Chester CountyPRESS
www.chestercounty.com
Covering Avon Grove, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Oxford, & Unionville Areas
Volume 152, No. 4
60 Cents
Wednesday, January 24, 2018
U-CF School Meeting about UHS mascot INSIDE causes controversy online District votes to keep Keystone requirement
By John Chambless Staff Writer A tiny notice about a meeting to be held at Unionville High School snowballed on social media last week, culminating with angry postings and the cancellation of the proposed meeting. A Unionville High School student-created group Local musicians pay tribcalling itself the Identity ute to the late Billy Burger Council got a meeting ...1B notice posted on a local newspaper’s website, leading to a small story. The meeting was intended to address whether or not to eliminate the school’s Indian mascot and logo. Readers picked up on the announcement, and the angry messages, pro
Oxford Borough parking revenues increase...5A
INDEX Opinion........................7A Obituaries...................2B Calendar of Events.....4B
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© 2007 The Chester County Press
Photo by Steve Hoffman
Cheerleaders hold a banner featuring the Unionville Indians mascot at a game last fall.
and con, started flying. By last Wednesday afternoon, school district superintendent John Sanville issued the following message online and in emails to district families: “I am writing to you about the growing social media frenzy concerning the Unionville High
School Indian mascot,” he wrote. “It is important the entire community have a clear understanding of what has happened and how we will move forward. “The UHS studentcreated and student-led Identity Council arranged Continued on Page 3A
Oxford School Board votes to stay within Act 1 Index limit for the next budget By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer
Arrest made in market robbery, Kenett Square man faces child endangerment charges, and more in the Police Blotter...7B
By John Chambless Staff Writer
The Oxford School Board’s Jan. 16 agenda was topped by a tax rate certification resolution pertaining to the 2018-2019 budget that will be approved before the end of June. The school board approved the resolution, which indicates that it will not exceed the Act 1 Index limit that is set by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The Act 1 Index limit for Oxford for the 2018-2019
school year is 3.3 percent. The Act 1 Index limit establishes the highest rate that a school district can raise taxes without seeking approval from voters via a referendum. Pennsylvania requires school districts to approve a resolution at least 110 days before the date of the election immeately preceding the upcoming fiscal year. If a school district planned to exceed the Act 1 Index limit, the issue would be placed on the Primary Election ballot so
The rule that students must pass the Keystone exams before graduating in the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District will remain after the school board voted at their Jan. 22 meeting to keep the requirement. In a meeting held at Patton Middle School, the board considered a motion to change the graduation requirement in the district
after many other school districts in the state have dropped the mandatory test. Assistant superintendent John Nolen told the board before the vote that, “This motion would change our current graduation requirement. Our current requiremtent is 22 credits, as well as that students are proficient on the three Keystone exams. If this motion passes, that would change to removing the Continued on Page 3A
Artistic voices
that residents could either approve or reject the tax increase. School boards in Pennsylvania have rarely sought voter approval to exceed the Act 1 Index limit, and voters have rarely approved the larger tax increases. The Oxford School Board will meet again on Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. at the district’s Administration Building. To contact Staff Writer Steven Hoffman, email editor@chestercounty.com.
Artwork by current and former students at Lincoln University is in the spotlight at the Oxford Arts Alliance through Feb. 10. See story on Page 3B.
Tavern Talks schedule set for 2018
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
“My father would have Colonial Days and Civil War Days in his classrooms, Allison Schell, program but it wouldn’t be just a and development manday, but an entire week,” ager at the Chadds Ford Schell said. “He would Historical Society, is a selfcreate hands-on activities for his students, and his approach to learning has always stuck with me. I’m a very hands-on learner as well, so I’ve attempted to adapt that teaching style to the adults who attend our Tavern Talks.” About to kick off its third year, the Chadds Ford Historical Society’s Tavern Photo courtesy of the Chadds Ford Historical Society Talks is a monthly expeThe Chadds Ford Historical Society’s Tavern Talks will rience aimed at adults 21 kick off its third season on Feb. 15 with ‘Chocolate & and older that focuses on Courtship.’ aspects of early American described “history geek,” largely because she grew up in the Lehigh Valley, inspired by the lessons taught by her father, who was a middle-school history teacher.
history and culture. Guests get to experience history with hands-on activities, food and drink tastings, demonstrations and more. This year’s menu of events will take visitors on a cultural stroll back the Colonial period, with interactive evenings that will introduce a popular confection, beverages of the day and common practices of the time, all in an interactive setting at the the historic Barns Brinton House. “People nowadays are looking for interesting experiences to do together,” Schell said. “They want a full experience, and that’s what we provide. Some of
our visitors really enjoy being able to speak with our lecturers who are in full period garb, while others prefer the lecture component of these events. Tavern Talks are a full mix of both, with an approachable feeling, and yet with a full learning element. “Our visitors have appreciated the fact that it’s all tailored to the way they learn.” The eight Tavern Talks for 2018 will be: Feb. 15 - Chocolate & Courtship Wrapped around Valentine’s Day, “Chocolate & Courtship” is now in its Continued on Page 3A
As guest speaker, Davis hits a home run Broadcaster and color analyst Ben Davis shares stories from his life in baseball at the annual banquet of the Kennett Old Timers Baseball Association By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer Ben Davis, the former major leaguer who serves as a broadcaster and color analyst of Philadelphia Phillies games, returned to Kennett Square on Saturday, Jan. 20 to talk baseball at the Kennett Old Timers Baseball Association’s annual banquet. The Malvern Prep graduate spoke about growing up as a baseball fan, shared some entertaining experiences from his 16-year professional baseball career, and offered many insights about the present Phillies team as the 2018 season approaches. In other words, Davis,
for the second time in five years, hit a home run as the guest speaker at the banquet. Way to go, Ben! The evening was a celebration of the national pastime, featuring everything from a rousing rendition of “Take Me Out To The Ball Game” to a video tribute to the West Chester University baseball team that captured an NCAA Division II championship to a silent auction of baseball memorabilia to lots and lots of baseball talk. The highlight of the evening was the induction of nine local standout baseball players to the Kennett Old Timers Baseball Association’s Hall of
Fame. This year’s inductees are Andy Burtner, Jim Freeman, Steve Jewett, Darin Johnson, Bill Mac Pherson, Bob Nask, Chris Rosfelder, Joe Williamson, and Jeff Zona, bringing the total number of members of the hall of fame to 291. Keith Craig, the author of a book about pitching great and Kennett Square native Herb Pennock, served as the master of ceremonies. He welcomed the crowd of more than 350 people to the Red Clay Room by saying, “It’s baseball, it’s the national pastime, it’s the boys of summer, and here we are in the dead of winter talking baseball.” Continued on Page 2A
Photo by Steven Hoffman
Bob Burton, the president of the Kennett Old Timers Baseball Association, is pictured with Ben Davis, a former Major Leaguer and current baseball broadcaster and color analyst for the Phillies. Davis was the guest speaker at this year’s event, the second time that he has handled this duty. The Phillies organization helps secure speakers for the annual event in Kennett Square.