Chester County Press 06-19-2024 Edition

New Garden board OKs Kennett Library referendum on November ballot

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

The New Garden Township Board of Supervisors gave approval at their June 17 meeting to place a referendum on the November ballot asking residents if they would favor an increase in real estate property tax dedicated to the Kennett Library from its current 0.100 mill to 0.200 mill, beginning in 2025.

The agreed-upon content of the referendum will read:

“Do you favor increasing New Garden Township’s existing 0.100 mil real estate property tax dedicated to the Kennett Library to a total of 0.200 mil, with the revenue from such increase to be used exclusively to fund the operation of the Kennett Library?”

The referendum will also

include a sentence detailing that township residents currently pay a 2.77 mil real estate property tax. If the referendum is passed, the township’s yearly contribution to the library will increase from $82,778 to $165,555 beginning in 2025. Calculated according to household, a New Garden resident living in a home with an assessed value of $174,433 would contribute $34.89 per year,

which when translated, equates to $2.91 monthly or 67 cents a week.

The New Garden referendum is part of a “fair share” tax contribution the library is seeking from all eight of the municipalities it serves: East Marlborough, Kennett, Newlin, Pennsbury, Pocopson, West Marlborough townships, and the Kennett Square Borough.

Barber to lead KCSD until new superintendent arrives

By Chris Barber Contributing Writer

Kennett

Consolidated School District Assistant

Superintendent Michael Barber will fill the administrative gap between the retirement of Superintendent Dusty Blakey and the arrival of newly hired Superintendent Kimberly Rizzo Saunders.

Barber, who earned his doctorate of education degree from Temple University, held the position of high school principal from 2007 to 2015. He then took the position of assistant superintendent for the district, which he has held since then.

Barber will hold the superintendent seat for the time period that arises from the gap between Blakey departing and Saunders arriving—a period that extends from July 27 to Aug. 22.

The board approved his

Work is ongoing to replace the

D.Lang Kindergarten Center. The

be replaced as well.

appointment unanimously at the June 10 meeting in Kennett Square.

Barber was congratulated by his colleagues at the meeting, but he replied that he prefers to be part of the team that keeps the school operations flowing, and that is why he did not apply for the superintendent position when it was open.

Also at the meeting, district

CFO Mark Tracy announced that the final operating budget for 2024-25 will increase by $390,000 more than the $103.7 million reported in April, but that amount will be covered by the school’s savings account.

Under the new spending plan, district property owners will pay 2.8 percent more in school property

Over the past several years, New Garden has become one of the most progressive municipalities in providing financial

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Avon Grove High School boasts 100 percent graduation rate

By Colleen Cochran Contributing Writer

For the second year in a row, every Avon Grove High School senior is leaving the school armed with a diploma. Graduation took place on June 4 at the Bob Carpenter Center, a 5,000-seat multi-purpose arena on the University of Delaware’s campus.

A perfect graduation rate is quite an achievement, given that the nationwide graduation rate as of 2022, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, is 87 percent. It is a testament to the hard work of students, but also to the hard work of parents, teachers, and school administrators who encouraged

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Kennett Underground Railroad tour connects community to their ‘radical’ history

By Gabbie Burton Contributing Writer

Aboard their bus tour on June 16, the Kennett Underground Railroad Center (KURC) revealed stories of struggle and liberation that featured five stops at historic landmarks that, in acknowledgement of the Juneteenth celebration, focused on the underground railroad and the abolition movements. Celebrating the significant history of each and their proximity to the Mason-Dixon Line and

the Quaker community, the KURC aims to “preserve and celebrate” the heritage of both.

Led by KURC President Crystal Crampton, the immersive and historical experience began at the Brandywine Valley Tourism and Information Center, a building dating back to 1855 that once served as the Longwood Progressive Friends Meetinghouse, which was formed by “radical” Quakers who wanted to do more for abolition than the traditional

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Kennett Square Life

Photo

Courtesy photo

The Avon Grove School Board and the presenters with student representatives Tyler Dalton and Abbey Hood.

Photo by Gabbie Burton

The Kennett Underground Railroad Center offers monthly bus tours that take off from the Brandywine Valley Tourism and Information Center.

Photo by Chris Barber

roof on the Mary

high school roof will

Local

Underground Tour...

Quaker church. Throughout its rich history, it hosted renowned speakers and activists such as Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth and Lucretia Mott.

A short ride later, the tour arrived at the site of the Cox house on Route 1. Built in the 1790s, the home belonged to Quakers John and Hannah Cox who used it as a safe house, hiding freedom seekers on their journey along the Underground Railroad. The Cox family was and remains important to the Kennett area, as they provided the land that the Longwood Progressive Friends Meetinghouse was built on. Additionally, the Cox family operated a farm they called Longwood, which is where Longwood Gardens gets its name. The house is now owned by Longwood Gardens and has no immediate plans to open to the public.

Stops on the bus tour also included the Bartholomew Fussell house and the site of the former James Walker house. Fussell was a physician and educator who provided his home as a stop on the Underground

Avon Grove High School...

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“Every single action taken by every single school employee and school board member, from administrators to custodial staff to cafeteria staff and everybody in between really led to this moment in order to have a 100 graduation rate is really amazing,” said Bill Wood, an Avon Grove School Board member.

All board members were in attendance at the Avon Grove School Board meeting, held June 6, to hear the presentation on the profile of the 2024 graduates.

Superintendent of Schools M. Christopher Marchese, Ed.D., introduced the presenters: Avon Grove High School assistant principal Gary Benasutti and assistant principal of academics Angela Houghton. The high school’s principal, Christie Snead, Ed.D., was unavailable to present at the meeting.

Benasutti informed listeners about the recent Avon Grove High School graduates’ post-secondary plans. Eighty-two percent

Railroad.

During the tour, a guide told those aboard about the story that took place at the James Walker home in front of the Kennett Library. The story goes that Walker opened his home to an injured enslaved man on his journey to freedom. Kennett doctor Isaac Johnson treated the man’s injury with nursing from Esther Hayes, while staying in the Walker home. The man eventually continued his journey to freedom before returning several years after the Civil War to visit Dr. Johnson and revealed that he had taken the name Johnson Hayes Walker after the three Kennett individuals who saved his life.

Stories and legacies such as Walker’s, the Cox’s

of the graduates will go on to attend either twoor four-year colleges and universities or technical schools, proving that Avon Grove students outdid national averages for post-secondary education enrollment. The rate of students who graduated in the first nine months of 2022 and enrolled in college was 62 percent in 2022, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

The remaining 18 percent of graduates are going into the workforce, many in careers they lined up through gaining skills at Technical College High School at Pennock’s Bridge, a halfday vocational program run by Chester County Intermediate Unit. These careers include welding, cosmetology, barbering, and collision and auto tech positions, to name a few.

Some who participated in the Homeland Security program will be working as EMTs and firefighters or pursuing military or law enforcement.

Penn State leads the list of schools to which students are heading. About 75 percent of this year’s graduates from Avon Grove

and all the other famous abolitionists who visited and operated in the area are all crucial to the telling of local history; however, Crampton said while the tour stopped at the New Garden Memorial U.A.M.E. Church that the local individuals who built the community and carry on the legacy of these historical figures deserve their recognition as well and credited the church as doing so.

Crampton is a member of the church and reflected on its significance and history in the area which includes the Bucktoe Cemetery which was as a stop Harriet Tubman used on her journeys on the Underground Railroad. Crampton has been one of several residents who have taken care

High School are staying in Pennsylvania, and many of those going out of state are traveling down south to colleges in South Carolina and Florida. Benasutti said warm weather was certainly a factor in those students’ decision-making.

Five students are on the way to Ivy League schools, including School Board Student Representative Tyler Dalton, who will be attending Harvard University.

Dalton received kudos from board members at the meeting for his achievement, and Avon Grove School Board President Bonnie Wolff voiced her gratitude to him for serving as student representative for two years in a row and for taking on every challenge with grace.

Dalton responded, “I really enjoyed attending these meetings. I have a deeper understanding and appreciation for the work that you all do.”

Houghton outlined the career pathways the college-bound students are pursuing: arts, audio/ visual technology, communications - 14 percent; business management and administration – 30 percent; health sciences – 20 percent; human services - 10 percent; STEM - 26 percent. She said students

of the cemetery for 38 years.

The tour concluded at the Marlborough Friends Meetinghouse where knowledge of the Quaker faith and practices was reflected upon.

“There are a couple of lessons we learned from this Underground Railroad tour,” tour guide Linda Steelman concluded. “You stand up for what is right and its risky, and sometimes it is violent, but you have to follow your heart

received $164,100 in local scholarships, and over $6 million total in education scholarships.

At the close of their presentation, Dr. Marchese went on to commend Benasutti and Houghton for their years of service in the Avon Grove School District. Both school administrators are retiring – Benasutti after 25 years of service and Houghton after 23 years.

Dr. Marchese said, “They have positively impacted thousands of students throughout the years.”

The board got down to business following the graduate-profile presentation starting with the business report delivered by Dan Carsley, the district’s director of business administration/CFO. He stated that the school district’s general fund budget expenditures for the 2024-2025 school year are expected to be $115,148,651, and the board went on to unanimously approve this budget amount. The board is delivering a budget that includes no tax increase to the community this year.

The agenda included public comment. Parents and members of the community asked the Avon Grove School Board to make a determination and publicly announce its policy

and your voice has to be heard, and you can make a difference.”

The tour was just one of many local events happening throughout June in the Kennett Square area and surrounding region to celebrate the Juneteenth holiday, that celebrates the day on June 19, 1865, when Union troops finally reached Galveston Bay, Texas to inform enslaved people of their freedom –over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation

on students using oppositesex bathrooms and locker rooms. They said school administrators have been allowing gender dysphoric youths to use the facilities of their choice, and this action has made many students uncomfortable. They stated that school board members must be transparent about their decision-making on this issue because it represents safety and privacy concerns for the majority of students and their parents.

Dr. Marchese, in his superintendent’s report, announced that student enrollment for Avon Grove School District is 4,997 students, and the number of cyber charter and charter school students who reside in the district is 630.

He also announced that the district schools have a new director of safety and security, Chrissy Simpkins, and a new safety and security specialist/police officer, Bill Donahue. Donahue will be the first police officer to serve in the Avon Grove School District. He worked for the Pennsylvania State Police in a variety of leadership roles for 26 years.

At the end of his report, Dr. Marchese delivered congratulations. He said, “As we close the chapter on another school year, I would be remiss if I did not recognize the tremendous work and commitment of our teachers, support staff, and administration. These individuals serve our students each and every day to the best of their abilities with a common goal – to ensure that all students feel connected, accepted, and valued.”

was effective. Juneteenth was made a federal holiday in 2021 but has been celebrated by Black communities for much longer. KURC offers once a month public bus tours from March-October as well as private bus tours which can be arranged by visiting their website at www.kennettundergroundrr.org. For complete information about Juneteenth events offered this month, visit www.culturechesco.org/ juneteenth.

He also thanked parents and caregivers for entrusting their children to the school district and for their unwavering support. And he thanked the school board, saying, “Our district is strong because of your commitment to public education.” Finally, he recognized the students. Marchese said, “You are why we are here. So thank you for doing your best so your dreams can come true someday. And to our Class of 2024, a sincere congratulations on a job well done. Thank you for being model students and representing Avon Grove with pride. Avon Grove is your home, and take what you’ve learned here into the complex world, and use it to spread good.”

School board members President Bonnie Wolff, Vice President Dorothy Linn, Ed.D., Rick Dumont, Ruchira Singh, Ken Roark, Nick Taylor, Herman Engel, Bill Wood, and Mike Woodin closed the last meeting for the 2023-2024 school year. The board, including student representative Abbey Hood, a junior who will continue working with the board next year, will resume meeting in the Intermediate School Audion starting in August. School will resume for students on Monday, Aug. 26.

An engravement near the New Garden Memorial U.A.M.E. Church.

Photos by Gabbie Burton

Built in the 1790s, the Cox House belonged to Quakers John and Hannah Cox who used it as a safe house, hiding freedom seekers on their journey along the Underground Railroad.

Chester

Local News

New Garden...

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assistance to the Kennett Library, that included authorizing $500,000 from 2021 to 2025 to help finance the construction of the new building in State Street. In 2017, township residents approved a referendum that saw the passage of a 0.100 mil property tax that has annually supported the library in the amount of $82,778 since 2018.

In his comments prior to the referendum proposal, Kennett Library Executive Director Christopher Manna gave the supervisors and the audience a summary of the progress the library has made since it officially opened its new $23 million facility last August, which include such developments

as laptop rental assistance to users; increased forms of digital technology; programs in civic and social engagement; partnerships formed with 19 health agencies; increased financial literacy services and retirement seminars; a surge in children’s programming, not only at the library but at area parks and school districts; and film series and concerts in its 110-seat auditorium. In addition, Manna said that the library will increase its service to 70 hours a week, which will include being open seven days a week.

In New Garden Township alone, he said that the number of library cardholders rose from 1,907 in 2023 to 2,467 in May of this year –a 25 percent increase – and that the library saw 2,578

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taxes than they did last year—as reported in the April meeting.

Tracy added that bids for the construction of the new Greenwood Elementary School will be opened on July 17.

In other business:

The board unanimously approved a contract with Guadalupe Meza to perform bilingual substance abuse screening at $75 an hour. According to the contract, Meza will screen students for drug abuse “in home, at school, in the community and day or night.”

Meza is instructed in the contract to follow all district policies and adhere

Tracy reported that work is proceeding on the new Kennett High School sign, which was designed by the students and will be on display at the corner of South and Union Streets. Stakes and connecting strings are visible, showing the outline of the future sign. The sign designs were already submitted to, and approved by, the Borough of Kennett Square.

Dave Brice, of the KCSD facilities department, said work will start soon on new roofs for Mary D. Lang Kindergarten Center and the high school as well as replacement of the gym floor.

There were two requests for student trips to France: One for detailed study of World War II and the other for in-

residents visit the library in April, a jump of 300 percent from last April.

Referring to Manna’s presentation, Kennett Library Board President Bradley Peiper said that the additional income generated by the current referendum, if passed, will support the operational needs of the library.

“Chris explained the community impact of all of the programs and services that we provide, and on that basis, in terms of strengthening our community, I think it’s a pretty strong argument for spending 67 cents a week,” he said. “Beyond that, if you look at this as an investment, what’s the cost of an adult literacy class? What’s that one-on-one tutoring cost if you were to go out-

home visits to Canada and France to enhance language understanding.

The board approved the World War II trip, with board member Lenda Carrillo asking if there are any accommodations for students who cannot afford the $5,000 cost.

Blakey said there is no direct program, but the district has connections with community members who routinely help out in that capacity.

The board also approved a request by two students to form a new club to watch movies and comment on them. The board members recommended that the movies the students choose adhere to acceptable social standards of decency.

side for that tutoring? The books and media that we provide. What’s that cost?

The museum passes that we offer, the programs that we offer, our reference and tech help, as well as the wireless and tech sessions that we provide.

“If you add all of that up, it’s a little shy of $6 million. We run the Kennett Library with an annual budget of $1.5 million. If you do the math, for every dollar you invest in the library, we provide four dollars back in terms of the value of our services.”

Recent AQUA PA letter to residents, explained

In other business, township Manager Christopher Himes gave a presentation that provided clarity and comparative data related to the May 23 letter sent to all AQUA PA customers that notified them of their proposal to adjust their quarterly water and wastewater rates, which the company said are necessary to pay for $953 million in system improvement projects that began in 2023 and will continue through the end of 2025.

When the rates first went into effect in 2021, township rate customers were assigned to Rate Zone 11, and residents were assessed a quarterly rate base of $136.38, with customers charged an additional $23.25 for each additional 1,000 gallons used up to 15,000 gallons, and an additional $33.43 for every 1,000 gallons used over 15,000 gallons.

Under AQUA PA’s cur-

rent rate scenario proposal, New Garden customers are now associated with Rate Zone 2, and will pay a fixed quarterly rate of $167.79, and be charged a consumption rate of $12.58 for every 1,000 gallons of water used during that quarter.

Himes said that these figures – which have been validated by both the township and AQUA PA – will reflect savings not only for those customers using high quantities of water per quarter, but for those who use very little water.

“By applying this data to the new proposed rate, subject to changes made over the last few years, the full majority of the people will see a net reduction in their quarterly sewer bills based off of their individual (per household) consumption,” Himes said.

This rate adjustment is not the first time AQUA PA customers in New Garden have heard from the big water giant since the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) approved AQUA PA’s purchase of New Garden’s wastewater system for $29.5 million on June 29, 2017, a deal that was finalized on Dec. 20, 2020.

On Aug. 20, 2021, AQUA PA filed an application with the PUC requesting to increase water bills for

its customers by 17 percent and its sewer bills by 33 percent – and 34.7 percent in New Garden Township. The application was approved, and residential water bills for a typical customer using 4,000 gallons per month rose from $69.35 to $81.32, an increase of $11.97 a month.

On Nov. 21, 2022, 200 local ratepayers met with AQUA PA officials at New Garden Elementary School to protest the massive increase they were seeing in their quarterly bills – as much as a 140 percent jump over the previous year.

AQUA PA’s most recent base rate increase request will first require investigation and approval from the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) before it can go into effect, which if approved, will take about nine months – well into 2025. The PUC’s approval process will give AQUA PA ratepayers three opportunities to share their concerns with the agency: submitting comments in writing to the Secretary of the PUC; attending a public hearing; and filing a formal rate complaint through the PUC’s E-filing account that is available on the PUC’s website, www.puc.pa.gov.

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

Barber...

Three area students awarded ‘Be the Change’ scholarships

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

Three area graduating high school students are this year’s recipients of the “Be the Change” award, given annually by the Kennett Area Democrats to one student at each of the three high schools located in the region the organization serves.

Those receiving $1,000 post-high school education awards were Melissa Griswold of Unionville High School, Genesis Juarez Vasquez of Kennett High School and Ella Paige Carwile of Avon Grove High School.

Now in its seventh year, the “Be the Change” award recognizes one student from the Avon Grove, Kennett Consolidated and Unionville-Chadds Ford school districts who has demonstrated meaningful social change in their respective school and community. In addition to the award, each recipient will receive a letter of commendation by the Kennett Area Democrats.

To qualify for the award, a student must submit an 800-word essay describing the project or initiative they have participated in to advance positive change that includes specific examples of how his or her actions positively influenced the

lives of people or a person. Further, each essayist must describe how they will carry their endeavors into the future.

‘Youth input and leadership is no longer optional’

In her essay, Griswold wrote that her key aspiration in life is to “be a part of the solution to hunger relief.” When she begins at Tufts University in the fall, Griswold will study community health and food systems and nutrition with particular interest in the dairy industry and dairy products, stemming in part from her background as a dairy farmer.

“Unfortunately, some of the most commonly undersupplied items in food banks are dairy products,” Griswold wrote in her essay. “To address this challenge, I’ve worked to increase the milk supply in my Pennsylvania region. As a Chester County Dairy Ambassador, I provided free milk to families in need during the pandemic at a local milk drive. Also, during the pandemic, my sister and I started our own mask-making business with a shop on Etsy. By donating $1 for each mask we sold, combined with people’s additional donations, we raised $350 to give to Fill

A Glass With Hope, a dairy distribution program.

“By partnering with Fill A Glass With Hope and Philabundance, an urban food bank, I helped to increase milk distribution throughout my region.”

Griswold wrote that in addition to her studies, she plans to work at the school’s student-run grocery store and partner with the Massachusetts dairy community and university departments to “promote collaborative efforts that combat food insecurity.”

“With the exponential change our world faces, youth input and leadership is no longer optional, no longer a plan for the future,” she wrote. “It is necessary now for young people to work together to create solutions to major problems.”

‘We are the change we wish to see’

For Vasquez, who will be attending Wheaton College in the fall, becoming “the change” “grows like a second skin to our body,” she wrote in her essay. “We are the change we wish to see in the world. Give to others how you wish to be given back. Being kind is a talent, one I’ve perfected. I welcome and gather people around to be one whole cohesion. I’ve met people

throughout all four years of my high school experience. I’ve lost and gained, which is the cycle of life. I make one-on-one friendships that expand into groups that a plethora of people can enjoy all together.”

Throughout her four years at Kennett High School, Vasquez served as a translator for the Spanish-speaking parents of students, assisted her fellow students in writing essays and volunteered as a supervisor to middleschool students who attend the After-the-Bell program.

“Throughout my four years at Kennett, it feels as though those actions are small,” wrote Vasquez, who included in the essay her aspirations to become an attorney. “Which some are, but the sense of accomplishment and gratitude after helping someone. It makes those small moments so much greater.

“How will I bring change to the future? I wonder about that. I’ll carry on helping those whenever I’m asked. I’m always ready to lend a hand and help whenever it’s needed.”

‘A community is everything’

When Carwile entered Avon Grove High School four years ago, the school did not have a Cancer Society Club, so with no advisor, no funding, no cabinet and no members, she approached her field hockey coach about becoming an advisor to the group, and soon after, several of her fellow students became members.

Eventually, more of Carwile’s Avon Grove classmates joined, a cabinet was formed, by-laws were created and student membership grew to more than 100 and during her sophomore year, Carwile was voted the club’s president. During her junior year, the Cancer Society Club held two fundraising events.

“When a fellow student at Avon Grove High School was diagnosed with cancer, we quickly jumped in to support her and her family during this time,” Carwile wrote. “From students, teachers, parents, and coaches, we were able to reach the entire Avon Grove community. Through our fundraising efforts we were

able to provide the family with gift cards, candles, blankets, nail polish, jewelry, and baked goods.

“This fundraiser helped me realize that our club can impact our local community as much as the broader national foundation we were supporting.”

This past April, Carwile and her fellow members organized a 5K Cancer Awareness Walk that drew participation from the entire Avon Grove, Kennett and Oxford communities.

“These past years have taught me that a community is everything,” wrote Carwile, who plans to continue her work for the Cancer Society at Ithaca College. “I never would have guessed four years ago restarting an entire club would help bring people together and raise money for a much-needed cause. The Cancer Society at Avon Grove High School has grown tremendously, and I cannot wait to see what it accomplishes with the next class.”

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

Unionville-Chadds Ford School District named recipient of Longwood Foundation Grant

The Unionville-Chadds Ford School District (UCFSD) is the recipient of a $450,000 grant from the Longwood Foundation.

The grant, Strong Roots & New Growth, will provide critical assistance to the school district as it implements an innovative full-day kindergarten program beginning in the 2025-2026 academic year.

“UCFSD is honored to have the support of the Longwood Foundation as we provide all of our youngest learners with equitable access to early education,” said School Board President Victoria Baratta.

She added that while some families with the financial means supplement UCFSD’s current half-day program, this option is not possible for many UCFSD families.

UCFSD expects an increase in enrollment as a

result of full-day kindergarten program.

Thanks to the grant, families can expect their students to explore more, including in a native plant garden honoring the Lenape people.

“Our curriculum will prioritize high academic standards through nature-based learning,” said Superintendent John Sanville. “Students will build the essential skills they need for the future, including creativity, collaboration and connection to the past and the present.”

According to Assistant Superintendent Tim Hoffman, the program will do more than just provide a strong academic foundation.

“We can also proactively intervene with students experiencing academic, behavioral, mental or physical health challenges and set our youngest learners on a path for success,” Hoffman said.

UCFSD has a long history of partnership with Longwood Gardens, including a shared leadership development program. The district looks forward to strengthening that partnership through its full-day kindergarten program. The Longwood Foundation grant will fund support for curriculum writing, professional development and materials.

UCFSD registration for the 2025-2026 academic year will open on Feb. 1, 2025. In order to be eligible, students residing in the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District must have attained the age of five years on or before Sept. 1, 2025. Those with questions are invited to visit the UCFSD website or contact UCFSD Director of Communications & Community Relations Nikki Laroya at nlaroya@ ucfsd.net.

Courtesy photo

The Unionville-Chadds Ford School District is the recipient of a $450,000 grant from the renowned Longwood Foundation.

Photo by Richard L. Gaw

The Kennett Area Democrats acknowledged Ella Paige Carwile and Melissa Griswold (center) as two of the three winners of its annual “Be the Change” award, at its June 13 meeting. Also pictured are 2023 winner Isabella Hanson, Carwile’s mother, Aleks Casper, Griswold’s mother, Beth Mansfield-Griswold and Kennett Area Democrat members Whitney Hoffman, Bob George and Eric Matuszak. Not pictured is the third winner of this year’s award, Genesis Juarez Vasquez.

Volunteer first-responders benefit from county’s tax rebate program

There has been a steady decline in the number of volunteer firefighters and emergency responders across the country. It’s the same story here in Chester County, where fire departments and ambulance divisions have struggled to recruit and retain a sufficient number of volunteers. As a way to encourage more people to volunteer as first responders, the Chester County Commissioners last October approved the Active Volunteer

Real Estate Tax Rebate Ordinance, which provides a financial incentive, in the form of a rebate, on the real estate tax imposed by Chester County. These volunteers can be an emergency responder, an administrative member of

a fire company or EMS agency, or both.

Since the county approved this initiative, more than 350 qualified volunteer first responders and administrative members have successfully applied to recoup some or all of their county property taxes.

Chester County was the first county in southeastern Pennsylvania to enact this county property tax rebate as a way to recruit and retain volunteer first responders. There are many other first responders in the county who have until January of 2025 to submit the paperwork needed for the rebate. Information about the Active Volunteer Real Estate Tax Rebate can be found at www.chesco. org/responder-rebate.

‘Our kids are asking for our help…’

Gov. Josh Shapiro is proposing a significant increase in education funding for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, including an investment of $100 million to improve mental health services in K-12 schools.

Shapiro recently took part in a roundtable discussion on student mental health at a school in Erie County, where he talked about the need for more funding to address the mental health needs of children.

“Our kids are asking for our help – and we need to show up for them here in Erie County and in every school and every community across Pennsylvania,” Shapiro said. “For too long, there has been a stigma around mental health, but that’s changing with this generation—and I am ready to work with them to find solutions.”

Student mental health issues were on the rise long before the pandemic set in, and now students are dealing with even more challenges. According to the 2023 Pennsylvania Youth Survey, 37 percent of Pennsylvania students surveyed in grades 6, 8, 10, and 12 reported

feeling sad or depressed most days in the past 12 months.

There are obvious benefits to providing extra mental health supports to children. The best way to reduce the impact of mental health and substance use disorders on communities across the state is to provide assistance early on. Giving children the help they need when they need it is a wise investment in the future of Pennsylvania, and we hope that state lawmakers will find a way to include the additional resources in the finalized state budget.

County-wide effort to reduce homelessness produces results

Summer officially arrives this week, and we’ve got the sunshine, warm temperatures, and humidity to prove it.

For most of us, the warm season will bring backyard barbecues, vacations, and some well-deserved relaxation under sunny skies. It’s not the time of year when when most of us will give a second thought to the plight of the homelessness. But… take a moment to consider what it would be like to find yourself without shelter during a week like this, when the temperature soars into the 90s day after day? How could you find a respite from the brutal, unrelenting heat? Danger

Kudos to the Avon Grove School District and its 2024 graduating class—every Avon Grove High School senior grad-

uated earlier this month with a diploma. Reaching a 100 percent graduation rate is no small feat. There are a million and one factors

and discomfort from the summer heat could match the danger and discomfort of a January deep freeze for a person who is homeless. Fortunately, there are a lot of groups working to reduce the number of people who are homeless in Chester County. The county’s Department of Community Development and the

Chester County Partnership to End Homelessness recently released the 2024 Point-In-Time (PIT) count results. The PIT count is a manual national census of people experiencing sheltered and unsheltered homelessness on one night in January.

In Chester County, there were 213 people experienc-

100 percent

that can stand in the way of a 100 percent graduation rate for a high school, and everyone involved—teachers, administrators, support

personnel, parents, and most of all the students— should be proud that they overcame all the potential challenges to reach this

ing homelessness when the count was taken on Jan. 24 of this year. That’s a significant decrease from the previous year. There are factors that complicate the results any Point-InTime count from one year to the next. This year, for example, the weather on the evening when the count was taken was compara-

achievement. By reaching a 100 percent graduation rate, Avon Grove not only exceeded the nationwide graduation rate—still below

tively mild so there were fewer people who sought out a place to stay in an emergency shelter. Still, any reduction in the number of people experiencing homelessness is a step in the right direction, and it appears as if the effort to reduce homelessness is producing results.

90 percent—by a significant margin, it also accomplished something that all public schools should be striving toward.

Former president sounds like a broken record

Letter to the Editor: Donald Trump sounds like a broken record. Every time things do not work out in his favor, his favorite word is “rigged” or “witch hunt.” Naturally, he used “rigged” to describe the trial in which he was found guilty on 34 counts.

While Joe Biden has been president, the government figures regarding new jobs created are “rigged.” Of course!

The poll numbers for the next presidential election are “rigged.” Trump must think he is way ahead.

The investigation by

Congress of January 6 was a “rigged deal.”

The 2020 election was “rigged” and “stolen.”

Even though there were 63 court decisions saying the results were legit.

An NBC town hall meeting was “rigged.” I guess negative comments were made about him.

A poll showing Nikki Haley was doing fairly well was “rigged.”

Regarding the judge who presided over the E. Jean Carroll court case against Trump, he was described by the former U.S. president as “a political

Financial Focus

operative.”

The Justice Department must have been “rigged” because it allowed Hillary Clinton to run for president.

The investigation into Russian interference of the 2016 election was a “witch hunt.”

When he didn’t get an

Don’t let investments take a vacation

Summertime is almost here — and for many people that means it’s time to hit the road. But even if you decide to take a vacation, you’ll want other areas of your life to keep working — especially your investments. So, how can you prevent your investments, and your overall financial strategy,

from going on “vacation”?

Here are a few suggestions:

• Check your progress. You want your investments to be working hard for you, so you’ll need to check on their performance periodically — but be careful about how you evaluate results. Don’t compare your port-

folio’s results against those of a market index, such as the S&P 500, which tracks the stock performance of 500 large U.S. companies listed on American stock exchanges. This comparison may not be particularly valid because your own portfolio ideally should include a range of investments, including U.S. and foreign stocks, corporate and government bonds, certificates of deposit (CDs) and other securities.

So, instead of checking your progress against a market index, use benchmarks meaningful to your individual situation, such as whether your portfolio is showing enough growth potential based on a compounding rate of return to keep you moving toward a comfortable retirement and other long-term goals.

• Invest with a purpose. When you work intensely at something, it’s usually because you have a definite result in mind. And this sense of purpose applies to investing, too. If you buy a stock here, and another one there, based on “hot” tips you might have seen

on television or the internet, you may end up with a jumbled sort of portfolio that doesn’t really reflect your needs. Instead, try to follow a long-term investment strategy based on your financial goals, risk tolerance, asset accumulation needs, liquidity and time horizon, always with an eye toward where you want to go in life — how long you plan to work, what sort of retirement lifestyle you envision, and so on.

• Be strategic with your investments. Over the years, you will likely have a variety of competing financial goals — and you’ll want your investment portfolio working to help achieve all of them. That means, though, that you’ll likely need to match certain investments with specific goals.

For example, when you contribute to an IRA and a 401(k) or similar plan, you’re putting away money for retirement. But if you want to help your children go to college or receive some other type of post-secondary education or training, you might want to save in

a 529 education savings plan, which allows tax-free withdrawals for qualified education expenses. Or, if you want to save for a shortterm goal, such as a wedding or a long vacation, you might choose an investment that offers significant protection of principal, so the money will be available when you need it. Ultimately, this type of goals-based investing can help ensure your portfolio is always working on your behalf, in the way you intended.

When you take a vacation, you will hopefully be more relaxed and refreshed. But if you let your investments stop working as hard as they should, the results could be stressful. So, be diligent about your investment strategy, monitor it regularly and make those moves appropriate for your situation. By doing so, you can’t necessarily guarantee a long day at the beach, but you’ll have a good chance of enjoying a sunny outlook.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor, Joe Oliver.

Emmy for his TV show, Trump said that the system was “rigged.” How any American can support this guy for president is beyond our comprehension.

Pa.

Joe Oliver is a lifelong Oxfordian, husband, father, and financial advisor with Edward Jones Investments. Joe services business owners and individual investors by helping them accomplish their financial goals. For a complimentary financial consultation, connect with Joe at Joe.Oliver@ Edwardjones.com.

Joe Oliver, CFP, AAMS Financial Advisor 2250 Baltimore Pike Oxford, Pa. 19363 484-702-9311 www.edwardjones.com/ joe-oliver Edward Jones, Member SIPC

Joe Oliver

Joe Czarnecki Dallas,

Avon Grove grad named three-time Carson Scholar

By Monica Fragale Contributing Writer

A recent Avon Grove High School graduate has been named a three-time Carson Scholar, a nationwide designation honoring his academic and humanitarian achievements.

Avinash Thakur, 17, was honored May 19 at an awards banquet in Maryland where he met Dr. Ben and Candy Carson, as well as baseball great Cal Ripken. It is Thakur’s third year as a Carson Scholar, for which he was first nominated in his sophomore year by the Avon Grove High School principal.

“I’m very honored to have received the Carson scholarship and to have represented my school for this award,” Thakur said. “It represents all my involvement in my community and my passion for community service. It feels really special to me.”

The Carson Scholars Fund was founded by Dr. Ben and Candy Carson in 1994 and honors students in grades 4-11 “who have embraced high levels of academic excellence and community service,” according to its web-

site (carsonscholars.org).

Carson Scholars are invited to reapply. Applicants must have at least a 3.75 GPA.

Thakur, who graduated second in his senior class, had a weighted GPA of 5.011, a heavy courseload in school including 16 AP classes, and a history of community volunteerism at places like the Avon Grove Library, the Garage Youth Center, and Future Business Leaders of America.

“Serving others brings a joy on my face,” Thakur said in a press release.

“Seeing the positive impact I can leave on my fellow peers and within my community encourages me to continue volunteering my time.”

He began volunteering with the Avon Grove Library in his freshman year, when the COVID-19 shutdown was still in force.

Thakur helped write letters to kids in the community and has also been awarded the Gold Presidential Volunteer Service Award for his outstanding volunteerism.

When the library reopened, Thakur became a member of the library’s Teen Advisory Board and helped to plan coding

classes for young kids.

He also volunteered at The Garage Youth Center’s location in West Grove and Avondale beginning in his freshman year, as he began helping another student with math.

“I saw how the other student was really grateful for me helping them, and that literally motivated me to continue staying there,” he said in an interview. “When I first walked in at The Garage – I didn’t know if this was going to be a volunteering position that I’m doing just for a little bit, but I actually ended up loving it.”

He helped students from middle and high school with math and reading and would often see some of them in the halls during the school year. “It’s really special, because I didn’t know some of them before being at The Garage … They know me not just as a tutor but as one of them.”

Thakur has volunteered more than 200 hours at The Garage, and countless other hours through the Future Business Leaders of America where he has been the president of his local chapter, the regional president for the area,

and vice president at large for Pennsylvania. He also served on the national FBLA level as membership and resources director for the Eastern Region, representing more than 39,000 members. He was Avon Grove High School’s first FBLA region officer and first state officer.

“That’s been a very big honor for me to serve on the council and make different programs and initiatives for members across all the state chapters,” Thakur said of FBLA, which is an organization that helps students “to become community-minded business leaders in a global society through relevant career preparation and leadership experiences.”

He also created a local chapter of Love For Our Elders, which he describes as a nationwide nonprofit “that seeks to combat isolation and loneliness in senior communities through letter writing.”

Thakur said his widowed grandfather was inspiration for him to get involved.

“I visit him every so often, and I really see how on each of our visits he’s very delighted … I can see the true inner joy,” he said.

He would write letters to the seniors featured on the Love For Our Elders website, whether they were from Montana, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, or elsewhere.

“They come with a short little paragraph from the person who nominated them,” Thakur said, adding that the letters those seniors receive from around the country are a chance to “bridge the gap” and also to “show that they’re loved, and you appreciate them even if you don’t know them personally.”

Thakur started a Love For Our Elders Chapter at Avon Grove that has since grown to more than 65 students.

Now that high school is finished, Thakur is turning his attention to the next

step in his journey – college at New York University’s Stern School of Business. He said he is looking forward to exploring the different concentrations in the business field that they offer, and is interested in becoming a certified financial planner. That field, he said, would allow him to continue his passion of helping other people.

“I feel like if you can learn a subject like that, and then use it to help other people … I actually kind of see it pretty similar to what I do as a volunteer, and specifically as a peer tutor,” he said. “That’s something I’m personally passionate about, sharing what I know with other people.”

Brandywine Museum of Art to present exhibit featuring work of Peter Paone

The Brandywine Museum of Art is currently presenting In Shadows’ Embrace: Prints by Peter Paone, featuring more than 20 prints by the acclaimed Philadelphia artist and teacher. Over his seven-decade career, Paone has mastered the mediums of painting, drawing and printmaking. His extraordinary ability to infuse the figurative tradition with his fantastical imagination is evident throughout his oeuvre.

On view now through Oct. 13, In Shadows’ Embrace highlights a major recent gift by Paone to the museum of 52 of his etchings, the majority of which were created in the 1960s. Together, these offer an overview of both Paone’s early career and his printmaking practice.

Known today largely as a painter, Paone had early success in printmaking, specifically etching, and it is that medium he feels was critical to his artistic development. Paone learned printmaking at John Bartram High School and the Philadelphia College of Art (now University of the Arts) in the 1950s. Throughout the following decade he gained recognition for his etchings and devoted himself almost entirely to printmaking. Major inspiration for Paone was the work of two European artists, Francisco Goya working in the eighteenth century, and Käthe Kollwitz working early in the twentieth century.

Like those artists before him, Paone created images that reflect the plight of the human condition—in his case, in the context of

America in the 1960s.

A centerpiece of the exhibition is Paone’s portfolio titled The Ten Commandments of Ambrose Bierce (1963), which will be shown in full for only the third time, the last being at the Musèe d’Art Moderne, Paris, in 1967. In this tour de force of printmaking, Paone gives visual form to writer and poet Ambrose Bierce’s Decalogue (1906), a biting satire of contemporary society based on biblical principles from the Book of Exodus.

The fourth commandment, for example, becomes “Work not on Sabbath days at all, / But go to see the teams play ball,” and the seventh becomes “Kiss not thy neighbor’s wife, unless / Thine own thy neighbor doth caress.” Inspired by Bierce’s irreverent writing, Paone created otherworldly images, at times witty, at times demonic, that bring these “commandments” to life.

The suite of prints sets up a fascinating dialogue between Paone and Bierce across decades and across disciplines. Working with printer Charles Hunsberger, whose workshop was in Philadelphia, Paone combined etching with aquatint for the series, which created a rich variety of tones that amplify the dark visionary quality of his imagery.

Subjects in 10 other etchings in the exhibition include historical figures such as Queen Elizabeth I, quasihuman mythical figures, and floral still-lifes. All reflect Paone’s remarkable technical skills and his mastery at crafting enigmatic narratives, wherein even a vase of flowers is transformed into a meditation on death.

“Peter Paone is an artist who creates compelling, haunting images—he brings a kind of fever dream to the tradition of figurative art,” said Thomas Padon, the James H. Duff Director of the Brandywine Museum of Art. “In this dazzling group of prints, one sees not only Paone’s fervid imagination but also his technical prowess in printmaking. This donation marks a significant addition to our collection of graphic

in

work by Philadelphia-based artists, and I am profoundly grateful to him for his generosity.”

The artist was also the subject of the exhibition Reality Reassembled: The Halloween Paintings of Peter

in 2019 at the

Museum

Since then, the Museum has acquired two of his

ings, including a remarkable self-portrait from

and a drawing. The guest curator of the exhibition

associate curator of the

of

The exhibit is now on view through Oct. 13.

Paone

Brandywine

of Art.

paint-

2012,

is Audrey Lewis, formerly

Brandywine Museum

Art.

Subjects

10 other etchings in the exhibition include historical figures such as Queen Elizabeth I, Peter Paone’s etching and aquatint on paper from 1962.

Images courtesy the Brandywine Museum of Art An etching and aquatint on paper from Peter Paone’s portfolio of The Ten Commandments of Ambrose Bierce, 1963.

Peter Paone’s Owl, a 1964, etching and aquatint on paper.

Courtesy photo

Avinash Thakur was honored as a Carson Scholar at an awards banquet in Maryland where he met Dr Ben and Candy Carson, as well as baseball great Cal Ripken. It is Thakur’s third year as a Carson Scholar.

COLTON TREVOR WARD

On June 7, Colton Trevor Ward, affectionately called “Boogie,” unexpectedly passed away. He was a 29-year-old resident of Nottingham.

He was born on April 2, 1995 to Todd Ward and the late Sandy Williams Ward.

Colton was a graduate of Oxford Area High School. On July 1, 2017 Colton married the love of his life. During their 10 years together, they raised two daughters. There wasn’t anything he cherished more than his Pais and Chlo. It wouldn’t matter what he was working on or where he was, one of his girls would be by his side. Colton was employed at R.T. Price as a heavy equipment operator. He was a very hard worker. If he wasn’t running equipment or a truck, he was picking up a shovel an helping out where needed. He worked alongside his brother every day and treasured their time together, antics and all. Colton was a master of many trades, and he could fix anything. In recent years, he took his passion for farming and started his business known as Ward Ag. After working long days, he would come home and go straight to the field. He took great pride in his family and valued his time with them, even if he was making them all work on the farm to get the crop in. When he wasn’t out pursuing his dreams of farming, he was with his daughters who adored him, as the truest definition

Alleluia

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.

2 Corinthians 12:9

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of a Girl Dad. He enjoyed taking his family camping and spending time in Potter County at the family cabin. Colton influenced and became a mentor to many young people. He wanted to teach them all of the things he loved whether running equipment, farming, snowmobiling or his signature Boogie wave.

Colton was a good man and he would give the shirt off his back to anyone who needed it. Known for his huge heart, quick wit and infectious smile, Colton left a lasting impact on everyone he met. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Colton is survived by his loving family—his wife Mallory, their daughters, Paisley and Chloe, his father Todd Ward, Granny Theresa Ward, Pop-Pop Barry McCummings, brother Cole Ward (Gabby), brother Caleb Gilley (Felichia), sister Morgan Kessler (Jeffrey) and many nieces and nephews. Colton was preceded in death by his mother, Sandy.

A service to celebrate Colton’s life took place on June 13 at Waterway Church in Oxford.

Burial will be at Nottingham Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Paisley Ward and Chloe Ward in Colton’s memory for his daughters. Those donations can be mailed to Sun East Federal Credit Union, 198 Baltimore Pike, Nottingham, Pa. 19362.

Arrangements are being handled by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. in Oxford. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.

FLORENCE GRIFFITH HARKINS

Florence Griffith Harkins, age 97, of Kennett Square, passed away on May 29, 2024, at Linden Hall Friends Home in Kennett Square. She was the spouse of Francis S. Crossan, with whom she shared 49 years of marriage, and then the spouse of Jack Vernon Harkins, with whom she shared 6 years of marriage.

She was born in West Grove, the daughter of the late Sanford Griffith and Maude (Bassett) Griffith.

Florence worked for the DuPont Company for 38 years, starting in the steno pool fresh out of Avon Grove High School, and retiring as a department manager in human resources at the age of 56.

She enjoyed golf, bridge, painting, shopping, a good joke, a glass of wine, but mostly her friends, (that she made wherever she lived), and her family, especially her granddaughters.

She will be remembered for her intelligence, her strength, and her sense of humor.

Florence is survived by her son, Lawrence Crossan and his wife, Patricia; her daughter, June Sitko and her husband, David Reitz; three granddaughters, Jennifer Houck, Penelope Sinanian, and Katherine Sitko-Reitz; six greatgrandchildren; five great-great grandchildren; and two stepchildren, Beverly Picard and Steve Harkins.

In addition to her husbands, Florence was predeceased by her brother, Sanford E. Griffith, her sister, Lois G. Crossan, her stepson, Guy Harkins, and her great-grandson, Ryan A. Houck.

Contributions in her memory may be made to Friends Home: fhkennett.org/donate or checks can be mailed to the Friends Home, 147 West State Street, Kennett Square, Pa. 19348.

Arrangements are being handled by Matthew Grieco of Grieco Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc. (484-734-8100) of Kennett Square. To view Florence’s online obituary, please visit www.griecofunerals.com.

Oxford Rotary honors Lily Fay as Student of the Month

Lily Fay was selected as the Oxford Rotary Student of the Month.

She is the daughter of Jason and Emmie Fay.

Lily is a member of Future Business Leaders of America, Helping Hands, the Oxford Rotary, National Honor

Society, and the National English Honor Society. She also competed in field hockey and track. She works at Timberfalls Miniature Golf in Oxford during May through August.

Lily will be attending Susquehanna University in the fall and will major in communications with a minor in business administration.

Brenda Yannuzzi, of Newark, Del., passed away on May 29, 2024 at her home. She was 74. She was predeceased by her two husbands, Mike Zarro and Joseph Anthony “Jay” Yannuzzi.

Brenda was born in Hempstead, Long Island, N.Y. to Mildred (Collins) and Leonard Calderwood.

She had five siblings, Lenny, Colleen, Pam, Wayne, and Diane. As an adult, Brenda worked for several different companies but most notably for Blonder Tongue Laboratories and Syntrex Inc., both in New Jersey.

Brenda was an avid volunteer in the animal rescue community in New Jersey and in Delaware after she and Jay moved there in the early 2000s. She did everything from working in the shelters to helping with fundraisers and mailings to fostering dogs and cats in her home to making craft items that could be sold to benefit Forgotten Cats. She gave much of herself over the years—time, money, talent, and energy to the cause of these “abandoned” animals finding their forever homes.

Brenda was also a highly skilled seamstress, knitter, crocheter, and artisan. Anyone who knew her well was probably gifted with at least one of her scarves or any number of her other creations. A professional doll maker for almost 20 years, she sold her beautiful works of art at craft shows and had a dedicated following of customers. She said, “Making a doll is like making a little human being” and watching it come together was

Courtesy photo

Lily Fay, pictured with LeAnn Riloff, the president of the Oxford Rotary Club, was recently honored as the Oxford Rotary Student of the Month.

(Editor’s Note: This contains corrected information from a story that appeared in the June 5 edition of the Chester County Press. This is the correct photo to accompany the caption.)

BRENDA YANNUZZI

her favorite part.

In the later years of her life, Brenda was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer and beat it with the help of the oncologists and medical team at the Abramson Center at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. She had a strong faith in God and believed that his angels were watching over her. She was aided greatly in these years by a group of friends who took turns taking her to chemotherapy treatments and to doctors appointments.

Above all, Brenda will be remembered for her spicy sense of humor, for her “tell it like it is” personality, for her love of food and drink, and her love of spending time with her many friends. She will be missed by all who loved her.

In addition to her three sisters, Brenda is survived by a beloved niece, Donna King and her husband, Ernesto Rodriguez, her nephew, Ryan Calderwood, her dear friends, Danielle and Paul Salonis, their three sons Jonathan, Matthew, and godson Daniel, nieces and nephews and by many friends from different ages and stages of her life.

A memorial service will be held in her honor at a later date. Contributions in her memory may be made to Forgotten Cats, Inc., 4023 Kennett Pike, Suite 422, Greenville, Del. 19807. To donate online, visit forgottencats.org/services/donate/.

Arrangements are being handled by Grieco Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc. (484-734-8100) of Kennett Square. To view Brenda’s online obituary, please visit www.griecofunerals.com.

HARRY COLLINS, JR.

Harry Collins, Jr., a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully on June 13, 2024. He was 95.

Born on September 19, 1928, in Marcus Hook, Delaware County, Harry was the son of the late Harry Collins, Sr. and Pauline Collins. He was one of ten children and is survived by his siblings, Wayne “Tiny” Collins and Elizabeth Kowalchuk. Harry is survived by his loving wife, Mary Collins (nee Doyle), and his children, Michael Collins (Margaret Collins), Kathleen Collins, Maureen Lincoln, Eileen Campbell (Scott Campbell), Sarah Holland (Stan Holland). He was the cherished Pop Pop to ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

He was a veteran of the Korean War and a past fire chief of Marcus Hook Fire Department. He was a member of the Kennett Square VFW 5467.

Harry retired from SunOil Company in 1990. Postretirement, he explored his art, specializing in building scaled models of the wooden work boats of the Chesapeake Bay. He exhibited at juried Wildlife and Decoy Festivals in the Chesapeake Bay Area.

Harry Collins, Jr. will be remembered for his love and dedication to his family, his service to his country and community, and his artistic talents. He leaves behind a legacy of love, bravery, and creativity that will continue to inspire those who knew him.

Services will be held 11 a.m. on Wednesday, June 19 at the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. (www. elcollinsfuneralhome.com) at 86 Pine St., Oxford, where friends and family may visit from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Interment with full military honors will be in New London Presbyterian Cemetery.

Obituaries

Oxford police officers honored as Lions’ Citizen of the Year

ESTATE NOTICE

ESTATE OF DAVID HENRY

SMITH, DECEASED.

Late of West Nottingham 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 JANET L. SCARUZZI, ADMINISTRATRIX, c/o Joseph A. Bellinghieri, Esq., 17 W. Miner St., West Chester, PA 19382, Or to her Attorney: JOSEPH A.

BELLINGHIERI, MacELREE HARVEY, LTD., 17 W. Miner St., West Chester, PA 19382

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PUBLIC NOTICE

The London Grove Township Zoning Hearing Board will conduct a public hearing on, Monday, July 8, 2024 at 7:00 p.m., in the London Grove Township Building, 372 Rose Hill Road, West Grove, PA for the following purpose: 916 Walter Road- To hear the appeal of Mu Chong for a variance from, section 27-403.F (set back regulations) of the AR (Agricultural Residential) District. Mr. Chong is seeking a variance from the setback minimums, to allow for the continued use of a deck with greenhouse to continue growing bonsai trees and smaller plants without the potential harmful effects of weather. Greenhouses provided several benefits that are particularly important for smaller plants and trees, key reasons for the improvement, Temperature Regulations, Barrier Against Insects and Animals, Wind and Storm Protection. This property is in the Agricultural Residential (AR) District.

William Grandizio, Chairman, Zoning Hearing Board 6p-12-2t

ADMINISTRATORS

NOTICE

ESTATE OF THERESA E. HANLEY LATE OF COATESVILLE, CHESTER COUNTY NO. 1524-0363 Berks County, Pennsylvania, Deceased Letters of Administration on the above estate having been granted to

Edward Hanley, Administrator, all persons indebted to the estate are requested to make payment and those having claims present the same, without delay, to the undersigned.

Scott G. Hoh, Esquire Resolution Law Group, LLC 606 North 5th Street Reading, PA 19601 6p-12-3t

ESTATE NOTICE

ESTATE OF JAMES E. SPEARS a/k/a JAMES EDWARD SPEARS, DECEASED. Late of Oxford Township, Chester County, PA. LETTERS TESTAMENTARY 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 REBEKAH MARSHALL, EXECUTRIX, 142 Tweed Rd., Oxford, PA 19363, Or to her Attorney: ANITA M. D’AMICO, D’AMICO LAW, P.C., 65 S. Third St., Oxford, PA 19363 6p-12-3t

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Supervisors of London Grove Township, during its regular meeting on July 10, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. at the London grove Township Municipal Building, 372 Rose Hill Road, West Grove, PA will consider the enactment of an Ordinance amending Section 16-101 of the Codified Ordinances to amend the rules and regulations for Goddard Park.

The title of the ordinance is: AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF LONDON GROVE, CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA AMENDING SECTION 16-101 OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF LONDON GROVE TOWNSHIP TO AMEND THE RULES AND REGULATIONS APPLICABLE TO GODDARD PARK

The proposed ordinance: amends the rules and regulations for Goddard Park, stating that no commercial vehicles or buses in the parking lots of Goddard Park; contains a severability clause and an effective date. The proposed ordinance is available for public inspection during regular business hours

at the London Grove Township Municipal Building, 372 Rose Hill Road, West Grove, PA 19390 and at the Chester County Law Library, West Chester, PA 19380, Kenneth Battin, Township Manager

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ESTATE NOTICE

Estate of Brian Christopher Martonik, Late of Oxford, Elk Township, Chester County, PA, LETTERS TESTAMENTARY 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 Kristin Martonik a/k/a Kristin Butler, 5 Breckenridge Dr., Oxford, PA 19363, Executor, Or Attorney: Marta M. Dybowski, The Marta Firm, 726 Yorklyn Rd., Ste. 300, Hockessin, DE 19707.

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ESTATE NOTICE

Estate of F. Bruce Miller, Late of Coatesville, Chester County, PA, Died April 9, 2024. The Executrix of the Estate is Sandra Blythe Miller Davies. 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 Sandra Blythe Miller Davies, C/O Gorge S. Donze, Esquire, Donze and Donze, 696 Unionville Road, Suite 6, Kennett Square, P 19348.

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ESTATE NOTICE

Estate of Charlotte J. McCool, Late of West Grove, Penn Township, and Chester County, PA, LETTERS TESTAMENTARY 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 Robin McCool Ristenbatt or Susan Essich – Kruse, Post Office Box 14314, Greenville, South Carolina 29610 , Executor(s).

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NOTICE OF

TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS

TO: JOHN DOE, or any other person claiming paternity In Re: R.A.C.III No. 2024-A9025

A Petition has been filed by the Bucks County Children and Youth Social Services Agency to Involuntarily Terminate your Parental Rights with respect to child, R.A.C.III., a male child born on April 8, 2022, in Chester County, Pennsylvania to mother C. Smith. A Hearing on the Petition has been fixed for 9:30 AM on JULY 17, 2024, in Courtroom 260 of the Bucks County Justice Center, 100 N. Main Street, Doylestown, Pennsylvania. You are warned that even if you fail to appear at the scheduled hearing, the hearing will go on without you and your rights to your child may be ended by the court without your being present. Should you wish to defend the Petition, you should take this Notice to your lawyer at once. If you do not have a lawyer or cannot afford one, call the Bucks County Bar Association at 215-348-9413 or Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania at 215-340-1818. Please contact Shawn Rush, your caseworker from the Bucks County Children and Youth Social Services Agency at 215348-6900 to obtain a copy of the petition prior to the hearing. Stacie M. Tepe, ESQ., Attorney for Petitioner, Bucks County Law Department, 55 E. Court Street, Doylestown, PA 18901, 215-340-8039

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Classifieds

HELP WANTED

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CSS, Agile, SQL Server, Web API, ADO .Net, Angular & Power BI. Bachelor’s in Sci, Tech, or Engg (any) w/5 yrs of exp in job off’rd or rltd occup is req’d. Mail Resume: Analytics Solutions, LLC., 326 Dartmouth Rd, Ste 375, Chester Springs, PA 19425.

Notice of

Self Storage Sale

Please take notice Storage First Downington located at 3925 Hazelwood Ave Downington PA 19335 intends to hold a public sale to the highest bidder of the property stored by the following tenants at the storage facility. The sale will occur as an online auction via www.storageauctions. com on 7/9/2024 at 10:00AM. Ken Agostinelli unit #147; Monique L Peary unit #189; Patricia A PasleyGlover unit #203. This sale may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Certain terms and conditions apply.

TRAVEL/VACATION:

OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND. Best selection of full/partial week rentals. FREE Color Brochure. Holiday Real Estate, Inc: 1-800-638-2102 Online reservations: www. holidayoc.com. $75 discountnew rentals 4+ nights. Code: “ToTheOcean2024” (Expires 06-01-2024)

Miscellaneous:

New windows from Window Nation. Special money saving offer – zero down, zero payments, zero interest for TWO years AND buy 2 windows and get 2 FREE! Offer is valid for select models. Labor not included. Other restrictions apply. Call Window Nation today! 844-513-2646

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Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-855-569-3087

Prepare for power outages today with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 5-Year warranty with qualifying purchase. Call 1-888-605-4028 today to schedule a free quote. It’s not just a generator. It’s a power move. Replace your roof with the best looking and longest lasting material - Steel from Erie Metal Roofs! Three styles and multiple colors available. Guaranteed to last a lifetime! Limited Time Offer - 50% off installation + Additional 10% off install (for military, health workers & 1st responders.) Call Erie Metal Roofs: 1-844-2909042.

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Courtesy photo Oxford Borough police officers Scott Richards and Karlianna Eller were recently honored by the Avon Grove Lions during the Lions’ Charter Night this year. Eller and Richards were honored for their heroic and selfless response to the large fire in downtown Oxford when they went door to door to evacuate residents from the building. As a result, everyone got out safely. Eller and Richards received the Lions Citizen of the Year plaque and a gift card during a presentation with Avon Grove Lions President George Steele.

Annual Point-In-Time count shows decrease in homelessness in Chester County

The Chester County Department of Community Development (DCD) and the Chester County Partnership to End Homelessness released the 2024 Point-In-Time (PIT) count results at the county’s State of Housing Affordability and Homelessness event.

The results, presented to more than 120 partner organizations and stakeholders, revealed that 213 people were experiencing homelessness in Chester County on the night of Jan. 24, 2024. The PIT count – a manual national census of people experiencing sheltered and unsheltered homelessness on one night in January – showed a significant reduction compared with Chester County’s 2023 results.

Several factors impacted Chester County’s 2024 PIT count decrease. Milder weather meant fewer people were in Code Blue emergency shelters. In addition, two transitional housing organizations, Fresh Start and Veterans Multiservice Center, closed their programs at the end of their lease with the VA Medical Center in Coatesville on March 31, 2023, so the 2024 PIT count did not include these organizations (which added 141 veterans to the 2023 count).

In a joint statement, Chester County Commissioners Josh Maxwell, Marian Moskowitz, and Eric Roe said, “There will always be factors ‘on the night’ that impact the number of homeless people recorded during the PIT count, but the important factor that is steadily reducing the number of those experiencing homelessness is the years of work by DCD and our Partnership to End Homelessness to find ways to not only provide shelter but prevent homelessness in the first place.

“We recognize that homelessness is still an issue for far too many and we will continue to work with our community partners to strengthen their efforts to find affordable homes and keep people in their existing homes.”

In 2022, Chester County became one of 101 communities nationwide to join the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s “House America” initiative to promote and commit to build 1,000 affordable housing units over ten years, and rapidly re-house those who are experiencing homelessness.

“We are already onethird of the way to meeting our House America goal, with more than 315 homes built, under construction, or in the planning phase in places like Phoenixville, West Chester, Kennett Square, West Whiteland, Caln Township, Elverson and Willistown Township,” said Dolores Colligan, director of Chester County’s Department of Community Development.

“Between January 2021 and February 2024, our department administered the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) funded through

the American Rescue Plan Act, which has helped more than 6,000 households in the past three years to remain housed and avoid conviction. And the Eviction Prevention Case Resolution Program, coordinated by the Friends Association, provides onsite eviction prevention services in district courts in Coatesville, Downingtown, and West Chester.

“This program is a gamechanger for many who are facing imminent court eviction.”

According to the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania in an April 2024 report, prior to Chester County’s Eviction Prevention Case Resolution Program, only 22 percent of these cases were withdrawn or settled.

Recent data indicates a significant shift, with nearly 63 percent of eviction cases being withdrawn or settled because of the Eviction Prevention Case Resolution Program.

“Through our collective efforts, DCD and its partners have one commitment and one vision to see everyone in our community safely and stably housed,” added Colligan.

Additional data from Chester County’s 2024 PIT

count showed that 62 percent of those experiencing homelessness were people of color, and 30 percent were children. Of the 213 people counted, 19 lived in or slept in places not meant for human habitation.

According to the U.S. Census American Community Survey, in the past five years, Chester County’s median rent has increased by more than 27 percent, and housing prices have increased by over 23 percent.

Rob Henry, administrator of the Chester County Partnership to End Homelessness, said, “Chester County is very intentional in exploring ways to find people homes, and to do everything possible to keep people in their

existing homes. At the heart of this is our connection with like-minded people and organizations who take a holistic approach to addressing the many rea-

The Avon Grove Church of the Nazarene celebrates 75 years

The Avon Grove Church of the Nazarene is celebrating its 75th anniversary this Sunday with a special summer event that will include

barbecue, a picnic, and a hymn sing. The event takes place on Sunday, June 23 with the worship service getting underway at 9:30 a.m. Former pastor Dr. and Mrs. LeBron Fairbanks will serve as guest speakers. The community celebration picnic includes food, games, an inflatable obstacle course,

Classifieds

sons for homelessness and who combine efforts to find solutions.”

Courtesy photo

Rob Henry (left), administrator for Chester County’s Partnership to End Homelessness, revealed the county’s 2024 Point-In-Time results at the State of Housing Affordability and Homelessness event.

Kohler Crushed Stone Showers By Home Smart

Home Smart Industries is the areas only Authorized Dealer of Kohler’s LuxStone shower wall system made of 70% real crushed marble and professionally installed at prices comparable to acrylic showers. When you have our Kohler LuxStone Design Consultants to your home for a Design Consultation, you will be given an exact, to the penny price including all labor, materials, removal, haul away, installation and permits. No surprise costs AND we honor that price for 1 year GUARANTEED.

All of the design and product selection is done in your home, saving you time and ensuring the choices work perfectly with your space. We offer senior & military discounts as well as other discounts plus financing so a shower remodel is affordable on any budget.Don’t cover your problem up with a tub or shower liner. Design your bathtub or shower replacement with our trained and certified Specialists at a price you can afford.

“Great experience with Home Smart. I collected a couple quotes for a bathtub/surround replacement. Home Smart offered the most aesthetically pleasing option at a competitive price. They also beat the installation lead time estimate by ~4 weeks. Ken and Tony came and efficiently completed the install. My house is old and there were challenges to work with, but they worked through them and in the end, product looks really great. Thanks!”