Chester CountyPRESS
www.chestercounty.com
Covering Avon Grove, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Oxford, & Unionville Areas
Volume 156, No. 23
Wednesday, June 8, 2022
$1.00
Kennett Township reaches agreement with accounting firm By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer Chairman Dr. Richard Leff announced at the June 1 Kennett Township Board of Supervisors meeting that the township has reached an agreement with Barbacane Thornton & Company that will pay the township $735,000 in order to settle a dispute between the township and the accounting firm. “The township and Barbacane had a bona fide dispute regarding poten-
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tial claims arising out of Lisa Moore’s embezzlement of township funds and Barbacane’s auditing of the township,” Leff read from a prepared statement. “The parties attended two days of private mediation to resolve that bona fide dispute. Without admitting or conceding any liability or wrongdoing, the parties have determined that it is in their best interests to resolve this dispute.” With the amount of the settlement agreement finalized, the township has
recovered more than $3.4 million to date in its efforts to recoup the losses from the more than $3.2 million that Moore stole from the township over a nearly eight-year period that began in 2013 and ended in 2019. While that’s a surplus for the township, Manager Eden Ratliff said that the township’s total expenses during the investigation of Moore’s theft and its subsequent recovery efforts still total more than $1 million – a sum that he said the township will eventually recover.
At her sentencing on Oct. 4, 2021, Moore and her attorney Alexa Rogers arranged a guilty plea deal with prosecuting attorneys William Judge, Jr. and Michelle Frei of the Chester County District Attorney’s Office, and was sentenced by the Hon. David F. Bortner and taken into custody on five counts: Theft by Deception, Dealing in Unlawful Proceeds, Forgery, Tampering with Public Records and Access Device Fraud. As part of her punishment, Moore
Kennett Blooms Floral Flash celebrates the beauty of flowers...1B
Photo by Chris Barber
Confetti rains down as seniors celebrate their graduation at Oxford Area High School. From left are Hannah Aker, Taylor Allerman and Maddie Anderson.
By Chris Barber Contributing Writer
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In This Issue
Oxford graduation marks emergence from chaotic years
Sign up now for the Oxford Library Fishing Tournament...4A
commencement last Friday night. The parking was easy, There were plenty of warm summer breezes were smiles to go around at the wafting in, and the seniors Oxford Area High School finally emerged from a high
school career of unprecedented challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic. Normalcy returned to the Class of 2022 as they marched into the gym for
graduation in the early evening. Led by the faculty and administration, they took their seats in the middle of the school’s gymnasium, ready to embark on their last adventure as high school students. As much as precautions, masks, obstructions and bumps in the road gave the class a highly unusual ride through school, Principal James Canaday told the audience that he found much to be encouraged by during the past two years. He said he received unprecedented amounts of support from parents, while he observed the students exercising strength and creativity to make some normalcy out of the chaos. “We even had our first Homecoming dance outside in October,” he said.
Conducting a casual standup poll of the audience, Canaday asked that everyone who was a friend, parent or loved one of the senior class members to stand up. He told the seniors to look around. “You all have someone here who supports you,” he said. “Make decisions that would make them proud.” Class President Kenna Mullins greeted her classmates from the stage. She told them they had all made it through not only COVID, but “Senioritis,” too. She thanked them for their support and said she would not have even considered seeking a class office without encouragement from them. For her, they are community. She advised, “Try someContinued on page 2A
June 12 concert will celebrate the life and music of Dennis Melton
‘A day of endless smiles, hugs and music’
EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK Voices Underground to partner with PA Tourism for 2nd Annual Juneteenth Festival
the second took place at Hartefeld National Golf & Country Club that invited more than 100 of Dennis’ long-time partners in business and civic leadership. While both of these cer-
Voices Underground, in partnership with PA Tourism, is holding the 2nd annual Juneteenth Festival in Chester County from June 17 to 19. The three-day event is titled “Journeying Toward Freedom,” and will serve as a commemoration of the 2nd nationally recognized Juneteenth, the oldest-known cultural celebration acknowledging June 19, 1865, as the end of chattel slavery in the U.S. The festival will kick off on Friday, June 17 with An Evening with Dr. Eddie Glaude Jr. He is an internationally known historian at Princeton University and author of “Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and It’s Urgent Lessons for Our Own.” The discussion with Dr. Glaude will be preceded by a musical performance from artist Kendrick Scott. This ticketed event will be held at Longwood Gardens from 6 to 8 p.m. The festivities will continue on Saturday, June 18 with a Juneteenth Festival at The Creamery of Kennett Square from noon to 8 p.m. The Creamery will host a variety of unique vendors, vibrant music, delicious
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Photo by Heather Schaen
“A Concert for Dennis” is being produced by Dennis’ wife Donna and his brother Dale.
© 2007 The Chester County Press
was also required amount of $1.2 to pay restitumillion that was tion costs back given to the to the township township. in the amount of $3,249,453. Prior To contact Staff to her sentencing, Writer Richard Moore provided a certi- L. Gaw, email rgaw@chesfied cashier’s check in the tercounty.com.
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer In the difficult weeks that followed the passing of her husband last May, Donna Melton held two ceremonies to honor the life and
impact of Dennis Melton, the long-time architect and community leader. The first was held on a hot weekend morning in the backyard of their home in Cochranville before close friends and family, and