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Chester CountyPRESS
www.chestercounty.com
Covering Avon Grove, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Oxford, & Unionville Areas
Volume 150, No. 17
60 Cents
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Protesters, supporters turn out for Trump rally at WCU By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer The campus of West Chester University served as a microcosm of the divided American dialogue Monday afternoon, as more than 2,500 people – armed with signs, chants and attitude – converged upon South Church Street to voice their approval or rejection of the Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump, who
made a campaign stop at the Hollinger Field House before a crowd estimated at 3,000. Normally reserved for food trucks and students hustling to and from classes, the tree-lined avenue became the peaceful eye of a storm that brewed for several hours on both sides of the street. It began in the morning, as Trump supporters began to wait on line to get into the rally, converging at their thickest outside
of the campus public safety building. On the student services building side, a crowd of more than 200 gathered in the morning, holding signs that read “No Walls!” “Trump’s a Fraud,” and “Everyone is Entitled to Higher Education!” while on the other side, signs read “Make America Great Again” and “Build That Photo by Richard L. Gaw Wall!” A boisterous crowd of more than 500 converged on the As the afternoon pro- West Chester University campus to protest the April gressed, both sides of the 25 appearance of Republican presidential candidate Continued on Page 2A
Sharing inspiration and a strong faith, Ciarrocchi speaks at Chamber event By John Chambless Staff Writer Pat Ciarrocchi has always been inspired by her deep roots in southern Chester County, and on April 20, she got a chance to share those inspirations at the Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce Inspirational Breakfast. In front of a large crowd of business leaders, government representatives and civic leaders at the Mendenhall Inn, Ciarrocchi Continued on Page 2A
Donald Trump.
Regional policing will stabilize coverage, costs, safety By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
The graphic identity for the Southern Chester County Regional Police Department has already been designed. It contains an eagle with widespread wings. In its claws, the eagle holds a ribbon, on which is included “2016.” The eagle lends a sense of nobility. The date, however, is still the subject of negotiations. Using the six pillars of Photo by John Chambless 21st-century policing as Leon Spencer sings ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ behind the Color Guard of the Valley Forge Military Academy to a guidepost, New Garden open the Chamber of Commerce breakfast on April 20. Township Police Chief
Students challenged, engaged by Oxford’s Project Lead The Way curriculum Oxford Area High School is in its second year of offering Project Lead The Way courses that emphasize science, technology, engineering and math By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer
Design course, and spent Now, as sophomores, their the year learning the basics curriculum in the Principles of the engineering design of Engineering Design class The 15 sophomores in process. They applied explores a wide range of Trevor Haney’s Principles math, science, and technol- engineering topics—autoof Engineering Design class are pioneers. They are the first students at Oxford Area High School to take Project Lead The Way courses that will prepare them for not just college, but for careers as ~ Dr. Margaret Billings-Jones, scientists, engineers, or assistant superintendent of the technological innovators. Oxford Area School District These students are truly leading the way: When ogy skills and knowledge mation, thermal dynamics, Oxford launched its Project to solve complex problems, or the strength of structures Lead The Way program in focusing more on the pro- or materials. One day, the the 2014-2015 school year, cess of defining and solving students might be figuring this group took Haney’s a problem rather than arriv- out how different parts of Introduction to Engineering ing at the right answer. a machine work together to
“It’s the best education we can give them at this level.”
perform a specific task. Or, they might be designing a slingshot by utilizing specific materials. On another day, Haney might ask them to create plans for a playground specifically designed for children in a wheelchair. Haney, the school’s technical education teacher, says that Project Lead The Way will prepare the students for their futures in a global economy that will be increasingly driven by science, technology, engineering, and math. He challenges his students to become “that smart person who will improve a technology.” Continued on Page 3A
Gerald Simpson gave a presentation on April 21 that gave advantages of forming the Southern Chester County Regional Police Department which, if formed, would combine the police units of New Garden and West Grove Borough into one department. A similar meting was held in West Grove Borough on April 20. The April 21 meeting was attended by New Garden Township supervisors, members of the West Grove Borough government; West Grove Police Chief Michael King, and several police officers. “Our relationship with West Grove Borough Continued on Page 6A
Tin cup town By Uncle Irvin According to a story in the April 13 issue of the Chester County Press, Oxford Borough Council will use the tin cup method to finance the new parking garage. The town fathers want everyone else, except Oxfordians, to pay for their garage with grants. Grants are mostly somebody else’s tax money. Continued on Page 6A © 2007 The Chester County Press