Chester CountyPRESS
www.chestercounty.com
Covering Avon Grove, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Oxford, & Unionville Areas
Volume 156, No. 19
Wednesday, May 11, 2022
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Po-Mar-Lin joins regional fire command for East Marlborough By Monica Fragale Contributing Writer The East Marlborough supervisors adopted a resolution at their May 2 meeting that designates Longwood Fire Company as the main fire protection responder in the township. Previously, fire and rescue coverage was divided between Longwood and Po-Mar-Lin fire companies, but with this ordinance Po-Mar-Lin will become part of the regional fire response command led by Longwood for incidents in and around East Marlborough.
INSIDE
Lamb McErlane celebrates its new Oxford location...5A
The Po-Mar-Lin members voted recently to join the regional command, according to Cuyler Walker, the head of the Kennett Fire and EMS Regional Commission. Longwood already has a regional fire command structure set up with Kennett Fire Company in the municipalities covered by those fire companies. Longwood, Kennett, and Po-Mar-Lin are governed by the Kennett Fire and EMS Regional Commission for fire, rescue, and EMS funding decisions. According to the resolution, Longwood Fire Company, “through a unified command structure involving other emergency service departments, will provide fire protection and rescue services throughout the entirety of the township’s municipal boundaries.” “They’re now all responding in a more regional way,” Walker said. “It’s something I think that is good for each of the fire companies.” The resolution also designates Longwood Fire Company EMS as the township’s ambulance provider, and it names the Avondale barracks of the Pennsylvania State Police
and the township’s parttime police department as the agencies tasked with providing police coverage. This resolution is normally something that supervisors adopt at the beginning of each year, as municipalities are tasked under Pennsylvania’s Second Class Township Code with identifying fire, EMS, and police coverage within their boundaries. Any time there are significant changes with coverage, a new resolution is required. In other business: • The supervisors held a moment of silence for Jennifer and Ryan Prince, the East Marlborough mother and son who were killed April 22 in a double-murder and suicide. Supervisor Eric Matuszak was a longtime neighbor of the Princes, and described the event as “the most heinous act imaginable.” Supervisors’ Chairman Robert McKinstry said the township police department responded to the call, and its officers are receiving the “appropriate” counseling. • The township solicitor received approval May 2 to appeal two county reassessments on township-owned property. At issue are parcels that contain cell phone towers, at 858 E. Baltimore
Pike. Previously the land and buildings were assessed at $132,080; the county reassessed it at $496,740. May 2 was the last day to file an appeal. Solicitor Ryan Jennings said the reassessment would also discuss it in executive session follow-
ing the meeting. “My office felt it appropriate to file an appeal for reassessment,” Jennings said. “We’ll see how the appeal plays out, if it’s even something we want to pursue.” • The supervisors also gave a green light to more space
for the East Marlborough Police Department. The township will be buying a $40,000 modular office for the police, for which supervisors voted at the meeting to add that amount to the department’s capital expenditures in the 2022 budget.
In This Issue
Oxford Borough and West Grove Borough seek planning grant for Baltimore Pike bikeway concept design
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Nottingham: A rich heritage of Quakers, minerals and a local park...1B
By Betsy Brewer Brantner Contributing Writer Oxford Borough Council approved a resolution at the May 3 council meeting for a multi-municipal planning grant being submitted by the Borough of West Grove to the
Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission’s Transportation and Community Development Initiative (TCDI) Program to support the development of a Baltimore Pike Bikeway Conceptual Design Plan. This is one more step toward ensuring that Oxford
and Southern Chester County continues to be a destination point for recreational opportunities. The council is currently in the midst of working with Chester County Planning Commission on a Feasibility Study for a Southern Chester County Circuit Trail which includes
Local tradition returns after a two-year hiatus
Despite washout, Kennett Run draws runners, walkers and spirit
porated in 2003 to provide shared recreation facilities for a population of approximately 24,000 residents of East Nottingham Township, West Nottingham Township, Elk Township, Lower Oxford Township and the Borough of Oxford. It is also highlighted in the feasibility study. Currently, the OARA Park includes ballfields, hiking trails, playgrounds, and more. Continuing along the healthy lifestyle/transportation theme, Oxford Borough Continued on page 3A
EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK Primary Election is May 17
Pennsylvania residents will be choosing a new gov-
ers, and I thought at the time, ‘Oh, that should be okay,’” Merkle said 15 minutes before the start of this year’s race. “The forecast
ernor and a new U.S. Senator this year. That process begins with the Primary Election on Tuesday, May 17, when numerous other nominees for federal and state offices will also be selected. In the gubernatorial race, Democrat Josh Shapiro, the popular incumbent attorney general, is unopposed in his bid for the party’s nomination. Shapiro is a former chairman of the Montgomery County Commissioners, and he also served as a State Representative. On the Republican side, there are no fewer than nine candidates—Lou Barletta, Jake Corman, Joe Gale, Charlie Gerow, Melissa Hart, Douglas Mastriano, Bill McSwain, Dave White, and Nche Zama—vying for the party’s nomination for governor. In the U.S. Senate race, there are seven Republicans bidding to replace retiring Senator Pat Toomey:
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Photo by Richard L. Gaw
Bill Perkins and his daughters Taylor, Logan and Brett celebrate moments after crossing the finish line at the 32nd Kennett Run, held May 7 through a persistent rainstorm. © 2007 The Chester County Press
recommendations for the Baltimore Pike Bikeway. That study also illuminates numerous parks, and land placed in preservation along the way. The proposed bikeway will ultimately connect cyclists from Pennsylvania to Maryland. Starting in the Borough, the Oxford Area Recreational Authority continues to develop the facility located at 900 West Locust Street. The Oxford Area Recreation Authority (OARA) is a Pennsylvania municipal authority incor-
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
Charities president Bob Merkle took his first look at the anticipated forecast for Ten days before the start race day. of the 32nd Kennett Run “It called for a 30 percent on May 7, Kennett Run chance of occasional show-