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Chester CountyPRESS
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Covering Avon Grove, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Oxford, & Unionville Areas
Volume 154, No. 15
Wednesday, April 15, 2020
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Mushroom Festival canceled due to pandemic concerns By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer It is often said that only death and taxes are assured, but for the throngs of visitors who descend on the Borough of Kennett Square on the weekend after Labor Day every year, the annual Kennett Square Mushroom Festival is about as close as one can get to a sure thing. Like thousands of other large-scale public events of its kind throughout the U.S. and the world, however, the 2020 festival -- originally scheduled for Sept. 12 and Sept. 13 -- will be canceled, due to increasing safety concerns expressed by its Board of Directors about
the COVID-19 outbreak, as well as empathy for a mushroom industry that has been hit hard as a result of the pandemic. In a release issued by the Avondale-based American Mushroom Institute in January, mushroom growers entered 2020 with record sales volumes, increasing retail prices and solid demand for fresh mushrooms. Since March, however, the local mushroom industry has absorbed a substantial financial blow, stemming from the temporary closure of many of its customers like restaurants, retail stores and food Courtesy photo manufacturing centers that Because of safety concerns about COVID-19, the 2020 Kennett Square Mushroom Continued on Page 2A
Festival, scheduled for Sept. 12 and 13, will be canceled.
Toughkenamon Streetscape Camp Dreamcatcher at 25: and Transportation Life-changing Improvement Plan completed programs bring help and hope to children By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
After more than a year of input from the public, elected and appointed offiLa Comunidad Hispana cials and a lot of erasures news...1B and re-drawings, the vision that imagines a new and revitalized Toughkenamon is now complete. The Streetscape and Transportation Improvement Plan in the Village of Toughkenamon creates a streetscape concept for the village, identifies ways to improve transportation and mobility in the village, and offers ideas to enhance aesthetics, create more housing diversity, and stimulate opportunities for KACS and partners plan investment. food drive...3B More specifically, the plan imagines accommodations for safe routes to public transportation, crosswalks, pedestrian amenities and landscaping, as well as ideas for increasing walkability; reducing speeding and cut-through traffic;
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The Streetscape and Transportation Improvement Plan in the Village of Toughkenamon offers a blueprint for a new village that provides improved transportation and mobility, enhanced aesthetics, housing diversity and investment.
providing new road connections; creating a consistent streetscape that will include lighting and signage; increasing parking accommodations; and establishing a park near the village. The final plan is available for public viewing on the New Garden Township website (www.newgarden. org), and will be presented to the township’s Board of Supervisors for adoption at a future public meeting.
As the 15-month process began, two initiatives dovetailed, beginning with the formation of a committee made up of township staff, local residents, landscape architects and planners. The committee worked with Natasha Manbeck and McMahon Associates and Jennifer Reitz of Thomas Commita & Associates towards the creation of a plan that now becomes Continued on Page 3A
While we’ve been indoors… Farm along Brandywine Creek branch now preserved...4B
INDEX Opinion.......................5A Obituaries..................2B Classifieds.................4B
© 2007 The Chester County Press Photo by Richard L. Gaw
The Landenberg Church may be conducting its weekly services online, but the welcome arrival of Spring in Chester County has served as nature’s gift during a very challenging time.
Photo courtesy of Fred Weiner
“It’s like this circle of love that people give to each other,” said Camp Dreamcatcher executive director Patty Hillkirk.
By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer In the beginning, there was hope. When Patty Hillkirk took the first steps toward establishing a camp for youngsters who are affected by HIV or AIDS, she hoped to be able to make a difference in their lives, and she also wanted the camp to provide hope to the children that a brighter future was waiting for them. Hillkirk, a psychotherapist who graduated from Penn State University and trained at the Pennsylvania Gestalt Center, envisioned a camp that would that would offer much more than a fun, outdoor experience. She wanted the children to have a safe, supportive environment where they could share their feelings of fear, sadness, and anger and begin the process of healing and learn how to cope with the enormous challenges that come with living with HIV or AIDS. In those days, a child who had been diagnosed with the deadly disease would face significant health issues and they could only
expect to live to their teenage years. The children of parents who had HIV often suffered greatly, too, dealing with feelings of isolation and loss. They were targets for bullying and discrimination. Many lived in poverty and lacked food and steady shelter. Some experienced community violence and were victims of abuse. These were the children that Hillkirk wanted to help when she established a nonprofit organization in January of 1996. The first weeklong camp took place later that same year, and while there were other camps on the East Coast that served children who had been impacted by HIV and AIDS, what distinguished Camp Dreamcatcher from the very start was the emphasis on the counseling and therapeutic support. “That’s really what makes us unique,” Hillkirk said during a recent interview. She explained that, from the very beginning, Camp Dreamcatcher focused not only on helping each child live with HIV and AIDS, but on addressing issues Continued on Page 2A
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normally get their mushrooms from many of the growers in Chester County. Samantha Snyder, an account representative at To-Jo Mushrooms and the vice president of marketing for the festival, said that To-Jo – like other industry leaders – has seen a drop in the number of orders the company normally receives. “The festival’s Board of Directors would have loved to have produced the festival this year, but there were just too many unknowns,” Snyder said. The festival’s directors also factored in another roadblock in deciding to cancel this year’s event: the enforcement of crowd limitations during the pandemic. “We have no idea when the restrictions on crowd sizes will be lifted, and we also knew that this is not the right time to be reaching out to vendors and sponsors,” Snyder said. “Logistically, and from a safety standpoint, we realized that even if the restrictions were to be lifted well before September that we wouldn’t feel comfortable having that many vendors in a finite space, not to mention over
Camp Dreamcatcher... Continued from Page 1A
like bullying, peer pressure, loneliness, poverty, and grief. When children from throughout the MidAtlantic region gather for Camp Dreamcatcher from Aug. 23 to 29 this year, it will mark the 25th camp, a milestone that offers an opportunity to both look back on the impact that Camp Dreamcatcher has had and to look ahead to
100,000 visitors bumping shoulders and elbows.” “Because our mushroom businesses have been hurt significantly, it became very difficult for us solicit sponsorship dollars from our friends in the industry,” said Volunteer Executive Director Kathi Lafferty. “We’ve also found out that the typical events that our vendors participate in have also been cancelled, so although it was difficult, we came to the decision that it would just be best in everyone’s best interest – and health and safety -- to just come back even stronger next year.” The festival, which was to celebrate its 35th year in 2020, began in 1986 when a small group of mushroom enthusiasts wished to hold a public event to celebrate the impact of mushroom growing and mushroom product distribution in Kennett Square, which has long been known as “The Mushroom Capital of the World.” From those beginnings – which encompassed a two-block distance, the Mushroom Festival has grown to a mile-long venue that draws an average of 100,000 visitors to Kennett Square on the second weekend in September, as well as a full line-up of events, exhibits, contests, chil-
dren’s entertainment and more than 250 vendors. Facilitated by its volunteer organizing committee, the Mushroom Festival has donated more than $1 million of its proceeds since 1986 to a wide variety of charities and organizations that benefit the residents of Kennett Square and the surrounding communities. Despite the cancelation of its 2020 event, the Kennett Square Mushroom Festival will continue to have a strong presence Courtesy photos in the community this The coronavirus has already had a major economic impact on the local mushroom year. The festival’s Board industry. Many of the mushroom businesses have been longtime sponsors of the of Directors recently annual festival over the course of its 35-year history. announced that $25,000 in grants raised from the proceeds of the 2019 festival will be disbursed throughout the Kennett Square community to help fund the efforts of those individuals and organizations that are assisting others in the fight against coronavirus. Contributions will also be made to local fire companies and first responders. In addition, the festival is scheduled to sponsor its popular Mushroom Soup and Wine Evening on Oct. 15, as well as hold the annual New Year’s Mushroom Drop event on Dec. 31. To contact Staff Writer In spite of the cancelation of the 2020 Kennett Square Mushroom Festival, its Board Richard L. Gaw, email of Directors said that the festival is making a $25,000 donation toward local organirgaw@chestercounty.com. zations that are assisting others in efforts to combat COVID-19.
the work that remains to He was among the first group of campers to take be done. part in the leadership-intraining program that was ‘‘I can’t imagine the specifically person I’d be without it’ developed to allow campers to take Miguel Correa has grown on leadership roles when up right in front of Hillkirk they reached a certain age. and some of the longtime Correa has served as a camp volunteers and counselors counselor, helping all the younger campers get accliat Camp Dreamcatcher. He was among the mated so that they can get youngest campers when the most out of the Camp he first attended Camp Dreamcatcher experience. Dreamcatcher during its Twenty-five years ago, earliest years in the mid- Hillkirk never thought 1990s. Correa has been that the youngest campers coming to camp ever since. would grow up and become
Photo courtesy of Fred Weiner
Each camp includes plenty of fun activities, too.
counselors themselves one day. But individuals like Correa pushed the boundaries of what was possible. “We see kids move into maturity here,” Hillkirk said of the older teens who become camp counselors. “They can bring something to that role of camp counselor that none of us can bring. That’s been special to see.” Correa was so young when he first took part in Camp Dreamcatcher that he doesn’t remember the first few trips to the camp. One of Correa’s earliest memories at Camp Dreamcatcher came when he was 8 or 9 and the children took a trip to Washington, D.C. and got to visit the White House. What stands out about that year, Correa recalled, was not just a fun trip to the nation’s capital, but a storm with lightning, thunder, and heavy rains that came in the night before the trip. He remembered that one of the counselors went out in the storm to secure all the flaps on the tarps so the children wouldn’t get wet. Correa still remembers that act of protection to this day. He also remembers the generosity of counselors at the camp. Once, around the same time that the trip to Washington, D.C. took place, one of the counselors gave him a VHS copy of “Star Wars: A New Hope.” He’s still a big fan of Star Wars, and he still has the VHS tape, another illustration of how small gestures of kindness can mean so much to others. It’s one of the many lessons that Correa has learned at Camp Dreamcatcher. The camp helped him process the grief that he felt after losing both his parents at a young age. “Camp impacted my life so much that I can’t imagine the person I’d be without it,” he explained. “It gave me the tools to feel comfortable in my own body, it gave my problemsolving skills, it allowed me to be able to understand many points of view and love those who don’t see the world as I do. Camp
is my soul, and for many years that’s all I had.” As one of the youngest campers during those early years, Correa knows Camp Dreamcatcher about as well as anyone. He believes that the biggest change that he has seen is how the camp continued to evolve to meet the needs of the children. While the week-long camp remains a focal point of Camp Dreamcatcher, there are now year-round initiatives, including leadership-in-training sessions, weekend retreats for teens, an adopt-a-family program at Christmas, and a mentoring program that pairs younger children with an older camper or counselor. These activities, which are all free to participants, take place throughout the year even though camp officials and the children are scattered throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Virginia. During the course of 25 years, approximately 5,600 people have benefited from the variety of life-changing programs now offered. Just as Hillkirk couldn’t have envisioned a time when campers would grow up to be counselors, she also did not think that what started out as a one-week camp would evolve into a series of programs that are aimed at helping the children grow into being healthy, productive adults. Finding Camp Dreamcatcher Robin Hope, a resident of Vineland, New Jersey, can still remember how she felt when she found out about Camp Dreamcatcher, and the programs that it offered to children. Today, Hope’s children are, like Correa, grown adults. But the children were still very young when Hope started serving as a foster parent. Hope explained, “When they were little, I was preparing myself. I was reading books so that I could help teach them how to live with the virus.”
Hope remembered being very concerned about the social impact the disease would have on the children’s lives. At the time, people misunderstood a lot about HIV—and there was a lot of misinformation being spread by people who didn’t understand HIV and AIDS. At that time, there was a real stigma attached to anyone who was HIV-positive. Some children were being told by adults that they couldn’t touch or even shake hands with a child who was HIV-positive. “My kids felt like they did something wrong,” Hope explained. “And they were completely innocent. They were just children.” When she found Camp Dreamcatcher, Hope said, she was extremely pleased that such a camp existed for her children. It was a little hard letting the kids go away without her for a week, but she knew they were safe at Camp Dreamcatcher. “I was scared to death because I had never been separated from them before,” Hope explained. “Camp Dreamcatcher was their place of freedom. For that week, they were free to be exactly how they are. They could share their stories. They could be around other children that they could share their feelings with. They didn’t have to keep secrets.” The village chiefs and counselors play a pivotal role in helping the children to open up about how they feel. They work very closely with the children during the camp week. Hillkirk explained that a lot of the children, especially the younger ones, have anxiety or they have experienced trauma in their young lives. They can be the victims of bullying or have loved ones who are experiencing significant health issues and are scared. “Often, these issues are first diagnosed at camp,” Hillkirk explained. One aspect of camp is cerContinued on Page 3A
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the blueprint for a mixeduse corridor along Newark Road, Baltimore Pike and Main Street. In addition, the township applied for and received a grant to fund the engineering of the project from the DVRPC Transportation and Community Development Initiative, which covered the $79,000 cost to develop a top-to-bottom concept to improve the village. For Manbeck, Reitz and the rest of the committee, the “big-picture” concept they followed had already been written: improving the Village of Toughkenamon took up a significant chunk of aspirations the township spelled out in its 2018 Comprehensive Plan. “We were fortunate that we weren’t necessarily starting from ground zero,” Manbeck said. “New Garden Township has long identified Toughkenamon as a place that has great potential to be even better than the gem village that it
Camp Dreamcatcher... Continued from Page 2A
tainly the summer fun—the go-kart rides, the basketball, the special programs presented by an army of volunteers who show up to entertain and educate the children. But there are also a wide variety of therapeutic programs aimed at helping the children overcome their challenges and mature into happy, productive adults. Camp Dreamcatcher has increased the number of trained therapists at camp so that they can provide more assistance to the youngsters who need it. Hillkirk and the Camp Dreamcatcher volunteers can also help connect the families of youngsters to resources in their own communities. That’s one way that Camp Dreamcatcher has grown beyond just a one-week camp. Real connections are formed between the counselors and the campers, and the adults are always there to help the children out whenever they need it. Raynetta Adams, a senior counselor who has been volunteering with Camp Dreamcatcher for more than 20 years, said that it has been an amazing experience watching the children grow as they come to camp year after year. She said that it’s a common occurrence for one of the kids that she has gotten to know to reach out for some sort of help or advice with a problem that they might be dealing with. “Sometimes, they will want to talk on a regular basis, but other times it’s just when they need a life raft,” Adams explained. She recalled a recent time when, two or three months after a teen retreat, she got a telephone call from one of the teen boys who needed to talk to someone after a member of the extended family had been killed. It took some time for the boy to open up to her about the tragedy, but eventually he did. Adams, who is affectionately called “Rae Rae” by the campers and counselors, said that it is always gratifying to be able to help a child in need. That spirit of helping and supporting others is prevalent at Camp Dreamcatcher.
is today.” While the Toughkenamon Streetscape and Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n Improvement Plan is in the books and awaits action by the New Garden Township supervisors, one of the major drivers in the improvement of the village rests entirely apart from the plans’s findings and recommendations. For the past several years, the much-needed improvements to the troublesome Baltimore Pike-Newark Road intersection have been on PennDOT’s to-do list, along with other statewide projects. At this point, the intersection project has funding sources for both design and construction. PennDOT received a $2 million grant in 2018 from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Multimodal Transportation Fund, as well as additional federal and state funding. Added to that, the township received a $600,000 Multimodal Transportation Fund grant from the Commonwealth
Financing Authority, which it is using to advance the engineering for the project. “The biggest stumbling block for this project -which has been discussed for at least a decade – has been funding, and the funding has been secured, so the design is moving forward,” Manbeck said. “A key reason why the township undertook the Toughkenamon plan was because it was going to be done in alignment with addressing the biggest issue in the village.” While several officials involved in the project believed that public input drove the plans for the village, several Toughkenamon residents who attended township meetings earlier this year spelled out several criticisms of the streetscape and transportation concepts. Some said that the ideas expressed in the plan are stacked in favor of benefitting developers and business owners, and not the people who actually live there. Calling for the need to
develop Toughkenamon “naturally,” the residents said that by drastically changing the infrastructure and zoning of the village to allow for retail and residential growth, it would allow for “a large influx” into the village. As the final report was being finalized, those critical comments were included alongside those that applauded the components of the plan, Manbeck said. “Overall, the public response we received was really helpful in shaping the recommendations in the plan, so throughout the process, we refined our ideas based on the public input we received,” she said. “We felt it was important to include a summary of some of the public comments we received, both in support of the plan, as well as those who were critical and in some cases, in complete opposition of the plan.” As stated in the plan’s implementation chapter, reenergizing Toughkenamon into a thriv-
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The plan’s overhead image of Toughkenamon imagines an improved intersection at Newark Road and Baltimore Pike.
ing, walkable, mixed-use village will not happen overnight, but incrementally, through a commitment of time and resources from the community, New Garden Township staff, property owners and elected officials. In the immediate future, the township will determine key action items, next steps, priorities and potential funding sources for capital improvement projects and policies/programs, as well as updating zoning and sub-
division ordinances. “As the residents requested and we agree, change and implementation will happen naturally and organically over time, and some of it will be dependent upon resources that will become available in the township – from volunteers, from technology, from staff and from funding,” Manbeck said. To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.
Adams explained, “There’s something about spending time with the children and forming these bonds with them. It just touches a special place in my heart. When the kids come to camp, they know that they are safe. They also know that when someone says ‘I love you’ that is what is meant. For that one week, they are safe. There are no secrets that they have to keep here.” She paused, and then added, “It’s just pure joy and love at Camp Dreamcatcher.” Big Al teaches the kids to pay it forward Allan R. Torres is the CEO of Pena & Kahn, a law firm in New York, as well as an owner of two restaurants and several martial arts studios. He is an extremely busy person yet, each year, he makes time to come to camp and is also there to help the kids when they reach out to him. Torres has been volunteering at Camp Dreamcatcher for the last 18 years, and he’s now a senior counselor and helps train some of the other counselors. “Camp is very powerful,” Torres said. “The connection with the kids is like nothing that you could imagine. I never knew that one organization could be so impactful on a person’s life.” Torres, who is known to campers as “Big Al,” teaches an enormously popular martial arts class at camp. The class focuses on self-defense techniques and making children more aware of their surroundings and the circumstances that children might find themselves in. Torres said that volunteering at the camp is a life-changing experience. He has brought a number of people with him to camp through the years, and they all say the same thing. Torres is one of those people who has a natural connection with youngsters, which makes him a natural mentor, especially to teens who are often looking for guidance to help figure out the world around them. “When I talk about camp, I can get choked up,” he said. “The kids, all they want is a chance. They want to be seen. They want
Photo courtesy of Fred Weiner
Children look forward to seeing their friends.
to be heard.” Torres explained that one camper invited him to graduation and said that he helped him reach that milestone in his life. Another camper wrote a letter saying that Torres was like a father to him. He recalled a time when he was unable to be there when one of the teen campers celebrated going to the prom. To make up for his absence, Torres sent along a corsage and some money so that the girl could get her hair done before the prom. It was an opportunity to make her feel special. Torres encouraged the girl to pay it forward and help make someone else feel special one day. He loves seeing the children grow into responsible adults who go to college, get a job, start families, and lead productive lives. One of the campers who was introduced to martial arts by one of Torres’ classes at Camp Dreamcatcher has gone on become a black belt with an advanced degree. While many youngsters see a benefit from what Torres teaches them, the martial arts instructor insists that the benefits are more than reciprocated as the youngsters make a huge difference in his own life. ‘It’s like a circle of love’ Counselors and campers alike describe Camp Dreamcatcher as one, big
extended family. Jenn Brown joined the family in 1999, when she volunteered for the first time at camp while she was still a student in high school. She went to the library in Kennett Square one day and saw a flyer about Camp Dreamcatcher. Once she volunteered and got the experience of working with the children at the camp, Brown was hooked—like so many people are. Brown’s professional background is in working with international nonprofits, and life has taken her many places during the intervening 20 years since she first volunteered at camp, but the pull of Camp Dreamcatcher is strong. “I live in California now,” she said, “but I come back every year that I can.” She explained that she has been able to help out at the camp for at least the last five years in a row, serving as a village chief.
Even when she lived overseas for a period of time, she would try to plan family visits around the camp week so that she could still volunteer. “The biggest thing for me is how much the kids love it,” Brown explained. “They just love it so much. It’s a wonderful atmosphere of love and acceptance.” Brown even got her parents, Richard Brown and Barbara Stewart, to help volunteer at camp. “Everyone in the family just loves the camp,” she said. Hillkirk estimates that about 70 percent of the counselors have been helping out at camp between 10 and 23 years. She said that there are many dedicated volunteers who are willing to travel to help out with camp, including trained medical professionals who staff the health center, an essential component of the camp.
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“We have counselors who live in Florida, Chicago, California,” Hillkirk explained. “Something happens when they volunteer at Camp Dreamcatcher. Many of these volunteers will change their schedules, they will plan their lives around camp.” Continued on Page 4A
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The reason is simple: Camp Dreamcatcher has grown into one, big family. That family includes the army of volunteers who help make each camp a possibility. “We wouldn’t be able to meet the needs of the kids without the volunteers,” Hillkirk said. The Camp Dreamcatcher family also includes the many companies, organizations, foundations and individuals who provide financial assistance, which is critically important since all the programs are free to the children. These contributors also help spread the word about Camp Dreamcatcher’s work. “The Kennett Square community, the southern Chester County community, is phenomenal,” Hillkirk said. It would be hard to overstate the importance of Camp Dreamcatcher to families that utilize the programs, according to Takisha, a resident of Chester County who has two children who attend Camp Dreamcatcher. She loves that her children have a place to meet new people and to develop friendships. But more than that, she loves the emotional support that Camp Dreamcatcher provides. Again, it’s like a big family. Takisha shared that when her grandfather passed away last October, Hillkirk and the Camp Dreamcatcher volunteers were right there to help the family through the difficult time. Hillkirk said that providing that kind of support is essential to the evolving mission of Camp Dreamcatcher. “It’s like this circle of love that people give to each other,” she said. The effort continues As Camp Dreamcatcher celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, the need for a camp like this one is probably as great as it was in 1996. Back then, there were more camps that served children who were dealing with HIV and AIDS. The number of camps has dwindled since then, for a variety of reasons. Rae Rae, who serves on the Camp Dreamcatcher board, credits Hillkirk for the organization’s ability to withstand all the ups and
Photos courtesy of Fred Weiner
A wish log ceremony is an emotional part of each year’s camp.
downs over the course of 25 years. “This is her dream come to life,” Rae Rae said. “She is a fearless leader who keeps forging on. She has done a wonderful job.” She also lauded the efforts of the medical professionals who lend their time and talents to Camp Dreamcatcher. Patty Hewson, a pediatric nurse practitioner, is the longtime director of the health center. Rae Rae said that she also marvels at how attuned the children are to their own needs. “The kids have tremendous insight into health,” she explained. “They used to have to take an entire regimen of pills, but now the science has come a very long way. We have tremendous support from the medical staff during the camp.” While educational initiatives and preventative programs have yielded results, there are still more than 1.1 million people living with HIV in the United States. It’s been estimated that between 10 percent and 15 percent of the people don’t know they are infected. That is a problem because those who aren’t aware of the infection can spread it without even knowing it, impacting many more people. Another issue is the sharing of needles by people who are abusing illegal drugs. Certain populations
Many kids say that swimming activities are their favorite during the week-long camp.
remain much more at risk than others, and communities where there are higher poverty rates and drug-use rates can lead to pockets of HIV outbreaks, such as the one that occurred in southern Indiana in 2015-2016. During the week of camp in 2019, there was a significant number of new children at the camp who are HIV-positive, which is disheartening to Hillkirk and the Camp Dreamcatcher team. But it also indicative to Hillkirk and the more than 200 volunteers who staff the camp that the effort to help children continues. There are still tens of thousands of new HIV infections in the U.S. each year, and the disease still has a big emotional and physical impact on people, especially children. For that reason, the mission continues, even after 25 years of work. For parents like Robin
Hope, it’s difficult to express just how life-changing Camp Dreamcatcher has been. She said that she credits Camp Dreamcatcher with helping her five wonderful children—all who are now 22 years old and above—to grow into five
Dedicated counselors make Camp Dreamcatcher—and the children—an important part of their lives.
wonderful adults. “I cry still because of all that Camp Dreamcatcher did for my children,” Hope said. “I could never repay Patty for what she has done for me. Patty is defi-
nitely one of my heroes. Thank God for Camp Dreamcatcher.” To contact Steven Hoffman, email editor@ chestercounty.com.
How to help families in need right now Patty Hillkirk, the executive director of Camp Dreamcatcher, said that more and more of the families are contacting the organization and saying that they are struggling as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic because they aren’t able to work. There is a growing need for food, clothing, and supplies. There is a link on the website (campdreamcatcher.org) to make donations of items or gift cards to families. https://campdreamcatcher.org/get-involved/donate/ Camp Dreamcatcher has also created a Text-to-Give campaign page: The Text to Give number is 44321. Include the message: Fund4families. Simply text Fund4families to 44321 to make a donation. For more information about how to help Camp Dreamcatcher, contact Hillkirk at phillkirk@kennett.net.
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The pillow, the bedpost and the nightstand
If we can sacrifice, so can the governor’s powerful friends
Courtesy photo
Josie Marsh of Kennett Township is working with her daughters Nora and Avie to make protective masks for Doctors Without Borders and a local food pantry.
On occasion, there is a moment of sleep that leaves us all lost in that purgatory moment halfway between a dream and a reality, when a small sliver of unknowingness leaves us floating and untethered, searching for those objects that are most assuredly and unquestionably there, because they just have to be. The pillow; the bedpost; the book on the nightstand; anything of a familiar shape and texture will do, because in this moment, we don’t know who we are nor where we are, and if we can just hold on to something, we can at least accept that we are fairly close to being truly awake again. For the last month, nearly to the day, we have all been living in this same purgatory moment, clinging to found items like they are heirlooms, talismans and shrines, as if for assurance. Our nightmare and our reality, however, is that we have not been half asleep. The truth is that we have been fully awake, powerless to retain the muscle memory that tugs us to what we have known and been told is faith and hope and promise. All of it just seems so futile against the unwavering bombast of images, warnings, closures, orders, updates, dispatches, quarantines, cases and yes, deaths. We are being attacked by a silent enemy not even the most powerful can see, and yet, in all of this madness and fear, the Chester County Press has become a repository of faith, hope and promise that is coming from our entire community. Over the last few weeks, we have been deluged with stories about Chester County residents who have approached this invisible monster armed with resources and a determination, and what we have read and written about has simply held us in awe and rendered us speechless. A mother and her two young daughters have made 169 protective scarves for Doctors Without Borders and a local food pantry. A local Chinese-American community has been doing the same. Our local hospitals have been besieged with contributions of medical supplies by residents from all over the county. Thanks to the work of our many chambers of commerce, businesses who would normally have to shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic are continuing to keep their doors open. A local business has created an online source for the community to purchase gift certificates to small businesses. A local shoe manufacturing company has made donations of footwear for medical professionals. Several organizations have locked arms in partnership to create a food drop-off site. A former veteran running for local office is driving door to door with his campaign team to pick up non-perishable food items from donors and dropping them off at food pantries for distribution to needy families. Like children’s letters to Santa, these stories – your stories – continue to pour into the Chester County Press every week, and we believe it is both our duty and our honor to share all of them with you in print, on our website and on our social media, for the duration of this pandemic. What we have been learning over the past month is that by virtue of our actions against the rising tide of a pandemic, we have begun to grasp for other known things in the night. There, beside the pillow and the bedpost and the nightstand, rests our most precious possessions – Compassion, Empathy and Love. They’ve been there all along. They are there for all of us, and they will continue to be.
Letter to the Editor: Like many people, I discovered after graduating in 2009 from West Chester University with a liberal arts degree that it didn’t buy as much on the job market as I’d anticipated. But rather than impose further on my parents or the taxpayers, I turned what had been a part-time job in retail while I was a student into a full-time position. I’m now 35 years old, and I’ve worked in a variety of retail settings — which was difficult enough before the coronavirus outbreak. While my employer was deemed “essential” by Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, my employer had to lay off a large percentage of its employees, making things look even more bleak.
Make no mistake: I’ll persevere. We all will, and I firmly expect an economic boom later this year that will erase many of the bad memories. In the meantime, however, it seems the least the governor might do is spread the pain around equally. If virtually all the small, private-sector businesses that fuel the state’s economy can be asked — make that told — to close their doors for the duration of the pandemic, why can’t more taxpayerpaid public employees make the same sacrifice? Last week Gov. Wolf laid off 10 percent of the state’s government employees, but 90 percent managed to keep their jobs. We’re told those still on the job are essential, but to whom? Perhaps to the governor’s powerful friends
running the wealthy publicsector unions to which most state employees belong? Government employee unions are among the most powerful special interests in the country, and that’s especially true in Pennsylvania, where unions like SEIU, AFSCME and the teachers’ unions have donated generously to the campaigns of Wolf and other Democrats. And when you wield that kind of influence, why should a little thing like a global quarantine keep you from continuing to confiscate up to $100 every month from tens of thousands of government employees paying you dues? What makes these unions more essential than businesses that actually generate revenue for the economy? If Pennsylvania’s government
employee unions simply agreed to stop collecting dues for the next three months, it would leave an estimated $63 million in the pockets of those who had actually earned it. In turn, they’d use the money to help stimulate the economy rather than grease the palms of union leaders and the greedy politicians they buy and sell with other people’s dues dollars. No one’s asking Gov. Wolf to jeopardize anyone’s physical safety. I’m just saying it might be nice if he worried a little less about his own political safety and a little more about the economic well-being of hardworking Pennsylvanians like you and me. Geoffrey Cope Exton
It is not stealing our joy! Letter to the Editor: A friend of mine stepped from his home in an attempt to assist a neighbor who had been working on a truck. The younger man had been trying different ideas to fix a problem with the engine. My friend, offering to help, said, “Don’t tell me what it is doing, tell me what it is not doing.” I was struck by his instruction to his neighbor. I pondered his statement in conjunction with the COVID-19 pandemic. I thought to myself, I know what this virus is doing. It
is causing physical isolation, financial instability, fear and anxiety, searches for necessities that we took for granted, and depression. Now, the question is, “What is it not doing?” It is not stopping people from reaching out to us through different methods, building community in new ways. It is not taking away the blossoms of spring. It is not stopping us from taking walks and breathing deeply of the fresh air. It is not quieting the song of the birds as they tug at worms and make nests. It is not stopping the sound of the children laugh-
ing in a neighboring yard. It is not stopping the nibbling of the bunny in my own yard. It is not stopping our caring for the environment, from living more simply so that others may simply live. The virus is not stopping us from appreciating our first responders, and the nurses, doctors and medical support staff going faithfully to work each day. It is not stopping us from thanking the workers in essential businesses, like the grocery and drug stores, for working in this risky environment. It is not stopping us from sending a letter or a card to
a friend who usually only hears from us at Christmas. It is not taking away Easter, Passover or Ramadan. It is not stealing our joy! Joy comes from within, from a source of the Divine, Yahweh, Allah, a Higher Power, God. Happiness is different, it comes from our surroundings. So we may lose a bit of happiness, a condition we call sadness. The COVID-19 virus can do many things, but it cannot steal our joy. That is what it is not doing! Peggy Ann Russell Oxford Borough
Op-ED
Voting by mail is no longer the exception By State Sen. Wayne Fontana As this frightening pandemic affects every facet of our lives, more and more citizens are doing what they can to keep safe by staying at home, practicing social distancing and keeping in touch with others as remotely as possible. We cannot be sure when this nightmare will end, or when we can return to living our normal lives. Some project it will be weeks. Others have argued that it may take months or longer. Many medical experts have even warned that a second wave of Covid-19 may target us when the weather cools this autumn. While casting one’s vote in the upcoming primary or general elections is hardly at the top of anyone’s priority list right now, it’s still an important civic duty in which we all should engage. I am encouraged by steps Gov. Tom Wolf and those of us in the General Assembly have taken to accommodate and assure full access to voters. To that end, we recently enacted legislation that will delay the April 28 primary election until June 2. Just as importantly, a legislative package I co-sponsored was enacted last year to empower citizens to vote by mail. Under the new law, people can now register, apply for a
ballot and vote without leaving home. If citizens are concerned about how dangerous it will be to venture out to the polls in June, they can completely avoid that risk by mail-in voting. The process is simple, easy, safe and accommodating. I also should emphasize that mail-in voters no longer need to provide any excuse about being ill or absent from the county on election day. The days of county elections officials making subjective judgments about someone’s malady or inability to make it to the polls are over. Voting by mail is easy, gives you days to look over your ballot and enables you to toss your ballot into the outgoing mail days before the election -- at your convenience. If you change your mind by election day, you still have every right to show up at the polls and supplant the ballot you mailed in. Your vote is your voice. Ranging from the presidency to the state legislature, there are many significant government offices on the ballot this year. Take advantage of this new option to vote by mail. With so much uncertainty swirling around this coronavirus, it’s also important to note that depending on the status of the pandemic as we draw closer to June or November, voting by mail could be your only option.
If you want to skip the hassles of voting in person, you can apply for a mail-in ballot at this link: w w w. p a v o t e r s e r v i c e s . pa.gov/OnlineAbsentee A p p l i c a t i o n / # / OnlineAbsenteeBegin Please keep in mind that you must apply for your mail-in ballot by May 26. If you do not have computer access, you can call or write a letter requesting a mail-in Courtesy photo ballot from your county elecState Sen. Wayne Fontana tion office.
Chester County Press Randall S. Lieberman Publisher Steve Hoffman..................................Managing Editor Richard L. Gaw..................................Associate Editor Brenda Butt.........................................Office Manager Tricia Hoadley...........................................Art Director Alan E. Turn...............................Advertising Director Teri Turns................................Advertising Executive Helen E. Warren......................Advertising Executive Amy Lieberman.............Marketing/Public Relations The Chester County Press (USPS 416-500) is published every Wednesday by: AD PRO, Inc. 144 South Jennersville Rd, West Grove, PA 19390 Mailing Address: PO Box 150, Kelton, PA 19346 Telephone: (610) 869-5553 • FAX (610) 869-9628 E-mail (editor): editor@chestercounty.com HOURS: Monday- Friday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., no weekend hours Annual Subscription Rate: $40.00 | Senior Citizen Rate - $30.00
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In the Spotlight
Section
B
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2020
LCH pediatrics team moves to West Grove during COVID-19 By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer While La Comunidad Hispana (LCH) has had to put the grand opening celebration for its new pediatrics unit in West Grove on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic, the doors to the new facility still opened on April 13. The pediatrics office is moving from its former location in Kennett Square to 105 Vineyard Way in West Grove, and will join LCH’s Women’s Health Center and Dental Center. Plans are also in the works for outpatient behavioral health to operate out of the West Grove location. In response to Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf’s stay-at-home orders in an effort to slow the rate of COVID-19, LCH’s pediatrics team will oper-
ate with limited services, but will see acute visits for children of all ages, including new patients, along with well child visits for children under the age of two. LCH pediatrics is currently open on Mondays from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m, Tuesdays and Wednesdays 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Thursdays 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Fridays 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Call 610-444-7550 to schedule an appointment. Acute walk-ins are also available. “It is so important to limit human contact in order to stop the spread of COVID19,” said Jeanne Casner, Chester County Health Department Director and LCH Board Chair. “The move of LCH pediatrics from Kennett Square to West Grove could not have come at a better time. This way, we minimize the num-
ber of patients in waiting areas while isolating our youngest, most vulnerable community members.” LCH looks forward to hosting an open house celebration for the community in the near future. “This has been a part of our vision, to expand our ability to care for all ages, with integrated wrap around services for our youngest community members,” said Mariana Izraelson, Psy.D., PMP, and LCH chief executive officer. “We are grateful to have such a centralized, beautiful space in our service area as we continue to grow and expand to best meet the needs of the southern Chester County community.” To learn more about La Communidad Hispana, visit www. LaComunidadHispana.org.
Courtesy photo
Paula D. Brenn, MD, FAAP, a pediatrician at La Communidad Hispana, sees a newborn during a well child visit. LCH’s peditarics team has moved to LCH’s West Grove campus, in advance of the center’s official opening.
Wiseman named new executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Chester County Habitat for Humanity of Chester County recently announced the appointment of Chris Wiseman as the new executive director for the organization. Wiseman will be responsible for the leadership of the organization and will work closely with the Board of Directors, staff, volunteers and Habitat families to bring more affordable housing to Chester County. He brings a wealth of nonprofit experience,
including more than 20 years in financial development, strategic planning and implementation, staff and board development, and operational effectiveness. Most recently, he served as the director of operations at Germantown Academy, where he managed key areas of operations, security planning, camps and school programming. Wiseman has also served in a variety of roles with
the YMCA in Illinois, California, North Carolina, and close to home here in Coatesville. As the executive director at the Brandywine YMCA, Chris led the operations and services for the full-facility branch, serving more than 10,000 members and increasing the net revenue by more than $400,000. Now in its 31st year, Habitat for Humanity of Chester County has significantly expanded the
current level of singlefamily construction in Coatesville and the new 40-townhome community in West Grove. There are currently nine homes under construction. Wiseman will be instrumental in working with local philanthropic and community leaders, donors, volunteers and Habitat friends to drive the organization’s impact on the growing need for affordable housing in our
local community. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. Andy Signore, President of the Board of Directors said, “We welcome Chris to the Habitat family and look forward to his leadership in our mission as we seek to ‘put God’s love into action and bring people together to build homes, communities and hope.’”
Inspirational images in Oxford
Photos by Caitlin Cole
Caitlin Cole took photographs around the Oxford area on Sunday, April 5. She shared a few photos with the Chester County Press that illustrated how the town has pulled together and chosen to stay strong during the last few weeks.
Courtesy photo
Chris Wiseman, the new executive director for Habitat for Humanity of Chester County.
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Chester County Press
Obituaries JOAN DAVIS TYNEN
GILBERT M. DAVIS
PHILIP JOHNSON
Joan Davis Tynen died peacefully on April 7 at the Little Sisters of the Poor home in Newark, Del. She was 87 She lived a wonderful life with a zest for life and making every moment count. She loved to laugh and could watch Lucille Ball and Doris Day for hours. She enjoyed cooking healthy meals and knitting. Joan developed a caring, personal relationship with everyone she knew, and would regularly keep in touch with friends. She was entrepreneurial, and loved sharing her passion for health. Family was her priority, and she attended nearly every celebration, whether it was a birthday, baptism, confirmation, family party or sporting event. She is survived by her four daughters, Dorothy Knauss (and her husband Steven Knauss), Patricia Vanover (and her husband Eugene Vanover), Monica Stepek (and her husband Scott Stepek), and Susan Leardi (and her husband Robert Leardi). She is also survived by sixteen grandchildren, Christopher (and his wife Kaitlin), Michael, William, Geoffrey, Kevin, Monica, Mary, Patrick, Thomas, Susan, Eileen, Maura, Allie, Patty and Bill, as well as two greatgrandchildren, Benjamin and Jack. She is preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Joseph Tynen, with whom she shared 44 years of marriage. Joan lived Jesus each and every day of her life, and has passed that faith on to all who have touched her life. A memorial Mass will be held at a later date at St Patrick’s Church in Kennett Square. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Loving Little Sisters of the Poor (www.littlesistersofthepoordelaware.org) would be appreciated. To view her online tribute and to share a memory with her family, please visit www.kuzoandfoulkfh.com. Arrangements are being handled by the Kuzo Funeral Home in Kennett Square.
Gilbert M. Davis, 74, of Oxford, passed away peacefully on April 6. He is survived by his loving wife Patricia, two children, Nicholas and Victoria, two grandchildren, Jerry and Nicholas Shawn, two brothers, Tommy and Larry his sister, Sally and several great grand nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. His service and burial will be held at a later date. To view the online tribute and to share a memory with his family, please visit the www.kuzoandfoulkfh.com
Philip Hale Johnson, 82, of Elkton, Md., died of natural causes at Union Hospital on April 7. Phil was born on Jan. 16, 1938, in Chester County, Pa., to Warren and Jane Johnson. While growing up, he and his brothers, Doug and David, helped their parents on the family turkey farm near Nottingham. Phil owned a herd of Angus cattle by the time he was 12 years old and was active in the Calvert Boys 4-H Club, where he enjoyed livestock showing and woodworking. After graduating from Penn State University with a degree in agricultural education, Phil taught vocational ag for two years and then decided to be a farmer full-time, an occupation he continued for the rest of his life. Phil attended school in Calvert, Md., until the tenth grade, when he transferred to Rising Sun High School. Soon after arriving there, a lively redhead caught Phil’s eye. He asked Ruth Ann Ewing to a school dance, and then fell asleep leaning against the wall of the gym (he had been baling hay all day). Even though Ruth Ann had vowed she would never marry a farmer, she and Phil were married on Sept. 10, 1960 and raised three children, Molly, Betsy, and Ross, on their farm north of Elkton. Phil raised pigs on Walnut Springs Farm for 30 years and strawberries for 43 years. The pick-your-own strawberry venture started in 1976 as a way to diversify the farm’s income. Phil added raspberries a few years later. He was considered a leading expert on black raspberry and strawberry production, giving industry presentations and helping many other farmers establish and improve their crops. Phil was a founding member of the Cecil County Farm Museum and worked tirelessly on that project for the past 20 years. He was an antique tool and farm equipment collector and had a passion for agricultural history. He was an avid local history buff of the Oxford and Cecil County area. He loved reading, listening to audio books, and attending auctions. He was a skilled woodworker and furniture maker and built tables, corner cupboards, and many pieces of furniture for family. He was a life-long member of Moore’s Chapel United Methodist Church and served on many committees. He was an active member of the Gideons International. His Christian faith was the most important part of his life, and he loved nothing more than listening to the church choir, directed by Ruth Ann, on Sunday mornings. Phil is survived by his high-school sweetheart and wife of almost 60 years, Ruth Ann, his children Molly Brumbley of Oxford, Betsy (Bob) Freese of Indianola, IA, and Ross (Lana) Johnson of Elkton, Md., his grandchildren Nowlan (Daniella) Freese, Warren Freese, Caroline Freese, Nicole Brumbley, Meghan (Josh) Condon, Sarah Brumbley, Danielle Brumbley and Tika Siburt, great-granddaughter Ines Freese, brother Doug (Jane) Johnson, nine nieces, and many cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother David. A celebration of life for Phil Johnson will be held in a few months after the COVID-19 pandemic has passed. The family is looking forward to seeing everyone at that time and hearing your stories about Phil. He was quite a character and will be greatly missed. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Phil’s memory may be made payable to the Cecil County Farm Museum or Moore’s Chapel United Methodist Church and sent in care of R.T. Foard Funeral Home, PO Box 248, Rising Sun, MD 21911. To send online condolences, please visit www.rtfoard.com.
FRANK L. KRAUSS Frank Leroy Krauss of Nottingham, passed away on April 10 after a battle with cancer. He was 69. Frank was born on May 25, 1951 to Howard Earl and Doris Miriam Fuller Krauss of Nottingham. He is survived by his daughters, Misty Krauss, Lisa Krauss (husband Darryl Perez), Celeste Hill (husband Sam Hill); his grandchildren, Adrianna Styer (husband Jessie Styer), Katerina Santiago, Sabrina Santiago, Ethan Wilson, Darryl Perez II, Casadi, Madison, Nicholas, and Sam; and a great-grandchild, Zhavia Ruth Styer. He is also survived by siblings, Francis Foor, Doris Reese, Daisy Woodward, Gladys Perry, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, and by siblings, Howard, Harold, John, Jesse, Esther DiGati, and Violet Miller. He spent his life working on and around cars. He loved scrapping metal and fixing stuff. He spent much of his time searching out sweet treats with Misty and good deals with Lisa. He loved to laugh and loved his eagle hat.
Obituary submissions The Chester County Press publishes obituaries, free of charge, for those with a connection to southern Chester County. Obituaries appear on the Wednesday after they are received, space permitting. They also are posted on www.chestercounty.com. Photos should be sent as .jpg attachments to the obituary text. To submit an obituary to the Chester County Press, email the information to: editor@chestercounty.com.
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Chester County Press
Local News Drop-offs conducted at the Kennett YMCA
KACS and partners kick off food donation drive By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer Kennett Area Community Services (KACS), in partnership with other local organizations, is spearheading a drive to deliver food to the community during the COVID-19 crisis.
The other participating groups include the Square Roots Collective, the United Way of Southern Chester County and the Southern Chester County Opportunity Network. Normally, KACS receives over 90 percent of the food it provides to the community
from donations by the public and local grocery stores. However, due to the pandemic, KACS had to suspend receiving food donations from the public and has not been able to pick-up donated food from local grocery stores. Cash donations have helped to supplement
Man faces simple assault, other charges after allegedly striking woman Jose Lopez-Lopez, 18, of Kennett Square, was arrested and charged with simple assault, harassment and possession of marijuana after it was reported that he allegedly punched a female victim in the face. The incident occurred at approximately 10:46 p.m. on March 14 in the 400
Block of West South Street in Kennett Square Borough. According to Kennett Square Borough police, Lopez-Lopez was standing with his car door open when officers arrived. Upon approaching LopezLopez, the officers detected a strong odor of marijuana and observed the marijuana inside the car door. The offi-
cers also observed visible red marks on the female victim’s face and bumps on the back of her head. Jose Lopez-Lopez was taken into custody and transported to central booking at Chester County Prison to await arraignment. Charges were filed with magisterial district court 15-3-04.
Juvenile charged with possession of drug paraphernalia A male juvenile was arrested and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia after the School Resource Officer found two
mason jars with marijuana residue on his person. The incident occurred on Feb. 10 at approximately 10:40 a.m. at Kennett
High School. Charges were filed with Chester County Juvenile Probation. The arrest date was Tuesday, March 3.
DUI arrest after man drives wrong way on one-way street Ricky Tindall, 62, of Peach Bottom, Pa. was arrested and charged with DUI and related offenses after the white van he was operating was spotted by police traveling north on a one way street designed for southbound traffic only. The incident occurred on March 1 at approximately
8:43 p.m. in the 100 block of Center Street, in Kennett Square Borough. Upon approaching Tindall, Kennett Square police officers observed indicators suggesting intoxication and field sobriety tests showed impairment. Tindall was taken into custody for suspi-
cion of DUI and submitted to a chemical test of his breath, resulting in a B.A.C. of 0.127 percent. Tindall was transported for processing and later released pending issuance of a summons. Charges were filed with MDC 15-3-04. The arrest date was March 1.
the existing stockpile but purchase limits at stores and funding limits have made it difficult to keep food available. The drive is already paying dividends. On April 3, the KACS distributed food to 140 families in the community. “Every single donation -- food or cash -- helps us help others,” said KACS Executive Director Leah M. Reynolds. “KACS continues in its work to provide muchneeded food support to the many families in this area that suffer from food insecurity. Prior to COVID-19, we had 550 families (with 900 children) registered at the Food Cupboard for monthly
support. “Since March 13, when COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in the United States, we have seen a significant rise in the number of people seeking help with food and emergency assistance. Our social workers are working hard to help people navigate the systems available to them and provide support where possible.” Those interested in contributing are asked to make their deliveries to the Kennett YMCA parking lot, located at 101 Race Street in Kennett Square, on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors are asked to store
all donated items in their vehicle’s trunk, which will then be received by volunteers upon arrival at the Kennett YMCA. All donated food items must be shelfready and labeled, and no bulk items will be accepted. Acceptable items for donation include rice, jelly or jam, peanut butter, canned fish or chicken, canned fruit, canned vegetables, pasta, sauce, cereal, beans and coffee and tea. To learn more about KACS and how to make donations, visit www.kacsonline.net. To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email rgaw@chestercounty.com.
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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2020
Chester County Press
Local News Farm in Pocopson and West Bradford now preserved forever Natural Lands announced the successful preservation of the 54-acre Castle Rock Farm that straddles Pocopson and West Bradford townships in Chester County. The farm is adjacent to several other already-protected properties, adding to a growing greenway along West Branch Brandywine Creek. “My family has owned this property since 1957. We’ve fought to keep it going during hard times.” said landowner Peter Giangiulio. “This farm, this land … it’s too meaningful not to save it (and) to ensure it will always be preserved even after my sister and I are gone.” The conservation easement ensures the property is never developed, preserving the pastoral, scenic views along West Branch Brandywine Creek. In addition, the deal means Castle Rock Farm will continue to provide vital
ecological benefit by recharging groundwater supplies, slowing and filtering stormwater, and reducing flooding during storms. “This property was attractive as a development site but we believe the easement was a better option for everyone,” added Giangiulio. “I get to keep seeing these views—and my neighbors get to, too. Natural Lands was fabulous to work with.” Chester County’s protected open spaces, like Castle Rock Farm, offer far more than pretty views. A study released last year by the Chester County Planning Commission documented the myriad ways in which preserved green spaces are economic powerhouses that generate significant value for the region. Open space contributes to the local economy, increases property values, and saves money on everything from
health care to recreation. It improves the air we breathe and the water we drink, reducing the cost of providing these basic services. “Our organization believes in the power of nature’s open spaces to improve our health, calm our nerves, and clean the air we breathe and the water we drink,” said Natural Lands President Oliver Bass. “Natural Lands has been working to save our region’s land— forests, fields, and farms like Castle Rock Farm— since 1953. With the help of many partners along the way, our preservation efforts have resulted in more than 125,000 acres of permanently protected open space. Even during these challenging times, our work continues.” Natural Lands received funding to underwrite this project from Chester County’s Preservation Partnership Program; Mars
Foundation; the Marshallton Conservation Trust; the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program; West Bradford Township, and the Gianguilio family. “West Bradford Township is pleased to be a partner in this important piece of preservation,” said West Bradford Township Manager Justin Yaich. “Since passing the open space referendum in 2017, West Bradford has worked diligently—and will continue to do so—with partners like Natural Lands to preserve as much of our valuable open space as possible.” “The Marshallton Conservation Trust is delighted to have helped fund the conservation of part of this iconic landmark, which includes the birthplace of Humphry Marshall, the namesake
Courtesy image
The 54-acre Castle Rock Farm that straddles Pocopson and West Bradford townships in Chester County has now been preserved.
of our village,” said Bob Portnoy, president of the Marshallton Conservation Trust. Natural Lands is dedicated to preserving and nurturing nature’s wonders while creating opportunities for joy and discovery in the outdoors for everyone. As the Greater Philadelphia region’s oldest and largest land conservation organiza-
tion, Natural Lands—which is member supported— has preserved more than 125,000 acres, including 43 nature preserves and one public garden totaling more than 23,000 acres. Nearly five million people live within five miles of land under the organization’s protection. Land for life, nature for all. natlands. org.
Legals FICTITIOUS NAME REGISTRATION
An application for registration of the fictitious name Afroblisso, 55 Mystery Rose Lane, West Grove, PA 19390 has been filed in the Department of State at Harrisburg, PA, File Date 04/07/2020 pursuant to the Fictitious Names Act, Act 1982-295. The name and address of the person who is a party to the registration is Aisha J. Konneh, 55 Mystery Rose Lane, West Grove, PA 19390. 4p-15-1t
PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that due to the
risks in regard to the COVID-19 virus, the New Garden Township Board of Supervisors will be holding a regular business meeting on Monday, April 20, 2020 at 7:30 PM virtually using the ZOOM meeting conference software. The meeting will begin promptly at 7:30 PM. The meeting agenda and information on how to join the meeting will be available on Friday, April 17, 2020 on the Township website and will be posted at the Township Building.The general public is welcome to join the meeting via a computer, laptop, tablet, cell phone or land line phone. We encourage residents to provide
public comment by submitting comments via email to office@newgarden.org prior to the meeting to be read aloud. Participants attending the Zoom conference may provide public comment during the meeting. Those individuals with disabilities requiring ADA accommodations for effective participation in this meeting should contact office@newgarden.org or call 610.268.2915 at least two days in advance of the meeting. An attempt will be made to make reasonable accommodations. This meeting is being conducted virtually as the Township has declared a State of Emergency
on March 16th, 2020.
4p-15-1t
4p-15-1t
FICTITIOUS NAME REGISTRATION
An application for registration of the fictitious name: Omni Fast Track, doing business at 81 E. Lancaster Ave. Suite 211 Malvern, PA 19355 has been filed in the Department of State at Harrisburg, PA, File Date 4/14/2020 pursuant to the Fictitious Names Act, Act 1982-295. The names and address of the people who are a party to the registration are: Michael Lerner, 10130 Northlake Blvd. #214-295 West Palm Beach, FL 33412.
FICTITIOUS NAME REGISTRATION
An application for registration of the fictitious name Pat Calabrese & Son LLC, 1016 Dogwood Lane, West Chester, PA 19382 has been filed in the Department of State at Harrisburg, PA, File Date 04/13/2020 pursuant the Fictitious Names Act, Act 1982-295. The name and address of the person/entity that is a party to the registration is Giannetti Landscaping LLC, 1016 Dogwood Lane, West Chester, PA 19382. 4p-15-1t
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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2020
CHESTER COUNTY PRESS
5B
Chester County Press
Local News Donten and Wilson named Senior Students of the Month Alex Wilson and Rachel Donten have been honored as Senior Students of the Month by the Avon Grove Lions Club. Alex is the Avon Grove Charter School Senior Student of the Month. He is an Eagle Scout. He is also completing an internship in the IT department. He also challenges himself at school by taking several AP and Honors courses. After graduating high school, Alex plans to attend a four-year college to study mechanical engineering. Rachel is the Avon Grove High School Senior Student of the Month. Rachel’s list of school activities includes National Honor Society,
Student Council, Freshman Mentor, Cancer Society, Math Club Historian, and captain of girls’ varsity basketball team. Rachel has been active in the community by volunteering at Jennersville Hospital during the last two summers. She also was a one-on-one aide at Willowdale Chapel Respite Nights and Night to Shine. Rachel has achieved Distinguished Honors throughout high school. She is an AP Scholar of Distinction. She plans to attend Penn State’s main campus majoring in nursing.Donten, Jennifer Courtesy photo Donten, David Wilson and Pictured with Senior Students of the Month Alex Wilson and Rachel Donten are Avon Grove High School assistant principal Gary Benasutti, Avon Grove Lions Club vice president Robin Rios, Michael. Jackie Wilson.
Garcia-Jackson appointed Chief Deputy Coroner The Chester County Coroner’s Office is pleased to announce the appointment of Sophia Garcia-Jackson to the position of Chief Deputy Coroner. GarciaJackson has been the First Deputy Coroner for the past year and came to Chester County after almost 6 years as a medicolegal death investigator with the New Jersey Medical Examiner’s Office. Her responsibilities as First Deputy Coroner have included establishing an investigator training program, supervising and strengthening the transporter function, updating the Coroner’s Office Mass Fatality plan, and expanding the department’s public outreach program. In addition to a Master’s degree
in Forensic Medicine, Garcia-Jackson has been a diplomate of the American Board of Medicolegal Investigators (D-ABMDI) since 2017. Originally from California, Garcia-Jackson has an undergraduate degree in Anthropology from California State University, Chico, where she also earned a certificate in forensic identification while working at the University’s Human Identification Lab. She then completed a Master’s degree in Forensic Medicine at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, including an internship at the Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office. GarciaJackson’s ongoing training
includes a Forensic Science Training Program with the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Most recently, as required by Pennsylvania law, she successfully completed Pennsylvania’s Basic Coroner Education Course. “I am thrilled that Sophia will be our Chief Deputy Coroner,� said Coroner Christina VandePol, M.D. “After reviewing applications from around the country, it was clear that the right person was our own First Deputy Coroner, Sophia Garcia-Jackson. Sophia is recognized as an expert medicolegal death investigator not only by our staff, but by our colleagues in local law enforcement. It’s important to have a
highly qualified Chief Deputy Coroner because by law that person steps in if anything happens to the Coroner.� Garcia-Jackson resides in West Whiteland Township with her husband, Blake, and their dog Chico, a Chihuahua mix. She met her husband while both were on a study abroad program in Ghana, West Africa. She loves cooking and the Coroner’s Office is the frequent beneficiary of her culinary talent. The Chester County Coroner’s Office is an independent agency serving the citizens and honoring the deceased of the county by investigating the facts and circumstances concerning jurisdictional deaths
Photo Credit: Justine Newman
Chester County Coroner Dr. Christina VandePol and Chief Deputy Coroner Sophia Garcia-Jackson
which have occurred within Chester County. We determine the cause and manner of death, the identity of the decedent, and provide noti-
fication to the legal next of kin, while exhibiting the highest degree of compassion, professionalism, and integrity.
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6B
CHESTER COUNTY PRESS
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2020
Chester County Press
Local News Dinniman announces recipients of non-profit safety and security grants State Senator Andy Dinniman announced that the Valley Forge Educational Services will receive $150,000 in state funding to provide security and safety improvements. The grant is part of an initial $5 million allocation through the Non-Profit Security Grant Program, a program championed by Dinniman and the Senator Democratic Caucus in the wake of the Tree of life synagogue shooting and other hate-based crimes and attacks. More than 800 applications were received
requesting more than $27 million. “Today marks another big step in reaffirming that everyone deserves to feel a sense of safety and security, regardless of their racial background or religious affiliation,” Dinniman said. “I hope that with these grants, the Valley Forge Educational Services and all recipients across the Commonwealth find a renewed sense of peace, safety, and security.” The program, authorized under Act 83 of 2019, allocates $5 million to provide funding for safety and
security improvements to facilities used by faithbased nonprofits. Eligible upgrades included: • Planning, threat awareness, and response training. • Equipment and technology, such as metal detectors, lighting, surveillance, communications systems, locksets, deadbolts, trauma kits, and antitheft devices. • Vulnerability and threat assessments. • Specialty-trained canines. • Other upgrades to existing structures that enhance safety and security
The program was awarded to non-profit entities that principally serve individuals, groups or institutions that are included within a bias motivation category for a single bias hate crime incident identified by the FBI. Those incident categories include: race/ ethnicity/ancestry, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender and gender identity. Valley Forge Educational Services received the maximum funding available for a specific grant, as the grant awards ranged from $5,000 to $150,000.
Located in Malvern, Valley Forge Educational Services (VFES) offers educational, summer and employment-related programs for individuals with disabilities. Its programs include a collaborative and holistic approach to each child, adolescent and adult, recognizing their unique abilities and needs through team efforts. On October 27, 2018, 11 people were killed and seven were injured (including three police officers and the suspect) in a mass shooting during Shabbat morning services at the
Tree of Life Congregation in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh. Robert Gregory Bowers was arrested and is currently in custody facing state and federal capital murder charges. According to police, after his arrest, he told them that he “wanted all Jews to die.” The Tree of Life shooting followed similar hate-based attacks that have injured and killed worshipers at churches, temples, mosques, synagogues, and other houses of worship across the nation in recent years.
Jennersville Hospital - Tower Health employees receive meals from South Mill Champs On Thursday, April 16, at 1 p.m., South Mill Champs will donate 250 boxed lunches from Café Americana to Jennersville Hospital - Tower Health employees. “The generous meal donation from South Mill
Champs is greatly appreciated by our team,” said Claire Mooney, DNP, President and CEO, Jennersville Hospital. “We appreciate the ongoing support the community has demonstrated to our employees. Our team con-
tinues to work around the clock and remains committed to providing high-quality care to our patients, their families, and our neighbors during the COVID-19 crisis.” South Mill Champs held a curbside mushroom sale
fundraiser on Saturday, April 11, to purchase meals for Jennersville Hospital employees. In addition to supporting local healthcare workers the meals will be prepared locally by Café Americana. “We wanted to express
our gratitude to the Jennersville Hospital employees that are bravely serving on the front lines during the COVID19 crisis,” said Lewis Macleod, CEO of South Mill Champs. “We are also proud to partner with local
restaurant Café Americana on this initiative.” Individuals can visit towerhealth.org/COVID19/ donate for more information on how to aid Tower Health’s COVID19 response and support healthcare providers.