Chester County Press 05-04-2022 Edition by Ad Pro Inc.

Chester CountyPRESS

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

Volume 156, No. 18

Wednesday, May 4, 2022

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Townships sign on to Route 41 improvement study A grant to fund a multi-municipal corridor improvement study for Route 41 is likely to begin this spring. While four townships have firmly committed, Avondale Borough is also on board, but says ‘No’ on concept for a roundabout By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer In July 2021, New Garden Township played host to several key local stakeholders to discuss solutions to what has become for many residents in southern Chester County a ten-mile misery index, one that stretches from the tip of Kennett Township to Londonderry Township and bottles their lives up with endless traffic. It is the Route 41 corridor. Organized by State

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Representatives John Lawrence and Christina Sappey and State Senator Carolyn Comitta, the summit invited officials from several municipalities, PennDOT, the Chester County Planning Commission and the local conservation group Safety, Agriculture, Villages & Environment (S.A.V.E.) to explore options. On the advice of Chester County Planning Commission Executive Director Brian O’Leary, it was proposed that the townships sign on to file an application for the county’s Vision Partnership Program (VPP). Established by the Chester County Board of Commissioners in 1996, the VPP provides grant money to county municipalities and multi-municipal groups that wish to improve their planning programs in accordance with Landscapes3, the county’s long-term comprehensive plan. The VPP gives municipalities the initial funding to plan projects that address opportunities and issues of community concern. The application, authored last September by S.A.V.E.

and London Grove Township sustainable solution for the Manager Ken Battin, was corridor. “We [entered into the recently given the green light by the Planning application] from a perspecCommission and will bring together Londonderry, London Grove, New Garden and Kennett townships in a partnership that will use a $45,000 grant from the county – and also include additional funds from each township – to develop a long-range plan to explore methods of reducing traffic along the corridor. As stated in the application, the study – which will be conducted by the Chester County engineering firm McMahon Associates and begin this spring -- will “form the basis for ensuing discussions with the goal of synthesizing a regional consensus vision for the roadway.” The 18-month project will include a kick-off meeting, vision meetings with the general public, the development of conceptual traffic engineering improvements, the completion of a draft and a final study, that will provide a blueprint to assist the municipalities, county and PennDOT to achieve a

tive that we felt had not of directors. “Even though been approached before,” there had been numerous said Lou Kaplan, secre- studies on Route 41 before, Continued on page 2A tary on S.A.V.E.’s board

In This Issue

Capital campaign has raised more than $750,000 toward $900,000 goal

A new home for The Garage By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

To Subscribe Call 610.869.5553

Avon Grove School District hosts Empower appreciation breakfast...1B

On May 2 in the Borough of Avondale, Hope, Imagination and Promise threw open their doors and let the community in. Before nearly 200 students, friends, volunteers, board members and elected officials, The Garage Community & Youth Center held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open their new location at 121 Photos by Richard L. Gaw Before an audience of nearly 200, The Garage Community & Youth Center held a Pennsylvania Avenue – the ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 2 at their new home at the former Avondale Fire former office of a ServPro and known to many as the House in Avondale. Avondale Fire House. Following the organization’s purchase of the building on Sept. 17, 2021, the Garage staff, its board

Lessons from the pandemic

Oxford Area School District Superintendent David A. Woods reflects on a challenging time in education By Betsy Brewer Brantner Contributing Writer At this writing there is yet another wave of a variation of COVID-19 hitting the country. Globally, life is beginning to look like a long car ride with young children who continually ask, “Are we there yet?” We all want to say, “Yes, it’s over. We can go back to normal.” But the reality is, we don’t know what normal will be going forward. After two years of COVID-19 and guidelines from federal, state and local governments and a host of scientists, the only thing we can agree on is disagreeing. The disagreement may be because no one can say for sure how to handle a “novel” virus. It is a new virus, and it didn’t come with instructions on how to handle it. As

a living thing, the virus is constantly evolving. It goes without saying that another thing that changed immeasurably during the pandemic has been education. David A. Woods, the superintendent of the Oxford Area School District, was one of the many educators caught up in the thick of the pandemic, and whose actions and guidelines were often dictated by the experts. But instead of becoming jaded, he has emerged hopeful and proud of his community, school district, school board, and teachers. And he has never been prouder of his students. When asked if his job was difficult, he quickly dismissed his own feelings and said, “All jobs are difficulty. Everyone has a different flashpoint. During COVID everyone had their own

of directors and several volunteers worked with contractors to refurbish the interior of the building that will provide nearly four times more space for student activities then its former location on Rosehill Avenue in West Grove. Currently in the first of two renovation phases, the two-story, 11,000 squarefoot facility will include a multi-purpose room with a stage, two ADA-compliant bathrooms, an interior gymnasium, creative spaces, a full-service commercial kitchen, a meal preparation and distribution area, administrative offices and space for local non-profit and legal aid organizations Continued on page 5B

EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK

problems, whether it was COVID mitigation, COVID work stoppage, or COVID guidance and quarantine,” he said. “COVID and the many issues it has brought with it, and there are many, have affected everyone, especially our children.” The Oxford Area School District is responsible for creating the best environment for all of the stakeholders. During the pandemic, guidance came from everywhere, including from federal, state and local officials. “I am not a health care professional, nor is the school board,” Woods said. “I have laws and mandates coming at me from every direction, from a variety of officials, and our job is to work within the guidelines we are given.” Like superintendents

Oxford Mainstreet, Inc. (OMI) announced that it is once again teaming up with the Oxford Arts Alliance to plan a festival in Oxford that showcases music and the arts. The two-day event is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 5 and Saturday, Aug. 6. On Friday, there will be a Rock the Block event with a lineup of music from local and regional acts along with food trucks, lawn games, and more. Then, on Saturday, an Art in the Park event will feature artists, art vendors, and demonstrators. Additionally, there will be live music, food trucks, and a creative corner for kids. Oxford’s Connective Festival debuted in August of 2018 as a way to showcase Oxford’s growing artistic community. The event was still building momentum when the pandemic forced its cancellation in 2020 and 2021. The new festival is being described as a “callback” to the Connective Festival.

Continued on page 4A

Continued on page 3A

OMI announces festival for Aug. 5 and 6

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2022

Chester County Press

Local News Route 41... Continued from Page 1A

each municipality had their own vision, codified in their own comprehensive plans, and the county had its own vision in its Landscapes3 – but there was no regional perspective that bridged those varying plans. This is an attempt to have the municipalities begin to work together to build a regional vision that they could all agree to.” Avondale Borough: No roundabouts While Londonderry, London Grove, New Garden and Kennett townships have each signed on to work together, one key municipality along the corridor – Avondale Borough - has agreed in principle to participating in the study, with one large stipulation. On Oct. 19, 2021, the previous Avondale Borough Council passed a resolution stating that while it agreed that the traffic issues along the corridor and through the borough needed to be addressed, they agreed that “the only viable and longterm solution” to calming traffic would be the addition of a “bypass around

the town of Avondale outside the boundaries of Avondale.” The resolution further stated that the borough council remained unconvinced that a roundabout or a widening of Pennsylvania Avenue will resolve traffic issues in the borough. “Such traffic issues would only hurt the borough,” the resolution stated. Instead, the council supported various traffic improvements such as bridge replacements, the retiming of traffic lights, and the installation of traffic islands and no parking islands as measures that along with a bypass would improve traffic flow through the borough. Kaplan and S.A.V.E.’s Executive Director George Hundt recently met with the current Avondale Borough Council in the hopes that the borough would fully commit to being a part of the study, but the council would not budge on the idea of a roundabout on State Road and Route 41. “Although the resolution was passed by the former council, it seems to reflect the feelings of the current council, which is frustrating for those of us who are trying to find a solution and

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Photos by Richard L. Gaw

While four townships have fully committed to participating in a traffic study for Route 41, Avondale Borough is against the idea of placing a roundabout along State Road and Route 41 in the borough.

get the study in the works,” Hundt said. “London Grove Township is showing leadership in spearheading the application but also being willing to understand the position of Avondale and reach out to the borough council, but I do not get the sense that there has been any reciprocity from the borough council.” “I think part of their reaction is that they know the current situation along Route 41 is a bad one and it’s only going to get worse, so they are going to have to do something,” Kaplan said. “I think that decision is going to be a difficult one and it may not be a popular one, and that’s not an easy thing for a board to come to grips with.” New Avondale Mayor Susan Rzucidlo said that while the borough is committed to working with the other four municipalities on the study – at the request of the County Planning Commission - borough officials remain steadfast that they are not willing to budge

on the idea of a roundabout in the borough. “We are very open to being part of the regional discussion, but we are not open to a roundabout, because that tears out our entire downtown and takes down an historic building,” she said. “We don’t want to give up the right of the borough to manage their own business and what’s right for our community, but we are happy to meet with other townships.” While the roundabout at Route 41 and Route 926 in Londonderry Township is nearing completion, the idea of creating additional roundabouts along the corridor continues to draw discussion. On Oct. 26, 2020, Wisconsin roundabout engineer Mark T. Johnson gave an online presentation that re-imagined the county’s most-traveled two-lane road divided by a series of roundabouts each intended to create a well-functioning stretch of infrastructure: Roundabouts at the Route 41-Route 1 intersections in London Grove Township; roundabouts at the corner of Sunny Dell Road and near the former Mr. Mulch, both in Landenberg; and

Dr. Lou Kaplan and George Hundt of the local conservation group Safety, Agriculture, Villages & Environment (S.A.V.E.) are working in collaboration with several municipalities on a study that will explore ideas to reduce traffic patterns along a 10-mile stretch of the Route 41 corridor.

two roundabouts at the Limestone Road (Route 7) – Route 41 Interchange near the Delaware border. At the request of S.A.V.E., Johnson also designed a roundabout at State Road and Route 41. Critics of the concept among elected officials in Avondale Borough said that a roundabout would permanently change the borough’s historical features, negatively impact businesses in the immediate vicinity and potentially become a safety hazard near the site of the new home for The Garage Community & Youth Center, which will now be housed in the former Avondale Fire House. ‘The planning stage must begin soon’

think that this study – which the grant is funding – will be an important and necessary first step to putting some ideas on paper, and beginning a broader conversation. The planning stage must begin soon.” How well the McMahon Associates study will function – and potentially lead to infrastructure improvements along the Route 41 Corridor -- will depend on the ability of the five municipalities to work as a collection of unified and regional voices and share them with PennDOT. “One of the things that unites them all in their vision is that they don’t want to see an expanded roadway,” Kaplan said. “They want to see the roadway that is currently there made better. What S.A.V.E. is trying to do is get PennDOT to take a more comprehensive view of the corridor while assisting PennDOT’s process by getting a consensus from these municipalities. “Each municipality has its own issues, but it will be about focusing on the larger question and how those issues fit into that.”

While it is expected that McMahon Associates will not only serve as a unifier on this study but also its primary juggler of conflicting needs and visions, Hundt said that the timing of the study comes at a crucial time. “I believe that necessity will prove to be the mother of invention,” he said. “The problems that residents are To contact Staff Writer experiencing are in dire Richard L. Gaw, email need of a solution, and I rgaw@chestercounty.com.

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CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

Chester County Press

Local News County Commissioners call for increased state funding for ‘crumbling’ mental health system

EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK Continued from Page 1A

Avon Grove School District announces new administrative appointments

The Avon Grove School District continues to re-shape its administrative team in preparation for the 2022-2023 school year. Janice T. Lear has been appointed as the new principal for Fred S. Engle Middle School, while Ashley L. Penn has been named as an assistant principal at Avon Grove High School and Ardis Yocum was appointed as the transportation specialist for the district. The appointments were made official by the Avon Grove School Board at a meeting last week. Two months ago, the Avon Grove School Board approved the promotions of Dr. Nicole Harvey and Scott DeShong. They now both serve as assistant superintendents. Lear is new to Avon Grove. She currently serves as a middle school assistant principal in Downingtown Area School District, and she previously taught at the middle school level in both the Unionville-Chadds Ford and Tredyffrin-Easttown school districts. Lear holds a master’s degree in leadership from The Pennsylvania State University and attained her principal certification through Immaculata University. She will start the new role at Fred S. Engle Middle School on July 1. Penn will begin her new role at Avon Grove High School on July 1. Since August of 2020, Penn has served as dean of students for that school. Prior to this assignment, Penn was a high school English teacher for Avon Grove. She earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education and a master’s degree in educational leadership and from The Pennsylvania State University. Penn also holds K-12 principal, English and communications certifications. Transportation specialist is a new administrative position for the school district. Yocum currently works as transportation manager at the Chester County Intermediate Unit and has over 30 years of experience in transportation coordination and operations. Yocum officially joined Avon Grove on May 2.

The Chester County Commissioners cited a substantial increase in the need for mental health services when they approved a resolution this week calling for an increase in state funding for community-based mental health programs. The demand for mental health services has increased greatly as a result of the pandemic. “We are seeing people, from children to seniors, struggling with mental illness,” Chester County Commissioners’ chair Marian Moskowitz said in a statement. “We know from the data collected by our key partners like ambulance services, emergency rooms, hospitals, and our colleagues in law enforcement that the need has increased substantially in recent years. We must do more to help, and that requires investment.” Chester County and other Pennsylvania counties provide essential community-based mental health services such as crisis intervention, community residential programs, outpatient and intensive clinical care, and family-based support services, all of which are critical to the well-being of residents and communities. According to the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP), which describes the current state mental health system as crumbling, the Commonwealth cut $84 million that counties used to fund programs for

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people with intellectual disabilities, mental health challenges, and other needs in 2012. Those cuts forced programs to close, leaving the human services system in a vulnerable position. CCAP said that, since then, state funding has lagged far behind needs and caseloads, negatively affecting services while also putting additional tension on communities and local budgets. The Center for Rural Progress published a report on Suicide Trends and Prevention in Rural Pennsylvania Counties and Schools showing a steep rise in suicides in Pennsylvania over the past two decades and that the increase was greater in rural communities. A survey by the American Psychological Association in 2021 showed that 84 percent of psychologists who treat anxiety disorders said that they have seen an increase in demand for anxiety treatment since the start of the pandemic. In Chester County, mental health funding primarily goes to partner organizations in the community that provide the services. Many of those agencies are grappling with salaries that are not competitive enough to attract people coming out of college to consider a career in the mental health field or to retain professionals who have worked in the field for years but who are more frequently looking elsewhere to earn better compensation. Moskowitz and fellow Commissioners Josh Maxwell and Michelle Kichline are joining colleagues throughout Pennsylvania in submitting the resolution with a letter reinforcing the call for funding to the state legislators who represent Chester County, as well as the governor’s office and the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.

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CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2022

Chester County Press

Local News Lessons... Continued from Page 1A

everywhere, the information he received came from many individuals. The district’s job was to communicate the information they were given and disseminate it to those within the district. And more often than not, the information was not well-received. “No parent likes being told what to do with their children and understandably so,” Woods said. “So everything about this pandemic challenged that. “There were lots of people speaking to me before I made a statement. The scientists and health officials did the best they could with the ever-changing virus. It wasn’t easy for the givers of information or the receivers.” The people in charge were the State Secretary of Education, State Health Secretary or designee, the Chester County Health Department, and the the Oxford Area School District doctor. “It is a challenge when we enact best practices of public health. We need to develop a health and safe-

ty plan. Then we execute the items in that plan. And our school board did all of that,” Woods said. “It is living document. Over the last two years, guidance has changed and will continue to change as Covid moves from pandemic to endemic.” That means that the expectation that COVID-19 will become endemic essentially means that the pandemic will not end with the virus disappearing; instead, the optimistic view is that enough people will gain immune protection from vaccination and from natural infection such that there will be less transmission and much less COVID-19related hospitalizations and deaths, even as the virus continues to circulate. Woods said, “I think the heavy lifting is behind us. What we have been doing in educational settings will have silver linings from the last two years. Obviously, the pandemic has had some type of effect on everyone’s life. In the educational space, nationwide, we know that we have to catch some of our students up from the last two years. The measures we use are our

internal measures for each child. The summer education opportunity has to go above what we traditionally did. It would need to be open to a broader range of students and add more course work. “If we go beyond that, we also look outside academics to what our students would benefit from emotionally, and so in the past we have increased our capacity for providing the non-academic services in both personnel and programming and we will continue to do that for the next couple of years.” Woods knows the pandemic affected everyone to varying degrees, and he believes we will be dealing with academic and non-academic issues related to it for the next several years. He also believes strongly, if we can take away all the negatives, there are positives. “Our staff has become better at delivering distance education,” he said. “We have become better at identifying and treatment of non-academic student issues and also in identification and intervention of academic issues. I also believe our communities, as a whole, identified gaps and also became better at understanding local politics. They have become more aware of dealing with a local school board but there is still a gap in civil knowledge. People have become more informed about what any local political entity deals with.” Woods commended the community on a number of issues, saying, “We were able to respond to difficulties in a good way given

the situation. From the standpoint of technology, the Oxford School District and county were well-positioned compared to some districts in Pennsylvania to deliver a distance education. Hardware, software and internet, depending on where students lived, were in place or put in place. We were ahead of the game because of our focus on technology and learning management platforms prior to the pandemic. During the distance learning components of the pandemic, we were able to deliver, for the most part, a meaningful educational experience.” Woods understood there were lots of pitfalls, such as parents not being home with their children when they were attending classes virtually. In some houses with multiple children, the internet would slow down. There is still the need to improve some things, but some things were, and are, outside of the district’s control, like broadband internet services to more rural areas. Woods stressed, “What we could control we did to a greater degree than lesser and we will continue to identify and respond to the academic and non-academic needs of children.” He also explained that the school day is not just about academics for children but education is also about social interaction with teachers and their peers. He agreed that for some students, the last two years limited their ability for social interaction. “I’m very proud of how all of our staff, our school

board and community have functioned over the last two years,” he said. “I would even point out if we can remember back this far, when everything came to a halt in 2020, there was an outpouring from the community as far as volunteers, regarding food and food distribution. We had massive support from our food service personnel, maintenance, our administration, teachers, support staff, our security officers, Oxford Police, Oxford Mayor and numerous charitable organizations. That is amazing, for one small area, that for the better part of a year, complete meals were available and being picked up each week. And that was a massive undertaking, even when we were back in school. We were still doing that food availability.” He added, “Looking back the technology support from our technology staff, principals, and volunteers in getting hardware to students was a massive undertaking. Every power cord, and device was catalogued so these devices would come back. It was done in a small amount of time with brief amount of planning time and it was executed. We also tried to find ways to leverage our volunteer partners, such as the Oxford Educational Foundation. During the pandemic, the planning and flexibility of the district stakeholder was greatly appreciated.” When the pandemic began in February of 2020, Woods was in San Diego. “All we knew was there were three people that were thought to be positive,

then they tested negative, released and then recalled in one week because tests were flawed,” he recalled. “The city was in a mild panic. We fast forward and I don’t think three people would be a headline. And we all know what happened after that. It rapidly evolved. Information that was received in the morning was invalid by afternoon. Things changed within days. I think people forget that. I don’t think anyone understood in the winter of 2020 where we were going. And that continued even in 2021. Looking back, I think the district did the best they could with the information that was available.” For the moment things are more normalized. Children are in school. Some mitigation elements remain in effect, but that happens with the cold and flu. “We were dealing with a pandemic and looking to public health officials to guide us and they did,” Woods said. “Some people didn’t agree with that guidance. In the middle of a public health crisis it doesn’t help anyone to argue. Dealing with the crisis has to come first. We took our guidance from individuals and organizations in the scientific field, and that is what we tried to base our health and safety plan on. “Our Oxford students emerged from the pandemic stronger than before. If we underestimated anything, it was the strength of our community and our students to overcome all the obstacles confronted by these entities during the pandemic.”

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CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

Chester County Press

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Editorial

‘The theater will be great for our community’

Opinion Tears for Tips Having picked up my “yummy Filet Mignon Drive Thru meal” at the Lighthouse Youth Center in Oxford this past Saturday, I was again reminded how fortunate we are to have such a place for our kids to learn, to have fun, and to be safe. The drive thru process was efficient and quick as cars lined up to have the meals handed in through the window. Many adults and students were smiling and moving quickly. As you traveled down the street, there were kids holding signs stating, “Thank You” and shouting their thanks to each driver. I was overcome with emotion as I saw our future leaders! As the group at the end of the street waited for my “You’re Welcome” response, I was unable to speak for tears. Finally, one young man said, “Honk your horn.” That I could do as I left my tears for tips.

Peggy Ann Russell Oxford

Courtesy photo

The Oxford Theater was originally constructed in 1922. This photo illustrates the popularity of the theater as people lined up on Third Street to enjoy a show. The theater closed in 1956, but now, thanks in part to significant state funding, a new venue for movies and live performances could be opening soon.

“The theater will be great for our community.” That’s what John McGlothlin, the owner of the Sawmill Grill and president of the board for Oxford Mainstreet, Inc. (OMI) said about the performing arts venue and movie theater being planned for downtown Oxford. The theater will be a cornerstone for Oxford’s revitalization efforts when it becomes a reality. It would be hard to overstate the importance of the $2 million in state funding that was secured through the hard work of local lawmakers State Rep. John Lawrence and State Sen. Carolyn Comitta. Oxford officials and community leaders have long dreamed about the possibility of once again having a theater in the downtown—there have been three movie theaters in Oxford through the years. A movie theater will help make Oxford’s downtown a destination for more visitors, which will help the restaurants and stores in the commercial district. The performing arts space currently being planned is in the same building that once housed the Oxford Theater. The Oxford Theater was originally constructed in 1922 and now, 100 years later, a new venue is about to become a reality and can help usher in a new era in Oxford’s history. “This is an exciting day for Oxford,” said Lawrence, a longtime supporter of the project. “Today’s news is the next step in the continued revitalization of the downtown core, and a recognition of the hard work that so many have been a part of over the last few years.” In a statement announcing the grant, Comitta said that performing arts can be a powerful catalyst for recreation and economic revitalization. The Oxford Theater closed in 1956. It was converted into retail space and was utilized for that purpose for decades. But now, with the significant funding from the state, Oxford’s downtown may soon be anchored by a movie theater. Oxford Mainstreet, Inc. will lead efforts to completely renovate the old theater building into a 12,000- squarefoot multipurpose facility. Plans include a state-of-the-art auditorium for films and live performances. Classrooms and studio spaces will be available for rehearsals, classes and community use. Work has already begun on The Shoebox, a smaller, secondary theater within a theater that will open shortly. Plans also include a small café to cater to theatergoers and other patrons. “On behalf of the board of directors of Oxford Mainstreet, and the vision we share with the borough and the great spirit and culture of Oxford, we are most appreciative of this opportunity to use this grant and work hard to bring this project to reality,” said Ed Herr, the chairman of Oxford Mainstreet. “What a blessing this will be for our beautiful town.” Indeed. Kudos to Lawrence and Comitta for their hard work in helping Oxford Mainstreet, Inc. to secure the funding. As a result, future generations of Oxford area residents will be able to enjoy movies and live performances close to home, and a terrific small town has an important building block for its revitalization.

Chester County Press Randall S. Lieberman Publisher

Steve Hoffman..................................Managing Editor Richard L. Gaw..................................Associate Editor Chris Barber................................Contributing Writer Betsy Brewer Brantner...............Contributing Writer Marcella Peyre-Ferry.................Contributing Writer Gene Pisasale...............................Contributing Writer Monica Thompson Fragale........Contributing Writer Brenda Butt.........................................Office Manager Tricia Hoadley...........................................Art Director Sherry Hutchinson..............................Graphic Design Alan E. Turn...............................Advertising Director Teri Turns................................Advertising Executive Helen E. Warren......................Advertising Executive Amy Lieberman.............Marketing/Public Relations

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Anointed Task (Remembering Mother on Mother’s Day) By Marie-Louise Meyers It was more than just laundry day decor when mother shook the last drops of holy water, wiped clean of mundane tasks, then stretched the snow white sheets like an altar cloth till they squeaked for all the neighbors to see clothes-pinned on the line, propped up with a ramrod straight pole. It was a hint of the sublime to see the sun glint on the plain design, the wind lift the immaculate sheets heavenward, snap to attention in winter, while I contented myself with lesser matters, lowly socks with pervious toes darned to righteous stiffness, the heels still grimed. I grappled with a make-shift line using a ladder in the shadow of the sheets where gleaming little souls were fashioned from worn out soles of restless feet. Soon it will become a forgotten task without the reward that lasted week long to be renewed like a freshet on a dew-dropped lawn, not baked through in a dryer, dull and lifeless, and heaped in a basket, but folded neatly. Sinless as the day we were born, tucked securely in our receiving sheets the fragrance transforming our plain beds into Heaven-scented bowers.

State Senate Republicans announce legislation to establish the Law Enforcement Recovery Grant Program State Sen. Doug Mastriano (PA-33) and State Sen. Devlin Robinson (PA-37) hosted a press conference in early April to announce legislation that will use $100 million in federal funds to establish the Law Enforcement Recovery Grant. The grant program will assist agencies that have faced new challenges and stressors brought on by COVID-19. Senators Mastriano and Robinson were joined by Chief Robert Glenny of Gettysburg Police Department, Deputy Chief Jon Greenawalt (Chambersburg Police Department), and Chief Charles Kellar (Former Harrisburg Police Chief and current Chief for Littlestown). Police departments, offices of the sheriff, and the State Police will have the opportunity to apply for the grant funding. Agencies in urban, suburban, and rural parts of Pennsylvania currently face significant officer vacancies that are projected to continue to worsen with increasing retirements and a tight labor market in the wake of COVID-19. Under the new grant program, agencies will be eligible to apply for grant awards to fund strategies and incentives to attract new recruits and retain current officers. The rise of violent crime and increase in trafficking of deadly drugs such as fentanyl since 2020 has created an additional burden on depleted agencies. Eligible agencies will have the opportunity to apply for grant money to invest in technology, improve equipment, and eliminate

evidence testing backlogs. The grant program will be administered by the Commission on Crime and Delinquency who will determine awards for applicant agencies. To ensure transparency and oversight of the grant program, annual public reports will be required to detail how the grant money was used by the receiving agencies. “There is a growing bipartisan chorus to adequately fund our law enforcement agencies in the aftermath of COVID-19,” said Senator Mastriano. “Even President Biden admitted during his State of the Union that the answer to rising violent crime around the nation is to FUND the Police. Pennsylvania’s law enforcement agencies have been decimated over the last two years with many vacancies and high staff turnover. Additionally, our state has had the third highest increase in violent crimes in the entire nation in the aftermath of COVID19. To make matters worse, fatal fentanyl overdose deaths have jumped by 16 percent since 2020. The law enforcement recovery grant will ensure that agencies across the commonwealth have the resources needed to properly serve their communities and save lives.” “It is time to prioritize law enforcement who served on the front lines alongside first responders,” Sen. Robinson said. “We rely on law enforcement to keep our communities safe, and this funding will provide the resources vital to maintaining peace and order.”

Guest Column

Activists should stop monkeying around with lifesaving research By Matthew R. Bailey Alzheimer’s research is a matter of life and death. But it also involves a lot of monkey business -- literally. The scientists working to cure Alzheimer’s rely heavily on monkeys because humans and monkeys share extremely similar prefrontal cortices, the part of the brain that controls memory, concentration and personality. Nonhuman primates are the key to understanding and defeating the fatal dementia, which currently afflicts about 6 million Americans -and is projected to plague 14 million of us by 2060, unless a breakthrough is achieved. Unfortunately, misguided animal activists are making scientists’ jobs much harder by pressuring lawmakers to preclude using nonhuman primates to develop therapeutics for diseases. If they get their way, they’ll slow down -- and potentially prevent -medical discoveries that could save millions of American lives. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reviews pre-clinical animal research data to evaluate the safety and efficacy of drugs, medical devices and other therapeutics before approving them for manufacturing and distribution to American consumers. Until animals respond positively to a potential treatment in pre-clinical evaluation, researchers cannot conduct clinical trials on human

subjects. That’s especially true when it comes to hard-totreat neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, as well as neurodevelopmental disorders like autism and psychiatric illnesses like anxiety or depression. The brain chemistry of primates -- human and nonhuman alike -- is so complex that alternative methods of testing, such as computer modeling, could never deliver the same degree of accuracy scientists get from monkeys. That’s why just last year New York University researchers tested a new Alzheimer’s therapy on elderly monkeys. The treatment led to 59 percent fewer plaque deposits of the protein associated with Alzheimer’s and stopped the disease from progressing. Researchers are hoping to begin human trials soon. Of course, animals aren’t just helpful for studying brain disorders. For decades, they’ve played a crucial role in nearly every medical breakthrough, including COVID-19 vaccines and treatments. Researchers in the public and private sector worked collaboratively for years to perfect the mRNA technology behind the vaccines from PfizerBioNTech and Moderna, relying on animals for their tests. The successful vaccination of nonhuman primates paved the way for Food and Drug

Administration approval. The FDA has also recently approved several new COVID-19 treatments that prevent severe illness once someone gets the virus. Pfizer successfully trialed its antiviral pill in December 2020 with animals. That opened the door to human trials in March 2021. The now-approved drug reduces hospitalization and death by 89 percent. The federal government understands the value of human life and the crucial role that nonhuman primates play in protecting it. Scientists at the U.S. Department of Defense, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health and other federal agencies humanely use animals in their research to control biological threats like COVID-19 and the H5N1 “bird” flu. Animal research continues to represent one of our best hopes for discovering lifesaving medical treatments. We

need nonhuman primates and other research animals, followed by human clinical trials, to discern that kind of information. In the next several decades, researchers will likely find new breakthroughs to beat back some of the most stubborn diseases humanity faces. But they will likely still need animals to do it.

Matthew R. Bailey is the president of the Foundation for Biomedical Research. More information is available at www. fbresearch.org.

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Chester County Press

In the Spotlight

Section

WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2022

Eager anglers return for the 25th Trout Rodeo By Chris Barber Contributing Writer The anglers who arrived at the Trout Rodeo on Saturday were so eager to cast their lines that many of them arrived a half hour before the starting siren. Seconds after the signal sounded and their hooks hit the water, quite a few of them succeeded in reeling in early catches. The 25th annual Trout Rodeo presented by the Kennett Area Park Authority (KAPA) and the Brandywine Red Clay Alliance returned to Anson B. Nixon Park after a twoyear absence caused by COVID-19 precautions. After the event finished up at noon, the count of participants was about 300, an attendance that was pleasing to the organizers. The two small lakes on the property were stocked with trout on Thursday, April 28. The fish came from Laurel Hill Trout Farm Inc. in Newville, and

Russ, the driver, numbered the delivery at between 400 and 500. Volunteers and staff from the two agencies then dumped the trout, many of them gold and others unusually large, bucketfulby-bucketful into the lakes on the property. After the stocking, they posted warning signs to the public to delay individual fishing until the rodeo was over. The trout rodeo, always a popular event, attracted many participants including grandparents, parents and grandchildren. It appeared that a majority of the adults were seasoned fishermen, and, amazingly, even the very youngest showed experience in casting their lines. All participants over 16 years old had to have licenses, and admission was $5 for children and $20 for adults. Awards were given for the biggest individual and combined catches in three categories of young children, older children and

All photos by Chris Barber

Anglers line the lakes during the trout rodeo last Saturday at the 25th annual Trout Rodeo at Anson B. Nixon Park in Kennett Square.

adults. In previous years there were also cash prizes, but this year it was trophies only. Brandywine Red Clay Executive Director Jim Jordan said the organizers decided that competition for the catch was reward and incentive enough. Proceeds from the registrations went to maintenance of the park. When asked, most of

Young toddler Owen, whose family was walking in the park during the trout stocking, takes a look at the bucket of fish about to be hurled into the lake.

Liza Zumstey teaches her son, Conner, how to cast a line.

those who were fishing said they planned to cook and eat the trout. Kahn Bond of West Grove said, “I smoke them, but first I marinate them in soy and ginger a day before.” Raul Perales of Kennett Square said, “Dinner’s going to be good tonight.” The morning dawned cold, but the water looked algae-free and sparkled in the sunlight. Brandywine Red Clay

Watershed Conservation Director Brian Winslow was on hand for the stocking and the rodeo. He said that in recent years there have been at least 10 projects to enhance the quality of the Red Clay water, including two recently in the park to shore up the stream banks. Jordan said he is optimistic they are moving in the right direction for growing purity of the water, and even now the Red Clay has

hosted annual trout stocking in the Delaware end of the stream. KAPA Business Manager Sheila Tekavec, who handled the registration, said she was pleased with the turnout and heartened that the online registration set a record. Richard Lyon is chairman of the Kennett Area Park Authority, and David Schurr was in charge of the trout rodeo.

Awards were given by age categories for the most and biggest trout caught.

KAPA volunteers cast a bucketful of James Tackett, left, and his grandson A family joins for a day of fishing at the trout into the lake on April 28. Julian Holley, right, display a trout they trout rodeo. just caught.

Avon Grove School District hosts Empower appreciation breakfast On April 26, Avon Grove School District’s (AGSD) special education department hosted an appreciation breakfast for supporters of Empower, the District’s work-based instruction program for students with special needs. The Empower program helps students transition to adult life by obtaining practical work experience in local businesses. Students “go to work” in the community one to two days a week to learn soft skills that are transferrable from job to job and make connections in the community.

A new program for AGSD this year, the special education department secured partnerships with four local businesses: Acme, Aurora Pizzeria and Pasta Kitchen, Saladworks and Walgreens. Representatives from the district’s community partners were invited to attend the Empower appreciation breakfast. “We truly appreciate our community partners for taking a risk and supporting our program,” said Christa Schoen, AGSD transition coordinator for the Empower program. “We would also like to

thank Cafe Americana for catering the event.” Currently, eight Avon Grove High School students are participating in Empower. At the breakfast, the students delivered speeches to show their gratitude for the knowledge, skills and experiences they have gained through the program. Many of their parents and job coaches were in attendance, as well as members of the AGSD administration, the Board of School Directors and representatives of the Avon Grove Education Foundation.

Courtesy photo

From left: Aurora owner Jim DelVescovo, student Luke Kelley, Saladworks owner Nick DiBello, Aurora employee Amelia Winters, Aurora manager Mackenzie Adair and AGSD Empower Transition Coordinator Christa Schoen.

The district plans to expand the program to

include more students and community partnerships in

the 2022-2023 academic year.

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2022

Chester County Press

Obituaries MICHAEL F. CARROLL

EDITH E. FRITZ

HERBERT THOMAS STEEL

Michael Francis Carroll passed away peacefully on April 25, 2022 in Oxford. Mike was born in Chicago, Ill. on Dec. 30, 1936, to Francis and Rosalie (Kennedy) Carroll. He grew up in the house where his mother was born until, when he was 16, his family moved to Pennsylvania. He attended Penn State University and remained a lifelong Nittany Lions fan. He married the love of his life, Sally Laine, in 1978. They worked together to create the family business, Mike Carroll & Associates. Mike was active in the American Legion for many years. He was an avid woodworker, sharing his beautiful creations with family and friends. He and Sally were enthusiastic golfers. They believed, “There is never bad weather on a golf course!” He is survived by stepchildren, Drake Fox (Rena) and Linda Fox; step-granddaughters, Ashley Yerkes (Will) and Brandi Arrell; his sister, Katherine Carroll Hurwitz (Ivan); brother, Tom Carroll (Rosemary); and many nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death were his wife Sally in 2016, his parents and his brother, Richard. 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.

Edith E. Fritz, age 91, of Nottingham, passed away April 25, 2022 at the Christiana Hospital. She was the wife of Herbert F. Fritz, who passed away in 2012, and with whom she shared over 50 years of marriage. Born in Philadelphia, she was the daughter of the late Axil O. Blomgren and the late Anna Fitzpatrick Blomgren. Edith was a homemaker. She enjoyed cooking, ceramics and taking care of her children. She is survived by seven sons, Brian Fritz of Orwigsburg, Pa., Herbert Fritz, Jr. of Orwigsburg, Pa., Wayne Fritz of Orwigsburg, Pa., Brent Fritz of Poconos, Pa., Ross Fritz of West Chester, Todd Fritz of Delaware and Vance Fritz of Delaware; two daughters, Lexi Swatton of Nottingham, and Edythe Marino of Avondale; one brother, Howard Blomgren of Delaware; one sister, Annie Divito of New Jersey; 16 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren She was predeceased by one daughter, Shirley Fritz. You are invited to visit with her family and friend from 10 to 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 4 at the Foulk Funeral Home, 200 Rose Hill Road, West Grove. Her memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. Burial will be private. To view her online tribute and to share a memory with her family, please visit www.kuzoandfoulkfh. com.

Herbert Thomas Steel, a resident of Kennett Square, passed away at the Chester County Hospital on April 28, 2022. He was 77. He was the husband of Barbara Newell Steel, with whom he shared 50 years of marriage. Born in West Grove, he was the son of the late Herbert A. Steel and the late Margaret Mary King Steel. He was a maintenance worker at the Friends Home in Kennett Square for 25 years, retiring in 2014. Prior to that, he had his own construction business. Herb was a lifetime member of the Kennett Square Fire Company, where he served as a fire policeman. In his earlier years, he was a member of Boy Scout Troop 24 in Kennett Square. He enjoyed spending his summers on the Chesapeake Bay. He enjoyed boating, traveling, camping, driving his motor home, and going to flea markets and yard sales. He had a love of antique cars and motorcycles. In addition to his wife, he is survived by one son, Gregory Thomas Steel of Kennett Square; one daughter, Greta Denny (and her husband Michael) of Toughkenamon; two grandchildren, Rebecca Denny and Austin Denny, and his dog Buddy. You may visit with his family and friends from 3 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 5 at the Kuzo Funeral Home, 250 West State Street in Kennett Square. His funeral service will follow at 5 p.m. Burial will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, a contribution may be made to Colon Cancer Coalition, 5666 Lincoln Drive, #270, Edina, Minn. 55436. To view his online tribute and to share a memory with his family, please visit www.kuzoandfoulkfh.com.

Alleluia Behold, God is mighty, and does not despise any; he is mighty in strength of understanding.

Job 36:5 The Chester County Press features a dedicated church/religious page that can help you advertise your house of worship and/or business. The page is updated weekly with new scripture. Only $10 Weekly for this space. We are offering a special discount of 25% off each and every help wanted/ classified advertisement to any business that advertises on the PRESS church page.

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Chester County Press

Obituaries JENNIFER PRINCE AND RYAN PRINCE Jennifer M. Prince, age 50, and Ryan J. Prince, age 13, passed away on April 22, 2022. Jennifer and Ryan, a mother and her son, were taken from the world too soon. Jennifer was a captivating woman whose authenticity and charisma magnetized anyone she met. Jenn was a people-person with an easygoing manner and a brilliant sense of humor. Jennifer took genuine interest in getting to know others and liked to have fun wherever she went. Whether it was at a winery enjoying a glass of wine or hiking a trail at a local nature preserve, her carefree view of life made her a joy to be around in any setting. Born in Darby, Pa., Jennifer was the daughter of Carol Krupsky Happersett and the late William Happersett. Carol and William raised Jenn in Sharon Hill, where she had a happy childhood. She graduated from Archbishop Prendergast High School in 1989 and continued her higher education at Drexel University, earning her bachelor’s degree in film production. Jennifer’s studies landed her a coveted position as video editor at CNN. She worked for CNN for several years, and lived in both Florida and then Atlanta. Upon returning to Pennsylvania, Jenn worked as a film producer at Comcast in New Castle, Del. Most recently, Jennifer worked as an executive administrative assistant at CVP Manufacturing in Kennett Square. Though Jenn was a hard worker throughout her life, she settled down when learning she was pregnant with her beautiful baby boy, Ryan J. Prince, so she could focus on becoming a first-time mom. Ryan was born on Feb. 2, 2009 in West Chester and he grew up in Kennett Square. He attended Greenwood Elementary before moving up to Kennett Middle School,

where Ryan was a seventh-grader. When he was younger, Ryan played soccer and was a member of Cub Scout Pack 60. As Ryan grew up, his interests shifted into playing Xbox and spending time with his cousin, Jonathan. Jonathan and Ryan were only 7 months apart and the two were thick as thieves. Ryan was very much like his mom in many ways and had a sweet, gentle soul. Though he was always kind and polite, Ryan had a silly side, especially when goofing around with Jonathan and his friends. Jennifer and Ryan would often meet with Jennifer’s sister and nephew, Connie and Jonathan, to enjoy an outdoor adventure or a walk at Longwood Gardens. Jenn and Ryan loved to visit the shore and spend time on the beach with their family. The two also enjoyed visiting New England, where they ventured for several family vacations. Jennifer and Ryan are survived by their mother and grandmother, Carol Happersett; their brother and uncle, Michael (Kathy) Happersett; their sister and aunt, Connie (Robert) Hickman; niece and cousin, Jordan Happersett; nephews and cousins, Michael Happersett and Jonathan Hickman; as well as many friends and those whose lives they have touched. Ryan is also survived by his grandmother, Lydia Prince; aunts, Christine Sauer and Kathy Prince-Sauer; and six Sauer cousins. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick Church, 212 Meredith St. in Kennett Square. Following mass, interment will be held at 1:30 p.m. at Calvary Cemetery, N. Orange St. & Highland Ave. in Media, Pa. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be mailed to After-The-Bell, P.O. Box 1068, Kennett Square, Pa., 19348 or made online at https://www. afterthebell.org/. (Ryan enjoyed attending several of the after-school programs with his friends and cousin. It provides recreational, social and academic skill activities for Kennett Middle School students). Arrangements are being handled by Kuzo Funeral Home of Kennett Square.

Obituary submissions The Chester County Press publishes obituaries free of charge for funeral homes with active advertising accounts only. Others with

a connection to southern Chester County are charged a modest fee. Obituaries appear on the Wednesday after they are received with a

Monday 5pm deadline. They are also posted on www. chestercounty.com. Photos should be sent as .jpeg attachments to the obituary

text. To submit an obituary to the Chester County Press or for a rate quote, email the information to editor@chestercounty.com.

PETER JUSTICE COLLINS Peter Justice Collins passed away at the age of 87 on April 25, 2022 in Honey Brook, where he lived with Elizabeth (Betsey) Maule Collins, his wife of 67 years. Pete was born in Philadelphia on May 30, 1934 to George and Jean Collins. He had an older brother, Richard, and a younger brother, Stephen, who each preceded him in death. Pete often talked of playing in the woods behind their home in Hammonton, NJ and from an early age he only wanted to be outdoors. That passion went on to define how he lived his life. In 1952 Pete graduated from George School where he met Betsey and they married in July of 1954. Pete and Betsey began their married life in High Island, Texas, but soon moved to Pennsylvania where they raised their family, Bradford, Stephen and Laura, at Betsey’s childhood home near West Grove. Summers were spent camping as a family, first in Vermont and Maine, and then, in 1966, Pete and Betsey packed the kids and a tent into their Volkswagen bus and went on an 8-week trip across the U.S. The following summers were spent traveling and by 1969 the family had been to 48 of 50 states, exploring many of the National Parks. Pete was rarely happier than when he saw his first glimpse of the Rocky Mountains and he passed that love of the outdoors to his kids. Pete enjoyed a career as a mushroom farmer in Chester County and then retired to the northwoods of Maine, where he relished the opportunity to hike, canoe, and cross country ski. He loved chopping wood and making maple syrup. His childhood dream of living in the woods had come true. After twenty years in Maine, Pete and Betsey moved to Tel Hai Retirement Community in Honey Brook, where Pete volunteered with Meals on Wheels and worked in the mailroom. He continued his daily walks and knew everyone he encountered. Pete never met a stranger and he will be remembered for his kind and friendly spirit. Pete and Betsey were members of Maple Grove Mennonite Church in Atglen, Pa. They were also members of YAG Club (Young Adult Group) for over 70 years. Pete’s faith in Christ was important to him. As his health was failing he expressed his readiness and desire to be with Jesus. Pete is survived by his wife, Elizabeth (Betsey), and their three children, Bradford (Lee Ann), Stephen (Laurie), and Laura (Samuel); eight grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, his sister-in-law Mildred, four nieces and a nephew and their families. Family services will be held at a later time. Shiveryfuneralhome.com.

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2022

Chester County Press

Legals ESTATE NOTICE

Estate of Richard James Yochem Jr., Deceased. Late of: Chester County / East Coventry Township. 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 Rebecca Yochem / Lance Yochem (Administrators), 5216 Sapling Sprout Dr. Orlando Fl, 32829 5p-4-3t

ESTATE NOTICE

ESTATE OF EDWARD F. HAGGERTY, DECEASED. Late of New London 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 KIMBERLY HAWKINS, ADMINISTRATRIX, 46010 N. Greens Rest Dr., Great Mills, MD 20634, Or to her Attorney: ANITA M. D’AMICO, D’AMICO LAW, P.C., 65 S. Third St., Oxford, PA 19363 5p-4-3t

NOTICE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Oxford Borough Council, Chester County, Pennsylvania, at a public meeting scheduled on Monday, May 16, 2022, commencing at 7:00 p.m., to be held at the Borough Building, 1 Octoraro Alley, Oxford, Pennsylvania, will conduct a public hearing to consider and possibly

enact an ordinance amending Chapter 13, Licenses, Permits and General Business Regulations, the caption and summary of which follows. The ordinance can be examined at the Chester County Law Library, 201 West Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania and the Borough Building at the above address during regular business hours. Copies of the ordinance may be obtained at a charge not greater than the cost thereof. AN ORDINANCE OF THE BOROUGH OF OXFORD, CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, AMENDING CHAPTER 13, LICENSES, PERMITS AND GENERAL BUSINESS REGULATIONS, SECTION 13-302, DEFINITIONS; SECTION 13-311, DIRECT KEYING; SECTION 13-313, CURRENT LIST OF INSTALLATIONS REQUIRED; SECTION 13-317, DISCONNECTION; SECTION 13-318, AUTHORITY TO INSPECT; SECTION 13-321, SUPPLIERS OF EQUIPMENT TO FURNISH COPIES OF ORDINANCES; AND SECTION 13-322, FALSE ALARMS, OF THE CODE OF THE BOROUGH OF OXFORD. SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 13, Licenses, Permits and General Business Regulations, §13-302, Definitions, to replace the following terms and their accompanying definitions with amended definitions: answering service, audible alarm, automatic protection device, central station protective system, false alarm, and primary trunk line. SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 13, Licenses, Permits and General Business Regulations, to delete §13-311, Direct Keying. SECTION 3: Amends Chapter 13, Licenses, Permits and General Business

Trailer Repair Truck Acces. Welding Spray Liners

Regulations, to delete §13-313, Current List of Installations Required. SECTION 4: Amends Chapter 13, Licenses, Permits and General Business Regulations, §13-317, Disconnection, to authorize the Borough to require the owner/lessee to disconnect a defective automatic protection device. SECTION 5: Amends Chapter 13, Licenses, Permits and General Business Regulations, to retitle §13-318, Authority to Inspect, as “Registration; Authority to Inspect” and to add a requirement for registration of an automatic protection device and execution of consent, in a form as prescribed by the Borough, which will authorize inspection of installation and operation of the automatic protection device by the Building Inspector, Codes Official, Borough Police Department and Borough Fire Department. SECTION 6: Amends Chapter 13, Licenses, Permits and General Business Regulations, by retitling Subsection C. Copies of Ordinance; Costs; Penalties as Subsection C. “Costs and Penalties.” SECTION 7: Amends Chapter 13, Licenses, Permits and General Business Regulations, to delete §13-321, Suppliers of Equipment to Furnish Copies of Ordinance. SECTION 8: Amends Chapter 13, Licenses, Permits and General Business Regulations, §13-322, Costs of False Alarms, in its entirety to set forth procedures for the assessment of costs for false alarms and schedule of costs relative to the type and frequency of false alarms. SECTION 9. Provides for the severability of unconstitutional or invalid provisions of the ordinance. SECTION 10. Repeals ordinances or

parts of ordinances in conflict with any provisions of this ordinance. SECTION 11. Provides that the amendment shall be effective as by law provided. If you are a person with a disability wishing to attend the aforementioned meeting and require auxiliary aid, service or other accommodation to observe or participate in the proceedings, please contact the Borough (610-9322500) to discuss how your needs may best be accommodated. OXFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL, GAWTHROP GREENWOOD, PC, Stacey L. Fuller, Solicitor 5p-4-1t

INVITATION TO BID

Sealed proposals will be received by Elk Township at the office of Elk Township, 952 Chesterville Road, P.O. Box 153, Lewisville, PA 19351. Bids will be accepted until 3:00 PM, Monday, June 6, 2022. Bids will be opened at 3:30 PM on that day. Action will be taken by the municipality on the awarding of each bid item at the Board of Supervisors Meeting on Monday, June 6, 2022, at 7:00 PM. Bidders are asked to bid on the following: 1. Roadwork Equipment Rental w/ Operator per Specifications (Bidders Qualification Form is required) 2. Snow Plowing/Ice Removal Services Equipment Rental w/Operator per Specifications (Bidders Qualification Form and Agreement for Snow Plowing/ Ice Removal are required) 3. Aggregate Materials per Specifications (550 tons more or less) 4. Blacktop Mixes per Specifications (770 tons more or less) 5. Liquid Asphalt per Specifications (20

gallons more or less) All of the above equipment and material specified shall meet Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Specification standards and the terms/conditions of the Agreement for Snow Plowing/ Ice Removal Services. Bidders are not required to bid on all of the above items. The contract period for Roadwork Equipment Rental begins on July 1, 2022 and ends on June 30, 2023. The contract period for Snow Plowing/Ice Removal Services Equipment Rental begins on October 15, 2022 and ends on April 30, 2023. The successful bidder shall, within 14 days of the award of contract, submit the following: Performance Bond in the amount of 100% of the Equipment Rental Contract; Certificate of Insurance with minimum limits of $500,000/$1,000,000 aggregate and endorsing Elk Township as Additional Insured; Proof of Workers’ Compensation Insurance or Workers’ Compensation Insurance Coverage Information for Independent Contractors; Hold Harmless & Indemnification Agreement; and IRS Form W-9. All bidders are to follow the Bidder Information Guidelines. Bidding packets are available by appointment at the Elk Township Office and on-line at www. elktownship.org, or may be requested by phone 610-255-0634 or by e-mail elktwpchester@gmail.com. Terri Kukoda, Secretary/Treasurer 5p-4-2t

PUBLIC NOTICE

2022 HYDRANT FLUSHING LONDON GROVE TOWNSHIP MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO THE LONDON GROVE TOWNSHIP MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY WATER CUSTOMERS: FIRE HYDRANTS WILL BE FLUSHED AND FLOW TESTED FROM THE BEGINNING OF JUNE 2022 THROUGH AUGUST 2022. FLUSHING MAY BRIEFLY CAUSE LOW WATER PRESSURE. THE FLUSHING PROCESS MAY ALSO CAUSE TEMPORARY CLOUDINESS IN YOUR WATER AND/OR AIR POCKETS WHICH GIVE THE WATER A MILKY APPEARANCE. ALLOW THE WATER TO RUN UNTIL IT CLEARS. THE WATER IS POTABLE AND STILL SAFE TO DRINK. KEN BATTIN, TOWNSHIP MANAGER 5p-4-1t

Sheriff Sale of Real Estate

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CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

Chester County Press

Local News Garage... Continued from Page 1A

multi-purpose room with a stage, two ADA-compliant bathrooms, an interior gymnasium, creative spaces, a full-service commercial kitchen, a meal preparation and distribution area, administrative offices and space for local non-profit and legal aid organizations who partner with The Garage. “For the youth in our community, in southern Chester County and in the Avon Grove School District, this is a milestone event,” said Garage executive director Kristin Proto, who was joined by the agency’s staff and board during the ribboncutting ceremony. “Having this space and being able to expand our services and programs for more students

is a turning point not only for our organization but for the entire community.” Proto said that The Garage’s $900,000 capital campaign, begun earlier this year, has already raised more than $750,000 and will be used to complete the purchase of the building and fund additional renovations. She said she anticipates that the campaign will reach its goal by the end of the summer and that renovations will be completed by 2023. Rep. Christina Sappey praised The Garage’s decision to transfer its West Grove-Avondale location to an existing structure. She compared it to the decision several years ago that retrofitted the Wegmans in Downingtown in the former site of a Hechinger’s. “They didn’t take over

a field or buy a farm,” she said. “This is how we should be thinking about real estate and communities and repurposing. It’s not always feasible, but whenever it can happen it is a good thing, and we should all be investing in existing infrastructure.” Board director Sean Deminski praised the vision of Proto and The Garage staff to imagine converting a former fire house to a new home for the organization. “When I first saw the building, it was very clear to me that this would work not only for The Garage but for the community,” he said. “Being in the center of town, it gives The Garage the feeling that we are making roots and creating a foundation here for the foreseeable future.” Jim Mercante, a co-

A mural that hangs in the facility’s multiPhotos by Richard L. Gaw purpose room acknowledges the businesses and individuals who have made The Garage’s Parent Coordinator significant contributions to The Garage’s Esmeralda Carrillo celebrates the grand fundraising campaign for their new home. opening with a few Garage students.

chair of the Digital Equity Coalition in Southern Chester County, has been an avid supporter of The Garage through the Southern Chester County Opportunity Network. “For some of these children who come to The Garage, their parents work two and three jobs, and their older siblings often need to

take care of them,” he said. “If there wasn’t a place like The Garage for them to engage in learning and socialization, what would happen to these kids who otherwise might be forgotten and sink into a sense of hopelessness? “Each of these youngsters has the talent and potential to make a significant contri-

Legals Chester County Justice Center, 201 W Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania, Schedules of Distribution on Monday, June 20 th , 2022. 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. 22-5-157 Writ of Execution No. 2019-05846 DEBT $124,677.05 ALL THAT CERTAIN property situated in the Township of Londonderry in the County of Chester and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, being described as Follows: UPI: #46-3-16 being more fully described in a Deed Dated 04/09/1998 and recorded 04/17/1998, Among the land records of the county and state set forth above, in Deed Volume 4334 and Page 1356, Tax Map or Parcel id No: 46-03-0016. Tax Parcel # 46-3-16 PLAINTIFF: U.S. Bank National Association, not in its individual capacity but solely in its capacity as Indenture Trustee of CIM Trust 2018-R4

VS DEFENDANT: John Preston Dehaven a/k/a John P. Dehaven and Lynn Karmilowicz a/k/a Lynn M. Dehaven SALE ADDRESS: 201 Paxton Road, Cochranville, PA, 19330 PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: STERN & EISENBERG, PC 215-572-8111 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. FREDDA L. MADDOX, SHERIFF 4p-27-3t

Sheriff Sale of Real Estate

Bid4Assets. The balance must be paid within twenty-one (21) days from the date of sale via Bid4Assets. FREDDA L. MADDOX, SHERIFF 4p-27-3t

SALE NO. 22-5-160 Writ of Execution No. 2015-05187 DEBT $479,781.13

By virtue of the within mentioned writs directed to Sheriff Fredda L. Maddox, the herein-described real estate will be sold at public on-line auction via Bid4Assets, by accessing URL www. bid4assets.com/chestercopasheriffsales, on Thursday, May 19th , 2022 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, June 20 th , 2022. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedules unless exceptions are filed in the Sheriff’s Office within ten (10) days thereafter.

Tax Parcel No. 60-06-0091 IMPROVEMENTS thereon: a residential dwelling PLAINTIFF: Bank of America, N.A. VS DEFENDANT: Kathleen Morgan SALE ADDRESS: 9 West Shore Court, Landenberg, PA 19350 PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: KML LAW GROUP, P.C. 215-627-1322 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

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

Classifieds

Market Street, West Chester, Pennsylvania, Schedules of Distribution on Monday, June 20 th , 2022. Distribution will be made in accordance with the Schedules unless exceptions are filed in the Sheriff’s Office within ten (10) days thereafter.

Property situate in NEW GARDEN TOWNSHIP

bution to their family, their community and to America in general, and The Garage helps make that happen.” To learn more about the Avondale Garage’s capital campaign, visit www. garageyouthcenter.org.

Sheriff Sale of Real Estate

SALE NO. 22-5-169 Writ of Execution No. 2020-01918 DEBT $267,887.52 Property situate in the BOROUGH

OF PARKESBURG Tax Parcel No. 08-07-0019.010 IMPROVEMENTS thereon: a residential dwelling SALE ADDRESS: 815 West 8th Avenue AKA 815 W PLAINTIFF: PENNYMAC LOAN SERVICES, LLC VS DEFENDANT: Katlyn M. Broomell & Taylor W. Megill SALE ADDRESS: 815 West 8th Avenue AKA 815 W 8th Avenue, Parkesburg, PA 19365 PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY: KML LAW GROUP, P.C. 215-627-1322 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. FREDDA L. MADDOX, SHERIFF 4p-27-3t

HELP WANTED

Full Time Public Works Position London Grove Township is accepting applications to fill a full time skilled laborer/driver position in the Public Works Department. Position requires ability to perform a variety of duties involving manual labor, semi-skilled trade work, and equipment operation, as assigned by the Director of Public Works. Applicant must be able to lift 70 pounds and work at heights, in confined spaces, and adverse weather conditions. Applicants must process a PA Class “B” with Airbrake, PA Class “A” and Tanker endorsement are preferred. Applicants holding valid Class “B” or higher permit will be considered. All applicants must be a minimum of 18 years old and have clean criminal and driving records. Previous municipal, construction and/ or equipment operation experience a plus. Starting salary range $21 to $25 per hour, depending experience, with benefits. London Grove Township is an equal opportunity employer. Submit applications to London Grove Township, Attn: Director of Public Works, 372 Rose Hill Road, Suite 100, West Grove, Pa 19390. Complete job description along with application is available at www.londongrove.org Applications will be accepted until positions are filled.

CHESTER COUNTY PRESS

WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2022