Chester County Press 01-06-2021 Edition

Chester CountyPRESS

www.chestercounty.com

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

Volume 155, No. 1

INSIDE

Wednesday, January 6, 2021

Landenberg Kennett Square native receives Borough enlists firm to assist with borough prestigious manager search aviation honor

By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer

Local resident helps the homeless...5A

A time for learning...1B

new

Courtesy photo

Landenberg native William “Bill” Stuefer, seen in this archival photo, was the recent recipient of the prestigious Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award from the Federal Aviation Administration.

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer Often, the start of a lifetime journey owes itself to the most humble beginnings, and for William E. Oxford track star signs with Seton Hall...4B

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

search for a new borough manager can begin in earnest.

Doerfler noted that SGR has plenty of experience working with municipalities of various sizes. The firm is well known by professionals who might be seeking positions as municipal administrators.

And while some of the other search firms under consideration had strong local ties, Kennett Square Borough officials favored the national expertise of SGR. The full-services firm specializes in executive recruitment, interim placements, online training, onsite training, leadership development, psychometric assessments, strategic visioning retreats, one-on-

recently culminated in his being awarded one of the most prestigious awards in the industry – began in Landenberg. Born in 1944, Stuefer grew up in a stone house built in 1817 along Strickersville Road near the Big Elk Creek. While he would often spend his

childhood summers swimming in the creek, his love affair with the sky above had already begun to manifest itself.

“I attended kindergarten in Wilmington, and one day, someone brought a big pile of wood to the class, and I decided that I would

make a toy airplane from the wood that was given to me,” Stuefer recalled.

“Soon after, I began to build and fly those little ethanolpowered toy planes that I would make from kits. It really started me on a journey that I’m still on.”

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As of Jan. 4, 3,475 partial vaccines have been administered in Chester County, and a three-phase plan is underway

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

Pennsylvania Department of Health Secretary Dr. Classifieds..................4B Rachel Levine announced last week that the department has launched the state’s COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard, an online provider of up-to-date information on the number of vaccinations administered throughout the state, as well as demographic information about the people being vaccinated.

The dashboard can be accessed by visiting the department’s website, www.health.pa.gov.

To Subscribe Call 610.869.5553

“Bill” Stuefer, the life that he would lead as a pilot began on the grassy strip of a makeshift flight runway in Oxford, Pennsylvania.

The story of Stuefer’s life in aviation – which

There were a few details still to be worked out, but during its final meeting of 2020, Kennett Square Borough Council moved toward enlisting the services of Strategic Government Resources, Inc. (SGR) to facilitate a search for a new borough manager.

The national search for the borough’s top administrator could progress along a 15-week timeline, if all goes according to plan.

Council member Doug Doerfler, who serves on the committee assigned to oversee the borough manager search, explained that one thing that they liked about Strategic Government Resources,

Inc. was its national reach.

“We liked the fresh perspective of going outside of Pennsylvania,” Doerfler said.

The borough is looking to replace former borough manager Joseph Scalise, who departed at the end of November to pursue other professional opportunities.

Scalise served as borough manager for more than five years, and was a borough employee for 26 years.

Kennett Square Borough took a somewhat different approach to handling the borough manager vacancy for a few months—relying on three experienced department heads—finance director Lisa Ionata, codes enforcement officer Russell Drumheller, and police chief William Holdsworth—to handle the additional duties. With the arrival of a new year, the

State rolls out COVID-19 vaccine dashboard

Obituaries..............2B-3B

© 2007 The Chester County Press

$1.00

The data on the dashboard is being compiled by vaccine providers who are reporting information relating to the individuals to whom they administer the COVID-19 vaccine, and is being reported into the Pennsylvania Statewide Immunization Information System (PA-SIIS).

As of Jan. 4, 135,044 partial vaccines have been administered throughout the state, including 3,475 partial vaccinations in Chester County. The highest number of vaccines administered has been recorded in Allegheny County, with 15,491.

“Each day, more and more Pennsylvanians are getting vaccinated against COVID19, which means we are another step closer to beating this virus,” Dr. Levine said. “The COVID-19 vaccine dashboard will help us visualize how many individuals have received the vaccine to date and help us work to vaccinate everyone who wishes to receive a vaccination.”

its 67 counties are included in the health department’s 68-page COVID-19 Interim Vaccination Plan, issued on Dec. 11, 2020 and developed by the department’s COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force. Currently, the department said that 142 hospitals, health systems, federally qualified health centers and pharmacies in the commonwealth have received the COVID-19 vaccine, with 58 locations Vaccinations: How, expected to receive doses when and to whom? very soon.

“Due to changing vaccine The details of how and supply levels at various when the state will admin- points during the COVIDister the vaccine throughout 19 Vaccination Program,

planning needs to be flexible but as specific as possible to accommodate a variety of scenarios,” the report said.

“A key point to consider is that vaccine supply will be limited at the beginning of the program, so the allocation of doses must focus on vaccination providers and settings for vaccination of limited critical populations, ability to handle vaccine storage requirements, as well as outreach to these populations.

“The vaccine supply is projected to increase quickly over the proceeding months, allowing vaccination efforts Continued on page 2A

Defying the odds, Kennett Square Mushroom Drop ushers in 2021

By Chris Barber Contributing Writer Kennett Square celebrated the arrival of the 2021 with its traditional midnight Mushroom Drop, even as limitations were in place to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Still, Midnight in the Square founder and chairperson Kathi Lafferty and the crew at Bob’s Crane, along with the town’s restaurant and merchant association, cobbled together a virtual event that at least provided the feeling of the borough’s unique identity for fans.

This year, the Mushroom Drop—the eighth annual event—was not featured in the center of town, at the intersection of State and Union streets. Missing were the revelry, food,

and live entertainment as well. Nonetheless, there were high points and some excitement.

There was a procession through town early in the evening of the lighted, 700pound mushroom along with sirens, lights, police cars and fire trucks. It took a lot of people by surprise, especially those who happened to be dining along State Street at around 6 p.m.

Since that parade had been unannounced, some along the route thought there was an emergency going on when they heard the sirens.

Yet, as the procession lumbered through town, people cheered and pulled out their cell phones to record the goings-on.

Later, the mushroom, the crew, and the techniPhoto by Chris Barber cal equipment for the The mushroom dangled above the parking lot on South Street, awaiting its drop at Continued on page 4A

midnight.

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Chester County Press

Local News COVID-19...

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to be expanded to additional critical populations and the general public.”

The report said that recommendations on the various population groups to receive initial doses of vaccine could change after vaccine is avail-

able, depending on each vaccine’s characteristics, vaccine supply, disease epidemiology, and local community factors. As of now, the department is following the vaccine recommendations made by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Prevention and

Control (CDC).

• Those most essential to Phase 1 of the state’s maintaining core societal vaccine administration functions will target the following • Healthcare personpopulations: nel likely to be exposed to or treating people with • Those most essential COVID-19, and in sustaining the ongoing • Other essential workers.

COVID-19 response • Those at greatest risk Recipients of the vaccinaof severe illness and death, tion considered for Phase 1 and their caregivers include select populations from the following categories: healthcare personnel, first responders, critical workers and people with high-risk conditions.

Close to home, the Chester County Health Department is generally following the same vaccination guidelines being administered by the state. It received its first shipment of the COVID-19 vaccine

Spreading warmth with Oxford Love Knots

Courtesy photos

Volunteers and family members from Oxford Love Knots bagged, tagged and hung the donated, handmade scarves and hats last week. About three dozen sets were hung with more donations needed for the next hanging later in the month. A donation box is located in Flickerwood Wine & Twisted Treats (920 Market Street, Oxford) for anyone who knits or crotchets and would like to donate items.

This is the fourth year that volunteers have created the Love Knots and people know who they are and what the bags are. People stopped the volunteers on the street to ask if they could take a bag before they were hung up.

“It was so heartwarming to see people appreciate what we do.” said Vanessa Ross, one of this year’s coordinators.

The volunteers who coordinated things this year are Jessica Dunn, Betty Kramer, Oxford Mayor Phil Harris and Vanessa Ross.

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on December 23, and began Phase 1A of its vaccination during the week of Dec. 28 to frontline healthcare personnel; EMS providers; the coroner, medical examiner and funeral staff; and longterm care residents.

Its subsequent vaccination phases will administer the vaccine to personnel in the following industries: Phase 1B: childcare, corrections, county and municipal administration, educators and education staff, firefighters, food and agriculture, grocery store employees, law enforcement, manufacturing, transit, U.S. Postal Service, as well as persons 75 years and older.

Phase 1C: construction,

energy industry, finance and banking, food service, information technology and communications, legal, media, public health and public safety, small business and trade, transportation and logistics, utility, water and wastewater, persons between 65 and 74 years of age, and persons 16-64 who have high-risk medical conditions.

Currently, there are two authorized and recommended vaccines to prevent COVID-19 which are being distributed throughout Pennsylvania and in Chester County – developed by Biotech-Pfizer and Moderna. Both vaccines have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and require

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2021

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

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Chester County Press

Local News two doses for full effectiveness. Following an initial vaccination, a second shot is administered three weeks later, in order to get the most protection the vaccine has to offer against COVID-19.

The phased-in roll out of the vaccination plan arrives at a time when the number of positive COVID-19 cases throughout the state is showing very few signs of abating. On Jan. 4, the state’s health department confirmed 3,226 additional positive cases on that day alone, as well as 4,579 cases on Jan. 3 for a two-day total of 7,805 additional positive cases of COVID19, bringing the statewide total to 665,097.

Currently, there are 5,529 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 in Pennsylvania -- near double the peak recorded during

Aviation honor...

Continued from Page 1A

Stuefer’s fascination with flying machines continued to develop, but in order to know the full experience of flight, he would have to find a way to somehow get off the ground. He graduated from Avon Grove High School in 1962, and when he was 21, he took his first flight lessons with a registered pilot in Oxford and after absorbing every kernel of knowledge he could while sitting in the passenger seat, his teacher let his student loose on the skies. “After about seven hours of flight instruction, he parks the plane,� Stuefer said. “He gets out and turns back to me, and says, ‘You’re on your own now.

Take off.’ I did my first solo flight in a Piper Colt high-wing aircraft, and the entire runway was just a dirt strip with one hangar and a few sheds around it. “It was a feeling of exhilaration when I got to fly the plane for the first time.

Everything I dreamed of when I was a kid was suddenly and finally coming to fruition.�

What began humbly in Chester County led to a 55-year career in aviation. In November Stuefer received the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Instituted in 2003, the award is given annually to a select group of pilots who have practiced safe flight operations continuously for 50 or more years during the course of their aviation careers.

Nominations are submitted by a formal application that must be accompanied by three letters of recommendation from other FAA-certified pilots, attesting to the nominee’s record.

To date, about 2,500 pilots have received the award. “It’s a very great honor to pilot for that many years without ever having a violation or aircraft accident, and aviation has been a big part of my life for 55 years, so this recognition means a lot to me,� Stuefer said.

While his initiation to flying may have started on a dusty runway in Oxford, Stuefer’s interest in aviation later took him to Oklahoma and Texas, where he received his commercial pilot’s license to fly fixed-winged aircraft.

In the mid-1960s, he enlisted as a pilot in the U.S. Army, and after receiving advanced helicopter training at Fort Rucker in

Search...

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Courtesy art

Pennsylvania recently introduced its COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard, an online provider of up-to-date information on the number of vaccinations administered throughout the state.

the spring of 2020 – and of that number, 1,149 patients are in the intensive care unit with COVID-19.

For the week of Dec. 25-31, statewide positivity for the virus stood at 15 percent, and the trend in the 14-day moving average of the number of hospital-

ized patients per day has 6225, Monday - Friday increased by nearly 5,400 from 8:30 a.m to 4:30 p.m., since the end of September. or visit chesco.org.

For statewide informaFor questions related to tion about COVID-19, visit COVID-19 or the admin- www.health.pa.gov. istration of the vaccine in Chester County, call the To contact Staff Writer Chester County Health Richard L. Gaw, email Department at 610-344- rgaw@chestercounty..com.

Alabama, he flew a gasturbine helicopter in the Vietnam War as a member of the 11th Armored Cavalry.

During his tour of duty in Vietnam, Stuefer performed medical evacuations, longrange reconnaissance patrols and ammunition re-supply missions. After spending an additional two years flying helicopters for the U.S. Army in Germany and fulfilling his four-year term of service, Stuefer returned to the U.S. and went into a career in banking. In 1970, he met and married his wife – with whom he recently celebrated his 50th wedding anniversary – and became the father of two girls.

While Stuefer managed to fly planes on his own during this time, the pilot, however, was restless.

Eventually, he began training to become an airship pilot, and flew the Seaworld airship “Shamu� for four and-a-half years. The blimp was seen at major sporting events around the country – over the World Series, the

Super Bowl and the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament. “Shamu was two-thirds the length of a football field, and 67 feet high at the tail fin, and we flew it all over the United States,� he said. “Our bases were in Kissimmee, Florida and Stockton, California, which involved a three-week trip between bases. “Take-offs were pretty routine, but no two landings are ever the same on an airship. It becomes seat-of-the-pants landing, and my helicopter training proved very valuable in landing the airship because an airship tends to land very similar to a helicopter.

Normally, there would be up to a dozen people on the ground helping me land it.�

Now retired, Stuefer is the owner and operator of a 1,500-acre pine tree farm in Eufaula, Alabama, and still manages to fly a Cessna out of his local airport, and does his best to keep up with his former classmates back in Chester County. “It’s pretty exciting even now to get up in an airplane

vetting process that SGR will use to identify the best candidates for the position. “SGR demonstrated to us that they have a vetting process that then allows us to get into detailed questions with the candidates,�

Myers explained.

She added that the vetting process will require the candidates to be fully engaged so they will have serious interest in the position in Kennett Square if they advance in the search process.

Doerfler said that the search committee members liked that SGR offered a well-defined timeline and a thorough process, but also allowed the local stakeholders to drive the process.

one employee coaching, and other consulting services designed to promote innovation, team building, collaboration, and continuous improvement in local governments.

The firm was founded in Texas in 2002 with the mission to facilitate innovative leadership in local government. It has approximately 700 local government clients in 47 states. SGR’s corporate headquarters is in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. SGR also has virtual offices in California, Florida, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, and Oklahoma.

To contact Staff Writer Council member LaToya Myers said that she was Steven Hoffman, email edivery impressed with the tor@chestercounty.com.

Courtesy photos

For four-and-a-half years, Stuefer piloted the Seaworld airship “Shamu,� often over major sporting events around the country.

The Master Pilot Award is given to aviators who have

and fly,� he said. “It’s a practiced safe flight operations continuously for 50 or more years during the course of their aviation careers. feeling of excitement, especially in the smaller planes where you have to be in Free Estimates control of the plane. “I’m very grateful to Boilers, Furnaces have had the opportunity & Hot Water Heaters to fly that many aircraft, to have enjoyed all of it, All Fuels and be able to do something I had always wanted to do, from the time I was kindergarten.�

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.

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Local News

The mushroom procession with sirens, whistles, fire trucks and lights, goes through town.

Photos by Chris Barber

Tom and Kathi Lafferty, left, stand under the mushroom with Bob’s Crane owner Rich Nichols, as the procession made a stop in the middle of town.

Mushroom Drop...

Continued from Page 1A

live-streaming arrived at the location for the event: The parking lot of the Genesisowned building along South Street, across from Kennett High School.

The area was fenced off and locked, and prospective revelers were invited to settle in the school parking lot to watch the activities while remaining safe.

Early on, after the arrival at the site, the mushroom custodian, Bob’s Crane, led by company owner Rich Nichols, raised the beacon high in the air, visible from afar shortly before 9 p.m.

Then, when the midnight hour finally arrived, they lowered the mushroom with the countdown from ten.

In all, what had in the past been a rather raucous celebration was much more quiet this year.

Lafferty said about 30 people stood beside the

fence to watch the mushroom come down, while others honked their horns from cars in the parking lot.

Lafferty’s husband, Tom Lafferty, served as master of ceremonies. He told his listeners that he was pleased how the celebration turned out in the face of the challenges. He also said that if, in the future, there are limitations on the location in the middle of town, it was good to know that the parking lot – which will be owned by the borough – was a good option.

Meanwhile, for those who observed from afar, Bob’s Crane drone operator Mike Wood recorded the goingson from above for the public to see online.

“We all felt good about it, just getting it together,” Lafferty said.

Then, citing the unknown limitations of future events in 2021, she said, “We had a good beginning. We can go from there.”

The crew at Bob’s Crane prepares to take the mushroom uptown on New Year’s Eve. From left are Mike Wood, Mark Tallent, Rich Nichols and Roger Nichols.

Diners in socially distanced pods at La Verona on State Street were surprised by the procession through town.

Midnight in the Square founder and chairperson Kathi Lafferty, left, and her husband (and master of ceremonies) Tom Lafferty, stand beside the carved wood mushroom statue from previous years.

The Laffertys are joined by the crew from Bob’s Crane as the mushroom stops in the middle of town.

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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

‘Characterized by diversity’ In an otherwise terrible year that tried our souls and weathered our spirits, two moments linked together by a common cause shone a great light upon southern Chester County in 2020.

On June 1, over 500 people gathered in Kennett Square Borough as part of a Black Lives Matter march, an event that infused its main streets with a veracity of volume, voice and hope.

As the Genesis clock began to chime at the 8 a.m. hour, the crowd showed their solidarity by dropping to one knee for a nine-minute moment of silence for George Floyd, the 46-year-old man who was killed on May 25, 2020 by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who wedged his knee into Floyd’s neck for a period of eight minutes and 46 seconds until he lost oxygen, consciousness and his life.

Suddenly, a burst of applause exploded in the crowd. Kennett Police Chief William T. Holdsworth, joined

by Corporal Kenneth Rongaus, Patrol Officer J.D. Boyer and the department’s chaplain Annalie Korengel, dropped to one knee at the intersection of State and Union streets.

On June 7 in West Grove, a crowd estimated at 300 filled the common

area near the West Grove Library as part of a peaceful Black Lives Matter event that included a unified march through the borough, three public speeches and an eight-minute, forty-six second moment of silence to honor the memory of Floyd.

Later, after the congregation arrived at the West Grove Friends Quaker Meeting House, Southern Chester County Regional Police (SCCRPD) Chief Gerald Simpson, lent his voice and empathy in what may have been the finest hour of his professional career.

“Know that we will always be here to support you, your voice, your constitutional rights, as your partner,” Simpson told the silent crowd. “I’m sure it may feel disingenuous for me to say that I feel your pain, but I am a 37-year law enforcement veteran, and I am at a loss to understand how in God’s name George Floyd lost his life, and how in God’s name ‘I can’t breathe’ is not a signal to help this man breathe and render him aid.”

Time most assuredly allows for clearer hindsight, and reflection on these two moments several months after they occurred concludes that Holdsworth and Simpson – linked arm in arm with their departments – engaged in these acts with an intent to help heal the racial divide that

Floyd’s death – as well as the deaths of dozens of other African-Americans at the hands of white police officers – has perpetuated.

Holdsworth and Simpson are not alone. Several other police departments in southern Chester County have stepped up their outreach with minority populations through active efforts in community policing. Their work in schools, neighborhood centers and in partnership with local agencies is a testament to their belief that honest and interpersonal relationships with people of different ethnic cultures and backgrounds can break down barriers.

Each of these departments, however, performs these services under the realization that the demographic make-up of their rosters does not match that of the growing constituency of minorities in the region – and throughout the nation.

While the percentage of minority police officers in U.S. local law enforcement agencies almost doubled between 1987 and 2013, of the 697,195 full-time law enforcement officers that were employed in the United States in 2019, twothirds were white.

The make-up of these local departments is a nearly-perfect reflection of nationwide statistics. Of the 21 police officers at the SCCRPD, all are white.

Kennett Township’s ten-

person department employs two officers of Hispanic descent, and in Kennett Borough, Holdsworth’s unit of 12 full-time officers and between three and five part-time patrol has one African-American officer and one Hispanic officer.

Against the backdrop of these numbers, the 2019 demographic breakdown of southern Chester County by the Chester County Planning Commission shows another reality. In New Garden Township, its population of 12,000 is onequarter Hispanic, and in London Grove Township, the percentage rises to 30 percent. Of the 6,000 residents who live in the Kennett Square Borough, nearly half are Hispanic; and in Avondale Borough, that number is 61 percent.

By its calculations and forecasts, the county’s Planning Commission estimates that the county’s current population of 540,000 will soar to nearly 650,000 by 2040, and it is very likely that the minority population will rise in accordance with it.

Our message to our police departments is therefore simple and clear: Because they fulfill a fundamental role in our society, and in many communities, are the first faces of local government, it is critical that their departments more closely reflect the diversity of the communities they serve.

Its reasoning is clear; sup-

ported by several decades of findings, it has been confirmed that when a community sees their law enforcement organizations become representative of them, it strengthens their perception that the people who are charged with keeping law and order are fair, legitimate and accountable.

An increased diversity in law enforcement -defined not only by race but by gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, language ability, background and experience – is a critically important tool that is used to build trust with the communities they serve. Once established, trust allows police officers to conduct their professions with lesser scrutiny and with stronger lines of communication.

Trust defuses tension.

Trust helps solve crimes.

Trust changes decades of public perception that has been – fairly or unfairly – imprinted on the uniforms of our officers.

This, we know: That the actions and words of Chief Holdsworth and Chief Simpson last June have become a mere microcosm for how effective our police departments have championed the causes of unity and togetherness in our region. The impact of their efforts are felt not only in large forums, but in the tender moments when a police officer does nothing more than listen and

learn in a classroom, school hallway or in a neighborhood.

We also know this: That the intention of this editorial is not to offer criticism against our local police agencies for their current hiring practices, but to serve as a bold call to action to place the hiring of minority officers among their top priorities in the decade ahead. They need not look far for inspiration. The people of southern Chester County have become a diffusion of ethnicities, interests and similarities, the matrix of which has been woven into place through a patchwork made by neighboring agencies, houses of faith, educational opportunities and a stunning entwine of cultures.

Our diversity has made us better, and it will save us.

The South African Anglican cleric, theologian and archbishop Desmond Tutu was quoted as saying, “We inhabit a universe that is characterized by diversity.” As our police agencies begin to write down their broad strokes that endeavor to engage our diversity, we imagine how greater their impact will be when they more closely resemble the communities they so proudly serve.

When is Pennsylvania going to complete vaccinating its most vulnerable citizens — nursing home residents?

When is Pennsylvania going to complete vaccinating its most vulnerable citizens — nursing home residents?

The better question might be: When will many of our

nursing homes even receive a date for vaccinations to begin? Some are hearing that it’s not until February.

These are legitimate questions, because nursing homes are being kept in

Chester County Press Publisher - Randall S. Lieberman

Steve Hoffman..................................Managing Editor Richard L. Gaw..................................Associate Editor Brenda Butt.........................................Office Manager Tricia Hoadley...........................................Art Director Alan E. Turn...............................Advertising Director Teri Turns................................Advertising Executive Helen E. Warren......................Advertising Executive Amy Lieberman.............Marketing/Public Relations The Chester County Press (USPS 416-500) is published every Wednesday by: AD PRO, Inc., 144 South Jennersville Rd, West Grove, PA 19390 Mailing Address: PO Box 150, Kelton, PA 19346 Phone: 610-869-5553 FAX 610-869-9628 E-mail (editor): editor@chestercounty.com HOURS: Monday- Friday 8am - 4pm, no weekend hours

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the dark, despite our residents being the most at risk — something everyone has known since the first days of the pandemic.

While many Pennsylvanians have focused only on the latest COVID-19 surge that has led to scaled-back holiday celebrations and separation from our loved ones, the pandemic never left our nursing homes. For eight months, the risk of COVID19 has been constant.

The facts are inescapable: Statewide, nursing home residents account for over half of all COVID-19 deaths. This is a tragedy.

Nursing home staff are fighting valiantly, but the combination of age, weakened immune systems and comorbidities of our resi-

dents has made the fight seem almost impossible at times.

Through all of this, and all of the months of struggle, we still have not seen a clear plan from the Wolf administration on how the newly approved vaccines will be distributed to nursing homes.

Meanwhile, we see continued media coverage of vaccines being delivered to hospitals all across Pennsylvania.

That’s great. We certainly support this, but why doesn’t anyone seem to care that the Pennsylvanians with the greatest risk, number of cases and deaths — our cherished residents of nursing homes — have only begun to receive vaccines?

I believe vaccinating

Mats of Love are offered to the homeless Courtesy photos

In the Summer of 2019, Sue Rush began making plastic bag mats for the homeless with a mission group from her church, St. Mark’s UMC of Mt Joy, Pa. She asked her fellow employees at Cameron’s to contribute clean plastic bags for this project. Those employees told customers who are also contributing bags.

Brenda cuts these bags into strips and makes PLARN (Plastic YARN) for Sue to crochet into a six-foot-by-3.5 foot mat.

These “Mats of Love” are distributed to the homeless. They protect the people from the cold and damp earth. Many churches and other organizations make these mats all over the U.S. for distribution to the homeless.

It takes about 1,000 bags to make a mat in about 10 hours of crocheting. As of early December, Sue has crocheted 28 Mats of Love. About 10 of those were from the bags collected at Cameron’s. Nothing goes to waste as the bottoms and handles are saved and given to the Lions Club of Mt. Joy, which last year had a bench made for the homeless out of recycled plastic bag parts. There are waiting lists of people wanting these mats. Those that distribute the mats say how appreciative the recipients are to receive them.

nursing home residents will immediately help Pennsylvania’s COVID- 19 fatality rate drop dramatically. The ultimate goal here is to save lives. So why are we being forgotten? Why are our residents an afterthought?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognized this and clearly stated that nursing home residents were most at risk and should be among the first group vaccinated.

Government leaders in Ohio took the CDC recommendation to heart and prioritized the protection of nursing home residents first. Yet, here in Lancaster County, at the very same time, our nursing homes seemingly aren’t a priority.

Let’s do some math: In Lancaster County, there were 132 deaths from COVID-19 in just the first 20 days of December and, based on the historical percentages, it is likely that more than half were from nursing homes and that number likely will be revised upward.

Analyzing the math, the Wolf administration’s decision to vaccinate hospital workers first — and delaying the vaccine to nursing homes in Lancaster County — could lead to 50 more deaths in just one county alone.

Now, think of how high the number of deaths will be statewide.

Who is making these lifeor-death policy decisions for the Wolf administration?

I believe the risk for hospital workers is infinitesimal by comparison. The

Courtesy photo

Douglas Motter is the president of Homestead Village in Lancaster County.

numbers tell us this. It’s remarkable how often we’re told by our state government to follow the science and CDC guidelines, while the state government itself is ignoring the recommendation that could literally save hundreds, if not thousands, of Pennsylvania lives.

Many nursing homes in Lancaster County have not even received a date to begin the vaccinations.

Many may not receive the vaccine until four to six weeks after it was provided to hospital staff. Other vulnerable older adults in the community may have to wait weeks or even months longer. This is an avoidable tragedy.

Are not all the closures and restrictions about saving lives? How many lives could we save in Pennsylvania if the most vulnerable were vaccinated first?

Douglas Motter is the president of Homestead Village in Lancaster County.

6A

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2021

Chef Wayne’s BBQ has become a local – and regional -- sensation

The tantalizing blend of tastes and scents in nearby Chadds Ford

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer When barbecued meats are slow-cooked over a full flame pit – when all of the marinades have perfectly married themselves into the vision the chef had in mind – the result is a treasure not just meant for our sense of taste but our sense of smell.

Soon after Wayne Bumm opened his Chef Bumm’s BBQ in the Springwater Plaza in Chadds Ford in 2020, he would watch driver after driver heading south along Wilmington Pike, suddenly attracted by the smoky waft of barbecue sweetening the air from his work station. After successfully maneuvering their respective U-turns along Wilmington Pike, they would greet Bumm, intrigued and ravenous and anxious to tuck into a juicy rack of ribs, smoked kielbasa or a platter of brisket or pulled pork or hot sausage or prime rib – topped off with an order of peach cobbler.

The people are still making U-turns. They are arriving from as near as Chadds Ford and Kennett Square to as far away as New Jersey and Reading and Lancaster – everyone from the white-collar office guy gathering lunch for his co-workers to entire families and every cross-section of humanity in between.

Bumm knows practically every customer by name, and when they arrive, they engage in the small talk of what happens when people converge at the happy place where food and friendliness meet.

“I just came from catering an office holiday party for a local iron works company, and I had seven different barbecued meats and four side dishes, and they just went nuts over it,” Bumm said recently from his Chadds Ford home, where he lives with his wife and two children. “Many have told me now that they’ve tried my food, that they plan to visit me. My goal has always been a simple one: to make everybody happy.

My personality shows my appreciation, but my food seems to do most of the talking for me.”

From themed dinners of every kind to corporate events, Chef Bumm’s BBQ provides a full menu of catering ideas that is certain to attract any palette.

That bananas flambé moment of inspiration Inspiration comes in the form of many guises. It can be heard, felt and seen, but when it proves to be the catalyst that paves the course of a person’s life, the effect of its spark is extraordinary and lasting. The moment that ignited Chef Wayne Bumm’s destiny, however, was not a spark but a really beautiful flame.

“I was in the eighth grade at Gloucester County Vocational Technical School in Sewell, N.J., and they invited a chef to visit us on Career Day,” said Bumm, who was born and raised in Williamstown, N.J. “He was demonstrating for us how to make a flambé of bananas, and when I saw the fire and the flame shoot up from the spray of alcohol, that was it for me. I told my parents later that day that this is what I wanted to do with my life.”

In 1999, at the age of 18, Bumm attended culinary school at Gloucester County Vocational Technical School, winning several awards for his early cooking prowess. He complimented his education by building his own makeshift smoker that he used to start his own catering business, first at family gatherings and then at private functions. The compliments to his cooking were

immediate.

“When I heard them, I would feel the chills just run down my back,” he said.

“Every one of them was just a reaffirmation of my goals.”

After graduating from the school, Bumm then attended culinary school at Johnson and Wales University, one of the most prestigious schools of its kind in the world, whose graduates have included chefs Emeril Lagasse and Tyler Florence, among many others.

“By the time I got to Johnson and Wales, I had acquired a lot of the skills of food preparation and cooking, but one of the most important aspects of the food business that I learned there was what it meant to be a professional,” Bumm said.

“Our pants and jackets had to be pressed and starched every day. It taught me to remain focused on the tasks required of a chef, and to follow directions from start to finish.”

After graduating from Johnson and Wales in 2003, Bumm returned to New Jersey, where he and his friends opened the Warwick Tavern in Summerdale. The Warwick was the equivalent of city dining in a local tavern -- a comfy, laid-back place that featured the chef’s signature barbecue menu, as well as steaks, chops and seafood.

After two years at the Warwick, Bumm became the executive chef at Dover Downs, but soon, his restlessness to leave the 70-hour-a-week pressure cooker world of hotel restaurants became empowering.

He missed the interaction with his customers, the aroma of his own creations and the tactile feeling of marrying perfectly marinated meat to a scalding smoker.

Bumm launched Chef Bumm’s BBQ in 2015, and he’s never been happier – or busier. Three months ago, he

A visitor to Chef Bumm’s BBQ has her or her choice of a take-away platter of several kinds of meats, including brisket, prime The sweet aromas from Chef Bumm’s smoker are rib, pulled pork and hot enough to entice those driving by his establishment in the Springwater Plaza. sausage.

Courtesy photos

Chef Wayne Bumm.

moved his location from the Brewer’s Outlet on Route 202 in Chadds Ford – where he would often do special events -- to Springwater Plaza, where he partners with his neighbor Big Cheese Pizza.

“Melinda and Neil of Big Cheese Pizza came to me a few months ago with the idea of driving more customers to both businesses,” Bumm said. “It’s been a great relationship for both of us, and one that’s become convenient for families.

On Thursday nights, for instance, Mom and Dad will buy pizza for their kids and barbecue from me. People now have the advantage of having a variety of items for their dinner.”

‘WE WILL RETURN!’ Chef Bumm’s BBQ has also earned a reputation as a road warrior, fulfilling a growing number of catering menus for weddings, corporate luncheons, graduations, birthday parties and themed events. In any given week, Bumm will create a Hawaiian luau with a variety of seafood dishes, and then on another night, welcome guests to a wine-pairing dinner that features New York Strip steaks, filet mignon, Ribeye steaks and a variety of wines personally chosen

by Bumm that compliment the menu.

With each event and with each platter dinner served,

Chef Bumm is a graduate of the prestigious Johnson and Wales Culinary School.

an equal amount of compliments continue to pour in.

“If you’re American and you love freedom, you have to eat at Chef Bumm’s BBQ. It’s a bulls eye, cowboy,” read the note of one satisfied customer who posted on the businesses’ social media page. “I just picked up pulled pork [from Chef Bumm’s BBQ]. Amazing…

Flavor, texture and overall taste. Texas level!” read another.

One happy customer recently wrote, “My husband and I bought a brisket platter and a pulled pork platter last night. Everything was delicious. WE WILL RETURN!” ‘The Love’ In an industry that increasingly measures its value more by the number of Michelin stars it receives than the quality of food it serves, Wayne Bumm has said goodbye to all of that.

He doesn’t need stars; he’s got the loyalty of his customers, who stop by the smoker in front of Big Cheese Pizza in Chadds Ford for the chance to chat with a chef and take home a few platters for their family.

Bumm knows who they are by name and that they come all the way from

Phoenixville and Norristown and Franklinville, N.J., as well as Chadds Ford and Kennett Square. He also knows that for certain, someone new will drive

by Springwater Plaza and become tantalized by the scent of barbecue, turn around, reconfigure their day and ask, “What’s going on here?”

“I regularly have people take home a complete dinner with all of the sides that comes in a Styrofoam container, and when they get home, they take photographs of their meal and send it back to me with compliments,” he said. “People have asked me why I choose not to be open five days a week or franchise out my business, and each time I tell them that it’s because I take a lot of pride in my work and in my relationships with my customers, and I don’t want to ever lose that.

“I call it ‘The Love.’”

Chef Bumm’s BBQ is located in the Springwater Plaza, on 364 Wilmington Pike in Chadds Ford, and is open on Mondays from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. To learn more about catering services and private events, visit Chef Bumm’s BBQ on Facebook or call 856-375-3120.

Chester County Press

In the Spotlight

Section

B

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2021

Part 2: Showing Our Work

Seniors and cameras: A time for new learning

By Chris Barber Contributing Writer Shortly after I founded the photo class at the Kennett Area Senior Center, I realized that holding up recent images on the viewfinders of our phones and cameras and then bidding them adieu didn’t bring much satisfaction.

Seniors—folks in their 60s, 70s and beyond— grew up with the tactile satisfaction of picking up prints at the drug store, shuffling through the pictures, showing them to others and keeping them safe somewhere in the house. It’s different these days, but those old memories still hang around for us.

That prompted me to shift in the direction of the class from schooling the members in Photoshop to three more satisfying projects: • We had shows • We created books, and • We shared our passion with others Having a show is no easy project. It involves printing the pictures, framing them, and hanging them.

Finding a place to put up about 25 pictures is not an easy task, either, but we were lucky.

There was a bare-walled hall in the senior center just begging for decoration, and the lanai next to the vendor market at the Market at Liberty Place in Kennett Square often looked stark naked as the diners enjoyed their meals next to it.

Fortunately, we were given permission to use both, but there were problems to solve at both places.

At the senior center, the crown molding was smooth-topped, so there was no way to attach the pictures.

For help, we asked senior center member Joe Kozlowski, who is known far and wide for his woodworking skills. He agreed to help and applied small nails to the top of the boards that we were able to hook onto.

Early on, we used fishing line applied to the back of the pictures to hang them from the molding at the senior center and at Liberty Place. It was a tedious and frustrating project because the line got tangled and we had to climb all over each other, tying and retying knots to create the right balance and make the show aesthetically pleasing.

Fortunately, a couple years in, we were lucky

to have lifelong photographer Karl Leck join the group. He had produced many shows and connected us with rods with sliders that were much easier to use. We bought some.

He also did us the courtesy of removing the crown molding from the hall, taking it home and slicing ridges in it to hook in the rods.

We proceeded. The members got their favorite pictures printed (or I printed them) and got them ready for matting and framing.

Now there are perfectionists who believe a photo show must contain prints that are surrounded by expensive, matching, black frames under glass. For me, that is irrelevant. I told my class to find old frames in the attic, buy an inexpensive one at Walmart or find an object that looks like a frame and stick their picture on it.

In my mind, a frame at its best should reflect the content it is surrounding – like a family. Paint it up if you want.

After years, that led to our frame project. This is how it worked: We asked Joe Kozlowski to make the prototype of a frame that would be recessed on the inside for the picture, but would have a wide ridge about the outside for us to glue on objects that were reminiscent of the picture itself. Then he made us a whole bunch.

That project was a glorious success.

Mary did a picture of her dog with his prize ribbons and collars surrounding.

Bob had a picture of his trip to the New England shore surrounded by little doodads of the seashore.

Arlene had a picture of her quilting hobby with sewing paraphernalia around the outside – you know, like a pin cushion. Karl centered a portrait from a Kodak ad surrounded by photography tokens, slides and old film.

I did a picture of a parade in Kennett Square with cutouts of parade participants, flags and balloons and the Mummers. Carmela centered a shot of a gem surrounded by jewelry she had made.

They are hanging in our Liberty Place show at this time.

Next, we made a book every two years.

This was fairly easy thanks to the technology and widespread opportunities for personal book-making these days.

Photo by Mary Webb Photo by Chris Barber

Every two years, we collect our best work and put it in a book.

At first, I just gathered up their pictures, laid them on pages virtually and sent them off to Shutterfly. As time went by, the books got more sophisticated, with each member having a few pages with his or her portrait plus a statement of their interest in photography.

Sometimes the members, with the knowledge that this book-making-fromphotos is a possibility, ask for my help in putting together their own book for keeping or sending as gifts to their relatives.

Currently, we have a book project underway that was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the temporary closing of the senior center. The book is called, “The Fix,” and its pages tell the stories of problems we face in making good pictures, and how we have sought to correct them.

The third goal I have had with this group is to share our love of photography with the folks at the center.

Inspired by singer-songwriter Barry Manilow’s advice to “Bring your work to life,” we occasionally reach out to the membership.

In my mind, the most interesting thing we did was create a PowerPoint tutorial and present it at a lunchtime program.

I asked each member of my group what advice they would like to tell they friends, and they came up with enriching topics: “Do you need a big camera?”

“How do you keep your camera from shaking?”

“How does cropping emphasize the interesting aspects of the picture?”

“How do you store all those pictures you have at home?”

They shared their answers at the program.

Another thing we did was have a member show. The

Mary Webb's photograph from Ireland was so good, we convinced her to enter it in the Unionville Communith Fair. She won.

Photo selfie by Chris Barber

This is the cover of our most recent project, “The Fix.”

only rule was that we in the class were not allowed in.

I found that people modestly showed me things they had taken – on their phones or cameras. They wondered if the shots were worth sharing.

I told them “indeed yes.”

I printed them, framed them and hung them.

It was a very popular event at the center.

Finally, we had a member-portrait day.

We knew that just before Christmas people wanted to send out pictures with their cards, so we sat them down, took their pictures individually and sold them back to the subjects at a buck apiece.

Through the years, the center members wait for that day and even decide ahead of time what they will wear and how they will pose.

We miss our weekly class meetings, but I know everyone is still taking pictures.

A few of us got together to hang the show at Liberty Place in November, but thanks to the pandemic, it wasn’t the same with some

class members missing, a small audience and no hugs.

I don’t know when we will be able to get together, but as soon as they lift the curfew, we’ll be in there for another book, another show, and another tutorial.

Stay tuned.

We are grateful to Larry and Geoff Bosley for the use of their wall in the lanai at Liberty Place. Our 2020 show was due to come down on January 15, but they gave us permission to leave it up until mid-March.

Stop by.

Photos by all of us

Every Christmas, we make a large year-long calendar for each of the staff.

Photo by Chris Barber Photo by Karl Leck

Photo by Arlene Kozlowski

Bob Cossaboon demonstrates how to use a selfie stick in our book, “The Fix.”

We share the belief that you don’t need a big or expensive camera to take a striking photo of the moon.

Our photos hang at the Market at Liberty Place. We purchased special rods and hangers to make creating a show efficient.

2B

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2021

Chester County Press

Obituaries GRETCHEN RAMONA WALKER JONES Gretchen Ramona Walker Jones, a resident of Jennersville, died on Dec. 27 from complications of progressive supranuclear palsy. She was 86.

Gretchen was born in Plain City, Ohio to Grace Headlee Walker and Holly Walker, a banker and civic leader. The third of five children, Gretchen was an outstanding student and athlete.

As a child, she could be found playing basketball with the boys, gardening with her dad, riding her beloved pony, Billy, and catching fish, frogs, and turtles with her cousins. She played drums in the high school band and participated in all aspects of small-town life.

Gretchen attended The Ohio State University in nearby Columbus and graduated in 1956. She majored in physical education and competed in intercollegiate basketball.

She was elected to Mortar Board, the senior women’s honorary society at Ohio State. During her senior year, she met her future husband, Allan Jones, on a blind date, and they married after his graduation in 1957.

In 1964, after Allan’s military service and graduate studies, he accepted a job with the DuPont Company and they settled in Wilmington, Del. By that time, the family had grown, with Carolyn, born in 1960, and Steve, in 1962.

As a young mother, Gretchen focused on homemaking, and she became an accomplished seamstress, cook, and hostess. She loved hosting dinner parties and bridge nights with friends, and she enjoyed spending time at the family’s mountain cabin at Coolfont, near Berkeley Springs, W.Va. She was active in the Episcopal Church as a choir member and church leader, and she was an enthusiastic volunteer for many causes, including supporting daycare centers in downtown Wilmington, volunteering for the American Cancer Society, in Wilmington hospitals, and counseling troubled girls at Woods Haven Kruse School.

In 1975, Gretchen returned to college as a full-time nursing student at the University of Delaware. During her senior year, she visited a hospice in Sheffield, England,

one of the first in the world, and this experience had a profound impact on the direction of her career. After she graduated in 1978, Gretchen worked as an oncology nurse at the Wilmington Medical Center and was instrumental in working with the Episcopal Diocese of Delaware to create Delaware Hospice in 1982. It was one of the first hospice programs in the United States.

Gretchen’s work as Patient Care Coordinator with Delaware Hospice led her to pursue a master’s degree in nursing. After obtaining her degree in 1990, Gretchen cofounded and directed the Delaware Cancer Pain Initiative.

She was a pioneer in the movement to give patients with cancer more control over the management of their pain. In 2001, she also co-founded the Cancer Care Connection, which was a community-based clearinghouse for upto-date information about cancer treatment and care. In 2002, she was awarded the American Alliance of Cancer Pain Initiatives Distinguished Service Award.

Gretchen was a devoted and proud wife, mother, and grandmother. She loved gatherings of family and friends and any occasion to cook, tell stories, and laugh. Later in life, she cherished traveling with Al, and she doted on her grandchildren near and far, attending as many grandparents’ days, recitals, swim meets, games, and plays as possible. She also regularly sent small packages and notes of encouragement to those in her orbit who were suffering or sad.

Gretchen is survived by her husband of 63 years, Allan Jones, of Jennersville, daughter, Carolyn Hendrix (Bill), of Port Deposit, Md., son Steve Jones (Sara Dougherty-Jones), of Arlington, Va., and four grandchildren (Katelyn and Erin Hendrix, and Andrew and Ella Jones). She was predeceased by her brother Alvin Walker and sister Marynell Graber, and she is survived by her brothers Ross Walker, of Dublin, Ohio, and Chris Walker, of Columbus, Ohio.

A virtual celebration of Gretchen’s life will be held at a date and time to be determined.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to CurePSP, Inc., www.psp.org.

To view her online tribute and to share a memory with her family, please visit www.kuzoandfoulkfh.com.

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610-274-8384 Services Every Sunday • 9:00 am

GEORGE A. FINN George A. Finn, age 93 of Chadds Ford, passed away on Dec. 25 at his residence.

He was the husband of the late Anne Marie (Arnold) Finn, who passed away in 2017. They were married 64 years.

He was born on June 28, 1927 in Brooklyn, N.Y. and was the son of the late Herbert and Agnes (Fillot) Finn.

He was a graduate of St. Peter’s Preparatory School in Newark, N.J. where he was captain of the track team. He continued his track career and education, attending the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass. where he graduated with a degree in chemistry. He did his postgraduate work at the University of Notre Dame, completing his Ph.D. in chemistry in 1953.

He worked as the technical director at Dupont Corporation for 20 years. He then continued his career as the general manager of McGee Industries in Aston, Pa., retiring in 1995.

In his free time, he was a big Notre Dame sports fan, enjoyed golfing with his wife, traveling, and enjoying his retirement at his home in Lewes, Del. Throughout his life, he actively worked with the Catholic Church to fundraise for local charities.

Mr. Finn is survived by his children, Mary Jo Volpicelli (Vincent), Tom Finn (Mary Pat), and Patricia Finn-Smith, and daughter-in-law Linda Finn; 10 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren and brother Edward Finn.

He is preceded in death by his son Mark Finn and sister Claire Finn.

A private memorial service will be held on Friday, Jan. 8 at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 212 Meredith St. in Kennett Square. The service will be private to family, but will be live-streamed via the St. Patrick’s Church website.

The burial of his cremated remains will take place at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Bear, Del. The family would like to thank the staff at the Brandywine Living at Longwood, Home Instead Senior Care, and Penn Medicine Hospice for their loving care.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, 401 W. Johnson Highway, Norristown, PA 19401 or by visiting https://svdp-phila.info.

Arrangements are being handled by the Kuzo Funeral Home in Kennett Square.

KENNETH EDWARD PATE, SR. Kenneth Edward Pate, Sr. passed away on Dec. 25 at home in Lincoln University, Pa. He was 76.

He was the husband of Elizabeth Hano Pate.

Born in Oxford, he was the son of the late Samuel and Mamie Johnson Pate.

Kenneth was employed with Modern Mushroom for over 30 years.

He enjoyed dancing, singing and spending time with his grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife; three sons, Kenneth Edward Pate, Jr. (Carolyn), Michael Pate, Sr. (Cindy) and Thomas Pate; six grandsons, Michael Pate, Jr., Kenneth Pate, III, Kyle Osborne, John Pate and Daniel Pate, Jonah Pate; one granddaughter, Sarah Pate; and one great-grandson, Caleb Pate; and one sister, Bertie Willis Underwood.

He was preceded in death by one granddaughter, Dawn Pate; two sisters, Elsie Willis Onks and Bessie Willis Barnett; two brothers, Chester Willis and Richard Pate; and his black lab, Missy.

Services were held on Dec. 29 at the Beulah Baptist Church Cemetery in Oxford.

Arrangements are being handled by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. in Oxford.

Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2021

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

3B

Chester County Press

Obituaries MANUEL GUTIERREZ VILLALOBOS

ZISSIMOS A. FRANGOPOULOS

Manuel Gutierrez Villalobos, age 88, of Lincoln University, passed away on Dec. 29 at the Jennersville Hospital. He was the husband of Cirila Gutierrez, who passed away in 2003, and with whom he shared 52 years of marriage.

Born in Chihuahua, Mexico, he was the son of the late Francisco Gutierrez and the late Amelia Villalobos.

Manuel worked as mushroom laborer for Antonio Fazio in Kennett Square and also had worked for South Mill Mushrooms.

He was a member of St. Rocco Catholic Church.

Manuel enjoyed fishing, music, singing, dancing, doing crossword puzzles, Soccer and being with his family and friends, especially his grandchildren.

He is survived by seven children, Nellie Manuel (Wayne) of Kennett Square, Ricardo Gutierrez (Marina) of Mexico, Rosa Herrera (Carlos) of Lincoln University, Maria Herrera (Luis) of Cochranville, Laura Gutierrez of Mexico, Imelda Herrera (Fidel) of Lincoln University and Mayra Gutierrez (Roberto) of Cochranville; 17 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by four daughters, four sisters, two brothers.

You are invited to visit with his family and friends from 10 a.m. to noon on Thursday, Jan. 7 at St. Rocco Catholic Church, 313 Sunny Dell Road, in Avondale.

His Funeral Mass will follow at noon. Burial will be in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Route 82, in Kennett Square.

To view his online tribute an to share a memory with his family, please visit www.kuzoandfoulkfh.com.

Zissimos A. Frangopoulos passed away on Dec. 19 at the age of 76.

He was born to Iannis and Thalia in Athens, Greece, during an air raid on Dec. 16, 1944.

Ziss graduated from Athens College in 1963, making his way to the United States by boat at age 18 to attend Yale University where he graduated in 1967. Shortly thereafter he earned his MBA from Columbia University in 1969.

Zissimos worked in banking at Chemical Bank in New York City and London. He retired from Chase Manhattan in 1999, after which he moved to Chadds Ford with Ruth (Hoopes) Frangopoulos, his wife of 31 years.

Ziss was passionate about banking, and after retiring he joined the board at the Christiana Bank & Trust, becoming the CFO, president and CEO. He was a treasured member of the Vicmead Golf Club, serving as president for a period of time.

Ziss was a lovable guy who would light up any room and loved to laugh. His life could truly be described as the American Dream. He will be missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.

Ziss is survived by his brother Karolos of Athens, Greece and his partner Jennifer Meadows.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, no services are planned at this time.

To view his online tribute and to share a memory with his family, please visit www.kuzoandfoulkfh.com.

Arrangements are being handled by the Kuzo Funeral Home in Kennett Square.

ARTHUR A. COX Arthur “Ottie” A. Cox, age 77, of West Grove, passed away on Dec. 23 at his residence. He was the husband of Judy Wayne Cox, with whom he shared 54 years of marriage.

Born in West Grove, he was the son of the late Orville Cox and the late Alice Hipkins Cox. He was a locksmith and worked at the University of Delaware. He retired in 1991 after 30 years of service.

He was an Eagles and Phillies fan, and he enjoyed watching NASCAR. In earlier years, he played baseball and racquetball.

He loved being with his family, and he enjoyed their trips to the mountains. He also enjoyed, along with his son, entering their tractor in the John Deere tractor-pull competition.

He was a member of the Hockessin VFW and the Rough & Tumble Waterloo Boys.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by one daughter, Dawn Cox of West Grove; one son, Kevin West (and his wife Rose) of Casa Grande, Az.; one sister, Joan Gresham of Vero Beach, Fla., and one grandson, Steven West.

He was predeceased by one brother, Bill Cox and one sister, Grace McLimans.

His services and burial will be private.

To view his online tribute and to share a memory with his family, please visit www.kuzoandfoulkfh.com.

Arrangements were handled by the Foulk Funeral of West Grove.

DAWN MARIE HARRIS Dawn Marie Harris, 54, of Landenberg, passed away on Dec. 20 at her home. She bravely endured a three-and-half-year illness, displaying a positive outlook throughout the entire span. She was the loving wife of Richard W. Harris III, with whom she shared a beautiful marriage of 29 years.

She was the daughter of the late James Roy Badger and the late Theresa Ann (Ioannoni) Weldin.

Dawn was a graduate of Avon Grove High School in the class of 1984. She continued her schooling at the Philadelphia Art Institute. She displayed her artistic talents teaching children’s art classes, creating beautiful jewelry, painting outdoor sceneries, and decorating her loving home.

She was a devout member of St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother Catholic Church in Avondale. Most of all, she was a peaceful, selfless person who loved the Lord, looked out for people, and deeply loved her family.

In addition to her husband Richard, Dawn is also survived by her children, Richard W. Harris IV, and Mackenzi T. Harris; her brother James Michael Badger and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her sister Wendy Ann Shaw.

A mass of Christian burial took place on Dec. 29.

Contributions may be made in Dawn’s name to The National LeioMyoSarcoma Foundation https://nlmsf.org/ donate/.

DOLORES ROSE SANTIAGO On Tuesday Dec. 22, Dolores Rose Santiago, of West Grove, passed away in Jennersville. She was 84.

Born on March 11, 1936 in Cochranville, Pa., she was the daughter of the late Clarence S. Bailey and Olga P. Bailey.

Dolores married the late Richard Santiago on Nov. 17, 1956. They were happily married for 38 years and raised six beautiful children.

Dolores was a loving wife, sister, mother and grandmother who enjoyed spending time with her family.

She was a wonderful homemaker and cared for all of those around her – family and friends included. Dolores enjoyed spending time with her animals, listening to country music and Elvis Presley, and having picnics while enjoying the outdoors. She spent Sundays in church entrusting her faith in the Lord. Dolores adored collecting angel figurines, penguins and glassware from all over the world.

Dolores is survived by her children Richard Santiago (Karen), Donna Oliver, Carmen Stoltzfus (Roy), Julius Santiago (Florence), and Linda Pierce (Paul); eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her daughter, Robin Thompson, her grandson Jamie Thomas, three of her brothers and two of her sisters.

Services were held at the Sacred Heart Church in Oxford on Dec. 30 and interment was at St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Kennett Square.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that remembrances be made in the form of contributions to the Lighthouse Youth Center or the Sacred Heart Church in Oxford.

THOMAS E. KRIEBEL Thomas E. Kriebel passed away on Dec. 25 at the Twin Pines Health Care Center. He was a 90-year-old resident of West Grove.

He is survived by his wife, Stella (Howarth) Kriebel of West Grove.

Born on Jan. 8, 1930 in Reading, Pa., he is the son of the late Robert Wright and Mary Louise (Trostal) Kriebel.

He was a graduate of Media High School in the class of 1948. Following high school, he served as a Merchant Marine for 7 years. He then began his career working in the instrument department as a mechanical engineer for Sun Oil in Marcus Hook and later transitioned to being an electrical engineer working in the instrument department at the DuPont Experimental Station. In his free time and in retirement, he was a farmer, he could fix almost anything you could think of, and he enjoyed hunting and the outdoors.

Thomas is survived by his children, Debbie Wheatley (Dave), Barbara Lebidine, Robert Kriebel (Cheryl), and Mary Steal, 13 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his son, Thomas Kriebel.

All services will be private.

Arrangements are being handled by the Foulk Funeral Home in West Grove.

Obituary submissions The Chester County Press publishes obituaries free of charge for funeral homes with active advertising accounts only. Others with a connection to southern Chester County are charged a modest fee. Obituaries appear on the Wednesday after they are received with a

Monday 5pm deadline. They are also posted on www. chestercounty.com. Photos should be sent as .jpeg attachments to the obituary text. To submit an obituary to the Chester County Press or for a rate quote, email the information to editor@chestercounty.com.

LARRY FRANK THOMPSON Larry Frank Thompson, age 78, passed away peacefully on Dec. 28 after a courageous, one-month battle with COVID-19.

Larry was born in Lancaster, Pa. on June 17, 1942. He attended school in Oxford and graduated in 1960. He enjoyed singing and was a member of the State Choir during his senior year.

He served in the U.S. Air Force for two years as a mess sergeant, one of which he spent in Japan. He was very fond of the time he spent abroad, meeting the people and learning their culture. He received the National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.

Larry worked at Lukens Steel Company and the Veterans Hospital in Coatesville, but his true calling was as a manager of Perkins Restaurant in Avondale for over 25 years. Because of Larry’s devotion to his job and the compassion he always showed to his employees and customers through the years, he was lovingly known as “Mr. Perkins.” He considered his employees and customers all like family. His many employees through the years have never forgotten those “Larryisms” that made every shift worthwhile such as, “If you have time to lean, you have time to clean” and “If you can’t hack it, grab your jacket.”

Although a glaucoma diagnosis forced him to retire from a job he loved in 2010, Larry never let it stop him. A pillar of the community, he was a dedicated 29-year member of the West Grove-Avondale Rotary with perfect attendance. He also served a term as president and was instrumental in starting the Rotaract Club at Lincoln University. He served as club director and membership chair for years and was able to recruit many new members. Larry participated in many Rotary events. Larry also sang the National Anthem at the July Rotary Phillies games for three years. He was also a

longtime member of the local chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) in Kennett Square.

A resident of the West Grove Borough, he was often seen walking through town, stopping in to say hello at Ruffini’s Barber Shop, Marrone’s Delicatessen and the Avon Grove Library.

Larry became a member of Shiloh Presbyterian Church (formerly Second Presbyterian) in Oxford in 1954. As a young man, he attended Sunday school and was in the youth choir. As an adult, he continued using his voice and was an active member and soloist of both the senior choir and men’s choir. Larry’s service to his church went well beyond music. He also served two terms as an Elder and was a member of the church’s outreach ministry. With his warm and welcoming smile, he was always helping others through his kind words and kind acts for church members and the community at large.

For more than 50 years, he was also one of the cooks for Shiloh’s annual community turkey dinner. When his eyesight deteriorated, he became the main greeter and welcomed guests to the dinner and seating area.

Larry absolutely loved sports. Back in the day, he played an amazing game of basketball. He played on the school teams, with his friends and would visit other towns in the area to play competitive games. At his height of 6 foot 2 ½, he did have a heads up on the younger men in the family. Even as he got older, he still gave his sons and other family members a run for their money and he never let them forget it. He also enjoyed following the local professional teams like the 76ers, Phillies and the Eagles.

Larry truly was a dance machine. Whenever there was a celebration or party, he would be one of the first on the dance floor and one of the last to leave. He would often tell younger family members and friends, “When you get married, I’ll dance at your wedding.” And he did just that.

Larry’s love of music led him to learn the bass guitar.

Since he could not read the music, he memorized every-

thing. He took lessons for the past two years at the Oxford Arts Alliance. He sang and played at some local venues as part of a small band called Everyday People.

His exuberant laughter was the main ingredient of his loving personality. If Larry was anywhere nearby, you would know it. He will be deeply missed by his family, extended family and his friends.

He is preceded in death by his grandson, Malik Thompson, his mother, Gladys Boddy, his fathers, Homer Boddy and Charles J. Jamison, his sister, Margo and his grandparents, Curtis A. and Eva Mae Thompson.

He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Rosemary Vari Thompson; his daughter, Michelle (Eric) Wesley; his sons, Michael and Lamont Thompson; his stepdaughters, Kimberly (Matt) Lauzon and Kasey (Curtis) Glasco; and stepsons, Paul (Regina) Bassette and Darryl (Shellese) Bassett.

He is also survived by his sisters, Brenda Matika, Linda Boddy (Calvin), and Hedy (James) Drummond; brothers, Preston (Sherry) Jamison and Kenneth Jefferson; and his grandchildren, Jasmine Johnson, Mark Wesley, Michael Thompson Jr., Tyrone Thompson, Kyle Haldaway, Brooklyn Thompson, Bri Lynn Ford, Gabriella and Giuliana Thompson, Zozo and Frankie Lauzon and Charlotte Glasco; great-grandchildren Zaria White and Talib Morton; brothers-in-law, Francis (Terry)Vari and Michael (Joyce) Vari; special aunts, Dorothea Christie and Josephine Franzone, and a host of other aunts, nephews, nieces, cousins, church family and friends.

The family extends their deepest gratitude to the doctors and nurses at Jennersville Hospital for their constant compassion and attentive care.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Shiloh Presbyterian Church in Oxford or the Coatesville VA Medical Center.

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CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2021

Chester County Press

Local News Oxford’s Lanier signs to run cross country at Seton Hall University Taj Lanier, a senior at Oxford Area High School, recently signed a national letter of intent to run cross country for Seton Hall University, where she will begin her studies this coming fall.

She is a two-time PIAA state qualifier, earning the

distinction in 2018 and 2019. She also holds the Oxford Area High School 5K cross country record at 18:23.

Lanier is very excited about the opportunity and grateful for the support of Oxford cross country coach Mike Walling, athletic

director Mike Price and high school principal Jamie Canaday.

Courtesy photos

Taj Lanier, a senior at Oxford Area High School, just signed a national letter of intent to run cross country for Seton Hall University.

Tribute made to a champion of Chester County parks and the Chester Valley Trail A trail bench and tree placed on the Chester Valley Trail in Bob O’Leary’s memory Nestled on a fresh piece of recently cleared land and part of the Chester Valley Trail sits a freshly planted redbud tree and memorial bench purchased by the Friends of Chester Valley Trail, honoring their late friend and dedicated member Bob O’Leary.

O’Leary passed away over the summer, but his legacy and commitment to Chester County will be remembered forever by those who knew him—and appreciated by the hundreds of thousands of people who use the Chester Valley Trail every

year. O’Leary served on the Chester County Parks and Recreation Board for nearly a decade, and he was the first president of the Friends of the Chester Valley Trail organization, helping it to achieve incorporation and a 501c3 status.

In addition, O’Leary spent decades in public service in Tredyffrin Township, serving on the township’s Planning Commission, as chair of the Paoli InterModal Station Task Force, and as chair of the Patriots Path Task Force.

The tree planted in

O’Leary’s memory was purchased locally and is standing next to the bench on a portion of the Chester Valley Trail located in Tredyffrin Township, near North Valley Road. The tree is about a mile away from O’Leary’s former home in Tredyffrin and also near the Tredyffrin Township building where he volunteered and served.

A plaque will soon be added to the area where the bench and tree are located, and an official dedication ceremony is hoped to be held in the spring of 2021.

Courtesy photo

Tim Lander, president of Friends of the Chester Valley Trail (left), Ed Auble, chair of the Chester County Parks and Recreation board (seated) and Owen Prusack, Chester County Parks and Preservation manager, at the newly installed bench and newly planted redbud tree, placed along the Chester Valley Trail in memory of Bob O’Leary, longtime champion of Chester County Parks and Trails and founding member of The Friends of the Chester Valley Trail.

Legals ESTATE NOTICE

Estate of Steven E. Rosner, Rosner, Steven E. late of Chesterbrook, 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: Steven A. Segal, Esq., Segal & Company, LLC, 261 Old York Road, Suite 823A, Jenkintown, PA 19046, Executor. Segal & Company, LLC, 261 Old York Road, Suite 823A, Jenkintown, PA 19046

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PUBLIC NOTICE

T-Mobile proposes to modify an existing facility (new tip heights 99’) on the transmission pole at 172 S Bridge St, East Bradford, PA (20202108). Interested parties may contact Scott Horn (856-809-1202) (1012 Industrial Dr., West Berlin, NJ 08091) with comments regarding potential effects on historic properties.

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Sheriff Sale of Real Estate

By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff Fredda L. Maddox, the herein-described real estate will be sold at public sale in the Chester County Justice Center at 201 W Market Street, 3rd Floor, Room 3300, West Chester, Pennsylvania, as announced on Thursday, January 21st, 2021 at 11AM. Notice is given to all parties in interest and claimants that the Sheriff will file with the Prothonotary and in the Sheriff’s Office, both located in the Chester County Justice Center, 201 W Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania, Schedules of Distribution on Monday, February 22nd, 2021.

Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedules unless exceptions are filed in the Sheriff’s Office within ten (10) days thereafter.

SALE NO. 21-1-5 Writ of Execution No. 2019-03448 DEBT $368,284.40 PROPERTY SITUATE IN THE TOWNSHIP OF PENNSBURY TAX PARCEL # 64-1-212 2018-2

IMPROVEMENTS thereon: Residential Dwelling PLAINTIFF: New Residential Mortgage Loan Trust VS DEFENDANT: Perry Camerlengo, Jr. aka Perry J. Camerlengo, Jr. aka Perry Camerlengo & Zarouhi Sara Camerlengo SALE ADDRESS: 1608 Cheryl Lane, Kennett Square, PA 19348 PLANTIFF ATTORNEY: KML LAW GROUP, P.C. 215-627-1322

N.B. Ten percent (10%) of the purchase money must be paid at the time and place of sale. Payment must be paid in cash, certified check, or money order made payable to the purchaser or “Sheriff of Chester County”. The balance must be made payable to “Sheriff of Chester County” within twenty-one (21) days from the date of sale by 4PM. FREDDA L. MADDOX, SHERIFF 12p-30-3t

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6B

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2021

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