Chester County Press 03-27-2024 Edition

Local air quality study yields facts, potential solutions and resident ire

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

An overflow audience of area residents, elected officials and state experts in the areas of health, agriculture and the environment gathered at the New Garden Township Building on March 21 for a two-and-ahalf-hour-long forum that combined data and ideas with several years of residents’ frustration, under the large umbrella of an air quality study that evalu-

ated the levels of Hydrogen Sulfide in New Garden and London Grove townships.

The study, conducted by the Pa. Department of Health's (PADOH) Division of Environmental Health Epidemiology, evaluated levels of Hydrogen Sulfide in New Garden and London Grove townships from Aug. 2021 to Dec. 2022 that was collected by the Pa. Department of Environmental Protection's Bureau of Air Quality. The town hall meeting also

invited representatives from the Pa. Department of Agriculture (PADOA) and the Pa. Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

The study was requested by State Rep. Christina Sappey in response to her receiving complaints from several members in her constituency who have reported a glut of persistent health conditions from the Hydrogen Sulfide odors in their neighborhoods, as well

Kennett supervisors give ‘OK’ to Parkside preliminary-final land development plan

size and located on Walnut Road just to the south of U.S. Route 1. The proposed development will include seven single-family dwelling units, 76 multi-family attached dwelling units, 100 apartment units, 11 detached garages and two parcels that will be developed for retail and commercial use.

Of those 183 total dwelling units included in the planned development, 58 will be age-restricted. Access to the site will

The board’s sign-off on the development comes after a public hearing held on Jan. 17, when the supervisors granted conditional use approval to Parkside and to all 7 conditions relat-

Green thumbs, spaces, and food abound at Penn London Elementary School

Colleen Cochran

fresh air, beautiful scenery, and an abundance of bright, healthy foods. With the help of their teachers, they are growing plants via hydroponic tower gardens placed throughout the school.

Hydroponics is a form of horticulture that involves growing plants using only water and water-based nutrient solutions. Because the plants get their nutrients within liquid, soil becomes unnecessary. Plants can thrive on a tower garden’s vertical column since the nutrient fluid circulates throughout the structure.

Penn London first graders use the word “hydroponics” with ease, and they sound like seasoned scientists when they explain how their growing systems operate. In fact, on

March 21, the young students were called upon to give a presentation about their hydroponic growing systems at the Avon Grove School Board meeting.

Superintendent of Schools M. Christopher Marchese, Ed.D., introduced the guests. Penn London Principal Kelly Harrison then gave an overview of how the hydroponics project came into being. She said the school had a goal to bring more nature indoors, and she first learned about the possibility of using hydroponic tower gardens to achieve that goal when she attended an administrative retreat in 2022 at Fluxspace, an educational consultant in Norristown, Pa. Funding for the project

Continued on Page 3A

ed to the approval of the development’s conditional use plan.

Summarizing the details of the agreement, Diane Hicks, the township’s director of planning and zoning,

told the board that the plan has been thoroughly vetted by township staff, the township’s planning commission and township consultants. She added that

Continued on Page 2A

Red Clay Valley Cleanup carries on annual spring tradition despite rainstorm

Chris Barber

Square’s own creek – the Red Clay.

Brandywine Red Clay Alliance executive director Jim Jordan said on Friday he was wavering on a post-

ponement, but in view of the prediction of the severity of the coming storm, he decided to move the cleanup to Sunday.

“This was one of the most challenging cleanups we’ve ever had. Postponing it was a logistical nightmare, but safety is our main concern,” he said.

When the count was all over on Monday, it yielded about 30 cubic yards of trash. While the cleanup ordinarily attracts about 800 volunteers, this year there were 350, with a number of

people trickling in to help over time.

Brandywine Red Clay administrative assistant Betsy Stefferud, who was checking in volunteers, speculated that in addition to the postponement, the numbers could have been down because people were marking Palm Sunday at church.

Reviewing the pickup, Jordan said he was surprised that there were so many tires retrieved – 118 of them. He also noticed that the number of small

whiskey bottles joined numerous beer cans and had more than doubled since last year.

“People want their coffee in the morning and their drinks at night, but they don’t have to throw the containers on the road,” he said.

Jordan added that the most unusual find was a group of four women’s purses dropped together. They were filled with credit cards and identification, and one had a passport in it. They were turned over to

the local police, he said. Intrepid members of one troop of Cub Scouts – Pack 136 – made their way into dense, wet, muddy brush and came out with what looked like blue car parts. Another pack found baseballs from the adjacent Little League field that had apparently not been retrieved after fouls and home runs. The volunteers came from all demographics: young and old, retired, men and women, organized groups

Continued

Photo by Richard L. Gaw

A capacity audience gathered at the New Garden Township Building on March 21 to hear the results of an air quality study conducted by State agencies.

Courtesy photo Penn London Elementary students are growing plants via hydroponic tower gardens throughout the school.

Air quality...

Continued from Page 1A as shared the impact that the gas has had on their corroding household appliances.

While the survey results and the ensuing comments from residents did not place the mushroom industry on trial, it did serve to train its focus on the industry itself, given the overwhelming evidence that supports the fact that the source of these high levels of Hydrogen Sulfide are emanating from nearby mushroom growing facilities, as part of a Chester County industry that is responsible for nearly two-thirds of all mushroom production in the U.S., and whose epicenter of business falls in New Garden and London Grove townships.

As stated in the PADOH report’s “Site Background and Community Concerns,” the mushroom-growing process involves creating a substrate and compost favorable to mushrooms that compete against fungi and bacteria. Mushrooms are grown indoors and require nutrient-rich substrate to grow, and while the contents of the substrate are up to the farmer, common ingredients found in substrate include a mixture of corncobs, hay, straw, strawbedded horse manure and poultry manure.

As a result, the report stated, the composting process allows for favorable bacteria to grow and reproduce that during the process create anaerobic conditions such as the presence of Hydrogen Sulfide and other sulfur compounds that give off the gaseous odors, similar to that of rotten eggs.

Three air monitors

The results of the 56-page report were introduced by Dr. Julie Miller, a public health toxicologist with the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PADOH), who said that to gauge the levels of Hydrogen Sulfide in the area, the agency set up three air monitors in the area: the “West Grove Monitor” at the Avon Grove Charter School; the “Landenberg Monitor” at the New Garden Township Building; and the “New Garden Airport” monitor at the New Garden Flying Field.

Using standard Public Health Assessment methods developed by the federal Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry, the PADOH concluded that:

• the highest hourly levels of Hydrogen Sulfide may have led to short-term (acute) respiratory effects in “certain individuals” in Landenberg and West

Parkside land development...

Grove; specifically, those who have respiratory conditions like asthma. Further, the results concluded that on certain hours and days, hourly Hydrogen Sulfide odors that can negatively impact those with asthma;

• that longer exposure to Hydrogen Sulfide is “unlikely” to lead to longterm health effects, and that when averaged over a longer period, the levels were lower than levels where long-term effects might occur; and that

• Hydrogen Sulfide levels were above common thresholds of 8 parts per billion (ppb) that could lead to headaches, nausea, fatigue and stress in some residents. Further, 28 percent of the hours monitored were above the odor thresholds, and 13 percent of the hours monitored were 30 ppb over the odor threshold. The highest Hydrogen Sulfide levels at the West Grove and Landenberg monitors were reported to most occur on Tuesdays and Fridays and were highest during the evening and early-morning hours of fall months.

While Miller said that exposure to Hydrogen Sulfide has not been shown to cause cancer in humans, the effects from low-level exposure can range from irritation to the eyes, nose and throat to headaches, poor memory, tiredness and difficulty with balance. Exposure to very high levels of Hydrogen Sulfide can cause loss of consciousness.

“Being exposed to a chemical doesn’t mean that you’re going to get sick,” Miller said. “The Department of Health evaluates the potential risk to health, so based on the levels that we see and who is exposed, is there a more-or-less likelihood that you may be experiencing health effects related to that chemical? Whether or not someone gets sick from a chemical depends on many different factors. This could be the chemical’s properties, the levels that are in the environment, how you are exposed, whether or not you are eating it or drinking it or inhaling it…and the length and frequency of the exposure, so are you exposed over a short period of time, or over a day or a year?

“Longer term health effects are unlikely, but we have to admit that sometimes more research needs to be done to understand the health effects in people who have low-level exposure to Hydrogen Sulfide gas in the general population.”

The PADOH recommended that mushroom-growing facilities suspected of high

levels of Hydrogen Sulfide “engage in best practices and engineering controls” to reduce odors; enact efforts to significantly reduce levels and/or ensure that Hydrogen Sulfide emissions are located away from residential areas to protect public health; that facilities and their community partners consider outdoor air monitoring to see if odor and health effect levels are being exceeded in nearby homes and business; and that residents “remain indoors when outdoor odors are ‘bothersome’ and leave the area for a few hours, if possible,” and consult their physicians if they are experiencing health issues.

$1.5 million in research funding

Doug Wolfgang, the executive secretary for PADOA’s State Conservation Commission, acknowledged the health and environmental impact of Hydrogen Sulfide levels on area residents.

He told the audience that he recently asked the Commission to approve $1.5 million in research funding that will be available for institutions to conduct research on the topic of Hydrogen Sulfide coming from the agricultural industry.

“We believe that’s the first step -- researching this to identify clearly where the source of the gas is coming from – the compost piles, the substrate, the lagoons -- and what those levels are for each of those different locations and areas,” he said. “Step two will be to identify the best practices to mitigate the effects of [Hydrogen Sulfide] and to find out what is feasible for Pennsylvania.

“Third, we will provide the technical and financial assistance that will be necessary for farmers to install the types of practices that will mitigate [Hydrogen Sulfide emissions].”

Wolfgang also expressed the need for long-term monitoring to ensure that the community needs are met.

“Businesses who are affected by this are very concerned and want to work with us to identify what those practices are,” he said. “The mushroom industry in Pennsylvania is a huge sector of our agricultural economy and that is something we take very seriously along with our concern for the public’s health. Finding that balance and being able to do some meaningful mitigation strategies is very high on our priority list right now.”

Wolfgang said that the State Conservation

images Representatives from the State Departments of Health, Agriculture and Environmental Protection attended the town hall meeting.

Commission’s immediate intention is to identify the farms that have the greatest needs, and that the agency may be able to get signed contracts to begin research by the end of the current fiscal year.

‘Plume of Doom’

While the first 45 minutes of the meeting yielded statistics and solutions that may ultimately lead to lower Hydrogen Sulfide rates in New Garden and London Grove townships, the remaining segment served as a one-hour-and-fortyfive-minute testimony from more than 25 area homeowners and employees, who from the start of their comments, let it be clear where the target of their pent-up anger and frustration was directed at.

Landenberg Hunt resident Ron Lupo invited the agency representatives to his house to witness first-hand the consistent odor he and his family endure.

“We are trying to be good neighbors, and all we’re asking is for reciprocation,” he said, referring to photographs of several appliances and exterior utility boxes he displayed for the representatives, that have been severely corroded due to exposure to Hydrogen Sulfide throughout the development. “You’re going to talk to me about my health when it’s doing this to that?” he continued, referring to the photographs. “That is the Plume of Doom in our neighborhood. None of you live in this neighborhood, because if you did, you would be fighting faster than you are now.”

One 23-year resident of the Landenberg Hunt development called for the movement of the three monitors to locations that are closer to the mushroom composting farms, that she said will be able to provide more accurate readings of Hydrogen Sulfide. “There have been certain deep smells to the point where I cannot stay at the bus stop with my kids,” she told the representatives. “I can see the white smoke in

the middle of the night, and when I call the police, they give me the response of, ‘It’s the mushroom farms. They have the money to pay the fines.’

“I don’t want to insult you, but [your report] felt like there was smoke coming my way. I don’t need that. I’ve had enough smoke over the last 20-something years. We have families and kids and grandkids, and we don’t even know what is possibly ahead of us because of this. Help us. That’s why you’re here. That’s why we pay you. That’s where our tax dollars are going. Do something. Please.”

Conclusions, solutions and calls for cooperation

Throughout the public comment portion of the meeting, elected officials and agency representatives continued to address the proverbial white elephant in the room: that positive environmental, agricultural, and legislative change to provide cleaner air and safer composting practices will require the full cooperation of the mushroom industry, in the near- and long-term future.

Each of the agency representatives pledged to work in collaboration with Dr. Lorenzo Cena, associate professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences at West Chester University, who attended the meeting. Cena and a select number of his students are conducting an air quality study in New Garden Township, the results of which will be provided to the public when the study concludes.

While Wolfgang said the Commission will look to partner with agencies like the USDA and the Chester County Conservation District, he said that the PADOA intends to pursue the same cooperation from the mushroom industry in order to bring possible solutions out from the pages of

studies and into the best management practices at mushroom facilities.

“I wish I had a very firm answer [regarding getting the cooperation of the mushroom industry], other than that we will continue to work very closely with the industry and with our other agencies to do what is most reasonable and helps address the issue related to public health,” he said. “It’s absolutely a priority for us.”

“My only commitment to you – that's all I have, because I am a man of my word – is that we will get to the bottom of this, we will partner with our friends in the mushroom factories and we will see what we can do to get this resolved,” State Sen. John Kane told the audience. “I understand your anger. I understand the questions you are asking about who is overseeing the mushroom companies. I assure you that I will bring those questions back to Harrisburg and try to get as many answers as I can.”

Referring to the agencies that attended the meeting, Sappey said, “They came to share the data that we asked for and it’s the beginning of how we will address this issue. My colleagues Sen. Kane and Sen. Carolyn Comitta and other representatives in the area care very much for what happens in the area, not just in New Garden but in the region, as well.”

The entire Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection report – and a summary –can be found on the New Garden Township website, www.newgarden.org.

To learn more about environmental odors, contact the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease registry at www.atsdr.cdc. gov/odors.

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

several plan revisions and notes and associated regulatory approvals related to the Parkside development still

Continued from Page 1A need to be completed. The applicant will be required to complete the plan revisions, regulatory and legal administrative approvals before recording the final plan and documents. Once the final plan is recorded,

Hicks said, the construction of the development can begin.

A representative from the holding company told the board that the company is currently working through legal requirements and awaiting final plans from PECO and Chester Water Authority. He said that most of the remaining administrative items related to the Parkside development are likely to be completed in the next four to six weeks.

Supervisor Richard Leff said the addition of the Parkside development “continues and expands our goal of getting development close to the [Kennett] Borough not only to support the businesses in the borough but to deliver efficient resources that we have to the members of Kennett Township – residents current and future residents who move in.”

In other township business, the supervisors approved the appointments of Abigail Drabick and Joseph Mulholland as full Planning Commission members; Tracy Bhalla and Mike Bailey as alternate Planning Commission members; and Robert Sheedy to the township’s Historical Commission.

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

Courtesy

Photo by Richard L. Gaw

Dr. Julie Miller, a public health toxicologist with the Pa. Department of Health, provided a summary of the air quality study.

Penn London

Elementary...

Continued from Page 1A

was then acquired through a Pennsylvania State Farm Grant and through the Avon Grove Education Foundation.

The Penn London students and their teachers described how they use pumps to circulate the nutrient solution and energy-efficient LED lights in place of sunlight.

They also said that when the weather gets warmer, they will wheel their tower gardens outside so the plants can soak up real sunlight.

The students also talked about the crops they grow, which thus far includes lettuce, kale, celery, string beans, cucumbers, mint, and basil. And they boasted about their abundant yields that have enabled them to provide the cafeteria with an ample amount of fresh foods.

Sarah Hudgings, a Title 1 coordinator for Avon Grove School District, who had experience with hydroponics, wrote the grant for the project. She then helped the students to cultivate plants. She spoke during the presentation and said, “Hydroponic growing systems have a 30 percent greater yield than conventional gardens and help us grow food that is highly nutritious.”

Red Clay...

Continued from Page 1A

and individuals. Many of the high school age people were there to earn volunteer graduation credits.

The participants were given logo T-shirts, safety vests, protective gloves and plastic trash bags. After the volunteers had finished their cleanups, they left the filled bags beside the road on their respective assigned routes so that the trash could then be hauled away.

The history of the Red Clay Cleanup goes back more than 30 years.

Brandywine Red Clay Alliance emeritus member David Myers was on

Next, the students are going to try growing fruits, which they say are a little tricky to grow because fruit plants require pollination, yet another area of the students’ expertise. They have devised a plan that involves use of electric toothbrushes to assist the plants’ pollination efforts.

School board member Rick Dumont praised the children. “You really are great learners! You have become knowledgeable about science, nutrition, and teamwork,” he said. That’s not all the students at Penn London have learned about. The project has enabled them to increase their physical activity, become whizzes at public speaking, and has informed them about environmental issues. Plus, the project has turned them into great purveyors of art and proponents of reading.

Art came into play when last year’s first graders, after making plans to install a tower garden in an alcove in the back of school cafeteria, decided they would like a mural painted in the space as well. They solicited the help of Avon Grove High School art teacher Jennifer Martorello and members of that school’s Art Society, a group of students who volunteer their time and artistic talents to create artwork for meaningful projects.

Martorello and Art Society

hand early at the Kennett Square check in. He said he remembers when the cleanup started and was a mere recycling project of old newspapers. It has since grown in size and complexity.

The cleanup now attracts hundreds of participants who are assigned half-mile tracts of land to clean up and place the trash in plastic bags.

The volunteers now operate out of three check-in sites: the Y swimming pool location in Kennett Square, Anson B. Nixon Park and Ashland Nature Center in Hockessin, Del.

The Red Clay Creek is a 13-mile tributary of White Clay Creek and runs

members were excited to take on the project.

It was this year’s Penn London students who brought the cafeteria garden nook project to fruition. That hydroponic structure was installed this month, and the mural, too, was completed this month.

Art Society president Sabrina Lin described how the concept for the mural, which features vibrant whimsy-faced fruits and vegetables from floor to ceiling, was devised. She said that three art students submitted their concepts for the mural last year, and the Penn London students chose the present design from those submissions.

The winning submission was created by Mariana Villagomez, then a high school senior, who has since graduated.

Helike Milestone, art historian for the Art Society, described the process of painting the mural. She said an old mural had to be covered up using primer, then the wall had to be measured to see how it would match up with a digital version of the artwork scheme. The digital version was then displayed via projector onto the wall so it could be traced. The painters started by painting solid colors on the fruits and vegetables, and then outlined the images in black and added details.

through the greater Kennett Square area into northern Delaware. It has branches in Hockessin, Nixon Park, the Borough of Kennett Square and along various roadways in the region.

Brandywine Red Clay Alliance works to promote the restoration, conservation, and enjoyment of the natural resources of the Brandywine and Red Clay Watersheds through education, scientific activities, environmental stewardship and advocacy.

The non-profit is a collaboration of the Red Clay Valley and Brandywine Valley associations. The Red Clay Valley Association was founded in 1952.

Reading came into play when the students recently decided to stock the cafeteria alcove with a cart full of books. Plans are underway to turn that section into a green-space reading area. Penn London students will likely be invited back to participate in future school board meetings, given that with the help of Anna Mayor from the Food Service Department, they served board members vibrant green salads brimming with lettuce, kale, green beans, and celery and topped with Italian dressing, along with bottles of water flavored with mint they grew. Said board member Ruchira Singh, “I wish we could have more presentations like this, where we get to eat!”

Courtesy photo

Members of the Avon Grove High School Art Society worked on the mural.

Courtesy photos

The cafeteria nook with mural and tower gardens.

Photo by Chris Barber Cub Scouts of Pack 136 stand behind their cleanup yield on Sunday at Nixon Park in Kennett Square.

Courtesy photo

Pictured from left

right

Eric Roe; Dan McDowell;

Chester County Beautiful staff members

Marian Moskowitz and Josh Maxwell.

Editorial

Voting isn’t just a right. It’s a responsibility.

We’re now less than four weeks away from the Pennsylvania Primary Election on Tuesday, April 23.

Now is the time to register to vote if you aren’t already registered, or to make sure to update your voter registration, if that’s necessary. April 8 is the deadline to submit, update, or change your Pennsylvania Voter Registration.

We encourage everyone to participate in the upcoming Primary Election and, of course, the General Election in November, when the U.S. will elect its next President.

Free and fair elections are a cornerstone of our democracy, and we’d all be much better off if more of us participated in elections—and by doing so, held elected officials accountable for their job performance.

Voting isn’t just a right. It’s a responsibility, and it's a responsibility we should all take seriously.

Some of us might believe that our votes don’t matter. That’s not true. Every vote matters. Some elections, especially local ones, have been decided by just a few votes, and sometimes just a single vote makes a difference.

Some of us are turned off by politics and by politicians. It doesn’t matter.

What’s more important is that we all care about schools, the economy, health care, crime, and other important issues at the national, state, and local level. That means that we all have something at stake when it comes to the outcome on Election Day.

Some of us might be turned off by the candidates on the ballot in a particular election. That doesn’t really matter, either.

Voting is the best way that citizens can influence and shape the government that will make decisions and will create the laws and policies. Participating in elections will result in a more inclusive and representative government.

Conversely, when people sit out elections, they surrender their power to those people who do vote, allowing a smaller group of people to decide on the issues that impact everyone.

Voting is important. It’s a way to honor our history as a democracy. Many people have fought and sacrificed to earn and protect our right to vote. Voting is a way to bring about change that we want to see—to make a difference in the world around us.

So make sure that you’re registered to vote, and then make sure to carry out your civic duty on Election Day.

We can break the cycle of poverty, mental illness, and prison

By Matthew Rosing

During my time in prison, I lived in hell.

I witnessed horrific abuse, suffered from a critical lack of mental health care, and was treated as less than human. Guards even taunted inmates that we couldn’t change the system because our right to vote would be stripped away when we got out.

Well, they were wrong about that last part.

I learned when I got out that I’d been lied to — I still have my power to vote. Now I’m organizing with and for people like me who get caught up in the cycle of poverty, mental illness, and incarceration that run so closely together in this country. Where I once felt powerless, I feel differently now.

I grew up in what could have been any other normal, single-parent, working-class household. But as I became a young adult, I began to develop what I would later learn is called schizoaffective disorder, bi-polar type.

When I was 20, I was misdiagnosed and received inappropriate treatment, leading to sleepless manic episodes, frightening hallucinations, and other

problems. Angry, stressed out, and in worsening mental health, I struggled to keep a job.

Desperate for money, I began stealing and committing other crimes. I ended up serving nine years in prison.

My story isn’t uncommon. The National Alliance on Mental Illness reports that in 2020, nearly 53 million adults — 21 percent of the U.S. adult population — reported mental health issues. For incarcerated people, the numbers are even higher.

A whopping 64 percent of all people in U.S. jails, 54 percent of those in state prisons, and 45 percent of people in federal prisons have reported mental health illnesses, the American Psychological Association details. And according to the Centers for Disease Control, people living in poverty are far more likely to experience stressors to their mental health than those living above the poverty line.

All of this — the national mental health crisis, poverty, and a prison system that’s a dumping ground for poor people with untreated mental health disorders — can be alleviated by common sense public

policy, and that policy can be won by organizing the 140 million poor and lowincome Americans.

My own experience offers a glimpse of what a better approach could look like.

During my last time in prison, I was held without bail for nearly 15 months until a judge ruled me not guilty by reason of insanity and connected me to state resources.

For the first time in my life, my mental health was taken seriously. They diagnosed me and gave me effective medication. I was able to get onto SSI (Supplemental Security Income) and live a life relatively free from the past ravages of my disease. But it shouldn’t take spending nearly a decade in prison for someone to get the help they need. We need to expand programs like these, including making sure comprehensive health care is a basic human right, and make them accessible to everyone.

And to do that, we need to exercise our vote. Nationally, there are 85 million poor and low-income eligible voters, according to the Poor People’s Campaign. That’s enough to sway the election in every state.

My home state of Pennsylvania, for example, has 3.3 million poor and low-income eligible voters who make up nearly 30 percent of the electorate. If we were organized to take action together, we could determine what happens in any election.

Many eligible lowincome voters are disillusioned because candidates don’t speak to us. But if we organize, they’ll have to. That’s why my wife and I work tirelessly to organize people like us every day — even as we continue to struggle with a lack of financial security and the lack of a proper home.

We have the power of the vote. And you can bet your ballot that we and millions of our fellow poor and lowincome voters nationwide will use it in November. I hope you will too.

Matthew Rosing is a coordinator with Put People First! PA, a minister with the Freedom Church of the Poor, a board member of the National Union of the Homeless, and a faith leader with the Poor People’s Campaign. He lives in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. This op-ed was distributed by OtherWords.org.

Kayden’s Law passes State House, heads to Governor for signature

Critical legislation to save children’s lives is heading to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s desk after final passage in the House this week. Senate Bill 55, also known as Kayden’s Law, is legislation that provides urgently needed reform to Pennsylvania’s child custody statute. The bipartisan legislation is sponsored by State Senators Steve Santarsiero (D-10) and Lisa Baker (R-20), and is named for Kayden Mancuso, a seven-year-old from Lower Makefield Township who was killed in August 2018 by her biological father during a court-ordered, unsupervised visit granted following a year-long custody dispute.

“Today is a great day. Today we are one step closer to protecting children in custody cases,” said Sen. Santarsiero. “This has been a years-long collaborative effort led by the tireless advocacy of Kayden’s mom Kathy Sherlock, along with family law advocates and experts. Kayden’s Law is finally headed to the Governor for signature and, when signed into law, will save children’s lives by ensuring the safety of the child is paramount in custody cases and that no child will ever again be

placed alone in a dangerous environment.”

“Whenever we have a heartbreaking loss such as Kayden, it is our obligation to make sure the circumstances cannot be repeated, to the greatest extent possible under law and human judgment,” said Sen. Baker. “Punishment of the perpetrator is not enough. This bill required a great deal of debate and advocacy to reach the point of passage. Adding seven crimes judges must take into account is a responsible reaction to the suffering Kayden endured.”

Kayden’s Law will:

• Strengthen the current factors that judges must consider in making custody and visitation decisions, to make it clear that the most important issue is the protection of the child;

• Ensure that if there is a finding by the court of an ongoing risk of abuse, that any custody order includes safety conditions and restrictions necessary, including supervised visitation, to protect the child; and

• Encourage the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania to implement an annual educational and training program for judges and relevant court personnel on

child abuse, adverse childhood experiences, domestic violence, and its impact on children.

Sen. Santarsiero continued, “I want to thank my colleague, and friend, Sen. Lisa Baker, for her partnership in writing the bill and helping it get through the Senate. I also want to thank my House colleagues Tina Davis and Perry Warren for their work on this issue. Most of all, I want to thank Kayden’s mom Kathy Sherlock for her courage and conviction to educate the public, lawmakers and court personnel on the importance of this issue.

“This bill cannot heal the grievous wound that Kathy and her family have suffered, but by protecting our children moving forward, I hope it will give them some measure of solace.”

“More than five years ago I vowed to do whatever it took to protect children, and today, our mission of ‘Not One More’ is becoming a reality in Pennsylvania,” said Kathy Sherlock. “It should never be the case that children are ordered to remain in abusive or unsafe situations.

I am grateful for Senators Santarsiero and Baker and Representatives Davis and

Warren for their dedication to making sure we got legislation passed that puts commonsense safeguards in place to save children’s lives. I also want to express my profound appreciation for the advocacy and guidance of Danielle Pollack and the National Family Violence Law Center.”

“The tenacious work of Kathy Sherlock, the Sherlock and Giglio families and their legion of supporters has been rewarded with the passage of this lifesaving legislation,” said Rep. Perry Warren (D-31).

“In the wake of unspeakable tragedy Kayden’s family and friends’ dedicated their efforts to ensure that courts have the guidance and resources to make the best interest of the child the top priority in child custody determinations. Thank you to everyone who has worked to make this goal the law in Pennsylvania.”

Rep. Davis added, “Kayden Mancuso’s death was a true tragedy. While the passage of this law cannot undo her untimely death, it can hopefully prevent this from happening to another child and another family.”

Senate Bill 55 now goes to Gov. Shapiro for his signature.

Justin Best headed for Paris games

Kennett Square native named to 2024 U.S. Olympic rowing team

Kennett Square native

Justin Best has been named to the United States Olympic Rowing Team for the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics.

This marks Best’s second consecutive Olympic appearance, and follows his silver medal win in the men’s four at the 2023 World Rowing Championships and his Chester County Parks + Preservation Director David Stauffer announced last week the appointment of Andrew McMullen as the county’s new Parks and Trails Manager. McMullen moves to this role following 22 years with the department. He started his career as a parttime maintenance worker, became a regional park ranger and then served as the Assistant Parks and Trails Manager.

performance in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

A Drexel University graduate, Best had a distinguished rowing career in college, marked by his early start at Newport Rowing Club on the Christina River. Under the guidance of coaches and mentors in the club, Best honed his skills and developed the determination and strength

that have led him to the pinnacle of rowing.

Best brings not only physical strength but also technical expertise to the U.S. men’s rowing team. Frequently found in the bow pair, Best’s role is critical for maintaining the boat’s balance and rhythm, skills that he has perfected over years of intense training and competition.

Chester County names McMullen as new Parks & Trails Manager

enthusiasm for connecting visitors with our Chester County parks and trails make him a great fit for the position,” said Stauffer.

“Andrew’s strong leadership qualities and

As the Parks and Trails Manager, McMullen is responsible for the dayto-day management and operations of Chester County’s seven regional park sites and the three regional trails. McMullen succeeds Owen Prusack, who retired in November after 41 years with the county.

“I have always been

proud to offer the community exceptional parks and trails,” said McMullen. “I look forward to the opportunity to continue doing so in the role of Parks and Trails Manager.”

McMullen is a graduate of Penn State University with a bachelor of science degree in agricultural education. He served as a sergeant with the U.S.

Marine Corps from 2000 to 2006 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. While deployed, he worked with local govern-

ments to build community infrastructure and obtain supplies for schools.

The Chester County Parks + Preservation Department provides preservation, recreation, educational, and stewardship services to the residents and visitors of Chester County so they can connect with natural and cultural resources and thrive in a sustainable healthy community.

Learn more about Chester County’s Parks and Trails at www.chesco. org/parks.

Courtesy photo

Justin Best has been named to the United States Olympic Rowing Team for the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics.

Courtesy photo Chester County’s new Parks & Trails Manager Andrew McMullen.

Fashion designer shares stories of creative partnership with acclaimed actress

B Michael’s 16-year friendship and collaboration with Cicely Tyson is now shared in his new book

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

On the heels of his new book, Muse: Cicely Tyson and Me: A Relationship Forged in Fashion (Harper Collins), acclaimed fashion designer B Michael delight-

ed guests at Winterthur’s Copeland Lecture Hall on March 22 with stories about the 12 years he served as the exclusive clothing designer for the Oscar winning actress and fashion icon.

Moderated by Kim

Collison, Winterthur’s curator of exhibitions, the event was an hour-long splash of colors, textures and inspirations that provided a retrospective of B Michael’s long career in fashion, from his clothes shopping excursions with his grandmother as a child to his start in the industry as a millinery designer to becoming the co-founder, fashion designer, and creative director of B Michael Global.

“My grandmother wore these wool berets and I found myself redesigning those berets – adding things – and the idea of millinery evolved from that,” Michael said. “I was always fascinated by Coco Chanel and Halston and Adolfo, who started as millinery designers. It was my first love and I thought that was a nice club to become a member of.”

Michael first met Tyson in 2005 – when she was 80 -- and until her passing in 2021, he “built” several one-of-a-kind dresses for the actress that she wore to events that included the Tony Awards, the Kennedy Center Honors, the Oscars, the cover of Time magazine and the funeral of Aretha Franklin.

Before he met the actress, Michael said all of what he knew about Tyson was through two of her most legendary film appearances in Sounder and The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, “and now she is standing here and she said that I needed to create a ball gown in five days that she would wear to Oprah Winfrey’s Legendary Ball,” he said.

At the Emmy Awards in 2009, Tyson declared that Michael would become her exclusive fashion designer.

“Of course, I said ‘Yes,’ but I quickly realized that it was a moment of transition, because it was a moment when she was declaring her trust, putting herself into my hands as a designer,” he said. “I knew that I had to respond in kind. It was magical in the moment, but I also knew – not know-

ing what the entirety of the journey would be – that it was a responsibility that I was embracing.

“When you have a relationship with your client, it’s very intimate and emotional, but when you take it to another level such as designer and muse, it becomes even more special.”

Throughout their conversation, Collison and Michael referred to a catalog of his work with Tyson that was shown on a large screen on the stage behind them. He said that part of what made Tyson a part of “Hollywood Royalty” was her appreciation that

fashion should be able to transcend current fads and short-lived fashion statements.

“I love it when I see a client wearing a piece that she bought 10 years ago, 15 years ago and wearing it as if it is a current piece,” he said. “That’s when I know that my point of view has gotten close, because it should be timeless. It should always feel current and modern and have that sustainability.

“Cicely was very open to me repeating pieces on her. The idea of being timeless was what was important for us.”

Michael’s talk was the

second appearance he has made at Winterthur in the last several months. On Oct. 21, 2023, he spoke with Fashion Institute of Technology associate curator Elizabeth Way as part of the museum’s Ann Lowe: American Couturier exhibition, which ran from Sept. 9, 2023 to Jan. 7, 2024.

To learn more about upcoming events and programs at Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library, visit www.winterthur.org.

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

Avon Grove honors 11 National Merit Scholarship Program students

ment in the National Merit Scholarship Program.

Among these students, Jacob Akana, Madison Butler, Sophie Deering, Russell Dunlap, Adelaide Etshman, Tejvir Gill, Leah Gray, Abigail Keller and Elisabeth Roberts were recognized as Commended Students in the program. They were among 34,000 students nationally who achieved Commended status based on their Selection Index qualifying scores and received a Letter of Commendation in the fall.

Additionally, Tyler Dalton and Sindhuja Kanamarlapudi, two AGHS students who were named semifinalists earlier in the year, were recently notified that they had been selected as finalists.

As finalists, Dalton and Kanamarlapudi are among 16,000 students nationally who received Certificates of Merit from the program and are now in final consideration for a scholarship. Scholarship awardees will be notified beginning in April.

The ceremony, which took place at Avon Grove High School, served as a platform to honor these students for their achievements. Each student’s

guidance counselor delivered speeches highlighting their efforts and accomplishments during their tenure at Avon Grove. Parents, faculty, and administrators in attendance were treated to accounts of the students’ noteworthy academic, extracurricular and personal achievements.

Avon Grove High School

Principal Dr. Christie Snead expressed admiration for the students, noting, “Each of these students display incredible work ethic, not only with their academic successes, but with their contributions that extend beyond the classroom.”

The recognition holds significant value, with National Merit Scholars often sought after on college applications and potentially opening the door to more opportuni-

Photo by Richard L. Gaw

Michael is the author of Muse: Cicely Tyson and Me: A Relationship Forged in Fashion (Harper Collins).

Photo by Richard L. Gaw

Kim Collison, the curator of exhibitions at Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library, hosted a conversation on March 22 with acclaimed fashion designer B Michael about his career and his friendship and collaboration with the actress Cicely Tyson.

Courtesy photo Michael served as Tyson’s exclusive fashion designer for 12 years, and often accompanied her along the runway at award shows and celebrations.

Avon Grove School District honored 11 Avon Grove High School (AGHS) students with a ceremony on March 14, celebrating their place-

Courtesy photo

Avon Grove High School students have been recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Program this year. The students are (top row, from left to right) Elisabeth Roberts, Adelaide Etshman, Madison Butler and Abigail Keller, and (bottom row from left to right) are Russell Dunlap, Tyler Dalton, Sindhuja Kanamarlapudi, Leah Gray, Tejvir Gill and Jacob Akana. Not pictured is Sophie Deering.

ties. Snead underscored the vast potential that this recognition brings, remarking, “For these students, this milestone signifies only the start of their journey, and we can’t wait to see their future accomplishments.”

MITCHELL RAYMOND OTHO BACOT

VINCENT JACOB BONKOSKI

Beloved Mitchell Raymond Otho Bacot passed away onward to his Home and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Pi Day, March 14, 2024. This is fitting, since he was a math instructor, and pi is a mathematical constant that is the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter.

Mitchell was 42, and just six days shy of his 43rd birthday, on the day that he passed. He was “joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:12). He was a son and grandson, a brother, nephew, husband, father, and friend to many. His identity was as a child of God first, and it remains so, for eternity.

He was born in Bryn Mawr, Pa. on March 20, 1981 to Karen Diane and Randy Ray Bacot.

His legacy lives on through his family, which includes his wife, Jenamarie, and children, Abishai, (age 15), Micah (13), Hezekiah (12), Shiloh (9), Joah (7) and Ezra (4). He is also survived by his mother, Karen; his sisters, Amber (Scott) Fitzgerald and Carly (Nathan) Bear; his nieces, Jordan, Scarlett, Saige, Hannah, Whitney and Brooklyn; his nephews, Austin, Finian, Liam and Jacob; his grandparents, Rosemarie “Nana” Onley, Nancy “Mammaw” Bacot, and Julian Bacot; many uncles and aunts and cousins; and the family dog, Snowy.

He is preceded by his father, Randy and grandfather, Wendell Onley.

A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 13 at Anchor Christian Church at 375 Beaver Road in Rochester, NY. A reception will follow. For those who cannot attend, the service will be live-streamed. Please visit anchorchristian.org for further information. Because of the small size of the sanctuary, it is humbly and respectfully asked that priority be given to family members and wheelchair users. Once the sanctuary is full, you may be escorted to rooms close by in the church building that will have the event live-streamed on a TV.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Children’s Tumor Foundation (CTF.org), and earmark your donation to “NF2 research/clinical trial” in Mitchell’s memory.

The family asks that, as a gift to those who knew and loved him, between now and the service, you would consider taking some time to write about your story with Mitchell and include a picture (or a few!) and bring it to the service. There will be a designated box for the stories and photos or you can email your story to bacotlegacy@ gmail.com. Your story, and the stories of many others, will be put together to become Beloved Mitchell’s legacy book. If you have already sent your story, it is kindly requested that you send it again using the gmail address above. Mitchell’s children are young, and your stories will allow them to know and remember their beautiful father.

When

Vincent Jacob Bonkoski died at the age of 83 at the home of his daughter and son-in-law in Oxford.

He was born in Conshohocken, Pa. to Florence (Woznicki) and Vincent Bonkoski Sr.

Vincent was preceded in death by his wife, Jane (Nagel) and granddaughter, Kimberly Hill.

He is survived by a sister, Jean Lodge (Ed), his daughter, Stephanie Hill (Walt), a son, Doug, and grandchildren, Tyler Albany (Megan), Laura Fingerle, Joleen Hill, and Ashly Bonkoski.

A talented athlete, Mr. Bonkoski excelled as a quarterback first at Conshohocken High School followed by two consecutive Pennsylvania State College championships at West Chester University under the legendary coaches Glenn Killinger and Jim Bonder. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree and began a long teaching and coaching career. He earned his master’s degree in English at Rowan University while serving as a teacher and head football coach at Clearview Regional, Pleasantville, and Williamstown high schools in New Jersey. During those years, he continued his academic career at Rutgers University and the University of Delaware. He also spent two years coaching and teaching English at West Chester University.

A lifelong reader and cinema lover, he had a special love of poetry and was published in the literary journals Aurorean Moonshade and others. He also published three volumes of his own work: Hook and Pitch, Seasons Four, and This Lateness Singing His unique, friendly, and quirky personality won him many friends, and he will be fondly remembered and missed by all of them.

Services are private.

Arrangements are being handled by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. in Oxford. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.

THOMAS ARNOLD

Thomas Arnold, of West Chester, passed away on March 4, 2024 while surrounded by his family at his home. He was 95.

He was the husband of the late Mary C. Arnold, with whom he shared 66 years of marriage.

Born in Hoboken, New Jersey, he was a son of the late Thomas Arnold and the late Carolyn Martina (Schmidt) Arnold.

Survivors include his two sons, Clarke Arnold of West Chester and Stephen Arnold of Astoria, Oregon, three granddaughters, Molly Arnold, Katie Arnold, and Megan Arnold, one grandson, Michael Arnold, and his two great-grandchildren, Thomas Arnold and Grace Arnold.

Thomas graduated from Syracuse University in 1953 and earned his MBA in 1967 from San Francisco State. He served our country as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne. Thomas worked in business for 20 years and had a second career as a college professor. He taught at various colleges including Philadelphia Community College, Ursinus College, and West Chester University and was also the chairman for the business department for Beaver College (Now Arcadia University).

He was a friend of the Unitarian Congregation of West Chester. Thomas was an avid fencer and coach. In his free time, he became a stamp collector, poet, storyteller, and built and painted toy soldiers from scratch. Thomas loved to travel and saw much of the world with his late wife.

A memorial service celebrating Thomas’ life will be held privately for the family and close friends.

To leave a condolence for the family, please visit www.griecofunerals.com.

LARRY A. TESTA

Larry A. Testa, 80, of Cochranville, Pa., passed away in West Chester, Pa. on March 20, 2024. He was the loving, devoted husband and best friend of Stephania (Losito) Testa. On March 16, they celebrated 50 years of marriage. Born in Meyersdale, Pa., he was the son of the late Andrew S. and Esther (Swearman) Testa. Larry graduated from Salesianum High School and worked at General Motors for 10 years. Then he started his lifelong passion as a general contractor. He loved building, excavating and plowing snow. If any family members or friends ever needed help, all they had to do was call Larry, and he was there. He was an avid hunter and enjoyed many turkey and bear seasons with his boys and friends in Somerset County. He was a lifetime member of the Avondale Fire Company.

In addition to his his wife, he is survived by his sons, Matt (Cheri) Testa of Reading, Pa. and Jacob (Carrie) Testa of Oxford, and his precious grandchildren, Bane and Sasha, as well as his niece Celeste Palmer and nephew Mark Czarnota. He was preceded in death by his daughter Megan Testa and his sister Bonnie Czarnota.

As per Larry’s request, there will be no funeral. Just remember all the good times you had with a great guy.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to The Salvation Army Coatesville Corps or to the Brandywine Valley SPCA.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Wilde Funeral Home of Parkesburg, Pa. Online condolences can be posted at www.wildefuneralhome.com.

CHRISTINA LOUISE WEIMER HOLLARS

Christina “Tina” Louise Weimer Hollars, of Elkton, Md. and formerly of New London, Pa., went home to be with the Lord on March 9, 2024. She was 71.

Tina was born in 1952, the daughter of Richard Weimer and Barbara Hackman Weimer of Chatham, Pa. Tina grew up in the Southern Chester County area and graduated from Avon Grove High School in 1970.

Tina met David, the love of her life, on Mother’s Day in 1968, and they shared the rest of their lives together, raising their three children and then adoring their grandchildren. Tina and Dave were high school sweethearts, best friends, and amazing partners in life. After his passing, Tina would carry on her life without Dave for 14 years, but never stopped missing, cherishing, and loving him.

Tina was a wife and mom, first and foremost. A fierce advocate for her children, she instilled in them resilience, strength, and a love that would carry them through their lives. She took exceptional pride in her children, grandchildren, and her home. She welcomed many into her home and heart and was a source of strength and a friend to not only her children, but their friends as

well. Tina loved spending time with her family. She and Dave would spend summers on the Chesapeake boating and winters snowmobiling in the mountains of Lycoming County. These times were filled with laughter, good food and drink—the best of times, filled with the best of people!

Tina never met a stranger and the family was always amused by her stories of individuals she met, comforted or ran into at the grocery store who would tell her their life story. She was funny, witty, and tough as nails. Tina was strong in her convictions, a defender for those who couldn’t defend themselves and would not hesitate to stand up for her beliefs, her children and those she loved. She was a force to be reckoned with, a beautiful, well-dressed force. Tina was beautiful inside and out and her taste was impeccable, whether she was decorating her home or dressing for the grocery store, she was always perfect. Her ability to accessorize and put together anything from everyday clothes attire to home furnishings and holiday decorations, was unmatched.

Later in life, Tina would become “Gigi” to some of her favorite people. She was the unconventional, cool, wisdomdropping grandmother who held so much pride and adoration for her grandchildren. She would insist on keeping all traditions alive and would ensure the annual Christmas sweater cookie decorating championship was taken with the seriousness it deserved. She loved animals and her four-legged children and grandchildren brought so much joy to her life.

Whether she was meandering through the countryside with Dave and her Yorkies, taking them on horse-and-buggy rides in Lancaster or teaching her grandchildren, Milo, Lucas, and Griffin, how to sing—her joy was boundless for these special companions.

Tina is survived by and will continue to be honored and loved by her children, Gwendolyn Hollars Sensenig of West Grove, Heather Hollars and her husband George Blake of Landenberg, and Brent Hollars of Landenberg, and her grandchildren, Savannah Sensenig, Tristan Sensenig, Wyatt Sensenig, Viviana Hollars and Avalon Hollars. Also surviving are a sister, Barbara Ann Kinnamon, a host of nieces and nephews whom she adored and loved, as well as her late husband’s siblings. She thought of them as her own brothers and sisters.

Tina is, at last, with her husband Dave. She was also preceded in death by her sister, Gwendolyn Helen Weimer, her parents Richard and Barbara Weimer and her beloved puppies Puddin, Cassie and Milo.

A memorial and celebration of life will be held on Saturday, April 13, 2024 at Chandler Funeral Home at 7230 Lancaster Pike in Hockessin, Del. Friends may call from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and a memorial service will be held at 3:30 p.m. For online condolences, please visit www.chandlerfuneralhome.com.

ESTATE NOTICE

ESTATE OF ROBERT BRIAN

JORDAN, DECEASED. Late of London Grove Township, Chester County, PA

LETTERS of ANCILLARY 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 ALLAN

WHEATCRAFT, ANCILLARY

ADMINISTRATOR, c/o Stephen D. Potts, Strafford Office Bldg. #2, 200 Eagle Rd., Ste. 106, Wayne, PA 19087-3115, Or to his Attorney: STEPHEN D. POTTS, HERR, POTTS & POTTS, LLC, Strafford Office Bldg. #2, 200 Eagle Rd., Ste. 106, Wayne, PA 19087-3115

3p-20-3t

ESTATE NOTICE

ESTATE OF DORIS S. GROSECLOSE, DECEASED. Late of East Nottingham Township, Chester County, PA

LETTERS of 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 BETH A. GROSECLOSE, ADMINISTRATRIX, c/o Stacey Willits McConnell, Esq., 24 E. Market St., P.O. Box 565, West Chester, PA 19381-0565, Or to her Attorney: STACEY WILLITS McCONNELL, LAMB McERLANE, PC, 24 E. Market St., P.O. Box 565, West Chester, PA 19381-0565

3p-20-3t

NOTICE OF ESTATE AND TRUST

ADMINISTRATION

NOTICE is hereby given of the administration of the Estate of BRESCI J. CELLINI, a/k/a B. JOSEPH CELLINI and of THE BRESCI J. AND DOROTHY R.

REAL ESTATE PROTECTOR TRUST, dated January 16, 2009; THE BRESCI J. & DOROTHY R. CELLINI INCOME

ONLY REAL ESTATE PROTECTOR TRUST, dated January 16, 2009; and THE BRESCI J. & DOROTHY R. CELLINI LIVING TRUST, dated January 16, 2009. Bresci J. Cellini, settlor of the trust, late of the Township of Logan Grove, County of Chester, and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, departed this life on October 16, 2023.

Letters Testamentary in the Estate of BRESCI J. CEL-

LINI, 15-23-2835, have been granted to Francis J. Cellini and Gregory J. Cellini, who request all persons having claims or demands against the Estate and/or Trust of the Decedent to make known the same, and all persons indebted to the Decedent to make payments without delay to the Personal Representative/Trustee, c/o Julieanne E. Steinbacher, Esquire, Steinbacher, Goodall & Yurchak, 413 Washington Blvd, Williamsport, PA 17701. 3p-20-3t

NOTICE

PENN TOWNSHIP ZONING

HEARING BOARD NOTICE is hereby given that the Zoning Hearing Board of Penn Township will hold a Public Hearing at the Penn Township Municipal Building, 260 Lewis Road, West Grove, Pennsylvania, on April 10, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. at which time the Board will hear the following matter: Application of Roberto C. Nieto Ayala seeking a dimensional variance from the 100 foot set-back requirements for permanent animal shelters under Section 1615.B of the Zoning Ordinance so as to allow construction of a chicken house closer to the property line than 100 feet; and seeking a variance from the prohibition against locating accessory structures within the front yard of a property under Ordinance Sections 1501.A.2.b and c, so as to allow the construction of the chicken house within the legal front yard of property located at 320 Woodcrest Road, West Grove, PA (being UPI #58-4-16.9) in the Township’s RA-Residential/ Agricultural Zoning District. If you are a person with a disability and wish to attend the public meeting scheduled above and require an auxiliary aide, service or other accommodation to participate in the proceedings, please contact the Township Secretary at (610) 869-9620 to discuss how Penn Township may best accommodate your needs. Edward M. Foley, Solicitor Brutscher, Foley, Milliner, Land & Kelly, LLP 213 E. State Street Kennett Square, PA 19348 3p-20-2t

ESTATE NOTICE

ESTATE OF Louva Ann Gibbs late of West Fallowfield Township, Chester County, Deceased. Letters Testamentary on the estate of the above named Louva Ann Gibbs 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: David B. Gibbs, Executor c/o Attorney: Winifred Moran Sebastian,

Esquire 208 E. Locust Street , P.O. Box 381, Oxford, PA 19363

Phone: 610-932-3838 3p-20-3t

INCORPORATION NOTICE

SEGURA’S PAINTING, INC.

has been incorporated under the provisions of the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law of 1988, as amended. 3p-27-1t

ESTATE NOTICE

ESTATE OF Lois A. Dunn, late of Downingtown Borough, Chester County, Deceased. Letters Testamentary on the estate of the above-named Lois A. Dunn 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: Richard L. Dunn, Executor C/O Attorney: Winifred Moran Sebastian, Esquire, 208 E. Locust Street P.O. Box 381, Oxford, PA 19363 Phone: 610-932-3838 3p-27-3t

ESTATE NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the estate of decedent, Rust S Thompson of Newlin Township, Chester Co, PA, the Register of Wills has granted letters, to the person named below. All persons having claims or demands against the Estate of said decedent are requested to make known the same and all persons indebted to the said decedent are requested to make payment without delay to: Executor, Leona S Provinski, PO Box 552, Unionville, PA 1937 3p-27-3t

Sheriff Sale of Real Estate

By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff Kevin D. Dykes, the hereindescribed real estate will be sold at public online auction via Bid4Assets, by accessing URL www.bid4assets.com/chestercopasheriffsales, on Thursday, April 18th , 2024 at 11AM. Notice is given to all parties in interest and claimants that the Sheriff will file with the Prothonotary and in the Sheriff’s Office, both located in the Chester County Justice Center, 201 W Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania, Schedules of Distribution on Monday, May 20 th, 2024. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedules unless exceptions are filed in the Sheriff’s Office within ten (10) days thereafter.

Sale No. 24-4-99

Writ of Execution No. 2022-06874

DEBT $708,826.48

ALL THAT CERTAIN LOT OF

GROUND, SITUATE IN THE TOWNSHIP OF KENNETT, CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

BEING PARCEL NUMBER: 6205-0029.020

PLAINTIFF: PHH MORTGAGE CORPORATION VS DEFENDANT: DEBORAH

MOORE A/K/A DEBORAH A. MOORE; MICHAEL MOORE A/K/A MICHAEL D. MOORE

SALE ADDRESS: 825 Burrows Run Road, Chadds Ford, PA 19317

PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC 855-225-6906

N.B. Ten percent (10%) of the purchase money must be paid at the time of the on-line sale. Payment must be made via Bid4Assets. The balance must be paid within twenty-one (21) days from the date of sale via Bid4Assets. KEVIN D. DYKES, SHERIFF 3p-27-3t Sheriff Sale of Real Estate

By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff Kevin D. Dykes, the hereindescribed real estate will be sold at public online auction via Bid4Assets, by accessing URL www.bid4assets.com/chestercopasheriffsales, on Thursday, April 18th , 2024 at 11AM. Notice is given to all parties in interest and claimants that the Sheriff will file with the Prothonotary and in the Sheriff’s Office, both located in the Chester County Justice Center, 201 W Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania, Schedules of Distribution on Monday, May 20 th, 2024. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedules unless exceptions are filed in the Sheriff’s Office within ten (10) days thereafter.

Sale No. 24-4-108

Writ of Execution No. 2023-04334 DEBT $147,530.57

PROPERTY SITUATE IN HIGHLAND TOWNSHIP

TAX PARCEL #45-01-0005

IMPROVEMENTS thereon: a residential dwelling

PLAINTIFF: FLAGSTAR BANK, N.A.

VS DEFENDANT: GIEDRIUS VIRKETIS

SALE ADDRESS: 14 Boroline Road, Parkesburg, PA 19365

PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: KML

LAW GROUP, P.C. 215-6271322

N.B. Ten percent (10%) of the purchase money must be paid at the time of the on-line sale. Payment must be made via Bid4Assets. The balance must be paid within twenty-one (21) days from the date of sale via Bid4Assets. KEVIN D. DYKES, SHERIFF 3p-27-3t

Classifieds

Notice of Self Storage Sale

Please take notice US Storage Centers - Exton located at 371 Gordon Dr., Exton PA 19341 intends to hold a public sale to the highest bidder of the property stored by the following tenants at the storage facility. This sale will occur as an online auction via www.storagetreasures.com on 4/17/2023 at 10:00AM.

Kimberly Y Griffith unit #C127; Brandon Ginter unit #F025. This sale may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Certain terms and conditions apply.

Miscellaneous:

Replace your roof with the best looking and longest lasting material - Steel from Erie Metal Roofs! Three styles and multiple colors available. Guaranteed to last a lifetime! Limited Time Offer - 50% off installation + Additional 10% off install (for military, health workers & 1st responders.) Call Erie Metal Roofs: 1-844-290-9042. Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-855-569-3087

Stroke and Cardiovascular disease are leading causes of death, according to the American Heart Association. Screenings can provide peace of mind or early detection! Contact Life Line Screening to schedule your screening. Special offer5 screenings for just $149. Call 1-855-672-8674

Safe Step. North America’s #1 Walk-In Tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-theline installation and service. Now featuring our FREE shower package and $1600 Off for a limited time! Call today! Financing available. Call Safe Step 1-833-437-1428

Weed

LCH Health and Community Services earns prestigious recognition

LCH Health and Community Services announced that it has been recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as a Person-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) for 2024. This prestigious recognition is a testament to LCH’s commitment to providing high-quality, patient-centered care to its community.

The NCQA’s PCMH recognition program evaluates healthcare organizations based on their ability to provide comprehensive and coordinated care that meets the needs of their patients.

PCMH-accredited organizations like LCH focus on building strong, ongoing relationships with patients, coordinating their care across different providers and settings, and engaging patients in their own healthcare decisions. LCH has Matthew Korenoski, an associate at the firm Unruh Turner Burke & Frees, has recently authored an article in the Pennsylvania Bar Association Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section Newsletter. The article, “Real Property Case Law and Legislative Update,” provides a comprehensive overview of recent legislative changes and important court decisions impacting real property matters in Pennsylvania.

been recognized annually for more than 5 years by achieving PCMH recognition.

“We are thrilled to receive this recognition from the NCQA,” said Ronan W. Gannon, CEO at LCH Health and Community Services.

“Being recognized as a Person-Centered Medical Home reaffirms our dedication to providing the highest level of care to our patients and working collaboratively with them to improve their health outcomes.”

The PCMH model has been shown to improve patient experience, enhance the quality of care, and reduce healthcare costs by promoting preventive care and reducing unnecessary hospitalizations and emergency department visits. By achieving PCMH accreditation, LCH Health and Community Services has demonstrated

its commitment to delivering exceptional care to its patients and community.

Kyu Rhee, MD, MPP, president and CEO of the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), applauded LCH Health and Community Services on its PCMH accreditation. “This achievement highlights the important role Community Health Centers like LCH play in delivering highquality care to 31.5 million patients in over 1500 rural, urban and frontier communities across the United States. Community Health Centers are the best, most innovative, diverse, and resilient part of the U.S. health care system and serve as vital resources for their communities. LCH’s commitment to excellence sets a commendable example for others to follow.”

Korenoski authors key article on real property case law updates and legislation

thousands of older and disabled Pennsylvanians by expanding eligibility for property tax rebates and increasing the dollar value for certain households.

In this article, Korenoski highlights the significant amendment to the Taxpayer Relief Act, signed into law by Pennsylvania Gov. Shapiro on Aug. 4, 2023. This amendment, known as 2023 Pa. Legis. Serv. Act 2023-7, went into effect on October 3, 2023. The changes are expected to benefit

The amendment adjusted income limits for property tax rebates and raised the maximum rebate for senior citizens. Korenoski explains that these changes are projected to allow approximately 175,000 more senior citizens to qualify for property tax rebates, enabling around 400,000 current recipients to receive increased rebates.

Additionally, the article delves into the legal complexities surrounding the proposed annexation of the Borough of Wilkinsburg by the City of Pittsburgh.

Korenoski provides insights into the legal arguments

presented by both proponents and objectors, ultimately detailing the Commonwealth Court’s decision affirming that annexation required a majority vote in both the Borough and the City.

The article also addresses a recent split decision by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in GM Berkshire Hills LLC v. Berks Cnty. Bd. of Assessment, et al. The court’s opinion examined whether a school district’s policy of appealing recently sold properties, where the fair market value underlying the real estate tax assessment significantly differed from the sales price, violated the Uniformity Clause of the Pennsylvania Constitution.

Further, Korenoski discusses a non-precedential

opinion from the Superior Court regarding consentable boundary lines in the case of Rosborough v. Carmel Developments, Inc. The court concluded that a consentable line by recognition and acquiescence existed, but that the evidence did not support the precise dimensions of the disputed property, leading to the award of nominal damages.

As an associate at Unruh Turner Burke & Frees, Korenoski practices Zoning and Land Use, Real Estate and Commercial Litigation, and Municipal Law. He represents individuals, businesses, and government bodies (including townships, zoning hearing boards, and other local authorities) in matters involving real estate and

has earned the Distinguished Honor Roll

Courtesy photo

LCH Health and Community Services has been recognized by the National

Committee for Quality Assurance as a Person-Centered Medical Home for 2024.

Courtesy photo Matthew Korenoski

Courtesy photo Lee Harvey is pictured with his sister, Jessica Kinney, his mother, Rose Harce, Avon Grove Lions president

George Steele and

Grove Charter School assistant principal Mark Miller.

“Great experience with Home Smart. I collected a couple quotes for a bathtub/surround replacement. Home Smart offered

aesthetically pleasing option at a competitive price. They also beat the installation lead time estimate by ~4 weeks. Ken and Tony came and efficiently completed the install. My house is old and there were challenges to work with, but they worked through them and in the end, product looks really great. Thanks!”

Read more reviews from our satisfied