Chester CountyPRESS
www.chestercounty.com
Covering Avon Grove, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Oxford, & Unionville Areas
Volume 155, No. 10
INSIDE
Wednesday, March 10, 2021
Group shares East Marlborough results of Kennett Township officials Greenway survey, discuss Chester County resident input Balloon Festival By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
Recent citizen surveys to gauge priorities in the continuing development of the Kennett Greenway showed that local residents would like to see the circuitous trail system maintain its natural beauty, provide access to open spaces, connect neighborhoods and continue to provide a broad range of activities for individuals and families. The results of these surveys – as well as input from two public meetings held in late February – were shared in a presentation given at the Kennett Township Board of Chadds Ford Elementary Supervisors’ online meeting presents 72nd annual Art on March 3. Show Auction...1B The presentation, chaired by Christina Norland, executive director of the Kennett Trails Alliance, introduced consultants Jennifer Dowdell, a landscape ecological planner with Baltimore-based Biohabitats and Claire Agre, Spring forward! Daylight Savings Time begins on Sunday, March 14
Longwood Fire Company promotes Eick to EMS assistant chief…4A
INDEX Opinion.......................7A Obituaries..............2B-3B Classifieds.................6B
the principal and co-founder of Unknown Studio, a landscape architectural firm, also in Baltimore. Together, they led a discussion that measured the survey results, provided a timeline of past and current projects and examined the township’s role in the future of what is projected to become a 14-mile continuous trail in southern Chester County. The bilingual 2021 Greenway Survey, issued online in January, drew 820 responses, 39 percent of whom live in Kennett Township and 17 percent of whom live in Kennett Square Borough, with 69 percent of respondents falling in the 18-64 age group. Asked what kind of space they would wish to connect to using the Kennett Greenway, one-third of respondents answered access to “natural areas, preserves and parks,” while 27 percent said they would
By Monica Thompson Fragale Contributing Writer
Festival organizers are seeking to hold the event in September of this year, but details need to be worked out
Continued on page 6A
Unionville-Chadds Ford School Board makes a big decision about in-person instruction The Unionville-Chadds Ford School Board voted unanimously Monday to invite all students back for in-person instruction beginning March 15. The district will also
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begin distributing 271 Johnson & Johnson vaccines to staff in a Phase 1 distribution starting March 12, which includes special education teachers, many of the elementary school staff members, bus drivers, food workers, “and those who support our elementary school programming,”
Photo by Richard Gaw
Organizers of the 14th annual Chester County Balloon Festival will return to the East Marlborough supervisors next month to seek approval to hold the festival in September.
By Monica Thompson Fragale Contributing Writer
to the East Marlborough supervisors next month to seek approval to hold the festival there this coming September. Organizers of the 14th The festival’s executive annual Chester County director, Debbie Harding, Balloon Festival will return and event organizer Rick according to Leah Reider, the district’s director of special education. The board voted at its work session to change the UCFSD Health and Safety Plan to, among other things,
invite all elementary school students back to full-day in-person instruction four days a week and a half-day of in-person instruction on Wednesdays, and middle and high school students to
Schimpf appeared at the township supervisors’ online meeting March 1. But the board had a number of questions about things like fire and EMS Continued on page 4A
return in-person on March 15 using their current schedule. A return to regular schedules for all schools would be decided at a later date, Continued on page 4A
Avon Grove High School graduate April Hansen pursues life and work in New York City, even as she battles through Cystic Fibrosis and her search to find a kidney donor
Strength, resilience and Coca-Cola By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer Before the reader of this article is introduced to its subject and her story, it is necessary to understand the condition that she has lived with all of her life, one that has come to take on the presence of a constant and immovable companion that can only be stilled by medication, daily rituals and hope. Cystic Fibrosis, commonly Courtesy photo known as CF, is an inherApril Hansen is a 2016 gradited, genetic disorder that uate of Meredith College.
causes severe damage to the lungs, digestive system and other organs in the body, such as the kidneys and the liver. It affects the cells that produce mucus, sweat and digestive juices. Long-term issues include difficulty breathing and coughing up mucus as a result of frequent lung infections. Other signs and symptoms may include sinus infections, poor growth, fatty stool, clubbing of the fingers and toes, and infertility in most males. The Irving Medical
Center at Columbia University, where 28-yearold April Hansen visits for her frequent check-ups, is located at 168th Street in the Washington Heights section of Manhattan, three blocks from the apartment she shares with her longtime friend and roommate, Martha. First diagnosed with CF when she was six weeks old by doctors in her native North Carolina, the course of Hansen’s life has been a sidetrack of interruptions that have navigated the full
spectrum of medical offices, testing laboratories, men and women in lab coats and operating rooms. For Hansen – who moved with her mother Nina and father Eric to New London in 2001 and graduated from Avon Grove High School in 2011 – the mornings she spends in her Manhattan apartment begin with a cocktail of three enzymes that allow her to digest her breakfast, followed by the consumption of ten additional pills, a sinus rinse Continued on page 5A
Penn Township plans Red Rose Rent Day The open house will give the public a first opportunity to see the work that has been done at the historic Red Rose Inn since the property was acquired by the township and extensively restored By Marcella Peyre-Ferry Contributing Writer
© 2007 The Chester County Press
The Penn Township Historic Committee is planning an open house and re-creation of “Red Rose Rent” Day for Sept. 25 and 26, pending COVID-19 restrictions.
The open house will give the public a first opportunity to see the work that has been done at the historic Red Rose Inn since the property was acquired by the township and restored to its original form. The building itself is an interesting piece of history, and include
a number of displays of historic memorabilia related to Penn Township The history of Red Rose Rent Day goes back to 1731 and is memorialized on an historic marker on the property. The tradition of Red Rose Rent Day was revived from 1938 to 1985 by the
Conard Pyle Company. The last official commemoration was held in the late 1990s. The new revival of the tradition will have a representative from Conard Pyle present a rose to a descendant of William Penn. More information on the history of the Red Rose Rent
Day can be found in the latest edition of the Penn Township newsletter, which was mailed to residents the first week of March. Copies are also available at the township office. Also available at the office and on the township website Continued on page 4A
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Chester County Press
Local News Key goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in county 80 percent by 2050
Planning Commission provides overview of county’s climate action plan By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer The Chester County Planning Commission, in partnership with the county’s Environmental and Energy Advisory Board (EEAB) and other partners, unveiled the county’s extensive and long-term environmental goals at an online meeting held on March 4. Taking its environmental brush strokes from its 2018 Landscapes 3 comprehensive plan, the county released its 76-page Climate Action Plan on Jan. 27, a document that provides a ten-year framework for the development and implementation of actions to reduce the county’s contribution to global climate change, improve the health and well-being of the community by reducing greenhouse emissions through government leadership and collaboration, mitigating impacts of climate change through resiliency and planning, and transitioning to clean and sustainable energy generation. The goal of the Climate Action Plan, which is being considered for adoption by the Chester County Commissioners, is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Chester County by 80 percent by
2050, said Carol Stauffer, the assistant director for the Planning Commission. “The plan has six goals -- to preserve, protect, appreciate, live, prosper and connect,” said Brian O’Leary, executive director of the Planning Commission. “The Climate Action Plan primarily falls under the ‘protect’ area, but it also falls within the context of the ‘connect’ goal -- having the right connections in order to have a more resilient and clean energy network.” Plan focuses on county’s industries In her presentation, Stauffer gave an overview of how several industries throughout the county will be enlisted to achieve the goal in the coming decade. In the area of “Buildings and Energy,” the county will explore opportunities to increase energy management and energy efficiency capabilities at its facilities and operations; incorporate sustainable design into future buildings; and transition to renewable energy. As part of the implementation, the plan will also engage the community to promote sustainable energy, energy efficiency and communications between agencies and partners. The amount of greenhouse
gas emissions coming from this category represents 62 percent of gas emissions from the county, Stauffer said, with one-third is coming from residential homes and two-thirds are coming from our commercial and industrial structures. In its “Waste Management” category, the county will aspire to increase its waste diversion operations; increase waste county diversion; and initiate other best practices through partnerships and collaborations. In the area of “Transportation and Land Use,” the use of cars, trucks, agricultural machinery and other forms of travel account for 27 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the county. In an effort to bring that percentage down, the county wants to reduce the number of commuter miles driven by county government employees; optimize public transportation; encourage low- or no-carbon travel; and encourage a proper balance of smart growth and land preservation. Stauffer said that one of the objectives of the plan is to expand the idea of encouraging its employees to work from home. “Until about a year ago this month, we were not working remotely, and then suddenly most of us did, so
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we found out very quickly that this is an option,” she said. “Once the pandemic is past us and we can start coming back to the office, we hope that we can still have a policy and an opportunity for people to work remotely because it cuts down on transportation and emissions.” In the category of “Agriculture, Food, and Forestry,” the plan will include steps to continue managing its open spaces properly, as well as establish a sustainable land management plan to grow and preserve open spaces, explore “green” infrastructure and increase forestation. The plan will also encourage the community to support local food production and the local agricultural industry. ‘No longer a future hazard but a current danger’ If the Planning Commission will be the general overseer of the county’s Climate Action Plan, then the 21-member EEAB will serve as its key navigating force. Appointed by the Chester County Commissioners in 2019, they provide both reviews and recommendations to the Commissioners and county departments which include best environmental and energy practices in the areas of buildings, facilities and operations; fuels, vehicles and transportation; food; responsible purchasing; housing; energy sources; air quality; storm water management; natural resource protection; and climate change. “[Over the last year], we’ve all taken actions to protect one another’s health, and this plan is another one
of those actions, because climate change will certainly be another impact on our health, not just in the future, but even today,” said Jess Cadorette, the advisory board’s chairperson. “It’s no longer a future hazard, but a current danger, so it was appropriate for this to be the first task of the county’s advisory board.” Commissioner Chairperson Marian Moskowitz said the Climate Action Plan is integral for the health and welfare of the county’s 525,000 residents and 15,000 businesses. “Chester County has a long standing tradition of resource protection and maintaining the outstanding quality of life that is so valued by our county’s residents,” she said. “This tradition is also true of our municipal partners, who work hard every day to protect our community assets that are so valued by our residents and our businesses. “As part of that tradition, we also recognize the importance of adjusting the county’s carbon footprint and maintaining a sustainable future for generations to come. Reducing greenhouse emissions through government leadership is the first step in making a change to improving the health and well-being of our community.” “This is a massive issue for our environment, and you need to have coordinated action, and you need to set goals, priorities and metrics,” said EEAB Vice Chairman Paul Spiegel. “This plan helps do that and gets us on the road to setting some priorities and timeframes on when we are going to complete different elements of it. As we follow through with some
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Courtesy photo
The Chester County Planning Commission, in partnership with the county’s Environmental and Energy Advisory Board, introduced the Climate Action Plan for Chester County on March 4.
of those elements, things are going to change over the years that will require adjustments. The advisory board will be there, working with the county, through that whole period. “We realize that we have aggressive goals here, but we have a lot of years to complete them, but we need to start now,” Spiegel added. “Having this plan will give us this kick-off point and foundation so that we can start now. “Business as usual will not get us to these goals. We are going to have to change some things that we do, and we’re going to have to invest time and effort and money, as well.” To read more about the Climate Action Plan for Chester County, visit the Chester County Planning Commission website at www.chescoplanning.org/ Environmental. Public feedback to the plan will be accepted through March 31. To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.
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Local News Chester County Balloon Festival... Continued from Page 1A
coverage, police presence, and traffic control that they wanted answers for before they would issue any kind of an approval. A conditional approval was discussed as an option for the festival, which is proposed for the Willowdale Steeplechase grounds at routes 926 and 82. But supervisors’ Chairman Robert McKinstry summed up the concerns when he said, “The supervisors are concerned about a conditional approval where the conditions cover most of the approval.” The supervisors said they didn’t have a problem with the date, which is proposed for Sept. 10-12 at the Willowdale property. One issue of concern was for fire and EMS coverage, as the festival is proposed for the same weekend as the Mushroom Festival in Kennett Square Borough, Chadds Ford Days in Delaware County, and the 9/11 anniversary. Another question was whether President Joe Biden would be at his Delaware residence that weekend, which would necessitate the involvement of the Secret Service and would also cause temporary air traffic restrictions that could impact the balloons’ flights.
UnionvilleChadds Ford... Continued from Page 1A
potentially in April, as part of a second phase of the reopening. Virtual instruction would still be an option, according to district
“Our current President resides within a 30-mile air traffic restriction, which the balloons would fall in,” Schimpf said. The balloon festival was cancelled last year because of COVID-19. Instead of holding the festival in its traditional month of June, the organizers are proposing to move the event to September because of the pandemic. “The big thing is hopefully COVID-19 will be a little less prevalent as it is, and we can start getting back to normal lives, which is the Chester County Balloon Festival’s biggest concern,” said Schimpf. “Our festival can be postponed again if we have a flare-up of COVID-19.” Tickets would allow visitors to the festival only on specific days, for instance with entrance only on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, according to Schimpf. Fireworks would be held one-night only, and fewer food trucks would be allowed for the event. The hours would also be reduced; for instance, opening night would be from 4:30 to 9 p.m., instead of from 3-9 p.m. as originally imagined for June, and the Saturday and Sunday hours would be about six hours less. “By reducing the time of the event, it is our hope that the event will be less taxing and stressful on our resources,” according to the outdoor
Matt Eick, a 19-year veteran of EMS, was promoted to Assistant Chief of Emergency Medical Services by Longwood Fire Company. Eick was previously captain with total oversight of the ambulances and emergency medical services. Chief A. J. McCarthy said, “Matt deserves the promotion. He’s an accomplished leader of the EMS crew. For close to two decades, Matt has been a valued member of Longwood.”
Eick began his EMS career in 2002 and became an emergency medical technician in 2003 and a paramedic in 2008. “I started at Longwood as a staff paramedic part time in June of 2010 and took a full-time position in January of 2011,” Eick said. In 2014 Longwood restructured the management approach for the EMS side of the fire company and Eick was promoted to one of three EMS lieutenant positions. Eick said, “The primary focus at that time was to manage the staff throughout
the day and each lieutenant had some extra tasks. I was in charge of the community outreach/training and the Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement.” Longwood Fire Company has served the communities of Kennett, East Marlborough, Pennsbury and Pocopson townships since 1921. Longwood Fire Company provides fire and rescue and emergency medical services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. For more information, see www.longwoodfireco.com.
Matt Eick was promoted to Assistant Chief of Emergency Medical Services by Longwood Fire Company.
activity permit application. Schimpf said they have also been in contact with a COVID-19 advisor, and attendees would be required to wear masks. The organizers still need to firm up traffic control plans with township police and the Po-Mar-Lin Fire Company, and medical services with Longwood Fire Company or another vendor, according to the application, among other things. McKinstry said his inclination would be for the organizers to work the fire and EMS, police, traffic control, and pandemic
restrictions out before East Marlborough would issue a final approval. More information about the balloon festival can be found at ccballoonfest.com. In other business, the township solicitor is currently looking at a request that would solicit proposals from accountants to perform the 2021 audit for East Marlborough. No decision on the RFP was made at the March 1 meeting. If approved by the supervisors, the RFP would seek proposals for professional auditing services to begin Jan. 1, 2022 to provide
among other things an audit of East Marlborough’s general, sewer, and state liquid fuels funds, as well as the Unionville Community Park fund. According to township manager Neil Lovekin, the timeline could include sending out the RFP by May 10, accepting proposals until June 10, opening bids on June 11, and having the supervisors make a decision by July 12. At their February meeting, the supervisors approved a resolution appointing Barbacane Thornton to perform the 2020 audit.
Supervisors held an executive session prior to the March 1 meeting to discuss personnel and real estate, according to McKinstry. The supervisors approved an application by The Lights Festival to hold a two-day event in the township on April 23-24. The festival will be held at Plantation Field from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. each day. The lanterns that will be launched into the air are made of bamboo and are “100 percent environmentally safe,” according to organizer Collin Maki. For more information about the festival, go to thelightsfest.com.
officials. “You’ve done a really great job about in-person learning and keeping everyone safe,” said Dr. Salwa Sulieman as part of her update to the board. Sulieman is an infectious disease specialist at
A.I. duPont Hospital for Children who has been meeting weekly with the district to review and interpret COVID-19 data. The last time the district’s Health and Safety Plan was changed was on Feb. 22, when some of the changes
included having all pre-first and first grade students start daily in-person instruction on March 1 and having middle school students who needed interventions return four days a week on Feb. 23, among other things. Another change to the plan would allow for student-tostudent social distancing of less than six feet but no less than three feet, “as allowed by the Chester County Health Department when conditions allow,” according to the board agenda. “Locally the numbers this week are quite good,” Sulieman told the school board. “Not as significant a decline as previous weeks, but still good.” She said Chester County
had 444 confirmed cases in the last week, down from 672 during the week of Feb. 5. Hospitalizations dropped from 96 three weeks ago to 56 during the week of Feb. 26. Her full report can be found in the news section of the Unionville-Chadds Ford website (ucfsd.org/news). District Superintendent John Sanville said the district follows three guiding principles with any decision regarding the schools – “Keep everyone safe. Provide an excellent educational experience. Support students and staff socially and emotionally.” “If we continue on this current trend, all students will be invited back March 15,” Sanville said. “Our
numbers are pretty good and have been improving.” Also at the meeting, the school board voted to make Friday, March 12 a professional day for teachers to prepare for the March 15 return. “Our teachers and staff need a day to prepare for having all students invited in every day,” according to the proposal. “The organizational, instructional, and health and safety demands are high, and providing this additional time will allow for our staff to better provide a smooth transition to the new structure.” As a result, the elementary and middle schools would have a regular day of school on Wednesday, March 10.
Red Rose Rent Day...
jobs with a living wage,” Director of Operations Karen Versuk said. The township will also hold an Easter Egg Hunt on Sun., March 28 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Penn Township Sports Park.
Improvements to the Sports Park are continuing, with planning of the layout for a playground, bocce ball court and other features. Work is also coming soon to the trails through the woods by the outdoor classroom areas. These trails constructed from 4” deep millings will be 8’ wide to be sure they can accommodate emergence vehicles. “Public safety has to come first,” Versuk said. In other business, the board voted to send an official response to PennDOT acknowledging their acceptance of traffic light controlled interchanges at Route 796 and Route 1 when the bridge over the bypass is replaced as part of a major reconstruction of Route 1. Over a year ago, the township was approached by PennDOT with a presentation on possible traffic configurations for the new interchange area. At that time, teardrop-shaped roundabouts were suggested by PennDOT and supported by the supervisors. Since then, the addition of traffic from the new Avon Grove High School and the township sports park have caused PennDOT to retract that option and instead require that traffic at the on- and off-ramps be controlled by signal lights.
Longwood Fire Company promotes Matt Eick to EMS assistant chief
VIRTUAL STEM CAREER DAY
Continued from Page 1A
www.penntownship.us is a virtual job fair with postings for a wide variety of available jobs. “These are major
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To register, visit dccc.edu/stem-career-day or call 610-723-4000. THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:
Delaware County Community College is an equal opportunity institution.
Courtesy photo
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Local News April Hansen... Continued from Page 1A
and a peritoneal dialysis procedure she will perform on herself. When evening arrives, Hansen will do another sinus rinse, another round of dialysis and swallow another 15 pills. ‘There is no such thing as normal’ “A lot of my strength and resilience has come from the challenges of Cystic Fibrosis,” she said. “As a teenager, I really wanted my condition to go away so that I could just be normal. Now that I am a bit older, I have realized that there is no such thing as normal. Everyone has different challenges and they’re all different, but CF has greatly contributed to who I have become as a person, so to imagine myself without Cystic Fibrosis is hard, because I don’t know how I would have turned out.” For the past several years, however, the strength and resilience that has kept her on a journey to keep moving forward has been met by another journey: In order for her to get off dialysis, Hansen needs to find someone who will donate a new kidney for her. Remove the medications, the hospital visits and the at-home dialysis treatments, and Hansen’s life is an upward trajectory that began soon after she graduated from Meredith College in 2016. She began her professional career as a graphic designer for a New York City advertising agen-
cy, and lived in Brooklyn. Currently, she manages her online business The Trendy Little Geek, a fabric supply company that she founded in 2012, and since 2018, has worked at Trader Joe’s in the SoHo section of Manhattan. “It’s part of April’s determination to live as normal a life as possible,” Nina said. “It has allowed her to graduate from college after receiving a double lung transplant. It’s allowed her to start her own business, moving to New York City, to work as a graphic designer for an advertising agency. She’s determined to keep up that productivity.” Yet, as with nearly every CF patient, the complications from Hansen’s condition have required several surgeries that have stymied her forward progress. In 2013, when doctors told her that her CF had left her with a lung function capacity of 20 percent, she underwent a double lung transplant at the Duke University Medical Center. In 2014, she had an operation to remove sinus polyps – excess growths of scar-like tissue that block the nasal passages. While Hansen eventually recovered, doctors told her that her kidneys had grown weaker over time and demanded more medication just to keep functioning. An up-and-down process Over time, the complications have accelerated the urgent need to find a donor, which if found and accepted by Hansen’s body, would allow her to live
Courtesy photo
Hansen is the owner of The Trendy Little Geek, a fabric supply company.
dialysis free. “Finding a kidney donor has really been an up-and down process,” said Nina, who maintains constant contact with her daughter and her doctors through ZOOM meetings and visits to Manhattan. “We knew she was in kidney failure before she needed dialysis, and her first real setback was having to go on incenter hemodialysis first. “She had surgery to be able to progress to peritoneal dialysis, which has allowed her to perform dialysis at home, so she doesn’t have to go to a center for thee days a week for four hours at a time. It has allowed her to resume a bit of normalcy, but the longterm need is still there.” Meanwhile, what began as a campaign to find a kidney donor through social media has evolved into Hansen and her friends plastering the telephone poles and bulletin boards in various Manhattan neighborhoods with posters, in search of a kidney donor. She has also begun her own website –
www.aprilskidney.com -- to alert people to her cause. Hansen looks forward to a trip that her father is planning for the family that will take them to France in 2022. While it is more than a year away, she imagines being able to board the plane free from the machinery of dialysis, and with the strength to walk city streets and the country’s terrain. “At this point, I take everything one day at a time,” Hansen said. “It is overwhelming sometimes to know that I will need to do dialysis for the rest of my life, unless I find a kidney donor. But if I think of it more like, ‘I just have to do dialysis tonight,’ it becomes far less overwhelming. “I think all of this has taught me so much, but more than anything what it has taught me is that everyone has their struggles. As my mother says, ‘If everyone threw their problems into a pile and you had to go pick one out, you’d be quick to pick yours back up.’” In the months following
Courtesy art
Using her skills as a graphic designer, April Hansen has been using social media and other means of communication to help her find a kidney donor.
her lung transplant, Hansen sen@gmail.com. was not able to consume plain fluids for more than a To contact Staff Writer month. When she was able Richard L. Gaw, email to drink common beverages rgaw@chestercounty.com. again, she vowed to allow herself one vice that she wouldn’t nag herself about. “That vice has become Coca-Cola,” she said. “Every morning when I get up, I have that CocaCola and I enjoy it, so if I have gained any more wisdom about life through this journey, it’s to enjoy every Coca-Cola.” If you or anyone you know is interested in learning more about a kidney donation for April Hansen, email her at thetrendylittlegeek@ gmail.com. To contact Nina Hansen, email sewinghan-
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Local News Kennett Greenway survey... Continued from Page 1A
like to use the Greenway to connect to “exercise and recreation.” The survey revealed that an even percentage of respondents would use the Greenway for “walking for leisure and exercise” and “being in nature,” and the highest percentage of preference would favor maintaining the Greenway’s “natural,” “scenic” and “family-friendly” environments. [These results] start to tell us that what folks are looking for in this Greenway is a serene and natural experience, not something with monumental art or iconic sculptural features or super graphics,” Agre said. “People are looking for something that is actually helping us shake all of that stimuli from our every day life. That’s important for us. We’re not looking to add. “We really want to design this for the broadest group of people for the broadest uses that we can.” Concerns and desires for future of Kennett Greenway Some of the key concerns expressed by the respondents included safety, proper maintenance, accessibility, and the projected length of time it will take to complete the entire trail. Among their top desires for the Greenway were to see it develop through the use of multi-use trails, to provide connections to neighborhoods, to incorporate proper security and to sustain the trail network’s natural scenery. “The survey was very specifically designed to gauge reactions and opinions and the future aesthetic, the future function and the future use of the Greenway,” Agre said. “It was meant to be a vision exercise for the community to begin the paint the picture of what it will be in the future.” In addition, two community meetings were held on Feb. 25 and Feb. 28 for about 50 residents of Round Hill, Chandler Mill, Hilltop and Falcon’s Lair roads that provided comments on the Greenway, particular in the use of Chandler Mill Road. At these meetings, those in attendance were polled live and provided the following feedback:
• 31 percent of respondents said they walk, run or bike along the road multiple times a week, and 24 said they use the road every day • 61 percent said that they plan to use the entirety of the 14-mile Greenway loop when it is completed • 70 percent of those responding said that it is not a high priority for them to be able to drive quickly along Chandler Mill Road, and a majority called for the implementation of trafficcalming measures along the road • More than 60 percent feel it is of great importance to have less non-local traffic along the road The March 3 presentation also focused on the progress and vision for the Western portion of the Kennett Greenway that once completed, will begin north of West Cypress Street in Penns Manor, extend past Pennock Park into the Parrish Trail, intersect with West Hillendale Road and lead to the Chandler Mill Road Trail and the Chandler Mill Nature Preserve. Norland said that eastwest connectors are being planed in conjunction for the Greenway, in partnership with New Garden Township’s Friends of the New Garden Trails, in order to connect West South Street from the Kennett borough line to the New Garden Shopping Center. She said that New Garden is working on a proposed connection at the Parrish Trail that will eventually provide a link to New Garden trails. The Western Greenway had a busy 2020 when, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the project saw several initiatives get underway, highlighted by the rehabilitation of the historic Chandler Bridge as a pedestrian and emergency vehicle-only overpass that was opened on Oct. 2. The timeline also included the introduction of a design concept for the Magnolia Underpass, and “Get Re-Kennected,” an open house on Oct. 3 that invited the public to explore the Western Greenway and discuss the trail’s master plan with its many stakeholders. At a Greenway meting held last December, public feedback balked at a preliminary design that would convert Chandler Mill Road to a one-way option. As a result, the township’s Board of Supervisors approved consideration for a two-way design option for the road.
Photos by Richard L. Gaw
The Kennett Trails Alliance, in partnership with other agencies, gave a presentation on March 3 that shared the results of resident surveys that gauged their top priorities for the continuing development of the Kennett Greenway.
Among the Kennett Greenways many initiatives in 2020 was “Get Re-Kennected,” an open house on Oct. 3 that invited the public to explore the Western Greenway and discuss the trail’s master plan with its many stakeholders.
One-third of the survey’s respondents said that providing access to natural areas, preserves and parks was most important to them along the Kennett Greenway.
A high priority for Kennett Township Although the Greenway is planned to connect five adjoining municipalities together – all of whom are creating trail systems of their own -- Kennett Township has placed its expansion near the top of its priorities in the last few years. It appeared in its 2015 Comprehensive Plan, its 2018 Kennett Square Active Transportation Plan and in its 2019 Open Space, Trails and Parks Master Plan and Needs Assessment – and has been listed as one of the township’s three “critical catalyst” projects for meeting its hiking and biking goals. Moving forward in 2021, the key stakeholders in the Kennett Greenway will conduct a review of preliminary engineering options,
hold two additional public meetings on March 18 and 25, and deliver a follow-up presentation to the township board on March 25, and a decision by the board in early April that will determine the next steps for the design of the Greenway. “[The Kennett Greenway] is very integral to the future vision to Kennett Township as a place where people can recreate in a passive way and in an active way,” Norland said. “The Greenway will help with preservation and stewardship of open space. There is lots of evidence that improved access done in a thoughtful way breeds a public preservation mindset.” Norland said that continued development of the Kennett Greenway will lead to the restoration of natural resources, particularly waterways on the east and
west branches of the Red Clay Creek. “These waterways are not in great shape, and bringing the Greenway to those areas will provide a tremendous opportunity to improve our water system in this area, so that people can enjoy them, and also allow us to be able to meet our obligations for future generations in terms of water supply.” Norland said that access to recreation and green space boosts local economies and businesses, as well as prove to be a benefit to the health of area residents. “Access to nature, exercise, reduction of vehicular traffic – all of this goes to improving the health of our residents and will serve to create a sustainable community in the long-term,” she said. The Kennett Greenway project is also being under-
The western portion of the Kennett Greenway.
taken in collaboration with Meloria, a structural engineering firm in Phoenixville, Pa., and McMahon Associates, a transportation engineering and planning firm in Washington, Pa. To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 2021
CHESTER COUNTY PRESS
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Chester County Press
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Editorial
Nursing homes see 82 percent Minimum wage decline in COVID-19 cases, increase is long overdue indicating the vaccines are working A new report issued last week estimated that there are 17 million hungry children in the U.S., a stunning increase of six million since the pandemic started a year ago. One contributing factor for why children might be going hungry in this country is the woefully low minimum wage that lawmakers at the state and federal level have determined to be adequate. The federal minimum wage stands at $7.25 per hour, which is where it has been for 12 years. The last time the U.S. Congress acted to raise the minimum wage was 2007, when lawmakers approved a three-step increase from $5.15 to $7.25. Before that increase, the minimum wage remained the same for a decade, despite falling well behind the rate of inflation. Do you see the trend? Lawmakers have neglected minimum wage increases while simultaneously lowering taxes for the wealthy donors that fund their political campaigns. The minimum wage debate tends to divide along party lines and Republicans certainly deserve most of the blame for this egregious failure to govern responsibly. Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf is pushing for the state’s minimum wage to be increased to $12 per hour, with a path to $15 per hour, as part of his 2021 budget proposal. But the Republican-controlled State Legislature is unlikely to support any increase despite the fact that an estimated one million Pennsylvanians—predominantly essential workers—would see immediate and significant impact on their lives if the minimum wage was raised to $12. Many of those one million people are women who are heads of household, and they have children who count among the 17 million hungry children in the U.S. Critics of a minimum wage increase have said that now—while we’re still in the grips of a pandemic—is not the time to raise wages that could further hurt small businesses. And that is true. The time to raise the minimum wage isn’t now. The time to raise the minimum wage was a decade ago. It was nine years ago. It was eight years ago. So punting this into the future doesn’t work, either. Polling has shown strong support for raising the minimum wage. A recent poll by Yahoo News/YouGov found that 52 percent of the respondents are in favor of raising it to $15 per hour, versus 37 percent in opposition. Other polls showed support for a $15 per hour minimum wage standing in the low 60s. A minimum wage increase to $15 per hour was initially included in the third stimulus plan, but it was removed. That’s no reason for lawmakers to abandon the issue. Abandoning the issue is one reason that we go ten years at a time without seeing any improvements. One survey found that 83 percent of Americans agreed that the current $7.25 minimum wasn’t high enough. That figure should have been 100 percent because there’s no way that, in 2021, a person could make a living on $7.25 per hour. Activists have pushed for a minimum wage increase to $15 per hour for a decade, and some states have acted on their own to phase in increases. There’s no excuse for the U.S. Congress not to act in a meaningful way on this. Democrats in Congress recently re-introduced the Raise the Wage Act. President Biden has made raising the minimum wage a priority. In a statement that was released with the reintroduction of the Raise her Wage Act, U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott, a Democrat from Virginia, said, “Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the $7.25 federal minimum wage was economically and morally indefensible.” Indeed. Lawmakers need to finally act on this and increase the federal minimum wage.
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It’s the lowest amount of new cases since CMS started tracking in May 2020 The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/ NCAL), representing more than 14,000 nursing homes and long term care facilities across the country that provide care to approximately five million people each year, released a report last week showing nursing homes in the U.S. have seen the lowest number of new COVID19 cases since the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) started tracking back in May 2020, suggesting that the vaccines are working. Recent CMS data shows that nursing homes have seen an 82 percent decline in new cases among residents since the peak during the week of December 20 of last year, when there were more than 30,000
new resident cases. In the same period of time, community cases in the general population dropped by 46 percent, showcasing that vaccines are having an impact in protecting the elderly population in nursing homes. “We still have a long road ahead, but these numbers are incredibly encouraging and a major morale booster for frontline caregivers who have been working tirelessly every day for a year to protect our residents,” said Mark Parkinson, president and CEO of AHCA/NCAL. “This new data showcases just how important it is for nursing homes residents and staff, as well as the general public, to get the vaccine because it is clearly working.” The report also shows cases have dropped to the
lowest level since CMS started tracking weekly COVID-19 cases in nursing homes last May. Along with the lowest number of new cases, new data also shows COVID19-related deaths in nursing homes declined by 63 percent since December 20, 2020. “Though this report brings hope, we cannot let our guard down. We must continue to encourage folks to get vaccinated, especially caregivers and staff,” added Parkinson. “Public health officials must also continue to ensure that long term care residents and staff remain the highest priority for accessing the vaccine, as the on-site clinics with CVS, Walgreens and other pharmacy partners are coming to a close. “Most importantly, we
call on the Administration to review its current guidance to nursing homes on restricting visitors and group activities,” said Parkinson. “With millions of residents and caregivers now fully protected thanks to the vaccines, residents must be able to safely reengage in meaningful activities and be reunited with their loved ones.” In December, AHCA/ NCAL launched #GetVaccinated, a nationwide campaign that aimed at encouraging all long term care residents, families and staff members to consent to the vaccine as well as provide credible information to help inform their decision. Last week, AHCA/NCAL also announced the nationwide goal of getting 75 percent of all long term staff vaccinated by June 30, 2020.
Our country depends on people doing the right thing By Lee H. Hamilton As the events of the past few months have unfolded, I have often found myself wondering what our Founders would have made of it all. Impossible to know, of course, but they had plenty of insight to offer. In particular, I keep returning to these lines from James Madison. He delivered them during the Virginia convention to ratify the Constitution, arguing that the surest safeguard against legislators and a government bent on malfeasance is the people themselves. “I go on this great republican principle, that the people will have virtue and intelligence to select men of virtue and wisdom,” he said. “Is there no virtue among us? If there be not, we are in a wretched situation. No theoretical checks—no form of government can render us secure.” We depend, he said, not on the virtue of the people we elect, but of “the people who are to choose them.” That pretty much sums it up, doesn’t it? Our country rests on the faith that we the people will do the right thing. The design of our government may be remarkable, but it does
not matter nearly as much as the qualities of the American people and their capacity to make it work. If we do not step up, if we do not invest our time and energy and abilities in making the system work, it will not. One of the remarkable aspects of the founding era was that a relative handful of people, in a country that did not even number four million at the time, developed a constitution with very little to go on and then made it work. Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Hamilton, and a few others had the skills, knowledge, and insight to hammer out, debate, and craft a system from the ground up, then to articulate it and persuade the political elite that this republican form of government could work. And what may have been most impressive was that they had confidence in the notion that people had the capacity to govern themselves. Yes, they hedged, both in the elaborate balance of power they built and in who actually got to vote. But they also created a system that, over the centuries, was capable of expanding the franchise and delivering a more equitable, broader voice in
government because that was the idea at its core. A key aspect of that idea, as Madison articulated, is that virtue is part of republican government. This sounds strange to say in the modern world. We tend to think of “virtue” as moral probity or honesty or integrity. Madison and the other Founders had something more encompassing in mind. They thought of virtue as including a sense of civic self-sacrifice: the ability to overcome self-interest and act for the benefit of the broader community. And they expected it not just in political leaders, but in citizens themselves. What may be most striking is that they had confidence in the American people to carry out this grand experiment and believed in the patriotism and capacity of those people to serve as protectors of civil liberties and of the due process of democracy. I could not help but think of that faith in the wake of last November’s election, as countless poll workers and elections officials in towns and cities and states around the country stoically carried on their work to the best of their ability in the face of unrelenting antagonism.
We remain in a time of great testing for the system Madison and his generation created. Though it is a remarkable constitutional design, created during a period of enormous change, turmoil, and confusion, they understood that the whole thing would fail if the people lacked the capacity to make it work. A lot of Americans have lost trust in the government, in the system as a whole, and in one another. This is not without reason. But it helps to look back and remember that everything rests on us—on our ability to choose our leaders wisely, to work with one another, and to reward the Founders’ faith that ordinary people can, by dint of their efforts, make this a more perfect union. Lee Hamilton is a Senior Advisor for the Indiana University Center on Representative Government; a Distinguished Scholar at the IU Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies; and a Professor of Practice at the IU O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. He was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years.
OAHS National English Honor Society honors Black History Month Courtesy photo
On Feb. 17, six members of the Oxford Area High School chapter of National English Honor Society visited residents of the Jenner’s Pond Retirement Community. The students read poems by famous black authors and others in honor of Black History Month. Pictured from left are seniors Kate Lilly, National English Honor Society president, and Chloe Campbell, secretary; juniors Julianne Guerin and Kenna Mullins; sophomore Guadalupe Juarez, junior Gina Martinelli and Kate Russo, Jenner’s Pond manager of life enrichment.
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Chester County Press
In the Spotlight
Section
B
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 2021
Chadds Ford Elementary School presents 72nd annual Art Show Auction New virtual format featuring artwork to satisfy every taste and budget Chadds Ford Elementary School will present its 72nd annual Art Show Auction from March 18 through March 21. The time-honored event will be conducted as a virtual silent auction this year. To uphold the school’s annual tradition in the current climate, organizers have adopted a contemporary online platform through the website 32Auctions.com. This format will engage loyal and longstanding patrons, while also appealing to a broader audience. The event will showcase more than 60 local and regional artists auctioning work in an array of mediums across palates and
The art show will showcase more than 60 local and regional artists auctioning work in an array of mediums across palates and price points.
price points. Patrons may also bid on local services, as well as artisans’ crafts, including jewelry, wooden items, glass designs, and much more. Chadds Ford Elementary School families are eligible to bid on unique experiences with teachers and staff that will
Courtesy photos
“A Very Chadds Ford Winter” by Don Shoffner.
offer students opportunities for learning, fun, and growth. A preview will be available online from 8 a.m. on March 17 through 6 p.m. on March 18, at which time bidding will commence.
The auction will remain live until 6 p.m. on March 21. Proceeds support educational enrichment programs at Chadds Ford Elementary. Betsy Wyeth, wife of the late Andrew Wyeth, started the Chadds Ford Annual
Chadds Ford Elementary School will present its 72nd annual Art Show Auction from March 18 through March 21.
Art Show in 1949 and remained involved while their son Jamie Wyeth was a student at Chadds Ford
Elementary. The annual event continues to serve as the school’s largest fundraiser.
Oxford Area High School to stream The Little Mermaid The Oxford Area High School Drama Department will stream its spring musical production, The Little Mermaid Jr., on Friday, March 26 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, March 27 at 4 p.m. A streaming access code can be purchased for $25 per code through the Oxford Area School District website at www. oxfordasd.org. Codes can purchased up to one hour before each performance. This is the second year in a row that the spring musical will be an adaptation of a fairy tale by Hans Christian Anderson, following last year’s Once Upon a Mattress. The Little Mermaid Jr. is a scholastic version of the classic 1989 Walt Disney animated film and 2008 Broadway musical about a mermaid who dreams of the world above the sea and gives up her voice to find true love. Co-director Dr. Erin Kauppila explained that Once Upon a Mattress was one of the last in-person events to be held at the high school in the 2019-20 school year. Just one week after its three performances in early March, all district schools and offices were closed due to COVID-19. As is usually the case, however, Kauppila and codirector Bridget Saltzburg were already thinking about next year’s musical when the final curtain fell on Once Upon a Mattress. “We had decided we wanted to do The Little
Courtesy photos
The Little Mermaid Jr., will be streamed by the Oxford Area High School Drama Department on Friday, March 26 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, March 27 at 4 p.m. The musical features, from left, Abby Robinson (Seahorse/Fish), Annabelle Bresler (Jellyfish), Jeffrey Kauppila (Octopus), Kirsten Brennan (Sebastian), Tori Koechert (Ariel), Kay Reyburn (Flounder), Elizabeth Dewees (Jellyfish), Abby Kehs, Katelyn Sedlak and Abby Byers (Fish). From left are Zander Quinn (Pilot/Chef Louis), Kaseir McGrath (Sailor), Michael Kauppila (Grimsby) and Jac Connor (Prince Eric).
Mermaid, never imagining that we’d still be dealing with the coronavirus in a year’s time,” said Kauppila. However, by the beginning of this school year it was obvious that performing the musical for a live audience would not be possible. “A lot of high schools in the area just decided to cancel their musicals, but we wanted to come up with something that would allow our students, especially the seniors, to still experience one of the highlights of the school year,” said Kauppila.
Darrelle Zavala (front, Carlotta/Gull) with (from left) Virginia Bresler (Flotsam/Gull), Kelsey Bennett (Scuttle/Ursula), and Emily Koza (Jetsam/Gull).
After weighing their options, which included live-streaming the musical from the school auditorium, Kauppila and Saltzburg decided to film the musical onstage for streaming at a later date. “Had we chosen to perform the show live, there would be many restrictions and guidelines we would need to follow that would have affected the flow of the performance,” said Kauppila. “With a recording we can make sure that the audience at home experiences something that is much closer to being there in-person.” Even with the advantages of presenting a recording of the musical, community members will see a production that would only take place during a pandemic. All cast members will wear clear masks that will allow their faces to be seen while protecting themselves and the other performers. “The cast members will always be at least three feet apart from each other,” said Saltzburg. “So while the actors will not be as close as they normally would be during a romantic duet, we’re confident those at home will love the perfor-
From left are Zoe Verbanas (Attina/Princess/Chef), Makayla Brooks (Adela/ Princess/Chef), Caroline Roe (Allana/Princess/Chef), Abby McGregor (Andrina/ Princess/Chef) and Elizabeth Henderson (Aquatta/Princess/Chef).
mances and all the great songs.” “And while we are not able to have a pit band as we normally would, the singers are doing amazing things accompanied by instrumental recordings,” added Kauppila. Before filming of the musical began during the first week of March, all rehearsals were held virtually, which presented challenges. “Trying to sing as an ensemble on Microsoft Teams is nearly impossible,” said Saltzburg. “It’s easier for the soloists, but in the end you trust the students to work on their parts
at home and hope it will all come together.” “We did as much rehearsing virtually as we could, including the choreography,” said Kauppila. “It’s just as hard for people to dance together on Teams as it is to sing, but they made it work.” “It was a huge learning curve for all of us, but we got used to it,” said Saltzburg. “I know that when we were able to finally be on the stage together for the filming, it was such a relief for all of us.” “The cast really stepped up,” said Kauppila. “They basically had to take on the role of directing them-
selves. We were on the screen but it’s nothing like being able to work on a scene face-to-face.” Kauppila also praised the cast members for their commitment to working as hard on a streaming show as they would for a live performance. “We wanted to do this, but if the students weren’t committed it would not work,” she said. “Other high schools may have foreseen problems with a virtual musical, but we were determined that would not be us. Everyone had to do everything by the book to keep everything as safe as possible, and this group has really done that.”
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CHESTER COUNTY PRESS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 2021
Chester County Press
Obituaries SARAH R. MITCHELL Sarah R. Mitchell, a resident of West Grove, passed away peacefully on Feb. 21 in the Seasons Hospice facility at Christiana Care Wilmington Hospital in Wilmington, Del. She was 87. Sarah was the beloved wife of Thomas J. Mitchell, with whom she happily shared 36 years of marriage. Born in Carney’s Point, N.J., she was the daughter of the late Rebecca Watson. Sarah was employed with the DuPont Company for 38 years. She was a supervisor in the former Engineering Department at the Louviers site in Newark, Del. Sarah enjoyed cooking, making Pizzelle cookies, knitting, puzzles and spending time with her family and friends. She enjoyed family reunions at Nottingham Park, trips to Shady Maple, Halloween and Christmas. One of Sarah and Tom’s favorite Christmas traditions was putting up their Christmas Village. They would spend time each year looking for the next addition to the village. Sarah and Tom loved to travel. They traveled extensively along the Eastern seaboard. One of their favorite places to vacation was Walt Disney World. During their 25 trips to Disney, they always found something new to visit and loved the Disney parks. Sarah was always quick with a witty response or a joke when she was around her loved ones. She will be greatly missed by her loving husband and her nieces, nephews and friends. Due to current COVID-19 restrictions, a private family service will be held at a later date. The family would like to thank the staff at Seasons Hospice, Jennersville Hospital and Jenner’s Pond as well as many friends for their kindness, care and compassion for Sarah. Arrangements are being handled by Kuzo Funeral Home of Kennett Square. To view Sarah’s online tribute and to share a message with her family, please visit www.kuzoandfoulkfh.com.
WILLIAM ROBERT HOCKER William Robert Hocker, age 68 of Avondale, passed away on Feb. 23 at his home. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Laura Stonemetz Hocker. Born on Nov. 26, 1952 in Philadelphia, he was the son of the late Robert William and Mary Jane (Campbell) Hocker. He was a graduate of Ridley High School in Folsom, Pa. in the class of 1970. He continued his education and earned a bachelor’s degree at West Chester University. He loved his family and his grandchildren were the light of his life. He dedicated his life to a career in law enforcement, working as a federal special agent until he retired in 2009. He was a member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church in West Chester. In his free time, he enjoyed gardening, golfing, and telling stories of summers at the Jersey Shore. In addition to his wife, William is survived by his children, Lauren Missirlian (Albert), Christopher William Hocker (Lindsay), and Julie Elizabeth Hocker; grandchildren, Luke, Claire, Henry, and Brooke; and siblings Dennis Hocker (Lynn), Susan Hartel (Edward), Nancy Plank and Amy Giulian (Karl), sister-in-law Judy, and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his brother David Hocker and his brother-in-law George Plank. All services will be private. Contributions may be made in William Hocker’s name to the DEA Survivor Benefits Fund, https://survivorsbenefitfund.org or 2020 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 659; Washington, D.C. 20006. Arrangements are being handled by the Foulk Funeral Home of West Grove.
Alleluia Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
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MARVELLA C. LILLEY MCNEILL Marvella C. Lilley McNeill, 94, of West Grove, passed away on March 1 at Ware Presbyterian Village in Oxford after a short illness. Born in West Chester, she was the daughter of the late Calvin H. Lilley, Sr. and Margaret M. Hill Lilley. She was a 1945 graduate of West Chester High School. She retired in 1986 from AT&T and also worked for Bell of Pennsylvania, Diamond State Telephone Co. and Bell Atlantic in Delaware. She was a telephone operator, mostly long distance, which she enjoyed most. She connected many servicemen with their loved ones after World War II. She was a former member of the United Methodist Church of West Chester, where she met and married James F. McNeill. Mr. McNeill passed away in 2003. She also attended the West Grove United Methodist Church and Avon Grove Church of the Nazarene for many years. She was past president of the former East Goshen Leisure Club, life member of Telephone Pioneers, past secretary of Avon Grove Seniors and former member of AARP. Marvella enjoyed traveling in most of the U.S. and Canada, visiting Hawaii twice. She enjoyed helping others and being with her family. She liked all types of music especially, gospel and country. Mrs. McNeill is survived by her son, James F. McNeill, Jr. (Elaine); daughter, Gail E. Morrison (Kenneth) with whom she lived; grandchildren, Stacy Barno (Mike), Jeremy McNeill (Georgia), Kelly Scullion (Joey), Christy Pelletier, Melissa Pierce (Ryan Carter), James Luycx (Cassie) and Denise Myrick (Chris); great-grandchildren, Jackson and Liam Barno, Megan and Joseph Scullion, August McNeill, Riley Pierce, Dominick and Oliver Carter, Nicholas and Alexander Luycx, Nicholas, Cameron and Mason Myrick; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Kim E. McNeill; sisters: Mary E., Florence M. and Doris E. Lilley and Barbara L. Mento; brothers, Harry Lilley and Calvin H. Lilley, Jr.; and a great-granddaughter, Hope Grace Barno. Funeral services and interment at Green Mount Cemetery will be private due to COVID-19 restrictions. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to Angel Wings Kitty Sanctuary, 45 Parsons Rd., Landenberg, Pa. 19350. Condolences may be offered by visiting www.foundsfuneralhome.com.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 2021
CHESTER COUNTY PRESS
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Chester County Press
Obituaries GWENDOLYN M. SUMNER Gwendolyn M. Sumner, of Nottingham, passed away Feb. 20 at Chester County Hospital in West Chester. She was 73. She was the wife of Barry O. Sumner. Born in Philadelphia, she was the daughter of the late Joseph Daniel and Eleanor McIntosh Prusinski. Gwen was retired from General Motors and Oxford Transportation. She had a passion for family, photography, scrapbooking, puzzles, feeding the birds, plants and her flower beds. Gwen really loved animals especially her dog who was her best friend, Coco. She loved her music, especially Alabama. The love she showed for her family and anyone who came across her was amazing, and when she loved she loved hard. Gwen always wanted to see and believe the best of everyone and she never held a grudge. Gwen was always there for her children—Jack for his weekly Thursday night calls and Carole for her 100 phone calls a day. Gwen loved fixing up the home that she created with her loving husband, Barry. They enjoyed their retirement together with their dog, Coco. Gwen was proud of the home they created together—she finally had her dream. Gwen especially loved being a grandmother and a greatgrandmother. She spent a lot of time dedicating her love to her great-grandchildren, crafting, drawing, baking and learning about nature and animals together. She is survived by her husband; daughter, Carole Coffman (and her partner Stan Feaster); one son, Jack Coffman (Renee); two stepsons, Brian Sumner (Jen) and Andrew Sumner (Nicole); eight grandchildren, Kaeyla R. Binck (Daniel), Karleigh Krystyne Coffman, Brandon Coffman (Cheyenne), Drew Sumner (Lexi) and David Sumner (Rosalind); three great-grandchildren, Bransen, Sienna and Ryver Binck; two sisters, Annette D’Emidio and Lisa Royack; two brothers, Kenneth Prusinski (Lisa Gerome) and Francis Prusinski, as well as many nieces, nephews and extended family. Services are private. In lieu of flowers, the family has created a GoFundMe page which can be found at: https://gofund.me/f69d1205. Gwen also was an extreme advocate for St. Judes Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn. 38105. This was something she believed in and always prayed for a cure for cancer and for no children to ever be sick again. Arrangements are being handled by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. in Oxford. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.
JONATHAN MURRAY HILL Jonathan Murray Hill or “Johnny” as he was affectionately known, passed away at home on Feb. 24. He was a 61-year-old resident of Avondale. You may have known Johnny by one of his many other nicknames: “Derdrac,” “J.Hill,” “Hillsky,” or “Murman.” Johnny was the husband of Winnie A. Browne Hill, whom he began dating in 1983. They married in 1992. Born in 1959 in West Chester, Pa., Johnny was the son of the late Margaret Harriet Foeman. Johnny was a graduate of the Avon Grove High School class of 1977. Throughout high school, Johnny worked at Mushroom Express. Following graduation, Johnny proudly served our country as member of the U.S. Army from 1979 to 1983 as a private first class. He was a sharpshooter and earned an Overseas Service Ribbon for his service outside of the United States. After being honorably discharged from the military, Johnny worked at various places, including Action Manufacturing Co., Alstrip, ServPro and Tastykake. Johnny loved video games, playing basketball, the Philadelphia 76ers, boxing, Star Trek, comedy, and Kung Fu movies. He enjoyed cooking (and eating!) a good meal. One of his favorite things to eat was a sandwich from Earl’s. On weekends, Johnny liked to go to farmers’ markets like Cowtown and the Green Dragon. In addition to his wife, Winnie, Johnny is survived by his daughter, Shayna; his son, Abram; four brothers, William, Jimmy, Stanley and Tony; four sisters, Eleanor, Angeline, Victoria and Ruby; his aunt, Betty Ann Gwyn; as well and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was predeceased by two sisters, Diane and Linda; and one brother, Kenneth. Due to pandemic restrictions, Johnny’s viewing will be private. Graveside services for Johnny were held on March 8 at Union Hill Cemetery in Kennett Square. Arrangements are being handled by Kuzo Funeral Home of Kennett Square.
She is survived by three children, Karen Greer (Robert), Gary Steven Jenkins (Darlene), and Deborah Dickens (Rick), all of West Grove; six grandchildren, Matthew Jenkins, Michelle O’Neill (Timmy), Jennifer Lloyd (Onie), Denise Smith (Darren), Kayla Dickens, and Hannah Dickens; and six great-grandchildren, Tyler and Casey O’Neill, Payton and Arbor Lloyd, and Hailey and Gavin Smith. She will also be truly missed by her special friends, Anna “Nanny” Greer and Esther Herrera (a.k.a. “that lady”). The family would like to thank Nanny for all of her help, as well as Esther who cared for Betty and saw that she passed peacefully in her home. Visitation and a viewing will be held on Wednesday, March 10, at the Kemblesville United Method Church, now known as Christ Church at the Grove, 1772 New London Rd., Landenberg, Pa. 19350, where friends and family may visit from 10 to 11 a.m. Services will follow at 11 a.m. and interment will be in the adjoining church cemetery. The public is invited, and all those wishing to attend will be asked to wear masks and maintain social distancing protocols. In lieu of flowers, donations in Betty’s memory may be made to a charity of your choice. Arrangements are being handled by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. in Oxford. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.
Obituary submissions The Chester County Press publishes obituaries free of charge for funeral homes with active advertising accounts only. Others with a connection to southern Chester
County are charged a modest fee. Obituaries appear on the Wednesday after they are received with a Monday 5pm deadline. They are also posted on www.chestercounty.com. Photos should be
Annette Susan Lewin, 53, passed away on March 1 at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital. She was the loving wife of Wendell Joseph Lewin for 27 years and loving mother to Chelsea and Connor. Born on January 10, 1968 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, she was the daughter of Ronald and Donna (Ettinger) Barkhouse. Annette received her education from Sackville High School, Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia, Mount Saint Vincent University ( in Halifax, Nova Scotia) and York University (in Toronto, Ontario). Annette was born to be a teacher and instilled a love of learning in all her students. She taught for five years at York Region District School Board before moving to the United States. Annette lived in Limerick, Pa., then relocated to Dacula, Ga., and finally settled down with her family in Chester County in 2006. There was nothing that Annette loved more than her family. After having children, Annette put aside her passion for teaching for seventeen years to devote all she had to be the best mom to Chelsea and Connor. She volunteered in their schools and substitute taught at Penn London Elementary School before returning to teach full time in 2017. Annette was a loving and supportive colleague to all the teachers and faculty she worked with. She was also very involved with her church, The Christian Life Center, which she loved and was loved deeply. Annette inspired and touched the lives of everyone she knew with her bubbly personality, beautiful smile, positive outlook on life, strength, courage, and incredible kindness. In addition to her husband, children and parents, Annette is survived by her sister, Heather (and her husband Dennis), six nieces and nephews and hundreds of students who loved her dearly. A service is scheduled for Saturday, March 13, 2021 at 2 p.m. at the Christian Life Center, 125 Saginaw Road, Lincoln University, Pa. 19352. The interment will be private. Contributions may be made in Annette’s name to the cancer charity of your choice. Arrangements are being handled by the Foulk Funeral Home of West Grove. Please visit Annette’s online memorial by going to www.kuzoandfoulkfh.com.
ALFRED JOSEPH DOLOR, SR.
BETTY I. JENKINS Betty I. Jenkins passed away at her home in West Grove on March 6. She was 84. Born in Elkhorn, W.Va., she was the daughter of the late Luther and Virgie Brewer Powers and the wife of the late Robert Jenkins. Betty was a member of the Avondale United Methodist Church, where she enjoyed helping with activities, socials, and bake sales. Her family was everything to her and she always looked forward to family lunches on Sunday at her house after church. She loved holidays, from Easter, to the Fourth of July, to Thanksgiving and Christmas, as a time to bring everyone together. She hosted an Easter Egg Hunt for the grandchildren and great-grandchildren every year, and Betty enjoyed cooking and baking for every holiday that she could. She truly enjoyed helping others, especially around the holidays. Every Christmas Eve, Betty had an open house where all were welcome: family, friends, and anyone who didn’t have a place to go. She had a love for animals of all sorts. She collected owl-themed decorations and housewares, all sorts of stuffed animals, and lots of animal movies that she watched with her grandchildren. She also enjoyed spending time with family at Ocean City, Md. and Myrtle Beach each summer.
ANNETTE SUSAN LEWIN
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Alfred Joseph Dolor, Sr., 87, of Oxford, passed away on March 1 at Paramount Senior Living in Maytown, Pa. He was the husband of Patricia Ann Kennedy Dolor, with whom he shared 33 years of marriage. Born in Chesapeake City, Md., he was the son of the late F. Eulia and M. Violet Knorpp Dolor. Alfred was a veteran of the U.S. Navy serving in the Korean War. He was employed with DuPont Experimental Station in Wilmington, Del. as a chemical technician with 30 years of service. Alfred was a member the Loyal Order of Moose #851 in Elkton, Md. He was an avid sportsman and enjoyed fishing, hunting, and spending time at home with his wife cutting the grass. He is survived by his wife; one son, Alfred Joseph Dolor, Jr. (Carol) of Middletown, Del.; two stepsons, Steven Kennedy of Alameda, Calif. and Anthony LaCorte of Conestoga, Pa.; five grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and six step-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Debbie Strazella. Funeral services were held on March 7 at the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. in Oxford. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 399 Market St., Suite 102, Philadelphia, Pa. 19106-2117 or American Cancer Society, PO BOX 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718. Arrangements are being handled by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. in Oxford. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.
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Chester County Press
Local News Lawrence questions Wolf Administration’s failure to include COVID-19 vaccinations in governor’s budget proposal At a budget hearing last Thursday at the state Capitol, Rep. John Lawrence (R-Chester/ Lancaster), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, questioned Budget Secretary Jen Swails on Gov. Tom Wolf’s failure to address COVID-19 vaccinations in his recently released budget proposal. “Madam Secretary, the No.1 issue I hear about from constituents right now is COVID vaccines,” said Lawrence. “I looked through the governor’s proposed budget, and in all 916 pages, the governor does not allocate a single dollar for COVID vaccinations. I’d like to know why COVID vaccinations, the top issue in this state today,
didn’t even get a mention in the governor’s budget address.” “Vaccinations [are] a federal effort,” replied Swails, who went on to note that both federal and state funds were being used to distribute COVID-19 vaccines in Pennsylvania. “Don’t you think it would be, at a minimum, common sense to outline [a plan for COVID-19 vaccinations] in his budget address?” asked Lawrence. “I think we talk about it often enough. It doesn’t need to be in every address,” Swails replied. For decades, Pennsylvania’s state budget has included funding for various medical initiatives. Lawrence noted Wolf’s proposal included
earmarks to treat Lyme disease and cystic fibrosis, and even addressed rabies vaccinations for dogs, yet failed to prioritize a single dollar to fund the distribution and administration of COVID-19 vaccinations. Later in the same hearing, Swails seemed unaware that the governor’s constituent telephone line was out of service for months during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Wolf recently reminded Pennsylvanians to contact their elected officials, even though his office was nearly unreachable for most of 2020. “For months, the governor’s phone line forwarded callers directly to voicemail at the Department of Health. Trying to actually get
Chester County Fraternal Order of Police gives scholarship funds to diversify local law enforcement During Black History Month, the Chester County Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) provided $6,800 for tuition and stipend toward diversifying local law enforcement. The donation contributed to an initiative that began with a request from Chester County Sheriff Maddox and a scholarship started by a committee of members from the Chester County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) and the community. Last August, after the death of George Floyd, Chester County FOP President Steve Plaugher and the Chester County FOP Lodge No. 11 created a Diversity Work Group to study and address diversity in law enforcement in Chester County. They identified several systemic issues that began with slavery and set out to find solutions, including increasing diversity of police to reflect the diversity of county neighborhoods. Chief Deputy Kevin Dykes of the CCSO, a member of the work group and the scholarship committee, brought the scholarship for the Municipal Police Academy and Pennsylvania Act 120 training certification to their attention. Plaugher
Courtesy photo
President Steve Plaugher (Left) and vice president Bob McCarron, Chester County FOP, announce a donation of scholarship funds for a student of color to attend the Municipal Police Academy.
and FOP leadership voted to provide funds. “We want police to reflect our communities and to understand the culture of differing neighborhoods .in the county," Plaugher said. “We want officers of color to be able to feel pride for making an impact in their community as part of the police force. We also want to earn the trust of the neighbors we serve. The scholarship we are providing for a student of color is one of the solutions—just one link toward forging new police-community connections.” “There is a lot of work to be done in the U.S. to diversify law enforce-
ment since Horatio J. Homer became Boston Police Department’s first African American officer in 1878 and Samuel Jesse Battle was the first African American officer sworn in at the New York City Police Department in 1911,” said Dykes, who also served as Chester County’s first African American Chief of County Detectives. “This is a positive step.” For a copy of the scholarship application and information, eligible prospective students should contact the CommitteeforAct120Scholarship@ gmail.com or Steve Plaugher at plaugher@ chestercountyfop.org.
someone at the governor’s office was impossible,” said Lawrence. “Are you unaware that the governor’s phone line was forwarded to the Department of Health for months?” “[The] constituent line?” asked Swails. “Yes,” said Lawrence. “To answer COVID related questions?” replied Swails. “To answer any question at all. Are you not aware of that?” asked Lawrence. “Obviously I’m not in charge of that,” replied Swails. Recent press reports indicate the Wolf administration has distributed far fewer vaccines per-capita to Southeastern Pennsylvania’s “collar counties,” including
Courtesy photo
At a budget hearing last Thursday, Rep. John Lawrence (R-Chester/Lancaster), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, questioned Budget Secretary Jen Swails on Gov. Tom Wolf’s failure to address COVID-19 vaccinations in his recently released budget proposal.
Chester County, than to other counties in Pennsylvania. Bipartisan calls from county and state
officials to reallocate vaccines to these population centers remain unanswered by the Wolf administration.
Kennett Middle School continues to be ‘A School to Watch’ It’s the fourth time in nine years that the school has earned this distinction For the fourth time in nine years, Kennett Middle School (KMS) has been designated as a Pennsylvania “School to Watch” (STW). Since 1999, the STW committee has sought to recognize middle-grades schools that exemplify or exceed specific research-based criteria that advance student achievement. KMS is one of five schools in the commonwealth to have been re-designated three separate times, and while the distinction is certainly a culminating award, it’s also a unique challenge that the KMS administration takes seriously. Unlike other awards, the STW designation requires schools to focus on specific areas for continual improvement, thus requiring a level of growth before a re-designation is granted. It’s the continual growth of KMS that is perhaps the largest point of pride for school principal Dr. Lorenzo DeAngelis. “Schools to Watch gives us a bit of a roadmap,” stated DeAngelis. “We look at our strengths and our future considerations and use them as
fuel to take the next step on being a better middle school for our community.” Such dedication to student achievement speaks to a certain culture at KMS that is hard to miss, even in the depths of a pandemic. Like many schools across the nation, KMS was virtual from March 2020 until initiating a hybrid model on Jan. 11. The difficulties of both modes of instruction have undoubtedly tested the resolve of the staff and the administration, yet the pandemic has not interrupted the focus of teachers or softened their effectiveness. The STW committee emphasizes this point in their final report, too. From their perspective, KMS has so deeply invested themselves in adopting new modes of instruction, utilizing emerging technologies, and focusing on the dynamic nature of student learning that the challenges of the past year have actually highlighted the strengths of KMS. This is not to imply that the coronavirus has not presented unique hurdles for KMS, but rather to contend that the culture of KMS is one based on creativity, flexibility, and seeing each difficulty as an opportunity
for growth. As the final report states, KMS is able to “overcome barriers to achieving excellence” – now and into the future. Just by their very nature, the KMS administration is already setting their sights on how they can strengthen student success moving forward. One area that will garner continued focus is the further integration of personalized learning where students become the drivers of their own success. More specifically, as Dr. DeAngelis stated, the school will be focused on much more than that. “We want to make sure we are using best practices not only for academics, but also for social, emotional learning and college and career readiness,” he said. KMS, like the district as a whole, is not content on past accomplishments or remaining comfortable. A celebration of the redesignation has yet to be planned but is something the entire Kennett community looks forward to. Details of the planned celebration will be widely publicized when they become available.
WCU and Bryn Mawr Respiratory Care program earns prestigious award for excellence The West Chester University and Bryn Mawr Hospital Respiratory Care Program has been named a recipient of the 2021-2022 Apex Recognition Award by the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC). The program is among an elite group of only eight Respiratory Care educational programs in the U.S. to receive this award. In conjunction with Bryn Mawr Hospital, WCU offers a bachelor of science degree in Respiratory Care. Students train to become Respiratory Care professionals through the unique
partnership of an institution of higher learning and a well-respected teaching hospital. Respiratory Care professionals, who work to evaluate, treat, educate, and care for patients with breathing disorders, have become particularly crucial in the care and treatment of COVID-19 patients. As COVID-19 primarily affects the lungs, Respiratory Therapists provide vital critical care to these patients through ventilator management and with helping to maintain adequate oxygenation and ventilation. In addi-
tion to the vital part they play in the Covid pandemic, Respiratory Therapists also work with infants as young as 23 weeks old who suffer from incomplete lung development as well as adults who have been diagnosed with chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) such as emphysema or pulmonary fibrosis. In her award letter, Shawna Strickland, associate executive director of AARC, said, “This Respiratory Care Program has demonstrated best practices in educating our future practitioners and promotes patient safety by
providing access to respiratory therapists to deliver their care. It is outstanding work like this that inspired the AARC Board of Directors to develop this award.” “I am grateful to be surrounded by such talented faculty who are dedicated to providing a superior educational experience to our students,” said Brian Kellar, Respiratory Care Program Director. “Although all program faculty played a significant role in the process, it is worthy of acknowledging professor Alexa Moran ’16 for her untir-
ing efforts in orchestrating the process and ultimately submitting the application and Dr. [David S.] Prince for assisting us with meeting requirements, while also caring for his Covid patients in the ICU.” As many current Respiratory Therapists are approaching retirement age, there will be a noticeable decrease in the number of respiratory therapists in the profession while the demand, as a result of Covid and many other factors, continues to increase. The time is ideal for individuals interested in working in healthcare to enter a
profession that inevitably results in an extremely rewarding career. The Apex Recognition Award recognizes facilities for their commitment to excellence in professional development, evidence-based care, patient safety, patient satisfaction, and quality improvement in five categories: acute care hospitals, long-term care facilities, home medical equipment (HME) companies, educational programs, and dedicated transport teams. The full list of Apex recipients can be found on the AARC website.
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Legals
ADVERTISEMENT FOR GRANT OF LETTERS
ESTATE OF Michael J Guerrera, LATE OF East Nottingham Township, Chester County, PA. Letters Testamentary/ Administration on the above Estate have been granted to the undersigned, who request all persons having claims or demands against the estate of the decedent to make known the same and all persons indebted to the decedent to make payment without delay to, Executor: Margaret McNair, C/O
Attorney: Ira D. Binder, 227 Cullen Rd, Oxford, PA 19363 2p-24-3t
McMichael, Esquire, P.O. Box 296, Oxford, PA 1936 3p-03-3t
ESTATE NOTICE
NOTICE OF COURT ACTION
Notice is hereby given that Letters Testamentary have been granted to Richard D. Terry, Susan Fulton Glass, and Sandra Fulton Day, Co-Executor/ Executrices for the Estate of Lucille H. Fulton, whose last address was Oxford, Chester County, Pennsylvania. Any person having a claim to this Estate is asked to make same c/o R. Samuel
STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA , COUNTY OF ANDERSON, SOUTH CAROLINA, DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, Plaintiff, vs. Nicole Nash, Devontae Cold , Eric Dean: Defendants IN THE INTEREST OF: Minor Child Born in 2013, Minor Child Born in 2011, MINOR(S) UNDER THE AGE OF
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Graydie Welding at sdehs@aol.com
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18. IN THE FAMILY COURT, TENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, 2019-DR-04-671 SUMMONS, NOTICE OF HEARING, EXPLANATION OF THE RIGHT TO AN ATTORNEY. Non-Emergency Removal Action TO: DEFENDANT YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and you are not required to answer the complaint in this action, a copy of which is hereby served upon you and to serve a copy of your answer upon Plaintiff through its attorney at Anderson County Department of Social Services, P.O. Box 827, Anderson, South Carolina 29622, within thirty (30) days from the date of service, and if you fail to answer the complaint, Plaintiff will apply to the Court for the relief demanded in the complaint. YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED pursuant to S. C. Code Ann. §63-7-1620 (2) (Supp. 2008), that you have a right to legal counsel in these proceedings. If you are unable to afford legal representation, counsel will be appointed to you by the Family Court upon verification of your financial need. A Financial Declaration may be obtained from the Anderson County Clerk of Court’s office and should be submitted to the Court ten (10) days after these proceedings are served on you. YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED that: (1) the guardian ad litem (GAL) who is appointed by the court in this action to represent the best interests of the children will provide the family court with a written report that includes an evaluation and assessment of the issues brought before the court along with recommendations; (2) the GAL’s written report will be available for review twenty-four (24) hours in advance of the hearing; (3) you may review the report at the GAL Program county office. DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, KATHRYN LOVE HARDEN, S.C. BAR NO.: 103217, PO BOX 827, ANDERSON, SC 29622-0827, (864) 260-4100, ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFF, Dated: February 24, 2021, Anderson, South Carolina 3p-03-3t
BID NOTICE
FORM OF ADVERTISEMENT FOR THE RESURFACING AND STREET IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE YEAR 2021 FOR PENN TOWNSHIP, CHESTER COUNTY, PA PROPOSALS will be received online via the PennBID Program by the Board of Supervisors, Penn Township, Chester
County, Pennsylvania until 2:00 P.M., Prevailing Time, on Thursday, April 1, 2021 for the following: _The bid consists of: Reconstructing Pusey Mill Road from W. Baltimore Pike to Route 1 overpass, mill 11” depth 4’ wide and place 6” 2A + 4” 25mm base course to widen roadway on north side 2’ width and match existing curb (180’ x 4’) 80 S.Y. Mill and fill 6” 25mm base repair (1,050’ x 4’) 467 S.Y. Mill remaining surface 1 ½” depth (1,510’ x 21’) 3,523 S.Y. Provide and place 1” 9.5 mm leveling course (1,050’ x 21’) 3,523 S.Y. Provide and place 1 ½” 9.5 mm wearing course (1,510’ x 21’) 3,523 S.Y. 4” double yellow center line and one stop bar. _ Reconstructing Pusey Mill Road from township line to bridge, mill 11” depth 4’ wide and place 6” 2A + 4” 25mm base course on both sides of the road to go from 17’ wide to 20’ wide roadway (1360’ x 4’) 604 S.Y. Mill remaining surface 1 ½” depth (680’ x 13’) 982 S.Y. Provide and place 1” 9.5 mm leveling course (680’ x 20’) 1,511 S.Y. Provide and place 1 ½” 9.5 mm wearing course (680’ x 20’) 1,511 S.Y. 4” double yellow center line 680 L.F. _ Reconstructing W. Ewing Road from Route 796 to Lewis Road, mill surface 1 ½” depth (3,140’ x 20’) 6,978 S.Y. Mill and fill 6” 25mm base repair (1000’ x 4’) 445 S.Y. Provide and place 1” 9.5 mm leveling course (3,140’ x 20’) 6,978 S.Y. Provide and place 1 ½” 9.5 mm wearing course (3,140’ x 20’) 6,978 S.Y. 4” double yellow center line and two stop bars. _ Reconstructing Woodcrest Road from Woodview Rd to E. Ewing Road, mill surface 1 ½” depth (2,625’ x 18’) 5,250 S.Y. Mill and fill 6” 25mm base repair (300’ x 4’) 133 S.Y. Provide and place 1” 9.5 mm leveling course (2,625’ x 18’) 5,250 S.Y. Provide and place 1 ½ ” 9.5 mm wearing course (2,625’ x 18’) 5,250 S.Y. 4” double yellow center line 2,625 L.F. All Bids will be publicly opened and read aloud by the Township at 2:15 P.M. Prevailing Time, on Thursday, April 1, 2021 at the Penn Township Building, 260 Lewis Road, West Grove, PA 19390. Copies of the Form of Proposal and Specifications are available at no cost at www.PennBID.net beginning Friday, March 5, 2021. Each Bidder must deposit with his/her bid, security in the form of a bid bond or certified check in the amount of not
less than ten percent (10%) of the total bid made payable to the order of the Penn Township. Each bid must be accompanied by a signed commitment of the proposed surety offering to execute a Performance Bond, as well as the Letter of Intent, and Non-Collusion Affidavit. All Bidders must be prequalified by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. All Forms and Papers required to accompany the bid must be up-loaded to PennBID prior to the date and time bids are to be received. The successful Bidder will be required to furnish a Contractor’s Performance Bond and a Labor and Materialmen’s Bond in an amount of the accepted bid. The Surety Company and form of surety shall be subject to the approval of Penn Township. The Bond Company should have no less than an “A” rating (Best Rating) and provide documentation of their authority to do business in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In addition, the Bond should be provided without a reinsurer. No bidder may withdraw his/her bid within sixty (60) days after the date set for the receiving and opening of bids. Pennsylvania prevailing wage rates will apply to this project, in addition to any and all other applicable federal, state, and local laws, statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations. Penn Township reserves the right to reject any or all proposals or parts thereof for any cause whatsoever. By Order of the Penn Township Board of Supervisors, Karen Versuk, MBA, PhD Director of Operations 3p-03-2t
ESTATE NOTICE
ESTATE OF Florence Brown, also known as Florence Graham Brown, late of Lower Oxford Township, Chester County, Deceased. Letters Testamentary on the estate of the above named Florence Brown 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: Joel Brown, Co- Executor Gerald Brown, Co-Executor, c/o Attorney: Winifred Moran Sebastian, Esquire, 208 E. Locust Street, P.O. Box 381 3p-03-3t
Classifieds Help Wanted
TO ADVERTISE CALL 610-869-5553
Part Time & Seasonal Public Works Positions London Grove Township is accepting applications to fill several part time and seasonal positions in the Public Works Department. Position requires ability to perform a variety of duties involving manual labor, and equipment operation, as assigned by the Director of Public Works. All applicants must have clean criminal record. Positions will have varying weekday daytime hours. Salary will be based on experience with no benefits. London Grove Township is an equal opportunity employer. Submit applications to London Grove Township Attn: Director of Public Works, 372 Rose Hill Road, Suite 100, West Grove, Pa 19390. Complete job description along with application is available at www.londongrove.org Applications will be accepted until positions are filled. Office Position, 16 Hours per week. Record Keeping, Phones, Customer Service to rent storage units for self storage company. Call 610-444-5708.
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