Chester County Press 02-06-2019 Edition

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

Volume 153, No. 6

Wednesday, February 6, 2019

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Man with warrant shot by police after pursuit On Feb. 1 at 1 a.m., Pennsylvania State Police Avondale officers stopped a white Chevrolet van on Third Street in Oxford for an equipment violation.

Troopers contacted the driver, Jeremy Oatman,

who had an active warrant.

Oatman drove away and the officers pursued his van. During the pursuit, officers eventually put a spike strip on Baltimore Pike between Shadyside Road and Forge Road.

The van struck the spikes, deflating the front passenger side tire. Oatman continued to drive, entering the parking lot of the Wawa at 100 Ponds Edge Drive in West Nottingham Township. Oatman point-

ed a pistol at police and drove into the parking lot of the adjacent CVS store.

Oatman then drove into an embankment and stopped.

He ran from officers while pointing the pistol at them.

Troopers ordered Oatman

to stop, eventually shooting at him. One bullet struck Oatman in the arm and he dropped his gun.

He was taken into custody and transported to Christiana Hospital in Delaware for treatment.

Kennett Library It's raining threes officials offer update about new library project

By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer

If everything goes according to the Kennett Library Board’s timeline, a groundbreaking on a new, modern library will take place at some point in 2021 and the grand opening of the building will follow in 2022.

First, the library will undertake a capital campaign to raise most of the funding for the $15 million project.

Jeff Yetter, the vice president of the Kennett Library’s Board of Trustees, shared details about plans for the new library, as well Spin Doctors frontman as information about the coming to Kennett Flash library’s current operations, ...1B during a presentation at the Jan. 22 meeting of Kennett Square Borough Council.

INSIDE

At the meeting, borough council approved some modifications to the agreement between the borough and the Kennett Library.

The new library, which will be built on the Weinstein lot at the intersection of State Street and South Willow Street in Kennett Square, is envisioned as a community center where people in the community can gather together in a creative environment.

Yetter explained that the current plans are for a 25,000 square-foot building that will have shelving space for approximately 55,000 volumes. The library will include two classrooms and two multi-purpose rooms to house the Adult Literacy Program classes Continued on Page 2A

Photo by Richard L. Gaw

Kennett’s Ellie Matthews drained six three-pointers to help lead the Blue Demons girl’s basketball team to a 58-42 victory over Downingtown West on Jan. 31. See story on Page 4B.

Students get a tour of future careers Kennett High School partners with Bentley Homes for an in-depth look at construction process

By John Chambless Staff Writer Last week, classroom theory became reality for a group of Kennett High School civil engineering and design students as A salute to good times at they got an in-depth tour of Square Pear Gallery...1B homes under construction near the school.

On Feb. 1, students in the STEM classes at the high school were welcomed Photos by John Chambless at the Stonehouse develStudents gather at the Stonehouse construction site opment on South Union Street. Bundled up against before beginning their tour.

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INDEX Opinion.......................7A Obituaries...................2B Calendar of Events.....5B Classifieds.................6B

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U-CF School District airs artificial turf pros and cons Board will vote on new fields Feb. 25

By JP Phillips Correspondent At the four-hour Unionville-Chadds Ford School Board work session on Jan. 14, a few residents spoke in opposition to the district’s proposed addition of two artificial turf athletic fields. Much later in the evening, U-CF administration presented their view on why the fields make sense.

Residents spoke about the lack of a thorough needs assessment to justify building the fields,

the cost to taxpayers, the lack of relationship to academic achievement, and the potential health risks artificial turf can cause. There appeared to be mistrust between some residents and the district. Some residents thought the facilities plan was being pushed through without considering other options.

Jack Greenwood of East Marlborough Township spoke of the transient nature of many families in the district. “They come in front of the board and administration and say they want this, they want that, and

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it gets incorporated,” Greenwood said. “And then, when their kids are out of school, they move on. And the rest of us who want to live here, we get stuck paying for it.”

Greenwood added, “The majority of the people that you’re going to hear from about any project you do are the parents who have kids that are actively engaged here at the school. For some reason, the older people, they don’t take the time to come out and voice their opinions.”

Continued on Page 6A

the biting cold, groups of students saw all phases of construction – from simple wooden markers hammered into the bare earth, up to nearly completed homes with all the appliances installed. Stonehouse will eventually be a 38-townhome development built by Bentley Homes.

The company’s owner, Tom Bentley, shadowed the tour groups on Feb. 1 and spoke to the students about using drones to map construction sites. It was

Bentley’s idea to bring the students to the site in hopes of fostering future engineers. Last year, he met with school district superintendent Dr. Barry Tomasetti and suggested the partnership with the classes. There have been two prior classroom visits from Bentley himself, and the Bentley project architect, to discuss design work being done by the students.

Kennett High School offers a curriculum called Continued on Page 3A

New ideas in the listening room: Kennett Flash names assistant director

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer Even before she first stepped into The Kennett Flash a month ago to begin her new position as the assistant director of southern Chester County’s most popular music venue, Su Spina was an out-of-the-box thinker, dating back to the time she changed the spelling of her first name.

“My full name is ‘Susan’ but there’s no ‘e’ in ‘Susan’ so why would I have an ‘e’ in my nickname?” Spina said last week at The Kennett Flash, just hours before an

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appearance by Raymond the Amish Comic. “It just didn’t make sense to me.”

If choosing to say goodbye to a non-applicable letter in a first name seemed to make sense to her, then Spina’s new job at The Kennett Flash makes even more sense. Hired as the venue’s assistant director in early January, Spina has already made her presence known to general manager Andrew Miller and members of The Kennett Flash board of directors.

“The Flash appealed to me for several reasons,” Spina,

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CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019

Chester County Press

Local News Kennett Flash...

Continued from Page 1A

23, said. “It’s a small room, and the audience here gets to have a far more intimate experience, an up-close and personal feeling that allows them to sit just feet away from the performers and meet them after concerts.

“The Flash is also a nonprofit organization,” she added. “Very often, music has become too large scale, where venues are owned by corporations. Consequently, it doesn’t allow for much independent and creative freedom. It’s just the opposite here. No one is faceless at The Flash. There is Andrew, me, the board, and the community.”

“I think two of the big things that have brought Su to The Kennett Flash are her enthusiasm for live music and the performing arts, and an understanding of how to present them at this level,” Miller said. “I wanted to bring someone on that had a certain level of experience, but also someone who

Library...

Continued from Page 1A

and offer study spaces for students and tutors who work one-on-one. Yetter said that there will be a maker space with stateof-the-art technological resources to support and enhance the curriculum of the local schools. There will be several study areas for library patrons.

A featured part of the new building will be a 110-seat auditorium that will make Kennett Square even more of a destination in the region. This auditorium will have space suitable for business meetings, movie screenings, entertainment, and more.

Additionally, Yetter explained, the plans for the new library currently include 37 surface parking spaces that are dedicated spaces for library patrons and employees. The library purchased two parcels—at 120 South Willow and 124 South Willow—to make room for convenient parking after officials determined that it would simply be too expensive to include underground parking as part of the project. Yetter pointed out that the current library has exactly zero dedicated parking spaces, and a lack of convenient parking has been an issue for the library for

could buy into our specific way of presenting music, and someone with whom I could share what I have learned from working in the business of music for 23 years.

“We really needed a couple more hands in the dough at The Kennett Flash, but they had to be specific hands. That dough has been rising at a rate I just haven’t been able to keep up with on my own.”

Spina is assisting Miller with booking shows, initiating a new marketing program, helping in the transition to a new website, and spearheading a new membership program that will allow audience members to latch onto The Kennett Flash not just on a concert-to-concert basis, but as partners in the non-profit organization.

Projected to begin in April, the program will offer members the opportunity to contribute yearly at three different levels: Fan, Opener and Headliner. Membership benefits will include such

perks as discounted tickets; complimentary corking for those who wish to bring a bottle of wine to a show; membership stickers and t-shirts; and an invitation to attend a yearly membership party at The Kennett Flash.

To Miller, establishing a membership program will help to identify The Kennett Flash’s core customer base.

“Finding those customers who are ready to buy into our long-term visions for the venue creates a more sustainable model moving forward, and plays into improved programming in the long run, as well,” he said. “Any additional revenue we bring in gives us the ability to be more diverse in programming, and also allows us to take more creative chances.”

The road that led Spina to The Kennett Flash began early. Raised in Drexel Hill and Wallingford, Spina attended Strath Haven High School, where she helped book Battle of the Bands festivals and library coffeehouses, that were performed

many years.

Overall, Yetter said, the amenities in the new library is expected to double the number of people who utilize the library’s resources each year.

He explained that a capital campaign to fund the project will start later this year and continue into next year. The library already has about $3 million in reserve that can be used for the project. The library is already in the process of seeking some grant funding from the state, too. There are also plans to seek support from the eight municipalities that are included in the library’s coverage area.

“We’re all going to have to work together to do this, but we can get this done,” Yetter said.

Yetter also talked about the current operations of the library, and the vital role that it plays in the community.

Last year, 113,000 people entered the library to utilize resources or to take part in one of the many programs that are offered—many of them free. Approximately 175,000 books, DVDs, and online items were checked out by library users. There were also more than 1,000 free programs that were produced for children, teens, young adults, and adults.

The library’s role as a community center for information and technology is only expected to grow when the new building opens.

Following the presentation, borough council approved an amended agreement between the borough and the library.

Borough manager Joseph Scalise explained that the original agreement between the two parties stipulated that once the library constructed a new building on the Weinstein lot, the facility had to remain a library for 25 years. Banks were uncomfortable with that stipulation, so that was being removed from the agreement, Scalise said.

Council member Wayne Braffman added that the language in the original agreement could have possibly allowed the library to sell the Weinstein lot.

In 2017, the borough sold the Weinstein lot to the library at significantly less than the appraised value of $550,000 because it wanted to support the library and the construction of a new building.

For obvious reasons, the borough would not want the library to then sell the Weinstein lot to someone else. The amended agreement’s language clarifies the issue. Borough council unanimously approved the amended agreement.

To contact Staff Writer Steven Hoffman, email editor@chestercounty. com.

Photo by Richard L. Gaw

Su Spina began her duties as the assistant director of The Kennett Flash last month.

during lunch hours at the school. Later, at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, she originally intended to study animal behavioral science, but after attending a class that studied American popular music, her career intentions began to shift.

“I’ve always been a musician,” said Spina, who is a percussionist with the Lansdowne Symphony Orchestra. “When I took the class, I realized that I needed to be focusing in music.

I also knew that I wanted to join the college’s radio station – WFNM – where I became a member of the station’s executive board when I was a sophomore.”

In partnership with the station, Spina began constructing a campus concert series, where she and her colleagues booked area bands and solo performers to perform in basement concerts. It was a ‘DIY’ format that she said gave college audiences an opportunity to see live music in an intimate setting, and it led to Spina’s work in creating a large-scale music festival at Franklin & Marshall.

“The Spring Festival format used to be one that would pay a main headliner $75,000 for a single performance, but then the administrator left and no one was left to organize the festival. Subsequently, the administration significantly slashed our budget,” she said.

‘A deep dive into the world of music’ Working with a reduced budget, Spina and others took over the festival, changed its format and kicked up marketing efforts, and suddenly, instead of just one act there were now as many as five, some of whom later became national touring acts like Ra-Ra Riot, Darla, Busty and the Bass and The Districts.

The on-the-job training of a venue manager is a continuing classroom that demands late-night visits to the seediest of music clubs, in the hopes of finding

new talent. When she’s not working, Spina, who lives in South Philadelphia, often accompanies her friends to music venues from Philadelphia to Wilmington to West Chester. It’s what she calls “a deep dive into the world of music.”

“It’s not just about discovering them – it’s helping to launch them,” she said.

“I love the people and the relationships I build with these artists, not only from an appreciation standpoint, but from a personal standpoint. My goal is to put a diversity of people on a stage who may not have had the opportunity to find that stage otherwise.”

Anyone who operates a performance venue these days has to keep ahead of the many steps of the business, all orchestrated by the audiences they hope to attract.

In short, it’s often a dart game of demographics, and over the past several years, the Kennett Flash’s bullseye has been the 35-60+ -age bracket, who have been chiefly responsible for a) sold-out performances and b) steering the direction of the venue’s concert listings.

While that’s a combination that has made The Kennett Flash one of the most successful listening rooms of its kind in the region, it leaves only one question unanswered: How does it gain traction among younger audiences?

The answers to that question may come from Spina, who knows what that age group is seeking, because she herself belongs to it.

The key, she said, is selling The Kennett Flash for what many have already known is its greatest attribute: to give audiences the gift of being able to see a live performance where they get to see an artist working in an intimate space.

“Too many people who are my age don’t know that there are such venues like listening rooms, because when they think of a going to see a concert in a smaller place, they think of a bar,” Spina said. “The Kennett Flash is a place you can see a band you love and

really listen to them, and not have to compete with the sounds of the bar area, or people talking and yelling.

By bringing in younger acts and allowing them to experiment in a quieter space, they’ll enjoy that opportunity, and we’ll also be able to attract a younger audience, as well.”

“I’ve always felt I have a good handle on what younger audiences are interested in seeing, but by bringing in an assistant director almost 20 years my junior, she can teach me about not only marketing the bands, but marketing the venue to a younger audience,” Miller said. “The Flash has done a good job over the past four years doing shows that connect to the 20-35-year-old audience, but I know we can do better, and Su will help us do better.”

Spina and Miller both agree that The Kennett Flash holds an ace card that is the envy of other venues of its kind: the kinetic chemistry that can only happen in an intimate space, between the audience and the performer, that also extends to their relationship with those who attend shows.

“Great ideas come out of these connections, and I think that’s a large part of the success of The Kennett Flash,” Miller said. “It’s like a family business -there are no faces to most venues, but the Flash has several. Our members will have our attention and get that face time, and they are also going to help create The Flash of the next 10-20 years.”

“The Kennett Flash offers an outstanding and diverse lineup, and ultimately, we want to draw an even more diverse crop of talent,” Spina said. “What we have on our calendar right now is wonderful, but with my new perspective, I hope we’ll be able to showcase a wider range of talent and inject another side of the music industry – the side that is up and coming.”

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

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

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Local News Bentley...

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by somebody for a reason. We’re applying those ideas to the design of buildings, parking lots, retention ponds, everything. So it’s kind of fun.”

With snow falling, the tour started outdoors with an explanation of site grading, stormwater control and the meaning of the stakes that marked where crews would soon be digging the foundations. Inside a nearby home, with its bare wood framing and ductwork visible, students saw where plumbing would eventually become a bathroom, and where a central beam would support the finished home. Next door, and in another nearby home, the construction process was further along, and students learned about HVAC systems and soundproofing, wiring and windows, flooring and stonework.

The historic stone home that was already on the site will be refurbished and occupied by a family in the months to come. Even its stone outhouse will be preserved, reflecting the history of the 10-acre site.

Lydia Hallman, the director of curriculum and mathematics and science instruction at Kennett High School, was involved in the initial planning for the visit. “Mr. Bentley went and did some instruction with the Civil Engineering and Architecture students at the high school in December,” she said. “Then in the spring, the Society of Women Engineers will be coming back to the houses and looking at some of the computer applications and the staging of the houses.

This is a unique opportunity.

“I’m learning a lot,” she said, smiling. “And we’re beginning to look into Photos by John Chambless working with other area Students from Kennett High School watch a drone demonstration, with Tom companies to do more of Bentley at right. these experiences. This is a great chance to find out what an engineer really does.”

The last stop for many of the students was a home that was about four to six weeks from occupancy.

With the kitchen counters and appliances installed, the group gathered to see an explanation of drone

Project Lead the Way that matches students with teachers to design homes based on the teacher’s requests, while adhering to stringent Habitat for Humanity constrution guidelines. The award-winning curriculum teaches students to interact with clients, to work with professional-level Revit software, and to get a feel for what a career as a designer would be like. The chance to see real homes under construction nearby was a natural fit.

“This is the first time we’re actually going on a field trip to see a site,” said Kennett High School teacher Ron Phillips. “We’ve worked with Bentley Homes in class a couple of times. They sent an engineer, they sent an architect, and they sent their owner, Tom Bentley. It’s been nice for the students to kind of pick the brain of a professional. It’s great for me, because the professionals keep saying the same things I’ve been telling the kids all Continued on Page 6A year,” he said, laughing.

“Project Lead the Way provide curriculum all over the country. This class is Pathway to Engineering.

Students work on the Affordable Home Project.

They’re given guidelines and some residential codes to stay within. They do Robert Duffy of Bentley Homes explains the construction process. everything – from preconstruction through walls, HVAC, lighting, plumbing, everything. It gives them a taste for every aspect of construction. And I pair them up with teachers, who become their clients.

The students interview the teacher, find out their needs, and design a house based on that.”

Students from grades nine through 12 in the Intro to Engineering and Design, Principles of Engineering, and Civil Engineering and Architecture classes took part in the field trip.

“One of the things that I love about this course is that it’s so easy to walk out of class and see things we’re talking about in real life,” Phillips said. “One of the things we talk about With appliances still in boxes in the kitchen, students learn about the types of winin all our classes is that Tom Bentley poses for the camera in a hovering drone. dows in Bentley communities. everything was designed

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CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019

Avon Grove reviews student-achievement data Overall, the district is seeing good progress on testing that measures student-achievement

By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer The Avon Grove School Board’s Jan. 24 meeting was highlighted by a report about the school district’s student-achievement data for the 2017-2018 school year. Dr. Michael Snopkowski, the director of teaching and learning for secondary schools, and Dr. Nicole Harvey, the director of teaching and learning for elementary schools, led the presentation.

Snopkowski highlighted a series of graphs that illustrated studentperformance data on a variety of standardized tests, including PSSA test scores from 2015 to 2018.

He explained that some of the data that is collected tracks how one group of students–such as eighth graders–performed on the same test in successive years. In this scenario, the group of eighth-graders taking a PSSA math test one year would not be the same group of eighth-graders taking the test the next year, so comparing those results doesn’t necessarily provide any insights into whether student-achievement is increasing from one year to the next. The state also tracks cohort scores, which looks at the same group of students and how they performed on standardized tests from one year to the next. These cohort scores are useful in showing how the students’ performances on tests are increasing or decreasing from year to

year.

Snopkowski said that the data indicates that Avon Grove’s math scores are trending in the right direction, especially when compared to the data for all the schools across the state. Avon Grove students demonstrated growth in PSSA scores in math, while across the state scores declined. Avon Grove’s scores of first-time test performances on the Algebra 1 Keystone Exams improved by 13 percentage points over four years.

Snopkowski said that there would be a continued focus on strategic goals in math, including providing differentiated and smallgroup support for math students who need it.

The district also plans to increase the use of available tools to create authentic learning experiences through makerspaces. There will also be a curriculum review to strengthen vertical articulation.

Harvey then reviewed some of the ELA and science test results. Overall, the school district’s students are very comparable to the state averages in these areas.

There are some bright spots: For example, the ELA data for grades 5 to 8 indicates that the cohort scores have improved each successive year over the last four years, which shows that the students are demonstrating growth in the content areas.

Grade 4 and grade 8 students reached the highest scores in the last four years during 2017-2018. Avon Grove

High School’s performance on literature exams also reached a four-year high.

Snopkowski reviewed the School Performance Profile of the district’s schools, comparing the results for 2017-2018 with the results for 2016-2017. Snopkowski explained that the Avon Grove High School’s School Performance Profile number, which takes into account the results of various tests, increased from 74.7 to 84.1 from one year to the next. The Fred S. Engel Middle School’s School Performance Profile number increased from 71.7 to 82. At Avon Grove Intermediate School, the School Performance Profile number increased from 78.3 to 82.2. The number for Penn London Elementary declined from 77.4 to 65, but Snopkowski noted that Penn London Elementary’s scores factor in how students perform on tests when they move on to the intermediate school.

Superintendent Christopher Marchese said that the studentachievement data shows that the school district is making good gains when it comes to academic achievement.

He said that a focus on curriculum development and professional development for teachers are largely responsible for the gains.

The district has also invested heavily in technology and some academic initiatives aimed at improving classroom performance in the last few years.

“We are growing at a very

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high rate, unlike what we were doing a few years ago,” said Marchese.

The school board spent a considerable amount of time debating the necessity for and the merits of a resolution pertaining to this year’s budget process. This resolution would attempt to improve this process by establishing several committee-of-the-whole meetings where budget information would be shared by the administration and then discussed by school board members.

The resolution also aimed to clarify the guidelines for school board members to request information about the budget. Last year, some of the requests for information took up a lot of time from administrators, especially when requests came in from different school board members.

Speaking in favor of the resolution, board vice president Bill Wood emphasized that all board members would be able to have any of their questions answered during the budget process, and there would be ample opportunities for the board members to offer input about the budget.

The goal, Wood said at one point, is to provide administrators with clear direction. He added that the resolution was an attempt by the administration and the board’s leadership to address some concerns that a minority of the board had raised.

Supporting Wood’s comments, school board

president Tracy Lisi said that the resolution was not meant to limit any questions from board members, but rather to get the school board members aligned on the budget process.

This board is divided on many issues, and this resolution was no exception.

School board members Charles Beatty III, John Auerbach, and Rick Dumont all said that the resolution is unnecessary, and it might be better to pass a resolution about the budgeting process after passing a budget again–that way the board members could see what they might want to change.

They did not like the idea of potentially restricting their options as the budget was being developed, despite the assurances from Lisi and Wood that nothing in the resolution would do that.

A lengthy discussion ensued, and after some language was added to the resolution, six of the seven board members present voted in favor of it.

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During the first presentation of the meeting, smartphones were held aloft throughout the room as parents recorded a short performance by a group of second grade singers from the Penn London Elementary School. The singers will be performing at the April 24 Wilmington Blue Rocks baseball game.

Avon Grove is hoping to fill the stadium that night to support the young performers. The game begins at 6:30 p.m.

The Avon Grove School Board will take part in the next committee-of-thewhole meeting at 6:30 p.m.

On Feb. 19. The meeting will be held at the Avon Grove Intermediate School audion. The next regular meeting will take place on Thursday, Feb. 28. The meeting will also take place at 6:30 p.m. in the Avon Grove Intermediate School audion.

To contact Staff Writer Steven Hoffman, email editor@chestercounty.com.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

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Kennett Square Borough Council discusses possible zoning amendments related to two different projects Both projects are still very early in the planning process

By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer At the meeting on Jan. 22, Kennett Square Borough Council gave approval to two motions that could set the stage for amendments to the borough’s zoning regulations as two different projects move through the planning process.

StanAb, LP., a West Chester-based real estate development company, first approached Kennett Square Borough officials in 2015 about a project to build luxury apartments in the 600 block of West State Street in 2015. Now, the developer has petitioned to have the borough amend its zoning regulations.

There is a possibility that the amendments will include an overlay to the C-2 District.

Borough council also

discussed a petition to amend zoning ordinances as a private alternative school looks to open at 620 South Union Street. In this case, the zoning ordinance would need to be amended to add a specific definition of a private, alternative school. The proposed White Clay School would provide educational programming for children with special needs.

Enrollment would be limited to no more than 50 students.

Borough officials seemed to be receptive to the idea of such a school at 620 South Union Street–the proposed location is across the street from Kennett High School. If the ordinances were amended, the private, alternative school would be permitted by right in that part of the C-2 District.

Borough manager Joseph Scalise noted that both

projects are still very early in the land-planning process, and would still have to follow all the normal steps to reach the final land-development stage.

Borough council approved both motions unanimously.

In his Public Safety report, Mayor Matthew Fetick informed borough council and residents that the new pedestrian crosswalk that was set up on State Street near the Friends Home in Kennett is not meeting the expectations for traffic-calming that had been hoped for. Officials are now looking at other alternatives, Fetick said.

The mayor also talked about the Kennett Regional Fire and EMS Commission’s work studying fire and EMS services in the region. The mayor noted that the effort to consolidate fire and EMS

services is currently on hold, and local officials are working on scheduling a town hall meeting so that residents could ask questions and share their opinions about fire and EMS services in the region.

“We’re hoping to do that in early February,” Fetick explained.

Kennett Square Borough Police Chief William Holdsworth and Mayor Fetick talked about the impact that the opioid crisis is having on the borough and its residents.

Communities large and small are dealing with the epidemic.

Holdsworth explained that while drugs, and the crimes that inevitably go with them, hit communities everywhere, Kennett Square has been fortunate to have a few years where there were no overdose deaths.

In the last year, however, three people have died from overdoses in Kennett Square, and three other people were saved when Narcan was used.

Fetick, himself a longtime trained EMT, said that across the county, there are between 12 and 36 overdose dispatches on some days. He knows EMTs who are responding to overdoses on a regular basis when they used to respond to them only occasionally.

The severity of the epidemic, Fetick said, is unbelievable.

The Kennett Square Police Department is doing everything it can to control the drug epidemic. When borough council member Peter Waterkotte asked what residents could do to assist in the effort, Holdsworth said that it’s always important

for people to report it to the police if they see something suspicious.

Borough council approved the Special Event Application for Winterfest, which is coming up on Saturday, Feb. 23. This is the 7th annual Winterfest, and the event ranks as the second-largest fundraiser for Historic Kennett Square. Winterfest features more than 60 unique craft breweries, food trucks, merchandise vendors, live bands, and more. It runs from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Borough council held an executive session before the start of the meeting to discuss the borough’s collectivebargaining agreement with the police department.

To contact Staff Writer Steven Hoffman, email editor@chestercounty.com.

Chester County Commissioners appoint Brianne Zanin as Director of Open Space Preservation

Courtesy photo

Brianne Zanin has been appointed as the Director of Chester County’s Department of Open Space Preservation.

Chester County Commissioners Michelle Kichline, Kathi Cozzone and Terence Farrell recently announced the appointment of Brianne Zanin as Director of Chester County’s Department of Open Space Preservation.

Zanin, 34, moves to this new role following six years as Deputy Director of the County of Maui Department of Parks and Recreation.

As Director of Open Space Preservation for Chester County, Brianne will lead the department in the strategic effort to preserve agricultural

land, municipal parks, trails, greenways, and other land preservation projects. During her time with the County of Maui Department of Parks and Recreation, Brianne was responsible for 142 county parks spanning more than 2,500 acres, a $30 million annual operating budget and $12-$40 million capital budget, and overseeing the performance management of more than 275 full-time and 400 part-time employees.

Commenting on the appointment, Chester County Commissioners Michelle

Kichline, Kathi Cozzone and Terence Farrell said, “Brianne’s experience with the County of Maui includes the development of the first strategic plan for the department of Parks and Recreation, as well as the creation of a master plan that provided immediate-tolong term direction for the department.

“This understanding and knowledge is vital to the role of Director of Open Space Preservation and we are confident that Brianne will guide the department – and the county – as it seeks to reach the

goal of preserving 30 percent of Chester County’s land by the end of this year.”

Zanin takes over the leadership role from Bill Gladden who was named Executive Director of French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust in August.

“We thank Geoff Shellington, Agricultural Programs Coordinator, for stepping in and leading the Department of Open Space Preservation as interim director since last August,” added the Commissioners.

Zanin is originally from

Idaho and grew up in the northcentral panhandle in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. She worked for the County of Maui for eight years before relocating to the Southeast PA region.

Zanin holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sport Management from Missouri Baptist University and is a graduate of the National Recreation & Parks Director’s School. She is a member of the National Association of Counties, the National Recreation and Parks Association and the International City/County Management Association.

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Chester County Press

Local News Bentley...

Continued from Page 1A

technology that is used to survey construction sites.

Flying a drone cuts days or weeks off of the sketch plan process, and the imaging can produce three-dimensional renderings of a site, giving developers, township officials and future residents a clear idea of what a finished community will look like.

Bentley, looking carefully at the drones on the kitchen counter, said, “When drones first came out, I thought they were interesting, but now they have so many applications. … When I buy a

U-CF...

Continued from Page 1A

Former board member Holly Manzone, from Pocopson Township, brought up several health and safety concerns with synthetic fields. She said her research showed that artificial turf does not release cleats as well as natural grass, leading to more injuries. She also said the materials used contain carcinogens.

During Jan. 14 board comments, many board members requested that the residents reach out to them individually to have more thorough conversations. Board member Bob Sage publicly addressed some of the raised concerns. “We can disagree about what can be done without accusing the board and board members of bad faith in discussing these issues,” he said. “I can assure you that I am not interested in spending

site that’s raw, we can go out and fly a drone and give us an idea of what’s there – how steep the hills are, where the streams are.

We just bought a 40-acre site in Exton, and we’ve already negotiated a contract. There’s about 10 acres we just can’t use. When I bought the property, I had to offer the seller something that makes sense for me, but gives him enough money to want to sell it to me.

“We do this whole dance with the engineers and how many units we can get on a property, how much we can pay for the units, talking to my marketing people,”

Bentley said. “This kind of stuff is really important. It’s kind of like an orchestra.

Everybody’s got to be playing the same tune. We have to communicate.”

With the tour completed, and having gathered in the driveway of a home, Bentley watched the drone smoothly lift off and hover motionless at the height of the garage.

He grinned and posed for the camera, sharing the enthusiasm of the students around him.

money for the sake of spending money. I don’t come into these meetings finding a way to spend taxpayer money. I’m a taxpayer.”

Sage also commented on the health and safety aspects of artificial turf based on several studies he read.

“There’s quite a bit of a difference between something containing carcinogens and having harmful levels of carcinogens,” he said, “so let’s not jump hastily to conclusions about health hazards without looking carefully at the science.”

Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds James Whitesel was joined by Supervisor of Athletics Pat Crater for a presentation that explained the benefits of adding the double turf fields.

Crater said that with the addition of the extra fields, practices and games could be done by 6 p.m., instead of the current 9 p.m. Unlike grass, artificial fields can handle almost unlimited use. Whitesel added that

because of the high usage potential, the per-use cost of the artificial fields over a 15-year period is less, even though installation costs are higher.

The artificial turf double field, if approved, is penciled in for year four of the ten-year Long Range Facilities Plan (LRFP).

A few residents spoke at the Jan. 28 board meeting in support of the new fields.

Citing better scheduling, a flatter playing surface, and safer practice space for the marching band, they thought it was worth the nominal tax increase. If the double-turf project is approved, taxes would increase by $11 to $38 annually.

Board president Jeff Hellrung stated that borrowing for years one through three of the LRFP would be voted on during February’s board meeting. That means that a decision on the artificial turf project must be made over the next few weeks.

To contact Staff Writer John Chambless, email jchambless@chestercounty.

Photos by John Chambless com.

A space heater provided a little warmth in one of the homes under construction.

During the Jan. 28 board meeting, the board approved turf replacement of the existing artificial field after 11 years of use, phase II of the HVAC project at Hillendale Elementary, a new maintenance truck, and a chiller at Pocopson Elementary School. They also put forth for public review the proposed 2019-20 school calendar, which closes school on election day for the first time.

The board also approved giving high schoolers course options in lieu of the previously mandatory Essential Computer Applications (ECA).

Since most students are already computer savvy, they can now choose from a menu of one-semester classes that include ECA, Personal Finance, Entrepreneurship, Criminal Justice, Web Development, Python and C++ Programming.

Dave Gibbons unpacks one of the drones he uses to map Bentley sites.

Students see stonework being installed in the lower level of one of the Stonehouse homes.

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Chester County Press

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

Opinion

Freedom and Democracy Day would boost civic participation—and a boost is needed

Study forecasts a financial future of haves and have-nots for Pa. public schools

Legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House to make Election Day a federal holiday each year.

If approved, federal workers would have the day off to ensure that they have the opportunity to vote. The legislation also encourages private employers to give their workers the day off so that they can make voting a priority.

The Pew Research Center has conducted polls that show that a majority of Americans favor making Election Day a federal holiday. The concept even has bipartisan support—71 percent of Democrats and 59 percent of Republicans favor it.

Democrats have included the Election Day legislation as part of a larger anti-corruption bill, but regardless of that bill’s fate, the time has come for Election Day to be set apart from other days on the calendar. We should all cherish the opportunity to vote, the opportunity to decide who represents us in government, and the opportunity to hold those who represent us accountable.

In the past, the Election Day measure has been a part of several voting rights bills, but those bills have never been signed into law. As far back as 1998, Republican lawmakers supported the concept of declaring Election Day as Freedom and Democracy Day, and making it a federal holiday.

Freedom and Democracy Day could transform how people view voting. Declaring it a holiday could highlight the importance of civic participation in a way that few other actions could duplicate. It would be a way to celebrate and honor the democratic process, and to emphasize the importance of voting to our democracy.

In much the same way that Martin Luther King, Jr. Day has become a day of service where students are encouraged to do something for their community during the “day off” from school, Freedom and Democracy Day could become a day where students could volunteer to help get senior citizens to the polls, or help the local municipal government for a day. Adults who have the day off can spend extra time learning about the candidates and issues before heading off to the polling place.

Our democracy works best when we’re all active, engaged participants.

In 2016, a little more than 60 percent of U.S. citizens cast ballots in the presidential election. Among modern democracies, the U.S. doesn’t even crack the top 20 when it comes to turnout rates on Election Day. Low-income residents, non-white voters, and working mothers all have lower-than-average participation rates.

These are also the people who don’t have the money to ensure that their views, and their needs, will be respected by elected officials at all levels of government.

There is a real need to boost civic participation, and to encourage people to play a role in the participatory democracy. Establishing Election Day as a federal holiday would be a step toward doing that. It would also help combat the repugnant trend where some states are making it more difficult for people to vote, rather than easier. All citizens should be offended when government attempts to deny us our rights.

If Election Day does become a federal holiday, it shouldn’t be moved to a Monday to open up the opportunity for a three-day weekend. That’s not the point of this. In fact, that’s the opposite of the point. The point is to highlight the importance of voting, and to make sure that fewer of us take the right to vote for granted.

Pennsylvania’s system of public school finance is failing to reduce inequalities between almost 300 school districts that face accumulating budget cuts and local tax increases, and more than 200 districts that will have surpluses to spend on tax cuts or educational improvements, according to a five-year fiscal forecast published by Temple University’s Center on Regional Politics.The report, titled “A Tale of Haves and Have-Nots: The Financial Future of Pennsylvania’s School Districts,” is the third in a series of five-year forecasts for all 500 of the Commonwealth’s school districts published by the Temple center. The report analyzes major revenues and expenditures for individual school districts for the fiscal years 2012-13 through 201617, and uses already known factors and projected changes to estimate results for fiscal years 2017-18 through 2021-22.

Although on a statewide basis school revenues are finally catching up with expenditures in the wake of the 2008-2009 recession, the aggregate results mask continuing fiscal inequality that the current system of school finance seems incapable of reducing, according to the report. About 60 percent of districts will face accumulating budget shortfalls through fiscal year 2021-22 projected at $679 million, while 40 percent will have surpluses projected at $633 million, according to the analysis.

Small statewide surpluses of $50 million are projected for the final two years of the period – fiscal year 2020-21 and fiscal year 2021-22 -- but the number of shortfall districts, after falling from a high of 376 in fiscal year 2017-18, is projected to stabilize at 299 and 298, suggesting to the authors that without comprehensive legislative policy changes, the imbalance will persist in the years beyond the study.

The report emphasizes that the shortfall districts will not incur budget deficits, because Pennsylvania law requires districts to balance their budgets. Rather, they will have to impose program cuts or raise

taxes, principally the property tax, to forestall deficits.

“Shortfalls” are the report’s measure of fiscal stress these districts will face.

“There is a real possibility of the state being permanently divided into two groups of districts --- haves and havenots,” write the authors, Dr. William Hartman, emeritus professor of education at Penn State and a national expert on public school finance, and Dr. Tim Shrom, former business manager of the Solanco School District and now research director for the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials.

“The haves will have higher levels of expenditures, appropriate educational resources, including advanced technology, adequate levels and types of staff, and additional educational opportunities for their students. The have-nots will have lower expenditures, fewer educational resources, and limited educational opportunities for their students,” the authors write.

Furthermore, even some districts whose fiscal condition is improving may be doing so from inadequate funding levels due to cuts imposed during the 2008-09 recession or accumulating unmet capital needs, the report notes.

The report projects that for the vast majority of districts, increases in major state mandates – charter school tuition and required contributions to cover the unfunded liability of the school pension system – will outrun new state revenues from Basic Education and Special Education Subsidies by $558 million.

The combined shortfall in major state subsidies will have to be covered by budget and program cuts or local tax increases, primarily in the property tax.

The report projects that for the period 2017-18 through 2021-22 major revenues are expected to grow by 14 percent or by $3.48 billion: • Local revenues will grow by 17 percent (2.74 percent a year) or by $2.82 billion, most likely through property tax increases; • The state’s Basic Education Funding subsidy will grow by 10 percent (2 percent a year) or by $573.9

million; • The state’s Special Education Funding subsidy will grow by 10 percent (2 percent a year) or by $93.2 million; • Federal revenues will be flat (0 percent annual growth).

Over the same five-year period, major expenditures are expected to grow by 15 percent to $3.53 billion: • School district salaries will grow by 11 percent (2.1 percent a year) or by $1.25 billion; • Local pension contributions will increase by 38 percent (official rates) or by $558.9 million; • Charter school tuition will increase by 40 percent (7 percent a year) or by $666.2 million; and • The net of all other expenses will increase by 10 percent (2.04 percent a year) or by $603.2 million.

The increase in state-mandated charter school tuition alone ($666.2 million) is projected to almost equal to the increase in the combined Basic Education and Special Education Subsidies ($667.2 million).

The report includes sensitivity analyses to measure the impact that a 1 percent increase and a 1 percent decrease in major revenues and expenditures would have on results. A 1 percent increase in the Basic Education Funding subsidy would reduce the number of shortfall districts by 39, for example, leaving 259 districts still facing shortfalls in fiscal year 2021-22. A 1 percent decrease in the subsidy would increase shortfall districts by 29, to 327 in fiscal year 2021-22. The authors argue that while increased state subsidies will be beneficial, only a comprehensive strategy to address structural deficits in public school finance can hope to reduce fiscal inequality by significant amounts.

In a table titled “The Top Runs Away from the Bottom,” the report uses two hypothetical districts with equal beginning expenditures of $50 million to illustrate how small but persistent changes in revenues and expenditures

can aggravate fiscal inequality by a significant amount.

If over five years, one district experiences 1 percent surpluses each year and the other district experiences 1 percent shortfalls each year, the gap in resources between the two will grow to more than $5 million, or more than 10 percent of their beginning budgets, by the end of the period.

Simultaneously with the publication of the report, Temple’s Center on Regional Politics has posted on its website (www. cla.temple.edu/ center-on-regional-politics/ pa-school-districts-financialfuture-2019/) maps that allow users to view for individual school districts five-year projections of shortfalls and surpluses and five-year comparisons of major subsidy increases and major mandate increases. Shortfall districts are shown in red and surplus districts in black. Users also have the option of viewing the results by legislative districts.

The report includes definitions of the components of major revenues and expenditures, explanations of the assumptions used to project increases in revenues and expenditures, and an appendix that analyzes the school districts’ unassigned fund balances. Although sometimes criticized as excessive, the authors argue that the balances are, on a statewide basis, barely adequate to cover their routine cash flow needs, risks of economic downturns, potential emergencies, and possible state funding cuts or delays and therefore not available to significantly alter the report’s major conclusions.

The Temple Center on Regional Politics has also published reports on public school fund balances, a RAND Corporation study estimating the economic costs of achievement gaps in Pennsylvania’s public schools, a 50-state survey of hold-harmless funding policies and reforms, an analyses of tax capacity and stability of revenue options to fund schools, and several reports on ways to reform and fund public pensions.

What great legislators have in common

By Lee H. Hamilton Each of the great politicians and legislators I’ve known over the course of my career in Congress was very different. They were masters of the rules, or unassailably knowledgeable about a given issue, or supremely watchable orators, or consummate students of people. But they also shared key traits that I wish more elected officials

possessed.

For starters, the great politicians I’ve met enjoyed the game, and they worked on the skills needed to play it well. They were adept both as politicians and as legislators — which is not as common as you might imagine. They were good speakers and adroit persuaders, whether on the floor of the Congress, addressing a convention of thousands, or sitting in a sup-

porter’s living room with a dozen strangers.

The men and women I most admired embraced a life in politics because they believed they could make a difference.

They had confidence in themselves, their ideas, and their ability to find their way out of tough spots. They were not dismayed by the give and take of politics — if anything, they relished it. They might have faced heavy criticism for a political stance or legislative maneuver, but they were never defeated by that.

And they could master legislative detail. This may be hard to see from afar, but serious legislating requires mind-numbing work — sitting alertly through hours of expert testimony; digesting the reports of committees and subcommittees; thinking through how even small word changes can affect the course of legislation or the impact of a law; and going through the intense editing process known as legislative “markup.”

Effective legislators not only don’t mind this, they

see it as an opportunity to put their imprint on the law.

As I think back on men like Tip O’Neill or John Anderson or Mike Mansfield, and on women like Edith Green and Lindy Boggs, I’m struck by their sense of obligation to the country and their palpable commitment to doing the right thing.

They worked long, almost inhuman hours, and sometimes they made mistakes, but they were never bowled over by them — they believed they were helping to push the country forward, and that was a powerful motivator to stay in the fight.

Many of the strongest political leaders I met over the years had a passion for leadership. This may seem obvious, but think about it: there are 435 members of the House and 100 senators, and simply by virtue of being there they’ve exercised leadership in one form or another.

So the people who in turn rose to the top of those ranks had something extra: they wanted to be leaders of the leaders.

And not just in Congress.

Their attitude toward the presidents they served with was interesting. They obviously had areas of agreement and disagreement on policy, but underlying those were two key themes: they had a deep respect for the office of the presidency, and they insisted that the president display equal respect for the Congress.

If a president in some way showed disregard or disdain for Congress as an institution, that was a serious mistake, because people like O’Neill and Mansfield took the idea of a co-equal branch of government seriously.

They applied the same sensibility to their colleagues.

They were serious about strengthening the institution from the inside. They recognized that their work could only be completed if the institution was shored up and reformed in a way that gave it the strength to push its goals forward.

They sought to build its capabilities — for research and analysis, for oversight,

and for all the capabilities a branch of government charged with making policy might need.When he first arrived in what he called the “President’s house” — the first president to do so — John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail to let her know he had arrived and that “The Building is in a State to be habitable.” And then he appended this: “May none but honest and wise Men ever rule under this roof.”

Forgiving him his assumption about a president’s gender, isn’t that the hope we all have to possess as citizens? That our political leaders are ever honest and wise? I certainly do.

Lee Hamilton is a Senior Advisor for the Indiana University Center on Representative Government; a Distinguished Scholar of the IU Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies; and a Professor of Practice, IU School of Public and Environmental Affairs.

He was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years.

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CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019

Major Leaguer shares the power of his faith at Willowdale Chapel

By Meredith Haas Contributing Writer In the teal-lit room in the Willowdale Chapel on Jan. 26, the testimonies of three Fellow Christian Athlete members echoed throughout the otherwise silent space.

The “Fields of Faith Night” at the church focused on the topic of “Anchored: How do we root our identity in Christ in a performancebased society?” Speakers included Joey Wendle, an Avon Grove and West Chester University graduate and current second baseman for the Tampa Bay Rays; Sam Woodworth, the threetime national champion soccer player and coach; and Sam’s wife Claire, a former all-American lacrosse player.

Clutching his bible as he walked on the stage, Wendle said that when he consults the book, it reminds him that his roots are in Christ.

“If you’re a Christian first, not an athlete, your hope is in something that is eternal,

not fleeting,” Wendle said.

“Staying consistent in my faith is what helps keep me rooted in Christ.”

Wendle shared how God has carried him throughout his baseball career.

“What my identity is rooted in is always changing too,” he said. “Right now I’m not a baseball player, but a stay-at-home dad.

When the season comes, I know I will be putting in a lot of work and hours into my baseball. The main thing is, I am always going to come back to the gospel.”

Not only does Wendle find solace in his faith, but also from his supportive family and Fellow Christian Athletes, as well. He said that he would not have accomplished the feat of rising to the level of a Major League baseball player without their support. Richard Rush, Fellow Christian Athletes contributor and friend of the Wendle family since 1999, said that Wendle and his two brothers epitomized

what the student-athlete is supposed to be when they were playing sports at Avon Grove, “but Joey always stood out,” Rush said. “He was and is the real deal.”

Throughout the evening, Wendle provided the answers sought out by each young athlete who gazed up at the self-proclaimed “everyday person.”

“I think it is important for me to step back and look at my end game,” he said. “Ultimately, it’s the impact through Christ, not who I am on my own. Team moments, like a collective big win, have been the most fun.”

During an autograph session after the event, Wendle was asked about how he requests the Lord’s presence as he prepares for an upcoming season.

“Sometimes I just sit and say, ‘Hey Lord, did you hear my prayer?’” he said. “That has gotten me through a lot.”

Sam Woodworth reminded the audience that

Photos by Meredith Haas

Avon Grove High School graduate and currrent Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Joey Wendle, left, was a featured speaker at the “Fields of Faith Night” at the Willowdale Chapel on Jan. 26. Speakers also included athletes Sam and Claire Woodworth.

they are their own puzzle pieces and should never shave their edges in an effort to fit in.

“Our end game is not winning,” he said. “At the end of the day we don’t need the win. Our identity is in Christ, and no result can take that place.”

“Identity changes with

every season. My identity has to be in something that sticks.” Claire Woodworth explained. “Now I am a nurse and a wife, but my identity is not fully in those either, but in Christ and my faith.”

Since 1954, Fellowship of Christian Athletes has been challenging coaches and

athletes on the professional, college, high school, junior high and youth levels to use the powerful medium of athletics to impact the world for Jesus Christ.

FCA focuses on serving local communities by equipping, empowering and encouraging people to make a difference for Christ.

Wendle 4th in voting for A.L. Rookie of Year

The event was sponsored in conjunction with the Chester County Chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Following the presentation, Wendle spoke to several local student-athletes.

Former Avon Grove and West Chester University baseball standout Joe Wendle recently finished fourth in the voting for American League Rookie of the Year, following a superb first year as the starting second baseman of the Tampa Bay Rays.

Wendle ended his breakout season leading all rookies in batting average (.300), on-base percentage (.350), and triples (6), as well as placing second in hits (146), doubles (33), and runs (62). Acquired in a Dec. 11, 2017 trade with the Oakland Athletics, Wendle was the first Rays player since 2011 to hit .300, and the first rookie to ever reach

Courtesy photo

Joe Wendle of the Tampa Bay Rays.

that mark. At the conclusion of the season, Wendle was unanimously chosen as the Rays Outstanding Rookie award for the 2018 season, and in a ranking of top ten players by position, MLB Network ranked Wendle the seventh-best second baseman

in the Major Leagues.

Wendle was also awarded the Rays Heart & Hustle award, which is given to those who “demonstrate a passion for the game of baseball and best embody the values, spirit and traditions of the game.”

Kennett Square Borough becomes classroom for Penn students

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

Students from the Master’s in City Planning program at the University of Pennsylvania attended the Special Meeting of the Kennett Borough Council on Joint Economic Development on Jan. 28, as part of a project that will partner these students with the borough through their spring semester.

As part of their involvement with the borough, the students will attend workshops, conduct studies and make recommendations for economic strategies, in order to gain practical experience in working with cities, towns and municipalities.

Once completed, the students will make a presentation of their findings in the borough to their fellow students, their professors and elected officials from the borough, at the University of Pennsylvania in May. The students are expected to conduct a snapshot analysis of the borough from components

Photo by Richard L. Gaw

Students from the Master’s in City Planning program at the University of Pennsylvania attended the Special Meeting of the Kennett Borough Council on Joint Economic Development on Jan. 28.

as far ranging as demographics, economic data and environmental analysis.

Offered by PennDesign, The Department of City & Regional Planning’s twoyear, 19 credit-unit Master of City Planning program prepares its students for careers in city planning, with special focus on finding practical solutions to problems of climate change and environmental degradation; managing the continuing migration to cities; protecting vulnerable communities from the effects of the

financial meltdown; and turning sustainability and resiliency from buzzwords into best practices.

All students in the Master’s program must complete one of six concentrations (Community and Economic Development, Land Use and Environmental Planning, Public-Private Development, Smart Cities, Sustainable Transportation and Infrastructure Planning, or Urban Design), as well as complete a summer internship between their first and second years.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

9A

Hope Dealer: A Student’s Journey from Homelessness and Addiction to College and Advocacy

By Michelle Tooker Dumpster diving, panhandling and drinking were once everyday activities for Frederick Shegog. In his early twenties, he entered a spiral of addiction that pulled him away from his childhood dreams.

Despite a decade of alcohol abuse and time spent homeless, Shegog was able to transform himself into an honors student at Delaware County Community College in just two years.

Now, as a motivational speaker, he is on a mission to help others combat substance use disorder and to change the way colleges serve students in recovery.

Shegog, an affable Communication Arts major who goes by Freddy, is a well-known face around the Marple Campus. Spend time with him, and you will soon witness a stream of students, faculty and staff stopping him for a hug or to share a laugh.

He says he learned the art of conversation while homeless, when relying on strangers was vital to survival. As quick as he is to tell a joke, Shegog is also open and honest about his struggles.

Growing up, Shegog was exposed to the realities of substance use disorder, with addiction running on both sides of his family. When he was ten, his mother attained sobriety and later started a career in the recovery field. Through her, Shegog acquired a wealth of information about r e c ove r y resources, including Alcoholics Anonymous.

This helped him know where to turn when his own substance use disorder took him to his lowest point: begging in Philadelphia outside the Ritz-Carlton and eating doughnuts from a discarded box he had found in a dumpster.

Shegog understands, however, that others are not as equipped to find help, which is where collegiate recovery programs (CRPs) come in.

Institutionally sanctioned and supported, CRPs provide a variety of resources to students in recovery or those dealing with substance use disorder.

The Association of Recovery in Higher Education estimates that approximately one in five young adults between the ages of 18 to 21 meet the criteria for substance use disorders, putting colleges at the forefront of an issue that claims nearly 200 lives per day (according to an August 2018 report from the National Institute on Drug Abuse).

“As a 36-year-old student in recovery, I see a need for CRPs at all schools,” Shegog says, “but especially at the community college level, where there are many students like me, who are getting back on track after experiencing addiction.” He adds that CRPs are essential

because they provide resources to students and shift the stigma surrounding addiction.

While limited resources can hinder institutions from implementing a CRP, being mindful of the unique needs of individuals in recovery is an important first step.

At the College, students like Shegog have access to personal counseling and assistance f inding additional resources.

“The Career and Counseling Center maintains a comprehensive referral file which can assist the student in finding an inpatient or outpatient treatment program, a therapist or an Alcoholics or Narcotics Anonymous program,” says Christine Doyle, Assistant Professor and Counselor. “Creating a network of support for the student is essential to his or her success and the Career and Counseling Center helps to build the foundation necessary for growth and healing.”

At the College and beyond, Shegog is doing his part to address substance use disorder through his motivational-speaking organization The Message. “When I first got clean, I had to ask myself: Is it good enough to be sober or do I want to make a difference in the world?”

Through his company, he inspires, educates and helps create healthy lifestyles for all. “I sell hope for a living,” he adds, smiling when he describes a recent gift from his daughter: a bracelet inscribed with the words “hope dealer”.

His unwavering dedication to spreading hope has already taken him places he could not have imagined while homeless and in-and-out of treatment programs. In October, he was the only student speaker to present at the Pennsylvania Black Conference on Higher

Courtesy photo

Frederick Shegog

Education’s annual Student Leadership Development Institute, and in February, he is slated to speak at Clarion University. An assignment he wrote for English class, titled “Resources for Students in Recovery Should Be as Common as the Bookstore,” was published in The Philadelphia Inquirer in August. And recently, Gary Tennis, President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Alliance for Model State Drug Laws, personally tapped Shegog to assist with the Model State Collegiate Recovery Act. While all of these achievements could make one lose sight of his roots, Shegog remains humble and gracious. “My success in recovery is only possible because of the support that was available to me through the help of many people, some of whom I met at Delaware County Community College.”

Shegog enrolled at Delaware County Community College in the fall of 2017 because he knew community

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colleges offer a variety of educational support services. Through Act 101 and the Keystone Education Yields Success programs, he found his footing and was introduced to a few of the people he credits most with his success: counselor Rose Kurtz; Dr. Kendrick Mickens, Director of First Year Experiences; and Erica Reeves, Retention Specialist.

“The personal connections I’ve made with faculty

and staff have changed my life personally and academically,” he says.

In college, Shegog has flourished. He maintains a 3.5 GPA, earned several scholarships and was recently inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa honor society. In November, he received a scholarship from The Ammon Foundation and membership in their Recovery Scholars Program. The award letter commended his “extraordinary example

of leadership, hope and recovery.”

When asked about his future, Shegog describes even bigger plans. He wants to earn a doctorate in communication studies so he can expand his business and affect policy changes for students in recovery. “I hope that one day soon, students will not have to fight for addiction and recovery services,” he says, “but that they will be as common as finding the bookstore.”

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CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019

Section

B

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019

The one-armed juggler: Spin Doctors frontman to play Kennett Flash Feb. 9

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer Chris Barron of the Spin Doctors is speaking by phone while waiting in a taxi line in Bath, England, and the reception keeps floating in and out like a musical experimentation. It’s a nasty connection, and Barron apologizes for it.

Barron is in the middle of a solo tour in support of his latest album, Angels and One-Armed Jugglers, and in three days, he will be back in New York City to celebrate his 51st birthday near his home on the Upper West Side.

It’s a magical title for an album, and appropriate for the carnival-like narrative of Barron’s work as a lyricist and songwriter.

He has been to the very

top of the pop music food chain, and now he’s on the road, on temporary leave from the band that he helped make famous.

For Barron, who will be appearing at the Kennett Flash on Feb. 9, this tour is the latest in a 30-year musical career that began when he was a New Jersey teenager in the late 1980s, at which time he wrote the two anthems that would soon launch Spin Doctors -- “Two Princes” and “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong.”

Almost four decades later, band’s blend of irreverence and wordy pungency hangs over Angels and One-Armed Jugglers. In a cynical era of songwriting by committee, Barron’s songs are lyrical rulebreakers that pay homage to several musical genres. The

Courtesy Photo

Barron is touring in support of his 2017 solo album.

Photo by Jesse Ditmar

Spin Doctors frontman Chris Barron will be performing at the Kennett Flash on Feb. 9.

album ranges from old jazz standards to funky beer-hall folk tunes.

“For me, [making this album] was very instinctual, and it allowed me to feel my way through the process,” Barron said.

“This album is not a genre calculation of how the songs go together, but because they were all produced at about the same time at the same session, they tended to fall together.

“I’ve never really been that interested in genres. I’m just interested in songs. I think the reason it’s so eclectic is because the songs were chosen more thematically than based on genre.”

If audiences on Barron’s current tour

are detecting a hint of fatalism in Angels and One-Armed Jugglers, their suspicions are correct, he said.

“I guess this record is like the tray of oysters on a side table of the soiree they throw the evening before the comet hits the earth,” Barron said. “It’s about the cocktail party at the apocalypse, the decline of the American empire and just a bunch of lemmings in neckties going over the edge.

But it’s very personal, too, and there’s a lot of my own sadness in there. Anybody can see the world is a deeply unfair place. It’s the responsibility of the artist to give some kind of consolation.”

If there is a pot of

gold at the end of the musical rainbow for audiences who see Barron promote Angels and One-Armed Jugglers live, it’s seeing the evolution of the artist at a captured moment, made so by the side of the artist that no one sees.

“A lot of people who don’t do this for a living have the perception that the major part of a musician’s life is in the playing and performing,” he said.

“But, just like an athlete, most of the work is being done in the many hours behind the scenes that no one ever watches. For every hour I’m on a stage, there’s thousands of hours of practicing and thinking and writing. I

love that part of the job, and that’s most of job.

“The people who are really successful embrace that, and as time goes on, that part gets sexier and sexier.”

Chris Barron of the Spin Doctors will be performing at the Kennett Flash on Feb. 9. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. The evening will also feature a performance by local singer-songwriter William Rose. Tickets are $20 to $25, and are available at 484-7328295, or by visiting www.kennettflash.org.

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

A salute to good times at Square Pear Gallery

By John Chambless Staff Writer This month’s show at the Square Pear Fine Art Gallery in Kennett Square is titled “Food, Wine and Good Times,” so it encompasses several artists you’ll know – and a few you might not – all focusing on the celebratory theme in one way or another.

In the front room of the gallery are works by local art star Jeff Schaller, whose large, pop-art style paintings are always delightful. There’s nothing but highlights, from the monumental “Cheer” – a dazzling cocktail, end-ofProhibition photo and the detergent logo – to the slinky, sophisticated “Cocktail,” which uses black-on-black to its sexy, stylish best.

Michael Buszco’s watercolors capture the gleam of glassware in several still lifes, but Kyle Whary’s acrylics of cocktail glasses and bottles are little symphonies of reflected light and colors. “Double Your Pleasure” is a seductive pair of martinis in amber light, and “Ode to Joy,” the largest piece, brings together a rainbow of liquids, bottles and glasses in a supreme challenge for any artist.

Kim Hoescht’s indoor/ outdoor oils have a lovely, contrasting light and sumptuous colors. “Table for Two” is a composition of diners at a distant table, seen through a doorway in a slanting afternoon light.

Brad Earl’s two sun-

warmed restaurant exteriors are elegant and fun, with sharp contrasts and finely observed architectural details.

Dane Tilghman’s stylized, nostalgic paintings have a distinctive spirit, and his huge “The Neighbors Next Door” is a sweely nostalgic grouping of people that’s painted in dazzling colors.

And speaking of colors, Al Moretti has a wall of musician portraits that sizzle with all the energy of a live performance. The abstracted backgrounds and pushed-tothe-limit palette make a very impressive grouping. His “Miles,” a portrait of jazz great Miles Davis, gets the artist’s introspective gaze and personal intensity just right.

Square Pear Fine Art Gallery (200 E. State St., Kennett Square) is open Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call 484-883-5429 for more information.

To contact Staff Writer John Chambless, email jchambless@chestercounty. com.

‘Double Your Pleasure’ by Kyle Whary.

‘Cheer’ by Jeff Schaller.

‘Stella’s’ by Brad Earl.

‘Street Talk’ by Dane Tilghman.

‘Table For Two’ by Kim Hoescht.

2B

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019

HARVEY R. DUNCAN

ADAM MILLER

BERTIE CAMPBELL

Harvey R. Duncan, 82, of Little Britain, passed away on Jan. 17.

Born in Lombard, Md., he was the son of the late John Charles, Sr., and Cynthia Eudora (Ray) Duncan.

Harvey attended school in the Oxford School District. He then went on to be employed in the construction industry as a heavy equipment operator, working for J.D. Eckman in his early years, and then for James Julian Construction, retiring with 33 years of service. Harvey was a proud veteran, having served his country in the U.S. Army from 1955 to 1958. A very kind and generous man, Harvey was known for purchasing vegetables and giving them to his family and friends. He loved to travel, especially out West, and he visited every state except for Hawaii. One of his hobbies was family genealogy, and he spent a lot of time studying his family tree. Harvey was also an avid reader and a history buff, concentrating on the history of Southeastern Pennsylvania, and he read extensively on this subject. Harvey was a family man, and he loved his family very much.

Harvey is survived by his daughters, Cynthia McFarland and husband David of Jacksonville, Fla., and Lisa May and husband Joseph of Nottingham; a sister, Jean Yvonne Swisher of Peach Bottom; three grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. In additional to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, John Charles Duncan, Jr.; sisters, Margaret Elizabeth Richardson and Betty Lou Duncan; and a nephew, Joseph Greer.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Feb. 16 at Nottingham Presbyterian Church (497 West Christine Road, Nottingham), with a time of visitation with the family from 10 to 11 a.m. Interment will be private in Airville United Presbyterian Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Harvey’s memory to Willow Tree Hospice, 616 East Cypress Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348. To leave an online condolence, visit www. dewalds.com.

Adam Miller, 93, of Jennersville, passed away on Jan. 28 at his residence.

He was the husband of Bessie Campbell Miller, who passed away in 2001, and with whom he shared 47 years of marriage. Born in Ashe County, N.C., he was the son of the late Jonathan Miller and the late Mandy Greer Miller. He worked at Thompson Roses for many years, retiring in 1990. He attended Safe Harbor Baptist Church in Cochranville. He was an avid walker, and enjoyed going to cookouts, the beach, muscle cars, and being with his family and friends. He was a very kind and generous gentleman and had a great sense of humor.

He is survived by step-grandchildren and nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by one stepson, Jack Thompson; two brothers, Everett Miller and Junior Miller; and two sisters, Gertrude Davis and Annie Stanley.

A funeral was held Feb. 2. Burial was in Longwood Cemetery in Kennett Square. To view his online tribute and to share a memory with his family, visit www. griecocares.com.

Bertie Campbell, 84, of Oxford, passed away on Jan. 30 at home.

She was the wife of the late L. G. Hoover Campbell, with whom she shared 61 years of marriage.

Born in West Virginia, she was the daughter of the late Willie and Lydia Brummett Smith. She was a member of Media Mennonite Church in Oxford, and a former member of Free Will Baptist Church of West Grove. Bertie enjoyed cooking, canning vegetables and gardening, and loved flowers.

She is survived by her one daughter, Norma Pierce and her husband James of Oxford; two sons, L.G. Hoover Campbell, Jr., and wife Brenda of North East, Md., and David Campbell and wife Cathy of Oxford; six grandchildren and many greatgrandchildren; four brothers, Bill Sloan, Bob Sloan, Walter Sloan and Fred Smith; and one sister, Mabel Smith Bailey. She was preceded in death by a son, Daniel Campbell.

A funeral was held Feb. 4. Interment was in Oxford Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Media Mennonite Church, 866 5th St., Oxford, PA 19363. Visit www. elcollinsfuneralhome.com.

JOACHIM H. PEHL Joachim “Joe” Hermann Pehl, of West Grove, passed peacefully at his daughter’s home on Jan. 31 at the age of 89. He was surrounded by loving family and friends.

Born in 1929 in Frankfurt-Oder, Germany, Joe was the only child of parents Hermann and Frieda Pehl. He grew up in Grünau, Germany, where as a young child he experienced the ravages of World War II. As he would do throughout his entire life, Joe did not let those experiences impede his way into a happy and successful life. It was just after the war years that he met and married Christel Stoeber who would be the undeniable love of his life. The couple immigrated to the United States with their oldest daughter, Kordula. Their youngest daughter, Doris, was born four years later. Joe was a highly accomplished chef, working for nearly 40 years as head chef at Dunwoody Home in Newtown Square. Over the years he also applied his considerable talent to many of the area’s best hotels and country clubs. Joe’s passions included camping, traveling, soccer, photography, dogs and a knack for fixing everything. He was also a savvy real estate investor and was known for his strong work ethic.

Joe is survived by two daughters, Kordula Moore (Dennis) of Georgetown, Del., and Doris Petersen (Brad) of West Grove; as well as two grandchildren and his extended Petersen family.

A visitation will be held Feb. 16 from 10 to 11 a.m. at St. Michael Lutheran Church (109 E. Doe Run Rd., Unionville). A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., with a luncheon to follow in the fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Operation Warm, P.O. Box 82231, Philadelphia, PA 19182; or www.

WillowTreeHospice.com/donate.

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GLORIA JEAN PIERCE Gloria Jean Pierce, 78, of Oxford, passed away on Jan. 31at Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia.

She was the wife of the late Wayne Turner Pierce, with whom she shared 53 years of marriage. Born in Valley Township, Chester County, she was the daughter of the late Edwin and Zilla Baker Grier. She graduated from Kutztown University with a degree in art education. Gloria Jean was a member of the Religious Society of Friends. Prior to that, she was a member of the Oxford Presbyterian Church. She was also a longtime member of the Research Club, and a den mother for the Cub Scouts Troop 213. She enjoyed arts and crafts.

She is survived by her, son, Marlin W. Pierce of Rockville, Md.; and four brothers, Carlton Grier, Lawrence Grier, Tom Grier and John Grier. She was preceded in death by a son, Carlton J. Pierce.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Feb. 9 at Vista Ridge Auditorium, Ware Presbyterian Village, 7 E. Locust St., Oxford,. Interment will be private. Visit www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.

ALFRED W. STANTON, SR. Alfred Wallace Stanton, Sr., 86, of Newark, Del., passed away on Feb. 1.

Born in Newark, he was the son of the late Joseph and Selina Simpson Stanton. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War. He was a retired mechanic and known as a general handyman around the house who loved mowing his lawn.

Survivors include his children, Alfred W. Stanton Jr., and Tina Jones (Shawn), both of Newark, Del., and Terry Acord (Ricky) of Nottingham; sister Alice Beattie (Bill) of Newark; five grandsons; and three great-grandsons. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by the love of his life, Lola G. Stanton; grandson Matthew; and siblings Joseph and Florence.

A funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Feb. 11 at Hicks Home for Funerals (103 W. Stockton St., Elkton, Md.), where visitation will begin at 1 p.m.

Interment with military honors will be in Gilpin Manor Memorial Park in Elkton. Visit www. hickshomeforfunerals.com.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

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Brandywine to spotlight American art from Scaife bequest This spring, the Brandywine River Museum of Art will present “American Beauty: Highlights from the Richard M. Scaife Bequest,” featuring the finest works from the bequest of Scaife, who left his large art collection to the Brandywine and the Westmoreland Museum of American Art following his death in 2014.

Co-organized by the Brandywine and Westmoreland, “American Beauty” features 50 paintings – a top selection of 25 from each museum’s holdings – celebrating Scaife’s passion for the traditions of American art. The exhibition will be on view March 9 through May 27 at the Brandywine.

A longtime trustee of the Brandywine, as well

as a newspaper publisher and philanthropist, Scaife was a passionate collector of American art. He bequeathed his entire art collection to the Brandywine and Westmoreland, specifying that it be divided evenly between the museums, with each taking turns to make their selection.

This exhibition provides the f irst opportunity for the public to see the finest paintings from the Scaife collection.

For the Brandywine, Scaife’s gift added significant depth to its landscape holdings, introducing works by Martin Johnson Heade, John Frederick Kensett and Albert Bierstadt, as well as American Impressionist paintings

by Theodore Robinson

and Julian Alden Weir.

“The Richard M. Scaife bequest was a watershed moment in the history of the Brandywine River Museum of Art,” said Thomas Padon, director of the museum. “The works of art selected from Mr. Scaife’s collection bolstered and broadened the Brandywine’s holdings and its connection to the American landscape tradition.”

“We are delighted to be working in partnership with the Brandywine for this exhibition,” said Anne Kraybill, director/CEO of The Westmoreland Museum of American Art. “We are very thankful that Mr. Scaife left these works in trust to our museums to preserve for future generations to enjoy.”

During his lifetime,

Albert Bierstadt, ‘Coast of California,’ oil on paper mounted to canvas.

Scaife sur rounded himself with works of art at his two homes in Pittsburgh and Ligonier, Pa., as well as those in California and Massachusetts. Examples from all four of his residences are featured in this exhibition.

Scaife believed in art’s power to enrich our existence and its ability to help us better understand the world and the issues facing us. As he wrote toward the end of his life, “Beautiful art – paintings, music, literature, whatever – can transform our moods, lighten our hearts, make us think or change our minds, inspire us to be creative or live better lives.”

For more information, call 610-388-2700 or visit brandywine.org/ museum.

Guy Pène du Bois, ‘The Appraisal,’ ca. 1946, oil on canvas.

Theodore Robinson, ‘Yacht Club Basin, Cos Cob Harbor,’ 1894, oil on wood panel.

4B

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019

Kennett wins, 58-42, behind Prestianne’s 21 points

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer On the far wall of the Kennett High School gymnasium, there is a large blue cloth banner that lists the names of every basketball player at the school who has scored more than 1,000 points in his or her Kennett career.

Each name forms a story of its own, documents a period in time and celebrates an individual achievement, and at the start of the KennettDowningtown West girl’s varsity basketball game on Jan. 31, the banner had room for one more name.

At the end of the game, there was no more room.

It was time to add “AP” to the list.

With 1:07 left in Kennett’s 58-42 victory, senior guard Andrea Prestianne drove the lane and scored what would be her 1,000th and 1,001st points of her four-year career as a Blue Demon.

After a brief time out, during which she received hugs from her parents

Michael and Maureen and her grandfather, Bob, Prestianne promptly went to the free throw line – she had been fouled during her shot – and cemented her place in Kennett basketball history.

“Andrea has worked very hard to achieve this kind of success, but the nice thing about her is that she’s a great leader, she’s skilled and she’s given so much effort,” said Kennett head coach Vince Cattano. “She is the entire package, and we’ve been very fortunate to have her here for four years.”

While the spotlight shone mostly on Prestianne, the contributions from her teammates were not lost in a victory that saw Kennett’s record improve to 13-5 overall and 7-1 in the ChesMont American Division, sharing first place with West Chester-Rustin.

When Kennett’s Ellie Matthews nailed a threepointer from the top of the key early in the first

After scoring her 1,000th point, Prestianne is embraced by her grandfather, Bob Prestianne.

Photos by Richard L. Gaw

Kennett senior Andrea Prestianne, center, celebrated with her teammates after reaching the 1,000-point career mark, during a 58-42 victory over visiting Downingtown West on Jan. 31.

quarter, it sent out a message that read, “Give Ellie the ball.” It was the first of six three-pointers she connected on in the game, on her way to a 20-point effort, which included three threes in the third quarter. In all, the Blue Demons tallied 10 three-pointers in the game.

“That’s what Ellie can do – shoot the ball,” Cattano said. “She’s a streaky shooter and once they begin to fall, several more are going to go in.

We’ve got three kids who can score the ball – AP, Ellie and Gina (Lusardi), and Maddy Fowler always seems to pitch in points, as well.”

Prestianne and Fowler also had three-pointers in the first that helped kick Kennett off to a 14-8 lead at the start of the second

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quarter, and an early three-pointer by Lusardi in the second quarter extended Kennett’s lead to nine points. Moments later, Prestianne scored on a spin layup in the lane, then stole a pass and went the length of the floor to help give her team a 25-17 lead at halftime.

The Whippets kept within striking distance of the Blue Demons, mostly on the inside shooting of center Shayla Johnson, who led her team with 16 points, including 7 points in the fourth quarter. With the loss, Downingtown West fell to 3-14 overall and 0-10 in the ChesMont American.

“It’s been a team effort, and we have surpassed all expectations,” Cattano added. “Coming into the season, so many people

Kennett point guard Gina Lusardi fights for position in the third quarter.

thought we were AP’s team, and that was it. This may still be her team, but she’s had a great cast of supporting characters.”

The Whippets traveled to West Chester East on Feb. 5 and will finish their season at home on Feb. 7 against Downingtown East.

The Blue Demons will face cross-town rival Unionville on Feb. 5, and will conclude their regular season on Feb. 7 at home against Rustin.

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rga w @ ch e s t e rc o u n t y. com.

Voted Delaware’s #1 Home Improvement Co. 7 Years In A Row!

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019

Through March 24 Orchid Extravaganza Longwood Gardens (Route 1, Kennett Square) hosts its annual Orchid Extravaganza daily through March 24.

The exhibition features thousands of rare and exotic orchids displayed throughout the Conservatory. The gardens are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Timed admission tickets are required. Tickets are $23 for adults, $20 for seniors age 60 and older, $20 for college students (ID required), $12 for ages 5 to 18, free for children under 5. Tickets and more information are available at www. longwoodgardens.org.

Feb. 7 The story behind chocolate Chocolatier Albert A. Lauber of Neuchatel Swiss Chocolates will educate the community about Fair Trade chocolate, and how to ensure that your Valentine treats and Easter goodies are not the result of modern day slavery, at the Feb. 7 meeting of ACE (Advocating, Collaborating, Educating) Anti-Human Trafficking Alliance of Oxford. Free chocolate samples will be offered, and Valentine chocolates will be for sale, in addition to Fair Trade coffee, tea and other items. The one-hour meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Oxford Public Library (48 S. Second St., Oxford). Call 610-932-0337 for more information.

Feb. 10 ‘Astral Harp’ On Feb. 10 at 3 p.m., Janet and Kevin Witman will perform “Astral Harp,” a multimedia event combining a harp concert with astrophotography. The concert will take place at Lower Brandywine Presbyterian Church (101 Old Kennett Rd., Route 52) as part of the church’s Vision 2020 Program.

Kevin Witman will illustrate the wonders of the universe using images of space, while Janet has arranged and composed harp music to enhance the experience, including “What a Wonderful World,” “Moondance” and “Stairway to Heaven.”

Admission is free, although a $5 donation per attendee is encouraged. The church is located across from Winterthur.

Feb. 14 Gal-entine’s Tea On Feb. 14 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Greenbank Mills and Philips Farm in Newport, Del., women are invited to join their friends and celebrate Valentine’s Day in a new way. Enjoy some desserts, tea and tea-cocktails at a Gal-entine’s Tea, a celebration of friendship.

The event takes place inside the historic ambiance of Greenbank Mill and tickets support the educational programs of the organization.

Tickets are $15 (includes dessert and tea); alcoholic drinks are an additional $5 each. The organization maintains several historic buildings,

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

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Thousands of orchids are in perfect bloom this month at Longwood Gardens (see listing).

including a 19th-century gristmill and textile mill and an 18th-century farmhouse. Call 302999-9001 or visit www. greenbankmill.com.

March 14 to 16 ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ Unionville High School (750 Unionville Rd., Kennett Square) presents a student production of the musical comedy “Little Shop of Horrors” on March 14, 15 and 16 at 7 p.m. Online ticket sales begin Feb. 24 at www. showtix4u.com. Tickets are $12 in advance, $14 at the door ($12 for students/seniors).

To submit items to the Calendar of Events, e-mail jchambless@ c h e s t e rc o u n t y. c o m .

There is no charge. Not every submission can be included. Items should be submitted at least two weeks before the event.

Ribbons to remember

Members of the Avon Grove Charter School Leo Club, sponsored by The Avon Grove Lions, recently made gold ribbons for Childhood Cancer Day on Feb. 15. The ribbons will be handed out to spread awareness about efforts to fight childhood cancer.

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CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019

Chester County Press

Legals

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Call for more information 610-869-5553

ESTATE NOTICE ESTATE OF Margaret Jane McMaster, late of Lower Oxford Township, Chester County, Deceased. Letters Testamentary on the estate of the above named Margaret Jane McMaster having been granted to the undersigned, all persons having claims or demands against the estate of the said decedent are requested to make known the same and all persons indebted to the said decedent to make payment without delay to: Laura Linda Lewis, Executrix, c/o Attorney: Winifred Moran Sebastian, Esquire 208 E. Locust Street, P.O. Box 381

Oxford, PA 19363 1p-23-3t

ESTATE NOTICE ESTATE OF SAMUEL H. TRACY, JR., DECEASED. Late of the Township of Londonderry, Chester County, PA., LETTERS TESTAMENTARY on the above Estate have been granted to the undersigned, who request all persons having claims or demands against the estate of the decedent to make known the same and all persons indebted to the decedent to make payment without delay to JAMES FRELIGH, EXECUTOR, c/o John F. McKenna, Esquire, 17 W. Miner St., West Chester, PA 19382, Or to his Attorney: JOHN F. McKENNA, MacELREE HARVEY, LTD., 17 W. Miner St., West Chester, PA 19382 1p-30 3t

INCORPORATION NOTICE

TrueCare Health Services, Inc. has been incorporated under the provisions of the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law of 1988. Lamb McErlane PC, 24 E. Market St. P.O. Box 565, West Chester, PA 19382 1p-30-1t

Sheriff Sale of Real Estate

IMPROVEMENTS thereon: residential dwelling

By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff Carolyn B. Welsh, 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, February 21st, 2019 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, March 25th, 2019. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedules unless exceptions are filed in the Sheriff’s Office within ten (10) days thereafter.

PLAINTIFF: Chase Home Finance LLC VS DEFENDANT: SUSAN TWADDELL

SALE NO. 19-2-75 Writ of Execution No. 2009-15026 DEBT $162,120.40

By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff Carolyn B. Welsh, 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, February 21st, 2019 at 11AM. Notice is given to all parties in interest and claimants that the Sheriff will file with the Prothonotary and in

PROPERTY situate in the Kennett Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania BLR# 62-4-124

SALE ADDRESS: 625 Rosedale Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348-2519 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. CAROLYN B. WELSH, SHERIFF 1p-30-3t

Sheriff Sale of Real Estate

the Sheriff’s Office, both located in the Chester County Justice Center, 201 W Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania, Schedules of Distribution on Monday, March 25th, 2019. 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. 19-2-83 Writ of Execution No. 2016-01815 DEBT $413,333.64 PROPERTY situate in Township of East Marlborough TAX Parcel #Tax ID/UPI Parcel No. 61-02-0070/61-2-70 IMPROVEMENTS: a residential dwelling.

PLAINTIFF: M&T Bank VS DEFENDANT: LISA M. TETI and STEVEN P. TETI SALE ADDRESS: 313 Marlborough Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348 PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: KML LAW GROUP, P.C., 215-627-1322 PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: PHELAN HALLINAN DIAMOND & JONES, LLP, 215-563-7000 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. CAROLYN B. WELSH, SHERIFF 1p-30-3t

Sheriff Sale of Real Estate

By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff Carolyn B. Welsh, 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, February 21st, 2019 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, March 25th, 2019. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedules unless exceptions are filed

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019

Chester County Press

Local News Killion calls for boost to Pennsylvania’s film and TV industry Sen. Tom Killion is calling for changes to provide a substantial boost to Pennsylvania’s film and television production industry.

Killion has introduced legislation to raise the cap on the state’s film production tax credit program from $65 million to $125 million. The program is used to attract movie and TV productions from around the country, which bolsters economic activity throughout the state.

“Our film tax credit program is incredibly successful,” said Killion.

“It’s so successful that we have many movie, TV and commercial productions interested in locating here, but we reach the cap on the tax credit shortly after it’s authorized. We’re losing countless job opportunities and tax revenue to other states that have more robust tax credit programs,” he added.

Killion noted that the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s 2017-2018 report on the film tax credit showed the remarkable impact of the program on the state.

The report highlighted that film and TV productions locating in Pennsylvania

from the program’s inception in 2007 through last year generated a staggering $4.5 billion in total economic activity and $593 million in state and local taxes.

The report also indicated that the tax credit program has supported 21,000 fulltime jobs.

In addition, the DCED report revealed that 750 applicants have applied for the program, and 478 productions have been awarded tax credits through 2018.

The tax credit program typically runs out of money by mid-year, and production companies locate their projects in other states that provide a tax credit incentive.

The production industry has long called for an increase in the film tax credit cap to allow for more film projects to participate in the program. Over the last two years alone, over 30 projects representing $400 million of investment have gone elsewhere because the cap had already been reached in the tax credit program. This number does not include productions that the state was not aware of that completely bypassed Pennsylvania after the tax credits had expired.

Killion has film and televi-

sion production facilities in his Senate district, including SunCenter Studios in Aston where last year’s “Creed II” movie was filmed.

“I have repeatedly heard that we’re losing too many important projects to other states that have a higher tax credit cap or no cap at all. These are missed economic opportunities for us,” Killion said.

“It’s important to remember that so many jobs and businesses that support film production are impacted by our tax credit. This includes design and carpentry jobs, transportation and vehicle rental businesses, wardrobe-related businesses, food and catering services, lumber suppliers used for the enormous sets that are built for productions, and the list goes on,” he added.

Killion’s legislation to raise the film tax credit cap to $125 million has been formally introduced as Senate Bill 185.

“We need to help Pennsylvania’s economy and workers by becoming more competitive with the tax credit programs in other states by raising the cap here. I’m hopeful we’ll do so during our current twoyear legislative session,” said Killion.

Legals

PLAINTIFF: U.S. Bank National Association, not in its individual capacity but solely as Trustee for the RMAC Trust, Series 2016-CTT VS DEFENDANT: FRANCIS G. MITCHELL and NINA MITCHELL

BEGINNING at a point on the southwesterly side of the cul de sac (of irregular width) at the terminus of Victorian Lane (50 feet wide private right of way), said point being a corner of Lot No. 28 on said Plan; thence extending from said point of beginning along Lot No. 28, south 54 degrees 25 minutes 45 seconds west, 230.51 feet to a point in line of lands marked Open Space on said Plan; thence extending along said lands, north 2 degrees 8 minutes 48 seconds west, 217.05 feet to a point; a corner of Lot No. 26 on said Plan; thence extending along same, south 77 degrees 11 minutes 26 seconds east, 192.33 feet to a point on the northwesterly side of the aforementioned cul de sac; thence extending southwestwardly, southwardly and southeastwardly along the northwesterly, westerly and southwesterly sides of said cul de sac along the arc of a circle curving to the left having a radius of 50.00 feet the arc distance of 42.22 feet to the first mentioned point and place of beginning.

SALE ADDRESS: 715 Clovelly Lane, Devon, PA 19333

BEING Lot 27 as shown on the above mentioned Plan.

PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: HLADIK, ONORATO & FEDERMAN, LLP, 215855-9521

UPI 72-3-88

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. CAROLYN B. WELSH, SHERIFF 1p-30-3t

BLR# 72-3-88

in the Sheriff’s Office within ten (10) days thereafter.

SALE NO. 19-2-93 Writ of Execution No. 2018-05465 DEBT $844,934.42 ALL THAT CERTAIN lot or parcel of land situated in the Township of Easttown, County of Chester, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, being more fully described in Deed dated 6/22/1984 and recorded in the Office of the Chester County Recorder of Deeds on 07/05/1984, in Deed Book Volume S63 at Page 78.

TAX Parcel No. 5505B00560000

Sheriff Sale of Real Estate

By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff Carolyn B. Welsh, 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, February 21st, 2019 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, March 25th, 2019. 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. 19-2-104 Writ of Execution No. 2014-07450 DEBT $320,459.74 Pennsylvania, bounded and described according to a Final Plan of Landenberg Highlands, drawn by Hillcrest Associates, Inc., dated June 4, 1997, and last revised November 24, 1997, and Plan recorded in Chester County as Plan No. 14334, as follows, to wit: ALL THAT CERTAIN lot or piece of ground situate in Franklin Township, Chester County,

BEING Parcel #72-03-0088

BEING the same premises which Pablo M. Demucha and Rosario Demucha, husband and wife, granted and conveyed unto Pablo M. Demucha, married, by Deed dated December 10, 2004 and recorded March 16, 2005 in Chester County Record Book 6436, Page 492 for the consideration of $1.00.

PLAINTIFF: Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas as trustee for Residential Accredit Loans, Inc., mortgage asset-backed pass-through certificates, Series 2005-QS3 VS DEFENDANT: PABLO M. DEMUCHA SALE ADDRESS: 3 Victorian Lane, Landenberg, PA 19350 PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: MARTHA E. VON ROSENSTIEL, P.C., 610328-2887 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. CAROLYN B. WELSH, SHERIFF 1p-30-3t

Sheriff Sale of Real Estate

By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff Carolyn B. Welsh, 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, February 21st, 2019 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, March 25th, 2019. 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. 19-2-105 Writ of Execution No. 2018-07408 DEBT $112,350.73 ALL THAT CERTAIN tract of land, known as Lot No. 1 situated in the Borough of Atglen, County of Chester, PA, with the dwelling erected thereon, bounded and described according to a survey made May 19, 1965 by DeArmit and Hayes, consulting engineers and surveyors, as follows: BEGINNING at an iron pin on the north right of way line of Hillcrest Drive (40 feet wide) said point being located north 82 degrees 26 minutes east 386.24 feet from the center line of Stauffer Drive as measured along the said north right of way line of Hillcrest Drive, said point also being a corner of land belonging to the grantor herein north 07 degrees 34 minutes west 99.81 feet to an iron pin in line of land belonging to Paul Hogg; thence along the same, north 82 degrees 40 minutes east 118.71 feet to a concrete monument a corner of land belonging to John Hogg; thence along the same south 08 degrees 12 minutes east 73.49 feet to a point; thence by a curve to the left having a radius of 50 feet an arc of 77.99 feet the chord thereof being 70.25 feet on a course of south 60 degrees 51 minutes 32 seconds west to a point; thence continuing along the same, south 82 degrees 26 minutes west 54.13 feet to the first mentioned point and place of beginning.

CONTAINING 10,369 square feet of land be the same more or less.

BLR# 7-5-5.5A BEING the same premises: the said Larry M. DeLia became seized of the interest deeded by Judith A. Gerry by her AIF William J. T. Getty as evidenced by document dated 5/28/2005 and recorded 6/7/2005 in the Office of the Recorder in Chester County, in Book 6512, Page 346, et c.

PLAINTIFF: Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”) VS DEFENDANT: LAWERENCE M. DELIA a/k/a LARRY M. DELIA SALE ADDRESS: 731 Hillcrest Drive, Atglen, PA 19310 PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: MARTHA E. VON ROSENSTIEL, P.C., 610328-2887 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. CAROLYN B. WELSH, SHERIFF 1p-30-3t

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

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8B

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019

Aspiring deputies showcase grit, perseverance What began as a challenging dream will culminate in an impressive accomplishment when two women join the deputy sheriffs’ roster later this month.

Chester County Sheriff Carolyn Bunny Welsh recalled the day about a year and a half ago when security officers Marjorie V. Gonzalez and Deborah A. Holmes requested a meeting with her.

“I remember being quite nervous,” Welsh said. “They had been doing such a great job as security officers, and I was afraid they were going to tell me that they had accepted another position somewhere else.”

Welsh said one of the perils of the county’s employment pay scale is that members of her office are frequently lured to higher-paying opportunities.

But Gonzalez and HoImes quickly allayed the sheriff’s fears. They explained that they had been discussing the possibility of attending Delaware County Community College’s Police Academy. If they pursued the part-time program, they could continue as security officers during the

year-long curriculum. At the end, they would graduate with Act 120 certification, which is mandated by Pennsylvania to work as a police officer.

It also represented the lone requirement preventing the two from moving up the ranks and becoming deputy sheriffs.

Gonzalez and Holmes wanted to hear Welsh’s reaction to their idea.

“I was excited and very happy for them,” Welsh said. “I gave them enthusiastic support and then watched as they went through the process.”

Gonzalez said the sheriff’s encouragement didn’t surprise her. “She has always been incredibly supportive,”Gonzalez said. What caught Gonzalez off guard was the speed with which the sheriff’s backing spread.

“She called in the chief and then the lieutenants, and all of them were just great,” Gonzalez said.

“I really wasn’t expecting that.”

Holmes said the seeds of the plan date back to March 2014 when she began working in the Sheriff’s Office. She said a longtime friend who was working as a deputy immediately suggested that she

Lincoln appoints new Director of Public Safety

Law enforcement professional Marc R. Partee has been appointed director of Lincoln University’s Department of Public Safety, effective Feb. 1.

“The Lincoln community is excited to welcome Mr. Partee to our leadership team,” said President Brenda A. Allen. “His extensive background in law enforcement is impressive as is his commitment to educating students and the public on important social justice issues.”

Throughout his career, Partee has sought to bridge the gap between academic instruction and practical application in the field of criminal justice in higher education and law enforcement environments.

“I believe that learning is symbiotic and each participant is beholden to the others participating,” Partee said.

“This exchange will make sure that all involved leave the interaction better than they were when they entered.”

Partee is 22-year veteran of the Baltimore Police Department. During his time there, Partee moved quickly through the ranks, achieving the rank of Major and commanding a number of highly productive units. Partee most recently commanded BPD’s Education and Training Division, overseeing the implementation of training for the federal consent decree entered into by the City of Baltimore and

Marc Partee took his new position at Lincoln on Feb. 1.

Department of Justice.

Since 2014, Partee has applied his education and law enforcement background in his teachings at Stevenson University in Pikesville, Md., where as an adjunct professor, he developed and taught criminal justice courses covering implicit and explicit bias, multiculturalism, and criminal profiling, among others.

A native of Baltimore, Partee obtained a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Morgan State University in Baltimore and a Master of Science in criminal justice from the University of Baltimore through Baltimore’s inaugural City Scholars’ Fellowship. Partee also received a California Peace Officer and Standards Certification through the Los Angeles Police Department and completed the Visiting Law Enforcement Fellowship at the International’s Association of Chiefs of Police.

Kennett Symphony hosts competition for young artists The Kennett Symphony of Chester County will sponsor its annual Instrumental Competition for Young Artists on April 27 at noon at the Kendal at Longwood Auditorium in Kennett Square.

The competition is limited to 20 young musicians in grades 9 to 12, each of whom will perform a classical composition or movement of a larger work for solo instrument and orchestra. The Young Artist Competitions provide a valuable performance experience for these aspiring student musicians who have achieved a high level

of proficiency.

The auditions are open to the public and are free of charge.

Each of the young musicians will be judged by a panel of professional musicians. Three prizes will be awarded -- first prize provides a $750 cash award and the opportunity for a solo performance with the Kennett Symphony, second prize is $300, and third prize is $100.

For information on how to apply, visit www.

KennettSymphony.org, or contact the Kennett Symphony at 610-444-6363.

attend the police academy. At the time, the single mother said her plate was full. In addition to caring for her two sons, she was also providing assistance to her father, who was seriously ill.

But Holmes, a Coatesville High graduate who studied criminal justice at West Chester University, said her friend’s urgings didn’t stop. And when a colleague in the CCSO security force enrolled in the academy in 2017, Holmes regularly peppered him with questions: What do you have to do? How hard is it?

The answers helped Holmes make up her mind in the summer of 2018, secure in the knowledge that she would be fulfilling a wish for her that her late father had often expressed.

At the time, she didn’t know that Gonzalez once had the same ambition.

Gonzalez said that hearing Holmes announce her goal reignited her own aspirations.

“I had given up on the idea because I didn’t want to go through it myself,” Gonzalez said, adding that the thought of having company appealed to her.

“Marj and I had been working so well together,” said Holmes.

“It just made perfect sense,” Gonzalez added.

Welsh said one of the most inspiring components of their journey was the pair’s teamwork. “As they met the various challenges, some of which were quite difficult, they kept each other’s spirits up,” Welsh said. “Their synergy together was a joy to watch.”

In addition, the duo’s obvious commitment, perseverance, and dedication inspired others in the office, Welsh said, adding that the training regimen produced a

Courtesy photo

Chester County Sheriff Carolyn Bunny Welsh (center) joins Marjorie V. Gonzalez (left) and Deborah A. Holmes at the pair’s graduation from the Delaware County Community College Police Academy.

variety of obstacles.

For Gonzalez, a Navy veteran who joined the Sheriff’s Office in April 2011, the physical training and the firearms instruction presented the biggest hurdles. She noted that she and Holmes were the oldest members of their class, and sometimes keeping up with younger classmates proved a bit intimidating.

In addition, Gonzalez, who grew up in Delaware County and attended Haverford High and Millersville State College, had to grapple with some distant memories: She hadn’t used a firearm in more than three decades.

Both women found the schedule grueling. After putting in a full day at the Chester County Justice Center, they fought rush-hour traffic, often just making it to the Delaware County campus in time for roll call at 5:45 p.m. Their classes went from 6 to 10 p.m.

“There really wasn’t time to do anything else,” said Holmes, who beat it back home in time to put her boys to bed.

Holmes also experienced difficulty during the firearms training, but for a different reason. The regimen required participants to add full Saturdays and Sundays to their schedules for six weeks.

“I had no time with my boys for a month and a half,” Holmes said. “That was really rough for me.”

Besides receiving periodic boosts from one another as well as colleagues in the CCSO, both women benefitted from personal support systems.

Holmes credited her mother and sons and Gonzalez praised her pastor and members of her church, Saints Memorial Baptist Church in Bryn Mawr.

When graduation time approached, Gonzalez and Holmes learned that if they were employed by a law-enforcement agency, their boss could

participate in the ceremony.

“It was such a great honor to stand on that stage and hand them their diplomas,” said Welsh. “It was a special moment for all three of us.

These were two extraordinary women who toughed it out through a rigorous program. I couldn’t be prouder of what they accomplished.”

Cpl. Brad DeSando, one of the cheering members of the CCSO at the graduation, confessed to having mixed emotions.

“I’m definitely proud of their achievement,” said DeSando.

“Obviously our ranks of sworn personnel will benefit from two people who have demonstrated such competence and reliability, and I will continue to support them in any way that I can.”

DeSando also explained that he supervises the security force and is therefore losing two stellar officers. “Finding replacements of their caliber is going to be tough,” he said.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

9B

Blevins and Walling honored as OAHS Seniors of the Month Oxford Area High School students Sam Blevins and Michael Walling were recently honored as Oxford Rotary Club Seniors of the Month for January.

Sam, son of Rebecca and Christopher Blevins, is a member of National Honor Society, National English Honor Society and the Choral Ensemble. This year he was instrumental in establishing a high school chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

A gifted athlete, Sam completed his third year as an offensive lineman on the varsity football team, earning All Ches-Mont League First Team and Daily Local News All-Area Second Team honors and All Eastern Pennsylvania Honorable Mention. As a junior he earned All ChesMont Honorable Mention.

Sam is a four-year member of the varsity wrestling team, competing his senior year as a heavyweight. As a junior he was District runnerup and qualified for the regional championships.

As a senior, Sam hopes to qualify for and win a medal at the state championships, as his father did for the Hornets in 1995.

Sam played junior varsity baseball his freshman year and as a junior joined the track and field team in javelin, qualifying for the ChesMont championships.

Sam is enrolled in the Allied Health Program at

Courtesy photo

Oxford Area High School students Sam Blevins and Michael Walling were honored as Oxford Rotary Club Seniors of the Month for January. From left are Oxford Area School District Superintendent David Woods; principal James Canaday; Michael and Sharon Walling; Rotary Club president Dr. Raymond Fischer; Michael Walling; and Sam, Rebecca and Christopher Blevins.

Chester County Technical College High School, and after graduation plans to study for a career as a physician’s assistant in pediatrics, as well as continue his athletic career. His choices include Grove City College, where he would play football, and Messiah College, where he would join the wrestling team.

Michael, son of Sharon and Michael Walling, is vice-president of the high school’s chapter of National Honor Society.

As head of the tutoring committee, he coordinates and participates in weekly visits by chapter members to Hopewell Elementary School where they tutor several fifth and sixth grade students.

Michael is a two-year member and public relations chairman of Interact, a high school level community service club of Rotary International sponsored locally by the

Oxford Rotary Club. Last year he helped organize the chapter’s Family Game Night, which benefits a local charity, and will do so again this spring.

In his sophomore year Michael helped organize the high school’s Ping Pong Club and has worked on club projects to raise funds to support the athletic program.

Michael has participated in several sports during his high school career.

He played junior varsity soccer for three years before joining the varsity as a senior, and served as team captain all four years.

Michael was a sprinter with the track and field team his freshman and sophomore years and played tennis his junior year.

After graduation Michael plans to attend college to study aerospace engineering. His choices include Virginia Tech and Purdue University.

Photo Courtesy/Lincoln University Staff/Devin Bonner

ABRCMS students pose for a group photo at Wright Hall.

Lincoln students present research at prestigious conference

Students from the Lincoln University Department of Biology recently presented research, enhanced professional development skills, explored graduate schools, and networked at one of the world’s largest undergraduate research conferences for minority students.

More than 3,000 students attended the annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students in Indianapolis, Ind. This year, six students participated in the conference alongside Dr. Anna Hull, associate professor and research mentor in the Department of Biology, and Vanessa McRae, director of undergraduate research.

In order to be selected as a presenter, students must submit an undergraduate research abstract that

is then scored by abstract reviewers. If the abstracts are selected for presentation, the students also have an opportunity to apply for a travel grant which covers the cost of their lodging and travel cost for the conference.

Lauren Holman, a sophomore biology major, was one of the few students who had their research accepted for presentation and awarded a travel grant to attend the conference.

Her dedication and research skills gained at the Center for Undergraduate Research earned her a top spot in the social and behavioral sciences and public health category for her research, titled “How Workplaces Impact the Experiences of Employees with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders.”

“When I found out that

my abstract was accepted into ABRCMS I was extremely shocked and grateful,” Holman said.

“However, winning the conference was a totally different experience.

Winning reinforced that my voice in research had value and that feeling was priceless.”

“I am so very proud of Ms. Holman. She is the epitome of a true scholar,” McRae said. “Lauren has persevered through so much, and she continues to excel.”

In addition to Holman, three biology seniors presented research studies: Mydirah LittlepageSaunders, Sarai McCoy, and Ime Nkanta. Jamal Benoit, a mathematics senior and Solomon Bassett a biology senior attended the conference as non-presenters’ courtesy of Dr. Hull’s LEAPS grant.

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CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019