her with a certificate of congratulations. The holiday season is Ida’s favorite time of year, and she was known for baking authentic Italian Continued on Page 2A

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Franklin Township approves 2019 budget By John Chambless Staff Writer

Looking ahead to a new season of art at the Brandywine...3B

several different people that they wanted information about the return on investment that Oxford Borough receives for its annual contribution to OMI. Wenzka said that the return on investment is significant. The work of the OMI staff amounts to about a $114,000 return as a result of the efforts to market the downtown as a destination, support local businesses,

The Franklin Township 2019 budget was unanimously adopted by the Board of Supervisors on Dec. 19. The combined budget expenditure is $2,656,382.07, with no change in real estate taxes. The total millage rate remains at 2.495 mills. The overall tax rate remains the same as 2018, but since the loan for the township park will be paid off in 2019, the distribution of funds to the park will change from .27 mills to .20 mills, and the extra .07 mills will go into the general fund. The board intends to authorize some maintenance at the park, including an update of the bathrooms. A resolution was adopted by a unanimous vote that

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specifies West Grove Fire and Ambulance Company and Avondale Fire and Ambulance Company as the township fire and ambulance providers, Medic 94 as the township’s advanced life support provider, and Harold Walls as the township’s Emergency Services Coordinator. HARB chairman Paul Lagasse has been working with Karen Marshall of the Chester County Historic Preservation Network on ways to make the Kemblesville historic district and village more livable. Marshall suggested inviting Natasha Manbeck, an engineer with planning expertise, to come to the township to talk about traffic calming measures and possible grants. Manbeck was part of a 2009 traffic

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